More Teddy and Victoire for you :) Enjoy xx

14 February 2013

Teddy woke to the feel of someone shaking him to pieces. He opened his eyes to find Sam leaning over him, shoving him frantically.

"Teddy! Mate, you've gotta get up! It's five to nine!"

Teddy's eyes widened and he leapt out of bed and frantically searched for a clean set of clothes.

"Merlin, Sam! Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" complained Teddy as he almost tripped over while pulling on his jeans.

"Sorry," muttered Sam sheepishly. "I was still sleeping."

Teddy rolled his eyes and grabbed his wand before dashing out of the door. His stomach growled at him as he neared the Great Hall – he was starving – but the sight of Victoire silenced his bodily cravings. She looked stunning, dressed in a simple white blouse with pink flowers and a pair of tight fitting jeans. Her Gryffindor scarf was wrapped proudly around her neck.

"Hey, Teddy," she said, giving him a quick hug. It was far too short for Teddy's liking.

"Hi," giggled Rachel, who miraculously appeared beside Victoire. Teddy hadn't even noticed she was there. He felt a little guilty once he saw her. She had obviously put a lot of effort into her appearance and she looked really pretty. Her brown hair was neatly braided to the side and she wore a blue shirt and jeans. Teddy gave her a warm smile, making her cheeks darken.

"You look nice Rachel," he said and he meant it, but it was as though he was telling Lily or Rose that they looked nice. It wasn't the same as telling Victoire she looked nice. There were no butterflies when he spoke to her, no moments of utter speechlessness when he was around her. Just plain friendship. But Teddy enjoyed it nonetheless. Soon Davies arrived and placed his arm around Victoire's waist, looking smug. Teddy wanted to wipe that smirk right off his handsome face but thought better of it. The last thing he needed was a detention and a howler from Ginny.

The four of them headed off to Hogsmeade. It took about an hour to get there. Teddy decided to walk in front of Victoire and Davies, for he couldn't stand to look at them, and Rachel followed.

"You don't really like me, do you?" asked Rachel shyly. Teddy gulped and looked down at her. She wasn't crying but she looked a little sad. Teddy felt bad for her and wanted to lie, but he knew that wouldn't make her feel any better. Besides, he was a terrible liar.

"No, I do like you," he assured her, running a hand through his hair uncomfortably. "But just as..."

"A friend," nodded Rachel. "I understand. It's okay, I never really expected you to like me, not when I see how you look at her," she gestured her head backwards to Victoire. "She's beautiful and I'm plain."

Teddy shook his head. "You are beautiful too, Rachel," he insisted. "It's just, I don't know. I've known Vic for a long time and I used to hate her. Like, seriously hate her. We would fight all the time and call each other names – all that kind of stuff. But now, I don't know. I guess she's grown up. And so have I. That's what I like about her, I think."

Rachel smiled and linked her arm through his. It wasn't a romantic gesture, and Teddy felt comforted by it. Perhaps he and Rachel could become good friends.

"Well, I'd much rather you with her than that Davies. He's a complete arse," she exclaimed, frowning. "What could she possibly see in him?"

His handsome features, brilliant mind and his Quidditch stardom, Teddy thought bitterly.

"I have no idea." The two of them continued walking. Teddy was glad for Rachel's company – it kept his jealousy at bay. They started talking and Teddy realised he'd never actually had a proper conversation with Rachel. She wasn't as ditsy and giggly as he first thought. She was a half-blood and once her father found out that her mother was a witch, he had left her. So her mother had raised Rachel on her own. Rachel kept her mother's maiden name – Ferris – since she wanted nothing to do with her father. Teddy felt bad for her.

"Oh, it's okay," said Rachel as she kicked a stone aside carelessly with her foot. "It's not as bad as you. At least I've got one of my parents."

Teddy shook his head. "But both of my parents loved me, and they died for a good cause. Besides, I've got Harry and Ginny, and Grandma. They care about me just as much as any parent would."

"Yeah," agreed Rachel sadly. "You're lucky you've got them."

The streets of Hogsmeade were so crowded that the group found it hard to walk without being sandwiched between people.

"Let's go in there!" cried Victoire. Teddy looked to where she was pointing and he could barely contain his horror. Across the road, was a shop that looked as though it had been bombed with pink confetti. The name, Madam Pudifoot's, was written in gold over the entrance, which was veiled with pink lace curtains. Teddy gulped. The last place he wanted to go was there. But seeing Victoire look so excited and happy, he couldn't refuse and reluctantly agreed. The four of them entered the café and were seated in a booth near the window. Victoire was in awe of the place, which didn't surprise Teddy. She was into girly things, unlike her sister Dom. Everything was pink – the cushions, the table clothes, the plates and cups. Teddy resolved that he never wanted to see the colour pink again.

Teddy and Rachel exchanged looks of disgust as Davies and Victoire huddled together in one side of the booth. Although it had two seats, they were so close together that they took up only one side of the seat. Davies still kept that stupid smirk on his face as she stared raptly into his eyes. Teddy frowned, his stomach tying in a tight knot, and sunk lower in his chair. Rachel gave him a sympathetic look.

"Wow! Isn't this nice?" exclaimed Victoire happily. She looked radiant in the pink glow of the candles, her perfect white teeth shining in the light.

"Yeah," drawled Davies. "It's perfect." He leaned closer to Victoire and cupped her cheek. "But not as perfect as you."

Teddy almost threw up and the monster within him wanted to strike out and punch Davies in the face – at least then he'd wouldn't have his looks to win Victoire's affections.

"Oh, Jarrod," Victoire giggled and blushed a deep red, blinking up at Davies through her fair eyelashes. How Teddy wished she would look at him like that.

Rachel put her hand on his leg and leaned closer to him.

"Do you want to get out of here?" she whispered in his ear.

He nodded.

"Teddy and I are just going to Honeydukes."

No response.

"We're going to make out right here."

No response.

"Oh Merlin! A Dementor!"

"Huh?" Victoire looked away from Davies in confusion. "Oh, have a nice time."

With a frustrated groan, Teddy rose with a huff and stormed out of the pink explosion, never wanting to see Davies again.

"Hey! Wait up!" called Rachel, catching up to him.

Teddy grumbled. "Sorry," he muttered. "I just needed to get out of there. Seeing her looking at him like that – it makes me sick."

Rachel smiled sympathetically and nodded, "I know how you feel."

Together, the two of them walked towards Honeydukes. The warm, sickly sweet smell of the candy store rid all memories of Victoire and Davies from Teddy's mind and he eagerly entered. Honeydukes was filled with every kind of sweet imaginable. Teddy's mouth watered at the sight of Fizzing Whizzbees, Sugar Quills and Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. The two kids walked around in awe, browsing every shelf and wishing they could buy the entire store.

Teddy spotted Sam and Andy Payne over near the Exploding Bon-Bons.

"Come on," he said to Rachel and pulled her through the crowd of people. "I want you to meet someone."

Sam grinned as he approached, his arms already full of various assortments of sweets.

"Hey Ted," he said. "Who's this?" He stared at Rachel for a moment, making her blush.

"This is Rachel Ferris," said Teddy. "Rachel, meet Sam Cole and Andy Payne."

"Nice to meet you," said Sam, reaching out to shake her hand but dropping his sweets in the process. Cockroach Clusters and Liquorice Wands spilled out of his arms. "Oh, man!" he cried and bent down to pick them up.

"Here, let me help you," said Rachel as she went to help him. Teddy eyed them fondly as they stood back up and pretended like nothing had happened. Rachel began to browse through the range of chocolates and Sam was busy collecting Sugar Quills. Suddenly, Teddy was hit with an idea. If he couldn't have the girl of his dreams, maybe Sam could find his. He picked out a red, heart shaped lollipop that was the size of his hand, and gave it to Sam. Sam eyed it in shock.

"Look mate," he said bracingly. "I mean, I love you and all, but this is way too far."

"No, you prat," Teddy rolled his eyes and punched Sam in the shoulder. "You should give it to Rachel."

Sam's face turned bright red and he cast a fleeting glance at her. "Rachel? Why?"

"Because it's Valentine's Day."

"So?"

"So, she hasn't gotten given a Valentine yet, so it would be nice gesture. Plus, she's really pretty."

Sam looked back at Rachel with doe eyes. "Yeah, she is."

Teddy shoved the lollipop in his hand. "Then go and give it to her."

Sam gulped and approached Rachel. "Uh, Rachel..."

"Yeah?" she turned around and smiled pleasantly.

"Er, this is for you," he handed her the lollipop, refusing to meet her eyes. Rachel blushed even deeper.

"Th- thank you," she stammered in surprise, taking the gift.

"Yeah, erm... Happy Valentine's Day."

Rachel grinned sweetly and gave Sam a quick kiss on the cheek. "You too," she whispered. Sam stood in shock, his face as red as a beetroot. If he was a Metamorphamagus, Teddy was sure that his hair would be the same colour. Teddy smiled, feeling triumphant. At least someone had got the girl, today. He couldn't wait to tell Harry about his success as a matchmaker.

xXx

Everyone in the common room had gone to bed, which left Teddy by himself (Sam had gone to bed hours ago with a goofy grin on his face). Teddy glanced at the clock on the wall and hurriedly scooted over to the fireplace. He was going to have his first Floo conversation with Harry and he needed his godfather's unwavering advice as he tried to explain in the urgent owl message he had sent that afternoon. The fire soon crackled and hissed and there, resting in the flames, was Harry's head. Teddy was so shocked at first that he jumped back, but he soon recovered himself.

"Hey, squirt," said Harry, smirking at his godson's reaction. "Is everything alright? What's going on?"

Teddy frowned. "It's about a... well... a girl."

"Oh," said Harry, relieved. "The same girl you asked me about last year?"

Teddy rubbed his neck nervously. "Well, yeah. You see, she's kind of dating this guy who's a complete prat -"

"And you want to know what you can do to make her notice you?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?" asked Teddy.

Harry chuckled. "Been through the same thing as you kid. My first crush was dating a guy, another Triwizard Champion. We didn't start dating until after he…" Harry's voice dropped off, and Teddy knew he was remembering the Triwizard Tournament. Teddy didn't knew all the details, but he'd heard the stories…"

"Oh." Teddy stared at the ground. As much as he hated Davies, he didn't exactly want him to die. Maybe just disappear... for a long time.

"And by the time I realised I liked Ginny, she was with someone else. It wasn't until after the Quidditch Finals we got together."

"So, I either have to kill Davies or win the Quidditch Cup?"

Harry laughed and shook his head. "No, all I'm saying is, that there's no exact formula for getting a girl to like you. Girls are confusing. They're always changing their minds. All you need to do is be there for her, be her friend. And then just hope for the best. That's all you can do."

Teddy pouted. "So, basically I just do nothing and wait for her."

"Yep. You see, everyone says that the boy should make the first move. But sometimes, it's better to let her make the first move once she realises how great you are."

"Right," said Teddy. "Thanks, I guess."

"Now, get to bed. Let her come to you."

"Okay. Give my love to Ginny and the rug-rats for me."

"Will do. Night, kiddo."

Teddy went up to bed, feeling more confused than ever. Man, he sighed as he rolled over and closed his eyes. Why can't girls be easy to understand?

Aww... It's Valentine's Day at Hogwarts and it's a day of romance :) except for poor Teddy :/ at least he's made a new friend though :) Please review :)