We Are Family

-Written for the Connect the Weasleys Challenge on HPFC-

Pairing: Teddy/Victoire

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SunStrike

-May 2015

Her silver-gold hair fell in a sleek wave to the small of her back, framing her bright blue eyes as she leaned back against the old oak. The rays of the sun lashed at the earth, sweltering waves of heat keeping most of the students ensconced within the castle with cooling charms cast on their clothes. The Slytherins had it the easiest, their common room below the Black Lake was said to be deliciously cool, even now in the midst of the heat-wave.

Herself, she preferred to sit outside where it was quiet, braving the harsh sun so that she could ponder her thoughts on her own. Her OWLs had just been written and there were just two weeks before the school year would end, sending her back to Shell Cottage to prepare for another year of school.

The only difference would be that he wouldn't be here next year because he was finally done with his schoolboy years. Her best friend was leaving her and Victoire just didn't know how she felt about that.

He had been there since she was born, a two year old toddler letting her tug at his turquoise hair. She remembers following him around as they got older, how it had always just been the two of them even when the others had been born. She remembers that it had been him – then four – who had held her when she cried that her parents wouldn't have time for her now that Dominique had been born.

She remembers when he was six and was forced by her Aunt Ginny to play a game of house with her and her sister. To this day, the image of him blushing at playing the role of the dad with her as the mum was still imprinted on her mind.

It was one of those things she couldn't forget because it was a memory that was centred around him. She remembers because he was her first teddy-bear.

"Hey," her head whipped around so quickly at the sound of his voice that it cricks. Rubbing at it ruefully, she scowled at him and at herself, cross that he had startled her and that she had let it happen.

"Hey," she returned his smile as he sank down to sit beside her, slinging a hand over her shoulders. It was a simple motion, one he had done a hundred times before but for some reason she wished that he wouldn't touch her now.

"So, do I want to know why you're out in the sun on a day like this?" he asked through his usual wolfish grin.

"Just thinking," she replied. Even though she had sat in comfort for close to an hour, cool in the shade cast by the thick boughs, his presence beside her caused her to feel unbearably hot.

"What about?" he pressed.

A streak of bravery that she had never been aware that she possessed shone through her then, proving that despite being a Ravenclaw, her blood made her very much a lion.

"About what Hogwarts is going to be like without my best friend," she replied, instantly regretting her honesty when he stiffened against her.

"Tell me about this best friend," he asked after a while, causing her to look at him in confusion.

"Teddy, what ar–"

"Just tell me," he interrupted, not looking at her but preferring to gaze over the still waters of the lake. In the distance, they Giant Squid waved lazily at them before sinking back into the liquid coolness of the lake.

"He's this guy who I've known since I was a baby and we've been inseparable ever since. He's been the guy who's always been there for me whenever I needed a friend, he has the biggest heart I've ever seen, he can make me laugh when I'm down and make me smile when I cry. He's my best friend and I–" she humoured him, abruptly falling silent near the end of her soliloquy when she realised what she had been about to tell him.

"I'm really jealous off this guy," smirked Teddy, but his hair told her a different story. The tips had flushed bright red – as had his cheeks – letting her know that he was embarrassed. To be honest, Victoire felt just as embarrassed about her confession.

"You shouldn't be . . . even though you're not as fun as he is," she feigned a smile and tried to dispel the tension, the heavy feeling in her chest disappearing as he quirked an eyebrow at her challenge.

"Really?" he asked her, his lips curling into a smile as his eyes flashed brightly in the sunlight – a deep sea-green today, her favourite colour – before he got to his feet, tugging her up as well.

"Teddy, what are you doing?" she couldn't help the laughter in her voice as she caught a glimpse of the mischievous expression on his face – a look that usually predicted another gem to be added to her treasure trove of memories.

"Fancy a swim to cool off?" he grinned, yanking off his T-shirt, trainers and socks before racing for the lake.

"You are insane," she called after him, nevertheless pulling off her shoes and blouse to dash after him in her sports bra and jeans.

"I know," he yelled before diving into the lake, spraying her with refreshingly cool water as she dove in after him.

"Still think your best friend is more fun than I am?" he asked, surfacing just in front of her, rivulets of water running down his lithe chest, his blue hair plastered to his forehead.

"You are my best friend, you tosser," she giggled, splashing him as hard as she could, the burning rays of the sun across her back not bothering her in the slightest.

"Hey!" he yelped, his hands striking out to catch her wrists and pin them to her sides. He looked down at her, his face flushing as he realised the proximity of her body to his.

"So what was that thing you were mentioning about your best friend earlier?" he asked, taking advantage of their situation.

A stroke of madness – she was sure the Gryffindors would call it bravery – overwhelmed her Ravenclaw logic for the briefest of moments but it was still too long and the words escaped her lips:

"He's my best friend and I've fallen in love with him."

She cursed herself as she saw the shock etched across his face and made to turn away, feeling the sting of angry tears at the corners of her eyes. Then she gasped as she felt his lips on hers.

Her wrists were freed and her fingers tangled themselves in his spunky turquoise locks, and she felt his arms wrapping themselves around her waist. Victoire closed her eyes as she felt his tongue begging entry, opening her mouth just enough to give it to him before nipping teasingly on his lower lip.

The sun beats down hotter and hotter, but it just didn't compare to the scorching intensity of their first kiss.

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Prompt: First Kiss