Chapter 12

- Splinched -

Teddy laid on the damp forest floor, his chest rising and falling heavily. His muscles ached from their uncoordinated escape. He laid there for a few seconds, recapping what had just happened.

They were standing in the courtroom. Harry had thrown a spell at Umbridge, knocking her out. As soon as she had slumped back in her chair, her Patronus vanished and the bright barrier separating the Dementors from them disappeared as well. Somehow, Harry had been able to grab the Horcrux from Umbridge's flabby neck and they all ran to the elevator. Ron, still wearing the disguise of Mr. Cattermole, pulled Mrs. Cattermole along with him.

The Dementors were swooping in on them. Teddy and Arkie were the last to make it through the elevator door. Scabbed, rotting hands reached out for them through the bars. There was a hollow breathy noise and Teddy could feel the happiness being sucked from inside him.

His wand was in front of his face, but he couldn't bring himself to say the words. Arkie was gasping beside him, her hand at her side, fingers extended. He reached for it, feeling the warmth of each others touch, the two flicked their wands together.

"Expecto Patronum!"

A large male and female grizzly bear barreled through the horde of Dementors, sending them flying backwards. The elevator went up and the last thing they heard were two bears grunting in the distance. With their fingers still bound, Teddy and Arkie led the others out of the elevator. That's when all hell broke loose. A Ministry worker recognised Harry and the whole Ministry went into shut down. "It's Harry Potter!" The wizard had shouted, pointing at Harry like he was a rare bird he'd spotted on a nature hike.

They all ran for it, abandoning the stunned Mrs. Catermole, hoping she would take the opportunity to escape. The man with the long blonde ponytail, that had told Ron to stop his office from raining, was in hot pursuit. Teddy looked over his shoulder, letting go of Arkie's hand to allow him to aim his spell directly at him. "Expellliarmus!"

He flicked it away, but Teddy wasn't done yet. He thrusted his wand and the huge piles of Harry Potter wanted posters flew into the air, flying into the faces of the man and the Aurors running after them. During that brief moment, Arkie slammed into a wizard.

"Sorry." She said instinctively, then glanced once more at the wizard. it was her father. Mr. Edwards was shocked to see his daughter at the Ministry, but once he saw Teddy, deflecting spells nearby and Harry and the others running for it, he gave a short nod. "Go!"

"But Dad-"

"Just go!" He pushed her forward.

"Come on!" Teddy snatched her hand, dragging her along with him. The two caught up with the others. "There!" Hermione yelled above the shouting and spell firing. Teddy followed her gaze to the many fireplaces decorated the wall ahead of them. He sped up. One by one, the fireplaces were closing. He grunted beside Arkie.

Then, he dived into the last fireplace, the others close behind him. From over his shoulder, he saw the ponytail man following them into the green flames. His surprised yelp was cut off as they all entered the Floo Network.

That's when they had all fallen on to the forest floor, the ponytail man no where to be seen. Blinking his eyes, Teddy sat up and immediately looked around. "Arkie? Arkie!"

"Over here." She groaned, leaning against a tree, her head hanging low.

"Arkie! You okay?" She stumbled over to her, raising her chin with his fingers. She stared up at him, her eyes filled with tears and her mouth forming a bright smile. "He's okay. My dad's okay." She half-laughed.

Teddy knew that just because he was alive didn't mean he was okay, but he didn't feel like now was the time to tell Arkie that. So he remained quiet. That's when he heard Hermione's frightened voice. "Oh, my God." She wailed, running to Ron's side.

At first, Teddy was confused as to what all the fuss was about, but then he saw Ron properly. He was lying on the ground, a deep gash down his shoulder, blood was spilling everywhere. Ron, still in shock, grunted painfully. "It's all right. It's okay." Hermione whispered, turning to Harry frantically. "Harry. Harry, quickly, in my bag. There's a bottle labeled 'Essence of Dittany'. Quickly!"

Harry was rummaging through Hermione's charmed bag, searching for the bottle.

"Accio Dittany." Teddy said, pointing his wand into the bag and summoning the small bottle. He handed it frantically to Hermione. Harry's brow was covered in sweat, in one hand he held his wand and in the other was the Horcrux. "Hermione, his arm." He gasped, his face displaying the same expression of shock everyone was feeling.

"I know." She spat, more fearfully than angrily. She opened the bottle. "Okay, it's gonna sting a little bit." She said to Ron, pouring the contents of the bottle onto the wound. Ron hissed in pain, his breathing becoming quick. Then it slowed, he relaxed and laid his head tiredly on the ground.

"What happened?" Arkie asked once everything became silent. "I thought we meant to be going back to Grimmauld Place."

"We were. We were." Hermione repeated, brushing Ron's hair back gently. "It's all right." She whispered, not even so much as glancing up at the others. "We were there, but that man had hold of me, and I... I knew once he'd seen where we were, we couldn't stay... ...so I brought us here." She said between sobs. "But Ron got splinched!"

Teddy felt useless, standing beside Ron, unable to do anything to help him. Quietly, he looked around the forest. The trees were far apart and dead leaves covered the ground, birds chirped above them but other than that there were no other signs of life apart from themselves. Holding his wand in the air, he was waved it slowly.

"Protego Totalum." He said loudly. The others watched him. "Salvio Hexia."

"What are you doing?" Harry asked, out of breath. Teddy turned around, his hair messy and covered in dirt. The sun burned down on his back. "Protective enchantments." He explained quickly, spinning back around on his heels. It was in that moment he realised he was still dressed in Lance's clothes, which was were way to big for him. He pulled off the heavy coat and held his wand hand in the air again. "Repello Muggletum. Muffliato."

"You go first, Harry." Teddy said, placing the Horcrux on the ground. Ron watched them all, his arms hanging in a cloth sling, as they gathered round the cursed locket. Harry's eyes stared hatefully down upon it. "Dissendium!" The Horcrux flew into the air and landed back on the ground, unharmed.

"Incendio!" Hermione flicked her wand. The locket burst into flames, but it still had the same result. Everyone's heads turned to Teddy, the spell master of the group. He rested in a firm casting position. "Expulso. Diffindo. Reducto." Nothing happened. He turned to the others, shrugging his shoulders in defeat. Harry glided past him, picking the locket up. He stared at it for a moment, then hung it around his neck.

"What are you doing?" Arkie asked, taking a half step forward.

"We have to keep it safe until we find out how to destroy it." He replied, tucking it under his shirt and out of view. The forest was silent.

"Seems strange, mate." Ron said, looking pale and unwell. "Dumbledore sends you off to find all these Horcruxes, but doesn't tell you how to destroy them. Doesn't that bother you?" He was never given an answer. Harry had walked off in the direction of the tent to sit by himself. It was the same tent they'd used so many years ago, at the Quidditch World Cup. Those had been much simpliar times... hard, but simpliar.

Teddy laid down on the lower bunk of the bunkbeds in the tent. In his hands he held his mother's jewelry box. Thank God Hermione had packed for an emergency. He turned to small box over in his hands. He hadn't even been able to show his father before...

His thoughts were distracted by the sound of the radio. Ron had switched it on once again. The radio was a special gift from the Order, every member had one.

"A goblin by the name

of Gornuk was killed.

It is believed that Muggle-born,

Dean Thomas, and a second goblin,

both believed to have been

traveling with Cresswell and Gornuk,

may have escaped.

If Dean is listening or anyone has

any knowledge of his whereabouts

his parents and sisters are

desperate for news.

Meanwhile, a Muggle family of five

has been found dead in their home."

Teddy listened quietly. But in the last two days of camping out, he hadn't heard anything about his family. Finally, he couldn't listen to anymore and jumped out of his bed, glancing at Arkie who was deep asleep in the bed beside him, then walked out of the tent. Harry was sitting beside it, talking to Hermione. Both of them looked up as he came closer, there was something deep in Harry's eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Harry sighed. "I tapped in to Voldemort's mind again."

"Again? Harry I don't think you should-"

"I know but... he's found Gregorovitch."

"The wandmaker?" Teddy asked, having researched the man for a school essay.

"He wants something that Gregorovitch used to have... but I don't know what." Harry said, lookign frustrated with himself. "But he wants it desperately. I mean, it's as if his life depends on it."

The radio crackled from inside the tent and Harry turned and vicious look in his eye. "Don't." Teddy said, grabbing his arm to stop him from barging into the tent. Harry pulled out of his grip. "It comforts him." Teddy said.

Harry was frustrated at Teddy. His green gaze was too calm and wise, yet there was a hint of sadness in them, but it infuriated him how he didn't let it show. "It sets my teeth on edge!" He growled lowly, standing up. "What's he expecting to hear, good news?"

Teddy was silent, glancing once through the tarp of the tent to see Ron staring at the radio. "I think he just hopes he doesn't hear bad news."

Harry ignored him, taking a few steps away. "How long before he can travel?"

Hermione remained crouched beside the tent. "I'm doing everything I can." She mumbled.

"You're not doing enough!" Harry snapped. The little voice coming from the radio continued to hum from within the tent. Teddy looked Harry up and down. He was shaking with anger, the locket dangling around his neck. He stood up, extending his hand. "Take it off." He order. When Harry didn't comply he took a step forward. "I said, take it off now."

Harry grunted, roughly pulling the chain over his head and passing it to Teddy. There was a moment of silence and Teddy saw Harry's shoulders relax. "Better?"

"Loads." Harry spoke, much more gently than before. Hermione also got onto her feet, taking the locket from Teddy's open hand and put on the locket. "We'll take it in turns, okay?"

They all nodded.

"What's up, guys." A sleepy Arkie emerged from within the tent, rubbing her eye and looking at the others. No one answered. Teddy turned his head back to the tent, listening quietly.

"And now, other news:

Severus Snape, newly-appointed

headmaster of Hogwarts has decreed that all students

must conform to the latest house rules.

Hogwarts bears little resemblance to the

school under Dumbledore's leadership.

Snape's curriculum is severe,

reflecting the wishes of the Dark Lord

and infractions are dealt with harshly

by the two Death Eaters on staff."

"Snape!" Arkie gasped, having also been listening. Teddy looked up at the bright sky, hoping with all his heart that his friends were safe and wondering where his father was.

Had he returned to Tonks?
Would he return to him?