Open Up My Eager Eyes

It seemed Teddy was always mad at Victoire. It started . . . well, he didn't really know when it started, but it was true. He guessed it was sometime when they were really young – she always stole his things or got him into trouble or something else of the annoying sort. And though, yes, he'd always been annoyed with her to a degree, he'd always looked after her, as well. He never thought of her as a sister, mainly because there was a phase form about seven to eight where he thought Victoire was beautiful. It was a phase, mind you; he definitely did not still think she was. Because that would just be – it'd be – well, the point was . . . okay; maybe he thought she was a little pretty.

It started out that way, of course. But then it evolved, like these feelings often do, and hit a peak at that Halloween ball. He managed to keep his feelings hidden for a couple months, but he knew it was time – he had to tell her or he'd end up doing something stupid. He didn't care that she had that bastard of a boyfriend or that his friends all thought she was a stuck up snob –

"Teddy?"

He turned at her soft voice, and found her standing there in all her glory, stunning him as always. He'd asked her to meet him later that night, after curfew, so they could talk. They were in one of the more deserted hallways that neither Filch nor any of the prefects usually went down. He didn't want any interruptions or anything – he just needed to tell her without anyone getting in the way.

"You alright?" she asked, studying him.

"Um, yeah," he answered vaguely, wondering how in the hell he was going to admit his feelings after all this time. "I just needed to talk to you."

She half-smiled and looked around. "And why couldn't we have done this before curfew?"

"I just didn't want anyone to interrupt." This time, he added. He'd tried once before, but her boyfriend, Patrick Kirkpatrick, quickly swept her away.

She sighed. "Look, Ted, if this is about Patrick, I know how you feel about him, I get it, but – "

"Do you really fancy him, Vic?" he asked suddenly, furrowing his brow. He needed to know – because if she truly did, then he didn't need to trouble her with this.

"What?" she asked, shocked.

"Do really fancy the bloke?" he repeated slower.

She eyed him warily. "Teddy, I don't know what this is about, but it's honestly none of your business."

"Please, Vic, just – tell me the truth, for once." He pleaded.

She paused and set her hard gaze on him for a moment, contemplating. She sighed and shook her head, starting to walk past him.

That was answer enough for Teddy.

Before she could get far, he grabbed her, taking her face in her hands, and kissed her, like he'd imagined constantly for the past few months.

But it didn't last long – she pushed his chest and stumbled back, breathing heavily. "What – what . . . what was that, Teddy?" she exclaimed.

"Vic," he sighed, "I just – I care about you. A lot – and not like you're my sister, like everyone seems to think."

She paused, staring at him. "What are you saying?"

"I want to be with you."

There – he finally said it. He felt relief wash over him, but then he looked into Victoire's troubled face and he felt his heart start to pound. She didn't feel the same. He thought he'd been prepared for this, to accept it, but now he wasn't so sure.

"Teddy, I care about you, too – but you know I can't."

His head snapped up to look at her and he felt anger boiling in his chest. "Why not? Because of Patrick?"

"Because of everyone." She snapped, glaring.

"What, you mean everyone back home? They won't care, Vic!" he said, but he knew it wasn't necessarily true.

"Teddy, you just need to give me some time," she said desperately, "I didn't even know you felt the same until moments ago –"

"And you obviously care about me, considering you've been dating Patrick for the whole year, right?" he countered bitterly.

"Teddy – I don't really – you have to know I don't – " she cut off and sighed, "Please, try to understand – "

"No, I don't understand, Vic," he exclaimed, then sighed at her hurt expression, lowering his voice. "Look, I know you need time to think and space to do so. I'll give you that."

So, he started to walk past her, but not before he planted a lingering kiss on her forehead. Then he continued on his way, his footsteps making lonely echoes in the corridor.