Ted Remus Lupin was turning eleven today. He rubbed his eyes groggily as he shook his head that resembled a dark, murky blue mop.

"Wake up, Teddy! If you don't get up unlock the door I'll blast it open and make sure that skrewts---"

"I'm up!" he bellowed, hastening to open the door.

Mrs. Tonks, a woman with sharp eye sand face, glared at him. "What were you doing in there?"

"Sleeping." Ted said, stifling a yawn. "It's what normal people do."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." he smiled to himself.

"Don't be smart with me, boy! Now, clean up and go to the kitchen for breakfast."

He went to the bathroom besides his room, quickly rinsing his face and his hands. As he entered his room again, he changed his clothes.

When he came out, he saw that there were many people crowded around the sitting room.

"Harry!" he called, as he spotted his godfather, running to hug him.

"Hello, Ted." Harry said, "Happy Birthday."

"Thanks!" he whirled around and saw Ron and Hermione holding hands, as well as Ginny smiling in a corner. He was allowed to call them by their first names; they told him they didn't mind, despite his grandmother's fervent reprimands.

"Oy, I reckon you're going to Hogwarts this year?" George yelled, grinning widely.

"He is!" Mrs. Tonks said proudly. "It's the best school for him."

"Your parents went there," Hermione said, "And your father was an excellent Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Your mum was an amazing Auror too. I'm sure you'll do well. You'll have to be just like them!"

"No pressure, though." Ron said, smiling.

"Ron! I didn't mean it like that! I was implying that he's meant to be a wonderful student, considering who his parents were."

"Remember Neville in school?" George added.

"He's a perfectly good professor now! And was extremely brave!" Hermione said heatedly.

"Don't get agitated, dear." Mrs. Weasley said.

Mr. Weasley nodded, "Let's get back to wishing Ted a 'happy birthday', shall we?"

When it came to opening the gifts, Ted grimaced as he opened George and Angelina's gift. It was a handheld mirror.

"Er, thanks." he said.

Angelina rolled her eyes, "It's a product of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. I honestly don't know exactly what it does. Though I'd prefer if George tells you before you figure it out the hard way."

"Go on then, Teddy, look in the mirror." George said.

Hesitantly, he gazed into it. It began to make soft sighing noises, sounding like a girl. "Oh, you look handsome. Look at that rugged nose, angular cheekbones, and ah, flawless, curved lips, so irresistibly snoggable. Your eyes are just the right shade of brown, light and with such depth---"

Ted flipped it to face the ground, feeling his cheeks grow warm.

"See? It's supposed to compliment you. It's perfect for getting in the mood for all the ladies at Hogwarts." George winked.

Victoire Weasley, who was ten years old with dark red hair, giggled.

Everyone laughed as Ted placed it down, to pick up the next present.

In the end, he had received the mirror, a basket of Chocolate Frogs and Bernie Bott's Every Flavour Beans (from Ron), a set of quills (from Hermione), a Flamethor (the current best, professional broomstick; it has dark wood with features that include a tolerance of high altitudes, immediate response to flyer's handling of direction, and swift as light. It was from Harry and Ginny), a Remembrall (from Victoire), and a game of Gobstones (from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley).

Ted was very pleased and full by the time all of the guests had left.

"You must send them thank-you letters, Teddy. Do them with the quills Hermione gave you." Mrs. Tonks called into his room.

It was dark. Ted opened the box of quills, using the first one he saw and a pot of ink, dipping it in. He began to write on the scrolls on his desk. After half an hour, he had scrawled a thanking of every gift, to please his grandmother.

A tapping sound rattled at his window. Ted's heart rushed; it was an owl. He ran to the window, opening it. A tawny, brown owl fluttered in gratefully, dropping an envelope on his open hands.

As Ted pulled the parchment out, the owl flew away, and he smiled.

It was his letter for Hogwarts. It read:

………………………………………………………………………………………

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Signum Sonisis

(Order of Merlin, First Class, International Confederation of Wizards, Author of "Living Proof of Success: Me")

Dear Mr. Lupin,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

BORUS B. MCFYD

Borus B. McFyd,

Deputy Headmaster

………………………………………………………………………………………

He glanced at the list of supplies, giddy.

"Gran!" he yelled. His grandmother raced to the room.

"Oh, Teddy! It's your letter, isn't it? Let me see it," she tugged it from his grip and began to read it. "Well, we'll need to buy your books, supplies, and robes. We can go to Diagon Alley tomorrow."

"Can we stop at George and Ron's store?"

"All right," Mrs. Tonks gave in quickly. "I must send letters telling everyone!"

"They know. You told them I'd get in, remember?"

She glared at him stonily. "I'll send them with the thank-you notes." She took the pile of letters on the desk and marched out of the room.

Ted couldn't help but grin.

"Dear, you'll be getting a pet as a present too!" she screamed from another room.

"Thanks, Gran." he said loudly.

Closing the door quickly, he leaped through the window in which the school owl had come from.

He landed on his hands and legs on the backyard, laughing wildly. Escape felt good.

"Finally," he heard a soft, female voice say. "I was wondering whether you'd show up."

"I got my letter." he breathed, looking around for her.

"That's so not fair!" Victoire yelled, emerging from the shadows. Her red hair fluttered against her heart-shaped, pale face.

"How? I'm eleven."

"You know what I mean! Just because of our age they'll accept you! Really!" she continued hollering. "I'm nine, and I bet I could do as much as you if I were allowed in!"

"You know you can't. They have the age barrier to make sure you're mature enough." he looked at her pointedly.

Her eyes narrowed. "I'm mature."

"Look how you're taking this. I think a year will do you good." He strolled over to the fence, jumping over it.

"Shut up, Teddy Bear."

"Don't call me that."

"Then don't rub it in my face."

"Fine."

She followed after him, panting as she too, leapt over the fence bordering the home. He ran ahead of her, past the street lamps until they reached a small, secluded forest. They stumbled to the edge of the lake, well hidden in the thickness of the trees.

"When are you going?" she asked quietly.

"When term starts, I reckon. September first. You'll be able to see me off."

"I'll be so bored." she sighed, hugging her knees. "Stuck with Mum and Dad while you're having the time of your life. Still not fair."

"Well, I'll see you next year."

"Maybe you'll think I'm too sissy for you."

"I'll always be your friend, Victoire. You know that."

"Thanks, Teddy." She laughed. "Teddy Bear. That's the best I've come up with."

He punched her arm playfully. "And you're never going to call me that. Or tell anyone."

She pursed her lips. "I can't promise anything."

"Victoire!" Ted shoved her forward, where she laughed loudly. The two tumbled into the glossy lake.

"Gran's going to murder me." he groaned s he climbed out of the water.

"Mum would get mad, but Dad always sides with me. I pity you, Teddy. Mrs. Tonks would go berserk if she knew you escape every night to play with me."

"I could sneak back…"

"And she would notice if your clothes were all wet."

"I'll change." he shrugged, looking up at the full moon. It reminded him of his father, Remus Lupin.

"I got my thank-you note." Victoire blurted.

"Gran made me."

"I knew that. You're never polite. It was very blunt, anyway: 'Dear Victoire, thank you for the Rembrall. Now I'll remember things. Sincerely, Ted Remus Lupin'" she grinned widely as her tone turned sarcastic. "You're very welcome."

"Oh, shut up. At least I get to go to Hogwarts. I'll be able to know spells and such…make bad stuff happen to you when I go back."

"You're not allowed to use magic outside of school. At least, once you start attending. So there."

"You're so full of yourself."

"Really, Mr. I-Get-To-Go-To-Hogwarts?"

"Victoire, you're a nag!"

"So they tell me." she said sourly.

Ted laid on his back, putting his hands behind his head. "I'll miss this."

"Arguing?"

"I meant this." he waved his hand around them, at the scenery.

"Me too. I'd have to be around grown-ups all day."

"Surely you'll find something to do."

"I doubt it. You're the closest to my age." she frowned, shivering in the cold.

"What about Dominique? Or Louis?"

"You're an only child, Teddy, I wouldn't expect you to understand that playing with my little sister or brother should be against the law!"

"Molly and Lucy?"

"They're Uncle Percy's kids, and they're snobs and can't think of anything but themselves!" she huffed, "Besides, Dom's joined at the hip with Molly. And Louis and Lucy are friends. They have perfect age matches in our cousins. Dom and Molly, nine years old. Louis and Lucy, five. Me? I have no one."

"Hm…maybe Fred."

"He may be my age, but he's full of practical jokes! Just like his dad, Uncle George!"

"And Roxanne…"

"She's a baby! And will probably end up just like her brother, Fred! That's what happens with a dad like that."

"I-I'll write."

"That's so sweet, Teddy! You'd really?"

Ted blushed furiously in the darkness, looking away. "Er, yeah, I suppose."

She wrapped her arms around him. "Thanks so much!"

He mumbled incoherently.

She stood up, glancing over her shoulder. "We should get going."

"You're right." he was glad of the change of subject. He thought of something. "Race you back to my place!"

"You're on, Teddy Bear."

He growled, "I told you, do not---". He didn't get a chance to finish because she had sprinted forward, laughing.

Ted ran after her, feeling slaphappy.

She was there when he finally reached her, crossing her arms across her chest. Both were panting heavily.

"I win again, Teddy Bear."

"You cheated."

"Sore loser!" she crowed into his ear.

He shook his head, turning around and wrapping his fingers around her wrists. "Still a cheat!"

She stopped resisting, smiling. "At Hogwarts, you won't be able to do this. It'll be all work."

"And fun."

"Maybe you'll make different friends, other than me."

"Or girls."

She kicked his shin.

"OW! THAT HURTS!" he bellowed.

"Shh!" she whispered.

"What was that for?" he clutched his knee.

"I'm---I'm a girl too, in case you haven't noticed!" her brows furrowed.

"I meant pretty girls," he teased her, smiling.

She kicked him even harder, in an impolite area which seemed like a thousand daggers were running through.

"VICTOIRE! OUCH!"

The lights flickered in Mrs. Tonks' home.

"Hairy hippogriffs, she's awake!" he hissed. "Go!"

Victoire glanced at him fleetingly before taking off into the night. "Bye!" she called, as she rounded the corner.

Ted climbed up the wall desperately, clutching at the windowsill as he fell through the window. He landed on the floor raucously, then scrambled to his bed, pulling the covers over his sopping-wet clothes.

The door creaked open, "Teddy?"

He lay still.

Mrs. Tonks sighed, closing the door. I must have imagined the cry, she told herself, fearing that old age had finally caught up with her.