Hey Everyone, sorry about the delay. Thing was, I left this story on my old laptop and I'd half done this chapter so I didnt really want to start over. But I've finally managed to churn it out. I hope you like it. I think we getting into the plot more now although I'm still laying down some foundations which you can see a lot in this chapter. But hopefully when this story is finally finished (In like 2050!) you can say: Wow WFG really thought this one through. Every little detail meant something.

Well that's the hope but dunno :)

Enjoy

Oh thanks for your reviews.

Chapter Twenty-six: Girls

He was on a path. He could see them, there was no brick wall. He ran towards them. He was so close now, just a few more steps. He was finally going to meet them, after so long, after wanting to touch them for so long. He needed them so desperately, he needed them to tell him they loved him, that they had cared about him, that if they could they would have changed everything. Just one more step and he would have everything he ever wanted, just one more step…

"Teddy?"

"What!"

Teddy Lupin woke up suddenly and found everyone in the library glaring at him with annoyed expressions. "Sorry," he mumbled as the librarian shot him one last frown before busying herself with books.

"Sorry to wake you," said Amelie Weasley who sat beside Teddy reading an OWL charms textbook, "You were drooling," she explained.

"No worries," said Teddy with a small smile as he wiped the saliva off his chin, "How long was I out for?"

"About half an hour," stated Amelie. She grinned suddenly. "You kept mumbling. It was highly amusing."

"I bet it was," muttered Teddy flicking through the book on death he was reading. Even since Caspian had put the idea of bringing his parents back to him, he had spent every spare minute in the library researching. Most of the books were in the restricted section but he'd managed to forge Professor Slughorn's signature adequately. However all the books on the subject of death and resurrection he had read before whilst inventing his potion and reading them again was proving tedious. It was no wonder he kept falling asleep.

"You better get to bed," said Amelie as Teddy drifted once more into dreamland.

"Not until you do," Teddy mumbled.

"You don't have to keep me company," Amelie insisted.

"I don't have to but I want to see the guy you're meeting."

Amelie blushed. "I-I'm not meeting anyone Teddy."

"You've never been a good liar," said Teddy smugly, "So fess up, who is he?"

Amelie scowled in a way reminiscent of her older sister, "Will you stop it?"

"You've been sitting here for nearly three hours doing nothing," Teddy pointed out, "And you keep looking around, you're looking for someone."

"No I'm not; I'm just trying to read."

"What are you doing reading an OWL level book anyway? You're twelve years old."

"I'm almost thirteen!"

"Well I'm not going to bed until you do," repeated Teddy firmly.

Fifteen minutes later the library closed. Teddy and Amelie left together. Since the Hogwarts attacks, students below the fifth year were forbidden to be out of their house after eight o'clock unless escorted by an older student. Curfew for everyone else was nine although most students flouted the rules; there hadn't been an attack for months.

"I'm only trying to look out for you," Teddy said suddenly, breaking the silence that had engulfed the two of them since their mini-argument.

"I know," Amelie sighed, "Just wish you wouldn't. I'm perfectly capable of doing things for myself. I'm not stupid."

"I never said you were," countered Teddy, "You're the cleverest twelve year old I know."

"I'm the only twelve year old you know," Amelie said with a grin as they turned into the hallway that led to the Gryffindor tower.

"Hey, I know Oscar Rattle, although I think he's turned thirteen," said Teddy, "Is that the guy you're meeting? You kids you grow up way too fast nowadays. I didn't have a girlfriend until I was fourteen."

"Teddy for the umpteenth time…"

Amelie was cut short by the sudden appearance of Samantha Tugwood pounding towards them with an expression of pure fury. She brandished a crumpled piece of paper into Teddy's face, "DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?"

Teddy looked apologetically at Amelie and gestured for her to go on without him as he took Caspian's shag list from Samantha's hand.

"Sam, this isn't what it looks like," began Teddy.

"Oh really?" exclaimed Samantha, "Because it looks like my boyfriend has written a list of all the girls he wants to have his wicked way with!" her lower lip quivered suddenly and Teddy patted her shoulder softly, "Ted, when did he write this?" she asked quietly, "Tell the truth."

"About a week ago," Teddy admitted, "Sam, it was just a bit of fun. Honestly. Have you talked to him about it?"

Samantha nodded, "He doesn't even care. He doesn't even regret it. All he said was sorry and then he said I was over-reacting. He said I was acting like a bunny boiler."

"Yeah Cass can be a bit tactless sometimes."

Samantha smiled, "A little is an understatement."

They walked to the Gryffindor tower together and once in the common room retreated into their respective dorms. Teddy found Caspian alone lying flat on his back reading a muggle motor magazine nonchalantly.

"You're such a bastard Cass," Teddy said angrily throwing a shoe at his best friend.

"Meet Sam on your travels did you?" Caspian said as he elegantly dodged the shoe without taking his eyes from the page, "She found that list I did the other day."

"Yeah, I gathered that much," Teddy said sarcastically, "Don't you care?"

Caspian sat up immediately, his eyes were fierce, "Of course I bloody well care. She's my girlfriend. I don't want to upset her."

"Then what are you doing here reading magazines?"

"I've tried to explain Ted," Cass insisted, "I said I was sorry about a million times but she wouldn't listen. Then she started getting all upset and crying and stuff…it was a little over dramatic I have to admit. I thought Sam could take a joke, evidently not."

"It was hardly the most funny," Teddy pointed out as he changed into his casual clothing, "Just go speak to her. I can't take that awful silence at meals. It was bad enough at Christmas."

"I wish I could go speak to her but…."

"But?" Teddy urged.

Caspian turn red and mumbled, "She'll make me say I love her."

"Well, don't you?" probed Teddy.

Caspian shifted uncomfortably, "I dunno…I mean what is love? If it's the soppy smooch fest that is Chastity and Johnny then maybe not and maybe never."

"You don't love her after chasing her for months?" Teddy said in disbelief.

"I didn't say that," Caspian said defensively, "I just don't know. I don't know what love is. I mean I like her ten times more than any other girl but I don't want to marry her. I don't want to marry anyone. I just want to have fun, preferably with her. Is that love?"

Teddy shrugged he wasn't sure himself on how to define love but he knew how it felt.

"I just don't know," Caspian repeated, "Did you love Victoire?"

Teddy blushed but nodded which surprised Caspian. "You loved her?" he said in shock.

"I still do," Teddy said, "I think…I think she might have been the one. Don't laugh."

Caspian didn't, he appeared to be deep in thought, "Did you ever tell her?"

Teddy flopped onto his bed miserably, "I came close but nope…never did."

"Well what are you waiting for?"

"What?"

"Tell her now!"

"No way, she'll laugh me to Timbuktu."

"I don't think she will," Caspian said earnestly, "This love thing, it really means a lot to girls. I think she'd forgive you if she knew how you felt."

Teddy considered this for moment. He did love Victoire and the more he thought about it the more he realised he might as well; he had nothing else to lose in their relationship. He wanted her back so much; he could hardly breathe when she saw her.

"Ok," said Teddy standing up.

"Where do you think you're going?" Caspian asked.

"To tell Victoire I love her," Teddy said firmly.

"Not in those jeans you're not and fix your hair you look like the risen dead."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Half an hour later and Teddy was walking through the common room in search of his love. It was quarter past ten and the marauders map told him that Victoire Weasley was in the kitchens with Roger Dolohov, Dorian Bailey and Nathan Davies. The portrait swung open for him and the fat lad reminded him that he was out after curfew.

"You'll want to be careful you don't get attack," she told him sternly. Teddy almost smiled. He was positively certain that the Hogwarts attacker would not strike tonight.

He kept his eyes on the map, Victoire and co were leaving the kitchens, and if he took a shortcut he could meet her on the fourth floor. She wouldn't like it but if he threatened her friends with detention he was pretty sure she'd listen to him. He turned into a corridor that he knew would cut his journey by a couple minutes. He was starting to get quite anxious. He checked his hair in his pocket mirror. He had turned it red after the exams and it was back combed as he had seen in a music magazine. As stood for a moment flicking his hair back, he heard something; it was the sound of desks screeching and raised voices.

"I don't like you that way!"

"But you don't understand, I'm nice now, I can show you!"

"Please Sander you're hurting me! STOP IT! SANDER, STOP IT!"

Suddenly Teddy heard a scream and he stormed into the nearest classmate. He almost threw up at what he saw.

In the corner of the room backed to the wall was a terrified Amelie Weasley. Someone burly was crouching over her. He was gripping her arms fiercely and shaking her.

Teddy didn't even need to think, with one flick of his wand he blasted the assaulter across the room where he slumped onto the ground. Teddy turned to Amelie who was staring at him in shock. She promptly burst into tears and Teddy was stuck on whether to comfort her or beat the living daylights out of her attacker. He chose the latter using his wand to make the guy stand straight, there was blood pouring for his nose and a large bruise on his cheek but Teddy still recognised him as one of the beaters on the Slytherin team, Sander Filch.

"Please hit me. I'm sorry," he wept, strands of straggly black hair clinging to his tears and blurring his vision, "I'm so sorry, I deserve to be beaten up."

Teddy agreed and raised his wand but Amelie ran in front of Sander.

"Please Teddy don't!"

"What the hell are you doing Amelie?" yelled Teddy in amazement, "That guy was forcing himself onto you. I'm gonna hex him so bad he wont know what's happened to him. Get out of the way. NOW!"

"NO!" screamed Amelie, "You don't understand. He didn't mean to. He was confused."

"No, I think you're confused," hissed Teddy menacingly, he shoved her out of the way but she pushed him back.

"Teddy if you hurt him I'll never forgive you!"

Teddy looked at her staggered, "Amelie-"

Amelie shook her head and Teddy reluctantly lowered his wand, he returned to Sander Filch who was crying, "Get out of my sight and if I were you, I'd start packing."

Sander didn't need to be told twice, he ran out of the classroom faster than Teddy had seen anyone run before. He turned to Victoire's sister still in a state of bewilderment.

"Explain," he said sharply.

Amelie lower lip trembled and Teddy sighed, "I'm sorry. I just need to understand what happened so I can tell Professor Sprout properly." He put his arms round her.

"Please don't tell Sprout…" Amelie whispered against Teddy's chest.

"You don't have to be scared Mel," Teddy assured her, "You've done nothing wrong."

"It's not me I'm worried for. It's Sander. He might get expelled."

"Yeah I hope so."

"Teddy, please don't tell," Amelie begged looking up at him, "Sander ever so nice usually. He's just so used to using aggression when he doesn't get what he wants. I've been trying to teach him to be civil but he just relapsed. It was my fault. I confused him. He thought I liked him and I do but not like that. I just want to be his friend."

"Whoa, Amelie what's going on? From the beginning please."

Amelie wiped back tears and sat on the nearest desk.

"I think I told you that Sander had taken a fancy to me. He kept following me after class and for the most part I tolerated it but one day he upset my friend so I told him firmly to leave me alone. I thought he would hex me or something worse but he was so sorry, he told me he only followed me about because I was so nice to everyone and that he thought if he stalked me enough he'd become nice too and then he'd have as many friends as me. Well, I told him that you don't have to stalk people to be nice. So I started teaching him how to be pleasant, every day. Teddy, he's a nice guy, he's just a bit…unstable sometimes. But I've made so much progress with him. Expulsion will undo all my good work. Please Teddy don't tell Sprout."

"You've been tutoring an unhinged maniac on how to be nice," Teddy said in disbelief, "Amelie are you crazy? He's three years older than you, if I hadn't come in…"

Amelie began to cry again and Teddy felt ashamed, "I'm sorry."

"No you're right," said Amelie thickly, "but everyone deserves a chance don't they? People just judge him and it's not fair."

Teddy sighed, "I know," his thoughts straying to Claude-William and his speech on family traits, "but you have to admit our judgements were pretty much correct."

"He didn't mean to," Amelie insisted, she started to cry harder and Teddy placed an arm round her again.

"Let's go back to Gryffindor."

"Only if you promise not to tell Sprout."

"Amelie I can't…"

"I'll tell mum and dad about you and Victoire," snapped Amelie, she saw Teddy's surprised expression. "It's Hogwarts worst kept secret and I'd hate to think what Dad would say if he found out his daughter's tutor also spent his spare time making out with her."

"Are you blackmailing me?" said Teddy in disbelief, but he shuddered to imagine Bill's reaction.

"Just promise."

"I promise."

They made their way to the common room. Luckily it was fairly empty apart from four people. Unfortunately those four people were Victoire Weasley, Roger Dolohov, Dorian Bailey and Nathan Davies and suddenly Teddy remembered the reason why he'd gone out in the first place.

"Amelie?" cried Victoire in concern as her younger sister's tear stained face came into focus.

Amelie turned to Teddy with a sigh, "Don't make a fuss please."

"Amelie are you ok?" Victoire said rushing towards her sister to examine her more closely, "What's happened?"

Amelie shook her head and ran upstairs, Victoire made to follow her but Teddy took her arm, "Leave her."

"What's going on?" Victoire demanded.

Teddy nodded towards the three fifth year boys and Victoire understood,

"Guys could you give us a minute?" she said. The boys went up upstairs to their dorms, Roger lingering for a moment on the stairs before disappearing out of view, "What happened?" asked Victoire immediately.

Teddy hesitated for a moment thinking about how best to tell Victoire so she wouldn't overreact but his pause only caused her to become even more anxious. Her eyes were growing wider in fear, "Teddy what the hell is going on?" she asked.

"I walked in on Amelie being assaulted by Sander Filch," Teddy said.

"WHAT?" repeated Victoire loudly, "Filch, that boy in Slytherin? That horrible wretch hurt my sister? I'll kill him!" Victoire face was red with anger and she rushed to the portrait hole but Teddy caught her.

"No, Amelie says he didn't mean to and he seemed sorry. I guess he thought she liked him or something."

"So he was trying it on with her?" Victoire eyes widened in horror and put her hands over her mouth, "You stopped it didn't you?"

"Of course, I sent him running."

"The monster," hissed Victoire, tears filling up in her eyes, "How could he? He's fifteen for fuck's sake. How dare he touch her! I'm going to Professor Sprout."

Teddy reluctantly stood in front of her.

"What are you doing?"

"Amelie doesn't want him to get into trouble, she says he didn't mean to."

"Are you condoning what he did?" yelled Victoire in disgust.

"No of course not," snapped Teddy looking Victoire squarely in the eyes, "but Amelie doesn't want Sprout involved."

"So he gets anyway with it?" said Victoire fiercely, much to her annoyance she felt a tear drop onto her cheek. This was now the second time she'd cried in front of Teddy Lupin. Innately Teddy reached out to her and she wanted so much to crawl into his arms but instead she pushed him away and used the opportunity to get to the door. Teddy ran after her, tumbling through the portrait hole. She was a little way ahead of him.

"Victoire, if you do this Amelie will hate you forever!" he yelled as he ran after her.

Victoire turned round giving Teddy time to catch up with her. He held her still and they stared at each other for a moment. They were in a deserted corridor somewhere near the charms classroom. She didn't bother to run away again or fight him instead she looked up into his eyes with an expression laden in guilt. "I should have been there," she whispered.

"It wasn't you fault."

"No Mandy was right…I have changed. The old me would have looked after my little sister," said Victoire looking down sadly.

"Hey," Teddy placing a hand on her chin and making her look up at him, "It's my fault you changed and I'm so sorry for what I did to you Victoire. I know this sounds stupid but I only did all that stuff because I thought it was right for us, for you. I want so badly to change the past; I care about you so much." He kissed softly but she pulled back.

"This isn't right," she muttered.

Teddy took a step towards her, "Victoire I-"

"Mr. Lupin, Miss. Weasley what are you doing out at this time?" interrupted Professor Sprout who appeared out of no where.

Before Teddy could think of a plausible excuse, Sprout continued in a brisk tone, "Victoire go back to your house immediately. Teddy wake up Vanessa Fletcher. I need the two of you to notify all the professors of a meeting in my office in exactly half an hour. Now, if you excuse me, I need to wake up Professor Slughorn."
"Professor is everything ok?" Teddy asked before he could stop himself. Sprout looked agitated, there was something obviously going on. Her eyes flickered to Victoire who stood awkwardly beside Teddy and she sighed.

"I suppose everyone will know by tomorrow anyway," Sprout said finally, "Lola Wilkes has been murdered."

Review Please!

Spoilers for chapter twenty-seven: Argus Filch, Hogwarts Attacker, Mad scientist and Muggles.