The Enemy of my Enemy

The Meeting with the Minister

Teddie picked herself up from the hearth and dusted off her jeans. She paused at the unusual silence and looked up, a small smile working its way onto her face as she noticed the occupants around the table all staring at her.

"Uh, hi," said Teddie.

"What are you doing here?" Ron asked, getting up from his chair. He stormed toward the fireplace, stopping only as Fred and George pushed past and engulfed Teddie in a hug.

"Snake!" the twins chorused. "You're alive!"

Teddie laughed and hugged the pair back. As she pulled away she looked them over, stopping and cocking her head as she saw one side of Fred's head covered in a bandage. "You're missing an ear?" she asked.

"Got it blown off by a Death Eater," said Fred, nonchalantly.

"Death Eater?" Teddie asked, looking alarmed. "When? Where? What happened?"

Harry stepped into the living room. "When they rescued me from the Dursleys," he said.

Teddie met his gaze and smiled. "Hi, Harry," she said. "Happy Birthday!"

Matching her smile, Harry opened his arms and accepted the hug she offered him. "It's good to see you, Teddie," he said. "How you been?"

Teddie shrugged. "I'm going stark raving mad being locked up," she admitted. "But, given the circumstances, I know it's not possible for me to be out and about."

"You mean because you may turn on some unsuspecting soul?" Ron sneered.

Teddie ignored him. Her sole focus was all on Harry. She was rather surprised that he was being so welcoming to her, especially since the last time they had seen one another had been during the interview concerning Snape's hand in the Battle of the Astronomy tower.

"Wait, they rescued you from the Dursleys?" Teddie asked, remembering the first half of Harry's comment. "What do you mean 'rescued you'?"

"Given I'm seventeen now, the charm that kept me safe with my aunt and uncle has broken," said Harry. "They're no longer safe to be around me, and can no longer protect me from Vol -"

Teddie slapped her hand to his mouth.

Harry raised a curious eyebrow.

"The name is Tabooed," said Teddie. "He's put the Trace on it. Anyone who utters the name, no matter where they are or what charms and enchantments they have around them, it will all break."

Harry breathed out as Teddie lowered her arm. "Oh. How do you know this?" he asked.

"Mo told me."

Ron scoffed. "Right. His master probably told him and he's passing on the message," he said.

"Ronald Billius Weasley!" Mrs Weasley snapped, entering the room. She had been cleaning upstairs when Teddie had arrived and had just come down, catching the tail end of the conversation.

Ron's face turned scarlet red. "But, Mum, she can't be trusted!" he protested, pointing in Teddie's direction. "She's his daughter."

"I am aware," said Mrs. Weasley. "But has Teddie not proved time and time again to not be like her parents?"

Teddie winced at the titles. She had already accepted that she was blood related to Avery and Voldemort, but that didn't make them her parents; and she hated when people referred to them as such.

"Teddie, dear, have you had breakfast?" Mrs Weasley asked, smiling.

"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Weasley," said Teddie, beaming. She hadn't really had much interaction with the older woman, and the first time she had ever encountered - sort of - was when she had sent a Howler to Ron during second year. She hadn't approved of the humiliation back then and she still didn't now, even if Ron didn't like or support her.