Teddy Remus Lupin was nervous. It was not the 'butterflies in the stomach' kind of nervous, no, it was the 'get me a bucket before I show you my breakfast' type of anxiety.
The little boy, eleven years of age, lay in bed, staring at the ceiling covered in posters: both Quidditch (Holyhead Harpies, of course) and wizard bands (classics like the Weird Sisters and newer ones).
Today, the young metamorphmagus with his trademark teal-colored hair was going to board the Hogwarts Express and enter into a new world and when one is staring at the cracks in the ceiling at the ungodly hour of five in the morning, one's thoughts on one of the biggest day's of your life can get out of hand.
He knew that he had a lot to live up to. Being the godson of the Harry Potter, being (practically) related to the Weasleys, having war hero parents, and being the war baby of the wizarding world. Teddy was already used to the looks he would get when they went to Diagon Alley but they still annoyed him, though being a metamorphmagus helped somewhat, though he could not control his powers 100 percent.
Sighing, Teddy rolled over in bed again and started to think about his parents. He had already gone through the angry phase a year ago. He was told many times, by Harry, his grandmother, and many others that his parents had died for him, and by now he was proud of them.
Teddy Lupin thought about the memories he had seen in his grandmother's Pensieve. All of his family members (he called the Potters and Weasleys his family because they were as good as) had combined their fond memories of his parents together in a big gift for his birthday a few years ago.
Every now and then he would sneak into his grandmother's study and look at his mother as she tripped over her own feet or stare at his father as he taught Harry how to produce a Patronus.
Occasionally, when he was alone in his room, he would feel someone watching him and, expecting Grandmum Tonks or Harry at his doorway, would look back and see nothing but Kirley McCormack Duke with his guitar on the wall.
He usually let his mind wonder to his parents but quickly shoved that theory into the back of his mind.
So now, as Teddy blinked at the light shining through his window, revealing the late hour in the morning, he decided to think about something he had been thinking about a lot in the past months: his house at Hogwarts.
Teddy had talked to Harry about it and had come to the conclusion that it did not matter. Well, as long as he was not in Slytherin, he was fine. Gryffindor, where it dad had been, would be wonderful, as would Hufflepuff, where his mom had been. Ravenclaw was also fine since it was a nice compromise between the two, Harry and him had deduced.
"Teddy," Grandmum Tonks said as she stuck her head into her grandson's room.
"I'm awake, Grandmum," the boy said as he sat up.
"Good, it's time to get up. You need to eat breakfast soon, because it's eight forty-five and Harry wants you at his house at nine fifteen."
"I thought we were meeting him and the Weasley's at the Platform?" Teddy scratched his head, his hair flicking from turquoise to pink and back, causing his grandmother to pause before answering.
"Well, Harry said he has something to give to you, though I haven't the slightest idea what, he already gave you Remus' wand and I gave you your mother's trunk…. Anyway, I made you pancakes, so hurry up," Andromeda turned and left the room, her dark purple robes billowing behind her.
Teddy shrugged and scurried out of bed, getting out of his pajamas and putting on muggle jeans and a dark blue shirt. He stuffed his pajamas in his trunk which was covered in muggle stickers and mini wizarding posters with permanent-sticking charms on then, all put on there by his mother and Teddy did not even entertain the idea to try to take them off.
He pushed his hands through the sleeves of a thin jacket and pushed his trunk along the floor, letting it come to a stop at the top of the stairs where his grandmother had said she would Levitate it down.
000
"Okay, Teddy, grab your trunk and a handful of Floo Powder. Don't forget to speak clearly and I'll see you on the Platform."
"Alright, see ya, Grandmum," Teddy said before throwing the powder into the grate, and shouting his destination.
After enduring the sickening feeling of traveling by the Floo, he landed on the rug in front of Harry Potter's fireplace, coughing with his color-full trunk next to him.
"Teddy," his godfather said as he came into the room, a little baby in his arms, her red hair coming out in small tuffs.
"Hey Harry, Lily," Teddy said after a thanks to Harry for cleaning off his soot-covered clothes.
The one year old gurgled happily as Teddy's hair changed to copy her hair color before he turned it back to teal (after trying twice, since the first two times did not work).
"Here, let me go put Lily in the kitchen. I take it Andromeda gave you breakfast?"
Teddy nodded as he followed Harry into the kitchen where he saw Albus, at three years old, sitting in a high chair, eating dry cereal.
"Hey Ginny," Teddy smiled at Harry's wife who was busy wiping the morning's breakfast off of James' face.
Ginny smiled as she said, "Hey Ted, excited for today?"
"Yeah, but also nervous," he said with a small laugh as he picked up a piece of cereal Albus had knocked off.
"I was too, I almost didn't hear McGonagall when she called my name," Ginny said with a grin as she used her wand to get applesauce out of James' jet-black hair.
"You did?" Harry asked as he fastened Lily into a high chair next to Albus.
"Yes, I did. Fred and George wouldn't stop making fun of me once I got to the table. But, of course, you didn't know because you were too busy flying into trees, weren't you?"
"Oh! Was that that time you couldn't get through the barrier," Teddy said, amusement and nervousness evident in his voice.
"Yeah but don't worry. I doubt there are house-elves who think you shouldn't be going to Hogwarts. Anyway, come on, Ted, I need to give you something."
Harry motioned him to follow as he climbed the stairs of their large house.
They walked into Harry's office and Harry went to his desk and pulled out a piece of yellowing parchment.
"Teddy," the man with glasses started as they sat down on the worn couch in the corner.
Teddy's hair went to an interesting shade of purple as he looked at his godfather with a curious expression.
"Here," Harry handed him the fold parchment.
The eleven year old opened the paper and raised his eyebrows at it. Even after turning it over, the parchment was blank, nothing but indications of its age on the surface.
Just as he was about to question Harry, slanted writing appearing at the top surprised him.
Mr. Moony would like to bid Teddy Lupin a good day and ask how he came up with that as his last name.
Teddy jumped slightly, but did not dare to look at Harry because that would mean taking his eyes away from the talking parchment. The writing disappeared and another type of script was put across the page.
Mr. Padfoot would like to forget the formalities and wonder how Lupin came across the map at such a young, impressionable age.
Mr. Prongs wants to know if Mr. Lupin stole the map from Filch and if so, would like to congratulate him on his accomplishment.
Mr. Wormtail has to comment on the horrid color Lupin's hair is and wants to know why he chose such a girly color.
Mr. Moony asks Teddy to forgive his friend and says that he prefers that to any boring color.
Mr. Padfoot wants to ask Mr. Lupin if he knows a Nymphadora Tonks since she, too, is a metamorphmagus.
Mr. Prongs would like to know why the younger Mr. Lupin has not spoken yet.
Teddy's gray eyes were wide, his wonder clearly written on his face.
At the pause in the conversation, Teddy chanced a look at Harry and saw a huge smile on his face.
"I'm confused," the boy said quietly after a moment.
Harry grinned some more as he took out his wand and tapped the parchment while saying, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
But instead of the four different people's scrawls pouring on the page, thin, green and loopy writing flooded the page, coming together to write out:
Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief Makers
are proud to present
The Marauder's Map
Then, under the title a large map formed. It showed various rooms and hallways connected in what he thought to be a castle, the names of each place written in small writing. Every now and then, he would see a small dot that was labeled with similar print.
"This," Harry said, "is the Marauder's Map. It shows every corridor, classroom, and secret passageway in Hogwarts. It also shows every person in Hogwarts Castle."
"Wow."
Teddy's gaze returned to the map, "This is awesome! Where'd you get this? Did you uh… take it from 'Filch' like that guy said?"
"No," Harry chuckled, "Fred and George gave it to me in my third year. They uh… they stole it from Filch."
"Brilliant! Wait… why are you giving it to me? Why aren't you saving it for James or Albus?"
"Well, Teddy, you will have graduated by the time James goes to Hogwarts. And before you ask why I'm not going to give it to a Weasley, this is more special to you than any of the Weasleys."
"How?"
"Because you know one of these men, the Marauders. I know them too, a little better than you. I've met then all as well. Prongs was James Potter, my dad; Padfoot was my godfather and your distance cousin, Sirius Black; Wormtail was Peter Pettigrew; and Moony was Remus Lupin, your dad."
Teddy closed his mouth, which he opened to ask a question, as the last name was spoken. His hair, unconsciously, went from purple to sandy-brown.
A smile appeared on his face, as he looked the first name at the top.
"Our dads made this?"
"Yep, along with Sirius and Pettigrew, but he doesn't count anymore. This map has saved my life countless times and helped me get out of trouble many times as well. Now, I think you should have it; it only seems fit. Besides, I don't need it anymore."
"Harry! We've got to get going, we don't wanna be late!" Ginny yelled from downstairs.
"Well, no need to get her annoyed. Let's get going, we've got to get the little ones ready. Oh yeah, be sure to say 'mischief managed' when you're done."
"Harry," Teddy said as the older Potter walked towards the door.
He turned around at the voice and raised his eyebrow in question.
Teddy took the few steps to him and gave him a hug, "Thank you."
Harry was surprised, but quickly hugged him back.
"Harry Potter! Get down here now and get your son!"
Teddy broke away and sniggered, Harry let out a whistle as he went down the stairs swiftly. Teddy then startled laughing loudly when they went into the living room where Ginny was, holding Lily and had Al at her feet. James was living up to his name as he took off all his clothes, putting then in the fireplace.
000
Teddy Lupin was now standing on Platform 9 ¾ surrounded by red hair and steam.
All the Weasleys, the Potters, and Andromeda Tonks were there to see him off.
He said good-bye to his family while trying to ignore the stares he was getting from the various witches and wizard also bidding their family good-bye.
He got slaps on the back from the men, hugs from the women, and many 'good lucks' and 'don't forget to writes'. He also hugged Victoire, his best friend, telling her he would write her all about the castle.
After a big squeeze from a crying grandmother, the train sounded and he climbed aboard, his trunk dragging behind him.
He found a compartment in the back and stuck his head out the window, waving to his favorite people in the world.
"Teddy!" George yelled, "Don't forget to send us a Hogwarts toilet seat!"
This comment caused his nervousness for the future and sadness for leaving the past to evaporated as he grinned, though it also caused George to be hit by the women closest to him on the Platform: his wife and mother.
The young metamorphmagus laughed and waved some more as the train began to move, his family waving back.
He pulled his head back into the compartment, as they all became dots and sat back.
He was not alone for long because a fellow first-year with brown hair stumbled in with his trunk being dragged by a broken handle. He caught his breath a moment before looking up, jumping slightly when he saw Teddy sitting near the window.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there, mate. Is it alright if I stay here," the boy asked, pointing to the ground, "I was in another compartment but some sixth-years kicked me out and since they know more hexes than I do, I decided not to fight them, ya know? Well, anyway, I'm Lane, Lane Mansin."
The kid named Lane held out his hand to Teddy, who was slightly shocked by how much the boy could say in one breath. Teddy shook his hand.
"Yeah, you can stay, it's only me in here."
Teddy smiled kindly as the boy sat across from him.
"Nice hair, - What did you say your name was?"
"Oh, sorry, I'm Teddy Lupin. Before I say thanks, can you tell me what color my hair is?" Teddy said as he tried to look at a piece of his short hair.
"It's a orangey-red… wait! You're Teddy Lupin?"
"Uh… yeah?"
"As in the Teddy Lupin with Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks as parents and Harry Potter as a godfather?" Lane said, a god smacked look on his round face.
Teddy sighed inwardly, "Yeah, that's me."
"That's wicked, mate! So you're a metamorphmagus like your mum, right?"
"Yeah, I am," Teddy was ready to answer the next question.
"That's awesome. I wish I was a metamorphmagus, I hate my hair color."
"Well… aren't you gonna ask me to change my face or something?"
"What? No, your hair just turned this magenta color by itself."
Teddy laughed before scrunching his face up, making it his favorite teal color.
A/N This chapter is one of the longer ones but the plot bunnies were hopping away… which is ironic since yesterday was Easter. By the way, that Kirley guy is part of the Weird Sisters. Um… I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you're glad that I updated faster. Once again, I'm not quite sure what the next chapter will be about, so if you have any suggestions, feel free to share them. Oh yeah, Lane Mansin is mine.