"Did you hear?" Daphne asked, sliding into her seat opposite Teddie. It had been a few weeks since the trial tests for Apparition, and now those who wanted to take the actual test, and were old enough to take it, were prepping for their fifteen minutes of fame that afternoon.

Daphne had opted out of taking the final trial test had not signed up for the actual test but was looking forward to spending the day in Potions.

Theo, Blaise, and Mason had agreed to go through with the final test. On their last trial, both Blaise and Theo had managed to succeed in Apparating on cue and landing at their desired destination.

But, while Teddie had succeeded in moving when in Hogsmeade a few weeks prior, she had opted out of the final exam. She didn't like Side-Along Apparition, much less doing it herself.

"Hear what?" Teddie asked.

"The Montgomery sisters were pulled out of school last night. Their little brother was attacked by a werewolf."

"I heard about that," said Blaise. "Didn't their mother refuse to help the Death Eaters?"

Daphne nodded.

Teddie's hand tightened around her knife and fork. "Please tell me he's, okay?" she asked, sounding hopeful. She had scars of her own from a werewolf, but she had been lucky they hadn't got deep, the only thing that remained now were faint lines that could only really be seen in the light.

"Sadly no," said Daphne, shaking her head. "He was only five. St. Mungos couldn't do anything to help him."

"What was the werewolf's name?" Theo asked, watching Teddie carefully from the corner of his eye. Her grip on her breakfast utensils was getting stronger, and he would not have been surprised if the metal would bend beneath it.

"There is a rumour that it was Greyback," said Daphne. "But the parents refuse to confirm it."

"Wouldn't be surprised if it was," said Teddie. "He attacked Lupin, and he's known for attacking others, too. Bite them young and then raise them the way he believes they should be raised, is what he believes. He should watch his back; someone may decide to put him down one day."

"And by someone, you mean you?" Blaise asked, wearily.

Teddie shrugged. "Why not? Do everyone a favour, wouldn't it?" she asked.

"You're starting to sound like them," said Daphne. "That's only something they would consider. If you get the memory from Slughorn, then maybe we can take them down the right way."

Teddie took a deep breath. "This is a war, Daph," she said, shaking her head. "We're not going to get through it without killing some people."

"Some wars take prisoners," said Theo.

"And some don't," said Teddie.

"Let's just get there first, alright," said Blaise. "Then we can worry about whether or not we're able to kill anyone. Battle lines are still being drawn, and both sides are still recruiting."

Teddie glanced across the Hall and found Mason laughing with Astoria at the Ravenclaw table. "There shouldn't be any sides," she said. "People shouldn't be killing others because they can't get their own way!"

"We know, Ted, but it is happening," said Blaise. "We can't stick our heads in the sands and ignore it. It's happening, and we're going to be forced to choose a side sooner rather than later. We just must make sure we're all on the same one. Agreed?"

The others nodded.

Teddie tore her gaze away from Mason. "You're right, Blaise," she agreed. "But I've already told Marcus this, and I'll tell you now, when it comes down to it, there's no choice for me. If I get the chance to kill Avery or Voldemort, I'm taking it."

"We figured that out," said Blaise.

Theo and Daphne nodded.

"After what they did to your parents, we knew you'd be looking for revenge," said Daphne. "And, as much as we would rather you not become like them, we knew that you'd see no other way."

Teddie sighed and looked down at her breakfast. "It's not just for what they did to my parents," she said. "It's for what they did to me, too, and I don't just mean the summer before fifth year."

Daphne furrowed her brow.

"What do you mean, Ted?" Theo asked, reaching for her hand. He linked their fingers and squeezed.

Teddie took a deep breath. She had put this off for so long in fear of how they would react. Marlene knew, so did Snape and Mo. She was sure that Dumbledore knew, Snape would've told him, surely, but he hadn't acknowledged it with her or even asked her about it. He was waiting for her to reveal it to him.

But how would her friends react? Would they be angry with her? Marlene had been, and she had every right to be. Would they understand why she hadn't said anything? Maybe they would, but that still didn't mean they couldn't be angry with her, nonetheless.

"Ted?" Blaise asked.

Teddie sighed. "They -" she hesitated, her left arm tensing. Just say it, she told herself. Just say it and let them decide whether they want to continue to stand with you or not. Let them decide for themselves. "I want revenge for what they did to me…"

"The torture?" Daphne asked. "Yeah, I would want revenge, too."

Teddie shook her head. "The torture was one thing," she said. "That ended the minute Professor Snape rescued me. The continued torture is something I'll never get over, and it was something I didn't even sign up for."

"You didn't sign up for any torture," said Blaise, thoroughly confused. "No one did."

Unhooking her hand from Theo's, Teddie undid the button on her robes sleeve and pulled it back. She did the same to her school shirt and rolled it up to her elbow, showing her skin to her friends. "Not everyone agrees to this either," she said, tapping her forearm with her wand, and muttering a spell.

Theo, Blaise, and Daphne watched as an ugly skull with a protruding snake from its mouth appeared on Teddie's forearm. The gasped they all shared was enough to draw attention from other Slytherin's around them.

"What?" Tracey Davies asked, leaning closer. Her gaze was blocked by Theo's hand clamping around Teddie's arm.

"Nothing," said Theo, hastily.

Tracey frowned at the pair of them. "Are you guys taking the test today?" she asked.

"They are," said Teddie, pulling her sleeves back down. She buttoned them at the wrist, twinging slightly as the shirt pulled at her Dark Mark.

"You're not?"

Teddie shook her head. "I can't stomach Side-Along Apparition," she admitted. "Are you taking the test?"

"Yeah. Mum said that it will be nice to see me take her for Side-Along for a change," she laughed. "Is Mason taking the test?"

"He is."

"He'll excel, no problem."

Teddie smiled.

"Are you sure you're, okay?" Tracey asked.

Teddie nodded. "Yeah. I am good. Good luck for today," she said. "I saw you on the last trial run. You did great."

"Thanks."

As Tracey went back to her breakfast, Teddie returned her attention to her friends. They looked neither angry nor disappointed.

"Please say something," Teddie begged.

"Like what?" Daphne asked.

"Anything," said Teddie. "Be angry with me, I kept this from you. You deserve to be angry at me. Tell me you understand why I kept it a secret. Be something."

Daphne sighed and glanced at Blaise.

Theo, meanwhile, wrapped an arm around Teddie and hugged her. He felt her tense and then relax, leaning into his embrace as she nuzzled her head into his neck. "I'm not just saying this because you told us to," he said. "I do, honestly, understand why you didn't say anything."

"But?"

"But… I am upset that you didn't trust me enough to tell me," said Theo. "You're supposed to be my best friend, Ted, I thought we could tell each other anything?"

Teddie nodded, tears pricking her eyes as she reached for Theo beneath the table. She felt his arms tighten around her, effectively pulling her closer to him on the bench.

"Does anyone know?" Blaise asked.

"Mo, Snape, I'm guessing Dumbledore, Marlene and now you."

"You told Marlene before you told us?" Daphne asked.

"She figured it out," said Teddie. "Apparently there are rumours going around. She reacted angrily, too."

"She told you to tell us, didn't she?"

Teddie nodded. "Professor Snape said that people have had bad experiences when it comes to the Dark Mark, so he advised me to keep it a secret, even from you," she said.

Daphne, Blaise, and Theo sighed, the latter pressing a slight kiss to Teddie's forehead as she continued to nuzzle his neck.

"I'm sorry," Teddie whispered. She pulled away slightly, not a lot where Theo released her, but just enough so that she could see each of her friends clearly. "I wanted to tell you. But… I was scared. I thought…"

"We'd hate you?" Blaise asked.

Teddie shrugged.

"Ted, we're your friends," said Blaise. "It's going to take more than a stupid brand on your arm to make us hate you. We've been with you through thick and thin, this," he nodded at her arm, "doesn't change anything. We still love, trust, and care about you, and we're with you to the end."

Daphne and Theo nodded.

Through her tears, Teddie beamed.

The bell rang overhead and both Theo and Blaise jumped to their feet, looking terrified. Teddie and Daphne rose with them, tugging their backpacks over their shoulders and heading out into the Entrance Hall.

Mason and Astoria found them in the crowd. Mason looked excited, but a green tinge punctured his cheeks as he lined up behind the other students taking the Apparition test.

"You're going to do great," said Teddie, hugging him. "I love you."

"I love you, too," said Mason.

Teddie pressed a kiss to his forehead, and then moved on to hug Blaise and Theo.

The trio followed the rest of the testers out into the clear skies of the Hogwarts grounds and disappeared towards the carriages that would take them into Hogsmeade.

"See you at lunch," said Astoria, hugging her sister and then Teddie. With one final wave, she hurried off up the marble staircase and disappeared down the first floor.

Daphne turned to Teddie. "I wonder what we're doing in Potions?" she asked.

Teddie shrugged. "I don't think there will be many of us there," she said. "Although, I do think we should take the lesson off, seeing as we don't actually need to be there in the first place."

"We aren't skipping," said Daphne, linking her arm with Teddie's and dragging her down into the dungeons. "This could be your one shot to get the memory from Slughorn. Embrace it."

Teddie rolled her eyes. "Your way to chipper for nine in the morning," she grumbled.

~X~

There were three others in Potions.

Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, and Ernie MacMillan.

Professor Slughorn seemed surprised when Daphne and Teddie walked through the door and took their seats behind Malfoy. "I would've thought you pair would be on your Hogsmeade right now," he said.

"Didn't feel like Apparition, Professor," said Daphne.

Teddie nodded. "Side-Along is bad enough," she said. "Mason is taking the test though."

"I'm not surprised," said Slughorn, chuckling. "That boy is an inspiration. You should be immensely proud of him, Miss Green."

"Oh, I am," said Teddie.

"Well then," said Slughorn cheerily, "as we're so few, we'll do something fun. I want you all to brew me up something amusing!"

"That sounds good, sir," said Ernie sycophantically, rubbing his hands together.

Malfoy, on the other hand, did not crack a smile.

Teddie frowned at the blond-haired Slytherin and shared a look with Daphne. Was it her imagination, or did Malfoy look a lot thinner than normal? She had noticed he had disappeared from the Slytherin table during Breakfast, Lunch, and even Dinner, but always seemed to be huddled up in a corner of the Slytherin common room, head bent over the table and scribbling on a spare piece of parchment.

"What do you mean, 'something amusing'?" Malfoy asked, irritably.

"Oh, surprise me," said Slughorn.

Daphne met Teddie's gaze with a raised eyebrow, she then shrugged and opened her copy of Advanced Potion-Making.

"Don't worry about Malfoy," said Daphne from the corner of her lips.

"I can't," said Teddie. "He looks like Death."

"Since when do you care?"

Teddie shrugged.

"He wouldn't care about you."

"I know," said Teddie. But what if Harry was right? What if Malfoy had been given a task by Voldemort and the outward appearance, he now sported was due to it going badly. Did that mean that Malfoy was at death's door? Not just from stress, but from threats from Voldemort and, quite possibly, Avery?

Daphne nudged Teddie. "Worry about him later," she said, nudging Teddie's copy of Advanced Potion-Making towards her. "Make something. Quick."

Teddie sighed and opened her book to the contents page. She quickly scanned it and, deciding on a simple Strengthening Potion, set to work.

"I'm going to try and get Slughorn alone at the end of the lesson," said Harry, catching up to Teddie on her trip to the supply closet. "Hermione reckons I should use this time to get the memory."

"What makes her think now will be any easier than the other times?" Teddie asked, taking a handful of ingredients down from the third shelf.

"She doesn't expect me to get it right this second," said Harry. "She wants me to soften him up, if possible, and then get lucky later."

Teddie furrowed her brow.

"Remember our first lesson? When I won that Felix Felicis?"

Teddie nodded… then her eyes widened. "Oh! Get Lucky!" she whispered. "Wait, you're telling me you had that Potion all this time and you didn't think about using it?"

"I was saving it for something…"

"Something… what?" Teddie asked. "More important that stopping Voldemort?"

Harry sighed. "I never said what I was saving it for was more important than what we're doing," he said. "But…" he trailed off, shaking his head. "Never mind. Hey," he added, stopping her from leaving, "did you hear about Hagrid?"

"No," said Teddie, shaking her head. "What happened? He was okay during our last lesson."

"Hagrid is fine," said Harry, reassuringly. "Aragog, not so much."

"Aragog?"

"Hagrid's pet spider."

Teddie frowned. "Harry, I'm not getting what you're trying to say," she said.

"Fifty years ago, when the Chamber was first opened," said Harry, "Riddle blamed Hagrid. It's why he got expelled from school. Anyway, Hagrid had a giant spider, an Acromantula, and Riddle wanted to use that as an excuse for the creature in the Chamber."

"Right. What about the Acromantula?"

"It died this past weekend," said Hagrid.

Teddie gasped. "That would explain why Hagrid was so heartbroken last week," she said. "He ended the class early, and everything. I wanted to ask what was wrong, but he locked himself away in his Hut and wouldn't answer the door."

Harry nodded, although he didn't seem very sympathetic. "Hagrid wanted Hermione, Ron, and I to go down tonight and help him bury the body," he said.

"Are you?"

"No."

"Why?" Teddie asked. "I thought Hagrid was your friend?"

"He is, but Hermione seems to think that it is a pointless reason to get caught."

Teddie rolled her eyes. "Who says you have to get caught?" she asked. "You have the Invisibility Cloak, don't you?"

"Ron doesn't want to go, anyway."

"I'll go with you," said Teddie. "Hagrid may not have invited me, but he shouldn't be alone for something like this."

Harry stared, surprised.

"Thirty minutes left!" Slughorn called from the Potions classroom. "Where are Mr Potter and Miss Green?"

Teddie opened the door to the supply closet and hurried into the room. "Sorry, Professor, couldn't find what I was looking for," she said. "Thanks for helping me, Harry."

Harry nodded and headed back to his seat. Teddie slid into her seat beside Daphne and placed her things on the table.

"Why were you gone so long?" Daphne asked.

"I'll tell you later," Teddie replied.

"Well, now, this looks absolutely wonderful," said Slughorn when the class had ended. He clapped his hands together and stared down into Harry's cauldron, the contents of which shone a sunshine yellow. "Euphoria, I take it?"

Daphne rolled her eyes and packed away her belongings. She had decided to try a Amortentia, and while Slughorn had deemed it passable, she had been disappointed to the point where she just waved her wand and caused the whole lot to disappear the second, he had turned his back.

Teddie frowned at her. "What? He wasn't grading us on this," she said. "It was just something to pass the time. If I had thought about it, I could've used it to finish grading the papers Flitwick had given me last week."

"I'm already failing Potions," said Daphne. "This could've been my time to get extra credit."

Teddie rubbed Daphne's arm soothingly.

The bell rang and both Ernie and Malfoy left at once.

Daphne lingered in the edge of the table as Teddie packed up her things.

"Sir," Harry started, drawing the duo's attention.

Glancing over his shoulder, Slughorn furrowed his brow at the trio. "Hurry now, you three, don't want to be late for your next lesson," he said, packing up the last of his supplies.

"We have a free period," said Teddie.

"Oh."

"Sir, don't you want to taste my potion?" Harry asked.

"Sorry, Harry, but I'm in a rush this morning," said Slughorn. "I, too, have a free period, but tons of work to get through. Bye."

Slughorn left without looking back.

Daphne frowned. "What was that about?" she asked, watching as Harry cleared his cauldron with a flick of his wand.

"We're trying to get the Memory," said Teddie. "He must've thought we wouldn't try anything with you in the room. Maybe he thinks we haven't told our friends."

"Did you really think he would fall for it?" Daphne asked. "He's not stupid."

Teddie shrugged her backpack onto her shoulders and faced Harry. "Sorry for cutting our conversation short earlier," she said. "But, like I said, if you want company to go see Hagrid tonight, I'll go with you. I'll let Cruise know."

"Why are you going to see Hagrid?" Daphne asked.

"A friend of his died this past weekend," said Teddie. "He wants to bury him, and Hermione and Ron won't go."

"That sucks," said Daphne. "Why won't they go?"

"Hermione thinks it is a pointless reason, and Ron's scared."

Daphne frowned. "Wait a sec, are we talking human friend or animal?" she asked.

"Acromantula."

Daphne shuddered. "I don't think Cruise will be pleased with you going, to be fair," she said. "He's trying to keep you safe. Going down to Hagrid's is hardly keeping you safe."

"I'll be safe if he is with me," said Teddie.

"You can ask, but I can't see him agreeing," said Daphne. "Shall we go? We can hit the library while we wait for the others."

Teddie nodded and turned to Harry. "Walk with us to the seventh floor?" she asked.

Harry nodded and the trio left the Potions classroom.

~X~

"Teddie, I passed!" Mason cried as he rushed through the Great Hall later that afternoon, flourishing a certificate with his name, the date, and the grade for his Apparition on it. He thrust the parchment at Teddie, allowing her to read it fully.

"Well done!" Teddie said, pulling him into a hug. She looked to Blaise and Theo. "How about you, two?"

Blaise shrugged. "Barely passed," he said. "I almost splinched. Absolutely terrifying experience if you ask me. I broke my concentration for it and had to refocus, thankfully I did it without being seen or I would've failed."

"What about you, Theo?" Teddie asked.

Theo smiled. "Passed," he said. "Took me a while to clear my head, but it seemed a lot easier today that it did during training."

"Weird how that happens, huh?" asked Daphne.

"What about you, two?" Blaise asked. "What did you get up to?"

"Slughorn pretty much gave us the morning off," said Daphne. "We got to make our own Potions - I passed. Teddie failed, but only because she got caught up chatting with Potter in the supply cupboard."

Teddie rolled her eyes. "It was for a worthy cause!" she protested.

"A cause that Cruise thinks is worthless."

"He would though, wouldn't he?" asked Teddie. "I'm asking him to break the rules for me."

"What rules?" Mason asked.

Teddie sighed and explained the situation again.

"I agree with Cruise," said Blaise. "Seems an unworthy cause to get caught for."

"But Hagrid is heartbroken," said Teddie. "You saw him last week."

Blaise sighed. "There is a war coming, Ted, we should be taking precautions to stay safe," he argued. "Especially you."

Teddie rolled her eyes.

"Not even you can argue with that," said Daphne.

"I'm not," said Teddie. "But -"

"You're going anyway?" Theo asked.

Teddie sighed. "Yes, I'm going anyway," she said. "I thought that was a given by now?"

"What are you going to say if you get caught?"

"I'll be with Hagrid," said Teddie. "He's a teacher. I'm not technically out of bounds if I have a Professor with me, am I?"

"That's not exactly a loophole."

Teddie shrugged. "Maybe not a good one, but it technically is a loophole," she said. "Look. Harry wants to go, and I promised him that I would go, too. I'm not backing out now, besides, I have a feeling that I need to be there. You know?"

The others shared a look.

"Just promise us you'll be careful," said Blaise.

"I will."