Chapter 8
- Peter Pettigrew -
"Honestly, Divination is going to drive me mad!" Hermione yelled as they walked down the long staircase. Teddy listened to Hermione's rants silently, smiling as she began listing off all the ways Ancient Runes was a far better topic, and how Ron tried to figure out how she could be in two places at once. They four walked down the hall and were greeted by a series of howls.
Boys from Slytherin howled loudly as they passed Teddy, who half hid his head behind his book. "Everyone knows!" He groaned.
"I wouldn't say everyone-" Hermione began but Ron interrupted.
"Nope, everyone knows. It's the talk of the school. I've heard Dumbledore's been getting hundreds of owls from worried parents."
Slap!
Hermione had hit Ron with her book again. "Hey guys, I gotta go." Harry said and Teddy looked up, curious.
"Where are you going?"
"Professor Lupin's giving me some extra classes."
"What for?"
"He's teaching me how to defend myself against the... Dementors." A shiver ran down Harry's back. Teddy was curious, he too wanted to know how to defend himself against the guards of Azkaban, maybe not as much as Harry did, but still. "Mind if I come?" He asked.
"Sure, I don't see why not."
The two boys waved goodbye to Ron and Hermione before walking up to the Dark Arts room. Professor Lupin was in his office, writing at his desk, but he got up when he heard the two boys. "Oh, Harry, there you are. And you brought Teddy with you."
"Hope that's okay."
Professor Lupin walked down the stairs, a bright smile on his face. "No, no, the more the merrier. Come in, come in."
The wardrobe containing the Boggart, was in the middle of the room.
"Now, are you sure about this, Harry? This is very advanced magic, well beyond the Ordinary Wizarding Level."
Harry nodded reassuringly. "I'm sure."
"Well, everything's prepared. Now, the spell I'm going to teach you is called the Patronus Charm. Have you two ever heard of it?" Both boys shook their heads. "No? Well, a Patronus is a positive force, it works like a shield, with the dementor feeding on it rather than the wizard who cast it. But in order for it to work, you need to think of a memory." He explained pacing around the two boys who
"Not just any memory, a very happy memory, a very powerful memory. Can you do this?" He asked. Teddy nodded, yet was having trouble trying to think of a happy memory. "Very well. Close your eyes. Concentrate. Explore your past. Do you have a memory? Allow it to fill you up. Lose yourself within it. Then speak the incantation, Expecto Patronum."
Teddy closed his eyes, listening to the Professors calm, soothing voice. "Expecto Patronum." He murmured with Harry.
"Very good. Shall we? Harry, you stand in front so you're the first thing the Boggart sees and Teddy you stand a little behind him. Wands at the ready?" The professor stood by the wardrobe, waiting a moment then opening it. A large cloaked figure floated out of the wardrobe. "Expecto Patronum!" Both boys shouted at the same time.
A loud breathing sound filled Teddy's ears and soon he realized Harry had fainted. The Dementor shifted unexpectedly to a giant wasp, but suddenly Teddy couldn't remember the spell meant to ward off a Boggart. He stumbled back in surprise, dropping his wand. He closed his eyes trying to block out the sound of the wasps wings buzzing loudly. But then it disappeared. "Teddy, Teddy." Someone was trying to help him up. Professor Lupin looked worried. "Teddy, are you okay?"
"Y-yeah." He stammered.
"It's over, don't worry, it's gone." Teddy's breathing slowly, but he felt sick to his stomach. "Here." He'd handed him a piece of chocolate and then gone to help Harry. Teddy looked at the chocolate, nibbling it slightly, then pocketing the rest. Professor Lupin began talking to Harry but Teddy was too busy searching for a memory. Which should he pick?
The first time he arrived at Hogwarts? When he met his friends? Christmas with Harry?
He scratched his head, deep in thought. "Do you both wanna try again?" Professor Lupin asked, but Teddy shook his head.
"I can't think of anything good enough. Maybe I'll try again some other time." The Professor looked at him strangely, almost guiltily, as if it was his fault he had no memories good enough for a Patronus charm. "Alright Harry, ready to try again?"
Harry nodded, holding his wand out in front of him. This time when the Dementor rose from the wardrobe, a shield of light burst out from the tip of his wand, forcing the Boggart Dementor back into the wardrobe. Professor Lupin shut it quickly, locking the Boggart inside. "Well done, Harry. Well done."
Teddy clapped, happy for his friend. The two left the room, talking loudly about what just happened. "That was so cool, what memory were you thinking of. You thinking of the first time you met me right? Admit it." He said with a cocky grin.
Harry gave a silent laugh before shaking his head. "No, it... I was thinking of my parents." Teddy smiled warmly. "I don't even know if it's a real memory but... it's the best I've got."
Ahwoooo!
The moment was ruin as a Ravenclaw group walked past, this time Teddy turned around, growling like a dog, causing them to run off. "Have you come up with a memory?" Harry asked, breaking the awkward silence.
"No, not yet. I'll think of something."
Teddy rolled around his bed, restless. He couldn't sleep. No matter how hard he tried he just wasn't tired, which was unusual, for him. He still hadn't taken down the Christmas decorations from the holidays, he found them relaxing to look at. Teddy turned over again in his bed, his foot knocking into his bedside table. The drawer opened and Teddy glanced at it. Inside was the Marauders Map.
Having nothing better to do, Teddy grabbed it and took out his wand. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." Ink formed on the parchment and Teddy propped himself up on his bed. His green eyes scanned the parchment, Dumbledore was still pacing inside his office and Professor Snape was wondering around the halls.
Suddenly he saw something, a name. It couldn't be. Peter Pettigrew. But... he was dead, wasn't he? Sirius Black had killed him. Teddy thought of telling Harry and the others in the morning, but Harry would want him to go a find Peter. Sighing he slipped on a pair of shoes and a jumper. He touched his door, which unlocked with a click, and followed the name of the map.
He sped up, holding out his wand and whispering, "Lumos." The tip of the wand lit up. The paintings groaned in frustration. "Put that blooming light out!" A painting screeched.
"Sorry." Teddy whispered pointing the wand down at the map. Peter Pettigrew was coming in his direction, and quickly too. He spun around, but there was nothing. He glanced back down at the map and panicked. Professor Snape was coming around the corner. Teddy thought quickly, tapping his wand on the parchment. "Mischief managed. Nox." The light on his wand went out.
Teddy blinked as Snape pointed his glowing wand right in his face. "Tedson," he snarled. "What are you doing wandering the corridors at night after you little... incident, over the holidays?"
"I was sleepwalking." He lied but Snape obviously saw through it.
"Really? So incredibly like him, aren't you. Always running about the castle with his friends, being in places he shouldn't. Dangerous he was."
"He? Who's he?" Snape didn't respond, but Teddy continued. "And I'm not dangerous. Now, if you don't mind, could you please lower your wand."
The professor pointed his wand at Teddy's jumped pocket, where the Marauders Map was hidden. "Turn out your pockets." He ordered. But when Teddy didn't comply his gaze darkened further. "Turn out your pockets!" He said through gritted teeth. Teddy finally took the blank map and showed it to the professor. "What is it?"
"Spare bit of parchment."
"Really? Open it." Teddy opened it slowly and his chest tightened when Snape touched his wand to the paper and said, "Reveal your secrets." Ink formed on the cover. "Read it."
Teddy's hands were shaking. Maybe he should've waited until the morning? "Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs offer their compliments to Professor Snape and..." He trailed off as he read the last part, a smile tickling his lips.
"Go on."
Teddy looked straight into the professor's eyes. "And requests that he keeps his abnormaly large nose out of other people's business."
Snape took in a furious breath. "Why you little-"
"Professor." Professor Lupin had walked out of the shadows. Teddy's smile faded as he attempted to hide the parchment behind his back.
"Well, well. Lupin." Snape slurred. "Out for a little walk... in the moonlight, are we?" He asked mockingly, yet the professor didn't look phased.
"You alright, Teddy?" He asked, to which Teddy nodded quickly.
"That remains to be seen," Snape snatched the map out of his hand and showed it to Professor Lupin. "I have just now confiscated a rather curious artifact from Mr. Potter. Take a look, Lupin. It's supposed to be your area of expertise. Clearly, it's full of dark magic."
Professor Lupin simply chuckled, yet Teddy got the feeling that he somehow recognized the mysterious map. "Oh, I seriously doubt it Severus. It looks as though it's merely a parchment designed to insult anyone, who tries to read it. I suspect it's a Zonko product." Teddy gave a nervous smile. Snape tried to snatch the parchment out of Professor Lupin's hands, but he quickly held it out of his reach. "Nevertheless, I shall investigate any hidden qualities it may possess. It is, after all, as you say, my area of expertise. Teddy, would you come with me, please? Professor, good night."
Teddy followed him down the hall silently. His heart was once again thumping in his chest and he could feel the guilt tumbled on top of him in waves.