Chapter 3

- Injured Soldier Boy -

Remus apparated in front of the Burrow, beside him stood George. Both looked shaken but uninjured. Remus let out a series of long slow pants, walking towards Mrs Weasley, Ginny, Harry and Hagrid, who were all standing outside the new Burrow that had been built after the previous one was burnt.

"Oh, thank the lord!" Mrs Weasley trotted over to them, hugging George. "Remus, what happened? Hagrid said there was an ambush! Everyone should've been back by now."

Remus didn't get a chance to respond when there was a loud crack behind him, he spun around instantly holding out his wand. Kingsley did the same, behind him was Hermione and Arkie.

"The last words Albus Dumbledore spoke to the pair of us?" Kingsley murmured, his posture tense.

Remus panted as he spoke. "Harry... is the best hope we have... Trust him." Kingsley lowered his wand and Arkie stepped forward but Remus blocked her path. Arkie held up both hands defensively. "How do we know it's you?"

"I ugh..." She thought desperately. "My Patronus is a bear, like Teddy's. I can prove it if you'll let me." She slowly took out her wand and flicked it gently. "Expecto Patronum." Remus lowered his arm when he saw the misty creature form in front of him, he stared at Arkie, knowing only too well what it meant to have the same Patronus as another. "Where's Teddy?" He asked.

Arkie paused for a moment. "He's not here?" A cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

Crack!

Tonks trudged towards him, jumping into his arms. Remus looked both flustered and overjoyed to see her safe and healthy. A few steps behind her was Ron. Hermione dashed forward and the too embraced. "Thanks." He said with a blush.

"Deserves that." Tonks wrapped her arms around Remus' neck lovingly. "Brilliant, he was. I wouldn't be standing here without him."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Really?"

"Always the tone of surprise." Ron chuckled. A Thestral cooed from behind them and Bill and Fleur dismounted their stead solemnly. Next Mr Weasley and Fred apparated in front of the Burrow.

"We the last ones back?" Mr Weasley asked with a bright grin which vanished once he saw the others faces. "Who's missing?"

"Mad-Eye, Teddy and Mundungus." Kingsley said, staring out into the starry sky ever five seconds. Remus was doing the same only his eyes next left the sky. Where was his son? What had happened? How had the Death Eater known that Harry would be moved tonight?

The shrill cry of a Thestral broke the silence and Remus let out a long held breath as the creature landed a few feet away from them. Sitting on top of its long, boney back was Teddy. Remus could barely see him through the darkness but he recognised the colour of their matching hair. But the father's second of relief ended shortly after it begun as Teddy fell to the ground in a heap.

"Teddy!" Arkie screamed, dashing through the mud and crouching at his side.

Remus wasn't far behind her with Mr Weasley in toe. "Get him into the house! Quick!" The two adults picked up the half-conscious boy and dragging him towards the Burrow. "Molly!" Mr Weasley called out and watched as his wife dashed into the house, preparing the couch for Teddy.

"Oh good lord!" She gasped. Teddy stared around the room in a daze. On his way to the couch he caught a glimpse of himself in a nearby mirror. If he had, had more energy he would've gasped in fright and shock. A deep gash snaked from the top left of his temple all the way down to his jawline, blooding stained his the left side of his face, neck and shirt.

Remus was the first to crouch down beside his only child, stroking the uninjured side of his head comfortingly. "Teddy, I'm so sorry." He whispered.

"It's not your fault, Remus." Tonks said, trying to put a hand on her husband's shoulder but he shrugged it off. Arkie sat as close to Teddy as she could, both hands covering her mouth.

"I saw him get hit but... I didn't realize. I can't believe Snape... how could he do this?" Arkie tried wiping away her tears and Teddy reached weakly for her hand, trying his best to comfort her. But that only made her feel worse. Remus but his hand on the weeping girl's back. No one made a sound nor moved an inch. Only Mrs Weasley moved as she did the best in her power to heal Teddy's wounds with her wand.

It did barely anything. Teddy recognised the Sectumsempra curse when he'd seen himself in the mirror. He glanced up at his father, forcing a smile to his lips. "Guess I should've been more careful, huh?" Remus didn't laugh, despite his attempts to give his son the satisfaction of a grin. Instead something dark flashed in his eyes, a type of anger Teddy hated to see.

At the exact moment Remus jumped to his feet, storming over to Harry and pushing him against the wall. Mrs Weasley's spell seemed to be taking some affect as Teddy's dizziness had almost completely vanished. "Dad?" He said but was barely heard over the commotion.

Remus was brandishing his wand in front of Harry's face threateningly. "LUPIN!" Hagrid gasped in shock.

"What are you doing?" Ginny yelled.

"Shush!" He quickly silenced them all. After a few noiseless seconds he spoke again. "What creature sat in the corner the first time Harry Potter visited my office in Hogwarts?"

"Are you mad?" Harry burst out but Remus shouted back even louder.

"WHAT CREATURE?!"

"A um... ugh, Grindylow!"

Remus' wand hand fell down by his side and he let go of Harry. "We've been betrayed. Voldemort knew you were being moved tonight. I had to make sure you weren't an impostor." Harry nodded in reply.

"Where's Mad-Eye and Mundungus though?" Mr Weasley peered out from behind one of the curtains.

Teddy grunted as he attempted to push himself upright on the couch, his head gave a slight pang. Arkie helped him up the rest of the way and Remus stood beside the couch, watching him protectively. "Mad-Eye's gone..." Teddy could literally feel his heart snapping in two as he spoke the words. His mentor and friend was gone.

Tonks let out a soft cry. Teddy understood her pain, she had been Mad-Eye's apprentice after all. "Mundungus took one look at the Death Eaters and disapparated. But how did they know it was you, Harry?"

"Hedwig, she was trying to protect me."

Silence fell across the room, there was nothing to be said. Mad-Eye's body was gone and Teddy wiped his top lip which was covered in drying blood.