It's been too long. It really has and there are no excuses. But, full Author's Note below, on with it!

I don't own Harry Potter :(

The sunlight was dappling across Shell Cottage's empty kitchen when I came downstairs, the following morning. Maman, Dad, and Louis were still sleeping the night off. Dom's door had been flung open, her bed still unmade, but for whatever reason she was nowhere to be found in the house.

I had been awoken by the front door slamming, presumably to let Dom out.

Mental check not to bother her this morning. She had been in a mood since I saw her in garden last night. Not an antagonistic mood, no that was fairly normal, but a quiet worrisome sort of mood that, had I seen it on James' or Fred's or even Lily's face I might have been tempted to wear a hardhat.

In fact, last night had gone downhill rather rapidly after Teddy arrived, no surprise there. James and Fred ended up being lectured for getting Lily drunk last night. And since no one bought their, "Why we only gave her a sweet, sharing and whatnot!" they were dragged off home for a proper talking too. Lily, poor dear, turns out to be a weepy drunk, and Lucy cries whenever she sees someone else crying, so the waterworks were spectacular. Roxanne played gobstones by herself for three hours I felt bad until she slapped Louis for trying to play with her. Apparently she needs an outlet for "all her personality." This constitutes of her playing as more than one person, accents and all.

That girl is on the road to become a schizophrenic, mark my words.

So my time was spent chatting with Molls and Teddy's friend Christopher. Once I extracted Hugo from him he turned out to be quite a charmer. Molls remembered him from Hogwarts; apparently he's a beater, and quite a good one at that. He beats for Puddlemere where his father used to be keeper and now coaches.

And, as Molly vehemently agreed before bed, being gorgeous doesn't hurt matters.

I put a kettle on and, leaning against the kitchen counter, waited for my tea to be done. Teddy was expected soon. I only had had contact with him one other time that night, right before he left, when he slipped a paper into my pocket. He was good; I didn't even notice it in them until I was changing for bed. His Auror training had made him into a sneakier bugger than ever.

Apparently it had also given him delusions of authority, as he had invited himself to interrogate me ten the following morning!

I wouldn't have bothered to follow his "demands" if I hadn't been perfectly aware that Teddy was quite capable of getting into my house without my help, and he wouldn't hesitate to wake me if he thought it would benefit him.

Oh, who am I kidding, he'd wake me up for the fun of it. I had given the issue quite a bit of thought last night, as I fell asleep. I haven't always been the friendliest person too Teddy, that is true, but I was certain I hadn't done anything to warrant that kind of anger. I briefly thought about that kiss he accosted me with last September, but no, if anything I should be mad at Teddy for that! All I had tried to do since that Incident was to push it as far back in the collective Weasley memory as possible.

So here I was, blowing on my tea, waiting for answers. I have learnt a few things from Dom, younger though she may be, and one is that it is better to face your enemies looking refreshed and put together. Not with mussed up hair from bed.

I was watching the clock strike ten when there was an alarming crack and Teddy's figure was suddenly striding up the garden path. It seems that another side effect of Auror training was to make him far more punctual than I remembered. As it was, I wasn't expecting him to arrive for another ten minutes so I jumped, sloshing hot tea down my wrist. I looked out the kitchen window as I ran cold water over my hand. It was much too far for me to see his expression, see if he was still having the fit he was last night, but his turquoise hair was mussed and he looked to be strolling peaceably.

I hurriedly put down my wand, dried my hand, and flung the door open before he could knock, my body blocking entrance. Teddy shoved the hand he had been raising to knock into his jean pocket and squinted down at me,

"Gonna let me in then?" He said impatiently, pushing past me into the house. Well, I hadn't high hopes I could physically keep him from coming inside. Still, what kind of bully just invites himself in? It seems that training hadn't quite helped him in that regard.

I felt my temper rise, a common side effect of his presence, and tried to squash it down again. Well, even if he is going to act like a grouch, doesn't mean I can't be gracious. I certainly won't be friendly, and he'd never delude himself into thinking we'd be, but civil can't be too beyond my reach.

"Wait Ted- Oh blast it Lupin!" I snatched my mug from Teddy, who had been helping himself as he sprawled into one of the kitchen chairs.

"What do you want? Honestly, can you just tell me for Merlin's sake!" I said exasperated, "You've been acting like a loony, this isn't one of your damn Auror missions!"

Infuriatingly, Teddy just raised an eyebrow and laughed, "Missions? We aren't as dramatic as that, love!"

"Oh shut it, obviously you are!" I retorted, filling him his own mug. Well, even if he's already got me flustered I can still make a semblance of gracious host." You've been going on about me knowing this or that since yesterday, not even giving me half a breathe to explain I don't bloody kno-"

"Yes, well, about that," Teddy suddenly interrupted looking down, "I owe you an apology. I might have- I might have overreacted."

Oh, now he was sorry for strangling me, was he? I sat down across the table from him, sliding his mug across.

"Might have overreacted? Lupin you almost busted my rib." I said coldly. If he thought he could just get off with a quick sorry and never explain he had another think coming.

I shivered, thinking of his face last night. Whatever he had thought I had done, it must have been horrible for him to be so angry. I snorted into my cup, of course when something was bad for him he would immediately jump to blame me.

"Don't exagger-" He must have gotten a look at my expression because he took a deep breath and continued, "Look, I made a mistake okay? I'm sorry if I hurt you. Are you going to let me explain now without interruptions?"

"Fine." I poured myself another cup of tea and wordlessly took Teddy's as he rose to lean against the counter next to me.

"This is going to sound crazy, I don't deny it. But just hear me out before you jump to judgment, yeah?" Teddy ran a hand through his hair, his grey eyes were suddenly quite serious. His eyes seemed unnaturaly somber for his normally exuberant looks and then I remembered, they were his natural eyes. Teddy rarely changed his eye color from what he inherited from the House of Black. I had overheard him say as much to Lily when she was younger that, in some old pictures of his mum, she had had the same eyes.

"It all started when I got back from my job in the Baltics, remember?" Teddy started as I got comfortable in my seat. I vaguely remembered Uncle Harry, Uncle Ron, and Teddy being absent from most of the Christmas festivities because they were preparing for some trip. Of course, at the time I had been worried about running into Teddy for the first time since The Incident, so, rather, I vaguely remembered being relieved.

"Well, when I got back, I had a rather lot of mail from people who still think Gran is alive."

I rolled my eyes, I could imagine. I had been only 6 when Teddy's Grandmother, Andromeda, had died. And yet, even after all these years, she still got post from organizations who thought having an ex-Black involved would give them prestige. Aunt Ginny had complained to the Ministry for quite some time but Teddy had gotten used to it. He told Aunt Ginny it was not worth the trouble, he started just throwing it straight in the bin since he moved into her house.

"But one of the letters was addressed to me, so I took a look at it and-" here Teddy stopped, looking down at the counter, his back towards me. "There isn't really an easy way to say this,' he gave a short laugh and turned towards me. His eyes held that same tumult of emotion that had gripped him last night, "look, just listen, don't throw me in the loony bin outright, yeah?"

Now my curiosity was peaked. Honestly, I had just wanted a simple explanation to his anger, like "Oh Victoire, I didn't get a raise," or something. I hadn't actually thought Teddy Lupin was rife with real emotional difficulty, bloody wanker could make mountains out molehills for England! But an actual reason? One that could potentially be used as leverage to find out why he planted one on me last September?

"Out with it already" I gestured him on. I took a sip of my tea and grimaced, it had gone lukewarm.

" Victoire…they were signed from my Mum." he said softly not looking at me.

I sat back in shock. Well, this I certainly wasn't expecting. His Mum? I swear if he starts laughing at me, if this is something he's gone and cooked up with James I will disembowel him.

I opened my mouth- then closed it. What does one say to that? Well, the obvious I suppose.

I spoke slowly, not wanting to confuse him, "Teddy, your mother is dead." He looked up and I saw that this wasn't just some elaborate prank. He truly believed that his dead mother was sending him letters.

"Look, I know what you're thinking I know it's bonkers. I thought it was just someone taking a piss at first but they kept coming!"

Wait, there were more?

"There are more? From your Mum?" I blurted out.

"Yeah, yeah!" he nodded, pacing, "They've come on the first of every month since then."

"Fuck." I breathed. Bloody bloody fuck! What kind of wanker sends letters from a dead woman to her son? I didn't for a second think that Nymphadora Tonks had survived from the Battle of Hogwarts. But who on earth would pull something like this?

Suddenly a thought penetrated, "Hold on,' I said slowly, my voice breaking the stillness of the room, "Why did you think it was me?"

Teddy paused, shook his head, and answered, "Well you didn't really think my mother is sending these letters do you?" His mouth was twisted and I could see his eyes. There was desperation, and all of a sudden I felt my heart ache. As despicable as Teddy could be no one deserved what he was going through. After years and years of getting by without parents, without parents, someone was pretending they were alive.

I could never imagine not having Maman floating through the house, the way she hummed when she gardened, and Dad, whistling his entrance back from work. Suddenly I wished they would wake up. The house seemed so quiet without them. Teddy didn't even have siblings. Sure he had all the cousins like I did. But no one like Dom, who knew inexplicably whenever I was down. This past year, I'd come back to Gryffindor Tower feeling stupid and drained from NEWTs review, I'd find her sitting on my bed, ready to take my mind off with some gossip. And Louis, as self-absorbed as he could be, would always wait up until I had made it back from the library late at night, before he went to sleep. I hadn't realized how integral they were to my world, how essential that even trying to feel as Teddy must feel felt like a blow to my stomach.

Of course Teddy would have hope. Some deep, twisted hope that his parents might have escaped, be alive somewhere. Suddenly, the letters seemed crueler, a tortuous taunt to an orphan.

"Oh, Ted."

"Stop it." Teddy straightened and glared at me, "Stop. I don't want your pity Victoire. Look, I just want to know what is going on. I just need to get to the bottom of this."

Fine, if he was going to pretend he didn't feel anything who was I to offer him comfort? I wouldn't delude myself into thinking it was welcome. In all honesty Teddy does have a family to turn to. Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny raised him after his grandmother's death and through Hoqwarts, and he has always been considered a part of the Wesaley Clan. Though not the eldest grandchild I insist.

"I don't see what I can do." I told him, gathering up our mugs and rinsing them with my wand.

"I figure its someone trying to mess with my head, I just need to figure out whom. Just tell me if you're in, are you going to be willing to do this for me?" Teddy took a seat back at the table and I slid in opposite him. It felt strangely formal, as if the decision I made here and now wasn't controlled by me. It felt as if I didn't quite know what I was signing up for.

"What's in it for me?" I was surprised at the words that came out of my mouth and, from the look on his face, so was Teddy.

Then he laughed, "Should have known you'd never do anything without incentive,"

I sputtered, quite ungracefully. He continued, "Fine, if you help me in this, I will tell you why I kissed you last September."

He smirked, apparently back to normal, as my ears reddened, stupid Weasley blush. How dare he bring that up! He didn't even have the decency to look ashamed! Of course he knew how embarrassed by it I was, why, that's probably why he did it in the first place!

Before I could reply, with a particularly scathing remark as soon as I could think of one, the front door banged open and Dom walked back in. She must have only gone out for a walk on the beach, as she is ought to do most mornings.

"Dommie!" Teddy leaned back in his chair, arms spread, grinning.

Seeing Teddy, a wide grin spread on her face and she gave him a quick hug before moving towards the tea kettle. Dom poured herself a mug of the now cold tea and took a sip, "Blegh, this is awful Victoire!" She pulled her wand out of her waistband before tapping the side of the mug, making it steam. Dom seemed much happier than she had the last time I had seen her and she flashed me a brilliant smile before sliding into the seat next to Teddy's.

I gave a sigh of relief at Dominique's entrance. The cool air she had let in fanned across my hot cheeks. The tension had been unbearable in the room, and I was seriously overwhelmed. I would have only been able to manage five more minutes with Teddy before I would have kicked him out. There are only so many times I can express surprise before it gets uncomfortable.

She blew on her mug, "catching up with Victoire, Ted?" she winked at him.

Teddy laughed and patted her on her head as he rose, "I'll talk to you later Victoire, owl you, yeah?" and with one last smirk he let himself out the front door.

Oh the nerve of that man! He's always been an arrogant prat but this takes the cake! The git probably thought that if he peaked my interest in this mystery of his, as well as why he ever kissed me, he'd be able to use me. Well!

I must have look dumbfounded because Dominique laughed when she saw my face, "I suppose he's told you about those letter some nutter's been sending him?"

What? "What?" I cried, "You know about them? What the bloody hell is going on?"

Dorm rubbed my arm, "Look, Ted thought it could just be James and Fred operating with their usual bad taste at first. So he asked me to find out. I've agreed to help him out."

I rubbed my head, apparently this had gotten quite a bit complicated even before I had come on the scene, "This is mad."

Dom shrugged, "The whole thing's downright dodgy if you ask me. Anyways I suggested he find someone else to help him, Scamander's gone and organized some Quidditch training this summer, I said to him, so I might not be much help. At least your summer's looking more interesting than mine is, yeah?"

I shook my head, "If you call getting tangled up in this interesting I suppose."

I saw a mischievous twinkle appear in Dom's eye and I knew what she was going to say next, "Oh no darling, the interesting part is that little incentive I overheard him giving you."

These were dangerous waters with Dom, she absolutely loved a gossip. I caught ahold to something she said, "Hang on, you're leaving?"

Dom rolled her eyes at my change of the subject, " Yeah, Scamander's being an arse. He says we need to operate more 'as a team.' So he's set us up on a former Gryffindor Captain's place. Oliver Wood, I was telling Uncle George and he said that this Wood used to be even worse than Lysander."

I grinned at Dom. She might complain the loudest about Lysander's Quidditch regime but she also worked the hardest on the pitch. And, though she'd murder me if she ever heard, she could be a bigger Quidditch-Nazi than Lysander, I had heard James, Louis, and Fred complaining. Lysander and her were far more similar than she would ever like to admit.

Dom was looking down at the table, seemingly lost in thought. Her hair was drooping, her face pale, and suddenly she looked sadder than I had ever seen her. My sister's beauty had always served her. It had always been a calculated tool to inspire, intimidate all according to her wishes, and she wielded it well. But just watching her, she had a distant look on her face that reminded me of Botticelli's Venus.

Suddenly, both Dom and I were jerked out of our reveries by pounding on the stairs. Louis ran into the kitchen, his hair was mussed and his face still dripping with water but he shook Dom's arm and nodded towards the door, "Oi, Maman is awake. Look, I dropped a ciggie over my window last night, it's in her roses. Victoire please please make sure she doesn't go out for her walk just yet."

Dom laughed and dropped her mug into the sink as Louis eased the front door open before taking off like a shot around the house.

"Victoire,' she started looking at me slyly, "You do know why Teddy wants us to help him don't you?"

"What do you mean," I started.

"Well, you aren't operating on some false hope that he's reaching out to you, yeah?"

"No," I said, insulted, "No I do not. And even if he was, it-it wouldn't be welcome in the slightest!"

Dom ran her hands through my hair, fingers cool against my scalp. Even as children she had loved to play with my hair. "Teddy's thought is that he's going to have to do some digging, without getting the whole family, and by proxy the country, involved. Think, Victoire, what do we have that is conducive to that?"

I shook my head in bewilderment. Honestly, my brain had been through enough today already, and it wasn't yet noon.

"Looks darling! An attractive person can get everywhere! And Ted covers all the men we could need."

I felt my cheeks heat up again. Of course that was why he'd come to me. He would be under the impression I could wave my Veela wand and charm men into giving up Owlery records!

Dom patted me on the cheek, knowing that my mind was whirring with dubious motives, 'Don't, there is only one part of that you need to pay attention too."

She leaned in before she went after Louis, "Il pense que tu es belle, ma chérie."

He thinks you're beautiful.

OK! So now that we actually (kinda) know whats going on I can finally change the summary to something else instead of a quote! Look, I am so very sorry its been so long. Honestly, this story wasn't very organized in my head, and I had no idea how it was to get anywhere. But I took the time to straighten most of this out, I made people charts and everything! I promise promise promise that this next chapter will be much faster.

Oh, and I have another few questions for the end of this chapter! What will it take for Louis to stop smoking? Why is Dominique so sad? And WHAT SONG does Fleur Delacour Weasley hum when she gardens?

So review hmmmm?