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Chapter 13
- The Truth -
Teddy ducked as a small miniature Santa flew over his head singing, "ho! ho! ho!" over and over again.
"Merry Christmas, Teddy!" Sirius smiled, sitting next to Harry, who had portkey'd in during the night, at the end of the table. Teddy smiled at his godfather. "Merry Christmas." He looked around, Mrs Weasley was yet to arrive back from St Mungo's Hospital with Mr Weasley and they were all waiting patiently to begin the Christmas feast. Arkie and Ginney were fiddling with the Christmas tree in the corner of the room.
Teddy was dressed in plain red t-shirt and jeans, the small wooden wolf necklace around his neck. He was barefoot and wore a bright red Santa hat on of his head.
Suddenly the front door open and Mrs Weasley came in, wheeling Mr Weasley in his wheelchair, towards the table. "Here we go." She said with a wide smile. "Daddy's back." Everyone gave a round of applause and Arkie went to join Teddy who wrapped his arm around comfortably. "Sit down, everybody, sit down. That's it. Now, presents."
The two joined everyone at the table as Mrs Weasley began to pass down presents to each of them. "Here you go, and a nice big box for Ron." Ron took his present, passing down Hermione's. "Come on, open up. I want to see your faces."
Ron opened his and pulled out a funny looking vest with a large 'R' on the front. "Thanks, Mum. It's perfect." He said, though Teddy could tell he only said it out of politeness.
"And here you are Teddy, Arkie." She passed down the two presents. Teddy unwrapped his and pulled out a navy blue and white scarf, to match his sweater from two Christmas before. Arkie got them same except hers was yellow and black.
"I made them your house colours." Mrs Weasley beamed.
"Thank you, Mrs Weasley." They said together.
From Ron, Teddy got another box of Every-Flavour Beans. Hermione had bought them all study planners which yelled out whatever you wrote in them. Teddy politely thanked her, knowing he was probably never going use it. Harry had given him a custard eclair, his favourite, and Sirius had bought Harry, Ron and him an advanced charms book. "This'll be great for our training sessions." Harry said, already flipping through the pages.
Teddy watched as Sirius leaned over the table, handing Arkie a gift, whic she quickly unwrapped. Out fell a long leather belt with a small loop hole on one side. "Cool! A wand holster!" Arkie gasped.
"A what?"
"You can put your wand in it when you aren't using it. This'll be great for duelling... if it starts up again." She sighed in disappointment. Teddy knew that Arkie joined numerous clubs each year and felt sorry that they'd all been cancelled.
"A Christmas toast." Mr Weasley said, holding up his jug of Butterbeer. "To Mr. Harry Potter... without whom I would not be here. Harry."
"Harry." They all said. Harry nodded, looking down awkwardly. Everyone tucked into the small Christmas feast prepared and Mr Weasley gave a big groan of pleasure. "That is delicious. I shall be needing some more of that."
"Daddy, don't forget last Christmas." Mrs Weasley warned.
"Merry Christmas, Ted."
Teddy turned around in surprise. Standing in the doorway was a tall man, with matching green eyes and light brown hair. "Dad!" He jumped up, hugging him. "Merry Christmas, Dad."
"Remus, finally." Mr Weasley grinned from the end of the table. "We thought you wouldn't show."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." He said, sitting down beside his son and saying hello to the others. "How're you feeling, Arthur?"
"I'll be dancing again soon."
Teddy glanced up at his father, taking in his disheveled hair, white complexion and the scratches on the side of his neck. But now wasn't the right time to bring it up. Instead he no longer worried about why his father lied, or how he was going to explain the words on the back of his hand.
Instead he swallowed it all down with a large gulp of Butterbeer and laughed alongside Fred and George, watched Arkie and Ginny chatting away and listened to what spells Harry had in mind for the next Dark Arts meeting. Finally, things began to slow down and everyone started to say goodnight. Teddy had finally retreated to his room, finding it hard to keep his eyes open any longer.
By the time Remus had come upstairs Teddy was already in his pyjama's and finished unpacking the last of his belongings. "Hey," he said sleepily as his father entered the room. "I'm glad you could make it tonight."
"Me too."
Teddy was hesitant before continuing and he faced the opposite direction as he spoke. "So, how was it? The mission."
"It was good."
It comforted Teddy to hear how hesitant his father was in responding. "You being careful?"
"Always."
"Good, cause the Dark Forest is a dangerous place... trust me, I know." He sat on the edge of his bed, looking straight at his father. There was no anger in his eyes, no hurt either. It was blank. Remus was standing straight, now dressed in his pyjama's. "Teddy..."
"Sirius told me."
Remus now sat down on the edge of his bed. "What did he tell you?"
He sighed. "That you haven't been going on these so-called 'recon missions', that you've actually been in the Dark Forest with other Werewolves. I guess that explains why you disappear for so long and are constantly leaving. And he's told me about how you've come home injured some nights."
"Teddy, I'm so-"
He held up his hand. "I'm not angry... not anymore. But I am upset. Not that you're trying to persuade Werewolves from Fenrir Greyback's pack- although I am worried for you, but because you didn't tell me. Why didn't you tell me?"
Their matching green eyes met for a long, silent second. "I remember seeing you... after you'd witnessed Barty Crouch's murder. It terrified me how terrified you were. I- I didn't want to see you like that again. I didn't want you to feel that way every again."
At those words Teddy instinctively hid his scarred hand from view. "I would've wanted to know..." His voice raising, not with anger but with fear. "I would've wanted to be prepared for if I came home to hear my father was in hospital or even worse..." He had to stop so he could concentrate on stopping the tears from falling down his cheeks. In the flash of a second Remus was around his son, no longer having to bend down to hold him anymore. "I'm so sorry." He whispered.
Teddy breathing calmed down and he closed his eyes, allowing one tear to fall to the ground with a soft splat. "I was worried, after Sirius told me the truth, that I wouldn't get to see you again, or tell you..."
"Tell me what?"
"Everything! About what a terrible year it's been."
Teddy felt his father sitting down again and he sat beside him. "Well now you do. So tell me, what's happened?" Slowly he showed him his hand. Some of the scars had faded, but he wasn't sure if all of them would. He heard Remus gasp, a sound he didn't hear very often. "Who did this to you?"
He sniffed, his brows knitting together angrily. "That Umbridge woman."
"I heard she was prejudice towards half-breeds, but I never imagined she'd... Oh, Teddy. I'm so sorry."
Remus knew exactly how Teddy's mother would react if she were still with them. She would've stormed back to Hogwarts to find Umbridge, no matter the consequences. How dare someone do this to a student, to his son! His anger only grew as he read each sentence embedded in Teddy's skin. 'Lying is in my nature'.
"I can't send him back there, Sirius!" His fist landed on the table. He'd come downstairs as soon as Teddy had fallen asleep and was still furious. "It's not safe. Umbridge obviously has a thing out for him- she carved writing into both his and Harry's hand!"
"You think I want to send them back to Hogwarts with that old trout hanging about, Remus? Remember they're both my godsons."
"Then why aren't you backing me up?"
"Well, think about the consequences." Mr Weasley chipped in. "His OWLs are coming up, he misses them there's no chance of him finding employment in the future, and you personally know how hard it is for Werewolves to find jobs these days, even if he is only part Werewolf."
Remus sunk into a seat beside the dining table.
Molly looked at him and then back at the others. "I think Remus is right. Neither of them should be sent back to Hogwarts, not now."
"Snape has promised to teach Harry Occulmency, Molly, to protect his mind from You-Know-Who, he has to return to Hogwarts. And Teddy has his future to think about-"
"Actually, I think I'm on Remus' side now. No way is Snivellus teaching Harry." Sirius mumbled and Molly put her hand on her hips.
Mr Weasley continued. "And what about the boys, Fred and George. It's their finally year, Molly."
"Enough, Arthur. It's three against one... they're all staying here."
"No." Remus said, who'd been leaning over, rubbing his aching forehead.
"No?" Both Sirius and Mrs Weasley said together.
"No, they should go back. Arthur's right, I don't want to be the reason my son misses his chance- I know Molly, but Teddy can't miss his fifth year. And Harry's committed to 'Dumbledore's Army' and he has to be taught Occulmency."
"But what about Teddy? You said it yourself, it's not safe."
"He's safer there than he is here, Sirius. He's still learning how to defend himself and... and I trust Dumbledore."
Molly shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "But, Remus... the Ministry is watching Hogwarts if we send them back-"
"Then they won't be able to pin them on anything happening outside of the school. Hogwarts is still safe from You-Know-Who and his forces. So which one would you prefer. Them being safe from the Ministry or the Dark Lord?"
Everyone went silent. They all knew the answer. "I don't like this idea anymore than you do... but we've got no choice."