A/N: I hate to keep being all fastforwardy…but I really want to go to Hogwarts already!
That day was probably the most bizarre one of my life. After Victoire and I finally went downstairs and erased any suspicion that we were together, it carried on just like a normal day. I played Quidditch with James, and Albus; I gave Lily a piggyback ride, I played chess with Ginny, and so on. Victoire didn't kiss me, or hug me, or hold my hand, or anything. We just carried on like nothing had ever happened. Like we didn't share the same bed the night before.
And you know what? It kind of hurt.
So after I did my necessary activities (don't want to be worrying the godparents), I just holed myself up in my room and played some of the CDs (that I had gotten from a muggle mall) on my CD player.
I looked at the calendar that I had tacked to James's wall, and saw that there was only one week left until I got to go back to Hogwarts, where I was separated from everyone in my family by house. I was the only member of my family (secondary, immediate, all of it) that wasn't a Gryffindor. No, instead, to separate me further from everyone I knew, I got put into Ravenclaw.
Now, I always thought that being a Gryffindor was overrated. I mean, they make it out that everyone who's in Gryffindor is a saint or something. Sure, a lot of people who were good people were in Gryffindor, but that's not the only good house, you know? I'm sure there are plenty of bad people in Gryffindor, just like all the rest. No, I like Ravenclaw just fine, but it would be nice to at least have someone I knew, or could talk to about anything.
And it would be fifth year…ugh. I groaned, not wanting to think about my O.W.L's. This was supposed to be one brutally hard year, and I didn't want to dwell on it.
Why was it that there was always nothing to do when I needed something to do and too many things going on when I wanted to be alone?
I sighed and made my way back downstairs, seeing everyone at the kitchen table. It seemed everyone else was just as bored as me. I joined them, and slipped the headphones to my CD player back on. Which of course meant that someone would ask what it was, and I'd have to explain it. Sure enough, as if on cue, Lily said, "What's that?" As I started explaining to her how CDs worked, three owls flew through the open window and dropped letters on the table.
"Hogwarts letters!" Victoire and me shouted, both of us sounding equally excited. James lunged on his and tried to open it so fast that he got a paper cut.
As Ginny came over and opened his letter for him, I opened mine carefully. It was just the same as always. A book list, a letter from professor McGonnagal, and so on. But I felt something lumpy and heavy in the thin envelope, and I shook it out. Staring me in the face was a shiny gold Prefects' badge, a small raven in the corner.
"Hey, I'm a prefect." I said, looking the badge over.
"Me too!" Victoire squealed, bouncing with excitement. I wondered if I should be more excited. But I decided against screaming with joy, and put it in my pocket instead.
"Oh, that means we need to go to Diagon Alley soon!" Ginny said, and she was excited too.
"Cool." I muttered, and I actually did feel relieved that we would go somewhere. I hadn't been to Diagon Alley since the previous summer.
"Well, we'll have to do it tomorrow, when Harry's home. Well, good. We all need to go out, right?" She said, looking happy as usual. I could tell that she liked that her kids had something to be excited about.
I nodded, and headed up to my room again, smiling at everyone before I left. And it was an actual smile this time, not a fake one. I was going back to Hogwarts—somewhere where I could actually depend on things to be the same.
XxxXxxXxxX
"Stay together, then!" Ginny shouted worriedly as she and Harry stayed behind with James, Albus, and Lily. Victoire had proposed that we split up, since we needed completely different supplies from James.
"We will!" I shouted back. I looked over at Victoire, who was positively glowing with happiness. I remembered this morning, where in my bed, the same face shone up at me. I never really contemplated how much she loved Hogwarts.
"So where are we headed?" I asked, grinning.
"Madame Malkins'. I need new robes." She shrugged.
"Me too." I said. I must've grown four inches over the summer.
As we walked to Madame Malkins' in silence, I realized that we looked like strangers standing almost ten feet apart. I got closer to her and she looked off into another direction, quickly finding an excuse to get away from me. I frowned.
"What is it?" She asked, and I turned around to face her, as she was ten feet behind me again.
"Why do you keep moving away?" I asked. After all, we had spent two nights in a bed together, hugging, kissing. Why was she acting like she didn't know me?
"I'm not." She replied with a grin, and caught up with me, now standing five or six feet away from me, dawdling at a shop display. I went over there only because it was a broom that was on display, and I desperately needed a new one.
When I looked inside the window, I was greatly impressed. It was the newest model—a Lightning Strike 2.0. It looked amazing. I checked the price tag and almost had a heart attack; I was not paying 200 galleons for a broom, no matter how impressive.
I walked on, and Victoire followed, though still behind me, and not looking even remotely in my direction.
"What is up with you?" I asked, turning to face her. She almost ran into me; she didn't even know I had stopped.
"Nothing, Teddy. Gosh." She tried to brush it off.
"I mean, you're deliberately avoiding me." I insisted, not letting her get in front of me again.
"No I'm not." She said, again trying to get past my arm. I took her by the shoulder.
"You're embarrassed to be seen with me." I suddenly realized, and waited for her to contradict me. She did, but barely. "N-no…I'm just…I was just looking at the displays."
"Bullshit. You're embarrassed to be seen with me." I said, and I couldn't believe it.
"No, really, Teddy…" But I was already leaving, on the verge of running, towards Madame Malkins'.
"Teddy!" Victoire shouted, catching up with me.
"No, it's fine. Go preserve your reputation. Really, you just can't possibly be seen with that weird orphan." I spat at her, again leaving her in the dust.
"Teddy, no, that's not it..!" She kept trying to catch up with me, and that hurt more than her just leaving.
"Oh, then you can't bear to walk around with a half-werewolf? Is everyone going to think you're a monster now? Is that it? Afraid someone might spot us, and your popularity will suddenly fall? Go to hell, Victoire." I walked away again. And this time she didn't follow.
I didn't see her at Madame Malkins'. It seemed she'd gone somewhere else.
I rang the bell at the front desk, and I had to be fitted. So I went and sat by one of the mirrors, and looked at the boy next to me, also waiting, who was a foot shorter than me, but still looked about fifteen. His white-blonde hair hung down to just above his shoulders, and his gray eyes looked innocent. I recognized him to be a Ravenclaw. I'd seen him before, but not up close, and I'd never talked to him.
For some reason, I was feeling outgoing (so unusual, considering I was usually quite shy), so I turned to him and said, "Hi. Aren't you in Ravenclaw?"
"Oh. Yeah, I am. I'm Scorpius Malfoy." He said quietly, and I was shocked. From what I'd heard about the Malfoys, they were arrogant, and blood-crazy. Truthfully, all I'd heard about the Malfoys had come from Harry or Ron, so I really couldn't believe 100 of it. I knew that they'd been enemies at school. But this Malfoy was a Ravenclaw, and there was something odd about that.
"I'm Teddy Lupin." I smiled after a moment, realizing he wasn't backing away in disgust.
"Oh! Aren't you…" But I cut him off. "Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Lupin's son, yeah."
"…in Ravenclaw too?" He finished. I blushed and grinned sheepishly.
"That too." I said.
He smiled too, and said, "Yeah, sometimes you just need your answers prepared." I realized that he probably went through some of what I went through, and was grateful someone understood. But the good mood didn't last long; I suddenly remembered about Victoire.
"I saw you arguing with that girl back there. Isn't she Victoire Weasley?" I blushed. I never considered that people had watched the fight. But I felt that he wasn't one to gossip, so I said, "Yeah, it was."
"Oh. I thought so. I heard she's part Veela. Any idea if it's true?" He asked. I smiled at him. I appreciated having someone to talk to.
"Yeah. Her great-great-grandma was a Veela." I said, picking at a string that hung from one of my pockets.
"Well, I wouldn't doubt it. She's so pretty." His voice sounded dreamy, a tone I noticed that any male over the age of thirteen used when speaking about Victoire Weasley.
"She really is, isn't she? I've never seen anyone that beautiful." My voice probably sounded dreamy too, come to think of it. But I didn't know why it should. After all, she wasn't a dream to me. She was reality.
"Okay, Mr. Malfoy, I'll have you." Madame Malkin said, appearing from behind some shelves.
"Mind if I stick around with you after you're done? My parents dropped me off, and I hate being alone." He said, smiling at me. I decided I liked Scorpius, so I said, "Sure, no problem. You seem like good company."
XxxXxxXxxX
I spent all day with Scorpius, getting everything I needed, and even having time to look around in the store that had displayed the Lightning Strike 2.0. I ended up getting an older broom—a Firebolt 2000—and I was happy with it. It was a sight better than my old broom, that's for sure.
Scorpius and I had a surprising amount of topics to cover, and by the time we got around to talking about Quidditch, we were heading back to Flourish and Blotts, where I was to meet Harry and Ginny.
"So do you play?" He asked, carrying a bag full of new supplies that looked heavy. I tried to balance my new books.
"Yeah, I'm a beater." I said.
"I knew I recognized you! I don't usually follow Quidditch, but I've seen a few games." He said sheepishly.
"Really? You should go to some. They're pretty fun to watch. Do you play any? Just for fun?" I asked him, curious.
"Sometimes I play with my dad at home. I'm not much good. I play keeper."
"Maybe you should try out. Our keeper left last year." I suggested. It would be great to have somewhat of a friend on the team.
"Maybe I will." He smiled, and I saw the whole family looking among the books.
"Well, that's the family." I said.
He smiled. "Okay. I'll see you at school, then?"
"Yeah, definitely. Bye." I said, waving to Scorpius.
"There you are! Where's Victoire?" Ginny looked flustered and worried, and I looked puzzled.
"You mean…she's not here?" I was worried too now.
"Of course not, we thought she was with you." Harry said, appearing behind Ginny.
"Err…no, we split up. You know, she has her friends, I have mine." I said. I wondered where she was.
But then Victoire came into view, giggling and talking loudly about some singer or another with four of her friends. I tried to seem non-caring, but I think I just pulled off constipated.
Once she saw Ginny's worried face, she knew she was in trouble, so she deliberately brought her friends with her, knowing that Ginny's politeness would overrule her anger.
"Oh my god, you know Harry Potter?" One of them whispered audibly. She was Noelle Fisher, I reminded myself. She went out of her way to insult me all of the time at school, and I didn't kid myself that it would be any different now.
"He's practically my uncle!" She said, sounding like, 'Oh, yeah, of course I know him. Why don't you?'
Another girl, Robin Leland, mouthed the word "Weasley" at Noelle, and Noelle's mouth formed an 'o' of understanding.
Then they noticed me among the famous-and-beautiful, and Noelle looked like she had just discovered dog excrement on her shoe.
"Well gosh girls, we better be going! I mean, I seriously need to eat. I'd even wolf down a cheeseburger right now!" She said, emphasizing the word wolf.
"Oh, I know, my hunger's just monstrous." Robin sniggered.
No one else seemed to notice the personal attack, and I felt like screaming, "Hello! Werewolf being harassed here!"
Finally Ginny turned back to us and said, "Victoire, we really need to go. We need to eat dinner."
"Okay. Bye guys!" She shouted to her friends, and went over to Harry and Lily, who were farthest away from me.
"So you guys split up?" Ginny asked, holding James's books.
"Yeah." I muttered, busying myself with my new broom.
"Then who were you with all day, Teddy?" Harry asked, turning around to face me.
"Oh, um, just a friend." I didn't want to mention Scorpius in front of Harry until I had to, knowing he wouldn't approve.
"I bet Teddy has a girlfriend!" Albus shouted, and I wanted to sock the little bugger.
"I thought Victoire was his girlfriend!" James cracked, and they both laughed.
I tried to laugh too, but it felt strange on my lips. Victoire, however, laughed loudly, as if the idea was quite ridiculous. We flooed back to the Potter residence, using the Leaky Cauldron's fireplace.
"Thanks Tom." Harry smiled at the bartender, and Tom said 'no problem' so many times, he sounded like a broken record.
"So really, Teddy, who were you with?" Ginny asked, getting noodles out of the cabinet and cooking them with magic.
"Just this guy. He's in Ravenclaw too." I said, looking through one of the books I had gotten entitled "O.W.L Level Charms". It was actually a relatively good book, and it seemed it would be helpful in the future.
"Oh, who?" Harry said, helping his wife with supper.
"Fine, fine! Scorpius Malfoy, then, since you insist." I scowled, and Harry froze. I expected this.
"Yes, he's in Ravenclaw, yes, he knew I was a Lupin, no, he didn't care, and yes, he's actually a nice guy." I said at top-speed. I knew he would still object.
"A Malfoy in Ravenclaw?" Ginny looked puzzled at this.
"Well I expect his dad's disowned him, then, since he's not in Slytherin." Harry said with a frown; it appeared the grudge was still held.
"Harry, just stop. Don't get all worked up over Draco Malfoy again, please." Ginny said, putting a hand on his arm.
Harry nodded, but still looked upset.
"I got a new broom." I said, mostly to change the subject, but also because I'd been dying to tell him.
"Really? What model?" He asked. His frown disappeared instantly as he sat down next to me.
"A Firebolt 2000." I said, still scanning the Charms book.
"Nice." He said appreciatively, looking over the mahogany broom, which I had unwrapped to show him.
"Hey Gin, remember my old Firebolt?" He called to Ginny, and Ginny laughed.
"Yeah, wasn't that the one Sirius got you?" She asked, fixing seven plates of spaghetti and meatballs.
"Yeah, it was, now that you mention it." Harry said, grinning. I knew he was remembering Sirius, so I wrapped the broom back up and said, "I'll be back in a second; I need to put these books in my trunk."
"Okay, but be quick, I have DINNER!" She shouted the last word so all the kids could hear her, and they all came like moths to a candle. I brushed past Victoire, and she pretended not to see me.
I set my books down inside my door, deciding I would do it after dinner, and went back downstairs.
The rest of the family wasn't blind, and they quickly noticed a change in Victoire and I. Maybe it was the fact we wouldn't sit together, maybe it was because we addressed each other, "Will you please tell Teddy to…" "Will you tell Victoire that I…", who knows. But whatever made it so obvious, we got interrogated about it after dinner, when the kids were in bed.
"What is going on between you two?" Ginny asked, sitting down on the couch.
"Nothing." We both said at the same time.
"Something is going on, Victoire, and will you please tell me what it is?" Ginny sounded pretty mad, and Victoire finally broke.
"Teddy's being a jerk." She said, glaring at me.
Ginny looked at me. "Victoire's being a bitch."
"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED, DAMN IT?!" Ginny shouted. It was the first time I'd heard her swear, and I suddenly thought that my life might be endangered.
"I'll tell it." Me and Victoire both said, and we glared at each other again.
"Go on, then, let's hear your side, shall we?" I said icily.
"Fine. Teddy accused me of being embarrassed of him." She said bluntly.
"Were you?" Ginny asked.
"No! I was just…you know, looking…at the…dis…play…s…" Her voice faltered as Ginny gave her a death glare.
"All right, fine. I was a teensy bit embarrassed…" If it was a death glare before, it was a triple-homicide glare now.
"Victoire Isabel Weasley, I am so utterly ashamed of you right now." She said in a low tone that was both threatening and scary.
"It wasn't because of the werewolf thing! It was just because…well, you know…social status and stuff! Didn't you see the way Noelle and Robin treated him? I don't agree with it—I think it's horrible—but I really, really like where I am right now, and I really, really, like being popular. And don't give me that crap about how people will still accept you, because they won't."
"So you go on treating me like I'm filth to keep your social status?" I growled, now livid.
"Yes, to keep my social status!" She shouted at me, her cheeks flushed.
"You selfish bitch!" I screamed.
"Ugh! Forget this!" She cried, and took the steps two at a time, slamming her door.
I followed, and slammed mine.
Sometimes being a teenager was much harder than it seemed.
A/N: I know, Scorpius was supposed to be Albus' age, but it works better this way. And I've just realized that Teddy is a cross between Ryan Ross, from Panic! At The Disco, and Adam T. Siska (Sisky Business) from The Academy Is. :D