The fire was dying down, but Teddy's thoughts were only just getting started. He scribbled furiously on the parchment before him, thinking back to the lesson earlier that day to recall the information on how many ways a salamander tail could be used in potions. Fourteen different ways came to him quickly enough; other ways were remembered gradually as he wrote. The rain continued its fall outside, the lightning assisting his headache every so often.
After a while, he felt the couch dip beside him and a head leaned on his shoulder. A quick glance at the platinum blonde and pink hair told him it was only Victorie, so he ignored her until she was ready to talk. The essay was almost finished anyway.
"May isn't feeling well again. They say she might not make it this time," Victorie mumbled, just as the essay was finished. Carefully, he laid it out to dry, capping the lid on his ink and setting down his quill. He wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her closer, pressing a kiss into her hair.
May was one of those extremely unlucky teenagers to have developed cancer before she graduated. Losing all of her long, beautiful brown locks had been hard enough on the girl, in addition to all of the missed classes and rumors and hospital visits. One would think magic would have been enough to cure her, but cancer was a special kind of sickness. She was muggle-born anyway, so her parents didn't really trust the magic, preferring muggle medicine and muggle cures over magical ones. St. Mungo's had been their last choice, their final resort, but it was too late. She was terminal- it was only a matter of time before she couldn't take it anymore.
The thought of losing May- one of Victorie's oldest, most beloved friends- was devastating for her. Teddy wished in vain that there was something he could do, but he couldn't do anything more than the doctors could, and comfort had never been his strongest suit.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, hating his incompetence.
She sniffed and breathed deeply. "I'll have you, though, right? You'll stay with me through this, even though you don't know her?"
"Of course," he said instantly. "Of course you will. I'll stay with you."