Pairing: Teddy x James S. P.

Rating: M

Summary: A special Christmas at the Burrow goes amiss over a simple game of truth or dare. Two-shot.

-Please enjoy and REVIEW!—

***THIS STORY HAS BEEN REVISED AND EDITED!

Chapter One

As early morning came, a light, peaceful snow fell around Hogwarts—the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Its inhabitants were just waking to the smell of a breakfast feast in the dining hall. In the Gryffindor sixth-year boy's dormitory, James Potter stripped out of his night clothes and into his robes.

He shook his mate, Matthias, who slept to the left of him, and pushed him out of bed. As he waited for Matthias to dress, James couldn't wait for midday. It was a week before Christmas—and half-way through the day he and his siblings (along the Weasley children and Teddy) would all be traveling by train to platform 9 ¾, and furthermore, the Burrow.

Together the sixth years came out from behind the fat-lady portrait, ignoring her shrieks in attempt to break a wine glass, and made their way into the dining hall, where they sat with their fellow house members and enjoyed a fabulous breakfast.

James laid his brown eyes on every face at the Gryffindor table, searching. He saw a few of his relatives looking back at him but ignored them, and he saw a group of girls crying an exchanging gifts, but his search was unsuccessful as he could not find Teddy Lupin. At least…he didn't think so. He mentally cursed Teddy for being a Metamorphmagus while he went over each face again, studying their eyes more closely. James' confusion was cleared when he raised his head and spotted Teddy (his vibrant blue hair giving him away) talking to the teachers. James pushed his plate away and said goodbye to Matthias. He stood and started towards the front of the room, absently returning random hellos and goodbyes until he reached his goal. Accidentally bumping arms with James while gesturing with his hands, Teddy turned to apologize. The apology died in his mouth when he realized he'd elbowed only James. Teddy clapped him on the back of his shoulder and beamed at him.

"James!" Bellowed Hagrid, the giant man who cared for magical creatures and was a good friend to the Potter-Weasley family. "Say 'ello to Harry for me, will you?" James could hear how much Hagrid struggled to pronounce the 'H' in his father's name, and he smiled at the giant.

"'Course, Hagrid." He turned to Teddy, making a movement with his head towards the Griffindor table. "Have a happy Christmas!"

The two said goodbye to Hagrid and turned towards the Gryffindor table, to see most of the occupants gone, with a few picking up, getting ready to head back to their rooms.

James grabbed Teddy's upper arm as if to lead him, though when they started to walk the stayed in step. Teddy looked at the hand on his arm but said nothing of it, it was no bother.

"Aw, does wittle Teddy Wupin need a babysitter?" Asked the fat woman from her portrait. She laughed at how clever she was, howling in delight and gesturing to James' hand with her glass.

James dropped his hand, blushing, and threateningly spat out the password.

-x-

The wind bit down Teddy's neck and he pulled his cloak more snuggly around himself, peering over heads at platform 9 ¾ in search of his Godfather. He stood rather close to James (he swore that boy was a damn space heater, he could feel the heat radiating off of him) but he didn't mind, and it wasn't considered unusual as most people were pressed closely together on the chilly December evening.

Finally, Ginny and Ron's red hair stuck out among the crowd. Picking up their trunks and owl cages, the children set off to meet their parent's half-way. Albus waved to his friend Scorpius before hurrying after his elders. When they met together hugs, kisses on the cheeks, and questions were exchanged. Teddy was the first to wrap his arms around Harry, and he beamed with happiness and fond memories playing through his head.

"It's good to see you, Ted!" Said Harry. "You must stop growing; soon you're going to be taller than your father was." They pulled apart and studied one another. Teddy ruffled his turquoise hair and smiled at the man who had helped raise him after his maternal grandmother died when he was young.

Harry turned to embrace his little girl, so the Lupin moved to the person closest to him and hugged them to ease the chill in his core. He found himself looped around James, and had to bite back the moan that raised in his throat when the extra-hot body heat looped around him too. James chuckled in his ear.

"Miss me already?" Came James' heart-filled voice.

Teddy grumbled an incoherent response and found himself unable to let go of the boy he knew so well. He nuzzled his cold, red nose into James' tawny hair and inhaled deeply. He was trying to place the delicious scent clinging to his friend, thinking it was—

"Ahem,"

Reluctantly, James pried himself out of Teddy's grip to find that everyone else was done mingling and all eyes rested on them. Teddy ruffled his hair again, a nervous, flustered habit he'd developed. They hurriedly bent down to pick up their things.

"Ready to go home, yet…?" Lily asked, rapidly rubbing her arms for warmth while Ginny tied a red and gold scarf around her neck.

"Oh. Yes, let's go." James said, his eyes glued to the floor. Teddy made sure to walk closer to Harry and farther from James, to keep himself from embarrassing them further.

With trunks and animals in haul, the extended family traveled across the magic train station to where the fireplaces stood embedded in the wall. One by one, they disappeared by floo.

-x-

Ginny was relieved to have her whole family home for the holidays. The year before, Teddy had decided to stay at Hogwarts to keep Hagrid company and to study. Giny knew that, deep inside, Teddy thought he would be a burden over the holidays. Ginny and Harry had never seen their eldest son so sad in all of his life. He hardly ever smiled over that break, save for the day the children left again for Hogwarts.

The red headed woman shook her head and tutted at the memory. She tied on an apron and with a wave of her wand brought out all the things needed to make a dinner stew. Sliced, diced, and whatever needed cutting took yet another wave, and with a third everything was in her cast-iron pot, heating on the stove

She set a timer and walked into the living room where everyone else was laughing and talking amongst themselves. Ginny sat herself in between her aged mother, and her sister-in-law, Hermione.

Mindless talk and catching up was exchanged, and in no time at all Ginny's dinner timer sprung to life. She and her mother rose together, preparing the soup for their loved ones

"Dinner is on the table," Grandma Weasley announced, dodging out of the way when the youngish ones barreled past her, taking their spots eagerly.

Teddy and James waited to proceed through the door after everyone was seated. They were both silently thankful the family had left spots directly across from each other for them. Grandma Weasley set a heaping bowl of stew I front of each boy. She patted James' hair and met eyes with Teddy. "Sweetheart," she said to Teddy, "we are all so glad you came! Last year was so dull without you around. And James, why, you could hardly tell if he was alive! Poor thing was always sulking about, and if you asked what was wrong, it was always that he missed you." She gave a wink, then hobbled away to her seat near the other end of the table.

Teddy and James looked at each other, James blushing furiously, Teddy Smirking. "Didn't know you'd missed me that much, mate."

"Like she said," James grumbled, "it was rather dull without you."

"So, my hair helps out, then? By being bright, and all."

James shrugged, leaning over his soup to blow on it. He raised his eyes to look at Teddy's. The blue haired boy was taken aback by how… seductive he looked. "You just make things worthwhile, Ted."

Teddy dropped his eyes awkwardly, not sure how to accept the compliment, and started to eat. Throughout dinner, he could feel James' toes prodding at his, then disappearing briefly before coming back again. He had forgotten that James was a footsy type of bloke.

Dinner was surprisingly quiet overall, and Ginny took pride in knowing that her magically induced stew was a hit.

After supper was over, Teddy, James, Lily, Rose, Albus and Hugo excused themselves to the living room.

"The Scammander twins taught me a game Muggles play as a pass time," said Rose, " it's called 'truth or dare'. Want to play?"

Mumbles of agreement were given, so she explained the rules. Teddy sat cross legged on floor next to Hugo while the others sat on two couches across from the sitting boys. "Okay, I'll start." Said Rose.

"Albus, truth or dare?"

"…Truth,"

"Is it true that you fancy Scorpius Malfoy?"

Everyone started to giggle at Albus' wide eyed, gaping expression. "WHAT?!"

"Answer Alby! It's just a question!"

"No! I do not fancy my best mate!"

"Alright, alright. Your turn Albus." Rose instructed.

He studied each familiar face around him, suddenly remembering a bit of bottled up anger he felt towards James, when early in the week his elder brother had scared the bloody hell out of him by buying some not-so-fun chewing gum from their Uncle Fred.

"James—truth or dare?" The youngest male Potter narrowed his eyes as he asked.

James rolled his eyes, as he had intended to just watch and not play. "Dare."

Albus pouted, hoping to get an embarrassing answer out of James when an idea of equal embarrassment hit him. "I dare you to kiss Teddy!"

For a moment, James only gaped at his brother. "W-what?"

"I. Dare. You. To. Kiss. Teddy. Now!"

James started to bicker with his brother, telling him to just shut up and go kiss Scorpius.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake," Teddy said, rising from his spot on the floor.

Within two long strides he stood confidently in front of James, who gulped. Teddy leaned down, resting his hands on the back of the couch for support, and gently pressed his lips to James'. The blue haired teen flicked his tongue out against the boy's bottom lip, and deepened the kiss. The younger children in the room gasped and Teddy heard someone—Hugo, he guessed—slap their hands over their eyes. Teddy fisted his hands in James' hair, and James felt every inch of his body explode.