TEDDY
"Welcome to Defense Against Dark Arts. My name is Professor Lupin. Open your books to Page 4."
There was a scuffle as the students rifled through book bags to retrieve copies of their book and opened to the page.
"Are you there? You will read in the foreword Professor Remus Lupin, my father, was one of the best Defense Against Dark Arts teachers to have ever taught at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, my father could only teach here for one year. He was a senior member of the Order of the Phoenix and dedicated his life to protect Harry Potter. As you all know, Harry defeated Tom Riddle, infamously known as Voldemort, during the Battle of Hogwarts. My father was killed in the battle. We are here today to lead by his example and continue to defeat evil and any dark practices to prevent them from rising again."
"Now," Teddy cleared his throat, "We're going to learn the basic shield charms. Turn to page 45."
His students flipped through their books and looked expectantly for him to continue. He smiled to himself. When he had been sitting in those same seats, if anyone had told him he would someday teach Defense Against Dark Arts, he would have called them insane. His only goal had been to flirt with girls or play professional quidditch. Teaching had never crossed his mind.
But one summer, Gram told him the legend of the Battle of Hogwarts, and it forever changed his life. She had gleaned as much as she could from Harry during his frequent visits, so she knew his every step of the night he defeated Voldemort. She enjoyed telling the story to anyone who would listen, never failing to inform the listener of the contributions made by Mum and Dad.
The day had been sweltering hot, unusual for a London summer. A young Teddy had been trying to beat the heat by sitting in the shade of an old gnarled yew tree. He was bored and too young to practice any of the magic he had learned after his first year at Hogwarts.
"Teddy, come here! I made us some lemonade," Gram called from the open kitchen window.
He joined Gram in the stuffy, dark living room and picked up a glass of lemonade from the tray. The ice cubes clinked in the glass as he took a sip, savoring the sweet tartness. He brushed some condensation from the glass and patted the cool wetness on his heated forehead and cheeks.
"Sit down, Teddy. I have something to tell you about your mum and dad."
It was the first time he had heard the story, and he listened with rapt attention to every detail of the night his parents died. His parents had sacrificed so much for him, for everyone, and all because of one twisted and evil man. He wished he could have known them.
He listened when she repeated the tale to others, and one day, he had an idea. "Gram, what happened to the resurrection stone?"
"What do you mean, Teddy?"
"Harry had the resurrection stone when he went to face Voldemort. He spoke with his parents and my dad, right? What happened to the stone?"
"I don't know. I just assume Harry still has it."
The next time they visited with Harry, Teddy asked him about it. Harry said he dropped the stone in the Forbidden Forest, assuming he would soon be dead himself. When he recalled dropping it, he was certain he wouldn't be able to find it again and assumed it was lost.
Teddy dismissed the class, gathered his books, and made his way through the throngs of milling students to his office. He slammed his books down on his desk and plopped down onto his squeaky desk chair. He leaned back, propped his feet on the desk and grabbed a handful of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans from the jar on his desk, and chewed thoughtfully, grateful the flavor was lime and not grass.
He had been teaching at Hogwarts's for seven years now. He had gone out every evening, depending on the weather, to look for the stone, searching in a strict grid pattern so he didn't miss a spot or search the same area twice. Tonight, was a perfect fall evening, clear with only a slight chill which hinted of the coming winter.
Teddy was well known by the creatures in the Forbidden Forest. They had been curious and less than welcoming at first, but he had long since come to an uneasy truce with them. The centaurs, respecting his parent's sacrifice and contribution, did not exactly welcome him, but they did not interfere either. He had convinced some of the other, more violent creatures to leave him alone, and for the most part, they did. But he didn't let his guard down, because they were creatures, and would not always remember their promises.
He retrieved a copy of his well-worn map from his desk and spread it out. His search was taking him closer to a slight clearing, surrounded by towering trees whose canopy was so dense, very little grew on the ground around them. He would eat a quick dinner and head into the forest.
Teddy made his way across the grounds, gripping his lantern in one hand while he finished the last of a treacle tart with his other. He licked the crumbs from his fingers and brushed his hand on his pants. Lighting the lantern with his wand, he entered the darkened depths of the forest, picking his way carefully and watching for his marks on the trees.
He felt a chill run up his spine. Something was out there. He lowered the lantern, but couldn't see anything or anyone, but he felt a presence as he neared the clearing. He forced himself to remain calm, stopped, and listened, but could only hear the wind through the trees.
He swung his lantern back and forth, looking intently at the ground.
"Accio resurrection stone," he said, but nothing happened. He didn't expect it to, but a person could hope.
He kicked at some tufts of grass to dislodge anything caught in the roots. He kicked again and again, shining his lantern methodically. It had to be here! It just had to be!
He searched around the clearing for hours. He looked at his watch. He would look for 30 minutes more and if he didn't find anything, he could quit for the night. He had to get some sleep or he wouldn't be able to stay awake during his lectures.
He kicked a tuft of grass and caught a quick reflection of the lantern light. He repeated his movement and another glint appeared in the same spot. He had been excited many times before, only to be cruelly disappointed with a piece of glass or another lost remnant of the Battle. He had a chest full of them. But this time, he was certain. This had to be it.
He reached down, picked up a small stone, turning it to catch the lantern light. It was faceted and dark, but as small as a pound coin.
As he examined the stone, a glow behind him lit up the forest. He pulled out his wand, and spun around, ready for battle. But instead of danger, it was the sight he had been wishing to see his entire life. His mother and father stood before him, smiling with joy.
They all declared at once: "Mum! Dad!" "Teddy!" "My boy!"
"I have been looking for the stone. I wanted to see you. Gram, she will want to see you, too."
His mother and father shared a glance at each other before his mother, Nymphadora, replied, "Teddy, you can't keep it. Give the stone to Harry as soon as possible. The Deathly Hallows have only brought the holders death and grief. He will know best how to dispose of it."
"Later! I promise. I just wanted to see you. Talk to you. Gram told me all about you. We see Harry all of the time. He is married now, with kids. I'm a professor at Hogwarts. I teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, just like Dad."
"My boy! We're so proud of you. We love you, very much."
"I love you, too. Are you sure I can't keep the stone? I want to be able to talk to you. I have so many questions. I have so much I want to know."
His mother's mouth formed a grim line and his father shook his head. Both of them looked as unhappy as he felt.
"We are always with you. In here," her mother pointed to her heart. Her eyes roved his face, "Give the stone to Harry. We must go. We love you, Teddy. Remember. We will always love you."
His father's visage wavered slightly as Remus repeated his mother's words, "We will always love you."
Teddy clutched the stone so tightly it gouged his palm, but he hardly felt it. He opened his blood-smeared palm and rolled the stone across it. So small a thing, no wonder it had taken him so long to find, but worth it. Definitely worth it.