The days to come couldn’t have been any better. The once untouched snow was now mangled with boot prints, snow angels, and misshapen snowmen. Christmas Spirit was simply booming, not only inside the Potter house, but all over Godric’s Hollow. Lily screamed out muggle Christmas tunes she heard on the radio Grandpa Weasley had given them a few years ago, while Hugo and Albus dressed in red suits like Father Christmas. Outside, carolers roamed the streets, extravagant trees were decked with tinsel all over town, and often times a stout drunk man dressed as an angel would gallop past their house proclaiming his love for Christmas or bellowing the song “Cast a Christmas Spell.”

“Albus, James, Lily, I want your rooms cleaned.” Ginny called to the three of them as they raced around the halls on mini broomsticks one morning. “You know how Phlegm likes neat!”

Hermione sputtered her butterbeer across the table and laughed. “We used to call her that, didn’t we?”

“What about Teddy?” James groaned stopping his little broom with his foot.

Ginny rolled her eyes. “He’s only here for a fortnight. And besides, he has to clean his dormitory at Hogwarts all the time.” She grinned mischievously. “Unless you aren’t Hogwarts material.”

James scowled and got off his little broomstick, leaving it hovering. Lily and Albus bolted into the room hollering as Hugo chased them, his arms flapping like a bird. James just shook his head at them and pushed his way out of the room.

Albus veered to a stop and tumbled off his broom. “Where’s he going?”

Ginny put her hands on her hips. “To clean his room,” She scooped Lily off her broom and put her onto the kitchen floor. “And you’re going too, or else none of you are going to Hogwarts.”

Albus laughed. “Sure,” he muttered and walked out obediently. Lily, however, was not so easily swayed.

She plopped herself onto the ground, refusing to move. Teddy rolled his eyes. Sometimes little kids could be so stubborn.

“Wingardium Leviosa!” Ginny said, flicking her wand. Lily screamed as she was magically airborne. “I’ll take care of this.” She dragged Lily out of the room with her wand.

Teddy poured himself some Godric’s Golden Butterbeer and sat down at the table next to Hermione. He took a sip of the delicious creamy liquid. It was his favorite kind of butterbeer that was only available in Godric’s Hollow. He glanced at Hermione. What would he say to her? How could he casually bring up Time Turners? He took another swig of butterbeer and took a deep breath.

“Schoolproject--er-- youavetimeturner?”

Hermione blinked looking utterly confused. “Are you okay, Teddy?”

Teddy nodded, his hair glowing a rosy red in embarrassment as Harry and Ron bustled into the room, talking. He let out of a sigh of relief, glad not to have to talk about it when the house was so lively. Harry sat next to Teddy and grabbed an apple from the bowl of fruit.

“New hair color?” Harry said, ruffling Teddy’s hair playfully.

Teddy just nodded. He looked down at the table feeling Hermione’s narrowed eyes on him. Obviously, she knew he wanted to talk about something personal. She tapped his shoulder and gave him a meaningful look that seemed to say later. He just blinked and allowed his hair to turn back to his favorite shade of blue. Why am I acting embarrassed? She’s my aunt!

No, no she isn’t, his conscious retorted making his brain pound. You don’t know who your real relatives are. You never will. Someone left you like this. Alone. He took a small sip of butterbeer.

“Come on, Harry. We better get to the ministry.” Hermione said still looking quizzically at Teddy. She gave Ron a quick kiss on the forehead.

Harry nodded, taking another bite of his apple. “I might come home early. Bill and Fleur are coming tonight. I don’t want to be gone too long. We’re not very busy in the Auror Department anyway. Humphrey Hubert from the Plant Care Department said there’s a Venus Fly Trap that’s been eating people in Nepal. Not a pretty sight. They’ve called us to deal with it since Nepal doesn’t have an Auror Department. Apparently there’s some people illegally breeding giant Fly Traps.”

“Ergh!” Ron gagged. “Plants should not be alive.”

“Tell Neville that.” Hermione giggled as she and Harry walked out of the room.

Teddy waited until he couldn’t hear the footsteps of Harry and Hermione. He tuned to Ron casually. “Did you know Cho Chang is the librarian at Hogwarts?”

“Blimey! I always thought that was more of a job for Hermione.” Ron said.

Teddy nodded. Hermione always seemed to have her nose buried in a book. “She didn’t let me take out Hermione’s book. You know, The Battle of Hogwarts. I was just thinking you would be able to tell me about the Battle.”

“You already know everything, Teddy. I should think Harry told you.” Ron said. “What do you want to know?”

Teddy paused. An image of his mother and father flashed before him. It was painful to look at them now—they’re happy faces not knowing that they would die in battle leaving their son orphaned. It felt like a burden, now that he was aware of his capability to avenge them. “Who killed my parents, Ron?” he whispered.

Ron slid his chair back in shock, his blue eyes wide. “Teddy, I—” He stuttered. He seemed lost for words. Teddy was surprised the man who was so quick with a witty joke was so nervous at the simple question.

Irritation flared inside Teddy. Why did everyone think he was too young to know? “I’m fifteen! Their my parents! I deserve to know!” He snapped. “How long are you going to keep this a secret? How long, Ron? How long are you going to act like my parents dropped dead on their own accord?” His voice shook with rage.

Ron stared at him, looking flustered. I didn’t mean it! Teddy thought, immediately regretting yelling at Ron. He didn’t deserve the glory of dealing with an angry teen. I don’t know what came over me. I’m sorry. However, Teddy couldn’t muster the strength to say it out loud. He had made his choice and perhaps, that was the only way for Ron to accept he was ready to know.

Ron took a deep breath. “Calm down, mate.” He said evenly. “We all know you’re old enough, Teddy. It’s just we—we don’t know who did it. Cross my heart.”

Teddy looked into Ron’s honest eyes and nodded. He felt a twinge of anger prickle at his heart. There had to be someone who knew. “Does anyone know?”

Ron hesitated as he served himself a leftover sausage on Hermione’s plate. “Look, Teddy. I don’t mean to be rude but, you should drop it. It’ll do you no good to get yourself worked up. Trust me.” Ron explained patting him on the shoulder like a father. A father he never had… What the heck, Teddy? Let it go. “Harry used to get himself all angry about You-Know-Who. Sometimes it was good for him to let out his rage and other times…My God, it was annoying. Like in fifth year when he screamed at us because Dumbledore specifically said ‘Don’t send letters to Harry,’ and had a fit about it. You aren’t gonna have fit on us are you?”

Teddy smiled weakly, still feeling guilty for yelling at Ron as he shook his head. “Sorry, Ron.” He said. “I’ll let it go. I’m just gonna go see what the others are up to.”

He walked out of the kitchen feeling Ron’s eyes on him. He doesn’t get it, though. He’s always had a family surrounding him. He thought darkly. Me? All I have is memories.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Says here you should trim the Snap Dragon when it gets overgrown,” Rose said smartly that night. She was helping him tend to his wild looking Snap Dragon. “That looks pretty overgrown to me.”

It was true. The once beautiful looking periwinkle flower now looked like a miniature tropical forest, with long leaves and hanging vines. It was wailing loudly.

Teddy covered his ears. “Is that why he’s screaming?” He yelled over the hideous screeches.

“She could be hungry.” Rose suggested.

“It’s a he, Rose. I named him Argus.” Teddy said. “And what do I feed a monster flower?”

“Well, Teddy, you better come up with a girl’s version of Argus.” Rose laughed. “See how her tongue has a triangle cut at the end? That means he’s a she. Oh! How about Argusta?”

Teddy laughed as an idea popped into his mind. He turned to his trunk and quickly dug through his clothes. There! He spotted some crab cakes stuffed in a bag. Rowel had given him them on the train ride. “I like it. How about these?” He offered her the old crab cakes.

“Worth a try, I suppose.” Rose said with a nonchalant shrug. She was carefully clipping away some of the leaning stalks while the Snap Dragon squealed and thrashed its head of petals.

Teddy took a piece of the crab cake and carefully dropped it onto the soil. Argusta wailed louder and bent down to reach the piece. However, its long stem wasn’t bending quite to the soil. Argusta let out a bloodcurdling shriek. Teddy took the piece back and stuck it up to the petals hoping it had some sort of mouth or any sort of eating mechanisms. Her petals stretched wide and Teddy hastily shoved it down the stem like throat. Argusta gagged but swallowed the crab cake with a satisfied sigh.

“There,” Rose said proudly. She had finished trimming the thick leaves and vines. Teddy had to admit she never looked better. “Good as new.”

Suddenly the sound of a doorbell chimed from downstairs. “They’re here!” Rose yelped. “They’re here!”

They ran downstairs at top speed to find the whole household gathered by the door. Teddy made his way to the front of the group to see Fluer, Bill, Victorie, Dominique Louis and even Arthur and Molly.

“What are you doing here?” Ginny asked hugging her father and beaming.

“Well, we couldn’t miss out on a Weasley Christmas could we?” Arthur said with a hardy laugh. He was a tall man with balding white hair. His glasses were perched neatly on his nose. “Besides my Muggle Wizard Co-op meeting was cancelled last minute. It’s a shame.”

“Oh, shut your trap, Arthur!” Molly said playfully. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Teddy pushed his way over to the kids—Victorie, Dominique, and Louis. They were taking off their coats and boots while Lily and Hugo clung to their legs. Teddy laughed and dragged Lily off Dominique’s knee.

“Thanks Ted.” Dominique said with a nod of greeting. Teddy could hardly believe how mature she looked for her young age. Her silvery blonde hair was highlighted with black streaks and her light blue eyes had dark eye shadow around them. She looks like she’s out of Hogwarts already! He thought resisted the nagging itch to laugh.

“Aw, Hugo! You’re adorable!” It was Victorie. She was swinging Hugo around her in the air making her silvery sheet of hair fly behind her. She beamed at her little cousin, her hazel green eyes shining. She turned to Teddy. “Hi! Long time no see!”

Untrue, Teddy thought, as Victorie pulled him into a hug. Not only was Victorie only a third year, but she was a Ravenclaw so obviously they weren’t together all the time. But he did see her quite often at mealtimes but she didn’t even pass him a second glance, always surrounded by her entourage of giggling friends. They used to be so close before she started Hogwarts and only found in an interest in her school social life.

“Ah, Teddy!” cooed Fleur, as she galloped over to him light on her feet. She kissed him twice on the cheek, grinning. “Dee ‘air looks great, Teddy. You ‘ave grown so much since last time! I am so glad to see you my cheeks are getting rosy!” Her French accent was thick in her voice.

Ginny coughed something that sounded awfully like “Phlegm.” Hermione burst out laughing.

“I’m a fast grower, I suppose.” He shrugged. It was always awkward to talk with Fleur because of her amazing ability turn a comment about someone else into a compliment of her own looks. Not that she didn’t have the right to compliment herself, with her stunning blue eyes, tall and slender figure and light sheet of silver hair, but it did get old. He knew where Hermione and Ginny were coming from but he dare not laugh. Not now anyway.

Teddy felt crowded in the narrow hall so he made his way into the living room. Lily was already in there with Louis, Bill and Fleur’s youngest son. Lily was showing him her miniature broomstick while Louis eyes raked it up and down in awe. Louis looked over to Teddy and launched over to him like a rocket, giving him a tight squeeze of a hug. He too had grown a lot since they last saw one another. His light ginger hair was untidy and his blue eyes were bright with excitement.

“Hey, Lu,” Teddy said with a smile. “How’s life?”

“Um, I’m not really Lu anymore. It’s Louis.”

Teddy was taken aback. Although Louis was getting older, he hadn’t expected his nickname to wear away. He used to be so fond of it. Teddy couldn’t believe how much they all had changed.

“Teddy?”

Teddy turned and saw Bill Weasley. His face broke into a grin as they shook hands. As usual, his flaming red hair was long and careless. Tattooed across his cheekbone were deep gashes from being scratched by a werewolf. However, it made him look brave and daring.

Is my Dad capable of that? He thought looking at the scars forever etched on Bill’s face, reminding him of the brutal attack. Was my Dad calm when he was a werewolf? Or was he murderer?

“Um, Ted.” Bill chuckled waving his hand franticly in front of Teddy’s face. “You alive, there?”

Teddy felt his face burn red. He hadn’t realized he had been staring right at the old scar. “I had, like, a daydream moment, you know? Happens all the time at school.”

Bill blinked at him several times.

Soon enough, the whole household was gathered in the living room catching up with old news. Teddy seated himself on the couch between Ron and Arthur as Hermione came in balancing trays of appetizers.

“So Fleur—that means flower right?” Ron said. “It’s fitting. You look amazing!”

“Oh, you are too sweet. I ‘ave tried to live up to dee name!” Fleur said.

Hermione glared. “Ron’s lived up to his name-- Old McRonald!” She cried. The room erupted into laughter.

Ron rolled his eyes. “Can I not give her a compliment?” He snapped through a mouthful of food.

Hermione leaned forward, her eyes narrowed down to slits. “Well, I was just being cautious for my husband! Is that a crime, Ronald?”

“No!” Ron shouted making the others fall silent. “What’s a crime is when you butt into everything! Then you act like I’m the bad bloke!”

“Ron!” Hermione spat, flailing her arms in anger. “You need to grow up! I don’t think you understand that I do everything I do for your own good!”

“You don’t understand that I—” Ron started, his facing turning crimson.

“STOP!” Rose screamed her eyes welling up with tears. “Stop fighting, please!”

Hermione and Ron fell silent as did the rest of the room. Hermione hugged her daughter close, stroking her strawberry blonde hair. “I’m sorry, Rose. We didn’t mean it.” She whispered softly.

Ron’s face still glowed scarlet with rage but his voice stayed calm. “Yeah, Rosie. Honest mistake.” He shook her shoulder playfully.

Rose looked up, her cheeks puffy from crying. She smiled weakly and hugged her Dad, a single tear still rolling down her rosy cheek. Meanwhile, Hugo looked on awkwardly.

Teddy felt anger run through his blood. Why were Ron and Hermione so inconsiderate? They should be glad they’re together as a family, not split by death. He looked at Rose with a mixture of sadness and exasperation. She was crying over this? A minor crag in their marriage? She didn’t understand what it was like to be without her parents. On the other hand, Rose didn’t know any better. She was used to safety in her parents warm arms—a privilege Teddy never had as a kid. He didn’t know what side to take on this.

“Oh, Ron.” Molly sighed. She patted her son on the shoulder. “Sometimes you need to get your head out of your rear end.”

Teddy shook away the bad thoughts and laughed with the others. However, he couldn’t share in all their fun—they all had one thing in common. This family.

 This family Teddy was never supposed to be a part of. Sure, he would’ve been a close family friend but it was different. He imagined himself in Rose’s position, so unexposed to the dreadful side of the world she could cry over a tiny argument.

But then again, was he making a big deal out of nothing? He never used to have these dark thoughts but suddenly they clouded his vision. Even when he felt most joyous, his parents popped into his mind making him feel so alone. He couldn’t do this anymore. Only one thing would make it right.

And that one thing was avenging Nymphadora and Remus Lupin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christmas Eve came fast and the excitement was overwhelming in the Potter house--tinsel was strung along each and every wall, the Christmas tree was decked with lively ornaments, and no one was caught dead without Father Christmas hats on, Lily made sure of that.

Teddy figured there was no better time to talk to Hermione than now. She was just as happy as everyone else and it seemed like nothing could alter that. Not to mention her and Ron had come to peace after Rose’s little break down. They now only exchanged positive words even when Rose was out of earshot.

It was mid-afternoon and Hermione was working as usual in the guest room. Teddy made his way up there, his Santa hat clashing horribly with his blue hair. He paused at the door. Even though he had it all planned out, he couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous after the last attempt. With a deep breath, he knocked.

“Come in.”

Teddy opened the door to see Hermione at the desk, scrawling a long letter on a piece of parchment. She finished it with a swish of the quill and stamped it with a Ministry of Magic Stamp. Then, she turned to Teddy. “So, what’s on your mind?” She asked as he closed the door behind him.

Teddy knew she knew exactly what was going through his head. “I’m doing a school project and it’s mandatory. Like so mandatory Professor Crimson will kill me if I don’t do it her way.” He explained hastily. “She—she knows her people, and knows you have—or—or used to have—a time turner. She’s making me bring it in and—”

“No, Teddy.” Hermione said seriously.

“What?”

“I said no. I don’t believe a teacher would make you bring in a Time Turner, Teddy.” Hermione said. “Even so, all the Time Turners were destroyed a long time ago. Your professor should know that.”

Teddy’s heart plummeted for what felt like miles. He had no backup plan. None. The very idea of saving his parents had gone out as quickly as a fire without oxygen. He wanted to scream—let the world know his agony. He would be forever like this. Parentless. There was no chance of ever feeling loved by a parent…ever. He would never feel the warmth of his mother’s embrace or the good advice his father would give. Teddy felt the world come down around him. It was like he was experiencing their death all over again. That feeling of loneliness crashed over him like a wave. He was alone.

 But he wouldn’t cry, he couldn’t cry. Teddy did not cry. Ever. He would stay strong and he would go after the murderers who did this to him without looking back. Teddy no longer cared about being a “good kid.” He was Teddy Remus Lupin and no one could tell him what to do because someone out there, deserved to feel the pain he felt now.

“Teddy, are you okay?” Hermione asked quietly, looking deeply into his eyes, trying to read his expression.

Teddy just nodded.

“What’s this really about?”

Teddy glanced up at her. There was something about her clever demeanor and kind eyes that made him want to tell her everything. She looked so understanding, sitting there, her hands clasped in her lap and her brown eyes deep with concern. “I miss them, Hermione.” He rasped. “I’m so alone.”

“I understand, Teddy. But, you are so loved here. You have nothing to hide.” Hermione whispered. “Whatever you’re keeping from us we need to know so we can help.”

“I’m not going to stand by listening to you all tell me you understand! I’m dying inside because I don’t know my family like you all do!” Teddy yelled, rage pounding in his ears. “I’m done with this! Hermione, you better tell me right now who did this to me!”

Hermione stared at him like he was a mad man. “One minute we’re talking about a school project and the next you’re screaming at me about feeling alone.” She said sounding perplexed. “I want to help you. Just let me know what I can do.”

“Who knows? Who knows who killed my parents?”

Hermione paused, deep in thought. “Well, there’s only one person I think would truly know.” Hermione said thoughtfully. “But you have to promise me you won’t do anything stupid if I tell you.”

“Promise.”

Hermione took a deep breath. “Draco Malfoy.”

Teddy gasped at the name of Harry’s old enemy. Did he really hold that knowledge? “Okay, where can I find him?”

“Well, I do know his address, but Teddy you need to think this though.” Hermione warned.

“I already have.” He said hastily. “Just tell me what it is.”

“I only have it because he invited us to a house party a couple years after the battle to make it up to us.” She scoffed. She hesitated for a long time. “We didn’t attend but I think I remembered the address just in case we had to investigate him. I still don’t understand why you need to know, but I really owe this to you.” She pressed her wand to the tip of her bushy hair and slowly pulled it away. A silver strand emerged and she dropped it into a small flask. Suddenly, Hermione’s voice echoed from the flask saying, “Five-fourteen, Burling Pass, London.”

Teddy gawked at the tiny flask of the swirling silver liquid. How had she done that?

“It’s a memory.” Hermione explained simply. “I collect my most important memories so I can see them again later. It’s a very complicated process.”

Teddy nodded, still gazing stupidly at it. “Hermione…thank you. You really don’t know how much this means.” He quickly jotted down the address on a scrap of parchment.

“You deserve it.” She said. “But don’t do anything stupid. I trust you.”

Teddy nodded as he felt a pang of guilt deep in his stomach. He was already planning something Hermione would call stupid.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Never before would Teddy dare sneak out at night but he had changed so drastically in the last week this wasn’t even a risk. The house was silent as everyone slept soundly dreaming of tomorrow’s presents. He wished he was snuggled deep in his bed like they were but he was already heading down the stairs without a second glance.

He had wisely chosen the form of a skinny little servant boy with dusty brown hair and a hollow, pale face dotted with freckles. He was sure the Malfoys had many servants…and hopefully some they didn’t even know most of them.

Silently, he tiptoed into the living room, his bare feet cold on the wood floor. He made his way to the fireplace where coals where burning, emitting a faint orange glow. Beside the fireplace was a small pot filled with black ashes—Floo Powder. Teddy reached into his pocket and pulled out the tiny sheet of worn down parchment. He read it to himself several times before grabbing a handful of Floo Powder.

He had traveled by Floo Powder many times before but never did it make him this nervous. What is he stuttered on the address? What if the Malfoys had moved? He shook away the thought as he stepped inside the fireplace, careful not to touch the remaining fiery coals.

“Five-fourteen, Burling Pass, London!” He chanted.

Suddenly his body was jerked roughly as his head spun with dizziness. Fireplaces sped past his eyes as the Floo Powder did its magic. As soon as it started, it stopped. He fell with a clatter to an unfamiliar wood floor.

He slowly lifted his head, dazed. The room around him was huge. There was a long dining room table grandly placed at the center underneath a crystal chandelier. The house echoed with eerie silence. With a shiver, Teddy tiptoed out of the room looking for the staircase.

Once he found the long spiraling stairs, Teddy crept up them silently feeling jumpy. He was in someone else’s house, in the dead of night on Christmas Eve. Not exactly a friendly visit.

He trudged on down the upstairs hallway pleading that this would go as planned. The doorways all looked the same, with large silver serpent knockers. Would he ever be able to pick the right one? His feet creaked the old floorboards as he found himself at the end of the hall. He looked around. One of these doors was right…but which?

Throwing caution to the wind, Teddy cracked the door to his left open. Inside, he could just make out the shadow of an empty bed. It must’ve been some sort of guest room. He silently shut that door and moved onto the next one. Inside this door was a small room with only a large statue of a serpent. It looked fierce and violent with its silvery scales and glinting black eyes. Engraved on the platform it read: THE NOBLE AND PURE HOUSE OF MALFOY. Well, at least he knew he was at the right place.

He cracked open the next door, hoping this was it. He couldn’t bear anymore waiting. But he did not have to. He had reached the right door.

Inside the large master bedroom was a king sized bed with two sleeping figures inside it. His heart skipped a beat. It was time. He opened the door wider and seized his wand.

“Mr. Malfoy?”

My God, why am I so polite? I just broke in for heaven’s sake!

“Mr. Malfoy, I demand you wake up!”

Still they did not stir.

“Please, sir!” Teddy cried. “I must warn you of something!”

The figures jolted upright. One of them reached for their wand and flicked it. The room was soon filled with light. Now Teddy could see how truly large this room was although it was hardly furnished at all.

“What are you doing here, servant?” Draco snarled. He looked just like Teddy imagined he would—slick blonde hair, a pointed nose and icy blue eyes. “Marina, is this one of your new recruits?”

Draco’s wife looked at up him up and down. She was a pretty woman with long pale hair and gray eyes but a scowl was etched on her face. “I’ve never seen him before.” Marina growled. “And even if he was a new recruit he should know not to wake his masters!”

“This is important, sir and miss!” He said earnestly.

“It is Christmas Eve, you filthy animal!” Draco snapped. “You do not belong here! You cannot fool us! You are an imposter!”

“No! No!” Teddy panicked. “I do work here! I do, I swear! Please! I have valuable information for your ears only.”

Draco paused, looking smug. “What is this information?”

Teddy hesitated feeling butterflies fluttering madly in his stomach. “Harry Potter has sent you a letter! A letter demanding you tell him who killed Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks!” He shouted.

Draco’s face contorted with rage. “You filthy peasants read my mail?”

“It was open already. It must have been damaged in the carry over. I couldn’t help but a sneak a peek, sir.” Teddy said making his voice sound innocent. “Potter has blackmailed you! He said if you don’t tell him at once he will destroy you!”

Draco’s jaw fell open. “Harry Potter?”

Marina clutched his arm looking nervous. “He wants revenge!” She squealed in fear. “He’s going to hurt our Scorpious!”

Teddy knew he had them now. They feared Harry would come for them like he did for Voldemort so long ago. However, his stomach was still clenched with fear. This wasn’t over yet.

“I think you should just tell him.” Teddy suggested, bowing his head.

“I’m not scared of Harry Potter, boy!” Draco snarled. “I do not trust you! Get out of my house!” He raised his wand and pointed it at Teddy. “I’m not afraid to kill you!”

Teddy wanted to scream and flee. He wanted more than anything to be safe at home. He hadn’t thought this through at all like he thought he had and now he was doomed. His heart thrummed loudly in his chest as he decided his next move. He had to get out of this alive. It no longer mattered if he found out who killed his parents.

Without thinking, Teddy whipped out his wand and aimed it straight at Draco’s neck. Marina screamed.

“Who killed Remus Lupin? You were in cahoots with those Death Eaters, weren’t you?” Teddy demanded approaching them. “I’m not afraid to get Harry Potter up on your arse, so I suggest you tell me and let me leave.”

“I’m not scared of you or Harry Potter, you imposter!” Draco bellowed.

“Who are you?” Marina screamed. “What do you want with my family?”

“Look,” Teddy growled his voice low and malicious. “If you don’t tell me who killed him I’ll get you sent straight to Azkaban. You got away with it, didn’t you? You got away with being with You-Know-Who. You’re guilty. How can you walk free when you betrayed everything you learned at school for mere power? Tell me now, Draco Malfoy, or say goodbye to your soul.”

Teddy knew he had scared Draco but there was no way he was as scared as Teddy. All he wanted was to get out alive. He wanted to make it Christmas tomorrow. His mind drifted to where his friends slept silently in Godric’s Hollow miles and miles away. If only he was with them, fast asleep.

“Who are you?” Marina repeated in a shaky voice.

“Tell me now!” Teddy screamed. His whole body shook. Why had he done this without seriously considering the consequences? His head spun as he stared at the frightened and furious couple, awoken from their deep slumber. There was no way they thought of him as one of their servants now.

“That’s it!” Draco sprung out of the bed and faced Teddy, his eyes flashing with hate. “Marina, get some back up from downstairs. Then, contact the Ministry at once.”

Marina was too frightened to object. She sprinted from the room, her long bedraggled hair flying behind her as she pounded down the dark hall.

Teddy just stared at Draco his whole body shutting down from fear. “No, no, please!” He squealed. There was no way he was getting caught here. Nothing mattered now. He needed to be safe at home. “I’m sorry!” He said hysterically and collapsed to the floor. “I never meant for it to be like this. I just wanted to know. Please, Mr. Malfoy.”

Draco hard glare softened just a bit as he looked at the miserably scared boy. “Who are you?”

Teddy stood up and faced the man, fear pulsing through him like water down a creek. “I am Teddy Lupin, son of Remus and Nymphadora.” He let his skin mold into his normal full face and his sand colored hair fade to blue. “All—all I want is to—to go home.” He couldn’t have sounded more stupid or childish but he no longer cared. “I’m a stupid, stupid person. Let me go. Please.”

Draco stared at him, his gray eyes boring into Teddy’s. There was a sense of understanding there but somehow he didn’t quite seem convinced. “Teddy Lupin? No doubt you are just a stupid teenager but there is no excuse to break into my household. Do you understand me, boy? Do you?”

“Let me go.” Teddy begged. He quickly wiped his face feeling tears forming there. I’m not crying, he told himself. I’m not crying. “I want to make it to Christmas tomorrow.”

Draco grabbed Teddy’s arm and dragged him out of the room, forcefully. He guided him downstairs to the grand fireplace Teddy had arrived from in complete silence. Scared for his life, Teddy didn’t object to being tugged like a rag doll.

“Don’t think you got away with this, Lupin.” Draco hissed through his teeth, his face a boiling red in rage. “I will be letting harry know about this but no more than that. You have things against me that I can’t dare let the public know. So, you better keep your blabbing lips closed or I will send you to Azkaban for life. This is more than a warning.”

Teddy nodded, feeling millions of pounds lifted of his shoulder. He could finally breathe regularly. “And Marina?”

“Will not tell the Ministry of anything that happened this evening. I’ll make sure of that.” Draco said coolly. “Go back home and get the punishment you deserve. Happy Christmas, Potter’s precious Godson.” He thrust a handful of Floo Powder into Teddy’s hands.

With mumbled thanks, Teddy stepped into the fireplace, feeling the crumbling ashes hot beneath his bare feet. The feeling of sickness still hadn’t faded away but Teddy was more relieved than ever. He now knew why he was a Hufflepuff—he could not follow through with a deed this risky.

“Sixteen Forty Two, Potter’s Road, Godric’s Hollow!” Teddy yelled dropping the powder clenched in his fist.

As the green flame burst into life, he noticed the shadow of Draco Malfoy’s mean stature oddly close to the fireplace. “By the way, kid,” Draco sneered softly his voice cold as ever. “Your parents were murdered by none other than Antonin Dolhov.”