The Halfwolf (Year 1)

The Vow

Everything exploded all at once. Zach let out a strangled yell as Gretchen gaped at Charlie. Mrs. Weasley clapped a hand to her mouth and George and Bill both stood from the table. Charlie glared down at his sister, who was fuming.

"Children out. All of you, out." Mrs. Weasley yelled, starting forward to usher the older kids out as well. Gretchen stopped her.

"This is...this is about me too. I stay. So does my brother." She reached back and grabbed Zach's hand with hers and squeezed his fingers. Teddy stepped forward too.

"I already know most of it, Gramma Molly. I'm staying here." Gretchen turned to Mary, who looked confused.

"Go ahead upstairs with Albus and Rose. I'll be up shortly, ok?" Mary nodded and scurried out of the kitchen towards the sounds of retreating small feet. Molly turned to Ginny.

"Since Harry isn't here yet, can you explain this? At all?" Ginny sighed.

"I can only tell you what Harry told me, which is just the basic details. Teddy knows more than I do." Molly turned to Teddy quickly.

"How?" she whispered. Teddy stepped past Gretchen and Zach. Zach still had a hold on his shoulder and refused to let go of him.

"Teddy, please." He whispered. Teddy stopped and looked back at the terrified face of his friend, then back to Molly.

"What little I know, I can't really talk about, Gramma Molly. See, Zach can't actually tell me everything. He's.... he has to keep it to himself." He looked imploringly at Ginny, who understood. She strode around him and over to Zach's arm that was clenched so tightly to Teddy's shoulder. She touched his wrist gently and he let out a yelp. Teddy closed his eyes.

"Come on, sweetie. I know it hurts but let go so I can show her. Then you can go, ok?" She spoke to Zach as gently as she could. His eyes were tightly shut, but he nodded and slowly released Teddy's shoulder. She gently rolled back the sleeve of his jumper and Gretchen let out a squeak of fear. The bands of the Vow were angry red against his skin in warning.

"What the hell?" Charlie said loudly.

"The Vow." Anna said quietly. Charlie swung back around to her. Teddy's eyes flew open and everyone else turned to look at her. Anna walked over and knelt to be eye level with Zach.

"You're alright, sweet one. You've not revealed the secrets you know. Tis I who will, as my brother, too, took the vow to protect me for that wretched man. But he gave his life and told me the secret so that I may save not only myself, but the other girl who was to suffer the same fate." She then turned to Gretchen. "Your brother was forced to make an Unbreakable Vow. The Vow is that he is to protect you from anyone who may stand in the way of your betrothal. To keep you pure for them. He is vowed to silence or face death." Zach's head fell, and Teddy saw tears running down off his nose onto his jumper. Gretchen looked from Anna's face to her brother, then to Teddy.

"You knew?" she whispered. Teddy nodded.

"A little bit, a very little bit. But not until right before we left for the holidays." She nodded slowly.

"This is why he's been so hateful to Tyson." She looked at her brother. "He's been so afraid for us, for me. But he couldn't tell me." Teddy shook his head. Anna spoke again.

"His vow would burn him if he came close to it, as it is now. Sweetheart, could you take him upstairs? Being away from the discussion will ease the stress and relieve his pain." Anna was speaking up to Teddy, who nodded to her and started to pull Zach away, but he stayed rooted to the spot.

"No." Zach's teeth were clenched in pain, but his voice was strong. "I need to be here; I need to know what's happening. I know my limits, I know I can't speak about it, but I can listen." He looked up at Anna. "Your brother was brave; I can be too."