Chapter 1
- The Nine Potters -
Crack!
Teddy stumbled backwards after he appeared on the road of Privet Drive. His forest green eyes looked at the muggle homes in wonder, they were some different compared to most houses he'd visited in the wizarding world, but then again there was an element of familiarity.
Harry's house looked empty from the street, all the lights were out and the strange vehicle muggles called a car was gone.
There was a loud distant crack as someone apparated beside him. "Teddy!"
"Hermione!" He wrapped her in a tight squeeze as soon as he was on his feet.
"It's so good to see you, Teddy. I'm so sorry."
"About what?"
Hermione pushed a strand of hair from her face. "About the stricter Werewolf legislations, it's simply not fair! I can't believe that Umbridge woman is still Head of the Magical Creatures Department." Teddy's scarred hand flicked at the sound of the devil-woman's name and his lips tightened.
"Well, it is what it is." Like a chain reaction several more people apparated around them.
Five members of the Weasley family, including Mr Weasley, Ron, Fred, George and some older boy who was standing next to Fleur Delacour, whom Teddy didn't recognise, walking down the empty road towards them. Teddy ran over, happy to see the jolly band of red-heads. "Teddy, thank the stars!" Mr Weasley chuckled, patting Teddy on the back. "How have you been?"
"Oh, you know. As well as I can be."
At that moment there was a loud roaring of an engine and Hagrid came flying down on his motorbike, screeching to a stop nearby. "'Ello, everyone!" He said, dismounting the bike.
Teddy attempted to walk towards the half-giant but someone blocked his path. "Mad-Eye!" Teddy beamed at the sight of his old mentor.
"No time for catch ups!" He barked frustratedly. And although Teddy didn't see it, there was a flicker of pride and joy in his mismatched eyes at the sight of his youngest pupil. Hagrid ambled his way up to the door of the Dursley's estate and banged loudly on it with his gigantic fist. Teddy stood between Mad-Eye and his parents watching as the door opened at Harry popped his head out, smiling at the others.
"Hello, Harry!" Hagrid bellowed and Ron ran forward to hug his friend, Hermione was next. "You're looking fit!"
Mad-Eye gave his usual, impatient growl and shoved past them all. "Yes he's absolutely gorgeous! Now, what say we get undercover before someone murders him?" Sarcasm dripped from his voice, which sounded just as mutilated at his face.
"Evening." Harry greeted politely.
Teddy followed after Mad-Eye, the Weasleys and several other Aurors that had appeared, stopping a minute to also greet Harry before walking into the living room. It was bare, all proof that anyone had ever lived there was gone. "Kingsley, I thought you were looking after the Prime Minister?" Harry said to the deep voiced dark man.
"You are more important."
Bill Weasley and Fleur then walked into the room. "Hello, Harry. Bill Weasley."
"Oh. Pleasure to meet you." Harry also stared at the scars on Bill's face.
"He was never always this handsome." Fred said.
George grinned from beside him. "Dead ugly."
Bill rolled his eyes, obviously used to the twin's shenanigans. "True enough. Owe it all to a werewolf, name of Greyback. Hope to repay the favor one day."
"You're still beautiful to me, William." Fleur cooed romantically.
Finally, Remus and Tonks walking into the room, standing in the doorway. "Just remember, Fleur," Remus smirked. "Bill takes his steaks on the raw side now." Around them, Mr Weasley and Kingsley were looking out all the windows suspiciously while Mad-Eye checked the upstairs rooms. Teddy was reminded of the danger that could be waiting for them outside.
"My husband, the joker." Tonks laughed softly. "By the way, wait till you hear the news. Remus and I-"
Someone ran through the short hallway and into the room, throwing herself at Teddy the moment she saw him. Teddy let out a joyful gasp as he put his hand on his girlfriend's silky chestnut hair, which she had finally cut so it hung just above her shoulders. "Arkie!"
"Sorry I'm late. I accidently apparated a few too many streets away." She said and giggled as Teddy lifted her off the ground by her waist and gave her a quick kiss.
Remus looked at the two and felt Tonk's hand on his waist. They looked so happy and young. Remus could see the joy in his son's eyes and he wished him nothing more than that same joy.
"All right. We'll have time for a cozy catch-up later!" Mad-Eye grumbled, pushing past Remus and Tonks. "We've got to get the hell out of here. And soon." Teddy placed Arkie on the ground again, his good mood not yet spoiled.
Mad-Eye stood near the front of the kitchen, both hands placed on his tall wooden scepter a heavy looking bag laid at his feet. "Potter, you're underage, which means you've still got the Trace on you."
Harry looked thoroughly confused as his stood in the center of the room, everyone seemed to form a large semicircle around The Chosen one. "What's the Trace?"
Teddy glanced over at his father who was peeking through the curtains of one of the small windows.
"If you sneeze, the Ministry will know who wipes your nose." Mad-Eye said. "We have to use those means of transport the Trace can't detect: Brooms, Thestrals and the like. We go in pairs. That way, if anyone's out there waiting for us, and I reckon there will be... they won't know which Harry Potter is the real one."
"The real one?" Harry twiddled his wand round in his hands. Mad-Eye pulled something out of his thick leather cloak, a large flask containing what looked like mud. Teddy watched as realization lit up Harry's face as well as fear and disgust. "I believe you're familiar with this particular brew." Mad-Eye smirked.
"No. Absolutely not." Harry shook his head.
Hermione grumbled sarcastically. "I told you he'd take it well."
"No, if you think I'm gonna let everyone risk their lives for me, I-"
Teddy laughed from beside Arkie. "Yeah, cause we've never done that before."
"No. No. This is different." Harry continued persistently. "I mean, taking that, becoming me. No!"
"Well, none of us really fancy it, mate." George said.
"Yeah," Fred joined in. "Imagine if something went wrong, and we ended up a scrawny, specky git forever!"
There was silence as Harry tried desperately to think of something to say next but Mad-Eye spoke first. "Everyone here is of age, Potter. They've all agreed to take the risk."
Harry glanced at the others and when his eyes fell on Teddy the quarter-breed nodded. But suddenly, a short, bald man, about the height of Teddy's waist, pushing through the crowd. "Technically, I've been coerced. Mundungus Fletcher, Mr. Potter. Always been a huge admirer."
Teddy had had met Mundungus once or twice before in his time at Grimmauld Place and knew that the man was just as trustworthy as he had hair. "Nip it, Mundungus." Moody snapped and the little man slapped his jaw shut. "All right, Granger, as discussed." Hermione didn't hesitate as she walked past Harry, plucking a hair from his scalp and putting it in Mad-Eye's Polyjuice potion.
Harry rubbed the back of his head. "Blimey, Hermione."
Mad-Eye had a gleeful smile on his face as he mixed the potion. All at once Fred, George, Teddy, Arkie, Mundungus, Fleur, Ron and Hermione all lined up together. The Auror limped over to him, his metal leg thumping on the floorboards. "For those of you who haven't taken Polyjuice Potion before, fair warning: It tastes like goblin piss."
Fred raised his eyebrow, looking at the flask Mad-Eye had passed him in repugnance. "Have a lot of experiences with that, do you, Mad-Eye?" When Mad-Eye gave no reply he sighed. "Just trying to diffuse the tension." He took a swig of the mud-like substance and passed the flask to his brother.
Teddy looked down at the flask once it was passed to him. "Bottoms up." He murmured glancing up at Moody and taking a sip. It was by far the worst taste he'd ever tasted in his entire life, and he had once eaten a dog poo flavoured jellybean. "Ugh."
A few uncomfortable moments later, nine Harry Potter stood in the living room. "Wow, we're identical!" Fred and George said together.
"Not yet, you're not." Mad-Eye tossed the large sack towards them, inside were the same clothing all in Harry's size. Teddy quickly untied his jumper from his waist, took of his shirt and put on Harry's clothing. He blinked as he put on the full moon glasses. "Don't forget your charm, Teddy." Arkie said, pointing the wolf necklace still hung around his neck.
"Oh, right. Thanks." It was weird to hear Arkie's voice coming from Harry's body but Teddy focused back on getting changed.
"Haven't got anything a bit more sporting, have you, Harry?" Fred-Harry said. "I don't really fancy this color."
Mad-Eye rolled his normal eye. "Well, fancy this, you're not you. So shut it and strip."
"All right, all right." Mundungus-Harry grumbled, looking both irritated and frightened.
Fleur-Harry let out a shaky breath as she undid her bra and passed it to her boyfriend. "Bill, look away. I'm hideous."
"I knew Ginny was lying about that tattoo." Ron-Harry chuckled beside Teddy. Teddy stared around at the other Harry's, it was difficult to remember who was who. it was also confusing how different everything seemed from Harry's point of view. Teddy was smaller making everything and everyone in the room look taller than it had before and his glasses kept slipping off his nose.
"Harry, your eyesight really is awful." Hermione-Harry pushed her glasses back up her nose.
"Right, then. We'll be pairing off. Each Potter will have a protector." Mad-Eye instructed and begun to list off names. "George you'll be with Remus, Fred'll go with Arthur, Ron you go with Tonks, Hermione and Arkie you're with Kingsley, Fleur with Bill and Teddy you'll be flying with me- you too Mundungus, stick tight to me. I wanna keep an eye on you."
Teddy was completely okay with the idea of flying with Mundungus but kept his mouth shut anyways, kissing Arkie-Harry on the head.
"As for Harry."
"Yes?" All nine Potters responded to Mad-Eye at once.
"The real Harry. Where the devil are you, anyway?"
"Here!"
"You'll ride with Hagrid."
Teddy got onto one knee to tie his shoelaces up and listened to Hagrid and the real Harry talking. "I brought you here 16 years ago when you were no bigger than a Bowtruckle. Seems only right that I should be the one to take you away now."
Teddy grinned but Mad-Eye grumbled as usual. "Yes, it's all very touching. Let's go."
They all filed outside and Teddy shivered in the night air. "Teddy?" Remus called out to the sea of Potters.
"Right here, Dad." Teddy said from right next to him.
Remus crouched down to his new height. "Be careful, alright?"
"Always am, Dad." He responded.
"Teddy!" Mad-Eye grunted and he quickly ran over. Mad-Eye watched as Teddy-Harry stared up at him, as if expecting him to say something to him before they mounted their transportation. "Head in the game, boy." He said simply with a quick nod.
Teddy smiled as if he'd said something far more memorable. Mad-Eye watched as the young adult walked towards a grand, sleek black Thestral which gave a whale like moan spreading its wings slightly. Teddy stroked its long boney neck gently, glancing at Arkie-Harry who was mounting a broom in front of him. Beside her was Kingsley and just in front of him was Remus, also mounting a Cleansweep broom.
Mad-Eye stood by his heavy looking broom that floated quietly at his side. "Head for the Burrows! We'll rendezvous there. " Mad-Eye called out, standing in front of the long road that would act as their runway. "On the count of three!"
Teddy quickly mounted his stead and held onto the Thestrals long neck as securely as he could.