James

The room held the scent of the last occupant's shower gel. It looked out over Diagon. James scanned the heads of the crowd. No blue hair. Teddy probably didn't look like Teddy, though. He was probably disguised as somebody else, now, because he would think that that was safer. How was James ever going to find him?

James threw his bag onto the bed. Just a little sit down. It had been a long day. Then an ad in the Prophet. He started to compose the wording in his head as he sat down on the bed. His head felt so heavy. Just a minute. He could just rest it on the pillow for a minute.

When he woke his mouth was dry and daylight had gone from the window. He sprang up and looked out of it. He scanned the faces of the late visitors. He jolted when he recognised one. Uncle Bill, coming home from work, no doubt. James ducked down instinctively, although his uncle wouldn't be able to see him from the street. That was the very last person who he wanted to have a conversation with. He wondered whether Bill knew yet. James had been working on the assumption that his father had broadcast his own version of events all round the family, but maybe he had been too ashamed.

It was too late to go to the newspaper offices now. James was relieved when Bill walked past the pub door. It might be safe for him to get something to eat then. After that he would go out and ask everyone on the street whether they had seen Teddy.

-*-

He woke late and exhausted on Sunday, no closer to finding Teddy. Most of the shops were closed so there weren't many people to question, and he'd already asked most of them the day before.

"Have you seen Teddy Lupin?" he asked everyone. If it was someone who didn't know Teddy, then James had a photo to show them. In fact, he had a box of photos in his bag, but most of them were from a long time ago. The Prophet office was open. In his sleep, somehow, the wording had established itself in his mind.

I wish to contact Teddy Lupin in order to give him
some good news. If you know of his whereabouts
then please leave a message at the Leaky Cauldron.

Then there was the picture of Teddy underneath. He didn't want to put his own name on it, because he didn't want his father to find him, or for the Prophet to make a story of it, or to scare Teddy off. To be honest, he expected that Hannah Abbott-Longbottom had already told his parents where he was. That didn't matter. He wasn't going to go home even if they turned up and begged him.

Teddy still hadn't answered his Owl. Perhaps something had happened to that Owl. He couldn't think what, but he decided to send another one anyway. At least the Owl Office was open.

Hi Teddy,
Sorry about yesterday. I hope you're ok. I'm staying at the Leaky,
love from
James

Keep it casual. Well, apart from the 'love from', but that could mean anything. It didn't have to mean: 'I'd die for you, I'll die without you', did it?

-*-

He was running out of options. He wanted to be doing something. All he could think to do would be to place another advertisement. He thought he might as well wander back past the Quibbler offices in case they were open, and it was just as well that he did. Luna Scamander was there, just locking the door. Seeing her always made him feel a bit guilty. He wondered whether Lorcan had ever told her what had happened between the two of them. He felt nauseous with guilt about Lorcan.

"Hi, Auntie Luna. I was just wondering, actually, what day the Quibbler's coming out this week. I've got an advert I'd like to put in it."

She looked at him in that special way she always did, like she was looking into you not at you.

"James, dear, is everything alright?"

"Yeah, fine, I just need to put this thing in the paper."

"You haven't eaten today, have you? You don't look like you've slept much either."

He started to back off. This was daft; she was bound to say something to his parents.

"You're looking for someone important, aren't you?"

He stopped and swallowed. He paused. "Look, it doesn't matter."

Luna took her keys back out of her pocket and unlocked the door again. "We'd better put that advertisement into the magazine, hadn't we?"

"Thank you," was all James could manage as he followed her inside.

Something was printing in the cellar. He could feel the vibrations in the floor. The place looked like a mess, but he knew that Luna knew where everything was. Her unique filing system involved pieces of parchment which were clipped together and flew delicately around the room. James ducked a sheaf of photographs as he entered. He pulled the picture of Teddy from his pocket and told her the words he wanted. She said nothing until she had written them down, embedded the picture and sent a copy through the floorboards.

"Would you like some copies of that so you can put it up like a poster?" she asked.

"Thank you," James said again.

"You're staying at the pub?"

"Yes, but my parents don't know. Please don't tell them," James said in a rush.

Luna's clear, large eyes regarded him for a moment. "I might have to," she said. "But if I don't have to, then I won't."

"Thank you."

Luna tipped her head to one side. "Have you tried asking his relatives?"

"Andromeda's dead. There's only us." James paused. "Oh, the Malfoys?"

"I think they might have some apartments in town."

"But would they...?"

"By annoying your father, Draco Malfoy may just feel that Teddy Lupin has done something right at last."

James blushed. "You... you... know? Dad told you what happened yesterday?"

"No," Luna replied in her calm, sing-song voice. "But if Teddy isn't at Godric's Hollow any more then that must be the reason." She paused. "Do you want to tell me?"

"No."

"Would you like some Elderflower cordial?"

"No thank you."

Auntie Luna tapped the sheet of parchment on her desk. It replicated itself fifty times. "Enough?" she asked.

"Thank you."

"Borage tea?"

"I need to keep looking Auntie Luna. But thanks. Thanks for everything. I'm sorry. About everything." James snatched the pile of posters. He called "Thank you!" again as he sprinted out onto the street.

He looked back, saw her face and couldn't stop himself from remembering Lorcan. The problem was that Lorcan was just so pushy. James had told him that it would be a bad idea, because of their parents being friends and everything. Lorcan was single-minded. The date had been ok, but by the time Lorcan had pulled him into the Prefect's bathroom it had started to feel like incest. They had shared a sandpit when they'd been in nappies. It was all wrong. Lorcan had been determined and James had felt hopeless. So he'd thought about Teddy to get him through...

Gringott's was closed, but he didn't dare to go near it anyway. He couldn't imagine what Uncle Bill would do if he saw a notice with Teddy's face on so near to where he worked. James headed in the other direction, stopping regularly to put up posters. Once he'd finished in Diagon and Knockturn, he Apparated to Hogsmeade and then Goathland. It gave him something to do. While he worked he thought about what Luna had said. He knew Scorpius Malfoy from school, but not well. They had been Chess rivals. He didn't know Scorpius' parents at all.

The lights shone in the houses he passed, as families spent time together. He thought that the Malfoys would probably also be at home, what with everything shut because it was Sunday. James Apparated to Wiltshire. There was a Wizarding hamlet attached to the Manor house. First he posted his notices there and then he headed for the big house. It was starting to get dark; he had work the next day.

He tapped his wand on the gate as directed by a notice fixed to it and a House Elf appeared. It was an ugly little thing. James recalled all of Aunt Hermione's lessons about being polite to House Elves and schooled away the disgust on his face.

"I wanted to talk to Mr Malfoy, please," he said.

"Which Mister is you wanting?"

"Either. Or Missus. I mean, the mistress. Anyone."

"What is your name being?"

James had to cough to clear his throat. He didn't think his name was going to go down too well. "James Potter."

"Dindy will be back." The Elf disappeared again.

James' toes curled and his stomach clenched. What the fuck was he playing at? Teddy would never have gone begging to his mother's family. He was back in Finland. Of course he was. James being here made no sense; exhaustion flooded him. James didn't know what he was going to do if he couldn't find Teddy.

The Elf appeared again before James could run away. It solemnly opened the large, black metal gates. "Master Draco it is to be seeing you. You hold my tea towel." A starched corner of the fabric covering the creature's groin was pressed into James' hand.

His surroundings changed; it was clear now that he was in a study. There was a large mirror over the fireplace and bookshelves lined the walls. A large, leather-topped table ran under the window. The elf prised James' fingers from him then Disapparated.

"What can I help you with?" asked a voice behind him and James spun around.

A gentleman who might have been about the same age as James' father was sitting in an armchair. His hair had receded from his forehead, but what was left was that weird silvery colour that Scorpius Malfoy had. He looked James up and down – making James very aware of his dishevelled state – but he didn't voice any criticisms.

"I'm looking for Teddy Lupin," James made himself say. "I wondered whether you might know anything."

There was a terrifying pause. His host's features were blank. Finally he said, "Is he not residing with your father in Godric's Hollow?"

"Not any more."

"Really?" A pale eyebrow arched and James was scared that Mr Malfoy was about to ask him why. "And he didn't tell you where he was going to?"

"No."

"Then perhaps he doesn't want you to know where he is."

There was something in the quirk of the man's mouth which made James want to cry out with joy. This man knew where Teddy was, James was almost certain of it. "Do you know?" Hope rose, and James tried to damp it down, because hope always made the disappointment worse afterwards. "Please sir, please tell me. It's all my fault. I have to make it better! Please!"