TeddyL/OC

Midday, Hogwarts train

I staggered through the narrow passage on the train, stumbling every now and then to the lurch of the train before regaining my posture. My unbelievably bulky carry -on kept on hitting my heels relentlessly and my Slytherin house pin was peeking out at me from under the fold of my robe. Too late for turning back now. Taking in a deep breath I began wandering again as the compartment to my right opened and an ilk of giggling girls poured out in a great and unstoppable diffusion.

Dangerously high levels of polyester and estrogen bulldozed me into the compartment opposite (which sadly had not been properly closed) and I collided with someone. A tall Gryffindor someone who happened to already hate my guts.

"Watch yourself," he advised, straightening up and offering me a hand. That was, of course, until he saw that it was me and his hand hastily dropped to his side. "What are you doing here?"

"Leaving," I mutter, peering out to see if the corridor was clotted (or even where my carry- on had gotten to).

"Desperate," He clucked, sitting back down next to Henry and Lysander, who echoed his exultant tone, snickering.

"What?" I shot, confused and beyond irritated.

"You always did like to make an entrance. But of course it was just coincidence that you came into our compartment out of all the others," he remarked; doubt dripping from every syllable. His gang of f(r?)iends looked up at me in exasperation as well.

"This is ridiculous," I snapped, leaving, (as if any of my reason would get through their thick heads), but a hand pulled me back.

"No, it's fine, Loveless, You can stay. I think it's cute how you have this hopeless crush on Teddy," Harvey grinned, making me cringe at the nickname Teddy had derived from my surname (Lovelace) as I was wedged in between him and William. I stared coldly across the compartment at Teddy who tossed my glare aside and started on a few Bertie Bott's every flavored beans. My eyes caught Twyford's for a moment then darted away sheepishly.

I waited in my compartment for Twyford. He was late and the train had started moving ten minutes ago, but I wasn't bothered; it gave me time to play with the hedgehog pet my parents had got me for my second year at Hogwarts.

I heard the door open and started talking, "Hey, look what mum got me. I still have to pick out... Oh..." I trailed off when I had looked to him and saw someone else in our compartment as well.

"Err, Spencer, this is Teddy," he said, turning awkwardly.

"Hi," he said warmly, stepping forward to shake my hand. He froze, however, when he spotted my Slytherin badge.

"Slytherin?" He said, and I nodded quickly; taking his motionlessly outstretched hand and shaking it. He buried his hand into his coat pockets and turned to Twy and sent him a look that enunciated 'why didn't you tell me?'

"So you're Twyford's friend. He told me he wanted me to meet you," he said, giving me a second look over.

"Yeah, well she's been my friend since we first met on the train last year. If you wanted to you could go back and join the others..." Twyford said uneasily.

"No, it's fine. She's your best friend. I'll stay," he said, dismissively, putting a smile back on Twy's face. I narrowed my eyes and surveyed Teddy as well.

My hedgehog nipped at my hands and I went back to giving it attention while Twy and Teddy talked for ten or so minutes before Twyford excused himself to find the food cart.

"Your parents got you that? I thought girls liked cute things," he said, offhandedly the second Twy was gone.

"What's the matter, scared?" I shot.

"Not a chance. You know Twyford told me a little about you. Failed to mention you were a Slytherin, " he said.

"I suppose you think that Slytherins are not as good as Gryffindors," I seethed.

"That would be an understatement," he laughed, "Slytherin is a house of cowards and stuck-up brats. Better off a Hufflepuff." (A/N I'm a Hufflepuff myself, so not trying to bash Hufflepuff of anything I really love my house. Puff pride. C:)

The door opened and in came Twyford laden in sweets and cakes. He looked up at me, smiling.

"So what did I miss?"

Harvey was talking to Heather animatedly; hand slackened on my shoulder. I was about to get up and leave when I heard Teddy say, "So how was YOUR summer?"

I froze and looked at Twyford who was shooting Teddy an I-told-you not to go-there look. Obviously Teddy had worked his way into getting Twy to divulge my summer's events. Thanks a lot Twyford Hollsworth Junior.

"Fine," I said, gritting my teeth.

"I heard Preston dumped you," he added, grinning.

"You did, did you?" I stammered.

"-and then asked out Melinda from Ravenclaw on the same day." Teddy said, waiting for a reaction.

"And how was your summer?" I asked, in a futile attempt to change the topic.

"Good, but let's not stray far from the matter at hand. Tell me the details," he said, leaning in with his elbows on his legs as if eager for the gossip.

"Why? Didn't worm it out of Twy yet?" I said, biting back tears. Twyford was not supposed to have given any ounce of information to my biggest enemy. The summer was supposed to be devoid of Teddy; the time I got to spend with Twyford. In school we rarely hung out anymore thanks to Teddy.

"What, Lupin?" I growled as he sat down next to me, smiling deviously.

"What what? Can't I sit with my favorite Slytherin?" he said, voice dripping in sarcasm.

I moved to get up and he snatched my parchment and began reading and correcting it. Stupid top-of-the-class Teddy.

"Give it back," I hollered.

"What's the magic word?"

I sighed heavily. "Please?"

"Nope, you would have had better luck with accio parchment," he said, waving it above my head. I tried grabbing it and it ripped across the middle.

"What did you do?" I yelled. He opened his mouth, an apologetic look on his face, but I cut him off angrily, "You're such an idiot! Well? Are your parents proud now? Grateful to little Teddy for facing the evil Slytherin death-eater-to-be?" I had said all of this in anger and knew it was crossing the line, but I didn't take it back or regret it until I noticed Twyford standing behind Teddy. He had heard everything.

He stormed over with a determined look on his face. "Stop it. I could have just fixed this, you didn't have to say all those terrible things. His parents are dead, Spencer. Show a little humanity." He waved his wand and the parchment was as good as before.

"I " I started, but Twyford had already walked away.

I know it was stupid and low of me to say all of that, so excuse my childlike playground-warfare stance of 'he started it'. I'm not usually mean to anyone (maybe the first years when they're being annoying or forming clots in the veins that are the Hogwarts hallways), but Teddy pissed me off. And he would enjoy doing it too. Twy forgave me a couple of months later after a lifetime supply of pleading and apologies. But even then, we seldom hung out in school anymore.

He opened his mouth to retort, pure satanic joy on his face, but I stood and took a step forward, punching Teddy in the face so fast that the only thing he could do was put on a look of surprise and take the blow. My fist connected with his nose before I stepped back, admired the result for a moment, and stumbled out of the apartment before I could make things worse.

I found my carry -on by the bathrooms and picked it off the floor. Well if Twyford didn't hate me then, he probably does now.

Teddy's POV

I opened my mouth to say 'how many times have you two broken up? What? Eighth time wasn't the charm?' when she punched me in my face and left. It bled for a bit and I sulked for the rest of the train ride. This wasn't the way I pictured my first day back at Hogwarts. Finally, the train slowed to a halt and I got up.

The start of term feast was comprised of delicious plates of nearly every food you could hope for, but I wasn't paying attention to the food. I had zoned out and hadn't noticed Twyford tugging at my shoulder.

"What?!" I yelled.

"You've been staring for a while now. Just wanted to know if we had lost you," Twy said, grinning as if he knew something I didn't.

I looked back over to where I was staring and recognized Loveless. "Oh..."

"Stop sulking and eat some chicken," he nagged, pushing a platter closer to me.

"I'm not!" I said a little too loudly. "I'm not..." I repeated quieter, "She punched me!"

"Well you kind of deserved it," Twyford said. I disagreed, but pondered his words in my head. Maybe this was why I was such good friends with him. He was shy yet straightforward, in an inconvenient and truthful way.

I stared back at the Slytherin table, choosing not to answer. Someone sat down next to me.

"Obsessed much?" Lysander asked.

"No," I scowled.

"Good, so you won't mind then that her and Preston got back together on the train," he said, taking some rice.

"Again!? But they broke up two weeks ago!" I exclaimed.

"Them and their on again off again relationship... She told me they were through for good," Twyford said, thoughtfully.

"Whatever," I said, taking a sandwich, "It'll make things more interesting." Lysander coughed several times but I could have sworn he had muttered 'obsessed' and 'hormonal'. I pushed him lightly and rolled my eyes. These idiots will be the end of me.