A/N Hey there my lovely readers :)

Here is my newest chapter and with Valentine's day Right 'round the corner, here is a bit of TeddyxTor for all the romantics out there...

Also I now have an editor for this story...the only reason I say 'editor' and not 'beta' is because she's not a member on the site, she's just my best friend who has volunteered for the job (sucker!), but a huge thank you to her amazing-ness! She's working her way through the chapters now :)

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not - nor will it ever be - mine

! NOTE: (sorry if these aren't 100% accurate) they'll make sense in context. !

- âne têtu = stubborn ass

- m'aider = help me

- Bébé bien fait! Vous êtes intelligent, non? Oui. Maman vous aime, tant! = Well done baby! Aren't you clever? Yes, mummy loves you so much

Chapter Ten

'Swallow my pride?-Never really understood that sentiment...'

...Teddy...

Okay, in retrospect it had definitely been a mistake to tell Tor to go have a shower before we talked. I mean, I'd been trying to be a decent guy.

We'd been doing some work for Professor Longbottom in the greenhouses for our detention and I felt a shower was in order before we had this conversation.

Fuck, that was the last time I did the 'right' thing.

I'd followed her up, quickly went into my dorm and tried not to wake my—loudly—snoring roommates as I took well-earned shower. And Christ, did it feel good.

Clean and warm, I'd come down twenty minutes later in an old worn pair of joggers, a t-shirt with a muggle band name on it, and a well-loved hooded jacket - fully armed with a box of homemade chocolates my Grandma had sent me to school with. Because of my Grandpa, my Grandma was very into the muggle world, a way to hold onto him I supposed. Anyway, she liked to cook—properly—without magic. Let's just say her melt-in-the-mouth chocolates were better than some of the orgasms I'd had in the past. So I'd been unbelievably comfortable in front of the warm fire nestled against the world's most comfy sofa munching heaven-given truffles when my sensitive ears had picked up on the light pads of her feet coming from the girl's dormitories.

In fairness, it could have been anyone. But I knew it was Tor: My skin was tingling, my ears were trained on her even breathing and I was involuntarily inhaling her scent like it was my lifeline.

Merlin, I needed therapy. Seriously.

Rolling my eyes, I'd turned to greet her and had instantly regretted it.

Holy shit.

My hair morphed uncontrollably to a shocking red, my eyes bright, molten gold as lust spiked my bloodstream.

Crap.

Hurriedly, I forced my appearance back to dark brown hair and green irises hoping like hell she hadn't noticed as my eyes scanned her moving form.

Somebody 'up there' hated me.

She bounced down the stairs gracefully, oblivious to the debauched images surging through my mind. Whilst she wasn't watching I—in a moment of weakness—allowed my eyes to travel up her body. My senses were overloaded with her:

Her creamy legs were bare but for the tiny black pyjama shorts with a little pink heart pattern on the hem of the left thigh. Her Pyjama top was a t-shirt in pink with the words 'I am so NOT a morning person' scrawled in cursive black letters across her chest. But, fuck, that then drew my attention to her breasts. Which then alerted me to the fact she was not wearing a bra. And then—Lord have mercy—her still damp hair was lightly soaking her top causing her nipples to peak against the fabric.

I could practically feel myself drooling over her.

Christ, Tor, you couldn't have a granny nighty like Mol?

Like you aren't thrilled she looks sexy as hell.

No, actually, I'm not.

Uh-huh.

Stop Talking to yourself!

Quickly, I forced my eyes to her face and wanted to slap myself.

Her damp hair was half wet half dry, fluffed up and ruffled giving the impression of sex hair—the 'I just got thoroughly laid and am completely satisfied' kind of sex hair—her makeup-less face was still unbelievably stunning, all smooth creamy skin with a small scattering of freckles over her nose and cheeks. Her eyes were a deep, clear blue, her lashes thick and long, emphasising the intensity of her irises. Her lips were perfect, not too full that they were fish lips, but just full enough to tempt men to their deaths. And fuck, I was more than willing.

Every part of my body was taught and I got the eerie realisation that the wolf had spotted is prey.

And it wanted to stalk.

"Took your time." I said purely to distract myself.

Tor's eyes narrowed as she rounded the sofa to come and sit next to me, her vanilla-lavender-honey scent wrapped around me and the wolf roared.

Mine.

My eyes changed to a brilliant gold once more but I managed to keep tabs on my hair.

I ground my teeth together till my jaw ached. No. It's a truce. Nothing more. You don't want her that way.

"You have not been waiting that long Teddy." she muttered, settling herself against the cushions so she faced me.

I shrugged, ruffling through my box of chocolates like it was requiring all my focus and selecting a dark one, throwing it up and catching it in my mouth I looked back over at her to see her smiling at me and was momentarily taken off guard. "What?" I snapped defensively.

"Nothing." she said shaking her head and snatching one of the heart shaped ones I'd gathered in the back corner. Tor's favourites. "Now, the truce..." she began when she'd swallowed.

I nodded, thankful for the diversion. "I think we should have an agreement. One that we're both happy with." I stated honestly.

Tor watched me closely before getting straight to the point, "So, no more targeting one another?" she clarified, routing for another truffle distractedly and I nodded.

"Yup. And then some." I said. I knew I was jumping off a cliff here, but I needed this, and if Tor was my only option...well, that was better than nothing. "If I talk to you about...the...my...issue..." I struggled to say it, to admit I was a freak.

Next to me, Tor sighed and shuffled forward, leaning in and forcing me to look at her. "Did you know that there have been recorded cases that when a parent has some dormant werewolf venom in their bloodstream the children have inherited it - active?" she asked.

I frowned. What the hell was she blithering on about now? Did she think that science was going to help me be okay with this? She had no idea. No idea. I'd done the research. I knew what I was. Besides my Dad hadn't been dormant, he'd been very much a-

Then it dawned on me: she was talking about her Dad.

She smiled when she saw my sudden realisation, "We just have to wait and see right? But it won't change anything Teddy. If me or Dom or Louis turn out to be werewolves it'll just be another part of who we are, it won't stop people caring about us," she explained earnestly. I looked down at the faded material of the sofa, my fingers plucking a stray thread, and sighed.

"That's because you're a Weasley Tor, you have a family, a great one." I pointed out quietly.

I heard her let out a frustrated sigh. "You really can't see it, can you?" she asked in disbelief. I looked up to find her face a bit too close for comfort, those huge blue eyes gazing straight into mine. "Teddy, you are part of our family. Okay, so you're not a direct blood descendent, so what? Has that made Lorcan or Lysander any less loved or accepted?"

A bit back a growl and narrowed my eyes. "They're not monsters Tor!" I argued. How could she deny this, this truth that haunted me?

She bristled and straightened her spine. "Neither are you, you âne têtu! Merlin m'aider!"

I clenched my jaw and leaned forward threateningly, "Did you see Stevenson - what I did to him?!" I growled quietly before standing up and walking towards the fire, and turning my back to Tor so I wouldn't see her face when I said what I was going to say next. "I don't think I would have stopped." I stretched my arms out, placing my palms against the wall next to the fire-place and hanging my head, my shoulders sagging under the emotional weight. "I would have killed him, Tor." I admitted in a rough whisper, my pinkie twitching in agitation.

The room fell silent but for our breathing and the crackle of the dying fire as I waited for her to run screaming.

Finally, I heard her shift on the sofa.

Good. Leave. Run from me. While you still can.

But then—much to my astonishment—she was slowly, hesitantly, walking to stand at my back.

I waited. Not daring to move.

"Look at me Teddy." she murmured pleadingly.

I didn't move. I couldn't look in her eyes and see her disgust there.

Suddenly, she was ducking underneath my arms so she was trapped between me and the cold stone of the wall.

She looked so small.

Her soft hands came up to cup my face, and she forced me to look at her. "Can you remember the argument we had in the broom closet that night?" she asked quietly, her eyes fixed steadily on mine. I swallowed and nodded, not really sure where she was going with this but unable to pull away. "I was so angry after what you said, about me being a selfish bitch," I flinched, because it sounded much harsher in this moment of peace, she smiled ruefully, "It's okay, you were right, I've apologised for that already. But what I was going to say is that you made me realise I have made a bad record of not speaking up when I needed to. So, I went to get Henry. He's been making more advancements since we got back, and I wanted to put him in his place. Since I couldn't chance any Weasley interfering I told him to meet me out by the Forbidden Forest—after curfew. That's why we were there." She swallowed and glanced down at the floor before looking me in the face again nervously. "Of course I didn't know it was you then but now that I do, it made me understand a few things. You think you wouldn't have stopped. But I know you wouldn't have done anything had I not put myself in that position in the first place."

I stared at her dumbfounded for a long minute.

I just didn't get her. How she could possibly make it not look like my fault when I'd practically mauled a guy to death? Still, part of me was leaping for joy at the fact that Tor hadn't been out there to hook up with Stevenson, whilst another part of me wanted to chastise her for going out there alone with that prick in the first place. But a darker part wanted to shake her and force her to see that I was responsible. I was a killer.

After a while Tor shook her head slightly. "You're over thinking it Teddy." She stated, lowering her hands and leaning back against the wall with a sigh, my hands on either side of her head.

Yes, I was acutely aware of how intimate this position was, and how easy it would be to kiss her, to feel those smooth, soft lips against mine. I couldn't pull away.

Tor inclined her head to the side and cocked a perfect eyebrow and I made sure my face was expressionless, "Do you only remember half the details from that night? Do you not remember that you only acted aggressively when you thought I was in trouble? You were protecting me Teddy!" She sounded exasperated, her hands flying up in the air dramatically.

I frowned, recalling everything that had happened that night and realised that she was right: the wolf had only attacked when Stevenson was rough with Tor. It had stopped the second she told it to. And then she'd— "You called out my name." I blurted without thinking, my eyes finding and holding hers.

She looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "Yes." she whispered.

I rolled my eyes when she didn't elaborate. "Why? You said before you didn't know it was me, why would you—"

"I don't know." She interrupted loudly before swallowing thickly and looking down at her clasped hands, her foot tapping the floor repeatedly. "I don't know." she shrugged, her hands twisting together even more tightly. When she eventually looked back at me the words just seemed to spill from her and I had to struggle to keep up. "It just came out. I mean, I wasn't really thinking about saying it, it just kind of happened. They say you just act on instinct in those kinds of situations don't they? That your nervous system overrides the thinking part of your brain or something? Anyway, I know it's stupid and I know it wasn't exactly going to help—well, I guess it did kind of help because it was you and it got you to stop and everything—but I just, in the moment I guess—Merlin I was so scared, and for some reason I panicked and it just came out and I—"

I covered her mouth with my hand quickly.

Not many people could get Tor like this. The infamous Victoire Appolline Weasley was normally so in control, so of course, nobody knew. However, I'd known her since we were kids; I'd known her before she'd mastered that steely control, so I knew that when she was put on the spot or nervous or embarrassed she did one of two thinks.

1) The most frequent: she turned to Ice Bitch and blocked you out.

2) Hardly ever seen: She babbled. A lot.

"Shut up." I said. She froze and glared at me and I smiled tauntingly. "You were rambling." I stated, not removing my hand and refusing to admit how good her lips felt under my palm.

She shrugged and rolled her eyes. "mhatmevmer." she mumbled.

I laughed and released her before standing to my full height.

She had called out my name. Not because she recognised me but because in that moment it was her basic instinct. The wolf in me recognised that, understood it. The man...he didn't want to admit how good it made him feel.

"So." I started.

"So..." she followed my lead.

"So maybe I was just protecting you, it doesn't make me any less dangerous Tor."

"I didn't say that. I just meant it didn't make you a monster. If anything, it makes you more human."

My muscled tensed as I internally recoiled from her summation. I leaned in closer, backing her up against the wall. "I'm not human Tor, and don't forget that." I growled darkly as a last-ditch effort to get her to see that I wasn't what she thought I was that she should be running like hell.

Of course, this was Tor.

She rolled her eyes and ruffled her hair seemingly unperturbed. "Oh for fuck's sake you are so difficult you know that?" she muttered before shoving me back and stomping around me to sit down again. "We can argue about this forever it's not going to make a difference Teddy." She ran her hands through her waist length locks again and muttered something French under her breath. Slowly, I moved back towards her and sat opposite her. Leaning back I was about to say something until she beat me to it. "If I do turn out to be a werewolf next year will you judge me?" she demanded her arms folded in front of her chest and her eyes ablaze.

Crap.

She had me there.

"No but—"

"Then don't expect me to Judge you! Please Teddy, let's just make this truce. Because you're right. We both need it. Stop being a stubborn idiot and just accept that I don't care that you're a werewolf." she argued, her face all business.

I sighed heavily. Why did I even bother arguing with her?

"Fine." I gritted out.

She smiled a—goddamn beautiful—smug smile and I think my heart stopped. Merlin, what the fuck was wrong with me?

I blame it on exhaustion.

Yeah right.

"So, this truce...as part of it I'd really like you to talk to me about what you're going through." she said, like we were talking about tricky homework or shopping lists.

I grimaced. But really, I wanted someone to talk to.

"Fine," I agreed warily but then had a moment of inspiration, "but I want you to tell me the real deal with Stevenson."

Tor tensed and I waited patiently. "Teddy, I don't know if I'm ready to." she whispered, her eyes on the ground.

I nodded. "Neither do I." I pointed out. Please Tor, trust me so I can trust you.

She took a long shaky breath before looking me in the eyes again. "Alright. But you have to promise me you won't tell the family."

"That goes both ways."

"Deal." she said, nodding her head gently.

"Okay then. So we agree: no more fights, and a deal to talk about this...stuff." I clarified, looking at her for confirmation.

"And no more dwelling on the past." she said, her face unchanged but I could sense her unease just beneath the surface.

I looked away to the wall. "Are you asking me to forgive you?" I inquired my voice tight as I felt a heavy weight in my chest.

Tor shifted nearer until she sat close enough to my side that I could feel the heat coming off her small body. "Not exactly." I turned to look at her and realised she really was right next to me. "I know that full forgiveness will take time, but I'd like to start fresh. Like I'm just some girl you met who wants to be your friend." she explained her voice so soft that I had to strain to hear.

I swallowed and looked at the ornate pattern of the carpet. I couldn't do that. Because if she was any other girl, I'd be trying to get her in bed.

I shook my head, trying desperately to clear away thoughts of that...her naked form pressed up against me, her bare, smooth legs tangled through mine, her hair spilled over the sheets and her back arching, pressing her closer, her body wet with welcome and need— oh hell.

"F-friend?" I stammered, forcing the word out.

Tor looked at me strangely, her brow furrowed, "Yeah...and if you ever do forgive me, I'd like you to tell me." she said.

I rolled my head back trying to push away the images that were filling my head.

Positions.

Places.

Costumes.

Merlin, have mercy.

"Teddy?" she asked, her hand coming to touch my shoulder and I full-out jumped off the sofa as an electric shock went through my body.

Fuck.

There was a strangled meow and then a psychotic hiss as I hit the floor with a loud thud.

"Ow." I complained. I blinked, and when I realised what had happened all I could hear was a peeling laugh ringing through the common room and I sat up in time to see Tor gathering Pluie into her arms, her face bright with laughter.

Merlin, she was beautiful.

I watched her smooth her hand over the sleek fur of her cat and then she ruffled his ears and kissed his nose affectionately. "Bébé bien fait! Vous êtes intelligent, non? Oui. Maman vous aime, tant!" she continued to coo to him in French, his contented purrs accompanying her gentling speech. I cocked my head to the side and watched her nuzzle the cat before settling him gently on her lap, his head cradled in the crook of her arm and his fat belly upturned for petting. "You're such a softie aren't you?" she rubbed his belly thoroughly before looking at me, her eyes still tender. "I've not seen him very much since we got back to school and I was starting to get worried." she said, continuing to gentle the now subdued animal.

"That's because he's been camped out in my bed." I said irritated, getting to my feet and coming to sit back down.

Tor frowned, "What?"

I nodded at the loudly purring cat. "The little psycho has been making himself comfortable in our dorm for the past few nights." I explained, staring down at Pluie in disbelief. No way this cuddly fluff-ball was the same manic feline that ripped my arms to shreds. "How do you get him to move?" I asked, thinking about our battle for the bed.

Tor tilted her head to the side thoughtfully, "He normally just moves for me," she said.

"Figures." I muttered. Guess that was that.

She laughed. "Can't control a little kitty-cat Teddy?" she taunted and I glared at her.

"That kitty-cat has some pretty sharp claws and teeth." I pointed out in offense.

She giggled and then looked back to her pet with a soft affection. "Cat treats. And a 'please' will go a long way." she suggested, glancing at me from the corner of her eye.

I stared at her warily. "Please?" I repeated.

"Yes. Manners? Ever heard of them?" she asked rhetorically, resettling the cat a little higher.

"He's a cat!" I snapped. A selfish cat, I added in my head.

"A cat who likes politeness." she countered, before smiling, "Then there's always cuddling." she chirped, scratching the cats head lovingly. I raised an eyebrow. No way was I trying to touch that thing again. Tor looked up at me and rolled her eyes like she knew what I was thinking. Reaching out and grabbing my wrist she placed my hand on the soft mottled fur of his belly before I could resist. Pluie narrowed his eyes but didn't protest, I petted him gently on instinct and he yawned and relaxed, sagging against Tor contentedly. "See." she teased, laughter in her voice.

"Whatever." I muttered continuing to run my hand over the Pluie's fur. But I could feel her eyes on me and had to force my hair and eyes to remain the colour they were and not give my uneasiness away.

"Teddy?" she whispered.

"Yeah?" I whispered back, unable to find my voice.

She paused and I ached. "Never mind." she said, lowering her eyes. I stopped tending to Pluie and looked at the girl sitting next to me, her face bent and her white-gold ringlets tumbling over her shoulders chaotically. And for a second, she was just a girl, and I could see all the potential here. How easy it was to be around her, how simple we were. And fuck, I wanted it. I wanted it so much. I thought about everything that had happened since I came back to school. I thought about the detention and her apology. I thought about Madame Heart and Professor Lanchel and their offer to help me. I thought about Mol and her sad eyes and Dom and her anger and me and the wolf.

Hell. So much had happened. So many things had changed.

My life was a freaking disaster and nothing was the same anymore. Not my friends or my love life or school or family.

But here was Tor, risking everything just to be my friend, and why? What could she possibly have to gain? All she wanted was forgiveness and I was being too stubborn to give it to her.

Or was I just trying to protect myself? Stop her from hurting me again? Because she was the only girl I'd ever loved like that, and she tore my heart out and grinded it under her foot.

"Why Tor? Why did you tell them that I forced you to kiss me?" I asked, because I needed to know this.

Tor looked up slowly, her eyes full of tears and I swallowed the huge sense of unease shoving at me. "You sure you want to know?" Her voice was thick as she tucked her hair behind her ears. I nodded stiffly, afraid to use my voice. "I loved you Teddy. Did you know that? I was nine, and I was in love with you."

Oh shit.

Suddenly, it all made sense and I could see it from her perspective. I understood why she'd asked me to kiss her, why she hadn't opened her eyes-

'I told you kissing wasn't nice and now I know because I had to kiss you.'

Fuck! My words were ringing in my ears.

Tor laughed beside me but it sounded off. "I shouldn't have acted like I did, and I'm so sorry. But I was embarrassed and hurt and I just acted without thinking and then was too proud to rectify it." she explained her hand stroking Pluie faster and faster. "It's okay though, I was nine and we bounce back at that age right? And you did fine. You came here and you were popular and all the girls wanted you and I wasn't a part of your life anymore so I did the only thing I could think of and became your enemy because then at least you'd still notice me. It's stupid I know but—"

"Tor, please stop talking." I whispered. Because it hurts too much, I wanted to say. Because it really did. I'd broken her heat. And she'd broken mine. And we'd spent the past seven years fighting because neither one of us was brave enough to fix it.

We were both fucking idiots.

My eyes zeroed in on Tor's shaking hands and I sighed, a heavy weight laying my chest.

Oh, Tor.

I reached over instinctively and took her hands in mine. "I honestly didn't know…that you felt that way." I said, like it was an excuse.

"How could you have?" she pardoned, her head hanging so her hair hid her face.

Do. It.

Now.

I wasn't sure where the order came from, but I was listening. "I forgive you." It just kind of came out and then it seemed to hang there.

I waited, resisting the urge to fidget.

Tor suddenly snapped her head up. "You really mean it?" she asked, her eyes overflowing with tears now.

I nodded and before I knew it, Tor had put Pluie to the side and then she was sliding her arms around me and hugging me like her life depended on it.

I hugged her back.

"So a do-over?" she whispered in my ear.

"Yeah. A do-over." I agreed.

"Thank you. So much." she buried her face in the crook of my neck and I couldn't stop my hair bursting into a bright shimmering turquoise.

My chest felt light and I smiled. I really smiled.

I knew we had a long way to go, there was no way in hell this was going to be easy...but for the first time since my change, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

A/N Awwwwwwwwwwwww yay!

What did you think? Please let me know, just hit the review button! It takes a few extra seconds, honestly :)

Coming up there will be some Stevenson drama, but also some sexy scenes with these two...that lust has to come out somewhere right?