9

#

I was sitting in the common room doing my potions homework. I was huddled into a corner next to the window, a blanket over my shoulders from the cold wind that crept through the window slits. I knew before I saw him that Teddy had entered to common room, I always knew. Maybe it was because I grew up with his constant presence that I recognised his footsteps, I don't know...

"Hey." Teddy whispered with a grin as he dropped down next to me. "Look what I nicked from Uncle Harry's room."

He shoved a blank piece of parchment under my nose. "You didn't." I gasped with a chuckle. I looked around the Gryffindor tower, but we were sitting separately in the corner. "Wasn't he planning on giving it to you next year? Why risk it?"

"He's away for Auror business for two weeks, he won't notice it missing. And Aunt Luna helped me get it." He leaned closer with a mischievous grin. "Wanna try it out?"

"Hell yes."

"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good." Teddy tapped his wand on the blank paper and ink started to fill the parchment. We simultaneously turned a little to hide the map from the others in the room as our eyes scanned the parchment. "Oh." Teddy chuckled. "Elodie found a new snogging partner."

"Good for her." I smiled but it dropped rather quickly when I saw a familiar name on the fourth floor. My fist clenched before I ripped the map out of Teddy's hand. "I'll be right back."

I didn't wait for him to answer, I quickly shot a sticking charm on his chair, so he won't follow me out the tower. I heard him call out for me and the sound of a crash, he had probably tried to stand up and fell down, chair and all before the portrait closed all sounds off.

I was breathing heavily as I marched down the corridor. The parchment wrinkled in my hand from my firm grip on it. I was surprised the map didn't burst into flames from my glare. When my name stopped in front of two others, I looked up and slammed the door open.

Ambrose and a guy named, Andy, jumped apart. I was fuming, I knew my hair must look the fiery red that matched my mood because the other guy mumbled something and ran out of the room.

"How could you?" I seethed.

Ambrose ran a hand through nervously through his hair. "I didn't want to do it like this."

"Do what?"

"Can you come in for a second?" I hesitated for a moment before I stepped into the classroom, closing the door behind me. I held enough space between us. "I wanted to talk to you for a while now. But your puppy eyes and those wicked lips always distracted me. I shouldn't have cheated; I should have been honest. I'm sorry."

"Why?" I choked out and I could feel the tears forming in my eyes. When Ambrose tried to reach over, I stepped back. I didn't want him touching me, I didn't want anybody touching me right now.

"Teddy."

I groaned, running a hand over my face. "You knew before you asked me out that Teddy was my best friend. Did I ever expect you to drop yours?"

"It's not about that. CJ, you need to open your eyes." I didn't understand what he was saying and from the look I gave him, he continued. "I would've never asked you to choose between me and Teddy, but you made plans with him almost every single day. We had days when we didn't speak to each other." He took in a deep breath. "How did you feel when you saw him kissing that girl?"

"I was angry but not for the reasons you're implying. She's a homophobe that makes snide comments. He deserves better than someone like her."

"Alright, what about the fact that you always seek him out? Even when you're mad at him, your eyes always find him, doesn't matter if you want to or not." He sighed and stepped closer. I didn't step back, and he took my hands in his. "I'm sorry for hurting you, I'm sorry for how I did it. I was just afraid of getting hurt."

"So, you decide to hurt me instead." A tear rolled down my cheek.

He wiped the tear away with his thumb. "I'm sorry, but I really think this is for the best. Just think about what I said, alright? Open your eyes." He leaned close and kissed my cheek. "Goodbye, CJ."

And the next second, I was alone in the room.

#

Teddy was waiting for me in front of the portrait, pacing a hole in the floor, seemingly freed himself from the chair. I wasn't crying now, but Teddy's eyes flickered to my hair and noticed something was wrong. I muttered the password, trusted the map in his arms and walked in the tower. I immediately went for my dorm, and I knew Teddy was right behind me.

"CJ, what's wrong?" He asked as I collapsed on my bed. My face was buried in my covers, and I felt the bed dip next to me, before Teddy's hand was gently stroking my hair. "What happened?"

I lifted my head a little and met his worried gaze. "Ambrose and I broke up."

"Wait, what?" Teddy said shocked, then his eyes flickered to the map on my nightstand. "He didn't?"

"He did. He said he wanted to talk to me for a while now but was always distracted by my wicked lips." I rolled my eyes. Teddy's eyes briefly flickered to my lips. "So, he decided to cheat on me." I said as tears rolled down my cheeks. Teddy shifted until he was stretched out on my bed, his back against the headboard and pulled my head against his chest, his arms circling me.

"I'm so sorry." His arm around me tightened. "He doesn't deserve you. It's his loss, trust me." A hand caressed my hair softly. "I'm going to kill him." He was starting to move to leave the bed.

"No." I shook my head against his chest, my hand fisting his shirt. "Just let it be."

"But -"

"Please, for me?" I felt him relax a little, leaning back and I felt him nod his head. "Can you just hold on to me?" I whispered; my voice laced with sadness. "Unless it makes you uncomfortable." I said, lifting my head up. "Then you don't-"

"You're my best friend, CJ. I'll never let you go." He pulled me back against his chest and resumed stroking my hair. I hated that I was sobbing in front of my best friend, but I was just so broken, so hurt, I couldn't stop. But Teddy just caressed my hair, whispering to me until I fell asleep. It took me a while before I thought about what Ambrose said. Open your eyes. I was just trying to deal with the break-up, my mind so clouded with grief, I didn't see the sweet things Teddy did for me. Extra things that he didn't used to do. It took a few weeks before I questioned my feelings for him, but it took me far longer before I noticed he had the same for me.

#

Ignoring Ambrose went easier than I thought. Besides him being a year above me and in another house, it was because of Teddy. He always steered me away when he was near or distracted me easily with the smallest and silliest things. I haven't cried after the night of the break-up. I refused to let anyone, especially Teddy, see me like that. Did it hurt? Yes, of course it did. But with every day and every joke Teddy tossed at me, it got better.

I was dreaming or remembering, or more likely both. Because a part of the scene was something that already happened.

"You need to open your eyes." Ambrose voice echoed in my head. "Open your eyes."

When I opened my eyes, I was twelve again. Actually, it was my twelfth birthday party. It was a muggle party, so some of the family felt out of place, which was hilarious on its own. We are playing laser tag. It was just me and Teddy as kids, since Victoire didn't want to play, and the others were still too young. But there were enough volunteers to play with us. Dad and practically all of my uncles except Uncle Percy wanted to play. Mum wanted to join too, but dad was too worried something might happen. And I couldn't agree more since I remember vividly the last time my mum had been rushed to the hospital. I heard my Uncle Fred laughter fill the dark room behind me, probably following one of my other uncles around flaying his gun. I was crouched down behind a tank, glancing around the dark room full of laser lights. I was just catching my breath for a second because this was more intense than I thought it would be.

I glanced over the tank and saw two mops of red hair swish by, too dark and too fast to see who it was. But then I saw the target I was hoping for. His bright purple hair was a disadvantage in this place, it was almost fluorescent. He was leaning out of a window shooting upwards, his back towards me. It was the perfect time to sneak up to him. I sneaked up to him and pressed my gun against his back.

"Gotcha." I whispered and shot him. My voice close to his ear made him jump, he turned and tripped. The two of us went tumbling down, my back crashed harshly against the floor. I gasped from the hard impact. Teddy could just brace himself before crashed into me, his hands resting next to my head, hovering over me.

"Fuck." Teddy laughed. "You scared the shit out of me."

"You need to watch your back, mate." I grinned, the lasers above us shifted it so shined on Teddy's purple hair. It made it look like he had changed his hair into all the colours of the rainbow. His eyes twinkled in the reflection of the lights. That was the moment I figured out he was beautiful. But that didn't mean anything. It wasn't the first time I thought someone was beautiful, boy or girl. It was just the first time I saw him. He was still my best friend, my confidant. He was still Teddy. Teddy pushed himself off, still smiling and ran away before his vest could light up again. I clambered up myself and went hunting down the rest of the opposing team.

#

"CJ?" Someone nudged my shoulder. "CJ?" I heard amusement in his voice.

"Hm? What?" I said with a sleepy voice, I lifted my head to see Teddy hover over me. The dream crashed over me once again as the fire reflected in his hair and his eyes. He wiped his hair from his eyes.

"You fell asleep." He chuckled, a soft smile on his lips. "Let's get you to bed." He looped his arm around my waist and pulled me up. The common room was almost empty, just a few stragglers left. He guided me to the boys' dormitories.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked confused, my sleepy eyes barely open. "I need to get back to the tower."

"You can barely keep your eyes open; you're sleeping with me tonight."

Something inside me stirred a little but I was too tired to think about what that was. I leaned into him as he nearly dragged my sleepy ass to the dormitory. "You're too good for me." I murmured. "You're the best friend I could ask for. I love you, Teddy."

Teddy took in a deep breath next to me. "I love you too, CJ." He said as he opened the door to his room. I staggered over to his bed and crashed on it, already asleep by the time my head hit the pillow.