The Story of Teddy Lupin

Chapter 6: Back to Hogwarts

The boys were so excited to be going back to Hogwarts. They had missed it over the summer. And, while they had seen each other some and would never admit this out loud, they had missed each other. So the train back to school was very loud and exciting in their compartment. They bought a ton of sweets even though their parents had packed them lunches and ate until they felt sick.

When they finally arrived at Hogwarts they followed the other students off the train and over to the carriages. Teddy couldn't see the thestrils that pulled the carriages, but he knew they were there. Harry had told him about them once. He thought Harry hadn't really meant to bring them up, but once he had Teddy had wanted to know more, so Harry told him. He was glad he couldn't see them. But since he knew they were there he decided to pet the one pulling their carriage when they got out.

"Teddy, what are you doing?"

"Yeah come on, quit petting the air and let's go inside."

"It's not air. The carriages are pulled by thestrils."

Lee looked at him like he had suddenly grown three heads, "no the carriages pull themselves. That fourth year Gryffindor told us at the platform. Remember?"

"Yeah he said that, but come here. Put your hand next to mine and tell me you don't feel it."

Lee walked over ready to tell Teddy it was just the air, but when he put his hand next to Teddy's he was surprised. "How are you doing this Teddy?"

"I'm not doing anything. That's the thestril you felt. I promise. Harry told me all about them. You can only see them if you've seen someone die."

Neil walked over then and put his hand where Lee's had been. "Whoa!"

"See. The carriages are pulled by thestrils."

Lee put his hand back up, "why would that guy say there's nothing pulling the carriages then?"

Teddy shrugged, "he probably doesn't know. Why would he? I don't know of anyone that can see them."

Neil shuddered, "I would hope not."

Neville walked up to them then, "hurry up you three. Don't want to miss the sorting do you?"

"No professor," they said together.

Lee and Neil hurried off but Teddy wasn't so eager to leave the thestril. "Professor, can you see them?"

Neville sighed, "yes I can. Most of the professors can, if they were here during the battle anyways."

"I'm sorry professor."

"Me too Teddy." He patted Teddy on the back, "come on, let's get inside."

With that they turned and walked into the castle.

After the feast the boys made their way to their dormitories. Lee and Teddy going to Hufflepuff and Neil to Ravenclaw. They would see each other tomorrow for class. When Lee and Teddy were settled in their dormitory Lee looked over at Teddy and whispered, "you awake?"

"Yeah."

"Why couldn't I see the thestrils? I mean, I was there when my birth parents died. So I should be able to see them then right?"

"But do you actually remember them dying?"

"No."

"Maybe that's why. Maybe you have to be able to remember seeing them die. Do you want to be able to see them?"

"Not really. I just thought it was weird."

"Yeah. I'm sorry Lee."

"It's okay. Goodnight Teddy."

"Night Lee."

A few minutes later they were both asleep.

The next morning at breakfast found Neil at the Hufflepuff table with Lee and Teddy looking over their schedules. That year they had Defense Against the Dark Arts with Ravenclaw, Herbology with Gryffindor, Potions with Ravenclaw, Transfiguration with Slytherin, Charms with Gryffindor, History of Magic with Slytherin, and Astrology with Ravenclaw. So the boys only had three classes together, but that was okay, they would still do their homework together in the library and see each other during meals. Neil looked at Teddy for a moment, "you gonna be okay with Greengrass being in Transfiguration and History of Magic with you?"
"I'll be fine. He hasn't bothered me much since last Halloween."

"He still barks at you."

"That's why I said much Lee."

"I didn't know he was still barking at you."

"Because he only does it when I walk into class or out of class when the teacher either isn't there or is distracted and won't hear. I ignore it. It doesn't bother me so I decided not to mention it."

"So basically I only know because I'm there when he gets barked at. I still think you should tell Professor Longbottom."

"Why? If all he's doing is barking that's no big deal. I honestly don't care."

Lee shook his head and Neil sighed. "If you're sure it doesn't bother you then okay. But if it turns into more than barking again you'll have to tell someone."

"I know Neil. Come on, we'll be late for class."

Lee and Neil followed Teddy out of the Great Hall.

By the end of the first week they had easily slid back into the routine they had had the previous year. Get up, eat breakfast together, go to class, eat lunch together, go to class, do homework together in the library, go to bed. Greengrass still barked at Teddy like he had last year and Teddy still ignored him. At the end of the week Teddy to wrote a letter to Harry and Ginny and a letter to his Gran. He told them about how his classes were going and how he, Lee and Neil were doing.

They only change to their routine was quidditch. The boys were all trying out for their house teams; Lee and Teddy the second Saturday of school and Neil the second Sunday. So Saturday morning found Lee and Teddy down on the quidditch pitch holding brooms. Lee used a school broom, but Harry had sent Teddy his broom from home for the try outs. Teddy was also much more confident than Lee was. They were both trying out for a chaser spot. There were two open but there were a lot of people trying out. They each took their turn playing in a chaser position while others were trying out for seeker and beater as well. The team captain that year was 6th year Allison O'Flannery who played keeper. She did play keeper against those trying out for a chaser position, but she let the reserve keeper play some too to see how they were doing and so she could better watch the seekers and beaters try out. Teddy made the most goals on Allison out of everyone that tried out, 7 total compared to the average of 4 or 5. They left the field feeling pretty good about how they had done.

Lee looked at Teddy, "you made the most goals, you'll get on the team for sure".

"You did good too Lee. I'm sure you'll on too."

"I think I'll probably just make the reserves."

"No way."

"Yeah. But I'm okay with that. I'll still get to practice with the team so then maybe next year I can make the team for real."

"Well I still think you'll make the team this year, but as long as you're okay with either one then good."

The two continued up to the castle to meet Neil for lunch and tell him about their try out. When they entered the Great Hall Neil waved them over to the Ravenclaw table where he was already sitting. They sat down across from him at the table and started wolfing down their food.

"So try outs? Or can you stop inhaling your food long enough to talk about it?"

Teddy swallowed, "sorry. Just so hungry after that. It was brutal, but fun."

"How do you think you did?"
"I think we both did great, but Lee's not so sure."

Neil turned to Lee and raised an eyebrow.

"I think Teddy was awesome. He made the most goals out of everyone that tried out for chaser. But I just did okay."

"You did better than okay."

"I would say I was average. I wasn't better or worse than most of the players. So I think I may be a reserve player. Which is fine with me."

Neil nodded, "Okay, sounds like it went pretty well then."

"And what about you? Are you ready for your try out tomorrow?" Teddy asked.

"Yeah I'm ready. I practiced all summer with dad and he sent me my broom this morning so I could have it for the try out instead of using a school broom. So I'm hoping it'll be fine tomorrow."

Lee nodded, "I'm sure you'll do great. You'll make keeper for sure. Who's the team captain again?"

"His name is Connor Sturges, he's a 7th year. Plays chaser. He's really good, been on the team since his second year."

"Know anything about him not related to quidditch?"

Neil looked at Lee for a moment before answering, "not really no. but I don't need to know anything about him that's not quidditch related. It's not like I'm trying to become his best mate or anything."

"I guess that's true."

They continued eating their lunch and talking about quidditch. When they were done with lunch Lee and Teddy went to change clothes and Neil went to get his books from his dorm. They were going to meet in the library to try to finish up their homework before tomorrow so they could just relax after Neil's try outs. When Lee and Teddy came out of the second year dormitory they ran into Allison.

"Oh hey you two, great job out there today. I'll be posting my final decision by Monday."

"Okay thanks," Teddy said while Lee nodded along.

With that Allison went to the girl's dormitory and the boys left to meet Neil in the library. When they got there Neil wasn't there yet, but Greengrass and his friends were. So they tried to find a table far away from them, but not before William saw them.

"Well if it isn't the dog, I didn't know the library allowed dogs inside. Be sure you don't get bored and start chewing on a book."

His friends laughed while Teddy and Lee walked away.

"Oh and do keep the barking to a minimum, libraries are a place of quiet study."

This caused more laughter to come from his cronies.

Teddy and Lee made their way over to a table as far from Greengrass as they could get. Shortly after they got settled Neil arrived. "Hey, I saw William and his friends when I walked in. They were laughing about something."

Lee shook his head, "still?"

Neil looked up from where he was pulling books out of his bag, "what do you mean still?"

Teddy sighed, "just another one of his stupid dog jokes, no big deal".

"You should really tell someone. You know Professor Longbottom from before you started here, tell him."

"No need. I can handle the barking and occasional jokes."

Lee looked at him for a moment before saying, "you're not afraid he'll attack you again like last year are you?"

"What?! No. I could take him no problem. I just don't feel like getting into it with him."

"Wait. I thought you said he only barked at you? You didn't say he was making comments again too."

"Well that was the first time since last Halloween. Look can we just let this go please and finish our homework?"

"Fine," both boys grumbled.

So they finally got started on their homework only talking when one of them asked a question about whichever assignment they were working on.

The next day was Neil's turn to spend the morning on the quidditch pitch. He made his way across the grounds stopping at the school broom shed to get his broom before continuing down to the pitch. When he got there he scouted the competition trying to decide who was trying out for which position. He made a few a guesses but wasn't completely sure until Connor called for them to split off into groups based on which position they were trying out for.

There was only one other person trying out for keeper. He didn't know his name but he had seen him coming out of the 4th year boy's dormitory before. He was a little worried that he would make the team over him because he was older. He was also surprised to see that there was a girl trying out for beater. Not that he cared or thought girls couldn't be good beaters, it was just rare. Most beaters were guys. He was interested to see how it played out.

Connor had each of them try out based on position. So first he watched the keepers, then the chasers, then the beaters, then the seeker. Neil was pleased with how he had done. He managed to block 3 more shots than the 4th year boy did. He hoped that was good enough to make the team. He was also very impressed with how the girl beater had done. She was excellent. He was sure she would make the team.

Once they were dismissed Neil made his way back up to the castle. He noticed that the girl that tried out for beater was a bit ahead of him so he ran to catch up. "Hey, you were great out there."

She looked up at him surprised by hearing him when he hadn't been next to her a moment before, "thanks. You too."

They walked in awkward silence for a few minutes before Neil finally said, "sorry, but what's your name?"

"Sophie."

"Sophie, cool. My name's Neil."

"Cool."

"What year are you Sophie?"

"Third."

"Oh. I'm a second year."

"Cool."

They reached the castle then and Sophie immediately went in the direction of the Ravenclaw dormitory. Neil wanted to talk to her a bit more but he was supposed to meet Lee and Teddy for lunch so he just said, "alright see you around then."

He headed into the Great Hall and sat down at the Hufflepuff table with Lee and Teddy. Teddy looked up excitedly, "how'd it go?"

"Good. I blocked 3 more shots than the other person trying out for keeper so that's good."

Lee nodded, "yeah it is. I'm sure you'll make the team then."

"I hope so."

Teddy patted him on the back, "I'm sure you will."

"Thanks. Oh and this third year girl, Sophie, tried out for beater. She was amazing. I'm sure she'll make the team." He said all of this with a slight grin on his face.

Lee and Teddy looked at each other then Teddy said, "you like her don't you."

"What? No. I just met her. How could I already like her?" He blushed a bit.

Lee chuckled, "yep, you like her."

"Whatever," Neil mumbled.

They went on eating their lunch. When they were done they decided to go see Hagrid since they had finished their homework the day before. They spent the rest of the day with Hagrid talking with him, playing with Junior, and helping Hagrid with some of the work he still had to get done that day. Overall, it was a good day.

A/N: Sorry it has taken so long to get this chapter posted, I've had a bit of writer's block. This chapter was really hard to write for some reason, so I'm a little nervous about it's quality. I hope you all like it though and I will be working on the next chapter soon. Thank you for sticking with me.