Teddy was dreaming happily when a pillow hit him. He groaned, pulling the pillow to his side and snuggling into it.
"Oi!" Arjun said, poking him. "You need to get up, you lazy bum!"
"G'away!" Teddy said, swatting away his arm.
"Tough luck, mate!" Michael said, joining Arjun in poking Teddy.
"What do you want?" Teddy asked in irritation.
"We want you get up, get dressed and come up for breakfast." Arjun said solemnly.
"I don't want breakfast. It's the last day at school I will get some-" Teddy's eyes flew open.
"It's the last day of school!" He exclaimed, sitting up on his bed.
"Now, he remembers." Michael muttered.
"What time is it?" Teddy asked urgently, jumping off his bed.
"A little over 8:30." Trent said, stepping out of the bathroom.
"8:30!" Teddy yelped. "Why didn't you wake me up sooner? The train leaves at 11:00. I only have two hours and I haven't packed a thing." He whined running around his bed and throwing everything in his trunk.
"We have been trying to wake you up for ages!" Trent complained. "Now hurry up and change and come up for breakfast!"
"Yeah! You guys go ahead. I will join you in a few."
When Teddy finally did join his friends for breakfast, the hall was almost empty and he was more than glad about it. Ever since the school had realized that Theodore Remus Lupin was the Godson of Harry Potter whispers along with awed looks, sympathetic looks and hateful glares followed him everywhere. Teddy honestly kind of felt sorry for his Godfather. If he had to endure so many rumours just because he was Harry Potter's godson, imagine what being Harry Potter himself would be like.
"What kept you?" Samantha asked anxiously, handing a napkin containing a stack of toast to him.
"I was-"
"-busy playing sleeping beauty and kept swatting the good Samaritans that tried to wake you up on time." Arjun said, cutting into Teddy's explanation.
Teddy rolled his eyes, "Come on, the coaches are about to leave."
They had almost reached the entrance.
"I don't even understand how they allow filth like you in Hogwarts."
Teddy turned to his right, "Did you hear that?" He asked the others, when they gave him confused looks, Teddy pointed in the direction of the voice.
They saw a two senior Ravenclaws and a third year Hufflepuff along with Avery and Bulstrode covering someone.
"I don't expect you to it would require some brains you know." Teddy heard Adam reply and grinned. Adam had started standing up to bullies ever since he entered Hogwarts. "Now leave her alone."
Without thinking about it Teddy started walking towards them.
"What are you doing?" Sarah asked.
"Its Adam. We have to help him out."
"Yes. Okay. But how? We are bunch of first years. Let's go find a professor."
Teddy, Arjun and Trent exchanged looks at the same time, with broad grins.
"You are brilliant, Sarah." Teddy said, concentrating hard on Professor Boot's appearance.
A few seconds later he looked down at his awestruck friends.
"Well, is it good enough?" He asked anxiously.
"That never stops to amaze me." Sarah breathed.
"Ruddy brilliant!" Michael said in agreement.
"So, I look fine?"
"You look- that was awesome!" Samantha exclaimed.
"You guys are useless." Teddy grumbled, walking towards Adam.
"Is there a problem?" He asked imitating Professor Boot's no nonsense tone perfectly.
The five bullies jumped.
"Err… No problem at all Professor." Matthew Rosier, fifth year Ravenclaw prefect said smoothly.
Teddy cocked an eyebrow.
"We were just exchanging the season's greetings." Terence Rowle, the third year Hufflepuff said.
"I believe you could do as much on the train. The carriages are about to leave. I suggest all of you present yourself in the Entrance Hall."
The seven started scuttling away immediately, the bullies shooting threatening glares at the two muggleborns.
"Mr. Callaghan, Miss. Clarke." Teddy called, "I would like a word with you, if you please."
Adam and Samantha Clarke, a first year muggleborn Slytherin held back. Teddy watched the back of Avery vanish round the corner before turning to his friends.
"How was it?" He asked excitedly.
"How was what, Professor?" Samantha asked looking confused.
"Teddy?" Adam asked alarmed.
"Of course!" Teddy said changing back his appearance. Samantha jumped as Teddy changed his appearance.
"How did you do that?" She asked, her voice shrilly.
"I am a Metamorphmagus. I thought you knew that."
"I did but I thought that would mean you could change your hair colour or eye colour. That! That was bloody brilliant!" She exclaimed, hi-fiving Teddy.
"Yeah mate. Pretty amazing. Did you see Avery, he almost wet his pants." Adam said laughing.
"That was a pretty good control on your skills, Mr. Lupin."
The three laughing children jumped, as Professor McGonagall materialized behind them.
She surveyed them like a hawk.
"Professor-" Teddy started.
"Yes?"
"They were- they were-"
"They were bullying Mr. Callaghan and Miss. Clarke here and you found a creative solution to diffuse the situation, didn't you?"
Teddy gulped, giving a slight nod.
Professor McGonagall fought her smile. "Well, I can't expect anything less from Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks' son, can I? I should thank Merlin that you are not as bad as your father and his friends."
"Err…"
"The three of you should get going; I believe your friends are waiting for you by the carriages. And Mr. Lupin, next time you try diffusing such a situation, please use my form, it would be more convincing." Professor McGonagall added with a wink before walking away from the three stunned students.
"She said what?" George Weasley asked flabbergasted, as they sat together for dinner at the Potter Manor.
"I swear, she said I could morph into her to scare those pureblood idiots away." Teddy said earnestly, taking a bite of his chicken.
"Are you quite sure that it was Professor McGonagall?" Harry asked, his eyes wide.
"Dad!"
"Well, she is crazier than Dumbledore." Ron said turning to Harry as Hermione swatted his arm.
"Ow! Hermione! But think about it. I think the job of the headmaster is jinxed, people go floozy when they join the office." Ron said sagely.
The entire table burst out laughing.
"I cannot imagine McGonagall giving pranking permission to any student." Bill said.
"She said I am better than Moony Da and his friends. In fact, considering who my parents were, I am quite well behaved." Teddy said proudly.
"This is outrageous!" George exclaimed, looking offended. "Have you been lying to me in your letters Teddy?"
"No!"
"Then how can you be well behaved?"
"I don't get caught. I have wolf senses and mostly, I just morph into a Professor when someone comes closer."
"And the only time she has to find out is when you are doing a supposed good deed?"
Teddy grinned.
"Why are the fates so unfair? She gave us so much grief for pranking people." George grumbled.
"Eh! Everyone knows, I am universally loved."
"He has inherited James' pig headedness it seems." Andromeda called from the other end of the table.
"Gran!"
"I love you too Teddy, now finish your vegetables."
As Teddy lay in bed, he felt utterly exhausted. The Weasleys would be back in two days to stay for the three days ending at the ball, before all of them would shift to the Burrow on Christmas morning. Teddy closed his eyes, thinking about how Draco and Astoria would react to his story.
James crept into Teddy's room and climbed on his bed with Albus at his heels. James was about to poke Teddy and Albus tugged at his sleeve. "I think he is asleep." He whispered urgently.
"He is not." James countered, poking Teddy's arm.
"Eyes closed. Mum says we sleep when we close our eyes and lie down. Let's go. I don't want him to get mad and leave us again." Albus said fearfully tugging at James' arm as he continued to poke Teddy.
"James. Stop doing that." Teddy said opening his eyes, James gave a surprised shout and tumbled back on the bed. Albus giggled. "And Al," Teddy said pulling the little boy closer. "I go to Hogwarts to learn magic. You will go to Hogwarts too. I am not mad at you."
"Promise?" Albus asked.
"Yes. Why would you think that?" Teddy asked, as James jumped up on the bed and flung himself on Teddy's back with a war cry.
"I love you Teddy." Albus said his green eyes full of sincerity.
"I love you too, Alby." Teddy said ("Fall you Dragon!" James cried in the background, poking Teddy's back.)
Teddy pulled James and pinned him on the bed. "Rawr! The Dragon has got you and now he is going to eat you."
"No!" James giggled. "Albus help me!"
"No. Albus loves me more." Teddy said laughing, "He will help me."
Albus giggled and poked Teddy. "Oh! You want to side with little Jamie? Come here, I am going to eat both of you." Teddy said grabbing Albus too.
The two boys squealed with delight as Teddy tickled them.
"What the hell is happening here?" Harry asked as he entered the room covered in feathers and three children busy in a pillow fight.
"We are having a pillow fight." James giggled, "Alby and me against Teddy."
"Hey! That's not fair." Harry said, grabbing a nearby pillow, "Teddy are you ready to take these monkeys down?"
"Dad, I am on your team. Let's take James down." Albus said, giving Harry a winning smile.
"Alby!" James exclaimed, but Albus whacked him with a pillow saying, "Bad boy James. Teddy is our big brother. You shouldn't beat him up."
Within ten minutes the two children flopped down on Teddy's bed and were out cold.
"They really missed you." Harry said softly mussing Teddy's hair, coming to stand next to Teddy as he rearranged the pillows.
"I know. I missed them too. Did you see Albus switch sides?" Teddy asked with a grin.
Harry laughed, "Yeah. He is in the phase where he hates losing. The other day he upset the chess board at Dudley's place because Megan was beating him at chess."
"He thought I was mad at him." Teddy said looking thoughtfully at Albus.
"Yes. He is a very different child. I don't know how to handle him." Harry said honestly.
"Just be yourself. You are doing a great job as it is. Don't worry yourself too much."
"And since when have you become such an expert at parenting?" Harry asked amused.
"Eh! I have my moments." Teddy said with a laugh.
Harry pulled him in a hug, "Go get some sleep. They will wake up early and won't let you sleep after that. It's good to have you back bear."
"It's good to be home, Dad." Teddy said hugging him back.
"Hey, Harry. James and Albus- Oh! There they are!" Ginny said entering Teddy's room.
"Hey Mum, I guess they snuck into my room after you put them to bed."
"Yeah and I don't blame them. I used to do that too with Bill and Charlie and the twins. Percy didn't like being disturbed. Now, come on get some sleep. They would wake you up, the moment they open their eyes."
"Yeah. Dad said as much. Goodnight mum. Goodnight Dad." Teddy said, climbing into his bed. Teddy closed his eyes as the door closed behind Harry.
"I love you my baby boy. I am so glad you are home." Ginny said kissing his forehead.
By the time Andromeda Tonks came to Teddy's room, he was fast asleep with Albus' foot in his face and James' arm on his stomach. She watched the three sleeping boys. She sighed in relief, Nymphadora and Remus made the right choice with Harry. He gave Teddy and by extension her, a family, they were not alone anymore.
AN: Hello! My job is catching up with me hence the tardiness in updating my chapters. But fear not my good fellows! I will be updating some more chapters during the weekend. Hopefully. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. If you like it, you know what to do, leave Reviews. If you are new here don't forget to follow/favourite either me or the story or both. And please do leave reviews, it helps me develop a better story.
Happy Reading.
Much love,
The fishes.