Teddy Lupin by Moonlight (Harry Potter Fan-fiction)

Chapter Five

The harsh, guttural sound of an engine speeding past awoke me from slumber. My eyelids gazed open I lifted my head as the last of the thundering engine fizzled away into nothingness. I attempted to fall asleep again but the same ripping noise blasted through my open window once more, traveling in the other direction.

I turned my head and drew the blind. I just managed to snatch glimpse of a strange, four-wheeled motorcycle before it raced past on the road opposite the cottage. The driver was completely unprotected by uniform except by a large black helmet that concealed his features.

The peculiar vehicle intrigued me, it was unlike a motorcycle, having four wheels, but it certainly wasn't any kind of road vehicle.

I threw on some new clothes and carefully opened the bedroom door. Soft snores of a dreaming woman drifted through from the tiny second bedroom. Smiling to myself, I tip-toed into the landing, ensuing that the floorboards remained mute, and manoeuvred myself down the stairs, making no sound as I went.

On the kitchen table there was a plate of cold pork and carrot cake. I scooped it with my right shovel and deposited it into a little bag on the floor. I also prepared a watch, a bottle of water and a small jar of apple sauce for the pork.

Before I twisted the old brass door handle, I pivoted my head to listen upstairs. My grandmother's familiar snores were comforting, they were a sign that she had had a good nights sleep, un-beheld by frightening dreams of her poor Teddy Tonks.

Satisfied everything was in order, I pulled the door open and stepped out into the early autumn morning. Fresh mists rose and ebbed amidst the tips of the trees, the leaves starting to turn brown, orange and yellow. A gentle breeze enveloped me in its cool flow, the branches and hedges swayed in soft elegance. The large oak that stood proud at the end of the little garden, unmolested my the morning wind, laid home to a whole family of garden gnomes, their chubby little faces watching me with mirth as they giggled amongst themselves.

The blue net from the previous night lay where it had been on the lawn, and I thought about going after those pesky little blighters, but I had other plans.

I treaded along the grass - the gravel path being too noisy - and jumped the gate onto the road.

The Dutch countryside was flat, but still very pleasant. Fields of tulips; some yellow, some red, surrounded solitary, barren trees. A small promontory of rock spiralled heavenwards a few miles off towards Verborgen.

For some reason I decided to reach that outcrop of rock, it seemed a good look out place to investigate my surroundings and rest awhile to catch my breath.

The road twisted and meandered across the slim land, occasionally a farm house or a cottage would appear on either side, though I saw not a soul on the way.

When at least twenty minutes had passed, and the promontory of rock loomed larger, the same thunderous engine sounded somewhere off into the distance.

I quickened my pace to a run, the contents of my rucksack jumping up as I went.

In an empty yellow field the mysterious four-wheeled vehicle was parked, and a boy, about two years my senior, stood beside it, his helmet resting against his waist. His misty gaze was directed towards the mound of rock. Short-cropped black hair fluttered against the breeze.

I approached the boy silently, never averting my eyes from the back of his head. A buzzard called above us, squawking at it's unsuspecting prey.

He turned around slowly. His green eyes met mine, a smart smirk on his lips.

"I'd thought you'd come." He said, his vibrant eyes never leaving mine.

I stopped before the strange motorcycle. "Oh?"