Chapter 12

- Return to Grimmauld Place -

The Christmas holidays was only one nights sleep away. Harry had decided to re-continue lessons after the holidays. Teddy laid in his small bed, the Christmas light and tinsel hanging from his ceiling. His suitcase was already packed and ready to leave in the morning after breakfast, but he didn't seem to get that luxury. He woke up to someone shaking him roughly awake. "Wha-?"

"Wake up, Lupin!"

"Professor McGonagall!" He sat straight up in his bed, pulling the covers up with him. "I... ah... What's wrong?"

"No time for chit-chat." She stood up, looking like a shadow in the candle light spilling in from the doorway. "Come with me to Dumbledore's office."

Teddy suddenly got nervous. What did Dumbledore want with him? He pulled on his bed robes and followed McGonagall out into the corridor, up the stairs and to the entrance of Dumbledore's office. "Fizzing-whizbees." McGongall said, and the gargoyles guarding the office jumped out of the way. They both glided inside, to find Ron and the rest of the Weasley kids standing in the side of the room.

Dumbledore was pacing back and forth in front of Harry, not even looking at him when McGonagall motioned for him to join the others. "What's going on?" The others didn't respond. They looked pale and sick with worry. Next minute the door opened and Professor Sprout, head of Hufflepuff, brought Arkie into the room, who also joined them.

"In the dream, were you standing next to the victim or looking down at the scene?" Dumbledore asked Harry. Teddy rubbed his eye in confusion.

Harry was panting and sweat had formed on his forehead, staining his shirt. "Neither. It was like I... Will you please just tell me what's happening?"

"Everard," Dumbledore completely ignored him and walked over to one of the old Hogwarts headmaster's portraits hanging on the wall. "Arthur's on guard duty tonight. Make sure he's found by the right people." The old Headmaster nodded and disappeared.

Arthur? Mr Weasley? What happened? What was he guarding?

"Sir." Harry said, trying to get the Headmaster's attention. But Dumbledore seemed to looking everywhere except at Harry.

"Phineas." A man in another portrait woke up with a grumble. "You must go to your portrait at Grimmauld Place. Tell them that Arthur Weasley is gravely injured and his children will be arriving there soon by Portkey. Tell them that Teddy and Arkie will also be returning with them." The man disappeared into his portrait.

Suddenly, Everard reappeared in his portrait. "They've got him, Albus. It was close, but they think he'll make it. What's more, the Dark Lord failed to acquire it."

Acquire what? Teddy's head was whirring and he didn't seem to be the only one. Harry's breathing had accelerated and looked on the verge of exploding.

Dumbledore didn't seem to notice. "Oh, thank goodness. Next we need to-"

"Look at me!"

Finally, the Headmaster looked at the panting boy who suddenly looked scared and just as surprised by his outburst as everyone else. "What's happening to me?" The door opened and a familiar, greasy-haired figure glided in.

"You wished to see me, Headmaster?"

"Oh, Severus." Dumbledore sighed. "I'm afraid we can't wait. Not even till the morning. Otherwise, we'll all be vulnerable."

Teddy watched as Snape pulled Harry out of the room. "Wait, Professor Dum-"

"The Order has been informed." Phineas said, returning to his usual position on the wall.

"Good, gather round, everyone."

Teddy glanced at Arkie who was looking back him. They all gathered round Dumbledore's desk. On which an old, rusty bucket had been placed. Teddy had traveled by portkey once before, to get to the World Quidditch Cup, and he knew it wasn't a pleasant experience. Thank Merlin he didn't get motion sickness. "Your belongings will be sent to Grimmauld Place by tomorrow morning. Hold on." The bucket began to jerked left and right and soon six pairs of hands were holding onto the rim. "Three... two... one..."

Teddy closed his eyes, feeling the ground disappear from under him. His hand gripped tightly on the bucket edge, afraid that if he let go he'd be thrown off and end up who knows where. Suddenly, they were falling downwards and...

Thud!

He finally opened his eyes, blinking away tears of pains and wondering how many bruises he would have on his chest. They had all landed in the dining room of Black family home. Teddy wondered if using a portkey was similar to how the twins apparated, but he guessed by their soar groans that it wasn't. "Do you think we can go back? I think I left my stomach in Dumbledore's office." Teddy said, though there was little humor in his tone.

Upstairs he could hear someone moving and guessed it was most likely Sirius coming down to greet his guests. The Weasley kids barely said a word as Sirius appeared in the doorway giving them all a small smile. "Welcome back."

Teddy nodded, helping Arkie on to her feet.

"Why don't I make us some hot chocolate?" Sirius walked towards the kitchen, coming out later with seven mugs of hot chocolate that floated to the kids sitting at the table. Teddy took a sip from his mug but barely tasted the hot, brown liquid. He didn't know what to say. There was nothing to say. They could only wait. And they waited until the morning, where Mrs Weasley walked through the door giving each and everyone one of the a big warm hug. "He'll be fine, I just visited him. You all look exhausted, why don't you get some sleep."

Teddy opened the door to his father's and his room. It looked as if no one had been in it for a while. It was almost exactly how he remembered it, except his suitcase had somehow appeared by his bedside. Tiredly, he fell onto his bed, ignoring the loud creak it made under his weight, and fell alseep.