The weeks passed quickly since their first D.A. meeting. Everyone waited the whole week with an air of excitement, and almost barged through the doors of the Room of Requirements at the same time the following week.
"We need to work out a system," said Teddie to Harry. "You know, so people don't get caught. If we all start turning up all at once, or caught on the seventh floor, Umbridge is going to suspect we're up to something."
"She already suspects we're up to something," said Fred, wandering over with George. "She's sniffing around the Gryffindor tower like a bloodhound… what?" he asked, as Teddie cocked her head, eyeing him curiously.
"Was that a Sherlock Holmes reference?" Teddie asked.
"Who?" George asked.
Teddie shook her head with a smile. George's response was all she needed. "Never mind," she said.
"We could do a buddy system?" Harry suggested. "Groups of three or four?"
"We should vote on it," said Teddie, looking around at the rest of the group. "Like you said last week, we're all in this together, after all."
Harry nodded.
After the vote, which saw the majority of the group agreeing to the buddy system, Hermione stepped forward with a large wicker basket.
Mason furrowed his brow. "Are we having a picnic?" he asked.
Teddie chuckled and hugged her brother to her.
Hermione smiled and shook her head. "No, sorry, Mason," she said. "But I do have something for you all." She removed the cloth on the basket and presented the room with gold coins, no bigger than a Galleon.
Ron's eyes widened as he snatched one up. "You're giving us gold?" he asked.
"It's not real gold," said Hermione. "I had an idea on how we could communicate the date and times of these meetings to one another, without drawing the suspicion of Umbridge."
Teddie rolled the coin between her fingers. It looked like a real galleon.
"Hey, wait a second," said Mason, peering closer at his coin. He run his fingers over the ridge edges and then looked up at Hermione. "There's no serial number on here."
Hermione shook her head. "You see the numerals around the edge?" she asked, pointing at the ridge of her own coins. "On real Galleons, as Mason pointed out, they are just a serial number. On these fake coins, though, the numbers will change to reflect the time and date of the next meeting. The coins will grow hot when the date changes, so if you're carrying them on your person, you'll feel it."
"I'm guessing Harry has the master coin?" Mason asked.
"Yeah," said Hermione. "When he changes the date and time on his coin, it will automatically change on everyone else's."
Mason cocked his head to the side. "You used a Protean charm on them, then," he said.
Hermione nodded.
A blank silence greeted Hermione's admission.
"Well, I thought it was a good idea," said Hermione, looking around at all the people staring at her. "I mean, if Umbridge asks us to turn out our pockets, it's hardly suspicious if we're carrying gold coins, is it?"
"You can do a Protean charm?" Astoria asked.
"Yes," said Hermione.
"But that's… that's N.E.W.T. standard," said Astoria, her eyes wide.
"Oh," said Hermione, her cheeks tinging pink.
Terry Boot looked from Astoria to Hermione. "How come you aren't in Ravenclaw?" he asked.
"The Sorting Hat did consider me for Ravenclaw," said Hermione. "But it chose Gryffindor in the end."
"The Sorting Hat chooses the house that has the traits we value above all others," said Blaise. "You value bravery and courage above wisdom and knowledge, Granger, that's why it chose Gryffindor."
Hermione smiled faintly. "So," she said. "Are we all in agreement to use the coins?"
There was a murmur of assent.
At the end of the lesson, while Harry was checking the coast was clear and herding the others away from the Room of Requirements and back to their respective common rooms, Teddie turned to Hermione.
"Those Galleons remind of the Dark mark," said Teddie, consciously folding her arms and pressing her right hand against her left arm. She knew that no one could see the Dark Mark that lay there, not while it was covered my several charms and spells, and her school robes, but she was still protective of people finding out about it. They already didn't trust her, they'd turn even more on her if they knew she carried Voldemort's mark, too,
"It is where I got the idea, if I am honest," said Hermione, admittedly. "I just figured, why not use their methods for something good, you know?"
Teddie smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I know," she agreed.
~X~
Teddie yawned and tiredly rubbed her eyes. The words on her parchment were starting to blur together, but she was so behind with Ancient Runes and Astronomy that she needed to finish them before the next day. Theo and Hermione had offered to cover for her in Ancient Runes, but she had told them no, having the desire to not feel like a burden.
"Are you still having nightmares?" Marlene asked.
"Some nights," said Teddie, nodding. "It's always the same one."
"Where you were tortured?"
Again, Teddie nodded.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Teddie shrugged. She didn't care either way, it wasn't like her friends could do anything. The damage had already been done, and Avery had left her mark on Teddie, regardless.
"Why don't you see if Professor Snape or Madam Pomfrey can subscribe you a Dreamless Sleep potion?" Judy asked.
"I did ask Professor Snape," said Teddie, blinking rapidly. "He said the dreams are a cause of trauma, and a Dreamless Sleep potion won't stop them. I just have to face my PTSD and it'll go away."
"Confrontation," Marlene murmured. "That's not a good idea, though."
Teddie nodded in agreement. "I know, but it's the only way," she said. "I'm just not ready yet. So, I suffer."
"How many hours did you get last night?" Judy asked.
"Four, I think," said Teddie. "I finished my Defense essay off in the end, and I was awake when I heard the others in my dorm rise for breakfast. Bulstrode and Parkinson are awake at 6am, every morning."
"Well, they are princess'," said Marlene. "That doesn't surprise me."
Judy and Teddie snorted.
"Yeah, Susan and Clara are the same in our dorms," said Judy.
"How is Susan?" Teddie asked. Susan hadn't spoken to her since the article in the Evening Prophet confirming her true identity. Apparently, her grandparents had made her swear that she would stay away from Teddie, and when Teddie learned why, she couldn't blame her.
Apparently, Voldemort had killed Susan's father during the first Wizarding War, and simply because he supported Muggle Rights.
Judy shrugged. "She asks about you all the time," she said.
"Her grandparents are moving her to Beauxbatons," Marlene blurted out.
Teddie stared at her friend, her mouth open in shock.
"I'm sorry," said Marlene, shaking her head. "I couldn't keep it in anymore. She didn't want us to tell you, but you deserved to know. A lot of parents are moving their children from Hogwarts."
"Because of me?" Teddie asked.
"Because of you and Potter," said Marlene. "They also suspect Dumbledore has been hoodwinked by you both, too."
Judy snorted. "Yeah, because two fifteen-year-old's are powerful enough to hoodwink the greatest sorcerer of all time. Get real. Teddie may be a Dark Lady one day, but she's a cinnamon bun that wouldn't hurt a fly."
"It depends on if that fly has hurt those I care about," said Teddie.
"You get my point," Judy said, rolling her eyes.
Teddie smiled. "But I also understand why parents want to remove their children from Hogwarts," she added, looking to Marlene. "They're scared, and I don't blame them in the slightest. Voldemort and Avery did some pretty bad things thirteen years ago, and everyone is under the assumption that badness only breeds badness."
"Yeah, but anyone who spends five minutes with you can tell you're not bad," said Judy. "Sure, you can be protective and sure, you're not afraid to speak up for yourself or those you deem are being bullied; but that's what makes you, well, you. You're not a pushover. But that doesn't make you evil."
"But then, people aren't afraid of me," said Teddie. "They're afraid of my alter ego. They're afraid of Faye. Yes, I may identify myself as Teddie Green but that's not who I was born." She shook her head. "I was born Faye Sutherland, and that's what people are afraid of."
Judy shrugged. "It's like my dad always used to say," she said, dipping her quill into her ink well. "It's not what someone is born, but who they grow to be. You were born Faye, yes, but you weren't raised as her. You were raised to be a kind-hearted, compassionate, stand on your-own-two-feet Muggleborn Witch that's not afraid to speak her mind."
Again, Teddie smiled. "Didn't realise you thought so highly of me, Judy," she said.
"Don't let it go to your head," Judy teased. "But I meant what I said, and, regardless of what others say and think, I stand by you."
"Me too," said Marlene.
Teddie lay her head against Marlene's shoulder and smiled as the older girl squeezed her in a side hug.