Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and all the situations said characters find themselves in. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy.

Happy Early Valentines' Day! XOXO

Something's Gotta Give

To insure that he would have a nice, dreamless sleep, Teddy had taken a potion guaranteed to knock him out for eight hours. It had worked, thank Merlin, but for some reason it had left him with a pounding headache, like some part of his mind was punishing him for refusing to revisit a past that wasn't his own, and yet was in a way he couldn't understand. So that had required he take something, he had to go to work after all, and that damn stuff left him drowsy and irritable, which wasn't a good thing seeing as he worked around werewolves every day and it was less than a week from the next full moon.

The original purpose of the Ministry's 'Werewolf Support Services' had been to help werewolves, though it was shut down before it could do any good since none of those afflicted with lycanthropy had been willing to visit the Ministry for fear of further persecution or hidden agendas on the part of their government. Attempts to resurrect it over the years had failed for the most part, but since he'd taken over Teddy was proud to say that his department was finally doing what it was supposed to.

As the son of a werewolf he'd had some street cred so to speak, and he'd won over many by making house calls and helping the men and women like his father find jobs and integrate more completely in the wizarding world that too often shunned them for something they literally had no control over. Of course the real draw for them was the fact that he could supply them with the best version of Wolfsbane, one that was actually palatable. Hugo had invented the variation on Damocles's original potion as an extra credit project for Potions in his fourth year, and since there were few potion masters with the skills to make the original version, much less Hugo's even more complicated one…he was the only supplier of the stuff and shamelessly used the stuff as a bribe to get his werewolves to let him into their lives so that he could get it through their usually very hard heads that he wasn't the enemy, far from it. He'd die before he'd betray their trust, and nothing mattered more to him than helping them.

In the eyes of his fellow ministry workers his job was only a slight step up from The Centaur Liaison Office, which was basically code for being fired since the centaurs couldn't be less interested in a liaison with them, but in Teddy's eyes he had a brilliant, rewarding job and anyone who didn't think so could go play with Nifflers while wearing lots of sparkly jewelry.

Amused by the mental image, as always, Teddy tried to focus on that instead of the hint of headache he knew was lurching in his head. It wasn't easy, but it also reminded him that the men and women he was working with experienced far worse pain every month, which was enough to have him mentally bitch slap his angsty arse into gear.

"Are you all right, Teddy?"

Looking up Teddy worked up a smile for the woman hovering in his doorway, waiting for his permission to enter. Lilah was four years older than him, and had been bit by one of Fenir's pack during the last war after her parents had foiled a Death Eater attack on their Muggleborn neighbor and her family. She'd been one of the lucky ones, both because her family had stuck by her and because she'd grown up in a world that was at least actively trying to right the wrongs done to those the Ministry had considered less than them historically. Lilah had been his assistant since he'd gotten started, and he'd be lost without her.

"I'm just tired, with a headache waiting for the potion to wear off before it makes another appearance. How about you? How are you feeling?"

"I just had some of your cousin's potion, so right now I'm thanking the powers that be that they gave you such a bloody brilliant cousin." A grin on her face, Lilah walked over to take one of the visitors' seats. "If he wasn't fifteen and I wasn't dating my Xander, I swear I'd marry him if he'd have me."

"His loss."

Knowing her boss really meant that, Lilah gave him an adoring look, the fact that they weren't the least interesting in each other romantically just sad as she was of the opinion that there were very few men in the world as wonderful as Teddy Lupin. That she'd yet to successfully set him up with anyone was a constant thorn in her side, and speaking of which…

"So…speaking of marriage and even just dating…you need to get out more, my friend. It's been at least five weeks since you last mentioned a date, and when a werewolf has a more active social life than a regular wizard you know something's wrong."

Grimacing, he'd say he missed the day when they had been miserably single together if he weren't so happy she'd found someone, Teddy gave her a look that communicated he'd rather not go there.

No such luck, the way she crossed her arms and gave him a very pointed look making that very clear.

"It's a long, complicated story, Lilah, but…to make it somewhat short, I have to fix something before I can date someone else with a clear conscience. When that day comes, I'll let you fix me up with the man or woman of your choice without so much as a peep of protest, you have my word."

Concern on her face, Teddy was too nice and easily roped into things in her opinion, Lilah asked if she could help him with whatever this dating problem was that was apparently weighing on his conscience. He hadn't gotten some girl up the duff, had he?

Laughing, Teddy's whole body shook with mirth as he assured her that wasn't it.

"Good, your grandmother would come down on you like a ton of bricks if you did."

Envisioning his grandmother's reaction if he were to tell her he'd gotten a girl pregnant outside of marriage, Teddy agreed with Lilah one hundred percent, shuddering now at just the thought of the verbal tongue-lashings he'd be exposed to daily for such a huge transgression.

Getting out of her chair, Lilah reached across the desk to pat his shoulder in a there, there motion while smirking at him evilly.

Smirking right back Teddy sarcastically thanked her for her concern, adding that if he did need her help with his problem he'd let her know since she was such a good friend and all.

"The best." Lilah cocked her head to the side. "And you better tell me this long story soon, it's not a good idea to keep secrets from someone who can turn furry and rip you to shreds without an ounce of remorse."

"Go to your desk, Furface. I know you have work to do."

Both simultaneously sticking their tongues out at each other, they couldn't help but laugh then, the two grinned at each other before agreeing that they should both get back to work before the paperwork on their desks caused avalanches they'd be buried under, possibly for weeks before anyone noticed and dug them out.

A real smile on his face Teddy waved her off and then turned his attention back to his work, feeling much better about the world in general.

)

It was a little on the late side when Teddy got home, he'd let Lilah drag him out to dinner with her after they'd left the office, but the day was finally over and he could chill out and - and try to figure out what he was going to do about the fact that he was due to go to bed in an hour given how tired he already was. The potion he'd taken the night before had certainly worked, but he knew he couldn't use the stuff as a crutch, particularly when he'd likely never solve the mysteries of the portrait and its creator if he didn't let his stupid dreams give him what answers they could.

Pouring himself a glass of whiskey, it struck him as a night for it, Teddy took it with him as he headed into his study to stand before the portrait in question while he took small sips from the glass. And though it made him feel like an idiot, which wasn't that rare a feeling these days, Teddy again spoke to the portrait like it was a living thing, and could both hear and understand his words.

"I said all that stuff yesterday, and then I took the potion so that I wouldn't dream anymore and - I'm not doing that tonight. So yeah…sorry. Not sure what I'm apologizing for, especially since you're the one fucking up my life royally, but I feel like I should so I am."

After a pause Teddy added a good night and then left, draining the glass as he went.

Going into the kitchen Teddy set the glass on the counter, too tired to be bothered with the few dishes and such he had waiting for him. He'd do them tomorrow.

Turning off the lights for the night, Teddy made his way through his quiet house, checking the security measures and just things in general before heading up the stairs. Going straight to his room and then bathroom, Teddy stared at himself in the mirror, studying his reflection.

Normally at this point he'd just wash his face, brush his teeth, and the rest, but for some reason he couldn't help but stare at his reflection, not liking it for some reason. It felt foreign to him somehow, not quite right even though he was more experienced than pretty much anyone when it came to looking in the mirror and seeing someone other than who he truly was. He was a Metamorphmagi for Merlin's sake. He messed with his eyes and hair all the time, and his body sometimes, when it was called for or he was feeling mischievous.

Then a thought crossed his mind, Teddy continuing to stare into the mirror as he started to tweak his face and form, losing some of his body mass, becoming younger looking and more…innocent for lack of a better word. His hair went from the dark purple he'd chosen to cheer him up to his usual light brown, his eyes going brown too, though a slightly lighter version than his normal ones.

And just like that he was looking at Teddy Prince, not Teddy Lupin.

"Fuck, what am I doing?"

Shaking his head and cursing his own stupidity, Teddy reverted back to his base self and focused solely on completing his nightly routine before leaving the bathroom without so much as a glance in the direction of his mirror. And once in his bedroom he also ignored the full length mirror he had set up to one side and instead walked over to his fireplace to get that going since he was in the mood for the crackle and flickering flames it would provide for him.

Once that was done and the fire was burning merrily away, Teddy went about undressing, discarding his clothes in the hamper before walking naked to his bed. Sliding under the covers he plumped up the pillows, staring up at his canopy in peeved contemplation before resigning himself to the fact that he might as well close his eyes and get the dreaming over with.

If nothing else, Teddy told himself, odds were he'd get a better look at how the other Teddy had reacted after the strange, late night meeting with Regulus on the school grounds. That at least would be interesting, especially since the teenager had to be even more confused than he was about the choices Regulus had made when it came to their dealings with each other.

Once again filled with curiosity, he couldn't help it, Teddy resolutely closed his eyes and willed himself to go to sleep, hoping that he'd get some answers this time instead of more questions to be answered.

)

In the dream Teddy was angry. Really, really angry. It was the sort of anger that had been building and building, to the point where even someone with a relatively mild temper became a force to be reckoned with. And avoided if possible, which was exactly what Regulus Black had been doing for the past couple of days which was the main reason Teddy was feeling the need to prove to everyone in Hogwarts that he had in fact been sorted into the right house when the Sorting Hat had chosen Slytherin for him.

Even his patrolling partner had given him wary looks during their rounds, and despite the fact that they usually got along Cassie had been eager to leave his side after they'd parted ways at the end of their shift. Normally he would have walked her to the door leading to her dorm, but she'd turned down the offer and for both their sakes he hadn't pushed it. She wasn't the one he was angry at after all, and he'd feel bad taking it out on her. Later. Once he was more clearheaded.

So he wasn't in the best frame of mind when he stepped into the Slytherin Common Room, the flames of rage that had been fueling his mood roaring to life in a rather terrifying way when he saw the group currently lounging around on the couches that had been moved around to bring the students closer to each other.

That Regulus looked a part of the group was in itself strange, the fact that Teddy was willing to bet everyone with the teenager was a Dark Lord follower in the making an obvious explanation as to what Regulus was doing with them. But as bad as that was, it was the teenager sitting beside Regulus that was pushing his fury to a whole new level.

Barty Crouch Jr was sprawled out beside Regulus, it was just the two of them on the piece of furniture, and the prat's arm was 'carelessly' slung over the top of the couch, so that the limb was almost around Regulus's shoulder like they were friends-or more than that. The little bastard's body was slated towards Regulus, in the other teenager's space and Regulus was allowing it and…and…

Snap

In some distant part of his mind Teddy was aware that he'd reached his limit, but the red haze in front of his eyes was so strong that it didn't even occur to him that that could possibly be a bad thing.

"BLACK! I need to speak with you in private NOW."

Half the people in the Common Room actually jumped or at least flinched, none of them having ever been yelled at by Teddy Prince. Yelling was just not something he did. And to yell at Black…

The looks he was getting, from everyone but the teenager he'd yelled at, said they all thought Teddy had to have a death wish they hadn't known about to think that he could speak to Regulus Black that way and live to tell the tale. Or okay, he'd probably let the Head Boy live, but possibly without the use of his hands or minus a limb.

Too pissed to even worry about that, Teddy took a couple strides that brought him closer to his prey, his tone and order unchanged. "Come with me now. You don't WANT to have this discussion out here."

Everyone looked in Regulus's direction to gauge his reaction to being ordered around not once, but twice, their eyes getting that much wider as, without a word of complaint or even question Regulus smoothly slid off the couch.

Regulus walked over towards Teddy with the insolent swagger to his stride that was so characteristic of a Black, usually when one was about to destroy some brainless underling beneath his or her foot that all the other Slytherins in the room leaned forward in anticipation. And coming to a stop in front of Teddy, the lifting of his chin more about insolence than anything else, Regulus raised one imperialistic brow. "Yes?"

"My room. Now." To emphasis his point Teddy jabbed his fingers in the direction of the passageway that led to the boys' dormitory.

"Lead the way."

"You don't have to go with him."

The snarled response came from Ceres Nottingham, Teddy aiming a killer glare in her direction that would have done any Black proud. Not that it worked, but Regulus had been sending death glares her way for years now, which had apparently made her somewhat immune at this point.

"I'll do what I please. My Head Boy is asking to speak with me after all."

Not liking the superior smirk Regulus was wearing one bit, but not being completely mental, Teddy reined in the desire to find out if he could physically haul the snotty brat over his shoulder and carry him to his room, where he'd paddle the finest arse in Hogwarts until it was as red as a Weasley's hair.

So instead he did exactly as Regulus had suggested before and stalked off in the direction he wanted them to go, Regulus following after him without any protest.

His room was towards the end of the hallway, Teddy opening up his door and pushing it wide hard enough that it slammed against the opposing wall. And in the mood he was in, Teddy was more than willing to admit the way he was behaving, gesturing the other teenager into his room like he was presenting something for an auction, was just as juvenile and snotty as he felt Regulus was behaving, but he really didn't give a shite at this point.

And then they were both in his room, the door shut and locked behind them, with Regulus standing there in the middle of the bedroom like he owned it with his arms crossed in front of him, those Black eyes practically daring him to cross a line.

So he crossed it. Big time.