Chapter 16
- Expecto Patronum! -
A girl had slept with him... and not just any girl, Arkie had spent the entire full moon with him. She'd disappeared by the time he woke up, but he remembered the whole night. She fallen asleep, lying on him. The way she had looked at him, with such reassurance. She'd looked at him like no one else had. He could still feel where she had touched him on his cheek and chest.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching him and quickly pulled up the rug, covering his bare body. He hoped Arkie had gone before he'd transformed back.
Filch sneered happily at Teddy's flushed face. "Good night."
"The best..." He couldn't stop himself from sighing and blushed further. Filch raised a greasy eyebrow but unlocked his door and then the chains Teddy had quickly reapplied. When he was gone he quickly got changed back into his robes. The moment he stood up he was struck by the familiar post-full moon headache. He groaned.
"You did what?" Arkie had sat down at the Hufflepuff table where she'd been joined by her friends, who'd been suspicious of her empty bed last night.
"You can't tell anyone." She whispered, her face serious.
"Of course we won't tell anyone." One of them said. "I mean, if people heard you spent the full moon with a Werewolf-"
Arkie dropped her spoon. "That wasn't what I meant! I meant don't tell anyone because it was against the rules, five feet rule remember?"
She waved her hand impatiently. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. But hey, you didn't actually... do anything, did you?" She asked nervously and Arkie turn a shade paler.
"No! We didn't- I- we didn't do anything, I mean-"
"Hey."
She turned around and looked up at Teddy then at the others. "Hey." She responded.
"Can we talk?"
"Yeah, sure." She stood up, motioning for him to follow her outside of the Great Hall, leaving the girls to watch them disappear. Soon the two of them were cramped into a small broom closet where they knew they could be alone. There was an awkward silence. "How're you feeling?"
"Good, good, Madam Pomfrey gave me something for my headaches and the muscle pains go away eventually."
"That's good."
"Yeah." Arkie looked up at his eyes, remembering the warm golden glow they'd been the night before. "I wanted to thank you, for last night. It helped that you were there."
"I just... I didn't want you to be alone."
"Thank you."
Teddy watched her smile, that kind, beautiful smile that he loved so much. Without thinking he leaned down and kissed her. He started soft, not wanting to do anything she didn't want to. But she pressed harder, her hand going up to brush through his hair. The two had kissed before, but not like that. It was different, more powerful. They wanted to stay in there together, alone, where they didn't have to worry about Umbridge, or the Ministry, or the Order, or whatever was waiting for them outside of school wall. But the sound of students heading to their classes end the moment. "Will I see you at the Dark Arts meeting this afternoon?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Make it a powerful memory, the happiest you can remember." Harry said, walking around the class.
"Expecto Patronum." Teddy said, pointing his wand upwards yet nothing came out. The memory and him attending the Quidditch World Cup with his father and friends didn't seem to cut it.
""Allow the memory to fill you up. Keep trying, Teddy." Harry reassured.
"Expecto Patronum."
"A full-bodied Patronus is the most difficult to produce but shield forms can also be equally useful against a variety of opponents." As Harry passed Ginny she whispered the incantation and a misty whitish-blue horse appeared in the air, rearing on its back legs giving a loud neigh.
"Fantastic, Ginny!" Harry looked giddy with delight, hopping left and right. He looked in his element. "Just remember, your Patronus can only protect you for as long as you stay focused. So focus, Luna."
Luna for the fifth time that afternoon was staring off into space and Teddy couldn't help but smile happily. In the Room of Requirement no one seemed to care about Umbridge's decree, in fact it was rather crowded where he was standing. Wisps of light mist were flying up into the air. A little away from him Arkie was staring at the mist flying from her wand tip.
There was a giggle and a bright otter was floating around Hermione giving off playful squeaks. Teddy forced himself to concentrate on his own Patronus, racking his brain for another memory. There were a so many to pick from.
"This is really advanced stuff, guys. You're doing so well."
A shining dog burst out of Ron's wand, running around the room and pushing Neville's feet out from under him, making him fall to the ground was a surprised gasp.
The first time he met his friends? When his father had given him the adoption papers? The first time he'd seen Arkie, sitting across the Great Hall in their first year after just being sorted. He remembered how, when everyone the Ravenclaw table kept their distance, she had waved at him. Or maybe his night at Yule Ball? When he'd first seen Arkie, gliding down the stairs towards him in her stunning white dress decorated with small lights, like fireflies, her chestnut hair tied up neatly as she looked down at him with her golden flecked eyes. He could still remember the fluttering feeling in his stomach as she had come closer and closer...
"Expecto Patronum!"
Something big flew out of his wand tip and Teddy had to blink to determine what it was.
A large grizzy bear, made completely of silvery mist stared back at him kindly, standing on its back paws. Teddy's eyes widened as he smiled broadly, the memory still clear in his head. As if sensing his wishes, the bear Patronus ran around the room, up into the air and down again. A few students jumped back in surprise and shock at the big animal which had begun to create circles above the students, grunting majestically.
"Expecto Patronum!"
The silvery mist that'd been coming out of Arkie's wand suddenly formed a very small bird, that fluttered around her head before resting on her shoulder. Arkie looked at the small sparrow Patronus in delight, watching as it flew up to join the bear, which playfully swatted it. Teddy and Arkie looked at each other and then back at their Patronus'.
"Well done, Teddy. Well done, Arkie."
"Look out!" Someone shouted and they ducked just in time as Luna's rabbit Patronus zoomed straight over their heads across the room. Arkie let out a giggle.
Boom!
The silvery animals all evaporated as everyone's attention turned to the strange, low sound that shook the room, causing the chandeliers above them to giggle loudly. The reflective wall, where there had once been a door with vibrating heavily.
Boom... Boom... Boom...
Harry edged forward, with the young second year, Nigel, right behind him. Everyone's wands were extended and no one dared make any noise louder then a fearful whisper.
Boom- Crack!
The mirror-like surface was cracking and then... Smash! The glass fell the floor, revealing a dusty stone wall with a small hole in it. Teddy, Hermione, Ron and Arkie protectively stood in front of the crowd of students, as well as Fred and George. On the other side of the small hole stared a furious, yet gleeful, toad-like face and Teddy's heart stopped.
In his library, in the cottage on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, Teddy's father had taken an interest in muggle stories. One of these stories, a particular favourite of Teddy's, was 'The Wizard of OZ'.
It was about a young girl, called Dorothy, who was transported along with her trusty dog, Toto, to the strange land of OZ, full of Munchkins, living scarecrows, tin-men and terrified lions, as well as the powerful Wizard of OZ himself. But of course, there was the villain of the story. The Wicked Witch of West, described to have long black hair, green skin, a pointed nose, rode a broomstick and had a need to cackle wherever she went. It always used to amuse Teddy how far off the muggle author was from the real thing. The only thing the he'd gotten right was the broomstick.
In that moment, as he stood brandishing his wand and staring at that wide, dark eyed face, Teddy knew he'd met his Wicked Witch. And the so-called cackle had been transformed into girly giggle, that sent chills down his spine. "I'll make short work of this." The pink Wicked Witch pointed her unusually short wand at the wall, ignoring at close Harry and Nigel were to it. "Bombarda Maxima."
"Ah!" They yelled jumping away from the wall, seconds before it exploded. Bits of rubble flew everywhere, barely missing Teddy's face which he covered with his arm. Once the dust cleared he peered through the even larger hole. Umbridge, followed by Filch and the rest of her Inquisitorial Squad, all consisting of Slytherins, stalked closer, like wolves stalking their prey.
Teddy's eyes widened as he noticed Draco Malfoy, holding onto a familiar Ravenclaw girl, Cho Chang. He glanced at Harry, who he knew had, had a crush on the young witch. He looked betrayed. Umbridge was shaking with glee and fury. "Get them!"
Teddy took a step in front of Arkie, spreading out his arms defensively. That attracted the attention of Umbridge and she flicked her wand violently. Black cords flew out of the tip, wrapping around Teddy's wrists painfully. He gave a sharp cry. Students began running left and right in panic. "Bring those two." Umbridge order pointing at Teddy and Harry.
Teddy didn't even have time to turn around and see if Arkie and the others were okay before he was pushed out of the room.
I couldn't help myself, but I knew I had to explain why I chose Teddy's Patronus to be a bear. Now I know a few of you may have thought it kind of funny that I gave Teddy and bear Patronus as it reminds most people of the word 'teddy-bear'. This is not why I chose this Patronus, though it is kind of a coincidence.
I was originally going to give Teddy a wolf Patronus, but then I remembered that Remus had a wolf Patronus already and I know the form a Patronus' takes isn't passed down through families, but if formed based of a person's personality traits. So I considered giving Teddy and Maned wolf Patronus (something not a cliche as the typical grey wolf), but I still had doubts about it.
Eventually, I dove into some research. I soon learnt that a bear totems were once used to give people the courage to stand up against diversity, which I feel is something Teddy does a lot due to his lycanthropy.
Bears also represent, leadership, bravery and love, which are not only some of the key traits that make up Teddy, but are also the type of things he looks for in others.
If you want, you can type what Patronus you think some of the characters should've gotten (Including Teddy, Arkie, Harry, Umbridge, etc).
It'll be fun and interesting to hear other people's ideas and point of views.