AN This'll probably be my last chapter till the New Year...thought I'd better post by Friday just in case you know? Last piece of work and all that :)

So to all those Victoire and Teddy lovers, I have a feeling you're gonna like this one.

Here we go...

Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Taylor Launtner and A million pounds...I own none of them :(

Chapter Nine

'Sometimes - and I mean just sometimes - I am wrong...so it stands that maybe - and I mean maybe - my blonde enemy could be more...'

...Teddy...

I didn't know what was more shocking to me:

1) Madame Heart knew I was a werewolf

2) Professor Lanchel knew I was a werewolf too

3) They'd agreed to help me with it.

I shook my head as I walked down the corridor on auto pilot.

Fuck.

So much for this shit being kept a secret.

Lanchel had apparently known my dad—and his condition—in passing. When he'd seen Stevenson the other morning—covered in claw marks—it hadn't taken long for him to put the two pieces together.

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair.

The main downside was I was going to get punishment for my attack on Stevenson. But I could deal with that, mostly because there were far more up-sides:

Lanchel had assured me that he'd arrange for my passage out to the forbidden forest every full moon. And Madame Heart would see me the next day and supply me with any potions she reckoned would help the aches and pains. And they'd vowed to keep it all a secret from the other students and teachers, because they respected that it wasn't exactly something I wanted to broadcast. And, since I was of age, they had no responsibility to inform my relatives...

There was one major condition to all that though: I couldn't afford to slip up again or people would start to ask questions, and their loyalty to the school came first.

I'd been so surprised that they'd wanted to help me—and not cage me—that I'd barely gotten out the 'thank you' before stumbling off in a daze.

I came to a slow stop in the middle of a corridor and stared into the mirror that hung on the wall there. A tired looking man stared back at me, his skin pale, his hair a black that shone almost blue in the light. His eyes were dark too, so dark it was impossible to distinguish the pupil from the iris.

He was depressing and moody and basically represented everything I'd felt since I found out I wasn't normal.

Back when I thought nobody would ever accept me.

Back when I believed my life was over.

Back when I realised I was completely alone in the world.

Back when I thought me and Tor would never speak again.

Hell...there was so much I'd been wrong about. And I hated being wrong.

But—the way I saw it—the only thing to do now was bounce back.

Slowly, hesitantly, I let my hair morph to its natural, impossibly bright turquoise; my eyes turned a brilliant shining amber next, and finally my skin blended into a golden shade that glowed with warmth.

The man in the mirror was a statement: attention drawing, bright, fun, alive. It said, 'This is me, and I don't give a damn what you think!'

The man smiled and it said so much about him. It was mischievous, calculating, fun, daring and...easy.

He was me.

Or he who I was before, who I'd thought was lost: the boy who loved pranks, who—secretly—loved to learn and who loved lie-ins and loved flirting and loved sex—because who didn't?—who loved his family and friends...who'd once loved Victoire.

What?

No, I did not just think that!

Hell no.

Fuck.

Holy shit!

I take it back!

It didn't happen.

Shaking away the last part I focused again on the man looking back at me and realised that maybe, just maybe, I hadn't lost him.

I watched as the man morphed again, his hair turning a dark brown, fading to the tips which were blonde, his eyes a deep, emerald-green. Not quite a statement. Not quite daring. Not quite me.

But it was a start.

He smiled.

This man was my 'chilled down version'. He was what I'd looked like for the most part of last year - he was a part I was claiming back.

'You can do this. Don't fight it, it'll only make it worse. The sooner you accept it as a part of yourself, the easier it'll be to handle...However; don't forget who you really are. Don't lose yourself, because when you do that, you lose any hope for control, you may as well surrender to the beast.'

Professor Lanchel had said that to me, but the voice that sounded in my head didn't sound like him. It sounded like my Dad. Or what I'd always thought my Dad sounded like.

Swallowing thickly I stared hard at my reflection. Determination was a physical force in my eyes.

"Time to show them what you're capable of Teddy Lupin." Giving myself a firm nod, I marched down the corridor decisively towards the Ravenclaw common room.

I was taking control. I was going to start doing things right—too long I'd been in the dark living under my own depressive cloak, no more—and I was starting with Molly Weasley. Because she deserved so much better than this.

With the wolf pulsing through my veins, I covered the distance quickly and stopped outside the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room.

A scent wrapped around me, lush and intoxicating, I breathed deep. Fuck, it was like a freaking aphrodisiac...what was that? My blood pulsed thick, the wolf roaring...holy crap that smelt really, really, good.

Focus Teddy.

Shaking my head, I looked at the portrait. Thinking on my feet, I made myself look like Louis and waited for the portrait to give me the riddle. I did alright and it only took me two attempts to get the answer. Stupid thing didn't even realise I was wearing Gryffindor robes. I morphed back into myself before wandering casually through the hole created. I wasn't exactly a novice at this shit, after all, me and Wood had spent the best years of Hogwarts sneaking around.

However, I couldn't have predicted what awaited me in that common room.

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

The world really hates me.

What the hell did I do to deserve this crappy luck?

The common room had gone eerily silent upon my arrival, the younger students' wide-eyed gaze fixed on me in what can only be described as sheer panic.

Oh hell, had the whole of the Weasley-Potter-Scamander club decided to be here tonight?

Quickly, my eyes took in the scene.

Lucy, James and Lorcan - surprisingly no Fred - were all sat on the floor by the sofa, their face's shell-shocked. Louis was closest but he'd looked away from me and back to his sisters almost instantly - but not before his eyes flashed in a way that blatantly said 'brace yourself'. See, all the men in and around the Weasley family had very quickly learnt the codes; it was our silent way of dealing with all the firecrackers that were the women. Dom stood facing in my direction, glaring at me with such hatred that part of me wanted to run away like a pussy, but pride straightened my spine and stared back determinedly before I shifted my eyes to Molly who stood in a granny-style nightgown—Merlin I am a fucking asshole—her soft brown eyes looking at me, a slight flush rising to her cheeks. And finally, my eyes skated over Tor, who had her back to me, and I could feel the tension in her frame. Her scent hit me and I realised she was what I could smell outside.

Her essence invaded my senses and I was on overload. My eyes took in the set of her shoulders, the waves of her golden hair rippling down her back, my fingers itching to fist in it. Continuing down, I appreciated the curve of her ass, emphasised by the pleated school skirt. And finally her legs.

Holy fuck. They went on for miles.

The skin was creamy and I could just imagine how they'd feel wrapped around my waist as I sunk into her tight, wet-

"Teddy." the tone of the voice snapped me back to reality.

"Err... Hi." I managed, dragging my eyes away from that body and looking back to Mol.

Hell, she looked so innocent...I just couldn't believe I'd given off those kind of signs...I mean, I'd always made sure that when I came on to a girl she damn well knew about it. But Molly...well, I was pretty sure I hadn't come on to Mol. Quite aside from the fact that her family would probably use the killing curse on me if I put so much as a finger on her, she just didn't do it for me.

She didn't make me hard at the thought of her moaning my name, and I definitely couldn't picture her writhing beneath me in ecstasy...not like I could Tor.

Oh shit.

Not again.

Bad, bad, wrong thoughts.

What was up with me lately?

Somebody kill me.

"I should get going." interrupted Tor. Her voice was thick, a tell-tale sign she wanted to cry. My skin pricked in anger. "Mol?" she continued, and—thank Merlin—those quiet brown eyes moved to the blonde in front of me. "You're right. As your cousin I'll give you this. Just look after of it." I hadn't a fucking clue what she was on about but whatever it was caused Mol's face to break into an ecstatic grin. "I'll see you soon Lou." Tor whispered to her brother, her jewel bright eyes fixed on the ground.

Look at me Tor, please look at me.

Of course she didn't.

Of course she'd be frustrating even in a situation like this.

I can't read you if you don't let me see you, I thought, my instincts telling me that something big had just happened. My eyes followed her departure, her body language screaming defeat and I had the scary feeling that I was losing something. By the time the portrait closed behind her I felt physically sick. My heightened hearing picked up the hard pounding of her feet as she began to run and just as she got out of range I heard the cry of agony that shook her.

Fuck, Tor.

Why couldn't I just hate her?

I'd been asking myself that for years. Every time I felt sympathy or amusement or pride or lust, I just didn't get it. But right now it didn't matter because I'd never ever seen Tor look like that. The wolf in me was roaring with impatience.

Go after her. Now.

I can't forgive her.

Man the fuck up and make sure she doesn't do something stupid.

"What brings you here Ted?" Louis asked, his eyes fixed on the exit his sister had just taken and I knew he wanted to go after her.

"I-"

"Oh this should be good." Dom interrupted as she walked forward.

My hands curled into fists. "You know what? How 'bout you fuck off, Dominique - you know jack about me, so stop acting like you do!" I snarled and to my satisfaction she took a step back. "I'm here to see Molly." I said to Louis and he raised an eyebrow. I cringed inwardly at the joy on Mol's face that I caught out of the corner of my eye. She indicated for me to come to her and I did, but I nudged her backwards away from the crowd so I wouldn't be overheard. There were several loud catcalls and I rolled my eyes. Honestly, where the fuck were people getting these signs from?

" Mol..." she gazed up at me with huge eyes and I felt sick to my stomach. Like ripping off a plaster, I ordered myself. I took a deep breath. "Look, I'm really sorry Mol, but the thing is, you're like my little sister and I love you but just not in the way that I think you want me to." I saw her face drop and her eyes water so I sped up, needing to get all of it out, "I know you think I'm a good guy and everything but I'm sure that if you really thought about it you'd realise that you don't really know me." I argued. "And you deserve way better. I'm far too fucked up in the head for you." I added whilst I smiled softly at her.

Mol frowned slightly and she looked so young. "You're not...Teddy you're wonderful and I don't understand why-"

"No, I'm not. I'm cruel and I really don't think a lot of things through and, well, you deserve some gentlemanly brainiac who can make you happy." I explained, albeit probably not brilliantly. Mol sniffled and I mentally scolded myself for not doing something sooner. "I really am sorry Molly." I said quietly. She nodded sadly and then turned and walked away. Scrunching up my nose in frustration, I walked towards the portrait, glancing over my shoulder at Dom, "Now, if you'll excuse me I have somewhere I got to go." I said. I met Louis' eyes as I turned to leave and gave him a nod that he returned.

Tor was my mess to deal with, after all.

Once I was out of the Ravenclaw common room, I raced after Tor, her scent like a physical force dragging me in her direction much faster than I ever would have moved when I was an ordinary wizard. Heading outside into the freezing autumn air I ran my eyes over the grassy hill that rolled down to the lake my ears picking up the sound of words that were carried away by the wind..

"Tor?!" I yelled when I saw her form curled up on the ground.

Was she that stupid?

She could catch pneumonia.

Running towards her as she stood and slowly turned to face me, my eyes ran over her body. They took in the wet tracks of tears on her cheeks, the red puffiness of her eyes, the painful set of her shoulders. Her vulnerability was like a knife in my heart.

"Yes?" she asked, so quiet and hoarse that I doubt I would have heard it before my change.

"What do you think you're doing? You could get sick Tor." I scolded, staring down at her shaking body.

"Like you give a second thought to what I do Teddy." she said softly. I was rarely taken by surprise, but the sadness in that statement made me stumble. "I - I didn't mean what I said b-before so don't pity me, because that'll only make it worse. C-Can we just forget it?" she continued in earnest, her big—huge—blue eyes gazing up at me pleadingly.

I frowned and shook myself of the urge to hug her, "What the hell are you on about?"

Her eyes flashed and I felt bare. Like she was seeing all of me at once. "I thought werewolves had enhanced senses...you really didn't hear?" she questioned, her eyes hopeful and so unsure at the same time.

"No. I haven't really got complete control over my new wolfy skills yet." I admitted carefully, "So I guess your ramblings are secret for now."

She nodded and swallowed, her eyes dropping to the floor again and it bothered me.

Look at me Tor!

"I know Louis will have asked you to come but you can go back, now...to Molly." she mumbled. I had expected her to comment on the werewolf stuff—because she'd pushed so much yesterday—but she didn't and it seriously threw me off. She was driving me crazy here! How was she so freaking calm? I was a monster for Merlin's sake!

I started to answer before I realised all of what she'd said. "Louis didn't send—wait, hold up...Molly? What do you know about Mol?"

Tor's head snapped up, her eyes fierce and angry.

There's my Tor.

"Who doesn't know? I think I'm the last person to find out! You could have said that you'd told someone, you know? But I guess it makes sense right? You've always had a thing for brunettes and she's so kind. I suppose she's easy to talk to, better than I'll ever be anyway." She rambled, her arms making dramatic gestures, the rise and fall of her chest a little distracting. Especially since the freezing air was making her nipples hard.

Focus.

"Me and Molly?" I questioned.

She nodded in exasperation, "Honestly Teddy! Why bother trying to hide it?!" she yelled, her face carefully guarded. I stared at her fuming, the whole situation completely throwing me off balance.

Where had all this come from?

I watched her glare at me for the longest moment as a predator might watch its prey.

"Does she make you happy?" Tor finally asked, her eyes studying me uncertainly and her voice drained of its venom until she sounded much less threatening.

I swallowed and tried to sort through everything.

Since when did I discuss things like this with Tor?

"Did Stevenson make you happy?" I asked instead. My mouth forming the words before I'd even thought to speak.

Big mistake.

I watched her flinch visibly, and take a step back, her eyes hurt and betrayed. What the fuck?

"Don't go there, Teddy. Please, just...leave." she said, her voice brittle. I hated that he made her sound like that.

"No." I argued, "That's not good enough. You can't have a go at me over my choices and then not expect the same!" In other words: he was a prick, what were you thinking!?

"Merlin Teddy! It's one guy, why does it even matter? You've had tons of girls!" she practically screamed. I'm not really sure why that made me feel so...defiled...like I was tainted or something.

But I was not going to back down.

"They didn't mean anything! All my friends—hell, the whole school—knows about you and Stevenson."

"And all of our family knows about you and Molly!" she countered, her face furious.

"But I'm not in love with Molly! Nothing even happened! For fucks sake she kissed me one bloody time and now everyone thinks we're going to get married or something!" I yelled, my body heating up in anger. She had no right to accuse me when she's dated the wanker of the century.

"You—what?" Tor stopped and stared at me curiously, "But…I just—are you sure?"

I laughed bitterly. "Am I sure? Merlin Tor. You're so confusing. Of course I'm sure. Me and Molly? Can you imagine it? The queen of proper with the compulsive metamorphmagus and werewolf? Sounds like a really bad comedy. Besides, I really don't think you have the right to argue. At least Mol's sweet and kind and decent. You fell for a complete dick, you know that? I thought you were better, he's just-"

"I never loved Henry." She interrupted softly.

I stopped short and studied her, refusing to acknowledge the huge blooming happiness that statement gave me. "Then why were you with him?"

Tor smiled ruefully, "Why did you sleep with all those girls?"

See, this was my Victoire. Here, she had me cornered. And—though I'd die before I admitted it—I loved it because it was exhilarating and confusing and unpredictable and fun.

I wrinkled my nose in thought before grinning. "They were hot. And the sex was awesome." I stated with a shrug.

Some emotion flickered across her face so quick I couldn't grasp it but Tor raised her chin and watched me defiantly. "Henry's fit, and charming and well, fill in the blanks."

I felt myself pale. I really couldn't. I couldn't think of him touching her: his hands running over that perfect body, taking her innocence from her.

Merlin, no, she was worth so much more.

Lots of guys at Hogwarts wanted for, for a number of reasons: her body, her voice, her feistiness, her intelligence, her playfulness. I'd never let them bother me. Partly because I was too proud to admit that it had any effect on me but mostly because I knew she'd never give them the time of day.

But that theory had crashed to the ground when I'd been told about Stevenson.

And because of my shit I wasn't even there to stop it, I'd basically opened the gates and beckoned forth all the dickheads who wanted their hands on Hogwarts's resident Veela. Because even though I'd hated her, the Weasley's had still relied on me to be her champion and make sure all the assholes kept their distance.

My eyes moved to her cheek where I knew a concealing charm hid the bruise there. "What happened really Tor? With Stevenson." I asked quietly. I watched patiently as she chewed on her full bottom lip and then crossed her arms protectively over her chest causing me to notice the goose bumps on her arms.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to talk about it, Teddy. I mean, it's me and you and just last night you said-"

"I know what I said." I interrupted, knowing that she was talking about my rejection of her offer of a person to talk with. "But...something happened that has made me think that maybe I've been wrong about a few things." I said slowly, thinking through every word.

Tor's bright blue eyes searched my face intently, and I stared back evenly. "What do you mean Teddy?"

"I mean that...look, I don't know if I can completely forgive you for what you did, but I understand that I played my part too, and for us to keep fighting like this seems fairly pointless when neither of us want it." I explained, noting the small flash of emotion in her eyes as I spoke, "But truth is, with everything that's going on I could use someone who knows what I'm dealing with, someone I don't have to lie to every second. It would be nice to be myself around someone. I'm not saying I'm gonna spill my guts or that we're going to be friends and I'm not asking you to tell me everything either. However, a truce...I think we could both use that." I finished bluntly.

Tor stared at me for a long moment before letting out a long shaky breath. "It must have been a big something," she muttered, "there's really nothing going on with you and Mol?" she inquired, her eyes glittering.

I shook my head, "I just told her how it was tonight."

A small nod and a frown before she smiled slightly. "A truce?" She asked.

"Yup." I confirmed. Because truth was, I needed her. I'd never say it, but I needed someone who knew what I was, someone whom I could just be myself around. And if that person happened to be Victoire Weasley. Well, we were going to need this agreement.

"Alright. What exactly does it entail?" she asked. I smiled happily, and was about to answer when a gust of wind rushed over us. Tor's hair swirled about in a whirlwind of golden ringlets whilst her pleated skirt flew up about her waist to reveal the slightest peek of—fuck me—lacy red panties, before it resettled.

Fighting the urge to groan, I looked at her disapprovingly instead, "It's late and it's been a long night for both of us. How 'bout we head back to the common room and then tomorrow night we'll talk? Say one in the common room?"

"Deal." she said, her hands smoothing down her skirt, fingers tugging it back into place causing my eyes to zero in on that perfectly curved ass.

It was going to be a long night.

AN/ Ta-Da Teddy and Tor are now officially no longer complete enemies.

I hope everyone kind of got in this chapter that the headmaster has pretty much whipped some sense into our dear Teddy. I had one reviewer ask about why teddy was so 'fuck the world' all the time, and I want everyone to understand that it's his coping mechanism. Some people just deal with whatever comes at them, Teddy is more pessimistic in my story. Rather than just accepting the changes in his life and seeing the positive, he's become depressed because all he sees and focuses on is the negative, and it's not until now that someone has made him see sense and realise that he's not alone and that people won't necessarily hate him because of his condition.

So, he's coming around a bit here...

Now it's just up to our Victoire to make him happy again.

Please give me your thoughts...things are probably gonna start heating up.