Tumble Through TIme

Chapter Five

Monday came fast and soon breakfast was over and Teddy and Victoire were headed their separate ways to class. Victoire headed to her Muggle Studies class and Teddy followed the rest of the Marauders to Transfiguration with the Slytherins. Teddy sat tentively between Sirius and Remus and waited for class to start. Professor McGonagall walked in and took her place in front of her desk. As soon as she walked in, james and Sirius put their heads together and began whispering dilligently.

"Today, we will begin by turning hedgehogs into pincushions and back. We've worked with turning inanimate objects into live ones, but this may be a bit of a challenge for some of you..." She turned her head towards James and Sirius. "I'm sorry, Mr. Black, Mr. Potter, am I interrupting anything with my lesson?"

Sirius turned on his charm and grinned at the professor. "Oh, Minnie, you're here. Don't mind us. Really, keep going. We just have a little business we need to take care of later, is all."

"I just heard that you have volunteered yourself and Mr. Potter to demonstrate today's lesson, is that correct?" Teddy tried not to laugh. Some things never change and apparently Minerva McGonagall was one of them. "The incantation is- " But she paused as Sirius waved his wand, flawlessly turning his hedgehog into a pincushion and back wordlessly, while James did the same thing next to him. McGonagall looked like a fish out of water.

"Honestly, Minnie, why do you keep doubting us? We could probably sit our NEWTs right now and pass with flying colors."

"Don't tempt me, Mr. Black." McGonagall said, shaking her head.

The rest of the class passed with very little interruptions on James and Sirius's parts. But when class was dismissed, things took an ugly turn.

Teddy walked out with the Marauders, laughing at something Sirius had said when a voice behind them spoke up. The boys turned around and Teddy came face to face with a pale boy, who had long, greasy, black hair, and a large, hook shaped nose.

"Well, well, well. Looks like you boys have a new little pet." The boy said with a sneer.

"Get out of here, Snivellus. Don't want you dirtying up our new friend here. So, why don't you get your abnormally large beak out of our way?" Sirius said, glaring at the boy (who Teddy was pretty sure wasn't actually named Snivellus, but thought that with these wizarding families... You just never know.)

"I'd watch your mouth, Black. Or you'll be next. Pureblood or not." said a burly-looking, no-necked boy next to 'Snivellus'.

"What, Crabbe? You mean to tell me that poor little Snivelly here hasn't told you his big dark secret?"

Crabbe spun to look at the pale-faced boy, but was quickly dismissed. "You shut your mouth right this instant or so help me..."

Professor McGonagall waltzed out of her classroom at the perfect time. Both Sirius and the boy were gripping their wands inside their pockets. "Boys! Quit starting trouble and get to class! You're attracting a crowd!"

The pale-faced boy sagged his shoulders. "Yes, Professor..." He mumbled, as he and his group of friends walked away shooting daggers at the Marauders.

"Who was that?" Teddy asked as they made their way to their next class.

"Who, Snivellus? His name's Severus Snape." Sirius shuddered just having to speak the name. "He's a pathetic, greasy sod who I wouldn't even give the time of day to if he wasn't constantly in my way." He said, dismissively.

Teddy stared in awe. Severus Snape? That couldn't be the same Severus that Harry's son, Albus, was named after. They had always grown up thinking Severus was a hero... Not a gigantic jackass. He noticed James roll his eyes. "I take it you don't like him either?"

James shrugged. "Like Sirius said, he's a pathetic sod that we shouldn't give the time of day."

"Well, thank you for sticking up for me, Sirius. I appreciate it, especially since I haven't been the kindest to you."

Sirius waved him off. "I deserved it. I was hitting on your girlfriend."

Remus chuckled. "Whenever Sirius deems you a friend, he becomes... Fiercely loyal, I would say. Some might even call it... Dog-like." Remus winked at Sirius. "He'll even cuddle with you like a 6-foot tall arrogant lap dog, if you let him. It's why we call him Padfoot. He's like a big, cuddly, egotistical dog."

Sirius glared at Remus. "That was very wolf-like of you, Moony." Remus just rolled his eyes. "Say, James? What's got your antlers in a knot? You're bring very quiet."

"Shut up, house pet." James laughed. "Nothing's the matter. I just like watching the two of you go back and forth. I'm sure Teddy's getting a kick out of it, as well."

Teddy couldn't help but grin at the banter between the three friends. They seemed so connected, like they were sharing a brain. He almost wished he had friends just like them back home. Or the actual Marauders, themselves. Of course, his friends were amazing, but they just didn't seem to have the same chemistry that James, Sirius, and Remus did.

The rest of the day passed rather uneventfully, and it seemed all too soon that Teddy had to part from the Marauders and was crawling into bed with Victoire in their shared dorm. She buried her head in his neck and he wrapped his arm around her.

"I don't think I want to leave, Vic." Teddy whispered, stroking Victoire's arm with his thumb.

"Why's that, love?" Victoire asked, sleepily.

"I'm finally getting to know my dad, Vic. And he's better than I could have imagined. And... I'm afraid to go back to a future where he doesn't exist. I can't lose him again, Vic. Not when I'll actually remember him this time."

"Time is a tricky thing, though, Teddy. If we stayed, who knows what would happen. If we somehow changed time, maybe your dad would never meet your mom, and then you would never be born. And if you aren't ever born, what if that makes you disappear? Just cease to exist, you know? Poof, gone..."

"You could have stopped at 'disappear', darling." Teddy chuckled, sadly. "I guess you're right. But then again, at least I would cease to exist knowing my father and who he was."

"What about me? You'd just cease to exist and leave me here without you?" Victoire pouted.

"You'd still have me until I was supposed to be born. That's 38 years. We'd be old and grey anyways."

Victoire ran her hands through Teddy's hair and ruffled it. "You won't every let yourself get grey-headed. Don't lie to yourself."

Teddy kissed Victoire on the top of her head. "You're right, like always. If they find a way to send us home, I'll go. Rather begrudgingly, but I'll go."

"Good. I wouldn't leave without you. I love you, Ted." Victoire yawned and nestled in closer to Teddy.

"I love you, too, Vic."

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