Tp part 9
Teddy walked back up to the castle with a smile on his face. Today had been pretty good in his book. He had woken up to Lily sleeping beside him, then woken her up in turn to be… well… a guy, and then she had worn his bite mark proudly… until she was attacked by that bastard Lysander Scamander… that part wasn't so great… but he did get to bust the little creep. In fact, right after he walked Lily to breakfast and made sure that she was in good hands (her cousin Rose and her best friend Sarah, who both seemed very interested about the mark on Lily's neck… Teddy couldn't help but smirk as he turned away) he had made his way up to McGonagall's office and informed her about the incident in question. It was really killing two birds with one stone because not only was McGonagall headmistress, but she was also head of Scamander's house. She had agreed with Teddy's punishments and quickly pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill to write to his parents. Teddy was friends with his mom, Luna, and if he knew anything about her, he knew that Lysander was going to get it. He relished the thought.
After his audience with the professor, Teddy had decided to go down to Hogsmede and get Lily a present. He thought it would be a kind gesture… or at least it would prove to her that he wanted her for more then just her body. As he was walking, he didn't think that it would be too difficult to pick something out, but once he got down to the stores, he didn't know which one to go into first. He quickly ruled out getting her flowers or chocolates. Flowers always seemed to say 'I'm sorry' to Teddy and he would never buy chocolates for a girl again. Not after that huge fiasco with Vic, where she had accused him of wanting to break up with her and he was buying her chocolates so she would gain weight and he could dump her because she was fat. Yes, she was crazy.
Teddy stood out side in the chilly November weather for a good ten minutes before picking the jewelry store. It seemed innocent enough… that was until he walked inside and saw all of the necklaces, bracelets and rings that were put in magically protected glass boxes. The prices were also a little too high for Teddy's liking… and he knew that little miss independent Lily would kill him if he spent a fortune on her. But before he could seriously contemplate turning back and just buying her a book or something, he was intercepted by a sales clerk.
"Hello Sir. My name's Stacy, can I help you with anything?" she asked in a voice that sounded so sugary, it almost made Teddy want to hurl. The girl was pretty… in a very overly done kind of way. Her hair was bleached blonde but there was a slight brown color at her roots making it obvious that she was a natural brunette, and her eyes were brown, but covered in too much eye goop (Vic had always tried to explain that it was called 'makeup' not 'goop') and the white button down shirt that she was wearing had one too many buttons undone, and her black skirt was far too short. She was practically a carbon copy of Vic, right down to the needy look in her eyes. She couldn't even try to compare to his wonderful Lily.
"Ummm yes," Teddy said slowly, trying to ignore her breasts as she pushed them out ever so slightly. "I'm looking for a present."
"Is it for your mother or sister perhaps?" Stacy asked sounding a little too hopeful. It was pathetic.
"No actually," He corrected. "It's for my girlfriend." It felt good to call Lily his girlfriend, but he felt a little sorry for the girl in front of him. At the word 'girlfriend' she had practically deflated; she let her chest fall a little and buttoned one more button, her hair seemed to lose a little curl, and her skin seemed to lose some color.
"Oh," she said, still trying to sound as perky as before, "I see. What's the occasion?"
"I just wanted to do something special for her, that's all," Teddy said with a small smile. This seemed to make the girl feel a little better. She clearly thought that he was buying his girl an engagement ring. Teddy wouldn't be doing that for a while… but someday… as he was day dreaming, he almost forgot about the question that Stacy had asked him.
"How long have you two been together?" she asked, getting some of her perk back.
"Not too long actually," the girl stuck her chest out again at this answer. She thought she still had a chance. "But we were friends for a long long time before we made it official." Stacy looked him up and down one more time before giving up.
"That's so cute!" she exclaimed with false happiness. "So what do you want to get her?"
"I was thinking about getting her a bracelet or necklace maybe… I don't know…" Teddy felt very out of his element in a store like this. He wasn't too skilled with jewelry… he always seemed to pick out the ugly stuff… Except one time when he was a kid. He laughed as he remembered.
Teddy was fourteen years old, and standing in the door way as he watched Lily unwrap her birthday presents with enthusiasm that only a three year old can muster. She was opening toys, dresses, and candy. She was smiling with every gift she tore open, until she got to his present. Underneath the wrapping paper, was a little black box. Teddy watched with bated breath as she slowly opened it and her eyes grew wide. Inside was a small gold ring with an emerald on it. Lily stared at it in wonder before putting it on.
"Teddy, I love it!" She said as she dashed over to him and hugged his knees. He stroked her hair and accepted her million 'thank you's before she bounded away to show all of the family her trinket. Ron and Harry laughed when they saw it.
"It seems we've been outdone again!" Ron said in a boisterous tone.
"Well, we didn't really stand a chance, we all know that she simply adores Teddy over there," Harry laughed with him.
"But fortunately for us, the little girl will lose that ring in a matter of days," Ron spoke again.
"No she won't," Teddy cut in, "I put a charm on it so that it will always stay on unless she removes it herself." The two men looked at him impressed. "I also put a protection shield on it, to protect Lily from any dark magic." Harry smiled at Teddy thankfully as Ron laughed again.
"Harry, I'd be worried if I were you," He warned.
"Why," Asked Harry sounding confused.
"Because mate, Teddy here, is stealing your little girl. She put that ring on her left hand right were an engagement ring should go." Harry left to go get a drink, leaving Ron to laugh until he was slapped by Hermione.
Teddy was brought back to the present by the perfect bracelet. It was gold with small emeralds all around it. It would match that ring he bought her perfectly, that is if she still had it. He quickly pointed it out, bought it, and left the store. Now, the only problem was how to give it to her.
Teddy waited in the great hall for all of his students to leave. He had Lily's class next period and if he wanted this to work, he would have to be sure that he was the last on in the room. He hadn't been able to give Lily the bracelet yet because she was finding it hard to dodge her now curious friends and even more curious brothers. They all wanted to know who this mysterious secret admirer was, the girls, so they could see if he was worthy of Lily, and her brothers so they could kill him. So far, in the past five days, they had only been able to be together for an extended period of time once, and even then they could barely kiss without fear of being caught. Lily said that he should give her detentions, and then they could have all the time they wanted, but she had an impeccable record so far, and Teddy wasn't about to trash it just so he could feel her up for a few moments… at least not yet… if things kept going on this way, who knows…
But despite all the challenges, Teddy had finally found a way to give Lily the gift. He had left it on her desk before lunch, knowing that she was in his next class and would find it there right next to the note signed her secret admirer; she would understand it, but her never ending entourage of friends and family would not.
Teddy could barely hold back his excitement as he watched his last student race out of the great hall, knowing that he was going to be late. Teddy laughed, before getting up and saying goodbye to Professors Trelawney and Sprout, with whom he had been conversing.
As he walked into the class room, he saw a rather large circle of students gathered around Lily's desk. As he heard them talking he began to get nervous. What if it really was ugly and he just didn't see it? What if she hated it and told him that he was an idiot and she never wanted to see him again? Forcing those dark thoughts to the back of his mind, Teddy cleared his throat to announce his arrival to the class.
I'm sorry I'm late, class," He said in a professional tone as he watched them all scramble back to their seats. Lily hadn't looked up; she was still staring at her gift. It was ugly. She hated it. She hated him. "I got caught up in a conversation with- well, never mind." He quickly turned to his desk to gather the students' latest assignments and pass them back.
"I was really pleased with these essays. You should all be very proud of yourselves," he told them encouragingly as any good teacher would. "Is there something wrong Miss Potter?" he asked when he reached her desk. He could finally get a good look at her face and could see that she was looking at the bracelet not in disgust, but in surprise and wonder. She looked up at him with huge round green eyes that showed her gratitude in a way that words could never describe.
"No professor," She answered, and he was shocked to hear her voice shake slightly as she spoke. "I've never been better." It took everything in Teddy to keep his poker face.
"Good, then here is your essay." He handed her her paper before continuing on with the other students. The lesson was rather difficult to concentrate on that day. Lily kept looking at him with those large innocent eyes that he found very hard to resist and he wanted to talk to her and kiss her and hold her so badly by the end of class; he told her to stay behind. After everyone had left the class room, she walked up to him.
"Than-… you didn't have to… it's really beautiful…I… wow…" Lily stammered as Teddy's smile grew wider. She was so cute when she struggled with the English language.
"I'm glad you like it," he said, thrilled that he had done something to make her happy.
"I don't like it," She told him. Teddy's heart sank.
"You don't?" I asked feeling his heart pound against his chest.
"No Teddy Bear," she said with a smile, "I love it!" Teddy relaxed. "It's gorgeous! And it will match that ring you gave me when I was little!"
"You still have that?" He asked. He had hoped that she hadn't lost it or thrown it away, or if she did have it, then he would have expected it to be tossed in a jewelry box somewhere in her room at home. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect her to have it hanging on a chain around her neck. She pulled it out from underneath her shirt and allowed him to examine it.
"I've always worn it," She told him.
"Really?" He asked bewildered.
"Yeah," she replied with a laugh, "My dad wouldn't let me take it off. He said that it would protect me in case something bad ever happened." Teddy looked from the ring to his girlfriend.
"I think that spell may have worn off by now," he informed her. "I could renew it if you'd like."
"I don't think I need you to do that, Teddy," she said. "You're all the protection I need. Like when you saved me from Scamander the other day…" She trailed off as Teddy looked away.
"That was my fault, I should be apologizing for th-" he was cut off by Lily's small but surprisingly powerful fist.
"How many times do I have to tell you that it wasn't your fault?" She said angrily.
"At least once more," He said with a small smile as he rubbed his jaw.
"You were great that day! You were my perfect little hero," she said smiling at the cheesiness of her own words. They both began to laugh.
"My point is," Lily tried again after a few moments of unsuppressed giggles and chuckles. "I never did truly thank you for that day." She was speaking in her most seductive tone, and it was going to drive Teddy crazy very quickly.
"And how do you plan on doing that, Lily dear?" He asked playfully as he pulled her closer. Lily smiled.
"This Saturday, meet me inside the shrieking shack at 2:30," she told him. Teddy just nodded. "I didn't hurt you too badly… right?" she asked, referring to his jaw.
"You? Hurt me? Never!" Teddy said, before Lily playfully slapped his chest before kissing him.
"I do love the bracelet. Thank you so so soooooo much!" She told him before pulling her self out of his embrace.
"Where are you going?" He asked as she gathered up her stuff. She laughed.
"Class, Silly! I still have one more period today!" She quickly ran up to him and gave him another kiss. "I'll see you at dinner k?" She asked innocently.
"Of course," Teddy answered. "And I may kidnap you afterwards too," he said with a glint in his eyes. Lily smiled.
"Oh darn," she said sarcastically, "Whatever shall I do?" She kissed him one last time before leaving.
The moment she left Teddy felt the room darken and his heart broke a little. He was getting used to this now; it happened every time she left the room. But still Teddy couldn't help but say out loud…
"I miss you."