17

Teddy sat in the upstairs of Grimmauld Place. Before him was a desk and atop the desk a large book. Inside the book was a family tree inside the family tree was a devastating discovery.

Teddy's finger touched his father's name, and slid upwards towards the older generations until it finally settled on the name 'Tabitha Sullivan.' A woman who married into the Lupin family with his great great great grandfather. Beside her name was a star-a symbol Remus had come to realize meant that the person was a wizard. Another symbol was beside her name though. One much more ominous that also resided next to his father's. A half moon. This woman had been a werewolf. At least that was the explanation he had come up with. What else would it mean after all?

If his father had found these records in the confines of Andromeda's home would he have continued through with Teddy's birth? Would it have reassured him to see that a werewolf and a wizard had mated before and produced a normal, wizard offspring? Or would it have troubled Remus, convincing him that this child would have not one, but two bits of werewolf DNA within him, thus resulting in a full werewolf child? No matter how small of a chance that it was, still two people had been infected with lycanthropic DNA and that was troubling.

Teddy's foot tapped to the beat of the brassy tune on the victrola behind him.

More than worrying himself over what Remus would have done, Teddy worried himself over everything that was to come. If he had two pieces of werewolf DNA in him and each moon the pain worsened, did that mean he would become a werewolf soon? That slowly he was changing into one?

Teddy's eyes flickered by to the tree where he searched for another werewolf or even another symbol that hinted towards there being another werewolf created through reproduction.

"Hey, Teddy."

Teddy jumped slightly and looked over his shoulder. Victoire leaned in the doorway wearing a somber smile. Her eyes went up to his hair and her brows furrowed.

"Your hair is all black. What's going on?" she asked walking towards him.

Teddy quickly made his hair change back to its shocking, violet blue and began to gather the family tree papers.

"Wait, wait, wait. What are these?" she asked arriving at the desk.

Teddy continued to stack them neatly.

"I just wanna see, Teddy. Lemme see," Victoire protested in a kind voice.

Teddy surrendered his nonchalant fight with Victoire and gently slid the stack of papers to her. She rifled through them with her delicate fingers and stopped on the one reading 'Lupin Family Tree.'

"Genealogy work, eh? Interesting," she muttered.

Teddy awaited her discovery and pinched the bridge of his, eyes downward.

"Teddy Lupin, you are NOT a pureblood," Victoire sniggered sarcastically.

Normally such a remark would have made him laugh. However, he was not filled with his usual light-heartedness. His kind, wise words and clever wit. Right now he was filled with dread and a looming presence of fear seemed to press on his chest and send shivers down his spine.

Victoire bit her lip in curiosity as she watched Teddy's hair fade back to black. Her hand touched his shoulder gently and she slowly sat on his lap. Victoire turned her bright blue eyes to his and studied him intently. After knowing him since birth and dating him for two years, she knew that look in his amber eyes. Fear. Anxiety. Her hand gently touched his squared jaw and directed Teddy's face in her direction.

"What's this all about then, Teddy?" she asked quietly. "I know that look."

Leaning back in the chair, Teddy bowed his head and rubbed the back of his neck. He raised his right hand and placed his finger firmly on the moon beside Tabitha's name, then moved it down to the moon beside Remus' name, pressing down firmly once more. Victoire noticed the similarity and her brows furrowed in concern. Teddy raised his head and looked at her with a wry smile.

"There's only one thing that can mean, Victoire. Two of them. I'm not just half werewolf. I'm two parts werewolf."

Victoire smirked at him.

"And..."

"Victoire, what if the reason it's getting more and more painful with each moon is because I'm going to become one?" he asked in a low voice.

Victoire's gaze darted from the piece of parchment to her boyfriend then back to the parchment and then back to him. She shook her head.

"No, Teddy. That's not how that works," chuckled Victoire.

He pinched the bridge of his nose once more resting an elbow on the arm of the chair.

"You're smarter than that, Teddy. Everyone says that you got your father's brain!"

Teddy laughed softly and shook his head before looking back up at Victoire amusedly.

"No, they don't. They say I have his temperament. Two different things, love."

Victoire pointed a dainty finger in his face and gave him a dark look.

"Werewolf contamination venom is transmitted specifically through saliva into an open wound or-in rare cases-the mouth. Not semen-"

"Don't say semen," blanched Teddy.

Victoire smiled and wrapped both her arms around Teddy's neck, still resting on his lap.

"Listen up, Lupin. You're not becoming a werewolf. I'm well versed in these things too, you know?"

"Said the witch whose practically one third werewolf to the wizard whose over one half werewolf," Teddy snorted.

Victoire pressed her forehead to his, staring him dead in the eyes. The corner of his lip hitched up and his hair brightened just a shade.

"I'm the closest you've got to someone like you. Take what you get and like it, Lupin."

Teddy pressed his lips to hers, gently weaving his fingers into her long, blonde hair.

" I more than like what I've got, Weasley."

Looking into Victoire's eyes Teddy seemed to forget all his worries. All thoughts of lycanthropic DNA accumulating over two centuries to form a full werewolf child. All notions that with each full moon he was coming closer and closer to a transformation. Slowly, Victoire grazed his lips with her own and they entered a passionate kiss. One of understanding and consolation. It was more than young love, it was hope and companionship.

When they separated, it was as though a stopper had been pulled on a bathtub and the water, made of anxiety flushed over Teddy. All the worries returning as his eyes wandered back to the family tree. They quickly flickered back up to Victoire who gave him a knowing look. He smiled sheepishly.

"I'm a real trouble maker," he said.

Victoire laughed softly and cupped his cheek. The ironic smile that seemed permanently etched on her face warmed him ever so slightly. His hair inched once more towards blue.

The song on the victrola switched to a slow, brassy number, a woman crooned softly. Victoire slid off of Teddy's lap fluidly and faced him. He turned in his chair, facing her with a speculative look. With all the cordiality of a gentleman from the 1800s she offered him her hand.

"May I have this dance?" she asked.

"Certainly," grinned Teddy.

He stood slowly and followed her lead to the center of the room. Teddy's arms linked around her waist as her slender arms wrapped around his neck. They swayed gently, turning in slow circles.

"This reminds me of that song they played at the Yule Ball."

"The one that Darius asked you to dance to?" snorted Teddy.

"I said no," she replied pointedly.

"You DID say no."

Victoire's head rest against his chest and he felt a small chill go down his spine. It wasn't a bad feeling. Not at all. For a moment though, he felt as though he did not exist. Like he was watching himself in this moment. Teddy bent his neck and pressed his lips to the top of Victoire's forehead. Her grip on him tightened.

"It seems like forever ago," he said softly.

Victoire looked up at him and gave a small smile.

"Perhaps it's because you think about it so often," she shrugged.

Teddy chuckled and nodded in agreement. Perhaps that WAS it.

"I wish you weren't leaving this year. I'm going to be all alone," sighed Victoire.

"You'll have Tessa and Geoffrey and Maverick."

"Tessa and Geoffrey and Maverick are a lot of bloody prats and you know it," she snorted.

"Albus will be starting. You'll have to look after him."

"Mm, I'm a Ravenclaw. Something tells me Albus won't be. They're a family of Gryffindors. James can watch after him. I think I'll just focus all my energy on missing you."

"That's a great way to spend your seventh year," Teddy said sarcastically. "Besides that's a whole year away, Victoire. I'm not a seventh year for another week."

Victoire shrugged. Her head still down.

"I'll miss you no matter what."

The song continued, Victoire and Teddy continued to dance in silence. While Victoire maintained a brave face, her throat was thick and her eyes watering. She'd been thinking about a year without Teddy for quite some time. What it would be like. After, all most of their life she'd seen him at least five times a week. To have Teddy yanked out of her life after over a decade would be very strange for Victoire. Change was always strange for her. Though managing to roll with the punches, adapting to a life without Teddy would be difficult. Each full moon she would think of him and the pain he was in without her around to calm him.

"Besides, after that brief nine months not together we'll have the rest of our lives. Think of it as getting bad before it gets good. Like that muggle saying," suggested Teddy.

Victoire turned her eyes to him, a brow raised slightly.

"What was that, you said?"

"It's got to get bad before it gets good. I've heard that in numerous muggle songs," Teddy clarified.

"No. Not that. You said...we'd have the rest of our lives. You think we'll...we'll be together the rest of our lives."

Teddy's heart skipped a beat. Had he really said that? Merlin knew that he'd meant it, but why had he said it? And more importantly, did she feel the same? His mind reeled for an answer. Could he maybe pass it off as nothing? As a simple expression? No. He'd have to be honest. After all, it was Victoire. She wouldn't judge him and she may even feel the same.

"Well, if things keep up as they are presently I don't see any reason for us to break it off," he managed.

Victoire's head slowly made its way back to his chest. Her eyes closed at the comfort of his words.

"That sounds nice. Thank you," she replied.

Teddy laughed quietly and stroked her hair, shaking his head.

"You've got no reason to thank me, Victoire."

Then, without thinking, the question she'd been yearning to ask just...slipped out.

"Do you love me?" she blurted.

The second the words escaped her mouth Victoire cringed. Had she really just asked him that?

"Erm...what?" stammered Teddy.

Victoire pulled back and looked up at him, swallowing her pride.

"Well, it's just earlier you said that you 'more than like' me. I just wondered if that meant that you maybe...loved me."

Teddy blinked, his hair turning dark pink as his eyes stared up at the ceiling. Victoire sighed in defeat and let her head fall on his chest. Her eyes closed and she mentally cursed herself for being so absurd. How long had they even been officially dating. A half of a year barely? For two people still in their formative years, love was certainly a strong word. Then again, they were notoriously on again and off again since that year at the Yule Ball. Perhaps it made sense if he loved her and the question wasn't quite so ridiculous after all.

"Well...erm..." Teddy managed, searching for the courage to confirm her suspicions.

"Forget it. I was being stupid. It was a daft question to ask."

"No, no, no. It wasn't daft at all. It was just...surprising. Of course...of course I love you, Victoire," he said with a soft chuckle. "Of course."

Victoire pulled away from him as the current song came to a close and felt a wide smile break out on her face.

"I love you too," she replied.

As though reflecting their moods, a new song began, faster than the last. More upbeat. Victoire knew what this meant. Teddy was about to show off. Swing dance was a specialty of his. When Teddy was twelve, he found a photo featuring his mother and father dancing where he watched his dad spin his mother and throw her around his waist. He'd immediately grabbed Victoire and began practicing the move until it became seamless.

Teddy grinned devilishly at Victoire, her expression matched his and she nodded to confirm his unspoken request to dance.

"You asked for it, Weasley," he sighed playfully.

His hand rested on her waist and his other took her hand. He spun the two of them quickly and watched her face split into a wider smile. The song sped up urging Teddy to aide her in spinning in a circle of her own. The song paused briefly, a prompt for him to yank her back to him.

"Ready?"

Victoire bit her lower lip and nodded eagerly.

"Alright, then," Teddy snickered.

Victoire jumped up, sitting on his hips with her legs extended. Teddy grabbed her waist firmly and in one swift moment spun her entire body around his waist before standing her up straight before him. Victoire's hair fell in a fluffy mass over her face and though he couldn't see her expression he was certain she was smiling. Gently, Teddy brushed the blonde locks of hair from her face. The second it was visible Victoire launched herself into his arms and planted a kiss on his lips. He raised his brows in surprise then slowly gave in, though it didn't take much effort. His hair flickered between red orange and violet sporadically before settling on a dark scarlet.