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The Full Moon

Hogwarts was a mess of emotions leading up to the month's full moon. Gabrielle Goyle had been revived and had returned to the school, only she was unable to name her attacker and the other victims still lay still and quiet in their beds. If she could be helped then surely it was only a matter of time before the other victims were saved and came back as well some argued, while other pointed out that she'd gotten off easy from the start and didn't it just figure that the one saved was the lone Slytherin? Who would be next? From what house? When would this all be over?

And most importantly...why was this happening?

The day of the full moon finally came though, and Teddy struggled to act completely normal as he went about his morning routine. He joked with his roommates, opted for robin egg blue hair to brighten himself up, and fiddled with his tie a lot more than usual.

All the fiddling and fussing with his appearance meant that his roommates had all left by the time he was ready to leave their room for the day, Teddy almost at the door when Noir's hissing and cat version of squawking had him glancing back to see that the cat had dragged a satchel out from under his bed. And Noir was now giving him a decidedly evil look that promised untold horrors if Teddy didn't come over and take what was inside the bag out.

"Really?"

Noir's gaze said 'Yes, Really. Idiot.'

Sighing in resignation Teddy walked back over to pick up the bag and then set it on top of his bed, undoing the buckle and opening it up to reveal the four smaller bags inside. Grabbing the nearest one Teddy pulled the simple drawstrings to open the black velvet bag up to reveal the three slim vials nestled within it.

What was in each one Teddy wasn't entirely sure. Just that his grandmother had made them and sent them to him with the instructions that should he feel himself under threat of any sort he should drink all three vials. The other three bags were to cover him if he suffered a false alarm or wanted to provide additional protection for someone else.

A meow that somehow managed to order Teddy to drink the damn things came from the floor. Where, Teddy noted after a glance down, Noir was still watching and glaring up at him.

"All right. All right."

And a man of his word Teddy popped each of the corks in turn and chugged the vial's contents down, grimacing at the nasty taste of the second one. The third was tasteless too, which meant it did nothing to help with the aftertaste of the second.

"Blah. That calls for a mint."

Taking two just to be on the safe side Teddy sucked on them enthusiastically for a minute before asking Noir if they could go now.

Still looking less than impressed with him Noir nodded his head regally.

"Thank you, Your Highness. Whatever did I do without you around to be the boss of me."

The damn cat yawned in his direction.

"Ugh. All right, let's go already."

So off they went, Noir thankfully in a cooperative mood as they walked the short distance from the Hufflepuff dormitories to the Great Hall and his usual seat at his house's table.

There was a letter from his grandmother in the mail that morning, the contents relaying nothing but the usual reassurance that she was well and reminders for him to take care of himself. Though the P.S. that she'd spoken to the relatives again as planned suggested that she had visited either her sister or her nephew's family to warn them about the possible threat to Scorpius. Good.

The second letter...well it was completely unexpected and very depressing to say the least. A thank you letter from the Fawley family, thanking him and the others for coming to visit their daughter at St. Mungo's as well as coming to her aid in the first place.

Rubbing his temples as a lance of pain went through his head, fuck, Teddy could feel a stress headache brewing, he stared at the long, rambling letter filled with so much emotion and desperate hope. They hadn't had to send the letter. They'd thanked him and Allan before. And they hadn't done anything more than anyone else would have and...and dammit. Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.

They had to end this. They had to save the others. They had to.

A comforting weight against his side had Teddy looking down to see that Noir had pressed himself up against him. The taciturn cat was actually offering him comfort to the best of his feline ability. For Noir this was practically a declaration of love, and knowing that Teddy lowered his head to give the top of Noir's a kiss of thanks, the cat's expression in response...well it felt good to laugh.

He needed the boost.

But at least his misery would have company since after breakfast Teddy learned that Allan had gotten a letter from the Fawleys too and was just as despondent as he was over it. They were both feeling beyond useless at the moment and the only thing that was going to make them feel better was to capture the one responsible, make him release the victims from whatever curse they were under, and then for life as they knew it to return to normal. Or as normal as it ever was in the Wizarding World.

As their first class was together Teddy and Allan walked out of the Great Hall and headed down the familiar hallways side by side with their cats bookending them, forced to talk about inconsequential things since there were other students all around them who might overhear. Though at least Noir and Siam acted like bodyguards in the sense that no one moved in to join them. Noir's hatred of the human race and the other pets at the school was well documented at this point. Siam was very much the exception to the rule and he wasn't much for interacting with others either lately.

And of course today of all days the Fates would decide to add salt to their wounds, Teddy thought with a sigh of resignation. Because holding court outside the door to their classroom, that was really the only word for it, was Casper. He appeared to be working the crowd while getting people, namely the girls, to...smell something? What the hell?

"What on earth?" Allan breathed, echoing Teddy's thoughts.

"Ah, let's get some more male feedback." All adorable smiles Casper broke away from the crowd and gave all appearance of shy bashfulness as he held out two strips of paper about the length and width of a chocolate bar. "I'm trying to decide which perfume to get my mother for her birthday. Which do you think smells better? I'm taking a vote."

Instinct said not to trust, but there were witnesses all around, not to mention the fact that they weren't the only ones being invited to inhale what did, to Teddy's sensitive nose, smell like two different types of perfume. And how could it be a trap, really?

Fighting the urge to look at Allan for his opinion, that would possibly give too much away, Teddy took the couple of steps necessary to take the pieces of paper from Casper, deliberately keeping both as far from his nose as possible as he breathed them in.

The one smelled like lavender and white pear, the other sandalwood and jasmine. Nice scents, at least, though the strength of the scent made his head swim for a moment before Teddy handed them back. And picked the first without actually thinking about his choice. He really, really didn't give a fuck.

But at least he felt less the fool when Allan did the same, though he picked the latter scent as his favorite.

Their cats gave them looks that made it clear that they thought their 'owners' the dumbest humans ever to walk the planet.

Damn.

)

'While it is suspicious, I can't think of anything he might have added to those scent samples that would be strong enough to influence them in some way later on.' Regulus decided, even while mentally calling Teddy all sorts of names for smelling the damn things. 'If they were weaker mentally and the scents were somehow tied to Veela magic perhaps...but my understanding is that it's their mind magic and looks that are largely responsible for their ability to so easily seduce and manipulate. Both samples seem unusually pungent to me though. Perhaps because we're in feline form at the moment?'

The world and its scents were quite different in this body. A small mercy really, seeing as he was living with a bunch of teenage boys. What he had to put up with was already bad enough.

'Possibly. It seems to be a day for having my nose assaulted.'

Curious, Regulus asked Siam what he meant.

'Allan has changed his shampoo. I dislike the change.'

Right. Because that was so important to the situation they found themselves in. Ugh. If this was what it was like to love someone so much you were happy to be with them even while stuck in the body of a cat Regulus was supremely grateful that he'd avoided that fate in his previous life. Merlin willing he'd avoided it in his next one. If there was a next one given the sort of backup he'd been given.

How was he supposed to work like this?

'This would be so much easier if we were human.'

'I'd have his confession in minutes.' Siam stated confidently, his tone actually sending a shiver down Regulus's spine.

He thought of the other 'man' as Siam because it was just easier that way. Gellert Grindelwald had been a hero of his after all. To say meeting the man in person had proven to be a major disappointment would possibly the understatement of the century. And not just because the man was currently trapped inside the body of a cat like himself. This 'man' was not how he'd imagined him so often...but every once in a while he was. And it was a shock to his system every time.

'I'm pretty sure we won't be resurrected if we torture the truth from the boy.'

'You think that pathetic creature would require much?'

Ah. Excellent point. Just the threat of what someone with his or Grindelwald's training could do to a man would be enough to make the little bastard spill his guts. Without actually having to spill them.

'If he does intend to act tonight his control is excellent. Nothing about him betrays nerves or bloodlust.'

Turning his head to study the boy in question too, Regulus nodded in agreement after a minute's perusal. Binoche did continue to play his role well. Though not as well as he had when his little potion had been in effect. The difference was there in the way he no longer drew people to him without a lure of sorts.

But the truth of himself Binoche had yet to reveal.

'This would be so much easier if there hadn't been all those reforms after the second war.'

'Too true.'

No more Dementors policing Azkaban. The use of Veritaserum potion restricted and stringently regulated. And don't even get him started on the lack of discipline and proper punishing of students for serious infractions. Why back in his day...sigh.

'Well at least Teddy's prepared if Binoche causes problems during daylight hours. The potions he took will last that long at least.' Though not through the night, which was somewhat concerning. Particularly tonight.

'What potions?'

'The ones Andromeda sent him in order to provide him with extra protection. One to protect him from the effects of most poisons, one to boost healing in case of injury, and the other I don't know. I didn't recognize it." Which irked. 'But I presume it's something else meant to help insure he stays alive.'

Siam hissed. 'And why isn't he sharing these potions with Allan?'

'Perhaps he mistakenly thinks that your boy would be intelligent enough to acquire similar protection?'

'Those aren't potions one whips up within a couple of weeks.'

'Andromeda is a Black. We're always prepared. Unlike some people.'

'And yet there isn't a single one left that still bears that name. So much for your 'preparedness'.'

If it wouldn't reveal the effectiveness of that statement Regulus would have hissed back.

He had to settle for stating that it was nature's fault they were saddled with more female offspring than male. And for that matter his family had multiple members with historical importance, while the most well known member of the other wizard's family before he'd rose to prominence had been the man's great-aunt, Bathilda Bagshot. And her sole claim to fame had been writing 'A History of Magic'.

Siam moved in closer, his eyes narrowing and his stance aggressive. 'You'd be wise not to mention her, Black. Or anyone from my past. Right now I need your assistance, but that won't always be the case. It would be in your best interests to remember that.'

Regulus was tempted to tell Siam to go hack up a hairball...but the other wizard had a point about them still needing each other. Now more than ever.

Plus he just didn't like thinking about hairballs in general.

'Fine.'

'Time for class.'

)

The rest of the day was uneventful and Regulus was exhausted by the end of it. All he wanted was to get to their room, stretch out on the end of Teddy's bed, and sleep. Being on guard and prepared to leap into action at any moment all day had really taken it out of him. Which wasn't to say that he'd been slacking the rest of the time, there was just something about-not important. What was important was that Teddy go to bed so that he could go to bed. Though given the fact that Binoche acted at night, and that they had been operating on the assumption that the night's full moon could play into the other man's plans, maybe he should stay up. Stand guard while Teddy slept and was at his most defenseless.

But he was so tired.

And cats didn't drink caffeine.

Yawning, too tired to care that he couldn't cover his mouth like a proper gentleman, Regulus blinked repeatedly to keep his eyes open.

"Me too, Buddy. Me too."

Looking over and up, Regulus watched as Teddy stifled his own yawn.

"Okay, forget that paper I need to finish. I'll set my alarm for early tomorrow and do it then. My brain is mush."

In some corner of his mind Regulus knew he should be arguing with that idea, schoolwork was important after all and...and...yeah. Teddy was smart enough to finish it tomorrow before it was due.

Thanking the powers that be when they finally reached their door Regulus waited for Teddy to open it enough for him to slip through and then made a beeline for their bed.

Jumping up and into it Regulus stretched out on the covers with a purr of pleasure and then settled in with his head on his front paws, watching Teddy strip down and change into his pajamas.

The boy really did have a fine body.

"You're turning in already, Teddy?"

"Yeah." Teddy stated with a yawn as he tied the strings on his pajama bottoms. "Don't know why but I'm completely knackered. I feel like I could sleep standing up."

Tobias frowned at him. "What about your essay? I thought you weren't done yet."

"I'm going to set my alarm for early, do it then. I'm mostly done already, then it's just proofreading."

"But you hate doing your papers last minute."

"I hate turning in shoddy work more." Teddy yawned out as he set the clock as stated. "And trust me, it would be utter rubbish if I tried to write anything now." Another yawn as Teddy pulled back the covers so that he could slide under them. "Don't worry about keeping me up if you want to work in here. I'll be dead to the world in ten or less."

"You aren't getting sick, are you?"

"Merlin I hope not."

And so saying Teddy pulled the covers back into place and said good night to his roommate, Regulus thinking it was about time because the two talking had been keeping him up. Though damn, wasn't he supposed to be guarding Teddy? Or had he decided that he didn't need to do that? He was just so-no. No he was supposed to be protecting Teddy, especially tonight of all nights. Because...because it was the full moon and that...

Turning his head to stare up the length of the bed Regulus watched Teddy for a couple sleepy minutes before getting to his feet and weaving a little padded up the length of the bed with the thought that he'd sleep at the top of the bed, on the spare pillow. That way he'd be closer to Teddy if he needed him. Well that and the teenager's feet weren't exactly the sweetest smelling.

"You wanna snuggle, Noir?" Sounding amused Teddy's eyes opened a crack as he held up the covers in invitation.

Snuggle? No he didn't want to snuggle. Black did not snuggle. It was...it was...it would probably be really warm and comfortable under the covers with Teddy. And if they were really, really close than Teddy would definitely wake him up if something happened.

Yes. That was a good plan.

Sliding under the covers and then turning back around so that his head was facing the right way, Regulus didn't complain as Teddy's arms came around him. For security reasons only.

"Night, Noir."

Making a sound in return Regulus closed his eyes and was asleep in seconds, Teddy the same against him.