The Halfwolf (Year 1)

The Tide Turn

The boys woke early the next morning and started scurrying around the dorm to get dressed for breakfast. Zach was just about to shoot out the door when Matt cleared his throat, causing him to pause and turn around. Teddy was sitting on his trunk, pulling on his trainer, but looked up at Matt as well.

"Either of you notice how early it is?" Teddy shrugged a shoulder, Zach turned completely to face Matt and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well we want to get down to breakfast in time to see the great oaf turn his head into a feather nest don't we?" Zach glared back at Matt, who shook his head.

"Won't it look a bit odd for three first years who are NOTORIOUSLY LATE TO BREAKFAST to all of the sudden show up EARLY?!" Matt raised an eyebrow at Zach, who let his arms fall to his sides. He looked from Matt to Teddy, who again shrugged a shoulder.

"He's got a point. But I've thought about that. I'm getting a bit bored with this again," He pointed at his hair, which was still black and yellow, "So I owled Molly to ask her to bring one of her hair magazines down to breakfast and I'd meet her to get it. So, us getting there early to get the magazine from her would make sense. Plus," Teddy held up a finger, "It means we can sit with her for breakfast, and where is the Ravenclaw house table?" Zach's face lit up and he started dancing around from one foot to the other. Matt nodded in approval.

"Brilliant, mate. Just brilliant. Front row seats and no suspicion arisen." Matt nodded his head once more and walked across to the still-bouncing Zach. He opened the door to the dorm and gestured for Zach and Teddy to go ahead. Zach ran out the door and down the steps, Teddy and Matt following at a slower pace. About halfway down the steps, Zach barreled into Tyson, who was sleepily walking out of his room as the boys came down the steps. Zach's arms pinwheeled as he bounced off Tyson's shoulder and headed backwards toward the steps. Tyson reached out on reflex and grabbed him by the front of his robes with his right hand, stopping his fall. Zach grinned up at him, and Tyson raised an eyebrow at him as he pulled him up right on his feet.

"Morning?" He said as he looked over the first years. "In a bit of a rush this morning, boys?"

"Just Zach. But he's always a bit loony in the morning." Matt grinned cheekily at the now glaring Zach.

"Oh yea, completely mental in the mornings that one is," Teddy add, earning him a glare as well. He grinned back at Zach, then someone snorted back a laugh. Teddy's grin dropped as he looked at Zach in confusion, then looked at Matt, who wore the same confused look. Then the three looked up at Tyson, who's face was a deep shade of red, but who also was not laughing. They heard it again, clearly from behind Tyson's door, which he still had his hand on the handle. He had a look of panic as his eyes flicked across the first years. They hesitated ever so slightly on Zach before flicking back to Teddy, then Matt. Matt caught onto the hesitation first, and his eyes flared in astonishment. He grabbed ahold of Zach's shoulder and started pushing him down the stairs.

"Let's go boys, no need to hold Ty up from breakfast." Zach whipped his head around and started batting Matt's hands away.

"Get off, mate, what the hell?" Zach was still trying to bat Matt's hands away, but Teddy continued to look at Tyson, who was now staring pleadingly at him. Teddy finally realized what was going on, but didn't give himself time to stop his reaction.

"Oh, Tyson, no you didn't." Tyson started making a shushing motion with his hands, but it was too late. Matt stopped pushing Zach down the steps to snap his head back to look at Teddy in astonishment. Zach, too, stopped struggling against Matt and looked from Tyson to Teddy and back again.

"You bleeding idiot." Matt hissed at him. He nodded his head towards Zach, who was clearly still trying to process what was happening. Teddy's cheeks reddened.