Summer 2019
The meagre light of the setting summer Sun cast an orange glow across the dunes of Cornwall, the sparse patches of sea lavender gently swaying in the light breeze that carried their delicate scent to the part-Veela. She had her eyes closed, head propped up in her cupped hands with her elbows resting on the window-ledge, as she enjoyed the moment of quiet that was bound to elude her as the evening set in.
"'Toire!" The shout from the bedroom doorway caused her to jump upright, spinning to find her younger sister in a short, electric blue dress, brandishing a brush and what appeared to be a large selection of hair accessories. Dominique seemed to be unaware she'd startled her sibling, instead strolling in and flopping onto the pale sheets of the double bed as she spoke. "You wouldn't mind helping with my hair, would you? I'd ask maman, but you know how she is, she'll be too busy messing about with her own to do mine and I'm absolutely useless at all the hair charms. You're always first ready anyway-" Her blue eyes darted up from the selection of clips, her chatter suddenly stopping as she looked her sister up and down. "Wow…"
Victoire grinned at the whispered reaction. "That's what I was going for."
She'd gone out with her mother during her final Easter holidays to find the perfect dress, a deep burgundy number consisting of an opaque, sleeveless leotard and a sheer, floaty material that fell to her ankles. There was large slit travelling up from the skirt's hem to her hip and the neckline was an unusual of halter-style that she'd yet to see anywhere else. She'd fixed her own hair into a thick French plait which finished an inch or so above her waist, her eyes thickly lined in black and her lips a delicate nude. She'd completed the whole look with the gold chandelier earrings that one of their many Aunts had given her for her birthday, a couple of gold bangles on one wrist and the golden sandal heels that sat by her door.
"Well, if there was ever any chance the attention would be on anyone else during your graduation party, that's certainly not going to be the case now." Dominique turned her back to give the older girl access to her mess of dirty blonde hair, the sight causing her to tut.
"Do you know how to use the brush you're holding?"
"You sound just like maman!"
"She has a point," Victoire laughed as she took the hairbrush from her sister's grasp and set about untangling the strands, muttering a couple of charms under her breath as she did so to ease the process.
"So how many non-family people are gonna be at this party?" Dom asked as she examined her nails, which she'd painted a pale pink in an attempt to disguise her bad habit of chewing them to a quick. "I mean, ignoring the Longbottoms and that."
"Mmm," The elder of the two hummed as she thought for a second, her mouth full of hair pins muffling her next words. "I'm not too sure – depends who the others have invited." Dominique yelped as her sister accidentally prodded one hair grip into her scalp. "Sorry! Anyways, all I know for sure is that Pete is coming with Ted." Peter was Teddy's muggleborn best friend and current flat mate who'd become a friend of Victoire's as well during their time at Hogwarts together.
"Oh right," the younger sister stopped examining her manicure and took to absent-mindedly tapping her fingers against her thigh. "Well I know that the whole gang is coming, and Roxie's friends with Johnny's sister so she'll come, then there's-"
Victoire stopped listening as Dominique began to list what seemed to be an endless torrent of people she had never met or heard of before, instead focusing on the tight ponytail she'd managed to tame her sister's hair into. She was just setting it with a fixing charm when their mother appeared in the doorway looking rather flustered as she clutched her nude heels in one hand and dragged their younger brother along with the other.
"We need to head off girls, your father failed to tell me that he'd volunteered us all to help set up!" Fleur raised her thickly-accented voice as she spoke in the direction of the stairs, hoping her husband might hear. She turned to look into the room just as her daughters pulled themselves up from the bed, Dominique hurrying to the mirror on the wall to check her sister's handiwork was up to scratch. "Victoire, darling, look at you!" Their mother practically shrieked the words as she released Louis and her shoes all at once and rushed to clutch her eldest daughter's forearms, her eyes sweeping up and down the elegant gown. "Oh you look perfect, the dress, the hair – and Ginny will be so pleased to see you are wearing the earrings!" She smiled as she raised a hand to Victoire's cheek. "I can't believe you're all grown up and graduated already, it seems like only yesterday we brought you home from St Mungo's." The older woman sniffed, her eyes watering and she couldn't help laugh. "Oh ignore me, I'm getting soppy already and the night's not even started. It's just your father and I… Well we're just so proud of you."
"Fleur!" The smile immediately morphed into an exasperated expression at the sound of Bill's voice calling up the stairs. After issuing a quick five minute warning, the woman strode out the room, collecting her shoes before continuing to shout at her husband on the way down.
Victoire took one final peek in the mirror, glad to see her makeup and hair were still perfectly in place thanks to a multitude of glamours and charms. She headed out, being sure to snatch her sandals along the way, and nearly collided into Dominique who was attempting to make her own way downstairs in a towering pair of black sandals.
"You know the smart thing to do is put them on once you've made it down, heels and stairs don't mix well." Dominique merely shrugged as she began her descent at a pain-stakingly slow speed. Victoire rolled her eyes, shuffling carefully past her sister and pausing in front of her, bending over with her back to Dominique as she offered: "Hop on."
The younger girl carefully clambered on and squeezed Victoire's shoulders tightly as they piggy-backed down the stairs. Once they'd reached the bottom Dominique attempted to leap off but found her legs weren't being released as the pair stumbled into the kitchen, Victoire laughing at the squeals of protest and laughter coming from the younger girl. Their loud entry interrupted what seemed to have been an argument between Louis and their mother over the odd socks he was wearing, Bill silently watching with an amused expression as he leant casually against the fireplace. His face lit up at the sight of his two daughters.
"At last! Right, I think we're all set to go now," He spoke rapidly as he reached for the floo powder on the mantle piece, but his wrist was snatched away by Fleur who gestured towards the girls whilst giving him an expectant look. He frowned at his wife, briefly glancing at both Victoire and Dominique and then turning back to her. "What?"
She sighed dramatically. "They both look lovely tonight, don't you think?"
The red-head returned to look at his daughters but they both knew he wasn't one for noticing clothes and such with women. "Well, apart from those ridiculous shoes, yes." He finally spoke, indicating Dominique's black heels. "Do you really need to wear those?"
Whilst Victoire probably would've gone and changed at these words, Dominique simply grinned at her father and responded; "Maybe if you'd given me a few more tall genes I wouldn't need to, but sadly I'm a bit of a house elf in the height department." She strode expertly over to him and came to just above his shoulder. "Besides, now I'm the perfect height to give you a proper hug!"
Watching her sister squeeze their father tightly before planting a very loud kiss on his cheek and flashing him a cheeky grin, Victoire couldn't stop herself from snickering a little. It turned into full on laughter when she saw the all too familiar melting of her father's stern expression.
"Honestly, you've got him wound tighter round your little finger than I do," Fleur exclaimed with disbelief and a hint of humour in her voice. "Enough of this messing around – Victoire, Louis put your shoes on and then follow us all through!"
%%%
About three hours later Victoire found herself within the giant marquee, the location of a majority of the Weasley's celebrations, sipping butterbeer as she listened to her three closest friends from Hogwarts, Louise, Maisie and Skylar, talking about their plans now they'd finally graduated.
"All the main teams have their open trials in the next couple of weeks, yknow so there's time for training new talent before the season starts, so I figure if I plan this right I can try out for more than half the major league teams. That's if the first one doesn't snap me up on the spot, of course." Skylar flipped her chocolate coloured curls over one tanned shoulder as she spoke, her red lips framing a confident grin. She was quite often outspoken and sure of herself but it was not unfounded – she'd been Head Girl this year, she wasn't a genius however her consistently good grades from her hard work along with her natural charm meant all their professors had loved her and of course she was a demon on the Quidditch field. Some people found her to be a little arrogant but Victoire knew that her friend never intended to give off such an impression, if you could get past that bravado you'd find Skylar was the go to girl for a good time.
Maisie rolled her eyes at the last comment whilst taking a swig of her firewhiskey. "And then finally all your weird little bedtime exercise regimes in our dormitory will be justified." The little blonde grinned as Skylar poked her tongue out before knocking back some of her own liquor. The two Ravenclaws had shared a bedroom since first year and were best friends, their constant jibes and taunting of one another providing the entertainment for their little group. In spite of all the seeming 'bad blood', the two girls had never actually been in a real argument.
"You're lucky you're allowed to go to all of them, my mum barely agreed to let me go to one trial let alone around thirty!" Louise grumbled, her auburn ponytail swaying to and fro behind her as she spoke. She was a half-blood who'd never know her father so her muggle mother was often reluctant to let her get too involved in the Wizarding World, something Victoire had learnt having been Hufflepuff dorm mates throughout school.
Skylar's trademark smirk reached her face as she remarked; "Who says my parents know about it?" She shrugged. "I'm an adult, they can't do much. Then once I've got a bit of money coming I can finally move out!" She slung her free arm round Maisie's shoulder. "Then it'll be the two amigos to the end, right Mais'?"
"You guys are moving in together?" Victoire questioned.
Maisie shrugged. "We're both pretty desperate to get out from under our parents' thumbs, hopefully my summer internship will lead to a permanent ministry post. So if we can both afford it, why not?"
"She'll miss my company too much to stay away for long." Skylar winked, her best friend snorting and mumbling some insult under her breath. "You know it's true, no matter how much you deny it!"
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Sky," Maisie raised her glass in a mock toast before downing the rest of the amber coloured liquid. "I'm gonna need another one of these if I have to keep dealing with you all night."
"What a coincidence, I need a top up too!" the brunette declared before swiftly downing the rest of her own beverage and grasping the little blonde's wrist. Maisie's mouthed 'help' before the two girls disappeared across the room to the drinks table, leaving both their friends in fits of laughter.
Louise was first to catch her breath. "Even if Maisie claims she won't miss her company, I'm sure gonna miss seeing those two every day, even if it's hard to eat breakfast in hysterics." The chestnut-haired girl then turned to Victoire who'd finally managed to stop laughing too. "So where're Ted and Peter, I thought they'd have come early like your family?"
The part-Veela sighed dramatically. "Don't remind me – I'd expect this from Pete, but Teddy is normally good about telling me if he's running late or if their Auror training has been extended. When they get here-"
"Uh-oh!" She was interrupted by none other than the men themselves. "Sounds like we're in for a scolding already Ted."
The tall blue-haired metamorphagus grinned sheepishly at his girlfriend who was doing her best to keep a disapproving expression on her face. "Alright, Vic? We just-"
"You, you, don't bring me into it! All your fault this time, Ted," Peter declared with amusement.
"Cheers, mate," Teddy responded sarcastically before continuing. "Right so I just had to get something sorted before we came and it took longer than I expected, but I'm really, really sorry and we're here now so…"
Victoire's raised eyebrow and folded arms caused him to tail off. "What was so important that it took priority over turning up on time?"
"I, uh-"
"And why didn't you owl ahead to say you'd be late?"
Teddy took a step toward her and hugged her, his chin resting on the top of her head as he did so. Her arms remained tightly crossed as she waited for him to speak, refusing to return the affectionate gesture until then. "I promise you'll find out later. I would've sent a message if I'd realised the time." He could feel her relax a little against him, which he took as a good sign and he pressed a kiss to her temple as he pulled away, hands holding her shoulders as they locked gazes. "We good?"`
She nodded with a small smile before pulling him down to press her lips to his in a chaste kiss. "Next time I won't cave so easy."
"When you two are quite done," Peter grinned, used to their public displays of affection but nonetheless finding entertainment in cutting them short. "You gonna give your buddy Pete a little love too?"
Victoire rolled her eyes before stepping over and hugging the broad brunette boy. He was about a head shorter than Teddy with bright blue eyes, his chocolate coloured locks carefully gelled up at all times these days. "You're getting needy in your old age."
"Rubbish!" He gasped in mock outrage, Louise giggling at the whole exchange. Though that could just be to do with the fact that all three of Victoire's closest friends were constantly discussing how dreamy Peter was.
"I dunno, she might have a point, mate," Teddy grinned as he slipped an arm round Victoire's waist and stood beside her. "At Hogwarts you'd never have demanded a cuddle off her."
Peter shook his head. "I expected more from you, Ted. Then again you've only just clawed your way out the dog house, I can understand you don't wanna disagree with the Mrs too soon."
Louise's laughter got even louder, Victoire and Teddy joining in as Peter pretended not to understand what was so funny about his 'serious' words. Whilst they all struggled to regain their composure Skylar and Maisie reappeared, the latter dragging her best friend who'd clearly had more than enough to drink.
"What took you two so long?" Louise once again managed to recover first.
Maisie smirked before replying. "I think Vic's Uncle Charlie might have had a few too many already, he and Skylar were having a pretty lengthy flirting session before it stopped being funny and I decided we ought to come back."
"Oh Merlin," Victoire sniggered. "Grandma will have a fit if she catches him, she had words with him about this before. When he's drinking he really can't help himself, he'll even chat up the hat stand!"
"Since you decided to drag me away from a perfectly lovely conversation," Skylar slurred whilst prodding her friend in the chest. "I feel you owe me a dance or two!" Maisie grimaced at the idea but was soon giggling as Skylar attempted to pull a sad puppy dog face.
"Aww, you can't say no to that little face!" Louise gushed grasping her two friend's hands and pulling them in the direction of the dance floor, shouting behind her. "Come on, Vic!"
%%%
The group were still bobbing along to the music a good hour and a half later, but they'd separated slightly. Louise, Maisie and Peter were all happily jumping around together having had a couple more drinks as the night progressed, whilst Skylar had been re-found by Charlie and was happily spinning around with him, clearly both beyond drunk at this point. Victoire and Teddy were swaying to the beat of the song, his arms round her waist whilst her own encircling his neck in an all too familiar embrace.
As the song changed to an even faster beat the couple were suddenly split apart by a stumbling Dominique who'd clearly been sneaking alcohol from somewhere by the look of her. Teddy snorted, attempting not to chuckle, as Victoire quickly grabbed her sister before she fell to the floor.
"Alright, 'Toire?" the younger girl was wide-eyed and her pupils seemed glazed over. "Didn't mean to break up the love fest, Ted, but I warned Sean that if he spun me any faster I'd be all over the place!"
"I bet you did," Teddy raised his eyebrows as the pint-size Weasley stood up straight again, quickly pulling at the hem of her dress to maintain her decency. "I'm surprised you've managed to spin at all in those heels."
Dominique winked at the blue-haired boy as she strode away, calling over her shoulder; "Just part of my natural skill set, Ted!"
Victoire shook her head, feeling a little exasperated. "Maman is going to kill her if she realises she's been drinking." She slapped Teddy's forearm when he burst out laughing. "It isn't funny! Don't you remember my sixteenth birthday when you and Pete snuck in that bottle of Ogden's? She wouldn't let me see either of you for almost a month after that!"
He merely shrugged. "She's just having a bit of fun, no harm done. If your mum's had enough of the Elf wine then she won't notice any difference." She giggled at that, knowing he was probably right – her mother wasn't usually a big drinker but she had a weakness for the red wine their Aunt Gabrielle sent from Southern France. "Hey, would now be a good time to show you what was more important than turning up on time?"
One eyebrow lazily lifted as Victoire looked up at him, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Please do."
At her command he snatched her hand and dragged her out of the throng of dancing people, ignoring the calls from their less than sober friends, before managing to push their way to the edge of the marquee. Teddy knelt down and lifted the bottom of the canvas wall, gesturing for his girlfriend to slip through before he followed. She noticeably shivered as they left the comfort of the tent's warming charms but he was quick to slip his suit jacket off and place it over her shoulders. He then proceeded to lead her further from the party until they stood beside one of the many large trees within the orchard, the sweet smell of over ripe fruit thickening the air.
They stood in silence for near to a minute before Victoire felt the need to break it. "Well?"
"Right," the older boy's smile was forced, confusing her. "So I was kinda late…"
"You were very late," she corrected, her voice joking.
His face briefly lightened up. "Right, sorry – so I was very late because I needed to go to Diagon Alley." She frowned but he answered her question before she could ask. "I was picking up a gift for you, but it took me longer than I thought to get exactly what I wanted. A lot longer. I mean I'd only mentioned in passing to Pete that maybe I should get you something and then we trawled around a load of places before I got this big idea, I thought it was brilliant but Pete said I needed to think everything through. So I had to talk him round before we could actually go about finding exactly what I wanted which was the most time consuming part cause well…" He blushed so she reached out for his hand and gently squeezed it, encouraging him to continue. "Cause I wanted to get this absolutely perfect. You deserve perfect."
Victoire felt her own cheeks flush at his words whilst Teddy reached to grab her other hand. "You really didn't have to get me anything, Ted. It's just graduation, everyone does it."
His lopsided grin took over the previously serious expression. "I really wanted to get you this. Vic, we've been together three year-"
"Three and a half." She bit her lip, cursing herself for interrupting but he simply laughed.
"Right, three and a half years. We've become completely different people in that time but we've grown together and even though the past three years, being apart so much with you at Hogwarts, has been tough I think we've proven we can survive that. Our relationship can survive the hard times and I think that might mean it's meant to last."
Victoire's eyes widened at the words and her heart started to pulse at an uncomfortably fast rate. He couldn't mean what she thought, he just couldn't…
"So I figured if it's going to last anyway, what's the point in waiting to do this."
The tall boy released her hands and dropped down to one knee whilst fumbling in his trouser pocket. It made for a few seconds of awkward silence during which Victoire couldn't move a single muscle, the shock and panic overwhelming her at what he was about to do. It's too soon – that was the only thought she could feel whirring through her mind – I'm eighteen, I'm not ready.
"I love you, Victoire Weasley," She was dragged out of her mind to see he was presenting an opened blue velvet box, a white gold ring with a sea blue sapphire much like her eyes nestled in the centre. "Will you marry me?"
You could've heard a pin drop in the pause that followed, Victoire remaining stock still as she eyed the ring with worrying intensity. Teddy shifted uncomfortably on his knee and let out a nervous chuckle. "Vic? Don't leave a guy hanging."
She slowly drew in a breath as she continued to stare at the band, her bottom lip beginning to tremble before tears started to prick at the corner of her eyes. She swallowed thickly and at last managed to push out a whispered response; "No…"
%%%
So I've been dying to do a New Generation story, so I decided it was best to start it with a bang. I love TeddyxVictoire, they're probably my favourite of the New Gen, but this is a particularly important moment in my version of the Potterverse future and I wanted to set the ball rolling from the outset so this seemed the most logical way to do it. My plan is to continue this only if there's a little demand for it because I do have another HP story to complete and I'm at university studying at the moment so I have to spread my free time wisely. However I really do love the characters so even if just one or two of you are keen for continuation I guarantee I'll get round to it.
Helpful/constructive criticism always welcome :)