Hope you're all enjoying the story so far, if you have any tips please tell me I'd love to hear them.
This chapter was hard to write, but I think I got it eventually.
Chapter 11
- Hidden Rooms -
Teddy sunk his spoon into his bow of Fairy Flakes, watching the milk and cereal spill into it before raising it to his mouth. "Morning, Teddy." Arkie smiled sitting next to him. He looked at her, eyes still drooping, not fully awake yet.
"Hey." He put down his spoon.
"I've got Quidditch training after classes today. You look tired."
"Umbridge gave me another detention and I've been up all night finishing homework because of it."
Arkie's golden eyes shone with empathy and anger. "What for this time?"
He blushed. "I fell asleep in class."
"Teddy." She shook her head, sounding disappointed. Teddy sat up straighter and gave a comedic offended gasp.
"I only fell asleep because she kept me up all night with her last detention! Anyway, have you heard from Harry and the-"
Bang!
Everyone had gotten used to the banging of Filch's hammer as he hung up another Ministry decree. "What's she up to now?" Teddy groaned standing up. "Honestly, there's not much more she can control in this school anymore." As usual, all four houses gathered outside the front of the Great Hall to read the newest decree.
"What's it say this time?" Teddy asked as the crowd of students at the front began to shout and gasp in outrage. Finally, he was able to get a glimpse at the notice.
Proclamation
Educational Decree No. 81
All extra-curriculum and student
organizations are
henceforth disbanded.
Any student in noncompliance
will be expelled.
"All extra-curriculum?" Arkie's eyes widened. "That's... that's not fair!"
A girl with straight black hair gasp, fiddling with her Hufflepuff robes nervously. Teddy recognised her and the Hufflepuff Quidditch captain. "What about Quidditch?" She said. "We're supposed to be facing Gryffindor this weekend!"
"And Herbology club?" Neville said, both Arkie and him looking panicked. "We were supposed to take care of the baby Snap-Dragons for the second years. Who's gonna look after them now?" Nevilla ran off and Teddy guessed he was going to the greenhouses.
"It's outrageous!"
"And Duelling club, the inter-school championships are coming up! We have a title to uphold!"
"It's taken us ages to book the Astronomy tower for the Astronomy club!"
Teddy hadn't committed to any extra-curriculum but he felt sorry for all who had. "Do you think she knows?" He whispered in his girlfriend's ear. She went slightly pale.
"It doesn't matter, we'll find somewhere to practice, we have to."
"Teddy! Arkie!" Ron panted, running towards them. "Come quick, you're not going to believe what Nevilla just found." And then he was running up the stairs. They glanced at each other before following behind him. He led them down the corridor and to a large door. Harry, Hermione, Neville, Fred and George were all waiting for them.
"What room is this?" Teddy asked, he'd could've sworn there'd never been a door down that corridor before.
"Come on in." Hermione opened it and they all shuffled inside.
They all stood in a large, spacious room. There were cushions, mechanical dummies wizards would use for duelling practice, mirrors, targets and other objects, perfect for Dark Arts lessons. "What is this place?"
"The Room of Requirement." Hermione breathed in amazement.
"The what?"
"It's also known as the Come and Go Room. The Room of Requirement only appears when a person has real need of it. And it's always equipped for the seeker's needs." She explained.
Ron took a few steps forward. "So say you really needed the toilet..." Teddy let out a short snort.
"Charming, Ronald." Her eyes rolled upwards, exasperatedly. "But, yes, that is the general idea."
"It's brilliant." Harry stood forward, adjusting his glasses. "It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back."
"When should we begin?" Arkie asked, excitedly.
"Today, after classes."
"Expelliarmus!"
"Gah!" Teddy and the entire line of students ducked as Neville's wand flew from his hand and hit the wall, bright sparks coming out of the tip. Neville looked down at the ground, defeated. "I'm hopeless."
Harry stood next to him, facing the wooden dummy, which looked a lot like Harry's description of a Death Eater. "You're just flourishing your wand too much. Try it like this. Expelliarmus!"
The dummy's wand flew up into the air.
Each student had a turn at the disarming charm, Teddy was able to succesfully pull it off after his third try. But his good mood was spoiled when he had to go to Defense Against the Dark Arts the next day. "You will please copy the approved text four times," she motioned to the board, "to ensure maximum retention. There will be no need to talk."
"No need to think's more like it." Hermione muttered beside Teddy.
"Wands away, Mr Longbottom."
Neville tucked his wand away in disappointment. Straight after class, Teddy began to wander down the empty corridor. Suddenly he heard footsteps behind him, he spun around to catch a glimpse of Mr Filch and Mrs Norris running behind one of the large stone torches. His lip curled up in a smile. He continued walking, seeing the door appear just around the corner, then made a run for it.
It closed and disappeared before Filch could reach it.
"We gotta be careful." He said to Harry. "Filch was following me." He nodded in understanding. For next few weeks everything worked like clockwork. After class, Dumbledore's Army gathered together in the Room of Requirement, barely escaping Filch and the Slytherin students, and continued training. Teddy had to admit that Harry was an excellent teacher, not as good as his father, but close.
"Stunning is one of the most useful spells in your arsenal." Harry explained, passing back and forth. Everyone was standing on either side of the room, watching curiously. "It's a wizard's bread and butter, really. So come on, then, Nigel. Give it your best shot."
A small boy, with curly light hair and a pale expression raised his wand. "Stupefy!" Harry flew backwards and Nigel fell over in shock. Soon both of them were on the ground.
"Good. Not bad at all, Nigel. Well done. Ron, Hermione, how about you go next." He groaned sorely.
"Come on, Ron." Everyone clapped in excitement and Teddy saw Fred and George placing bets in silence. "You can do it."
The two stood on either end of the room, wands raised. Ron took a slow breath. "Stu-" But he was too slow.
"Stupefy!" Hermione flicked her wand and Ron gasped, doing an amazing impression of a rag doll. All the girls gathered round Hermione in a fit of giggles. Ron sorely walked over to the boys. "I let her do that. It's good manners, isn't it?"
"Completely intentional?" Teddy raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah."
"I think that's it for today." Harry said. Students groaned, tucking their wands away. "Teddy, can you?"
"Way ahead of you." Teddy pulled out the Marauders Map, a gift from his father. He knew he'd be proud to see he was using it for good... even if that good could get him expelled. "Filch's outside our usual exit, best say we go this way." He pointed to another corridor on the parchment.
Proclamation
Educational Decree No. 81
All Students Will Submit To
Questioning About
Suspected Illicit
Activities
Teddy rolled his eyes, his interrogation had been nothing short of hell. He had to sit and watch Umbridge act as kind as she could, though her eyes were filled with burning frustration at his denial of knowing anything to do with the 'secret club'. "I will ask you one more time, Mr Lupin," her voice crackled. "What can you tell me about the secret organization."
"Organization?" He had to force himself not to giggle or smirk, instead he remain composed. "I thought you said it was a club, or team?" Her stubby fingers were gripping the handle of her teacup so hard they'd turned white. "I'm sorry Professor," he lied. "But I known nothing of this secret club."
"Lies!" She'd snapped. "You're lying you filthy half-breed!"
Teddy struggled to remain still and calm. "I'm telling the truth. Honestly, why would I lie?" Now he was smiling, he couldn't help himself. Umbridge's face was as red as a tomato and her lips were pursed so tightly together they almost disappeared. The thin handle of her teacup broke in her grip and Teddy crossed his arms, looking smug. He instantly regretted it.
"Forgotten already have we? I would've thought the message had sunk in by now!"
Teddy glanced down to the scars on his hand. The words 'I must not yell at my superiors' had been covered by, 'I must remember my place' then, 'I will do whatever others ask of me' next was, 'I won't speak unless spoken to'. But the latest one had been, 'I must respect my superiors'.
"This afternoon, my office." The thought of what was to occur that afternoon seemed to bring her some peace of mind.
He'd stood up so hard his chair fell over, he didn't bother to pick it up as he fled out of the office.
"Now, focus on a fixed point and try again."
"Sorry, I'm late!" Teddy ran into the room, dropping his things and grabbing his wand, his hand now brandished with, 'Lying is in my nature'. Harry spotted it, but one look from Teddy explained that he didn't want to talk about it.
"Now, Neville, focus on a fixed point and try again."
"Expelliarmus!" Nothing happened.
"Keep trying. Alright everyone, we're going to move on to the Levicorpus jinx."
Soon they were all standing in several small circles, pointing their wands at a selected student and levitating them above the ground.
"Very good. Keep your concentration." Harry said, walking around to each group. Teddy saw hims top at one of the groups, standing beside Cho and helping her with her wand. "Great. A little higher." Cho lost focus and Nigel, who's she'd been levitating, fell to the ground.
"I'm okay. I'm okay." He said, standing up quickly.
After a while Teddy had taken a break, watching the Marauder's Map. Suddenly Fred and George were at his side, peering over his shoulder. "Looks like Filch is going to his usual spot." He said.
In the background, students were practicing the Stunning spell over and over again.
"We've been waiting for this moment. Haven't we, Freddie."
"Have to, George."
They both stuck around the class. Teddy watched them curiously. "You can come if ya wanna?" They offered. "Bring the map with you, just in case."
"In case of what?"
He never got a response, so he quickly hurried after them and out the side entrance. A stool and small table had been set up by Mr Filch, where he'd wwatch and wait for them every night. "How far away is he?" Fred asked and Teddy looked down at the map.
"Few corridors away."
"Better be quick then."
He watched as one of the twins pulled a pink, heart-shaped box out of their robes. On it was note, 'From: Dolores Umbridge'. "What are you two up to?" Teddy asked with a mischievous grin.
"Just you wait."
Proclamation
Educational Decree No. 98
Those Wishing To Join The
Inquisitorial Squad
For Extra Credit
May Sign Up In The
High Inquisitor's Office.
Teddy and the twins muffled there laughter as Filch trudged past them the next day, covered in red, puss filled boils. He glared them but didn't say anything.
"What happened to him?" Arkie asked, glaring suspiciously at the three boys, who suddenly all found something else to focus on. "I heard Draco and most of the Slytherins have joined Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad."
"Probably explains why I've caught Draco and his gang stalking me between classes, and I mean 'stalking'. It's getting kind of creepy." He let out a little laugh.
The two of them walked into the Great Hall, which had been decorated with tinsel, baubles and floating red and green candles. The Christmas holidays were coming closer, something Teddy both loved and feared.
He couldn't wait, because it meant he'd be free from Umbridge for a while, he'd have time to brainstorm potential job paths he'd like to take and would be surrounded by family and friends.
But at the same time, it meant he'd have to face his father and tell him he knew the truth. "So, you coming back with me for the holidays?" He asked as they sat down for breakfast.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." She sighed joyfully.
"Diminuendo!" Teddy said, finally perfecting the shrinking charm. A small version of the training dummy's wheeled around the room in panic.
"Working hard is important, but there's something that matters even more." Harry helped a girl with her stance. "Believing in yourself."
"Expelliarmus!"
"Levicorpus!"
"Think of it this way." He continued. "Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than what we are now: students. If they can do it, why not us?"
Teddy nodded.
"All of you gather round." They all gathered around one of the training dummies, who raised its wand and rolled towards the students one at a time.
"Stupefy!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Expelliarmus!"
It rolled towards Teddy, who evened out his stand and... "Expelliarmus." It was knocked backwards towards Ginny.
"Reducto!"
In the dummy's place, was a small pile of ash. Soon they were all back to partners, with Teddy against Neville. "You got this, Neville." He reasurred.
"Expelliarmus." His willow wood wand flew out of his hand, landing on the ground in front of his. Neville's mouth opened in surprise.
"Fantastic, Neville. Well done, man." Harry patted him on the back.
"Well done, Neville."
"Good one."
Teddy enjoyed each and every meeting. Every time he went, people got more and more comfortable with him. They'd come up and start a conversation, no longer afraid or repulsed by his lycanthropy. He felt... at home.