New Plans
When Ted arrived in the common room, he was surprised to see Victoire sitting on the couch in front of the chimney. She held a piece of parchment in her hand and seemed to not have noticed him, since she was so busy reading.
Slowly, Ted walked towards her and sat down next to her.
Victoire looked up.
"I... I've received your letter", she said, but Ted only looked at her excitedly waiting for what else she had to say.
"You're right. We've both been idiots. Let's just forget it all, alright?"
She smiled slightly and to Ted it was the most enchanting smile in the world.
"So, we're back on good terms?", he asked.
She nodded and they smiled at each other for a while.
Finally, Victoire embraced Ted and suddenly, he felt this pleasant prickling in the region of his stomach. He wished for this moment to last eternally, but it didn't come true as in this very second the round barrel door to the common opened and Toby entered.
"Oh, here you are", he said looking confused back and forth between Ted and Victoire.
"Vicky? Where have you been all morning? I was worrying", he started.
"I didn't feel well", she interrupted and smiled.
"But you're alright now?", he made sure.
"Yes, I'm fine now", she replied.
"Well... er, Ted? Didn't you want to go to the library with me? Where have you been?", he asked and eyed him mistrustfully.
"Here", Ted replied innocently and got up.
Together they left the common room, but something inside of Ted felt refusing to do so.
Somehow, he just wanted to be back with Victoire. Now, they were back on good terms, they had a lot to catch up to.
"Pink suits you", Toby laughed, and Ted looked at him enquiring, so Toby pointed to his hair.
"Oh", Ted smiled falsely and touched the back of his head, just as if he could change anything doing so.
He knew exactly why his hair had turned pink without him even noticing, but he really hoped Toby wouldn't see through this. Indeed, he didn't say anything else about it and the topic seemed to be off the table.
The next weeks in Hogwarts developed much more pleasant than those in the beginning of the school year and it was nearly like before Toby and Victoire had started their love thing.
Ted tended to ignore the fact or at least put it aside when he was with one of them and it worked out extremely well until the end of October. The first Hogsmeade weekend was just around the corner and Ted realized he could either go with Toby nor with Victoire because it would make him feel like the third wheel. Neither felt he like having his ear chewed off by Lorin in the Three Broomsticks.
So, he had considered getting some female company and he knew exactly who to ask.
One afternoon after the lessons he took the initiative. He couldn't say to be exactly excited since he's already known her answer. Annie Brown had liked him since their fifth year and now he had decided to give her a chance. She didn't look bad with her reddish blond hair, her bright green eyes, and her full lips. A lot of boys wouldn't have said "no" to a date with her.
"Hey, Annie."
Annie stood with her two best friends Emelda McNeil and Rachel Powell outside on the courtyard. They were all three Hufflepuffs in Ted's year. When Annie saw Ted, she immediately smiled.
"Hello, Ted", she replied.
"I just wanted to ask you something. Do you have a minute?", Ted asked.
No way, he wanted to ask her out in front of her girlfriends who had already started to giggle. He rolled his eyes, but Annie nodded, and they walked a bit.
"Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me", Ted asked.
The question had just come out of him, but Annie seemed very happy.
"As a date", she reassured herself.
Ted nodded.
"I'd love to."
"Great", Ted said since he thought he was expected to say something like that.
"Well... then... see you", she said and waved good-bye since she had already removed herself a bit from him.
Ted was relieved. That way he needn't go all alone and could perhaps have a nice afternoon.