The Enemy of my Enemy

The Dreaded News

The rest of October passed faster than anyone could grasp. On October 31st, Teddie received several books from her friends – every year she had a new Charms book from Daphne and Blaise, they had found a series of books back in second year and vowed to get each one from the series for Teddie every year until it ended.

From Theo she received a book on Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Teddie made a mental note to show Harry when she saw him next. The spells inside these books could come in handy for the D.A.

Mason, on the other hand, had pooled his money together and purchased a second-hand book on Magical Myths and Legends, adding to the growing collection that Teddie had gathered over the years. This year's book, however, wasn't about any Gods, but rather mythical creatures in and around the Magical World.

Marcus, Adrian, and Derrick had sent her their presents, along with letters telling her to stay out of trouble and to be safe. Marcus had always apologised for not being able to meet her in Hogsmeade the week before her birthday, stating that his Quidditch practices with the Amsterdam team were getting more and more frequent now that they had a new captain.

The evening of October 31ST found Teddie sat at the Slytherin table with her friends enjoying the Halloween feast with the rest of the school. She gorged herself on savory and sweet foods, before the lull of the Hogwarts Ghost's annual performance sent her to sleep on Theo's shoulder.

When she climbed into bed that evening, she was asleep before her head hit the pillow, and, for the first time in two months, she had no nightmares.

~X~

Teddie's eyes widened as she looked around the Room of Requirements. It was completely decorated in streamers and baubles of red and gold, some of which were so large that she could see her whole body reflected in the surface.

A banner hung on the back wall, and Harry was in the process of trying to remove it. He clung to the wooden ladder with one hand and leaned over to detach the piece of string that held it up from the wall.

"You know you have magic, right?" Teddie asked, startling Harry. She gasped as he wobbled on the ladder but managed to remain on it without sliding off.

Harry sighed and glanced around. "Teddie!" he exclaimed.

"Sorry," Teddie apologised. "I didn't mean to almost kill you."

"You'd do a better job that Voldemort," Harry laughed. "He's tried to kill me since I was a baby, and hasn't succeeded, and all you had to do was speak and knock me from a ladder."

Teddie's face fell. "That's not funny," she said, heading for a cushion and dropping her back down onto the floor.

Realising what he had said, Harry shook his head. "Sorry. I didn't mean –" he started.

"I know," said Teddie, cutting him off. "I'm sorry. It's hard, sometimes, and I know other people wouldn't see the funny side."

"Good thing it's just us then, huh?"

Teddie forced a smile. She cocked her head to the side and read the partly fallen banner out loud. "A Very Harry Christmas – let me guess, Dobby?" she asked.

Harry blushed.

"Do you want some help taking them down?"

"Please," said Harry, climbing down from the ladder.

Teddie smiled and pulled her wand from inside her sleeve. She pointed it at the decorations and muttered an incantation under her breath. The baubles froze for a second before disappearing entirely.