Teddy's first day of school...ah, he's all grown up...sort of...

Chapter 12

Everything was black and white, but Teddy knew the witch's hair was pink, the man's brown. They were smiling, waving, at him, but he saw that the witch was crying silently, that the man's eyes were clouded with sadness.

He moved closer and closer, wishing he could run, close the distance fast, his impatience almost painful, but his steps were slow, too slow.

He knew it was going to happen an instant before it did - he was barely a foot away from the couple, he raised his arms, reaching out, and they were waiting, ready to welcome him, but the scene was slowly dissolving. Blurring, fading, and Teddy filled with bitter disappointment as the pair in front of him faded away.

Teddy Lupin opened his eyes and sighed a little. It was light, but barely. He knew, just knew, it was going to be ridiculously early. Turning his head, he noted the time on the clock, and sighed at himself again. Five o' clock. It was only five o' clock in the morning and yet he'd woken, dragged himself from that damn dream as he always did.

He never dreamt in colour. He knew that it was common to dream in black and white, that there were more people who dreamt that way than those who dreamt in colour, but he couldn't help wonder if it was the wolf in him that made his dreams that way.

It annoyed him that he kept having that dream. Annoyed him that he was desperate to finish it, to reach them, touch them...

Annoyed him that while he was used to his parents' deaths, used to their absence and rarely concerned by it, his subconsious seemed determined to see them. Even if it was only in his dreams.

He was eleven now, and he slept on the top floor, his bedroom next to James's and opposite Albus's. He'd moved so that first little Al could have his room, and be on the same floor as Harry and Ginny, and now Lily had it instead. He figured it was better that way, easier if Lily needed her parents during the night.

He didn't bother to sigh again as he pushed back the covers, climbed out of bed. He smiled as his eyes fell on the tawny owl in the corner, his birthday gift from Hagrid a few months ago. Then he looked as his brand new school trunk, and his smile turned nervous.

His first day of school, the first time he'd set foot in the place his parents had died, the first time he'd be sleeping somewhere other than home for more than a night. It would be months before he was back here, he knew.

He was excited, of course he was excited, but he was terrified, too.

Hoping to distract himself, Teddy moved quietly out of his bedroom and into the bathroom next to Al's room. Looking at his reflection in the little mirror over the sink, he cycled through several hair colours indecisively.

He should probably stick with a natural colour. He didn't want to draw too much attention to himself, not on his first day. Black? Red? Brown? Blonde?

Eventually he chose the same shade of brown his father's had been, grinning slightly as he thought choosing the same pink as his mother was just asking for trouble.

He did, however, in the interest of fairness, morph his nose to the same shape as his mother's normal one. His eyes, he chose a sapphire blue, then hopefully looked at his watch.

Ten past five. Fantastic. Killed loads of time there.

Why hadn't he slept until he was dragged from his bed like he normally did? James was the one who woke up at the crack of dawn. James was also the one who fell asleep long after everyone else. The kid got by on less sleep than should be humanly possible, Teddy thought as he wondered out of the bathroom.

He ought to have been prepared for it really, given his train of thought, but he jumped violently when he saw the four year old stood in his bedroom doorway.

"God, James. Scare me half to death, then." Teddy muttered, while James smirked. "Why don't you go back to bed?"

"Don't want to." James told him. "Not tired."

"Why am I unsurprised?" Teddy muttered. He checked his watch again, then, figuring he needed to pass the time somehow, jerked his head towards his own bedroom doorway. "C'mon, I'll show you how to feed the animals."

"OK." James said brightly, and followed Teddy into the room. James idolised Teddy. He was older, he had a cool way of changing his looks that James didn't, he could fly, on a real broomstick, not the toy ones James and his brother had, and he was smart, too.

"You'll have to make sure Harry and Ginny don't forget to feed them, OK?" Teddy asked anxiously. One of the things that worried him most about going to Hogwarts was that he wouldn't be able to take his pets.

"I'll make sure." James promised him, the listened solemly as Teddy detailed instructions.

It was almost an hour later that Harry stuck his head round the door and rolled his eyes to see Teddy, James, and a sleepy looking Al gathered in the centre of Teddy's bedroom floor. While Teddy and James were watching Herbert the tortoise crawl slowly across the floor with attention and the amusement Harry couldn't understand, Al had the sleepy eyes and slightly bewildered expression of someone only recently awakened. Harry wondered vaguely is James had woken Al, just to annoy him. He did that sometimes.

"Should have known you'd be up." He sighed. "Come on, downstairs, let's get you all fed."

James and Al ran as fast as their little legs could go - incidentally, not that fast - but Teddy put Herbert back safely in his tank and walked with Harry.

"You nervous?" Harry asked.

"Yes." Teddy replied, without hesitation or embarrassment.

"You'll be OK." Harry let his eyes travel over the boy, the brown hair, the blue eyes, the new nose. "No bright blue hair then?"

Teddy grinned. "I figured I should keep it normal at first."

"Good plan." Harry nodded. He knew, however, that whatever Teddy's hair colour he'd get attention. Teddy's name - his parents's names - were well known. Most kids would recognise his name. Some of the teachers, he had seen occasionally throughout his childhood.

He knew Teddy's level of fame wasn't as high as his own, but he couldn't help wish the boy would be going to the school unknown.

"Harry..." Teddy spoke quietly, almost as if he didn't want his godfather to hear him.

"Yes?"

Teddy hesitated. He chewed his lip. He opened his mouth then closed it. Finally, with his eyes fixed on the floor, he spoke, in the same almost inaudible voice.

"I'm going to be gone for a long while...and you won't...ah..."

"Forget you?" Harry asked, fighting a smirk. Teddy coloured slightly, but nodded.

"'Course not. Don't worry about it, OK? Teddy." He waited for the boy to look at him. "You're always going to have a place here. A family here."

"OK." Teddy nodded, and hoped his godfather didn't notice his little sigh of relief.

"Morning." Ginny said, as Teddy sat at the table. Teddy noticed the way her gaze lingered on him, and understood he'd be missed. The thought made him feel better, however selfish that may seem.

It was only fifteen minutes later that he was back in his room, getting dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, after a short debate on whether or not to just wear his new robes. Then he checked his trunk, as if by looking at the contents he'd remember forgetting something. He didn't. Instead, he drew out his wand.

"His" wand may not be entirely accurate, he thought as he sat on the edge of his bed. It was his wand now, the wand he was going to be using, but once upon a time it had belonged to someone else.

Teddy had always known Harry had his parents' wands. He'd been able to see them, hold them, whenever he'd wanted. He'd always handled them with care, with wonder, holding them gently while picturing his parents gripping them tightly.

When he'd received his Hogwarts letter, Harry had told him that he could have one of his parents's wands if he wanted. If not, Harry had assured him, they'd buy him a new one. It was entirely his decision.

It hadn't been an easy one to make. He'd thought of choosing between his parents' wands like choosing between his parents. But at the same time, he'd wanted to use one of them.

In the end, it had been James who'd solved it, suggesting Teddy just see which one suited him better. It would, he'd thought, take a four year old to point out the obvious, simple, solution.

So he'd tested the wands. Both had responded to him, but it had been his father's that created the most sparks, the sent a warmth spreading through him. So, with a mixture of guilt and delight, he'd packed away his father's wand.

His mother's, he thought, he'd probably give to his own child one day.

"Teddy." Harry watched his godson from the doorway, a little sad, and understanding. "Are you ready? We should get going."

"Yeah. Sure." Teddy murmured. He set the wand carefully back in his trunk, closed it, and stood back while Harry levitated it and walked it down the stairs.

Alone, Teddy took one last look around his room. It was strange to think it would be more than three months before he was back here.

"Teddy!" Ginny called up the stairs, and Teddy knew he only had a few seconds. He moved swiftly around the cages and tanks around his wall, saying a hurried goodbye to all his pets. He hesitated at the door, then turned back.

"And none of you die while I'm gone, OK?" He hissed, then pulled the door shut behind him and bolted down the stairs.

----

Teddy walked through King's Cross station, seeking out the barrier he had never seen before. It was Ginny who took his arm and steered him in the right direction, towards the secret entrance to platform nine and three quarters, and Ginny who walked through it with him and Lily.

Harry followed close behind, with James, Al, and the trolley, and smiled at the way Teddy gazed at the scarlet steam engine. Ron and Hermione, who'd come along to say goodbye, followed.

Harry and Ron heaved Teddy's trolley onto the train, set the owl's cage next to it. Then turned back to Teddy, who looked increasingly nervous.

"You'll be OK." Harry assured him, hoping he hid his own nerves better than Teddy was.

"I know."

"And we'll write loads." Ginny promised.

"I know."

"Me and Ron too." Hermione added.

"I know."

"If there's anything else you need when you get there, you can just write and we'll send it." Harry told him.

"I know." Teddy's voice had been getting increasingly quieter, but his jaw was set as he let Ginny and Hermione kiss him goodbye, as he hugged Lily, James, Al, Ron and Harry.

"We'll miss you." Harry murmured, as they hugged.

"I know." Teddy replied, flashing a grin as they drew apart. A whistle sounded; his grin faded.

"You better get on then." Ron said, and Teddy nodded, climbed aboard.

"Be good." Hermione said, causing Teddy to smirk.

"We love you." Ginny added, and Teddy nodded.

"Write as soon as you can. We want to know what house you get into." Ron told him, and Teddy nodded again.

"I'll look after the animals." James promised, and Teddy grinned at him again, then jumped as the train lurched.

"Bye, then." He said as the train moved slowly.

"Bye." The group he was leaving behind chorused, and Teddy waved until they were out of sight.

He was more excited than nervous by the time he was sat, watching London rush by. He talked to the other boys in his compartment, all of who vaguely knew of his parents. It unnerved him a little.

But he was smiling as they clambered off of the train and he saw Hagrid, who greeted him warmly. Smiling as they crossed the lake in little boats, and headed up the lawn.

His smile faded as the neared the doors, though, and he couldn't help but wonder where abouts, exactly, his parents had...

But no, he shouldn't think about it.

He couldn't help but stop and look at the remembrance plaque in the entrance hall though, and pick out his parents's names. It made him a little sad, but proud of them, just like Harry had always told him to be.

He was nervous again, however, as they were led into a small room by ancient little Professor Flitwick, the deputy head. Teddy had often thought that Flitwick and McGonagall were too old to still be teaching, and, occasionally, too old to be alive.

But they were.

He wasn't even nearly smiling as they filed into the great hall, watched by every student in the place, stood under the enchanted ceiling, waiting for the hat's song to finish, for the sorting to begin. His heart was beating so hard it almost hurt.

When Teddy's name was called, he walked carefully, praying he wouldn't stumble. He didn't, even though he wasn't used to walking in robes. He sat on the little stool, pulled the sorting hat on his head - remembering the story of how it had once been set on fire atop Neville's head - and waited.

The hat murmured to him, in a quiet voice he knew only he could hear.

Desire to prove yourself...loyalty...nerve, definetly nerve...brains, too...you'd do well in all the houses. But I think I know where to put you...

Teddy was unaware of holding his breath until he released it, a second after the hat shouted it's decision to the entire hall.

He was relieved, glad, as he handed the hat back, stumbled to the Gryffindor table. He tripped a little, but steadied himself using the table, and no one appeared to have noticed.

But he'd done it. He'd got into the house he'd wanted, he'd made it to Hogwarts.

And, later in his dormitory, as he set the little wolf model Victoire had presented him with for his seventh birthday on his bedside table, he decided that, all in all, he was glad to be here.

I don't think I've done much detail in this one. Not as much as I could anyway. I've already got a one shot, though, of Teddy's first day at school, and I didn't want to repeat it in this.