FIC: Rise From the Ashes [Teddy/Cedric, NC-17] Part 3
Title: Rise from the Ashes
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Teddy/Cedric (Cedric/Roger Davies, reference to Cedric/Cho)
Summary: Muggles have an old saying: "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it." Teddy never quite grasped the meaning, until he made a wish of his own.
Chapter 5: strange how we know each other
"You're supposed to be revising for Defence."
"You said I get an 'O' on my O.W.L.," Cedric said, continuing his exploration of Teddy's neck.
"You're impossible."
"I like to think of it as challenging."
"I can think of a few other names for-oooh!" Teddy sucked in his breath and arched his back.
"Oh, so you like that."
"Uh-huh," Teddy said, dropping all pretence of helping Cedric revise and lowering his chin, allowing better access to the lips and tongue that were sucking on the back of his neck.
"This is so strange," Cedric said before sucking hard on a particularly sensitive area.
Teddy gasped. "My neck is strange?"
"No, idiot," Cedric said against his skin. He pushed Teddy's head forward even further and licked close to his nape. "This. Doing all this with a bloke."
"I can morph some tits if it'll make you feel better."
"You can't, can you?" Cedric asked and his expression was slightly horrified. "Big tits and a cock. Merlin, now that would be strange."
"I'll do it for you sometime, get you really pissed first though, 'cause that would be a laugh, but anyway, I thought, you know, Davies…"
"I told you we hadn't. Wanking's one thing, isn't it? It's just, you know, getting off. This is different. Us. All the snogging and licking and stuff. Nice though." He moved to the side along Teddy's shoulder, biting and sucking, and Teddy groaned in appreciation.
It was strange. And definitely nice. It was the middle of Easter holidays, so Cedric didn't have classes, and the two of them had been spending a lot of time in the Room. They'd experimented with its abilities and had managed to turn it into an indoor Quidditch pitch three days ago. The Room had even provided brooms, and though they were nothing like Teddy's Firebolt X-treme back home, it was more than enough to be flying again.
The two of them had whooped and raced around, acting like a couple of first years. As they were both Seekers, of course it became a competition over who was the better player. Cedric had an advantage, used to the slower brooms of the time, but overall they were pretty evenly matched.
Afterwards, Teddy would change the Room back to the familiar bedroom he'd come to think of as his own, and the two of them would flop down on his bed, exhausted and exhilarated, laughing and joking and enjoying each others' company. Cedric, who spent so much time nicking food from the kitchen, had become friendly with a couple of the house-elves, and they were more than happy to bring food up to them in the 'Come and Go Room', saving them numerous trips across the whole of the castle.
Cedric did have O.W.L.s looming, and Teddy hoped to take his N.E.W.T.s when he returned home, whenever that might be, as he found new reason every day to delay. So when they were finished playing, they revised.
It had all been fairly innocent until yesterday. They were sprawled across the bed on their stomachs, legs dangling over the side, textbooks open in front of them, when Cedric had turned to him and kissed him. Teddy had hesitated at first. They'd kissed that one time, but he'd been impersonating Roger-badly-and it had been more out of panic than any kind of desire. It was also different from that time with Simon back in fifth year. They'd been completely pissed for one thing, and for another, Teddy wasn't attracted to Simon. It had been a lark, something they'd laughed over and the incident was never repeated. They'd had a wank or two together, but again, that had been different as well.
But he was attracted to Cedric, and that had confused him. He'd never really thought about it one way or the other. When he dated, it was girls. He noticed when certain blokes were fit and whatnot, but it had never really registered as anything more than that. Cedric was different, and it wasn't just that he was fit. He realised that he'd probably had a bit of a crush on portrait-Cedric back home before he ever met the real article, and this Cedric was almost larger than life to him. His personality drew Teddy like a magnet.
Cedric had noticed his hesitation and pulled back, apologising. Teddy had seen the brief flash of disappointment on his face and before he realised what he was doing, he'd rolled over on top of Cedric, their books falling forgotten to the floor, and snogged him as if his body had known exactly what it wanted and taken it before his mind could catch up.
And here they were this afternoon, Teddy shirtless and trying to quiz Cedric on hexes and counter-hexes, and Cedric behind him exploring every inch of his neck and shoulders with his mouth. It was strange and nice, and his cock straining against the fly of his jeans was a testament to how bloody marvellous it felt.
He leaned back against Cedric's chest, turning his head and nudging closer. He sucked Cedric's lower lip into his mouth and ran his tongue along it, nibbling gently then slid his tongue between Cedric's lips.
A part of him thought that snogging a bloke should be rougher, frantic, a testosterone-induced struggle for some illusion of dominance and a race to climax, but Teddy had always liked slow kissing; that sensual drag of tongue, soft lips, and gentle fingertips stroking across his cheek, through his hair, down the back of his neck. The pleasure lasted longer, and after a while, they were so aroused they ended up tearing at each other frantically anyway.
Cedric pulled away and crawled around him, pulling Teddy up onto his knees. They faced each other across a breath of space, skin flushed with heat and hungry for touch. Teddy's pulse was racing as he drew closer, leaning forward just a fraction of an inch more, warmed by the mere presence of this boy he'd yearned to know, never thinking he'd know him so well as this.
Cedric cocked his eyebrows and reached out, fingers light as a feather through the denim of Teddy's jeans, playing over his balls while the heel of his hand cupped and pressed, sliding along his cock. He groaned, a low, ragged sound and thrust his hips forward into the touch.
"Off," he murmured against Cedric's lips, "take them off."
He lifted his own hands, fumbling for the zip on Cedric's jeans as Cedric reached for his, fingers twisting to undo buttons, jerking denim and cotton down over bony hips, and oh, he was so warm, skin like newly spun silk on the underside, so smooth beneath his fingertips. He stroked lightly at first, alternating his rhythm, slow and long, a gentle squeeze around the base, thumb curled around the underside, pressing, stroking.
He slid his lips down over Cedric's jaw, tongue swiping along the underside, down to the juncture between neck and shoulder, a hint of salt as he sucked on the warm, sweet skin. The air was thick with their mingled scent, clean sweat and sex, male and pungent, hands sliding, faster now, closer and closer, Cedric's moans in his ear, his whispered entreaties of yes and more and don't stop.
Oh, just like that, Teddy thought, so close. His breathing was ragged and he buried his face against Cedric's shoulder, biting down hard as he felt the spasms vibrating and pulsing beneath his fingers, bitten-off fingernails digging into his shoulder as Cedric came.
Teddy thrust into Cedric's tight-fisted grip, the warm splash of Cedric's come mingling with his own, and he cried out, eyes closed, as wave after wave convulsed his body.
He wrapped his arms around Cedric's back and rested his head on his shoulder, and Cedric did the same, the two of them supporting each other from collapse until they felt free to move again.
Cedric carefully extricated himself and flopped down on top of the blankets. He kicked off his jeans and pants, and lay naked grinning impudently up at Teddy.
Teddy tried to knee him in the thigh and lost his balance, tumbling on top of Cedric with a whump.
"Daft bastard," Cedric wheezed from below. "You did that on purpose."
Teddy laughed and pushed himself off, lying down on his back beside Cedric and kicking his own clothes off. He raised his feet in the air and regarded them solemnly.
"We look really stupid just wearing socks."
Cedric rolled his eyes. "So take 'em off."
"Nah, then my feet'll get cold."
"You can put them back on."
"I'd have to find them first."
"You have an answer for everything, don't you?"
"Yup," Teddy said, and swung his right knee into Cedric's left. "So when's the Cup final? Harry's playing and I want to watch."
"Week from next Saturday," Cedric said and yawned, turning onto his side to face Teddy. "They're down by two hundred points; it's gonna be tough. Slytherin cheats."
"Nah, they'll win," Teddy said confidently.
"Is that wishful thinking or more secret knowledge of the past?"
"Not telling. But if you've got a few extra galleons you can loan me…"
Cedric punched him in the arm.
**
"Last one in's an Erumpent's saggy bollock," Cedric cried, leaping and canonballing into the multicoloured, bubbling foam.
"Classy," Teddy noted, hopping while trying to pull off his left sock.
"You coming in or what?" Cedric called, wiping suds from his eyes.
"Did we really need that much foam?" Teddy asked, standing on the edge and peering down into the pool-sized bath. "That stuff tastes like arse."
"I'm not even going to ask you how you know enough to make the comparison."
Teddy growled and leaped, his legs scissoring as he hurtled toward Cedric. Cedric ducked down under the foam right before Teddy hit with a huge splash. They chased each other around the bath, dunking and roughhousing, until they finally called a temporary truce. Leaning against opposite sides of the bath, they gasped for breath, laughing, and ineffectually flicked suds at each other.
"Prat," Cedric called.
"So I am," Teddy agreed. He swam closer, ducked underwater and swam the rest of the way, surfacing mere inches from Cedric and spitting a stream of water in his face.
"Gah!" Cedric cried, jumping on Teddy's shoulders and dunking him under the water. Teddy reached out and grabbed Cedric's legs, yanking him under with him.
"I win," Teddy said as they came up for air and grinned, wiping water from his eyes and pushing his wet hair off his forehead.
Cedric shook his head, doglike, stuck out his tongue and took a step forward. "You play dirty."
"Mmm, is there any other way-Oi!" Teddy jumped and fell backward with a splash. He surfaced, spluttering, to find Cedric laughing and pointing at him. "I play dirty?"
Cedric ducked his head, holding his hands palms-up just above the water, then made a squeezing gesture with one, flexing his fingers, a shameless grin on his face.
"I don't know how anyone ever thought you were fair-minded and kind," Teddy said, trying to affect an air of petulance.
"Is that what they say about me in the future? Maybe I grow into it," he teased, this time holding his hands up in surrender and walking slowly towards Teddy. "Come here."
Teddy took a step back. "So you can grab my bollocks again?"
"Among other things," Cedric said mildly, but his eyes were full of mischief.
"Feeling a bit randy, are we?" Teddy stepped closer.
"Unless you've been busy casting Engorgement Charms-though I've long suspected you use your… 'talents'… inappropriately anyway-I wouldn't go calling the kettle black."
"I don't have to cheat, you're just jealous," Teddy said.
"Desperately," Cedric said, closing the last of the distance, cutting off any reply by the swift expediency of covering Teddy's mouth with his own.
It was good, always good, kissing Cedric. It was a competition of a different kind, one that required no rivalry, only participation. He welcomed the intrusion of Cedric's tongue firmly swiping across his own, the slow burn of excitement it induced, every nerve in his body responding to that little twist here, that long lick across his palate there.
When he was finished feigning passive resistance, he would chase Cedric's tongue back across the border of their lips in an attack of his own, the echoes of their battle tingling across the surface of his skin, underneath where the blood thrummed in his veins. He never tired of this endless game between them, and even when it followed the same patterns, it was always new, always thrilling.
Teddy drew his arms around Cedric's hips, hands cupping his arse, pulling them close. The heaviness of the water made their thrusting sluggish, leisurely, more teasing than earnest fucking, but the slow drag of cock against cock was still electric.
Cedric drew his legs up and wrapped them around Teddy's waist, changing the angle so that he felt the brush of Cedric's sac against the base of his cock. Cedric's thrusts were short and quick, and Teddy held him up, their lips never breaking contact as he walked them both toward the edge of the shallowest end of the bath until Cedric's shoulders were against the tiles.
Cedric broke their kiss, and leaned his head back along the edge of the bath, clenching his thighs as Teddy fucked him up against the tiles, the resistance of the water no longer a hindrance. Teddy slid his hands sideways; thumbs curving around the side of Cedric's hips, palms flush on his arse, fingers kneading, reaching toward the crease.
They watched each other, and Teddy loved to see the way Cedric reacted to every hint of movement between them. The way his jaw moved, his lips forming sounds, some of which escaped in long, lush moans, or sharp, quick breaths. Every thrust, every touch drew a reaction.
Cedric inched his fingers between them, and Teddy circled his hips in a short arc before thrusting, allowing Cedric the room to grasp both their cocks in his hand. The water was rushing away from them in concentric waves, splashing up against the wall and over the side, the surface of the entire bath echoing the movement of their bodies.
"Come," Teddy said softly and slid one hand further around the curve of Cedric's arse, fingers dipping inside the crease, one finger rubbing gently around his entrance, teasing, a hint of penetration.
Cedric bucked his hips and cried out, a long, low sound that tapered off in a hiss.
"Yes," Teddy murmured, "I want to watch you come."
Cedric clenched his thighs in a single pulse, and Teddy felt them spasm and go slack against his hips. Cedric's thrusts were erratic, and he closed his eyes, jaw going slack, his breathing a staggered, arrhythmic panting.
"Yes," Teddy whispered, driving his cock deeper into Cedric's fist, "yes, yes, yessss…."
Cedric slowly unwrapped his legs, stretching them out and letting them float near the surface of the water, holding onto the edge to keep him afloat. Teddy gave Cedric's arse an ineffective slap under the water, then turned around between Cedric's legs and leaned back against his chest and shoulder. Cedric threw a casual arm around Teddy's middle while Teddy ran light fingers along the underside of Cedric's thighs as they relaxed, the waves subsiding and lapping softly against the tiles.
"I'd get out and lie down, but I'm too lazy to move right now," Cedric said after a while.
"Lazy sod," Teddy agreed. "I can sympathise with that sentiment."
"Problem is, my wrist is awkward like this, and I don't think I can hold myself up for much longer."
Teddy stood, turned, and lifted Cedric up onto the side of the bath.
"Well, that was decisive."
Teddy grinned. "C'mon, we'll lay out some towels and have a lie-down. We can have another swim after, if we feel up to it."
They stretched out on their little nest of towels, Cedric on his back, Teddy on his side facing him. Teddy let his gaze wander over Cedric's body. He was beautiful to look at; broad shoulders, firm, lithe muscle beneath smooth, pale skin, square jaw with a hint of stubble, straight nose and clear grey eyes. He reached out his hand and gently toyed with the trail of hair below Cedric's navel. Cedric lifted his right arm and rested his fingers on the back of Teddy's hand.
Teddy smiled, lowered his head onto his makeshift pillow, and closed his eyes, his fingers still rubbing.
In quiet moments like these, Teddy could almost forget he didn't belong here.
Cedric was beautiful, and he enjoyed looking, but it was his personality-his easy, playful, friendly manner, his intelligence and wit-that Teddy found himself most attracted to. He was genuinely nice, and there was a gentleness to him, yet he was confident in his abilities, and completely unabashed, particularly when it came to sex. Teddy thought of it as being comfortable in his own skin, and he admired Cedric for it.
They had continued to spend time together even after the Easter holidays had ended, finding themselves together more and more frequently, despite Cedric's busy schedule. They spent their evenings in the Room, revising, flying or playing other games, talking, and of course there was plenty of sex.
He put his plans to return to his own time on temporary hold, and every day the notion of leaving was less and less appealing. He knew he had to go, but each new day he'd tell himself, just one more day. Tomorrow, I'll leave tomorrow. What's one more day?
One more day had become a week had become a month and a little more. It was now early May, and he had been here for nearly three months.
It wasn't the sex that kept him here, no matter how good it was between them. That would be far too shallow and selfish a reason for taking such a huge risk. His reason was selfish, however. He stayed as much for himself as he did for Cedric.
Cedric was ridiculously easy to talk to, to confide in, and he never asked Teddy to tell him about the future. He didn't care about the future for its own sake; his only interest in it seemed to be how it pertained to Teddy himself; what his life was like, who he was, and he understood that there were many things that Teddy wouldn't-couldn't talk about, and didn't hold it against him. His own mortality wasn't ever an issue either. Like all teenagers, he expected to live a long life and grow old and decrepit before he died.
Even when Teddy slipped a bit, telling him about being orphaned as an infant, growing up with his Gran, how Harry was his godfather, he trusted Cedric, and even if he hadn't been so confident in Cedric's discretion, he also knew that it didn't matter. Cedric would die in a year, and there wasn't anything he could do about it.
He missed his friends and his family, but they would still be there when he returned home. His father and Cedric, however, would not.
He opened his eyes. Cedric was dozing, his hand still covering Teddy's. His hair was damp, and there were still beads of water on his shoulder and neck, glistening in the soft light from the torches. He sat up on his elbow and inched closer, trying not to disturb their hands, lowered his head, and licked Cedric's shoulder, his tongue lapping at the tiny drops.
Cedric stirred, but didn't open his eyes. Teddy gently extricated his hand and shifted his body closer, bending once again, searching for more droplets, licking at Cedric's collarbone as he worked his way toward the middle. Cedric grinned, eyes still closed, and tilted his head, exposing more of his neck.
Teddy continued to move, tongue dipping into the hollow of Cedric's throat, travelling up around the curve of his jaw and back down, sucking softly just below his left ear, and moving back down again. He nibbled on Cedric's collarbone as he passed it again, travelling lower still. Cedric wriggled with pleasure as Teddy sucked a pert, pink nipple between his lips, tongue circling the nub, his hands stroking Cedric's belly.
He could see Cedric's stomach quivering, dipping into concavity and back when he sucked hard like that-yes-and stroked him around the side, down, around and back up over hipbones which strained against his skin. He liked the way Cedric's belly jumped, like a hiccough, so he pressed forward, tongue abandoning nipple with a final dragging lick, and surging lower over ribs and onto the plane of his stomach. The skin was soft here, almost delicate, nice for licking, his tongue firm, leaving trails of saliva. He paused a moment and blew a soft breath over Cedric's stomach
Cedric sucked in another breath and broke out in gooseflesh. Teddy continued lower, tongue circling round his bellybutton, dipping inside the shallow depression for a quick taste. Cedric whimpered when Teddy kept going, following the trail of dark hair he'd been playing with earlier. Cedric's cock was resting against his lower abdomen, fluid glistening at the tip as it bobbed along in an opposing rhythm each time his stomach dipped.
Teddy licked his lips and turned his head to glance behind him. Cedric was on his elbows watching with wide eyes. Teddy licked his lips again and Cedric started, a hungry look in his eyes. Teddy turned back and inched closer. He bent his head and slowly, delicately lapped at the head of Cedric's cock. He tasted a hint of salt, and heard Cedric gasp behind him. Encouraged, he continued his exploration, swiping his tongue down the length. The skin was silky smooth and very warm. He mouthed his way back up, tongue drawing little circles while his lips dragged along the shaft.
Cedric's cock twitched and bobbed again. He moved back to the head where more fluid had collected and licked again, this time sucking the tip between his lips. It felt nice on his tongue and he marvelled that it could be both hard and soft at the same time. He slid his lips further down the shaft, sucking as he went, cushioning the head on his tongue and rubbing it back and forth.
Teddy moaned, surprised, when he felt a hand on his arse, touching and stroking, down through the cleft, over his hole, fingering his balls. He pushed back into the touch, and continued with his own exploration, trying to take in as much of Cedric's cock as he could. He bobbed his head, pulling back to suck harder at the head, then enveloping it again, all the while his tongue flicking everywhere it could reach, probing, tasting, swirling.
Cedric shifted beneath him, turning sideways. Startled, he pulled back and tried to push Cedric's hips flat again.
"No," Cedric whispered from behind, pushing back. "Lie down on your side," he said and tugged on Teddy's leg.
Finally understanding what Cedric was asking, he stretched out on his left side, bent his top leg back and out of the way, and turned his attention back to Cedric's cock, sucking it slowly into his mouth again. The angle was different and he couldn't take it in as deeply as before, so he focused his attentions on the head, hand gripping the base, while his heart beat in anticipation.
And then Cedric's mouth was on him, and rational thought was no longer an option. He was suckling instinctively, for the moment too caught up in the way Cedric was lapping at him, taking him inside his warm, wet mouth-oh-he wanted to thrust but managed to hold himself back, merely rocking into that gorgeous suction.
Cedric was rocking his hips slowly, too, and he realised, ruefully, he was being a bit neglectful. This mutual sucking was a lot harder than it looked.
He decided to try to mimic what Cedric was doing, which turned out to be a good idea-he didn't have to think, he could just react and feel, and it felt bloody marvellous.
The room was quiet except for the sounds of hungry suckling and low-pitched humming, sounds which went straight to his cock, exciting him even more. His jaw was a bit stiff, but it all felt so good, he couldn't bring himself to care. He gripped Cedric's cock, rhythmically jerking the lower half in a circular motion, sucking hard on the head in a counterpoint rhythm, and moaning softly with his own pleasure as Cedric did the same. He had been trying to hold back, trying to prolong everything, but he was drenched in sweat and ready to pop.
He tried to pull back from Cedric's mouth, but Cedric sucked him harder. He groaned loudly trying to warn him. Cedric's hand left his cock and he tried to pull back again, but there were fingers at his entrance, stroking. He jerked his hips violently when Cedric pressed one finger inside in short, shallow thrusts, pulled his mouth from Cedric's cock and threw his head back, coming in long, hard spasms.
He was lying on his back, breathing heavily. He lifted his hand to his chest and felt something warm and slippery. Cedric had come, too, he realised. He rubbed it between his fingers, uncaring about the mess and closed his eyes
**
He woke a short while later, and Cedric was sitting on the edge of the pool, washing himself.
"Hey," Teddy called softly.
Cedric turned and smiled, and threw a sopping wet towel at him. He flinched and raised his arm, and the towel smacked him in his stomach.
"Thanks," Teddy said. "Always so thoughtful."
Cedric came over and sat down next to him, picking up the towel and squeezing water onto Teddy's chest, rubbing gently. "Better?"
"Much."
Cedric tossed the towel aside and stretched out beside him again.
"Knackered?" Teddy asked.
Cedric nodded. "In a good way."
"We should probably go soon, but I can't be arsed to get up at the moment."
"So stay. It's late, but it's not that late. Morning's still a good ways off," Cedric said.
"Mmmm," Teddy agreed and closed his eyes.
He lay with his eyes closed, listening to the sounds of Cedric's even breathing. A shadow moved across his face and he opened his eyes to see Cedric above him, grinning down at him. Something fluttered in his belly and he felt warm.
He had to tell him. He couldn't let this boy, this young man, so bright, so full of promise; he could not let him die. He made up his mind to tell him the truth and damn the consequences. What was one peripheral life in the grand scheme of things anyway? Tomorrow. I'll tell him tomorrow. But right now…
He reached for Cedric, pulling his head down to kiss him, his cock stirring yet again, obviously not quite finished for the evening. He grinned against Cedric's lips and gently swiped his tongue along the crease between-
-when the door to the bath slammed open and a dark, robed figure stood glowering at them from across the pool, wand pointing threateningly at them. It was too dim to see a face so Teddy scrambled up from the tile floor, changing his face instinctively to the first one that came to mind, and pushed Cedric back behind him. Their clothing, and their wands were on the other side of the pool and Teddy's heart sank. They were in big trouble.
There was a flash of light and his limbs snapped together before he fell backward. Cedric caught him, but whoever had hexed him was quicker. A voice seemed to come from a very great distance.
"Leave him be, Mr Diggory, and stay where you are."
He flew through the air across the pool and came to rest on the floor, facing up. He heard a whisper and his limbs went slack. He blinked several times, and when he could focus again, his father was looming over him.
Teddy gasped when Remus pressed a knee into his belly, his eyes cold and penetrating and he thrust the tip of his wand against the hollow of Teddy's throat. Teddy swallowed painfully, his heart beating loudly, his head aching, and tried to breathe.
"Who the hell are you?" Remus demanded.
Chapter 6: the deepest of needs
Bloody hell. It was his father. His father was going to kill him. The irony of the situation did not escape him, though at least Cedric hadn't threatened to kill him at the time. "P-Professor," he rasped. "It's me, sir. R-Roger."
Remus' eyes narrowed. "Nice try. If you lie again, I'll Stun you and send for the Dementors. You can answer to them."
"No, wait! Please," Teddy croaked. He licked his lips, but his tongue was like sandpaper and offered no relief. "I-I can explain."
It was then that he saw what his father held clutched in his other hand. He stared at the familiar parchment and swallowed over the lump in his throat. He opened his mouth, but no sound emerged.
"Professor, sir, please, we-" Cedric took a step forward, but Remus pressed his knee harder into Teddy while he pointed his wand across at Cedric, cutting off his reply.
"Stay where you are Mr Diggory, if you please. I would think you're in enough trouble already."
Teddy lay still, a wash of guilt sweeping over him. I'm sorry, Cedric. This is all my fault. I stayed too long.
Remus flicked his wand back and jabbed Teddy in the chest. "I repeat, for the last time. Who are you? I know you're an impostor, and I know the real Roger Davies is, at this very moment, in his dormitory. Answer me!"
"The Marauder's Map never lies," Teddy whispered, so softly that Remus had to lean closer to hear him.
The blood drained from his face, though he continued to press his wand tip against Teddy's sternum. "What did you say?"
"The Marauder's Map never lies," he repeated, louder, though his voice was still thin with fear and anxiety.
Remus rocked back as if he'd been slapped, though he kept a firm grip on his wand. "How could you-? Nobody…" Remus leaned forward and gripped him hard by the shoulders, the map crinkling against Teddy's skin. "What have you done to Harry? Did Black send you?" His voice was angry as he shook Teddy hard.
Teddy reeled. This wasn't supposed to happen. How did his father get Harry's map? His belly still writhed in fear, but also with a strange kind of hopeful longing. He had run out of options five minutes ago, so he did the only thing left to him. He inhaled a shaky breath, exhaled, and slowly relaxed his features.
Remus recoiled as Teddy's hair grew and faded into a familiar light brown, his jawbone thinned, cheekbones rearranging beneath fluid flesh, solidifying around unchanging, golden brown eyes. Teddy heard Cedric exhale loudly from across the room as he met his father's startled gaze.
"How-? Polyjuice," Remus rasped.
"No," Teddy answered, shaking his head. "Metamorphmagus."
Remus blinked. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it, silent.
"You saw the map," Teddy said softly. "You saw my name. Sirius didn't send me, Sirius doesn't even know me, and Harry doesn't know I exist yet, either. It was an accident. I didn't know…"
He bit his lip. "The Marauder's Map never lies. You told Harry that, or you will. Everything is so confusing. Anyway, you'll have to tell him now, because he told me." He paused.
"Moony." The word sounded strange in his ears, no matter that he'd said it a thousand times and more to himself. "You know who I am."
Remus' eyes widened, but he still wouldn't speak.
Teddy raised his head, turned to his side and pointed his chin at his robes on the floor. "Right side pocket." When Remus didn't move, he added, "I'm flat on my back and I'm unarmed. Please."
Remus nodded and stood, slowly stepping backwards. He transferred his wand to his left hand, which still held his copy of the map, never taking his eyes from Teddy. He leaned over and picked up the crumpled robe, fumbled in the pockets, and drew out the map's doppelganger. He tore his gaze away to stare at the blank parchment, clearly not believing what he was seeing.
"It's impossible," Remus breathed, staring at the two maps in his badly-shaking hands.
Teddy sat up slowly and nodded absently. "Three months ago, I would have agreed. But obviously it is. Possible."
Remus looked at Teddy and crumpled to the ground, his wand clattering to the floor with a rustle of parchment, and covered his face with his hands. Teddy cried out and scrambled over to him, throwing his arm around his father's shoulder without a thought.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry. I never meant, I mean, I never expected, and then I was here, and you were here, and I had to lie, I couldn't be me, how could I be me?" He was babbling, and Remus was trembling beneath him, and the reality of the situation struck him like a blow.
"Oh my god. I'm naked. I'm bloody starkers! I'm sitting here with my father who tried to kill me and I just had sex with my… my… boy-my… Merlin's balls on a broomstick!" He ducked his head, blushing profusely, banged his forehead against his father's shoulder and buried his face against his robes. "I want to die right now," he mumbled into the fabric.
Remus' shaking intensified and a slow rumbling reverberated through Teddy's cheek. He pulled away slowly, afraid his father was crying, and began patting him awkwardly on the shoulder when Remus suddenly threw his head back and burst into peals of laughter.
"You're laughing? You're laughing at me? I thought you were crying, you sadistic bastard! It's not funny!"
Cedric was laughing now, too, hesitant at first, but when Teddy looked over at him, he was wiping tears from his eyes and gasping for breath while trying to keep his towel from slipping off his hips. Teddy glared at him. "Traitor. 'S'not funny."
Both Cedric and his father continued laughing, and he felt the corners of his mouth lifting. "It isn't," he insisted, like a petulant child. Merlin, how ridiculous am I? I'm sitting here with my cock flapping in the breeze! He burst out laughing despite himself, and the other two howled even louder.
He wiped his nose and lifted his chin when he felt a touch on his arm. His father was looking at him solemnly-though his lip kept twitching-offering Teddy his robes as a peace gesture. "The Lupin family jewels are looking a bit… chilly."
Teddy snatched his robes and threw them over his head, twisting them to find the sleeves and neck. "Quit peeking," he said as he struggled.
"What was that?" his father asked. "I didn't quite catch that."
He poked his head through the neck of his robes about to retort, but his father was looking at him with such a profound expression of joy that it left him quite breathless. His father reached out a hand and gently traced a finger down the side of Teddy's cheek.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"No, Dad." Teddy swallowed, blinking back tears. He cleared his throat. "I'm the one who should be sorry."
"Well, then we'll both be sorry and leave it at that."
Cedric cleared his throat behind him and he turned. When had he got dressed? He was jamming his foot into his trainer and looking a bit awkward. Teddy stood and gently laid a hand on his arm.
Cedric smiled. "I think that's my cue to leave. That is unless, sir-" He turned to Remus, his face serious. "-unless you intend to give me detention."
Remus smiled. "I think we can let this one slide, Mr Diggory. I do, however, expect you to go straight back to your dormitory. If you don't-" He waggled the map in his hand. “-I shall know."
"Bugger," Cedric muttered.
"I heard that. I also expect that you'll be, ah, discreet with regard to the events of this evening," Remus added, raising his eyebrows.
"I think you can depend on that, professor, sir."
"Good. Then I won't have to spit and roast you over a slow fire for seducing my son."
"Me? He kissed me first!" Cedric spluttered. "Besides, he's older than I am, much older."
"Hey! I'm not that old, and you were born years before me. And it was your fault. But I'm glad." He looked Cedric in the eye and smiled. "Really glad."
Cedric grinned back and thumped him gently on the shoulder, his hand lingering for a moment. "Look me up in twenty years, yeah?"
Teddy nodded and watched him walk away. Before he opened the door, Cedric turned around and walked quickly back to him, grabbed him by his shoulders and kissed him hard. Teddy kissed him back, his hand cupping Cedric's cheek and jaw in a gesture that was far too tender for the furious duel of lips and tongue. He waited until Cedric pulled away first, reluctant, almost forgetting that his father was standing a few feet away. He kept his eyes on Cedric, however, on his lopsided grin and clear grey eyes, before Cedric finally turned and strutted-the cocky bastard-to the door and left Teddy alone with his father.
"Well then, I suppose I'm too late for that particular father-son chat."
Teddy turned to his father and raised his eyebrows. "You have some sage advice to offer on the subject, do you?"
"You've no idea." He handed Teddy back one of the maps. "Come, let's go up to my office, shall we? I could do with some tea, and it'd be good to have some privacy. I'm sure Myrtle is lurking somewhere in one of the taps, she's been spying on students since long before I was a student here."
"Moaning Myrtle? The ghost from the girl's toilet?" Teddy shuddered.
Remus put his arm across Teddy's shoulder and walked with him to the door. "I don't imagine life, or death really, as a ghost is very exciting. She has to find her entertainments somewhere, don't you think? We used to catch her all the time. Sirius in particular took great pleasure in-" He stiffened and exhaled loudly. "Yes, well, tea then," and he closed the door behind them.
**
Teddy sat sipping his tea in the same chair in front of his father's desk, but this time Remus sat beside him instead of across from him. They hadn't said much since leaving the bath, and instead discovered a tendency to stare at each other. Teddy was memorizing his father's features, every nuance, every crease, every grey hair, the way his golden brown eyes stared back at him in the same way, so like his own, but with a deep sadness that shone like a beacon, something he hadn't noticed the last time.
He realised then that his father was a consummate liar. Not maliciously, no, but for self-protection. Even without the abilities of a Metamorphmagus, his father wore two distinct faces. The public face that he'd seen as Roger, the face that lied, and the private one he wore now. The honest face. It hurt him to see his father so naked before him, but it was heartening, too, the depth of trust, the vulnerability his father allowed him to see.
As he watched, he saw a look of awareness blossom on his father's face.
"It was you," he said, putting his teacup down on the small table he'd conjured. "That evening in my office, the discussion about werewolves." Teddy nodded, grinning shyly. "I couldn't quite work it out when Roger handed in his essay and he'd written about vampires. I said nothing, of course, but now it makes sense. I would assume you know then. My deep dark secret."
"Of course I know. I am your son. And, no, before you say anything more, I don't care, and all that rubbish about beasts and sub-humans you had me arguing with you about is just that: pure and utter rubbish."
Remus' smile was wide and genuine, and it thrilled Teddy to see it.
"I'm sorry I deceived you. I just…" He shrugged. "I wanted to meet you. I'd stand outside your classroom door for hours, listening to you teach. Harry and H-the others," he amended quickly, "they always said you were the best Defence teacher they had. I figured they were biased and exaggerating a bit, to make me feel better, maybe, but they weren't. They were right."
Remus smiled and a faint blush stained his cheeks. "I'm flattered. I'm sure they did exaggerate, but it's a lovely compliment all the same. I didn't think I'd enjoy teaching as much as I do. I've been very lucky this year, considering, well…" He trailed off.
"The Dementors. And Sirius." Remus stiffened and the beacon was back at full intensity. "Dad…" Teddy licked his lips and swirled the dregs of his tea in his teacup. It was wrong. It might even be suicidal. He'd find out the truth soon enough, but the pain in his father's eyes wrenched at his heart.
"There's something I have to tell you, but you have to promise me. It's something you're going to find out anyway soon, but-"
"Why do you call him by his first name? You did that earlier, as well." Remus' voice was soft, barely above a whisper.
"That's what I need to tell you."
"You shouldn't. Messing with time, it could have dire consequences. If you've noticed, I haven't asked you about your mother."
Teddy laughed and it was a hollow sound. "I wouldn't tell you, but now that we've met, I'd bet you a thousand Galleons you'll figure out exactly who she is the moment you meet her, if you haven't already, and if either of us had a thousand Galleons to spare. I'm sorry about that. That puts a bit of an obligation on you. Will you marry her for your sake or for mine? I suppose now we'll never know, though I do hope you come to love her for her own sake."
Remus inhaled sharply in surprise. "That… that's extraordinarily perceptive. And quite the conundrum. You're right, I don't suppose I'll ever know the truth. Perhaps it's best that way. I'd hate to do her a disservice. Maybe you shouldn't tell her about this part."
Teddy nodded and changed the subject. "So, Sirius." His father stiffened again at the name, his entire body channelling his sorrow.
"Please," Remus said. "You say it with such familiarity. I don't know if I-you do know what he's done, what he's trying to do even now?"
"Yes."
"Then how…?"
"Will you promise me something first? No matter what I tell you, you have to keep your word. The entire future and the lives of so many people depend on you keeping this promise. It's something you won't want to do, but you have to. You were right about messing with time; the future has to remain intact. Will you trust me?"
"With my life," Remus replied immediately, leaning forward slightly in his chair. "I've borne heavier burdens. And for you, I can't imagine there's anything I wouldn't do."
"We just met," Teddy said with some surprise. "How could you…?"
Remus smiled. "I never expected to have a child. I've always believed that werewolves shouldn't reproduce. What if I passed on my condition to an innocent child, a child of my blood? I don't think I could live with that. The guilt would devour me whole. But seeing you," he said, and his smile was one of pure joy. "Oh, Teddy, I don't think I can even articulate." He reached out and clasped Teddy's hand, squeezing.
"It doesn't matter that we met only a short time ago. Don't you see?"
Teddy nodded and swallowed over the lump in his throat. They sat that way for a while, holding hands and smiling at each other, holding a silent conversation, a communion, without saying a word.
Remus cleared his throat. "So you have my promise," he said, gently detaching his hand and reaching over to pour them both another cup of tea.
Teddy watched the steam rising from the deep brown liquid for a moment and rose to his feet. He moved the table over a few inches and knelt on the floor before his father's chair, and took his hands in his.
"When I tell you, you can't go running off. You have to let things happen as they're meant to, and it won't be easy. There are too many things and the timing is everything. But I'm telling you because I think it's important that you know the truth. I can't bear to see you in so much pain when I know I can help ease it. Although that's a double-edged sword. It's not a pleasant story, Dad, not by any means but, as I said, it's something you'd find out anyway, whether I were here or not."
Remus nodded, and Teddy could read the anxiety in his expression too easily. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, carefully watching his father's face.
"Sirius is innocent. He was never the Potters' Secret Keeper."
Remus started violently and tugged his hands away but Teddy held on tight. "No!" he cried and his eyes were wild. "That's impossible! He killed-he never-"
"He never had a trial," Teddy interrupted. "Sirius never said, but Harry and I talked about it once. We're convinced it was his guilt over persuading James to switch to someone else at the last minute, over his misplaced doubt in you… he felt he deserved the punishment because he let James and Lily die."
Remus had tears in his eyes and a look of abject horror on his face, but Teddy still held fast to his hands. "No. He killed Peter," he whispered. "There were a dozen witnesses…"
"-who heard Peter say that Sirius was guilty."
"The street, the Muggles…"
"Peter used what was probably a Blasting Curse behind his back. I'm sorry, Dad. I'm so sorry." Tears were spilling down Remus' face and his own eyes welled with tears. Pain was radiating off Remus in waves.
"Peter was the Secret Keeper. Peter was a spy for Voldemort, a Death Eater, a traitor, a coward. That's why Sirius went after Peter. I imagine he wanted to kill him at the time, but not for the reason you or anyone else has believed all these years."
Remus bowed his head and wept. Teddy released his hands, tugged him down onto the floor beside him and held him, rocking them both gently.
It was strange, this parental role reversal. Suddenly all the years of longing, all the anger and annoyance at what, in the end, amounted to something so trivial, were pushed aside, broken down into their basest components and reassembled into something new, something bright, something gratifying, and he was almost ashamed of some of his past behaviour. When he returned home, and he knew now that he had to leave, there would still be emptiness, a deep loss, and it would hurt more than anything he'd ever experienced. But now he had memories with which to fill the void. He'd heal.
He smiled. His father had stilled and was simply embracing him now. It was all a bit unmanly, perhaps, but he didn't particularly care right now; One more thing to treasure, to fill the void.
Remus pulled back and Teddy reluctantly let him go. They looked at the jumbled mess of their long limbs entangled with each other and the chair legs and laughed, and it was a good laugh. They disentangled themselves and stood.
Remus looked at the tea. "It's cold."
"Did you need me to teach you a warming charm?"
Remus smacked him playfully on the arm. "Don't get cheeky with your old man."
Teddy raised his eyebrows, feigning innocence, and Remus narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, really?" Remus took his wand from his pocket and emptied their teacups, tapped the kettle, and when it steamed, pocketed his wand and poured two fresh cups. "Warming charms are crap," he said with satisfaction, sitting back down in his chair. He picked up his cup and sipped. "There are still a number of things that don't make any sense."
Teddy grinned as he watched his father, and really, who was the cheeky one? He raised his eyebrows again at his question. "What's that?"
"First, why has Sirius been trying to break into Gryffindor tower? Ron Weasley swore he saw Sirius standing over him with a knife."
Teddy nodded. "Ron Weasley has a pet rat," he said simply.
The look of incredulity on Remus' face was almost comical and he might have laughed if the subject hadn't been so grave.
"Wormtail. That bastard! And I suppose that answers my other questions of how he disappeared the day Sirius supposedly killed him." Remus snarled and slammed down his teacup, sloshing liquid all over the table. "I'll kill him, if I ever get my hands on him, fuck magic, I'll wring his bloody rat neck with my bare hands!"
"Dad…"
"What!" Remus snapped. Teddy recognized his anger; he'd seen it directed at him only a short time ago. His father was furious. This wasn't going to be easy.
"You promised you'd do something, even though I told you that you wouldn't want to."
"I know I did!"
Teddy sighed. "You can't kill him."
Remus glared at him. "Of course I can. And I plan to do it slowly with as much pain as humanly possible."
"That's the promise. Peter has to live. And not only live, but the night you capture him, the night of the June full moon, he has to escape."
Remus gaped. "You can't ask that of me. After all he's done…"
"But I am asking. Peter has to escape. There are things that Peter needs to do, and if he doesn't do them, and I say this knowing what he's done, and what it's cost you and Sirius, and Harry's parents, not to mention Harry himself. If he doesn't do these things, then Harry will die."
"You can't know that!"
"I do know it."
"You can't-"
"I do!" Teddy yelled. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Dad, do you think I would ask you to do this if it wasn't important? I know you're angry-furious!-and Merlin knows you have every right to be, but please. For my sake, for Harry's sake, and for the sake of wizardkind. Please."
Remus sighed, his shoulders slumping, then nodded.
"One more thing."
"Just one?" Remus said with a hint of sarcasm.
Teddy exhaled sharply through his nose and ignored his father's tone. He knew he didn't really mean it. "You'll want to kill him, and you'll threaten to do so. Harry will stop you, so let him."
"Harry will be there, too? No, I won't let him be harmed, Teddy. You said it's the night of the full moon!"
"Harry will be there, and he won't be in any danger. Sirius will be there, and you'll be there, and you have the Wolfsbane Potion so you won't be dangerous. Trust me. Trust yourself. And above all, trust Harry. Listen, Sirius is going to need you. He's your friend and he's completely alone in the world right now. Sirius is more important than Peter and-" He ducked his head. "-and Moony needs Padfoot."
Remus looked at his son with narrowed eyes, exhaled loudly and threw up his hands. "Do I have any secrets left?"
Teddy stood up and began to pace. "What? Because I know what your friends did for you so they could be with you during the full moon? So you wouldn't ever have to be alone? Why wouldn't I know that? Of course Harry told me. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, but you need him. You shouldn't have to be alone. You've missed him, I know you have. He was your best friend. You've both been alone all these years, and he needs you, too."
Remus shook his head and grinned ruefully. "I'm going to have to have a chat with your mother, because you did not get this from me."
"I'm sure she'd disagree," he said lightly.
"Teddy."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
Teddy grinned and sat back down. "Drink your tea before it gets cold again."
"Smart arse."
"At least I come by it honestly."
Remus chuckled ruefully and sipped his tea. They sat in a quiet, companionable silence for a few minutes before Remus said, "You have to go back," and there was regret in his voice.
"I know."
"If… I'm not trying to get rid of you."
"I know." Teddy sighed and held his feet out straight in front of him. "I was afraid I'd stayed too long already, knew I probably had, but I couldn't…" He shrugged and looked at his feet, kicking them aimlessly. "I need to say good-bye to Cedric."
"You really like him," Remus said softly.
Teddy looked up sharply and raised his eyebrows. "I thought that was fairly obvious."
"It was."
"You're not, you know, angry? Upset? Ashamed?"
"Of course not."
"It just sort of happened, kind of surprised me, too. I didn't-I mean…"
"Love is love," Remus said simply.
"I'm not, I mean, we're not… it's not love."
"All relationships are a kind of love in their own way."
Teddy shrugged. "Like you said, I have to go back. It can't ever be anything more than what it was. Do you think he's still awake?"
Remus shook his head. "Possibly, I wouldn't know. But you already said your goodbyes. He's a smart young man. He knew when he left you earlier. You knew, too."
"Yeah. Tell him…" He looked down at his feet, biting his lip. No, he couldn't change anything. He'd already risked enough. Enough. How does one measure the value of a human life anyway? He thought about Cedric's portrait, back home and waiting in his common room. Would it-he remember? Could he bear to see Cedric again like that? So distant and utterly untouchable?
Remus inclined his head, waiting.
"Nothing. It's… nothing. Sorry." He shook his head and looked back up at his father. "Be nice to him, by the way. Even if he did."
"Did what?"
"Seduce me. Although he was right in that I kissed him first." Teddy grinned impudently
"You realise all this is much more than any parent needs to know."
"It'll be good practice."
"I'm sure I'll be grateful," Remus said and rolled his eyes with mirth.
Teddy stood up and put his cup down. "Thanks for the tea. I'll-I'll miss you, this time we had. It was… special."
Remus stood up, too, picked up Teddy's bag from beside his desk and handed it to him. "You have your map?"
Teddy patted his right side pocket. "Never leave home without it. I still can't believe you created it, you know. I'm glad though, it's been quite handy. Clever bastards, the lot of you."
Remus laughed. "You don't know the half of it," he agreed.
Teddy started. A few months ago, that statement would have devastated him, but now, well, he'd discovered there were more important things.
"I'm glad Harry gave it to you. It seems I'll have to return my copy to him eventually."
"You'd better," he said, glaring, then grinned. They left Remus' office together, walking side by side, arms brushing occasionally while they walked. They didn't speak.
When they reached the seventh floor corridor, Teddy turned, a shy smile on his face. "I guess this is good-bye."
"For now," Remus said softly and reached up to brush Teddy's fringe away from his forehead. He smiled sadly. "Don't grieve for me."
Teddy stared in horror as the blood drained from his face and his insides twisted painfully. "I didn't-"
"You didn't have to. Why else would you have come?"
"Too clever," Teddy whispered.
"And you. I'm so proud of you. And if I ever forgot to tell you, or if you were too young to remember, I love you." He leaned in and kissed Teddy on the forehead. "Be well. Be happy. Now go."
"Dad…"
Remus smiled. "I know."
Teddy embraced him hard. "I love you, too," he whispered, then turned without looking back, swiped his hand across his eyes and began pacing.
**
"Ow," he muttered to himself. The room could be a little gentler about these things, he thought. Still on his knees, he glanced behind him but the door had already vanished. Getting to his feet, he saw a bright flash out of the corner of his eye and ducked instinctively. Peeking around, he saw the corridor remained empty. There were no further flashes, no footsteps and no voices, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He got to his feet, but immediately noticed something was wrong.
The tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy was missing. In its place was a strange painting. Not a portrait: a landscape. An empty landscape at that. There was a hill of stubby green and yellow grass and a flat blue sky, and nothing more. Not even a cloud. Certainly nothing to cause the flash of light he'd seen. Not a very exciting painting either, unless the usual occupant was off visiting a friend.
He was about to turn away when something else caught his eye. He could have sworn a face had quickly peeked out from the side of the painting. It happened sometimes. The occupant must be shy. He sighed and relaxed, and wondered what fate had befallen poor Barnabas.
He reached into his pocket and removed his wand and the map. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
He gave a cursory glance to make sure the corridor and the surrounding area really was clear and sighed with relief when the map showed that nobody was nearby. He had no idea what the date was-had time passed here while he'd been away, or was it by chance the same day he'd left? The corridor was dim, but he couldn't tell if it were day or night from that. The halls were usually dim.
He checked the map: classrooms were empty, Great Hall was empty, and the dots in the Hufflepuff dormitory were still, nobody in the common room. He found Simon's dot, and Fezzie's dot, but no Gordon or Philip. Instead, he saw the dots of three different students, and it took him a moment to realise the significance of their names. "But they're in Gryffindor!"
He unfolded the map and his eyes fell on Gryffindor Tower or, more specifically, the place that used to be Gryffindor Tower. The map showed an empty space as if the tower had simply vanished from existence.
His heart raced, and he unfolded the other side to check on Ravenclaw, but that tower remained intact, students asleep inside, and the Slytherin dungeons were also visible and populated. Perhaps a little too populated, he noticed on closer inspection. He saw the names of a few students he knew from his own house sleeping in Slytherin, as well as students he knew from Ravenclaw and one or two from Gryffindor. Very strange. What had happened to Gryffindor?
He was suddenly afraid. Something was very wrong. What if the room had sent him back to the wrong time? What if he was fifty or hundreds of years in his future? No, he'd seen his friends' names. He was definitely in the right time. But something dreadful must have happened in the three months he'd been gone. He sighed. There was no help for it; he was going to have to go see the Headmistress. He hoped she wouldn't be too angry with him, after all, it had hardly been his fault that he'd gone in the first place. He'd have to explain to Harry, but that could wait. So could his meeting with a certain portrait, a meeting he both dreaded and anticipated. Would he remember?
He bit his lip, checking to see if the Headmistress was by chance awake in her office, and nearly dropped the map.
"But that's impossible! Severus Snape and Tom Riddle are dead!" he spluttered.
"How remarkable," a voice replied.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 4
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Teddy/Cedric (Cedric/Roger Davies, reference to Cedric/Cho)
Summary: Muggles have an old saying: "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it." Teddy never quite grasped the meaning, until he made a wish of his own.
Chapter 5: strange how we know each other
"You're supposed to be revising for Defence."
"You said I get an 'O' on my O.W.L.," Cedric said, continuing his exploration of Teddy's neck.
"You're impossible."
"I like to think of it as challenging."
"I can think of a few other names for-oooh!" Teddy sucked in his breath and arched his back.
"Oh, so you like that."
"Uh-huh," Teddy said, dropping all pretence of helping Cedric revise and lowering his chin, allowing better access to the lips and tongue that were sucking on the back of his neck.
"This is so strange," Cedric said before sucking hard on a particularly sensitive area.
Teddy gasped. "My neck is strange?"
"No, idiot," Cedric said against his skin. He pushed Teddy's head forward even further and licked close to his nape. "This. Doing all this with a bloke."
"I can morph some tits if it'll make you feel better."
"You can't, can you?" Cedric asked and his expression was slightly horrified. "Big tits and a cock. Merlin, now that would be strange."
"I'll do it for you sometime, get you really pissed first though, 'cause that would be a laugh, but anyway, I thought, you know, Davies…"
"I told you we hadn't. Wanking's one thing, isn't it? It's just, you know, getting off. This is different. Us. All the snogging and licking and stuff. Nice though." He moved to the side along Teddy's shoulder, biting and sucking, and Teddy groaned in appreciation.
It was strange. And definitely nice. It was the middle of Easter holidays, so Cedric didn't have classes, and the two of them had been spending a lot of time in the Room. They'd experimented with its abilities and had managed to turn it into an indoor Quidditch pitch three days ago. The Room had even provided brooms, and though they were nothing like Teddy's Firebolt X-treme back home, it was more than enough to be flying again.
The two of them had whooped and raced around, acting like a couple of first years. As they were both Seekers, of course it became a competition over who was the better player. Cedric had an advantage, used to the slower brooms of the time, but overall they were pretty evenly matched.
Afterwards, Teddy would change the Room back to the familiar bedroom he'd come to think of as his own, and the two of them would flop down on his bed, exhausted and exhilarated, laughing and joking and enjoying each others' company. Cedric, who spent so much time nicking food from the kitchen, had become friendly with a couple of the house-elves, and they were more than happy to bring food up to them in the 'Come and Go Room', saving them numerous trips across the whole of the castle.
Cedric did have O.W.L.s looming, and Teddy hoped to take his N.E.W.T.s when he returned home, whenever that might be, as he found new reason every day to delay. So when they were finished playing, they revised.
It had all been fairly innocent until yesterday. They were sprawled across the bed on their stomachs, legs dangling over the side, textbooks open in front of them, when Cedric had turned to him and kissed him. Teddy had hesitated at first. They'd kissed that one time, but he'd been impersonating Roger-badly-and it had been more out of panic than any kind of desire. It was also different from that time with Simon back in fifth year. They'd been completely pissed for one thing, and for another, Teddy wasn't attracted to Simon. It had been a lark, something they'd laughed over and the incident was never repeated. They'd had a wank or two together, but again, that had been different as well.
But he was attracted to Cedric, and that had confused him. He'd never really thought about it one way or the other. When he dated, it was girls. He noticed when certain blokes were fit and whatnot, but it had never really registered as anything more than that. Cedric was different, and it wasn't just that he was fit. He realised that he'd probably had a bit of a crush on portrait-Cedric back home before he ever met the real article, and this Cedric was almost larger than life to him. His personality drew Teddy like a magnet.
Cedric had noticed his hesitation and pulled back, apologising. Teddy had seen the brief flash of disappointment on his face and before he realised what he was doing, he'd rolled over on top of Cedric, their books falling forgotten to the floor, and snogged him as if his body had known exactly what it wanted and taken it before his mind could catch up.
And here they were this afternoon, Teddy shirtless and trying to quiz Cedric on hexes and counter-hexes, and Cedric behind him exploring every inch of his neck and shoulders with his mouth. It was strange and nice, and his cock straining against the fly of his jeans was a testament to how bloody marvellous it felt.
He leaned back against Cedric's chest, turning his head and nudging closer. He sucked Cedric's lower lip into his mouth and ran his tongue along it, nibbling gently then slid his tongue between Cedric's lips.
A part of him thought that snogging a bloke should be rougher, frantic, a testosterone-induced struggle for some illusion of dominance and a race to climax, but Teddy had always liked slow kissing; that sensual drag of tongue, soft lips, and gentle fingertips stroking across his cheek, through his hair, down the back of his neck. The pleasure lasted longer, and after a while, they were so aroused they ended up tearing at each other frantically anyway.
Cedric pulled away and crawled around him, pulling Teddy up onto his knees. They faced each other across a breath of space, skin flushed with heat and hungry for touch. Teddy's pulse was racing as he drew closer, leaning forward just a fraction of an inch more, warmed by the mere presence of this boy he'd yearned to know, never thinking he'd know him so well as this.
Cedric cocked his eyebrows and reached out, fingers light as a feather through the denim of Teddy's jeans, playing over his balls while the heel of his hand cupped and pressed, sliding along his cock. He groaned, a low, ragged sound and thrust his hips forward into the touch.
"Off," he murmured against Cedric's lips, "take them off."
He lifted his own hands, fumbling for the zip on Cedric's jeans as Cedric reached for his, fingers twisting to undo buttons, jerking denim and cotton down over bony hips, and oh, he was so warm, skin like newly spun silk on the underside, so smooth beneath his fingertips. He stroked lightly at first, alternating his rhythm, slow and long, a gentle squeeze around the base, thumb curled around the underside, pressing, stroking.
He slid his lips down over Cedric's jaw, tongue swiping along the underside, down to the juncture between neck and shoulder, a hint of salt as he sucked on the warm, sweet skin. The air was thick with their mingled scent, clean sweat and sex, male and pungent, hands sliding, faster now, closer and closer, Cedric's moans in his ear, his whispered entreaties of yes and more and don't stop.
Oh, just like that, Teddy thought, so close. His breathing was ragged and he buried his face against Cedric's shoulder, biting down hard as he felt the spasms vibrating and pulsing beneath his fingers, bitten-off fingernails digging into his shoulder as Cedric came.
Teddy thrust into Cedric's tight-fisted grip, the warm splash of Cedric's come mingling with his own, and he cried out, eyes closed, as wave after wave convulsed his body.
He wrapped his arms around Cedric's back and rested his head on his shoulder, and Cedric did the same, the two of them supporting each other from collapse until they felt free to move again.
Cedric carefully extricated himself and flopped down on top of the blankets. He kicked off his jeans and pants, and lay naked grinning impudently up at Teddy.
Teddy tried to knee him in the thigh and lost his balance, tumbling on top of Cedric with a whump.
"Daft bastard," Cedric wheezed from below. "You did that on purpose."
Teddy laughed and pushed himself off, lying down on his back beside Cedric and kicking his own clothes off. He raised his feet in the air and regarded them solemnly.
"We look really stupid just wearing socks."
Cedric rolled his eyes. "So take 'em off."
"Nah, then my feet'll get cold."
"You can put them back on."
"I'd have to find them first."
"You have an answer for everything, don't you?"
"Yup," Teddy said, and swung his right knee into Cedric's left. "So when's the Cup final? Harry's playing and I want to watch."
"Week from next Saturday," Cedric said and yawned, turning onto his side to face Teddy. "They're down by two hundred points; it's gonna be tough. Slytherin cheats."
"Nah, they'll win," Teddy said confidently.
"Is that wishful thinking or more secret knowledge of the past?"
"Not telling. But if you've got a few extra galleons you can loan me…"
Cedric punched him in the arm.
**
"Last one in's an Erumpent's saggy bollock," Cedric cried, leaping and canonballing into the multicoloured, bubbling foam.
"Classy," Teddy noted, hopping while trying to pull off his left sock.
"You coming in or what?" Cedric called, wiping suds from his eyes.
"Did we really need that much foam?" Teddy asked, standing on the edge and peering down into the pool-sized bath. "That stuff tastes like arse."
"I'm not even going to ask you how you know enough to make the comparison."
Teddy growled and leaped, his legs scissoring as he hurtled toward Cedric. Cedric ducked down under the foam right before Teddy hit with a huge splash. They chased each other around the bath, dunking and roughhousing, until they finally called a temporary truce. Leaning against opposite sides of the bath, they gasped for breath, laughing, and ineffectually flicked suds at each other.
"Prat," Cedric called.
"So I am," Teddy agreed. He swam closer, ducked underwater and swam the rest of the way, surfacing mere inches from Cedric and spitting a stream of water in his face.
"Gah!" Cedric cried, jumping on Teddy's shoulders and dunking him under the water. Teddy reached out and grabbed Cedric's legs, yanking him under with him.
"I win," Teddy said as they came up for air and grinned, wiping water from his eyes and pushing his wet hair off his forehead.
Cedric shook his head, doglike, stuck out his tongue and took a step forward. "You play dirty."
"Mmm, is there any other way-Oi!" Teddy jumped and fell backward with a splash. He surfaced, spluttering, to find Cedric laughing and pointing at him. "I play dirty?"
Cedric ducked his head, holding his hands palms-up just above the water, then made a squeezing gesture with one, flexing his fingers, a shameless grin on his face.
"I don't know how anyone ever thought you were fair-minded and kind," Teddy said, trying to affect an air of petulance.
"Is that what they say about me in the future? Maybe I grow into it," he teased, this time holding his hands up in surrender and walking slowly towards Teddy. "Come here."
Teddy took a step back. "So you can grab my bollocks again?"
"Among other things," Cedric said mildly, but his eyes were full of mischief.
"Feeling a bit randy, are we?" Teddy stepped closer.
"Unless you've been busy casting Engorgement Charms-though I've long suspected you use your… 'talents'… inappropriately anyway-I wouldn't go calling the kettle black."
"I don't have to cheat, you're just jealous," Teddy said.
"Desperately," Cedric said, closing the last of the distance, cutting off any reply by the swift expediency of covering Teddy's mouth with his own.
It was good, always good, kissing Cedric. It was a competition of a different kind, one that required no rivalry, only participation. He welcomed the intrusion of Cedric's tongue firmly swiping across his own, the slow burn of excitement it induced, every nerve in his body responding to that little twist here, that long lick across his palate there.
When he was finished feigning passive resistance, he would chase Cedric's tongue back across the border of their lips in an attack of his own, the echoes of their battle tingling across the surface of his skin, underneath where the blood thrummed in his veins. He never tired of this endless game between them, and even when it followed the same patterns, it was always new, always thrilling.
Teddy drew his arms around Cedric's hips, hands cupping his arse, pulling them close. The heaviness of the water made their thrusting sluggish, leisurely, more teasing than earnest fucking, but the slow drag of cock against cock was still electric.
Cedric drew his legs up and wrapped them around Teddy's waist, changing the angle so that he felt the brush of Cedric's sac against the base of his cock. Cedric's thrusts were short and quick, and Teddy held him up, their lips never breaking contact as he walked them both toward the edge of the shallowest end of the bath until Cedric's shoulders were against the tiles.
Cedric broke their kiss, and leaned his head back along the edge of the bath, clenching his thighs as Teddy fucked him up against the tiles, the resistance of the water no longer a hindrance. Teddy slid his hands sideways; thumbs curving around the side of Cedric's hips, palms flush on his arse, fingers kneading, reaching toward the crease.
They watched each other, and Teddy loved to see the way Cedric reacted to every hint of movement between them. The way his jaw moved, his lips forming sounds, some of which escaped in long, lush moans, or sharp, quick breaths. Every thrust, every touch drew a reaction.
Cedric inched his fingers between them, and Teddy circled his hips in a short arc before thrusting, allowing Cedric the room to grasp both their cocks in his hand. The water was rushing away from them in concentric waves, splashing up against the wall and over the side, the surface of the entire bath echoing the movement of their bodies.
"Come," Teddy said softly and slid one hand further around the curve of Cedric's arse, fingers dipping inside the crease, one finger rubbing gently around his entrance, teasing, a hint of penetration.
Cedric bucked his hips and cried out, a long, low sound that tapered off in a hiss.
"Yes," Teddy murmured, "I want to watch you come."
Cedric clenched his thighs in a single pulse, and Teddy felt them spasm and go slack against his hips. Cedric's thrusts were erratic, and he closed his eyes, jaw going slack, his breathing a staggered, arrhythmic panting.
"Yes," Teddy whispered, driving his cock deeper into Cedric's fist, "yes, yes, yessss…."
Cedric slowly unwrapped his legs, stretching them out and letting them float near the surface of the water, holding onto the edge to keep him afloat. Teddy gave Cedric's arse an ineffective slap under the water, then turned around between Cedric's legs and leaned back against his chest and shoulder. Cedric threw a casual arm around Teddy's middle while Teddy ran light fingers along the underside of Cedric's thighs as they relaxed, the waves subsiding and lapping softly against the tiles.
"I'd get out and lie down, but I'm too lazy to move right now," Cedric said after a while.
"Lazy sod," Teddy agreed. "I can sympathise with that sentiment."
"Problem is, my wrist is awkward like this, and I don't think I can hold myself up for much longer."
Teddy stood, turned, and lifted Cedric up onto the side of the bath.
"Well, that was decisive."
Teddy grinned. "C'mon, we'll lay out some towels and have a lie-down. We can have another swim after, if we feel up to it."
They stretched out on their little nest of towels, Cedric on his back, Teddy on his side facing him. Teddy let his gaze wander over Cedric's body. He was beautiful to look at; broad shoulders, firm, lithe muscle beneath smooth, pale skin, square jaw with a hint of stubble, straight nose and clear grey eyes. He reached out his hand and gently toyed with the trail of hair below Cedric's navel. Cedric lifted his right arm and rested his fingers on the back of Teddy's hand.
Teddy smiled, lowered his head onto his makeshift pillow, and closed his eyes, his fingers still rubbing.
In quiet moments like these, Teddy could almost forget he didn't belong here.
Cedric was beautiful, and he enjoyed looking, but it was his personality-his easy, playful, friendly manner, his intelligence and wit-that Teddy found himself most attracted to. He was genuinely nice, and there was a gentleness to him, yet he was confident in his abilities, and completely unabashed, particularly when it came to sex. Teddy thought of it as being comfortable in his own skin, and he admired Cedric for it.
They had continued to spend time together even after the Easter holidays had ended, finding themselves together more and more frequently, despite Cedric's busy schedule. They spent their evenings in the Room, revising, flying or playing other games, talking, and of course there was plenty of sex.
He put his plans to return to his own time on temporary hold, and every day the notion of leaving was less and less appealing. He knew he had to go, but each new day he'd tell himself, just one more day. Tomorrow, I'll leave tomorrow. What's one more day?
One more day had become a week had become a month and a little more. It was now early May, and he had been here for nearly three months.
It wasn't the sex that kept him here, no matter how good it was between them. That would be far too shallow and selfish a reason for taking such a huge risk. His reason was selfish, however. He stayed as much for himself as he did for Cedric.
Cedric was ridiculously easy to talk to, to confide in, and he never asked Teddy to tell him about the future. He didn't care about the future for its own sake; his only interest in it seemed to be how it pertained to Teddy himself; what his life was like, who he was, and he understood that there were many things that Teddy wouldn't-couldn't talk about, and didn't hold it against him. His own mortality wasn't ever an issue either. Like all teenagers, he expected to live a long life and grow old and decrepit before he died.
Even when Teddy slipped a bit, telling him about being orphaned as an infant, growing up with his Gran, how Harry was his godfather, he trusted Cedric, and even if he hadn't been so confident in Cedric's discretion, he also knew that it didn't matter. Cedric would die in a year, and there wasn't anything he could do about it.
He missed his friends and his family, but they would still be there when he returned home. His father and Cedric, however, would not.
He opened his eyes. Cedric was dozing, his hand still covering Teddy's. His hair was damp, and there were still beads of water on his shoulder and neck, glistening in the soft light from the torches. He sat up on his elbow and inched closer, trying not to disturb their hands, lowered his head, and licked Cedric's shoulder, his tongue lapping at the tiny drops.
Cedric stirred, but didn't open his eyes. Teddy gently extricated his hand and shifted his body closer, bending once again, searching for more droplets, licking at Cedric's collarbone as he worked his way toward the middle. Cedric grinned, eyes still closed, and tilted his head, exposing more of his neck.
Teddy continued to move, tongue dipping into the hollow of Cedric's throat, travelling up around the curve of his jaw and back down, sucking softly just below his left ear, and moving back down again. He nibbled on Cedric's collarbone as he passed it again, travelling lower still. Cedric wriggled with pleasure as Teddy sucked a pert, pink nipple between his lips, tongue circling the nub, his hands stroking Cedric's belly.
He could see Cedric's stomach quivering, dipping into concavity and back when he sucked hard like that-yes-and stroked him around the side, down, around and back up over hipbones which strained against his skin. He liked the way Cedric's belly jumped, like a hiccough, so he pressed forward, tongue abandoning nipple with a final dragging lick, and surging lower over ribs and onto the plane of his stomach. The skin was soft here, almost delicate, nice for licking, his tongue firm, leaving trails of saliva. He paused a moment and blew a soft breath over Cedric's stomach
Cedric sucked in another breath and broke out in gooseflesh. Teddy continued lower, tongue circling round his bellybutton, dipping inside the shallow depression for a quick taste. Cedric whimpered when Teddy kept going, following the trail of dark hair he'd been playing with earlier. Cedric's cock was resting against his lower abdomen, fluid glistening at the tip as it bobbed along in an opposing rhythm each time his stomach dipped.
Teddy licked his lips and turned his head to glance behind him. Cedric was on his elbows watching with wide eyes. Teddy licked his lips again and Cedric started, a hungry look in his eyes. Teddy turned back and inched closer. He bent his head and slowly, delicately lapped at the head of Cedric's cock. He tasted a hint of salt, and heard Cedric gasp behind him. Encouraged, he continued his exploration, swiping his tongue down the length. The skin was silky smooth and very warm. He mouthed his way back up, tongue drawing little circles while his lips dragged along the shaft.
Cedric's cock twitched and bobbed again. He moved back to the head where more fluid had collected and licked again, this time sucking the tip between his lips. It felt nice on his tongue and he marvelled that it could be both hard and soft at the same time. He slid his lips further down the shaft, sucking as he went, cushioning the head on his tongue and rubbing it back and forth.
Teddy moaned, surprised, when he felt a hand on his arse, touching and stroking, down through the cleft, over his hole, fingering his balls. He pushed back into the touch, and continued with his own exploration, trying to take in as much of Cedric's cock as he could. He bobbed his head, pulling back to suck harder at the head, then enveloping it again, all the while his tongue flicking everywhere it could reach, probing, tasting, swirling.
Cedric shifted beneath him, turning sideways. Startled, he pulled back and tried to push Cedric's hips flat again.
"No," Cedric whispered from behind, pushing back. "Lie down on your side," he said and tugged on Teddy's leg.
Finally understanding what Cedric was asking, he stretched out on his left side, bent his top leg back and out of the way, and turned his attention back to Cedric's cock, sucking it slowly into his mouth again. The angle was different and he couldn't take it in as deeply as before, so he focused his attentions on the head, hand gripping the base, while his heart beat in anticipation.
And then Cedric's mouth was on him, and rational thought was no longer an option. He was suckling instinctively, for the moment too caught up in the way Cedric was lapping at him, taking him inside his warm, wet mouth-oh-he wanted to thrust but managed to hold himself back, merely rocking into that gorgeous suction.
Cedric was rocking his hips slowly, too, and he realised, ruefully, he was being a bit neglectful. This mutual sucking was a lot harder than it looked.
He decided to try to mimic what Cedric was doing, which turned out to be a good idea-he didn't have to think, he could just react and feel, and it felt bloody marvellous.
The room was quiet except for the sounds of hungry suckling and low-pitched humming, sounds which went straight to his cock, exciting him even more. His jaw was a bit stiff, but it all felt so good, he couldn't bring himself to care. He gripped Cedric's cock, rhythmically jerking the lower half in a circular motion, sucking hard on the head in a counterpoint rhythm, and moaning softly with his own pleasure as Cedric did the same. He had been trying to hold back, trying to prolong everything, but he was drenched in sweat and ready to pop.
He tried to pull back from Cedric's mouth, but Cedric sucked him harder. He groaned loudly trying to warn him. Cedric's hand left his cock and he tried to pull back again, but there were fingers at his entrance, stroking. He jerked his hips violently when Cedric pressed one finger inside in short, shallow thrusts, pulled his mouth from Cedric's cock and threw his head back, coming in long, hard spasms.
He was lying on his back, breathing heavily. He lifted his hand to his chest and felt something warm and slippery. Cedric had come, too, he realised. He rubbed it between his fingers, uncaring about the mess and closed his eyes
**
He woke a short while later, and Cedric was sitting on the edge of the pool, washing himself.
"Hey," Teddy called softly.
Cedric turned and smiled, and threw a sopping wet towel at him. He flinched and raised his arm, and the towel smacked him in his stomach.
"Thanks," Teddy said. "Always so thoughtful."
Cedric came over and sat down next to him, picking up the towel and squeezing water onto Teddy's chest, rubbing gently. "Better?"
"Much."
Cedric tossed the towel aside and stretched out beside him again.
"Knackered?" Teddy asked.
Cedric nodded. "In a good way."
"We should probably go soon, but I can't be arsed to get up at the moment."
"So stay. It's late, but it's not that late. Morning's still a good ways off," Cedric said.
"Mmmm," Teddy agreed and closed his eyes.
He lay with his eyes closed, listening to the sounds of Cedric's even breathing. A shadow moved across his face and he opened his eyes to see Cedric above him, grinning down at him. Something fluttered in his belly and he felt warm.
He had to tell him. He couldn't let this boy, this young man, so bright, so full of promise; he could not let him die. He made up his mind to tell him the truth and damn the consequences. What was one peripheral life in the grand scheme of things anyway? Tomorrow. I'll tell him tomorrow. But right now…
He reached for Cedric, pulling his head down to kiss him, his cock stirring yet again, obviously not quite finished for the evening. He grinned against Cedric's lips and gently swiped his tongue along the crease between-
-when the door to the bath slammed open and a dark, robed figure stood glowering at them from across the pool, wand pointing threateningly at them. It was too dim to see a face so Teddy scrambled up from the tile floor, changing his face instinctively to the first one that came to mind, and pushed Cedric back behind him. Their clothing, and their wands were on the other side of the pool and Teddy's heart sank. They were in big trouble.
There was a flash of light and his limbs snapped together before he fell backward. Cedric caught him, but whoever had hexed him was quicker. A voice seemed to come from a very great distance.
"Leave him be, Mr Diggory, and stay where you are."
He flew through the air across the pool and came to rest on the floor, facing up. He heard a whisper and his limbs went slack. He blinked several times, and when he could focus again, his father was looming over him.
Teddy gasped when Remus pressed a knee into his belly, his eyes cold and penetrating and he thrust the tip of his wand against the hollow of Teddy's throat. Teddy swallowed painfully, his heart beating loudly, his head aching, and tried to breathe.
"Who the hell are you?" Remus demanded.
Chapter 6: the deepest of needs
Bloody hell. It was his father. His father was going to kill him. The irony of the situation did not escape him, though at least Cedric hadn't threatened to kill him at the time. "P-Professor," he rasped. "It's me, sir. R-Roger."
Remus' eyes narrowed. "Nice try. If you lie again, I'll Stun you and send for the Dementors. You can answer to them."
"No, wait! Please," Teddy croaked. He licked his lips, but his tongue was like sandpaper and offered no relief. "I-I can explain."
It was then that he saw what his father held clutched in his other hand. He stared at the familiar parchment and swallowed over the lump in his throat. He opened his mouth, but no sound emerged.
"Professor, sir, please, we-" Cedric took a step forward, but Remus pressed his knee harder into Teddy while he pointed his wand across at Cedric, cutting off his reply.
"Stay where you are Mr Diggory, if you please. I would think you're in enough trouble already."
Teddy lay still, a wash of guilt sweeping over him. I'm sorry, Cedric. This is all my fault. I stayed too long.
Remus flicked his wand back and jabbed Teddy in the chest. "I repeat, for the last time. Who are you? I know you're an impostor, and I know the real Roger Davies is, at this very moment, in his dormitory. Answer me!"
"The Marauder's Map never lies," Teddy whispered, so softly that Remus had to lean closer to hear him.
The blood drained from his face, though he continued to press his wand tip against Teddy's sternum. "What did you say?"
"The Marauder's Map never lies," he repeated, louder, though his voice was still thin with fear and anxiety.
Remus rocked back as if he'd been slapped, though he kept a firm grip on his wand. "How could you-? Nobody…" Remus leaned forward and gripped him hard by the shoulders, the map crinkling against Teddy's skin. "What have you done to Harry? Did Black send you?" His voice was angry as he shook Teddy hard.
Teddy reeled. This wasn't supposed to happen. How did his father get Harry's map? His belly still writhed in fear, but also with a strange kind of hopeful longing. He had run out of options five minutes ago, so he did the only thing left to him. He inhaled a shaky breath, exhaled, and slowly relaxed his features.
Remus recoiled as Teddy's hair grew and faded into a familiar light brown, his jawbone thinned, cheekbones rearranging beneath fluid flesh, solidifying around unchanging, golden brown eyes. Teddy heard Cedric exhale loudly from across the room as he met his father's startled gaze.
"How-? Polyjuice," Remus rasped.
"No," Teddy answered, shaking his head. "Metamorphmagus."
Remus blinked. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it, silent.
"You saw the map," Teddy said softly. "You saw my name. Sirius didn't send me, Sirius doesn't even know me, and Harry doesn't know I exist yet, either. It was an accident. I didn't know…"
He bit his lip. "The Marauder's Map never lies. You told Harry that, or you will. Everything is so confusing. Anyway, you'll have to tell him now, because he told me." He paused.
"Moony." The word sounded strange in his ears, no matter that he'd said it a thousand times and more to himself. "You know who I am."
Remus' eyes widened, but he still wouldn't speak.
Teddy raised his head, turned to his side and pointed his chin at his robes on the floor. "Right side pocket." When Remus didn't move, he added, "I'm flat on my back and I'm unarmed. Please."
Remus nodded and stood, slowly stepping backwards. He transferred his wand to his left hand, which still held his copy of the map, never taking his eyes from Teddy. He leaned over and picked up the crumpled robe, fumbled in the pockets, and drew out the map's doppelganger. He tore his gaze away to stare at the blank parchment, clearly not believing what he was seeing.
"It's impossible," Remus breathed, staring at the two maps in his badly-shaking hands.
Teddy sat up slowly and nodded absently. "Three months ago, I would have agreed. But obviously it is. Possible."
Remus looked at Teddy and crumpled to the ground, his wand clattering to the floor with a rustle of parchment, and covered his face with his hands. Teddy cried out and scrambled over to him, throwing his arm around his father's shoulder without a thought.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry. I never meant, I mean, I never expected, and then I was here, and you were here, and I had to lie, I couldn't be me, how could I be me?" He was babbling, and Remus was trembling beneath him, and the reality of the situation struck him like a blow.
"Oh my god. I'm naked. I'm bloody starkers! I'm sitting here with my father who tried to kill me and I just had sex with my… my… boy-my… Merlin's balls on a broomstick!" He ducked his head, blushing profusely, banged his forehead against his father's shoulder and buried his face against his robes. "I want to die right now," he mumbled into the fabric.
Remus' shaking intensified and a slow rumbling reverberated through Teddy's cheek. He pulled away slowly, afraid his father was crying, and began patting him awkwardly on the shoulder when Remus suddenly threw his head back and burst into peals of laughter.
"You're laughing? You're laughing at me? I thought you were crying, you sadistic bastard! It's not funny!"
Cedric was laughing now, too, hesitant at first, but when Teddy looked over at him, he was wiping tears from his eyes and gasping for breath while trying to keep his towel from slipping off his hips. Teddy glared at him. "Traitor. 'S'not funny."
Both Cedric and his father continued laughing, and he felt the corners of his mouth lifting. "It isn't," he insisted, like a petulant child. Merlin, how ridiculous am I? I'm sitting here with my cock flapping in the breeze! He burst out laughing despite himself, and the other two howled even louder.
He wiped his nose and lifted his chin when he felt a touch on his arm. His father was looking at him solemnly-though his lip kept twitching-offering Teddy his robes as a peace gesture. "The Lupin family jewels are looking a bit… chilly."
Teddy snatched his robes and threw them over his head, twisting them to find the sleeves and neck. "Quit peeking," he said as he struggled.
"What was that?" his father asked. "I didn't quite catch that."
He poked his head through the neck of his robes about to retort, but his father was looking at him with such a profound expression of joy that it left him quite breathless. His father reached out a hand and gently traced a finger down the side of Teddy's cheek.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"No, Dad." Teddy swallowed, blinking back tears. He cleared his throat. "I'm the one who should be sorry."
"Well, then we'll both be sorry and leave it at that."
Cedric cleared his throat behind him and he turned. When had he got dressed? He was jamming his foot into his trainer and looking a bit awkward. Teddy stood and gently laid a hand on his arm.
Cedric smiled. "I think that's my cue to leave. That is unless, sir-" He turned to Remus, his face serious. "-unless you intend to give me detention."
Remus smiled. "I think we can let this one slide, Mr Diggory. I do, however, expect you to go straight back to your dormitory. If you don't-" He waggled the map in his hand. “-I shall know."
"Bugger," Cedric muttered.
"I heard that. I also expect that you'll be, ah, discreet with regard to the events of this evening," Remus added, raising his eyebrows.
"I think you can depend on that, professor, sir."
"Good. Then I won't have to spit and roast you over a slow fire for seducing my son."
"Me? He kissed me first!" Cedric spluttered. "Besides, he's older than I am, much older."
"Hey! I'm not that old, and you were born years before me. And it was your fault. But I'm glad." He looked Cedric in the eye and smiled. "Really glad."
Cedric grinned back and thumped him gently on the shoulder, his hand lingering for a moment. "Look me up in twenty years, yeah?"
Teddy nodded and watched him walk away. Before he opened the door, Cedric turned around and walked quickly back to him, grabbed him by his shoulders and kissed him hard. Teddy kissed him back, his hand cupping Cedric's cheek and jaw in a gesture that was far too tender for the furious duel of lips and tongue. He waited until Cedric pulled away first, reluctant, almost forgetting that his father was standing a few feet away. He kept his eyes on Cedric, however, on his lopsided grin and clear grey eyes, before Cedric finally turned and strutted-the cocky bastard-to the door and left Teddy alone with his father.
"Well then, I suppose I'm too late for that particular father-son chat."
Teddy turned to his father and raised his eyebrows. "You have some sage advice to offer on the subject, do you?"
"You've no idea." He handed Teddy back one of the maps. "Come, let's go up to my office, shall we? I could do with some tea, and it'd be good to have some privacy. I'm sure Myrtle is lurking somewhere in one of the taps, she's been spying on students since long before I was a student here."
"Moaning Myrtle? The ghost from the girl's toilet?" Teddy shuddered.
Remus put his arm across Teddy's shoulder and walked with him to the door. "I don't imagine life, or death really, as a ghost is very exciting. She has to find her entertainments somewhere, don't you think? We used to catch her all the time. Sirius in particular took great pleasure in-" He stiffened and exhaled loudly. "Yes, well, tea then," and he closed the door behind them.
**
Teddy sat sipping his tea in the same chair in front of his father's desk, but this time Remus sat beside him instead of across from him. They hadn't said much since leaving the bath, and instead discovered a tendency to stare at each other. Teddy was memorizing his father's features, every nuance, every crease, every grey hair, the way his golden brown eyes stared back at him in the same way, so like his own, but with a deep sadness that shone like a beacon, something he hadn't noticed the last time.
He realised then that his father was a consummate liar. Not maliciously, no, but for self-protection. Even without the abilities of a Metamorphmagus, his father wore two distinct faces. The public face that he'd seen as Roger, the face that lied, and the private one he wore now. The honest face. It hurt him to see his father so naked before him, but it was heartening, too, the depth of trust, the vulnerability his father allowed him to see.
As he watched, he saw a look of awareness blossom on his father's face.
"It was you," he said, putting his teacup down on the small table he'd conjured. "That evening in my office, the discussion about werewolves." Teddy nodded, grinning shyly. "I couldn't quite work it out when Roger handed in his essay and he'd written about vampires. I said nothing, of course, but now it makes sense. I would assume you know then. My deep dark secret."
"Of course I know. I am your son. And, no, before you say anything more, I don't care, and all that rubbish about beasts and sub-humans you had me arguing with you about is just that: pure and utter rubbish."
Remus' smile was wide and genuine, and it thrilled Teddy to see it.
"I'm sorry I deceived you. I just…" He shrugged. "I wanted to meet you. I'd stand outside your classroom door for hours, listening to you teach. Harry and H-the others," he amended quickly, "they always said you were the best Defence teacher they had. I figured they were biased and exaggerating a bit, to make me feel better, maybe, but they weren't. They were right."
Remus smiled and a faint blush stained his cheeks. "I'm flattered. I'm sure they did exaggerate, but it's a lovely compliment all the same. I didn't think I'd enjoy teaching as much as I do. I've been very lucky this year, considering, well…" He trailed off.
"The Dementors. And Sirius." Remus stiffened and the beacon was back at full intensity. "Dad…" Teddy licked his lips and swirled the dregs of his tea in his teacup. It was wrong. It might even be suicidal. He'd find out the truth soon enough, but the pain in his father's eyes wrenched at his heart.
"There's something I have to tell you, but you have to promise me. It's something you're going to find out anyway soon, but-"
"Why do you call him by his first name? You did that earlier, as well." Remus' voice was soft, barely above a whisper.
"That's what I need to tell you."
"You shouldn't. Messing with time, it could have dire consequences. If you've noticed, I haven't asked you about your mother."
Teddy laughed and it was a hollow sound. "I wouldn't tell you, but now that we've met, I'd bet you a thousand Galleons you'll figure out exactly who she is the moment you meet her, if you haven't already, and if either of us had a thousand Galleons to spare. I'm sorry about that. That puts a bit of an obligation on you. Will you marry her for your sake or for mine? I suppose now we'll never know, though I do hope you come to love her for her own sake."
Remus inhaled sharply in surprise. "That… that's extraordinarily perceptive. And quite the conundrum. You're right, I don't suppose I'll ever know the truth. Perhaps it's best that way. I'd hate to do her a disservice. Maybe you shouldn't tell her about this part."
Teddy nodded and changed the subject. "So, Sirius." His father stiffened again at the name, his entire body channelling his sorrow.
"Please," Remus said. "You say it with such familiarity. I don't know if I-you do know what he's done, what he's trying to do even now?"
"Yes."
"Then how…?"
"Will you promise me something first? No matter what I tell you, you have to keep your word. The entire future and the lives of so many people depend on you keeping this promise. It's something you won't want to do, but you have to. You were right about messing with time; the future has to remain intact. Will you trust me?"
"With my life," Remus replied immediately, leaning forward slightly in his chair. "I've borne heavier burdens. And for you, I can't imagine there's anything I wouldn't do."
"We just met," Teddy said with some surprise. "How could you…?"
Remus smiled. "I never expected to have a child. I've always believed that werewolves shouldn't reproduce. What if I passed on my condition to an innocent child, a child of my blood? I don't think I could live with that. The guilt would devour me whole. But seeing you," he said, and his smile was one of pure joy. "Oh, Teddy, I don't think I can even articulate." He reached out and clasped Teddy's hand, squeezing.
"It doesn't matter that we met only a short time ago. Don't you see?"
Teddy nodded and swallowed over the lump in his throat. They sat that way for a while, holding hands and smiling at each other, holding a silent conversation, a communion, without saying a word.
Remus cleared his throat. "So you have my promise," he said, gently detaching his hand and reaching over to pour them both another cup of tea.
Teddy watched the steam rising from the deep brown liquid for a moment and rose to his feet. He moved the table over a few inches and knelt on the floor before his father's chair, and took his hands in his.
"When I tell you, you can't go running off. You have to let things happen as they're meant to, and it won't be easy. There are too many things and the timing is everything. But I'm telling you because I think it's important that you know the truth. I can't bear to see you in so much pain when I know I can help ease it. Although that's a double-edged sword. It's not a pleasant story, Dad, not by any means but, as I said, it's something you'd find out anyway, whether I were here or not."
Remus nodded, and Teddy could read the anxiety in his expression too easily. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, carefully watching his father's face.
"Sirius is innocent. He was never the Potters' Secret Keeper."
Remus started violently and tugged his hands away but Teddy held on tight. "No!" he cried and his eyes were wild. "That's impossible! He killed-he never-"
"He never had a trial," Teddy interrupted. "Sirius never said, but Harry and I talked about it once. We're convinced it was his guilt over persuading James to switch to someone else at the last minute, over his misplaced doubt in you… he felt he deserved the punishment because he let James and Lily die."
Remus had tears in his eyes and a look of abject horror on his face, but Teddy still held fast to his hands. "No. He killed Peter," he whispered. "There were a dozen witnesses…"
"-who heard Peter say that Sirius was guilty."
"The street, the Muggles…"
"Peter used what was probably a Blasting Curse behind his back. I'm sorry, Dad. I'm so sorry." Tears were spilling down Remus' face and his own eyes welled with tears. Pain was radiating off Remus in waves.
"Peter was the Secret Keeper. Peter was a spy for Voldemort, a Death Eater, a traitor, a coward. That's why Sirius went after Peter. I imagine he wanted to kill him at the time, but not for the reason you or anyone else has believed all these years."
Remus bowed his head and wept. Teddy released his hands, tugged him down onto the floor beside him and held him, rocking them both gently.
It was strange, this parental role reversal. Suddenly all the years of longing, all the anger and annoyance at what, in the end, amounted to something so trivial, were pushed aside, broken down into their basest components and reassembled into something new, something bright, something gratifying, and he was almost ashamed of some of his past behaviour. When he returned home, and he knew now that he had to leave, there would still be emptiness, a deep loss, and it would hurt more than anything he'd ever experienced. But now he had memories with which to fill the void. He'd heal.
He smiled. His father had stilled and was simply embracing him now. It was all a bit unmanly, perhaps, but he didn't particularly care right now; One more thing to treasure, to fill the void.
Remus pulled back and Teddy reluctantly let him go. They looked at the jumbled mess of their long limbs entangled with each other and the chair legs and laughed, and it was a good laugh. They disentangled themselves and stood.
Remus looked at the tea. "It's cold."
"Did you need me to teach you a warming charm?"
Remus smacked him playfully on the arm. "Don't get cheeky with your old man."
Teddy raised his eyebrows, feigning innocence, and Remus narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, really?" Remus took his wand from his pocket and emptied their teacups, tapped the kettle, and when it steamed, pocketed his wand and poured two fresh cups. "Warming charms are crap," he said with satisfaction, sitting back down in his chair. He picked up his cup and sipped. "There are still a number of things that don't make any sense."
Teddy grinned as he watched his father, and really, who was the cheeky one? He raised his eyebrows again at his question. "What's that?"
"First, why has Sirius been trying to break into Gryffindor tower? Ron Weasley swore he saw Sirius standing over him with a knife."
Teddy nodded. "Ron Weasley has a pet rat," he said simply.
The look of incredulity on Remus' face was almost comical and he might have laughed if the subject hadn't been so grave.
"Wormtail. That bastard! And I suppose that answers my other questions of how he disappeared the day Sirius supposedly killed him." Remus snarled and slammed down his teacup, sloshing liquid all over the table. "I'll kill him, if I ever get my hands on him, fuck magic, I'll wring his bloody rat neck with my bare hands!"
"Dad…"
"What!" Remus snapped. Teddy recognized his anger; he'd seen it directed at him only a short time ago. His father was furious. This wasn't going to be easy.
"You promised you'd do something, even though I told you that you wouldn't want to."
"I know I did!"
Teddy sighed. "You can't kill him."
Remus glared at him. "Of course I can. And I plan to do it slowly with as much pain as humanly possible."
"That's the promise. Peter has to live. And not only live, but the night you capture him, the night of the June full moon, he has to escape."
Remus gaped. "You can't ask that of me. After all he's done…"
"But I am asking. Peter has to escape. There are things that Peter needs to do, and if he doesn't do them, and I say this knowing what he's done, and what it's cost you and Sirius, and Harry's parents, not to mention Harry himself. If he doesn't do these things, then Harry will die."
"You can't know that!"
"I do know it."
"You can't-"
"I do!" Teddy yelled. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Dad, do you think I would ask you to do this if it wasn't important? I know you're angry-furious!-and Merlin knows you have every right to be, but please. For my sake, for Harry's sake, and for the sake of wizardkind. Please."
Remus sighed, his shoulders slumping, then nodded.
"One more thing."
"Just one?" Remus said with a hint of sarcasm.
Teddy exhaled sharply through his nose and ignored his father's tone. He knew he didn't really mean it. "You'll want to kill him, and you'll threaten to do so. Harry will stop you, so let him."
"Harry will be there, too? No, I won't let him be harmed, Teddy. You said it's the night of the full moon!"
"Harry will be there, and he won't be in any danger. Sirius will be there, and you'll be there, and you have the Wolfsbane Potion so you won't be dangerous. Trust me. Trust yourself. And above all, trust Harry. Listen, Sirius is going to need you. He's your friend and he's completely alone in the world right now. Sirius is more important than Peter and-" He ducked his head. "-and Moony needs Padfoot."
Remus looked at his son with narrowed eyes, exhaled loudly and threw up his hands. "Do I have any secrets left?"
Teddy stood up and began to pace. "What? Because I know what your friends did for you so they could be with you during the full moon? So you wouldn't ever have to be alone? Why wouldn't I know that? Of course Harry told me. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, but you need him. You shouldn't have to be alone. You've missed him, I know you have. He was your best friend. You've both been alone all these years, and he needs you, too."
Remus shook his head and grinned ruefully. "I'm going to have to have a chat with your mother, because you did not get this from me."
"I'm sure she'd disagree," he said lightly.
"Teddy."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
Teddy grinned and sat back down. "Drink your tea before it gets cold again."
"Smart arse."
"At least I come by it honestly."
Remus chuckled ruefully and sipped his tea. They sat in a quiet, companionable silence for a few minutes before Remus said, "You have to go back," and there was regret in his voice.
"I know."
"If… I'm not trying to get rid of you."
"I know." Teddy sighed and held his feet out straight in front of him. "I was afraid I'd stayed too long already, knew I probably had, but I couldn't…" He shrugged and looked at his feet, kicking them aimlessly. "I need to say good-bye to Cedric."
"You really like him," Remus said softly.
Teddy looked up sharply and raised his eyebrows. "I thought that was fairly obvious."
"It was."
"You're not, you know, angry? Upset? Ashamed?"
"Of course not."
"It just sort of happened, kind of surprised me, too. I didn't-I mean…"
"Love is love," Remus said simply.
"I'm not, I mean, we're not… it's not love."
"All relationships are a kind of love in their own way."
Teddy shrugged. "Like you said, I have to go back. It can't ever be anything more than what it was. Do you think he's still awake?"
Remus shook his head. "Possibly, I wouldn't know. But you already said your goodbyes. He's a smart young man. He knew when he left you earlier. You knew, too."
"Yeah. Tell him…" He looked down at his feet, biting his lip. No, he couldn't change anything. He'd already risked enough. Enough. How does one measure the value of a human life anyway? He thought about Cedric's portrait, back home and waiting in his common room. Would it-he remember? Could he bear to see Cedric again like that? So distant and utterly untouchable?
Remus inclined his head, waiting.
"Nothing. It's… nothing. Sorry." He shook his head and looked back up at his father. "Be nice to him, by the way. Even if he did."
"Did what?"
"Seduce me. Although he was right in that I kissed him first." Teddy grinned impudently
"You realise all this is much more than any parent needs to know."
"It'll be good practice."
"I'm sure I'll be grateful," Remus said and rolled his eyes with mirth.
Teddy stood up and put his cup down. "Thanks for the tea. I'll-I'll miss you, this time we had. It was… special."
Remus stood up, too, picked up Teddy's bag from beside his desk and handed it to him. "You have your map?"
Teddy patted his right side pocket. "Never leave home without it. I still can't believe you created it, you know. I'm glad though, it's been quite handy. Clever bastards, the lot of you."
Remus laughed. "You don't know the half of it," he agreed.
Teddy started. A few months ago, that statement would have devastated him, but now, well, he'd discovered there were more important things.
"I'm glad Harry gave it to you. It seems I'll have to return my copy to him eventually."
"You'd better," he said, glaring, then grinned. They left Remus' office together, walking side by side, arms brushing occasionally while they walked. They didn't speak.
When they reached the seventh floor corridor, Teddy turned, a shy smile on his face. "I guess this is good-bye."
"For now," Remus said softly and reached up to brush Teddy's fringe away from his forehead. He smiled sadly. "Don't grieve for me."
Teddy stared in horror as the blood drained from his face and his insides twisted painfully. "I didn't-"
"You didn't have to. Why else would you have come?"
"Too clever," Teddy whispered.
"And you. I'm so proud of you. And if I ever forgot to tell you, or if you were too young to remember, I love you." He leaned in and kissed Teddy on the forehead. "Be well. Be happy. Now go."
"Dad…"
Remus smiled. "I know."
Teddy embraced him hard. "I love you, too," he whispered, then turned without looking back, swiped his hand across his eyes and began pacing.
**
"Ow," he muttered to himself. The room could be a little gentler about these things, he thought. Still on his knees, he glanced behind him but the door had already vanished. Getting to his feet, he saw a bright flash out of the corner of his eye and ducked instinctively. Peeking around, he saw the corridor remained empty. There were no further flashes, no footsteps and no voices, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He got to his feet, but immediately noticed something was wrong.
The tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy was missing. In its place was a strange painting. Not a portrait: a landscape. An empty landscape at that. There was a hill of stubby green and yellow grass and a flat blue sky, and nothing more. Not even a cloud. Certainly nothing to cause the flash of light he'd seen. Not a very exciting painting either, unless the usual occupant was off visiting a friend.
He was about to turn away when something else caught his eye. He could have sworn a face had quickly peeked out from the side of the painting. It happened sometimes. The occupant must be shy. He sighed and relaxed, and wondered what fate had befallen poor Barnabas.
He reached into his pocket and removed his wand and the map. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
He gave a cursory glance to make sure the corridor and the surrounding area really was clear and sighed with relief when the map showed that nobody was nearby. He had no idea what the date was-had time passed here while he'd been away, or was it by chance the same day he'd left? The corridor was dim, but he couldn't tell if it were day or night from that. The halls were usually dim.
He checked the map: classrooms were empty, Great Hall was empty, and the dots in the Hufflepuff dormitory were still, nobody in the common room. He found Simon's dot, and Fezzie's dot, but no Gordon or Philip. Instead, he saw the dots of three different students, and it took him a moment to realise the significance of their names. "But they're in Gryffindor!"
He unfolded the map and his eyes fell on Gryffindor Tower or, more specifically, the place that used to be Gryffindor Tower. The map showed an empty space as if the tower had simply vanished from existence.
His heart raced, and he unfolded the other side to check on Ravenclaw, but that tower remained intact, students asleep inside, and the Slytherin dungeons were also visible and populated. Perhaps a little too populated, he noticed on closer inspection. He saw the names of a few students he knew from his own house sleeping in Slytherin, as well as students he knew from Ravenclaw and one or two from Gryffindor. Very strange. What had happened to Gryffindor?
He was suddenly afraid. Something was very wrong. What if the room had sent him back to the wrong time? What if he was fifty or hundreds of years in his future? No, he'd seen his friends' names. He was definitely in the right time. But something dreadful must have happened in the three months he'd been gone. He sighed. There was no help for it; he was going to have to go see the Headmistress. He hoped she wouldn't be too angry with him, after all, it had hardly been his fault that he'd gone in the first place. He'd have to explain to Harry, but that could wait. So could his meeting with a certain portrait, a meeting he both dreaded and anticipated. Would he remember?
He bit his lip, checking to see if the Headmistress was by chance awake in her office, and nearly dropped the map.
"But that's impossible! Severus Snape and Tom Riddle are dead!" he spluttered.
"How remarkable," a voice replied.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 4