Chapter Seven: Not Quite An Apology

Teddy woke to the sound of hushed whispers. He opened his eyes to see blurry shapes surrounding him.

"Oi, he's waking up!"

"Teddy, all right mate?"

Teddy took a few moments to let his eyes adjust. He could barely make out the shapes next to him, but he knew the voices.

"Chris? Mikey?"

Teddy tried to get up but felt two gentle hands push him back into his bed. "You're in the hospital wing, dear boy," said Madam Pomfrey as Teddy tried to sit.

"Water?"

Mikey shoved a goblet of water into his hands and Teddy gratefully took a sip.

"What happened?"

"You don't remember?" Chris asked.

Teddy shook his head in response.

"Some dirty Slytherin bas...err, moron, knocked you off your broom during Quidditch."

Suddenly, it all came back to Teddy. He had raised his bat, ready to spike the bludger away from their Chaser, when the Slytherin seeker had flown into him. He groaned from embarrassment.

He looked around. "Are you two the only gits who came to see if I was alright?"

Chris and Mikey exchanged a look. "Err, well, Victoire was here..."

Teddy's ears perked up. "Vic was here? Where is she?"

"Err..."

"Your young friend got herself into a spot of trouble, I'm afraid," Madam Pomfrey supplied.

"Trouble? She alright? Where is she now?"

Mikey snorted and Chris laughed, happy to be retelling the story. "Victoire was a bit, um, upset at your condition. Took herself right up to the Slytherin, hit him with a Jelly-Leg Jinx and punched the git in the face."

Teddy couldn't help smile and feel his chest swell with pride. Even after their stupid fight about Slytherins, Victoire was still his most fierce champion.

"She's with her mum and dad in McGonagall's office," Mikey added. Teddy groaned.

"Alright boys, run on back to the common room now. Teddy still needs his rest," Madam Pomfrey said, handing Teddy a red potion.

"Feel better, Teddy," Mikey said sincerely and Teddy fought the urge to roll his eyes as Chris flipped him off, wearing a smile.

Teddy drank the potion and within moments, he was back asleep.

...

It was dark when Teddy woke for the second time that day. Instead of seeing blurry shapes, he could feel a small, delicate hand clutching his own.

"Mikey? You been moisturizing, mate?"

"You're an arse," came Victoire's reply.

Teddy coughed in response and sat back up. Victoire lit the room up with her wand.

"Heard you went all Gryffindor on Robbie Nott."

Victoire's face flushed red. "The miserable toe-rag pushed you off your broom Teddy! What was I supposed to do?"

Teddy laughed. "Dunno, Little Vicky. You should have tried Aunt Ginny's Bat-Bogey on him!"

"Look, Teddy..."

Teddy squeezed her hand. "Don't worry about it, Vic."

Victoire sighed in relief. "I'm just glad you're alright."

"What did McGonagall say?"

"Two months detention with Professor Longbottom. Mum went mental but I think Dad was secretly proud of his little Gryffindor."

Teddy fought back the urge to confess that he felt the same way. He had missed her for all those weeks they hadn't spoken.

"Is there anything you need while I'm here?"

Teddy took the opportunity to really look at Victoire. He'd noticed her before but never this way. It struck him at full force at that moment, watching her illuminated by wand-light. He took a deep breath. He had always admired her long, blonde hair, but it looked so soft and stunning in the moonlight. For the first time, Teddy felt powerful and powerless at the same time. It was a simple question with not so simple solutions-she was only a third year and she was Victoire.

Teddy took a deep breath and summoned a smile to his face and banned the thoughts of snogging Victoire out of his mind.

"Reckon you could make me a sandwich?"

Victoire smiled and gave his hand a final squeeze.