Chapter 10: To Be A Stark

The School of Winterfell, The North

Teddy stood on top of the roof at the northern tower, his gaze straining towards the vast forest of Wolfswood. His father and brothers were out hunting today and he wanted to watch them come galloping back on horseback. His mother would probably be throwing a fit by now. She hated when he climbed, and whenever Teddy disappeared everyone knew he was off climbing the walls of Winterfell.

There was a reason for it today. Teddy was angry at her. He had only found his familiar a few months before and she would not let him inside the castle walls. It was completely unfair. Cedric got to keep Fang, and his father got to keep his overly large, if a bit feisty owl Hedwig. He should be able to keep Aragog!

But no! According to his mother spiders were not allowed! Teddy should be spending this time bonding with his new friend. Instead, he was vying for him from the drifty rafters.

At least he could feel where Aragog was through their bond. His spider had recently caught something in his web, something large based on the vibrations. Teddy never liked to watch that part. It was always disgruntling to him to see bone and muscle and life turned into gushy liquid.

Father said Aragog was still an amateur, and he had a lot of growing left to do. But Aragog was already so big! He was at Teddy's waist currently. Acromantulas were rare in The North. They preferred moist, dense woods; not unlike the Forbidden Forest that began at the Frey's Towers and ended just before Riverrun's Finishing School. Father thought an illegal trader must have stolen an egg from a clutch and either lost it or died transporting it.

Teddy's eyes caught on a bunch of brown curls flying about down below. It did not take him long to realize he had spotted Hermione. Teddy liked her enough, and she certainly helped Ginny calm down out of her worst moods. Mother wasn't happy about his sister's friendship considering Hermione was a bastard. All they knew is her mother was Common and her father a noble. That, and she must have come from the Crownlands since her last name was Waters. All bastards with that surname came from there, just like bastards from The North were named Snow.

Teddy thought it was all stupid. It shouldn't matter whose parents were who's. All of them were people and all of them wanted to learn. Teddy had plenty of Common born friends. There was the baker's son and his sister's maid who had a son he often played with. Not that Ginny ever let her maid do her job, something which got her constantly in trouble with mother for.

He knew his father felt similar to the way he felt. Teddy had asked his father before and he had let out a loud sigh, patting his head and telling him not to stir trouble.

Teddy didn't do it on purpose. He was friends with the Reeds too, much to his mother's relief. Colin and Dennis were fun. Colin liked hunting. He was out with Teddy's father this very moment stalking down unsuspecting animals. Dennis liked playing more that his brother did, much like Teddy preferred too. Dennis would even climb to the lower towers with him. No one else would do it with him but Dennis.

And then there was Cormac Frey who had come back with his father. A new foster brother for him and someone to play with. Sadly, that did not appear to be Cormac's goal. Cormac followed Cedric around like a lost puppy. The boy wanted to be just like Cedric. Teddy wasn't sure why Cormac would even want to be like his older brother. All Cedric cared about was his hair and girls! Well, he cared about fighting too but Teddy wasn't too convinced about that.

He could see horses galloping towards Winterfell. Teddy hurried to climb down so that he would be able to greet his father and see what they would be bringing back.

To his disappointment, they had not managed to bring back any game. The cooks had to make do with what they had in the stores for their dinner instead of something fresh like they had hoped.

"You're so lucky!" Ginny whined. "You and dad and Cedric got cool familiars. All I got was stupid Pigwigdeon! Pig can't even fly right. Stupid bird," she muttered, pouting in her chair.

Teddy shrugged, scooping up some peas with his spoon. "He's better than Crookshanks."

Crookshank's was Katie's useless, fat cat. All she did was sleep and eat. Every now and then she would catch a mouse, but other than that she was completely useless. Not that Katie could see that. To Katie, Crookshank's was the perfect companion. Best of all, she didn't track mud around like everyone else's familiars.

Father was almost certain Crookshanks was part kneazle.

Katie glared at Ginny from across the table. "It's not fair father. Why did you agree to wed me to a Targaryen? Make Ginny go. She's a little beast anyways."

"Enough of that, Katie. I won't have you speak bad of your sister, especially at the dinner table," father reprimanded.

A slight blush grew on Katie's cheeks, only serving to make her even prettier. Teddy could tell Ginny was one second away from slinging some food at Katie's hair.

"You guys are sisters, and you're the only sisters you'll have," their mother sighed. "I do wish you two would get along, even for a moment."

Katie frowned at the table, appearing remorseful. "I'm sorry, I just don't want to marry him. He's barely considered a Lord. I always thought…" Katie trailed off, not finishing her sentence. Her eyes were far away, sure to be in that dream of hers where she married a handsome Lord that was young and kind and rich and loved her. He would be valiant and true in the battlefield, and always honest to her. Katie went on and on about this dream husband of hers. Teddy usually snuck off before she could finish. It was all quite boring.

"I thought Gellert Targaryen killed our grandfather," Teddy questioned innocently. If that were true he didn't get why his father would agree to such a union.

"James Targaryen stole away Aunt Lily too," Ginny added. "She died from an infection on the road."

Their father chewed his food slowly, his face thoughtful. Finally, he swallowed. "That is all true, but Lord Harry is not his father. I like to think I'm a good judge of character. The Targaryen isn't cruel or mad, just a bit lost. Besides, we should not let this fester for generations."

"Godric the Builder did the same thing to his sister," Cedric added, speaking up for the first time. "Back then we were enemies with the Baratheons, and that all but fixed it. I think it was a wise move for father to make, merging our two families."

Just then the new maid came to their table. Cedric's eyes became glued to her form, unable to look away and taking away some of the merit in his statement considering he was also betrothed but did not appear to happy with the situation either. Cedric was supposed to marrying a Tyrell girl. Her name was Victoire if Teddy remembered correctly.

Teddy nearly snorted out loud. Every time Cedric saw her he just about lost his mind. Her name was Cho, and she was from farther up north. Father said she had petitioned for the right to gain access to their school for five years, and father finally consented.

"But you're not the one marrying him!" Katie whined miserably, covering her hands with her forehead in anguish.

"Enough," their mother said softly, but firm. Her no nonsense voice. Teddy knew Katie would get nowhere with her argument this night.

Katie stiffened, glaring at their mother unhappily. "I no longer have an appetite. May I be excused?"

Father paused in his chewing and nodded. She stood up immediately, her back straight and fists clenched at her sides, before walking briskly out of the room without looking back.

After that no one wanted to talk much. Ginny had no one to mess with and the rest were solemn. That night, Teddy pulled out one of the history books on Winterfell. Professor Bagshot had taught him most the things she knew about Winterfell, but this book was special. It was passed from generation to generation, filled with things only a Stark would be interested in.

"What is that you're reading?" His father cracked the door, a half smile on his face. Teddy turned back to his book. His father always checked on him before he went to bed, just like mother checked on his sisters.

"The Starks of Winterfell," Teddy whispered, flipping the page. The bed curved down with his fathers added weight.

"Ah, that part," his father murmured.

Teddy glanced at him. "Why did we change our sigil from red?" This was the first time Teddy had heard about this. He thought the Stark sigil had always been grey and black.

"That was a very long time ago. Not too far after Kingship had been abolished." His father cocked his head, pulling the edge of the book closer to him to get a better view. "We had no need for red. It was too bright, too cumbersome for the simpleness of the north."

Uncle Regulus came through the door, joining them on the bed. "Ah, I hated that book. Almost more than I hated learning about herbology," he grumbled.

Sirius chucked. "It is a good thing you no longer need to know this, little brother."

"That, it is," he agreed happily.

With a grin, Sirius Stark ruffled his son's hair. "Don't stay up too long."

Teddy watched as he left. "I won't." He turned back to his book, sitting in companionable silence with his uncle.

"I don't know where you get all this bookish stuff from, certainly not me or your father. Your professors had the worst time attempting to tame him. He was a wild creature, a polar opposite of what he is now."

Teddy could not believe his ears. His father, Sirius Stark, undignified? Uncle Regulus had to be pulling his leg. "You're lying."

"I am not," he said, clearly affronted. "When your father was little he used to chase his sister Lily around with the toads he collected in a bucket because she was scared of them."

Teddy held in a giggle, attempting to picture his father chasing around a frightened girl with a pail of frogs. It was almost unfathomable.

Uncle Regulus leaned down to give him a hug, kissing his forehead as he pulled away. "Bill and I leave back to The Wall with the new recruits at first light. I wanted to see you before we left and knew there would be no waking you that early."

"I'll miss you Uncle Regulus," Teddy murmured, saddened by this news.

Regulus smiled indulgently. "As will I. Be a good boy for me when I'm gone."

"I promise," he agreed. "Wait," he called out. "I have a question."

Uncle Regulus cocked his head to the side, waiting for Teddy to ask whatever was troubling him. "That thing around your neck. What is it?"

Regulus glanced down, staring at the pendant that had slid from beneath his shirt in surprise. He carefully tucked it back inside. "A ring. I got it from a friend many years ago." He puzzled over this. "He was not such a good person. I wonder what he's like now."

Castle Black, The Gift

Bill Snow coughed roughly into his hand, the billowy black smoke filling his lungs even more. He pulled his leather vest up over his mouth to block some of the damaging air.

"Neville?"

The sound of something wet and gelatinous hitting something solid could be heard. After a moment of pondering Bill realized it had to be Neville vomiting.

"I'm okay!" he called back once the noise stopped. The air slowly cleared until Bill could make out Neville's shape. He was leaning against a table, appearing slightly green.

"What did you do?"

Bill walked over to Neville, taking in the melted cauldron that was now a permanent fixture to its deplorable visage.

Neville grinned sheepishly, gaining some color. "It seems as though an aging potion will not make a Devil's Snare grow." He shrugged helplessly. "I got my hands on a vine of it and was hoping to make it bigger and cover part of The Wall with it. It seems as though it will have to grow the old fashioned way."

"The temperature?" It was too frigid up here for a Devil's Snare ever to flourish.

Neville grimaced as he rubbed his forehead. "I was hoping I could find a spell to make that part warmer." He glanced over at Bill. "I was hoping I could get you to…" he trailed off, taking in the impassive look on his face. Suddenly, Neville paled. "No."

"Please?" Bill pleaded, breaking his mask.

"No." He hurried over to the other side of the table, his fumbling fingers digging into the pile of random roots, flower petals, and leaves. "Last time I covered for you I almost got caught. Bloody Marcus Thorne was looking for you!"

"Please, Neville!"

"I can't do it! I'm not like you Bill," He pleaded for Bill to understand.

Bill frowned at the floor. He knew it was wrong to ask this of Neville, but he couldn't help it. "I'll get you bark off the heart tree in the woods if you do."

At once, Neville looked pained. One hand clutched at his while the other trembled as he carefully chose his next ingredient. "A piece of bark and a leaf," Neville bargained.

Bill sagged in relief. "I'll get as many leaves as I can for you," he promised, racing out the door. He could hear Neville mumbling to himself as he left, all sure to be cursing himself for agreeing. It was no matter. Bill would try to be quick this time.

He walked over to Buckbeak who was in his stall. When his hippogriff noticed him he pawed anxiously at the ground, ready to get out and stretch his wings. He quickly opened the door, leading his friend outside before mounting him.

"Bill?"

Bill Snow froze, knowing exactly whose voice it was that called to him. Buckbeak had no such qualms that Bill had and he eagerly kicked at the ground, ready to leave this place.

Albus Targaryen's eyes twinkled in the moonlight, the barest of grins on his face. "You appear to be in a hurry."

Bill swallowed thickly. "Just taking Buckbeak out. He doesn't like being cooped up like this."

Albus nodded sagely, as if the tension that dribbled out of Bill's every pore was not so obvious and this was merely was a midnight stroll.

"I'm sure Buckbeak will enjoy his outing. I wouldn't stay out too late. I hear the next shift will be making rounds to make sure everyone is in their beds."

This happened every so often to ensure men weren't running off into the night to the town over to find women. Bill strangely realized this sounded like a warning, or a word of advice. As if Albus Targaryen knew what he was up to and was helping him to accomplish it.

It was a strange and tedious thought.

"Thank you, Sir. I'll make sure to be back before the moon rises high. Buckbeak will be pleased to be out that long."

The Targaryen nodded calmly, that smile still on his face. "I'm glad to hear that. Some of the men here have trouble finding things that bring them delight, but happiness can be found even in the darkest of places if one only remembers to turn on the light."

Before Bill could respond Albus turned around, heading up the creaking stairs and disappearing into the darkness. Buckbeak snorted out a series moody clicks, walking to the doors without waiting for Bill to tell him too. The poor creature had lost his patients with Bill.

As soon as he was past the wall that surrounded Castle Black Buckbeak broke into a gallop before flinging his wings out and taking off into the air. Bill wrapped his arms around Buckbeaks neck firmly, clasping them tightly together in an unbreakable grip. He had fallen off his back once many years ago. Buckbeak had managed to catch him before he turned himself into mush and the experience had taught him to not treat this as if it were some joy ride every time.

That did not stop the elation from buzzing through him.

He couldn't help it. Riding Buckbeak was so much better than flying on a broom. They landed in a nearby field of snow past The Wall. Buckbeak huffed, his beak rummaging through the tufts of snow in search of morsels. Bill let out a loud sigh, plopping himself into the snow, staring up into the star speckled sky.

He missed his family, but this place was the best for him. Especially Ginny and Cedric. He had always felt like he and Ginny shared similar souls, and Cedric was his brother. They were close in age, and as such their father had raised them together. Not that Lady Stark liked that. She had done everything possible to separate them.

At least Katie was the only one who really listened to their mother. Katie didn't hate him, but she didn't view him in the best light either.

"If it isn't me favorite Crow."

Bill Snow stiffened, head yanking back to stare at the familiar voice wafting from the forest. A light giggle surrounded him before Lavender stepped out.

"Bill Snow, the prettiest boy I know," she announced, meandering towards him. He sat up, knees crouched and ready for any sudden movement.

Being near Lavender always made him feel like he was on pins and needles. It wasn't that she was unpredictable, she could always be counted to make some flirty comment to him, he just didn't understand her end goal. What could she possibly want with him, and what would it get her? No matter how much he pondered over it he could not come up with a conclusive answer.

It troubled him.

"Lavender," he greeted, his tone wary and filled with distrust.

"Sweet Bill Snow," she grinned, stopping a few feet in front of him.

He gave her a nod, peering up at her. "Was there anything that you… needed?"

A frown marred her previously pleasant face and her arms crossed against her chest. "Why, do I need one?" She snorted, rolling her eyes. "As expected from a Crow. Bill Snow, you know nothing."

He glared at her, getting up off his knees. Buckbeak ignored them both to Bill's chagrin, much more interested in finding mice burrowed into the snow. "I know enough. If I didn't I'd already be dead."

That much was certain.

"Bill Snow," she reprimanded. "Can you not tell the difference between luck and knowing." She stepped closer to him, leaning forward and tilting her head with a teasing look on her face. "I'm Bill Snow!" she mimicked brashly. "I know all and I'm the best fighter on The Wall!"

Bill felt his cheeks begin to burn. "I didn't say all that," he mumbled, feeling like a child all over again.

She pulled away, a knowing look on her face. "You didn't? Are you sure? Your lips didn't but your face did."

Bill groaned, turning away and walking towards Buckbeak. He didn't feel like dealing with her. This was supposed to be a carefree ride meant to relax him and it had turned into anything but.

To his dismay when he attempted to ride Buckbeak the beast merely bucked him off, going back to his search of rodents. Buckbeak nudged him on the ground where he had fallen, checking for any scratches or cuts. When he found none he went back to ignoring him. Bill was certain he had never been so embarrassed in his life. It was only punctuated with Lavender's uncontrollable laughter. "Even your bird-horse thinks you need this lesson Bill Snow," she chortled, nothing like the silk cladded ladies he had grown up around.

"Why are you always like this with me?" he snarled, tugging at his hair in frustration. "I don't understand it! I don't understand you." He marched up to her, their noses so close they nearly touched. That stubborn look on her face did not waiver, if anything it strengthened.

"You don't know what I'm doing Bill Snow?" She arched a brow at him, taking a final defiant step so that their bodies touched. He could feel the outline of her breasts through their thick furs, her breath warm against his chin.

"No." The anger had ebbed away when her body touched his and much to his dismay something else was budding. Something that had to business here. "You flirt with me and do things like this. I don't understand what you want," he admitted.

A smile played across her mouth, eyes dropping to his lips. "Bill Snow, I thought you would at least know when a women likes a man."

He blinked, eyes wide as he repeated her sentence in her head in disbelief.

She… liked him?

It couldn't be that simple. Nothing ever was. "I mean it. What do you want? If you don't tell me I'll refuse to be your messenger. I won't be pulled into whatever games you're playing." He had left for the wall because of them.

Her face remained neutral, blue eyes thoughtful as they raked across his face. Her eyes trailed their way down his neck, not stopping until her hand reached out to his chest. A soft touch, barely discernable beneath the thickness of his furs.

But it burned, oh how it burned.

"It's very simple Bill Snow," she whispered, her gaze still locked on her hand against his chest. "I want you as my man." She pulled away, a rueful smile on her lips as she shook her head in dry amusement.

He took a startled breath in, fists tensed at his side. As her man? He shook his head, closing his eyes to bite down on his lip. "It's never that simple. I don't believe that's all you want."

Her hands locked together behind her back and she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. "Why must it be complicated? You southerners make everything bigger than it needs to be. What else could I possibly want from you?" she scoffed.

He gnashed his teeth, searching for any type of conclusion. Nothing added up. She couldn't gain anything by this. Perhaps secrets of the Night's Watch, but she had no true need for them. Not when the Wildlings outnumbered the Night's Watch nearly five hundred to one. It would be a hopeless battle if they really did press to make their way across The Wall like they had been threatening to.

"I can see your mind trying to come up with something." She grinned, her nose scrunching up. "You can't, can you? You have nothing to offer me save for your body and mind, and that is all I want."

He cleared his throat, unnerved. "I made a vow," he whispered, voice cracking. "I can't-I couldn't-"

"Oliver Rayder made a vow," she interrupted. "So did Craster and a bunch of other men. That vow means nothing Bill Snow."

"It means something to me."

She eyed him, taking in his posture and body language. When she finished she smirked. It couldn't have been too hard to read what he really wanted, not with his body as tense as it was.

She stepped up again, placing both hands against his stomach before interlocking her hand with his and dragging him into the forest. Buckbeak watched from his vantage point, his expression bored, munching on a rat he had managed to find.

"Where are you taking me?"

He could break her grip on him any moment. It would be too easy. She was a strong woman, feisty, but Bill still had the upper hand in strength. No matter how much he told himself this he could not manage to act on his words.

"I'm letting you steal me Bill Snow, like the free folk do."

He swallowed thickly, watching the hair on the back of her hair sway. Lavender was a hole he had fallen into, a hole he didn't want to climb out of. It was horrifyingly wonderful. And he wanted her, so he would take her. Just like the free folk do.