Disclaimer: I still own nothing…

Even though he was now a young man of 17, Teddy Lupin felt quite like a mischievous first year as he waited for his godfather. Glancing at the antique watch he'd received for his last birthday, he saw that it was nearly midnight. He knew Harry would be there soon, so he reached into a drawer and found the bottle hidden under a pile of socks. As he ran his finger across the familiar label, he couldn't help but remember when he and Harry had first begun this Christmas tradition.

On that night, six years before, Teddy had been home from his first term at Hogwarts. He was lying in bed with his head full of all the presents he'd hoped to get the next day. And while he was far too old to believe in Santa, he did expect a pretty big haul from his grandmother, his godfather, and all the honorary aunts and uncles who seemed to be everywhere he turned.

Teddy was still awake in anticipation of Christmas morning when he heard a muted pop and then a harsh whisper. "Teddy, it's me. It's Harry."

Adjusting his eyes to the dim light his godfather now produced from the tip of his wand, Teddy asked, "Harry? What're you doing here so late?"

Keeping his voice low, Harry replied, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

His eyes growing wide, Teddy leapt from his bed and dressed at top speed. In concession to the cold winter's night, he didn't even complain as Harry made him shrug into a heavy coat and gloves. In fact, he didn't even ask where he and Harry were going…though he desperately wanted to. Instead, he simply took his godfather's hand when the older wizard asked, "Can you side-along?"

In a stomach turning instant, Teddy found himself still holding his Harry's hand, but the scenery around them had changed. They now stood on a snowy hill outside Hogsmeade, and Teddy quickly recognized the place he'd heard about dozens of times, but had never seen up close: the Shrieking Shack.

Harry said nothing, but he began walking with one hand clutching Teddy's and the other carefully holding a parcel his godson hadn't yet noticed. They stopped, however, before they reached the ramshackle building. Kneeling down, he began clearing snow from a small monument Teddy had never seen or even heard of before. By the light of Harry's wand, he saw a beautiful sculpted stag, wolf, and dog. Looking more closely, he even saw a tiny rat by the stag's hooves.

Reverence and a hint of sadness were in Harry's voice as he spoke. ."I think it's time I showed you this…and maybe you can help me wish them a merry Christmas." At those words, Harry opened the parcel and produced a bottle. With his godson's help, he dumped the entire contents on the ground surrounding the statue. His voice was barely a whisper as he said, "Merry Christmas." Teddy placed a small gloved hand on the wolf's snout and then echoed his godfather's words.

In the years to come, Teddy looked forward to this Christmas ritual more than anything else during his holiday visits home, though he never told a soul. He'd once told Harry that it was just their secret…something that only the son of a Marauder would understand. Harry had smiled at that and then ruffled his hair, which had momentarily turned a rich brown flecked with gray.

This Christmas, his first since he'd become of age, Teddy was looking forward to it more than ever. As his watch struck midnight, he heard a muted pop. Smiling, he turned to his godfather and whispered, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

In his hand he held an unopened bottle of firewhisky.