Title: Curiousity
By: mandy-jg
Rating: G
Pairing: Rose Weasley/Teddy Lupin
Summary: He'd seen her annoyed a time or two, seen her famous temper let loose on Hugo several times.
A/N: Follows Secrets & Counting Days. Using the Invisible Line prompt for rarepairshorts.

Curiousity

He'd seen her annoyed a time or two, seen her famous temper let loose on Hugo several times. Never though had he been the cause of it, and he could only assume that he was. They had met innocently enough at The Three Broomsticks, and were just starting to chat when her cousins arrived with Hugo in tow, ready to talk to him.

Rose had looked about ready to breath fire, she remained calm though, biding her time till they left. It had been too late then of course, he had to return to London, and she had to get back to school.

Ted walked behind her as they as they headed up the track back to Hogwarts, marveling at how ones back could radiate such anger. The air seemed to crackle around her, he wouldn't have been surprised if he touched her and got an electric shock as a result.

She stopped as the Hogwarts gates came into view, Rose continued to stare at them as he came to a stop beside her.

"Well, I suppose we can catch up another time?" Ted asked quietly, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Rose swore softly, "Bugger that."

She pulled him from the path into the heavy bush running alongside it, heading a few metres into the trees till they were invisible to anyone passing by. Teddy didn't see anything resembling light in her expression, "Rose, what's wrong?"

"Wrong? Nothings wrong," she scoffed.

"Then what's going on?"

Rose sighed, "You came to see me? Didn't you? Don't give me any of that bull about a chance meeting, you came to see me."

"Yeah, but to everyone else..."

"Fine! But gods Ted, we have barely spoken! You just sat down and they took over, now it's too late."

"I'm sorry Rose, we couldn't exactly tell them to shove off. No matter how much we'd like to."

"This waiting caper is horrible," she grumbled, her foot kicking up a harmless bush. "This whole thing is horrible."

"I know, it has to be done though. Your father is liable to maim me if he knew, and I'd lose my job quicker than you could snap your fingers."

"Really though? I know Dad would be far from thrilled, but would you really lose your job?"

He laughed lightly, "Till you are of age love, I'm afraid you are off limits."

"That's so bloody stupid!" Rose snapped. "I want to be with you, and I'm old enough to decide that for myself. No stuffy bloody Minister should decide that for me."

"I know love, it isn't ideal, but we'll just have to wait," Teddy smiled down at her. "We should get going, you're going to be late for dinner."

Rose shook her head as he went past her, her hand reaching out to stop him, "Not yet Ted," she whispered. "Aren't you curious?"

"About what?"

"Just what we are waiting for? I'm not eighteen for over a year yet, and it feels forever away. What if it's for nothing?" She said softly, stepping closer to him. "What if we finally get there, and nothing. We feel nothing, no spark of any kind. What a waste."

Her hand slipped into his as Teddy stuttered, "We can't Rose."

"There's no-one here, no-one but you and me. The only ones that matter, we have to know for sure."

Rose held his gaze firmly, holding him there, he could feel what little resolve he held slipping from him. "How?"

She smiled up at him, "Kiss me."

Two sides of him were instantly at war. One side was telling him to go for it, to throw all the rules to the ground and take what was being offered so freely. The other was yelling what a bad idea it was, if he like he suspected there was something between them, would one kiss be enough? Rose was right though, waiting for nothing would be pointless.

Teddy watched her smile grow as he lent down to her, rising up on her toes to meet him. Her eyes shut as their lips met. She slid her arms around him pulling him flush against her, soft and warm was all he felt. Rose coaxed him further, his hand cupping the back of her head as she parted her lips, a gentle flick of the tip of her tongue against his lips.

His head snapped back instantly, taking quick short breaths as her arms tightened around his waist.

"Ted?" Rose whispered her eyes opening slowly.

"We should get you back to school," he said quickly.

"You're not moving?" She smiled. "Do you want to keep waiting till next year?"

He couldn't fight the smile, "Yes, if you do."

Rose beamed at him, before turning her head into his chest, "Yes. But don't you dare tell me that we can't do that again till next year. That's just not fair."

He sighed as his arms wrapped around her, "No one can know, and we can't get carried away. Just keep it simple, and wait."

She nodded quickly, "Of course. Just you and me, now - let's do it again."

"Rose," he grinned, shaking his head. "You'll be late for dinner."

"I'm not hungry."