In the days leading away from the second task, Teddie didn't have time to think about Mason's theory. The winter term was over, and the summer one was just beginning, which meant that the end of school exams were fast approaching.
"It's less than eight weeks," said Mason, turning the page of his Transfiguration book. "I have to prepare."
"Did you make flashcards this year?" Astoria asked.
Mason nodded and emptied the contents of his pencil case onto the library table. Several cards landed onto the table, each one with a question on one side, and the answers on the back. "I just need to make a few more for Potions and Charms, otherwise I am covered."
"How do these work, exactly?" Astoria asked. "I know you explained last year, but I still don't understand."
Reaching across the table, Teddie picked up the flashcards and smiled at Astoria. "It's okay," she said. "I can show you this year. Here, try and answer me this: 'At which stage of the Swelling Potion would you add Bat Spleen?'"
"Um..." Astoria hesitated.
"Second stage," Mason answered. "After which you stir four times, anti-clockwise, heat on low for thirty seconds, and then wave your wand to complete the potion."
Teddie held up the card, showing Astoria the opposite side. There, written in Mason's scrawled handwriting, were the answers that he had just stated.
"Flashcards are usually a two-person thing," said Teddie. "One person to read out the question, and the other to try and get the answers. You write the answers on the flip side of the card to be sure, but only the question master is allowed to see them."
Astoria scratched her neck. "But, won't we see the answers when we write them down?" she asked.
"Yes, but, due to the high number of cards that you use, and the different subjects, it's kind of hard to remember what you've written," said Teddie. "Mason swears by these," she shuffled the deck and set them back onto the table. "They're good for little reminders."
Astoria nodded and Mason packed the cards back into his pencil case.
The bell rung soon after, and the three students departed the library, heading for their next lessons.
~X~
After bidding Mason and Astoria goodbye outside the Transfiguration classroom, Teddie made her way down to the dungeons and found her friends waiting outside the Potion's classroom. They were huddled together near an alcove, with Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Draco Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle opposite. The five of them were laughing at something that Pansy was holding, but it was hidden from the view of anyone else.
"Look, there they are!" Pansy suddenly cried, looking up and around. Her attention had been drawn to the arrival of the Gryffindors, more specifically, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.
Teddie turned to Daphne. "What's going on?" she asked.
"She's been giggling at something in Witch Weekly," said Daphne. "I have no idea what it is, though."
Stepping out of her group of friends, Pansy brandished the magazine in Hermione's direction. "You may find something of interest in there, Granger," she said, snidely.
Hermione furrowed her brow and snatched up the magazine. She glanced at the front page and then met Teddie's gaze in the sea of black, green and silver.
Teddie looked between Hermione and the magazine, shrugged and shook her head. She had no idea what the Gryffindor was going to find between the folds, but she was sure that Hermione should be cautious nonetheless. If the Pansy and her friends found the article to be amusing, then it couldn't have been good.
At that moment, the dungeon door opened and Snape beckoned them inside.
Teddie approached her usual table alongside Theo, whilst Blaise and Daphne sat in front of them. The Gryffindor trio took up seats near the back, and Teddie caught them peering at the magazine from the corner of her eye.
"Wit-Sharpening Potion," said Snape, his voice cool and quiet. "The instructions are on the board. I want you to write them down and memorise them. This will be on your end-of-year-exam."
With the Gryffindor trio forgotten, Teddie took out her notebook, quill and ink well, and started to write the instructions and ingredients off the board down. She was part-way through writing up instruction number five - Chop four more pieces of ginger root and add to cauldron. Potion should turn green. - When Snape spoke again.
He had been doing his usual circuit of the room while his students worked, and had stopped behind the Gryffindor trio. They hadn't been doing what he had instructed, but rather more interested in the Witch Weekly magazine they had been given outside in the corridor.
"Fascinating though your social life undoubtedly is, Miss Granger, I must ask you not to discuss it in my class," the Potion master sneered. "Ten points from Gryffindor."
He paused, and Teddie glanced back to see why. Snape had snatched the magazine from under the table and was staring at the page that must've contained the article about Hermione. An unpleasant smirk curled along Snape's lips as he read each line, slowly and silently. "But, of course, Potter has to keep up with his press cuttings," he sneered.
Malfoy and Parkinson laughed from their table.
"' Harry Potter's Secret Heartache'... dear, dear, Potter, what's ailing you now?" Snape sneered. "A boy like no other, perhaps..."
Teddie met Harry's gaze with sympathy as Snape continued to read the article aloud. It was an unfair and unwanted attack on a student, but she seemed to be the only Slytherin that seemed to realise that.
"Harry Potter -"
"Stop it!" Teddie said suddenly. She pushed her chair back, its legs scraping against the stone of the classroom. The malice tension that had once hung in the air evaporated and everyone turned to face her, even Snape, who did not look pleased at the interruption.
Snape lowered the magazine. "Something you wish to say, Miss Green?" he asked his voice low and challenging.
"Yes, actually," said Teddie. "You said that the Wit-Sharpening Potion would be on our end-of-year-exams, yet half of this lesson has already been wasted on tormenting another student and not on what it should be on. I'm here because I want to pass my Potion's exam, not to learn about someone else's social life. I thought that is what the weekend is for?"
Teddie and Snape stared at one another from across the classroom for a split second longer than necessary.
"Five points from Slytherin, Miss Green, for your unwarranted interruption," said Snape. He could tell that Teddie had wanted to say more, probably something entirely different to what she had said, and while he was sure that he would get the truth out of her at a later time, he would adhere to her request, but not without taking house points - a lot less than he would've taken had it been any other student.
"Before we continue," Snape added, turning back to the Gryffindor trio. "I think you three would do with some separation. Weasley, you stay here, Granger, over there, beside Miss Bulstrode. Potter - that table in front of my desk. Move. Now."
Snape swept back to the front of the room, deposited of the magazine on top of a stack of papers, and then looked back out at his class. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had moved to their designated tables, and Teddie had sat back down.
A few seconds passed, and soon the fourth year Potions class were brewing their Wit-Sharpening potion. As Teddie mashed her scarab beetles, Theo leaned over, pretending to read the instructions that were laid out between them. "When are you going to learn to not get involved?" he asked.
"When Professor Snape learns that you can't have it both ways," Teddie replied, her gaze never leaving her potion.
"Have what both ways?" Theo asked.
Teddie half-glanced at her best friend. "Professor Snape doesn't want us to be bullied, right?" she asked.
"Us?"
"Slytherins," said Teddie. "Remember his start-of-term speech? He gives it every year to the new first years. We defend each other outside of the common room."
"That means just the Slytherins, Ted," said Theo. "Not the other houses. The Gryffindors aren't so quick to defend us against anyone else. Professor or otherwise."
"So, what? We should be more like them?" Teddie asked. "Uncaring? Unlikeable? Professor Snape wants to protect us from being targets of other houses, but he isn't helping matters by picking on the other houses himself. He should be setting a better example for us to follow! If people, like Malfoy and Parkinson, see him bullying other students, as a teacher, I might add, and then they're going to think that it's okay to do so as a student."
Teddie took a deep breath and returned to her Potions. A few seconds later, so did Theo.
Three-quarters of an hour had passed, and the fourth-year potions class were half-way done with their Wit-Sharpening potion. Teddie had completed step three and was moving onto step four when there was a knock at the door.
"Enter," said Snape in his usual voice.
The class looked around as the door opened. Professor Karkaroff came in. Everyone watched him as he walked up toward Snape's desk. He was twisting his finger around his goatee and looking agitated.
"We need to talk," said Karkaroff abruptly.
"I'll talk to you after my lesson, Karkaroff," said Snape.
But Karkaroff wasn't having any of it. "I want to talk now, while you can't slip off, Severus," he said. "You've been avoiding me."
"After the lesson," Snape snapped.
Despite the conversation being over, Karkaroff did not leave the Potions classroom. He hovered behind Snape's desk for the remainder of the lesson and pounced on the Potion's master the second the bell rang.
"Miss Green," Snape called out, coolly. "A word, before you leave."
Teddie rolled her eyes and nodded for her friends to go on ahead. They did, and she turned her attention back to her Head of House.
"Your boldness is teetering on rule-breaking, Miss Green," said Snape. "You will do well to remember, in future, that this is my classroom and I make the rules, not you."
Teddie stared defiantly up at her Head of House. "I am well aware that this is your classroom, Professor," she said. "But, at times, not only are you a contradiction, you're also a hypocrite. Your dislike for bullies rivals mine, yet you're happy enough being one."
Snape's lip curled into a snarl and he looked ready to explode; Teddie was sure that the only reason he didn't was because they were not alone - Karkaroff stood off to the left, staring at them. He was impatient and wanted Teddie to leave so he could speak with Snape.
"Leave," Snape said, coldly. "Before I decide to give you after school detention."
Teddie turned and walked back to her desk. She grabbed her belongings and was about to head for the door when movement in her peripheral vision caught her attention. Harry was on all fours, cleaning up what she could only assume was armadillo bile from the floor.
"What are you doing?" Teddie asked quietly, wandering over. "You know you can do that with a simple Scourgify, right?"
Harry nodded and continued to mop up the bile.
"Then why -" Teddie broke off as Harry nodded in the direction of Snape and Karkaroff, and she realised that he was using a muggle method in order to eavesdrop on the two Professor's conversation.
"What's so urgent?" Snape hissed.
"This," said Karkaroff, pulling back the left sleeve of his robes.
Snape looked indifferent.
"Well?" Karkaroff demanded. "Do you see? It's never been this clear, never since -"
"Put it away!" Snape snarled.
"But you must have noticed -" Karkaroff began.
"We can talk about this later, Karkaroff!" spat Snape. "Potter, Green, what are you still doing here?"
Teddie helped Harry to his feet. "I saw that Harry had tipped his armadillo bile onto the floor, Professor," said Teddie. "I was helping him clear it up. I know there's a spell for it, but I'm not sure of the incantation."
Snape waved his wand and muttered. "Scourgify," instantly the armadillo bile disappeared, the rags, too.
"Thank you, Professor," said Teddie, she grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him towards the classroom door. "Come on, Harry. I'm meeting my friends in the library. I'll walk upstairs with you."
They left, quickly.
~X~
Exam week arrived quicker than anticipated. When not in class or their common rooms, Teddie and company were found either in the Great Hall, the Study Hall, or the library preparing for their exams. Mason had flashcards for them all to use, and the idea had caught on well with other students outside of their group.
The Ravenclaw house were the most to use flashcards for studying purposes, but even the Professors were intrigued by the idea, and Teddie was surprised when Professor McGonagall mentioned them once at the end of her last Transfiguration lesson of the year.
"I can see it now, Mason," said Blaise. "People are going to be begging you to help them with study skills. You could even paten these Muggle skills in the Magical world and sell them for an affordable profit."
Mason shrugged at the idea. "I don't care about profit," he said. "I'm just happy helping people. If everyone either passes or has a high enough grade on their exams, then it means I've done my job."
"Maybe you should consider it for when you leave school?" said Astoria. "You could be well known through the magical community. Maybe even more famous than most scholars now."
But Mason merely shook his head. "I don't want to be known for inventing studying techniques," he said. "Besides, it's still stealing. I didn't come up with the original concept of flashcards, a Muggle called Andrew Freeman did."
"There's also the point that most Wizards and Witches wouldn't be caught alive using a Muggle's technique," said Teddie. "It'd be a waste."
"Not if Mason says he, and he alone, created the idea," said Blaise. "The wizarding world has been known to take over other people's ideas for centuries."
"Muggles do it, too," said Teddie. "But it doesn't make things right. Mason doesn't need to steal from another person to be great; he can do that all on his own."
Mason smiled bashfully.
Blaise conceded and returned his attention to his Potion's book.
"Ready, Ted?" Daphne asked, holding up a flashcard for Defence against the Dark Arts. "The Reducto Curse is a curse that does what to an object?"
Teddie sat back in her seat. Since her initial run-in with Professor Moody, her standing in his classroom had been low. He refused to call on her for answers, even if she did know the answer and even overlooked her during times of practised curses and spells.
"Doesn't it blow things to pieces?" Teddie asked. "Or reduces them to a pile of ash?"
"If you use either one of those answers, you'd be correct," said Daphne.
Teddie smiled and picked up a Charms flashcard. "Alright. Your turn: What is the use of the Bubble-Head Charm?"
"It creates a bubble around a person's head and allows them to breathe where oxygen levels are scare," said Daphne.
"Nice," said Teddie.
"I have one for you, Ted," said Theo. "What is this rune, and what does it stand for?"
He showed her a rune that consisted of a line down the middle and two shorter lines near the top. The image looked like a fork.
"That's Algiz," said Teddie. "It means protection, shield, guardian, and warding off evil."
Theo grinned. "I thought you were bad at Ancient Runes?" he teased.
Teddie playfully shoved him and looked back at her books. "Anyone want to venture a guess on which exams they're going to pass?" she asked. "I know I've got Charms in the bag. I may struggle with Defence against the Dark Arts; however, my shield hasn't been very helpful in the practical sessions in class."
"But you're flying through the written portions," said Theo. "Moody may not like you because of your shield, but he can't deny you're a good student who knows what she is doing."
Teddie smiled at him.
"As for me," Theo added. "I think I'll do well in Ancient Runes and Charms. But I'm worried about Potions and History of Magic."
"I'll swap you my History of Magic notes for your Potions ones," said Blaise. "My potions knowledge is really bad. I'm surprised I've made it this far."
"Divination should be easy," said Daphne. "I made a ton of stuff up last year, and I still got an A."
Blaise nodded in agreement.
Teddie looked at her brother and Astoria. "How about you pair?"
"I'm looking forward to my Transfiguration and Potions exams," said Astoria. "I'm sailing through those lessons with little to no trouble. I'm worried about Defence, though. Moody isn't teaching us about anything a second year should cover. He's more focused on curses, and that's a fourth-years lesson."
"Have you spoken to Professor Flitwick?" Daphne asked.
Astoria nodded. "He's been trying to help us," she said. "But there is only so much he can do. He's not a Defence professor."
"What about Professor Snape?" asked Teddie. "He knows more about Defence against the Dark Arts than most teachers here. I'm sure he could give you some quick notes on things that could be covered in your exam."
"But would he, though?" Mason asked. "He's not the most easiest of Professors to approach."
Teddie checked her watch. "He should be in his office," she said. "We could go ask."
Blaise checked his exam timetable. "Our first exam is in half an hour," he said. "If we're going to ask we need to go now."
Teddie looked to Mason and Astoria.
"I don't think we should," said Mason. "If Professor Snape does agree to help us, and we're the only two that pass, he could be accused of favouritism amongst the other students. Or, worst-case scenario, we could be accused of cheating."
Teddie shrugged and sat back in her seat. "What exam do you have first?" she asked her brother.
"Charms," said Mason. "Followed by Transfiguration and Defence. You?"
"History of Magic," said Blaise. "Followed by Potions and Care of Magical Creatures."
Mason nodded and looked back at his notes. "Our charms exam isn't until 11," he said. "Astoria and I are going to stay here and continue studying, but you guys can go on ahead if you like. We'll see you at lunch."
Teddie looked around at her friends, they nodded and started to pack up their things. She followed their lead and walked around the table so that she was standing behind Mason. "Good luck," she wished him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging tightly.
"You, too," said Mason.
Teddie kissed his cheek and set off with her friends. Today was the first day of her exams, and to say the whole student body was nervous, would've been an understatement.
~X~
On the morning of June Twenty-Fourth, the last day of all exams and the Third Task of TriWizard Tournament, breakfast was abuzz with excitement. It was hard to know where the excitement for the end of exams ended and the TriWizard Tournament started. The two events had been equally looked forward to since the announcement from Dumbledore at the beginning of term, last autumn.
The Great Hall was a flutter of excitement as students studied up for their last three exams of the year, and the TriWizard champions prepared for their final run. It was almost over - the school year and the Tournament - there were only a few hours left before one school walked away triumphant.
"Beauxbatons is expecting Fleur to win," said Daphne. "But, I don't see how she could. Whatever the task is tonight, she's starting it last. She has the lowest points out of the four champions."
"She could make a comeback," said Blaise. "I wouldn't put it past her."
Daphne rolled her eyes. "Well, I, for one, hope she doesn't," she muttered.
"What have you got against Beauxbatons?" Teddie asked. "I remember you saying that you didn't like them back last term, but you never said why."
"They just set a bad example for girls," said Daphne. "I mean, you've seen them..." she nodded at the Ravenclaw table, where the Beauxbatons girls had been sitting all year. "They act like they're above everyone because they think they're so pretty."
"They are so pretty," said Blaise, dreamily.
Teddie kicked him under the table.
"Hey! Stop that!" Blaise yelped, rubbing his shin. "I'm just stating a fact."
"Since when do you care about appearances, anyway, Daph?" Teddie asked.
Daphne shrugged. "I don't," she said. "But what example are they setting for the younger students at their school? If you aren't pretty then you aren't worth anyone's time? Talk about superiority complex."
Teddie smiled. "What about the Beauxbatons boys?" she asked.
Daphne scoffed. "They're worse than the girls'," she said. "Vanity is nothing to them. They're so self-centred."
"One would say you're jealous," Teddie teased.
Daphne shook her head. "I've got a high standard about the way I look," she said. "But it's nothing compared to them."
Teddie shared a look with Theo as Daphne went back to breakfast. It seemed that vanity was just one subject that seemed to raise Daphne's heckles.
Soon, a rustle of feathers was added to the building excitement as the Owl post arrived. A tawny brown owl landed in front of Teddie and Blaise, a copy of the Daily Prophet attached to its leg. Blaise paid the bird and untied the paper, watching as the animal took flight and left through the high windows.
"Anything interesting?" Theo asked, cutting into a sausage.
"Well, put it this way," said Blaise. "I hope Potter's not reading the Daily Prophet this morning. It may put him off his game for this evening."
Teddie frowned and lowered her goblet. "Why? What's up?" she asked.
Blaise passed the paper across the table and Teddie and Theo leaned in to read it.
HARRY POTTER 'DISTURBED AND DANGEROUS' filled the top half of the paper, right above the fold.
"Oh boy," Teddie whispered, casting a glance across to the Gryffindor table. She could see Hermione and Ron trying to hide their copy of the Daily Prophet, and then Draco Malfoy's voice sounded from further down the Slytherin table.
"Hey, Potter! Potter! How's your head? You feeling alright? Sure you're not going to go berserk on us?"
Teddie turned in her seat. "Hey, Malfoy, why don't you just shut up?" she called. "Some of us were enjoying our morning until you decided to start speaking."
There were sniggers all over the hall, and Malfoy glared at Teddie from his seat.
Before the youngest Malfoy had a chance to retort, Teddie turned back to her copy of the Daily Prophet and started to read the article for herself. It was written by Rita Skeeter, so it couldn't have been good, and if Malfoy was taking pleasure it in it, then it definitely wasn't good.
"The boy who defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is unstable and possibly dangerous, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Alarming evidence has recently come to light about Harry Potter's strange behaviour, which casts doubts upon his suitability to compete in the demanding competition like the TriWizard Tournament, or even to attend Hogwarts School."
"Bit late to be attacking his champion status, isn't it?" Teddie asked. "He's already made it to the third round. They aren't going to bench him now."
"They could still remove him from school," said Theo.
"Dumbledore won't let that happen," said Daphne. "If Harry is having trouble with his magical core then he's in the best place."
Teddie looked back at the article. "What is St Mungo's?" she asked.
"It's a magical hospital," said Blaise. "It's in the centre of London, somewhere. If Potter were diagnosed as unstable, they could send him there for observation. Even lock him up in their closed unit of the psych ward."
Teddie glanced from her friend back to the article. "How did Skeeter know that Harry collapsed during Divination?" she asked. "I thought she weren't allowed on school grounds?"
Theo nodded. "What exactly happened in that class?" he asked Blaise and Daphne. They had taken Divination as an elective and therefore shared the lesson with Harry.
"He did have a fit of some kind," said Blaise, "and he left half-way through. That must is true."
"But how she knows that is a mystery," said Daphne. "There was no one in the classroom that didn't belong there."
Blaise looked thoughtful. "Potter did open the window," he said. "It is possible that she heard his voice from outside."
"But the Divination classroom is in the North Tower," said Teddie. "Is it even possible for her to have heard him from down on the grounds? I don't think anyone's voice could carry that far."
Theo nodded. "And if Potter was walking away from the window when this was all happening, how would she know that? If she was on the grounds, as we believe, she wouldn't have seen him leave," he said.
The friends stared at one another. There was something about Rita Skeeter's article that didn't make sense.
"What if someone told her?" Daphne asked.
"Who would do that?" Blaise asked.
Teddie glanced along the table at Malfoy and Parkinson. "I can think of two people," she said.
"They'd need a good reason," said Theo.
"Being bullies isn't a good enough reason?" Teddie asked.
Theo shrugged. "It seems like a petty reason," he said.
"I agree with Teddie," said Daphne. "Malfoy and Parkinson seem petty enough to do something like this. I wouldn't put it past them to have given Skeeter information. Any reason to torment Potter, and whatnot."
Teddie nodded.
Blaise sighed and took a long draught of his goblet. "I guess we'll never know the truth," he said. "Unless one of you plans on asking them."
Teddie and Daphne shared a look, but neither one of them made to move from their seats.
Breakfast slowly ended, and the student body trickled out of the Great Hall, each one heading off to their respective exam rooms. Theo, Teddie, Blaise, and Daphne bid Mason and Astoria good luck in the Entrance Hall and then headed up to the History of Magic classroom for their second to last exam of the year.
~X~
The end of term was approaching fast.
As Teddie walked out of her last exam of the day, she looped her arm through Theo's and grinned at the rest of her friends. "That's another year done," she said. "How do you think it went?"
"Potions was a lot easier than I thought it would be," said Blaise. "Professor Snape always makes it out to be worse."
"I think he likes to psych us out," said Teddie. "You know, get inside our heads, and all that."
"But we never learn," said Blaise. "He does it every year, and every year we panic."
"Every year you panic," Teddie corrected. "Sure, it's not the easiest of lessons to take, but I quite enjoy it. There are other lessons I spend time worrying over, like Ancient Runes."
Theo squeezed her arm. "I thank you for taking it with me," he said. "But, you can drop it after next year."
Teddie smiled and looked over at Daphne and Blaise. "You pair dropping Divination year after next?" she asked.
"I am," said Daphne. "I want to experience Ancient Runes. My grandfather says it's quite easy, and having seen your homework, I would agree."
"You're more than welcome to take my spot," said Teddie. "How about you, Blaise?"
Blaise shrugged. "I don't know yet," he said. "I'll decide after next year."
Teddie nodded.
"What you thinking of taking in place of Ancient Runes, Ted?" Theo asked.
"I'm going to see Professor Flitwick about possibly taking double Charms," said Teddie. "If not, then I may just leave it empty."
"You'd have an extra free period while the rest of us are in class," said Daphne.
Teddie shrugged. "I'll think over half-term," she said. "May change my mind by the end of the summer."
Their conversation lasted until they reached the Entrance Hall, and together they entered the Great Hall for lunch. The Hall was already filled to the brim with students, each one celebrating their final exam of the year, but Teddie noted that many of the people at the tables weren't even students, at all.
Two adults sat at each table, both of them either side of one of the TriWizard Champions.
"I'm guessing that is Mrs Weasley?" Teddie asked, spying the older redhead at the Gryffindor table. She was a plump woman with a friendly, but stern face.
Theo nodded. "I don't know her personally," he said. "But my father spoke about her frequently. She's the last remaining relative of the Prewett family."
"The who family?" Teddie questioned.
"They were on the Sacred Twenty-Eight," said Daphne. "The brothers - Fabian and Gideon - died fourteen years ago. They were murdered by Death Eaters during the First Wizarding War."
"How does Mrs Weasley fit in?"
"She was their younger sister," said Daphne. "When she married, she became a Weasley, and therefore dropped her maiden name."
Teddie made a small noise and helped herself to some roast potatoes and beef slices in gravy.
There were more courses than usual this evening, and Teddie could only guess that Dumbledore was still pulling out all the stops for the other schools, it was either than or he was preparing the three schools, teachers, champions, and judges for a long night.
Soon, the enchanted ceiling overhead began to change from blue to a dusky purple, announcing the time that everybody had been waiting for.
Silence fell as Dumbledore rose from his chair.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, in five minutes, I will be asking you to make your way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task of the TriWizard Tournament. Will the champions please follow Mr Bagman down to the stadium now."
Teddie spotted Harry rise from the Gryffindor table and stood herself.
"Where are you going?" Theo asked.
"I'll be right back," said Teddie. She raced towards the back of the hall, stopping Harry at the Oak Doors.
Harry looked surprised to see her. "You alright?" he asked.
"I just wanted to say good luck," said Teddie. She threw her arms around him and squeezed, tightly. "Whatever happens tonight, Harry, you did your best. But, either way, I'll be rooting for you."
Harry smiled. "Thanks, Teddie," he said, squeezing her hand. "I'll see you after the task."
Teddie nodded and watched as Harry walked out into the evening with the other champions. He cast a glance back at her and smiled, waving before disappearing completely.
Five minutes later, the rest of the school were heading off towards the Quidditch pitch. Teddie and re-joined her friends in the Great Hall, and were about to head out into the grounds when they were stopped by Professor Moody.
"Hang on a second, Green," the Defence Professor puffed. "You're not going anywhere, just yet."
Teddie frowned and looked around at her friends. "Can I ask why not, Professor?" she asked.
"Professor Flitwick has requested that you join him in his office," said Professor Moody. "I believe he wishes to talk to you about your Charms exam."
"What about it?" Teddie asked. "I answered all the questions to the best of my abilities, and I even double-checked using the time I had left."
Professor Moody shook his head. "I don't know why he wishes to speak with you," he said. "Only that he does. He has asked me to escort you up. It shouldn't take long, you can re-join your friends in the stands."
Teddie hesitated. The last time she had gone anywhere with a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor she had been attacked and used to get a magical stone out of a magical mirror for a psychopathic monster that wanted to world domination.
Her fear must've showed on her face because Moody chuckled. "If I were you, I wouldn't trust anyone either, Green," he said. "But, the fact of the matter is, you have been asked for. If it makes you feel any better, I shall leave you to go alone. I'm sure you know the way."
Teddie glanced at her friends.
"You don't have to do this, Ted," said Daphne. "I'm sure Professor Flitwick would understand, given it is the final task and everything."
"But if it concerns my exam," said Teddie. "I don't want him to think I don't care about it. I worked hard this year, and I love Charms."
Mason grabbed his sister's hand. "You know the Patronus Charm," he said.
"Yeah, but I haven't mastered a Corporeal form, yet."
"You don't need to," said Mason, shaking his head. "An unshaped Patronus can still carry a message. Just think of what you want to say and cast the spell, then send it to me. I'll come find you."
Teddie smiled and squeezed Mason's hand. "Thanks," she murmured.
"Try not to take too long," said Theo. "If you're longer than twenty minutes, we'll come find you."
Teddie nodded and headed up the Marble Staircase. She turned right at the top and disappeared.
"What are the rest of you waiting for?" Professor Moody asked those remaining. "Off to the task with you. Go on..." he ushered them outside and then closed the Oak doors in their wake.
~X~
Upon reaching the Charms classroom, Teddie let herself in and approached the door on the left-hand side. It was concealed behind a tapestry of a witch performing the Aqua Eructo Charm to control a jet of clear water from the tip of her wand.
The door to the office stood ajar. Teddie paused, fist raised ready to knock, before placing her palm firmly against the paneled door and pushing it open.
"Professor Flitwick?" Teddie called, stepping into the office. She looked around and started to carefully back out when she realised it was empty.
Confused as to why Professor Moody would tell her that Professor Flitwick wanted to see her, when the office as empty, and looked to have been empty all day, Teddie turned to leave the Charms classroom. She froze as Moody blocked her path.
"You should learn to trust your feelings of doubt more often, Miss Green," said Moody.
"Where's Professor Flitwick?" Teddie asked. "You said he wanted to see me?"
"He is with the rest of the Professors," said Moody. "Down at the Third Task. There are lots of charms surrounding the maze that he needed to take care of, make sure none of them malfunctioned."
"So you lied to me?" Teddie asked.
"I did indeed," Moody said, walking forward. "Despite your past with Defence Professors, you're still very trusting, Miss Green, and your friends are gullible. Especially your brother."
Teddie bit back a growl but her hand curled into a fist nonetheless.
Moody noticed and chuckled. "Dumbledore did warn me about your protectiveness," he said. "Especially when it comes to Mason. Just how far are you willing to go to protect him?"
"All the way," Teddie replied.
"No hesitation."
"When it comes to the protection of my little brother," said Teddie. "I will fight to the death. Mason means the world to me. My life's not worth living without him."
Moody smirked. "Does he feel the same about you?" he asked.
Teddie furrowed her brow. "I can't speak for Mason," she said.
"No, you can't," said Moody. "But, I'm willing to take a calculated guess and say the answer is yes. The only question that remains is, will he feel the same way when he finds out the truth about you?"
"What do you-?"
Teddie broke off as something collided with her from behind, knocking her forward onto the floor. She groaned and landed on her stomach, her hands scraping against the wooden flooring of the Charms classroom.
The clunking sound of Moody's wooden leg grew closer, and Teddie tried to roll over onto her back, but she couldn't move. She wasn't sure what had hit her, but given the fact that she was immobilised, she'd venture a guess and say it was the Full Body-Bind Curse - Petrificus Totalus.
"Well done," said a woman's voice. Teddie strained to hear, the only part of her body that still worked was her ears, but for the life of her, she couldn't place the woman's voice. She had never heard it in her four years at Hogwarts and therefore was sure that it was not another Professor.
"It wasn't that difficult," said Moody. "Getting her away from her friends was the hardest part."
"But you did well," said the woman. "I'll take it from here."
Teddie spied Moody's wooden leg as he walked around her, back towards the door. He stopped and then left completely.
Teddie was now alone with this strange and unfamiliar woman. She felt her kneel beside her head, and thread her fingers through her hair.
Teddie wanted to say something, anything but found that she couldn't. She felt the woman grasp her shoulder, followed by a strange tug behind the navel, one that Teddie had not felt before, and then the Charms classroom dissolved into a rapid whirl spin; Teddie squeezed her eyes shut tight, and seconds later felt herself crash onto another hard floor.
"It won't be long now," said the woman, releasing her hold on Teddie's shoulder. "I speculate at least another hour, and you'll be back where you belong. I look forward to meeting you."
She released Teddie from her binds and then left the room.
Teddie hesitated, terrified that the woman might return. When she didn't, the young Slytherin pushed herself cautiously to her feet and looked around.
The room she now stood in was unfamiliar, and Teddie was sure of one thing, she was no longer at Hogwarts.
Since this is the second to last chapter of this arc, I tried to make it as long as possible.
What did you think?