A/N:
I am sorry for being so late guys! I had some urgent work to attend to. Plus, I had to sneak on my comp for writing this one! Hope you like it!
I also would like to tell you now itself that I shall upload chapter 11 only after September as I have my exams coming up! Partly the reason why this one took time!
I thank you all for the support so far and I thank Guess and Bellatrix for continuously encouraging me and posting reviews to keep me going! So here a nice long chapter to say sorry for being late!
Always yours
~ASP~
Harry and Ron hadn't returned that night as Ginny and Hermione stayed at the Burrow with the kids. Everyone else soon said their goodbyes and went away to their respective homes. After dinner that night Teddy moved to George and Fred's old room to sleep. He pulled his stash of Christmas gifts along with him as he moved up the stairs to the room. On the way he passed by Ginny's old room where Ginny and the kids were sitting quietly. He knocked lightly.
"Come in…" He entered to look at Lily sleeping peacefully in the bed as James and Albus were silently looking at their gifts. He turned around to see Ginny sit near the window and look outside.
"Ginny..?" he said moving towards her.
"Oh Teddy! Sorry I was just looking at the view outside dear. Winter in the Burrow is very special, what with the snow and everything covering everything in sight. It looks truly marvelous in the night" she said looking at the sky.
"I am sure Harry will be back soon. Don't you worry. Merry Christmas…"
"Thank you Teddy. I know he will. Merry Christmas to you too. Now go get some sleep, its getting pretty late child" she said smiling at him as she cradled his face. He smiled at her as she placed a quick kiss on his forehead.
"Good night…" he said as he moved towards the door, but stopped on his tracks and moved towards the two boys.
"Good haul this year eh fellas?" he said as he squatted beside them. They were soon showing off all their gifts, or rather James was. Albus was very quiet, occasionally opening his mouth to answer Teddy's questions. Soon, Teddy stood up and ruffled their hair and walked to his room.
On the way, he passed Bill's old room which was currently occupied by Victoire who had stayed over for the night. She was standing at the doorway of her room. He smiled at her as she grinned back.
"Merry Christmas Teddy!" she said as she held out a neatly packed parcel.
"You didn't have to! But still thanks Victoire!" he said smiling as he took the parcel and opened it. Victoire was contemplating his reaction. It was a book of sorts, with a small lock in the side. It was scarlet with golden borders.
"H-How do I open it?" he asked looking at her. She smiled and held his finger softly, tracing a T gently on the cover of the book. Soon the golden borders moved as though melted and moved towards the center where his finger had touched to form a golden T, glowing a soft golden light. There was a click and the book opened. In it there were spaces for pictures and text.
"It's a Memoir Holder. Uncle Harry said he had one of sorts when he was 11. So I asked him to help me to find one for you. It responds to your touch, all you have to do is trace a T on its cover." She looked up to see Teddy's reaction.
"Victoire its brilliant!" he said hugging her. "How can I ever repay you?" he asked as he let go of her.
"Ah keep quiet you. Friends don't repay friends!" she said smiling at him, "I am glad you like it. All you have to do is place a picture and it will write notes on the day by itself! Seeing as this is your first year at Hogwarts, I thought you might want to have one to keep record of memories!"
"Thanks again Victoire! Merry Christmas" he said, hair turning pink. She laughed at that and said, "Maybe you can make a duck face for now as a miniature Christmas present" she said laughing as Teddy complied immediately. His nose turned yellow and elongated into a beak. She laughed at that.
"Thanks Ted, Merry Christmas to you too! Night!" she said laughing as she moved back into her room and closed her door.
"Night" he whispered softly and went upstairs to his room. He sat on the floor to look properly at his gifts. In addition to all the gifts given to him by his grand mom, the Weasleys and the Potters, this year he had received from his friends too.
He opened a package wrapped in red and gold and out fell a small book, "Seekers guide to Snitches". He opened the book to look at a Christmas card inside. It was from Lewis.
Told you I would take you down with me if I am going to get hurt!
Love Lewis
He laughed at that and skimmed quickly through the pages. There were many tricks and moves in there that were used by past seekers and illustrations to accompany them. He was absorbed in the book when he remembered his other gifts. He opened a smaller package, with a very simple green wrapping.
Dear Teddy
I know this is not much, but I wanted to gift you something in the least. Hope you like it.
Love Nathan
PS Don't crush it too hard
And out came a small Golden Snitch, complete with golden paint. Teddy could see that Nathan had charmed some parchment to shape it like the Snitch. It flew around him, in small circles. He held it softly in his hand as the parchment crinkled at his touch. He let it go as it circled around him. He reached for his next gift. It was from Jenna. He held his new exclusive eagle quill in his hand, twirling it around to get the feel of the soft feather. Her letter said that she got it from Hogsmeade and that it could write better than the ordinary quills they use in school. He kept it away for special occasions.
He got a box of Bertie Bots Every flavoured Beans and some chocolate frogs from Felicia. Timothy had bought him a copy of Magical Sports through the Ages. One of his favourites was the miniature model of a Quidditch Pitch his Grandma had gifted him. He got a maroon sweater with a lion in the front and a golden T in the back from Mr and Mrs Weasley along with some mince pies and homemade fudge. George had given him some of the less dangerous Weasleys Wizard Wheezes merchandise, probably as a result of a warning from his grand mom. Bill had given him a book "Curse Breaking in Medieval Times" which was a collection of stories of Curse breakers in the medieval times when it was much more difficult than normal due to the extraordinary expansion of knowledge of hexes and charms in the middleeast, which led to pyramids and other sorts of magical monuments to be protected by an assortment of advanced dark magic. The stories included the discoveries of new spells, especially of Homenium Revelio although their founders were unknown. He kept it away to read it later.
Percy's gift was next, a muggle book "How t become a leader". Trust Mr Percy to get me that he chuckled lightly. He then picked up a note that was inside.
Ok that book was just a joke. Everyone expects me to get stuff like that so I thought I would use that to my advantage. However you real present inside that book.
Percy
He opened the book and leafed through the pages with stationary muggle pictures and text. Then he stopped at a particular page which had a mark on it with PW. He turned to the next page to see that there was a small piece of parchment there. As soon as he touched it, it started stretching itself to form a small box. He lifted the lid of the box to reveal a small glass. Inside he found a note from Percy.
Harry tells me you are interested in Defense against the Dark Arts. This is a foe glass. It helps you detect if your foes are near you. Just watch for their shadows. It gets clearer and clearer as they get nearer. Hope you like it!
Percy
Teddy smiled at the note. Harry had told him how Percy had been a bit of a haughty person before the war but witnessing Fred's death before his eyes changed him. He became a lot quieter and kind. He recalled a character from a muggle series he had read earlier, Chronicles of Narnia, called Edmund Pevensie and saw the similarities between them and understood why Edmund reminded him of Percy.
He next picked the gift from Hermione. I bet it's a book he thought laughing.It was. "Hogwarts: A history." Harry had told him before how Hermione used to keep telling him and Ron about things from the same book. "If there is one thing Hermione taught me, its that you cant apparate or disapparate in Hogwarts!" he laughed remembering how Harry had imitated Hermione's voice when he told that.
He shook his head, chuckling silently. Charlie's present was another book called, "Dragons: An Exclusive study of Dragon breeds". Trust Charlie to get me something dragon-related he thought as he remembered the weather beaten face of the stocky Weasley. He then turned to his pile and reached out to Harry and Ginny's gift.
My dear super fantastic great loving caring and whateve- else-you-wrote-on-that-letter Godson,
I am sorry if this is the nth book you are getting from us big guys. Knowing Hermione and Percy, they both probably got you some book. I heard Charlie is getting one too. But I am sure you will like this. Because your awesome godfather does and …
… Your fun, jubilant godmother does too…
…Yeah Ginny does too and we know you love DADA. So enjoy your present.
Your Godfather and Godmother
Harry and Ginny
PS Don't tell Andromeda about the Galleons
He pulled out ten galleons from the box and put it in the small box where he keeps all his money. He then turned to the book Harry and Ginny had given him, "A beginners guide to Defensive Spells and Enchantments". He smiled and picked it up and read through the pages. Soon, he was feeling drowsy. He was about to turn of the lamp when something caught his eye. He saw in the middle of the pile a small package with gold coloured wrapping. He opened it and out fell a bracelet. It was from Liam. It was silver and had small green gems to spell out L D H.
Just a small memory of me.
Lewis
He quickly placed it in his drawer near the bed and turned off the lamp. The stars were shining through the window as their beauty got appreciated by the absence of the moon. His eyes felt heavy and he slept.
Harry and Ron hadn't returned by that morning. Ginny and Hermione were getting really worried although Molly and Andromeda tried to reassure them. Hermione was sitting near the door of the Burrow and wouldn't budge an inch when Molly tried to call her for breakfast. She came only when Andromeda talked to her. Lunch was a silent affair as James continued to grow restless. Lily began to notice the absence of Harry too and asked Ginny about it. But Ginny couldn't reply. Later that evening, Teddy went out for a walk as the others sat by the fireplace talking. Lily followed him outside and soon caught up with him. He noticed her walking beside him.
"Lils what are you doing out here? Go inside or you'll catch a cold!" he said as she looked at him. He sighed and picked her up and carried her in his arms and was about to enter the house when she said, "Dada!"
"What?" he asked confused.
"Dada!" she said pointing to the hill. He turned to look at the direction of the hill where two figures slouched their way towards the Burrow. He ran into the house with Lily held securely in his arms. They were sitting quietly without uttering a word. Ginny looked up as he entered.
"They are here!" he said panting. Hermione and Ginny shot to the front door as Molly and the others stood up slowly and followed them.
They had almost reached the front gate when Hermione ran all the way and launched herself into Ron's arms. "What took you so long? I was worried!" she said almost crying.
Ron hugged her and said, "I told you I would return!"
Ginny stood near the door looking sternly at him, "Don't you EVER go away like that!"
Harry grinned at her as he hugged her and lifted her, "Its my job, love! But I promise, no matter how long it takes, I will always come back!" He carried to the living room as the others followed them inside.
"Hey there kid! Liked my Christmas present?" Harry asked ruffling Teddy's hair.
"Loved it!" Teddy said grinning. Harry laughed at it. Soon it was time for dinner and everyone gathered around the kitchen as there were not many people. Teddy sat next to Victoire and they chatted away about Hogwarts.
All in all, the holidays passed happily and without any other mishap and soon it was time for Teddy to return to Hogwarts. He found himself looking at the red Hogwarts Express not many days later. Teddy was holding Lily in his arms as she chatted away to him about everything she could. He laughed at her enthusiasm as she reminded him of Lewis on the day they first met. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to look at the brown eyes of Lewis as he stood smiling at him.
"Who is this lovely little lady over here?" he asked shaking Lily's hands. She giggled at him and looked back at Teddy before turning again to Lewis.
"Oh this is Lily, my sister" he said and quickly remembered that she wasn't his actual sister. But he didn't care. "How was your Christmas?" he asked Lewis.
"Brilliant! I had a pretty good haul this year! Thanks for the book! Really loved some of the moves in there!" he told Teddy about the Quidditch book he had gotten him.
"And so was yours! I cant wait to get on my broomstick and try Wronski Fient when I become seeker!"
It was time to leave and Harry had to tear Lily away from Teddy as she held onto him crying out his name. He looked at her and smiled, waving sadly. She seemed to calm down a little but she still had tears in her eyes. Just as the train was about to leave, Harry shouted, "I'll be there!"
But before Teddy could ask anything, the train sped away from the station. He slouched his way to the compartment and kept quiet the whole journey as Lewis and the others chattered away about their Christmas. Somehow, he didn't feel like talking. They reached the station and got into the carriages. He trudged his way to the Great Hall as Liam and Nathan waved at him. They moved near them and sat down for the feast.
"Good holidays guys?" Nathan asked everyone. They were talking when the Headmistress, whose name Harry told him was Mcgonagall stood up in the front of the Hall. Everyone quietened down to see what she had to say.
"Welcome students and staff. I hope you had a very enjoyable Holiday. As you all know, the Quidditch season is coming up. The first match will be Ravenclaw vs Slytherin. Now due to some unfortunate events, the teams shall not be allowed to practice after 6 pm and on Saturdays there shall be a teacher or two inspecting every practice. Also all adventure seekers are advised from wandering in the corridors alone."
There were many yells of fury from students around the hall. Mcgonagall frowned and everyone quietened down. "I understand your anger. Every student here wants to see their own house win. So these new laws seem to reduce your house's chance at both the Quidditch cup and House Cup. But this is for your own safety."
Teddy couldn't help but think that the incident at Christmas was somehow connected to this. He turned to his food and quietly ate it. Classes start from tomorrow and he wanted to get some sleep before that. He placed his foe glass on his drawer but didn't notice the shadow on it as he turned off his lamp.
Days flew by and before he knew it, it was April 1st. He woke up in the morning, and warned himself to not fall for any tricks his friends played on him today. He walked down the stairs to the common room. It was Wednesday, a day of school. Great he thought to himself, now I can't even hide in the dorm all day.
Lewis looked up as he entered and grinned at him mischievously. He didn't like the look on his face. They all got together and walked to the Great Hall as Teddy kept looking out for any pranks people might play at him. They ate their breakfast quickly and walked to the greenhouses for their first class of the day, Herbology. Professor Longbottom stood waiting for them in the green houses as they entered.
"Welcome to todays class everyone! Now as you all know, your exams are not far from coming. Today we shall learn about a very special plant" he said grinning. Teddy felt something move up his foot. He turned to look at the pale faces of Lewis and Nathan. He looked down to see a small vine climb up his foot. He tried to remove it and could see many of his classmates attempting to do so. But it only held on faster the more he tried. Many started screaming for help as it got tighter and tighter. Finally it was at his neck when Professor Longbottom waved his wand over all of them. "April Fools!" he said laughing as everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"For a moment I thought its gonna strangle me to death"Lewis said holding his neck.
"Well you all have had a first had experience just a few moments ago with the Devil's Snare, a deadly plant which likes the dark and the damp. Now how many of you felt as if the harder you tried to get out of its grip, the faster it crushed you?" Almost the whole class raised their hands except for Jenna. Professor Longbottom looked over at her.
"Ms Wright, could you please tell yes why these students felt so?"
Jenna was more than happy to answer. "It's a characteristic of the Devil's Snare to constrict or strangle its victim. Any attempts at forcing out of its grip are in vain and so is panicking because the more you panic, the faster it will kill you."
"Excellent Ms Wright! Five points to Gryffindor! Would it be possible for you to also tell yes what can repel the Devil's Snare?"
"Devil's Snare hates sunlight and fire."
"Brilliant! Take five more points! Now the reason I played that little trick on you was not just for fooling you. Devil's Snare has been underestimated by many, but it too played a vital role in the war. As it has been used for a good purpose, it can be used for a bad one too. The most important thing is that to know how to stay calm even in the most dangerous of situations and think straight. This class ends here, but who wants some stories?"
There was a collective cheer as Professor Longbottom laughed and spent the rest of the class telling about his time as an Auror. Teddy and his friends walked to DADA in good spirits after the class. Professor Carthers was nowhere to be seen. As soon as they entered all the windows in the room were closed and it was dark. They moved further as spiders scuttled around the room. Liam shuddered looking at them, "I hate spiders…" It was like one of those Egyptian Pyramids, with encryptions on the walls of the class and a small fire blazing in the middle of the room.
There, standing beside the fire, was a figure with rolls of cloth around it. Teddy recognised it immediately. "Mummy…"
"Don't you think you are a bit too old to say mummy?" Lewis asked grinning.
"Not that you idiot. That's a mummy…" And just moments after Teddy saw the mummy, he turned to face the worst one of them all. In the far corner he could see two figures, a male and a female, lying dead. On closer inspection, he saw that the female had pink hair like him. The man's face was old and tired. And then it was as though their deaths were replayed as a woman with heavily lidded eyes shot a green curse at his mother when suddenly, it vanished.
"RIDDIKULUS!" He turned around to see that all the windows were now open and the desks were back in place.
"You alright Mr Lupin?" Professor Carthers asked him worriedly.
"Yeah, I am fine" he said looking at the corner. The curse hadn't touched his mother when it vanished, but he knew it had when it happened, eleven years ago.
"That was a boggart. It takes the shape of your biggest fear. I thought we might as well go a little out of course and do something better" she said walking up to him and patting his shoulder.
"Now class, this took me loads of effort to pull it off, because apparently, Professor Longbottom too had the same idea to use this day to trick and teach!" she said as the class laughed. "Today we'll be seeing something that has been so far taught only to third years but I have the faith that you will be able to do this. Now would you all please line up in the front!" There was quick movement of chairs and desks as students started lining up. Teddy hung back a bit and as a result, got lodged between two Slytherins, Aidan Murphy and Devon Boston.
"Hello!" Aidan started cheerfully at him. They hadn't talked much before.
"Hello Aidan!" he said quietly as he thought of the Boggart.
"Like the classes? I really like Professor Carthers and Professor Longbottom! They are so fun! Although I do like Professor Slughorn too! But that's probably because he teaches Potions and is a Slytherin…" he started.
"I do too!" he said smiling at Aidan. Devon turned back to see them talking.
"Looks like you got a Gryffindor for a friend Aidan" he said smirking at Teddy. Teddy just smiled back.
"Arent you two, I don't know, feeling a bit odd that you are talking to a Gryffindor?" he asked quietly.
"Well, you might want to add talking nicely to a Gryffindor. We Slytherins and Gryffindors talk all the time, although for fighting purposes" Aidan said. Teddy chuckled at that.
"Well you do have a good sense of humour." Aidan stayed still at that.
"Well what do you think you think your boggarts going to be?" Devon asked.
Teddy stayed quiet as Aidan answered, "I really despise Banshees. Don't ask me why…"
They moved forward until it was Devon's turn. He faced the black cabinet where the Boggart was locked, brows tightened in concentration. It opened and no one could see what it was exactly but soon a voice came out, "You are a Sl…." when he yelled, "RIDDIKULUS"
It just puffed into nothing and was locked again in the cabinet. No one understood what his boggart was. But soon it was Teddy's turn. He was about to step forward when Professor Carthers said, "Mr Lupin, I think you have had enough for the day. Why don't you let Mr Murphy step forward?"
He nodded and moved away, glad that he didn't have to face it again. Soon the others were done with theirs as Timothy said, "What were you doing with those two Slytherins?"
Teddy looked up, "They were just being friendly."
"They are Slytherins, Teddy, there is no reason they would become friends with you just like that!" he said a little too harshly.
"Oh for Merlins sake, do you have to hold onto these house prejudices? I am starting to get sick of it!" he said, although he knew of three particular Slytherins who he really despised.
"Fine, talk to those filthy Slytherins for all I care" he said angrily, moving to the seat behind Teddy, when Liam, Nathan and Felicia looked at them. Lewis and Jenna sat at either side of him as Felicia sat with Timothy. Since there was no space, Liam and Nathan sat together at the last seat for the rest of the class. But it was not matter of physical distance because no matter how close, he knew it wasn't going to help.
Because it was the first obstacle, the first real fight in their friendship…
A/N:
Well theres some more Hinny and Romione for you fans! While I have had one of my friends help me by being my critic on this chapter, they asked me a question which I am pretty sure you have in mind too.
Teddy knows his parents are dead then why would his boggart be their death?
Well the answer to it as I feel is that Teddy is like Remus when it comes to his fears. Remus knew he will turn into a werewolf every full moon night and still feared it although he has been doing so since he was 5. Teddy, although knows his parents are dead, hasn't seen one of them die as Harry did. So he fears the moment when the life he sees his friends having, a life of joy with parents although Harry is like his father, was snatched away from him.
Well now for the fanfic Question of the chapter: Will Teddy and Timothy become friends? You might say its obvious and that they will but think about it.
Now for the poll question! Whose your favourite new generation character of this fanfic from these?
Teddy
Lewis
Nathan
Now for my answer to the previous poll. JILY FTW! I am sorry. Although I love Snape's love for Lily, somehow I feel James and Lily were the better pair. Without them theres no Harry. And Snape wont be loved by everyone so much hadn't it been Jily at the beginning.
Ok that's it for now! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I actually like his one a bit! But that's my opinion.
I liked Percy being compared to Edmund Pevensie. He was the black sheep but changed. I liked him as a person after the war but that's all in my imagination. I always imagined to be kinder and lot less boisterous after witnessing Fred's death.
And like I always say, read and review!
Yours and yours only
~ASP~
