The Enemy of my Enemy

The Potion's Lesson

As predicted, Snape gave them so much homework that Teddie was sure he was doing it to punish them for failing in producing a Non-verbal jinx or shield.

"Why do you think he stopped you and Theo from participating?" Daphne asked Teddie. They all had a break now and were heading down to the Entrance Hall.

Teddie shrugged. "I think it has something to do with my shield," she said. "I used to have control over it, but since Avery's abduction at the end of fourth year, I haven't been able to do much with it. It's like it's got a mind of its own."

"Or it's Faye," said Blaise. "I did some research over the summer. And, apparently, when magic is suppressed it explodes out of the individual in dangerous ways. All those times when you were young and blacking out, and the weird stuff was happening to you? That was Faye. It's almost like when one identity is awake, the other is asleep. Both can't be awake at the same time."

Teddie looked thoughtful. It made sense, and the idea was partially confirmed in second year. When Teddie was asleep in bed, Faye was awake and in control of their shared body, it was how she was able to open the Chamber of Secrets and why Teddie was always so tired when she awoke the mornings after, neither her mind nor body had received any rest because of Faye's nightly escapades.

Break lasted roughly fifteen minutes, after which the friends split up and headed for their respective classrooms. Teddie made her way up to the Charms corridor and sat outside, while she waited for the rest of the class to arrive, she looked over Snape's homework, her stomach dropping significantly as she noticed how complexed it was compared to other years.

"I'm pretty sure he's trying to break us," Teddie muttered.

"Hi Teddie," said a small, quiet voice.

Teddie blinked and looked up. "Oh, hey Robin," she said, recognising the brunette standing over her. Robin Ronan was a sixth year Hufflepuff that Teddie had met last year during Dumbledore's Army, she was friends with Zacharias Smith, even though she was nothing like him.

"How was your summer?" Robin asked.

Teddie shrugged. "I know now what it feels like to be on House Arrest," she said. "Or, at least, what it's like living in a bubble."

Robin smiled. "Yeah. Mum and Dad wanted to put a bubble around our house," she said. "Grandma talked them out of it. But it was still tempting. How's your brother?"

"He's pretty good," said Teddie, shuffling her Defence papers back into a composed pile and stuffing them back into her backpack. She would attempt to complete the homework later when the others were present, at least then if she got stuck she could ask for help. "How's your sister? Wasn't she supposed to start this year?"

Robin nodded, a sad smile on her lips. "Mum and Dad were too nervous to send her," she admitted. "They're home-schooling her for the time being and looking into sending her to Beauxbatons or something. They wanted me to leave or transfer out, but I refused."

"That seems to be the consensus these days," said Teddie. "A lot of families want their kids as far away from Hogwarts as possible."

"I know a lot of families are doing it because of the news about you," said Robin. "I don't believe it for a second, though. I mean, you're too nice to be anything like them."

Teddie offered her a small smile. "Thanks, Robin, I appreciate the vote of confidence," she said.

"No problem. This is probably a stupid question, given you're sitting here, but you taking Charms this year?"

"Yep. You?"

Robin nodded. "I think we have Transfiguration, Potions, and Care of Magical Creatures together, too," she said. She took out her timetable and consulted it.