"Winky. Winky focus." When he had her attention he continued. "Where did they go Winky. You must tell me" Teddy grasped the tops of her shoulders gently.
"They goes the past Master bear. They take Master 'arry's turner."
Chapter 11 - The bond between man and elf
There becomes a time in a persons life where a pause occurs for a second in order for that person to question either the decision they just made or the decisions they may make which will affect their future. When this pause occurs that person thinks to themselves 'why did I just do that' and suddenly whether internal or external they will express an array of emotions whether that be happiness or dismay that will stick in said persons memory as a constant reminder of whether the decision taken was the correct one for that 'moment'. The biggest question being 'could you imagine if I hadn't done that'.
James was not afraid to admit that this had occurred to him a few times over the 24 hour period that the Potters had been stuck in 2016. Although he considered himself a second generation marauder and pranking was a huge part of how he defined himself hearing and seeing the seriousness - no put intended- in his parents was kind of that moment for him. He questioned whether he and his siblings should have gone in his fathers study, should he have picked up the time turner, should he have listened to Al when he told him to put said time turner down, if they didn't have Snuffles would the time turner have ended up broken anyway; the questions were endless and the results to each question mind blowing. James wasn't stupid, maybe not smart like Al but he was his own smart. He knew that his parents would have had to use the same time turner to get to them. How else would they be there, its not as if they could go into the ministry and just get a time turner. No, he was very aware that there was process to getting one and that it didn't occur for everyone or even over 2 hour period. James looked around the kitchen, and noticed that his parents seemed to be out of their little silence bubble. They were more focused on the goings on of the room and they actually seemed quite content with what was happening as a result of his decision and were watching the room with small smiles on their faces.
James watched his parents observing the room feeling glad they at least seemed happy but when he thought about it he supposed they could be happy for a while. They were getting to talk to people that they hadn't seen in sixteen years, he only hoped that everything would be fine when they finally returned home. James was aware that his mother only cried a few time and one of those was on the anniversary of the war and subsequently her brothers death. He didn't know how she would cope when they returned to their own, his father would be fine that he knew.
Unbeknownst to him Harry was also thinking the same about his wife Harry was an Auror and was so battle hardened by death that had plagued his life since he was one that to him seeing Sirius, Remus and even Fred would be like a present at Christmas to him. Much like when he was able to see his parents and their friends when he walked to meet his death to end the war, he didn't feel sad that he had gotten to speak to them due to the resurrection stone, just glad that he had been given the chance and as a result he never thought about even feeling sad after the war was over. Ginny on the other hand was different. She had grown up feeling safe at the Burrow with her family around her and was not as hardened by war and the daily tolls of life like Harry. Harry was emotional, yes, but he was able to live with the hardness of life's trials and tribulations.
Harry glanced out the corner of his eye at his wife to see her smiling at the twins teasing Ron. Yes, Ginny would cry quite a bit after their return home he thought making eye contact with James who was also looking at his mother. Although not Harry's carbon copy and a prankster, James much like Harry felt protective over the ones he loved. Harry gave his son a nod and flicked his eyes to Ginny. James in return gave a slight twitch of his hair with a quick raise of his eyebrows. Both Potter's in that moment silently agreed that they would be 'there' for wife and mother respectively when they returned home.
Back in the present Teddy let go of a shaking Winkys shoulders only to find that not only were his hands were violently shaking but his head was as well. Why was it his family that trouble seemed to find? Were they magnets to it? He came to the conclusion they must be when he inhaled sharply.
"They've gone back in time?" he shakily questioned the elf in front of him. Winky nodded her head frantically.
"Winky can feel them in her head Master Bear. But Winky can not get to them. Winky has tried m-m-many times but it just not working" Winky gasped, heaving breaths into herself.
Teddy collapsed into a chair and leant forward to rest his elbows on his knees so that he could run his hands through his hair. He sucked in a breath and as he did so his hair changed to Weasley red, then Potter black and then to a mousy brown. In that moment he looked more like his father than anything.
"I need to go and talk to Hermione. Yes Hermione will know what to do. She always does." Teddy jumped up from his seat and strode to the fire place. Winky followed on his heels closely. Winky would not be left in Potter manor alone if she could help find her family.
Teddy stepped into the fire place and turned to face his godfathers study. He felt a tug on his trousers and looked down to find that Winky was also stood in the fireplace with him. She was a stubborn little elf. He could see why Harry had decided to take her from Hogwarts kitchens when he and Ginny moved in all those years ago.
Throwing down his floo powder Teddy and shouting Weasley lodge, Teddy closed his eyes and waited for the flames to engulf him and the elf at his feet, so that he could come up with a plan with the other two of the trio. It was only when he didn't feel any motion that he opened his eyes to not see anything whizzing in front of his eyes like he expected but still his godfathers study. It clicked in his head when he looked down after to feeling movement on his trousers. Winky still clutching his trousers in a death grip stared up at him with her big eyes and floppy ears looking so sad that he felt such a huge urge to protect her. Of course she couldn't leave with him via the fireplace, her magic was apart of the Potter wards and she was in the house when it went into lock down. As if knowing what was going to happen Winky gripped harder onto the trousers in her fist.
"Winky the wards won't let you come with me so I need for you to do is to stay here and look after the house and Snuffles. Harry trusts you to be strong and look after his home because he knows you can. He knows he's left this responsibility in the most capable elf's hands"
Teddy passionately spoke to the elf at his feet with a furrowed brow, she in return let go of his trousers with a determined nod and stepped out the fireplace.
"Winky look after Master 'arry's home. She is good elf. Master 'arry trust Winky he does. Winky keep home safe." With a nod she turned and raced to Harry's desk snapping her fingers to unlock the bottom drawer of the desk. "Winky keep Master 'arry's papers tidy and safe. Master Bear need these for Miss 'miownee to see." She raced back to the stunned man in the fireplace.
Looking at the papers Teddy glanced at the first page and gave a quick laugh. In his hands he held the instructions on how to get his family back. Or at least some of them he thought flicking quickly through the papers. He thought they'd be more on how to make a time turner of this calibre. Teddy would never have thought that Harry would first of all keep such papers at his home when they most likely belong in the Ministry. Who know's what could happen if people got hold of them. Also knowing Harry the desk would be guarded so much that only he could have accessed them. That and what seemed to be a small house elf.
"Winky that's brilliant. I must go" Teddy grinned at the elf as for all the frustration and sadness that clouded the current situation, the elf was like a lighthouse in a storm giving hope to those who need it.
"Bye Master Bear. You's be coming back soon" Winky cried waving frantically. "Winky go and keep house clean now. Little Masters and Miss be messing up Winky's tidy room again" Mumbling to herself Winky left the study shaking her head. Teddy saw this just as he vanished in the floo and smiled to himself.
Although Ron had been home for a couple of hours, Hermione and himself were still in the same position; Hermione on the stairs and him just stood there expecting her to answer. Hermione still clutching the papers had come to rest full on the step which her back leant back against the banister deep in her thoughts. Half her thoughts focused on the worry she felt for the Potters and the other half felt curious as to why the Potters manor had gone into lock down in the first place. Her thoughts were interrupted by the dinging of the fireplace and she watched as Ron rushed over to the fireplace to accept the call.
Hermione stood up on seeing her best friends adopted son step out the fireplace. Much like her he held onto some papers tightly but unlike Hermione who had a worried frown upon his face Teddy was slightly smiling.
"Teddy " Hermione exclaimed taking a few steps towards him. "Its good to see you in the circumstances" Kissing both cheeks she rested her hands on his forearms. "Any news about what is going on?"
"Oh Hermione you have no idea" He chuckled. As much as Teddy worried for the safety of his family he was also very aware that if Harry and Ginny had gone after the children then you could pretty much guarantee that not only had said children been told off but that they were also safe. Plus even though the time turner could have essentially dropped them anywhere it was unlikely to be a place not familiar to them.
"I see why you adore house elves so much Hermione. They really are quite amusingly helpful." Hermione let go of his fore arms and took a step back giving him a puzzled look.
Teddy just turned his head to give his godfathers best friend and pretty much his uncle a look. "You were right about not being able to access the house Ron. I flooed from the ministry into Harry's study, he wasn't there surprisingly seeing as he was supposed to be working from home. There was literally nothing out of place, there was even a cup of tea on his desk. He got your letter by the way."
"Teddy is this going somewhere because it still doesn't tell us what's going on. I swear you boy never get to the point straight away, always dallying about" Hermione ranted waving her fist. "Here we are worrying and your talking about undrunk tea".
"Hermione there was no one in the house at all." Teddy shouted over her. "Except Winky. Oh and Snuffles. And neither of them can leave.".
"Aha so it is lock down the manor is in yes? See Ronald I told you only the master or mistress can control it" Hermione brought a finger to her chin and tapped it lightly thinking.
"Wait Winky can't leave so that means she was there when the house went into lock down. Which means she knows" Ron exclaimed. Both Hermione and Teddy looked at him with shock that Ron had said something so profoundly smart. Hermione in particular looked at her husband in the most shock. Even that wasn't the first thing she had thought of.
"Exactly." Teddy held out his hands with the papers in. "And you are not going to believe what exactly happened. Or should I say where they've gone"
Hermione took the papers from him and Ron stepped closer behind her to look over her shoulder both gaped in shock at what they were reading. Teddy just took a seat on the nearest sofa grabbing a mint out the bowl Hermione kept on her coffee table.
"But Teddy these are plans for a time turner. A time turner in years not hours" Hermione exclaimed flipping through them. "Where did you get these? The ministry keeps these kinds of papers in the Department of Mysteries and only high ranking ministry employees have the ability to access them..." Hermione trailed off.
"Noo..." Hermione whispered.
"What is it mione?" Ron rested a hand on his wife's shoulder.
Teddy started laughing. "Yup, according to Winky they took 'master 'arry's time turner' to go get the children."
Ron too started laughing slapping his knee. "Only Harry 'mione. It would only happen to Harry bloody Potter." Hermione looked at her honorary nephew and husband and she too let out a giggle. The three of them sat chuckling to themselves for a while and it was only when the calmed down that Teddy continued.
"Well Winky gave me them papers and I knew just who to bring them to, to build a new time turner."
"Well yes mate but the problem is once the time turner is actually built how do we know not only where they are and if its safe but how far to go back. I mean not only could they have ended up anywhere you know, but so could we. And there's no bloody way I'm going back to any time then" Ron shouted waving his arms around.
And the thing is Teddy could understand why Ron wouldn't want to go anywhere from the nineties. The best thing about the nineties to his family and family's friends was the end of it.
"Ron calm down, they 're safe. Or at least I think they are. Winky didn't tell me if they were or not just that she couldn't get to them. Could feel them but not get to them. She was quite distraught about it." Teddy said popping another mint in his mouth and stretching his arm down to pick up Ron's latest version of Quidditch weekly.
Ron had started pacing back and forth by this point. "Bloody hell Hermione say something then. Your the one with the brains." Ron said spinning on the ball of his foot and turning to Hermione who had be silently contemplating the papers in her hands. Her eyes were flicking back and forth across the pages of information.
"Winky, Ronald." She said with a small smile. Ron looked at confusion believing his wife had finally lost it.
"Huh?"
She sighed. "Teddy you say that Winky can feel them. By this I'm assuming you mean the magic between an elf and there master and/or mistress?" At Teddy's nod Hermione flicked going into teacher mode. When starting S.P.E.W Hermione had researched house elves to the extent that she could in the Hogwarts library. Alas only the basics of what a house elf is was found and so she had to wait until she could look further into it when she left school.
"When I began all my research on house elves I couldn't find much. People were quite private about how a house elves magic worked and what rights a house elf had. It was only when Harry bonded with Winky that I could finally gain some insight properly into how their magic works."
Hermione made her way to the kitchen both men following. She took a seat at the kitchen table and waited until both men also sat down to flick her want at the kettle on the stove.
"Funnily enough it wasn't Harry who I talked to but Winky. Of course I asked Harry a couple of questions about the whole process and what it felt like but it was Winky who told me that the bond between elf and owner was so strong that house elves could feel when the bond was fading during death and they could feel where their master was anywhere in the world."
Hearing the kettle whistle Hermione started preparing tea for the rest of the table. It was only after she had taken her first sip of tea that she continued. "This profoundly strong bond is a house elf's magic linked directly with that of their owner. It what allows them to apparate when called. Its like a call travels along to bond to the elf and the elf automatically appears. Think of it as veritiserum and how that works. If the elf can't get to their master then they start to feel agitated as an elf's magic is specifically set into helping the one they are bonded to. It's why they follow orders without question."
"What has this got to do with a bloody time turner Hermione" Ron huffed throwing his hands in the air.
"Winky can feel Harry in her head still Ronald. That means that the only thing blocking her from getting to him is the fact that even though he is essentially on earth he is in a place where even a house elf can't travel to."
Ron gave her a puzzled look. "Dear lord Ronald, a different time. I'm talking about Winky not being able to use her magic to travel through time. Honestly!" Hermione tutted.
Teddy's head shot up from where he had been staring into his teacup whilst listening to Hermione's speech. "She just needs some help to follow the bond. Is that what your saying Hermione"
"That exactly what I'm saying Teddy. We built this time turner and we give it to Winky. And we let her use her magic to lead us straight to the Potters. Just like that" Hermione said with a final nod.
"Just like that" Teddy whispered. Except Hermione wasn't thinking about who would go with Winky, Teddy realised for he was the only person who could get to Winky currently. Teddy Lupin was finally going to meet his parents.
AN: So this has definitely been a long time coming. For those of you who see this pop up as an alert and decide to read this you have my full gratitude for deciding to continue.
I started a new job in October just when I started writing this chapter properly. Said job has been a big life adjustment. I finally know what working really is and it sure is tiring.
I wrote this chapter within an afternoon and the early hours of the morning. If you can tell I apologise.
ENJOY THE CHAPTER
And a big thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed and favourited this. As per usual any questions or queries just pm me or put them in a review.