Disclaimer: Nothing's mine but my plot here.
A/N: Thanks to my beta, Miles333. And to s i l v e r a u r o r a for the help. ;)
This is written for misswhiteblack's The Next Generation Challenge Competition on the HPFC forum.
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For the Writing Quotes:
Singing and tie.
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And for the 99 love/pain quotes:
I don't hate you because you left. I hate you because you pretended you wouldn't.
"You should not be saying "past is past", especially when you know flashbacks exist."
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Along with the "Sail Me Your Ship" challenge.
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For MidnightEmberMisery. Happy (belated) birthday. :D
And for my dear angst twin, sherbetgirl. :D
Summary: Three times Teddy walked away from Victoire, and one time, he stayed.
As many as the shells that are on the shore,
So many are the pains of love;
The darts that wound are seeped in much poison.
_Ovid
One: Dance
She's talking with Dom, trying to look like she isn't looking for him, while she so obviously is, when a tap on her shoulder makes her startle.
She doesn't see her sister's smile as she turns around, curls flying, dark red dress sweeping along the floor, expecting to see little Lily there.
But no.
Teddy.
Her breath catches in her throat and for a moment, she forgets how to breathe.
"Can I have this dance, miss?" he asks, with a sweeping bow, breaking her from the spell which he has cast upon her. She feels a blush color her cheeks; nobody has ever spoken to her like that, and she giggles in a way she hasn't done in a long time, as his one of gloved hand takes her own.
"Of course, darling," she says, her perfect kissable red mouth set just so and then he's flashing her one of his devilishly handsome smiles as he's leading her from Dominique, and out on the middle of the floor. The music is a soft waltz and in seconds, she's wrapped up in those silver eyes of his as they dance ohsogracefully together.
His large, masculine hand is on her slim waist and she shivers at his touch. His left hand holds her right, and she's finding it hard again to breathe. Her left hand rests on his right shoulder.
"You look gorgeous," he says, in a low, husky voice that sends chills up on her spine. She notices his eyes aren't on her face but at the top of her very low cut dress. She colors again, not sure why she's having such a reaction; she's had plenty of boys stare at her breasts before, after all, what Veela hasn't?
But Teddy hasn't before and that thought sends her fifteen-year-old heart fluttering.
In was one of those cliché situations where the girl has fallen head-over-heels with her best friend, who's bloody oblivious.
"Thanks," she replies, smoothly, giving him no guess at what she's thinking. "You look very dashing yourself, Teddy."
"This was a good idea you had, Vicka. I'm sure Molly's having the best time," he says and the way he says her nickname makes her body melt like butter. She has to fight to stay on her feet. How she continues the waltz is beyond her, but she does.
"The credit goes to Dom," she insists but smiles coyly anyway. His eyes have now switched to a sky blue and she finds herself tightening her hold around his shoulder. Merlin. He is perfect.
She blushes again and it takes every ounce of strength to keep her cool. Merlin. She is Victoire Weasley. She isn't acting like herself at all. How can she have been turned into such a quivering puddle of honey in a matter of minutes….?
Stupid teenage hormones…
"Teddy, I-"
"Lupin, over here!" They stop dancing and Teddy turns around.
It's Teddy's friend Austin Long and she knows she's lost him.
Teddy gives her an apologetic look and she nods her understanding even as her stomach knots. She does understand. Austin and Teddy are best friends and Austin is Molly's boyfriend. He probably wants to talk about something to do with her. After all, it is her cousin's birthday.
"Go, darling," she says, and smiles. She's so good at lying, faking and pretending; both come easy. He smiles back at her and she thinks maybe it's worth him leaving.
"Catch you later, Vicka." With those words, he's gone, swept into the crowd of dancing couples.
She's left alone, in the middle of the floor, feeling hurt and confused.
He's just Teddy, her bestbest friend, the guy she has a crush on.
Just...Teddy.
Right?
xxx
Two: France
Victoire goes to France with Dom after she turns seventeen, to stay with Uncle Dennis and Aunt Gabrielle, and she doesn't see Teddy again until she's twenty.
She pretends it doesn't hurt, that she's has no contact with him whatsoever, friends drift apart, but it does.
She remembers the way he kissed her before she left to Hogwarts….she still doesn't understand why he did it.
It hurts like a knife wound to her heart.
And three years in France hasn't healed that hurt.
She's dated her fair share of blokes already and it's not been very long.
(A couple years of trying to move past a certain blue-eyed, purple haired boy.)
She's all Veela beauty&charm and shortshort skirts and lowlow cut tops. The shy little fifteen year old Vicka who danced at Molly's fourteenth with her best friend is gone, and is replaced by heartless, confident, Victoire.
Victoire's reunion with her brother, parents, and extended is wonderful and nobody mentions his absence and itdoesn'tmatter.
Does it?
She pretends she doesn't see everyone's shared looks, or how half of them seem to be walking on eggshells around her.
Victoire smiles, laughs, soaks up the compliments like a sponge. Wow, Vicka, you look so grown up or I love the new accent, Vic.
But inside, she just doesn't care.
Eventually she excuses herself, because she just can't take it anymore. How can she pretend to be happy when he's not here?
Victoire doesn't expect to find him outside in the garden. She doesn't expect for him to look so good. Or to have her body tingle in longing, her palms sweating, wanting to kiss those full lips of his.
What is wrong with her?
He is just Teddy and she hadn't seen him in years.
And maybe that crush she had when she was younger has grown into something and she didn't know it before.
Merlin.
She needs to snap out of this.
...It is just the fact he isn't too bad looking...and she always has preferred English boys over anybody else…and the last time she saw him, he kissed her.
Yeah.
"Teddy," she greets coolly, hoping her voice doesn't betray her body. He flinches and she knows she has him. For some reason, she finds pleasure in that.
"Victoire," he replies, and chills go up her spine. His voice has deepened. "I heard you and Dominique were coming back today."
"Yeah...we're here," she says, because what else is there to say?
He steps closer to her and she pulls away. "What do you want, Teddy?" she asks, stiffly, and pretends she doesn't see the hurt that flashes upon his face. He may have forgotten the way they left things but she sure hasn't.
"Vic...about the way we left things..."
Victoire doesn't let him finish. She hasn't inherited the Weasley temper for nothing. "I haven't forgotten, Teddy. As I recall, the way we left things wasn't so nice."
Teddy scowls, his eyes flaring blue. "You could say that."
No duh, she thinks silently, keeping her face expressionless because it's so much easier. "So, are we going to talk about it?" she asks, pointedly; she's never one to talk in circles. She steps closer to him and her amber eyes thin.
Teddy frowns. "Talk about the fact that you just packed up and left?" he demands, heatedly, and now she knows.
He's grown into a prat.
A bloody prat.
A good-looking prat but one nevertheless.
"You're a prat," Victoire sneers as she puts her hands on her hips. Maybe it is childish, but she doesn't.
He snorts rather loudly and Victoire can't help but wonder if the ones inside can hear it. "Me? A prat? Look who's talking, Princess Veela."
All she can see is red now, her body shaking with anger. How bloody dare he say such a thing? Talking about her heritage like that. "Take that back."
"No."
Victoire throws her arms up off her hips; she is always good at talking with her hands, gritting her teeth as she forces herself to calm down a little. "Of all the things to say-."
This time, Teddy stops her, his voice dripping anger onto every word. "Why didn't you tell me you were leaving to France? Why did I have to hear it from Louis and Harry?"
She tosses her head, blonde hair flying. "If I remember correctly, we weren'tspeaking."
"We were supposed to be bloody best friends," he shouts, hair turning a brilliant shade of red. He's ticked off. But right now, she doesn't care.
"Best friends don't abandon each other. They don't just stop talking to one another out of blue," snarls the blonde witch, fists trembling at her sides, tears blurring her vision much too her shame. The two years of built up anger and pain have finally fell and the gate that has kept everything away has broken. "Best friends are supposed to be there for each other." She lets a sob.
She doesn't see the look of pain that flashes across his face. "Vicka, I'm so sor-"
She slaps him. The sound of flesh hitting flesh echos, and everything in the garden around them seems to go deathly quiet.
"You stupid, stupid, bloody arse," she screams, tears running down her face, her heart breaking into a million pieces. She can barely see through the tears.
Teddy stumbles backwards. "I-I-I can't do this."
And then he's gone and she's falling to her knees, sobbing and alone.
xxx
Three: Restaurant
It's been a week since Victoire's and Teddy's fight in her parents' garden.
A week full of moping and being angry at herself for moping. And a lot of nights with a sibling or cousin and a bottle of Vodka and tons of tears. Thank Merlin she has her family.
For several days, she doesn't understand this reaction of hers, she is a grown woman after all, and it takes the youngest, Hugo, of all people, for her to figure it out.
Love?
She's in love with Teddy?
How can this possibly be?
It doesn't make any sense.
She shouldn't have any kind of feelings for the stupid prick anymore.
Her hands just go all sweaty, her body tinges, she finds herself lost in those eyes of his, her stomach is filled with butterflies and she's never felt this way towards anyone else before...
Merlin, she is so screwed.
The day that Victoire comes to this realization, that she might have feelings for Teddy, all her cousins and Dom and Louis decide to take her out. She's not sure if it's to get her out of the Burrow or because they are tired of her drinking and sobbing and all those late nights.
Either way, it is nice of them.
They go to this new fancy Muggle restaurant, and they dress up, even Lily who hates dresses and for just a little while, Victoire forgets all about him.
She's sitting there, laughing at James, who's attempting to eat an eel, because of a dare of Hugo's. And Merlin, it feels so good to laugh again.
She's encouraging him on; honestly, eels aren't that gross, when Lucy elbows her sharply in the ribs. "Don't look Vicka, but Teddy's two tables across."
Victoire freezes before quickly taking a sip of her cider. She can barely taste it.
By now, the other ten know and whispers grow.
"Why don't you go talk to him?" Roxy hisses into her ear from the opposite side of Lucy. Victoire scowls.
"I would rather shower in toxic waste than get anywhere near him," she growls. The boys snicker while Dominique gives a snort.
"Do you think Daddy would be too mad at me if I tell him he's an arse?" Lily asks in a perfectly angelic voice and Victoire can't help but laugh at this. And in seconds, the whole table was laughing.
"Oh my Merlin, he didn't!" This cry of outrage is from Rose, who sits across from Victoire and can see the object of Lily's name calling perfectly.
"What?" Victoire finds herself asking, even if she doesn't really care. She's merely...curious. Yeah, that's it.
"He has a blonde girl with him," Albus blurts, emerald eyes wide.
Her head spinning, Victoire turns to where all the others are looking, looking past the couple that sits at the table between them, and feels her heart drop in her chest ten feet.
There he is, black hair and dark suit, and just seeing his side has stirred up so many feelings inside of her she thought didn't live anymore.
Then she sees the blonde Albus spoke off and her stomach heaves.
She can only see the side of her, but the woman is gorgeous, there is no doubt about it. Her hair comes down in long, thick curls and she is so small and very feminine.
Louis swears under his breath and Dominique breaks a glass cup in her anger. But Victoire doesn't register any of this. Teddy has felt twelve pairs of eyes on him and glances over at them. His eyes meet hers.
The whole world stops for her.
She's falling into his eyes, a stormy blue abyss, and in seconds, she's lost from everything else.
"Victoire!"Molly's quiet call brings her back and she finds herself feeling like she's waking from a dream.
It takes her a moment to shake herself out of before she replies with a, "What?"
"Let's leave," Albus suggests quietly and she finds herself agreeing with a nod of her head. This isn't helping her dislike of him at all, being in the same place as he is.
But before any of them can stand up, Teddy abruptly gets to his feet and stumbles away from his table. His companion follows suit, and Victoire notes icily that she's wearing a dark red number...Teddy loathes that color.
In seconds they move to the exit. Victoire blinks and both are gone.
An awkward silence settles over tha table.
"So, I'll think I'll try a crab next," James says brightly after a moment, trying to break the tension.
"I dare you to put hot sauce on it," Fred returns, with a grin that lights up his tanned face. "Or are you too chicken?" It's obvious both of them are trying to cheer her up so Victoire forces a tight smile. Outside, she's okay, while inside, everything's crumbing down.
Suddenly, it dawns on her.
She does have feelings for Teddy.
She's bloody in love with him.
xxx
Four: Wedding
Of course he would be here.
Austin is his best friend and it's only natural that he would be Austin's best man.
Him being there is nothing more than that.
Victoire is trying to convince herself this as she adjusts the rollers in her cousin's ginger hair. She pretends her hands aren't trembling.
Because she's so over that idiot.
"You all right, Victoire?" Molly asks and Victoire can't help but feel guilty. It's Molly's wedding day after all. She shouldn't have to ask her if she is all right.
"Yeah, Molls. I'm good," she lies, giving one last roller a quick adjust.
Molly makes an annoyed sound under her breath. "Don't lie to me, cousin. You were thinking about Lupin, weren't you?"
Victoire sighs; her shoulders slumping as Molly pulls away and faces her. "Yes, I was."
Molly frowns, pressing her pretty red painted lips together. "You know, you're not doing yourself any good."
Victoire nods, looking shamed as she lowers her eyes to the floor. "I know, I know. It's just I keep thinking about him, then I think about that woman we saw him with…" It has been twelve days since the restaurant and she still can't keep it out of her mind.
Suddenly, the witch throws her hands up in the air, exasperated. "I shouldn't be doing this, should I? Torturing my mind all the time…no. I shouldn't…this has gone on way too long. I am now officially over Teddy Remus Lupin. We are over. My loving him is over. In the past."
Silence, then Molly shakes her head. "Vicka, you should not be saying "past is past", especially when you know flashbacks exist." Then with a knowing look, Molly makes her way to her closet across her bedroom.
"What does that mean?" Victoire demands, turning in the direction her cousin has gone. But Molly has already disappeared into her walk-in and doesn't reply.
"Can you go make sure Lucy knows to wear the black high heels instead of the blue ones?" Molly's voice calls out and Victoire sighs. She had thought the blue ones would have looked better with Lucy's Maid of Honor dress but Molly is the bride here.
"Sure, sure." With that, Vic leaves Molly's bedroom and starts towards Lucy's room that is only a few feet away. What of the perks of the Burrow.
That's when she runs straight into Teddy.
He catches her by the elbows and his hand on her bare skin draws a sharp gasp from her.
"You okay?" She shivers at the sound of his voice.
"Yeah," she replies, breathlessly. He smiles at her, not letting go of his hold.
"I was just about to come to see you," he explains and that makes her step backwards, jerking her elbow away.
"Why?" Why was he acting so friendly now?
He suddenly looks awkward. "Well..." He trails off before suddenly blurting, "Okay, I'm sorry. I've been acting like the biggest jerk ever and you have every right to hate me for the way I've been treating you."
Victoire crosses her arms over her chest and tries to forget the tingling her body is feeling. "How do you figure that?" Then she quietly adds, "I don't hate because you left. I hate you because you pretended you wouldn't."
Teddy's blue eyes flare with guilt. "And I am so sorry for everything."
She nods slowly. She's willing to give him a chance. At least to explain. "Tell me."
He winces. "I...I...I foundoutI'mawerewolf."
Victoire stares at him for a moment, trying to figure out if he said what she thought he did. Yeah. He did. Then she laughs. "Of all the things, Teddy Remus Lupin."
Seemingly, he wasn't expecting her to react like this. He looks startled. "What?"
Victoire shakes her head. "Merlin, Teddy. Honestly. You haven't spoken to me for years because you're a bloody flipping werewolf?" Anger and disbelief cloud her voice. "Oi. Part Veela, part werewolf here."
He shifts his feet, and looks down at them. "Well, apparently, this stupidity runs in the family. I'm sure you know the way my father left my mum."
Victoire shakes her head again. Of all the reasons...blokes ."Two things, Teddy. One: who was that girl?"
He looks confused before smirking slightly. "Carly?" His eyes widen and the smirk vanishes as it dawns on him. "Merlin's pants, Vicka. She's Carly Anderson. Mother of two, thirty-six, and happily married." He shakes his head. "Merlin. The only reason I was talking to her was that she's Veela and werewolf herself."
Victoire blinks, blushing. She can't believe she thought...wincing, she pushes the thought away.
Teddy shifts his weight, looking rather ashamed. "I know I don't have the right to ask you, but will you forgive me for being so stupid?"
She smiles a little. "We'll work on it. I'm willing to give us another chance."
Teddy grins, before sweeping her up in a big bear hug. She took a breath, inhaling his wonderful scent.
"Teddy?" she asks, her voice muffled from his shirt.
"Yeah?"
"Why did you kiss me in seventh year?"
He pulls her back and stares at her with intense amber eyes. "Because that was when I first realized that I was in love with you."
xxx
"Lily, have you seen Teddy or Victoire?" Roxanne asks, poking her head into her cousin's room. Lily is on the floor, painting her toenails a glittery black while Hugo looks into her floor length mirror, playing with his tie.
Lily looks up, grinning. Hugo starts singing some American love song under his breath.
"Oh, I saw her," Lily answers, grinning even bigger. "Her and Teddy both, actually."
Roxanne's brown eyes widen. "What are you saying...?"
"They're snogging in the broom closet," Lily explains, eyes dancing.
"Actually, I think the correct term, Lily, is, making out," Hugo puts in, grinning.
Roxanne squeals.
"I think you need to go tell Grandma Molly that she needs to start planning another wedding."
xxx
Five years later...
"Olympha."
"I am not naming my daughter that."
"What's wrong with it? It's beautiful."
"In your dreams."
Teddy pats his wife's growing stomach fondly, grinning. "Okay, fine. How about Natasha?"
Victoire groans. "I wonder if other parents have had this kind of trouble."
Teddy snorts. "I don't know, Ms. I-Don't-Like-Any-Of-The-Names-My-Awesome-Husband-Has-Come-Up-With."
Victoire thumps him on the back of the head. "Oi, you. Watch it."
Teddy grins his best, I'm-so-perfectly-innocent grin. "Okay...okay. How about Bloom?"
"Don't you dare."
Next one up: Molly.
There you have it. Please review and let me know what you thought about it. Requests are welcome.
