"Yeah so the Gryffindors got Logan first. No one can beat our Quidditch team," Vic rambled on during breakfast with the help of fellow first year Patty Thompson.

"Yeah and the Ravenclaws had Bobo and Croswell surrounded," Patty said with a giggle, "The hardest to take out were Sloane and your dad. For old guys they're pretty good. It took like the whole school to bring them down," Patty continued and Teddy gave her a grin full of pride.

"Too bad we didn't last long enough to see Snape go. I wanted to see the look on his face!" Vic said with a laugh.

"I hear Roy was part of that one," Ted pointed out and Vic nodded, "Yeah. He said he'll tell us all about it later. What happened to you anyways. You didn't even make it to your dad?"

"I got hit by a spell! It was over before I knew it," Teddy complained in a mock pout.

"Aww cheer up Ted. They'll be other times," Vic said giving him a thump on the back in sympathy.

Ted was stopped from replying when the Headmistress at the teacher's table stood up, banging on her glass a few times to get the Hall's attention.

"Well it seems that Christmas is well under way now," McGonagall started, "But first I would like to start off by making everyone aware of an incident that occurred last night. Sometime in the excitement of last night, our old Headmaster Dumbledore's tomb was robbed," she started as several students gasped and others dissolved into hushed whispers.

McGonagall once again tapped her glass to get the room to quiet down.

"Within it were several important artifacts belonging to the late Headmaster and we would very much like to catch the culprit. I doubt that any student at Hogwarts would do such a thing and I've had a witness confirm that this thief is not a Hogwarts student," McGonagall revealed, "As much as I hate to admit it but I believe the security of this castle has been compromised. I advise everyone to be cautious this beak. We will be checking student names beginning tonight and raising our level of security over the break. If anyone knows anything about this incident please contact one of the staff or myself immediately."

"It was Lupin!" someone shouted and Teddy stiffened.

"Yeah! We saw him go to the tomb last night!" someone else shouted but McGonagall raised a quick hand.

"Teachers and myself have questioned Mr Theodore Lupin last night. We found Mr Lupin unconscious at the scene of the crime and none of the tomb's artifacts were on his person. He was attempting to stop the culprit and has been deemed innocent by the staff," McGonagall said as Teddy fidgeted uncomfortably when he saw everyone turn their heads to stare at him.

"Again, anything suspicious should be brought to your teachers' attentions," McGonagall went on, diverting the school's attention once more.

"Aside from this however, I believe the students last night should be congratulated for their achievement at defeating their teachers. I believe a toast is in order," she said with a faint smile.

"To the students!" the Hall erupted, raising their goblets of pumpkin juice and cheering.

Vic joined in with whistles and Patty gave Ted a quick pat on the arm, "Don't worry. I don't think anyone's gonna believe that the Teddy Lupin robbed Dumbledore's tomb. Especially if McGonagall thinks you're innocent," she said and Teddy gave her a weak smile in thanks.

"Yeah Ted cheer up! It's Christmas!" Vic shouted over the din as the Hall continued to cheer.

"And with that, I and the rest of your teachers wish you all a safe and happy holidays," McGonagall said over the noise and the volume went up tenfold as even Teddy joined in on the cheering.

The rest of the day passed quickly, many students had left for home right after breakfast and Teddy and his friends had retreated to Remus' office as the teacher's had their own little meeting before the break.

"Yo Ted!" Logan said, walking into the room an hour later carrying a large suitcase.

"You're staying over?" Ted asked excitedly as Croswell and Bobo also made their way into the room with their own suitcases.

"Sure. Free food? Wouldn't miss it for the world," Logan said with a grin, "Thanks for inviting us."

"The more the merrier." Ted said happily, "The Weasley's are in France this Christmas so it'll be kind of lonely without the usual lot."

He was genuinely happy the three teachers would be staying over for Christmas break. Despite being his teachers, Logan, Bobo and Croswell were more like friends outside the school environment and got along well with Remus and Tonks. They'd been over a few times in the past and Teddy enjoyed their company as well.

"Who else is coming?" Ted asked his dad who had also weaselled his way into the room.

"Harry said he'd pop in before heading to France. Kinglsey will be popping in. Sirius is staying," Remus started as his son gave a whoop of delight. He hadn't seen his uncle in years.

"Helena and Q can also join us and we managed to convince Severus to come."

"You invited Snape?" Ted asked, slightly horrified and Remus shrugged.

"He's not evil Ted."

Teddy in turn shuddered but didn't push the issue.

"Anyone else?"

"Severus will be bringing a girl with him. About your age," Remus continued and Teddy and his friends shared a quick glance.

"A kid raised by Snape?" Vic asked, sounding horrified as Teddy and Roy laughed.

"Be nice boys," Remus said with a sigh and Teddy nodded, "Yeah we know we know Dad. Anyone else?"

"Well..." Remus mumbled, shuffling awkwardly, "Professor Heartfilia will be joining us. She overheard my invitations to the others and pressed the issue."

"You got bullied into inviting that woman?" Bobo asked, slightly shocked.

"I'm sure she won't be much trouble. She hasn't bothered me all term," Remus said with a shrug and Ted frowned.

It was true that unlike Xavia, Professor Heartfilia was much more civil and kind towards his father and her students. Still, there was something about her that was slightly off.

"Wait. Speaking of Professor Heartfilia did she say anything about Clair?" Teddy asked and Remus shook his head.

"She said some typical stuff. She saw Clair had potential as a student but was having some social issues so she made him her assistant. She said she had no idea he wasn't actually a student and she never knew he didn't attend any other classes."

"I think she's lying," Teddy mumbled but Remus again shrugged.

"We'll never know Ted but no more talk about this, get into the Floo already or your mother will be wondering where all her guests are," he said with a grin.

Teddy grinned back at him as he grabbed his friends and clambered into the Floo.

"There you all are!" Tonks said, rushing over to give her son hug. Helena emerged from the kitchen with a cup of tea and gave the new guests friendly hellos.

"How's school Ted?" she asked as Tonks and Remus took everyone's suitcases upstairs.

"Pretty good. You?" Ted asked with a grin.

"Oh it's not too bad I suppose. Can't help thinking what it'd be like teaching at a magic school though," Helena teased.

"Where's Q?" Vic asked, looking around as if expecting the man to pop up behind him.

"Oh he had work. He'll be here around dinner time," Helena said, waving her hand vaguely, "Now come on, what's first to do on the Christmas holiday list?"

Teddy grinned before leading Helena over to their computer.

In a few hours and after introductions, Tonks and the other teachers had engaged themselves in some conversation in the dining room as Remus attempted to beat Roy in a game of chess on the coffee table.

Teddy, Vic and Helena had crowded around his computer watching some more Bond movies with all three of them now bursting out laughing whenever the movie's Q appeared on screen.

"Oi Remus! The door!" Tonks called as the doorbell rang.

"That must be Sirius."

The boys instantly perked up, Teddy eager to see his uncle while Vic and Roy wanted to meet the infamous Sirius Black.

When Remus opened the door however he found two black haired men glaring daggers at each other on the doorstep.

"Talk about terrible timing," Remus joked as both men turned their glares to him instead.

"Evening Padfoot, Severus," Remus said, backing up and welcoming the other two into his home.

"Thank you for not killing each other on my front door. It would have upset the neighbours."

"Aw stow the crap Moony there's no one out here for miles," Sirius said, eyes still locked in a battle of wills against the Potions master who was also stepping through the entrance.

"It seems the years have been too kind on you Black," Snape said and Remus was pretty sure the man would have continued his tirade had it not been for a small tug on his cloak.

All the men looked down.

A small girl stood behind the Potions master, looking up at her supposed guardian with expectant eyes.

"You must be Celty," Remus said, interrupting the two arch enemies as the girl turned to look at the werewolf.

"Severus has told me lots about you," Remus went on an Celty gave him a bright smile.

"The boys are playing in the living room, Boys come say hello," Remus called out and Celty gave Severus a hesitant look.

"Well go on then," Snape snapped after a few seconds and Celty gave her guardian another grin before running off into the living room.

"Now. Tea guys?" Remus asked as the three men were left alone.

"Aw I wanna see your sprong Moony," Sirius said, "And you never told me he was coming."

"Indeed if I had known I would never have agreed to this Lupin," Snape snapped before disappearing into the kitchen.

"What's Snivellus doing with a kid anyways?" Sirius muttered as Remus gave him a clap on the back as they headed to the living room.

"My name's Teddy. This is Vic and that's Roy," Teddy said happily to his new friend.

Celty gave them shy waves before taking out a Muggle cellphone and typing out, "I'm Celty. Nice to meet you," before showing the trio the screen.

"Cool. Are you a witch?" Vic asked and Celty nodded typing out.

"Severus teaches me magic during the holidays."

"How long have you known Snape?" Teddy said, instantly curious and Celty shrugged before holding up 3 fingers.

"3 years? Wow. Is he always such a creeper at home?" Vic asked and Roy nudged him gently in the ribs but Celty laughed anyways before giving several firm nods.

The boys instantly burst out laughing as Celty typed.

"I ran away from the orphanage 3 yrs ago and ended up meeting Severus. Now I'm officially his assistant," she showed the boys with a slightly prideful smile.

"So you're really good with potions?"

Another nod.

"Cool. You can help us with our homework!" Vic said and the group of kids laughed again.

"I see you four are getting along," Remus said as he entered with Sirius in tow.

"Yeah! Hi Uncle Sirius!" Teddy instantly shouted, giving his uncle a hug.

"Wow Ted you're huge!" Sirius exclaimed much to the boy's amusement, "Still stuck with the blue hair though I see. How're you doing? You dad's not making you live of chocolate is he?"

Teddy laughed, "No but he's tried."

"Come on, these are my friends Vic and Roy and I think you've met Celty," Teddy said, pointing out each of his new friends who waved or nodded shyly.

"Yup. Moony's told me all about you two last year," Sirius said, pointing at the brothers with a grin.

"Sirius Black. Nice to meet ya," he said and Teddy laughed as Vic's eyes bugged.

"Ted your family is so cool," Vic whispered, "Like you know Harry Potter and Sirius Black and EVERYONE."

Teddy laughed, "Well now you know them too."

In the recent years, Sirius' involvement in the war and his innocence had made headlines everywhere. No one could believe that the infamous killer was actually a member of the Order of the Pheonix and had not had any hand in killing the Potters.

Still, not being much for fame and attention, Sirius had left Britain in the middle of the big uproar and disappeared for a few years having found an urge to travel after so long trapped in Azkaban and, to a lesser extent, his own home during the war.

He and Remus owled each other now and then but this was still the first time in years that Teddy had seen the man in person.

"Are you really an Animagus?" Vic asked Sirius excitedly and Sirius laughed, "You betcha kid!"

And with that Sirius turned into a giant black dog.

Teddy was quite certain Vic was going to hyperventilate and pass out.

"THAT'S SOOO COOL!" Vic said, bouncing up and down and shaking his brother.

"Can you teach me how to do that? Please please pleeease?"

Teddy laughed along with everyone else as Sirius turned back into human form.

"Maybe when you're a bit older but I'll see what I can do," Sirius replied with a grin, giving Vic a pat on the head as he jumped up and down in excitement.

Remus laughed along with everyone else as he watched Vic's enthusiasm only to be interrupted by another ringing of the door.

Quickly walking over to answer it he was met with Professor Heartfilia at his door.

"Good evening Remus," she said sweetly and Remus gave her a quick smile.

"Come in come in. We were just about to start dinner," Remus said, inviting the other teacher in.

"What a lovely place you have," Hearfilia said as she entered and Remus gave her another polite smile in thanks before taking her coat.

He made some polite conversation with the teacher before a few minutes later, Tonks' voice was heard calling for dinner and every clamored around the dining room table.

"This is lovely Tonks. Did you make this?"Croswell asked between a mouthful of pasta.

"Oh Merlin no!" Tonks said and Teddy laughed.

"I think Mum once burned water," he said and the children snickered as Tonks shot her son a dirty glare.

"Helena made it," Tonks insisted and the Muggle of the group blushed.

"Well I had Remus' help. That magic if very convenient stuff!" Helena said and all the other teachers nodded in agreement.

Professor Heartfilia on the other hand frowned.

"What ever do you mean by that? We are not all witches here?" she asked in her Italian accent.

Helena smiled politely at her, "No. Sorry. We never got introduced. I'm Helena Rodor. I'm not a witch."

"Oh and how did you meet Remus?" Heatfilia asked but Remus quickly interrupted.

"Helena helped Teddy and I in a time of need over the summer holidays. We're friends," he stressed and Teddy was pleased that the topic was dropped almost instantly.

"Oh that reminds me. We never told you Teddy but is it alright if Celty sleeps with you boys?" Tonks said after a while of polite chatter.

"Sure!" Teddy said.

"Sirius, you're sleeping in our room. Severus I think we agreed you would take the basement. You four can take the guest room. If it's a bit cramped the basement could still use occupants,"

Teddy and his friends snickered as Logan and Bobo shot looks of feigned horror at Tonks before dissolving into laughter.

Are you sure you don't mind sleeping on the couch?" Tonks went asked Helena who shook her head.

"If you can make it bigger like you showed me this morning it should be fine," Helena insisted.

"Cool. Now. Celty was saying something how Professor Snape got her to talk?" Vic pressed, looking at Celty expectantly who blushed before looking over at Snape to explain.

"Not talk exactly," Snape sighed, "I've invented a potion that will allow the user to speak her mind by projecting her thoughts to the people around her. The potion is still in its early stage of development and only lasts for a few hours at best."

"So it's like. Mind-talking," Vic said, and Teddy too seemed to be in awe.

"Telepathy," Roy corrected and Vic corrected himself.

"Yeah. Telepathy. Like Professor X in X-Men," Vic said and Roy rolled his eyes.

"Something like that."

"Can we listen?" Teddy asked Celty who once again looked at Snape who nodded once before resuming his meal.

With a grin she grabbed Ted's hand and lead the boys to their room.

Remus watched the group of kids go before Sirius spoke up from beside him.

"How'd you wind up with a kid like that anyways?" Sirius asked, pointing his finger at Snape. No doubt his curiosity had breached his "No speaking to Snivellus" rule.

Snape shrugged vaguely.

"Her parents were killed by Voldemort's Death Eaters. I've been told the experience was...traumatic..." Snape said before leaving the table and gathering his empty plates.

Sirius spared Remus a glance who shrugged.

"Just leave it at that Padfoot," he said and Sirius shrugged back.

"Meh. More info than I wanted anyways," he grumbled. "So? How're you doing Moony? Haven't seen you in ages!"

As the adults talked downstairs or, in Snape's case, probably not talked downstairs, Teddy and his friends hurried into the bedroom where Celty rummaged through a small backpack of her things.

Taking out a small vial she showed her awed audience before unscrewing the cap and putting a drop of it on her tongue.

"Can you hear me?"

The boys jumped again as a voice filtered through their heads; quiet and sweet.

"That's soo coool," Vic said for the enth time that day and even Roy was awed.

"Yeah we can hear you Celty," Teddy said happily, "What do you want to talk about?"

"I don't know..." came the hesitant reply.

"Well why not tell us what you do during our school times?" Vic asked and Teddy shrugged, interested to know what she got up to when most other kids were at school.

"Oh and you have to tell us about Snape!" Teddy insisted and Vic nodded his head vigorously.

"Yeah like does he snore? What shampoo does he use? Does he wear jeans?" Vic asked and the rest of the group burst out laughing once more.

Once the potion had wore off in a few hours, Teddy and his friends retreated back downstairs where Croswell was chatting excitedly with Helena in the kitchen.

Tonks, Sirius and Logan were catching up on the times and Remus and Snape were playing another game of wizard's chess in the living room.

Teddy wasn't sure where Professor Heartfilia had disappeared to but didn't dwell on it.

Putting in the next Bond movie the boys quickly outlined the general feel of Bond to Celty before they settled down to watch. Only for the doorbell to ring and some odd thumping was heard outside.

"That must be Q," Remus said, getting up to open the door. When he reached it however he found himself face to face with a rather large box.

"...a TV?" he asked, amazed and Q's fedora poked up from behind the box.

"Christmas," was Q's only word of explanation as he adjusted his hold.

"Do you need a hand?" was Remus' first thought. The large box seemed to look as it might crush the man after all but Q shook his head, stepping into the house without so much a huff of breath.

When Ted saw Q's rather grand entrance into the living room he gave a whoop of delight at the man's present.

"NO WAY A TV?!" he shouted, as all the children shot to their feet to inspect the new piece of technology.

The rest of the adults came running into the living room at the shout before everyone gave their own exclamations.

"You really didn't need to," Remus protested weakly but Q shrugged again as he rather easily settled the large flat screen's box onto the floor.

"Christmas," he insisted.

"Now I see why you live with your dad," Helena spoke up, slipping an arm around Q's waist, "Gives you lots of extra cash not having to pay for food or anything doesn't it?"

"Hmm," was Q's reply as he helped Remus open the box under the watchful eyes of everyone else in the room.

It would take roughly an hour for Q to set the TV and its accompanying stand up. It was also hard to position it in a place where Tonks and Teddy deemed it safe so that they wouldn't trip over it and kill themselves.

In the mean time, the adults went back to their respective talks and chess games before almost silently, Professor Heartfilia sat down on the couch beside Remus with a frown.

"I don't mean to intrude Remus. But that Rodor woman has been talking to Croswell for the past two hours," she said, suspicion evident in her voice.

Ted and his friends helping Q set up the television in front of the couch gave each other looks at the not so subtle accusation.

"I don't really see the problem," Remus admitted with a raised eyebrow as his bishop snatched up Snape's rook.

"Well it's a bit suspicious isn't it? She's awfully friendly and she knows so much about magic for a Muggle."

Ted turned to look at Q who gave no indication that he was listening to Heartfilia at all.

"And in all honesty Remus. She's a bit of a whore."

BANG

Teddy and his friends jumped as if electrocuted as, in a blink of an eye, the TV went from standing on its stand to being raised high above Qs head. Qs face was absolutely livid, eyes narrowed in pure hatred as plugs snapped out of their sockets from the sudden force and Teddy cowered against Vic as it seemed like the man had every intention to throw the TV at Heartfilia with every ounce of strength he had.

"Q BLOODY HELL PUT IT DOWN!" Helan's shriek was heard as footsteps ran into the living room.

In an instant, Q seemed to snap back into reality and his face went completely slack as he took a few stumbling steps from the weight of the television in his hands before it all came crashing to the floor.

Teddy winced as the TV was dropped to the ground and Helena was already there, grabbing Q by the arm and hauling him up.

"Terribly sorry about that Remus. We'll explain later. We'll be in the bedroom," she hastily muttered as she dragged her husband out the room.

Teddy, along with the rest of the house's guests, stared at the place they had been before before slowly turning to each other.

Q's sudden action had surged Snape and Lupin to their feet. Remus couldn't really get the feeling that he was going to soon be crushed by a television out of his head.

"What in Merlin's name was that about?" Heartfilia cried out, breaking the awkwardly tense silence.

As the adrenaline slowly trickled out of him, Remus sat back down with a sigh. Snape having already done so.

"That was her husband," Remus murmured, reaching to rub his eyes with a sigh.

Heartfilia on the other hand wasn't done, "Oh well Remus you should have told me the Muggle was married to a wizard. It make so much more sense now!" she insisted but Remus shook his head.

"Q is also a Muggle," he stated flatly and Heartfilia's eyes widened once more.

"That man is a Muggle?" she said, pointing to the television lying on the floor. "An ordinary Muggle? You expect me to believe that? He just lifted up a 50 pound television and waved it around over his head like it was a child's toy!" she exclaimed and Remus shrugged helplessly.

"Yes well, he may not be an ordinary Muggle but he is very much a Muggle as is his wife and I would appreciate if you didn't go spreading any rumors about them," Remus stressed and Heartfilia, finally in Ted's opinion, shut up.

"Ted will you check on them?" Remus asked, as Tonks mumbled a simple Reparo on the television before the teachers decided it was due time to let things go and leave the room.

Ted took the stairs two at a time as he tried to silently glide up to the master bedroom door.

"Seriously Q you need to sleep," came Helena's voice angrily through the door.

"Or else you're going to be a terrible house guest and I don't want to have send you to the hospital again when you suddenly have the urge to throw the fridge out the window or something."

There was a rustle of fabric that signalled Q had spoken.

"What?" Helena asked.

"She called you a whore," Q stressed a bit louder so that even Teddy could hear.

There was an awkward pause as Helena seemed to think about that fact before more rustling of fabric.

"Yeah well. I can fight my own battles Mr. Secret Agent," Helena started, "And you're not 16 anymore. You don't need to punch everyone through a wall for badmouthing your friends."

"You're more than my friend," Q mumbled and Ted could just picture him awkwardly look away.

Helena laughed, "And I love you too."

Teddy straightened from the door as he took a breath. No doubt Q and Helena had made up so with a tentative fist he gave a knock on the door.

Q? Helena? He asked, slowly opening the door and peering inside, "Are you guys alright?"

"Hey Ted. Yeah we're alright. We're just coming down now," Helena said, getting up from the bed, husband in tow.

"Heartfilia apologized to you guys," Teddy lied and Helena smiled at him.

"Sorry. Temper's not the best at the moment," Q said quietly to Remus as he made his way back to the television sitting on the floor.

"Don't worry about it. It was a bit of a shock that's all," he said, deciding not to press the issue.

"Checkmate," Snape interrupted and Remus stared in dismay at the chess board with a groan.

Q's lips quirked but he said nothing as he turned back to the TV, Teddy and his friends quickly helping him finish the set up.

By the time the television was finally set up it was well past midnight and Celty had already fallen asleep, quite amusingly, in Snape's lap. Vic was also snoring softly, belly down on the sofa next to them with Roy not too far behind.

"I think the grand revealing can wait until tomorrow," Tonks said as Teddy gave a huge yawn.

"Yeah. Come on Ted, you're not too old for piggy back from your uncle are you?" Sirius asked and Teddy gave him a sleepy grin as he was hoisted up.

As the rest of the household got ready for bed, Ted found it quite easy to sleep into an easy slumber before he was suddenly jolted awake as a thought struck him.

"The necklace! I forgot about the necklace!"

Suddenly desperate to find the object he'd picked up the night before from the fight, Teddy quickly got up, stepped over his sleeping friends and opened his trunk. After a few seconds of rummaging, Ted was able to find his cloak and within its pockets, finally extracted the tooth necklace from its confines secretly pleased that Pomfrey or the Headmistress hadn't confiscated it during his stay at the Hospital Wing.

He studied the tooth again for a second before getting up and silently slipping out of his room. The rest of the house was asleep by now and he quickly walked downstairs and into the living room only to stop at the sight before him.

Helena must have managed to convince Q to finally sleep for he lay on his back, chest rising and falling rhythmically as his wife curled herself up beside him under the blankets.

The sofa had been magically stretched so it easily fit the peaceful couple and Teddy noticed a bottle of pills sitting next to a glass of water on the coffee table. With a small smile Teddy carefully tiptoed back upstairs. Whatever he needed could wait until tomorrow.


It's been a year...more than a year... o.o Am I back? It'll depend but I do really want to get this story finished now. I'll go easy on the cliffhangers though. Sorry to everyone who most likely will have to reread this story again just to remember wtf's going on (I know I had to).

To make things a bit simpler:

Roy and Vic are sons of Antonin Dolohov
Q works for the Secret Service. You don't know his real name yet. He'll have a major role later on.
Lucy Heartfilia is the other DADA professor alongside Remus.
Clarence Leonelli is...a mystery... but the main antagonist.

And I have to give credit to SweetDeamon again for helping me find my motivation to write after so long.

Until next time. Review!