Chapter Fourteen

Seeing Teddy

Teddy,

I'm glad testing is going well. The Veritaserum test sounds awful. What kind of questions are they going to ask you? Stuff about how hard you're studying and whether or not you've broken curfew… or personal shite like have you ever gotten pissed and taken your clothes off?

Anyway, I'm glad it's you and not me!

Everything here is pretty much the same. Katie is here and we'll probably head into Diagon Alley someday this week, last hurrah before school starts again. Yuck!

Mum, Dad, Louis, Nicki, and Katie all say hi. Let me know how that test went! Good luck!

Love, Victoire

P.S. Why pink?

"Why pink?" Katie scrunched her nose up as she finished reading the letter Victoire had just written over her shoulder. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Victoire laughed. "It's how I've been signing all my post to him."

"Okay." Katie looked uncertain. "Why?"

"At his party, when we disappeared for a while, we played Truth or Dare." Katie's eyes widened but Victoire threw up her hands.

"We played it as kids, it was just a laugh."

Katie nodded at her to continue.

"Well, anyway, I asked him why his hair morphed bright pink that night in the corridor."

"I've never seen it pink," Katie mused, reaching for the nearby bag of crisps and popping several into her mouth.

"I know! Neither have I," Victoire agreed, nodding. "It's no big deal but when I asked him he got all flustered and then Dad interrupted us and I had to go."

"Has he answered yet? When you write?"

"No." Victoire folded the letter carefully and sealed it. "He keeps avoiding it, writing dumb questions like asking what phrases in French mean, or bugging me about Roger."

"Roger?" Katie looked up incredulously. "Why would anyone care about Roger?" Victoire giggled.

"Well, you and I certainly wouldn't but Teddy seems worried he'll attempt to corner me back at Hogwarts."

"Maybe Teddy does… you know—"

"I've already told you he doesn't fancy me," Victoire mumbled, snatching the bag of crisps from Katie and taking a handful.

"Just 'cause he saw you naked and dove head first into the wall doesn't mean—"

"A stone pillar," Victoire corrected.

"Huh?"

"It was a stone pillar in the… Never mind."

"Well anyway," Katie waved her hand dismissively. "It still doesn't mean he couldn't fancy you. He was probably shocked as hell." Victoire shrugged noncommittally and took another handful of crisps.

"How much did he see, anyway?" Katie asked, cocking her head to the side and looking at Victoire, biting her lip against a grin.

"Oh, shut it you," Victoire blushed, grabbing a pillow off her bed and smacking Katie with it. Katie emerged laughing.

"I'm serious! Did he get the full monty or just you topless…"

Victoire shrieked as she pounced on her friend, smothering her laughter with the pillow as they both fell unto the bed.

"You're a prat," she mumbled, releasing Katie from her attack and leaning back on her elbows.

"And you're a prude," Katie retorted, sticking her tongue out and laughing at her. Victoire rolled her eyes as her friend's gaze suddenly became expectant.

"I don't know how much he saw," Victoire admitted quietly, inspecting her fingernails. "I was sitting on the edge of the bath with my back to the door when I heard him. I think he had just walked in."

Katie hummed and leaned over, looking up and down Victoire's back. "Well, not your most sensual side, but still…"

Victoire threw the bag of crisps at her.

~*~

The summer had been going relatively well. Dominique had been made Quidditch Captain for the upcoming year, which resulted in her training daily again, for hours at a time, over the isolative beach coves near Shell Cottage. Louis accompanied her most days, not as nervous to make an arse of himself at trials as he was in previous summers. Jake came over on the weekends and flew with Dominique, and Katie had just arrived to spend the last week of holidays with Victoire and her family.

Teddy wrote every week and Victoire responded faithfully. He sounded happy enough in his letters, excited over the training and doing well in the aptitude testing.

But, Victoire missed him terribly. He hadn't been able to get back to visit her once throughout the entire summer. She knew he had seen Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny one weekend, and she had cursed miserably when she found out it was during the week her family had visited Aunt Gabrielle in France. Teddy had written and teased her that she was just trying to avoid him. Victoire rolled her eyes at the thought.

She had no illusions now as to how she felt about him. Yes, she was still attracted to him; and no, it wasn't a passing fancy as she had once hoped. In fact, without him around to constantly poke fun at her and laugh over all the ridiculous things she did, she found the attraction growing at an alarming rate.

At least when he was here, it was easier to convince myself he had no interest, easier to push those thoughts out of my head…

But now, when she lay in bed, tossing and turning in a battle with elusive sleep, images flashed hopelessly through her mind. Images of a pink, tousled headed boy staring down at her, his lips swollen from kissing, his eyes sparkling, his fingers pressing into her skin.

Victoire shook her head experimentally and firmly told herself to stop.

She had not been mistaken when he saw her in the bath; she was convinced of that one simple truth. He had floundered about, rubbing his eyes so fiercely she was surprised he was not blinded, and sputtering that he just wanted to leave. Boys who fancy a girl don't go mad and try to pry their eyes out if they see them naked, they might stumble a bit, mouth gaping and eyes wide, but they do not act as though they just found their grandmother bathing.

And yet, there had been moments. Moments where he and she would watch the stars together, entwined in each other's arms and talk softly, laughing and teasing. Moments when their eyes would lock and she would see something, something that made her think if she just reached up and kissed him he would not pull away, would not be disgusted.

Victoire sighed, pulling a brush through her hair and staring down hopelessly at her make-up.

"What's wrong?" Katie asked, and until she spoke, Victoire would have sworn she was alone.

"Hmm?" Victoire jumped, turning quickly to take in her friend. Katie had just exited the bathroom and was pulling on her clothes, getting ready for their trip into Diagon Alley.

"You look lost," Katie commented, buttoning her jeans.

"I'm alright, just thinking," Victoire mused, clearing her head of all Teddy-related thoughts and turning back to her reflection. Satisfied with the outcome, she gave her hair one last stroke before setting down the brush and turning to her friend. "What do you want to do first?"

Katie shrugged. "As long as we leave Flourish and Blotts for last, I'm not carrying those books all over town."

Victoire grinned and nodded in agreement.

"You sure Louis and Nicki don't want to come?" Katie asked quietly, turning to rummage through her bag.

"I'm sure," Victoire eyed her friend suspiciously. "I asked them. Although, if you asked Lou maybe he'd change his mind."

Katie fixed Victoire with a scornful gaze, the effect of which was ruined slightly by her blush. "Oh ha, ha!"

If there was one thing to take her mind off her troubles with Teddy, it had been having Katie over and teasing her about Louis. Of course, Victoire had wasted no time in telling Katie this. Actually, now that Victoire knew who the secret mystery man was, she was surprised that she had not spotted it sooner. Katie was unbelievably flustered when Louis was around, eyeing him through her fringe and dropping books when he got too close. Victoire had been watching her sister and parents very closely to see if any of them saw what was now so obvious to Victoire, but no one seem to cotton on.

Diagon Alley was bursting with people and Victoire noticed several Hogwarts students cueing at the entrances of the stores, no doubt stocking up on supplies for the coming term. Katie had dragged her over to Scribbulus Everchanging Inks, claiming she needed new stationary and insinuating that Victoire might want to get some too, seeing as she's been using so much.

"Hmm, but why write to Louis, you see him so much as it is," Victoire teased, allowing herself to be led into the shop.

"Shh!" Katie hissed, looking around hurriedly and fixing Victoire with pleading eyes.

The morning flew by and soon all either of the two girls had left to do was purchase their sixth year books, which promised to be heavy, based on the reading list assigned in their Hogwarts letters.

"Three books for Transfiguration!" Katie huffed as they took their seats in an outdoor café near Flourish and Blotts. "Can you believe that?"

"I still can't believe I passed it," Victoire muttered, scanning her own reading list. "And there's three books for Charms as well."

"Yeah, but I doubted you'd complain about that," Katie rolled her eyes. Both girls were taking the same classes in the coming year. Defense, Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, and Victoire alone was continuing with Astronomy. Katie was still astounded that she wanted to continue in that field.

"It does nothing for you!" she had said in exasperation when they had received their results and Victoire squealed that she had been scored Outstanding in the subject. "It's not a requirement for any job!"

But, Victoire had always loved it, learning the names and positions of the stars and moons, the stories behind how they were named. She secretly found it awfully romantic, but defended herself verbally by telling anyone who questioned her that it was fascinating and asking what was wrong with wanting to learn for learning's sake.

"Oi! Mum! It's Vicki!"

Victoire turned in her chair to take in a very excited eleven-year old with messy black hair running over to her, followed closely by his younger brother and sister.

"Vicki!" Lily screeched, throwing herself into her cousin's arms.

"Hi Lily," Victoire hugged her cousin back and glanced around. Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry were lagging behind, not in too much of a hurry to catch up with their children. "Are you getting your things for Hogwarts, James?"

James nodded excitedly, lifting several packages and rushing to describe the broom that his father had promised him he could get. Victoire couldn't help but notice Albus looking slightly crestfallen.

"Hold on there, James," Uncle Harry laughed, finally catching up with his children and hoisting Lily unto his shoulders. "First years can't make the team, we'll talk about a broom next year."

"But, Daddy," Lily corrected. "You made the team first year."

"Your father was the first in a century to do that, James will just have to wait," Ginny said firmly. James looked crushed, but perked up quickly and pointed at Katie.

"Are you in Gryffindor, too? That's were I'm going to be sorted!" he said proudly, puffing out his chest.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Victoire rushed, looking at Katie apologetically. "This is my friend Katie Fitzgerald, and yes, she's in Gryffindor."

"Cool," James muttered, looking at Albus for support. Albus shrugged noncommittally and James nudged him. "Want to go check out the brooms, just in case," he added, looking to his father.

"Why don't you four go do that," Ginny suggested. "I'm going to have a coffee with my niece, so long as she doesn't mind?"

"Of course not," Victoire said graciously, Katie nodding in agreement. Harry, Lily still in his arms and his sons clamoring about his feet, waved goodbye and started down the street.

"Sorry to impose, you two," Ginny sighed as she took the seat they offered at the table. "Shopping with Harry and the kids sometimes makes me feel like I have four children, and Quality Quidditch Supplies is never my favorite place to visit."

"No?" Katie asked, confused. "But didn't you play for—"

Ginny waved a hand. "Don't get me wrong, I love Quidditch, it's just that every time I go in there someone recognizes me and… it's just a hassle. Frankly, I don't know how your uncle puts up with it. I hate having people follow me around."

Victoire nodded sympathetically. The whole of her extended family had to deal with fame in one way or another. It got beyond ridiculous if her Uncles' Harry and Ron were ever seen together with her Aunt Hermione. Cameras would still click and people would shout and gasp: "The trio! Look here please!"

"Anyway, I won't intrude for long—"

"You're not intruding Aunt Ginny," Victoire scolded as she waved down the waiter to bring her aunt a drink.

"Nah, we were just discussing Victoire's disgusting love for Charms," Katie teased.

"Any thoughts on careers yet?" Ginny asked conversationally. "I know what Nicki wants to be doing…"

"Who doesn't?" Victoire and Katie muttered in playful exasperation at her sister's devotion to Quidditch. Ginny grinned.

"Still, I managed to hear she snagged herself a boyfriend this year?"

Victoire grimaced as she nodded.

"Oh no," Ginny looked between the girls, "not a nice bloke."

"He was until—" Victoire shot her friend a warning glance and Katie clamped her mouth shut.

"It was my fault," Victoire sighed, looking down at the last dredges of her ice cream. "Dom got all defensive because there were some nasty rumors spreading about me at the end of last year."

Ginny's forehead wrinkled in concern and Victoire smiled weakly.

"Nothing I couldn't handle, don't worry," she said, patting her aunt's hand.

"Is that what inspired Lou to duel someone Muggle style?" Ginny asked slyly, looking from Katie to Victoire. Katie's jaw dropped open.

"You're far too observant for an adult!" Victoire accused, laughing as she pointed at Ginny.

"Hmm, true," Ginny mused, stirring the coffee that their waiter had just set down. "Bet you wish I'd see less."

Victoire blushed as her aunt's implications. She knew Ginny had been watching her at Teddy's going away party.

"I don't mind, so long as you don't tell Mum or Dad," Victoire mumbled, glancing up at her aunt guiltily.

"So it is true!" Ginny grinned in triumph. "Does Katie know what we're talking about?"

"Yes," Victoire admitted just as Katie said "No." Katie looked questioningly to Victoire, who rolled her eyes.

"Teddy!"

"Oh!" Katie's eyes were wide. "You told your aunt?"

"No!" Victoire hissed, biting her lip against a grin at the self-satisfied smirk on Ginny's face. "She's been trying to work this one out all year."

"Too right I have!" Ginny grinned. "You should have seen her at New Year's, moping all over the room just because he brought that simpering twit, what was her name?"

"Emily," Victoire supplied through grit teeth.

"Right, Emily," Ginny continued, waving off Victoire's discomfort. "But she denied it, of course."

Katie laughed loudly, poking Victoire in the side. "So I'm not the only one you practice denial with?"

"Well, as happy as I am that you two can find common ground in my mess of a love life, I'll thank you both to—"

"Has she done anything about it yet?" Ginny leaned across the table, directing the question to Katie and completely ignoring her niece's protests.

"No, she's got herself convinced he doesn't fancy her, just because—"

"Katie!"

"Whatever the reason, that's daft!" Ginny continued, ignoring the interruption. "You're quite a beautiful girl, you know." Ginny turned in her chair to cast an appraising eye over her niece, winking as she did. Victoire felt entirely flushed.

"You won't tell anyone, will you Aunt Ginny?" Victoire eyed her aunt pleadingly, twisting her hands nervously in her lap. "For all I know it's a passing attraction," Katie snorted, "and I wouldn't want anyone, least of all Teddy, finding out about it and—"

"I wouldn't," Ginny patted the younger girl on the arm reassuringly. "But I think you're wrong, just for the record."

Victoire looked inquiringly at her aunt.

"I think he's mad about you," she whispered, smiling gently at Victoire before standing up and taking her leave. Katie and Victoire bid her goodbye, Victoire still feeling out of sorts from the conversation.

"I like your aunt," Katie mused, smirking as she finished her drink.

Victoire eyed her in irritation. Katie threw her hands up and laughed. "Alright, alright! Truce," she sputtered, eyes twinkling. Victoire bit the inside of her cheek but couldn't contain her giggle.

"Yeah, truce," she muttered, laughing as she shook her head. "Aunt Ginny was always too perceptive."

"Think she could be right?" Katie asked, fishing in her pockets and throwing a Galleon on the table. "You know, about Ted?"

Victoire considered it for a moment, scanning the crowd outside Flourish and Blotts in an effort to avoid looking at the smug grin on her friend's face. Victoire felt a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Maybe Teddy did—

The grin that was spreading on Victoire's face slowly slid off. Teddy was walking through the brick wall by the Leaky Cauldron, pulling a tall slender brunette behind him. She was laughing as he dragged her into the nearby apothecary.

"What?" Katie stared at Victoire. "What? What's wrong?"

"Teddy," Victoire whispered, feeling the altogether too familiar sting of tears on her eyelashes.

"Yeah, Teddy?" Katie shook her head in bewilderment, turning to look in the direction Victoire was staring but he had already disappeared into the shop.

Victoire's throat had gone completely dry, her hands were shaking, and any hope that what her Aunt Ginny had whispered to her was anywhere near true had vanished the moment she saw Teddy holding hands with that gorgeous tart!

"Victoire," Katie started cautiously, grabbing her friend's shoulders and peering at her. "Are you okay?"

"I just saw Ted," Victoire whispered, breaking out of Katie's grasp and wiping her eyes on her sleeve. Katie looked around just as Teddy was exiting the apothecary, in one hand he held a large, lumpy bag, the other hand resting on the strange girl's lower back, leading her back to the Leaky Cauldron.

"Oh," Katie bit her lip as she looked back at Victoire. "Oh, Vicki! I'm sorry…"

Victoire shook her head, brushing tears from her cheeks. "No, it's fine." Victoire smiled weakly. "Let's go get the books."

Katie smiled sympathetically and nodded, following Victoire across the crowded street.

A/N Okay, so here's the deal: I know everyone loves fast updates and I have quite a few of the chapters to follow that I feel good about (meaning I've reviewed and edited them dozens of times) but towards the end of the story (the last three chapters or so) I may get slower in the update department. As long as no one cares that the updates will be slightly more sporadic, meaning quicker now and slower later, then we can keep up the fast updates. Sound good? Though, I do admit, it is hard to part with this story so quickly as I have worked on it for a very long time… Ah well… Enjoy!