A/N: *blows dust off the top*
*peeks out from behind wall* Erm. Hello everyone. I'm so, so sorry for that absolutely horrendous wait. It's been almost a year since I last updated. I'm so sorry.
The last year was terrible. It was my final year at university (done with undergrad! whooo!) and the courses were so difficult that I rarely had any free time, and whatever time I could manage I spent it reading fanfics instead of writing, cause that was the same as working and I really didn't have the strength to work. Vacations were spent doing internships. I also started my thesis, which occupied most of my time since I had to read academic journals and present them every week in front of my supervisor. Add to that depression and panic attacks I've been having all year, along with family problems. Finally, I had dengue fever before my last finals.
So yes, overall, that was a horrible year, and I'm so glad its over. No more classes (only thesis work is left), no more exams, and certainly no more studying. Whoo!
More good news: there's like, two or three chapters left. I finished one today, I plan two finish the other three within Friday, so this story should be over before 2017 starts. Yay, right?
That was a big authors note. Lets get on with the review responses.
MidnightGoddess2112: Thank you! And its a year late, but Happy New Year to you too :3
analiese22: Lol, I had to read the story again myself cause I forgot what happened X(. Sorry for the late update, and I hope you like this chapter too!
Stinkyx3: Thank you so much! I hope you like this chapter too!
Priya Ashok: Thank you! :D
CavalierShark:here you go, the next chapter!
The Secret Sass Lord: Lol sorry :P. I knew it might be gross for some people, but cousin marriages and relationships are legal is Britain and most parts of the world. I know people who've married their cousins too. I hope you wouldn't stop reading cause of it. Thank you for the compliment, though :).
I really hope I haven't lost many readers due to the delay in updates.
Anywho, HP isn't mine, it belongs to the amazing JKR. this story and my OCs are mine, though.
So, here's the latest chapter. Enjoy!
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: ANOTHER STEP FORWARD
"Lupin, over here!"
Teddy had been walking through the part of the Auror Office that hosted the Auror academy, where a lot of the trainee Aurors were shuffling about and going on with their business. Some of them nodded to him, and Teddy smiled back. This was the place that had been him home for the past three years until he had graduated just last summer, earning him the title of Junior Auror. He knew more than half of the trainees. Teddy looked around to see where the voice had come from until he had spotted the source. Three third-year trainee Aurors clad in salmon-coloured robes were standing around the water cooler, and the only female, Gwendolyn Morgan, who the voice belonged to, was waving at him.
Teddy grinned as he jogged over to them. "Wotcher, Gwen!" He said, giving her a hug. He turned to the other trainees and shook hands with them. Brannigan, Cadwell, how are you?"
"I think I won't be able to feel my arse for a week, but other than that I'm fit as a fiddle," replied Brannigan. The others laughed.
"Third year not treating you well, I guess?"
Gwendolyn, or Gwen as she preferred to be called, rolled her eyes. "We just got back from Stealth and Tracking. We've been running up and down Sherwood forest in teams of two, shooting Stunners at each other."
"Ah, I remember that one," Teddy said, a faraway look in his eyes. "Teams with most players stunned at the end of an hour lost, right? Didn't do that well in that course. Got stunned too many times, and nearly got thrown off a cliff when I got hit right at the edge. Made up for it by acing Concealment and Disguise, though. Who was your Instructor?"
Cadwell grimaced. "Terry Boot."
"Ah," Teddy said, wincing. "Good luck, mate. That one is a miser when it comes to giving out marks."
Gwen sighed. "At least this is the last year," she said gratefully. "A few more months and we will be fully qualified Aurors."
"Third year is the toughest," Teddy said. "This is the year where the trainees start dropping out."
Brannigan and Cadwell shook their heads. "Nah," said Cadwell. "We aren't giving up. We've been dreaming of wearing those scarlet robes ever since Hogwarts."
Brannigan winked. "Yeah, salmon isn't really my colour."
Teddy flashed a grin at the three of them. Teddy remembered their determination when he was in his third year at the Academy. The three trainees in front of him had just joined the academy, fresh out of Hogwarts, and Teddy had been the Student Mentor in charge of their group of first-year trainees. They had it them, he knew. They would be some of the best in the force.
"Keep up the spirit and you'll be among the top soon," Teddy encouraged. He checked his watch. He'd been talking to them for a while, and he definitely needed to get back to work. "Anyway, I'd love to chat, but I really need to be going."
Cadwell nodded. "Don't worry about it. We'll see you around then, yeah?"
"I'll pop by again soon," Teddy promised. "See you."
They waved as he walked away from the water cooler, and made his way towards Harry's office.
Teddy knocked when he reached Harry's door, and when Harry called for him to come in, he turned the knob and entered the office.
Harry was leaning against his table, a cup of tea in his hand. "Ah, Teddy," he greeted, taking a sip. "I was just having a snack. Would you like a cup?"
"No thanks," Teddy declined, taking a seat in his usual chair. Spotting a plate of jammie dodgers, he added, "Although I wouldn't mind some biscuits."
"Help yourself," Harry said, turning around and pushing the plate towards Teddy with his free hand. Teddy took one and popped it in its mouth.
"They're your favourite, aren't they?" Harry said fondly.
Teddy nodded, trying to smile as he chewed the biscuit whole. He was more fond of the Muggle biscuit than any of the other sweets that were preferred by the Wizarding populace.
Once he swallowed, he asked, "Has James gone back to Hogwarts yet?"
"He left yesterday," Harry said. "Ginny wanted him to stay home another week, but James insisted that he be allowed to return. Said that he wanted to start studying and get involved in Quidditch again to keep his mind off of things; staying home and doing nothing was depressing him further."
"Yeah, of course, it'd do him good." Teddy paused, deciding to change the subject. "So, about the case, did you think of anything else?"
"I have a hunch."
That's good, Teddy thought.
"So, since Williamson says he didn't go to meet his son, I checked some of his office's Floo logs for those hours when Zachary was visited at Azkaban," Harry continued. "None of them correspond to any visits to the prison. Apparition in and out of the Ministry, as we know, is banned. So then I checked the departure registers that are automatically updated when someone leaves the Ministry. Williamson never even left the building on those days. His first entry is at nine o'clock every single morning, and then he leaves at five on the dot. He never goes anywhere else in between."
"So he did never visit Zach," Teddy voiced, taking another biscuit from the plate.
Harry hummed in agreement.
"So it was someone from the outside."
"Yeah."
"Do you think it could have been the person who poisoned Lucy?" Teddy questioned. "I mean, we know Zachary didn't kill Lucy himself, but he always could have got the person to do it for him."
"Possibly," Harry said, placing his teacup on the table. "Cause I say its nigh impossible for it to be a coincidence that both the killings happened in the same way. The killer must have had contact with Zachary somehow, at least to know how he did the first one. I don't know whether Zach had them do it to get to Lucy or James, or whether Williamson actually was involved or whether it was the girl's grudge that lead to Lucy's murder and she framed Zachary to take the fall. We really have no clue about all that. But all I know is that these two are linked."
"So what should we do next?" Teddy asked.
Harry thought for a moment. "There's no way to know who the owls were from," Harry said. "And none of the guards read the letters to see what was in them. So those are of no help. But the visits though; if it was the killer who visited him, and the killer was a student at Hogwarts, then she must have had to leave Hogwarts from time to time. It must be on the records, right?"
"As far as I know, the school does keeps records of which students leave Hogwarts when school is in session."
"I need to see those records," Harry stated. "I bet my Firebolt that the dates of Zach's visit will coincide with the dates of a student's string of absences."
Well, considering that Harry's old Firebolt was a decrepit old broom whose paint was peeling off and which was missing half its twigs, Teddy didn't think that was a worthy bet. But he didn't mention that to his godfather; he knew how attached Harry was to the broom, and for which reasons. Taking the last bite of the biscuit, Teddy wiped the crumbs off his hands on his robes. "You want me to go to Hogwarts again?" he asked instead.
Harry smiled. "You read my mind, Teddy."
By the time Teddy made it to Hogwarts, it was almost lunchtime. He made his way past the entrance hall, and through the sea of students who were heading to the Great Hall for lunch. He only stopped briefly talk to Albus and his girlfriend Andrea, and after telling them he was heading up to the headmaster's office to get some files, he promised he'd meet up with all of them before leaving the castle grounds. He then used a shortcut that led directly from the Entrance Hall to the third floor (He had discovered this one during his fifth year, and was pleased to know Harry hadn't found it even in the Marauder's Map; Harry assumed it had popped up after the war when the castle was renovated, along with a number of other passageways), and soon, he was standing in front of the gargoyle that guarded the stone staircase leading up the Headmaster's office.
Harry had provided him with the password before he left the office. "Galloping Grindylows," he told the gargoyle, which sprung to life and stepped aside, revealing a slowly ascending, circular, stone staircase. Teddy stepped onto one of the steps as it rose up from the floor. A minute later, upon reaching the top, Teddy came face to face with the oaken double doors, on which the gryffin door-knocker was embedded. He knocked once.
"Enter!"
The door swung open, and Teddy stepped in.
"Is that you, Aneas?" a voice called from somewhere within the office. "I haven't checked the alterations you made to the first year syllabus yet, but I should be done by tomorrow - oh, Mr Lupin, it's you," said Professor Longbottom, climbing down the stairs that led to the loft.
"Sorry to disturb you, Professor," Teddy said sheepishly. He probably should have informed Professor Longbottom he was coming, he figured.
"No no, not at all," he replied, taking his seat behind the large desk and resting his elbows on the surface, is fingers locked together and tucked under his chin. Behind him, Professor McGonagall slept peacefully in her portrait. "How can I help?" he asked, motioning for Teddy to take a seat.
"We've have a development, Sir," Teddy said, sitting on the comfy chair across from Professor Longbottom. "Harry thinks that the person who poisoned Lucy is someone from within Hogwarts, and that they have been having regular contact with the killer."
Longbottom raised his eyebrows, but thankfully didn't ask him to elaborate. Teddy wouldn't have been able to give him any other information; no one outside of the Auror office knew anything about Williamson or Zachary's involvement. "That's a big accusation to make, Teddy," he said after a pause.
Teddy shrugged. "That's what all the evidence says, Sir."
"What do you need me to do, then?"
Teddy leaned forwards slightly. "Sir, I understand that there is a record of all students leaving Hogwarts during the term?"
Longbottom nodded. "Yes. The deputy headmistress keeps those records. Every time a student leaves for any personal reason during term, the book is updated. It doesn't, however, include the list of students leaving during Christmas or Easter."
"If it's possible, Harry would like to see it, Sir," Teddy said.
"Very well," Professor Longbottom said, standing up and heading for the fireplace. "I'll bring a copy for you. I'm afraid the original can't be removed from the grounds."
"Thank you, Professor," Teddy said gratefully.
Longbottom took a pinch of Floo Powder and threw it into the fire, which immediately turned bright green. Stepping into it, he said loudly and clearly, "Deputy headmistress's office!"
In a swirl of green flames, he disappeared.
A minute later, during which Teddy's eyes roamed the office to look at the decorations, Professor Longbottom returned with a large, leather-bound book. "Here you go, Teddy," he said, putting it down on the table with a loud thump. "I put a Geminio charm on the original, and this copy should dissolve in a few days, so you don't have to worry about returning it."
Teddy took out his wand and put a shrinking charm on it, then placed it inside a pocket in his robes. "Thank you so much, Sir," he said, standing up. "I should head back now."
"Won't you join us for Lunch?" Longbottom asked, getting to his feet as well. "I'm heading there myself. I'd be happy if you would join us," he said warmly.
Teddy smiled. He was very hungry, he realised, and he did miss Hogwarts' food. Besides, he did have to meet his cousins, and they were probably all still in the Great Hall. "Of course, Professor, I'd be delighted to."
Teddy headed down to the Great Hall, along with Professor Longbottom, taking the longer route this time. He wasn't sure whether Longbottom knew about the shortcut, but in case he didn't, Teddy didn't want to inform him about it. Upon entering the Great Hall, he shook hands with Professor Longbottom and said his goodbyes, with Longbottom telling Teddy to keep him updated on what they found. After promising he would, Teddy walked towards the Gryffindor table while Professor Longbottom headed towards the Staff Table at the other end of the room.
"Teddy!" greeted Fred when he spotted the Metamorphmagus walking towards him. "When did you get here?" Lily, Louis and Dominique were there with him, and so were Albus and, surprisingly, his girlfriend Andrea, who was a Slytherin.
"A while ago," Teddy replied, grabbing a plate and piling up some baked potatoes on it. "I was mainly here on business, but I thought I'd meet with you guys, too. Where are the others?"
"Molly and Hugo left a while ago," Louis said, "Rose is at the Slytherin table with Scorpius -" Teddy looked at the table and saw Rose and Scorpius, and when they spotted him, Rose waved at him and Scorpius gave him a lazy salute, so he gave them a wave back, "- and James is over there," he pointed towards the other end of the Gryffindor table, where James seemed to be in a heated conversation with Clara Stettin.
"He doesn't want to be around us," Al said, shaking his head. "So he usually sits on his own."
"Clara tries to talk to him, but he usually ignores her," Lily added. "I think he reminds her too much of Lucy and he wants her to stay away from him, if only to keep her out of his head."
"He shouldn't be so lonely," Andrea said softly. "It would just make him think of her more."
"James doesn't seem to understand that," said Lily.
"Clara, can you just leave me alone?" James's raised voice carried over to them. Teddy turned to look at him. "I don't need your help, Stop bugging me."
Clara tried to protest, saying something in hushed tones, when James replied. "No Clara, you're not! Stop pretending to be. Lu's gone, so I don't see any reason why you try to hang around me anymore." He sighed and got up, ignoring them all and marched out of the Hall, with Clara clambering after him calling his name.
Teddy's eyes followed James as he left through the doors. "It will take him some time to return to normal. Give him space."
"That's all we've been doing ever since he came back," argued Fred. "He never smiles, never talks to us, and never sits with us. All he does is attend classes and practice Quidditch during his free time."
"Quidditch reminds me," said Al, opting to change the subject, which Teddy thought was a good idea. "Did you see Hufflepuff's new seeker?"
"Morgan Trent, wasn't it?" asked Andrea. "I overheard our captain telling the beaters that he spied on the Hufflepuffs when they were practicing. Says he's a really fast flyer."
"No one flies better that our seeker, though," Louis bragged. "Greg Wood's got the best Quidditch genes. His mum and dad are both legendary Puddlemere players."
The rest of the lunch was filled with Quidditch debates. The Gryffindors teased Al about the Ravenclaw chasers who couldn't score to save their lives, and Al retorted with a jibe towards the second-year Gryffindor beaters. They all badmouthed the Slytherin team, even Andrea, who apparently didn't mingle well with them.
As they talked, Teddy had a feeling he was missing something, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
When Teddy finally finished his meal, he got up and said goodbye to his family and headed out of the castle and towards the wrought iron gates. The moment he crossed the columns topped with the winged boar statues, he turned on the spot and Disapparated with a crack.
"You got the logs?" Harry asked after Teddy was seated across him.
Teddy hummed in agreement. "Right here," he said, taking out the book from his pocket and restoring it to its former size. "Professor Longbottom made a duplicate of the original and handed this to us."
"Great. Now, where are the Azkaban logs..." Harry muttered to himself, standing up and heading towards his bookshelf. He shuffled through the files and folders before finally pulling out a binder containing a heavy stack of paper. He placed it next to the Hogwarts records.
Harry sat down and opened the binder to the first page. "His first visit was on August twenty-ninth, after his was first locked up."
"Term didn't start till September first," Teddy pointed out.
"Yes, I know," Harry said absent-mindedly. "October first."
"Okay," Teddy said, ruffling the pages near the end of the book. "Ah, here it is," he announced. "Five people left Hogwarts on the first of October. Ashwin, Rahul, for Durga Puja holidays; Ashwin, Anaya, also for Durga Puja holidays; Stettin, Clara, for visiting her sister, who had a baby; Walters, Steve, for visiting his mum in the hospital; and Vuković, Jakov, who had to be admitted to St. Mungo's due to a prank gone wrong."
Harry pursed his lips. "See if those names come up again. Next visit was on December twenty third."
Teddy sighed. "Christmas holidays. No logs."
Harry said nothing as he pored through the paper. "Next visit was February first."
"That's something we can work with," Teddy said. He opened the Hogwarts record book to the first of February, where there were three names. "Atkins, Jeremy, father died; Stettin, Clara, mother's illness; Zhang, Alice, Chinese New Year holiday."
Strange, Teddy thought. Clara's name is mentioned in both entries.
"Next we have first of May."
Teddy turned the pages till he found the correct dates. "Binte Ashfaq, Nahreen, Eid-al-fitr holidays; Parkinson, Ashley, family event; Crawley, Andrew, visit to St Mungo's for another prank gone wrong, and..." Teddy frowned. "Stettin, Clara, again, for her mother's illness once more."
"The name sounds familiar," Harry noted.
Teddy looked up at him. "She's Lucy's friend."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "That is one hell of a coincidence."
"Tell me the next date."
But for each of the other dates, there was one thing in common.
Clara Stettin was on leave each and every one of the days that Williamson Junior had a visitor in Azkaban.
A/N2: Well. There's that :3. Or is this another one of my plot twists? Are they finally on the right track, or will they go back to square one? Stay tuned to find out.
And in the meantime, REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!
-Nadia
P.S. Went back and edited all the chapters to fix typos and odd sentences.