Note: For Gelly Bean, who is responsible for my less than speedy update because she has distracted me with pretty pictures!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor am I making any profit from this piece of writing.
10: Protecting the Protector
"Well..." From his position sprawled upon an armchair in the Gryffindor Common Room, Chester Burton puffed his cheeks thoughtfully, tilting his head back so that he could stare up at the stone ceiling. "This Carrow-Smyth bloke sounds like a right prat."
Teddy paused briefly in his pacing up and down before the fireplace in order to shoot his friend an irritated look, unimpressed by this summary of his long speech.
"Well he's not." Victoire retorted darkly, abandoning the strand of hair that she had been fiddling with throughout Teddy's account. "If Artemis Carrow-Smyth wants to use this whole affair as a reason to get Uncle Remus into trouble...well..." she trailed off into silence as Teddy turned to pace back towards her, her gaze averted from his eyes upon her.
"Well what?" Teddy asked, folding his arms expectantly over his chest as he came to a halt. The space before the fireplace was not a great length, his short pacing was beginning to make his head spin.
"Well...Uncle Remus is probably screwed." Victoire concluded reluctantly, frowning down at the crimson rug upon which she sat.
"No he isn't!" Teddy protested angrily as Chester sucked in a sharp breath behind him. "My dad's record is squeaky clean! And he told me it doesn't matter what Smyth thinks because he's not done anything wrong! He told me there's nothing to worry about..."
"Well he would say that, wouldn't he Ted?" Victoire interrupted impatiently, reaching to pick at a loose thread upon her skirt in frustration. "He's your dad..."
"My dad doesn't lie to me!" Teddy insisted, stamping a foot in emphasis as he attempted to disregard his suspicions from back in the corridor.
"Of course he does! He's a father, they all do it!"
"You're wrong!"
"He's trying to protect you, Teddy."
There was a long silence as Teddy gritted his teeth against further hysteria, screwing his eyes shut for a moment before sighing heavily.
"He hasn't done anything wrong." he complained, hands upon his hips as he eyed each of his friends in turn, as if daring them to disagree with him. "He's got nothing to do with those attacks, or that stupid prophecy! I'm not the Child!"
"We know, Teddy mate." Chester assured him soberly as Victoire nodded in hasty agreement.
"My dad's been protecting me since before I was born." Teddy announced, eyes widening in passionate emphasis. "He never lets anything bad happen to me if he can help it, not ever! But who's protecting him? Mum's away again for Merlin knows how long, she probably doesn't even know what's happening! And they wouldn't even listen to her or Harry or the others anyway! They'll say they're all biased! Dad can try and protect me all he likes, but there's nobody protecting him! He can't keep me safe all the time if the Ministry chuck him into Azkaban, can he? That's why I can't listen to him. I have to protect him, Vic, otherwise he can't keep on protecting me." Teddy's expression hardened resolutely as he told his friends: "I will find the real Child."
There was a long silence as Victoire stared up at him admiringly and Chester scrambled into a more upright, serious pose.
"Actually, Teddy mate," the muggle born told his best friend. "We will."
"Chester's right," Victoire said, leaping enthusiastically to her feet and reaching to grab a book from the sofa behind her. "And we know just where to look!" She opened the book at a bookmarked page and thrust it under Teddy's nose.
The Introduction of the Werewolf Registry, Teddy read the bold title at the top of the page, before Victoire's finger came to point at a sub heading some three-quarters of the way down the page: The Register Today.
"They still keep all sorts of information about werewolves on the Register." Victoire told him. "It says here that discrimination by employers or courts is illegal these days, but the register's still pretty intrusive. The Ministry still want to keep an eye on people, what with there having been a lot of werewolves supporting Voldemort and being bitter about the previous legislation. They have to notify the Ministry if they move house, or travel abroad somewhere. If they fail to declare stuff as they should, the Ministry gives them a formal warning, and if they get found out again it goes on their permanent record and they get fined."
Chester gave a snort.
"I thought there was supposed to be equality these days, what with Shacklebolt in charge."
"It's not as bad as it sounds." Teddy reasoned as Victoire tossed the book back onto the sofa. "Back before the reforms, when they were still rounding up Greyback's lot, we used to get the Ministry hammering on the door every month asking loads of questions. I remember the time they knocked when Dad was over at The Burrow...I must've only been about two, but I remember being utterly terrified. Mum must've said Dad wasn't in and the Ministry man totally lost his temper with her, they yelled at each other so loudly it frightened me to tears. Then Mum slammed the door in his face. These days people just have to write to the Registry themselves, they don't come and poke their noses in very often, in fact sometimes they're helpful, they have a list of approved apothecaries that they fund to supply affordable Wolfsbane and they can refer people to help centers and stuff."
"There's one problem with the Register." Victoire told the two boys as she dropped down to sit upon the sofa. "It's not open to public viewing. Only Ministry employees with valid request forms can see it."
"And even if we could see it, we're stuck here at school." Chester added, and Teddy pursed his lips together thoughtfully.
"We'll have to think of something." the werewolf's son decided, reaching to scratch his head.
"First, though, I say we go and check on your dad." Victoire said, getting back to her feet and heading straight for the portrait hole. "Make sure Carrow-Smyth hasn't managed to arrest him or anything."
As the two boys followed her, Chester asked:
"Do you think we could ask him about the Register? He must know a lot about it."
"I think if I so much as mutter the word werewolf within earshot of him, he'll know I'm up to something."
"But he doesn't know I'm up to something too." Victoire pointed out, shooting the boys an exaggerated smile, batting her eyelids innocently. "He'd suspect Chester, yes, but not me."
Teddy pressed his lips together against laughter as Chester looked utterly revolted by this statement.
"She's right." Teddy admitted as they headed down the steps, offering the Fat Lady a smile as they went. "Vic's got my dad and the rest of her uncles wrapped around her little finger. The only one who sees through it is Uncle George. The rest think she's a little angel."
"Except for when she's hexing Orion's sister in the middle of Defense class, or helping us break into your dad's office. I bet he doesn't think she's an angel then."
"He's probably forgotten all about that by now." Victoire assured them confidently, jumping the last few steps down onto the landing before spinning around to face the boys. "Especially since I helped tidy up after Dueling Club two weeks in a row."
They continued on in silence for a long moment before Chester wondered aloud:
"How come Carrow-Smyth dislikes you dad so much then, Ted?"
"He wouldn't tell me why," Teddy recalled with a frown. "But I think it might have something to do with my mum."
There was only a momentary pause before Chester theorized:
"Maybe he fancies her...ouch!"
Teddy withdrew his fist from it's assault on his friend's arm and demanded:
"Shut up Chester!"
"I was only saying!" Chester whined, reaching to rub his now aching limb.
"Well don't! She's my MUM!"
"What's your point, Ted?" Victoire asked, turning to shoot him a questioning look. "Just because women have children doesn't mean they become instantaneously unattractive!"
Teddy shoved his hands furiously into his pockets, silently cursing his father's firm insistence that hitting girls was a crime punishable by Eternal Moral Damnation. Teddy had attempted to point out that Remus hadn't seemed to have had a problem with smacking Bellatrix one if he ever got the chance, but Tonks had pointed out that Remus had never been in the habit of having fist fights with Death Eaters, and besides, Bellatrix hadn't been a woman, she had been a Psychotic Evil Bitch from Hell. The debate had ended at that point, because his parents had immediately began a new one, regarding the relationship between how evil a person was and how rude one could consequently be about them in the presence of one's nine year old son.
"You know, Teddy Bear," Victoire continued, seemingly oblivious to Teddy's silent fury. "Uncle Ron and Auntie Hermione were complaining about Carrow-Smyth at the dinner table one time a while back. I'd not heard of him before and I've not heard about him since, but I remember that conversation like it was yesterday because I felt unnerved by it."
"Why?" Chester asked eagerly, and Teddy winced a little in anticipation. He was not entirely sure he wanted to hear of any horror stories about the man who was so intent on causing his father trouble.
"I'm not sure...we were at my house, we had Uncle Ron and Auntie Hermione round for dinner, and your parents too, Ted, and they were talking about this new Auror who'd just been accepted into the Department. Your mum had sent her down to the Werewolf Registry to look up something or other, and she'd come back all flustered and complained that Carrow-Smyth had been rude...or something...I don't remember exactly what. But I just remember watching Auntie Dora...she was sat opposite me...she didn't say a word throughout the whole conversation, which was odd enough because she always has something to say. But it wasn't like she was too busy eating or anything, either, because she didn't eat a mouthful of her dinner since they started talking. And then Uncle Ron said something like...well he treats all the female staff like that, doesn't he Tonks? And then she just sort of shrugged and mumbled something before leaving the room. And I remember feeling unnerved, because I've never heard of anybody who could make Auntie Dora act like that."
Teddy was about to ask how Carrow-Smyth treated the female staff when Chester recalled:
"My cousin Emily goes a bit like that when we talk about cousin Ben's mate Steven. She got drunk at a party once and snogged him in front of his girlfriend...ex-girlfriend, I mean."
"Your cousin Emily snogs anything that moves, Ches." Teddy told the other boy rather impatiently. "It's disgusting." He was about to voice his burning question when he realized that they had arrived outside of Remus' office, so he decided to save it for later.
Teddy approached the door, Chester and Victoire just behind him, and raised his fist to knock upon the door, only to pause and draw in a deep, nervous breath.
What if Remus was gone? What if Carrow-Smyth had taken him away?
He was startled out of his thoughts when a fist reached over his shoulder and hammered loudly on the door. Teddy glanced over his shoulder just in time to see Chester fold his arms across his chest, eyebrows raised at his nerves, before a voice called:
"Who is it?"
Teddy felt relief wash over his at the sound of his father's voice and he leaned forward until his lips were practically brushing the wooden door before calling back:
"It's me, Dad."
There was a sizeable pause before Teddy heard a muffled voice murmur:
"Oh Merlin, not now..."
"Shhh. It's alright..."
Teddy was about to turn and whisper to his friends that Remus was not alone when he jumped back a step at the sound of a lock clicking and the door was pulled open a fraction.
The professor eyed the three children with a small smile, settling himself against the door frame as he observed:
"I am popular today, aren't I?"
As Victoire beamed up at him and Chester attempted to look equally as amiable, Teddy tried to
cover his curiosity about who it was he had heard speaking with a casual shrug.
"Just checking you've not been dragged kicking and screaming out of castle and into a prison cell." he explained brightly, reaching to shove his hands into his pockets.
Remus pressed his lips tightly together, whether against amusement or disapproval Teddy was unsure, before gesturing to himself with his free hand.
"No, I'm definitely still here." he decided, releasing his grip upon the door so that he could fold his arms across his chest. "And even if I wasn't...kicking and screaming? Really, Ted?"
"Well...yeah, you never know..." Teddy mumbled as Chester failed to suppress a snigger.
"I'd kick and scream if Artemis Carrow-Smyth so much as offered to escort me down a flight of stairs, let alone all the way to Azkaban!" Victoire declared, eyes widening in horror at the very idea. "He sounds dead creepy to me!"
"Quite..." Remus murmured, straightening up as the two boys nodded their agreement. "Well, should I come to find myself being dragged kicking and screaming out of the school gates, I shall no doubt remember to scream as loudly as my lungs will permit – that way you'll hear me and know what's going on."
"Thanks, Dad."
"Now if that's all, I best get back to work. I've got twenty essays to mark by tomorrow morning."
"Oh..." Teddy mumbled, automatically taking a step backwards, battling to attempt to think of something useful to say, only for Victoire to step past him, a particularly anguished expression upon her face.
"Actually, Uncle Remus," she practically whispered, voice suddenly strained as she glanced back at the two boys self-consciously. "I...I have a question."
Teddy was sure that Remus' posture slumped a little at this declaration, but he fixed a perfectly neutral expression upon his face and asked:
"What's that, Victoire?"
The little actress bit her lip in consideration for a long moment, before gazing up at him intently through long lashes.
"Well...well Ted says the Ministry are asking questions to loads of people who are on the Register."
"That's right."
"Who else is working on the case, then? Other than Carrow-Smyth?"
Remus frowned, fingers tapping thoughtfully upon his forearm.
"What about the Auror Department?" Victoire pressed. "Are they helping?"
"No." Of this one thing, Remus was apparently certain. "They wouldn't let your Aunt Dora's lot within a million miles of this one."
"Magical Law Enforcement, then?"
"That would be most likely."
Victoire let out a sigh of relief.
"Well that's good, then." she announced, brightening a little. "There will be plenty of people figuring things out. Somebody's bound to figure out the truth, aren't they?"
"I'm sure they will."
"Good. I was worried, when Teddy said you might end up in Azkaban."
"Me too," Chester interjected. "Mrs. Lupin would be totally pi..."
"Well then, if everything's okay we'll just leave you to your marking." Teddy announced rather loudly, as Victoire chose that moment to sneeze violently. "Stay out of trouble, won't you Dad?"
Again, Remus raised an eyebrow, seemingly unwilling to dignify this question with a proper response.
"Enjoy the rest of your weekend." he told them, and before they could offer much more than a collective mumble in response, he had disappeared behind a closed door.
"What kind of question was that?" Chester grumbled as they set off down the corridor again, Teddy lagging behind a little as he fumbled around in the pocket of his jacket.
"A very important one, actually!" Victoire announced, chin jutting out defiantly. "Besides, I couldn't think of anything else to ask...Teddy's right...it's difficult asking him things without sounding suspicious. Still, I'm sure we can figure things out on our own, right Teddy Bear?"
There was no response.
"Ted?" Victoire glanced over her shoulder, only to find that Teddy had come to a halt some distance back. He was staring down at a tatty looking piece of parchment with wide eyes.
"What's up?" Chester asked as he and Victoire hurried back to see what had the metamorphmagus so surprised.
"It's my mum." he breathed, eyes fixed upon a pair of still footprints upon the Marauders' Map.
"What?" Chester asked dimly as he came to a halt and squinted down at the map.
"It's my mum." Teddy repeated, reaching to prod at the map with his finger. "She's in the Defense office with Dad."
"I thought you said she was still in Cornwall or somewhere." Victoire recalled as she came to stand at Teddy's other side.
"I thought she was..." Teddy mumbled, frowning deeply. "It didn't sound like her just now, either. Her voice isn't usually that...squeaky..." When Chester looked as though he would snigger, Teddy gave him a warning glance before wiping the map clear with a mumble and a jab of his wand.
"I'll see you back in the common room." he told them as he hurriedly folded the map and shoved it back into his pocket. "I'm going to go and see what's going on."