Albert slouched in his seat, in fake boredom, as the man he had come to know as Mr. Evans. His raven hair was much more disheveled than regular, deep bags gorged underneath shadowed forest eyes. A great burden had been wrought onto the man's shoulders, and he took no measures to conceal this gaping vulnerability. Then again, if Mr. Evans were to seal potential vulnerabilities Albert would not have had the whimsical pleasure of their disastrous predicament upon him. "So this other traveler's younger counterpart did not perform the memorable deed?"

Mr. Evans halted his stomped pacing; he shook his head violently and continued across the private room. "No, well, he said he didn't. The younger him, the one here, he did something quite eh, memorable as you put it. And he, the one that came from our time, well, he said he never did that." He flung in a rickety seat, threatening to collapse beneath him but he opted to bury his probably aching head in his palms. Mr. Evans mumbled curses.

Vastly bemused Albert tapped the table, "And what is wrong with that?"

Mr. Evans head snapped up, glowering viciously in his direction, and finally a meager spark flamed from the forest depths. "Wrong? It means that this place," he gestured widely to the air around them, "is not even the same world or time stream or whatever you call it, that we are from! Time travel, fine I understand!" he leapt to his feet and began pacing, fists waving madly, "but, apparently we also bunny-hopped to god knows where!" the table jolted as he slammed his fist on it.

Albert took the man in momentarily, willing Mr. Evans to regain his rational mind so they could discuss this as the adults they were. "This is not god-know-where Mr. Evans; this is merely another version of your own reality – altered with you and your companions' presence." Mr. Evans was withholding his anger rather marvelously, Albert wasn't certain what in his words had offended the man but couldn't gather enough interest. "It has been led to believe that each version of reality is the same less something were to change it, be it external forces or not. Your predicament is not nearly as dire as you believe."

The man appeared to be two inches from strangling the life force out of him, thankfully he had hadn't taken to his wand yet. Albert would not be held responsible for others temper. He hummed lightly, "where is the little metamorphguas?" Mr. Evans froze, his anger unwinding at the mention; he rubbed a hand over his nose and pushed his glasses up his straight nose with a sigh.

"Why?" he exhaled; now the man wished for precaution?

He tapped his fingers upon the table impatiently, "I had some questions on his ability I wished answered," he tilted his head as the man plopped down again with a huff, "what happened?" he rolled his eyes at the man's emotions.

Mr. Evans stared into a shadowed corner, shaking his head dismissively. "Nothing really," Albert narrowed his eyes; each tiny crook of a puzzle held its worth, dared the man to withhold any? Mr. Evans peered at him momentarily, the smiled supply. "He's just gotten used to the life here, even though technically, it's barely been half a year," he shrugged.

Oh, that was it? The man was overwhelmingly emotional, the stench of sentiment was an all-time high in his presence, and Albert did not say these lightly. "This predicament is a vacation of sorts; of course he has taken a liking to us."

The man shook his head, biting his lip as he scrounged for words, when he retrieved them his eyes were emerald again. "Back home," he began, "he has me, and his grandma and the rest of the family but I've always been worried that he doesn't feel as if he belongs to us. Usually during gatherings he sits by himself until my kids invite him; he's always been rather polite, but lately, seeing him with the friend he has here. It's like he is a different person, more easy-going and that's with all this crap happening." Mr. Evans massaged his forehead, squeezing his wrinkles and exhaling shakily. He had never seen a man more weary. "I don't know what I did wrong."

Albert was not a comforting man, nor was he a man who fellows wept upon his shoulder. The entire interaction of human emotions was an understandable albeit distressing subject for Albert, so he did not jump up with knowledge on what had to be done. "You are a good man Mr. Evans," was his consolation. Mr. Evans smiled weakly, nodded and stood to bid farewell. "I will contact you when I have secured a path of travel for you back to your home," much too teary eyed for a full-grown man to be Mr. Evans bid ado, and they parted ways.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend. It was strange to think regular schedules perceived while Teddy's world had fallen apart, but it did. It had only been a couple of days since Sirius had departed, and it had been less since he had last seen Harry who had sank further into his tombs. When Teddy was there he could barely get him to acknowledge him let alone eat the food Dolly worriedly shoved in Harry's direction. Teddy didn't even try to complete his assignments, he had a big enough headache and whenever he started he would stare at it dumbly until the sun set.

The week wasn't completely awful though. Emma, the Auguery had taken a diving leap and flown round his head several times before landing daintily on the counter; she was ready to join the colony. He had gone there looking for Ivor but had probably just missed him, if the state of her water bowl was anything to go by. He had seen Ivor a few times during the week, sticking close to Slytherin Black's side.

Anyway, Teddy hadn't left the castle; he wasn't interested in the crowds and reveled in the echoing silence in the barren corridors. It was just what his mind needed. He pondered over Harry and what he could say to make him understand that it was not lack of willingness to return but that he held doubts about returning. Then he thought that if Ivor wasn't his friend, and Remus was only his friend from guilt; what did he really have here?

He had a life there; it was absurd to think of abandoning it. But Teddy had already fallen through the Veil of Death, and ended up in the past, so really how absurd could it be in relevance?

It was comfortable here, and maybe he was being a coward, but he couldn't tell Nan he was a werewolf. She would defiantly bestow upon him a look of such utter disappointment that Teddy would have trouble getting any words out for the next three days. He couldn't do that to her, this was the woman that raised him, she loved him. And knowing somehow she had failed, and he had become a step closer to the beast of his werewolf side…It wouldn't end well, for either of them.

It would be better for her never to know, for him to remain dead in her eyes and pure.

He thought about where Sirius was gallivanting, if he really was succeeding to pick at Voldermort's defenses. If Sirius really was able to dent the masses of destruction that were destined to swoop upon them. Teddy missed him greatly, he knew Sirius could probably jokingly come up with a decent solution easily, and cheer him and Harry both up. The man had a gift there was no mistaking that.

But Sirius wasn't there. And Teddy owed Harry his honesty for all the years he had cared and loved him. Teddy diverged his path and took the sweeping staircases to the DADA classroom.

As he walked, pondering his precise words, he became belatedly aware of raised voices. He couldn't make them out, but as he peered round the corner a flash of red bolted to smite the wall behind his head.

He was transfixed as a body thudded to the ground. Not from any joy or enlightenment, but from pure shock horror. For the body that had fallen, his arms now wrenched behind his back as a wand bound them together; was Harry.

Teddy faintly realized the group finally lowering their wands were Aurors, with their crimson vests and shiny silver badges. He didn't allow it to stop him; he revealed his wand and shot the brightest balls of light to flash and twizzle in their eyes. Many stumbled at the unexpected assault, and Teddy pointed his wand at Harry and shouted. "Enervate!"

Harry woke with a gasp, convulsing and raising his flustered, bruised head to launch onto Teddy. The Aurors raised the wands and Harry exclaimed, "Run, already!" His godfather pivoted onto his back, magic pulsating around him and shattering the windows in his room as various quills raced from the DADA classroom to shower on the Auror's. "Now, I'll find you!" Harry with a very, very wicked move, leapt onto the balls of his feet, stumbling slightly and charged the nearest Auror who toppled to the ground with a strangled grunt.

The coolest Godfather Ever.

Then Teddy was reminded of Harry's orders, for a stout Auror with a cane began barking orders, and a trio of Aurors raised their wands and proceeded to shoot off hexes. Teddy yelped, ducking between the fizzling sparks and with a sparing glance as Harry plowed into another Auror, he dashed into the barren corridors he had just come from.

He cursed as he hit the stairs, his heart pounding and wondering frantically, why oh why this had happened and how in all of merlin's underpants had they known where they were. Footfalls stampeded on his heels, echoing into the wide stair wells. A blast of electricity in crackled in the air and Teddy ducked, tumbling the final steps to land painfully on his side. He wasn't cut out for this, he did enough damage to himself by accident then the Auror would ever do to him. "Stupefy!" he bellowed, prepared to take them down one by one if it meant getting back to Harry, and out of there.

He just needed to take care of these, and then while their numbers were dwindling he would return to Harry and they'd proceed to flee. Maybe Dumbledore…no, Dumbledore had to know there were Aurors arresting Harry, they were in his school, of course he knew. There was nothing more Dumbledore could do.

Harry had said there was a chance they would have Auror's coming after them since the beginning; their predicament wasn't exactly ordinary and they had used a product of the Ministry to get here. In some ways they were results of a Ministry experimentation, and thus Ministry property. And then Sirius had come through, which whilst uplifting news, probably super-charged attention onto them.

So really, their time at Hogwarts had come to a sudden end, and Teddy was just going to have to deal with it. He wished he could have spoken to Ivor one last time even if he had no idea what to say. And said goodbye to Remus, and the passes of a normal life he had received.

A bolt streamed past his shoulder and he decided it was time to buck up, and fight. He crawled round the banister, and while the Aurors had height over him, their aim was blocked for it could not arch behind the banister. Teddy brandished his wand and shot of stunners, and binds, and peeked ever so often above the banister with his skin turned to dragon scales to deflect any spells. He couldn't keep it up for long, and it only centered on certain appendages with extreme concentration.

It took a flare of flames in his hair for Teddy to finally square an Auror in his outstretched arm with a bind, and he tumbled to the ground. He didn't spare the others time to release him, he blasted an explosion. They yelled, a thundering bang ringing in his ears, and heat effulged his skin and rustled his hair.

Maybe that was a tad over excessive.

He regained his throbbing heart, seized a heavy breath and peeked over the banister. Teddy cursed as the Auror's used his momentary lapse to leap down the stairs. A hex hit the floorboards by his calf as he scrambled down another bend and into the wider corridors. He needed an escape route, a hidden passageway but his thoughts had gone painfully blank.

"Come here!" a very familiar voice hissed with a latch on his arm and yanked him into a side corridor.

Teddy struggled to regain his breath, as he was tugged on the burnt haired boy's heels. "Ivor," he coughed in astonishment, "What are you do-"

"Not the time Edwards!" Teddy whipped his head to spot the pinched, drawn features of Regulus Black as he cast wards to the doorway he had been hauled through. Safe to say Teddy had never been more bewildered in his life, considering everything. "Bugger," he curses vehemently, turning tail from the door and dashing after them. "They're coming through!"

Ivor's grip tightened on his arm, a strange whirl of fluttering hope and dreaded panic circling in his gut. Ivor seemed torn for a few moments beside a staircase but decided to rush up it, Teddy was hard pressed not to stumble but Ivor's grip steadied him. They fled another staircase, and down another corridor. Regulus had disappeared somewhere in the run but Ivor didn't seem worried, he took Teddy to a familiar hallway and began pacing the empty hallway.

A door appeared, he flung it open and shoved Teddy inside, following and leaning heavily on the wall that solidified behind them. Teddy gaped at him, stunned and scared, and hoping Harry was alright. Mostly though he wanted to know if Ivor had only saved him to smite him, as if in return to his thoughts Ivor laughed breathlessly, if not a little hysterically. "You really know how to get into trouble, don't you Teddy?"

He rubbed the sweat from the nape of his neck, shrugging, "I guess." Ivor appraised him critically, his lips twitching upwards as he ambled calmly to sit upon one of the couches which had appeared, there were three others all surrounding each other in a makeshift square, for some reason he didn't think it boded well. "Thanks," he recalled saying, timidly going to Ivor who was massaging his temples. His gut twisted painfully at the sight, "It's not going to happen you know."

Teddy was referring to the makeshift prophetic grumbling Sirius had given on his imminent demise; he hoped Ivor understood the determined sincerity in his words. "You do realize you've put me in an awful position?" Teddy's crumpled into the couch at his side, wishing he could just explain this perfectly and get his best friend back.

He nodded solemnly; prophecies were not taken lightly by most in the wizarding world. "I'm in a bit of a unique situation," he chuckled nervously, sobering quickly as he picked at his claws. He inhaled deeply, gathering his strength: "I'm not from around here," he said, "like not at all from around here." Ivor frowned in confusion, so Teddy bleated, "I was born in 1997."

Ivor's eyes were impossibly wide; it would have been funny if it wasn't the truth and his trust hanging in the balance. "But this isn't the past as it happened for me, this is…different. You're not going to die, not here." He licked his lips, trying to catch the downcast ice orbs. "It's not going to happen Ivor."

His best friend peered from beneath his dark lashes, tears glistened but they did not fall as he studied Teddy. "1997?" his tone dripping with his disbelief.

Teddy rubbed the migraine forming, nodding quickly. "Yep, I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. I – At the Ministry in the Unspeakable's Department there is this archway. It was created by some Warlocks in the Medieval Period when they tried to breach the Underworld." He shrugged carelessly, taking in the fireplace in behind the opposite couch. He could feel Ivor's gaze burning into him, reading everything Teddy would never be able to see. "I was visiting Harry – he's an Auror by profession – but he had some business in the Unspeakable's department. I went to find him instead of waiting, and I found myself before the archway.

"It calls the strangest whispers," he admitted hazily, "they're soft, but sad, really sad. I was listening in, I was getting closer and then I," he breathed shakily, "I tripped. I fucking tripped into the bloody Veil of Death." He laughed to starve off the tears; "that's what it's called The Veil of bloody Death, everyone who goes through is dead. And Harry," his expression crumbled, his fists tight in his biceps as he pointedly glared in the empty fireplace, "Harry tried to catch me and pull me back, I could feel him struggling, but he just got sucked in as well."

He fingered his aching temples, "What I mean is, if we've managed to live this long and end up here. There is no way we're not doing the impossible again, and making sure you stay alive."

He was not prepared for a soft touch on his knuckles, he flinched away instinctively. Ivor smiled tenderly, the shock and worry shadowing his slender features, but he looked hopeful, willing to understand. "I knew you weren't telling me something," he admitted, "and that it haunted you. I didn't expect this, but I don't think you are lying to me, which is the crazy thing."

"Not the tripping into the Veil of Death?" he asked sardonically.

Ivor chuckled, "Nah, I already knew Gryffindor's did the impossible. I'm surprised I can't see any falters in your expression," he said sincerely, squeezing Teddy's palm. "You truly believe what you're saying," it wasn't a question but Teddy nodded. "So you're supposed to be dead?" he questioned with doubt.

Teddy sniggered, yanking a thread on his sleeve. "Probably. Then again, the Ministry could have been wrong saying The Veil went to the Underworld. They've had their plenty share of fuck-ups." Ivor smirked, settling back into his seat as his eyes became distant with his circling thoughts.

Teddy hated the silence, it really didn't help his nerves and he wished beyond all else that Harry could send word to him when he got away. He was pleased that Ivor believed him, guilty for ever letting him believe anything but the truth. He was still scared for Harry, but Harry had defeated Voldermort, he could take a bunch of measly Aurors. "What are we doing here?" he wondered suddenly, his foot tapping on the carpet in his distress.

Ivor hazily rouse from wherever he had fallen, and smiled softly. "We're waiting," he said simply, holding in his snickers.

Teddy didn't doubt this was the Slytherin's punishment for his deception. "But what for?" Ivor smiled pleasantly, staring in the heart of the fireplace until it erupted into crackling flames. Heat instantly flooded into the room, and Teddy forced himself to relax into the back of the couch. "Fine then, don't answer me," he mumbled moodily. Ivor snickered at his pain.

Teddy had leapt to his feet and plopped back onto his pillow seven times with indecision until a door appeared on the wall, and opened to admit the peering face of Regulus Black. "We're good, come in," Ivor said cheerily, bouncing in his seat to face the Black as he closed the door behind him.

"They'll be here soon," Regulus skimmed some dark hair behind his ear wearily, plodding down in the seat beside Ivor. Ivor was beaming, prodding his side, and Regulus rolled his eyes exasperatedly. "Yes it's going to plan," Teddy had no idea what they were talking about or how Ivor's pokes had questioned something. But he had a feeling there was something more going on beneath the surface between the two of them.

The thoughts had his lips twitching into a smile.

Then the door opened again, and The Marauders waltzed into the room.

Teddy groaned as his headache flared to life, he grumbled profanities under his breath as he soothed it. He heard Ivor chuckle, and shot him a petulant glare. With his head thrown back he only noticed when Remus peered down at him from behind the sofa with a bright grin. "So we've heard you got yourself in some trouble," he began pleasantly.

"And we're always there to save damsels in distress," Potter sprawled on one of the sofas; Teddy was surprised he didn't fling his shoes off and proclaim the place home. Potter's grin became frightening, "and saving wee damsels from terrifying Auror's no less."

Teddy sat up quickly, licking his lips. He didn't think they would sell him out, but they obviously would take payment for their assistance with teasing. Teddy subjected himself to it, Gryffindor Black shoved Potter's boots and sprawled in a much similar manner. The expression was of innocent curiosity, and it fooled nobody. "Oh, what have you done Teddy dear to deserve the wrath of the evil Ministry?"

Remus plopped next to him and patted his bicep, "Ignore them," he frowned thoughtfully, and Peter settled onto the empty couch close to the languidly teasing duo. Teddy had the strangest feeling they had taken some potions they should not have taken. "Teddy, what's this about though?" Remus swiveled to peer at him, gaze flickering over Ivor and Regulus.

Teddy opened his mouth to answer but was stopped as Ivor interjected. "The Auror's wish to question Teddy and his godfather about something's that happened to them prior to coming here," he shrugged carelessly, and he leaned against Regulus in mock nonchalance. "Nothing awful mind, but the Ministry isn't known for its lenience." Remus grimaced, but he seemed the only one to truly understand, Peter was pursing his lips, and watching as Potter whistled and reached for something imaginary above him as Black sniffed the ends of Potter's mud-crusted boots.

Regulus scowled, he chucked a pillow at his brother who caught it dazedly with his face. "I told you to sober up, you bastard," his voice held no malice, merely exasperation and irritation.

Black pouted, flinging Potter's boots away where he proceeded to cackle into the carpet, and leapt onto his baby brother. Regulus yelped, and Ivor smartly darted from reach as the younger Black was clomped into a messy, beaming bear-hug. "You're my favorite you know - Prongs is my twin and Moony and Wormy are my brothers but your my baby, baby bro – Prongs!" he snapped his assault on scrunching Regulus cheeks and Regulus begged Ivor to remove the fiend from his body, but Ivor chuckled and shrugged. Black scrambled from his brothers lap, and grabbed the front of Potter's robes to shake him roughly from the humming daze he had fallen into (Teddy vaguely heard 'butterflies' but Potter's words were overrun by Black.) "We can keep him right, he can stay right?"

Ivor patted Regulus's crossed arms, and received a glare for his efforts, Ivor sniggered. Potter crawled across the carpet, and Teddy was transfixed even as Remus groaned and massaged his temples. Potter held onto Regulus's knobby knees and appraised him, Regulus glowered at his brother. "I don't like you," he spat, and Black took this an excuse to wrap both Ivor and Regulus into a strangling, weepy hug.

Both seemed to be silently panicking, and Teddy stared wide-eyed and snickering at the proceedings. "I love you too!" Remus clapped his hands and stood, startling them all from Black's cry.

"Right, time for the antidote," he withdrew two files of muddy liquid from his pocket, and Potter and Black drew away as if from fire and began a tantrum. Remus exhaled, "drink it now," he demanded.

"Never! You can't make me," and "I don't wanna!" where two main features of said tantrum. Peter bit his lip as Remus managed to grab a hand round Potter's robes, and yank him forward. He fought viciously, falling to the carpet and Remus had to straddle him to free his other hand to release the stopper. Black bellowed a war cry, charging Remus before he could pop the stopper, and while both he and Regulus came forward there was no time to stop the two from tousling heavily to the ground. "Some help please!" Remus growled, and managed to hook a leg round Black and pin him to the ground.

Thank Merlin for werewolf strength, for no one of human energies could take on Potter and Black high as heaven. It took him securing Potter for Remus to bite of the stopper and pour it into the struggling, whining Black's mouth. Black coughed and sputtered but with a tight clasp on his lips by Remus, he was forced to swallow. When it had gone down, Black's withered and sneezed several times, and Remus gratefully got off him so he could curl featly around his stomach.

Potter already sensing himself alone had been less than willing, Remus had toppled onto him and Potter had clawed so viciously, Remus had been forced to bind his hands to his thighs with his knees. Teddy sat on his knees, trying to stop the tossing and convulsing of Potter's lethal Chaser form. The potion had gone down with many curses, and when he began withering both Lupins released him. "I hate it when they do this," Remus grunted, rubbing his ribs, he glowered at Peter. "You were as helpful as always," Peter flushed, shrugging uselessly.

"They just throw me off," Teddy though was grinning, as Black and Potter clutched their stomachs and groaned.

"They're getting what they deserve." Teddy pointed out helpfully, and Remus appraised them and nodded, and helped Teddy to his feet before sitting haughtily back on the sofa. Ivor was snickering at something a very smug Regulus was saying, and Teddy happily took his seat beside Remus.

Remus shook his head, exasperated but fond as he stared at the recovering duo. He turned to Teddy, "So when they sober up how can we help?" Teddy peered at Ivor who was beaming, and elbowing Regulus.

"I really have no idea, but, getting away from the Auror's and somewhere safe seems to be a good plan," he smiled crookedly. Remus nodded thoughtfully, peering at the recovering duo and Peter, and then to Regulus and Ivor, and smiled slowly.

"I think we can do something like that."

A/N: thank conspicuous amounts of chocolate and Tumblr for this update. I hope you enjoyed it :D Your thoughts are most welcome, what do you think is going to happen next? Is everything that happened so far to your satisfaction my wonderful readers? love and kisses and begging for reviews, Gachi.