Trapped in the Consequence of Time

Salmans Brook - Teddy's POV

I stared at the only father I had ever known. His hair was starting to grey and he had large black circles under his eyes, I knew him well enough to see how stressed he actually was. How hard it was hitting him.

"When were they last seen?" I asked gently.

"Christmas afternoon at lunch, they vanished sometime from half two to three." Harry replied dejectedly. I thought for something to say to make him feel better, I would have done anything to get James, Lilly, Al, Rose and Hugo back just to get Harry back to normal. I would have preferred any physical pain to the one I was stuck with now, the feeling of worthlessness when I'm needed most.

"They'll be fine. Have you seen James when he's in a bad mood? He's possessed." Harry laughed and I felt a spark of hope.

"I know they'll be fine I just miss them."

"Is there anything I can do?" I asked, Harry thought for a second before shaking his head.

"No." I nodded and we sat in silence for a few more minutes, I stared at the photograph on Harry's desk one taken last Christmas were me and James were dressed in elf costumes and Harry, Ginny, Al and Lilly all wore Santa hats we were all laughing and holding a still wrapped present.

"Harry..." I started when one of the Ministry's inter department memos flew in and landed on Harry's desk. "What's it say?" I asked as Harry torn it open and scanned it his eyebrows rising and his open mouth an O in surprise.

"Teddy go and collect ten shield clocks and a handful of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder." He ordered immediately in Auror mode already scribbling down a reply.

I had just reached the door when the memo flew past my head turning left towards the other Auror cubicles while I ran right towards the store cupboard. The store is a tiny room at the end of the corridor that happens to be about the same size as my old school trunk and filled to the brim with useful Auror equipment, if you know where to look. Which I didn't. I flung the door open and stared at the mess for about thirty seconds before locating a box of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder and grabbing several handfuls and then wasted another thirty seconds scanning for shield cloaks before giving up and summoning them, five minutes later I had untangled myself from the heap of clothing, picked out about ten and legged it back to Harry's office, which was now full of Aurors and Harry was in the middle of briefing them.

"-Thanatomyriad has been growing in strength but we have this lead: a lot of dark magic has been used at Salmans Brook where a protest was going to be held this afternoon. We don't know what's there but we just know it's bad so we'll go in two groups of five. Me, Goldstein, Campbell, Redfern and Chittock go west and Dobbs, Malkin, Markham, Russel and Entwistle go east."

"Sir." Somebody interrupted as I dumped the cloaks in a pile by the door. "Malkin's at St Mungo's, got hit by a cruciatus curse this morning." Harry bit his lip.

"Is there anybody else who can come?" the witch who had spoken shook her head.

"Okay Redfern you go in the east group Teddy fancy coming along?" Harry asked staring at me.

"What?" I asked as half the room did the same.

"We don't have time for anything else, Teddy you stay with me and do whatever anybody in this room says."

"He hasn't completed training..." A burly man started when Harry cut across.

"We need numbers and fifth years can stun Chittock, everybody grab a cloak and some PIDP and go." I pulled the Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder out of my pocket and held it out as the eight Aurors put on the cloak, pulled out their wand, grabbed a packet and disapparated until it was only me and Harry left.