The wizarding world of Great Britain, like any other world of Great Britain, or any other world of the world in general, had a peculiar habit of latching on to glamorous news. Ever since Harry Potter’s reign as –The Boy Who Died, but Not Really, for He Returned to Destroy Lord Voldemort†had lost some of its sheen, it had been desperately waiting for a replacement. That replacement had arrived like a storm in the shape, size and resplendent smile of Gilderoy Lockhart. His latest book had sold out within weeks, and Rita Skeeter had announced she was writing a biography of the man, spanning his childhood, his years at Hogwarts as a Ravenclaw student, his heroic achievements which could be read about in detail in his previous volumes, and his years of coping with amnesia and the subsequent, magnificent recovery.
Neither Andromeda Tonks nor Teddy Lupin, however, cared. They were busy preparing for Christmas, making lists of presents and deciding what food they should have that evening. Now that Teddy was a bit more knowledgeable about culinary matters, he tried to provide his semi-expert opinion on the ingredients and cooking procedures. Andromeda tolerated him with an indulgent smile.
–Do you want to switch cleaning your mum’s room with the Christmas tree decoration?†she asked, scratching her head with a quill as she contemplated what they should give Harry, who wasn’t one to be fussy about presents, thereby making it hard for others to choose a proper present for him.
Teddy usually preferred doing the tree, but said he’d take over tidying Tonks’ former room. He’d just connected with a part of his father’s history; he wanted to be connected with hers, too. After lunch that day, he headed for the room opposite his, which his mother had occupied when she was alive. The clutter provoked a mental image of Professor Beacon’s room. He grinned in a pained sort of way.
As was the ritual, he picked up Tonks’ radio from under the bed and switched it on. Equally Weird Brothers’ Kappas, Not Muses was playing. Although he’d been a huge fan of the band the previous Christmas, Teddy found himself wishing something else was on. Professor Beacon had planted a strange musical fetish in him. Perhaps, Harry could get him a few Muggle songs.
Then, without warning, anger and resentment rose inside of him. –Enough about her,†he muttered. He was becoming obsessed, and for what? What had he done to offend her, anyway? He hadn’t intended to find out where she lived. He hadn’t intended to get invited for Butterbeer. Yes, he’d wanted--desperately wanted--to hear more about his father, but he hadn’t barged into her room and begged her to tell him. Above all, he’d kept his promise, hadn’t he? Why was she rebuking him with the cold treatment?
Maybe, he’d embarrassed her. Caused her to think she’d exposed herself. That only fuelled his wrath. He wasn’t the type of person to backstab or gossip. Teddy would have never mentioned the topic again to even her, forget other people.
–Ugh!†he groaned, banging the doors of his mother’s cupboard shut. He only succeeded at opening them again, some of its content flying out to meet his face. Swearing under his breath, he grabbed all the clothes and pushed them back in, shoving them so hard that the back of the cupboard creaked and slipped, revealing the wall.
Teddy gasped. Twice.
The first time he gasped, it was because he was stunned he had managed to break a cupboard or something. The second time happened because he realised there was a small drawer built into the wall. Had his mother used it to hide things from her parents? He turned around, and raising his wand, said, –Colloportus!â€
The bedroom door shut with a click. Teddy reached out and pulled the drawer back. It contained only two things--a scroll of parchment, and a photograph of Tonks in her school robes, her right arm was draped over the shoulder of a slightly older woman in fitting black robes. Teddy had to study the picture for a full minute before he was convinced he was seeing it right.
It wasn’t his mother who had short pink hair in the photograph, as anyone would have expected. It was the other woman. He turned his attention to the parchment. It was a letter.
Dear Tonks,
It feels odd to call you that, but I know you’d never forgive me if I used any other name.
I’m leaving without saying goodbye in person, like the proper coward I am. I couldn’t do that. I love you far too much, darling, to be able to look you in the eye and say that this entire year has been built upon a sham. My feelings for you were honest, but the woman you fell for isn’t me. I’m not Vernalia Kappanakis. Vernalia Kappanakis does not exist. She was only a necessary experiment, one that would have gone on had I not lost courage.
I met you, darling. I should not have fancied you, should I? I should have kept my distance. Yes, you hate it when I drag this up--the age difference, the student-teacher angle--but it’s true. I had no right losing my head like that. Yet I love you and because I love you, I’m ending this.
One day, I’ll have enough strength to show you who I really am.
I wish you all the happiness and luck and love this world can give you, because you deserve all of it.
Yours,
CDB
Teddy took up the photograph again. Bloody hell. It was her.
–Merry--hic--Christmas!â€
Rosmerta sighed as she watched Calendora finish another glass of wine and then rest her head on the table. Letting her cousin volunteer for the Christmas decoration had been a mistake; first of all, she’d extended little help. Secondly, her love affair with wine was attaining frightful levels of intimacy. The first few months at Hogwarts had kept her away from the bottle, and Rosmerta had breathed easier, but now it was worsening.
–Why don’t you go up and get some rest?†she said gently.
–Nah. Don’t wanna.â€
–Come on, Dora.â€
–Don’t--don’t call me that!â€
Rosmerta levitated a glittering star to the top of the tree and said nothing, thinking it best to simply do what she had been forced to in the previous week: wait for her cousin to pass out and carry her upstairs to her bed. This course of action wasn’t one she personally liked; she had been trying her best to get her to open up. She’d tried to draw her cousin’s mind away from whatever it was that bothered her, but to no avail. She had even thought of brewing Anti-Alcoholism Potion. The idea had to abandoned once she realised Calendora chose her wine at random; Rosmerta could never tell which one to spike with the potion.
–Can’t do it, Rosie.â€
Beneath the slurred articulation of words, Rosmerta could discern real grief. –Can’t do what?†she asked conversationally.
–Can’t show who I am.â€
–To whom?â€
Rosmerta waited, then shook her head in defeat as the sound of snoring filled up the pub.
Teddy was at the Burrow, where the Weasleys and Potters gathered for a feast every year, three days before Christmas. Though he was fond of everyone, today, he was only interested in talking to one person. As soon as she’d arrived, he accosted her and asked, –Hermione, does the name Vernalia Kappanakis ring any bell?â€
–Ohh!†Hermione frowned. –I have heard it. Hmm.â€
–She taught at Hogwarts sometime during the 80’s.â€
–Defence Against the Dark Arts!†Hermione cried. –I think she taught that at some point.â€
–She was the DADA professor for the school year 1990-91, just before Quirrell,†Victoire added from the side.
–Oh yes, she was--†Hermione began to say, but she was whisked away by Percy Weasley, who wanted to discuss something with her.
–Kind of offended you didn’t ask me,†Victoire said. She was grinning, though.
–Sorry,†Teddy said sheepishly.
–She resigned,†Victoire told him. –She was one of the few teachers since Voldemort’s curse and before his death to voluntarily leave the post.â€
My father was one of them, Teddy reflected.
–You’ve been acting strange,†Victoire said. –Distant at Hogwarts. Disappeared at Hogsmeade. No time to spare for our library dates. What’s going on, Teddy?â€
He saw real concern in her eyes, and Teddy, no longer able to keep it all to himself, took her out for a walk and gave her the whole story. –She keeps popping up in my parents’ life,†he said. –But she didn’t mention my mother at all that day in her flat.â€
–Understandably,†said Victoire. –I reckon it broke both their hearts. I have no idea how she slipped into Hogwarts with a fake identity--from what you hear about Dumbledore, he doesn’t sound like someone who could be fooled with a false résumé.â€
–She’s very good at it.â€
–Maybe.â€
–I should let it go, shouldn’t I?â€
Victoire slid her fingers through his. –Teddy, if she wants to, she’ll tell you when she’s ready. I don’t think you should nag her into it.â€
–Yeah.†He held her hand tightly. –You’re right.â€
–Merry Christmas!†Rosmerta wished Calendora cheerfully, shaking her awake.
–Argh! Is it morning already?â€
–Yes!†Rosmerta dumped her present on the bed. –Look what I got you.â€
Calendora stared at the wine bottle. –Oh, Rosie.â€
She sounded tired and grateful at the same time. Rosmerta guessed she must have had enough wine to last several years, but she was also certain nothing would stop her cousin from drinking it anyway, which was why, after much internal debating, she’d taken out the expensive bottle from her cellar, and laced it with Anti-Alcoholic Potion.
–Oh, wow!†Teddy exclaimed, opening the present from Harry. –Look, Gran, he got me a Magical Messenger!â€
Ron and George had recently launched a new product which had proved to be an instant hit. The Magical Messengers were tiny enchanted squares of metal with a screen, which could be used to send and receive messages. Ron had revealed at the Burrow that they got the idea from the DA coins and Muggle mobile phones. Andromeda examined it and said, –Convenient, really.â€
–It is, isn’t it?†Teddy said happily, whooping when it lit up with a beep. –A message from Victoire! Harry gave her my identification number.â€
For a while, he and Victoire amused each other with their messaging, stopping only she said she wanted to finish reading the book she’d got from Grandma Molly. Teddy went off to the kitchen to help Andromeda clean up. When he returned to his room, there was another message from Victoire:
CDB said she fought the Inferi in Wales in `91? Weird. Gilderoy L claims that’s what he did in this book. Guess Wales had a bad Inferi invasion that year, huh?
Calendora came down for lunch, unsurprisingly sober. –Your wine tasted great,†she told Rosmerta. –But I couldn’t have more than half a glass.â€
–Funny, that,†Rosmerta said in a casual voice, nose deep in her book. The author, who, in spite of her refusal to date him during their school years, insisted upon sending her signed copies of his new releases, had sent her his latest as a Christmas gift.
–Can’t believe you’re reading that ghastly piece of shit,†Calendora commented as she heated her casserole with warming charms. –I thought better of you.â€
–He amuses me,†Rosmerta replied. –He was always so full of himself. He hasn’t changed in that respect. But I have to say, I didn’t expect him to turn like this.â€
–Like what?â€
–A hero.â€
Calendora snorted. –More like a thief,†she muttered.
–A thief?†Rosmerta asked, putting her book down. –What do you mean?â€
–Nothing,†the other woman said, starting to eat. –I’m just rambling, I suppose. Anyway, Rosie, I’m leaving next year.â€
–What?â€
–I can’t continue at Hogwarts.†She didn’t look up from her bowl. –I’m talking to Flitwick once term starts. They’ll need to find someone else.â€
–And where would you go?â€
–I’ve always wanted to act,†Calendora said. –I’d love to try pantomime.â€
–So,†said Teddy, –what you’re saying is...â€
–There was only one Inferi attack that year in Wales,†Victoire said.
They were in her room at Shell Cottage. At first, Teddy had thought of nothing of her message, but then she’d urged him to take the Floo and meet her.
–I talked to Aunt Audrey,†she explained. –It was bugging me because it just seemed improbable for so many Inferi to turn up like that at a place. Aunt Audrey is from that village. She was at school when it happened, but she heard from her parents.â€
–Does anyone remember who drove away those Inferi?â€
Victoire shook her head. –They all agree now that it was Lockhart because of his book.â€
Then, at the same time, they concluded, –One of them is lying.â€
–Why would she lie, though?†Teddy said. –The book was published after our Hogsmeade trip. It seems like a random story to make up, doesn’t it?â€
–Teddy, don’t get me wrong,†she said hesitatingly, –but she’s someone who’s survived purely by deceiving others.â€
–I know,†Teddy said, –yet, at the same time, what would she gain from claiming it was her? If she wants people to think Lockhart is lying, she’d be out there, suing him or something.â€
–Wouldn’t she have done the same if she was telling you the truth?†Victoire asked.
Teddy didn’t have a response any longer. He couldn’t, not as long as Professor Beacon kept him in the dark.