Book 3.
Teddie squealed with delight as she caught the rope tightly in her hands and swung high up towards the trees. Once she was high enough she let go, and plummeted towards the water, sinking through the surface with an almighty splash.
Breaking the surface of the lake, Teddie looked up the bank to where her friends, Theo Nott, John Kyle, and her brother Mason stood, watching her with amused expressions.
"What you waiting for?" Teddie called.
"The water's filthy!" Theo called back. "All I can see is your head above the surface."
"I can't help that," Teddie replied. "But it's cooler in here than it is up there! Come on, John."
John grinned and disappeared away from the bank, then a split second later he was swinging high up towards the branches of the trees. He then, just like Teddie, let go, landing in the water with a splash.
Teddie shrieked and turned away as the result of John's descent flowed over her head. "I said come on in, not drown me!" she cried, splashing the older boy.
"Hey!" John said, splashing her back. The pair laughed and continued their minor water fight as Theo and Mason watched from the safety of the bank.
Mason shook his head and retreated to the safety of a nearby tree, he slid down the bark and propped a book up against his knees, opening it to the first page. It was a book that he had received from one of Teddie's friends from school.
"Aren't you going in?" Theo asked, following him.
"No. I can't swim," Mason answered, "and the last time I went in that lake I nearly drowned, so I tend to stay away from it."
Theo looked confused.
"A few years back, a couple of kids from Mill town came into Cokeworth while Teddie, John, myself, and a few other kids were playing down here," Mason explained. "A fight broke out and two of the kids held me under the water while as 'punishment'."
"I bet Teddie didn't react nicely to that," said Theo. He knew how full well how protective his best friend was of her little brother, and it was never a good idea to pick on Mason unless you wanted Teddie's fist in your face.
Mason shook his head. "No, she declared war," he said. "But war never happened, thankfully."
Theo opened his mouth and then paused.
"Around here 'declaring war' just means challenging someone to a fight," Mason said, laughing lightly. "Teddie challenged the 'leader' of the Mill town kids to a fight, but he denied. She called him a coward and then told him to leave Cokeworth."
Theo nodded in understanding. "Have those kids ever come back since?" he asked.
"Once or twice, yeah," Mason nodded. "Usually they do it at night when most adults are in bed."
"What's the point in that?"
"They just spray graffiti everywhere," Mason said. "It's usual nonsense about how they are better than us, and that we'll never amount to much. We in Cokeworth are used to it, by now, though, so we don't pay much attention anymore."
Theo shook his head. "Don't you try to get back at them?" he asked.
"Sometimes," Mason said. "If things get too out of hand, John and Teddie lead a small group into Mill town and mess up a few things. Before her first year at Hogwarts, Teddie and John almost got caught breaking into Mill town warehouses, they never stole anything," he added quickly, "but it was in retaliation for the spray paint on John's house."
Theo nodded in understanding and looked back at the lake. He could hear Teddie's laughter, but couldn't see her.
"You can go join them if you like," Mason said. "The water may not look nice, but Teddie's not lying when she says it's cooler down there than up here."
"I'm alright for a bit," Theo said, shaking his head. He slumped against the tree trunk and closed his eyes, listening to the sounds around him.
Mason shrugged and returned his attention to his book. In less than two days he would be going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the first time, and to say he was excited would have been an understatement.
But first he needed to visit Diagon Alley and get his wand, the trip was scheduled for tomorrow. Teddie was waiting on a message from her friend Blaise, who was off on another grand adventure visiting his mother's lover, to say he was back in the UK and ready to go school shopping.
Turning the page of the book, Mason became lost in the words as he took in all that he could about the magical world, and how it mirrored non-magical landmarks all over the planet.
~X~
Later that evening, after dinner and making sure everything was prepared for the next day, Teddie and Theo sat on the floor in front of the TV finishing up their summer homework, behind them, immersed in the newest running of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers which had aired the previous month, sat Mason.
"I hate History of Magic," Teddie grumbled, opening her textbook and scanning the contents.
Theo smirked and glanced at her essay. "At least Professor Binns isn't droning in our ears right now," he said. "We'd never get any work done if he were."
"True. But this isn't helping much, either," said Teddie, holding up her textbook. "It's like Professor Binns wrote it himself, back when he was alive, I mean. It really captures his docile tones."
Theo chuckled.
"I can't wait to be taught by a ghost," Mason said, grinning with excitement.
Teddie resisted the urge to roll her eyes, and merely smiled over her shoulder. "I have no doubt that you will excel in all your subjects, especially History of Magic."
"Given the number of times he has read all our school books," said Theo. "I wouldn't be surprised if you could teach most classes, Mason. Especially History."
"He'd probably bring more life to it, too," Teddie agreed.
Theo nodded.
Mason grinned. "Maybe I can read your year three books after tomorrow, and I can help you with future History homework, then," he offered.
"Would that be considered as taking advantage of my little brother?" Teddie asked Theo.
"I think it would," Theo nodded.
"Damn!"
The trio laughed.
Calming down, Mason looked back at the TV and became immersed once again in the explosions on the screen.
"When do we find out our new classes?" Teddie asked Theo. "I mean, we haven't seen Professor Snape all summer to ask him."
"According to Marcus they update our letters with the additional books needed," said Theo. "So we should know tomorrow morning."
Teddie nodded and looked back at her History of Magic essay.
"You're nervous about Ancient Runes, aren't you?" Theo asked.
Teddie nodded.
"It'll be okay," said Theo. "I'll help you as much as I can. You never know, you may find it fun."
"I highly doubt that."
"Ancient Runes, is that like Hieroglyphics?" Mason asked.
"Close enough."
"I'll help you, Ted!" Mason grinned. "I love transcribing ancient texts."
Teddie sighed and shook her head. "I'm starting to feel outnumbered," she grumbled.
"Wait until you get to Hogwarts," Theo teased, nudging her shoulder. "Then you'll be severely outnumbered."
Teddie stuck her tongue out at her best friend.
~X~
The next morning, during breakfast, Teddie and Theo received their returning school letters while Mason received his first-year supplies list.
"I just hope Professor Snape is there today," said Teddie, sitting on the bottom step to pull on her sneakers. "It will be kind of difficult to get to London from Cokeworth without a Floo Network."
Theo nodded in agreement as he slipped on his jacket.
Over the summer, he had received word that his father had been sent to Azkaban for two accounts of domestic abuse, an account of breaking and entering a Muggle home and threatening its occupants, and a life-sentence for the murder of his wife.
After the trial, which Theo had been present for, along with Teddie, the pair had gone back to Theo's home in Northern England, escorted by Mo Flint and Cerberus Langarm, and packed the rest of Theo's belongings, moving them to Teddie's home in Spinner's End.
"I am ready!" Mason declared, thundering down the stairs. He had a backpack on his shoulders and a light jacket threaded through the strap between his left arm and chest. His excitement was contagious and both Theo and Teddie felt more than ready to return to the Wizarding World.
"Then let's go see if Professor Snape is a) home and b) awake," said Teddie. She wrote a quick message to her parents, both of who had returned late from work the previous evening and gone back very early this morning.
Theo picked up the door key from the hook behind the door and handed it to Teddie as he and Mason headed outside. The two waited for Teddie to lock up securely and then clambered over the wall into Professor Snape's front garden.
Mason peered through the front windows. "Why does he always keep his curtains closed?" he asked, trying to see through the minor cracks. He couldn't.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he had a potion bubbling from time to time in the living room," said Teddie. "Or even the kitchen."
"It could also remind him of the dungeons at school," said Theo. "His chambers can't be anymore glum than them."
"Fair point," Teddie nodded. She raised her fist and hammered the front door.
There was a few minutes pause, and Teddie raised her fist a second time when the door swung open to reveal Professor Snape in his usual black robes. He peered at them in the early morning sunlight.
Teddie grinned as innocently as possible. "Good morning, Professor Snape," she greeted.
"I shall be the judge of that, Miss Green," said Professor Snape.
"Mr Grouch!" Teddie muttered. She shook her head and tried to bypass her Professor, only to stop short as he caught hold of her collar and hauled her back. "Hey!"
"Where exactly do you think you are going?" Professor Snape asked.
"Uh, Diagon Alley?"
"Did I extend an invitation to you to use my Floo?"
Teddie cocked her head to the side. "I left a note in the letterbox at the beginning of the week," she said. She looked at the floor, hoping to find her note, but it wasn't there. "The others are meeting us at the Three Broomsticks in 30 minutes. We're going shopping."
Professor Snape released his student. He had received a note from her explaining such arrangements, but that didn't mean he liked her intrusion into his home without permission. "It would do you well to wait for an invitation next time, Miss Green," he said, turning and striding indoors. "Manners go a long way."
Teddie wrinkled her nose. "You're starting to sound like my parents," she said, following after him.
Professor Snape led the three youngsters into his living room and took the box of Floo Powder from his bookshelf. "I secured this from Gringotts for you, Miss Green," he said, handing over a satchel of coins to Teddie. "There is also a few extra should you wish to purchase new books for your brother."
"Thank you, Professor Snape," said Teddie. She dropped the satchel into her pocket and stepped into the fireplace. Theo and Mason followed her, as Professor Snape extended the box to them once they were settled.
"Do you know what time you shall be returning?" Professor Snape asked. "I have an appointment with the Headmaster this afternoon."
Teddie shrugged. "I'm not sure if Mo and Ursula are going to be there today," she said. "If they are, I can ask Mo to drop us back using Apparition, even though I hate it, or you could leave a spare key just so we can lock up. I'll make sure to you get it back either before or after I return to school."
Professor Snape looked considerate, set down the Floo box and disappeared into the kitchen. The trio exchanged looks as they heard him tinkering around with plates before he returning, his fingers wrapped tightly around a small single silver front door key.
"I trust you to guard this with your life," Professor Snape said, handing the key over.
Teddie saluted and dropped the key into her bag. "I shall post it through your letterbox after we have locked up," she promised.
Professor Snape nodded and picked the Floo powder box back up. He offered it to Teddie, who took a large handful and held it out in front of her.
"Thank you, Professor Snape," said Theo and Mason.
Seconds later, a bright green flame wrapped around the trio as Teddie dropped the powder and shouted - "DIAGON ALLEY" at the top of her lungs. As the flames cleared, the trio was gone.