Hogwarts - Assignment 4, Survival Studies - Task 2 - Write about someone making a change to their life.

Sharing Names

To Raybe. Thanks for being an amazing friend. ILY! heart heart heart.

Lucius doesn't realise that Ted is his soulmate. His arm clearly states his soulmate's name is Edward.

Lucius sighs as he looks across the Great Hall at the head boy. He's still annoyed at Ted Tonks. Firstly, he's annoyed that Ted is a muggleborn. Which means that whoever in Ted's family is Lucius' soulmate is a muggle and therefore Lucius will have to refuse to be with them. Secondly, Lucius should have been the head boy.

He's worked hard. He's admired by the Slytherins (and he knows other students are in awe of him, which they should be). He's from a powerful family and he has excellent style. He's not even going to mention how much nicer his hair is. Ted Tonks looks like he hasn't even seen a hairbrush.

And personal space. Ted hasn't heard of it, because he's always coming up to Lucius as though they're best friends. He's always throwing an arm around Lucius' shoulders in such an annoyingly casual way, smelling like that stupid muggle aftershave that Lucius hates because it reminds him of Ted whenever he smells it on anyone else.

He hates Ted's stupid hazel eyes too, and he's a muggleborn and he's so nice. But Lucius can't help but be curious. Who is his soulmate? Does Ted have a brother, perhaps? A brother that also has those adorable - no, those stupid haze eyes. A brother who has messy hair and who talks about dorky things as though Lucius would understand whatever he's going on about.

Ted Tonks and Edward Tonks. They sort of go together. It could be a brother or a cousin.

But Lucius can't be with someone without magic.

oOo

"Lucius, so good of you to make it!" Ted jumps up and throws his arms around Lucius, who pulls away, fixing Ted with a suspicious look. He's aware of people around them in the coffee-shop and it wouldn't do to make a scene, even if these people are just muggles. Lucius likes to be calm and composed at all times, and Ted is the opposite of that.

"You said to come here straight away," he mutters.

"And you did. I thought you were going to forget that we agreed to meet. You forgot last time, but I know you're busy and I don't mind." He beams at Lucius. "So… I couldn't wait until next term to see you again."

Lucius doesn't voice his own opinion that he can't wait either. Somehow Ted Tonks of all people is his best friend and that makes him feel a bit ill because he should have better friends.

No, Ted is a good person. Lucius reminds himself that he should have more powerful friends, not better friends because who is better than Ted?

"So, I was thinking… I just wanted your opinion. Making this public. Maybe next term?"

"What?" Lucius asks.

"Us," Ted offers. His smile flickers but only for a moment. "Letting people know that we're… good."

"Oh. Perhaps not," Lucius tells him. He can't help the sting of guilt when the smile fades.

"You need more time. Okay. I can… I can wait." There's a shake to Ted's voice and he smiles once more, but it doesn't reach his eyes. He looks upset and Lucius isn't sure what is happening. "I'll get the drinks."

He stands up and walks to the counter, and Lucius looks at the planner he left behind on the table. He glances up, noticing that there are three people in front of Ted in the queue. He's already bored, so he reaches out and opens it.

The first thing he sees is the name. Edward Tonks. He's confused for a long moment because Edward Tonks is his soulmate and why does Ted have Edward's notebook?

His eyes move over the page. Little pictures of badgers in Slytherin scarves and snakes in Hufflepuff scarves. In the middle is a heart with T.T + L.M written in it.

Finally it clicks. Lucius actually feels embarrassed that it's taken him so long to work this out, because he thought Ted was short for Theodore or something along that vein. But as he thinks about how familiar Ted has always acted around him, the arms over his shoulder, the invading his personal space. Talking about Star Trek and Star Wars and Stargate and whatever star related nonsense else Ted likes, and he realises that Ted had a different impression of what was happening.

The planner is back in palace before Ted returns. He sets the drinks down and offers that smile again.

"Can I see your arm?" Lucius asks. He watches as Ted rolls up his shirt sleeve, and he looks at his own name written on Ted's skin.

"If we tell people that this is something, my parents will find out and I'll never be allowed to visit with you," he says, carefully picking his words. This is the truth, but also, he needs time to process. "But we share names, Edward. I don't like to see you sad - I don't like to make you sad."

It hits him that this is the truth. The last thing Lucius wants is to hurt this idiot who is somehow his best friend and even more-somehow, his soulmate. "I don't want to take that risk because who knows when I'll get to see you again."

The disappointment fades and Ted looks happier than ever at his words. Maybe because Lucius has finally acknowledged their relationship - their soulmate bond. Maybe because finally Lucius is offering something.

"I can live with keeping this a secret a bit longer," he admits softly. "For you. For us." His hand moves across the table, stopping short of Lucius' and Lucius can't help himself. He moves his hand to meet Ted's, their fingers curling together.

He stands, not thinking about the people around them, watching. It's a muggle establishment after all, and leans over, letting his lips touch Ted's for the first time.

This is the start of something, and though he wants to tell himself that it'll only last until his parents make a plan for him, he knows that it'll last a lot longer than that.

1011 words