"… I'm a nutter, remember?"

"I guess that depends on your definition of 'nutter'," said Teddie, sticking her head out from behind the Charm's shelf. She smiled at Harry and Hermione, and ignored the glare that Ron threw her way.

"Hey, Teddie," said Hermione, brightly. She shuffled her homework sheets and then produced a piece of parchment. "I wrote this up last night for our Ancient Runes homework. Do you want to add it to the ones you and Theo have?"

Teddie smiled and took the parchment. "I'll do it tonight," she said. "There is a new Charm I have been wanting to use that will copy it, word for word, and in your exact handwriting, Hermione, so it doesn't look like neither of us have done the whole thing ourselves."

"Oh, I've seen that spell," said Hermione. "It's really useful."

"Yeah? Cool." Teddie grinned, her gaze flickering between Harry and Ron. The latter was indicating at her with his head and mouthing words, while Harry furrowed his brow and shrugged his shoulders. "So, did I interrupt something?"

"No," said Hermione and Harry.

"Yes," said Ron.

Teddie quirked an eyebrow. "Do you want me to go?" she indicated over her shoulder.

Again, Ron said yes at the same time as Hermione and Harry said no.

Teddie cocked her head to the side and stared at Ron. "Do you have a problem with me, Weasley?" she asked. "I mean, have I done anything that has wronged you in some way?"

"You're a Slytherin," said Ron.

"Muggleborn Slytherin," Teddie corrected.

Ron scoffed. "Yeah, keep telling yourself that," he said. "No witch or wizard that came from Slytherin has ever been good – look at your dear old mum and dad, they're the worst of them all."

"Well, that's actually amusing, to be honest," said Teddie. "My mum and dad are muggles. Faye's parents are a totally different story."

"You are Faye!" Ron argued.

"Maybe in body," Teddie agreed, nodding.

Ron opened his mouth to argue but Hermione cut him off and turned to Harry. "I saw you outside the Charm's office yesterday with Professor Flitwick," she said. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. Everything is great," said Teddie. "I was talking to him about future careers in Charms – it's strange, because I have never considered my life as an adult, but I love Charms – and he suggested that I apply to his assistant, so I can help students that are struggling in his lessons, and help him grade papers and everything."

"That's great!" Hermione beamed. "You'd be great at it. I was looking at the TA positions. Considering applying for an Ancient Runes one."

"Theo's up for that one," said Teddie.

Hermione's smile faltered slightly, before she shook herself. "You know what? Theo does seem to really enjoy Ancient Runes," she said.

"You have no idea," said Teddie. "You know he talked me into taking Ancient Runes, I was terrified during our first lesson that I almost threw up."

"Why did he talk you into something you didn't want to do?" Harry asked.

"Because he didn't want to take the class alone," said Teddie. "I don't mind, it's actually quite fun."

Hermione grinned. "Anyway," she said, shuffling her homework again. "We were talking about something when you wandered over."

"Figured," said Teddie. "How does it comply with you being a nutter, Harry?" she asked the raven-haired boy.

Harry looked to Hermione for an explanation.

"We've decided – oh, all right – I've been thinking that maybe, since Umbridge won't teach us any defensive magic, that maybe Harry could instead," said Hermione, fidgeting with her notes. "I mean, it's hardly fair that we be penalised by the Ministry because they're too afraid to accept the truth."

Teddie listened intently as Hermione rambled. Her gaze flickered between the trio and her brow furrowed as she tried to understand completely what Hermione was saying.

"You think it's a bad idea?" Harry asked.

"No, of course not," said Teddie, shaking her head. "I think…" she paused, thinking hard. "I think it's a great idea, actually."

"But…?" said Ron.

"But…" Teddie sighed. "I've heard from Mo Flint, he warned me about the Educational Decree that made Umbridge the High Inquisitor."

Ron narrowed his eyes. "How did he know?" he asked.

"He works for the Ministry," said Teddie.

Hermione, Ron, Harry shared a look.

"What?" Teddie asked. She didn't like the look on their faces.

Hermione shook her head. "Nothing, it's just, concerning that you're getting information from inside the Ministry itself," she said.

"How is that concerning?" Teddie asked. "I have someone there that cares about me. Someone who knows that something bad could happen to me, someone who's willing to put their job on the line to make sure I am safe. Just like you, Harry. I mean, you had an armed guard two years ago, didn't you?"

"How did you know about that?" Ron asked, accusingly.

Teddie glanced his way. "I overheard Mo discussing it when he was writing his annual report," she said. "He and Cerberus were talking about – actually, that doesn't matter."

"No, go on," said Ron.

"It's none of your business, Weasley," Teddie snapped. "Besides, it doesn't relate to what is happening now. I won't give you something to gossip about."

Ron's ears tinged pink.

"Tell me more about this 'Harry teaching us' strategy," said Teddie, turning back to Hermione. "Aren't you worried that we'll all get caught?"

Hermione shook her head and leaned forward, dropping her voice a dialect. "This is why I've decided we should discuss it off school grounds," she said. "The first Hogsmeade trip is next week. We could meet somewhere in the village and talk more. What do you think?"

"Well, it's my brother's first visit to the village," said Teddie. "We already have a list of things that we want to do. What time were you planning on this meeting, and do you have a location where to meet?"

"I was talking with Professor Flitwick and he said that the Hogshead is a pub of the beaten path," said Hermione.

Teddie nodded. "Time?" she asked.

"I was thinking about 12?"

Teddie looked thoughtful. Normally they had to be back at the castle in time for dinner whenever there was a Hogsmeade trip, and dinner usually wasn't until 5pm.

"I thought, maybe, depending on how many turn up, that it would last roughly 30 minutes to an hour," said Hermione.

Teddie nodded slowly. Even if they did go over, it left plenty of time to explore Hogsmeade with Mason and Astoria. "Okay," she said, getting up. "We'll be there."

"We?" Ron echoed. "Who's we?"

"Me and my friends, of course."

"No one said anything about your friends being allowed," said Ron. "I still don't like the idea of you being there."

Teddie rolled her eyes. "It's either me and my friends, or none of us all," she said. "And not that I ever would say anything, but do you really trust me to know about this illegality and keep my mouth shut?"

Ron glared at her.

"Definitely bring your friends," said Hermione. "The more the merrier, and besides, we all deserve to learn from a competent teacher."

Teddie nodded and disappeared behind the shelves.

~X~

The morning of the Hogsmeade trip dawned bright but windy. After breakfast, Teddie and Daphne met Mason and Astoria in the Entrance Hall and queued up behind Theo and Blaise waiting for Filch to mark of their names on a long list of students leaving the grounds.

"What time did you say you were meeting the Gryffindor's?" Mason asked, looping his arm through his sisters as they passed by Filch.

"Twelve," said Teddie. "I figure we could kill time until then, go hear what they have to say, and then finish up wherever we left off?"

Mason nodded and looked to Astoria.

"Sounds great to me," Astoria grinned, pulling the collar of her jacket up to protect her neck. "Maybe we could start off somewhere warm?"

"Three broomsticks?" Daphne suggested. "We normally do Honey dukes last, so why mess with tradition?"

Blaise nodded. "I could go for a butterbeer, definitely," he agreed. "Especially if we're going to be spending time in the Hogshead. Do you have any idea what that place is like, Teddie? No respectable wizard would be caught dead in there."

"It was the only place Hermione could think of that wouldn't draw attention to us," said Teddie. "Besides, respectable witches and wizards wouldn't be meeting about a secret Defense class now, would they?"

Blaise shrugged but nodded too.

"After the Three Broomsticks," said Mason. "Can we check out the bookshop? I want to see if they have any new reading material in."

Teddie nodded. "Sure. Today is all about you and Astoria," she said. "You two set the agenda, and we'll follow through as best we can."

Mason and Astoria grinned at one another.

~X~

Three quarters of an hour later, the four Slytherin's and two Ravenclaws, were leaving Flourish and Blots.

"I swear, you complain one more time," said Daphne, pointing at Teddie. "If I hadn't have wanted to buy them, then I wouldn't have."

"But – "

"'You don't take charity'," said Blaise, in a bad impersonation of Teddie. "Yeah, we know, but we are your friends, and we want you and Mason to have a great life. A few books aren't going to break the bank."

Mason hugged Daphne firmly around the middle. "Even though you didn't have to, I thank you," he said.

Daphne ruffled his hair. "All you have to do is ask, Mason," she said. "Ask and you shall receive."

Teddie shook her head and checked her watch. "Should we head to the Hogs Head?" she asked. "It's 11:50."

The others nodded and headed off down the High Street. They passed Zonko's Joke shop and saw Fred and George Weasley, along with their friend Lee Jordan pressing their noses against the glass.

"If it gets any colder your faces will freeze there," Teddie called.

The three older Gryffindor's gave a start and spun around.

"Oh, it's you, Snake," said Fred. He, George and Lee had taken to calling Teddie 'snake' after learning she had three pet snakes, plus, they had witnessed first-hand how cunning she could be. Last years' snowball fight was all the proof they really needed.

"You heading to the Hogs Head by chance?" George asked.

Teddie nodded.

"Great. We are, too," said Lee. "We got distracted."

"I can tell," Teddie laughed. "Anything interesting in there?"

Fred shrugged. "Guess we'll find out later," he said, peeling himself away from the window and falling into step with the youngsters.

"How you been, Snake?" Lee asked. "Saw the Daily Prophet over the summer. Didn't believe it for a second."

Teddie looked down. "Sorry, Lee, but it's the truth," she said.

"Wait, really?" Lee asked, stunned. "You're really You-Know-Who's daughter? But you're so nice. What happened?"

Teddie laughed and shrugged. "Guess I was raised better," she said. "My parents, my true parents, are Muggles, they raised me to love everyone, if I can, and if I can't, then love them anyway."

"Granted she doesn't always live by that rule," Mason muttered.

The group, even Teddie, laughed.

"Well, regardless of the truth, Snake, I still think you're pretty cool," said Lee. "No hate from me."

"Same," said Fred and George

"Anyone who believes that you'd turn on us just because you learned the truth, obviously don't know you," said Fred.

"But then, they may play you in a snowball fight and realise – "George broke off as Teddie pushed him down an alleyway. He laughed and jogged to catch up as they carried on without him.

Soon, they reached the pathway leading to the Hogs Head. It was a small, run-down pub behind a rickety, bracket gate, and a sign hanging above its door with the image of a severed boar's head leaking blood onto a white cloth.

"Nice place," said Blaise, sniffing.

"Normally I would tease you about your pureblood shining through," said Teddie, taking Mason's hand. "But I agree."

Fred and George pushed through the gate and led the way down the path. They reached the battered wooden door, its paint peeling in stages.

"Couldn't we have done this somewhere that doesn't look like it belongs in a murder novel?" Mason asked.

Teddie shook her head. "Umbridge has eyes everywhere," she said. "We don't need people going back to her and telling her what we're planning."

"What if we do get caught?" Daphne asked. "I think my father will flip if he finds out about this."

"What will he say about you not knowing how to protect yourself?" Teddie asked.

Daphne sighed.

Teddie looked around at her friends. "You don't have to do this if you don't want too," she said. "But I think it's a great idea, and Harry needs this, if I am honest."

"Why should we care about what Potter wants?" Blaise asked. "Since when does he care about what we need?"

"He agreed for you to be here," said Teddie. "Obviously, he cares enough for you to learn something, even if it's not Ministry approved."

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Ministry approved lessons are shit," he said. "So, what do we really have to lose?"

Teddie shrugged. She looked to Theo. "What about you?" she asked.

"I'm with you," said Theo.

"Me too," said Mason, squeezing Teddie's hand.

Astoria stepped closer to Mason and looked at her sister. "Umbridge isn't teaching anyone," she said. "It's not fair to anyone, especially first years."

Daphne sighed. "Alright," she caved. "I'll hear what he has to say."

Teddie nodded and followed Fred, George and Lee into the pub.