Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. No money is made from this.

Chapter 9 - The flying toy soldier

By the time Alex and Laura where marched out of the office by Mrs. Greengrass and Mr. Clearwater band Hermione had left with Mark, the clock on the mantelpiece of the Potter living room showed 10 o'clock.

Out of the fireplace underneath stumbled Teddy followed closely by Harry, who held the now brown-haired boy firmly by the arm. Releasing him he pointed to the couch opposite him and said: "Sit."

Doing what he was told Teddy lowered himself onto the couch and carefully placed his Firebolt to the ground by his feet. The moment he looked back up Ginny had rushed into the room.

"Teddy – thank god you're home. Are you okay? Are you hurt? I was so worried."

She gave him a relieved hug, however once she had assured herself that he indeed didn't miss a limb, Ginny took her Mrs. Weasley pose and started scolding.

"Ted Remus Lupin, what were you thinking? Flying your broom to London when I specifically told you to stay at home. You could have been seen. You could have hurt yourself or worse. I was worried sick and half the family was in panic."

"Gin" Harry gently interrupted her. "Would you mind making some tea. I'd like a cup and I guess Ted could use one too."

Hands still on her hips, Ginny understood the hint and made to leave.

"Sure, I'll be in the kitchen when you're ready."

Subdued by Ginny's earlier words, Teddy studied his shoes. Harry leaned against the mantelpiece and watched his godson. He had immensely cooled down since they had found the teenager and now intended to talk calmly with him.

"How much did you have to drink?"

Surprised by this question Teddy met his godfather's eyes.

"One bottle, I didn't like it."

Harry nodded: "Do you feel okay? Are you feeling sick?"

"No, I'm fine. I was a bit tired and everything was a little blurry earlier, but I'm feeling normal now."

Harry conjured a glass of water. "Here drink, then we talk."

Teddy took the offered glass and quickly emptied it, in fact feeling his head clearing.

"Now, why don't you start explaining to me, what you were thinking flying to London and then drinking alcohol in Brighton. Not to forget, I ordered you to stay at home in the first place."

Teddy had picked up the toy soldier from the table and absently rolled it over in his hands.

"I don't know. I didn't plan it. I wanted some fun and was frustrated that you wouldn't let me go. So when Ginny left, I kind of went with the opportunity. I meant to be back long before you would have returned home. I got carried away with my friends and forgot the time. The alcohol really wasn't my idea. It was stupid. I didn't even like it."

"Then why finish the bottle?" Harry asked slightly aggravated and only got a mumbled reply from his godson.

"Sorry, I didn't catch that?"

"The others drank too, so I didn't want to look stupid." He muttered.

"My god Teddy, and if they jump off the Astronomy Tower you follow suit?"

His godson sheepishly shook his head.

"Did you even think about what could have happened when you took the broom? You could have been seen. You could have had an accident or worse. You put your life in danger!" Harry let out with a painful look on his face.

"I'm a good flyer and you know it." Teddy defended himself.

"Even if Ted, that's no excuse for risking a breach of the Statute of Secrecy. Besides, you couldn't have known if you were capable of flying so long. It was still extremely dangerous."

The reprimanded boy on the couch only gave a shrug still fidgeting with the toy in his hands. Harry couldn't help but think that he was getting nowhere with this lecture.

"It's getting late. We can continue this talk after you had some sleep. Give me your broom and head upstairs please."

Teddy rose but clutched the broom close to his chest.

"My broom?"

"Yes, your broom. Hand it over and get some sleep please." He replied impatiently.

"No, what do you want with it? It's always in my room, always has been."

"Ted, you're walking in thin ice right now. Your broom please, and I'm only going to lock it in the closet, so nothing is going to happen to it."

Harry held out his hand, waiting for his godson to comply, but he only backed away further.

"No you can't. It's my broom and you have no right to take it. Ban me from flying that's one thing, but you can't take my broom."

"You are very well not going to fly it and unfortunately for you at the moment I don't trust that you're not simply going to disobey me again and take off as soon as I turn my back."

Against his better judgement, Harry had raised his voice ever so slightly.

Teddy could feel his anger rising and his head prickled as his hair changed into what now surely was a vibrant red.

"Oh sod off. You never trusted me in the first place. You're quick to blame everything on me. They are drinking alcohol, sure my errant charge bought it. You don't even give me the benefit of the doubt."

Surprised by the outburst it took Harry a moment to react. Then he stepped forward and grabbed Teddy rather gently by the shoulders, but his godson fought him with every fibre of his being.

"No, get off me. Leave me alone."

Teddy tried to fight Harry and managed to get out of his grip, still clutching the toy soldier. He threw it at his godfather, who was quick to duck albeit shocked by the sudden action. Yet Harry only grabbed him again by the shoulders, this time strong enough to hold the struggling teenager in place.

"Did you just throw something at me?"

Harry rose an eyebrow, but remained calm.

"And did I not tell you not to use language like that with me?"

"I need you to stop this Ted. You're throwing a temper tantrum very much unlike the person you are. You let your temper get the better of you and it needs to stop. I'm sorry I was so quick to assume you bought the alcohol. It seemed most logical to me."

Seeing the hurt look in his godson's eyes he quickly added.

"Not because I don't trust you Teddy, because I do. But I didn't think four 15-year olds would be able to purchase alcohol and you could have used your ability to your advantage. I'm proud though that you haven't. However, while I trust you and I know you're a good kid, recently you've made some not so wise choices. I love you and I'm here to protect you. So I'm locking that broom away, so that you don't get tempted when the next teenage tantrum comes through."

"I don't have temper tantrums." Teddy huffed, more defied than angry.

Harry only chuckled in response and let go of Teddy's shoulders, reaching out his own hand expectantly.

Very slowly, but albeit complying, Teddy handed over the broom and followed Harry outside to see it locked in the cupboard under the stairs. Teddy's pained expression didn't go amiss by Harry, who had to suppress a laugh.

"Okay, off to bed. Chop chop. We'll talk about this tomorrow."

Letting out a groan, clearly not happy about the prospect of another lecture Teddy headed upstairs.