Chapter 9

- Execute -

Remus had been astonished to see both Severus and Teddy talking quietly in the hall. What was he doing out of bed? After what happened during the Christmas holidays, surely he wouldn't have left his room unless it was important, right? He had to admit, he found slight joy in breaking up the fight and was surprised to see that Teddy had obtained a familiar sheet of parchment. "Teddy, will you come with me?" He said, leading him to the Dark Arts classroom.

Once inside he rubbed his temples. He was beyond angry, he'd expected better of Teddy, but he wasn't about to jump to conclusions. "I hope you have a very good reason as to why you are out of bed so late at night. Hm?" He turned around but Teddy was staring down at his shoes.

"No, I- I don't."

"So, you just decided to leave your room, in the middle of the night, with the risk of getting expelled, not to meant Sirius Black being on the loose, for no apparent reason?"

"I- I guess so."

Remus fiddled with the parchment. "Teddy, I expected better from you."

"I just-" Teddy started, but he didn't know what to say next. So instead, Remus changed the subject.

"I'm also curious as to why and how this map ended up in your possession. But I am astounded you didn't hand it in!" If Teddy could bow his head lower, he would've. "You're a good friend, Teddy. But did it never occur to you that this, in the hands of Sirius Black is a map to Harry Potter?"

"No. No, Professor."

Remus just couldn't believe that his son would've risked getting expelled without some good reason. "Surely you had a some reason to leave your dorm this late?"

"Well... I did have a reason but... it isn't that good."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah, I... I thought I saw someone, on the map, that I know to be dead."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but it was nothing." Remus tapped the map subconsciously.

"Alright," He sighed. "I will try talking to Snape, see if he'll let this whole mess pass quietly, but I want you to go back to your dorm and don't take any detours. If you do, I'll know." He gestured to the map, watching Teddy walk towards the door. "Just out of curiosity... who did you see?"

"It was nothing, probably just tired. But, I thought I saw Peter Pettigrew." Remus stiffened.

"That's... not possible." He whispered.

Teddy shrugged. "It's just what I saw. Good night, Professor."

"Teddy! Wake up!"

"Huh?" Teddy sat up sleepily in his seat in the Divination class room. A small crystal ball was balanced on the table he was sharing with Neville, just opposite from Harry, Ron and Hermione's table. "Broaden your minds!" Professor Trelawney shifted around the class with an energy that none of them shared. "You must look beyond, use your inner eye!"

"Do you mind if I try?" Hermione asked, glancing into the crystal ball and making a guess. "The Grim... possibly."

Professor Trelawney sighed, disappointed. "My dear, from the first moment you stepped foot in my class... I sensed that you did not possess the proper spirit for the noble art of Divination." She was rubbing her hand and then pointed at it. "No, you see, there. You may be young in years, but the heart that beats beneath your bosom is as shriveled as an old maid's, your soul as dry as the pages of the books to which you so desperately cleave to."

Teddy's mouth dropped slightly. Hermione stood up, knocking over the crystal ball and storming out of the class room. "Did I say something?" The professor asked, innocently. When the class was over Teddy took a little longer to clear up his stuff. "You go ahead." He said to Ron and Harry, pilling his books. Suddenly, his foot touched something that gave a small cling!

It was the teacup he'd dropped in his first Divination class. He picked it up and put it on his desk. He looked away from a second but once he looked back, the cup was gone. He jumped as Professor Trelawney appeared next to him. "Professor, you scared me!"

The professor didn't seem to hear him, she was staring at his cup. When she spoke her voice was odd, it almost echoed slightly. "The truth will be revealed!" She gasped.

"What?"

"Father and son will be reunited! But tonight the pup will be tested, family or friends! Tonight when the moon is highest-" Teddy stumbled, accidentally knocking the cup from her hand. It shattered on the ground and the professor seemed to snap out of her trance. "Oh, hello Teddy. Did you want something?" She asked.

Teddy shook his head. "No, I- I was just leaving."

He passed Harry in the corridor, he was holding a crystal ball, the one Hermione had knocked over. "You okay Teddy, you look like you've seen a ghost?"

"I'm fine, the Professor just... never mind." He practically ran out of the room, taking the stairs three at a time.

"Teddy! Over here!" Hermione and Ron were waiting for him in the courtyard. "Did you hear?"

"Huh?"

"Hagrid didn't tell us, we overheard Malfoy talking about it."

"Talking about what?"

Teddy waited for their response.

Hermione sighed. "Buckbeak went on trial."

"He did!" Teddy's mind flashed back to his first Care of Magical Creatures class. "What happened? Is Buckbeak gonna be okay?"

Hermione dipped her head. "He's going to be executed soon."

"Hey guys, what's going on?" Harry looked just as pale as Teddy did when he left the Divination classroom, but seemed more concerned about the sad looks his friends were sharing.

"We'll explain on the way." Teddy straightened up, placing his books under one of the courtyard chairs, he'd collect them later.

"On the way to where?"

"On the way to Hagrid's."