Chapter 3

- Returning To Hogwarts -

Despite his father's absence, Teddy was still in a reasonably good mood as they walked through the muggle train station. Mad-Eye Moody and Tonks were walking behind him, on either side of Harry, like a protective barrier. Before they'd left Grimmauld Place, they had all been told to act casual, to not run off and to keep an eye out.

So, he and Arkie walked beside each other, looking around at all the muggles going about their day to day business, unaware that a group of wizards were walking among them, heading for the wall that led to platform 9 3/4. He only glance behind him at the others when Moody let out a low growl. "Padfoot! Are you barking mad? You'll blow the entire operation."

Teddy smiled at the shaggy black dog that was trotting beside Harry, happy to be out of Grimmauld Place for the first time in around six months. Padfoot trotted forward until he was next to Teddy. He gave a gruff bark glancing at the two of them and then walking into a small room. The two followed with Mad-Eye and Tonks taking their positions outside the door.

The dog was soon replaced by a man who looked at the two brightly.

"Sirius, what are you doing here? If somebody sees you..." Harry said after closing the door behind them.

"I had to see my godsons off, didn't I?" He motioned to the bench and they all sat down. "What's life without a little risk?"

Teddy smirked though tried to remain serious. "We just don't wanna see you get chucked back in Azkaban."

Sirius waved his hand impatiently. "Don't worry about me. Anyway, I wanted you two to have this."

He passed them both a small rectangular piece of paper, a photo. Teddy looked at it. "Is this?"

"The original Order of the Phoenix. Look, Teddy, there's your dad, at the front. Look at his hair."

Teddy smiled. His dad looked younger in the photo, a little less tired and tense. He happy, standing beside his friends."

Sirius looked over their shoulders, beginning to point at some of the people in the photo, most of which Teddy had never seen before. "Marlene McKinnon. She was killed two weeks after this was taken. Voldemort wiped out her entire family. And there's Frank and Alice Longbottom."

"Neville's parents." Harry breathed. Teddy looked down at the witch and wizard. They seemed to happy. Nevilla looked like both of them. He had his father's face, but his mother's smile.

"They suffered a fate worse than death, you ask me." Sirius said sadly. "It's been 14 years. And still a day doesn't go by I don't miss your dad, Harry."

James and Sirius had their arms on each others shoulders, grinning widely at the camera.

Harry smile vanished. "Do you really think there's going to be a war, Sirius?"

The dark haired man was hesitant to respond. "It feels like it did before."

"Thank you for these." Teddy said, handing his back.

"Oh, no. You keep it. Anyway, I suppose you're the young ones now." There was an impatient knock at the door. "You'd best be off, don't want you to miss your train now, do we?" They both nodded, heading for the door. "Oh, and Teddy."

Teddy turned around, his hand on the doorknob. "Your father wanted me to give you this." He hand him a small sheet of paper.

"What's this?"

"It's an address, in case you want to send him an owl. But Moony said not to write too often. The Ministry have eyes everywhere."

Teddy pocked it and simply nodded. "Thanks Sir- Padfoot."

"Take care."

It was dark by the time the train pulled into the Hogwarts station. They'd taken a longer time to get their things and most of the students were already up at the castle. Teddy pulled his suitcase, rubbing his eyes tiredly as they trudged towards where the self-drawn carriages usually waited, then there was an all too familiar snicker.

"I'm surprised the Ministry's still letting you walk around free, Potter." Malfoy said, standing between Crabbe and Goyle. "Better enjoy it while you can. I expect there's a cell in Azkaban with your name on it."

Harry made a go at Malfoy but both Teddy and Ron pulled him back by his arms. Malfoy flinched, walking away quickly. "What'd I tell you? Complete nutter."

Harry was fuming. "Just stay away from me!"

"It's only Malfoy." Teddy let go of Harry grabbing his suitcase again and glanced down at his hand which Arkie was holding. "What'd you expect?" He sighed, remembering during the Yule Ball when he'd tried to 'steal' Arkie, so to speak.

"Hi guys." Neville says, holding a strange cactus-like planet covered in black boils and twitched slowly from left to right.

"Hey, Neville." They all said together.

Teddy noticed Harry staring at one of the carriages that'd begun to roll away from the station. In the carriage was Cho Chang. Teddy turned around at the sound of hoof beats and came face to face with a black horse. No, it wasn't a horse. The horse reminded him of one, yet it was so thin it looked like a skeleton. Its completely white eyes stared forward, its leathery black wings fluttered slightly.

The creature, whatever it was, was pulling one of the school carriages.

"What is it?" Harry asked, having notice the creature too.

"What's what?" Hermione asked, looking around.

"That. Pulling the carriage." Teddy pointed.

"Nothing's pulling the carriage, Teddy. t's pulling itself, like always."

Teddy glanced at Harry who looked just as confused as he felt. Were they pranking them? Slowly he moved around the carriage. Sitting inside was a familiar face, hidden behind an upside down version of the Quibbler. "You're not going mad." She said, dreamily. "I can see them too. You're just as sane as I am."

Teddy gave a small breath of laughter, taking a seat on the carriage. "Everyone, this is Luna Lovegood. She's in Ravenclaw with me." There was an awkward silence as they waited for the carriage to start moving.

"What an interesting necklace." Arkie said, looking at the string around Luna's neck, on the string was a bottle cork.

She fiddled with it absentmindedly. "It's a charm, actually. Keeps away the Nargles." She paused looking around. "Hungry? I hope there's pudding."

The creature, that Teddy hadn't stopped looking at, finally began pulling the carriage up the dirt path towards Hogwarts. As they were moving Teddy heard Hermione and Ron whispering beside him. "What's a Nargle?"

"No idea."