Teddie picked herself up from the hearth and dusted off her jeans. She paused at the unusual silence and looked up, a small smile working its way onto her face as she noticed the occupants around the table all staring at her.

"Uh, hi," said Teddie.

"What are you doing here?" Ron asked, getting up from his chair. He stormed toward the fireplace, stopping only as Fred and George pushed past and engulfed Teddie in a hug.

"Snake!" the twins chorused. "You're alive!"

Teddie laughed and hugged the pair back. As she pulled away she looked them over, stopping and cocking her head as she saw one side of Fred's head covered in a bandage. "You're missing an ear?" she asked.

"Got it blown off by a Death Eater," said Fred, nonchalantly.

"Death Eater?" Teddie asked, looking alarmed. "When? Where? What happened?"

Harry stepped into the living room. "When they rescued me from the Dursleys," he said.

Teddie met his gaze and smiled. "Hi, Harry," she said. "Happy Birthday!"

Matching her smile, Harry opened his arms and accepted the hug she offered him. "It's good to see you, Teddie," he said. "How you been?"

Teddie shrugged. "I'm going stark raving mad being locked up," she admitted. "But, given the circumstances, I know it's not possible for me to be out and about."

"You mean because you may turn on some unsuspecting soul?" Ron sneered.

Teddie ignored him. Her sole focus was all on Harry. She was rather surprised that he was being so welcoming to her, especially since the last time they had seen one another had been during the interview concerning Snape's hand in the Battle of the Astronomy tower.

"Wait, they rescued you from the Dursleys?" Teddie asked, remembering the first half of Harry's comment. "What do you mean 'rescued you'?"

"Given I'm seventeen now, the charm that kept me safe with my aunt and uncle has broken," said Harry. "They're no longer safe to be around me, and can no longer protect me from Vol -"

Teddie slapped her hand to his mouth.

Harry raised a curious eyebrow.

"The name is Tabooed," said Teddie. "He's put the Trace on it. Anyone who utters the name, no matter where they are or what charms and enchantments they have around them, it will all break."

Harry breathed out as Teddie lowered her arm. "Oh. How do you know this?" he asked.

"Mo told me."

Ron scoffed. "Right. His master probably told him and he's passing on the message," he said.

"Ronald Billius Weasley!" Mrs Weasley snapped, entering the room. She had been cleaning upstairs when Teddie had arrived and had just come down, catching the tail end of the conversation.

Ron's face turned scarlet red. "But, Mum, she can't be trusted!" he protested, pointing in Teddie's direction. "She's his daughter."

"I am aware," said Mrs. Weasley. "But has Teddie not proved time and time again to not be like her parents?"

Teddie winced at the titles. She had already accepted that she was blood related to Avery and Voldemort, but that didn't make them her parents; and she hated when people referred to them as such.

"Teddie, dear, have you had breakfast?" Mrs Weasley asked, smiling.

"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Weasley," said Teddie, beaming. She hadn't really had much interaction with the older woman, and the first time she had ever encountered - sort of - was when she had sent a Howler to Ron during second year. She hadn't approved of the humiliation back then and she still didn't now, even if Ron didn't like or support her.

Mrs. Weasley nodded and bustled through the kitchen and into the laundry room.

Fred and George turned back to Teddie. "So, you never answered Harry's question," they said.

"Which one?"

"Why are you here?" said Harry.

Teddie blinked. "Oh, yeah," she said, digging into her pocket. She pulled out an oval pendent attached to a gold chain. "I thought you'd like this back, and I have information for you. Can we talk?"

Harry stared at the locket. He had guessed that Teddie had taken it at the end of last year, but he couldn't be sure. He had planned on asking her before they all left for the holidays, but between the battle at the Astronomy Tower, Dumbledore's death and then the funeral there hadn't been enough time. She had left as soon as the funeral had finished.

Since her parents death in fifth year, Teddie had moved into Flint manor with her Ursula and Mo. They're mode of transportation was different to the Weasley's. With Mo being higher up in the Ministry than Mr Weasley he was easily providing Teddie with protection details and protective transportation more so than what Mr Weasley could provide for him.

"Sure," said Harry. He looked around at the others. "Can you guys excuse us?"

Fred and George clapped Teddie on the shoulder.

"Come find us when you're done," said Fred.

"Yeah, we have something to give you," agreed George.

The pair filed out of the room. Ginny hesitated, looking between Harry and Teddie.

"Hey, Ginny," said Teddie, smiling.

Ginny returned the smile and then left. She hadn't really had much to do with Teddie over the years, but if there was one thing she was when Teddie was around it was safe. Regardless of what Ron said about her, Ginny knew that Teddie meant well, and she trusted her.

Harry turned to Ron and Hermione.

"Oh, I'm staying," said Ron, shaking his head.

Hermione nodded. She met Teddie's gaze. "If you don't mind, of course?" she asked.

"I don't care if she doesn't mind," said Ron. "I'm making sure my best friend walks out of this room in one piece."

Teddie rolled her eyes. "Sorry I didn't have the chance to let you know I was taking it," she said, handing the locket to Harry. "I wanted Mason to take a look at it."

"Did he?"

Teddie nodded.

"What did he find?" Hermione asked. She had obviously heard about the locket from Harry, but this was her first time seeing it.

"He found a reference to it in one of his books," said Teddie. "He says that while this is a fake there is a replica out there somewhere. One that matches this to a 'T'. We know this is a fake because of the note, but if laid side-by-side with the original you wouldn't be able to tell the difference, unless you knew, of course."

Hermione looked impressed.

"Does he know about the letter?" Harry asked.

Teddie nodded. "He did some research into that, too," she admitted. "He couldn't find anything at first."

"There's a shock," Ron muttered.

"At first?" Hermione asked, hastily. "Meaning he did find something?"

Teddie turned to Hermione. "Yes. R.A.B are initials," she said. "Regulus Arcturus Black. Does that ring any bells?"

Harry cocked his head. "Black? As in Sirius?" he asked.

"His younger brother," said Teddie.

"Hang on, how do you know that?" Ron interrupted. "There are tons of Black relatives out there. This Regulus could've been a cousin or distance relation. How do you know he was Sirius' brother?"

"Because, as you said, there are cousins and distant relations out there," said Teddie. "Ursula, Marcus' mother. She was born a Black. She is Sirius' cousin and, I'm guessing just like Sirius, has the Black Family tree tapestry at her home."

Harry's eyes widened. "You have a Black family tree?" he asked.

Teddie nodded. "Ursula found Mason in the library one night, after everyone had gone to bed," she explained. "He couldn't sleep, and he uses research as a form of self-soothing. She questioned why he was awake, and he told her."

"He told her?" Ron roared. "Do you not understand confidentiality?"

Hermione nudged him.

"Next day, Ursula showed me and Mason the tapestry," Teddie continued. "She said that, while she didn't understand why we would need it, it seemed important. She also said that we could spend as much time as we needed with it. We studied that thing from end to end, finally coming to R.A.B - Regulus Black. His name was alongside Sirius and therefore we guessed they were brothers."

Harry whistled. "Wow, Ted, that's incredible," he said. "Did you ask Ursula about him?"

Teddie nodded.

"What did she say?"

Teddie shrugged. "Regulus was much younger than her, and she didn't really have much to do with the Black family because of their views differed so much," she admitted. "But she did say that Walburga was very protective of the boy… more so than she was Sirius."

"Yeah, Sirius was the black sheep of the family," Harry admitted. "He told me that Christmas of fifth year. He never mentioned a brother, though."

"Because he was estranged from the family, probably," said Hermione. "Sirius didn't really care much about any of them. They all-but cut him out after he was sorted into Gryffindor."

"Sounds about right," said Teddie, nodding. "Ursula said that Walburga was not impressed. The Noble House of Black sullied by one bad apple."

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Blacks only ever got into Slytherin," said Teddie.

Harry nodded.

Hermione looked thoughtful. "Sounds like Regulus would've been someone Slughorn would've been interested in, don't you think?" she asked.

Harry gasped. "Hey, wait, a second," he said. "I have heard his name before. Last year, end of the Summer, Dumbledore took me to meet Slughorn. He used me to get him to return to Hogwarts. Anyway, Dumbledore made an excuse to leave me alone with him and that's when Slughorn told me about the Slug Club - the way he talked about collecting his trophies, it made me uncomfortable - but he mentioned Sirius being in Gryffindor and then added that he got his brother a year later."

"Sounds like Slughorn, alright," said Teddie.

"Why didn't it twig?"

Teddie shrugged. "R.A.B could've been a thousand names," she said. "Besides, as far as we know, the Black's never supported Voldemort. They may not have approved of Muggles, but they didn't agree that they deserved to be eradicated. Similar to the Sutherlands, to be honest."

Ron scoffed.

"You may want to get that throat checked, Ron," said Teddie, turning her attention to him. "Sounds like you've got a rather nasty cold coming."

Ron sneered.

"Anyway, I just came to give you the locket and tell you what I know," said Teddie. "I promised Mo that I wouldn't stay long. We're getting ready to move and I need to be sure that I have packed everything, especially Priscilla, Merlin, Morgana."

"Wait, moving?" Harry questioned. "Where you moving, too?"

"Mo thinks it is too dangerous for me here," Teddie answered. "I mean, I don't like the idea, but I also know that I can't focus on what I need to do while being constantly under threat."

Ron sniffed.

Teddie cocked her head as she met Harry's gaze. "What?" she asked.

"Nothing," Harry replied, shaking his head. "I just…" he heaved a sigh. "I was going to ask you to come with us."

"What?" Ron exploded. "No way am I going gallivanting with her."

Teddie glanced at him and then back at Harry. "You know I would follow you to the ends of the Earth," she said, "and you will have my continued support throughout all of this. But, for once, I cannot be there at your side. I'm sorry."

"I know you are," Harry agreed. "It's just going to be odd without you, you know?"

Teddie nodded. She and Harry had been through the trenches together. Every year, every inference at Hogwarts, it had been them two that had responded. From the Philosopher's Stone to the Chamber of Secrets, from Sirius and Pettigrew to Voldemort's return, from the attack at the Ministry and Dumbledore's death, Teddie had always been by his side.

Continuing Dumbledore's mission without her was going to be a big change, but he also understood her need to leave. Dumbledore had told him, fairly early on, that one day soon Teddie's rightful destiny would present itself, and in order to full that destiny, she would need to prepare.

"Do you have any idea what you're going to be doing?" Hermione asked.

Teddie shrugged. "Basically, we're undoing what Avery started at the end of fourth year," she answered. "I need to lose the magic that keeps me and Faye apart."

"But why?" Hermione asked.

"To put us on equal footing," Teddie replied. "Mo reckons, in order to succeed, Faye and I need to accept one another as equal parts and join forces. My humanity will reign in her impulsiveness to kill, and her power will enhance my chances of surviving."

"Or," said Ron, savagely. "They're just lowering the defense to make it easy for your powers to obliterate us all."

Teddie whirled on him. She taken enough abuse from Ronald Weasley over the years, and while she should've ignored him in the past, she hadn't. But now he had gone far enough, and she'd had enough of his snide remarks about her loyalties.

"You forget, Ronald, my remaining family members are a part of 'you all'," Teddie snapped. "I would never do anything to hurt Mason, Theo and everyone I care about. Especially not Harry and Hermione."

Ron glared at her.

"Say what you want about me, I don't care anymore," Teddie continued. "But never, for one second, think that I don't care about the safety of others. If I had my way, this war would end today."

Ron huffed and stalked out of the room.

Teddie heard him stomp through the kitchen and slam the back door in his wake. She took a deep breath and turned back to Harry and Hermione. "Anyway, like I said, I just wanted to return the locket and tell you what Mason had found," she said.

"Thank you so much, Teddie," said Harry, hugging her. "You have no idea how helpful this is."

"I'm also sorry I didn't tell you that I had taken it," Teddie apologised. "There wasn't enough time after Dumbledore's funeral, and I figured you'd guess that I had it. Sorry if I made you worry."

Harry waved her off. "I did at first, but then realised that only you and Dumbledore knew about the locket," he said. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

Teddie shook her head. "You're forgiven," she said.

The pair hugged and then split.

Teddie turned to Hermione. "Do me a favour," she said, embracing the girl. "Look after them, yeah? You know they'd be lost without you."

Harry pouted. "Not all the time," he said.

"No offence, Harry, but without Hermione, you'd still be at square one," Teddie teased.

"Suppose I could say the same to you about Mason."

"Oh, for sure!" Teddie agreed. "I'd never have survived all these years if it weren't for him. He's a total genius. He's going to go far after school."

"Speaking of school," said Hermione. "How are you going to manage your last year without Hogwarts?"

"Ursula and Mo are hiring tutors for us to do home-schooling," Teddie answered.

"I thought you said you were moving?" Harry inquired.

"We are."

"Wouldn't bringing in outsiders defeat the purpose?"

Teddie nodded. "Usually, yes, but we're not actually bringing in people to the summer house," she answered. "Ursula is getting the work certified from actual tutors and examiners to be sent to us, we'll complete it and then send it back for marking."

"Sounds easy enough," said Hermione.

"What about exams?" Harry asked.

Teddie shrugged. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, I suppose," she said.

"If we get to it."

Teddie shoved Harry's shoulder. "Don't talk like that," she said. "We'll get there. Come on, we've been through so much already. We can get through this, right?"

Harry smiled and nodded.

Teddie hugged him again and stepped backward toward the fireplace.

"Wait, didn't Fred and George say they had something for you?" Hermione asked, stopping her. "They're usually upstairs in their room. First door on the left, third floor."

The back door opened, and footsteps traipsed through the kitchen. Multiple voices could be heard, and Teddie recognised one as Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister for Magic.

What is he doing here? Teddie thought.

Both Harry and Hermione looked around as the three different sets of footsteps reached the living room. Ron entered first. He looked worried, his eyes wide and face pale. Behind him came his father, talking animatedly with the man behind him.

Finally, the Minister entered the living room. His gaze swept around, landing on the trio before him. "Ah, perfect," he said. "You're all here. Saves me a trip," he added to Teddie.

Teddie cocked her head. "You want to see me?" she asked.

"Yes," said the Minister. "I have some questions I wish to ask you."

"Pretty sure you can't talk to us without an adult present," said Teddie.

"Actually, Miss Green, you'll find that I can," said the Minister. "You're all of age now, and in the eyes of the Magical Ministry therefore adults."

Teddie grit her teeth. She took a deep breath and shared a look with Harry.

"Thank you, Arthur, you may leave us," said the Minister. He nodded at Mr. Weasley. "We shall call if we need your assistance."

Bewildered, Mr. Weasley looked around at the four teenagers and then quickly left the room. He wanted to stay, that much was obvious, but as the Minister had already stated, the four were now adults and did not need an adult to defend them.

Once Mr. Weasley was out of the house, Scrimgeour turned back to the four teenagers. "Perhaps this conversation would be better individually?" he suggested. "Mr Weasley, Miss Green, why don't you give us a moment alone?"

"We're not going anywhere," said Teddie, unmoving. "Not until you tell us what this is about."

Scrimgeour gave Teddie a cold, appraising look. "Very well," he said, taking a seat in an armchair. He motioned for the four to sit on the sofa opposite. "I am here because of Albus Dumbledore's will."

Teddie furrowed her brow. Dumbledore had been dead for little over a month, why had the Minister only now seen fit to hand them over?

"These objects had to be investigated," said Scrimgeour, catching the look on Teddie's face. "To be sure that they were safe to pass on."

"You think Dumbledore would pass on items that would harm us?" Hermione asked. "Absurd."

"Who gave you the right to this?" Harry asked.

"I'm the Minister for Magic," said Scrimgeour. "I had every right."

Teddie rolled her eyes. "Shall we get on with this?" she asked. "I have a specific time that I need to be home by, if not, Mo is going to get suspicious and come looking for me."

Scrimgeour eyes her. "Very well," he said, moving on. He reached into his cloak and pulled out a thick roll of parchment. It was tied with purple ribbon. He unfurled it and read aloud "The Last Will and Testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. To Ronald Billius Weasley, I leave my Deluminator. In the hopes that he will remember me when he uses it."

Ron took, what appeared to be, a silver cigarette lighter from the Minister and turned it over in his hands. There was a look of uncertainty on his face, and when he looked back up, everyone could see that he had no clue what he was holding or why Dumbledore had left it for him.

Scrimgeour sniffed and turned back to the Will. "To Miss Hermione Jean Granger, I leave my copy of the Tales of Beedle the Bard, in the hope that she will find it entertaining and instructive."

Hermione reached out and plucked the book from the Minister's hands. She turned it over, reading the blurb on the back, and then looked up with a smile.

Annoyed by the lack of forth-willingness he was receiving, Scrimgeour turned back to the Will once more. "To Mason Robert Green, I leave the only copy of Merlin's Rune book, in the hopes that he will be able to do what many others have failed."

Teddie perked up at the mention of her brother's name. She watched as Scrimgeour handed her a small, thick, square book. It was a muddy purple colour with silver intricate weaves over the front cover and spine, and at the bottom, wedged between a few pages was a silk purple bookmark that was attached at the top of the spine.

"Is that it?" Teddie asked, reaching for the book.

Scrimgeour stopped her. "This book has been around for centuries, Miss Green," he said. "I wish to know why Professor Dumbledore would leave it to your brother?"

"You think I know why Dumbledore does what he does?" Teddie asked. "Dumbledore was a very eccentric and private man; he never spoke his thoughts unless he believed they would be helpful in one way or another. Why he left Mason this book? I don't know, maybe he knows that Mason loves to read."

"This book has never been fully deciphered by anyone," said Scrimgeour. "Historians throughout the ages have tried, but no one has managed to even come close."

"Mason isn't just anyone, Minister," said Teddie. "He's very bright for his age, and Professor Dumbledore always admired that about him. Now," she snatched the book from his hands. "Will that be all?"

Scrimgeour stared at Teddie for a long, hard second. He then drew himself up to his full height and turned away. "I have two more things," he said, turning back to the Will. "To Harry James Potter, I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill."

Tiny silver wings of the snitch beat against the air as Scrimgeour held up the walnut-sized golden ball. He handed it over, slowly, deliberately, and placed it squarely in Harry's palm. He then deflated and a look of confusion and annoyance crossed his features.

"Something tells me you were expecting something to happen then, Minister," said Teddie.

"Of course he was," said Hermione. "Snitches have flesh memories. He probably expected Dumbledore to hide something inside the Snitch, and when Harry touched it, it would open. Right?"

Scrimgeour stared at Hermione with a look of disbelief.

Teddie sniggered. Hermione was as smart as Mason, and it showed how much of annoyance they both could be. Especially when they deciphered what people were trying to hide.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Minster," said Harry, stowing the snitch away inside his jacket. "Now, you said you had two more things. What's the last?"

Scrimgeour stared at him, yellow eyes narrowed in suspicious. He then cleared his throat and returned to the Will. "Dumbledore also left the Sword of Gryffindor to you, Mr Potter," he said, rolling the parchment back up. "Unfortunately, the sword did not belong to Dumbledore and therefore was not his to give away."

There was uproar.

"The sword presented itself to Harry when he needed it the most in the Chamber of Secrets!" Hermione shouted over the din.

"The sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor, Miss Granger," said Scrimgeour. "That doesn't make it that Wizards property. But I do have one question - why would Dumbledore leave you the sword?"

Harry shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine," he said.

"Maybe he thought it would be a worthy weapon against the Heir of Slytherin," said Scrimgeour.

"Which one?" Teddie asked.

Scrimgeour blinked and turned to her. "Pardon me?" he asked.

"You said, maybe the sword of Gryffindor could be used against the Heir of Slytherin," said Teddie. "Which Heir? The Dark Lord or his daughter? Because, if you mean Faye, then Harry had many opportunities to use it against her in second year and he didn't. Maybe because that's not what it's true purpose is for."

"Then what do you think it's true purpose is for, Miss Green?"

Teddie shrugged. "I believe Dumbledore had his reasons for leaving these objects to us, and because you don't know those reasons, it pisses you off," she said. "But, the thing is, Minister, Dumbledore didn't tell you everything because he didn't trust you… and neither do we."

Harry nodded in agreement.

Scrimgeour's expression hardened. He turned away and walked from the room. The quartet heard the back door slam shut.

A few seconds later it reopened, and Mr Weasley walked inside. He surveyed the scene, looking from one teenager to the next. "What happened?" he asked.

"Just another calm conversation with the Minister," said Harry.

"Is he gone?" Ron asked.

"Yes. He's gone," said Mr. Weasley.

Teddie rose from her seat. She clutched the book Dumbledore had left Mason to her chest and turned to the others. "Well, not that this hasn't been fun, but I think I'll take my leave now," she paused at the fireplace and turned back to Hermione. "Tell Fred and George I'm sorry I couldn't stick around."

"Teddie," said Harry, rushing forward. He engulfed her in one last hug and whispered in her ear. "Good luck."

"You too," Teddie replied. She pressed a kiss to his cheek and withdrew. The pair shared a small, secretive smile, and then Teddie stepped back into the fireplace.

There was a flash of green, and Teddie disappeared.