What is love?

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter because if I did, I would probably be genius… but I'm not.

A/N: First fic I've written in a loooong time. Each chapter will have the present and a flashback. Note that the POV changes from time to time. Comments are appreciated!

TeddyxVictoire because it's the cutest thing since Dumbledore turned gay.

Chapter One: Denial's Consequences

"That's disgusting!" bellowed James. He believed what he just saw was too much for an eight year old to handle. He looked away from the windowsill and walked towards the table with his head bobbing up and down.

"What is it, James?" inquired Teddy Lupin finally looking up from the books he read simultaneously in preparation for his OWLs. His hair turned from brown to peach as he wondered about James' sudden reaction.

"Mum and Daaaad!" declared James seating himself on the chair across Teddy with great effort. "He kissed her on the-" said James unable to finish his statement. He pointed to his mouth instead.

"Oh" replied Teddy bursting into laughter. "OHHHHH" he repeated once more. "That's it? He kissed her? You're acting as if Lily drooled all over the yard!"

"I don't get what's funny, Teddy!" said James putting his hands on his waist.

"James, James… innocent and naive wittle James" teased Teddy. "They're IN LOVE? What do you expect?"

James threw Teddy a death glare and pondered over this whole little scenario.

"I don't geddit" uttered James.

"Don't get what?"

"What is love?"

"Err…" mumbled Teddy. How do you explain the concept of LOVE to an eight-year-old? "Well, I don't know how to put it… exactly… but… love is when you really care for someone…" I'm pretty sure I have a huge question mark splattered across my face.

"Well, I love Lily, Al, mum, dad, Rosie, Hugo-" enumerated James. "You don't see me doing anything wrong"

"It's a different kind of love, James" said Teddy thinking deep. "Erm… you always want to be around that person… It's when that person seems to be the only one you think about… like she completes you."

James stared blankly at Teddy attempting not to twitch. He just went on and on with his staring until he realized something that made his eyes widen.

"WAIT, WAIT, HOLD ON" said James breaking into a smile. "YOU said SHE…"

"Well, obviously being a bloke I-" were the only words Teddy could muster to say.

"I can't believe I didn't see this earlier?! YOU LIKE SOMEONE!" said James as if he accused Teddy of such a severe crime.

"I-what?!" said Teddy. "I do not! What kind of accusation is that? PROVE IT" said Teddy going all defensive. Oh, how he urged to wipe the smug look on James' face.

"I wonder whoooo" teased James. Teddy started chasing him around the room attempting to stop James from his "Teddy and witchy" chanting. He accidentally stepped on James' shoelace and they both fumbled to the ground laughing. Teddy thought he saw someone pass by so he blinked but no one was there.

"Okay, enough is enough… If I loved someone, don't you think you would have noticed by now? I mean, you're JAMES, you snoop around everywhere… all the time… you even take Al along when you feel like it"

"Maybe it's a secret" said James deviously. "You make me sick, Teddy, I thought you were better than all the mushy stuff"

"Gee, thanks James, that made me feel a whole lot better" replied Teddy rolling his eyes. "Look, I don't love anyone as far as I'm concerned"

(Teddy's POV)

That was probably the greatest lie ever told.

At first, I tried lying to myself… I insisted that all I felt for her was brotherly affection. I've known her my whole life and I knew if I fell for her, it would ruin our whole friendship…

We were fine with the way we were. I used to fetch her from her classroom so we could have lunch together. I snuck her out of school when I had my first Hogsmeade visit. I spent my holidays with her when I'm not with the Potters. I insisted on sharing her detention time even when she resisted much to rotting Filch's dismay. I took care of her when the full moon comes up and the potion couldn't handle her gene's sporadic movement.

Victoire was my best friend and I was hers but we've been growing apart these past few weeks…

(Flashback)

"Good luck with her, Harrison, I heard she's a handful!" exclaimed Jacob Torchess, a sandy haired, brown-eyed Gryffindor student.

"Shut up!" said Pierce Harrison, a blond and blue-eyed Gryffindor, hitting Jacob with a pillow. Their dormitory room was a mess filled with spilled Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans on the floor, broken parchment quills and a torn Puddlemere United poster hanging by the window.

"Don't worry, mate" said Ted Lupin who had his usual chestnut brown hair and light brown eyes. "We'll get you through the eventual break-up mess, that's what we're here for! Right, Torch?"

"Well put, Mr.Lupin!" said Jacob laughing with Teddy as he gave him a high-five.

"Very funny, you two…" said Pierce. "Her ex-beau used to be WARTer the Slytherin Beater, why shouldn't she be pushy? He's an arse"

"You blokes are always picking on each other. Grow up" said Victoire Weasley rolling her eyes. "Walter is a nice guy, he went through a rough patch with Barbara… that's why they broke up. Give Felicity a chance…"

"Whatever you say Madame Victoire" said Jacob bowing to her. "Your highness"

"Why are you even HERE?" asked Pierce. "Shouldn't you be with your dorm mates?"

"There are only four girls in Gryffindor for fourth year" said Victoire sighing. "The two went to the library and the other one is in detention besides, I'm having much more fun listening in to your empty conversations"

"Then go with other children your age" said Jacob sticking his tongue out.

"I am your age" said Victoire smirking as she rolled her light-blue eyes and tossed her strawberry blonde hair behind her shoulders. Victoire was described by several as breathtakingly stunning and witty. She has legions of suitors but never answered not even one of them much to their dismay. Being very pretty, there was always the common misconception that she was as shallow as a puddle but it didn't take very long for everyone to realize that they were wrong… not after she hit a sixth year Ravenclaw beater in her third year after he tried to toss her off her broom.

"Vee" said Ted. "You really have to be off, we need to have a serious man to man… to man talk."

"But Teddy" said Victoire. "There's no reason for me to leave… nothing you guys can say can't be said with me here" she said bitterly.

"Teddy" snickered Jacob. Ted stepped on his foot.

"Please? I'll take you to Hogsmeade tomorrow… Prefect's privilege. You, me and a gallon of butterbeer" said Teddy smirking. He smiled at her and she couldn't help but return it.

"You owe me" said Vee throwing him a smile as she walked away. Being Victoire, she didn't leave, of course… If they were talking about Pierce' bratty girlfriend she had to stay. She hid near the staircase of the boys' dormitory.

"Is this gonna take long? Because I have this thing with Feli-" said Pierce cut off.

"No, mate… you can't be serious! You can't go out with her!" said Teddy placing his hand on Pierce' shoulder. Pierce sighed.

"He's right, you know… She throws a fit over the tiniest things… You're going to hurt yourself…" said Jacob.

"She told me she's over that phase, okay? She had other problems that time and I'm willing to go places just to make it work"

"BUT-" said Jacob

"If you insist" said a resigned Teddy. Jacob gaped at him. "What? Don't say we didn't warn you…"

"I'm not going to ruin my Hogwarts years because of some girl, okay? If what you're saying is true, then I'll let go of her, but it hasn't happen yet… Things will work out, I could tell" said Pierce. "You don't understand what it's like…"

"Ho-Ho" said Jacob smiling. "What is THAT suppose to mean?"

"I don't see you two out with anyone" said Pierce smugly.

"Excuse me, I'm one step closer to Coraline Beaumont… just wait and see" said Jacob acting as if he stood a chance.

"When are you gonna give up? She's in SEVENTH year" said Ted. "Pathetic, really"

"You're one to talk!" said Jacob. "When are you going to ask her out? It's been forever, Lupin... forever"

"Yeah… I've heard of waiting for the right time but you have to make your move… She's one of the prettiest girls this school has seen in years, Take your chance while you have it"

"I don't know what you're talking about" said Teddy. He knew EXACTLY what they were talking about.

"Victoire Apolline Delacour Weasley" said Pierce treating each part of her name with delicacy. "We've been talking about it… and you know you're obsessed with each other so why don't you give it a shot?"

"You guys are crazy…" said Teddy blank face

"Are we or are you?" said Jacob. "What are you waiting for? Fate is at your side, mate… what are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid of anything… it's just not happening, okay? She's like... like a sister to me"

"A sister you spend quite some time with accompanied by your subtle flirts" said Pierce.

"She loves me and I love her… like family… I grew up with her; things would just get more complicated…" added Teddy looking down.

"If you love someone, why should all that get in the way?"

"She'd be equally as bothered" replied Teddy. "It's better this way and it's not like… I love her… seriously LOVE HER. C'mon, She's Vee… family, remember?"

"Whatever you say" said Jacob. After that, all was silent as the three boys went on with their lives.

Victoire who was sitting by the staircase slowly stood up and walked to her dormitory. It wasn't long until she realized she was crying and resented it. Why do I even care? He already said his piece... It was almost the exact same conversation she had with her dorm mates before she walked out on them.

"Don't you have any feelings for him? You know, if he isn't the first one to make a move… you should…"

"I don't think that's the way things are supposed to go…"

"But you love him... right??"

The only difference between the two conversations was their answers.

"I have no idea"

I hope you all enjoyed that! I promise that the story will get better. I'll start off from James and Teddy's conversation and the next day at Hogwarts.

If you haven't noticed, there are only few Hogwarts students since they were the "second war" children. After the first war, many parents died and suffered for their children (like Harry's) so potential parents didn't want to take the risk and decided to build their families after.

Teddy is 16 in fifth year and Victoire is 15 in fourth year. All "present" events take place around early January. All "Hogwarts" events happened around November of the previous year.

I foresee around 10 chapters for this one. :)