So, we arrived at the Burrow and about four in the afternoon. Uncle Harry decided that this was a perfect time to play Quidditch. Of course about seventy-five percent of us joined him. James and Fred put up a fight because their younger siblings wanted to play to. Uncle Ron told them to shove it. He's a little touchy about the younger sibling teasing stuff.
I was left sitting around the kitchen table with Aunt Hermione, Neville, Dobby (who's really more of an indoor boy), my mother, Grandma, Granddad, Uncle Percy, Aunt Audrey, Luna, Rolf, Lysander, Lu (who's just a suck up), and Molly and Lucy, Uncle Percy's twin girls.
Lu and Dobby ran off to Uncle George's old room, which was full of old joke shop ideas, and Molly and Lucy were giggling in a shrill way that sort of reminded me of Teddy.
I hunched over in my seat eating a Ginger Newt and hoped no one would ask me any questions. But, as always, the inevitable happened.
'So Victoire, dear, how have you been?' Merlin I wish I played Quidditch.
'I've been fine, Aunt Audrey.' I answered with a small smile.
'How's school? What year are you in now?'
I sighed inwardly. 'I'm going into sixth this year. And Hogwarts is really good. I'm really happy there.' I threw that one in for my Mum's benefit.
'Oh really? Any idea what you want to do when you've finished?' Aunt Audrey can be nice, but she never stops with the questions. She's very academic and kind of stuffy sometimes. Though so is Uncle Percy. They're well suited for each other.
'I haven't decided yet, so I'm taking a lot of different subjects this year.' Merlin, I was bored right now.
'Well, that's lovely.' Yeah right, I can practically hear what she's thinking. Victoire's almost finished school and she hasn't even a vague idea for a career choice? What is she going to do when she finishes Hogwarts? She can't stay with her parents all her life.
Aunt Audrey's face was perfectly innocent, but I knew better. And that little voice was right. I had no idea what I was going to do.
At least Teddy had choices. Geez, even James knew what he wanted and he was only in third year! He wanted to be an Auror. And I knew he would be. That kid could play around a lot, but he had ambition. Fred wanted to work in his fathers shop and eventually own it; Roxy was going to be a Healer. Lily had some crazy idea of becoming a rock singer. I have no idea where that decision came from, but it was there all the same.
I had never wanted to be anything. I suppose I was a drifter. I was mediocre. Not bad, but not good. I had a temper and I was a klutz. That's the extent of my knowledge about who I am.
Is it just me or is this room feeling a little crowded? Oh great, I'm claustrophobic. I have to get out of here.
'Excuse me a minute.' I said forcing a smile as my heart beat a million miles per hour. I caught sight of my mother's slightly worried face and then I was out the back door, walking amongst the overgrown flower beds and the chickens. I hurried down to the old shed where my grandad still likes to fiddle with muggle artefacts. He's a funny one, Grandad Arthur.
I hurled myself into the shed and slammed the door shut. And curled up into a ball in the corner. I rested my head back against the cool metal, breathing evenly, listening to my heart beat. I knew I was overreacting slightly. But I couldn't help it. When anyone made any mention of the future, and my plans for it, I panicked. I had never thought of myself as an unorganised person growing up. On the contrary, actually. I thought I was rather prepared for anything. And now here I was, curled up into a pathetic little ball on the dusty floor of my Granddads shed. Sad, really.
I closed my eyes, still listening to my heart beat slow down, become regular, and took a deep breath.
I loved the Burrow. Sometimes it felt more like home than Shell Cottage. But maybe it was just because I always had family here. They were everywhere, always popping in to say hi, or to catch up on the family gossip. There was always family gossip.
When I was younger I'd hide behind the doorways and listen to Grandma Molly rage at Uncle Ron, or my Dad.
Sometimes Uncle Charlie would come by from Romania, and he would tell me stories about great dragons and his adventures over there. I loved the excitement of those stories. There was no Prince, no Princess, just you and the beast, and the only thing standing between you was your own reflexes.
When Grandma found me hiding behind doors and peering through keyholes, she would never yell. I was her first Grandchild, and for that she loved me. I was the oldest of the whole brood, apart from Teddy.
I sat completely still, all my thoughts whirring around in my mind and becoming muddled. I fought the growing drowsiness, but I don't think I succeeded, especially when I was shaken awake by Teddy.
'Go away.' I groaned. I heard him chuckle, and my eyes flew open. I shivered. The shed door was open and night air was drifting. I suppose I had been there for awhile. I lifted my head and stifled a curse in French. I had one giant crick in my neck.
'What are you doing out here?' I croaked.
'Better question for you, what are you doing out here?' He countered.
'What does it look like I'm doing?'
'Scaring everyone to death.'
'What do you mean?' I asked, taking his offered arm and struggling to my feet.
'Well, when you didn't come back for three hours and no one had seen you, it isn't exactly a cause for celebration.'
I groaned. 'Everyone overreacts in this family.'
'With good reason.' Teddy answered with indignation.
'Well, how did you find me?'
He looked uncomfortable. 'I don't know.'
I glared at him. 'How?'
'Fine!' He threw his hands in the air. 'I know this is where you come sometimes. You know, to think. It took me ages to remember that though. And considering I didn't tell anyone I was going, we should get back now.'
'How did you know that?'
He glanced at me nervously. 'Well, I kind of followed you once.'
I growled at him.
'Only once!' Teddy exclaimed. 'Ages ago!'
'Fine, let's go.'
We began walking back to the house. I tripped on a chicken, of course, but caught my self before I fell. 'You really shouldn't have done that, you know. Your Mum's terrified. She keeps saying that she looked sad! I should have known something was wrong!' Teddy asked, once he had stopped giggling. Merlin that's annoying. He looked at me hesitantly. 'What were you sad about?'
'I wasn't sad! I'm fine! Can we please just go calm everyone down? Honestly, the way we react to the smallest things....' I trailed off.
We walked in silence for a few seconds. 'And Harry's gone into one of his guilt trip phases-'
'Merlin, Teddy! Can you please shut up until we get back!?'
'Well, since we're kind of here now, can I talk?' He asked as we entered the backyard. I was spared having to answer him because I was charged by my father. I shrieked in terror as he picked me up and gave me a bear hug.
'Get off!' I said in a muffled voice against his robes. My mum was crying, jabbering on in French, while Uncle Harry looked guilty. Seriously, that guy has issues. Aunt Ginny looked simply relived, and everyone else had a myriad of emotions that all seemed to jumble together. My Dad's relief soon turned to anger, and I was given a big lecture on 'not sneaking out' because 'it's highly dangerous at night'.
I was sent to the guest room and collapsed on the bed. I was exhausted, though I wasn't sure why, considering I'd just had a three hour cat nap.
'Vic?' A voice sounded at the door.
'Come in Teddy.' I said into my pillow. He walked in and I heard him close the door behind him.
'Molly says you can stay for the night, if you want.' I felt his weight at the end of the bed, and so I sat up and leaned against the headboard. I hadn't noticed before, but his hair had changed to a bright yellow. How I had missed the brightness, I have no idea.
'Why the fluoro?' I asked.
He looked puzzled, but then comprehension dawned on his face and he checked his hair in the mirror on the wall. It turned back to blue in a millisecond.
'Didn't you know it was that colour?'
'Nah, sometimes it changes by its self. You know, sort of a mood thing.' Teddy answered casually.
'What does yellow mean?' I said with a smirk. He shrugged, and so I threw a pillow at him.
'Ow!' He exclaimed. 'That hurt!'
'It was a pillow!'
He blushed, and looked at his hands. I smirked. His hair had turned red. This must be embarrassment. He saw me smirking and his hair changed back to turquoise.
We sat in silence for a second. 'Tell me!' I exclaimed.
'Fine! It means- I mean, I think, cause you can never be sure- but I think it might mean-'
'Teddy! Don't have all day here!'
He shrugged, all of a sudden turning to nonchalance. 'I think yellow means afraid.'
I looked at him, and then started to laugh. 'Ohhhh, I get it, you looooove me! You'd do anything for me! Because you looooooove me!'
Teddy shook his head as I continued to laugh, but his hair was red again.
'You're an idiot Victoire.'
'But you still looooooove me!'
He got up, still shaking his head, and walked out. I chuckled a bit more, and then followed him.
I stopped at the top of the stairs when I heard my Dad's voice.
'How is she? Did she tell you what was wrong?'
Ohhhh, scandal! Teddy was doing my dad's dirty work!
'She's fine. Laughing her head off, but fine. She didn't tell me what was wrong, because I didn't ask her.' I heard Teddy answer.
'Why not?'
'She was tired. I'll ask her tomorrow.'
Awww, Teddy does care! I feel all warm and fuzzy inside now.
'Bill? You can go home if you want to tonight. I'll Apparate Vic back tomorrow.'
'Are you staying here tonight?'
'I wasn't going to, but I might as well.'
'Are you sure?' I heard my Dad, sounding concerned. Yeah that's right, he may look scary, but in reality he's just a big old softy.
'Very sure. We'll hang out tomorrow. Haven't seen her in awhile.' What is he talking about? We hang out all the time! Well, not alone, but still! Okay, so I have been abandoning my role as little sister to Teddy lately, but I promise from this day forth to do better! After all, he was going to stay here overnight for me, being force fed for being too skinny, I should at least be able to hang out with him for a day.
'Please don't worry about it Bill. I want to. I'll just go pick up some stuff from home and tell Gran.' I heard the CRACK as Teddy apparated out, and trudged down the stairs.
'Hey Sweetie.' Dad said, kissing me on the forehead. 'You feel alright?'
'Yeah, I'm fine Dad.'
'Good. We're just about to start dinner.' I grinned- Grandma was an awesome cook.
Teddy came back just as we sat down at the table. He had a bag slung across one shoulder but dumped it at the doorway when he saw the table groaning with food. He sat down and eagerly dug in. I shook my head in disgust, and then saw James, Fred, Lu, Dobby, Albus, Hugo, Lorcan, Lysander and Uncle Ron doing the exactly same thing.
'Boys.' I muttered under my breath. Apparently not quiet enough, because Aunt Hermione sighed next to me.
'You get used to it, dear.' I chuckled. I stumbled my way sleepily through the meal, spilling over a jug of pumpkin juice at which my cousins cheered. I guess they thought I'd gone too long without doing something embarrassing.
When dinner was over, and I had said goodbye to everyone, Grandma caught me yawning and immediately sent me upstairs. I obeyed gratefully. I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
--
Unfortunately, due to that cat nap I had where everyone had thought I'd been kidnapped; I woke up in the early hours of the morning. Let's get one thing straight- when I'm awake, I am awake. There's no going back for me. I stretched and clambered out of the warm and soft bed. I only had to walk down one flight of stairs because the guest bedroom was on the first floor.
I padded into the hallway, passing the Weasley clock on the way. I paused before this clock. It had always interested me greatly because it was when none of us were born yet, so we're not on there.
It's horrible that Fred the First's name had simply disappeared from the timepiece; something which I had heard had stopped the family for several weeks. I mourned the Uncle I never had, but who sounded like a lot of fun.
Apparently Aunt Angelina had gone out with him when they were at Hogwarts. Intrigue! Someone should write a book about it.
Maybe that's what I'll do.
Yeah right, as if I could write a book.
I crept into the sitting room at the end of the hall and paused in the doorway. Teddy was lying on the couch in front of the fire, Quidditch through the Ages lying open next to his face. I smiled slightly as he began to snore, and curled up at the end of the couch. I tugged the blanket out from under Teddy's feet and dragged it over myself, feeling the heat from the fire radiate across my face.
I glanced over at Teddy. Here, right now, he had no barriers.
At Hogwarts, his appearance was always the light -hearted, care- free play boy. I disliked this image of him. He was a genuinely popular guy, but most of the time he wasn't being himself. It disappointed me.
But here and now, his face was natural, from the blue hair flopping on his forehead to his decidedly stubborn jaw. As the firelight played across his face, I noticed the freckles across his nose.
I smirked, remembering that day so long ago when I had teased him for having a face full of freckles while I had none. They had slowly faded along with the other vestiges of youth that had displayed his age for everyone to see.
All of a sudden, it dawned on me that legally, he was an adult. The world was at his feet. At the end of this year, Teddy Lupin would leave me. He would be playing Quidditch, or fighting bad guys. He would be snoozing in the Bahamas for all I knew. But he was truly leaving.
Should I begin the separation now, to make it easier? Or should I make the most of my time with him? Of course, I would choose option number two.
After all, I'm really rather selfish.
