Rain began pouring over the hills surrounding Hogwarts, the large black cloud would soon be upon them, but that didn't bother Ron in the slightest. His slightly-too-long hair was being swept across his face as he paced briskly back and forth. He was rubbing his chin, trying to gather some sort of idea from the depths of his mind. He was so focused in doing so, the brisk steps of his red-faced best friend on the stone steps did not disturb him.

'Ron.' Harry acknowledged, not stopping, 'Time to go.'

Ron snapped out of his trance, nodded briefly and set off at the same pace as Harry towards the Hogwarts main gates.

The main gates were not something that was around during the men's time at the school. They were put in as an easy access point to the school, floo networks would get easily clogged up, especially around the Battle of Hogwarts anniversary.

Harry uttered the pass-spell and the gates creaked open. Again, Harry strode off, leaving Ron to trailing behind him.

'Harry,' Ron said, slightly breathless, 'What did you-'

'I told Teddy to stay.' Harry interrupted, 'Ginny will pick him up tonight for the Halloween weekend. Things will conduct as normal, bar me you and James missing the festivities.'

Ron chose not to answer. He had suspected that Harry was not quite with it, not blaming him, of course. The moment Ron had found out, his own heart sank at the though a similar thing happening to young Hugo.

'Harry,' Ron said, stopping, 'Maybe you should stay out of this case, for your own sake.'

Harry stopped dead in his tracks and turned slowly. Ron grit his teeth, knowing that such a confrontational comment would bring about some reaction.

'Ron, you have been my friend since we were 11 years old. How you can consider me to be the sort of person to leave the search for my 14 year old son to everyone else escapes my logic.' Harry looked intensely into Ron's eyes, 'You wouldn't leave Hugo.'

Ron flinched slightly before deciding to leave the topic, and the two men continued down the road to Hogsmeade, where the rest of the team lay in wait of Teddy's description.

I've been wandering this corridor for hours.

There's no-one here, it's empty.

The black walls are lined with torches, light flickering off my eyes, giving me some kind of visibility.

I shouldn't be here, what is going on? I thought I was with my best friend…man my head must be screwed up, or this is some kind of dream, or trick. If it's a trick, boy am I gonna…

Enough of that now, where am I?

I push a piece of long hair out of my face and try to gain my bearings.

What do I remember?

I woke up in a dark room, just me alone. My body was stiff and my joints were painful. I lifted myself up and headed towards the only door in the room, this led to the series of corridors. I don't remember much else. I know my name, that's easy. I know where I SHOULD be, that's for sure. There's only one other thing I know for sure.

The handwriting on this note.

The elegant curls are known by most of the wizarding population of Britian! It was a simple note, but it was crumpled and looked old. It only said two sentences.

If you are reading this, he needs you.

Find him.

Hogwarts it is then.

Teddy had already made up his mind.

After spending the afternoon with the girls, trying to pretend he was alright, Teddy had decided what he was going to do. It was an easy decision.

At 9 o'clock that evening, Teddy began his preparation. An hour would be enough for him to prepare and reach the tunnel, so that Ginny would not pick him up.

Teddy pulled out an old backpack from under the bed after ensuring the dorm was empty. He shook the dust off it, before throwing in his Quidditch trainers and gloves, along with 2 sets of clean muggle clothes. He folded his uniform up and pulled on some scraggy jeans, a long sleeved t shirt, and a dark blue hoody. The only thing he would keep from his uniform was his crimson and gold scarf.

The next part was harder than he thought it would be. Teddy sat on his bed, quill and parchment at the ready. What would he write? He decided to keep it simple;

I'm sorry Ginny, Jackie, Darcy.

Don't come and find me, I can look after myself.

Teddy.

Teddy placed the note neatly on top of his folded uniform. He studied the scene for a second before leaving the room and heading down a few floors to the 4th year dorm. Teddy creaked the door open slowly and peeked round the corner. He smiled at his luck, the room was empty.

Teddy knew which bed was James's so he ran over, scowled slightly at the messy demeanour, and opened his trunk.

Good Teddy thought to himself he keeps it right at the top of the trunk.

Teddy picked up the small piece of parchment and left the room. He got back up to his dorm, grabbed his broom, and was about to fly out of the small window before something hit him.

He was missing the most important thing to him.

Cursing, Teddy dropped his broom and scuttled over to the hangars by the door, he threw 6th year Eoin Hartley's coat on the floor and picked up his own long, brown trench coat.

Teddy smiled slightly as he put it on, slipping the Marauder's map in his pocket in the process. This was his favourite coat.

His father's coat.

Harry had given it to him when he started Hogwarts, only recently had he been able to fit into it. Ginny would, on many occasions, persist at him not to pick the thread of the elbow patches.

Would he be proud of me? Teddy thought to himself before flying out of the window silently Would he condone my decision?

His thoughts wandered slightly as he activated the map and surveyed the area. Teddy was hidden behind a bush at the bottom of the tower, he couldn't see anyone, but it was better than taking the risk.

Dark eyes scanned the parchment, checking up on those near him. The closest to him was Neville, who was in the greenhouses. No problem there then. Jackie and Darcy were in the common room, so they would not have seen him leave. Just as Teddy started for the Whomping Willow, a movement on the parchment stopped him in his tracks.

A name had appeared in the tunnel from the tree to Hogsmeade. A name Teddy had seen many a time, but did not expect to see at this moment. A name that was running towards the school, in his tunnel.

Teddy froze. He stared in disbelief at the name. Teddy shook the parchment.

'Piece of crap.' He said to himself quietly, considering the parchment to be faulty.

But the name was still there.

It had stopped now, about halfway down the tunnel. Time to go and investigate.

Silently casting the first spell he learnt, Wingardium Leviosa, Teddy dropped a rock onto the root of the tree, freezing it.

He slid into the small gap, dragging his broom and his bad behind him.

Wand out, Teddy began down the tunnel, heartbeat in his ears. Either the map was playing a trick on him (it had been known to insult him from time to time), or someone had confounded it so that they were listed as this name.

The darkness was terrifying. A curve in the tunnel was coming up, and Teddy could hear breathing round the corner. The faint light alerted Teddy to the close proximity between himself and the mystery person. Backing himself against the wall, Teddy shuffled along the tunnel, as silently as he could.

But he was not as quiet as he thought.

His deep breathing alerted the person, who came striding round the corner, wand held aloft, frowning at the face in front of him. The face of a young man clutching a wand, some parchment and a broomstick.

Teddy's jaw dropped. Even in the semi-dim light, Teddy knew exactly who this person was. The shaggy dark hair, the gaunt looking face, the dark grey eyes. The two stood in silence, the older man still looking at Teddy and his attire. Teddy decided the break the silence.

'Um, what is-'

'Where the hell did you get that coat?'