Rise from the Ashes

Chapter 4: reasons for defying reason

"Merlin's balls, Davies, don't you look where you're going?"

Cedric Diggory was rising to his feet slowly, brushing off his robes. He looked down at Teddy, who hadn't moved at all, huffed in exasperation and reached out a hand to help him up.

Teddy stared at Cedric's hand for a long moment before clasping it, and got to his feet. He ignored his aching backside. The only thought in his mind was that he was touching Cedric, and he was indeed real, flesh and blood and bone, and warm, very warm. His own hands were cold.

Cedric cleared his throat, and he realised he was standing there, still holding Cedric's hand. He dropped it almost too quickly and started to stutter an apology, but Cedric gave him a long look.

"Oh. Like that, eh? Well, come on then," he said, leading toward a narrow stair. "But away from here. Besides, Prefects can be a little late for curfew."

Teddy followed, puzzled but intrigued. He had no idea where Cedric was leading him, but it didn't matter. They went up three flights of stairs, walked silently down two corridors, ducked behind a tapestry, descended another narrow stair, and ended up in an old, dusty, dimly lit corridor on the opposite side of the school from where they had begun.

"Are we up to no good?" Teddy asked, grinning.

Cedric snorted. "Funny, Davies. Don't know about you, but I'm always good. What's wrong with your voice?"

"Oh, sorry. Dunno, just went hoarse. I don't feel sick or anything. So what's with all the subterfuge?"

"You're asking me?" Cedric replied. "You're the one with the paranoia issues."

"I am? Oh," Teddy amended quickly as Cedric rolled his eyes. "Guess I am." Play along, he told himself. Follow Cedric's lead. Stop asking stupid questions. And for Merlin's sake, stop staring.

Cedric stopped before a door, glanced around to confirm they were alone, and then opened it. "After you."

Teddy nodded and stepped into the room, which turned out to be another broom cupboard. Apparently Cedric had a secret fascination with broom cupboards. His thoughts went no further as the door closed, plunging them into darkness, and then Cedric was on him, pressing him up against the stone wall. Without so much as a by-your-leave, he rucked up the front of Teddy's robes and thrust his hand inside his pants.

Cedric snorted. "Bloody hell, Davies. Little Rogie's not even the slightest bit happy to see me? You always were a lazy sod."

Teddy stood paralysed, his jaw gaping in surprise, and he had no idea what to do or say. Cedric had wrapped his fingers around his flaccid cock, jerking it roughly, and within a few seconds, it wasn't quite so flaccid anymore.

"Ah, that's better." Cedric pushed the elastic of Teddy's underpants down around his knees, and gentled his hand a bit, not as rough but still stroking firmly. Teddy remained still, not speaking, though an occasional gasp made it past his lips. He couldn't help it -- Cedric's hand felt brilliant.

"Docile tonight, aren't you?"

Not knowing what to say, he said nothing. He wasn't even sure what he was expected to do. Well, he knew that. He and Simon had, a few times...well, they'd been bored -- curious the first time, drunk the others -- and it hadn't meant anything, just friends fucking around for a bit of a laugh. But Cedric wasn't Simon, and he wasn't Roger. He'd seen Roger Davies and Cedric together a few times -- in person and on the map -- but hadn't thought much of it. Now he realised, well, it was glaringly obvious that they were...together. A twinge of envy shot through his limbs and pooled in his stomach.

Cedric sighed, clearly exasperated, stilling his hand but not releasing Teddy's cock from his grasp. Teddy could feel his breath on his face. "What's with you tonight? Do you need a bloody invitation?"

Teddy bit his lip. Should he continue the charade? Run away? Confess? He had only a few seconds to make a decision. He reached for Cedric, blindly grasping, pulled him close and crushed their lips together.

Cedric stiffened but opened his mouth, and Teddy gently slipped his tongue inside, hoping he was doing it right. He knew well enough how to snog, but everyone had a different technique, Simon being an excellent example of that, and he had no idea how Roger did it. On top of that, he'd never snogged a bloke before. Well, not sober.

It was at least a minute before he realized that Cedric wasn't kissing him back. He started to pull away, but then Cedric grabbed him by the front of his robes, pushed him roughly against the wall, and plunged his tongue into Teddy's mouth.

It was wet and messy and Cedric was anything but gentle, but it still felt good, different. He reached his arms around Cedric's hips and pulled him closer, hands resting gently against Cedric's arse.

Apparently that was the wrong thing to do because a moment later, Cedric had put his hands on Teddy's chest and pushed himself away, spluttering.

"What--what the fuck are we doing?"

Bugger. "Um, I...was I doing it wrong?" he asked, panicking and getting ready to bolt for the door.

Cedric said nothing, but Teddy could hear him breathing heavily.

"Cedric?" he asked tentatively.

"What did you just say?"

"I asked if I did it wrong. I'm, er, well, I'm not really feeling myself tonight, so maybe I should--"

"You called me by my first name, you kissed me, and you touched my arse. I'd say so."

"Oh." Shit, he'd really fucked up.

"Listen, Davies. Um, Roger. I didn't think.... Look, you're an okay bloke and all...well, sometimes. Fine, you're a bloody huge tosser, but the wanking was fun. You're such a bastard at times that, well, I really didn't think you'd ever want to snog. You get tetchy when I accidentally breathe too close to your ear."

Teddy felt sick. He'd misread the situation completely. What was he thinking impersonating an actual student? He had no idea who this Roger Davies really was. He could have chosen any student to impersonate, what had made him choose Davies?

Because he was a friend of Cedric's, a nasty little voice whispered inside his head. He was about to argue with himself when he realised it had been the truth.

He'd wanted an opportunity to meet up with Cedric, to talk to him, maybe even be alone with him, though he didn't think he'd had this kind of activity in mind. Davies seemed the safest choice since they were in different houses. He chose to follow Cedric to this place. It had been his choice to kiss him, never mind that Cedric had been jerking him off at the time -- he hadn't protested, hadn't stopped him. He'd liked it.

"Okay, now I know something's wrong. I just called you a tosser and a bastard and you haven't said a word back."

"I'm sorry," Teddy whispered. "I should go." He took a step towards the door, but Cedric grabbed hold of his sleeve and tugged.

"Wait."

Teddy's underpants had fallen around his ankles, but he hadn't noticed, his mind occupied with other things, and he was jerked off balance when Cedric pulled him back. He stumbled in the dark, tripping over his pants, and reached out a hand to steady himself. He grabbed onto Cedric, but Cedric wasn't expecting it, and the two of them fell, crashing to the floor with a loud thud.

"Ow, fuck that hurt," Cedric groaned above him.

Teddy was gasping for breath. He'd fallen on his arse and was afraid he'd bruised his tailbone. His left elbow throbbed where he had knocked it on the floor, and his head hurt where it had cracked against the stone. "Shit. Sorry. Didn't mean," he panted.

Cedric rolled off him. "At least you're softer than the floor. I heard something crack. What'd you hit?"

He was breathing a little easier now. "Fuck. My head. My elbow. And if it's possible to break your arse, I think I've succeeded."

Cedric chuckled. "Hey, what happened to your voice?" he asked.

"What?" Teddy felt dizzy and he closed his eyes, breathing deeply.

"Never mind. Give me a second."

He felt Cedric moving beside him and heard a rustle of material.

"Lumos. Are you--what the fuck? Who the hell are you?"

Teddy opened his eyes and squinted in the sudden brightness. "What?"

"You're not Roger Davies," Cedric said, narrowing his eyes. "Who are you? You looked like him when we came in here. What are you playing at?"

Oh, shit! When had he reverted to his own appearance? He must have done it unconsciously. He didn't think he'd done it on purpose. Then again, perhaps he had.

"I'm sorry. I'm not. Playing. Well, okay, I suppose I was. I didn't mean to hurt you though."

"What's your name?"

He hesitated. "Teddy."

"Teddy what?"

"I--I can't tell you. I'm sorry."

"Why not? Afraid I'll tell the school about your forays in arse banditry?"

"Huh? No. I know you wouldn't. I trust you. I, just...it's complicated."

Cedric seemed to take that at face value for the moment. "So, Teddy-whose-last-name-is-complicated, how did you know. About me and Davies?"

"I didn't."

Cedric's eyebrows shot up. "So you were just hoping I'd be kind enough to give you a toss?"

"No! I mean...crap. My head is killing me."

"You cracked it pretty hard," he agreed, sitting back on his heels. "You don't look familiar. What house are you in?"

"Please don't ask me that."

"Your house is too personal a question, too?"

"Yes. No. I mean... Look, Cedric, I don't want to lie to you."

"You think Polyjuicing yourself to look like Davies isn't lying?"

"It's not Polyjuice."

"Oh, really? Well the way I see it, there are only two ways you could have impersonated him. One is Polyjuice, and the other is if you were a Met--"

"--Metamorphmagus, yes. Can you give me a hand? I need to sit up." His arse was sore, but the pain was receding. His elbow still hurt, but not as badly as his head. He drew up his legs, leaned over and put his head between his knees, and concentrated on his breathing.

"So you're a Metamorphmagus," Cedric said, sceptical.

"Yes."

"Like Dora Tonks is."

"You knew my m--" Teddy raised his head sharply and groaned, a wave of nausea sweeping over him. "Aaah, crap." He grabbed his head and pressed his forehead against his knees.

"Look, whoever you are, you're not well. I should get you to the hospital wing."

"I can't," Teddy said. "Please. I just need a few minutes." He felt Cedric's fingers gently probing the back of his head. "Aah," he exclaimed as Cedric found a tender spot.

"No blood. That's good, I suppose. Hang on."

His fingers were gone and Teddy heard him muttering. There was a sound like water pouring, and then Cedric was thrusting something into his hand.

"Here. Drink it slowly."

Teddy tried to smile, though he was sure it was closer to a grimace. "Thank you," he whispered, sipping gratefully.

"Are you really a Metamorphmagus?"

He was about to nod, then thought better of it. "Yes. I really am." As an afterthought, he turned his hair bright blue.

Cedric grinned. "That's pretty cool."

"It has its advantages," Teddy said and smiled, the blue fading back into brown. He sipped at the water and regarded Cedric. "I am sorry I lied to you. By pretending to be Roger."

Cedric shrugged. "No harm done, really. Besides, you seem decent enough. Not a conceited bastard at any rate."

"If you don't like him -- Davies, I mean -- then why...?"

"Why the messing about? Dunno. Well, it started because of a bet. Quidditch. I lost," Cedric said, looking a bit sheepish. "I'm usually a pretty fair sport, but losing to him just..."

"I know exactly what you mean. In fact-- Damn!" Teddy realised that he had missed the Slytherin match. He'd been so caught up in everything happening here, he'd completely forgot about Quidditch. Some captain he was. They'd been in the running for the Cup this year, too. Crap.

"What's wrong?"

Teddy sighed. "Nothing. I just remembered. Quidditch. I missed a match, no big deal."

"You play?"

"Yeah"

"Here?"

Teddy hesitated. "For my school," he said carefully. He could see Cedric wanted to ask him which school, but instead he asked:

"What position?"

"Seeker. I'm captain."

"Yeah?" Cedric said, grinning. "Me, too. Seeker. And captain."

"I know," Teddy said.

Cedric looked at him and narrowed his eyes. "You seem to know an awful lot about me. How old are you?"

"Seventeen," Teddy replied. "Eighteen soon." He took another sip of water.

"And you don't go to Hogwarts."

Teddy choked, and Cedric helpfully pounded him on the back.

"I see."

"Please," Teddy rasped, wiping his chin. "It's not that I don't want to tell you, I can't."

"It's complicated," Cedric said.

"You've no idea."

They sat in a strangely companionable silence, though Teddy's mind was racing. It was even harder than he'd imagined. He wanted to tell him everything, but his head still hurt and it was impeding his ability to think straight. He needed a headache potion and some sleep, but he couldn't go to the infirmary for the former, and he couldn't show Cedric the Room of Requirement.

As if he could hear his thoughts, Cedric asked, "Where are you sleeping then? I mean, if you're not in a house, and you're not a teacher. Are you staying in the castle?"

Teddy sighed. "I have a place to sleep. But nobody other than you knows I'm here. Cedric," Teddy said, pleading, "please don't tell anyone about me. It's really important."

Cedric raised his eyebrows. "Professor Dumbledore doesn't know you're here?"

Teddy's eyes widened. "Merlin, no! I hope not."

"So, you're hiding in our school and I'm the only one who knows you're here. There's an escaped convict on the loose, allegedly trying to kill Harry Potter, there are Dementors guarding the school against intrusion, and I'm supposed to trust that you're not here for some...some nefarious purpose? How do I know you're not Sirius Black yourself? Or someone who's trying to help him?"

Teddy sighed. "I'm not Sirius Black."

"Can you prove that?"

"Yes. But I'd rather not."

"Look, Teddy, if that's your real name--"

"It is."

"Fine, I'll believe you on that front. Why should I trust you? Just because you seem like a nice bloke? I don't know who you are, you won't answer my questions, and when you do, you say some things that sound a bit dodgy. Can you give me one good reason why I shouldn't haul you off to the Headmaster's office?"

"I can give you several, but you won't believe me."

Cedric grunted. "Okay, then let me put it this way. If you were me, what would you do?"

"Probably the same as you," Teddy admitted and sighed. He had to make a choice: continue his current evasiveness, or take Cedric into his confidence and hope he could trust him. He wondered, idly, how many impossible things Cedric was willing to believe before breakfast.

He swirled the water around in his cup. "What if I said that I was from the future?"

"I'd say you were off your rocker."

"I was afraid of that."

"You're not serious," Cedric spluttered. "Have you got a time-turner hidden under your robes?"

"They wouldn't go this far back. Besides, there are no more time-turners, or so the Ministry claims. They were all smashed in an accident in the Department of Mysteries years-- Oh," he said. "I guess that hasn't happened yet."

"I'm supposed to believe that," Cedric said sceptically.

Teddy shrugged.

"You could make up stories all night, but there's no way to prove any of them."

"You said you knew Nymphadora Tonks," Teddy said.

"She left school after my second year," Cedric said, eyes narrowing. "Are you going to tell me she's your mother? Lots of people know she's a Metamorphmagus. That still doesn't prove anything."

"True." Teddy sighed and reached for his pocket. "Oh, stop that, I'm not going for my wand," he said when Cedric started and pointed his wand threateningly, and slowly pulled the Marauder's Map from his pocket. He did have proof, in his bag back in the Room. He'd have to take Cedric, otherwise they would be here all night and then some.

"What's that?" Cedric asked, pointing at the map.

"A family heirloom," he replied. "Listen, Cedric. We...well, we know each other where--when--I come from. I know you well enough to know you can keep a secret. What I need to know is whether you will."

"I can't promise you that until I know more. You haven't been very convincing."

"I don't exactly carry around identification, and I wouldn't, even if I had any. It would only get me into more trouble. This," he said, pointing to the map, "it isn't exactly proof either, but I can take you to it, if you're willing to trust me that far."

"As long as you keep your wand in your pocket, I'll come along."

"I need my wand to activate this," Teddy said, shaking the map.

"Nuh uh."

Teddy huffed. "Fine, you'll have to do it."

"That depends on what it is."

"You're not going to make this easy, are you?" When Cedric didn't reply, he sighed loudly and held out the map. "You have to touch your wand to the parchment and say, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.'"

Cedric tilted his head and raised his eyebrows. "If this thing explodes, it'll take you with me."

"Just do it."

Cedric repeated the password, and when Teddy nodded, he touched his wand to the parchment and spoke it again. Immediately, the lines of the map began to sprout and expand like a rolling wave. Cedric stared at the parchment in awe and grinned, delighted. "It's a map!"

He looked so eager that Teddy grinned despite himself and relinquished the map. Cedric unfolded it and spread it out on the floor before them. "I need more light." He looked over his shoulder and pointed his wand at a spot on the wall. A torch flared to life, casting a warm glow in the small room.

Teddy winced at the brightness; his head was still paining him, though the initial nausea had thankfully receded.

"This is amazing," Cedric said. "Where did you get it?"

"My godfather gave it to me two, er, when I was fifteen."

Cedric couldn't tear his eyes from the map. "Does this mean you went to school here, too?"

"Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus," Teddy whispered softly.

Cedric glanced up sharply. "Which house?"

"Same as you," Teddy said.

"You know Professor Sprout then."

"Yes, but she retired a year before I started."

"Then how do you know her?"

"My godfather used to take me here to visit, when I was little. I remember Professor Sprout showed me the Whomping Willow," he said, shrugging. "I've always had a fascination with that tree. Professor Longbottom took over teaching Herbology after she left, but don't tell him that. He's only a third year right now."

"I don't know him to tell." Cedric looked back down at the map. "It shows all the people. This is incredible. Even the ghosts! Look, there's Peeves," he said, pointing at the Trophy Room, thankfully a long way away from where they were presently.

"And here's us," Cedric said. "Teddy Lupin. That your real name?"

"The Marauder's Map never lies."

Cedric cocked his eyebrow. "Related to Professor Lupin?"

"He's my father," Teddy said softly. "That's where I was, before I ran into you. It's why I was pretending to be Roger. I wanted to see him, in person, and I couldn't very well go as myself. Next time you see Roger, you might want to suggest he do his dark creature essay on werewolves, because that's what we were discussing," he added lightly.

Cedric was watching him warily. "If I see him. Though I don't think it'll be as frequently as before. He really is a prick."

"I don't know him, so I couldn't say. He does seem to bring out the worst in you."

"Oh? How's that."

"When you thought I was him, your language, hell, your entire demeanour was pretty hostile."

"How do you know I'm not like that all the time?" Cedric asked.

Teddy rolled his eyes. "Ow. Shit." He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.

"And you're talking to me about my language?" Cedric teased. "But yeah. You're right. Lucky guess."

Teddy opened his eyes. "Not luck so much. I told you -- I know you."

Cedric turned his attention back to the map. "So where are we going?"

"Here," Teddy pointed, "though it's not on the map. The Room of Requirement."

"Never heard of it."

"I think you'll like it. It's a pretty special place. Very handy in times of need." He glanced briefly at the map to make sure the way was clear, and tried to stand.

"You might want to fix those first," Cedric said, pointing at Teddy's pants, still wrapped around one ankle.

Teddy blushed. "Prat," he said, and reached down, removing his pants and stuffing them into his pocket. When he got to his feet, a wave of dizziness made him stumble, and he dropped the empty cup. Cedric grabbed him and steadied him as he swayed.

"Easy," Cedric said, putting his arm around Teddy's shoulder.

"Thank you," Teddy replied, leaning gratefully against Cedric and taking long, deep breaths. He knew that Cedric was starting to believe him, although he hadn't quite said so. He might not even have to show him his Advanced Transfiguration textbook, published in 2014.

"Can you walk?" Cedric asked.

"I'll manage," Teddy said. "But you'd better hold the map."

Cedric grinned, and as they left the cupboard, he extinguished the torch, whispered Nox at his wand, and slipped it back into his pocket.

Teddy smiled at the gesture of trust. His head still ached, and he was a bit stiff walking -- he'd be sleeping on his belly for the next few nights for sure -- but the sense of relief he felt at that moment made up for everything.

"C'mon," Cedric said, tugging at Teddy's sleeve, his eagerness palpable as he held the map in front of him, leading the way to the seventh floor corridor.

Teddy grinned wider and followed.