Ahhhh! I am really really REALLY sorry for such a long wait between chapters =( I can only believe that anyone who read the previous chapter has long since moved on. So those of you who ARE reading this, I can (eh) promise sooner updates in the future. Feel free to bombard me with reminders too, should I forget. That said, I have to say that the reason this chapter was so long cominng is that I'm not very happy with it. I won't say anything else on it, but just know that it is not my most favorite work and I suffered from much blahness through the whole thing. So sorry!
I also don't own anything but what you don't recognize…There was a small "Pop" as Maman, Dad, Dom, Roxanne, Rose, Louis, Jean, Molly, and I appeared in the driveway to the Burrow. You would have thought that having so many people late would put a hold to the festivities but no, even from so far away, you could hear the crush of voices, loud and laughing, emitting from the garden and house.
Maman and Dad immediately left to greet Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny who were just entering the party through the front door.
When we got to the side gate, it swung open before any of us could knock and the Scamander twins, Lorcan and Lysander were grinning at us.
Lorcan smiled warmly at all of us, and greeted us with a kiss on the cheek.
"Its been a long time," Lorcan joked, having sat with us for half the train ride from school. Of the two brothers Lorcan inherited the most from his mother, Luna. His hair was the same lighter shade and he had the same pale eyes, which added to his general air of dottiness. I had heard from Dominique time and time again that even if the brothers were identical twins, which they were not, you would have always known who Lorcan was because he would be the one lecturing on the effects of a Wrackspurt and Lysander, the effect of catching the snitch within the first five minutes of a match.
Dom laughed and hugged Lorcan quickly before passing him into the garden. Despite his odd opinions, most of Hogwarts held a soft spot for Lorcan Scamander, perhaps because of his obliviousness to House lines or because of his obvious harmlessness. Lysander too was widely liked, though he was much less unusual than Lorcan. Nothing flustered Lysander; he had a cool comment and a sarcastic smirk for every situation.
Dom had caught hold of Lysander's shirtsleeve and was rapidly whispering to him. I watched as the disinterest on Lysander's face gave way to surprise and he gave Dom a quick nod before walking towards the house. I gave Roxanne a surprised glance. Dom generally tended to butt heads with Lysander. His responsibility as Gryffindor Quidditch Captain used to have me sure that one day Dominique and he would finally become friends, but for whatever reason, they always seemed to be at each other's throats.
Dom turned around, found that we had been staring and scowled "Oh fuck off."
" Why what was so important you couldn't wait to talk to him?" Rose smirked, the wheels already turning in her head.
Dom rolled her eyes, "Quidditch. And that I desperately need to shag him you nutter."
I couldn't help myself; I snorted at the thought of Dom and Lysander in a romantic engagement. Dom smiled quickly and followed Lysander into the garden towards the sounds of the party. Jean craned her head looking for someone. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to find someone in the barmy mess that is my family without triple checking under every mop of red hair.
I was about to mention the futility of her search when Molly came up behind me, " You don't suppose they would have the cake out yet?" Molly always enjoyed food, even when she was younger. Now, of course she bemoaned every mouthful for adding to her already voluptuous figure, but still ate fit for James. Of course, as her best friend, I had been given the near impossible task of keeping her portions decent and her figure reasonably fit.
"Molls, remember your Five Year Plan."
Lorcan looked on with interest, " like Stalin?" Trust Lorcan to make a comment like that! I gave him a look before turning back as Scorpius Malfoy sauntered over, drink in hand to grin at Rose. In all honesty, that boy found some perverse joy antagonizing Rose. Sometimes you couldn't tell if they truly hated each other for all they behaved as an old married couple.
Scorpius nodded towards Molly, "Food's to die for, as usual."
That was all it took for Moll's control to snap. Truth is, with the prospect of food, she can move faster than James can when confronted with a wet comb.
"For Merlin's sake, Moll." I glared at her rapidly retreating back before running after her. Three guesses whom she'd blame in the morning, after her initial hunger had passed.
"Language darling." I left Lorcan chortling to himself behind me.
I love my family, truly I do. But a Weasley get together is most likely one of the most chaotic occasions in the wizarding world. Not only does one have to bypass various family members, but the sheer probability of finding someone in the masses is close to zero. And they probability of keeping said someone away from Molly Weasley (the first's) cooking less still. By the time I had taken three steps inside the Burrow I was overwhelmed. Someone, most probably Nana Weasley, had set the radio to belt out Celestina Warbeck and that, combined with the dulcet tones of the Weasley clan, was enough for me to lose Molly.
Forget Molly, I could barely find myself!
Nana Weasley had no such problems. Before I knew it I had a plate piled high with various celebratory foods in one hand and a butterbeer in another. I was only just able to identify her chokehold before the blur of red and the scent of cookies passed me over. No doubt to lavish attention on Roxanne who had entered behind me.
I let myself be distracted by Roxanne and Nana Weasley,
" Oh, you poor dear, you're so thin-"
"Nana-"
"What have they-"
"Nana"
"Here have some pasties-"
"GRANDMA-"
Suddenly a pair of hands slapping themselves on my shoulders jerked me back into myself. Freddie and James' grinning faces popped in front of me.
"Darling Victoire!"
Instantly I was put on my guard. There are just some things you learn when you grow up with Fred and James, and the first survival technique is to distrust anything they propose to you.
" Looking a tad peaky, dear, here this will sort you out." Freddie continued, shoving purple nougat into my hand. Both boys looked expectantly at me.
" How thick do you think I am?" Their faces fell, but brightened immediately when Lily wandered into the room.
"Cheers." They said in unison before pouncing on Lily.
I shook my head and squeezed between Uncle Ron and Uncle Percy who were arguing as usual.
The first place I though Molls would head for was the kitchen so I fought my way into it where Aunt Ginny and Aunt Hermione were lounging about.
"Victoire!" Aunt Ginny lit up when she saw me, "Have a seat, we were just talking about Rose and Al's O.W.L.s next year."
Aunt Hermione gave me a smile, pulling out a chair.
"So, Victoire, how were you N.E.W.T.s this year?"
Trust Aunt Hermione to ask about school. She has always been scandalized by my vague plans for the future. I swear she almost keeled over when I told her at Christmas that I still hadn't the faintest idea what career I expected out of Hogwarts. Uncle Ron had to make her excuses, and before leaving he muttered that he thought a gap summer was a good idea before settling down. Something about seeing what the world had to offer. At which Nana Weasley said, quite scathingly, that it was all very well for him to say, as he had taken a gap year to gallivant the countryside. Uncle Ron's ears had gone red, which always happens when he gets embarrassed, and Uncle Harry had laughed that fighting Voldemort couldn't be called gallivanting exactly.
Nevertheless I had been waiting for the question to come up again. Apprehensively because, of course, I still hadn't figured out my answer.
"Do you think you've figured out what you want to do yet?" Ah, there was the steel in Aunt Hermione's eye. Her daughter had inherited that, though it had almost never been directed at me, but rather at Scorpius Malfoy. Aunt Ginny twinkled at me from her seat, waving a hand to hurry me up.
I scowled at her before turning back to Aunt Hermione.
"Well, I'm waiting to hear my N.E.W.T.s before making any plans, but I rather thought I'd spend summer with family."
Aunt Hermione's eyes appraised me over her raised glass, "Well," she said finally," Make sure you don't take too much time off, wouldn't want to fall behind."
The resemblance between her and her daughter is uncanny. Though Rose's masses of curls are red rather than brown. Both have those deep brown eyes that look straight into your soul, and seem to know exactly what you're thinking. Even James seems to unravel when Rosie pins him with her stare, why, even Teddy-
No, I refuse to even think of that man's name. I refuse to acknowledge that he exists. Because people who don't exist, well, people who don't exist don't kiss you on the train in front of certain members of your family who cannot keep their gabs shut!
Teddy Lupin. I've been doing an awful job of not admitting to it, but the fact is that, with no provocation, Teddy Lupin decided to kiss me in front of James on the train before this past year, leading to mocking, and stupid smirks, and a painful nudge in the ribs every time he is in sight with a quick, "There's your man."
Teddy Lupin. Who has loathed me since I was old enough to walk. I do believe he pushed me over when I was learning to walk. And who has never ceased to turn the hair on his thick head bright red to mock my blonde one.
Teddy Lupin. Who, after I was determined to acknowledge my blonde Veela side and insisted on adding Delacour into my name five years ago, has not refrained from calling me that. Just to torment me!
For trying to ignore Lupin, I do a rather shoddy job of it.
Before Aunt Hermione could cross-examine me any more Molly walked in looking glum. I suppose she found it rather harder to escape the clan than I did and inadvertedly, I had landed up ahead of her. With a sigh she collapsed into the chair next to me and glared at me.
"What?" I raised my hands defensively, "I was trying to find you." Like I had predicted, Molly was blaming me for her lapse in diet.
"Well done," Molly muttered back, "And here I find you serving up temptation." With a guilty start I remembered my plate full of food sitting in plain sight. Before I could slide it out of reach, though, Molls had swiped a pasty laden with whipped cream and was busying herself with it. At my look she replied, "might as well quit while I'm ahead, yeah?"
I shook my head and rose from the table. Despite her crazed logic, which always seemed to end with her getting what she wanted anyways, the bint was my best friend. I figured it was best to let her enjoy herself how she wanted, and went off to find my cousins.
Rather, I was going to get a breath of fresh air before returning into the Burrow. Over thirty members of the extended clan does not for good circulation make. Dom always said that the cloying love mucked up the air something awful. Especially when James or Freddie was around, though that smell may have nothing to do with love. Ducking out of one of the many side entrances, I found myself by the back garden where, rather than getting whiff of fresh air, I was hit by a wall of smoke.
I waved my hands wildly, dispersing the smoke into the garden. Louis' head shot up quickly, guiltily. Recognition shot across his face before he relaxed, slumping back against the side of the house.
"Nana Weasley is going to murder you if she sees this." I chided him. I couldn't quite blame Louis for picking up the habit. Maman, being irredeemably French, had always taken a slightly laizzez-faire attitude toward smoking, and had been known to slip a fag here and there.
He straightened quickly, "Fuck, is she coming?"
I purposefully waited until he had scuffed out the glowing light until I smirked, "No."
Louis glared, " Sod it Victoire, that was my last one." He brushed his hair out of his face with a tired hand. Without the glow from the light, his face was further shadowed, causing his eyes to glow.
Oh, dear, now he was most probably going to act childish for the rest of the night. I hadn't Jean's ability to either drag him out of his sulk, or to ignore it. Most probably because I, too, was French. And his sister.
To cover up my discomfort, of course I had done the right thing but wasn't the Weasley clan built on familial loyalty, I waved an impatient hand at him. "Oh go on then, find someone else to bother."
I continued my walk around the backside of the house when suddenly I heard hushed voices. Looking back, I should have continued, announcing myself and putting and end to the assignation, but as it were, I found myself trying to distinguish who the conversers were. Unable to hear individual voices, I glanced around the edge, blocked by a rather large rosebush…
Dominique!
There she was, propping up the side of the wall. She seemed to be gesturing, speaking softly to the figure in front of her. A door opened and closed somewhere, letting a brief flash of light up her companion's face. With a jolt I recognized Lysander's glinting green eyes. What was he doing, alone with my sister?
My breath was coming in shortly, the thorns of the rosebush digging further into my waist as I pressed closer. Unable still to hear anything I watched as Lysander's body seemed to curve around Dom as she spoke urgently to him. Lysander put his hands on her shoulders and started to speak, but was interrupted by Dom leaning up. She said something shortly before disappearing into the Burrow, slamming the door behind her. He made to go after her but suddenly stopped to look back. I jerked back quickly before he could make eye contact with me. Pressing my hand to my heart, I wondered why was I so nervous? Dom and Lysander couldn't have been talking of anything other than Quidditch, as she had said earlier, that's was practically the only thing they got along about.
I retracted my steps, back up to the Burrow, and slipped in without anyone noticing me.
Of course, why would they notice me? I am tall, but then so is half the Clan, and I am shorter than most of the blokes besides Hugo. Speaking of Hugo, was that him in the corner? I had a soft spot for Hugo, likely because he was the youngest member of my cousins and I was the oldest (Teddy does NOT count). Right now, however, Hugo was deep in an argument with one of Teddy's friends, who was teasing him over the correct rules of Exploding Snap. Correct being a subjective term, much like many things in this family.
Wait, one of Teddy's friends? But that would mean…
And there he was, impossibly tall, bending over Nana Weasley to give her a kiss. With my infinite wisdom, I had chosen precisely the wrong time enter, as Teddy had a clear view of me from the front door.
As if he sensed my horrified gaze, he looked up our eyes meeting as he moved on to Aunt Ginny. Involuntary, I took a step back. He was furious, Teddy's eyes were bright with anger as he sent me a wide smile so full of rage it hurt. Before I could escape, he had crossed the room in two long strides and had me in a tight hug.
His arms were like bands of iron across my back.
"I know what you did," Teddy whispered harshly in my ear, " Fuck you, I know it was you!"
" Your mad." My breath was coming in short gasps, my chest painfully tight.
"Tomorrow. Tomorrow morning you are going to explain yourself to me." He pulled back to glare at me.
" Let go!" I had never seen Teddy so angry. He had never truly hurt me before. Pushed me, kicked me, yes, but he was crushing me now with his rage. His arms tightened still further and I let out a gasp. And then he was gone, as fast as he had come. Into the kitchen, and out of my sight.
I staggered a little, before looking around furtively. No one had seen our altercation, which I now realized had taken place largely in the shadows. Shaking my hair back, I put the event, and the strange look in Teddy's eyes, out of my mind before moving to rescue an upset Hugo, whose ears were starting to turn red.
With the mental note to avoid any more shadowed corners, of course.
Well! Major foreshadowing or what? Secret assignations, grumpy siblings, and future plans! And why is Teddy so mad at Victoire? What were Dom and Lysander doing together? What was Ron arguing with Percy about? What were Hermione and Ginny talking about (O.W.L.s? Pshaw!)? Who is Teddy's friend? What is the real reason I took so long to update? And WHY does Mrs. Weasley want everyone to eat her food???
Mystery Mystery…well not really but it does sound more interesting now doesn't it?
Please REVIEW! Say anything! Poke fun! Answer those questions! Give advice! Remind me to update!
~May