Teddy Lupin - Trouble In Time

Chapter 15

"What is this place?" Tonks gasped, gazing in awe at her surroundings. Sirius was sniffing around, curiosity sparking from the different smells.

"Brick Wall, that's the shop name." Teddy said. "It's an underground Joke Shop that sells many things Zonko's can't. Brilliant isn't it?"

Tonks, smiling widely, turned back to face him.

"How did you find this place?" she asked

"James and Albus dared me to run down Knockturn Alley and back before Harry and Ginny noticed. But I got lost. So, wandering around I got even more lost." Teddy laughed. "Skull found me and let me stay here, I've been going there ever since then. Me and him became great friends, have a lot in common we do. Shame he won't know me now."

"Wh - oh right, past." Remus said

"Yeah, I always wondered why he already knew my name. I guess this is why." Teddy said. "I wonder where Skull is?"

Sirius, who had wondered away from the family, barked loudly in fright and ran back to the group as he felt a strange wind brush past him.

"What do we have here?" a voice whispered, tickling their ears with the softness. Remus and Tonks looked around, both had their hands on their wands, but nobody was there. Sirius was barking and whining, not liking what was happening. None of the adults noticed Teddy smiling and shaking his head; Skull did this every time someone entered his shop.

"Newbies I see." The whisper said again. "I like where this is going."

Tonks, who's hair was turning white, backed towards the door. Her free hand was outstretched behind her, hoping to grasp the handle. Instead, she backed into something very large and solid. Crying out with shock, she spun around too see a tall, beefy man with a bald and fully tattooed head looking down at her.

"You might want to watch where you are going lil miss, your hand was going near an area I prefer it wouldn't." The man said. His voice came out in a haunted whisper; the one they had all heard earlier. "Now, how did you come by my beloved shop? I haven't seen any of you here before."

"That's because they are new here, though I, sir, am not." Teddy said confidently, stepping forward.

The man eyed him with suspicion, but he did not recognize him.

"I have not seen your face, young sir, perhaps another?" the man said.

"Aye. Or perhaps in years to come you will see one so similar." Teddy "lee plied mysteriously.

The man stood there, taking it in before smiling. Thrusting out a scarred hand, he introduced himself.

"The name's Skull McDuggery. Owner and founder of Brick Wall. And can I say, it's an honor meet those of mystery." Skull said, his voice now was loud and booming, no longer an almost silent and eerie whisper. "My shop is as unique as I; not the only one of its kinda but extremely hard to find. It is a shop related to Zonkos but we sell more every lasting and serious products. Feel free to wonder, test and buy. Need help, I'll only be a shout away."

And with that, he disappeared. Stunned and confused, Remus turned to look and Teddy who had wondered off to look around already.

"Teddy, can we get a move on. As much as this place is ... interesting, remember where it is." Remus whispered in Teddy's ear.

"It's fine, trust me. They have a 'leave and you'll be safe until you get out' policy. It is rather useful." Teddy said happily, picking up a 'Magoreiums Perminant Glowing Gut Tattoos'.

"How does that work?" Remus asked

"It's pretty easy really. You just draw the ta-"

"Not the tattoos, the safe leave policy, how does it work?"