It was the month of May, and the students inside Calendora Dean Beacon’s classroom were too busy to discuss the biggest, most scandalous news of that week. Gilderoy Lockhart had been sent to jail for fraud. His Order of Merlin had been stripped, and all copies of Interview with the Inferi had been taken off the shelves. Rita Skeeter was joining him, not only for writing another book full of lies, but also because she’d modified three people’s memories with authorised Memory Charms. A new book based on the controversy had been commissioned by Greengrass Publishing House in an attempt to atone for their former endorsement of Lockhart and Skeeter. It was to be penned by an unknown writer called Carmerta Crollalanza, who had been studying the two criminals and following their activities for years.
The students didn’t care because they were in the middle of their practical Magical Cookery exam, which happened to be their last for the year. For this exam, things had been arranged a little different. It was, first of all, Sunday. Secondly, the scores would be given by the student’s family members, who had been invited by the school. Third, it was being conducted in the school grounds. The air was laced with aromas of herbs, fruits, sweetening agents and a trillion other fragrances.
Teddy was working hard on his cake. His grandmother was there. He couldn’t afford things to go wrong.
He allowed himself to relax only when his cake was inside the oven. A few tables along him, he could see Fatima directing three knives with her wand: one for meat, one for the onions, and the third for other condiments. On his other side, about three tables down, Timothy Grass and Morgan McLaggen were working together. To his amazement, Teddy caught them smiling at each other.
Soon, however, the referee had sounded. The time allotted to them was over. He cut a thin slice of his cake, placed it carefully on a table, and then carried it to Andromeda, who was straightening up. She’d warned him in her last letter that she would not be biased.
She accepted the cake, cut a small piece of it, and popped it inside her mouth. Teddy swallowed nervously. When she finally gave him a smile of approval, he could have died with relief.
–I’m going to give some to Professor Beacon,†he told her, before rushing off to find his teacher. She was, however, caught up with a large group of former classmates. Teddy turned back, not wanting to interrupt. Then, Magical Messenger beeped.
Catch me in my office around three. - CDB
He found her packing up when he got to the office. –Are you leaving?†he asked worriedly.
She shook her head. –I’ve got too used to juggling so many personalities, Teddy. I’ll return to the school next year, but these two months in between? I am acting in a Muggle play.â€
–An actor, then. What’s your name going to be?â€
–Rivera Kingston,†she replied. –I’ll send you and your gran tickets.â€
–Thanks,†Teddy said, grinning.
–There’s something I wanted you to have,†she said, taking a stack of paper out of her bag. It was magically bound, but it had no cover. –I once told you I could write a book on the Marauders. Thing is, I started on one when I was with Sirius. It was a joke between us.†With a sigh, she handed it over. –I want you to have it. Consider it your terribly early, or terribly late, Christmas present.â€
Teddy accepted it with a nod. Then, he gave her an awkward hug. –We’ll see other again soon,†she said. –Your cake was--dare I say it, awesome.â€
They laughed. –Thanks for everything, Professor Beacon,†Teddy said.
–No, Teddy. Thank you for everything.â€
–Lions of Gryffindor,†Teddy read out the title of his terribly early, or terribly late, Christmas present.
–It’ll never be finished,†she told him. –But I hope it’ll be enough.â€
–It’ll be more than enough.â€