The Story of Teddy Lupin
A/N: I put the wrong name for Percy's wife. So I fixed it and posted it again. Sorry. It's supposed to be Audrey.
Chapter 8: Quidditch
Quidditch practice started the next week for everyone (Neil had made the team too). So Monday after classes Teddy and Lee made their way down to the quidditch pitch. Neil wanted to come watch but none of them thought that was a good idea. Teddy and Neil both played to win and since they were on different teams they didn't want to do anything that could cause problems in their friendship. They had discussed it last Tuesday after Neil found out he made the team.
They were in the library trying to do homework when Lee looked up at them. "You don't think us being on different teams will cause problems do you?"
"No way."
Neil nodded before adding, "maybe we shouldn't watch each other's practices though."
"Why?" Teddy asked.
"Well, can you honestly say you wouldn't be tempted to use something you saw in my practice? Because even though you guys are my best mates I play to win and if it was a close game I may use something I noticed in your practice. Or if Connor found out I watched your practice he would be asking me to tell him about it. And I wouldn't want to but if I didn't he probably wouldn't react well to that."
"Yeah I guess you're right. I'm competitive too so I can imagine how it would be if I watched your practice."
Lee looked at them both again, "so we won't watch the other team's practice. I think we also need to talk about what happens if the other team wins."
"We'll be happy for the winners. Right?" Neil asked.
Teddy nodded, "yeah. I mean it's understandable to be bit upset about your team losing, but if your best mate wins you have to be happy for him too. So if Ravenclaw beats us we'll be happy for you and is Hufflepuff wins you'll be happy for us."
"No rubbing it in each other's faces though," Neil added quickly.
"Course not," agreed Lee.
With that settled they went back to their homework.
So Teddy and Lee went to their first quidditch practice. Lee got to practice a little bit. He did the warm ups with the team and he got to practice making passes and taking shots at the goal. But when they worked on flying formations for the chasers he mainly just watched. But he still loved every minute of it. When they were done they met Neil for supper.
The next day was Neil's first quidditch practice. He was just as excited as Lee and Teddy had been the day before, and not just because of quidditch. Sophie had made the team as well and he was happy to now have an excuse to talk to her. Though when he got to the quidditch pitch practice started right away. They worked on everything individually before bringing it back to working on it as a whole.
When practice was over he ran to catch up with Sophie. "Hey Sophie."
She glanced at him over her shoulder, "oh hi."
"You were great today."
"Thanks."
"So, uh, are you going to the Great Hall?"
"No."
"Common room?"
"Yeah."
"You're not gonna eat supper?"
"Maybe later. You ask a lot of questions."
"Sorry. Just trying to make friends with my new teammates."
Sophie sighed and then turned in the direction of the Ravenclaw dormitory after entering the castle.
"I'll see you at our next practice then."
She half-heartedly raised a hand in the air as way of acknowledgement that he said something.
Neil turned and made his way into the Great hall to join Lee and Teddy. He immediately started telling them about Sophie and their conversation, making it sound much better than it really was.
After that they had to make a new routine. With quidditch practice happening pretty much every other day for all the teams they didn't have as much time to do homework together. So they had breakfast and lunch together and then a quick supper before they went to the library for a couple of hours to finish homework. But once they did this for a week or so they got used to it.
The first quidditch match was in October. It was between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. So Teddy and Lee wore blue and cheered Neil and his team on. And of course Neil's parents were there, both wearing every Ravenclaw thing they could get their hands on (sweaters, hats, scarves, buttons, etc.). Teddy thought it was great, especially since his parents had both been in Gryffindor when they were at Hogwarts. In the end Ravenclaw won. It was a close game and it lasted several hours before Ravenclaw's seeker, 4th year Bethany Combs, finally caught the snitch.
After the game Lee and Teddy joined Neil in the Ravenclaw common room to celebrate their victory. The party went on well past curfew, but Teddy hadn't thought to bring the invisibility cloak with them so they just slept in the common room. It wasn't bad, they just made sure to get up early enough to go back to their dormitory to get ready for the day. But when they got there a Hufflepuff prefect saw them coming in and stopped them. "Where are you two coming from?"
"Nowhere."
"So you aren't coming back just now? You weren't out all night some how?"
Lee stammered, "er, well."
"Five points each from Hufflepuff."
Teddy's jaw dropped, "what? You're a Hufflepuff. It hurts you to take points from us. Why would you do it?"
"Because I am a prefect and must uphold the rules even if it hurts me too."
"It's not like we were roaming the halls or something. We were in the Ravenclaw common room celebrating their win. When everyone started going to bed we noticed it was past curfew so we slept there. How is that bad?"
"Curfew means in your dormitory. Not someone else's. So five points each from Hufflepuff. And I suggest you don't let it happen again."
With that last comment she left the common room. Teddy and Lee stared after her for a moment before Teddy groaned, "I can't believe her. That is so dumb. I bet the teachers wouldn't actually care. But oh no, she's a prefect so she has to make herself seem powerful. Even if it does hurt her own house."
"Well, if you really wanted to know what teachers would think about it you could ask Professor Longbottom."
"You're not bothered by this?"
"Well yeah. But there's nothing we can do about it."
"Fine. I'm gonna go get ready."
Lee sighed, "okay. Me too."
That day when Teddy had a short break between classes he found Neville in one of the greenhouses. "Neville, er, Professor, can I ask you about something?"
"Sure Teddy, come in."
Teddy walked up to where Neville had set up a small desk and sat down across from him. "Hypothetically, if a student were to stay the night in a different dormitory would they get in trouble?"
"Well, technically curfew does mean you're supposed to be in your dormitory, not someone else's. But I don't think any of the teachers would actually care. Why?"
"Well, Lee and I went to Ravenclaw after the game and ended up staying past curfew so we slept in their common room. We got up this morning when we were allowed to be out again and went back to our dormitory. When we got there a prefect saw us coming in and took five points each from Hufflepuff for breaking curfew. How is that fair?"
"It does seem a bit harsh, but technically she's not wrong. Curfew means being in your dormitory. And you weren't. I don't think you did anything wrong, but she didn't do anything wrong either. Sorry Teddy."
"It's fine. I just had to ask."
"Okay. How's everything else going so far this year Teddy? Any problems with Greengrass?"
"Everything's fine. I never realized how busy I would be now that I have quidditch. But its so much fun. I'm so glad I made the team."
"Congrats on that. I'll be cheering you on next week during your game against Slytherin."
"Thanks. Well I guess I should get going." Teddy stood and started toward the door.
"Teddy. You didn't answer my question about William Greengrass."
Teddy stopped and turned half way back around and shrugged. "He's never gonna be my best mate. But we're fine."
"You sure? I've heard some things."
"He barks at me some and he's made a couple jokes. But it's fine. Really, it doesn't bother me. And please don't do anything about it. You saw last year how that just makes things worse."
"Okay, I wont say anything to him. But I've got my eye on him. And I won't let him escalate either. It's my job as a teacher to protect you guys. Especially you. You're one of my best mates' sons. So of course I'm going to look out for you."
"Thanks Neville."
"You're welcome Teddy. Now go on before you're late for class."
Teddy turned and left then smiling as he did. He may not have gotten the answer he wanted, but he liked talking to Neville. And it always made him happy when someone referred to him as Harry's son. Even if he didn't call him dad he still thought of Harry as his dad. So he went about the rest of his day in a good mood.
A week later and it was his turn down on the quidditch pitch. He really hoped they won since Harry, Ginny, his Gran, and most of the Weasley family was there to watch him. Harry and Ginny got there early enough to have breakfast with him. Which was a little embarrassing, but he was glad they did it anyways. He looked at Ginny sitting across from him, "any last minute tips?"
"Just do your best. You've been practicing so you're ready. But don't let that make you cocky. You'll almost always mess up if you get cocky."
"Okay thanks."
After that they all made their way down to the quidditch pitch. After Allison gave a pep talk in the locker room they followed her out onto the field. While Madam Hooch was stating the rules and having the team captains shake hands Teddy was scanning the crowd. He spotted Harry and Ginny right away, and then noticed that they were surrounded by quite a few red heads. Teddy gulped. Then he shook his head as he kicked off the ground. He couldn't let this distract him.
Several hours later the Hufflepuff team had crushed the Slytherin team. Teddy landed in a huddle with his team, all of them cheering and screaming excited about the win. When they saw people making their way down to them though they broke off a bit to talk to their friends and family. Teddy had just started to look for Harry and Ginny when he saw a flash of blonde hair and then was almost knocked over by the force of the small blonde throwing herself at him to hug him. He realized then that it was Victoire. He didn't know she had been at the game, but he was glad she was. The rest of the Weasleys and Potters had reached them by now and he was soon engulfed in many hugs. Bill was there with Victoire, Charlie, Percy, George and Angelina, Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny, Arthur and Molly, and Andromeda. When Teddy had made it threw all the hugs and got back to Ginny he looked up at her and said, "where are all the kids?"
Fleur has Dominique, Louis, Fred, and Roxanne. Audrey has Molly, James, Al, Lily, Rose, and Hugo. James was actually quite upset that he didn't get to come with us. But we wanted to be able to focus on you so we told him none of the other kids were coming and that we would bring him next time."
"What do you think he'll do when he finds out Victoire came?"
"Let's just hope he doesn't."
They talked to Lee's parents as well who had come in case he got to play and Victoire talked with Neil, Lee and Teddy while the adults talked. When they decided it was finally time to leave Victoire begged to stay long enough to eat supper with Teddy. But Bill said they had to get back home and that she would be here for real soon enough. So she gave Teddy one last hug and sulked off with her dad.
After everyone was gone Lee, Teddy, and Neil went up to the Hufflepuff common room to join the party they were having there. it was just as fun as the one Ravenclaw had the week before, but Neil made sure to leave enough time before curfew to make it back to his dormitory because of what had happened to Teddy and Lee. But other than that it had been a good day. They all went to bed happy.