The Woes Of Primary School
D: Nope. But I did just notice that when I abbreviate "Disclaimer" is makes a rather distraught emoticon. Reflects my feelings of a disclaimer well. All rights JKR and Co.
A/N: Happy last day of January! This one was my attempt to make Teddy grow up a bit, since the last two were incredibly dramatically sad. So here you are! Reviews make me happy *hinthint* OH! I'm in the market for a Beta, so if anyone is looking to beta, PM me, and I'll probably send you the next chapter of Last Glances or something.
"Come on, Teddy!" Louise laughed, tugging on the boy's hand. "We're playing house, and we need another boy." She cried, pulling him toward the other side of the room. Teddy shook his head.
"House is a girl's game. I'm not gonna play. Why don't we be monsters? Or play cars? Or colour?" he pleaded, tugging himself out of his friend's grip.
"But, Abigail, Jean, James, and Sarah all want to play house!" she insisted.
"Then, why don't you play with them, and I'll colour?" he reasoned. It was Louise's turn to shake her head, flinging her curly red hair into Teddy's face.
"No! We need anotha' boy! I'm going to be the mum, Abigail is the Aunty, Sarah is the big sister, James is the little brother, and Jean is the grandmum. We need a da'!" she pointed out as though it were obvious. Teddy frowned, and Louise realized her mistake. Teddy Remus Lupin was very proud, and parents hit a nerve for him. "Listen, Teddy. I'm sorry-" he cut her off.
"No. You're not. You don't get it. Playing house. Being the dad. I don't know how! I never learned. But, that's the thing. Do you need a dad, Louise Fawcett? I didn't have one. I don't need one. So why does your stupid game?" he growled, and Louise flinched.
"Teddy, I didn't mean it like that. It's just a game!" she cried and Teddy stomped his foot. The seven year old girl began to cry, her face growing hot with a mix of hurt and anger.
"Just because you had a rotten life, does no' mean that everyone did, and you don' hafta remind me of that when I wanna play a dumb game! You gotta try an' fit in sometime, Lupin!" she cried, turning on her heel. Teddy felt a tear slip through his squinted eyes. He sat there for a moment, them bumbled off after her.
"Louise!" he called. "Louise! Wait up!" he called.
"Mr. Lupin! We are in a classroom. Quiet. Down." The teacher, Mrs. Bea (or so she liked to be called) scolded from the other side of the room. Teddy hung his head but continued to walk. He finally caught up to her, grabbing her shoulder and smudging her white blouse with his paint-covered fingers.
"Wha' do you want?" she whirled on him. He took a step back.
"Listen, Louise. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so mean. It- It's just hard. Geddit?" he muttered, head still hung. Louise sighed, and Teddy chanced a look up.
"I know Teddy. I don' know wha' I'd do without my mum and da'." She said apologetically.
"Yeah, well. S'no excuse." He said and Louise nodded.
"Well, I gotta… tha' is… the others a' waitin' for me," she said, pointing to her "family". Teddy nodded and she turned.
"Wait!" he called again, and Louise turned back.
"Ye'?" she asked, slightly annoyed. Teddy sighed.
"Still need a dad?" he asked shyly. Louise smiled broadly before nodding.
"But ya' know wha' that means?" she giggled. Teddy shook his head. "I'm the mum, so ya gotta kiss me! A big wet kiss. Right… 'ere!" she laughed, kissing Teddy. He quickly wiped his lips off and chased after her yelling all the way.
"If I die from cooties, I'm blaming you!" he cried, running after his first real crush. Maybe trying to fit in wouldn't be so bad after all.