Chapter Eight

A/N: I OWN NOTHING!

"So how have you been?" Harry asked as Molly Weasley poured some tea and passed around cookies.

"I've been good," Teddy said with a smile. James and Fred were causing the usual explosions that brought a smile to their grandmother's face.

"Where are you living?" Charlie asked.

"In a house," Teddy shrugged. Harry sighed but Teddy wasn't going to give him any leeway into where he was staying. He liked being in Lima, and he liked being in Glee.

"Teddy?" Victorie gestured to him from outside. Teddy got up and went to her.

"Yeah Vic?" he asked. Victorie held something over his head, something which wasn't a small feat as she had inherited her mother's height.

"Mistletoe," she said with a grin. Teddy chuckled and kissed her.

"Happy Christmas," James popped in between them. Teddy groaned but ruffled his god brother's hair.

"Happy Christmas little man," Teddy said. "Hey, I've got something for you."

He pulled a chocolate frog out from his pocket and handed it to James.

"Thanks for giving those bullies hell for me," he said with a grin. James grinned back and ran off.

"DINNER!" Molly shouted and the entire table got jammed packed with people.

"So Ted," Harry said halfway through turkey, "when shall we tell the headmistress that you're coming back?"

"We're not," Teddy said suddenly. The table grew silent.

"You mean," Hermione said tentiveatly, "that you're not going to continue your education?"

"Oh I am," Teddy said, "just not in a traditional manner."

Harry cleared his throat. "Teddy, I think your parents would want—"

"They'd want me to be happy," Teddy said firmly. "I'm happy where I am."

He was through with Harry and Ginny using his parents as leverage. He was an adult now; he could do what he wanted.

"But think about it," Ginny said. "How will you become an Auror if you don't sit for your NEWTs?"

"Harry did fine without them," Teddy shrugged and the entire table took a collective breath. It was a well-known fact that Harry regretted not going back to Hogwarts but with so many Death Eaters still loose, the Aurors needed him.

"That was uncalled for!" Ron shouted, standing up.

"Ronald, sit down!" Hermione grabbed his arm. "Maybe we should wait until after the holidays to talk about this?"

"No I think now is fine," Teddy said. "Unless you want to say something unfit for anyone under seventeen to hear?"

James and Fred looked excited. They always got sent out of the room when the adults were to speak. Rose frowned though; they really shouldn't be having this discussion. Teddy needed his NEWTs.

"Ted—" Percy leaned over to whisper something to him but Teddy turned his head before he could.

"Thanks for dinner Molly," he said and stormed out. The table was silent.

"Well I don't know about you, but I'm remembering the Christmas mess of 1996," George said. "When Percy stormed out."

Percy flushed, causing Molly II and Lucy to giggle.

"I'll go get him," Victorie said.

"Victorie," Bill said, "I think you should let the adults handle this. What if he apperated?"

"Granddad can take me," Victorie argued. "Besides he'll listen to me!"

The adults all looked at each other, no one wanting to admit that Victorie had several valid points.

"Alright," Bill sighed. "Dad, can you—"

Arthur already had his coat on.

"Ready?" he asked his eldest grandchild.

"Ready," Victorie nodded. The two of them walked outside and then stopped at the edge of the property line.

"Where do you think he went?" Victorie asked Arthur.

"It's Christmas time dear," Arthur said. "He's probably with family."

Victorie wanted to ask what that meant but then she gasped as she realized.

"The graveyard at Godric's Hollow!" she exclaimed. "Where Tonks and Remus are buried."

"That's right," Arthur nodded. They apperated there, and sure enough they could see a lone figure standing out in the snow.

"I'll let you have a moment alone," Arthur whispered and Victorie nodded. She walked up to him and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"They're worried about you," she told him. "We all are."

"That doesn't mean they get to dictate my life," Teddy told her. "I'm seventeen, not seven."

"Then tell someone about the bullies," Victorie told him. "Dad would handle it in a heartbeat, so would Uncle Harry."

Teddy shook his head.

"No, I'm fine," he said. "I'll go back to your place and get my stuff. You'll never even know I was here."

Victorie started to say something but Teddy apperated again.

"Stupid lousy…" Victorie began to mutter but then got an idea. Her mum wanted to work on her English some more didn't she?

0000000000000000000

Teddy breathed in that grubby McKinley High air and grinned. No worries, well if you didn't count the bullies. No problems…well, other than his dislike of Finn.

"Hey John!" Rachel smiled and called out to him. Teddy waved at her as the sea of people made it difficult to see her.

"Hello Johnny boy," Rick sneered and pressed Teddy up against the lockers. "Miss me?"

"Not unless you started using dental hygiene," Teddy winced as Rick's breath came at him full blast. "What did you eat? An onion?"

Rick meant to say something but a familiar voice stopped him.

"Oi!" a female voice called out. "You gonna let my boyfriend go or are you going to kiss him first?"

Teddy looked over in the direction of the voice and saw Victorie dressed in muggle clothes. He honestly didn't think she could look better.

"You're dating this loser?" Rick raised an eyebrow.

"Going on two years," Victorie said. "Now let him go."

Rick chuckled. "Or what? You're going to realize that there are better men out there?"

"Like you? Please," Victorie scoffed. "No, but the entire school might just hear a rumor about you and another member of your team in the locker room. Alone. Naked."

Rick dropped Teddy and backed away as quickly as he could.

"That was amazing," Teddy told her. "But what are you doing here Vic?"

"Mum's subbing here," Victorie told him. "I convinced McGonagall to let me come as an exchange student for Muggle Studies."

"Wait, how'd you find out where I was or what I looked like?" Teddy asked. Victorie looked at him as if he was an idiot.

"You told me. Remember? You wanted someone to know in case you ended up in hospital here."

"Oh. Yeah." Teddy chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. "So, does that mean that your mum knows—?"

"That we're boyfriend and girlfriend?" Victorie asked. "Yeah, but she's cool with it. "

Teddy grinned. "So what's your first class?" he asked.

"The same as yours," Victorie said. "Walk me to class boyfriend mine?"

"I'd be happy to," Teddy grinned and linked arms with her. All through the day, Teddy could feel eyes on him and Victorie but he didn't care. For once, he could walk through school with his girlfriend and not have to worry about it getting back to Bill. Finally, it was time though for Glee club.

"You want to join or—"

"I'll let you maintain your spot there," Victorie said. "Besides, it'll be like Hogwarts only without the magic. We didn't spend the entire time there did we?"

"No, I guess not," Teddy chuckled. He kissed her and then walked off into the classroom.

"Who is she?" Puck asked the minute he walked into the room.

"My girlfriend?" Teddy replied, making it seem like a question though.

"Hot girlfriend," Artie corrected.

Teddy growled at that. Victorie was his girlfriend, not some tart for the other boys to ogle at.

"Guys, cool it," Quinn snapped. Rachel was trying to get Finn's attention just as Tina was trying to do with Mike's.

Teddy sighed, looked like Victorie was going to be right. It was going to be just like Hogwarts for her. Boys loving her and girls hating her without even trying to befriend the eldest Weasley.