Teddy Through Time

“So Snape was offering to help him? He was definitely offering to help him?”
“If you ask that once more,” said Harry, “I’m going to stick this sprout…”
“I’m only checking!” said Ron. They were standing alone at the Burrow’s kitchen sink, peeling a mountain of sprouts for Mrs Weasley. Snow was drifting past the window in front of them.
“Hi, Harry, hi Ron!” called Teddy cheerfully from behind them.
Harry jumped, turned to see who had just entered the kitchen, rolled his eyes, and muttered, “Hi, hi.”
“You know, Harry, I’ve got the distinct impression you’re not particularly fond of me,” said Teddy in a mock-offended tone. “But that’s all right, it’ll pass.”
“Don’t be so sure.”
“Oh, I’m very sure, Harry. I’m from the future, remember?” Teddy replied with a grin.
“So you’re staying for Christmas too, then?” Ron asked.
“Ron, don’t look so downcast!” said Teddy. “Yes, it’s not like I had anywhere else to be, but it was very nice of your mum to invite me to stay.”
“Why don’t you go to your parents?” asked Harry, seizing the chance to prod at Teddy’s identity.
“Nice try, Harry. But my parents aren’t supposed to know I exist yet — I haven’t even been born in this timeline.”
“Can’t you at least tell us who they are?” asked Ron.
“Nope, that’s not allowed either. If your mum couldn’t get it out of me, no one else stands a chance.”
“What’ve you been doing to pass the time?” asked Harry, attempting to sound friendly.
“Well, I’m following orders from Albus. Nothing terribly exciting, to be honest — pretty standard Hogwarts assignments. He says anything crucial to the Order might interfere with the timeline,” Teddy said with an eye-roll. “But I’m also helping Fred and George with the shop — managing orders and little odd jobs to earn a bit. I don’t know how long I’m going to be stuck here.”
“Can’t Dumbledore help you?” asked Harry.
“No, he hasn’t the faintest idea what to do — and this is Albus we’re talking about. He reckons I need to complete some sort of personal mission, something I’ve got to figure out for myself so my soul can be at peace to leave. Bit of a personal fulfilment thing, apparently.”
“That’s not exactly clear,” said Ron, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, well, it’s Albus. I don’t think he’s ever been exactly clear,” Teddy replied with a grin.
“Any idea what the mission might be?” asked Harry.
“Every idea I’ve come up with involves thoroughly messing up the timeline, so… not really,” admitted Teddy.
“‘Not really’ ought to be your middle name, Teddy,” came George’s voice as the twins entered the kitchen.

“Aaah, George, look at this. They’re using knives and everything. Bless them.”
“Don’t tell me you’re helping them, Ted,” said George, looking horrified.
“Absolutely not. I’m more of a… morale support role. In fact, I agree with you lot. It’s very character-building stuff, learning to peel sprouts without magic,” said Teddy in a very serious tone.
Mrs Weasley entered, arms full “Fred, George, I’m sorry, dears, but Remus is arriving tonight, so Bill will have to squeeze in with you two.”
“No problem,” said George.
“Then, as Charlie isn’t coming home, that just leaves Harry and Ron in the attic, and if Fleur shares with Ginny —"
“— that’ll make Ginny’s Christmas —” muttered Fred.
“— everyone should be comfortable. Well, they’ll have a bed, anyway,” said Mrs Weasley, sounding slightly harassed.
“And I’m terribly sorry, Teddy dear, but you’ll have to share your room with Remus,” said Mrs Weasley, her voice laced with concern. “I hope that’s all right.”
“Absolutely fine!” said Teddy with unrestrained delight that he didn’t even bother to mask.

“He’s a bit odd, don’t you think?” Ron muttered to Harry, but Teddy didn’t catch Harry’s reply, as Mrs Weasley had turned to him with a load of folded clothes — which, Teddy suspected, belonged to none of the current residents — along with some lunchboxes and a tray of biscuits.
“If you could take all this to Tonks,” said Mrs Weasley, “I do hope it’s not too much trouble.”
“Not at all, Molly. I’m rather fond of Tonks — I’d be happy to visit her.”
“In that case, I’d be ever so grateful if you could keep her company for a few hours, too. You two seem to get along marvellously. Harry and Ron will finish up your chores.”
“I’m sure they’ll be thrilled,” said Teddy, turning to beam at Harry and Ron, who looked utterly horrified.
Teddy shrugged, as if to say, you don’t like me anyway, turned back around, and strode cheerfully out of the room.





They were all supposed to be listening to a Christmas broadcast by Mrs Weasley’s favourite singer, Celestina Warbeck, whose voice was warbling out of the large wooden wireless set. Fleur, who seemed to find Celestina very dull, was talking so loudly in the corner that a scowling Mrs Weasley kept pointing her wand at the volume control, so that Celestina grew louder and louder. Under cover of a particularly jazzy number called A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love, Fred and George started a game of Exploding Snap with Ginny. Ron kept shooting Bill and Fleur covert looks, as though hoping to pick up tips. Meanwhile, Remus Lupin, who was thinner and more ragged-looking than ever, was sitting beside the fire, staring into its depths as though he could not hear Celestina’s voice. All the while, Teddy had remained leaning against the wall, hands tucked deep into the pockets of his robes, eyes fixed on Lupin.
The buzz of conversation, the shifting tones of Mr Weasley speaking to Harry – they all blurred into the background, like a distant hum.

“It isn’t our business to know,” said Lupin unexpectedly. He had turned his back on the fire now and faced Harry across Mr Weasley.
Teddy jumped slightly, startled, as if only now remembering where he was.
“It’s Dumbledore’s business. Dumbledore trusts Severus, and that ought to be good enough for all of us,” Lupin concluded.
“What do you reckon?” Harry asked Teddy.
“Don’t involve him in this,” Lupin interjected, protectively. “Even if he did know anything, he wouldn’t be allowed to say. We can’t ask him to risk himself – or us.”
Teddy gave him a sheepish smile, dipping his head in thanks. Lupin flushed faintly and nodded back, awkwardly.
He hadn’t yet properly met Teddy, though it was clear he’d been briefed – he showed no sign of surprise at being told he’d be sharing a room with a complete stranger. Teddy had hoped to strike up a conversation, but aside from a curt and weary “hello,” Lupin had shown little inclination for interaction, and Teddy did his best not to take offence.

Mrs Weasley summoned Teddy to help distribute eggnog, and though he obeyed at once, he glanced longingly back at Harry and Lupin, unwilling to leave but saying nothing.
When the drinks were handed out, the rest of the family burst into a festive sing-along. Teddy, however, lingered near Harry and Lupin, using the excuse of the last few cups to stay within earshot.
“What have you been up to lately?”
“Oh, I’ve been underground,” said Lupin. “Almost literally. That’s why I haven’t been able to write, Harry; sending letters to you would have been something of a giveaway.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been living among my fellows – my equals,” said Lupin. “Werewolves,” he added, at Harry’s confused look. “Nearly all of them are on Voldemort’s side. Dumbledore wanted a spy and here I was… readymade.”
He sounded slightly bitter – and perhaps realised it, for his expression softened as he went on “I’m not complaining; it’s necessary work, and who better to do it than me? Still, it hasn’t been easy earning their trust. I bear all the signs of someone who’s tried to live among wizards, whereas they’ve long since turned their backs on society – scraping by on the margins, stealing, sometimes killing, just to survive.”
“How come they’re for Voldemort?”
“They believe they’ll have a better life under him,” said Lupin. “And it’s difficult to argue, with Greyback out there.”
“Who’s Greyback?”
“You haven’t heard of him?” Teddy burst into the conversation, surprising even himself.
“I assume even you’ve heard of him by now,” said Lupin, now properly meeting Teddy’s eyes for the first time.
Lupin’s hands clenched involuntarily in his lap.
“Fenrir Greyback is perhaps the most savage werewolf alive today. He considers it his life’s work to bite and infect as many people as possible – he wants to build an army of werewolves to overrun the wizarding world. Voldemort rewards him with victims in exchange for his services. He has a… preference… for children. ‘Bite them young,’ he says, ‘raise them away from their parents – raise them to hate wizards.’”
“Most of them don’t live long enough to even become werewolves,” Teddy added quietly.
“That’s true. Voldemort’s threatened to let him loose on people’s sons and daughters – and it’s a threat that tends to work.”
Lupin paused for a long moment before speaking again.
“It was Greyback who bit me.”
“What?” said Harry, horrified. “When – when you were a kid, you mean?”
Lupin was still staring at Teddy. Slowly, he stood and turned back towards the fire, leaning against the stone hearth.
“Yes. My father had offended him. For a long time, I didn’t know who had done it – I even felt pity for the werewolf who attacked me, thinking he hadn’t had a choice. But Greyback plans it. At the full moon, he positions himself near potential victims, making sure he’s close enough to strike. He chooses.”

He turned again, this time meeting Harry’s eyes.
Teddy only realised his feet had carried him forward without thought when he lifted his hands and wrapped them, somewhat abruptly, around Lupin’s waist from behind.
The gesture caught both of them off guard.
Lupin, clearly self-conscious about his size, hesitated, then attempted to awkwardly return the embrace, his face reddening with a flush Harry had never seen on him before.
Realising he might have overstepped, Teddy pulled away slightly, loosening the odd embrace.
Lupin bowed his head, abashed.
“Sorry – I forget sometimes that I’m a complete stranger to you,” he murmured.
“It’s all right,” said Lupin, his voice low. He reached out a hand towards Teddy, then drew it back. Harry suspected he had meant to place it on Teddy’s shoulder, as he had once done to him in third year – but changed his mind.
“It’s just… I grew up on stories about you,” Teddy said, with complete sincerity. “You were always a hero to me.”
Lupin raised his head slowly. There was something in his eyes Harry had never seen before – a glint, perhaps of tears, but also a flicker of fear.
Harry’s eyebrows rose in surprise at the rare moment.
Lupin seemed to draw strength from Teddy’s words. After a brief pause – as though summoning every ounce of will – he placed his hand gently on Teddy’s shoulder.





“Don’t you miss your family, Teddy? Christmas is always such a family time,” said Fleur.
“Very much. But I do enjoy being here, even if it’s a bit…"
“Dark?” Harry offered.
“Yeah.” Teddy smiled sheepishly.
“You’ve nothing to be ashamed of, Teddy. You’re already like family here,” said Mrs Weasley warmly.
“But you are my family. All of you. I don’t feel lonely.
Harry, ever since yesterday, had been far too curious about Teddy’s identity. He was glad to have got the map back from him that morning — not just because he wanted to check where Malfoy was sneaking off to, but now more than ever, to see if Teddy’s name might appear at Hogwarts — whenever, and however, he got there.
“Harry, you’ve got a maggot in your hair,” said Ginny cheerfully, leaning across the table to pick it out; Harry felt goose bumps erupt up his neck that had nothing to do with the maggot.
“‘Ow ‘orrible,” said Fleur, with an affected little shudder. “Yes, isn’t it?” said Ron. “Gravy, Fleur?”
In his eagerness to help her, he knocked the gravy boat flying; Bill waved his wand and the gravy soared up in the air and returned meekly to the boat.
“You are as bad as zat Tonks,” said Fleur to Ron, when she had finished kissing Bill in thanks. “She is always knocking —”
“I invited dear Tonks to come along today,” said Mrs Weasley, setting down the carrots with unnecessary force and glaring at Fleur. “But she wouldn’t come. Have you spoken to her lately, Remus?”
“No, I haven’t been in contact with anybody very much,” said Lupin. “But Tonks has got her own family to go to, hasn’t she?”
“Hmmm,” said Mrs Weasley. “Maybe. I got the impression she was planning to spend Christmas alone, actually.
She gave Lupin an annoyed look, as though it was all his fault she was getting Fleur for a daughter-in-law instead of Tonks, but Harry, glancing across at Fleur, who was now feeding Bill bits of turkey off her own fork, missed the wink Teddy sent Mrs Weasley, who for a moment thought she’d imagined it.
“Don’t worry, Molly, Tonks is in good hands!” Teddy said with a smile. “I really love her, and I try to visit as much as I can. It’s thanks to her I became an Auror — and it’s wonderful to feel so close to her.”
“You’re such a good boy,” said Mrs Weasley fondly. “I just hope it’s not too much of a burden on you, especially today.”
Ron shot Teddy a dark look — the boy had clearly escaped all the chores he and Harry had been stuck with.
“Not at all,” said Teddy, trying not to laugh. “She even said I help her forget her troubles. I miss my girlfriend terribly, and to be honest, Tonks helps me just as much as I help her.”
Harry noticed Teddy give the tiniest sideways smile, casting a quick glance at Lupin.
“You ‘ave a girlfriend in ze future?” asked Fleur, leaning in with nosy curiosity. Lupin immediately turned to look at Teddy’s face.
“Yes,” said Teddy, blushing. “And it’s a bit odd… I mean, missing someone who hasn’t even been born yet.”
“That is a bit odd,” said Mrs Weasley sympathetically, “but I’m sure Dumbledore will find a way to send you home soon.”
“I’m starting to doubt it. Albus has been rather busy lately, so I haven’t had many chances to speak to him, even though he promised he’d help me.”
“What has he said so far?” asked Harry.
“He claims that sometimes the body lets go when the soul is ready. That once my soul is prepared to leave this place, my body will follow,” said Teddy, then added nervously, “I just hope he doesn’t mean death.”
“Eef zat’s ze case, good zing you ‘ave Tonks,” said Fleur.
“Oh yes, she fills the hole left by my girlfriend quite well,” said Teddy.
Lupin’s hands had clenched into fists without his noticing, and he stared at Teddy with an unreadable expression.
“All right, Remus? Stomachache?” Teddy asked.
“Yes… I think I’m quite full. Thank you very much, Molly,” said Lupin.

“Tonks’s Patronus has changed its form,” Harry told Lupin. “Snape said so anyway. I didn’t know that could happen. Why would your Patronus change?”
Lupin hesitated, still watching Teddy unabashedly, who was now eating the turkey with gusto, clearly ignoring him.
“Sometimes… a great shock… an emotional upheaval…”
“It looked big, and it had four legs,” said Harry, struck by a sudden thought and lowering his voice. “Hey… it couldn’t be —?”
“Arthur!” said Mrs Weasley suddenly. She had risen from her chair; her hand was pressed over her heart and she was staring out of the kitchen window.
“Arthur — it’s Percy!”

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