Victoire Weasley moved through the barrier to platform 9 and ¾ pushing her trolley in front of her. She looked up and saw the crowd of wizards and witches on the packed platform, next to a billowing scarlet steam train and smiled widely. She had missed this. She loved the odd mix of people in brightly coloured robes next to their children in muggle clothes. She had missed the excitement of going back to school and she was looking forward to seeing all her friends again. She had spent most of her summer in France with her mother's family, sure it was nice and she had gotten a lovely tan out of it but that hadn't stopped her from missing her friends for a month and a half. She was about to start her 5th year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry and she couldn't wait to get going.

She moved through the people, her long blonde hair billowing behind her, she weaved through the crowd before spotting her family in the middle of the platform. Her father was hugging her little sister Dominique, who looked like she might have a heart attack, and whispering word of encouragement to her. Today was her first day at Hogwarts and Dominique, being the typical drama queen she was, had the attention of all the family on her. Vic moved towards her family and as she did she brushed against the shoulder of a boy by mistake, she turned around to say sorry but instead was hugged fiercely by her best friend Teddy Lupin. He picked her up yanking her hands off her trolley and spun her around once before putting her down and yelling, 'Vic, it's great to see you.' He smiled his trademark wolfish grin at her and Vic laughed.

'It's great to see you too Teddy.' She chuckled again before hugging him once more. When she released him she held him at arm's length to study him, he seemed to have gotten taller since she last saw him he now stood at around 6 foot 2" and his colour of the day hair was a deep purple which made his blue eyes sparkle, he had the same straight pointed features he had before. Being a metmorphmagus Teddy could change his appearance at will but he hardly ever changed his facial features, except to entertain the little Weasleys, it was not like he would ever need to change his face he had an incredibly handsome, sculpted face and his slouchy jeans, Nike hi tops and polo shirt made his lean, muscled figure look positively drool worthy too. It was an unusually warm day for September the 1st, summer last ditch attempt to hang around left the temperature at 26 Celsius, making jackets obsolete. 'Have you grown a bit, Ted?' she said looking at him critically to see if anything else had changed.

'Yes, like an inch.' Teddy chuckled, Vic was still looking him over. 'Come on Vic stop looking at me like that you're giving me the creeps.'

'How am I giving you the creeps? I'm not doing anything.' Vic pouted.

'Oh yeah?' said Teddy he then started to circle her mimicking her inspection in an overly exaggerated way. He moved around her, poking her, inspecting the top of her head. Vic stood through it laughing lightly taking the prodding silently to prove it wasn't annoying. Teddy, motivated by her silence, kept going, moving down tapping her sandaled feet before lifting up the skirt to her summer dress cheekily.

'Hey!' Victoire shouted swiping at his hand. Teddy laughed heartily sliding back in front of her. 'Fine,' Vic admitted 'I'll stop if you stop.' Teddy grinned having proved his point.

'Come on, I think we should go to your parents before Dominique starts crying.' Teddy said grabbing her trolley and steering it towards the Weasleys. Vic followed him through the crowd.

They reached her parents; her father looked relieved to see her, he moved to her hugging her saying, 'Have a good year Victoire and,' He looked over his shoulder to the figure of Dominique who was now talking to their mother in fluent French, 'look after your sister, ok?'

'I will dad, bye.' She moved to her mother and sister as Teddy said goodbye to Bill. Vic put her hand on Dom's shoulder 'Dom, we should probably get on the train now.' Dom nodded silently, this was strange for her normally she couldn't shut up; she must be really scared Vic thought. Vic moved to her mother who wrapped her in a tight hug.

'Au revoir ma chérie. You take care of your sister.'

'I will,' Vic said for the second time in the past two minutes. She stepped back and looked over at her father to see him and Teddy hugging jovially, Teddy had always been basically part of the family so this was nothing new. He always attended every Weasley/Potter family function and he had since his grandmother died in his 4th year been living with the Potters, so it would be silly if he didn't. He and Vic had been friends forever, Teddy was even at St Mungo's when Vic was born. They were fast friends playing in the burrow together all the time, climbing trees and playing 'it' in the fields. They told each other everything and had remained best friends to this day. He was like a carbon copy of her personality, they were both quite wild and had cutting senses of humour, Vic was more calm and collected than Teddy was, he was quick to anger and had he wasn't ashamed to admit that he had punched a few people in his time, but they all deserved it. They were both flirty and could make the other smile without even trying. They supported each other through hard times and could make each other laugh for hours. Sure they had had a few fights every now and then but they were always over so quickly, Victoire couldn't hold a grudge for shit and got easily bored of being mad with Teddy and always eventually they ended up friends again.

Teddy and Bill moved back to the trio of girls, Teddy said a quick goodbye to Fleur before grabbing Dom's trunk and hauling it onto the train, Dom followed Teddy quietly mumbling a last goodbye to her parents before disappearing onto the train. Vic followed her lugging her trunk with her as the whistle blew signalling the train was about to leave. Vic waved to her parents one last time before moving into the carriages her trunk trailing behind her. She found Teddy quickly outside a compartment alone.

'Where's Dom?' she asked.

Teddy turned to her grabbing her trunk off her, 'I put her in that compartment with a load of other first years, she said she was fine. Come on everyone's down here.'

Vic sighed with relief; she wouldn't have to deal with her sister till they reached Hogwarts. Don't get her wrong she did love her sister, in small doses; sometimes she could be quite overbearing and manipulative. That's a definite Slytherin thought Vic.

Vic moved her mind off her sister and continued following Teddy, 'So where is everyone?'

Teddy grinned, 'just down here and Marcus is dying to see you.'

Vic laughed, Marcus Ware one of Teddy's best friends who was also with Teddy in 7th year, had a crush on Victoire which he told her every time she saw him. He was a player but always said he would change his ways for Vic. It had become a running gag for the group, he would profess his undying love for Vic and she would think of new ways of turning him down. Marcus was incredibly handsome and ran along Teddy in the eyes of the girls of Hogwarts. He was just taller than Teddy with a toned body from years of playing chaser on the Gryffindor quidditch team with Teddy. He had short dirty blonde hair and green eyes, he was definitely charming and was the joker of the group he would say anything for a laugh.

'Haha, I can't wait to see him, I came up with a few good ones over the summer.' Teddy laughed.

'Awww, so you're going to break his little heart again.' He said with mock sincerity.

'I'm sure he'll find another girl to help him get over it.' Vic joked, Teddy snorted as he passed a few second year girls. They looked at him before quickly running away giggling. 'Looks like you could have a few prospects there too.'

'Eww Vic they're twelve, anyway we're here.' Teddy said as he pulled a carriage door open.

They were greeted by a chorus of, 'VIC!' Victoire moved into the compartment slightly only to be jumped on by two girls. The first was Philomena Raeburn, she was a Ravenclaw in Vic's year, she was quite short with curly brown hair and brown eyes and a curvy figure. She was the daughter of an important ministry official who was in charge of Magical Transportation or something along those lines. She was loud and always had her opinions heard, she and Vic had been friends since second year when Gryffindor had herbology with Ravenclaw and Vic found her hilarious, normally for reasons Phila didn't understand. The second girl who jumped on Vic was Ettie Fallon, she was in Gryffindor with Vic, they shared a dorm with two other girls, Teagan Abner and Druela (Dru) Heathwaite, who were both sitting down waiting to say hello. Also in the compartment was Everard Fallon, Ettie's identical twin brother who was also in Gryffindor. Rigel Brown, a Hufflepuff and Teddy's three best friends, Marcus, Amory Blaine and Ace Statterby, who were all in Teddy's year. Marcus and Amory were both in Gryffindor with Teddy but Ace was in Hufflepuff. Teddy's year was small, not many people had children during the war and Teddy's year consisted of no more than 25 people, which meant they all knew each other. Vic year was quite small as well only 30 people in the 5th year. So they were quite a family.

Vic squeezed into the compartment, they had managed to snag the biggest one on the train but there still wasn't enough room for eleven people so Rigel was sitting on the floor under the window, smoking a cigarette. Vic moved round hugging everyone, while Teddy stood at the door jokingly moping. 'Oh yes lets all say hello to Vic, no, no need to stand up for me and shout "Teddy how are you?" I'm fine thanks for asking.' He joked.

Everyone laughed and Marcus said, 'well we just saw you six minutes ago didn't we, when you dropped your trunk off and I didn't miss you that much in your absence that I'd have a sudden urge to hug and yell "Teddy". Sorry mate you're not that special.' Teddy laughed, Dru then got up and moped about having to go off and do prefect duties, everyone said bye and she vacated her chair and left the compartment Teddy jumped at the seat and slid in next to Amory, before Rigel could even get up. Rigel jokingly gave Teddy an evil glare from the floor and flicked ash out of the compartments open window. Teddy grinned back before turning to Amory and chatting to him.

Vic was just saying hello to Teagan when she felt a pull on her waist and suddenly found herself on Marcus's lap, he smiled his most dazzling smile at her and said in his most enchanting voice, 'but you, Miss Victoire Weasley are definitely someone to get excited about, you seem to get more beautiful every time I see you.'

Victoire just smiled kissed his cheek and said 'Hey Marcus,' before turning around on his lap and stealing Rigel's cigarette and taking a toke.

Marcus turned to the group and said, 'Did you see that, she kissed my cheek I totally deserve a point for that.'

'What do you mean you deserve a point?' asked Vic. Ettie and a few of the others laughed.

'Marcus thinks he deserves a point for every time you do something nice or don't reject him too harshly whereas you get a point when you do. What's the score now?' Ettie responded.

'It's like 21-68 to you Vic,' said Amory smiling.

'21 my arse,' yelled Marcus, 'I have more than that, remember last year when we did that Truth or Dare drinking game and me and Vic pulled, well I deserve like1 6 points for that.'

'Actually,' laughed Vic, 'I had to bite your tongue to get you to stop.'

The whole compartment burst out in laughter. 'Well I think that's 21-69 now,' choked Amory who was still laughing.

'Whatever, you fuckers,' groaned Marcus as he pulled out a packet of cigarettes and handed one to Vic before getting himself one. Vic nicked Rigel's lighter and lit hers and took a puff she then turned to Marcus and lit his from hers. Their eyes connected as they lit up and Vic thought she saw something really genuine in his eyes at that moment. But then she looked away, Marcus slipped his arm around her middle to steady her as she returned the lighter to Rigel and left it there resting on her hip.

She turned back to face the compartment, 'so when are you gonna do the first Friday Party of the year then Teddy?'

The Friday Parties were something Teddy and his friends had set up in their 4th year, they had wanted somewhere to drink, smoke and hang out of a Friday night instead of doing homework. So Teddy had suggested they go to the Room of Requirement, the room had been out of use since the war so teachers never checked it on their rounds and no one apart from Teddy knew where it was. Harry had told Teddy most of the secrets he had found at Hogwarts when Teddy was in his first year; he gave him the map, the cloak and the location of the room. So instead of trying to sneak down to Hogsmeade every Friday, like most of the upper years tried, and failed, to do, they just hung out in the Room of Requirement instead turning it into whatever they wanted. It quickly became popular amongst Teddy's year and then the upper years as well, until it had turned into the biggest underground party Hogwarts had ever seen. It happened every two weeks or so and it was a huge success with the students, all they had to do was leave their common rooms after 9 and peg it to the 7th floor where the room had been transformed into the perfect rave space. By using a Fidelious charm cleverly set up by Amory, the room was secure and students could only get in if told by the secret keeper or if they saw the note expressly written by Teddy. Even so the room was normally packed, it had been going for almost two and a half years now and word had spread around. It was made up of a majority of 5th, 6th and 7th years but choice exceptions were made from the lower years. Last year Vic and her friends were the only 4th years to be allowed to the party. The party was now the place to be and it and its creator went down in Hogwarts legend as the most brilliant idea since Fred and George Weasley put a portable swamp in the charms corridor.

'I dunno,' muttered Teddy, 'maybe not this week but next week. Once everybody's settled in and have got enough homework piled on them that a party is necessary,'

'YEAH!' whooped Everard, 'Par-tay!'

'Yeah,' groaned Amory, 'cos you know we're going to need a party with the amount of homework Professor Burnbury gives us.' The entire compartment, apart from Ace, groaned as well.

Professor Burnbury was the new potions master he arrived after Professor Slughorn decided it was time for him to permanently retire 6 years ago. Burnbury was short and squat and held his nose so far in the air he couldn't see the floor. He was pompous and worked all the students too hard.

'See, that,' Ace gestured around the compartment at all the sullen faces, 'is why I dropped potions.'

'Fuck off, Ace,' groaned Victoire, 'as soon as I can drop it I will.'

'Same.' Ettie and Rigel agreed.

'Ugh I have to keep it on if I want to become a healer,' moaned Teagan.

'What about you, Ev?' asked Victoire.

'I think I might carry it on, I mean I like the subject but fuck Burnbury's such a tosser I'm not such I could deal with him for two more years.' Replied Everard while taking a drag on his cigarette.

'I quite like him actually.' Everyone turned and stared at Phila open mouthed.

'Out. Get out of my compartment.' Marcus said in mock seriousness pointing to the door.

'What? I think he's nice.' Phila pleaded with the group in a desperate voice.

'You say that cos he loves you, he's never told you off once. You're a bit of a suck up.' Replied Rigel.

'I'm not a suck up.' Phila said, pouting. 'Just cos I'm not retarded like you and can actually follow the instructions...'

Phila was cut off when Rigel started mimicking her, 'Sir, sir, I've finished sir, seeing as I have free time shall I clean out the store cupboard for you sir? Sir, sir I know you said a two foot essay but I wrote more I hope that's alright sir?' The group sniggered, the impression was quite accurate really.

'Oh fuck off Rigel, just cos you could tell a good essay if it kicked you in the balls, I...' Phila was cut off when the compartment door.

'Anything off the trolley, dears?' Phila's reply was drowned out by the rustling of pockets to find change to buy sweets with. Marcus, Vic, Everard and Phila stayed sitting down while the rest of the group sprang up to buy as many treats as their coin purses would allow.

A minute later, everyone sat down satisfied with their purchases, just as everyone was about to tuck in, Vic having been handed a pumpkin pasty by Teddy, Everard called out. 'Hold on before you all stuff your faces, I thought we could have these.' Everard reached in his pocket and pulled out two fat joints and another bag of draw.

'Woah, you've been holding out on us man.' Shouted Marcus as he grabbed one of the zoots.

'Yeah,' Everard replied, 'I just figured it would be better to wait until the lady with the trolley came passed so when we had these we weren't disturbed.'

'That is some good thinking mate,' Teddy congratulated Everard while passing Victoire his lighter. Victoire plucked the spliff out of Marcus' lips and put it in her own before sparking up. Teddy saw Marcus watching Victoire's lips intently and he felt a pang of jealousy rise through him as he watched Victoire take a hit and then place the joint in Marcus mouth for him to take a toke. She then took it back off Marcus, Teddy watched as Vic's fingers brushed against Marcus' lips as she did this and he felt an uncontrollable desire to be the one whose lips Vic was touching. She took another hit and then passed it onto Rigel at the same time Amory passed Teddy the other spliff and he took a big hit of it.

He leaned back on his chair and watched Vic's lips as she blew out the billowing smoke effortlessly, her lips shaped in a perfect "o". Teddy sighed as he noticed Marcus watching her too and took another hit and then passed it on, Amory turned to him, grinning and said, 'what a fucking way to roll into our last year at Hogwarts, eh? High as a fucking kite.'

'Yeah,' Teddy agreed still watching Vic trying to control the urge he had to reach over and kiss his best friend. 'It's definitely something.'