The L Word
Living without Victoire Weasley. If anything, it should've been one of the simplest tasks as it involved being able to wear unmatching socks, having the whole bed to himself and eating noodles without having them slurped up by someone else. Teddy sat in front of the fireplace with one damp purple sock and one damp green striped sock, a hot steaming bowl of noodles in aunt Molly's special broth and was about ready to go to bed afterwards. A nipping cold breeze had engulfed the cottage, forcing all the couples to retreat to the warmth of the fire and the filling comfort of food. Harry and Ginny were cuddled up on the sofa with Molly humming away next to them and Hermione and Ron had come out of the bathroom together with their still dripping hair darkening spots of the thick thermal soft blanket that surrounded them. Arthur was away on business, leaving aunt Molly to occasionally wrap his usual blanket around her tighter to create the illusion of his comforting hold. Gazing to his right shoulder became habit for Teddy, and not seeing a head of flowing butter blonde hair caused him to let out a heavy sigh as he put down his bowl. He needed Victoire's angelic voice to comment on his odd socks while the correct one was revealed, he craved for his noodles to gradually disappear with the sound of sweet slurps filling his ear and he yearned to be led up to the bedroom knowing he'd be fighting over the duvet for the majority of the night. He wished for and desired Victoire.
"You better finish that before it goes warm," Ron said calmly.
Teddy replied with a nod as he rolled his right shoulder to make it feel a little more at ease.
"You'll get used to it," Molly chimed with her eyes closed and a smile on her face,
"Used to what?" Teddy asked quietly,
"Living without her little quirks, without the things that make your day special. We've all done it and made it through the other side,"
"This is the first time I've missed her this much,"
"Ooooo," Ginny giggled, "little Teddy Lupin is feeling the L word."
The L word? Teddy had thought about whether he was ready to say it; he and Victoire had promised to not say it just to sound cute and only when they truly meant it, but up until now, it hadn't been proclaimed. Only within the last week had he realized that whenever he thought of the future- even what he would have the next day for dinner- Victoire was there. When he thought of her for too long, his hair would gain streaks of the same blonde as her and he needed to hear at least one French word a day or he couldn't sleep properly. Maybe this was the L word, and if it was, it was a rollercoaster he'd happily stay on for life.
With a few swishes and flicks of his wand, he summoned a piece of parchment, a quill and something for him to lean on.
"Writing the L word letter?" Ron teased,
"I'd rather have it in a letter than having you wail it at me in the rain," Hermione laughed as she pulled the blankets over her feet,
"You told me that was romantic,"
"I tell you a lot of things, Ronald."
Dear Vivi,
I know it hasn't been long into the first year, but I'm already missing you. The first shift at the shop went well, some punks tried to steal things but the old turn into a hound and scare them off trick worked like a charm. I was thinking of sending you some of those muggle chocolates that you like; I doubt that you have any time to even think about topping up your secret stash. I know for a fact that you'll be a legendary head girl, just don't let all that power go to your head. I miss you, I really do.
At that point, he'd usually end the letter with Ton Garçon Loup, but he shovelled a lump of steaming noodles into his mouth as he contemplated whether to write that all important word. He uneasily tapped the boil as he stared down at the space on the parchment daring him to write it, to write the word he thought he was feeling. But what if he wasn't feel it? This could've just been him missing his girlfriend and the storm of heartache and yearning would eventually pass. He couldn't say it, let alone write it without being sure. With another slurp of noodles and the broth flicking onto the parchment. Teddy proceeded to write the usual closing words but added floating hearts and an extra kiss.