Here's chapter 21! And a bit of a new development; we're going to try to update weekly, most likely on a Saturday or Sunday, so that you have something new to read without having to wait forever! Hopefully we'll be able to keep up with this…we agreed that while updating, say, once a month is obnoxious, weekly chapters are acceptable : )

CHAPTER 21: Caught

Teddy saw many of the teachers rise out of their seats to see if the boy on the ground was alright out of the corner of his eye. However, the game had to go on regardless of whether Sam was conscious or not. Teddy tried to block out the gasps from the crowd as he concentrated on the game, gripping his Beater's bat tightly.

What was it Sam told me to do? Teddy thought as he tried hard to remember what his mission was. It was not until he heard the booming voice of the commentator shout, "…And Ravenclaw Keeper, Samuels, blocks yet another of Loom's shots!" that Sam's words came flooding back to Teddy. "The only person you need to worry about today is the Keeper." Sam had directed. "You take him out, and the game's ours."

Teddy set his jaw and sped off toward the Ravenclaw Keeper. He flew directly to the side of him at the height of the highest hoop, thinking it would give him a better angle when a Bludger came along. As soon as the first Bludger sped Teddy's way, he hit it as hard as he could, sending it hurtling straight for Samuels's head. The Ravenclaw Keeper, hearing the Bludger whistling through the air, ducked just in time to avoid a rather nasty head injury.

The Bludger zoomed back towards Teddy like a boomerang, giving him another shot, as if it too wanted to take Samuels out of the game. Teddy hit it right towards Samuels' stomach, but the talented player quickly did a barrel roll just in the nick of time.

Teddy was growing frustrated, and did a couple of laps around the pitch to calm himself down and check on the rest of the players. Teddy did not have to worry about his fellow Beater, Thomas Crane; Teddy knew that he had been assigned to the Ravenclaw Chasers. Teddy looked down again at Samuels and saw that he had quit looking around for Teddy and was returning his attention to guarding the hoops. Teddy smiled to himself; now was his chance. He swerved to the right, grinning maliciously as a Bludger began coming his way. This was it, Teddy could tell.

Normally, Teddy aimed for someone's broom when he was trying to take them out of the game. He knew that it was impossible to play Quidditch when you were riding a splintered broom, and this tactic usually meant that Teddy could avoid actually hurting a player. Usually, he was able to hit the broom in his first shot and send it speeding toward the ground in pieces. However, this time was different; he wanted to hit Samuels. He wanted for Samuels to not only be out of the game, but out of the season. As he waited under the light of the moon, Teddy began to feel strength building within him; the Bludger was coming closer, and Teddy sped out to meet it.

With the loudest crack Teddy had ever heard, he sent the Bludger racing right towards Samuels's head. The Keeper was unaware of the Bludger; he was too busy preparing himself as one of the Slytherin Chasers, Jason Dell, aimed for a shot. Samuels, being as skilled as he was, blocked the shot easily. However, he failed to see the Bludger flying toward him. He looked up just in time to see the Bludger coming right for his face, and barely had enough time to flinch. In the time it took him to register the fact that a Bludger was approaching, it had hit the side of his head with a sickening crunch. He slumped forward on his broom and fell to the ground, even limper than Sam had been.

There were cheers of "Lupin! Lupin!" from the Slytherin stands, but shouts and cries of shock from everyone else.

Just after Samuels hit the ground, the announcer called that the Slytherin Seeker had caught the Snitch. Cheers rang through the Slytherin stands as they ran out onto the field to congratulate their team, completely ignoring the two boys that lay unconscious on the ground.

Out of the corner of his eye, Teddy could see Professor Burgeon and Professor McGonagall running out onto the field towards him. Teddy tried to hide himself in the crowd of cheering students spilling onto the pitch, but Professor Burgeon grabbed his arm and held him more tightly than Teddy would have thought possible. She dragged him off towards the castle, followed by Professor McGonagall.

Burgeon dragged him through the castle and straight for the stone gargoyle that led to McGonagall's office.

"Password?" it asked in a clear voice. Teddy jumped slightly in the firm hold of Burgeon. He had definitely not seen that coming, though he probably should have expected it.

"Mad-Eye!" McGonagall answered from behind Teddy. The gargoyle leapt to the side, revealing a long, winding staircase. Burgeon dragged Teddy up the stairs, Professor McGonagall hot on their heels. When they reached the top of the stairs, Burgeon thrust Teddy down into a seat at McGonagall's desk. McGonagall took the seat behind the desk, and Burgeon stood next to the headmistress, her arms folded.

"Explain yourself." She said. If looks could kill, Teddy would have been dead in a second.

"Professor, I didn't do anything illegal; it's perfectly acceptable to hit a Bludger straight at someone, I was only doing my job!"

"I'm not talking about the Bludger incident!"

"S-sorry?"

"Why were you even at the match?" Teddy's stomach plummeted; how had she found out?

"What are you talking about?" He asked with fake wonder. Professor Burgeon stepped forward.

"As a teacher, it is my duty to report any misbehavior in my class. Naturally, I had to inform Professor McGonagall of our…disagreement. Now, what we would like to know is why you were playing in the match tonight when I very clearly told you to report for detention at that time?" Her voice was cold and cutting; Teddy hated to be on the receiving end of it.

Teddy looked around the room nervously, as if the portraits on the walls would tell him some way to get out of this predicament. The walls were a golden color, and despite the darkness outside, the room was very bright. An ornate desk sat in the center of the room, raised on a small platform, and it was painted the same gold as the walls. Bookshelves lined the back wall of the office and Teddy could see the night sky out of the tall windows.

"Mr. Lupin," McGonagall said sternly. "Mr. Lupin, tell us why you did not go to detention. Ted Remus Lupin!" she scolded. It was the first time Teddy had ever heard her yell. Normally Professor McGonagall was strict, but she was usually able to keep the children under control without having to raise her voice; and she certainly never called students by their actual names.

Teddy broke out of the trance the room had put him in and looked up at her, his mouth open in shock. He quickly closed it as she continued.

"Professor Burgeon, would you be so kind as to give us a few moments alone." Professor Burgeon opened her mouth to protest, but skulked out the door and down the steps anyway. As soon as she was out of earshot, McGonagall turned to Teddy.

"What is the matter with you lately?" she began. "This isn't like you." Teddy turned away from her. He was tired of people trying to read him; if he had some sort of problem, he could figure it out for himself. He certainly did not need the help of Harry or Victoire, nor did he need that of the headmistress of Hogwarts.

Teddy glared out the window, keeping silent.

Professor McGonagall followed his stare, and suddenly had an inkling of what may be the trouble. "Does this have to do with what happened over your Christmas holiday?" she asked. Teddy turned to her in shock once again.

"How—?"

"Miss Weasley—I assume you two are well acquainted by now—came to me with the information that you had an argument with Harry and that it didn't end well." She was looking at him with kind eyes, but Teddy was angry. Victoire had gone to McGonagall and told her about what happened? What would it take for her to just stop? Who was Victoire to tell a teacher about his personal life? Teddy opened his mouth to voice his thoughts, but the suddenly caring look McGonagall was giving him made his throat go dry and his words disappear.

"I knew your parents, Teddy," she told him. Teddy let out an exasperated sigh; exactly how many people had kept his parents from him? First Ron, then Harry, then the school itself, now the headmistress! "They were good people, Teddy. They were brave, courageous, kind-hearted people. They did not die in vain. I know how you must be feeling, but it does not excuse your disruptive behavior." The stern tone of voice was back, and Teddy flinched.

"Well, that's all very well and good," Teddy grumbled, still not knowing how his parents could have been so good yet so eager to leave their baby. "But they're dead. It's over."

"Mr. Lupin, you are being ridiculous. What you think is up to you, but this behavior cannot continue. You will be given one month's detention starting tomorrow night, and I will be writing to your family to inform them of your…misdemeanors."

Just then, Argus Filch opened the door to McGonagall's office and wandered in, holding his cat tightly against his chest and muttering something about enchanted chamber pots. "Argus," McGonagall said, ignoring the man's grumblings, "please escort Mr. Lupin to his dormitory." Teddy turned to leave with the man that just entered as McGonagall called out to him, "And Mr. Lupin, I highly suggest you visit Mr. Corkley in the hospital wing at some point. I believe you owe him a bit of an apology?"

Teddy almost smiled.

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