Somewhere Only We Know
Teddy laughed as Andre and Marko argued over Chaser techniques. They walked down the steps to lunch and stopped.
"Teddy, mate…."
But Teddy was already running down the steps. "Harry! Mum! What's wrong?"
Harry and Tonks were standing in front of a small group of Magical Law Enforcement. They were talking to Headmistress Krane.
"Teddy…we need to talk to you," Tonks said.
"You can use my office," Krane said.
As they walked, Tonks kept a hand on Teddy's shoulder. Somehow, in the back of his mind and the pit of his stomach, he knew exactly what was happening. "Mum…."
"Not here, Teddy," she said. "Don't worry. Harry and I are here for you."
As soon as they were in the Headmistress's office, Teddy turned. "Enough. What's going on?"
"It's about your friend, Mr. Jones," one of the MLE members said.
"What's up with him? Is he hurt?"
"No. We've been getting calls, people saying they've seen you two about town. We wanted to know the nature of your relationship. A few people are quite concerned."
"A few nosy people who don't know how to stay out of other peoples' business," Teddy snapped.
"Teddy," Tonks said quietly. "You have to understand their concern."
"I don't have to understand anything. Daniel and I are JUST FRIENDS."
"And why would a twenty-two year old wizard want to make friends with someone who's still in school?" another wizard asked.
"It wasn't like he was scouting Honeydukes for kids to hang out with," Teddy argued. "I went into the Quidditch shop to get some things, and that's when I met him. Just because you don't have anything in common with anyone younger than you—"
"Teddy, enough," Tonks said. "They're just doing their job."
"Yeah, harassing my friend. Well you have my answer, and it's not changing. We're friends. You can't arrest him for that."
"Someone said they saw you go into his house," the first MLE wizard said.
"They're wrong," Teddy said. "I've never been in his house."
"So they were seeing things?"
"Bloody hell…The last Hogsmeade visit, I went to his house, but I stayed outside, on the steps. He was in there for all of two minutes grabbing a letter to his aunt. I didn't go in."
The MLE members didn't look satisfied, but Harry stood at that moment. "Teddy has class. He's told you everything you asked."
"Right," one of them said. "We're done. Thank you, Mr. Lupin."
Teddy rummaged through his trunk as quietly as he could. He stuffed one more shirt into his bag, and pulled out a length of parchment. He'd already written a note and put it on Macmillan's end table. Now, he tapped the parchment in his hand with his wand and whispered, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He watched the map for another five minutes, taking mental pictures of where the ghosts were, where Peeves was, and where a few last Prefects were patrolling. Then, he tucked the map inside his jacket, picked up his bag, and made his way out of the dorm.
The halls were so quiet that he wished he had only worn socks. He didn't have time to take them off now though. He had to keep moving. He made his way through the secret passages, stopping every once in a while to check the map. Finally, he was at the statue he needed.
When he came out of the Honeydukes cellar a bit later, he prayed they didn't have any type of alarm spell on the place. He walked through, and thankfully, found he could get out the back door with a simple unlocking charm. "Guess Hogsmeade is usually a pretty trusting place," he mumbled. The night was cold as he walked through the empty streets of Hogsmeade. He hoped with every fiber of his being that Daniel hadn't left, or worse, been taken in for questioning. As he approached the house, he saw a lamp on in the living room. He ran the rest of the way, and knocked on the door.
"Ted?" Daniel said. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I came to see you," Teddy said. "I know it's not the best of ideas, but…I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Get inside," Daniel said.
Teddy walked in. The living room was a mess of boxes and suitcases. "You're leaving."
"I have to. I can't walk to get a carton of milk without people giving me dirty looks."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's not your fault. If anything, it's mine. I know how people can be, and I know what this looks like. I should've…I don't know. But don't feel bad. I'm going to live in my parents' summer house."
"I'll help you."
"What are you talking about."
"I've left a letter. Today after Magical Law Enforcement talked to me—"
"Oh, so you got a visit as well? Lovely."
"After they talked to me, I went to my professors and got my work for three days. I said I felt ill, and didn't know if I'd make it to class. I can leave—help you move."
"And if you go anywhere with me, they'll really think I've done something to you."
"But you won't."
Daniel looked at him for a long moment. "You know…you're the first real friend I've had in a while. I've friends my age as well, but none of them are quite as…attached."
"I'm not harboring any delusions of marrying you or anything," Teddy said with a smirk. "So don't worry."
Daniel laughed. "Fine. I'm going to regret this, but fine."
Harry awoke with a start. Someone was ringing the doorbell incessantly. He rolled over to look at the clock. Seven o'clock on a Saturday? That was inhuman! It had better be good….
"Harry…what is that? Make it stop, for Merlin's sake," Ginny mumbled.
Harry stumbled out of bed, ignoring his children's whining for a moment. He shot a stunning spell at the portrait of Mrs. Black and opened the door. "Tonks! What—"
"Teddy's gone," she said.
Harry snapped awake at that. "What?"
"His friend found a note when he woke up this morning. Teddy's gone, and so is Daniel."
"Wait here," Harry said. "I'll go get dressed."
