Chapter Text
Teddy had been running on fumes for days, his nerves and excitement about the upcoming Quidditch match making it nearly impossible for him to rest. Every night, he found himself clutching his father’s old map, the enchanted parchment spread out before him as he watched the tiny figures of his teammates moving around the castle. The map had become both a comfort and a distraction, its magic captivating him when he should have been sleeping. On average, he was lucky to get three hours of sleep a night.
By Thursday morning, his exhaustion had started to show. His friends noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the way his head drooped during meals and classes. Andrew, always the practical one, finally spoke up. “Teddy, this can’t go on. You’re going to be dead on your feet by Saturday. Go see Madam Pomfrey and ask for a Sleeping Draught. It’ll do you good to get a proper night’s rest.”
Ben chimed in, his usual grin replaced by a look of concern. “Yeah, mate. You’ll fly better if you’re not half-asleep on your broom.”
After much prodding from his friends, Teddy finally agreed. That Friday afternoon, with no classes to attend and the match just a day away, he decided to take their advice. He dressed in his most comfortable clothes: a pair of worn jeans, his favorite boots, one of his dad’s old Queen T-shirts, and a cozy jumper that smelled faintly of chocolate.
The walk to the hospital wing felt longer than usual, his boots echoing softly in the empty corridors. When he pushed open the large wooden doors, the bright, sterile space greeted him. He hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, his eyes scanning the room. At the far end of the wing, an older woman bustled about, her back turned to him as she organized a tray of potion bottles. The clinking of glass was the only sound in the otherwise silent room.
Gathering his courage, Teddy cleared his throat and called out, “Excuse me, Madam Pomfrey?”
The woman turned around at the sound of his voice, and her gaze immediately softened. For a moment, she stood frozen, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Oh, my word,” she murmured, stepping closer. “You... you look just like your father, except for your hair, that’s your mother.”
Teddy blinked, caught off guard by the sudden wave of emotion in her voice. “You knew my mum and dad?” he asked quietly, his own voice tinged with curiosity and sadness.
Madam Pomfrey nodded, a wistful smile spreading across her face. “I did. I patched them up more times than I can count. He was a kind soul—brave and selfless, and your mother was reckless especially when it came to quidditch. Seeing you now... it’s like a part of them are still here.”
Teddy felt his throat tighten, but he managed a small smile in return. “Thank you,” he said softly. “That means a lot to me.”
Madam Pomfrey straightened, wiping her eyes briskly. “Now, what brings you here, Mr. Lupin? You don’t look injured, but you do look like you haven’t slept in a week.”
He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, about that... I’ve been having trouble sleeping. My first Quidditch match is tomorrow, and I guess I’m a bit... overwhelmed.”
She gave him a knowing look. “Ah, first-match nerves. Say no more.” She turned to her potions cupboard, rummaging through the shelves before pulling out a small vial filled with a shimmering blue liquid. “This is a mild Sleeping Draught. Take it tonight before bed, and you’ll get the rest you need. But only one dose, mind you. Any more, and you’ll be groggy during your match.”
Teddy accepted the vial gratefully. “Thank you, Madam Pomfrey.”
She smiled warmly. “Anytime, dear. And good luck tomorrow. Make your family proud.”
As Teddy left the hospital wing, the vial tucked safely in his pocket, he felt a renewed sense of determination. That night, as he settled into bed and took the drought, he allowed himself to dream—not of the pressure or the nerves, but of soaring through the sky, his mother’s and his father’s legacy’s guiding him every step of the way.
As Teddy made his way back down to the kitchens, where the Hufflepuff common room was tucked away behind barrels of mead, he found himself clutching the small vial of Sleeping Draught in his hand. The cool glass felt reassuring against his palm, a small comfort after the emotional encounter with Madam Pomfrey. He was eager to return to the warmth of the common room, where he could relax with his friends and let the tension of the day melt away.
The castle’s corridors were quiet, save for the occasional sound of distant laughter or the shuffle of feet on stone floors. Teddy turned a corner and nearly bumped into Thomas, who was coming from the direction of the Great Hall, still wearing his Hufflepuff Quidditch robes. Thomas stopped short, his sharp eyes immediately noticing the small bottle in Teddy’s hand.
“What’s that?” Thomas asked, his voice laced with curiosity as he gestured toward the vial.
Teddy froze, caught off guard. He wasn’t sure how to explain without sounding weak or overly nervous. “Uh… it’s…” he stammered, his mind racing for an excuse.
Before he could come up with a response, a familiar, warm voice cut through the silence. “It is a Sleeping Draught, Mr. Macmillan.” Professor Sprout appeared from around the corner, her arms laden with a basket of what looked like freshly harvested herbs. She smiled kindly at both boys, her cheeks slightly pink from the chill of the dungeons. “Mr. Lupin here has had a bit of trouble sleeping lately, what with the nerves of his first Quidditch match and all. He wisely went to Madam Pomfrey to help with his little problem.”
Thomas raised an eyebrow but nodded in understanding. “Makes sense. First match nerves are no joke. Glad you got it sorted, Teddy. We need you at your best tomorrow.” He clapped Teddy on the shoulder, his usual grin firmly in place. “Don’t worry, though. You’ll be brilliant.”
Professor Sprout beamed at the exchange, clearly pleased with the camaraderie between her students. “Now, off with you both. The Halloween Feast is about to begin, and you don’t want to miss it. There’s pumpkin pasties fresh from the ovens, and I hear the house-elves have outdone themselves with the desserts this year.”
Teddy nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. “Thanks, Professor. And thanks, Thomas.”
The three of them parted ways, with Professor Sprout heading toward the kitchens and Thomas accompanying Teddy to the Great Hall. As Teddy entered the Great Hall with Thomas, he was immediately struck by the festive atmosphere. The enchanted ceiling above reflected a crisp autumn night sky, dotted with twinkling stars and a glowing crescent moon. Hundreds of floating jack-o’-lanterns hovered in the air, their flickering candles casting warm, dancing shadows across the room. The tables were covered with an abundance of food, steaming platters of roast meats, golden bowls of mashed potatoes, and baskets of freshly baked rolls, all filling the air with delicious aromas.
Spotting Ben waving enthusiastically from the Hufflepuff table, Teddy made his way over, squeezing onto the bench between his friends. Ben was already mid-conversation with Andrew and Logan, who were eagerly shoveling food onto their plates. “You’re just in time,” Ben said with a grin, nudging a plate of roast chicken toward Teddy. “We saved you a spot before Andrew inhaled everything.”
Teddy laughed, grabbing a generous helping of roast chicken, Yorkshire pudding, and a ladleful of pumpkin soup. For a while, he forgot his nerves as he joined in the cheerful chatter at the table. The students buzzed with excitement about the upcoming Quidditch match and swapped stories about the Halloween decorations that had appeared around the castle overnight.
As the main courses were cleared away, the desserts began to appear. Platters of treacle tarts, cauldron cakes, pumpkin pasties, and apple pies popped into view. A particularly large bowl of chocolate truffles sat right in front of Teddy, the rich, decadent aroma making his mouth water.
Without hesitation, Teddy reached for the bowl, popping a truffle into his mouth. The chocolate melted on his tongue, and he let out a contented sigh. “These are incredible,” he murmured, reaching for another—and then another. The others watched with amusement as Teddy steadily made his way through the bowl, completely oblivious to their laughter.
“Uh, Teddy?” Andrew said, trying to stifle a snicker. “You might want to slow down before you eat the whole thing.”
Teddy blinked and looked down at the bowl. To his horror, only a handful of truffles were left. His cheeks flushed as he quickly pushed the bowl toward Ben. “Here, you guys take some,” he said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.
Ben shook his head, grinning. “Nah, mate, I think you’ve earned it. You’ve got a big match tomorrow. Consider it pre-game fuel.”
As the feast came to an end, Teddy couldn’t help but marvel at the atmosphere around him. The cheerful laughter of his housemates, the magical glow of the jack-o’-lanterns, and the warmth of the shared meal all made him feel deeply connected to Hogwarts. For a moment, his nerves about the Quidditch match faded, replaced by a sense of belonging.
When the prefect approached their table, her expression was stern but kind. “Alright, everyone, it’s time to head back to the common room,” she announced
“Alright, everyone, it’s time to head back to the common room,” the prefect repeated, her tone firm. “We’ve got a big day tomorrow, especially with the Quidditch match. That means all of you need to be well-rested.”
The table erupted in groans, with Ben leading the charge. “Oh, come on, it’s Friday night! Can’t we stay up a little longer?”
The prefect raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “You’ll be thanking me tomorrow when Hufflepuff crushes Ravenclaw. Off you go.”
Reluctantly, the group pushed away from the table and began filing out of the Great Hall, the festive chatter still buzzing around them. Teddy, stuffed from the feast, trailed behind Ben, Andrew, and Logan as they made their way through the castle toward the Hufflepuff basement.
“Did you seriously eat that entire bowl of chocolate?” Andrew teased, nudging Teddy as they walked.
“Almost,” Teddy admitted with a sheepish grin. “It was too good to stop.”
“You’re lucky you don’t get sick like me,” Logan muttered. “Last year, I had too much treacle tart, and I couldn’t look at dessert for weeks.”
When they reached the common room entrance, the prefect gave the password—“Golden Badger”—and the barrel door swung open. The familiar warmth of the Hufflepuff common room greeted them, the soft glow of the fireplace casting cozy shadows on the earthy décor. The scent of honey and fresh bread lingered in the air.
As they climbed the stairs to their dormitory, the boys continued to chat, their voices hushed but full of excitement for the match.
“Do you think Ravenclaw’s got any chance against us?” Ben asked, flopping onto his bed.
“Not with Thomas as captain and Teddy as our secret weapon,” Logan said confidently.
Teddy, smiling at his friends’ encouragement, pulled the small vial of sleeping draught out of his pocket and set it on his bedside table. He slipped off his jeans and boots, replacing them with pajama pants and a warm sweatshirt, before settling onto his bed.
Andrew noticed the vial and tilted his head. “Hey, is that the sleeping draught we told you to get from Madam Pomfrey?”
Teddy nodded, flushing slightly. “Yeah. I haven’t been sleeping much, and she said it’ll help me rest before the match.”
Ben raised an eyebrow. “Wait—you actually took our advice? That’s a first.”
“Don’t get used to it,” Teddy replied with a grin. “But you were right. I need to be on top of my game tomorrow.”
“See? We’re full of good ideas,” Logan said smugly, stretching out on his bed. “Now drink that and get some sleep.”
Teddy uncorked the vial, the faint herbal smell wafting up as he tipped the potion into his mouth. It was warm and soothing, spreading through his body like a calming wave. He set the empty vial back on the table and pulled his covers up.
“Goodnight, Teddy,” his friends murmured, settling into their own beds.
“Night,” Teddy replied softly.
The potion worked quickly. The moment Teddy’s head hit the pillow, his mind began to quiet, the swirling thoughts and nerves fading into a comfortable haze. Within seconds, his eyelids grew heavy, and a deep, dreamless sleep overtook him.
In the dim light of the dormitory, the soft crackle of the common room fire below was the last sound Teddy heard before he drifted away, ready to face whatever the next day would bring.