James is still sitting when there's a knock at the door. He tilts his head slightly to look up halfway at the door.

"What?" he asks.

"May I come in?" Teddy's concerned voice comes in through the shut door.

And despite what James is thinking, he says yes. The door opens to reveal Teddy, who is finally alone. No Victoire hanging at his arm, placing careful kisses on his cheeks.

"You alright?" asks Teddy, walking over cautiously.

James shrugs. Not exactly a lie.

"You shouldn't be so rude to Victoire," continues Teddy. "She is your cousin, you know."

"Of course I know," James says. How could he not?

Teddy sighs and sits down next to James. The latter stiffens, feels his heartbeat quicken. He hates it.

"What is it?"

James can't bear to look at Teddy, but he frowns at the floor. How did he know something was out of the ordinary? James pulls his feet back hard against the floor and makes a grunt.

"Jamie," says Teddy in a lower voice than before, "I've known you for ages now. I know when something's wrong."

He doesn't really act on it though, does he? James scoffs.

"You're being a right bugger, you know that? I'm trying to help you; I'm not the enemy," Teddy says. James hears the anger building in his voice.

"I don't want you to be the enemy," James hears himself nearly whisper. He wonders if Teddy actually heard him.

But his neck burns and he can't look up at Teddy, not now.

Teddy speaks slowly now. "But I am?"

James nods. Of course he is; it's inevitable.

Teddy breathes out slow through his teeth. James peeks out at him through his dark mess of hair. Teddy's eyebrows are pulled together and the piercing there has moved with his left one.

"Well," he says, "I haven't the faintest idea on what made me the enemy, but I really don't want to be, Jamie. Could you tell me what I did wrong?"

Teddy sounds hurt.

No, no, this is all wrong. Teddy isn't supposed to be hurt.

James doesn't know what to say, and before he can think of anything at all, Teddy stands and moves towards the door. He casts James an upset look before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.


Present tense is funny.

I decided to continue this. Expect short updates. This won't be very long.