FIC: Rise From the Ashes [Teddy/Cedric, NC-17] Part 4
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 7: (strange) how certain the journey
"Threatening the headmaster and the Minister for Magic is a serious offence in some places. Oh, not here, I assure you, though you should be aware that, despite his faults, Headmaster Snape always has the best interests of his students at heart."
Teddy looked up, alarmed, searching for the owner of the voice. It was the landscape portrait, only now it was no longer empty. On the hill stood an old man with long white hair and beard, and half-moon spectacles perched on his crooked nose.
"P-Professor Dumbledore?"
"It's nice to know that an old man is still remembered, and fondly it would seem, though I hate to be presumptuous. I'd offer you a Lemon Sherbet, but I'm afraid I haven't any at the moment. That's quite a map you have, rather ingenious."
"Professor, what's happened? Where's Gryffindor? And why aren't Snape and Voldemort dead? Where's Harry? Is my grandmother okay? Are my parents alive?"
"So many questions. I see that we might have a problem, or perhaps an opportunity. Fortuitous that I happened to be passing by just as you appeared. Hunches truly are an amazing thing. The Muggles say that one must never look a gift horse in the mouth, but dental hygiene is just as important to horses as it is to humans, Muggle or wizard, wouldn't you say?" He picked at a bit of lint on his sleeve.
Ron had been right. Apparently they'd found a good substitute for old Barnabas. Professor Dumbledore was completely off his rocker. Still, it was Dumbledore.
"Now, young man, first things first. I've dispatched with one problem," Dumbledore said, pointing at a dark blob almost out of the frame that Teddy hadn't noticed before. It looked like a pair of boots. "But first, are you versed in any kind of silencing or muffling spells? It wouldn't do for our conversation to accidentally carry to other, shall we say, unfriendly ears."
Teddy raised his wand. "Muffliato. Imperturbus."
"Of course you are. Well done. That should keep us safe for the moment. Next, I must ask you, what is your name?"
He hesitated for a fraction of a second. "Teddy, sir. Teddy Lupin."
"Interesting. Perchance are you related to Remus Lupin," he asked, steepling his fingers beneath his chin.
"His son, sir. I thought you knew."
Dumbledore's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "How remarkable," he said again. "How very remarkable. Pardon my nosiness, Mr Lupin, but might I ask, where did you come from when you fell through the wall behind you?"
"Er, well, it was the Room of Requirement, sir. It sort of kicked me out."
"That's quite a feat. That Room hasn't existed in this corridor for years. You must be rather extraordinary, Mr Lupin. Unless," he said, pausing and scrutinizing Teddy, his blue eyes piercing.
"Doesn't exist? What-you mean the Room is gone? How could it be gone? It can't be gone!" He began to pace. I need you to open, I need a place to think, I need to know what's going on.
"I'm afraid that won't help," Dumbledore said as Teddy cursed when a door failed to appear. "As I said, the Room no longer inhabits this space. Now, Mr Lupin, and this is very important, where were you when you last entered the Room, right before you made such a spectacular exit?"
"I was in this corridor," Teddy said, clenching his fists. "Right here. Only that bloody tapestry with the dancing trolls was here instead of you."
"Barnabas? His tapestry hasn't hung here for the last eighteen years, give or take a few months. You'll forgive me if my math is a bit rusty."
"Eighteen-? But I'm eighteen, and I can assure you he was here when I left."
"I see. So perhaps then I should ask you this, Mr Lupin. When were you when you last entered the Room of Requirement."
Teddy's stomach plunged and he broke out into a cold sweat. "When?" he asked, his voice high and far too squeaky.
"I assure you that I have no authority to punish you, no matter what it is that you've done, nor would I in any case, but it is important that you tell me the truth. I cannot help you if you cannot trust me."
Teddy nodded. He knew Dumbledore was right, and from the look of things, he also desperately needed his help. "Sir, what year is it?"
"It's 2016. May the thirtieth I believe. Is that relevant?"
"Yes, sir. Because when I entered the room, well, it was the beginning of May, but that's not important. What is important is that it was the year 1994."
"I was not aware that Remus Lupin had an eighteen year old son in 1994."
"He didn't, sir."
"I see. I do seem to recall that in May of 1994, Remus Lupin was here at Hogwarts, teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"He was, sir. You asked me where I had been last, and that's where I was. But before that, I'd been here. In 2016."
"Time travel," Dumbledore said, nodding. "I see. The events of this evening lead me to presume the Room of Requirement was your…travel agent."
Teddy nodded. "Yes, sir. I swear I didn't ask it to send me back in time in the first place. That was an accident."
"Again, I say, Mr Lupin, you must be rather extraordinary. However, I'm afraid that your trip appears to have resulted in a number of unforeseen consequences. From your initial, shall we say, exclamation, I shall also presume that before your travels, Professor Snape and Tom Riddle were deceased."
"Yes, sir. Harry defeated Voldemort, and Professor Snape was killed by, well, he died to help Harry succeed, sir."
"Well done, Severus," Dumbledore murmured. "It would seem then, that something happened during your travels that changed your history. And from what you've said thus far, not for the better. Teddy," he said softly, "did you meet your father?"
Teddy was stricken. "He promised. He promised he wouldn't change what happened that day. He, well, he found out it was me, and I had to tell him the truth. Well, not all of it of course. There was one thing, though. The night Pettigrew escaped. I told him what had to happen, that Peter had to escape, and he promised he would make sure he did."
"And Remus kept his word. Peter Pettigrew did indeed escape from my custody that evening, and now an old puzzle is solved. Thank you. However, there are always unforeseen consequences. Inadvertent though they may be."
"So I did this. I created this future. It's my fault!" Teddy was shaking. If Voldemort lived, then Harry was dead, all of the people he loved were also likely dead, and it was all his fault. But where was he? Did he even exist in this nightmare world he'd created?
"Blame is irrelevant, Teddy," Dumbledore said, his voice soft once again. "The question is, what are you willing to sacrifice to correct it?"
"How can I correct anything? I have no power here. I don't even know if I exist here! The Room of Requirement is gone, Voldemort and his Death Eaters rule the wizarding world, and I'm an eighteen year old kid with a wand and a map of the school. And if Voldemort's alive, that means Harry is dead." When Dumbledore did not refute his statement, Teddy went completely cold. He leaned back against the wall where the Room of Requirement once resided, and slumped to the floor in anguish.
"I will ask you again. What are you willing to sacrifice, Mr Lupin?" The voice was still soft, but its steel rang in the empty corridor.
Teddy looked up and stared defiantly at Dumbledore. "If I could, I'd give my life. Is that what you want to know? Harry Potter was the only father I ever knew-until recently-and he raised me well. Perhaps he'd do it for less selfish reasons than I, I don't know. I'm no martyr, but I'm not a coward either, sir."
"I'm glad to know it Teddy Remus Lupin, because in a very paradoxical sense, that may be your only choice, and consequently, our only chance. Your mother and father would be proud."
"You do know me, then," Teddy said, startled.
"I know you were born, I know who your parents were, and I know of your talents, which you inherited from your mother, yes, but I also know that no student named Teddy Lupin has ever set foot in these halls. Until tonight of course. I am privileged to a lot of information, but I'm afraid that of your present whereabouts in this timeline, I know nothing. Only that you somehow stand before me now, and you may very well be our last, best hope."
"But what can I do, sir? If the Room of Requirement were still here, maybe…" He clenched his fists.
"Perhaps we should move to where it now resides then."
"Now resides-but you said it didn't exist!"
"You must learn to listen, Mr Lupin. I said it no longer inhabits this space. The Room of Requirement is a very peculiar and rather extraordinary entity. On the night the school fell to Tom Riddle, the night Gryffindor Tower was destroyed, the Room moved itself and has remained hidden ever since."
"But how-"
Dumbledore shrugged. "Nobody knows, though perhaps one day you might ask it. I dare say the answer would be fascinating. For now, however, I must ask you to wear another face. There are other…spies in these halls. Something cruel and imposing might do. If we're fortunate, you merely need to fool a few portraits. While Professor Snape would not harm you himself, there are others who would not be so merciful, especially if they were to discover your true identity."
Teddy shuddered. He darkened his hair and grew it longer so that it partially covered his face and flowed down past his shoulders. He added a few wrinkles, thickened his brows, and grew out the stubble on his jaw. His nose grew larger and his lips thinner, and as a final touch, added a jagged scar on one cheek, giving himself a sneering appearance.
"Very nice," Dumbledore said, nodding. "Now, I cannot walk along the hall with you, but you needn't go far. The Room of Requirement inhabits what remains of Gryffindor Tower. Most of the tower has collapsed and it is itself uninhabitable, but the Room should provide what you need."
"That's why I couldn't see it on the map," Teddy exclaimed. When Dumbledore looked puzzled, Teddy added, "the Room. It hides itself from the map, too."
"Interesting. Now, I fear you'll have to be quick. There are many portraits in that corridor loyal to Riddle. If things get out of hand, a good Stunning Spell will come in handy. You know what you have to do?"
Teddy nodded. "Yes, sir."
"I will follow as I can, but I can only hope that we have no reason to meet again in this particular time and place. I must ask you, Teddy, if you should encounter my younger self, you must promise not to try to save my life or alter my death as you remember it. Death is a part of life, and in certain circumstances, it is necessary. Do I have your word?
"Yes, sir, I promise."
Dumbledore nodded. "If you are successful, it is important that you remember this: You have a very dangerous tool at your disposal. Your knowledge of the future is a far heavier burden than you can possibly imagine right now. Temptation will plague your every step if you allow it to rule you. You must be wise, Teddy Lupin, wiser than your years, and you must listen and learn, and you must protect yourself. Every death you aspire to prevent carries the seeds of both risk and reward. In the end, only you will know the consequences. Remember who you are and where you come from."
His forehead tingled where his father had kissed him. "Yes, sir. I'll do my best."
"That is indeed all anyone can do. Now, off you go."
Teddy looked at Professor Dumbledore one last time and nodded. He checked the map to make sure the seventh floor was clear, wiped it blank and stowed it in his pocket. Wand in hand, he squared his shoulders and strode off down the hall as if he belonged.
**
"Bloody buggering hell," he exclaimed. His knees were going to be purple with bruises. He glanced up quickly, brushing his too-long hair from his eyes, and sighed in relief. Good ol' Barnabas. He'd never look at that tapestry with scorn again.
He got shakily to his feet, shouldered his bag, and without another thought, bolted for the nearest stairs. He had to find his father.
He was panting when he reached the second-floor office, and stood before the door, holding his stomach and trying to catch his breath. It was daylight; he'd managed to see that much when he'd passed a row of windows, and there were students about. He'd nearly bowled a few over in his haste.
He rapped sharply on the door. "Da-Professor Lupin," he called. "Are you here?" He tried the knob but it was locked and did not respond to Alohomora. He glanced quickly around the corridor before reaching into a small pocket of his bag and extracting the knife Harry had given him for Christmas last year. He ran the blade around the door frame and this time, the door creaked open. He stepped into the room and stopped cold, hand still on the doorknob, staring around at the strange paraphernalia that occupied the room.
This wasn't his father's office anymore. The glass tanks and overstuffed bookcases were gone. A large mirror hung on one wall, a huge trunk sat beneath the window in the back corner behind the desk, and shelves and tables full of spindly gadgets, sneakoscopes and a few other things he recognized vaguely from Harry's study, took up the rest of the cluttered room.
He glanced at the mirror and started, whirling in surprise, wand in one hand, knife in the other, but there was no-one behind him. He turned back to the mirror and groaned at his own idiocy before relaxing his features back to normal.
"Stupid, stupid," he muttered, pocketing the knife and looking about the room again, his gaze lingering on the large trunk. Oh. Shit. He backed away slowly into the corridor, and closed the door, his face grim. More time had passed here than he'd realized. He had to find Cedric.
He walked back down the corridor towards the nearest bathroom when classes let out and students came streaming out of a nearby classroom. They paid no attention to him, busy chatting and hurrying off, probably to their next classes. He passed a group of girls who were talking and giggling amongst themselves, several of them sporting large badges on the front of their robes:
Support Cedric Diggory!
"He'll win. He's in first place."
"Tied for first place," another girl corrected.
The first girl tossed her hair. "Potter hasn't got a chance," she sniffed.
"He's done well so far, hasn't he?"
"Luck. Probably cheating. You know Dumbledore favours him."
"Professor Dumbledore wouldn't do that!" another girl said.
"Pansy Parkinson said so. And you saw what happened last February. He was dead last coming out of that lake, and they still awarded him second place. He won't be so lucky tomorrow. Have you seen the hedges on the Quidditch pitch? Must be twenty feet tall. Roger Davies said Fleur told him it was a maze!"
Teddy pushed past them walking swiftly, his heart beating loudly in his ears. The Tri-Wizard Tournament. Tomorrow was the Third Task. One day. He ducked into the bathroom and went straight to a stall, ignoring the other boys who were in there, and sat down heavily on the seat.
"Nah, Krum's gonna win. Those Durmstrang kids know dark spells. He'll probably blast his way to the middle of the thing, though I suppose Diggory will put up a good fight. He's not bad."
"Harry'll win, you just wait."
"You're out of your tree, Longbottom. Ten Galleons says Krum clobbers him."
"You probably haven't even got ten Galleons."
"Won't need 'em when I win the bet, will I?"
He heard the door close behind them as they left, but sat where he was for a long while, breathing, trying to relax, to think. He peeked through the crack in the door to make sure the room was empty. Assured of his privacy, he left the stall and stood before a sink, splashing cold water on his face and staring at his reflection in the mirror.
Heavy burden.
Every death you prevent carries the seeds of both risk and reward.
He dried his hands, and turned away from the mirror, pulling the map from his pocket.
"Cedric, Cedric, where are you," he whispered, scanning the dots. There were students everywhere and it was difficult to locate anyone. He checked the Hufflepuff common room first, but it was mostly empty. No Cedric in the dormitory. He started scanning classrooms then moved on to the library… there!
Teddy shoved the map in his pocket and strode out the door. He'd already made up his mind before he'd stepped back into the Room of Requirement this last time. Dumbledore's words still rang in his head, but his conscience told him this was the right thing to do. Dumbledore had made him promise not to interfere in his own death, but he hadn't said anything about anyone else. He'd told him to listen, to learn, and he had. He'd arrived the day before Cedric died. The Room could have brought him anywhere, but it chose this specific day. It was a sign, he knew it. He couldn't rely solely on his sketchy knowledge of future events, he had to trust his instincts.
He strode down the fourth floor corridor and pushed his way through the library doors, scanning the groups of people clustered near the librarian's desk and at nearby tables. He turned to walk toward the far stacks when he saw him. Cedric was walking towards him, completely surrounded by a crowd of people, an abstract and distant expression on his face. His friends were far too loud, as they herded him along, slapping him on the back and joking.
"Make way for the Champion," the boy in front cried, pushing two smaller students out of the way.
Teddy stood and waited, relieved. The tightly clustered group dispersed as they entered into the front atrium where Teddy stood and he was able to see him more clearly now. He looked exactly as he had in his portrait. Teddy was just about to step forward when he noticed a pretty, dark-haired girl walking close to Cedric's side, smiling brightly. They were holding hands.
Teddy's heart sank, gooseflesh prickling over his skin as a sense of vertigo swept over him, making Cedric appear to be much farther away, separated from him by a long, narrow tunnel; separated from him by time and space and everything that mattered.
The girl turned to him, stood on her toes and kissed him. He turned his head, their lips meeting briefly, and he smiled at her before turning away, his expression returning to its former troubled demeanour.
It's not love, he'd told his father. And it wasn't. Hadn't been. But there had been friendship, a real affection, and trust. A kind of love, his father had said in response. Maybe. He felt naked and exposed, embarrassed by his own assumptions. It didn't matter whether or not it had been love, it still hurt.
Cedric saw him then, and his jaw gaped. Their eyes met and Teddy nodded. He swallowed hard, and turned away, striding back through the doors and out into the corridor.
"Teddy, wait!"
He exhaled heavily through his nose and kept walking. He had to get away, had to think. Besides, Cedric would know where to find him.
**
He lay once again on the canopied bed. It had been hours, but Cedric hadn't come. He'd watched him on the map, at supper in the Great Hall, with Cho Chang, who he surmised was the girl he'd seen him with, by the entrance to Ravenclaw tower, in the Hufflepuff common room and finally, in his dormitory. Teddy had deactivated the map then, stowing it in his bag and then moodily stomping around the small room. He'd vetoed going to the kitchens; he wasn't very hungry.
It had been a single day for him. Last night he and Cedric had…. He sighed. So much had happened in the past twenty-four hours, it was a wonder he could think straight at all.
Twenty-four hours for you. More than a year for him. Should he have sat around pining for you, faithfully waiting and celibate for those twenty two years? his spiteful inner voice piped up.
Teddy clenched his fists and pounded on the mattress. Oh, shut up! Of course not! And he didn't have twenty years - didn't even have two! he retorted. He hated the way he felt, so replete with self-pity. Of course Cedric would get on with his life. Why would he have expected that I'd come back? I'm the intruder. I just need time-
He laughed raucously, and it was an ugly sound, guttural. Time. That's all I've got. I don't want any more time, I'm up to my bloody ears in time.
There was a knock at the door. Startled from his selfish reflections, Teddy sat up, debated whether or not to put his t-shirt back on, and tossed it aside instead. He knew damn well who was at the door and he didn't have to dress for company.
He opened the door and stepped back. Cedric stared at him across the threshold.
"You came back."
Teddy nodded.
"Why?"
"Does it matter?" he asked.
"No," Cedric replied. "Maybe. I don't know. Can I come in?"
Teddy shrugged, and walked away, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
"You're angry."
He shrugged again. Great, I'm so eloquent, he thought.
Cedric closed the door and walked closer until he stood in front of Teddy. "You're jealous," he chided.
"I'm not," Teddy said.
Cedric let it pass. "When…?"
"Today," Teddy said. "About an hour before I saw you."
Cedric nodded. "It's been a long time. You look exactly the same."
"For you," Teddy said, and he couldn't keep the bitterness from his voice.
"What do you mean?"
Teddy turned away.
Cedric sat down beside him, and without looking, Teddy noticed the distance, far enough so they weren't touching. Well.
"Teddy?"
"It was only yesterday for me," he said softly. He shook his head and turned back. "Doesn't matter."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
He shrugged again. "Nothing to be sorry for. She's pretty."
"Why did you come back?"
"Lots of reasons. No reason. I told you, it doesn't matter."
Cedric sighed. "You gonna go see your father?"
"I don't know. I'm not sure where he is right now. But I know where he'll be soon enough. At least I think I do. Maybe I'll send him an owl."
"Tell him hello for me. And tell him thanks. You were right; I did get an Outstanding on my O.W.L."
"I guess you had more time for revising after I left."
It was Cedric's turn to shrug. "I went and talked to him a few times. After, you know. He was nice. I haven't seen him since he left. I thought about writing to him, but I didn't know what to say. I guess you know…"
"That he's a werewolf? Of course I know."
"You never said."
"Wasn't my secret to tell."
"True. I don't care. When you see him, tell him there's a bunch of us, in my house, probably more in Gryffindor."
"He'll be glad to know that."
"So, you gonna stick around for a while? Tomorrow's the third task. I'm one of the Champions, but you probably knew that, too."
"Yes," Teddy said softly.
"And Harry. He's a good kid. Strange as it may sound, we've become friends, sort of. I like him. It's been a strange year. Interesting, though."
"Ancient Muggle curse, 'May you live in interesting times'."
Cedric frowned. "How is that a curse? I'd choose interesting over dull any day."
"Cedric." Cedric wasn't looking at him. He was staring at the rug beside the bed. "Cedric," he said again.
Cedric turned his head, and Teddy leaned in and kissed him. Cedric gasped and Teddy slipped his tongue inside, gently, probing, testing. Cedric responded and he felt the touch of Cedric's fingers in his hair before Cedric pulled back and turned away.
"I can't. I'm sorry."
"Cho," Teddy said.
Cedric spread his arms and ducked his head. "It's not fair to her."
"No. I remember her. I met her once or twice. I didn't recognise her at first. She was a friend of Harry's. Ginny didn't like her much, but she was nice. We talked Quidditch. I remember she was a Tornados fan."
"I should go," Cedric said, shifting closer to the edge of the bed and standing.
Teddy nodded.
"You coming tomorrow? To watch?"
Teddy started to nod, then grasped Cedric's hand and stood up, facing him. "Wait. I have to talk to you." He noticed, with a jolt of pleasure, that Cedric didn't pull his hand away.
"It's about tomorrow," he continued. "The maze. The cup."
Cedric grinned crookedly. "I win? No, don't tell me. I don't want-"
"Listen to me!" Teddy said, squeezing Cedric's hand. "This is important. Fuck the tournament! If you touch the cup, if you take it, you'll die."
Cedric was incredulous. "What are you talking about?"
"Tomorrow. You and Harry, the both of you. Some giant spider or skrewt or something." He saw Cedric shudder. "You both get there, you help each other and you both choose to take the cup together. Listen to me, Cedric. You can't go with him. Harry has to go. Something happens, the cup is a Portkey."
"Well, then we'll go to Dumbledore," Cedric said. "Right now. We'll tell him. He'll know what to-"
"No! You don't understand. Harry has to go where the Portkey takes him. It's the only way he can defeat Voldemort."
Cedric started at the name. "You-Know-Who is dead," he snapped, narrowing his eyes and finally pulling his hand from Teddy's grasp. "I know you're angry with me, and you obviously want Harry to win since he's your godfather, but I'd thought-"
"It's not about the bloody tournament, you arse! I could give a fig about the tournament! I'm trying to save your life!"
"Why should I believe you? When you were here last time, you told me you knew me in your time. How could you know me if I die tomorrow? Answer me that."
"I lied."
Cedric looked as if he'd been slapped and his voice was like ice. "I see."
"No, I didn't..."
"We're finished here, Teddy. I have to go," Cedric said, storming off towards the door.
Teddy ran after him, grabbed him by his shoulder and slammed him up against the wall. He gripped the front of Cedric's robes in his hand and tugged.
"We are not finished." Teddy was shaking with pent-up nerves as he looked Cedric straight in the eye. "I did know you, but not you. I said I lied because I didn't tell you the whole truth. You weren't flesh and blood, you were a bloody portrait! I know you know which one I'm talking about, because you would have sat for it only recently."
"Easter," Cedric whispered, his eyes wide.
Teddy nodded. "Everyone knows you in the future, Cedric. Hufflepuff house practically worships you. Your portrait is in our common room, 'Remember Cedric Diggory'! Professor Dumbledore laid a charge on the entire wizarding world with his eulogy to you - did you want me to recite it? You're a fucking legend, and we're all a little bit in love with you for it."
Cedric swallowed visibly. "I don't believe you," he said, his voice a hoarse rasp.
"I'm sorry. I wish it weren't true. I wish I could tell you a different future, but that's why I came back, why I'm here today. When I went home, everything was different. Voldemort"-Cedric winced-"had won, Harry was dead - everyone was dead. Gryffindor tower was destroyed - there was no Gryffindor house anymore - and no more Muggleborn wizards. The death eaters ran the wizarding world. It was a nightmare, and it was my fault! I did something, changed something accidentally when I was here. That's why I had to come back. I can never go home, because I no longer have a home to go to!"
Teddy gasped and staggered back under the weight of his words, releasing Cedric and turning away. It had been one thing to know this, another to admit it out loud. And Cedric was accusing him of being petty?
"It's not about the tournament, you arse. Voldemort comes back tomorrow. Oh!" He spun around and pointed at Cedric, stabbing his finger in the air. "The Quidditch World Cup - I remember. There was a dark mark in the sky at the Cup! Damn it, you know I'm telling the truth, Cedric."
"What happens to Harry," Cedric asked, his voice quiet.
"Voldemort kills you, well, Wormtail does. Peter Pettigrew. Heard of him, have you? I thought so. A killing curse. You haven't any chance, I'm sorry. They use Harry's blood to create a new body for Voldemort. He's never really been gone, you know.
"But Harry gets away, he escapes, fights his way out, and only because he's a lucky bastard. There's a proph-" Teddy waved his hand in dismissal. "He told me - last Christmas he finally told me everything. He wouldn't talk about it, ever. I had to beg him to tell me. That's how bad it was for him. He's always blamed himself for your death.
"Harry gets away, brings your dead body back to your parents." He glared at Cedric, his chest heaving. "There's a reason the Room brought me back here today. I know it. I won't let you die."
"But-"
"There are no buts. We can't go to Dumbledore. It has to happen the way I told you. Harry has to touch that damned Portkey."
"But if we know where V-You-Know-Who is, we can stop him before he comes back."
Teddy shook his head. "It doesn't work like that. We could end up making things worse. I told you, he was never really gone. He just needed a body."
"Maybe we could make it better."
"Are you willing to take that risk? There are things I know. I don't know everything, but I know a lot about what's supposed to happen. If we change this, then everything reverts to chaos. I might even disappear, erase my entire existence. I'd risk that for myself, but I won't risk everyone else's lives along with mine. Don't you see? It has to be this way."
"I won't let Harry go alone. He's just a kid."
"Then you'll die."
"Maybe not. Not now that I know what's coming."
"Cedric," Teddy said, pleading.
"Thank you." Cedric smiled sadly. "I'm glad you're here. I missed you."
Teddy watched him go, and stared at the door long after it closed behind him. This was the second time in twenty-four hours that he'd watched him walk away like that.
He threw himself onto the bed, not bothering to remove his jeans, and tried to sleep. There wasn't anything more he could do. It was up to Cedric to save his own life. Or not.
Chapter 8: from the ashes
He slept late, having finally drifted off in the early hour before dawn, snuck down to the kitchens for brunch, and spent most of the day out on the grounds down by the lake. The weather was warm this late in June, and it felt good to be outside again. He'd been cooped up too long.
If he was going to stay, he was going to have to make his presence known to a few people. He'd have to see his father again, and he was looking forward to meeting Sirius. Dumbledore would have to know as well, but not yet. And Cedric knew, of course. Four people. In years to come, things might change, but for now that would be enough.
He looked at the map. Cedric was with his parents near the Trophy Room. He felt a twinge of satisfaction to see that Cho wasn't with them. He didn't wish her ill, it was just…
It was just that he still had certain feelings for Cedric, and why shouldn't he? Cedric had said he missed him. That was hopeful. And if he survived, who knew what the future would bring.
He pulled up a blade of grass and chewed on the end. If. It wouldn't do to think about that. It promised to be a long day and an even longer night. There were clusters of students out on the grounds enjoying the day, but they ignored him. He purposely sat near the forest on the edge of the lake, a place few students ever came. He looked out onto the lake where the Durmstrang ship was moored. It was strange to see such a huge ship here.
A trickle of sweat ran down the back of his neck, and he shortened his hair in irritation. He'd grow it back out later. He wiped the map blank and stowed it in his pocket, lay back on the grass and closed his eyes. A nice kip wouldn't be amiss.
He awoke to the sound of low voices off to his right. He squinted up into the sun. Late afternoon, likely, though the sun wouldn't set until near on ten o'clock tonight. He sat up on his elbows and looked around. A boy and a man were sitting by the lake, just on the other side of a large beech tree, having what looked to be a serious conversation. He watched them for a few minutes before realising with a shock that it was Harry and Sirius Black. Sirius, out in the open, dressed in jeans and t-shirt no less! Sirius stood up and looked around, and Teddy quickly ducked back down. A moment later, a large black dog was tackling Harry, who shrieked with laughter.
Laugh all you can, Harry, he thought grimly, thinking about what the evening would bring. He wished…. Best not think about that either. It had to happen and that was that, though it made him feel uncomfortably ruthless. But what was Sirius doing out in plain sight like this? It was dangerous for him, especially with so many ministry officials milling about the grounds today. He considered walking over in their direction, but decided against it. He knew history said that Sirius would not be captured at Hogwarts, and it was still a year before his death. Let them enjoy this time together; he would not intrude.
His stomach rumbled, and he rose, lengthened his hair just past his shoulders and headed back up the hill. The house-elves were preparing a feast tonight and they'd have plenty of food for him to nick.
**
Teddy waited by the entrance to the Quidditch stands. He'd snuck down before the crowds and was watching for Sirius Black. He'd seen him on the map having dinner at the Gryffindor table with Harry and Bill and Molly Weasley. He'd run into Bill earlier and had stared in shock at his scarless face. He was used to the scars, of course, but seeing him without them had been quite a jolt. He'd been a very handsome man in his youth. He'd had to cover a grin when Molly had approached him and started nagging him about a haircut. She still did that, and his amusement had been followed by a wave of homesickness.
He'd never be able to go back to his own time. Not only that, but his very existence was at risk. He wondered what would happen if the future changed so much that his future self never went back in time in the first place. Paradox. He had many years before that would be an issue, so he put it from his mind. There were more important things he needed to do tonight.
The four champions were headed his way, accompanied by ministry officials. A few of the teachers had already gone past, including Hagrid, and were milling about in front of the maze. He made eye contact with Cedric as he passed, and Cedric's eyes widened slightly. His lip quirked and he gave a curt nod of acknowledgment, and continued on with the others.
Teddy sighed and clenched his fists, and offered a quick prayer up to Harry's parents, asking them to see him safe. See both of them safe.
He was worried. In his own history, Sirius Black had been a fugitive, cleared of his crimes posthumously. Something had gone wrong. Dumbledore's portrait, which was on the same timeline as the events happening now, had said that Wormtail had escaped, that his father had kept his promise. But something had changed because Sirius was free, and he knew with a certainty that his freedom was part of the chain of events which altered the future. It was his fault.
He couldn't do anything about it now, and seeing earlier how happy his presence made Harry, he couldn't begrudge Sirius even one minute of his freedom. But Teddy needed to talk to him, and somehow make sure nothing went wrong tonight.
He saw him, walking with Bill and Molly, Bill acting as buffer between two quarrelling parties. Passing students glanced at him with both fear and awe, and seemed to give him a wide berth as they hurried past; apparently the past wasn't so easily forgotten. He saw Sirius throw up his hands and stalk off ahead while Molly stared after him, biting her lip. Bill had a hand on his shoulder and was talking to her.
Sirius was scowling when he reached the entrance, and again, students stepped quickly around him. Teddy reached out of the shadows to tap him on the shoulder and Sirius snarled at him.
"What!"
"Sirius, you don't know me, but I need to talk to you. It's important."
"Sorry kid, I don't have time right now. I'm busy."
Teddy rolled his eyes. "You'll make time. Padfoot."
Sirius started at the use of his nickname and narrowed his eyes, stepping closer, away from the throng. "Where did you hear that name?"
"That's part of what I have to talk to you about. Will you sit with me?"
"Who the hell are you?"
"My name is Teddy." Sirius showed no sign of recognition at the name.
"Sorry, I don't know you."
"But you know my father."
"Yeah? Who's that?"
Teddy glanced around, but nobody was paying any attention as they were too busy filing into the stands. He relaxed his features, his face changing swiftly back to his own and his hair turning lighter in colour. Sirius' eyes widened as he watched.
"Remus Lupin," Teddy said.
Sirius eyed him warily. "You have his eyes, but you're too old to be Remus' son."
"Not if I haven't been born yet," Teddy said. "Please. My father does know me. We met a year ago. And I can prove who I am." He reached into his pocket and showed Sirius the blank map.
"Where'd you get that?" Sirius asked sharply, recognizing it at once. "Moody has it!"
"Moody? But he's-" He caught himself and cleared his throat. "Moody has this era's map then. This one's mine. My godfather gave it to me."
"And just who would that be?"
"Harry Potter."
"Bloody hell," Sirius said, and laughed.
**
It was strange sitting in the stands, being a part of history like this. Bill and Molly had gone to sit with the other Weasley children, and Teddy found himself looking over his shoulder at them frequently. Especially at the twins whom he discovered he couldn't tell apart. Not at a distance anyway. Seeing them together, the way they moved as one entity, always together, it struck him how much George must have lost by his twin's death. The more he watched them, the more he realised that he couldn't think of Fred as anything but 'another George'. Strange indeed.
He turned back to regard the man next to him. Sirius Black: his father's best friend, Harry's father's best friend, Harry's godfather. His mum's cousin, too, as well as his Gran's. He knew how he felt toward Harry and wondered if Harry regarded Sirius the same way. He must, he thought, remembering the scene by the lake earlier today. Sirius was thin, too thin, and his eyes…. They changed from minute to minute, heartbeat to heartbeat, a range of emotion rippling in their depths.
He could tell that the crowd bothered him, and of course it would - so many years of solitude had changed him, and he was jumpy and impatient. Teddy was jumpy and impatient, too, but for very different reasons. He was filled with a kind of numb dread, and the noise from the crowd was like a distant rumble. It had been a half hour since the four had entered the maze. He could see Professor Dumbledore below him, calm but obviously troubled. Red sparks had blossomed high above the hedges twice, the second time only a few minutes ago - they were still visible, a beacon - and each time the crowd reacted with a mixture of fear and excitement.
"It's not Harry," Sirius had said both times, repeating it as if to convince himself. And both times he'd glanced at Teddy for confirmation. Teddy had looked away, not wanting to meet his eye. Perhaps he'd take that as a sign that it was Harry after all.
He'd told Sirius how he'd travelled in time by accident, how he'd met Remus, briefly, and instead of returning home, he'd ended up here. It was technically true, because he hadn't returned home at all; that false dystopian future certainly hadn't been his home. He wasn't quite sure at first why he'd sought Sirius out now. There was plenty of time to become acquainted with him tomorrow, even after the events of tonight played out, but as the evening wore on and his fingers ached from clenching them so tightly, his palms stinging in crescent-shaped patterns, he knew.
There wasn't anyone else he could turn to for solace. His father was miles away and could not be here, his own godfather was light years and multiple realities away, separated from him by a distance even greater than death. So instead, he turned to the presence of this man because those Teddy loved most had loved Sirius. It was a tenuous connection at best, but it was the only comfort he could find this night. He was afraid, and he did not want to be alone.
A hand pressed down on his knee and squeezed. Teddy looked up sharply and Sirius was looking at him with annoyance.
"Would you quit bouncing your bloody leg? You're driving me mad. Merlin's left nut, your father used to do that when we were kids. You couldn't sit next to him when you ate - the bastard'd bounce your pudding off its spoon."
Teddy smiled despite himself and Sirius' lip twitched. "Fond memories?" he asked.
Sirius smiled and shook his head. "The best."
Teddy nodded and turned to look at the endless rolling green of the maze. The second burst of red sparks had dissipated, which meant a teacher had found whoever had called for help. He looked at his watch. Forty-five minutes. Fuck.
Sirius' hand clamped down on his knee again. It was going to be a long night.
**
Professor McGonagall emerged from the maze, supporting a tearful Fleur. Everyone stood to watch, gasping and pointing. As soon as he saw it wasn't Harry, Sirius sighed with relief and sat down again, tapping his thigh with his thumb. Teddy looked pointedly at the source of the drumming, but if Sirius noticed, he gave no sign. Teddy snorted and turned back to the scene below.
Fleur was upset, but she was also angry. She stormed over to a man with a goat-like beard and started screaming at him in French, pointing and gesticulating. A very large woman came over to Fleur, standing behind her protectively. A few minutes later, Professor Moody came stumping out of the maze, escorting a dazed Viktor Krum. Fleur turned at the loud reaction from the crowd and tried to run at him, her face murderous, but the woman held her back. Viktor looked as though he'd been confounded and he sat down heavily, his head in his hands, the goat-bearded man looking upset and fawning over him.
"C'mon kid," Sirius said, nudging Teddy's shoulder and leaning over, his long hair tickling Teddy's ear. "You can tell me. Does he win?"
Teddy said nothing, but he could feel Sirius' enthusiasm; two competitors out and not a hint of red sparks from the pitch. Teddy knew Sirius was worried for Harry, but it was a matter of pride, not fear for his safety. When Sirius had seen Teddy's name on the map, his entire demeanour had changed. His shoulders had lifted, and his eyes had brightened considerably. He'd clapped Teddy on the shoulder, laughing, and had dragged him off to find front row seats.
Sirius wasn't completely reckless, though. Teddy's presence alone had assured him that Harry would survive. Of course he was completely unaware of the real danger Harry faced. Giant man-eating spiders were child's play in comparison. Teddy was convinced that if he'd had so much as an inkling beforehand what Harry would face tonight, he would never have allowed him to participate, binding magical contract and blood protection magic be damned.
Sirius nudged him again. "Killjoy."
Teddy was about to reply when a loud cry resounded from below. Cedric - his robes torn, his face scratched and bleeding, had come running, half-limping, onto the pitch and had nearly collapsed at Dumbledore's feet.
He hadn't exited from the maze, but instead had come from the school grounds. The murmur of the crowd was a dull roar in Teddy's ears, and Sirius had jumped to his feet beside him. It was instinct because he certainly hadn't told his body to move. He was running for the ladder-Sirius hot on his heels-pushing people out of his way, not bothering with the nuisance of climbing, and sliding down the poles instead.
Cedric was standing unassisted, talking to Dumbledore and gesticulating wildly when Teddy ran onto the pitch. Moody had stumped over beside them and there was a twisted smirk on his face. Then Dumbledore was moving, Moody at his heels, Cedric jogging alongside, still explaining, impatiently brushing his parents' concerned touches from his shoulders.
Dumbledore shouted something Teddy couldn't hear, and immediately a man-Merlin! That was Severus Snape! Snape stood impassively, listening as Cedric continued to speak. Teddy pushed his way through the crowd milling at the entrance, never taking his eyes from Cedric, ignoring everyone and everything around him.
There was a blinding flash of light, and Harry Potter fell from the sky clutching a large golden cup.
**
It was four-o'clock in the morning when he finally descended the spiral stairway from the headmaster's office, out into the seventh floor corridor which led to the Room of Requirement. He was exhausted. He would sleep first and leave later in the afternoon, meet up with Sirius outside of Hogsmeade, and together they would Apparate to his father's cottage. The students would be going home for summer holidays in a few days anyway, so there wasn't much point in staying; The fewer people who saw him, the better. He'd owl Cedric, make sure he was okay, and perhaps they'd see each other sometime. It was enough to know that he was alive, that Harry was alive.
He was still a bit cross with Cedric, not for any reason except that he'd been a stubborn, heroic, noble arse. The bastard had gone with Harry, even knowing the dangers, just to reassure him, build his confidence, and then he'd escaped by Apparating away before Wormtail's killing curse could find him. By the time he'd managed to get back to the pitch and explain, however, Harry had returned on his own. Sirius had been livid, and he'd shouted long and hard at Teddy for not preventing the incident in the first place. It had been Dumbledore, hours later, who'd finally talked sense into Sirius, and he'd apologised, albeit grudgingly.
Moody-Barty Crouch, Jr., had been revealed, though Teddy'd had to intervene. He wondered a bit at that because it was one more thing that had changed from the original history. He thought back to Harry's story from last Christmas.
"Moody took me back to his office. I was in shock, bleeding, and of course I trusted him…
Ah. Harry had been alone because Sirius hadn't been there the last time. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. One more tiny little ripple. Crouch was in the custody of the Dementors now, and little more than an empty, breathing shell. He shuddered, glad he hadn't been there to see the Kiss, though at least Minister Fudge had been consistent and just as incompetent as the books said.
He thought of Sirius again, a free man and cleared of all charges - he'd learned that the Wizengamot had wisely dropped the remaining charges dealing with his escape and unregistered Animagus status. That hadn't happened the last time around, and that, it seemed, was the key, the catalyst that started it all.
He supposed he'd never know exactly what he'd changed; what had happened on that full moon night a year ago in this timeline that hadn't occurred the first time around, nor what would have happened had he not been here tonight. Would Crouch have continued his charade and gone free, the real Moody a prisoner until he died? Was that what caused Voldemort to win?
The important thing, what really mattered was that Wormtail had been free to complete his task earlier this evening, and as a result, the blood protection Harry needed was intact.
And Cedric was alive.
He still couldn't believe it, and found himself repeating it over and over, as if the words were what made it so.
Perhaps this meant Sirius didn't have to die, either. Or his parents. He didn't know. He didn't even know if he'd vanish himself one day, if he'd be walking down a street somewhere and suddenly cease to exist. There were too many unknowns along with the known. He'd keep his own counsel, remembering future Dumbledore's warning to him, and his charge, listening, until he saw how the patterns of this new altered future dispersed and settled themselves. It could wait; he was far too weary right now to think any more about it.
There was a dark mound huddled against the wall on the floor ahead of him, and he approached cautiously, slowing his steps and fingering his wand in his pocket. As he drew closer, the mound erupted and Teddy pulled his wand from his pocket, pointing it at the dark shadow.
"It's me," Cedric said softly. "I've been waiting for hours. I didn't know if you'd be coming back. I hoped…"
Teddy relaxed and returned his wand to his pocket. "What are you doing here," Teddy asked, his shoulders slumping.
Cedric didn't reply, he simply stepped forward, lifted Teddy's chin with his forefinger and kissed him softly.
Teddy grinned beneath Cedric's lips. "You're such a girl," he teased, and felt Cedric's answering grin.
"You're the one who can grow tits."
"My cock's bigger."
"Only because you cheat."
"What about Cho?"
Cedric shrugged. "We broke up."
"Oh." Teddy turned away then and paced the corridor, calling the Room. His room. Their room. When it appeared, he opened the door and stepped inside, glancing over his shoulder.
"Coming?"
-fin-
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
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 7: (strange) how certain the journey
"Threatening the headmaster and the Minister for Magic is a serious offence in some places. Oh, not here, I assure you, though you should be aware that, despite his faults, Headmaster Snape always has the best interests of his students at heart."
Teddy looked up, alarmed, searching for the owner of the voice. It was the landscape portrait, only now it was no longer empty. On the hill stood an old man with long white hair and beard, and half-moon spectacles perched on his crooked nose.
"P-Professor Dumbledore?"
"It's nice to know that an old man is still remembered, and fondly it would seem, though I hate to be presumptuous. I'd offer you a Lemon Sherbet, but I'm afraid I haven't any at the moment. That's quite a map you have, rather ingenious."
"Professor, what's happened? Where's Gryffindor? And why aren't Snape and Voldemort dead? Where's Harry? Is my grandmother okay? Are my parents alive?"
"So many questions. I see that we might have a problem, or perhaps an opportunity. Fortuitous that I happened to be passing by just as you appeared. Hunches truly are an amazing thing. The Muggles say that one must never look a gift horse in the mouth, but dental hygiene is just as important to horses as it is to humans, Muggle or wizard, wouldn't you say?" He picked at a bit of lint on his sleeve.
Ron had been right. Apparently they'd found a good substitute for old Barnabas. Professor Dumbledore was completely off his rocker. Still, it was Dumbledore.
"Now, young man, first things first. I've dispatched with one problem," Dumbledore said, pointing at a dark blob almost out of the frame that Teddy hadn't noticed before. It looked like a pair of boots. "But first, are you versed in any kind of silencing or muffling spells? It wouldn't do for our conversation to accidentally carry to other, shall we say, unfriendly ears."
Teddy raised his wand. "Muffliato. Imperturbus."
"Of course you are. Well done. That should keep us safe for the moment. Next, I must ask you, what is your name?"
He hesitated for a fraction of a second. "Teddy, sir. Teddy Lupin."
"Interesting. Perchance are you related to Remus Lupin," he asked, steepling his fingers beneath his chin.
"His son, sir. I thought you knew."
Dumbledore's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "How remarkable," he said again. "How very remarkable. Pardon my nosiness, Mr Lupin, but might I ask, where did you come from when you fell through the wall behind you?"
"Er, well, it was the Room of Requirement, sir. It sort of kicked me out."
"That's quite a feat. That Room hasn't existed in this corridor for years. You must be rather extraordinary, Mr Lupin. Unless," he said, pausing and scrutinizing Teddy, his blue eyes piercing.
"Doesn't exist? What-you mean the Room is gone? How could it be gone? It can't be gone!" He began to pace. I need you to open, I need a place to think, I need to know what's going on.
"I'm afraid that won't help," Dumbledore said as Teddy cursed when a door failed to appear. "As I said, the Room no longer inhabits this space. Now, Mr Lupin, and this is very important, where were you when you last entered the Room, right before you made such a spectacular exit?"
"I was in this corridor," Teddy said, clenching his fists. "Right here. Only that bloody tapestry with the dancing trolls was here instead of you."
"Barnabas? His tapestry hasn't hung here for the last eighteen years, give or take a few months. You'll forgive me if my math is a bit rusty."
"Eighteen-? But I'm eighteen, and I can assure you he was here when I left."
"I see. So perhaps then I should ask you this, Mr Lupin. When were you when you last entered the Room of Requirement."
Teddy's stomach plunged and he broke out into a cold sweat. "When?" he asked, his voice high and far too squeaky.
"I assure you that I have no authority to punish you, no matter what it is that you've done, nor would I in any case, but it is important that you tell me the truth. I cannot help you if you cannot trust me."
Teddy nodded. He knew Dumbledore was right, and from the look of things, he also desperately needed his help. "Sir, what year is it?"
"It's 2016. May the thirtieth I believe. Is that relevant?"
"Yes, sir. Because when I entered the room, well, it was the beginning of May, but that's not important. What is important is that it was the year 1994."
"I was not aware that Remus Lupin had an eighteen year old son in 1994."
"He didn't, sir."
"I see. I do seem to recall that in May of 1994, Remus Lupin was here at Hogwarts, teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"He was, sir. You asked me where I had been last, and that's where I was. But before that, I'd been here. In 2016."
"Time travel," Dumbledore said, nodding. "I see. The events of this evening lead me to presume the Room of Requirement was your…travel agent."
Teddy nodded. "Yes, sir. I swear I didn't ask it to send me back in time in the first place. That was an accident."
"Again, I say, Mr Lupin, you must be rather extraordinary. However, I'm afraid that your trip appears to have resulted in a number of unforeseen consequences. From your initial, shall we say, exclamation, I shall also presume that before your travels, Professor Snape and Tom Riddle were deceased."
"Yes, sir. Harry defeated Voldemort, and Professor Snape was killed by, well, he died to help Harry succeed, sir."
"Well done, Severus," Dumbledore murmured. "It would seem then, that something happened during your travels that changed your history. And from what you've said thus far, not for the better. Teddy," he said softly, "did you meet your father?"
Teddy was stricken. "He promised. He promised he wouldn't change what happened that day. He, well, he found out it was me, and I had to tell him the truth. Well, not all of it of course. There was one thing, though. The night Pettigrew escaped. I told him what had to happen, that Peter had to escape, and he promised he would make sure he did."
"And Remus kept his word. Peter Pettigrew did indeed escape from my custody that evening, and now an old puzzle is solved. Thank you. However, there are always unforeseen consequences. Inadvertent though they may be."
"So I did this. I created this future. It's my fault!" Teddy was shaking. If Voldemort lived, then Harry was dead, all of the people he loved were also likely dead, and it was all his fault. But where was he? Did he even exist in this nightmare world he'd created?
"Blame is irrelevant, Teddy," Dumbledore said, his voice soft once again. "The question is, what are you willing to sacrifice to correct it?"
"How can I correct anything? I have no power here. I don't even know if I exist here! The Room of Requirement is gone, Voldemort and his Death Eaters rule the wizarding world, and I'm an eighteen year old kid with a wand and a map of the school. And if Voldemort's alive, that means Harry is dead." When Dumbledore did not refute his statement, Teddy went completely cold. He leaned back against the wall where the Room of Requirement once resided, and slumped to the floor in anguish.
"I will ask you again. What are you willing to sacrifice, Mr Lupin?" The voice was still soft, but its steel rang in the empty corridor.
Teddy looked up and stared defiantly at Dumbledore. "If I could, I'd give my life. Is that what you want to know? Harry Potter was the only father I ever knew-until recently-and he raised me well. Perhaps he'd do it for less selfish reasons than I, I don't know. I'm no martyr, but I'm not a coward either, sir."
"I'm glad to know it Teddy Remus Lupin, because in a very paradoxical sense, that may be your only choice, and consequently, our only chance. Your mother and father would be proud."
"You do know me, then," Teddy said, startled.
"I know you were born, I know who your parents were, and I know of your talents, which you inherited from your mother, yes, but I also know that no student named Teddy Lupin has ever set foot in these halls. Until tonight of course. I am privileged to a lot of information, but I'm afraid that of your present whereabouts in this timeline, I know nothing. Only that you somehow stand before me now, and you may very well be our last, best hope."
"But what can I do, sir? If the Room of Requirement were still here, maybe…" He clenched his fists.
"Perhaps we should move to where it now resides then."
"Now resides-but you said it didn't exist!"
"You must learn to listen, Mr Lupin. I said it no longer inhabits this space. The Room of Requirement is a very peculiar and rather extraordinary entity. On the night the school fell to Tom Riddle, the night Gryffindor Tower was destroyed, the Room moved itself and has remained hidden ever since."
"But how-"
Dumbledore shrugged. "Nobody knows, though perhaps one day you might ask it. I dare say the answer would be fascinating. For now, however, I must ask you to wear another face. There are other…spies in these halls. Something cruel and imposing might do. If we're fortunate, you merely need to fool a few portraits. While Professor Snape would not harm you himself, there are others who would not be so merciful, especially if they were to discover your true identity."
Teddy shuddered. He darkened his hair and grew it longer so that it partially covered his face and flowed down past his shoulders. He added a few wrinkles, thickened his brows, and grew out the stubble on his jaw. His nose grew larger and his lips thinner, and as a final touch, added a jagged scar on one cheek, giving himself a sneering appearance.
"Very nice," Dumbledore said, nodding. "Now, I cannot walk along the hall with you, but you needn't go far. The Room of Requirement inhabits what remains of Gryffindor Tower. Most of the tower has collapsed and it is itself uninhabitable, but the Room should provide what you need."
"That's why I couldn't see it on the map," Teddy exclaimed. When Dumbledore looked puzzled, Teddy added, "the Room. It hides itself from the map, too."
"Interesting. Now, I fear you'll have to be quick. There are many portraits in that corridor loyal to Riddle. If things get out of hand, a good Stunning Spell will come in handy. You know what you have to do?"
Teddy nodded. "Yes, sir."
"I will follow as I can, but I can only hope that we have no reason to meet again in this particular time and place. I must ask you, Teddy, if you should encounter my younger self, you must promise not to try to save my life or alter my death as you remember it. Death is a part of life, and in certain circumstances, it is necessary. Do I have your word?
"Yes, sir, I promise."
Dumbledore nodded. "If you are successful, it is important that you remember this: You have a very dangerous tool at your disposal. Your knowledge of the future is a far heavier burden than you can possibly imagine right now. Temptation will plague your every step if you allow it to rule you. You must be wise, Teddy Lupin, wiser than your years, and you must listen and learn, and you must protect yourself. Every death you aspire to prevent carries the seeds of both risk and reward. In the end, only you will know the consequences. Remember who you are and where you come from."
His forehead tingled where his father had kissed him. "Yes, sir. I'll do my best."
"That is indeed all anyone can do. Now, off you go."
Teddy looked at Professor Dumbledore one last time and nodded. He checked the map to make sure the seventh floor was clear, wiped it blank and stowed it in his pocket. Wand in hand, he squared his shoulders and strode off down the hall as if he belonged.
**
"Bloody buggering hell," he exclaimed. His knees were going to be purple with bruises. He glanced up quickly, brushing his too-long hair from his eyes, and sighed in relief. Good ol' Barnabas. He'd never look at that tapestry with scorn again.
He got shakily to his feet, shouldered his bag, and without another thought, bolted for the nearest stairs. He had to find his father.
He was panting when he reached the second-floor office, and stood before the door, holding his stomach and trying to catch his breath. It was daylight; he'd managed to see that much when he'd passed a row of windows, and there were students about. He'd nearly bowled a few over in his haste.
He rapped sharply on the door. "Da-Professor Lupin," he called. "Are you here?" He tried the knob but it was locked and did not respond to Alohomora. He glanced quickly around the corridor before reaching into a small pocket of his bag and extracting the knife Harry had given him for Christmas last year. He ran the blade around the door frame and this time, the door creaked open. He stepped into the room and stopped cold, hand still on the doorknob, staring around at the strange paraphernalia that occupied the room.
This wasn't his father's office anymore. The glass tanks and overstuffed bookcases were gone. A large mirror hung on one wall, a huge trunk sat beneath the window in the back corner behind the desk, and shelves and tables full of spindly gadgets, sneakoscopes and a few other things he recognized vaguely from Harry's study, took up the rest of the cluttered room.
He glanced at the mirror and started, whirling in surprise, wand in one hand, knife in the other, but there was no-one behind him. He turned back to the mirror and groaned at his own idiocy before relaxing his features back to normal.
"Stupid, stupid," he muttered, pocketing the knife and looking about the room again, his gaze lingering on the large trunk. Oh. Shit. He backed away slowly into the corridor, and closed the door, his face grim. More time had passed here than he'd realized. He had to find Cedric.
He walked back down the corridor towards the nearest bathroom when classes let out and students came streaming out of a nearby classroom. They paid no attention to him, busy chatting and hurrying off, probably to their next classes. He passed a group of girls who were talking and giggling amongst themselves, several of them sporting large badges on the front of their robes:
Support Cedric Diggory!
"He'll win. He's in first place."
"Tied for first place," another girl corrected.
The first girl tossed her hair. "Potter hasn't got a chance," she sniffed.
"He's done well so far, hasn't he?"
"Luck. Probably cheating. You know Dumbledore favours him."
"Professor Dumbledore wouldn't do that!" another girl said.
"Pansy Parkinson said so. And you saw what happened last February. He was dead last coming out of that lake, and they still awarded him second place. He won't be so lucky tomorrow. Have you seen the hedges on the Quidditch pitch? Must be twenty feet tall. Roger Davies said Fleur told him it was a maze!"
Teddy pushed past them walking swiftly, his heart beating loudly in his ears. The Tri-Wizard Tournament. Tomorrow was the Third Task. One day. He ducked into the bathroom and went straight to a stall, ignoring the other boys who were in there, and sat down heavily on the seat.
"Nah, Krum's gonna win. Those Durmstrang kids know dark spells. He'll probably blast his way to the middle of the thing, though I suppose Diggory will put up a good fight. He's not bad."
"Harry'll win, you just wait."
"You're out of your tree, Longbottom. Ten Galleons says Krum clobbers him."
"You probably haven't even got ten Galleons."
"Won't need 'em when I win the bet, will I?"
He heard the door close behind them as they left, but sat where he was for a long while, breathing, trying to relax, to think. He peeked through the crack in the door to make sure the room was empty. Assured of his privacy, he left the stall and stood before a sink, splashing cold water on his face and staring at his reflection in the mirror.
Heavy burden.
Every death you prevent carries the seeds of both risk and reward.
He dried his hands, and turned away from the mirror, pulling the map from his pocket.
"Cedric, Cedric, where are you," he whispered, scanning the dots. There were students everywhere and it was difficult to locate anyone. He checked the Hufflepuff common room first, but it was mostly empty. No Cedric in the dormitory. He started scanning classrooms then moved on to the library… there!
Teddy shoved the map in his pocket and strode out the door. He'd already made up his mind before he'd stepped back into the Room of Requirement this last time. Dumbledore's words still rang in his head, but his conscience told him this was the right thing to do. Dumbledore had made him promise not to interfere in his own death, but he hadn't said anything about anyone else. He'd told him to listen, to learn, and he had. He'd arrived the day before Cedric died. The Room could have brought him anywhere, but it chose this specific day. It was a sign, he knew it. He couldn't rely solely on his sketchy knowledge of future events, he had to trust his instincts.
He strode down the fourth floor corridor and pushed his way through the library doors, scanning the groups of people clustered near the librarian's desk and at nearby tables. He turned to walk toward the far stacks when he saw him. Cedric was walking towards him, completely surrounded by a crowd of people, an abstract and distant expression on his face. His friends were far too loud, as they herded him along, slapping him on the back and joking.
"Make way for the Champion," the boy in front cried, pushing two smaller students out of the way.
Teddy stood and waited, relieved. The tightly clustered group dispersed as they entered into the front atrium where Teddy stood and he was able to see him more clearly now. He looked exactly as he had in his portrait. Teddy was just about to step forward when he noticed a pretty, dark-haired girl walking close to Cedric's side, smiling brightly. They were holding hands.
Teddy's heart sank, gooseflesh prickling over his skin as a sense of vertigo swept over him, making Cedric appear to be much farther away, separated from him by a long, narrow tunnel; separated from him by time and space and everything that mattered.
The girl turned to him, stood on her toes and kissed him. He turned his head, their lips meeting briefly, and he smiled at her before turning away, his expression returning to its former troubled demeanour.
It's not love, he'd told his father. And it wasn't. Hadn't been. But there had been friendship, a real affection, and trust. A kind of love, his father had said in response. Maybe. He felt naked and exposed, embarrassed by his own assumptions. It didn't matter whether or not it had been love, it still hurt.
Cedric saw him then, and his jaw gaped. Their eyes met and Teddy nodded. He swallowed hard, and turned away, striding back through the doors and out into the corridor.
"Teddy, wait!"
He exhaled heavily through his nose and kept walking. He had to get away, had to think. Besides, Cedric would know where to find him.
**
He lay once again on the canopied bed. It had been hours, but Cedric hadn't come. He'd watched him on the map, at supper in the Great Hall, with Cho Chang, who he surmised was the girl he'd seen him with, by the entrance to Ravenclaw tower, in the Hufflepuff common room and finally, in his dormitory. Teddy had deactivated the map then, stowing it in his bag and then moodily stomping around the small room. He'd vetoed going to the kitchens; he wasn't very hungry.
It had been a single day for him. Last night he and Cedric had…. He sighed. So much had happened in the past twenty-four hours, it was a wonder he could think straight at all.
Twenty-four hours for you. More than a year for him. Should he have sat around pining for you, faithfully waiting and celibate for those twenty two years? his spiteful inner voice piped up.
Teddy clenched his fists and pounded on the mattress. Oh, shut up! Of course not! And he didn't have twenty years - didn't even have two! he retorted. He hated the way he felt, so replete with self-pity. Of course Cedric would get on with his life. Why would he have expected that I'd come back? I'm the intruder. I just need time-
He laughed raucously, and it was an ugly sound, guttural. Time. That's all I've got. I don't want any more time, I'm up to my bloody ears in time.
There was a knock at the door. Startled from his selfish reflections, Teddy sat up, debated whether or not to put his t-shirt back on, and tossed it aside instead. He knew damn well who was at the door and he didn't have to dress for company.
He opened the door and stepped back. Cedric stared at him across the threshold.
"You came back."
Teddy nodded.
"Why?"
"Does it matter?" he asked.
"No," Cedric replied. "Maybe. I don't know. Can I come in?"
Teddy shrugged, and walked away, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
"You're angry."
He shrugged again. Great, I'm so eloquent, he thought.
Cedric closed the door and walked closer until he stood in front of Teddy. "You're jealous," he chided.
"I'm not," Teddy said.
Cedric let it pass. "When…?"
"Today," Teddy said. "About an hour before I saw you."
Cedric nodded. "It's been a long time. You look exactly the same."
"For you," Teddy said, and he couldn't keep the bitterness from his voice.
"What do you mean?"
Teddy turned away.
Cedric sat down beside him, and without looking, Teddy noticed the distance, far enough so they weren't touching. Well.
"Teddy?"
"It was only yesterday for me," he said softly. He shook his head and turned back. "Doesn't matter."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
He shrugged again. "Nothing to be sorry for. She's pretty."
"Why did you come back?"
"Lots of reasons. No reason. I told you, it doesn't matter."
Cedric sighed. "You gonna go see your father?"
"I don't know. I'm not sure where he is right now. But I know where he'll be soon enough. At least I think I do. Maybe I'll send him an owl."
"Tell him hello for me. And tell him thanks. You were right; I did get an Outstanding on my O.W.L."
"I guess you had more time for revising after I left."
It was Cedric's turn to shrug. "I went and talked to him a few times. After, you know. He was nice. I haven't seen him since he left. I thought about writing to him, but I didn't know what to say. I guess you know…"
"That he's a werewolf? Of course I know."
"You never said."
"Wasn't my secret to tell."
"True. I don't care. When you see him, tell him there's a bunch of us, in my house, probably more in Gryffindor."
"He'll be glad to know that."
"So, you gonna stick around for a while? Tomorrow's the third task. I'm one of the Champions, but you probably knew that, too."
"Yes," Teddy said softly.
"And Harry. He's a good kid. Strange as it may sound, we've become friends, sort of. I like him. It's been a strange year. Interesting, though."
"Ancient Muggle curse, 'May you live in interesting times'."
Cedric frowned. "How is that a curse? I'd choose interesting over dull any day."
"Cedric." Cedric wasn't looking at him. He was staring at the rug beside the bed. "Cedric," he said again.
Cedric turned his head, and Teddy leaned in and kissed him. Cedric gasped and Teddy slipped his tongue inside, gently, probing, testing. Cedric responded and he felt the touch of Cedric's fingers in his hair before Cedric pulled back and turned away.
"I can't. I'm sorry."
"Cho," Teddy said.
Cedric spread his arms and ducked his head. "It's not fair to her."
"No. I remember her. I met her once or twice. I didn't recognise her at first. She was a friend of Harry's. Ginny didn't like her much, but she was nice. We talked Quidditch. I remember she was a Tornados fan."
"I should go," Cedric said, shifting closer to the edge of the bed and standing.
Teddy nodded.
"You coming tomorrow? To watch?"
Teddy started to nod, then grasped Cedric's hand and stood up, facing him. "Wait. I have to talk to you." He noticed, with a jolt of pleasure, that Cedric didn't pull his hand away.
"It's about tomorrow," he continued. "The maze. The cup."
Cedric grinned crookedly. "I win? No, don't tell me. I don't want-"
"Listen to me!" Teddy said, squeezing Cedric's hand. "This is important. Fuck the tournament! If you touch the cup, if you take it, you'll die."
Cedric was incredulous. "What are you talking about?"
"Tomorrow. You and Harry, the both of you. Some giant spider or skrewt or something." He saw Cedric shudder. "You both get there, you help each other and you both choose to take the cup together. Listen to me, Cedric. You can't go with him. Harry has to go. Something happens, the cup is a Portkey."
"Well, then we'll go to Dumbledore," Cedric said. "Right now. We'll tell him. He'll know what to-"
"No! You don't understand. Harry has to go where the Portkey takes him. It's the only way he can defeat Voldemort."
Cedric started at the name. "You-Know-Who is dead," he snapped, narrowing his eyes and finally pulling his hand from Teddy's grasp. "I know you're angry with me, and you obviously want Harry to win since he's your godfather, but I'd thought-"
"It's not about the bloody tournament, you arse! I could give a fig about the tournament! I'm trying to save your life!"
"Why should I believe you? When you were here last time, you told me you knew me in your time. How could you know me if I die tomorrow? Answer me that."
"I lied."
Cedric looked as if he'd been slapped and his voice was like ice. "I see."
"No, I didn't..."
"We're finished here, Teddy. I have to go," Cedric said, storming off towards the door.
Teddy ran after him, grabbed him by his shoulder and slammed him up against the wall. He gripped the front of Cedric's robes in his hand and tugged.
"We are not finished." Teddy was shaking with pent-up nerves as he looked Cedric straight in the eye. "I did know you, but not you. I said I lied because I didn't tell you the whole truth. You weren't flesh and blood, you were a bloody portrait! I know you know which one I'm talking about, because you would have sat for it only recently."
"Easter," Cedric whispered, his eyes wide.
Teddy nodded. "Everyone knows you in the future, Cedric. Hufflepuff house practically worships you. Your portrait is in our common room, 'Remember Cedric Diggory'! Professor Dumbledore laid a charge on the entire wizarding world with his eulogy to you - did you want me to recite it? You're a fucking legend, and we're all a little bit in love with you for it."
Cedric swallowed visibly. "I don't believe you," he said, his voice a hoarse rasp.
"I'm sorry. I wish it weren't true. I wish I could tell you a different future, but that's why I came back, why I'm here today. When I went home, everything was different. Voldemort"-Cedric winced-"had won, Harry was dead - everyone was dead. Gryffindor tower was destroyed - there was no Gryffindor house anymore - and no more Muggleborn wizards. The death eaters ran the wizarding world. It was a nightmare, and it was my fault! I did something, changed something accidentally when I was here. That's why I had to come back. I can never go home, because I no longer have a home to go to!"
Teddy gasped and staggered back under the weight of his words, releasing Cedric and turning away. It had been one thing to know this, another to admit it out loud. And Cedric was accusing him of being petty?
"It's not about the tournament, you arse. Voldemort comes back tomorrow. Oh!" He spun around and pointed at Cedric, stabbing his finger in the air. "The Quidditch World Cup - I remember. There was a dark mark in the sky at the Cup! Damn it, you know I'm telling the truth, Cedric."
"What happens to Harry," Cedric asked, his voice quiet.
"Voldemort kills you, well, Wormtail does. Peter Pettigrew. Heard of him, have you? I thought so. A killing curse. You haven't any chance, I'm sorry. They use Harry's blood to create a new body for Voldemort. He's never really been gone, you know.
"But Harry gets away, he escapes, fights his way out, and only because he's a lucky bastard. There's a proph-" Teddy waved his hand in dismissal. "He told me - last Christmas he finally told me everything. He wouldn't talk about it, ever. I had to beg him to tell me. That's how bad it was for him. He's always blamed himself for your death.
"Harry gets away, brings your dead body back to your parents." He glared at Cedric, his chest heaving. "There's a reason the Room brought me back here today. I know it. I won't let you die."
"But-"
"There are no buts. We can't go to Dumbledore. It has to happen the way I told you. Harry has to touch that damned Portkey."
"But if we know where V-You-Know-Who is, we can stop him before he comes back."
Teddy shook his head. "It doesn't work like that. We could end up making things worse. I told you, he was never really gone. He just needed a body."
"Maybe we could make it better."
"Are you willing to take that risk? There are things I know. I don't know everything, but I know a lot about what's supposed to happen. If we change this, then everything reverts to chaos. I might even disappear, erase my entire existence. I'd risk that for myself, but I won't risk everyone else's lives along with mine. Don't you see? It has to be this way."
"I won't let Harry go alone. He's just a kid."
"Then you'll die."
"Maybe not. Not now that I know what's coming."
"Cedric," Teddy said, pleading.
"Thank you." Cedric smiled sadly. "I'm glad you're here. I missed you."
Teddy watched him go, and stared at the door long after it closed behind him. This was the second time in twenty-four hours that he'd watched him walk away like that.
He threw himself onto the bed, not bothering to remove his jeans, and tried to sleep. There wasn't anything more he could do. It was up to Cedric to save his own life. Or not.
Chapter 8: from the ashes
He slept late, having finally drifted off in the early hour before dawn, snuck down to the kitchens for brunch, and spent most of the day out on the grounds down by the lake. The weather was warm this late in June, and it felt good to be outside again. He'd been cooped up too long.
If he was going to stay, he was going to have to make his presence known to a few people. He'd have to see his father again, and he was looking forward to meeting Sirius. Dumbledore would have to know as well, but not yet. And Cedric knew, of course. Four people. In years to come, things might change, but for now that would be enough.
He looked at the map. Cedric was with his parents near the Trophy Room. He felt a twinge of satisfaction to see that Cho wasn't with them. He didn't wish her ill, it was just…
It was just that he still had certain feelings for Cedric, and why shouldn't he? Cedric had said he missed him. That was hopeful. And if he survived, who knew what the future would bring.
He pulled up a blade of grass and chewed on the end. If. It wouldn't do to think about that. It promised to be a long day and an even longer night. There were clusters of students out on the grounds enjoying the day, but they ignored him. He purposely sat near the forest on the edge of the lake, a place few students ever came. He looked out onto the lake where the Durmstrang ship was moored. It was strange to see such a huge ship here.
A trickle of sweat ran down the back of his neck, and he shortened his hair in irritation. He'd grow it back out later. He wiped the map blank and stowed it in his pocket, lay back on the grass and closed his eyes. A nice kip wouldn't be amiss.
He awoke to the sound of low voices off to his right. He squinted up into the sun. Late afternoon, likely, though the sun wouldn't set until near on ten o'clock tonight. He sat up on his elbows and looked around. A boy and a man were sitting by the lake, just on the other side of a large beech tree, having what looked to be a serious conversation. He watched them for a few minutes before realising with a shock that it was Harry and Sirius Black. Sirius, out in the open, dressed in jeans and t-shirt no less! Sirius stood up and looked around, and Teddy quickly ducked back down. A moment later, a large black dog was tackling Harry, who shrieked with laughter.
Laugh all you can, Harry, he thought grimly, thinking about what the evening would bring. He wished…. Best not think about that either. It had to happen and that was that, though it made him feel uncomfortably ruthless. But what was Sirius doing out in plain sight like this? It was dangerous for him, especially with so many ministry officials milling about the grounds today. He considered walking over in their direction, but decided against it. He knew history said that Sirius would not be captured at Hogwarts, and it was still a year before his death. Let them enjoy this time together; he would not intrude.
His stomach rumbled, and he rose, lengthened his hair just past his shoulders and headed back up the hill. The house-elves were preparing a feast tonight and they'd have plenty of food for him to nick.
**
Teddy waited by the entrance to the Quidditch stands. He'd snuck down before the crowds and was watching for Sirius Black. He'd seen him on the map having dinner at the Gryffindor table with Harry and Bill and Molly Weasley. He'd run into Bill earlier and had stared in shock at his scarless face. He was used to the scars, of course, but seeing him without them had been quite a jolt. He'd been a very handsome man in his youth. He'd had to cover a grin when Molly had approached him and started nagging him about a haircut. She still did that, and his amusement had been followed by a wave of homesickness.
He'd never be able to go back to his own time. Not only that, but his very existence was at risk. He wondered what would happen if the future changed so much that his future self never went back in time in the first place. Paradox. He had many years before that would be an issue, so he put it from his mind. There were more important things he needed to do tonight.
The four champions were headed his way, accompanied by ministry officials. A few of the teachers had already gone past, including Hagrid, and were milling about in front of the maze. He made eye contact with Cedric as he passed, and Cedric's eyes widened slightly. His lip quirked and he gave a curt nod of acknowledgment, and continued on with the others.
Teddy sighed and clenched his fists, and offered a quick prayer up to Harry's parents, asking them to see him safe. See both of them safe.
He was worried. In his own history, Sirius Black had been a fugitive, cleared of his crimes posthumously. Something had gone wrong. Dumbledore's portrait, which was on the same timeline as the events happening now, had said that Wormtail had escaped, that his father had kept his promise. But something had changed because Sirius was free, and he knew with a certainty that his freedom was part of the chain of events which altered the future. It was his fault.
He couldn't do anything about it now, and seeing earlier how happy his presence made Harry, he couldn't begrudge Sirius even one minute of his freedom. But Teddy needed to talk to him, and somehow make sure nothing went wrong tonight.
He saw him, walking with Bill and Molly, Bill acting as buffer between two quarrelling parties. Passing students glanced at him with both fear and awe, and seemed to give him a wide berth as they hurried past; apparently the past wasn't so easily forgotten. He saw Sirius throw up his hands and stalk off ahead while Molly stared after him, biting her lip. Bill had a hand on his shoulder and was talking to her.
Sirius was scowling when he reached the entrance, and again, students stepped quickly around him. Teddy reached out of the shadows to tap him on the shoulder and Sirius snarled at him.
"What!"
"Sirius, you don't know me, but I need to talk to you. It's important."
"Sorry kid, I don't have time right now. I'm busy."
Teddy rolled his eyes. "You'll make time. Padfoot."
Sirius started at the use of his nickname and narrowed his eyes, stepping closer, away from the throng. "Where did you hear that name?"
"That's part of what I have to talk to you about. Will you sit with me?"
"Who the hell are you?"
"My name is Teddy." Sirius showed no sign of recognition at the name.
"Sorry, I don't know you."
"But you know my father."
"Yeah? Who's that?"
Teddy glanced around, but nobody was paying any attention as they were too busy filing into the stands. He relaxed his features, his face changing swiftly back to his own and his hair turning lighter in colour. Sirius' eyes widened as he watched.
"Remus Lupin," Teddy said.
Sirius eyed him warily. "You have his eyes, but you're too old to be Remus' son."
"Not if I haven't been born yet," Teddy said. "Please. My father does know me. We met a year ago. And I can prove who I am." He reached into his pocket and showed Sirius the blank map.
"Where'd you get that?" Sirius asked sharply, recognizing it at once. "Moody has it!"
"Moody? But he's-" He caught himself and cleared his throat. "Moody has this era's map then. This one's mine. My godfather gave it to me."
"And just who would that be?"
"Harry Potter."
"Bloody hell," Sirius said, and laughed.
**
It was strange sitting in the stands, being a part of history like this. Bill and Molly had gone to sit with the other Weasley children, and Teddy found himself looking over his shoulder at them frequently. Especially at the twins whom he discovered he couldn't tell apart. Not at a distance anyway. Seeing them together, the way they moved as one entity, always together, it struck him how much George must have lost by his twin's death. The more he watched them, the more he realised that he couldn't think of Fred as anything but 'another George'. Strange indeed.
He turned back to regard the man next to him. Sirius Black: his father's best friend, Harry's father's best friend, Harry's godfather. His mum's cousin, too, as well as his Gran's. He knew how he felt toward Harry and wondered if Harry regarded Sirius the same way. He must, he thought, remembering the scene by the lake earlier today. Sirius was thin, too thin, and his eyes…. They changed from minute to minute, heartbeat to heartbeat, a range of emotion rippling in their depths.
He could tell that the crowd bothered him, and of course it would - so many years of solitude had changed him, and he was jumpy and impatient. Teddy was jumpy and impatient, too, but for very different reasons. He was filled with a kind of numb dread, and the noise from the crowd was like a distant rumble. It had been a half hour since the four had entered the maze. He could see Professor Dumbledore below him, calm but obviously troubled. Red sparks had blossomed high above the hedges twice, the second time only a few minutes ago - they were still visible, a beacon - and each time the crowd reacted with a mixture of fear and excitement.
"It's not Harry," Sirius had said both times, repeating it as if to convince himself. And both times he'd glanced at Teddy for confirmation. Teddy had looked away, not wanting to meet his eye. Perhaps he'd take that as a sign that it was Harry after all.
He'd told Sirius how he'd travelled in time by accident, how he'd met Remus, briefly, and instead of returning home, he'd ended up here. It was technically true, because he hadn't returned home at all; that false dystopian future certainly hadn't been his home. He wasn't quite sure at first why he'd sought Sirius out now. There was plenty of time to become acquainted with him tomorrow, even after the events of tonight played out, but as the evening wore on and his fingers ached from clenching them so tightly, his palms stinging in crescent-shaped patterns, he knew.
There wasn't anyone else he could turn to for solace. His father was miles away and could not be here, his own godfather was light years and multiple realities away, separated from him by a distance even greater than death. So instead, he turned to the presence of this man because those Teddy loved most had loved Sirius. It was a tenuous connection at best, but it was the only comfort he could find this night. He was afraid, and he did not want to be alone.
A hand pressed down on his knee and squeezed. Teddy looked up sharply and Sirius was looking at him with annoyance.
"Would you quit bouncing your bloody leg? You're driving me mad. Merlin's left nut, your father used to do that when we were kids. You couldn't sit next to him when you ate - the bastard'd bounce your pudding off its spoon."
Teddy smiled despite himself and Sirius' lip twitched. "Fond memories?" he asked.
Sirius smiled and shook his head. "The best."
Teddy nodded and turned to look at the endless rolling green of the maze. The second burst of red sparks had dissipated, which meant a teacher had found whoever had called for help. He looked at his watch. Forty-five minutes. Fuck.
Sirius' hand clamped down on his knee again. It was going to be a long night.
**
Professor McGonagall emerged from the maze, supporting a tearful Fleur. Everyone stood to watch, gasping and pointing. As soon as he saw it wasn't Harry, Sirius sighed with relief and sat down again, tapping his thigh with his thumb. Teddy looked pointedly at the source of the drumming, but if Sirius noticed, he gave no sign. Teddy snorted and turned back to the scene below.
Fleur was upset, but she was also angry. She stormed over to a man with a goat-like beard and started screaming at him in French, pointing and gesticulating. A very large woman came over to Fleur, standing behind her protectively. A few minutes later, Professor Moody came stumping out of the maze, escorting a dazed Viktor Krum. Fleur turned at the loud reaction from the crowd and tried to run at him, her face murderous, but the woman held her back. Viktor looked as though he'd been confounded and he sat down heavily, his head in his hands, the goat-bearded man looking upset and fawning over him.
"C'mon kid," Sirius said, nudging Teddy's shoulder and leaning over, his long hair tickling Teddy's ear. "You can tell me. Does he win?"
Teddy said nothing, but he could feel Sirius' enthusiasm; two competitors out and not a hint of red sparks from the pitch. Teddy knew Sirius was worried for Harry, but it was a matter of pride, not fear for his safety. When Sirius had seen Teddy's name on the map, his entire demeanour had changed. His shoulders had lifted, and his eyes had brightened considerably. He'd clapped Teddy on the shoulder, laughing, and had dragged him off to find front row seats.
Sirius wasn't completely reckless, though. Teddy's presence alone had assured him that Harry would survive. Of course he was completely unaware of the real danger Harry faced. Giant man-eating spiders were child's play in comparison. Teddy was convinced that if he'd had so much as an inkling beforehand what Harry would face tonight, he would never have allowed him to participate, binding magical contract and blood protection magic be damned.
Sirius nudged him again. "Killjoy."
Teddy was about to reply when a loud cry resounded from below. Cedric - his robes torn, his face scratched and bleeding, had come running, half-limping, onto the pitch and had nearly collapsed at Dumbledore's feet.
He hadn't exited from the maze, but instead had come from the school grounds. The murmur of the crowd was a dull roar in Teddy's ears, and Sirius had jumped to his feet beside him. It was instinct because he certainly hadn't told his body to move. He was running for the ladder-Sirius hot on his heels-pushing people out of his way, not bothering with the nuisance of climbing, and sliding down the poles instead.
Cedric was standing unassisted, talking to Dumbledore and gesticulating wildly when Teddy ran onto the pitch. Moody had stumped over beside them and there was a twisted smirk on his face. Then Dumbledore was moving, Moody at his heels, Cedric jogging alongside, still explaining, impatiently brushing his parents' concerned touches from his shoulders.
Dumbledore shouted something Teddy couldn't hear, and immediately a man-Merlin! That was Severus Snape! Snape stood impassively, listening as Cedric continued to speak. Teddy pushed his way through the crowd milling at the entrance, never taking his eyes from Cedric, ignoring everyone and everything around him.
There was a blinding flash of light, and Harry Potter fell from the sky clutching a large golden cup.
**
It was four-o'clock in the morning when he finally descended the spiral stairway from the headmaster's office, out into the seventh floor corridor which led to the Room of Requirement. He was exhausted. He would sleep first and leave later in the afternoon, meet up with Sirius outside of Hogsmeade, and together they would Apparate to his father's cottage. The students would be going home for summer holidays in a few days anyway, so there wasn't much point in staying; The fewer people who saw him, the better. He'd owl Cedric, make sure he was okay, and perhaps they'd see each other sometime. It was enough to know that he was alive, that Harry was alive.
He was still a bit cross with Cedric, not for any reason except that he'd been a stubborn, heroic, noble arse. The bastard had gone with Harry, even knowing the dangers, just to reassure him, build his confidence, and then he'd escaped by Apparating away before Wormtail's killing curse could find him. By the time he'd managed to get back to the pitch and explain, however, Harry had returned on his own. Sirius had been livid, and he'd shouted long and hard at Teddy for not preventing the incident in the first place. It had been Dumbledore, hours later, who'd finally talked sense into Sirius, and he'd apologised, albeit grudgingly.
Moody-Barty Crouch, Jr., had been revealed, though Teddy'd had to intervene. He wondered a bit at that because it was one more thing that had changed from the original history. He thought back to Harry's story from last Christmas.
"Moody took me back to his office. I was in shock, bleeding, and of course I trusted him…
Ah. Harry had been alone because Sirius hadn't been there the last time. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. One more tiny little ripple. Crouch was in the custody of the Dementors now, and little more than an empty, breathing shell. He shuddered, glad he hadn't been there to see the Kiss, though at least Minister Fudge had been consistent and just as incompetent as the books said.
He thought of Sirius again, a free man and cleared of all charges - he'd learned that the Wizengamot had wisely dropped the remaining charges dealing with his escape and unregistered Animagus status. That hadn't happened the last time around, and that, it seemed, was the key, the catalyst that started it all.
He supposed he'd never know exactly what he'd changed; what had happened on that full moon night a year ago in this timeline that hadn't occurred the first time around, nor what would have happened had he not been here tonight. Would Crouch have continued his charade and gone free, the real Moody a prisoner until he died? Was that what caused Voldemort to win?
The important thing, what really mattered was that Wormtail had been free to complete his task earlier this evening, and as a result, the blood protection Harry needed was intact.
And Cedric was alive.
He still couldn't believe it, and found himself repeating it over and over, as if the words were what made it so.
Perhaps this meant Sirius didn't have to die, either. Or his parents. He didn't know. He didn't even know if he'd vanish himself one day, if he'd be walking down a street somewhere and suddenly cease to exist. There were too many unknowns along with the known. He'd keep his own counsel, remembering future Dumbledore's warning to him, and his charge, listening, until he saw how the patterns of this new altered future dispersed and settled themselves. It could wait; he was far too weary right now to think any more about it.
There was a dark mound huddled against the wall on the floor ahead of him, and he approached cautiously, slowing his steps and fingering his wand in his pocket. As he drew closer, the mound erupted and Teddy pulled his wand from his pocket, pointing it at the dark shadow.
"It's me," Cedric said softly. "I've been waiting for hours. I didn't know if you'd be coming back. I hoped…"
Teddy relaxed and returned his wand to his pocket. "What are you doing here," Teddy asked, his shoulders slumping.
Cedric didn't reply, he simply stepped forward, lifted Teddy's chin with his forefinger and kissed him softly.
Teddy grinned beneath Cedric's lips. "You're such a girl," he teased, and felt Cedric's answering grin.
"You're the one who can grow tits."
"My cock's bigger."
"Only because you cheat."
"What about Cho?"
Cedric shrugged. "We broke up."
"Oh." Teddy turned away then and paced the corridor, calling the Room. His room. Their room. When it appeared, he opened the door and stepped inside, glancing over his shoulder.
"Coming?"
-fin-
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3