Disclaimer: If I was J.K. Rowling and had spent seventeen years writing incredible stories which are some of the finest tales this century while simultaneously going to press conferences, being interviewed, and getting bombarded with fan mail, all in the name of Harry Potter while being a single Mum, getting married, and having two more children, and was finally done after almost two decades, do you really think I'd spend my days writing Harry Potter fanfiction?

Quick thing: if you like listening to music when you read, I'd recommend 'Tainted Love'. Now, onto the chapter!

The Darker Side of Love

Toblerone. I remember when I thought up that name. I was so angry, but so… young. It was such a childish thing, me calling you Toblerone after Teddy. Yet you have become my one confidante, for times much for painful than the time in which I started writing in you.

I can't tell anyone else. I shall not let Hamish make me into some whining brat. For all I know, it's nothing. He will not get to me. I won't give him that satisfaction.

It all started after the mistletoe fiasco in the last week of term. Teddy and I were forced to kiss- and not on the cheek, either. I was so scared. Hamish was glaring at us, glaring as though he wanted to use the Cruciatus curse on Teddy- and on me. As soon as I could move away from the mistletoe, Hamish grabbed Teddy's arm and said, "How dare you touch Victoire," in a voice worthy of Voldemort himself. I tried to stop Hamish, but he just continued giving Teddy a look of pure hatred.

And then Teddy spat in his face. Hamish punched him so hard that he was knocked out instantly. It looked like he was going to start mutilating Teddy even more, but his cronies held him back (it took six of them) until Teddy had been carried off to the Hospital Wing and Professor Thomas had come on to the scene.

"Mr. Blackthorn," Thomas said, and there was such power in his voice that Hamish stopped struggling against his friends' grips. "What could possibly have happened between you and Mr. Lupin that made you knock him out, break his jaw, and give him a concussion?"

I stood slightly behind Hamish, frozen. I couldn't believe my handsome, charming, gentlemanly boyfriend could have damaged my oldest friend that much with one blow. But I had seen the anger behind it. And cold, hard dread was paralyzing me, winding along my legs and arms as our Headmaster continued talking.

"I will be taking fifty points from Slytherin and you will have detention for three months, Mr. Blackthorn. You must also apologize to Mr. Lupin. From the account that I heard, he merely gave Miss Weasley a kiss, as he had no other option. Please do remember that one kiss does not make a difference in a relationship, and that the Christmas spirit should not be ruined by adolescent temper. Is that quite clear?"

Hamish had a terrifying glint in his eyes as he replied softly, "Yes, Professor."

He turned around, took my hand, and dragged me up the stairs and into an empty corridor. I was feeling incredibly frightened by that point- suddenly, I didn't trust Hamish anymore. I had seen the rage and happiness with which he had attacked Teddy, and I did not want to get any further involved with someone who could let loose that much violence at such a small thing.

I understand now that thinking like that was really a mark of how badly I was behaving, as I should be really, really faithful to Hamish, but I didn't then. In fact, I was so stupid that I told him that.

"Hamish, why did you hit Teddy like that? He's my friend, nothing more, he couldn't help that he had to kiss me! It's not as if we were snogging the living daylights out of each other! If you're going to react that way every time I talk to a male other than yourself, I want to stop seeing you."

A strange expression crossed his face. I realize now that it was hurt, but at the time, it seemed like fear and fury. "Don't you ever say that again!" he shouted, so loudly it caused me to cringe away from him. He grabbed my shoulders, though, and pulled me in front of him. "You will never say that again," he told me roughly, shaking me back and forth for emphasis.

And this is where I completely failed. I've always thought I was a tactful person, but I was wrong. I wasn't kind in the slightest. Looking back on it I was such a hypocrite, berating Hamish about being mean to Teddy while treating Hamish terribly myself. Please don't judge me on this.

I said, "If you cared about me you would let me say whatever I want! Get your hands off me! I was wrong to think I ever loved you!"

Hamish hooked his leg around the back of my knees and tripped me. I fell and landed with a crash on the stone floor. I was winded, and my side felt like it was on fire. He knelt beside me, gripping my forearm so hard it was going numb, and said quietly, "You can't walk away from me, Victoire. You can't."

I still couldn't breathe, but he took my silence as my refusing to talk to him. "Please!" he cried, so frantically it sounded as though I was threatening to kill him. "Please Victoire! I love you! You can't- you can't go!"

I suddenly gasped in air, and found I could breathe again. Before I said anything else, I whispered, "I love you too. I'm so, so sorry."

Hamish relaxed then, and helped me up. He walked me to the Gryffindor Tower, and confided in me. He told me so many things- he's so trusting, even after what I put him through. He told me that he was afraid he was losing me to Teddy, and that was the reason he had snapped. He told me he couldn't stop thinking about me, and it scared him when he thought I didn't want to be with him anymore. He even said that he's been getting nightmares about me ditching him and running away with Teddy. It became so clear to me why he couldn't bear to watch Teddy and I kiss. It was just like his nightmare coming true.

And I have to tell you, Toblerone, that I feel terrible. Completely awful. You see, Hamish kissed me good-night in front of the Portrait of the Fat Lady. And I thought to myself- putting down these words is like betraying Hamish, but I can't help it- I thought that I had felt something in Teddy's kiss which was lacking in Hamish's.

Hamish was right to trip me. I am such a tease.

Victoire

Hello, Toblerone,

I'm sorry I forgot to bring you home with me over the Christmas hols. I don't think I would have any time to write in you, though- I was so busy! All my cousins, Teddy, and I spent almost every minute outdoors, having snowball fights, making snow angels, skating, exploring the icy beach near my house, and burrowing under the snow to pop up at unsuspecting passerby.

It was glorious.

Teddy was a little bit cold towards me at first. I finally found out through James, who really is starting to grow up- he's already seven- that he was angry because I'd never visited him in the Hospital Wing, after 'That mad boyfriend of yours,' as James put it, punched him.

Teddy seemed to understand, however, when I explained that I had wanted to but Hamish had threatened to break up with me if I went. He said something very puzzling, though- "How can he say he loves you when he makes you do whatever he pleases?"

It's as though he doesn't understand that Hamish cares about me so much he can't bear to think he's losing me. That's love, isn't it?

Anyway, the rest of the vacation went smoothly. Hamish made me sit on his lap again on the way back to school, and he even tried kissing my neck. I told him I didn't like it, but he insisted that he had missed me so much he just couldn't stop kissing me. It was a relief when we got to the school.

It seems funny. In all the romance novels and such it says that's enjoyable, having someone kiss you all over, but I only felt afraid. It's a wonder Hamish bothers with me, it really is. But he loves me. And I love him. I'm sure I do.

First day of classes tomorrow. I'd better go to bed.

Victoire

Dear Toblerone,

I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm never hungry anymore and I always seem to be about to cry. Hamish is getting frustrated with me, too; but I don't blame him. I'm just really, really hard to be around, and I'm amazed his patience had lasted this long.

I told Madam Pomfrey the bruises on my arm resulted from trying to teach Hamish to dance. She believed me.

And the awful thing was, I didn't want her to. Hamish really should just leave me; I'm behaving abominably.

But Hamish seems to get so angry. Sometimes I can't help but wonder if he really does love me. But he says it so often, with so much feeling… It must be me, though. If Hamish says so, it must be me.

Toblerone,

I am completely confused. Every time I talk to a boy that isn't Hamish, I get yelled at later. I want to tell someone but I don't know what to say. I'm scared that they'll think I'm being silly, or overreacting. Hamish says it's normal for any boyfriend to want to protect his girl, but Warner lets Keeya talk to everyone. Teddy let Fayza have her own life. I don't see why I have to tail around after Hamish! It doesn't seem fair!

But he loves me.

I must just be raving.

But it's so hard! Yuthiah Lenwin asked me during Potions if we could still go to the kitchens sometime, and I so want to go! I told him I wasn't sure, I didn't know, but there's no way I could go, really. I just don't want to let him down. Yuthiah just seems nicer every day, but Hamish would kill me if he thought I was cheating on him.

I'm not even sure if I'm exaggerating. He seems so angry sometimes I'm sure he's going to hurt me- even more, I mean. I've been practicing defensive spells just in case. But he's a sixth year, and a lot bigger then me. I'm not sure how much good I'll be.

I'm going to be blunt, Toblerone. Hamish may say he's doing this all because he loves me, but I don't know. It doesn't seem to me like love means controlling a person's every conversation, threatening someone if they're doing something you don't like. Love isn't supposed to be a leash, tying you down; it's supposed to set you free. Isn't it?

I don't know. All my friends are slipping away from me- Hamish won't let me be around any other people if he's with me, and Lydia and Eira are in different houses, so I can't talk to them after curfew. Also, Hamish has friends in Gryffindor who tell him if they see me talking to anyone in the Common Room- especially Teddy. I got in trouble with Hamish once because I had asked Brian Finnegan if he thought the Wimbourne Wasps would beat the Holyhead Harpies in the match that was to be the next day. For that crime, I was dragged out of the Great Hall before I'd eaten all the next day. He finally let me have a dinner roll and a carrot when I fainted over my Astronomy homework.

It doesn't feel like he cares about me, the person, anymore. He just cares about me, the trophy. The cute girl on his arm who stares at him adoringly and never wants to leave his side.

But I do want to leave him. Oh, I do. But I can't. How if I really am a bad girlfriend, I just didn't realize it, and if I tell anyone why I ditched him they'll say, "Well, what's so bad about that?" And I'm scared of his reaction if I tell him it's over. I'm frightened of him. Mum was never frightened of Dad, even when he got mauled by a werewolf. So why should I be frightened of Hamish? This can't be what's meant to happen.

I wish I was like you, Toblerone. Just a book filled with parchment, who doesn't have to feel or choose or work… I wish I wasn't human.

Victoire

At least something is going to take my mind off this awful Hamish muddle.

Warner stopped by the Slytherin table, where I was eating with Hamish, the other evening and muttered in my ear, "Hallows meeting tonight. Eleven, normal place."

I turned round, nodded, then exclaimed, "What do you mean Professor Smith said my potion was that terrible! That's so mean!"

Everyone seemed convinced except Hamish. He glared at me suspiciously, but I smiled sweetly back at him. This whole thing has taught me to lie very, very well.

It's nearly time for the meeting. Goodbye for now.

Victoire

Keeya knows now. It's so much more of a relief than I had expected. I suppose mental burdens really can get relieved just like physical ones- just let someone help you lift the bloody thing.

It went like this. The meeting was basically Eira telling us that the Aetenitae were getting even more obsessed with immortality and they were trying to make Jane and Judas Adderly track us everywhere we went, so we had to be careful. As we were leaving, Keeya took my hand very gently and asked, "Victoire, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Everyone else snuck out to the corridors, leaving us alone in the passageway.

"Hiram told me something that scared me very much," Keeya began seriously. "He said that Hamish cornered him after classes were over today, and demanded that he never speak to you again."

I was in shock. I didn't know what Hamish had meant by it. Warner had said two sentences to me, for heaven's sake!

"So I have to ask," Keeya continued, "Is something wrong? Because if someone threatens a boy who's already going out with someone to stay away from their girlfriend, I'd think there's a controlling relationship just waiting to happen."

She was so kind, and speaking so understandingly, that I simply lost it. I burst into tears, and the whole story poured out. The way Hamish wouldn't let me talk to anyone; the way his hugs and kisses were always just the tiniest bit too hard and too long; the way he would made me sit on his lap all the time; the way he'd hurt me.

"And," I said, by this time so hysterical I wasn't censoring my words at all, no matter how ridiculous I sounded, "He won't let me go to the kitchens so Yuthiah Lenwin will make me curry, and I love curry!"

By this time, Keeya's arms were around me, and I leaned against her and I sniffled, finally starting to calm down. "Oh, you," she said gently. "You poor, poor girl. Now you listen," and she was wonderfully matter of fact and firm. "I want you to stay by me all you can tomorrow. Stay close to us Gryffindors, and never go anywhere alone with Hamish. You hear me? And I want you to go to the kitchens with Yuthiah tomorrow and eat all the curry you want. All right? I'll keep my eyes open for you as much as possible."

And the plan was made. She understood! She wasn't treating me like some weak-minded girl or an overreacting teenager. She told me it wasn't my fault.

I was right. This isn't love.

I can't wait for tomorrow- I'm a free girl again!

Victoire

Oh, Toblerone, today was wonderful!

I did exactly as Keeya said and stayed very close to her. We went down to breakfast together, and when we saw Hamish waiting for me at the entrance to the Great Hall, Keeya stopped right in front of him with her arm round my shoulders and said, "Victoire will be having breakfast with me today. Girl talk, you see," and swept me away without giving Hamish a chance to respond. I couldn't help smiling as I piled my plate with pancakes and bacon; I was a lot hungrier, suddenly.

All day I kept around the Gryffindor crowd, and discovered we had so much in common! I'd forgotten how wonderful it was to chatter away with a huge group of friends. Every now and then I'd see Hamish, and the look on his face would make me frightened. But I was always protected.

I asked Yuthiah if tonight would work for his curry, and his whole face lit up. "Of course!" he replied excitedly, and spent the rest of the class planning out dinner. I can't wait.

Actually, I should be going to the kitchens right about now. He has a hors d'oeuvre planned that sounds lovely- white bread dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. He wouldn't stop talking about it all class! I should go, now, in case he thinks I've changed my mind.

Happiness is a wonderful thing.

Victoire

Teddy was in a foul mood.

He wasn't blind, in case she thought he hadn't noticed how thin she was getting. Or the way she should never talk to anyone anymore. The way she kept getting mysterious bruises, and they way she would flinch every time Hamish approached her, or the way the once daring and cheeky girl would nod, frightened, anytime someone would even just look at her.

Yet she wasn't saying anything. She would avoid him if he ever tried to ask her what was wrong, she would go out of her way to not even pass him in the corridors, she would spend the whole evening in the girl's dormitories so he couldn't pin her down and demand what Hamish was doing to her.

He loved her and she was going out with someone who was hurting her. He didn't like to think in what ways.

He used to coach Hamish in his mind, whenever he saw the two of them together. Don't take it personally when she insults you when she's mad. She has a temper, and she doesn't mean any of it. She gets tired really easily, so don't be angry when she says she has to go. It's not that she doesn't want to be with you. She cries a lot- get over it! She's really sensitive; especially when it comes to the way other people feel about her. When she's on top form though, she's as tough as nails. But you need to help her get better. She needs people, Hamish. She needs people.

But it hadn't worked, and he was scared that Victoire was being punished for every 'misdemeanor' she had every committed when under Hamish's reign.

He'd tried to talk to Neville about it, but his professor had seemed oddly curt and unwilling to chat. It had been announced the next morning that his Gran had just died.

He even had decided to talk to Professor Chang- as she was a woman, surely she'd seen this sort of thing happen before, maybe to one of her friends. But Professor Chang had gone to France to visit her cousin, and the substitute teacher, Professor Douglas, was not the sort of person one would ask about the possibility of a friend being hurt by her boyfriend.

Keeya had taken her aside and talked to her yesterday night, and Teddy had noted with great pride that Victoire had not been with Hamish once that day. But he had also seen his terrifying look of vehemence and jealousy when he realized she was pulling away from him. And he had seen the way Victoire had reacted when she had seen that expression.

He felt absolutely helpless. It was midnight, and he couldn't get to sleep- her white, haunted face seemed to have imprinted itself on the back of his eyelids. He finally decided to take a stroll through the school. If that couldn't tire him out, nothing could.

It was just as he was idly thinking about going to the kitchens that he heard indistinct yelling. It sounded eerily familiar, and as he drew closer to the bellowing he heard a scream.

One he knew well.

It was Victoire.

He broke into a run as the screaming continued, praying, bargaining, doing all that he could mentally to try and help Victoire. As he grew near to the sound that tore at his heart, the wild, almost inhuman shriek stopped. And a body, robed in black but with hair of a glorious tint that you could see even in the dim light, rolled and bounced down a set of stone steps and came to rest at his feet.

Teddy dropped to his knees beside her. He felt the blood drain from his face as he saw her blood-soaked left side, the bruises and cuts she had sustained as she had tumbled down the stairs, and her arm sticking out at a very unnatural angle.

Automatically his head rose to the staircase. At the top, Hamish was standing, his robes in disarray, staring with disbelieving eyes at the broken, barely breathing mass of black that was Victoire.

"What have you done?" Teddy croaked, and then shouted. "WHAT HAVE YOU BLOODY WELL DONE!"

There was a cackling noise, and Peeves swept into view around a corner, "Not getting into an argument, my little studentsies?" He asked, chuckling, before falling silent as he spotted Victoire slumped against Teddy.

"Please, Peeves," Teddy croaked, unable to tear his eyes off the vulnerable looking girl in his arms, "Get Professor Thomas. Please. She's so hurt-"

"Right you are, Mister Lupin," said Peeves in such a serious voice, for him, that Teddy looked up in shock. "My condolences to you."

He then sped off, shouting as loudly as he could, "STUDENT ATTACKED! MISS VICTOIRE WEASLEY HURT AND POSSIBLY KILLED BY HAMISH BLACKTHORN! SAVE HER, SOMEONE! STUDENT ATTACKED…"

As his voice faded, Teddy felt an ice-cold rope begin to tighten around his chest. Possibly killed…

Hamish seemed to be thinking along the same lines, because he ran down the stops to quickly that he nearly fell, as well. "I didn't kill her," he croaked. "Teddy, I didn't- I don't know what- I swear I didn't-"

"Don't come any closer," Teddy snarled. "You've done enough damage."

Hamish stood there for a moment longer, gaping like a goldfish out of waster, before coming to his senses and striding off back to the Slytherin Common Room.

At least, he tried to.

"Mister Blackthorn," A voice snapped. "Lumos!" A light flared up, and the face of Professor Corner came into view. "Is Peeves telling the truth? Did you really-"

His voice died off as he stared at Teddy cradling the bloodstained girl in his arms. "Teddy," he said quietly, "Will you please assist me in bringing Victoire to the Hospital Wing? Hamish-" and here his voice became fierce and powerful, "If you have moved at all from this spot when I get back, I shall not hesitate to curse you from here to Australia. Is that quite clear?"

"Y-Yes," Hamish stuttered, still looking as though he didn't know what was happening.

Teddy got up, holding onto Victoire's pale hand. Her pulse had slowed down even more since he had found her. He couldn't think about what that might entail.

"You may continue to hold her hand, Lupin," said Professor Corner shortly. "Tell me if she seems to be fading even more." He pointed his wand at Victoire and murmured, "Locomoter Mortis." Victoire immediately rose as though she was a puppet, and began to glide along the shadowed hallway to the Hospital Wing. Teddy followed beside her, anxiously massaging her ice cold fingers and trying to whisper comforting things to her. She didn't move, though. She was still unconscious.

"What happened?" Professor Corner asked as he guided Victoire's limp figure around a corner with a wave of his wand.

Teddy didn't hesitate for a moment. He knew he would get in trouble for being out of his dormitory after hours, but he didn't care. Priorities have a curious way of reshuffling themselves after you've seen the one person you love crumpled and bleeding on the floor.

"I was walking to the kitchens," he said hurriedly, "When I heard someone- it was Hamish, I think- yelling. Then Victoire was screaming and it was going on for a long time, and as I got closer to the sound it stopped. I saw her bouncing down the stairs- I don't know whether she was unconscious before that. Hamish was standing at the top of the staircase, Professor. It was him, I know it! He's been going out with her all year, and she's stopped talking to people or eating and sometimes she's bruised…"

As he saw his teacher's frown deepen,, Teddy choked on his words. He couldn't bear to go on, yet he couldn't stop thinking about the past months. He found, though, that there was no need to keep going; his teacher was asking him questions. "She was talking to other students today. Did she ditch him?"

"Keeya Odwogo talked to her, sir," Teddy said, "And told her to stay away from him, to stick close to the Gryffindors. I don't know why she was out this late… Then again, I'll bet Keeya didn't reckon on Hamish beating Victoire to a pulp when she went a day without talking to him." He spat the words out bitterly, his loathing and hatred of Hamish, fear for Victoire, and confusion at the situation building up inside of him, as though there were actual blocks of each emotion causing him to suffocate and feel too heavy to walk. He still continued along the stone hallways, though; no power on heaven or earth could pry him away from that clammy hand he was clutching.

"We're here," Corner announced quietly, as they arrived outside the door of the Hospital Wing.

"Good," said Teddy tersely, "Because her pulse just slowed down again."

"Poppy!" Corner cried in a whisper, knocking gently. A moment later the elderly witch opened the door, still in her nightdress.

"Micheal, what- oh, my heavens! Miss Weasley!" ejaculated Madam Pomfrey. "Both of you leave this instant- I must tend to Victoire! What has happened?" As she gently sent Victoire over to a bed and bustled around for potions, Teddy ran up to her.

"Don't make me leave her," he said urgently. "I can't- you don't understand. I love Victoire, and she's been hurt by someone she trusted-"

"Mr. Lupin," she said ominously, turning around. Although her face softened at the sight of his white, tortured face, she kept her fierce tone, "I must insist on you going back to bed. You may come see her as soon as your classes are over, and no sooner. Is that quite clear?"

"Madam Pomfrey," he said hopelessly, but to no avail. She had her mind made up.

"Goodnight," she said firmly, and closed the door in his face.

Teddy's classes had never gone on so long as they did the next day. Martin and Bridget had to constantly be whispering in his ear, telling him what he was supposed to be doing next, because his entire mind was focused on Victoire. Was she awake yet? Was she hurting? He hoped Madam Pomfrey would force her to eat- she had always been slender, but she had become downright scrawny over the past weeks.

"Teddy," whispered Martin finally. Teddy looked up, startled. He had just been engrossed in his thoughts about how to best torture, maim, and kill Hamish. "Classes are over. You can see her."

Teddy didn't even gather up his books. As the bell rang, he flew out of the classroom, up the stairs, and through to the Hospital Wing. As he burst into the room, however, he saw Moll and Arthur Weasley, Bill and Fleur, and Benoit, Isabelle, Gideon, and Fabian all standing around a bed with its curtains drawn. The women had been crying.

"Teddy?" said Fleur croakily. "Oh, Teddy- eet eez important zat you talk with Victoire. Please."

"She's been in a right state," said Bill thickly. "I can't believe we were stupid enough to let this happen. Right under our noses."

"Thank you for saving her, Teddy," Molly sobbed, and threw herself into Teddy's arms. "We can never thank you enough…"

"Is she awake?" Teddy asked, trying to gently remind everyone that they must keep their voices down. Bill, however, nodded.

"She won't talk to any of us, though. Just sits there. She stares at us. I don't know where Victoire's gone, but she won't speak-" He stopped talking abruptly as his grief began to overwhelm him.

"I want to see her," said Teddy. "Please."

The two couples exchanged looks of trepidation, but opened the curtains surrounding Victoire's sickbed.

Teddy tentatively approached her side, staring at the girl who barely looked like herself anymore. All the bruises and cuts had been healed, but her face was pale and wan. Victoire's hands, once so busy and graceful, lay limply at her side while her eyes had lost their depth. They no longer were shining, sapphire-and-purple orbs, but circles of muddy blue. Her hair looked thin and two-dimensional; light red with some yellow. It was as if her body had given up on everything that made her charm and inward grace visible. She stared out straight in front of her, giving no sign that she had noticed his entrance.

"Er… Victoire?" Teddy ventured. Outside, the two couples were talking again, asking Madam Pomfrey questions in shrill, panicky voices. "Victoire, I'm- I'm glad to see you're doing better-"

Merlin, this was not going to get anywhere. Fleur's voice had risen to fever pitch, and the man's voices were getting louder too. Teddy saw a flicker of something in his friend's smooth countenance, and suddenly realized what she needed.

"Be quiet!" Teddy commanded as he poked his head out of the curtains. "She needs silence. I think she wants to be alone."

As the adults turned shocked faces towards him, he repeated rather sheepishly, "It's what she needs. I'm sure of it."

There was a moment more when no one moved. Then, all eight members of Victoire's family moved reluctantly out of the room. Teddy made to follow, but felt something holding him back. He turned around and found that Victoire was kneeling on the edge of her bed and clinging to his sleeve.

"Are you sure?" he asked her softly. Her head moved once up, once down, almost imperceptibly.

"And you don't want me to talk, though?" He had to make sure. Again she nodded.

Teddy eased himself onto her bed, leaning against the wall and holding out his arms. Victoire moved back and snuggled against him, melting into his hold.

He didn't know how long they sat there, the wounded girl and the boy who knew of suffering, stroking her hair. All he knew was that the light was starting to go the deep red it always did at sunset when she first spoke.

"Yuthiah Lenwin cooks," she said in a tiny voice. Teddy didn't do anything except turn his head to look at her. "That's why I was out of my dormitory. He was making me dinner, and the dessert took longer than expected. It was a cheesecake, and the house elf that was serving it got called somewhere else and by the time that was found out it was already after hours. When we finally had dessert I walked with Yuthiah back to the dungeons, but as I was leaving after saying good night to him, Hamish came out. I ran but he caught me. Then-" her body trembled. Teddy held her firmly as she continued, her eyes seeing nothing but the horrors of that night, "Hamish caught up to me. He must have done a non verbal spell, because he sort of slashed the air with his wand and my side was cut. The scar will never fade, Madam Pomfrey says. Then he-" Here Victoire's trembling grew almost uncontrollable, and her eyes had such a foreign expression in them, such pain, that Teddy couldn't bear to look at her. "Then he used the Cruciatus curse on me."

Teddy wasn't aware of gasping, but for a moment the world stopped spinning and his mouth was open. Hamish had used an Unforgiveable Curse on Victoire-

"And I was screaming," Victoire went on, clearly unable to stop, "And he just said that the curse would teach me to avoid and cheat on him. And then, when he stopped torturing me, he kicked me down the stairs. I must've been knocked out on the way down."

There was a short pause, in which Teddy's mind reeled in horror. Then she said sardonically, "And that is what happened."

"I'm- Merlin, Victoire, I'm so sorry-"

"And now I'm scared," Victoire whispered to his chest, wrapping her arms around him as though he was saving her from drowning. "I'm scared that I can't care again. I'm scared that I won't be able to kiss anyone, or love them without feeling so afraid. I- I thought he was going to kill me, Teddy. If that is what love is, then I'm done. But you- you didn't scream at Fayza, did you?" She lifted up her head, and her eyes were swimming with tears. "Warner didn't force Keeya to sit on his lap. Martin didn't make any of his girlfriends kiss them when they didn't want to. But I- I don't want to go through it again," and she buried her face into Teddy's shoulder and sobbed.

"Victoire," Teddy said at last, suddenly knowing what he must say, "You're right. Neither me, nor Warner, nor Martin, nor almost every chap in this school has done that to a girlfriend. Hamish was an exception. I remember that Harry told me once that the most dangerous potion in the world was Amortentia, because obsessive love wasn't even love- it was a sick kind of imitation. I think that's what happened." He took a deep breath and desperately hoped he was doing the right thing. "As for you never loving again- Victoire, I've always loved you, I think. I just happened to be a stupid git, so stupid I didn't know my own feelings." Victoire's lips turned up just the slightest bit, and Teddy kept going, heartened. "And I don't know how you feel about me, but I love you too much to let yourself think you can't care about anyone ever again. So…"

He leaned forward, braced himself, and gently guided Victoire's face so that her lips met his.

It was a relatively chaste kiss. Their lips did not part, his hands did not wander. Yet, when Teddy drew back with an intake of breath- Victoire hadn't make any motions of protest- fire was burning in his veins like it had never burned before. There had been embers with Fayza, but this was an inferno. He smiled giddily at Victoire, and found that she was smiling back.

"I love you, Victoire," he told her again.

And he could almost see the light coming back on in her eyes as she drew him close and whispered, "Thank you."

A/N- CAN EVERYONE WHO HAS READ THIS STORY PLEASE READ THIS AUTHOER'S NOT, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO? IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU.

Well, now that I've got your attention… First things first.

Ha! They kissed, really kissed, I mean, since the mistletoe didn't really count, I think. And it only took me twenty chapters!

Yes, I am pathetic.

Also, apologies for all the people who were informed that I had posted a new chapter. It was the same chapter, as I'm sure you soon found out. I changed a grand total of two words. It was completely my fault, as I have as much technological competence as a Neanderthal. But now onto the really serious stuff.

You probably have discovered that I've been updating this story quite quickly. Now, when I decided to try to update every second day, I knew I was compromising my writing ability. The story that you were just reading is not my best writing ever, and I apologize for that. But this story wouldn't get out of my head, and I wanted to get as much of it into Cyberspace before it started. You know. School.

Oh, the horror.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, but I am a Hermione when it comes to school. I need to get impossibly high marks, and I work hard to get them. I'm also editing the novel that I wrote last year and have a plethora of extra-curricular activities as well.

Translation- I will probably not be updating for a very, very long time.

I'm not going to go on an official hiatus from this story, because I know that I'll have an idea at the weirdest time and post it as fast as I can. The thing is, though, last year I went months without going on the computer.

I'm sure you understand my issue.

I would like to say, though, that I hate leaving this story, and I do wish I didn't have to. It will never be abandoned. You have my word of honor.

So here's my official farewell for this year. All my reviewers, I love you. You made my day over and over again by clicking that little purple button in the corner (and I still encourage you all to do so! I'm sure they'll give me inspiration… yes, I know, I'm horrible,), and thanks to everyone who has read but hasn't reviewed. I fully sympathize, and you're all great!

So I will leave you all, reviewers or not, with the most decadent pudding yet- a base of crushed Oreos, on top of which is a layer of caramel. Pecans are sprinkled on top of the caramel, and crowning the whole dessert is chocolate melted into whipped cream and cream cheese.

Dig in.