History and Truth

Possibilities

Teddy looked up at his friends in surprise.

"Did he just say he spent 2 weeks at Hogwarts before he was old enough?"

"That's what it sounded like," Seth agreed.

"Can you imagine being here when you were 9?" Hannah asked.

"It was amazing," Teddy said. "I've actually been on campus before. With my godfather. There's been a few memorial things for the Battle of Hogwarts and we came."

"But you weren't told about your dad?"

"Well I was told he died in the battle along with my mom. Harry tried to tell me stuff but my grandmother was usually hovering to make sure he didn't say much. He ended up telling me that if he made a specific sign when telling a story about other people that my dad was included."

Teddy sat quietly for a minute before returning to the book.

"My mother was asked to cover for Madam Pomfrey who needed to be absent for 2 weeks in November. At first she told the headmaster she couldn't do it due to complications with everyone's schedule and that I was homeschooled. He suggested that I come with her. My parents consulted the calendar and deemed it safe. Given my condition I knew I would not be allowed to attend Hogwarts so I was very excited to get to go even for just 2 weeks. Little did we know then that decision would change everything for me."

Seth interrupted, "We know he did attend Hogwarts so something must've happened during that visit."

"You're right. But I have no idea what it was," Teddy responded.

First Meeting

Teddy looked at the others and suggested this might be a good point to pause and head back down to the Great Hall for dinner.

"Does he talk about first arriving next?" Hannah asked.

Teddy scanned the next section and said that he did.

"Can we see what his first thoughts were before we go down? I'd like to have it fresh in my mind before walking in and seeing it as he might have seen it," Hannah added.

"That would be kinda crazy to try and see it as he did," Teddy agreed. He picked the book back up and continued.

"We arrived late on Sunday evening and were shone to the quarters we would be using. The next morning Mom had patients so she gave me directions to the Great Hall and sent me down for breakfast. I made it there with no problem. As I looked inside, the sheer magnitude and magnificence of the Hall stopped me in my tracks in the doorway.

I stood there staring until I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped and turned to see who it was. A tall wizard with a long beard and hair to match was smiling down at me with a twinkle in his eyes. That twinkle would come to mean that he was up to something as the years went by.

"You would be Mr. Lupin I presume."

"Yes sir."

"Where's your mother this morning?"

"She has some patients so she said for me to come down for breakfast. But..."

I paused at this point having realized to whom I was speaking.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry sir. It's just that I don't know where to sit," I admitted.

"Ah, Yes. Very good point. You'll sit with me so we may continue our conversation"

Teddy almost dropped his book as he read that last bit. He looked at his friends and found identical looks of amazement on their faces.

"I could feel the heat rising in my face. I was about to sit at the High Table with Albus Dumbledore! I was dumbfounded and honored as well as a little embarrassed. I walked with him to the front and could feel many pairs of eyes following me as I went.

When we arrived at his usual seat, he conjured a chair for me next to his. I thanked him and sat down. I had never seen so much food in my life! Anything you could want for breakfast was there. I waited to see what the Headmaster did next not wanting to overstep my bounds. He looked down at me and muttered a few words. There in front of me appeared an additional plate, utensils and goblet.

Ironic

Teddy stopped reading when he heard Seth laughing.

"I'm sorry. It just hit me that your dad sat at the High Table before he was a student thinking he'd never attend school here and he ended up attending, graduating and came back as a professor. That's amazing!!"

Teddy had to laugh when he heard Seth explain it. It was an amazing turn of events for his dad.

"Hey I'm hungry so can we go to dinner and pick back up after?" Seth asked.

The trio made their way back to the Great Hall. All 3 stopped in the doorway and thought of how it must have seemed to a 9 year old Remus. As they stood there Teddy felt a hand on his shoulder and almost dropped the book. He turned and saw Harry standing behind him.

"Why so jumpy Teddy?"

"Professor," Hannah said, " we just read about his dad standing right here when he was 9 and Dumbledore coming up behind him just like you did. They met for the first time standing right here."

"I'm learning all kinds of stuff about your dad Teddy. I had no idea he met Dumbledore that young. Guess it makes sense though."

"What do you mean, Harry?"

"Well Albus Dumbledore is the only reason your dad was allowed to come to school here. It makes sense to think that the 2 of them met before Remus turned 11."

"That does make sense. I hadn't really thought about it," Teddy replied.

"Hey I do want to hear more. Why don't the 3 of you join me after dinner to read more?"

"Sure," they all agreed. They then went to their table and enjoyed their dinner.

"Teddy what do you think happens next?" Hannah asked.

"Other than eating? Your guess is probably as good as mine."

"Well if Harry is right then the topic of his condition is bound to come up soon," Seth offered. They continued to eat each seemingly lost in their imaginations of how that conversation came up and went. A short time later Harry walked over and invited the three of them to come with him. The 3 first years walked off following Harry but were very much aware of the fact that they were being watched, which Teddy found rather ironic. Harry led them back to his office and then the group flooed to Harry and Ginny's home. Once in the living room Harry asked Teddy to pick up where the trio had left off earlier.