~Victoire's POV~
"The Burrow!" I yelled as I tossed some Floo powder into the fireplace on platform 9 ¾. Ted, Dominique, Louis and I had just arrived at the platform after a long ride on the Hogwarts Express. I had previously said goodbye to Frank, Julianne, and my roommates while Teddy swiftly avoided running into Florence Brown again, as he had been skillfully doing since the beginning of the year.
The world went blurry for a couple seconds before I could make out the tiny living room of the Weasley home. Moving out of the way so that Ted would have room, I walked into the kitchen, searching for my family.
"Grandmum!" I exclaimed as I spotted the short, stout ginger woman cooking something on the stove. Molly Weasley had never stopped cooking for her children, even after those children had children of their own. Although she was old in age, she had never stopped taking care of the people she loved. It was something I admired about her.
"Oh my darling Victoire!" She said as she pulled me into a big hug, her warm scent of freshly baked cookies filled my nose. "You're here, finally. I was starting to think you were staying at Hogwarts for Christmas!"
"Of course not, Grandmum! You know Christmas at The Burrow is my favorite."
She simply smiled and placed her warm hand on my cheek.
"Is that Grandmum's famous pecan pie I smell?" I heard Teddy exclaim from the doorway.
Watching Grandmum's face when she looked up at Teddy was like watching James' open his presents on Christmas morning. I knew that she loved us all equally, but Teddy definitely had a special place in her heart. Technically he wasn't really her grandchild, but she spoiled him nonetheless. Maybe because he treated her like royalty, as he did all the women in his life. I swear no one can compare to Aunt Ginny and Grandmum in Teddy's mind.
"Your so big!" Grandmum cried, making Ted chuckle and me giggle. She flung her arms around him with a tear in her eye. "I can't believe how tall you are, why you look just like your father."
"I'm just as tall as I was the last time you saw me, Grandmum," Teddy said with a smile, but I could tell he was pleased by his likeness to his father. Nana finally let go of him and started complaining about how skinny he was, claiming he wasn't eating enough.
"Trust me, Nan, Ted eats plenty," I assured her.
Ted shot me a look before retorting, "It all turns to muscle." Grandmum looked him up and down appraisingly.
"It sure did," She cooed, reaching up to feel his strong arms. Then she turned to me and raising her eyebrows up and down in a suggestive manor. Ted and I could barely contain our laughter as she walked around us to great Dominique and Louis. I had to lean on the counter to keep myself from falling to the floor in hysterics. Ted was laughing, too, although he looked slightly red from Grandmum's obvious innuendo. She was always trying to get us together, as more than friends. It was quite ridiculous, really, considering Ted was practically my cousin.
Once we had finally contained out laughter at my grandma's crazy antics, Ted and I ventured further into the kitchen to great the rest of the adults in my family, who were seated at the table.
Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry were sitting next to each other, Aunt Ginny whispering something to Aunt Hermione while Uncle Harry was engaged in a seemingly deep conversation with Uncle Ron. My dad was talking animatedly with his hands to his closest brother, Uncle Charlie, while my mum tried converse with Uncle Percy's wife, Aunt Audrey. She was a shy woman who usually kept to herself, but that didn't stop Mum from constantly trying to befriend her. Next to Uncle Percy, who had his nose stuck in a book, sat Uncle George. He was possibly one of my favorite uncles, because he always found a way to make everyone laugh even in the most desperate times. When my birthday came around each year, Uncle George never stopped celebrating to mourn the loss of his twin, who had died on that day. He was always in good spirits, saying, "This is how Fred would've wanted me to be." My birthday had always been tough on everyone, but Uncle George got us all through it.
Next to him, Grandpa Weasley was playing around with the muggle TV Aunt Hermione had gotten him for his birthday last month. Even in his old age, Grandpa never lost his fascination with muggles, and he had even seemed to pass down his interest to Louis, who always excelled in Muggle Studies. Right now a particularly scandalous movie was playing on the small screen, and Grandpa turned bright red, twisting nobs and pushing buttons frantically.
Someone pinched my side from behind me, causing me to squeal. I turned to glare at Teddy while my aunts and uncles finally noticed our presence.
They all came at us at once. Well, all of them except Uncle Percy and Aunt Audrey, who seemed content to stay where they were seated.
Before we could prepare ourselves, Ted and I were being squished together by Uncle George as he hugged us both at the same time. Then we were pulled apart and caught up in the mess of kisses and hugs that we automatically returned, not really knowing which Aunt or Uncle we were greeting.
I tried to keep track; a bear hug from Uncle Ron, and more, but thankfully less painful, hugs from Uncle Harry and Uncle Charlie. A kiss on the cheek from Aunt Hermione, my mum, and grandpa, a tender hug from my father, which I eagerly returned (I hadn't realized how much I had missed him at school), and lastly, a good long hug from my dear Aunt Ginny. She was always my favorite Aunt, the only one I kept up with through post while I was away.
My mother had always doted on Dominique, as she had inherited more Veela than I had. I didn't mind, though. I had always been more Weasley than anything else. Maybe that's why Aunt Ginny and I were so close, because we both shared the famous stubborn temper of a Weasley girl.
When we were finally released, Ted and I looked at each other with smiles on our faces. Being away at boarding school definitely made you miss your family.
"Where are my little cousins?" I asked, eager to see how much they had grown since the summer.
"They should be outside playing, why don't you two go see what they are up to?" Aunt Hermione replied happily. I looked to Ted, who shrugged and headed out the back door, knowing I would follow behind him.
Outside, the little kids seemed to be engaged in an intense game of Miniature Quidditch. We stood watching James, the oldest of the children, as he made an impressive save from his place as Keeper. Rose had just hit the small Quaffle with surprising force towards the left hoop. Rose struggled to stay upright on her obviously hand-me-down broom. Hugo, who had caught the Quaffle from James, then came up behind her and grabbed her elbow to steady her. Rose smiled at her little brother, but then took that opportunity to snatch the mini Quaffle out of his hands and score ten points while James wasn't paying attention. Slytherin won't know what hit them when these kids are finally allowed on the Quidditch pitch in a few years, I thought.
I looked around and saw Albus floating above all of the others, staring at the open sky around him.
"OI! Albus, why aren't you playing?" Ted hollered. Albus looked down and smirked, looking just like his mother as he sat confidently on her old broom, and flew down towards us.
"I'm seeker," he said simply.
"Well aren't seekers supposed to, you know . . . seek?" Teddy replied incredulously. Albus' only response was another smirk. Suddenly he whipped around us and shot inside the house. I gasped, not believing what I had just seen. Then, in an instant, Albus flew back out and landed swiftly in the ground, clutching something between his fingers. No, it couldn't be, I thought as I leaned forward to see what he was holding. But it was. Inside the eight-year-old boy's fingers was the little golden ball that every seeker dreamed of catching; he held the snitch.
"Dad's been giving me lessons," Albus said proudly, looking up at Teddy.
"They are definitely paying off, big guy." Teddy said as he ruffled Albus' hair fondly.
All the other children flew down and gave us hugs. Little Lily, who had been flying in circles until she spotted us, had attached herself to Teddy's neck and simply refused to let go. Ted kissed her forehead lightly and smiled as he held her in his arms. I couldn't help but note the tender care he used when holding her. He would be a brilliant father one day.
"Well I, for one, am freezing! Lets go inside and convince Nana to make us some hot coco!" I announced. Seven-year-old Hugo's little eyes lit up upon hearing the words 'hot coco' and he took my hand and dragged me inside. Just like Lily had a special bond with Ted, Hugo had a special friendship with me. I had been the first cousin to hold him, and he hadn't let go of me ever since. Now that he was older, I always sent him special treats when I got the chance to buy them from Hogsmeade, and he even wrote me a couple letters in the messy handwriting his mother had taught him. I had them all tucked away in my chest for safekeeping.
"Grandmum, can we, please, have some hot coco, please?" Hugo asked our grandmother. He had clasped his hands together and held them under his chin and widened his eyes in a pleading fashion. I knelt down so I wasn't towering over him and mimicked him actions.
"Yes, please, Nana?" I asked. She smirked at me but I merely stuck out my lip in desperation.
"Oh, fine. Now go wait for your coco in the living room," she beckoned.
Hugo and I both cheered and gave each other high-fives.
"Race you to the couch?" He asked.
"You're on." I declared, sprinting towards the door.
XxXxX
After dinner that evening, Aunt Ginny and I finally go a chance to talk privately. I had actually been in the middle of an awkward conversation with Uncle Percy, and was thankful for Ginny's interruption.
We retreated to the now empty kitchen, giggling. Once we had both hopped up on the counters with our legs dangling on the edge, and equipped ourselves with some uneaten Treacle Tart that was on the counter, Ginny demanded I spill everything that I had done in the last couple months.
"Aunt Gin, I'm sure you don't want to know everything. Its dreadfully boring," I said. Not true, but I didn't feel like spilling the details of my relationship with Landon or my vivid dreams.
"What? No boys?" She glared at me, disappointed.
I laughed and said, "Your still a 17 year-old girl at heart, aren't you?"
"'Course!" She replied without hesitation, making me laugh even more. "What about that Landon kid you wrote me about?"
I mentally shuddered but tried to appear unfazed as I replied, "Oh, we broke up about a month ago… It just wasn't really working. Besides, Teddy hated his guts, which always makes it difficult." I sighed as I said this.
Ginny gave me a strange look and slyly said, "Well isn't he protective," in a matter-of-fact way.
"Oh come on, don't tell me you agree with Grandmum that Teddy and I should get married or something crazy like that!" I cried, blushing despite myself. What was wrong with everyone? Isn't it illegal to marry a cousin, anyway?
"I never said anything about you to getting together, you came up with that all on your own," Ginny smartly replied.
I sighed in frustration. I never did understand why Grandmum thought that Teddy and I would be a good match. I mean sure, we got along, but he was so perfect. No way I could ever deserve someone like him. Even if he wanted me . . . which he never would. Would he?
Of course not! What was I thinking? This is Teddy, for Merlin's sake. He doesn't even think of me that way. It was only a few months ago when he finally seem to truly realize I was female. Who ever he did end up marrying would have to be truly special, right? Then how come the only person I can ever imagine him marrying is me?
