Don't forget to R&R!
Chapter 3
- Burn Like Phoenix's -
"Remind me why we've travelled to Hogsmeade." Teddy asked as they all slipped through the streets after apparating into their old house. Each one of them were wearing long cloak, kindly given by Andromeda before they'd left. The cold, snow covered streets were empty, except the occasional Snatcher wandering in and out of alleyways.
The last time Teddy and Arkie had stepped foot into the Hog's Head it was to form a rebellion against Umbridge. Arkie caught a glance of the scars on her lover's hand as he pushed open the backdoor to the dusty, dirty pub. "There's a secret tunnel from here to the school." Remus explained in a low whisper.
"But... there was never a tunnel like that on the Marauders Map."
"It's new, appeared after Death Eaters destroyed all the other tunnels into the school."
'Guess that's why Honeydukes was in ruins.' Teddy thought to himself, remembering the destroyed sweet store down the street. They wandered into the tight hallway, down a flight of stairs until they were standing in front of a large painting of a rather beautiful girl dressed in an old fashioned blue dress. She blinked at the cloaked figures, but once seeing their faces her portrait swung open, revealing a long passageway.
Remus was the first to climb into the tunnel and Teddy looked over his shoulder at Arkie. Her complexion was a sickening pale colour and her golden brown hair was black in the darkness. "Come on." Remus' voice echoed back to them.
"Let's go." He said with a nod, standing back to let her climb in before him. The portrait swung shut behind them. The passageway was so short Teddy's had to bend his back, yet his head still scrapped the stone ceiling. They'd walked on for what felt like forever. Teddy had never noticed how far Hogsmeade actually was from Hogwarts, the two had always felt like one place. One home.
"Here we are." Remus panted and the wall in front of him opened. Light flooded into the tunnel. They were in the Room of Requirement. Teddy recognised what used to be the training room for Dumbledore's Army. "Teddy!"
"Oof! Merlin's bear Hermione, we leave you for less than a few days and you're already call us back?" He laughed, hugging the bright witch and spotting Harry and Ron walking towards them. The rest of the room was filled with hundreds of students. Teddy's gut twisted at the familiar sight of the majestic red of Gryffindor, the dazzling yellow of Hufflepuff and, of course, the deep and calming blue of Ravenclaw.
Oh, how he'd missed Hogwarts.
"Teddy?" Four voices mashed together gasped. Teddy spun on his heels quick enough to make him dizzy. Across the room four Ravenclaw boys were staring in his direction, their faces just as stunned as his. "Terry! Leonard! Daniel! Freddie!" He called out. The four boys looked terrible with dark circles beneath their eyes and large bruises that decorated both Terry and Leonard's faces.
There was a moment, when all five of them were as stiff as statues. But Freddie's both shook and suddenly he could no longer hold in his tears of joy. "Teddy!" The short, plump boy ran forward hugging Teddy tightly around the waist, which was as far up as he could reach. "I missed you so much! No one's taken your bed, I made sure of it!" Daniel was next to join the hug.
Teddy grunted from the force of Terry becoming part of the heavy huddle. But he gasped loudly as Leonard, completely out of character, charged forward and jumped on top of them. They lost their footing and all five boys fell to the ground, but none of them let go of one another. They all laid on the floor in a fit of tears and giggles.
"You look awful, Teddy." Terry sniffed.
"Me? What about you and Leonard? What the hell happened?"
Leonard rolled his eyes. "They wanted up to before the Cruciatus Curse of first-years. But we wouldn't stand for it."
"Where have you been? We were so worried when you didn't come to school."
"I wish I could tell you Freddie, but there isn't enough time." Teddy finally detached himself from the group, sitting on the cold floor. "Voldemort's coming." He looked up as from the passageway more figures appeared. Kingsley Shacklebolt, Oliver Wood, Bill, Fred and George Weasley, Fleur Delacour, Arthur Weasley, and Molly Weasley all greeted the students, looking around the room.
The boys stood up, watching the newcomers in fascination. "Hello boys." Teddy's father appeared and all four Ravenclaw's mouths dropped again.
"Professor Lupin!" Teddy saw his father beamed. Even though he hadn't be a professor for years, his students still thought of him as one. He truly had been the best Dark Arts professor ever. Harry was looking around, looking worried before Teddy walked up to him. "Harry, what's the battle plan?"
"We're looking for a Horcrux. There's one here in the school."
"Cool. Where?"
"Don't know."
"What is it?"
"Also don't know."
Teddy's lips pursed and an uneasy expression smothered his face. "Ugh... right. Okay. Let's keep an eye out then."
"Yeah, let's."
It'd been a while since Snape had summoned all his students down into the Great Hall. The Order had made their way down shortly after, being careful to not run into Death Eater's that were patrolling the halls.
"Teddy," Remus pulled his son to the side, sighing. "You know what I'm going to say."
"I'm not leaving." The grown boy, now adult, shook his head.
"I know... I'm so proud of you." He pulled him close. "And your mother would be too."
"Dad," Teddy sniffed, but controlled his tears. "Dumbledore gave me a possession of Mum's. I think you should have these." He put his hand in his pocket revealing small, thin objects. Remus read the first one, an old unfinished letter.
Dear Moony,
It's been less than a month since we broke up.
I know it's probably for the best.
My parents are thrilled of course... at least they were.
Remus, something wonderful has happened
and I don't know what to do.
Dad refuses to help, and you know my mother won't help unless Dad gives her permission.
But I can't do this on my own.
I need you more than ever.
I know you're busy but...
But, Remus, I'm pregnant with our baby.
Teddy then passed the second object. "This is you isn't it?" The photo of the young boy in the library brought tears to the man's eyes. His stunning green eyes, that looked old and tired, staring not at the young boy, but at a group of boys in the background that Teddy hadn't even noticed were there.
"I have many regrets." Remus breathed. "But my biggest one was not keeping you."
"Dad," Teddy rested his hand on his father's shoulder. Remus stared into his eyes, so much strength. Teddy was the person he always wanted to be. "I love you."
"I love you too son. I love the person who've become." Their silence was broken when the others began to move to the Great Hall. But the two didn't move. "Does it feel like last time?" Teddy asked. "When you first fought for the Order."
"No. This time I have even more to fight for, and I'll have my son by my side." His touched Teddy's pale cheek. "Teddy, you deserve to be part of the Order." Teddy's eyes slowly squinted as he smiled and for a second Remus was transported back in time, when he first saw his son on the train to Hogwarts. So young, so innocent.
He never would've imagined what a strong and independent man he would grow into.
"Guys, we've got to go." Arkie whispered, looking upset to be breaking up their father, son moment. But Remus nodded and the three walked through the crowd of Order members, towards the Great Hall. The first thing Teddy heard before he pushed open the doors to the Great Hall was Harry's voice.
"It seems, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster."
Teddy felt a smug warmth in his stomach as he opened the heavy doors and the team flooded into the room, coming a short stop a few feet behind Harry who was standing opposite Snape. "I'm afraid it's quite extensive."
Snape didn't reply, but he looked surprised.
"How dare you stand where he stood?" Harry fumed. "Tell them how it happened that night! Tell them how you looked him in the eye a man who trusted you, and killed him!" His voice raised louder and louder in anger. "Tell them!"
There was quick swoosh sound, and Snape whipped out his wand.