Ok, so this chapter might end up being three times longer than I intended, but that just means more Teddy so that's ok. Let me know what you think.

Five part two; Forest Green
The night before he was due to visit Lupin cottage, Teddy took a pinch of Floo Powder, threw it in the fire and shouted Keith’s address into the emerald flames. The sensation of his head spinning around while his body stayed still was one that Teddy doubted he would ever get used to, no matter how many times he did it. A tidy kitchen came into view and he saw a cup shatter at the feet of someone wearing fluffy purple slippers.

“Oh Teddy! You gave me a shock!”

“Sorry Mrs Moore. I was just wondering if Keith was around.”

“Yes dear, I’ll just get him.”

She bustled off and Keith appeared a few minutes later. Teddy noticed that his friend had grown again. He would be taller than Teddy by a good few inches now. Keith raked his hand through his auburn hair and grinned.

“Alright mate?”

“Great thanks, are you up for coming to Lupin Cottage tomorrow?”

“Does it have to be tomorrow?” Keith was frowning. “It’s my Dad’s birthday tomorrow; we’re having a big family meal. I’ve got to help all day.” A knot twisted somewhere in Teddy’s stomach, but he tried to ignore it.

“Yeah, it kind of does, the daughter of the family is going to show me around. She’s supposed to be our age, but I don’t know her. She’s called Amelia Richards, d’you know her?”

“I don’t think so.” A sudden grin spread over Keith’s freckly face. “You’ll probably have more fun without me, a nice young lady to entertain you.”

“You, my friend, have a one track mind, and it’s the dirt track.” They both laughed. “Well, are you coming to Harry’s party?”

“I’ll have to ask but I think they’ll let me, since it’s good old HP.” Despite his attempt at nonchalance, Keith still seemed intimidated by the idea.

“Alright then, well it’s the 31st. Floo to mine for about 5 o’clock. You definitely don’t want to miss some of the stuff George has got planned. See you later.”

“Alright, see you later mate.”

Teddy pulled his head out of the fire, accidentally inhaling quiet a lot of ash. Coughing and spluttering, he made his way into the kitchen for a drink of water, hoping that it might help. He sat down at the table, brooding over where he was going the following day. He was going to see Lupin Cottage, finally and that made him feel… uneasy. There was a danger that it would be nothing like he had imagined it. There was also the issue of the cellar. Would the girl find it strange that he wanted to see it? Would she ask why it was there? Teddy stared at his hands. Hermione had told him that they were very like his father’s, long and slender. Teddy had looked closely at photographs after she had told that, but he couldn’t tell. He snapped himself out of his reverie, remembering Keith’s comment about Amelia Richards. He realised that he was actually quite looking forward to meeting her, if only to work out why he didn’t already know who she was.

*****

Laying on the grass under the beech tree, Sirius was trying to spot Aurelia Schubert in a large group of girls who were walking at the side of the lake.

“They’re all her friends, so she’s got to be with them.”

Remus turned the page in his book, trying to ignore him. His right hand reached out for the large bar of chocolate he had left on the top of his bag. It was gone. He looked up and saw Sirius unceremoniously stuff the last piece into his mouth.

“I sincerely hope that you’ve got more chocolate about your person.”

“Y’know what Moony? Verbosity is not always a sign of intelligence.”

“In your case, I agree with that sentiment.”

Something distracted Sirius. “There she is!” He wiped his mouth, shook his head so that his hair fell gracefully away from his face and stretched out in an almost lion like fashion. Remus and James exchanged a glance and fought back their laughter. Aurelia swept past them imperiously, taking absolutely no notice of Sirius at all. When she was out of earshot, James and Remus burst out laughing.

Sirius frowned. “I don’t see what’s so funny.”

James recovered enough to answer.“Oh come on mate. The only reason you’re after her is because she’s not interested!”

“Well that’s just… I mean… completely…”

“True?”

“Well Moony, I’m sorry if I haven’t got someone as captivating as Esther Seygal throwing themselves at me.”

Remus blushed and tried to hide behind his book. “Yes, well the less said about that the better, I think.”

Esther had spent weeks avoiding Remus, it seemed she could barely bring herself to look at him. Then one afternoon, Sirius had dragged him into an empty classroom where, to his amazement, Esther was waiting for him. She had launched herself at him, covering him in kisses. Completely dumbfounded, he had thanked her and left. After that she went back to avoiding him.

“Girls are not Moony’s forte.” The other two were laughing at him now.

*****

At eleven o’clock the following morning, Teddy stepped out of the fireplace in the kitchen of Lupin Cottage. Coughing slightly as he straightened due to the ash, he looked around and saw shelves crammed with bottles of jams, pickles, marmalades and other ingredients for cooking and potions. A Belfast sink stood next to a butcher’s block with a heavily scrubbed work surface. A black range stood next to the fire place he had emerged from, making him think that at some point the cottage had belonged to Muggles. A small table with four chairs sat by the window. On it there was a fresh vase of wildflowers.

A quiet voice said, “Hello.”

Teddy jumped backwards in surprise, almost falling into the fire. In the doorway stood a girl his age with long wavy black hair and the most intensely blue eyes Teddy had ever seen. She definitely didn’t attend Hogwarts; he would have remembered her. He gaped at her, unable to think of a single thing to say.

“You’re either Teddy Lupin, or you need to explain why you’re in our kitchen” she said with a wry smile.

“I’m… I’m Teddy” he stuttered, desperately trying to force his brain to work normally. “Are you Amelia?”

“That’s right. My parents are at work, but they said to show you around, there’s loads of your stuff in the cellar. Do you want to down there and have a look?”

“NO!” She looked shocked, and Teddy couldn’t have explained why he shouted, he suddenly had no desire what so ever to go down into the cellar that had restrained his father on a monthly basis for the majority of his life.

“Umm, sorry, it’s just such a nice day I thought you could show me around the village first.”

“Okay, well, it’s a good job we’re both in Muggle gear, we’re the only wizards for miles around. Your hair might attract some funny looks though, they’re very traditional ‘round here. How long has it been green?”

“Oh, only about three hours. Hang on.” He screwed up his face and his short, spiky green hair became collar length, soft tawny curls. It was Amelia’s turn to gape. Teddy grinned. “I take it you’ve never met a Metamorohmagus then?”

“No, I can’t say that I have. Could you choose any appearance you wanted?”

Teddy nodded. “Shall we go?”

Amelia led him through a neat parlour that was filled with books. In one corner was the ugliest dresser that Teddy had ever seen.

“Most of the books and furniture are yours, including that teak monstrosity. There’s a sort of concealed panel in it, but Dad can’t get it open.”

“Really? I don’t know any thing about that.” Teddy said uncertainly, wondering if there was something hidden in there. Swiftly changing the subject he said, “I always knew Dad was well read, I didn’t realise that he’d been planning on opening a library.” Amelia smiled.

They walked out into the blazing summer sunshine. The small garden was filled with lupins, save for a vegetable patch and a greenhouse, through the window of which Teddy could see bright pink Puffapods and a Flutterby Bush. He turned to look at the cottage and saw that it was a wooden framed building with a thatched roof, just as it had been in the photographs. Teddy sighed with relief; it was real. Amelia led him down the path and into the lane. She explained that the village was small and Muggle life seemed to be centred around the church and the pub. There was a post office combined with a small shop.

“I don’t even know which county we’re in.”

Amelia laughed lightly. “We’re in Warwickshire. The woods over there are part of what is left of the Forest of Arden.”

“Shakespeare country then?” Teddy was trying to sound knowledgeable. She nodded. “Which school do you go to then? You’re not at Hogwarts with me.”

“I’m a Beauxbatons girl.” She said with a small smile. “My mother is French and insisted that I go there. It’s fine most of the time.”

They walked into the woods in a comfortable silence. Teddy began to imagine his father as a small boy, playing games in the woods, building dens and climbing trees. A thought occurred to him and it stopped him in his tracks; was this where his father had been mauled by Greyback? His eyes searched the trees, looking for signs of damage.

Amelia looked at Teddy, confused by his sudden change of mood. He had been so relaxed a moment ago and now he looked frantic. He was nervously glancing at all the trees, as though he was expecting something to attack them.

“Teddy, what’s wrong?” He didn’t seem to have heard her, but was still staring around searching for something. Amelia reached out and touched Teddy’s arm. He span around and grabbed her by the shoulders, his eyes now completely wild. “Where… he’s…” He seemed completely breathless, panicked, totally different to the charming, affable boy he had been just moments before.

“Teddy, breathe, you’re okay, it’s just you and me, you’re alright.” She didn’t know what had upset Teddy but it was clear that it was serious. She didn’t know much about him and the sudden change made her feel uneasy, especially since he was gripping her shoulders so tightly.

“Teddy, look at me, concentrate on me, breathe, you’re okay, nothing is going to happen.” Amelia didn’t really know what she was saying; she didn’t know that things would be okay, she just wanted him to calm down and talk to her. At that moment, things felt far from ok.