Note: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. I enjoy the Next Generation, so I thought that this would be fun to make. Also, Teddy and Victoire are my favorite couple. Thanks to the fanfictions, Little Nymphadora and 6 Years Gone for being my inspiration for this. This is my first fanfiction, so please review!
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It's over, I thought to myself. Teddy and I broke up. He was my one and only, and now, we aren't together. It's too hard to bear. I fall back onto my bed and let out a long, deep sigh. I feel a single hot tear roll down my cheek and land on my soft, pale pink duvet. I cover my palm with my sweater sleeve and wipe my eyes, that are slowly trickling water. After all, we've done together, what we've achieved, we break up because of a fight. I shake my head in disgrace. A fight because of something stupid. I flash back to earlier that night….
"Hey, uh, thanks for taking me out to dinner," I say, smoothing out the napkin on my lap.
"No problem, Vic, that's what couples do." He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. He looks at me with his big crooked grin, and I can't help smiling. I love him so much. We've been dating now for a little more than a year, and this is what we both always wanted. Ever since we were young. He lets go of my hand and drops his into his lap, then picks it back up a second later and runs it through his quiffed turquoise hair. He could change his hair whenever he wanted, because of his metamorphmagus trait, but chose to keep it blue. The server comes over to take our order, and once he leaves we chat for a bit. We sit in a moment of silence, and I stare around the room. I watch a tall, younger muggle get up from his chair and I can see his muscular body strut out of the restaurant. He leaves and I watch him as he walks out. I look back over at Teddy, but his amazing grin has turned into a stern frown.
"What's wrong?" I ask, concerned for his sudden change of emotion.
"You were looking at that guy." He says, sounding gruff.
"Yeah, what's wrong?" I wonder, missing the point.
"You were looking at him like you thought he was hot or something."
Still not sure what he meant, I answered back slowly. "I mean, he was cute, yeah, what's the problem?"
"I thought that you loved me," Teddy said sounding more sad than mad, but still mad.
"I do love you, why wouldn't you think that?" I reach over for his hand like he had done with me earlier. He pulls his away and drops it into a fist at his side.
"So what?! You're gonna go around flirting with other guys, whenever we're together?"
I scoot my chair back, offended. "Ok, so I'm not allowed to look at any guys besides you? That's a problem?! I was just looking at him! It's not like I want to date him or anything!"
"Well, how would I know that?! You were looking at him so intently!"
"I was just looking! Do you have a problem with my eyes glancing at things like eyes are supposed to do?!"
"You weren't just glancing, you were staring!"
"Why does that matter?!" I ask, standing up. I'm confused and mad and just don't know how to react.
"I-I-I don't understand you. I thought you loved me…." He goes back to his sad voice. He stands, so that he is taller than me, and has the upper hand.
"I do, why wouldn't you think that?" I ask, looking up into his deep brown eyes.
"If I can't trust that you're gonna stay with me, then maybe we shouldn't be together."
"Wait, what are you saying?" I one hundred percent know exactly what he was saying. I just didn't want him to say it.
"Maybe, maybe we should break up." He mumbles and looks down at his shoes.
"What, no, I mean, what…." He said it. The thing that I hadn't wanted him to say.
"It's for the best, Victoire." Not Vic, Victoire. Like we were acquaintances, not best friends.
Then, I think I ran out. I don't remember. My mind was in a blur. I flooed myself back to Shell Cottage and headed straight for my room. I avoided all of the questions from my mum and dad, who came knocking on my bedroom door. They started to open the door, but I grabbed my wand from off the bedside table and pointed at the door while shouting, "Colloportus!" The door locked, much to the likes of my parents.
"Victoire Weasley! You unlock zeez door at once!" My mum shouted, her French accent strong.
"No! I'm 18, I'm of age, therefore, I don't have to!" That shut them up. I cried and cried. I never want to see Teddy Lupin's face again! I fell asleep from exhaustion.
The next morning I woke up abruptly. I jumped out of bed, still in the clothes I wore yesterday, and rushed towards my bedroom door that led to the hallway. Darn! I forgot to unlock it! I ran back to my bed, dug around for my wand, pointed to the door, and said "Alohomora!" I went as fast as I could towards the bathroom, just making it. I vomited right into the toilet about five seconds after I entered the bathroom. Great, now I'm sick.
I was visited in the next ten seconds by my parents, wanting to pamper me in my poor health. I shooed them away, and about a half an hour later I finished emptying my stomach. I got ready for the day and went downstairs for breakfast, now that I was wide awake.
"Hey, Vic," my Dad, Bill, called.
"Yeah?" I replied, grabbing a box of cereal from the pantry.
"Your mother and I are headed to work, we'll see you later, ok?" He asked, and planted a kiss on my forehead. My mother came up behind me and did the same.
"Feel better my darling," Mum said as she headed out the door. I waved them goodbye, and sat at the dining room table, still feeling a bit dizzy.
Now, alone in the house, as my siblings were away at Hogwarts, I was able to think. I don't feel like I have the flu...then why did I puke? Well, hmmm, I don't know, maybe I'm…..wait. No…..I can't be. I quickly got up from my chair and grabbed some muggle money I found lying on the coffee table, and I was off.
I returned ten minutes later with a box…..A…..test…..This is one test that I hope I fail. I took the test…...waiting for results….NO!
I begin to pace the bathroom, unsure of what to do. I can't be pregnant, I can't have a baby. I'm 18. I'm too young. I can't take care of a kid. I'm not that responsible. I can't stay. I have to leave, run away. Everyone is gonna get mad, and the father of this baby, well, let's just say I don't want to deal with him. Leaving is my only option.
I run upstairs and start to pack my bag. I throw my clothes, money and other things I need into it. I run back downstairs, and start writing a note to my parents. I have to leave before they get back, or else they will force me to stay. I tape the note onto the refrigerator door. I head towards the fireplace and grab a handful of Floo powder. I throw the powder into the fireplace as I step in and shout the first place the comes to my head.
"The United States of America!"
Dear Mum and Dad,
I'm sorry. I have left the United Kingdom and am not planning on returning anytime soon. Once again, I apologize. Some things have occurred that don't make me feel the need to stay anymore. Don't worry about me. I'm an adult, legally everywhere., and can handle myself. I'll be able to find a job and suitable housing, which I can pay for with my savings. Please, just promise me, that you will not go looking for me. As they say, people who go missing don't always want to be found. Well, at least, that is what I say in this case. Just, don't send your owls after me. I won't respond to them, whatever you say. If I need you, I know how and where to contact you. For a third time, I'm sorry.
Tell the family that I love them and will miss them, and tell Dom and Louis that it's not their fault. Or anyone else's for that matter. It's just something that has happened to me recently. I promise that when I feel ready, I will visit, but please don't expect that anytime soon. I'll talk to you soon. Lots of love!
Sincerely,
Victoire Weasley
8 Years Later
I stood, waiting at the front doors of a local public school as I have for the past three years. There I am, my golden blond hair curly and cascading down my back and over my shoulders. I have nice pink lip gloss covering my lips and my cheeks warmly blushed. I look beautiful as always, with help from my veela genes. A loud school bell rings in the distance, and the front doors are opened wide. I move to the side, along with tons of other parents, as children speed out the doors.
A little girl heads in my direction, smiling, her giant crooked grin plastered on her face. She approached me and looks up into my blue eyes with her dark brown ones. They glisten in the sunlight. Her hair is cut to a long bob so that it frames her face. The ends have been dip dyed a light shade of turquoise.
"Hey mum!" she says, as she hooks her arm in mine. She hoists her backpack up onto her shoulder, so it doesn't slide off.
"So, how was your day?" I ask as we navigate the backstreets of Boston.
"Pretty normal, but my teacher gave our class this new project that I'm gonna need your help on," she says, and then goes on to tell me about the disgusting boys in her class. I laugh and smile, and look down at her, at how beautiful she is. People always judge me because of how young I am. A mom of an eight-year-old?! They say. At 26?! They think they know what's best, but they don't. I'm a great single mom, and all of them know it deep down.
We arrive at a small brick house. The outside has a small tree in the front yard and a stone pathway that leads up to the front. I go to unlock the door, and the small girl rushes inside.
Yes, the house is small, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, but it's perfect for our small family. I head towards the kitchen to prepare an afterschool snack. I grab my wand from off the counter and start waving it towards different cupboards and drawers. The small girl returns, with a blue homework folder, and she sits down at the round dining room table, undisturbed by all of the magic surrounding her. I continue using magic to slice fruits, and magically move them into a bowl. I grab the bowl from the counter and sit across from my daughter at the table. She smiles and grabs a grape.
"Thanks for the snack, mom." She says and munches away.
"No problem, so, what homework do you have to do today?" I ask, grabbing a melon cube and popping it into my mouth.
"Well, just the thing I need your help on. I did my math homework on decimals in class."
"Ok. So how can I be of assistance?" I ask, and the girl starts to giggle. "What's so funny?" I say, smiling.
"The way you said "assistance"! Hahahaha!" she laughs. Even though we lived in America, I had lived most of my life in England, and therefore still had a strong British accent.
"Ok, sorry." The girl says the laughter dies down. "I have this family tree project. But I didn't know anyone, so I asked my teacher what to do, and she said to do as much as I could. I wrote you and me down, but that's all I knew. I asked my teacher what to do then, and she said that there must more, so I should ask you. And so, here we are."
"Oh, ok…." I reply, feeling a nervous churning in my stomach. Ever since I ran away, the family has been a sensitive topic for me. She slides the paper in my direction, and I read what has already been written down. At the center bottom of the page is the name Nymphadora Lupin written in my daughters' neat print. A line leads upwards and to the right of the name, pointing to a different name; Victoire Weasley. Besides that, the rest of the page is empty.
"Wow, Dora, well, let's get cracking," I say, and grab a pencil from off the table. She leans in next to me as we fill in names.
"Here goes Dominique, Louis, Bill, and Fleur," I say as she writes the names down. After about twenty minutes, we have filled up the majority of the page with the family that my daughter never hears about. The people that I never talk about. I start to stand up, thinking that I'm going to get away with it, but she points it out just in time.
"Hey, Mom, you didn't put dad or any of his family…." she holds the paper out towards me.
I have to think quick, make up an excuse. "I just thought that your teacher might just want my side of the family." Nice going, Vic. I tell myself. Terrible excuse. She buys it though and just nods.
That night, I tuck Dora into bed and kiss her goodnight.
"Mom?" she whispers in the dark.
"Yeah?" I reply and place another kiss on her forehead.
"Will I ever get to meet your family?" she asks.
"Very soon, okay? I know that you are ready to meet them, but I'm not quite ready to see them again yet." I say, simply.
"Ok."
"Ok, I love you."
"Love you too."
About a week later, I decide to break some good news. It took a lot of thought and consideration, but I had made a decision.
"Dora?" I say, and put my napkin down after wiping my syrupy lips.
"Yes?"
"I have decided that this summer after you finish school, we will be moving to London."
There's silence in the room for a moment, then, "Really! We get to meet your family and I can go to Hogwarts and to Diagon Alley and your gran's house and maybe even meet dad!" She shouts excitedly. I nod, smiling along.
"That's a ways off though. First, we have to pack and buy a new house…."
Three Months Later
"Here we are. Home sweet home." I say as I lead Dora up to our new house. It is a white brick townhouse, in the heart of London. Our boxes and furniture were already inside.
"Yay! When do we get to meet everyone?" Dora asked, wanting to meet my family this second.
"Soon, not today though. We have to unpack first."
It takes the most of the next two weeks to finish packing, clean the place, shop for new trinkets, and get ourselves back onto a schedule. But finally, the day has arrived. It's late afternoon when I got ready to leave.
"Dora!" I call up the stairs. "It's time to go!"
"Coming!" She shouts back. I head towards the fireplace and set up the floo system. Dora comes racing down the stairs and almost runs into me.
"That excited, huh?" I ask, a nervous smile on my face.
"Yep! Who are we meeting again?" she asks, as we both grab handfuls of floo powder.
"Your gran and gramps, my parents. Here we go," I tell her as I step into the fireplace and drop the powder, whilst shouting "Shell Cottage!"
The next thing that I know is that I'm tumbling into a familiar place, and my daughter is right behind me. I land on the same carpet, in a room with the same furniture and same wall color. Home. I carefully rise off the floor and brush myself off. I look around the room, and warmth fills my heart and my head. Then I spot someone in the doorway of the kitchen staring back at me. The woman has long platinum blonde hair and pale skin, and her eyes are a sweet greenish blue shade. She wipes her floury hands on her dress and takes a step towards me, unsure if I am who she thinks I am.
"Mum?" I say, and outstretch my arms, and she comes running into them.
"Victoire! Et ez really you!" She cries, and tears start streaming down her face. "Bill, get in 'ere!" She screams down the hall, still hugging me.
"What is it? Wait, Vic?" he comes over and mum lets me go so that dad can have a turn. "You're back, you're truly back," he says, and sighs.
"Yeah, I am. And I'm not leaving this time." I say and lean into his hug. He lets me go and I find my seat on the couch, my parents sitting on chairs across from me. I motion for my daughter to sit next to me, and she obeys shyly.
"Oh, Victoire, where have you been? You leave us one little note and think that we will not be asking ourselves questions?" Bill asks. "We're just glad you came back, even if it is eight years later."
"Look, Mum, Dad, I'm sorry…." I start, but mum interrupts me.
"We know, that ez what you said three times in your letter!"
"Anyway, I had good reason…." I start again, and this time dad barges in.
"That's what they all say. You might say that it is a good reason, but, then again, it might not be." Dad looks at me menacingly, his red hair brighter than ever and his scar faded more than the last time I saw it.
"Mom," my daughter pulls on my sleeve, "What happened to his face?" she whispers so that what she says is barely audible.
"And who ez this?!" Mum shouts.
"My daughter," I reply with bared teeth. My mum's face goes soft and even paler, she looks as if she has seen a ghost. She looks at me, then at Dora, then back at me again. She then turns towards Dora and speaks lightly. "If you go down the hall, the second door to your right should 'ave a dollhouse, et was your mum's. Now go along and play with that."
Dora looks up at me, and I nod. "Go now, honey. The adults need to have a conversation." She slowly slides off the couch as shuffles down the hall towards my sister's old bedroom. Once she had left the room, my parents turn towards me.
"Daughter?" my dad asks, tears in his eyes. I nod, feeling my own eyes start to become wet. "I'm a, a grandfather." He smiles and shakes his head.
"Daughter?! But when, and how, and who?"
"She's eight years old," I inform my parents.
"Eight, but, that's when you left…." my dad puts together.
"And her name is Dora, well, Nymphadora Lupin." I finish, hoping they will be able to see the story.
"Lupin, but, what, Teddy, no…," Fleur says. She stands and comes to sit next to me on the couch. She wraps her arm around my shoulders, and it feels comforting. My father does the same, on my other side. I begin to cry and spill the whole story.
"Teddy and I were together, you know that, and then we did, well, you know what. Then, he broke up with me over something stupid and the next morning I discover that I am, you know what. So I run. I went to Boston, USA where I had Dora and where I've been for the past eight years. Two weeks ago we moved to London so that Dora can go to Hogwarts in three years. She wanted to meet you guys so I thought that it had been long enough." I sob into my mother's shoulder. My dad rubs my back and I can feel their sympathy for me.
"Oh, honey, it's gonna be okay," Dad says calmly. I nod and continue crying.
"You know, she looks just like him. Same eyes, same smile." Mum replies. I nod, sitting straight.
"Same hair too. Those metamorphmagus genes got inherited."
Then, Mom said the dreaded words. "We have to tell everyone that you're back!"
"Nooooooo!" I say. "Mum, please, I'll tell everyone on my own time, I just don't want Teddy finding out in the wrong way, ok? It had to be me to tell him."
"Fine," Mum sighs, giving in. "At least let me give you everyone's addresses so that you can find them." She starts scratching things down using a quill and parchment. I take out my own parchment and scribble my new address in London onto it. I hand it to my mother, who takes it smiling. I notice that the first addresses are Dominique's and Louis', my siblings. I miss them so much.
'Well. we should get going. Dora! Let's go!" I call down the hall.
"Coming!" she shouts back. I smile towards my parents, and they smile back as my daughter comes bounding down the hall at me. She looks at my parents, her grandparents, and gives them both one quick hug before we take off through their floo.
"Mom," she says once we return back to our house. "I saw you crying, are you okay?"
I go next to her and give her a tight squeeze. "I'm fine, this is just a very emotional experience for me, do you understand?" She gives a small nod before heading upstairs towards her room.
Early the next morning I slowly creep into my daughter's room. The walls are a bright green color with a matching rug on the floor. The twin size bed is pushed into one corner, with a bookcase at the foot of the bed. Books like Quidditch Through the Ages, The Tales of Beedle the Bard and other books adjourn the shelves. The walls are covered with Quidditch posters, of teams like The Holyhead Harpies, Puddlemere United, The Chudley Cannons and other major sports teams. Photos of the band, The Weird Sisters, are also found everywhere. You can totally tell that the person who lives here grew up with the wizarding world. I head towards the bed and flip back the covers, where Dora is playing with Barbie dolls.
"Time to go, Dora! We have places to go, things to see, people to meet!" she continues to play, pretending that she didn't hear me.
"Come on! We're meeting more family today!"
"But Mom! I'm busy! Can't we wait like, twenty-five minutes" she whines.
"Nope! Let's go!" I shout as I head out of her room. About fifteen minutes later, she follows.
"So, are we flooing, flying, portkeying…." she asks, wanting to know our mode of transportation.
"Actually, we're walking," I say, rereading the address that my mum gave me. "Looks like she lives here in the neighborhood. Let's go!" I say as I march us out the door and down the front steps. My daughter follows as we walk down the street, make two rights, a left, go straight and finally make one last left. About halfway down the street, I stop us in our tracks. We are standing outside a tall apartment building. The brick has been whitewashed all the way up, and a few of the lower apartments have doors right out onto the street. I grab my daughter's hand as we enter the lobby. I go up to the solid marble counter and tap.
"Hello? We're here to visit someone." I say to the man monitoring the cameras.
The man replies in a high pitched, squeaky voice. "Sign in on the paper." I follow his outstretched finger to the sheet of paper and fill out the information. "What apartment?" he asks and goes to a plethora of buttons.
"Ummm," I check the address slip again and reply, half confidently. "Apartment 3F."
The man presses a button and says into a small microphone, "You have a visitor." he says, his voice so monotone it annoys me. Dora looks up at me, and I can tell that she's holding back a laugh. A voice replies back from a speaker in the machine "Oh, send them right up!"
Dora and I head towards the elevator and go up to the third floor. We find apartments A, B, and C and follow the letters down the hall until we reach F. Here we go, I think to myself. I let go of Dora's hand and give the door one loud thud. We can hear footsteps inside and the door unlocks. A young woman opens the door. She has long, wavy red hair, and thousands of freckles covering her cheeks and nose. Her pale skin looks tanned, and her icy blue eyes match mine. She is wearing a mauve colored crop top, with blue ripped jeans. On her feet are mismatched socks, one red with gold stripes, the other gold with red polka dots. She looks fun, in her early twenties, like she could rule the world. And that is exactly her attitude about life.
"Hello? Can I help you?" she asks looking from me to Dora, uncertain who we are.
"Dom? It's me. Victoire." I say, and her face automatically goes from confusion to delight.
"Vicky! You're back, you're really back! You're here, and, and, wow!" she says, ecstatic. She starts jumping up and down, excitedly. "Come in! Come in!" We follow her inside the flat. It's small, with a two-person sofa and coffee table.
"You know, you let me upstairs so easily. I could have been anyone, a killer even," I say matter of factly as I make myself at home in an armchair.
"I was expecting someone," she replies and heads into the kitchen. She reenters the room with a tray filled with fruit, veggies, and cookies. She sits on the couch opposite me. My daughter, still standing looks expectantly from me to Dom, and I motion for her to come towards me. Dora sits on my lap and I smooth her hair.
"Who were you expecting, I mean, having all this," I ask, motioning towards the snack platter. I grab a carrot stick, and my daughter does the same, acting shy.
Dom watches her suspiciously but continues with our conversation. "Louis. Every once in a while we hang out, and I always provide the food. We were planning on watching a movie, but you're so much better! I didn't know you were coming! What, when, who, how?" questions spill of her tongue. I continue fingering my daughter's hair, twisting it around my finger. I tell her about where we've been, when we arrived, and how she isn't allowed to tell anyone. I did not, though, talk about Dora. Yet. Dom nods along, and after some time we hear a loud buzz sound.
The same high pitched gruff voice speaks. "You have another visitor. You know that visitor maximum per apartment is five, so you better not be expecting anyone else, missy."
Dom quickly rises from her seat and goes towards a button on the wall. "Thanks," she says. "That must be Louis," she tells me, and I nod. The last time I saw my younger brother, he was thirteen. He's now twenty-one. Dom is two years younger than me, but the change is just as drastic. Dora tugs at my sleeve and whispers in my ear. "I'm bored." I giggle to myself. She expected that meeting family would be more fun than this. But, there's no one her age, and they all are preoccupied with my reoccurrence. Dom noticed the quiet exchange and cleared her throat to interrupt.
"I think I have some Exploding Snap back over there, on those shelves," she said and pointed towards the enclosed dining room. Dora stands up quickly and runs off in that direction. I mouth, thank you, to Dom, and she nods, even after still not questioning who she is. We hear a knock on the door, and this time, instead of standing, Dom just shouts. "It's open!" The next moment the door opens wide and a tall young man enters. His hair is as blonde as mine and is a mess of curls on the top of his head. He's wearing a colorful button up shirt and black jeans. He enters, without noticing me, and drops next to Dominique on the couch.
"Hey Dom h-, hello stranger," he says, finally noticing me. He holds out his hand and I place mine in his, and he grasps it tightly, giving me a firm handshake. "Hello," he continues, "I'm Louis Weasley. Who might you be?" Dom and I start giggling, and then laugh out loud, not being able to control ourselves. I rub my eyes with my hands, wiping away the happy tears. "What?! What's so funny?! What's going on?!" he says, putting his hands up in innocence.
"I know who you are, Louis," I say, and his eyes go wide. "It's me, your sister, Victoire." I finish, and his lips turn upwards into a smile.
"Vicky! You're back!" We exchange a hug and sit back down, and Dom fills him in on my story. He nods along, understandingly. Finally, Dom asks the question that I could tell had been bugging her.
"So, who's the little girl?" she questions, which makes Louis confused.
"What girl?"
"The girl playing Exploding Snap in the dining room you nitwit!" Louis stands up carefully and peeks in. His mouth goes into an O shape, and he quickly sits back down.
"Yeah," he says, now knowing the topic of conversation. "Who's that?"
"My daughter," I reply, easily. They both go into shock, so I continue the story. "I left because I found out that I was going to have her. She's eight years old. Her name's Dora."
Dom looks around, to make sure no one else is listening. "Is her last name Weasley, or the father's last name?"
"No, It's not Weasley," I say nervously. "It's L-L-Lupin."
"Wai-wai-wait. So TEDDY's the FATHER?" Louis asks.
"Get on the bandwagon, mate! Who else do you know with the last name Lupin that Vic dated?! Wow. She looks just like him you know." Dom says, and I nod. "Same eyes, and smile. And hair!"
"I know, just, please don't tell Teddy. Only you guys and Mum and Dad know that we're here. I'm just trying to find a time I can tell everyone else." I say, sounding desperate.
"Of course, sis, that's what siblings are for. To keep your daughter a secret from her unknowing father….when I say it like that it sounds weird!" Dom says in a fit of giggles.
"Hey, there's a family dinner tomorrow at gran's house, you could come to that," Louis offers. I nod, thinking that it must just be a good idea.
"Yeah, but Teddy will be there," Dom remembers.
"I mean, maybe we'll go early. Gran will be there, and the Potter's always show up a half an hour ahead of time. Teddy lives on his own now, so, he probably won't come early, right?" I ask, unsure.
"Perfect. We'll see you tomorrow."
I find Dora and we head towards the door. "It was great seeing you guys! We'll see you later! Bye!" I nudge Dora, who gets the idea.
"Bye Auntie Dominique, bye, Uncle Louis. We'll talk more tomorrow!" she says cheerily as ever. My siblings' hearts both melt as we walk out the door. We wave one last time before disappearing into the stairwell.
At home, my daughter rushes off, back to her own toys and her own room. I sigh, still wary of what's going to happen tomorrow. I'm gonna see and talk to Teddy for the first time in eight years. I make my way upstairs to my own room, looking through the crack in my daughter's door. She's fast asleep on her bed, too tired to even change her clothes. I smile and go to my own room, where I do the same and land, exhausted, on the comforter.
It's mid-afternoon on a Sunday, and the family dinner starts soon. It's time to get ready to go. I go forth to the bathroom, where I brush my teeth and put on my makeup. I add a nice pink lip gloss that helps me look somewhat put together. In my walk-in closet, I grab a lavender sundress that reaches mid-calf and pairs them with tan leather sandals. I style my hair by pinning the front pieces back from off my face. I go towards Dora's room, but she comes zooming out, ready to go.
"Come on, mom! We get to meet everyone!" she shouts, excitedly.
"Yeah, says the girl who becomes shy after two seconds of seeing them." She eyes me and gives me an evil stare. "I was just joking!"
Dora was wearing a pair of frayed cutoff jean shorts with a pale yellow t-shirt. Flip flops could be found on her feet, showing off her toes painted lime green. Her hair was the same as always, just brushed out really nice. For an eight-year-old, she had a great sense of fashion. We both headed towards the fireplace and grabbed a medium-sized handful of Floo powder each.
As I threw the powder in, the fireplace flashed green as I shouted, "The Burrow!"
I got sucked in, and after just a few moments I rolled out onto the cold floor of my gran's kitchen. Dora bumped into me from behind, so I knew that she had made the trip alright. I stood up and helped my daughter up as well, and that's when we noticed all of the eyes staring at us.
"Hey, everyone," I say nervously, not knowing how they would react. Then, I hear choruses of "Victoire!" and "Welcome home!" and "How are you?" and I'm being enveloped in tons of hugs from family members big and small. Dora is getting the same treatment, but no one knows who she is, and people act accordingly. I sit on a stool at the nearest counter and look into the eyes of my gran, Molly Weasley. She smiles at me, and I feel more comfortable, at home. Gran, gramps, mum, dad, Dom and Louis, Harry and Ginny and my cousins, Albus, Lily, and James all crowd around Dora and me. I begin to tell them our tale, the same story that I had told Dominique and Louis yesterday. Then, I introduced Dora, not wanting to mention Teddy at all.
"And this is my daughter, Dora. She is eight years old." I say, and keeping it at that, not even mentioning last names. The chatter starts back up again, and the cooking continues. My cousins start to talk with Dora, and I head towards Dom.
"That went well," I state.
"Don't jinx it, you still have the rest of the family to do." I nod and sigh, and welcome whoever else arrives. Uncle George, Charlie and Percy, and their wives. My cousins Hugo, Rose, Molly, Lucy, Roxanne and Fred Jr. It feels just like old times when we were kids. But know we all are grown up and dating, yet I am the only one with a kid. After twenty minutes, Gran calls that the food is ready, and we all rush towards the kitchen, trying to get first dibs. Time flies as we eat and talk and finish eating and chat some more and have dessert and chat tons after that. Then, he walks in.
The same crooked smile. Same deep brown eyes that pull you in. Same electric blue hair that curls and flies on the top of his perfect head. Same swagger in his walk. Same clothing style, with the dark, ripped jeans and a baggy t-shirt. Same hands that are firm but gentle. He laughs and smiles and talks to everyone in his way. I still feel the same way that I felt about him years ago.
"Hey everyone, sorry I'm late. Auror training ran long." He says so casually with his hands in his pockets. I try not to stare. Then I remember, I don't want to see him. But, too late, as he spots me from out of the crowd.
"Victoire? Is that you?" His brow wrinkles in confusion. I love it. But hate it. But love it. I can't make up my mind. I do the only logical thing to do. The only thing that I know how to do.
I run.
I get up from my chair and bolt out of the room. I reach the back door and charge out into the field, the sky black around me. I run into the tall grass, as fast as I can. I hear footsteps behind me, and a voice calling my name. Why did I ever think I was ready for this? I ask myself in my head. I'm a coward. I can never change from who I was. I think that I can run away from that but I can't. Tears stream hot down my cheeks. My emotions have followed me out here. I start to run out of steam and slow until I make a full stop. I hear someone behind me still, knowing that this time, I didn't get away with leaving. A firm hand grasps me on my arm and turns me to face them. I notice how far away the Burrow is, how bright it looks in the dark of night. I stare into the eyes of my captor.
Teddy stares at me back, his arm muscular and gripping mine tight.
"Let me go," I say through gritted teeth.
"Not gonna happen. You're just gonna run," he says.
"No, I'm not," I say, tensely.
"Don't lie to me!" he says, sounding stressed. He drops his hand, and I massage my upper arm.
"Thanks," I mumble.
"No problem," he says, just as quiet. I look up towards the clear sky. The stars the twinkle brightly, on their own. I sit in a clear spot among the tall grasses, and Teddy follows my lead. Tears are still dripping down my face, and I feel Teddy's finger wiping them away. "So, would you like to tell me what's going on?" he asks like we're old friends again. I tug my face away from his hand and try to go back to being angry at him. But I can't.
"Let me rephrase that," he says again, "Why did you run away?"
"Because I reacted badly to seeing you after all this time."
"No, no, no, no, no, no. Why did you run away the first time? Eight years ago?"
"Because," I start, but then I stop. Do I really want to tell him this?
"Because…." he eggs me on.
"Because we fought and broke up and then I discovered something that I thought you wouldn't like so I chose to leave," I answer in one breath.
"What'd you find out?" he asks, caringly.
"That I was-"
"Was…."
"Pregnant. With your baby. And after we broke up, I didn't want you to have to get back together with me just because of some baby. Also, my parents were gonna be mad anyway, so it was best to leave."
"Woah." We sit in silence for a moment, letting the information seep in. I look back up to the stars and feel the warm summer wind cool my tears.
"So, where'd you go?" he asks and slides his hand through his hair.
"To the U.S. Boston to be precise. That's where we've been for the past eight years."
"We've?" he asks, needing clarification.
"Me and Dora."
"Dora? Like, Nymphadora? Like, after my mum?"
"Yep. I-I-I hope you don't mind. I thought it fit her personality. It's also a beautiful name."
"When'd you move back to England?"
"A few weeks ago. No one knew we were here until about two days ago though."
"And you didn't think to tell me, that you were, ya know, back?"
"I told my family not to tell you. Also, I didn't think that you cared so much."
He looked offended for a moment before sliding his hand closer to mine on the ground, so that some of our fingers overlap. "I've always cared."
"But we broke up…."
"I apologize for that. It was stupid and I was being clingy and…."
"Don't worry, I get it. So you forgive me?"
"For what? Leaving, not telling me about my own daughter and, am I forgetting anything?"
"Forcing my family to secrecy."
"Yes, that too. So, yes, I forgive you."
"Really?" I ask expectantly, looking for the first time into his eyes. He looks back into mine and smiles that beautiful smile.
"Really."
The next thing I know his lips are pressed up against mine. It feels like an old memory found once again. I relax and put my arms around his neck. I feel his strong hands land below my waist and I feel at home, for real this time. We stay in that position, for a few moments, before breaking apart.
"Would you like to meet your daughter then?" I ask him. His eyes go wide like a puppy, and his smile goes bigger than ever before.
"Yes please!"
We head inside, after strolling back to the Burrow, hand in hand. We enter, and a few people stare. Dom gives me a thumbs up as she smiles away. I drag Teddy Lupin behind me as I approach the smallest person in the room. The girl looks from me to Teddy, and back to me, and wrinkles her eyebrows. I reach for her hand, and she takes it, wondering what's going on.
"Dora Lupin," I say, looking at my daughter, "Meet Teddy Lupin." I watch Teddy as he takes her in. From her blonde and blue hair to the same eyes and smile at him. Finally, he crouches down so that they are on the same eye level. Dora is still confused by what is going on.
"Hey, Dora. I'm Teddy. I'm your dad." After he said that, it was like a spell had been broken. Daughter flies into her father's arms. Everyone watching the interaction comes to a point of realization. I hear the sound of a camera and my parents in the corner, waiting expectantly for their photo. Dora is crying, happy tears, and I'm crying as well. Teddy pulls me and Dora into one big group hug. Our family. Together. For the very first time.
3 Years Later
"Come on, dad, we're gonna be late for the train!" Dora shouts as she runs ahead.
"I'm coming!" he calls back as he pushes a trolley filled with luggage and a cage with a tawny owl.
"Nymphadora Lupin! Now, don't you run too far ahead!" I yell to my daughter.
"Sorry, mum! I'm just so excited!" she screams. We approach platforms 9 and 10 at King's Cross Station. Dora and I grab onto the trolley, and we all go running at the barrier between the platforms.
"Weeee!" Dora shouts as we come out the other side. A large scarlet steam engine puffed smoke from the tracks. We wheel the trolley closer to the train and start kissing our daughter off.
"Have fun, and make lots of friends," Teddy says.
"Write us lots!" I add.
"Do your homework, and don't get into trouble. We better not hear from your teachers saying how bad of a student you are, ok?"
"Yes, daddy! Will do!" she says and salutes. We all burst into a fit of giggles.
"And remember, your House will be the perfect House for you, even if it is Slytherin," I tell her.
"Yeah, I mean, your mum was a Ravenclaw, and I was a Hufflepuff, but that doesn't make any difference. Just do your best, that's all." Teddy leans down and gives her a kiss on her forehead. She wipes it off, and looks around, hoping no one saw that. I kiss her on both cheeks before we send her off and onto the train. She comes to the window, and we wave her off!
"Have fun!" We shout, excited for our little girl.
I place my hand in Teddy's and smile, happy at how life turned out.