A/N: Thank you to all those who read and review! Guest reviews are harder for me to reply to, but I assure you I read all of them and it always makes my day!

...

9 February 1998

Teddy stood rooted to the spot. Before his eyes was the Ted Tonks, his mother's father. His namesake. His grandfatherwas alive and breathing just feet from him.

Never in his life had Teddy wanted to scream so badly. He wanted to run up to his grandfather, hug him, cry on him, get to know him, and have him get to know his only grandson. Teddy felt as if his brain was incapable of working – or maybe it was his body incapable of moving. All he knew was the utter, incomprehensible shock that he was staring at the man he'd only ever seen in pictures.

"Edward? Are you all right?" Eneko said uneasily. "You look too white."

"You're called Edward?" Ted Tonks limped over to Teddy and Eneko and stretched out his hand to meet the newcomer. "Everyone calls me Ted but my name is Edward. I've never met another in the wizarding world. Are you Muggleborn too, son?"

Teddy's mouth opened and closed several times. His grandfather was talking to him. His grandfather had called him son.

"I don't know what is wrong with Edward," Eneko interjected. "He normally talks too much. He says he is a half-blood. His father is the Headmaster."

Ted furrowed his brow at Teddy, surprised. "Severus Snape has a child?"

Teddy forced himself to plaster a smile on his face. He struggled to keep his arms at his side as Ted gazed at Teddy for a few moments with a quizzical expression.

"You remind me of someone," Ted finally said. "Who is your mother?"

Teddy's mouth was altogether too dry. He croaked, "My mother is…death."

"His mother is dead," Eneko corrected nervously. Yasmin was gaping at Teddy's abrupt incoherence, and Eneko added, "She was from Romania. Edward, you need the hospital. Something is wrong."

"I was a Healer, before this war started," Ted said gently. "Why don't I look you over, son? I'd like to be of use while I'm here." He smiled kindly at Teddy, whose heart was ready to explode with excitement and anxiety.

"No, no, I'm fine," squeaked Teddy. "Just fine! No problems for me! Healthy as a clam! Happy as a horse!"

"Seriously, Edward, did you hit your head?" said Ginny. "You're acting really odd."

Ted gazed at Teddy pensively and said, "Let me look you over, Edward. I promise I don't bite."

"O…kay." Teddy sat down immediately while his grandfather cast several charms on him. The experience was almost as surreal as learning he had traveled back in time. It was at that moment that Puck decided to peek out of Teddy's pocket to blow a raspberry at Ted.

"I'm so sorry," Teddy said apologetically. "He isn't always on his best behavior."

"That's quite all right," replied Ted, in between murmuring a few diagnostic charms. "My daughter brought a bowtruckle home once over her summer holidays. She was a Hufflepuff too."

"She did? No one told—" Teddy closed his mouth instantly, realizing that telling Ted Tonks that no one told Edward Snape that Nymphadora Tonks once brought a bowtruckle home made no sense whatsoever.

"Edward is usually not this weird," Yasmin interjected, while eyeing Teddy with a look that clearly communicated her irritation with him. "Maybe you know my father. He's called Omar Shafiq."

"Omar? Fine bloke," Ted said jovially. "He's brilliant with blood curses. Best in Europe by far."

"He's my mother's Healer!" Eneko said. "That's why we moved to London!"

"She's in good hands, then." Ted stood back and arched a brow at Teddy. "I don't think there's anything wrong with you. Perhaps it's the excitement of it all? You may need to eat."

"Thank you," Teddy said softly. He met his grandfather's eyes for the first time and resisted the urge to morph his own to match.

"We will go to the kitchens," said Eneko, while tugging Teddy's robe sleeve. "Edward, it is time to go."

"Will you stay?" Teddy blurted, looking at Ted. "You'll stay here? It's safe."

"I believe so?" Ted glanced at Neville, Ginny, and Luna, who all nodded enthusiastically.

"The more Muggleborns we can get here, the better," Neville said firmly. "How did you get here? How did Dean find you?"

"It was the strangest thing," Ted said, while leaning back against a wall. "A house elf called Dobby found us and led us to Dean. We were being chased by Snatchers and he saved us."

Teddy burst into joyful tears, startling everyone around him. He didn't care if others thought he was a crybaby; Dobby came through and saved his grandfather.

…..

10 February 1998

"Would you stop twitching?" Yasmin said irritably to Teddy. "Calm down."

Teddy did not want to calm down. He was itching for History of Magic to be over so he could run up to the Room of Requirement and see his grandfather again. His teary outburst the night before was pinned on his "nerves" and everyone insisted it was time for him to eat or rest.

Now Teddy was practically vibrating with excitement to see Ted Tonks again. If it weren't for his classes, Teddy would live in the Room of Requirement simply to spend every available minute he had with his grandfather. Only the fear that Snape would find out if Teddy missed classes kept him from spending all his time with Ted.

"I want to go back tonight. Eneko's coming with me. Want to come?" he whispered to Yasmin.

She scowled at him and muttered, "I'm the only Slytherin there."

"So?"

"Did you see the way they looked at me?"

"Have you seen the way the entire school looks at me?"

Yasmin scoffed and pushed her long black waves behind her shoulder. "I actually care if I look stupid."

"You're not stupid. Please come. There've got to be more Slytherins who want to fight."

"But I don't want to fight."

"You want the war to go on? You want them to win?" said Teddy incredulously.

"No. I don't want to fight."

"But you want to win."

"I want to survive."

"But—" Teddy began, in protest.

"—stop, Edward. You don't have to get it. Leave me be."

"Fine. If you change your mind, Eneko and I will be upstairs after dinner."

Yasmin returned to her notes and Teddy sunk into his seat. He couldn't understand why she didn't want the war to go on but she was unwilling to fight for it to end.

He brought this up to Eneko after dinner, on their way up the many staircases to the Room of Requirement.

"I understand why Yasmin says this."

"Why?" Teddy said, panting after scaling at least ten flights of stairs, thanks to three moving staircases.

"It is not her fight. It is not my fight either."

"How is it not your fight? You're stuck here because of them!"

"I want my mother to get better so we can go home. Besides, your father is one of them."

"I don't want to be like him," Teddy said stubbornly. He didn't want to be like Snape. He wanted to be like his true father, Remus, who fought and died for the war to be won.

Eneko gave him a sideways glance but by this time they had arrived at the seventh-floor corridor and paced three times to have the doors of the Room of Requirement appear to them. Teddy gleefully ran in, hoping to see his grandfather immediately.

Ted Tonks sat on one side of the Room with a queue of students waiting to see him. A few older students were in a semi-circle around him, chatting with him and taking notes. Teddy ran for him but was stopped by an older Ravenclaw girl.

"If you need to see Healer Tonks, you'll need to join the queue like everyone else."

"I don't need healing."

"Then why do you want to see him? Anyway, you're not a Muggleborn. You can go to Madam Pomfrey." The Ravenclaw girl scoffed and turned him away.

Teddy couldn't muster a proper response so he sat unhappily as close to Ted Tonks as he could to overhear what he was saying.

"If you need the Healer you can go to the infirmary," said Eneko. "Why did you want to see the Healer?"

"He reminds me of someone," Teddy said miserably. "Never mind."

Eneko picked up a book in a language Teddy didn't recognize. Eneko smiled and explained, "They told me the Room will make things you need. I asked for books in my language, Basque. Now I have all my magic books in my mother tongue. This will make it easier to master everything!"

Eneko quickly became engrossed in a heavy tome and Teddy sighed unhappily. Puck emerged from Teddy's pocket and crawled up his sleeve, up to his shoulder.

"Hi, Puck. I reckon I should get started on my homework while I'm here, shouldn't I?" Puck gave a tiny shrug and perched himself on Teddy's head. "Some help you are," he muttered. He took out a fresh roll of parchment, a quill, ink, and his Transfiguration textbook to get started on his essay.

He was on his third inch of parchment when a tall figure cast a shadow over his essay. Teddy glanced up and found Ted Tonks standing before him with Puck in his hands.

"Hello, Edward," Ted said pleasantly. "I believe this bowtruckle is yours?"

"Y-yes," Teddy stammered. He stood and stretched out his hand for Puck to leap from one Ted to the next. Teddy silently reminded himself to find as many fairy eggs as possible to reward Puck for bringing Ted over to see him.

"I'm taking a break for a few minutes," said Ted. "It seems your bowtruckle thought I needed time off."

"He's called Puck," Teddy said softly, looking up into Ted's kind blue eyes. "He was one of my first friends here."

Ted stared at Teddy for several seconds, before looking back at Puck. "Did he already have that name?"

Teddy shook his head. "My Gran liked A Midsummer Night's Dream and read it to me. Puck reminded me of the little fairy in the play because he's a trickster, like my Puck."

Puck blew a raspberry at Teddy and crawled up his arm to perch on his shoulder. "See? He does that but then does nice things for me."

"What a coincidence," Ted said, while wiping the corner of his eye. "When my daughter brought home her bowtruckle she called it Puck, too, for the same reason. My wife loves Shakespeare, especially A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Teddy's jaw fell open. He'd never heard of his mother bringing home a bowtruckle for a summer, much less calling hers Puck, too.

"You really do look familiar, son," Ted said uneasily. "I can't put my finger on it. But if your mum's family is from Romania, it might just be a coincidence."

"Do you know how Tonks is, Ted?" interjected Ginny. "When is the baby due?"

Teddy squeaked and took a half-step back. Ginny eyed him curiously, but Ted split into a grin and proudly told her that his first grandchild was due in April.

"I hope I get to meet the baby," Ted said, smiling. "I haven't seen them since…October? Dora was barely showing."

"I reckon Professor Lupin is happy about it," Neville said. "He was our best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."

"He needed a little time to get used to the idea," said Ted, with a hint of sadness. "We're not sure yet if the baby will be like him, but we don't think it will."

"Even if it is, who cares?" replied Neville. "Professor Lupin manages all right, doesn't he?"

"Speaking of which," interrupted Ginny, "there's a radio program my brothers have started and I heard he'll be a regular guest. There's a broadcast tomorrow…maybe we'll hear him then?"

"No," Teddy blurted, earning several confused glances in his direction. "Tomorrow's the full moon!"

A peculiar silence filled the room. Teddy felt himself grow hot and he hastily explained, "I heard that Professor Lupin was - err, is- a werewolf. We just made our lunar charts for Astronomy…he won't be doing anything the night of the full moon, I think."

"You'd certainly know that, Snape," said an older Gryffindor boy, eyeing Teddy angrily. "Your dear old dad's the reason he had to leave."

"Shut up, Seamus," snarled Ginny. "It's not his fault."

"Thank you," mouthed Teddy, at Ginny. He felt ashamed of himself by now for having blurted too much information and being called Snape again, so he sat back next to Eneko to spare himself from further humiliation. The others resumed their conversation, now moving past Professor Lupin and onto the Potterwatch radio program airing the next day.

They spoke in hushed voices, but Teddy could hear everything they said.

"Why did we let kid Snape in here?" Seamus whispered angrily. "He's obviously a spy."

"Shove it, Seamus," Ginny snapped. "He barely sees Snape and he only met him last summer."

"That's what he wants you to believe," retorted Seamus. "I reckon he's passing information from us to his Death Eater dad - we'll be goners in days."

"I don't think so," Luna said softly. "He told me about Dobby, remember? Dobby saved me, Ollivander, Ted, Dirk, and Dean. I've got a good feeling about Edward."

Seamus scoffed at her, glared at Teddy, and stomped off to join Dean on the other side of the Room. Teddy sank further into himself, trying to make himself small and unnoticeable.

"Edward?" Ted called. Teddy snapped his head up. Ted crouched down in front of him, offering his hand. "Did you really send Dobby to help us?"

"I…don't think so. I told Luna about Dobby and maybe she helped find you…I hope Dobby is all right."

"I don't know where he is, but if it was through you that Dobby found us, I have to thank you for my life," Ted said solemnly. "You don't know how much it means to me…as you heard, I'm expecting my first grandbaby and I'd like to meet him or her when it's safe for me to do so."

Teddy was ready to burst into tears again and leap into his grandfather's arms for a hug but Puck fell into his face, startling him out of his rash impulses.

"Puck's a good name for him," said Ted, picking up the bowtruckle and bringing him back to Teddy's shoulder. "When I see my daughter again I'll let her know another young Hufflepuff has a friend by the same name." He patted Teddy on the head and stood back up to return to the queue of students needing a Healer.

Teddy, gobsmacked by everything that had just happened, returned to his Transfiguration essay but found himself unable to write another word for the rest of the evening.

…..

11 February 1998

"Puck, take this to Yasmin, please," Teddy murmured, while handing his pet bowtruckle a folded bit of parchment during Charms class. "You know where to go." Puck crossed his leafy arms together and Teddy rolled his eyes.

"You're so demanding." He pulled out a few woodlice and gave them to Puck, who happily accepted his treat and then trotted off to deliver the note to Yasmin.

Teddy was irritated that it was the full moon and that it meant he couldn't see his grandfather. He would instead be in the hospital wing under Madam Pomfrey's annoyingly watchful eye. Beforehand, however, he would have dinner with Yasmin and Eneko in the kitchens. Teddy felt selfish excluding Eneko from the pre-full moon steak tartare prepared by the elves, so he was asking Yasmin through the note if it was all right for Eneko to join them before they went to the infirmary.

Teddy watched as Puck darted in between his classmates' legs to get to Yasmin, who was sitting near the front of the classroom. He usually sat in the front as well, but with the full moon approaching, he was already sluggish and in no mood to listen to Professor Binns's droning voice.

Puck finally reached Yasmin. Teddy thought she might've heard her coming, as she was ready for him when he arrived with the note, and made him stay while she scribbled a reply. Moments later, Puck was darting back up to see Teddy. He refused to hand the note over without another offering of woodlice.

Teddy shook his head and handed over the payment before he read the note.

"E,

Fine.

-Y."

The tiny note was enough for Teddy to breathe in relief. He'd already promised Eneko he could come along, if only to see what kinds of foods Eneko wanted the elves to make. Now that he was getting to know his Basque friend better, Teddy never heard the end of how heavy British food was and how much finer Spanish and French cuisine were. Teddy never found the food wanting, but as steak tartare was a French dish, Eneko was all too happy to join.

The rest of the day passed without anything of note, and so a few minutes before dinner was served to the rest of the Hogwarts students, Teddy beckoned for Eneko and Yasmin to follow him to the corridor near the Hufflepuff common room.

"Here, you'll see," said Teddy, gesturing to the portrait of the fruit. He drew his hand up to tickle the pear in the portrait and it swung open to reveal the bustling kitchen. House elves carried platters of food over their heads in preparation for dinner, placing them on the four long tables in the kitchens identical to the ones above in the Great Hall. Many flashed bright smiles at the trio, with many greeting Teddy with bright smiles and chirps of "Hello, Mister Edward!" or "Mister Edward made friends!"

Several elves were bent over pots and pans, which were sizzling with the mouthwatering scents of butter, onion, and garlic. Yet more elves had potatoes spinning over their heads, magicking them to peel and chop themselves before zooming into boiling vats of water. A few elves snapped their fingers rhythmically; with each snap, another place setting appeared on one of the long tables.

"Wow," said Yasmin. Teddy grinned, delighted to have elicited a positive response from her.

"Let's see if I can find one of my friends," said Teddy. "When Dobby isn't here, Zinky usually likes to help me…maybe Winky, if she's awake. All the elves will help but Dobby, Zinky, and Winky are the best to me."

"You are very strange sometimes, Edward," said Eneko, as an old, leathery house elf shuffled by, wearing a shiny silver locket around its neck. Teddy stared at it for several seconds and gasped.

"Kreacher?"

The elf stopped in its tracks and stared up at Teddy with its huge, bat-like ears, bulbous nose, and wide eyes.

"Kreacher has a little master at the school? But…Kreacher was not told…Master did not tell Kreacher…" the elf croaked, staring up at Teddy with a look of incredulity.

"Wait - I'm not your master," Teddy said weakly. "I…can't be."

Kreacher sniffed at Teddy. His left eye twitched slightly and his floppy ears trembled. He clutched the silver locket at his chest and then bowed before Teddy. "Kreacher lives to serve the house of Black."

"What is he talking about?" said Yasmin. "You're…he's not talking about the Black family, is he?"

"The Most Ancient and Noble House of Black added a new young master…what is master called?" croaked Kreacher. "Kreacher feels the family bond…new young master recognized Kreacher."

Teddy's mouth was suddenly very dry. He stared, panicked, at Yasmin and Eneko. They were watching the interaction with puzzled expressions.

"Okay…okay…umm…" Teddy stammered, unsure of what to say.

"Is that young master's name?" Kreacher said, and Teddy shook his head.

"No, err, call me Edward, please, Kreacher," Teddy said hastily. "Do you know how to make steak tartare?"

"Kreacher will make whatever Master Edward orders."

"Please make us steak tartare, Kreacher," Teddy said. He glanced back at Eneko and Yasmin, who were still gaping at the interaction. "And…whatever my friends ask for."

"I'll have what Edward has," replied Yasmin. Eneko asked for something called bacalao, or salted codfish. Teddy thought salted codfish didn't sound appealing at all, but Eneko grinned when Kreacher agreed to make it and shuffled off to prepare the food.

"What was that about?" said Yasmin, as soon as Kreacher was on the other side of the kitchen. "All the other elves call you 'mister' but that one calls you 'master.'"

"I think he's confused," Teddy said sheepishly. "Old elf…confused."

"That is not how elf magic works, Edward. Are there no elves in Romania?" asked Eneko. "I am surprised you have elf friends but do not understand them."

"Maybe my mum was related to the Black family?" Teddy suggested lightly. "No one told me?"

Yasmin crossed her arms and scowled at him. "My secret for yours."

"What?" Teddy said, dumbfounded. "What are you talking about?"

"I will tell you my secret and you tell me yours. I know you're hiding something." Yasmin stood tall and proud. Eneko's jaw had dropped and he stood with his arms at his side, grasping at nothing.

"You tell us why that elf calls you 'master' and I tell you why I go to the infirmary every full moon." Yasmin's dark brown eyes were shining in her triumph. "If not, I tell all those people up in the Room you're hiding something from them."

"Then I'll tell everyone about you!" said Teddy, stomping his foot angrily. "Besides, what about Eneko? You're going to tell him too?"

"He is our witness," Yasmin said coolly. "Right, Eneko?"

Eneko's eyebrows were raised high into his forehead and his jaw remained slack. He managed to blink several times and stammered lightly.

"I thought we were friends!" shouted Teddy.

"Friends don't keep secrets," Yasmin retorted. "You have two secrets. Your moon secret and this one. I only have mine and you know enough of it by now."

Teddy huffed angrily. "Friends can keep secrets! What if I had a birthday present for you?"

Yasmin's eyes narrowed; her expression hardened and she brought her face within inches of his, pushing her index finger into his chest. "You don't know when my birthday is and you're different. You're the Headmaster's son! How do I know I can trust you? How do I know you aren't going to betray all those people upstairs and take me down with you?"

Teddy frowned and stepped back, rubbing his palm against the spot where she'd poked him repeatedly.

"You already know I was hurt by a werewolf and you drag me up to meet people who hate me! Tell me the truth!" she shrieked, poking him in the chest again hard enough that he knew it would bruise.

"FINE!" shouted Teddy. "I'm not Romanian! My mum is alive but I can't tell you who she is! It's for her safety! I'm related to the Blacks but that's all you get to know!" Teddy was shouting into her face now and stomping his feet in anger.

Yasmin's eyes grew wide and she stepped back, putting her hand over her mouth, and pointed up at Teddy's head.

"E-Edward? Your hair – it is red now!" Eneko pointed at his hair, which had indeed morphed into a fiery red mop. Teddy shrieked and covered his head, dashed under a table, and covered his head as well as he could while morphing his hair back to match Snape's black.

He burst into tears under the table, feeling wretched and miserable. He'd done it now, he thought. He'd exposed his entire identity and his parents would die all over again. This time…what if the entire war was lost because of his stupidity? He cried into his hands, terrified that Voldemort would win and it would all be his fault.

Two small bodies crouched underneath the table with him. Teddy felt a hand on his knee and he yelped, knocking himself back against a table leg.

"I'm sorry," Yasmin mumbled. "You don't have to say anything more."

Teddy sniffled onto his robe sleeve and wiped away the tears that had fallen onto his cheeks and jaw.

"Your eyes – they are not black anymore." Eneko pointed to Teddy's eyes and he closed them, morphing them to the inky black he was supposed to have kept all day. He opened his eyes; both Eneko and Yasmin gasped that they had returned to their inkiness.

"You can't say anything, please," Teddy pled. "Please…don't tell anyone…he will be so angry…everyone will die." He hung his head and sobbed a little more into his sleeves.

"Master Edward's steak tartare is ready," croaked Kreacher, approaching the space under the table. "Will Master Edward eat on the floor?"

Teddy shook his head and gingerly stepped back out from under the table, where two plates of steak tartare and one plate of salted codfish were waiting for him and his friends.

"Thank you, Kreacher." Teddy wiped his nose on his sleeve just as Yasmin and Eneko emerged from under the table, exchanging worried looks with each other.

"We believe you," said Eneko. "We promise we will not tell anyone."

"You have to…I have to save them…I have to," Teddy said weakly. "You don't understand."

"No, we don't," Yasmin said quietly. "We should eat. The moon rises in two hours."

Teddy, Yasmin, and Eneko ate in silence while the elves bustled around them.

Yasmin broke the silence first when she said, "It was my brother who hurt me."

Teddy's fork almost fell to the floor when Yasmin spoke. Eneko had already finished with his dish and Kreacher quietly cleared his plate and provided pudding for dessert.

"My brother is a werewolf." Yasmin set her fork down, after clearing her plate. Kreacher brought her pudding as well and disappeared with the dirty plates. "He was bitten when he was eleven years old and I was four. Professor Dumbledore wanted him to come to school but my parents didn't want him to. He left home to be with others like him."

"A werewolf camp?" asked Teddy. Yasmin nodded.

"I don't know what he's doing there but on the first moon he transformed I went to see him because he was screaming. He scratched me badly when he was transforming and it hurt…but I'm not a werewolf," Yasmin said softly. "I was supposed to stay home too."

"But you were forced to be here like me," interjected Eneko.

"Yes – but it's all right. It's not so bad." Her lips curled into a slight smile as she nodded at Teddy again. "I'm not so alone."

"Does anyone else know?" said Teddy. "About you?"

Yasmin shook her head. "Only Madam Pomfrey knows, and now you two."

"I won't say anything," Teddy said instantly. "I promise."

"I promise also." Eneko's face was set as he looked at both Teddy and Yasmin. "I won't say anything to anyone."

Teddy was finally able to muster a smile at his friends. He reckoned that if anything could build friendships, it would be mutually held, preciously-guarded secrets.

…..

20 February 1998

"You're fidgeting again," Yasmin said impatiently. "Do you ever sit still?"

"Only if I'm bored," Teddy replied. "This is exciting! We get to hear Potterwatch!"

"Tell me why this is important?" Eneko said, sitting down next to Yasmin on the floor. "Is this more important than our Potions essay?"

"Yeah, kid, this is way more important than one of your essays," an older Gryffindor girl said, "This is war."

"What Lavender means to say is that this radio program contains a lot of useful information and news," corrected an older Ravenclaw boy. "Your studies are still important, Eneko. We'll help you on your essay after the broadcast."

Eneko relaxed and sat back on the palms of his hands. Almost two dozen students were in the Room of Requirement, huddled around an old wireless that would begin the Potterwatch broadcast in the next few moments. Teddy got a seat as close to Ted Tonks as possible, who was flanked by Dirk Cresswell and Ollivander on either side of him. No other adult Muggleborns had arrived at the Room of Requirement, but older Muggleborns such as the Creevey brothers and Justin Finch-Fletchley had come to join them.

"All right, you lot! Quiet down!" Ginny shouted. "Get ready!" Teddy sat straight up, thrilled to be hearing history as it happened.

Ginny tapped her wand on the wireless and muttered the password, "Alastor." The wireless started up and a booming voice announced, "Welcome to Potterwatch! I'm one of your hosts, River. Tonight we'll be hearing from two of our regular contributors but first, some news."

"That's Lee Jordan!" whispered the girl called Lavender.

"A goblin called Gornuk was found murdered in the woods near what we believe was a Muggleborn encampment," said Lee. "Whether the Muggleborns were able to escape is unknown but we hope they're safe and sound, wherever they are."

Ted, Dean, and Dirk exchanged dark glances. Ted and Dirk murmured to each other; Teddy heard Dirk say "That could've been us!" Teddy was never more grateful for Dobby's interference in saving his grandfather's life.

"In Gaddley, a Muggle family of five has been found dead in their home. Muggle authorities are attributing the deaths to a gas leak, but members of the Order of the Phoenix inform me that it was the Killing Curse – more evidence, as if it were needed, of the fact that Muggle slaughter is becoming little more than a recreational sport under the new regime."

"Finally," said Jordan, "we regret to inform our listeners that the remains of Bathilda Bagshot have been discovered in Godric's Hollow. The evidence is that she died several months ago. The Order of the Phoenix informs us that her body showed unmistakable signs of injuries inflicted by Dark Magic."

Teddy balled his fists tightly. He remembered the tale of Godric's Hollow, in which Harry and Hermione just barely escaped with their lives from the killer snake, Nagini. He hoped that they were safe…it had been too long since he thought of where they might be on their hunt for the soul bits.

The change in voice on the wireless was most welcome. Teddy recognized the speaker, "Royal," as Kingsley Shacklebolt, the only Minister for Magic he'd known in his original time. Listening to Kingsley was surprisingly reassuring. It had been too long since Teddy heard a voice that reminded him of home.

"We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving," said Kingsley.

"Excellently put, Royal, and you've got my vote for Minister for Magic if we ever get out of this mess," said Lee. "And now, over to Romulus for our popular feature 'Pals of Potter.'"

"Thanks, River," said another very familiar voice.

Teddy's heart threatened to jump out of his chest when someone confirmed what he thought.

"That's Professor Lupin," whispered Lavender.

Teddy crawled around the others to get closer to the wireless, realizing it was the first time he'd ever heard his father's voice.

"Romulus, do you maintain, as you have every time you've appeared on our program, that Harry Potter is still alive?" said Lee.

Teddy heard his father, Remus Lupin, share with the listeners of Potterwatch that he believed Harry was still alive and encouraged others to keep fighting and resisting the Death Eaters. His father's voice was gentle, a little hoarse, but warm and familiar. Teddy thought he could've heard his father speak for hours, even if it was all about the war.

"And what would you say to Harry if you knew he was listening, Romulus?"

"I'd tell him we're all with him in spirit," said Lupin, then hesitated slightly. "And I'd tell him to follow his instincts, which are good and nearly always right."

Teddy's chest welled with pride. Harry's instincts were the reason his father returned to his mother to beg her forgiveness and live with her again. He knew it was one of the many reasons Harry had been named his godfather, for leading Remus back to the family who gave him so much joy in the last days of his life.

Teddy was shocked, however, when he heard that the Death Eaters tried to arrest Hagrid for hosting a "Support Harry Potter" party earlier that day. He hadn't heard of the party – or the attempted arrest – and felt guilty for having missed seeing Hagrid recently.

Since the arrival of Ted Tonks to the castle, Teddy eschewed almost everything else to spend time with his grandfather. The only consolation was knowing the arrest was attempted that afternoon – he couldn't have known, having had double Potions taking up most of his time. Hagrid was now on the run; Teddy's heart sank knowing he'd lost one of his few friends at the castle.

"I suppose it helps, when escaping from Death Eaters, if you've got a sixteen-foot-high half-brother?" asked Lee.

"It would tend to give you an edge," agreed Lupin gravely. "May I just add that while we here at Potterwatch applaud Hagrid's spirit, we would urge even the most devoted of Harry's supporters against following Hagrid's lead. 'Support Harry Potter' parties are unwise in the present climate."

To Teddy's immense disappointment, "Romulus" stopped speaking and was replaced by two similar voices – George and Fred Weasley! He knew George Weasley's voice anywhere and it was startling to hear two of them at the same time. It hurt Teddy's heart to think that until 1998, there were always two voices that sounded identical, until one of them was lost at the Battle of Hogwarts. Teddy's heart clenched again, thinking that he should try to save Fred Weasley also. All the Weasleys said that after Fred died, George was never the same.

The way Fred and George bantered with each other on the wireless was as captivating as hearing Remus's voice; George sounded so much happier and carefree, even with the threat of war looming around them. Teddy didn't realize he was crying until someone poked him and gestured at his face.

Teddy wiped away his tears and sat back with Yasmin and Eneko. He'd heard the Weasley twins, together, for the first time. More importantly, he'd heard his father's voice. It was the first time he'd ever heard Remus Lupin speak; he hoped it wouldn't be the last time. He hoped his mother would come to join the broadcast…he'd never heard her voice, either.

The broadcast concluded after a few more minutes of Fred, George, and Lee speaking. Everyone clapped loudly, but none more than Teddy.

"Edward, it is time for our essay," said Eneko. "Mr. Boot said he will help us."

"You can call me Terry," said the tall Ravenclaw boy, chuckling slightly. "That makes me feel old. I'm only 18."

Eneko and Yasmin stood to join Terry and another tall Ravenclaw boy. When they beckoned for Teddy to join them, he shook his head, ready to see Ted again. However, he was stopped in his tracks by Ollivander.

"Hello, Mr. Snape," Ollivander greeted. Teddy took a step back. Ollivander, while brilliant, unnerved him.

"Call me Edward, please."

"Well, Edward, I heard from Luna that you tried helping Professor Flitwick make wands. Is that true?"

"I got a lot of the unicorn hair and some of the wood but we haven't had any luck. It was rowan wood that we got…my bowtruckle, Puck, was in that tree." Teddy reached into his pocket and produced Puck, who glanced up at Ollivander curiously.

"Wand-making is an art…it takes years of practice…a steady, devoted hand…and an eye for the proper materials."

Teddy wasn't sure what to make of Ollivander's statement so he shrugged and offered a weak smile.

"May I see your wand, Edward?"

Teddy offered it to him, saying, "I didn't buy it. Professor Snape brought me several wands and this one worked best."

Ollivander turned over the wand several times and murmured quiet words over it, holding it up to his ear as if it were a Muggle telephone. Teddy gaped at him, puzzled. He was ready to take the wand back when Ollivander shook his head.

"This wand is not meant for you," said Ollivander. "It was not purchased properly and will not work as well as it should. It knows it is stolen." Teddy was ready to protest and explain himself that he hadn't intended on using a stolen wand, but Ollivander gestured for him to follow.

"Do not ask me how I obtained the materials," whispered Ollivander, "but the unicorn hair and wood you collected is now in my possession." Teddy's eyes grew as wide upon seeing several stacks of wood near the place where he assumed Ollivander slept.

"When Luna told me what you were doing – and who had collected the wood and hair – I thought to make you a wand."

"M-me? How do you know it will work?" Teddy stammered. "The other wand was fine."

Ollivander shook his head. "This wand is not meant for you. Allow me a moment."

Teddy watched Ollivander open a box containing a single wand.

"This wand is made of the rowan wood you collected, from the tree that housed your bowtruckle. It is 10 ½ inches long, contains unicorn hair that you obtained, and pliable. Give it a try." Ollivander handed the wand to Teddy. His dark, piercing eyes gleamed with excitement when Teddy took the wand in his hand.

The most wonderful sensation went up Teddy's arm, as if he were bathing in perfectly warm water, or receiving a tight hug from someone he loved. He swished the wand in the air, producing marvelous sparks that flickered in the light.

"This is my wand," Teddy said, in wonderment. "How did you know?"

"The unicorn hair and wood were collected by you, and it is clear from what Luna told me that you have quite the talent for magical creatures. The unicorn who gave this to you must have thought you pure of heart."

Teddy blushed; he didn't think he was 'pure of heart,' whatever that meant.

"It is remarkable that the wood you collected is rowan – it is commonly stated that no Dark witch or wizard ever owned a rowan wand, and I cannot recall a single instance where one of my own rowan wands has gone on to do evil in the world. Rowan is most happily placed with the clear-headed and pure-hearted," Ollivander said, admiring the wand in Teddy's hands. "It performs particularly powerful protective charms and is excellent for dueling."

"Thank you, Mr. Ollivander," Teddy said, running his fingers over the handsome wand now in his possession. "I will get you gold as soon as I can, sir."

"No payment is required for your wand, Edward. After all, you saved my life by sending me Luna – and Dobby."

Teddy thanked Ollivander again and went off to a corner to practice some of his spells with his new wand. Though the previous wand worked well, the rowan wand in his hands performed spectacularly. His "Lumos" produced a brighter wand tip; "Wingardium leviosa" worked on anything he tried to levitate, no matter how heavy. His new wand was undeniably perfect for him.

"Having fun, I see," Ted said kindly. "Mind if I join you, son?"

"Not at all!"

"I overheard your conversation with Ollivander – my wand's made of rowan wood as well."

"It is?"

"Indeed it is, though my core is dragon heartstring."

Teddy beamed at his grandfather and produced more brilliant sparks from his wand, overjoyed to have a wand that worked better than he could've ever imagined.

Eneko and Yasmin strode over to Ted and Teddy with their rucksacks. "Edward, it is almost time for curfew."

"It's a Friday," whined Teddy. "I don't care. I'm staying here."

"Is that advisable?" Ted asked, looking around for an older student. He waved to Neville and asked if Teddy could stay the night in the Room of Requirement.

"Plenty of us do on the weekends," smiled Neville. "You're welcome to join us, Edward. I'm sure the Room will come up with another hammock for a Hufflepuff."

Teddy sighed in happiness and bid his friends goodbye, ready to spend the night in a place that made history.

…..

21 February 1998

Teddy woke as early as he could on Saturday morning. He realized, about an hour after curfew, that his plan to sleep in the Room of Requirement with the other students came with an oversight.

At night, he was accustomed to placing a Locking Charm on his drapes to ensure his dormmates didn't see him morph in his sleep. If he had been anyone else, it wouldn't have been a problem. He certainly wasn't the first Metamorphmagus Hogwarts had seen.

However, no one in the Room of Requirement could know he was a Metamorphmagus, should they become suspicious of his parentage. When he was most relaxed and his morphing was all but gone, he was a spitting image of Remus Lupin. The last full moon, Madam Pomfrey had cried upon waking him after seeing him in his un-morphed, very Lupin face.

He'd put a blanket over his head in an attempt to hide his face while he slept, but was dismayed to see that the blanket had fallen to the floor. Teddy poked his head out from one side of the hammock and looked around – no one was there.

Relieved, he took a step out and slapped his palm to his forehead, realizing he was still looking too much like Teddy Lupin and not enough like Edward Snape. He took another glance around and quickly changed his hair and eyes to match Snape's, before picking up the blanket that fell on the floor.

Teddy placed the blanket back on the hammock and put his shoes back on, ready to return to the Hufflepuff dormitory to change his clothes and return to the Room of Requirement to spend more time with his grandfather.

He'd taken a few steps away from his hammock when he heard his name in a whisper.

"Edward."

His eyes grew wide and he whipped around, finding Ted Tonks staring at him with an inscrutable expression.

"It seems you're like my daughter in more ways than one, Mr. Snape." Ted raised a brow and waited for Teddy's reply.