The Halfwolf (Year 1)

Game Night

The next day, Teddy woke up early to find Matt already dressed, hair still damp on his head, rummaging in the trunk at the end of his bed.

"Oi." Matt slowly raised up his head, revealing Moony perched in the hood of his jumper at the back of his neck, clutching at strands of his damp hair. He stared at Teddy with a raised eyebrow.

"Can we help you?" Matt asked. Teddy's eyebrows raised in surprise.

"That's my trunk, mate." He said, pointing to the open lid of his trunk. Matt stared at him.

"I know that," he said, bending back over the trunk. "We stashed all the games my sisters sent me in here, remember? I'm collecting them in your school bag, seeing as you're the only one with an extension charm." Teddy crawled to the end of his bed and peered over the lid of the open trunk. Matt was picking up the last game box and slipping it into his bag and closing it. He reached up and pulled the trunk lid down, then held the bag out to Teddy, who pulled it up onto his bed. "Which, by the way, I really want to learn how to do." Teddy laughed.

"Harry did it for me before term started. I'm sure he can do it for you too." He flipped his feet off the bed and started hunting around for his clothes. Matt shook his head as his friend rummaged through a pile of clothes beside his bed.

"Do you seriously not know how to fold your clothes?" Teddy turned back around, shirt and pants in one hand, robes in the other, and shrugged.

"Gram usually does that." He said simply. Matt smacked a palm to his forehead. He then glanced around the room. "Where's Zach?"

"Headed to the Great Hall already. Said he wanted to see Gale. Probably wants to apologize for how he's been acting. He was in a super great mood when I saw him." Teddy grinned at Matt.

"Good. Hopefully he holds onto that mood through the day today. We leave for the holidays on Monday." Matt's smile faltered. Teddy furrowed his eyebrows together. "What?"

"You lot leave on Monday. I'm staying here." Teddy gaped at him. Matt smiled. "Seems a lot better to me than going home. I'll be fine, don't you worry. I'm looking forward to spending the holidays here in the castle away from my sisters and dad. Besides, I won't be alone. I'm sure there will be other students here." Teddy scowled. He didn't like the idea of his friend staying alone for the holidays but didn't think this was the time to argue it. Matt seemed genuinely happy to be staying away from his family.

The two first years made their way up to the Great Hall, where they found Zach talking animatedly to Gale at the Hufflepuff house table. Gale smiled at them as they approached, and Zach turned around and beamed at them.

"Good morning boys. No Moony today?" Gale asked as Teddy and Matt settled themselves across the table from her and Zach. Teddy shook his head.

"She was still sleeping when we left. I'll check on her before lunch later." He started loading his plate with bacon and eggs as Matt poured himself pumpkin juice. "Good to see you in a good mood this morning, mate." Teddy said to Zach, who had just stuffed half a bagel into his mouth. He made to start talking around it, but a nudge from Gale stopped him.

"Food in your mouth, Zachary." She said in a singsong voice. He rolled his eyes and chewed faster to get the food down. Once he swallowed, he grinned at Teddy.

"You bet I am. Professor Sprout said I don't have to do my detention tonight! Isn't that great?" Teddy dropped his fork to his plate with a clatter and Matt spit out some of his juice. Zach looked from one to the other, confused. "What's wrong?" Teddy recovered first while Matt was still spluttering.