Thrillseekers

written by: albe-chan

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction and I do NOT own Harry Potter or any of the characters mentioned, I am making no money from this, and any similarities with real life are purely coincidental. This work will contain MATURE THEMES, such as coarse language, mature subject matter (scenes containing graphic sex, drinking, nudity, mild prostitution, kinky sex, infidelity, etc.), and/or violence. Please, if you are not over the age of 18, or of majority in your country, DO NOT READ THIS! You have been warned!

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Two weeks later, two long, worrisome weeks where she, with a sinking heart, dipped into her savings the tiniest bit to eat, and spent every night alone in her bed, thinking about Teddy and hating herself for it, Lily found out she got the waitressing job. But instead of the Hogsmeade location of the Three Broomsticks, which she'd applied for, the letter from her parents' school friend stated she was needed more in the London location. Which she supposed was good for commuting, but, after she finished reading the letter she'd been sent confirming a job, she felt uneasy. Because the London branch of the Broomsticks was smack dab in the middle of Diagon Alley, and a big hit with lots of Ministry employees for lunches and after work drinks. Then Lily told herself she was being stupid, because there was no reason to feel uneasy going to work at a busy place she'd be sure to make great tips at. At least none while she was without a job.

So, as per the letter's instructions, she showed up to the London location of the Broomsticks, dressed in black pants and a black tee that were snug and stretchy with her hair and makeup flawless, and took a deep breath as Hannah Abbott introduced her to the assistant manager and her trainer. The assistant manager dropped her with the trainer, and Lily dove in headfirst, her old waitressing skills, a shade rusty since her career shift at the club, coming back with practice, and by the end of her four hour shift, although she was exhausted, Lily felt great. And she'd made decent tips to boot.

"I'm going to give you a piece of advice, because I think you can hack it," her trainer, a talkative blonde in her thirties named Cindy, said as Lily got ready to leave. The redheaded witch glanced up. "Dress for the guys during the week, but on weekends, cut down on the cleavage. We get more women in Friday through Sunday nights than men."

Lily almost laughed, but nodded. "Got it. Thanks."

"Thank you. If you manage to keep out of the bullshit drama between the rest of the girls, I bet you'll do great."

By the time she'd worked another six shifts, two dinners and four lunches, Lily felt like she had finally found not only a respectable job, but one that she could thrive at. Unless she dropped dead from exhaustion, of course.

At the end of her fourth working day she got back to her flat just after lunch, take out and a bottle of wine in hand, she wanted nothing more than to soak in a steaming hot bath for a bit, drink some wine, and then pig out on fish and chips from the little stand in Diagon Alley. Instead she came face to face with Teddy Lupin, and the words tumbled unchecked from her mouth. "What the bleeding fuck are you doing here?"

The Metamorphmagus scowled. "Were you expecting someone else?" he demanded, following her inside after she unlocked the door. Lily rolled her eyes.

"I was expecting nobody to be here at all," she snapped back. And with a surge of jealousy that had her slamming the fridge after putting her wine in to chill, added viciously, "How's Victoire?"

Teddy's mouth hardened. "I don't know. I've been on assignment for the last three days straight," he said bitterly. He didn't add that even before that, he seemed to see his technical girlfriend less and less. And anytime he did see her, she was so painfully perky and sweet and unquenchably smug, he found himself making excuses not to see her.

"And what?" Lily sneered. "You thought you could just turn up here and I'd be ready and waiting for you? I haven't heard from you in two fucking weeks, Lupin," she snarled. He pushed a hand through his hair. "You should probably just fucking go. I'm tired," Lily said, biting her lip to stay the stupid urge to cry. She'd quit her job, risked her savings she'd sold her body and soul for, and put her personal life goals on the line, all to prove to Teddy she was willing to do whatever it took to be with him. And he couldn't even send her a fucking owl, in two whole weeks.

"Do you want me to go?" Teddy asked harshly, and Lily put her food on the counter and turned away to get a fork.

"Obviously," she said with a brave attempt at condescension, even as she was sure her heart broke. She had almost known, all along, Teddy would pick Victoire over her. Had told herself repeatedly, with cool logic, there was only ever sex between them as far as he was concerned. But her stupid, foolish heart had gone on hoping, and now it was broken. Just like last time. "Tell Vic when you get home that I didn't get the place," Lily added quietly. "Turns out it was already promised to someone else."

She heard the Metamorphmagus pause just inside her tiny kitchen, and she chanced a glance over her shoulder at him. He was facing her, looking thunderous, and although she was furious, her heart rate kicked up and she felt something, some wicked heat, slither to life in her belly as Teddy stared at her. "No," he said. Lily's mouth parted. "I'm not going home to Vic," he said darkly, amber eyes roving down her frame with intimate knowledge.

"Has she finally figured out you make a shit boyfriend?" Lily asked nastily.

Teddy smirked a little at that, because all of a sudden, it clicked for him. Victoire Weasley was as cunning as she was beautiful, and Ted Lupin had no doubts she was putting him through the payback from Hell. He'd just been too cocky to realize it. From that first morning where she'd told him she wanted to remain celibate while they fixed their broken relationship, and she'd undoubtedly known he was a liar and cheat of the worst degree, Vic had probably been playing him for the fool. "Probably," he finally admitted. Lily's brows shot up.

"Do you think I want those sloppies?" Lily said pointedly, and the turquoise haired wizard frowned. "And stop staring at me like that!" she added, snapping and blushing the tiniest bit.

Teddy couldn't help himself. She was way too sexy in her little black tee and push up bra, and he'd gone two whole fucking weeks without her. It was a self inflicted purgatory, sure, but it had still been torture. "I can't help it, sweetheart. I fucking love your tits."

Lily's mouth pursed, but he saw her suck in a sharp breath. "Should've thought about that before you ignored me for two weeks." She swallowed, even as Teddy scowled, hating that it was true. "Look," Lily said, breath huffing out, "if you want to get back together with Victoire or whatever, I need to know that, because I…" She looked down, and Teddy held his breath, on tenterhooks. "I don't want anything from you anymore if you're going to be with her."

Teddy could barely breathe. He definitely couldn't move, especially not to formulate coherent thoughts into audible words. It was happening. Lily was going to move on, and if he was going to actually commit to the witch he'd spent almost half his life dating, he would have nothing but memories of her. Fight for her. It was the only rational thought in Teddy's mind, even as Lily's lower lip wobbled before his eyes, and she turned away again. "Will you give me a chance if I… If I'm single, do I have a proper chance?"

Lily glanced back at him. "You might even have the edge," she replied, and then turned away again, and Teddy felt the dismissal. He had to nut up or shut up, now. Either he ended his life with Victoire, and possibly broke her heart in the process, or he lost Lily for sure, probably breaking his own heart.

"I'm going to hold you to that," he said softly as he Flooed out of Lily's apartment and over to his own flat. To his surprise, Toby was there, with Victoire, and the pair were glaring daggers at one another. Well, Vic was glaring, and Toby was staring vacantly back. "Whoa," the Metamorphmagus said, pausing after stepping from his fireplace. "What the-?"

"You should come sit down, Ted," Victoire said from his kitchen, and Toby pulled a face. The Auror inside Teddy, the training that had become ingrained in him, sensed he was treading in dangerous waters. Because Toby looked put out, and Vic looked quietly furious.

"What's going on?" he said frankly after sitting, easing his wand out of his pocket under the table.

"I've just had a chat with your 'friend'. Haven't I, Tobias?" the blonde witch said with frosty poise.

"I think I did more of the chatting," Toby said truthfully, and Teddy's belly dropped.

"You did," Victoire said. She looked back at Teddy, blue eyes hard. "Guess what we talked about, Ted?" she said, and Teddy gulped, because he could just fucking guess.

"Shit that's probably not your business," he replied evenly. Victoire smiled.

"I'd tell you that fucking a whore while cheating makes you a despicable human being, but I reckon you already knew that. It's definitely my business." Her lip suddenly curled. "You've been cheating this whole time, haven't you?" she asked. Teddy didn't reply. "Are you still paying her for it?" Victoire asked, spitting the words out.

Teddy scowled, even as he felt himself wanting to blush. He pushed through his mortification. "That's also none of your fucking business," he said coldly, hating that Victoire was being a bitch, even though part of him conceded she was way more than entitled to be. "But no." He glanced at Toby, who was gazing out the window. "What did you give him?" he demanded. He knew Victoire Weasley was a top-notch potioneer, and he didn't doubt she'd poison Toby to get secrets from him.

"We had a drink. Didn't we, Tobias?" she said.

"Yeah we did," Toby said pleasantly. "Never thought I'd be having tea with your ball and chain, Teddy ol' boy, but there you fucking go. I mean, she's annoying, and bitchy, but she makes a mean cuppa, and looks fucking gorgeous doing it, mate."

Shit. Victoire smiled. "So I suppose there's just one thing left to talk about, Ted," Victoire said, standing up from his table and squaring her shoulders, moving to face him as he did the same. Her face hardened and he could tell she was trying to muster her bravery and telling herself he deserved to be hurt by her.

"You're right, Vic," he said, then tilted his head a little, because she still looked capable of vindictiveness, even though her blue eyes seemed hesitant. Teddy decided to make it easier for her. "How long have you been seeing him?"

The blonde witch's mouth parted. "You bastard!" she hissed. "Takes a cheater to know a cheater?" she snapped.

Teddy shrugged. "You didn't cheat, Vic. Don't sell yourself short. I hope he's a better wizard than I."

Victoire Weasley looked like she'd been punched. "Oh hell no! You don't get to break up with me! I'm dumping your ass. You're a piece of shit," she said passionately.

Teddy chewed on the truth, then swallowed it back. "You have no idea, Vic. And even if you don't believe it now, I truly hope you find the wizard you needed me to be."

Victoire sniffed, and then stalked to his fireplace to Floo home. "Me too," she said, looking back at last, and for a beat, her face softened out of her scowl. "And because I'm still a better person than you, I dosed Toby with Veritaserum. It should wear off in about a half hour, so if you want anything from him, now's a good time." And then Victoire Weasley picked up a handful of Floo powder, and stepped into his fireplace, calling out her own address and leaving his life for good.

Teddy merely stared as the emerald green flames died down and then shook himself and went back to the kitchen. "So Toby, 'ol buddy of mine, what precisely did you chat to Vic about?"

"I told her you hooked up a couple times with that sexy redhead with the great legs from the club," Toby said, and chuckled. "Honestly, mate, even though you were disguised, I'm surprised you pulled her."

The turquoise haired wizard didn't smile back, and Toby stopped chuckling. "What else?" he demanded.

"Nothing. Other than you fucking that redhead. Say, we should go out to-"

"No," Teddy interrupted his best mate. "I have to go to Sunday dinner with the Potters." He looked at his friend, but decided not to take advantage of him any further. "Go home, Toby, and don't talk to anyone. Just go take a nap or something."

Instantly Toby looked suspicious. "Why?" he demanded. "I'm not tired. And why shouldn't I talk to anyone?"

The Metamorphmagus debated lying, but then gave his best friend the truth. "Vic gave you Veritaserum. And it was probably laced with a sedative, because mate, you fucking had tea with her."

Toby stood up. "I knew it! That bitch! Good thing she dumped your ass, because I never fucking liked her, Ted."

Teddy rolled his eyes, but moved to the living room. "Go home, Toby."

"And don't talk to anyone," the dark eyed wizard grumbled, then grabbed a handful of Floo powder and left. Teddy sank down into his couch and sighed, unable to stop thinking about Lily. Godric, he fucking wanted her.

For two weeks he'd tried to convince himself he didn't need her. That he didn't roll over every morning and reach into empty air for her, and that he didn't wake up in the middle of the night after vivid, erotic dreams of just how she could pleasure him. And most of all, Teddy tried for two long, agonizing weeks, to convince himself that he had no feelings, except lust, for Lily Potter. That he didn't want to wake up beside her every morning, or fall asleep with her every night, and that he definitely did not feel something like love for her.

And for two weeks, those two excruciating weeks that had dragged by, and during which he'd only seen Victoire twice, both times only briefly, he'd spent his hours dreaming of Lily, missing Lily, and working with a determination to ignore his misery. But on the fourteenth morning, when he'd woken up harder and hornier for Lily then ever, and found nothing, he'd been unable to bear it. He needed her, and longed for her, and Merlin fucking curse it all to hell, he might even love her.

And now he had to go to Sunday dinner and sit across from her, and stare at her as he pretended she didn't want him, at least naked and in bed if not more, and put himself through more misery. Teddy sighed, pushed both hands through his vibrant hair, and then got up to take a shower and get dressed for Sunday dinner. He felt bad, having missed two in a row, because he knew Ginny Potter liked him to be present and most especially because he'd spent last week on a half hour date with Victoire, where she talked enthusiastically about her work, and he'd said almost nothing.

By the time he'd Apparated to the Potters' and let himself inside, Teddy was just about ready to eat an expired Puking Pastille to get out of possibly seeing Lily. He had no idea if he could look at her, knowing he was half in love with her and becoming desperate to have her, and not simply blurt it all out loud. But then six o'clock came, dinner was served, and Lily, to his confusion, still wasn't there. He resisted the urge to ask why.

Luckily, James Potter asked it for him. "No Lily, again?" he said, glancing at his mother shrewdly, even as dessert was served.

"She's working," Ginny said, frowning a tiny bit. "Although I think it might be a bit too much, lately. She was always here, at least once in a while, before. Now I barely even hear from her," she complained.

"Probably working on her big mysterious 'real job' thing," Albus said dismissively, and Teddy wondered if that could be it.

"So, Teddy what's new with you?" James asked, looking at his godbrother with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Albus smirked identically, and Teddy wondered what the bloody hell those two could look so pleased about.

"Same ol' same," he said, then glanced at his godfather, and superior. He knew he wasn't allowed to talk about work, and didn't doubt the Potter boys knew it too, and wondered what they were getting at.

"How's Vic?" Albus pushed.

"Oh yes, how is Victoire? I saw her out in Diagon Alley the other day, but I didn't have a chance to stop and say hello to her," Ginny said. "She was at the apothecary right near Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, talking to the owner's son. He's a nice boy, very helpful whenever I go in."

Teddy felt himself starting to blush a tiny bit, because that obviously explained who Victoire had found to replace him in the boyfriend department. "I never liked that guy," he said automatically, because he'd flirted with Victoire more than once, even when Teddy had been present, although the blonde witch had shrugged off Teddy's suspicions as mere jealousy. And unfounded jealousy, at that.

Ginny rolled her eyes, smiling, but then James said, looking too innocently confused, "Why not? Theo Nott Jr. seems an okay bloke," he said.

Albus cleared his throat pointedly. "Jamie, that was before he stole Teddy's witch."

"Ah yes, I almost forgot," James said. Teddy scowled at the pair of them, because he hadn't wanted to talk to his godparents about splitting with their niece. And he knew Harry would demand a why and Ginny would want to know exactly what had fallen apart in their seemingly ideal relationship. After all, he was sure most of the Weasley clan and its many extensions had assumed they'd be married by now. Those little fuckers are dead meat.

"What?" Ginny said, dropping her fork. Teddy winced then peeked at his godfather, who'd frozen. "You and Victoire-?" The redheaded witch seemed unable to say the words aloud.

The Metamorphmagus sighed, sitting back, feeling inherently guilty. Maybe if he played things off like it had been an amicable split, his almost family wouldn't entirely loathe him. And in the gathering silence as Ginny Potter waited for a response to her unasked question and Harry Potter stared at him searchingly, there was the unmistakable sound of the front door opening and closing, and then Lily Potter all but skipped into the kitchen, looking utterly ravishing and like she couldn't be more pleased with herself. She paused behind her empty chair at the tense silence around the table.

"Oh Godric, what's going on?" Lily asked slowly, and by her deer in the headlights look, Teddy guessed she was thinking the worst. That her family had somehow found out about her past employment.

"Teddy was just about to tell us why Victoire's dating someone else," Albus said casually.

"She's dating someone else?" Ginny repeated, looking sternly at Teddy now. "Oh Teddy, what happened?"

The turquoise haired wizard didn't dare look at Lily, and tried not to scowl. "Vic and I… She dumped me." The words cost him a small amount of pride, but he said them, because he at least owed the blonde witch that much. "We've been rocky for awhile," he continued, now staring at his plate, not wanting to eat another bite. "And we both just kind of realized we want different things," he said pragmatically, and silence descended over the Potter table.

Lily broke the spell by dropping heavily into her seat, feeling her joyous mood flattening faster than a Pygmy Puff being stepped on. She'd been having such a good day, and now… Now she had to go and find out things like Teddy Lupin was apparently a single, free agent. And Lily didn't like at all how much that felt like just the right ending to make things a great day, because, looking around the table, it seemed obvious her parents and brothers wouldn't agree.

"What on earth does that even mean?" Ginny asked, sounding exasperated. "How don't you two want the same things?" she continued, even as Teddy's brows pulled together, hair darkening a little.

"I don't think-" Teddy mumbled, but Lily couldn't hold her tongue.

She interrupted the Metamorphmagus, saying firmly, "That's none of your business, Mum. It's not any of our business how his relationship ended, but I thought family was supposed to always be there for one another. Isn't that what you said, Mum?" She looked at her father, who nodded ever so slightly.

"I still don't think-" Ginny pushed, but Teddy shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Mum," he murmured, watching Ginny's chocolate brown eyes soften at the old title he'd bestowed on her, before he'd ever known he was different from the Potters. "I don't really feel comfortable talking about it."

"You don't have to," Lily declared, and Teddy shot her a small, grateful smile.

Albus and James, both of whom looked a little disgruntled they wouldn't be able to needle their god brother over his lack of relationship anymore, glanced at one another, and by unspoken agreement, shifted gears. "So tell me, Lils," Albus said, spearing a bite of cake, "how's work?"

The redhead shrugged, even as she made herself a plate. "It's okay," she said. "The hours are long, the pay isn't great, and I've been hit on four times in the last two days, but all in all, it's not bad."

"And how's your secretive little personal project?" James pushed.

"Great," Lily said, unable to hold back her smile.

"Are you ready to tell us about it yet, honey?" Ginny asked, obviously still ruffled she couldn't get all the gory details of Teddy and Victoire's split.

"What do you mean you've been hit on four times in the last two days?" the Metamorphmagus asked, trying to rein in his temper that flared, seeing faceless men eyeing up the witch he had been thinking of almost nonstop, despite breaking up with another woman less than a fortnight ago.

Lily didn't even looking at him. "I don't think I'm quite ready to tell you all. But, I promise Mum, when I am, I'll come by straight away. I think you're actually going to be quite pleased," she said, beaming, and looking gorgeous enough to Teddy it was almost painful. But he couldn't smile with her, like Ginny did, because she hadn't bothered answering his question

"So tell us, sister," James said, glancing sidelong at Teddy, "are you, now that it seems there are wizards alive who don't find you revolting, finally going to hook up with someone?"

The turquoise haired wizard frowned, but Lily shrugged. "Who knows," she replied, then glanced at Harry Potter, who was also frowning, and chuckled. "Don't worry, Dad, I'll bring my next unfortunate victim home for an interrogation before it gets serious."

"I'm not saying-" Harry protested weakly, "I just mean… I'd rather you focus on yourself, and your own goals, honey."

Ginny smiled at her daughter, patting her hand. "Your father doubts any wizard will ever be good enough for you."

"When he should be thinking vice versa," Albus muttered into his pudding, and winced as Lily kicked him under the table.

Hazel eyes lifted and locked onto smoldering amber ones, even as a slow smile curved Lily's mouth. "Maybe we'll all be surprised," she said, and then purposely asked James how wedding planning was going, and why he hadn't brought his fiancee to dinner again, purposely avoiding meeting Teddy's gaze the rest of the night, scared she'd give herself, and her blossoming feelings for him, away completely.

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