A/N: This is a Next Gen collection of one-shots, much like my Soul Eater and Marauders ones. I can take requests, if y'all want, just drop it in a review. Speaking of reviews, I don't really mind if you review or not, but it is appreciated. They let me know how I'm doing, so y'know c:
This is rated T, because there will be language and sexual innuendos. Because James. Enjoy! :3
CHARACTER: Teddy Lupin
YEAR: Christmas 2009
PLACE: The Burrow
WORDS: 925
Christmas
Teddy bit into one of Molly Weasley's deliciously warm and gooey chocolate chip cookies. His hair had been light brown (modeled after an old picture Uncle Harry had shown him of his dad), but it immediately changed to a bright turquoise as he ate the cookie, closing his eyes and letting out a satisfied, "Mmm." Mrs. Weasley absolutely beamed at him, and Victoire giggled across the table.
"You have chocolate on your face," she said, taking a bite of her own cookie.
"So do you," he replied, pointing at her cheek.
She laughed. Before he knew it (he expected to continue talking about Mrs. Weasley's amazing baking abilities), Victoire changed the subject. "So what's Hogwarts like?" She suddenly had this dreamy expression on her face and had yet to remove the chocolate on her cheek.
He shrugged. "I dunno. Lots of fun. And easy. Everything's real easy."
"I thought it would be hard," she said, picking up her glass of milk. After she gulped it all down, she continued, "I mean, to really learn how to do everything. Mum and Dad don't teach me much. They say I'll learn it all when I get to school."
"Does your mum still want you to go to Beauxbatons?" He hoped not. It would be nice to have someone he already really, really knew at Hogwarts with him next year.
Victoire sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but Dad said that we live too far from Beauxbatons, and he wants me to go to Hogwarts like the rest of the family anyway. He says all the Weasleys ever have been to Hogwarts. Mum says Beauxbatons is still a fantastic school, and I speak French anyway, so… She took my broomstick when I told her I was going to Hogwarts whether she liked it or not."
"Well, yeah, I thought we all knew by now not to cross her. Your mum can get scary when she's mad or proven wrong about something."
"Yeah, I know, it's rea—"
"Teddy!"
James Potter ran into the kitchen, closely followed by Albus. At four years old, James was probably the most hyper child Teddy had ever met. And now that Albus was coming out of his shell and talking just as much (if not more) as his elder brother, Teddy almost begged Uncle Harry to take him to Mrs. Weasley's early on his way to the Auror office. Add in Lily's crying and Teddy was ready to check himself into St. Mungo's. Grandmother only laughed at him when he floo'd her about it. Said something about, "Well, what do you think you were like? Let me tell you, Harry and Ginny waited a while to have kids because of all the times they babysat you. I remember Ginny actually telling me that it was brilliant birth control. Fantastic Quidditch player, she was, you loved going to the games…"
"Hey, Jamie."
"Don't call me 'Jamie,'" James said, struggling to reach a cookie on the table. "Merry Chess-miss, Teddy and Vicky."
"May Chess-miss, Teddy an' Vicky!" Albus repeated, throwing his hands up and smiling.
Taking pity on the poor child, Teddy handed James a cookie. Of course, he ended up having to give one to a pouting Albus, as well, but Teddy figured he could hardly be blamed for that—his face was just so adorably innocent and cute and.
Merlin, he missed the Potters. No matter what he said at school and the letters he wrote claiming he didn't.
Aunt Ginny came in then with Lily balanced on her hip and fast asleep. "Oh, Mum, your cookies," she said, reaching out with her free hand.
"You won't believe," she went on to say, "what Vinnie wants me to do next. You know the Woollongong Warriors? He wants me to go to their next match in a month and do a piece on them. Harry and I were talking, and we were hoping you could take the kids for two weeks when he's at work. If not, we planned on asking Andromeda, she loves them."
Molly held her arms out for Lily, and Aunt Ginny handed her over, shaking her hands out with a "she's getting heavy." Molly bounced her slightly, and Lily woke and smiled. "Of course, I'll watch them. The boys' room is always ready, and we still have all the old baby furniture. What can we say, your father and I are packrats."
Teddy's hand shot into the air as a thought struck him, four months of schooling at Hogwarts kicking in and taking over. Aunt Ginny grinned at him and nodded, so he asked the question doing circles in his head: "Can I go?"
"Me too! Me too!" Victoire said, also raising her hand.
"You don't even like Quidditch!" Teddy said, brow furrowed in confusion.
"Yes, I do!" she insisted, hand still raised and waving in the air in a near-perfect imitation of Teddy just moments before.
"Andromeda already said you could go, Teddy. If your grades aren't good, though, you won't be going. Harry will pick you up, floo you to where I'm staying, and, as soon as the game is over, he'll take you back to school. It's already worked out with Professor McGonagall, so I expect you to be on your best behavior."
"I will!" he promised.
Victoire pouted. "I wanna go! Please, Aunty, please?"
"How about this: I'll talk to your mum and dad, but I can't promise, okay?"
Victoire only crossed her arms over her chest. Teddy noticed she still had chocolate on her cheek.
