The Halfwolf (Year 1)

Havn't you met?

Teddy awoke the next morning to the sound of purring next to his head. He turned toward the sound and snickered at the sight. The little niffler was laying on her back, claws up over her eyes, snore-purring away. Teddy shook his head and sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. He looked around the room at his mates. Zach was sprawled out, head near his footboard, left leg hanging off the bed. Matt was curled in a ball under his duvet, snoring lightly. Teddy smirked. He looked at the clock and decided he had time to get a quick shower before they all needed to be awake for breakfast. He checked to be sure the niffler was still asleep then slid out of bed. He pulled his robes, pants, a clean white shirt, and his tie from his trunk and tiptoed out of the dorm to the bathroom down the hall. He took a quick shower and ran his hand through his wet hair as he walked down the hallway. When he opened the door to their dorm, he saw Matt sitting in the middle of his bed, Moony in his lap.

"She was whimpering because you weren't here. Think she was scared," Matt said when he noticed Teddy in the doorway. He handed the little ball of fur to him and proceeded to get dressed himself. Zach, however, was still asleep. Teddy grabbed a pillow from behind him and chucked it at Zach, hitting him square in the face. The boy snorted, rolled, and hit the floor on the far side of his bed. He peeked up over the edge of his bed and glared at Teddy.

"Might I ask what that was for?"

"Bout time for breakfast mate, you need to get ready," Teddy shrugged at him. Moony raised her little nose up at Zach and sneezed.

"What exactly do you plan to do with her all day? She can't really stay here alone. She'll go through everything," Zach nodded towards the niffler who was now nosing through Teddy's pocket. Teddy took his wand from her paws as he thought. Zach was right, she couldn't stay here. So, he did the only thing he could think of. He stood up, picked up the niffler and dropped her into his inside pocket on his robes. Zach raised his eyebrow at him.

"You can't be serious? You're going to take her with you? To class?" Teddy nodded.

"Well, you said yourself she can't stay here alone. So, she'll just have to come with me until we figure out a better solution," he shrugged. Moony stuck her nose out of Teddy's pocket and made her little high-pitched purring sound. Matthew walked back in, looked at Moony in Teddy's pocket, and shook his head.

"Just make sure you watch her, Ted. Remember what the book said? They like to collect things. Make sure she doesn't go looking for other people's things, ya know?" Matt looked apprehensively at the little creature perched at Teddy's hip.

"She'll be a perfect lady, won't you, Moony?" he asked as he stroked her little head. She nuzzled his hand then dove back down into his pocket and curled up. Teddy walked over and picked up his bookbag, heading towards the door. Zach, now fully dressed, followed him and Matt scrambled to keep up. As the boys entered the common room, they saw Tyson Michaels sitting in one of the big arm chairs on the upper level. He spotted them coming from the stairs and headed down to meet them, waving as he walked.

"Figured I'd walk you guys to the Great Hall, to be sure you know how to get there. I'll be able to walk you to your classes too, so you don't get lost," He stuffed his hands in his pockets, clearly not sure what else to do. Teddy took a step toward the older boy.

"Thanks, Tyson, that would be great of you," he looked up at Teddy and smiled. He motioned them to follow him out of the common room and into the hallway. As they walked, Teddy caught up to Tyson and fell into step beside him.

"You alright, Tyson? You seem a little unsure of yourself," Teddy peeked up at the boy from under his teal fringe. Tyson glanced at him from the corner of his eye.