A/N: I'm obviously a very, very evil person or just a very busy one (full-time job woot!). Take it whichever way you want it but I honestly didn't intend for that cliff-hanger to be quite such a cliff-hanger. Sorry for leaving you all (apology in advance) hanging. Here is the long awaited next chapter.
klare, Julie London, DumuNamLu2U19Lu: Thanks for the review and sorry for the wait.
devilsredemptionangelsfall: So I'm really the evil twin huh? :P
LadyProngsOfCamelot: Awesome screen name by the way and please let your feelings overwhelm you as much as you wish.
anavihs: This chapter is because I can't bear to let you down and not finish
Forever Siriusly Sirius: My you have some interesting theories there. ;) I'll see what I can do.
"Victoire can I have a word?" the particularly unwelcome voice repeated. She saw Teddy stiffen at the same moment that she spun around. Together they surveyed Markel. Victoire somewhat warily and Teddy with a fierceness that suggested imminent murder. Victoire put a hand to his chest to stop him jumping at Mark like his face said he wanted to.
"She has nothing to say to you Saunders," Teddy hissed maliciously, grabbing her hand and pulling her away before she'd had a chance to say anything, "Come on Vicky."
"I think Victoire can decide that for herself Lupin," Markel said just as venomously seizing Victoire's other hand. Her arms gave a painful twinge as both boys tried to pull her to them and already she could see that a number of people had stopped dancing to stare at them curiously. Victoire had nothing to say to Markel but she also didn't want to be the cause of a fistfight at a stranger's party. It was obvious to anyone who knew Teddy that he was getting very angry the scarlet red of his roots clearly visible against his brown hair. Accordingly she slipped her hand from Teddy's and turned to Markel.
"I'll give you five minutes of my time. But," she added loudly drowning out Teddy's objections, "only so as not to cause a scene."
"Vicky I don't think thi…" Teddy said disapprovingly before Victoire cut him off with a meaningful look.
"Teddy I'll be fine," she said pointedly, a slight bit more sharply than she meant. Teddy's eyes flashed red then and he looked like he wanted to argue some more but Victoire didn't give him an opportunity. She spun on her heel and pushed through the crowd with the intention of finding a private corner. Private it turned out being a fairly relative term, their break up was still big enough news amongst the students that everywhere they went people would edge closer eavesdropping so that finally in exasperation Victoire was forced to seek a secluded spot in the back garden for this unwanted meeting.
It was cool outside and Victoire had left her jacket inside. She folded her arms, though it did nothing against the goose bumps skittering up her skin, and turned to face Markel. Even half obscured in darkness he was beautiful and Victoire had to smother a sigh.
"What do you want Markel?" she said.
"I tried to see you," he said face attractively pouting.
"Funny that, I was trying not to see you," Victoire replied waspishly but he wouldn't be put off that easily.
"You returned all my letters," he accused. Victoire rolled her eyes and saw numerous faces at the window hastily avert themselves.
She scowled. "Because I didn't want to read them, I'd have thought that was pretty obvious."
"Are you ever going to give me a chance to apologise, or explain?" he grumbled face almost managing remorse, almost. Victoire unfolded herself from the wall and glared at him.
"No I'm not. Now if you have anything else to say you may as well say it now, since you've already ruined a perfectly lovely evening," she said.
His voice was low and insinuating in the dark, "Oh I bet I did." Victoire had a brief battle with herself to ignore the obvious taunt, and lost.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she snapped hating herself as Markel smiled smugly. It was a smile full of crocodile teeth and Victoire wondered how she'd ever thought it charming. It still made her stomach turn but now in a way that left her distinctly nauseated.
"Do you enjoy Teddy Lupin snuggling up to you like a lovesick mooncalf," he said examining his fingernails nonchalantly. Shooting a glance at the window Victoire felt her mood darken, her schoolmates didn't even make a show of averting their gaze this time, openly spying. Incensed she grabbed the front of Markel's shirt and dragged him further into the garden till a copse of small trees hid them from view.
"Leave my friends out of this. It's no matter to you anyway," she said poking him in the chest, "you've forfeited your right to be jealous."
"So there is reason to be then?"
"No," Victoire said quickly glad for the lack of light as she flushed darkly.
"Then why do I suddenly find myself dragged into hiding," his tone was falsely wondering, his posture smug. He certainly knew how to push her buttons.
"There is nothing like that between Teddy and I," she said tightly, "He doesn't think of me like that." Even as she said it she couldn't help remembering the look in his eyes and wondered what he'd been about to say before Markel had interrupted them. She might never know. Just yet another thing she had to hold against him.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Markel muttered. Two could play at this game.
"Are you really that insecure around him?" she sneered. In the shadows she saw him snap to full attention.
"Lupin is nothing to me," he hissed sounding more desperate then sincere, "All I care about is you."
"Well you only have four more minutes so I suggest if you haven't changed your mind, which I hope to Merlin you have, you skip the unpleasantries and tell me what the hell it is you want."
"Ouch, no need to be so hostile," Victoire crossed her arms, "After all that's happened between us don't you think I deserve a bit more than five minutes Vicky," he said face imploring.
"After all that's happened between us I don't think you deserve five seconds," she said flatly, "but here we are."
"Oh come on Vicky," Markel cried throwing his arms up in frustration, "This is bloody ridiculous," her face didn't even twitch, "Must you always be so damn stubborn. Fine, I was going to warm you up to the subject first but now… You want to know what I wanted to talk to you about. Well it here it is," he said sighing and becoming serious, "I wanted to ask you to give me another chance." Victoire's eyes widened as she waited for the punch line.
"You're kidding right?" she said incredulously when none was forthcoming. She gave a harsh humourless laugh, "Let me make this perfectly clear Mark all I'm willing to give you is a broken nose."
"Don't be like that, please Vicky I'm a wreck without you." he said attractive face pleading.
She snorted, "Good thing you have Stephanie to comfort you then."
"Stephanie," Mark said grumpily, "I'm done with her, the way she treated you. Half the stuff she said was wildly untrue you have to know that Vic."
"Only half," Victoire replied waspishly, "How disappointing."
"Vicky please just tell me what I can do," he begged.
"You can get out of my life?"
"Vicky please!" She glared at him.
"Fine," she said quietly relenting, "You can answer me a question. Where is Phillius Hartwood?"
"What?"
"Phillius Hartwood president of the Hellebore Society," she repeated calmly.
"Hartwood? I'm not sleeping with him as well," he joked. Her eyes narrowed and he frowned in puzzlement, "Why the interest in that old coot?"
"Would it surprise you to know that I am perfectly acquainted with Hartwood's current residence and the circumstances leading to it?" His eyes widened.
"How did you_?" he shook his head, "Yes Hartwood is unfortunately residing in that... hell-hole but you'd do well not to judge all of us on the actions of one. That's not what we're about. Not all of us are like that fanatic," Victoire wondered then why he was still president, "Either way I fail to see what any of this has to do with the two of us"
"Everything, since you were only dating me so that your stupid society could use my name to boost their cause."
"Is that what you think? Merlin you really do have a high opinion of yourself don't you Vicky?" he shook his hair out distractedly, "Captivating as you are Vic not everyone lives their lives revolving around you. It's true they were rather set on having you as spokesperson but no-one's tried to trap you into it. I'm sure they'll just ask someone else now you've made your distaste for our organisation adequately clear." Victoire felt her resolve waver his disdain for the turn of subject seemed real enough. Still there was Brian's warning.
"Your father doesn't have some scheme in the works to compel me then? After all he was willing enough to let you seduce me into it."
"Honestly is that all you're going to talk about. Fine I'll admit part of your initial attraction was your famous name," Victoire gritted her teeth and he scrambled to explain, "At first that's all it was and I mean it didn't hurt that you were absolutely gorgeous," he smiled offering her the compliment. She didn't take it, "But then, well, let's just say the physical attraction certainly wasn't lacking in our relationship." His eyes lingered below her hemline just long enough to make her uncomfortable.
"Even you have to admit that we really do make quite a pair," he said fingering a lock of her hair with a generous smile, "Still can. Whatever else you might say I know you find me attractive. You like me, at least a little bit," his smile turned sly as he leaned into her suddenly, "And I know you like my kisses."
"Urgh," she brushed aside his unpleasantly hot lips as they descended, "that's it I don't care if I promised you five minutes I'm going back to the party now," she said turning to do just that.
"Victoire wait!" he yelled seizing her arm in a desperate grip. Victoire stopped and looked down at the offending hand acidly, "Look Victoire I was lonely and I missed you but that's no excuse for what I did. I'm sorrier for it then you know. Just give me another chance."
"That was your chance Saunders," snapped Victoire, "and you blew it. Now let go of me." If anything his grip tightened.
"I'm not finished," he hissed dragging on her arm. Victoire plunged her free hand into her clothes and felt her wand slide into her palm comfortingly, the words for a bat-bogey hex already rolling off her tongue but she didn't get a chance to finish them. The area they were standing in was suddenly flooded in blinding light and Victoire threw up her wand hand to shield her eyes from it.
"Let her go," a deathly calm voice said a voice that Victoire would know in her sleep. Teddy didn't sound pleased at all and Markel seemed to realise it too, dropping her hand as if it had suddenly turned scalding and diving for his wand. Teddy was faster.
"Expelliarmus," he shouted. Victoire jumped as not just Markel's wand but Markel himself went flying. She looked up wide-eyed from Markel sprawled on his back in the dirt to the path and the figure outlined by the lights shining from the house. She'd never been so happy in her life to see the meddling git. Teddy met her eyes briefly before returning his gaze to the moaning boy on the ground.
"The five minutes are up," was his explanation. Even from this distance she could see the red flecks in his caramel eyes, glittering like shards of bloody glass. She wanted nothing more than to fling her arms around his neck but she held back, approaching him slowly recognising the powder keg of emotions he was right now.
"Teddy," she said gently edging closer wary of setting him off.
"Victoire go back to the party," he growled raising his wand slightly as he spoke so that it was pointed directly between Markel's resentful green eyes. It was clear from his murderous stare what he had planned and while Victoire wouldn't at all mind seeing Markel in a unit of St Mungos she didn't much care to see Teddy in an accompanying cell of Azkaban. Markel wasn't worth that.
"No," Victoire said quietly and though she was starting to feel shaky her voice came out strong. Teddy cast a desperate glance her way before shooting back to Markel who had shifted infinitesimally.
"Vicky please go back inside the house," said Teddy his voice strained.
"I'm not going to let you do this," she said firmly.
"Go…back…inside," he said through gritted teeth. But Victoire didn't want to go back to the party anymore, all she wanted to do was get as far away from this place as possible and she couldn't apparate on her own.
"Teddy I don't want to go back to the party," she laid a soft hand on his arm as she spoke, "Take me home," he looked at her indecisively, desire for vengeance wrestled with concern in his stormy eyes, "Please". It was the please that did it. She could tell. As he looked at her pleading face his shoulders sagging wearily and he slowly lowered his wand. Victoire nodded her head encouragingly.
"You can have her Lupin," Markel spat, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. Victoire opened her mouth to say that it wasn't like that but Teddy grabbed her arm in his free hand and started dragging her away. Still they weren't far enough away for his next mutter to be unheard, "She's a frigid bitch anyway."
Teddy whirled around in a move so fast that Victoire didn't even have to time to think knocking his hand aside even as he hollered, "Sectumsempra!" His curse skittered away harmlessly into the trees. Well almost harmlessly. Markel looked about to faint as he studied the deep gashes in the trees around him. Teddy turned on her furious.
"That could have hit you," he snarled.
"It could have hit you as well," she said calmly weathering his blistering glare, "Teddy put the wand away," she continued gently lowering his still raised arm, "He isn't worth it."
"Yeah Lupin listen to your master," spat Markel regaining some of his swagger now that he'd realised Victoire was his buffer, "Run away with your tail between your legs like the feral pup you are. You're no better than that mongrel father of yours, filthy half-breed."
Teddy ignored him clearly intent on getting her out of there but from the way his grip tightened ferociously she could tell the insult had hit home. It was Victoire who dug in her heels. Teddy glared at her with furious exasperation.
"I forgot something," she said simply tugging her arm free. It took four steps to get back to Markel, but only two seconds to pull her arm back and punch him as hard as she could in his handsome face. There was a sickening crunch as her hand connected with his nose and he crumpled into a ball wailing pitifully.
Of the three of them Teddy was the first to recover darting forward and yanking her out of the reach of Markel in case he decided to retaliate. Retaliation seemed the last thing on his mind however as he frantically scrambled to stem the flow of blood from his nostrils.
"You broke my nose," he said in disbelief. Victoire was just as dazed as the two boys astonished that she had let her temper get the better of her so badly. In fact she felt a little faint, there was a lot more blood then she'd expected.
"Well," she said weakly, "you broke my heart," Teddy looked at her sharply, "And I did warn you." The adrenalin was beginning to wear off and Victoire was aware of a dull ache in her knuckles. Thankfully Teddy decided that they'd overstayed their welcome with an unyielding grip on her arm this time he started to walk her briskly back to the lights of the party. She waited until they were just out of ear shot then swore loudly both at her stupidity and the pain in her now throbbing hand.
"Don't you dare laugh," Victoire warned him sucking on a bruised knuckle hopelessly, "That really hurt." Dominique was already waiting at the back door, Victoire's coat draped over her arm, when they appeared.
"What happened?" she asked, wide eyes darting between their faces shrewdly. She seemed to be expecting something terrible.
"Among other things Victoire just broke that prat's nose," Teddy said taking Victoire's offered coat and helping her into it. Dominique stared at her sister clearly shocked and, there was no denying it, proud.
"Did you have to say it so loud?" Victoire complained as she heard the news echoing through the house's rooms. It would be all over the Hogwarts before she even set foot back on school grounds. Teddy ignored her.
"Vicky's had a bit of a scare tonight so I'm just going to take her back to my place till she calms down okay?" he said diverting the question they could see Dominique about to ask. Victoire buttoned up her coat dusting non-existent lint off her shoulder to avoid her sister's searching gaze.
"Oh, okay," Dom said anxiously, "I'll let Maman and Papa know if I leave early where she is. I'm sure they won't mind," she said distracted, no doubt already thinking up an excuse for Victoire's sudden departure. An excuse no one was going to believe anyway.
Victoire felt like a small child as Teddy ushered her carefully away from the lights of the patio down the side of the house. When they were clearly out of sight of the house he crushed her to him in a rib-breaking hug and spun on his heel. What little air was left in her lungs was sucked right back out again as Victoire felt a crushing pressure from all sides, as suddenly as the pressure started it stopped the world resettling around them. Curious she tried to peer around their surroundings but Teddy was yet to let her go his arms holding her head to his chest so tightly she would have had better luck unsticking a permanent sticking charm.
"Ermph, Teddy you can let go of me now," she said pushing against his chest with absolutely no result.
"Not any time soon," he muttered into her hair.
"Come on you're messing up my hair," she whined wondering if he knew just how strong he actually was.
"I don't care about your ruddy hair," he growled, "Do you realise how much of a scare you just gave me?" Victoire finally stopped squirming and as she realised he was just assuring himself that she was really okay. She relaxed melting into him the way she had when they'd been dancing, and suddenly found herself thrust away.
"Hey," she exclaimed angrily rubbing her elbow where it had collided with the concrete stairwell, "What was that for?" Teddy standing two steps higher than here stared down at her, like he didn't even know her. Victoire shuddered apprehensively he'd never looked at her that way before. She didn't care for it at all.
"Teddy," she said guardedly but he didn't look at her as he turned to unlock the door, the muscles of his back tight, "Thank you," she said softly. He didn't reply just swung open the door and stepped aside to let her in wordlessly.
Teddy's apartment was nothing like she'd expected, and neither was his housemate. A tall well built wizard dressed in an impeccably fashionable and brilliantly green ensemble came bounding out of a side door way, "Lupin you're back early can I assume that his means the evening was..." he trailed of as he spotted Victoire eyebrows rising in interest, "Well I say that wasn't what I expected at all. You must be Victoire, your name is famous in this household," he said indicating with a flourish the photos covering every available surface and quite a bit of the walls, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you and to see that our dear Metamorphmagus was not exaggerating your beauty. I'm Roger and you my dear are, I believe, the literal definition of stunning. How many wizards freeze up at the sight of you?" Victoire blushed. It didn't escape her notice that Teddy had been calling her beautiful.
"You should meet my sister, or even better my mother," she said.
"I have trouble imagining anyone more beautiful then you," Roger said gallantly and went to kiss her hand but hesitated at the last moment, "I'll say what's happened here," he was referring to the starbursts of split skin marring her knuckles, "I thought you said you were going to a party Lupin, not a boxing match."
"The night took an unexpected turn," Teddy said in a tone that didn't invite further conversation and disappeared down the hall. Roger looked after him shrewdly.
"Excuse me for a minute," he said to Victoire and started after Teddy calling over his shoulder, "Make yourself at home." Victoire licked dry lips feeling supremely out of place and nervously perched herself on a large off colour couch that took up a lot of the living space. Distantly she heard the sound of a tap running and muted conversation.
Unable to make out any words she picked up the nearest photo frame to occupy herself. It was her and Teddy at the beach. Teddy was still in his gangly phase, or as much of a gangly phase as a metamorphmagus can have, and Victoire's shoulders were covered in summer freckles. Ted's Grandmother walked in and out of frame scolding them for burying a snoring Uncle Ron up to his neck in sand. It was a great photograph and a great memory.
The tap went off and Victoire was able to catch part of the boy's muffled conversation.
"Ted she punched the guy I think it's over," Roger was saying earnestly. Victoire put down the photo frame and inched forwards to hear them better, "You have to talk to her."
"I don't have to do anything Roger," Teddy was saying, "Leave it alone." Oh boy Victoire knew that tone of voice well. It was the one he used when someone was talking about her in what he considered were inappropriate terms.
"Teddy I don't understand she's here, she's single, she's in that incredible dress what's the problem?" she heard Roger say.
"She's my best friend," Teddy growled in warning tones, "so don't even think about it." Victoire sensing and impending blow-up decided it was time to intervene.
"I'm flattered," Victoire yelled, "but really not interested." Roger's head popped around the bathroom doorway, his expression quizzical.
"Trust me my dear you're really not my type," he said and with one last glare into the bathroom he wandered back down the hall, "but if any witch ever were to be you'd be the top of the list gorgeous." Victoire snorted, he was certainly a sweet talker.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're a bit of charmer?" she said.
"Never," Roger said with a completely straight face, "you must just have that affect on us males. Here," he offered his hand to her and Victoire warily gave him hers in return. Before she had a chance to change her mind he rapped his wand sharply across her injured knuckles once. Victoire appalled snatched her hand back only to find the unpleasant sensation gone before she could exclaim on it, "There all better," Roger said pressing a small kiss to the newly healed skin and dropping her hand, "Now to deal with the shock I see you are both still suffering from."
She watched curiously as he crossed to the small kitchen occupying a corner of the apartment and dug out a worn copper cauldron. He vanished into the depths of the boys' cupboards pulling stoppered bottles in a myriad of colours out seemingly at random. Just as Victoire was becoming very confused he straightened and began to throw, with no discernable system, dashes from a number of bottles together into the cauldron. He waved his wand over it and the volatile concoction gave off a small explosion making Roger smile victoriously.
"Here you go. Best cure for shock out there," he said offering her a wide martini glass that he'd filled with the suspicious liquid.
"What is it?" Victoire said eyeing the fluorescent green drink apprehensively, given previous experience she wasn't sure she should risk it. Teddy wandering back into the room took the decision out of her hands snatching it away before her fingers had even brushed it.
"I don't think so," he said settling it carefully on a side table.
"It's just a bit of alcohol," Roger said and it was unclear to Victoire if he was answering her question or defending his offer to Teddy.
"She's underage," Teddy said with a lethal glare. Roger didn't wilt like many would under that withering gaze just stared back steadily. Victoire could see now why maybe they worked as flatmates.
"Hmm," was all he said as if Teddy's look held a wealth of information.
"This is Roger," Teddy said glaring at him, "he's studying Healing and Alcoholism."
Without missing a beat Roger quipped back, "This is Theodore. He's studying crime fighting and denial." Teddy's eyes narrowed dangerously further. Victoire feeling she should defuse some of the tension smiled fondly.
"Don't worry Teddy can just be a bit of a noble prat when it comes to me. Not," she said giving him an affectionate smile as his expression hardened, "that I'll ever complain about it again. Though a little bit of alcohol every now and again isn't going to kill me?" she joked. Teddy gave her a dubious look eyebrows raised as he draped himself across the corner of the couch.
"Do you even remember what happened the first time I let you have alcohol?" he asked doubtfully.
"Of course."
"Really," Teddy said sceptically, "because you'd had enough alcohol to knock out a baby dragon."
"Well okay not that night exactly," Victoire admitted with a laugh, "but the bruises I had on my shins for two weeks afterwards were pretty memorable. It looked like the baby dragon had knocked me out," she told Roger, "Didn't you tell my parents that I fell down the stairs or something?" Teddy coughed.
"You did fall down the stairs," he said sternly, "a number of times. Up them as well." Victoire tried out her best innocent expression on Teddy. It took a few minutes but eventually his lips twitched and Victoire's couldn't help responding. Roger watched them for few moments in amusement.
"Right I think that's my cue to leave," he said bounding out of his chair with an enthusiasm that surprised her.
"Oh you don't have to leave," Victoire insisted, looking away from Teddy as her eyes followed Roger across the room.
"No, no you two have plenty to talk about. Alone," he said and with a significant look at Teddy strode out the door. It closed with a resounding thud that seemed to doom them to a silence that was quickly turning awkward.
"He seems nice, a tad enthusiastic, but nice," Victoire said.
"Mmhmm," Teddy answered with a noncommittal nod. She waited for more but the smile that had twitched his lips only minutes ago had disappeared; and taken his good mood with it.
Knowing that she was probably going to regret it Victoire asked, "What did Roger mean we have stuff to talk about?"
Teddy let out a gusty sigh and raked a hand through his already spiked up hair, currently settled firmly as black.
"He said I had to talk to you about tonight," with another sigh he turned towards her, "and he was right. Victoire why did go into the yard with Sanders?" he said with exasperation.
It was Victoire's turn for a noncommittal gesture; she shrugged, "Because we had stuff to talk about. And he wasn't going to leave me alone until we did?"
"Like what Vicky?" he asked with irritated bewilderment, "What could he possibly want to talk about that was so important it had to happen then?"
"He wanted me back, Markel did. He was quite distraught about it really. I think his father is giving him a hard time about getting me back into that awful Hellebore Society." For her pride had taken enough of a beating tonight that she felt she could finally admit what he no doubt already knew.
"Wait! You knew what the Hellebore Society is really for?" his voice which had been merely irritated before was deathly calm. Victoire looked up at him in surprise.
"Of course," she said watching as he raked a hand through his hair again, ending on a sharp yank, "Teddy you were the one who told me to go looking for answers." Victoire reached out to stop him pulling more on his elongating hair but he slipped out from under her hands to stand at the end of the couch. He looked down at her in a way that was increasingly alarming; it was too reminiscent of the wary way he'd stared at her in the stairwell outside.
"I thought you broke up with him because he was cheating on you?"
"I did. But Teddy I was going to dump him anyway I was on my way to do just that when I stumbled upon Stephanie," but Teddy wouldn't be mollified in fact he looked like he wanted to strangle her, "It was a way out without admitting to him that I knew the truth."
"You're telling me you knew what he was...and yet still you went with him alone into the garden," his tone was pure disbelief, "Do you have any care for your life at all?"
"Teddy_"
"No Vicky. You never think do you? You're so bloody impulsive and stubborn and_gahh," he started to storm out of the room.
"I- I'm sorry Teddy," she whispered.
"Just don't do it again because next time I won't be there to bail you out," he said severely and without another word walked away, closing the door on her and that more than anything else that had happened tonight was what finally made her cry.
A/N: Okay so only a few more chapters left to go. 3
Question would anyone freak out if I were to change the title of this story? The current one no longer seems fitting. I was thinking of changing it to Victoire and the Hellebore Society.