Chapter 6: Lazy Sunday
Sept. 2, 2013
Teddy looked across his room to see Spooky reforming his sheets into a nest before stretching and lying back down. Trying and failing to go back to bed, Teddy finally sat up and glanced at the clock. 7:30 am. "Really? Guess I'll get up. You-"Teddy turned to his now snoring cat. KNOCK! KNOCK! Teddy registered the door knocking and slowly reached across for the knob. "It's open. I'm not" he joked.
A small laugh came from beyond as the room opened to the alien in the doorway. "At least you're alive still. You two have a good time." The brunette asked, entering the empty dorm. "Once he finally got in his bed." Teddy stretched. Claire smiled before blushing and turning her head. It was a full minute before he realized he was shirtless and still in his pajamas. Teddy grabbed a shirt and pulled it over his head. "Oh please. It's not like you haven't seen me shirtless before."
Claire turned redder. "Yeah, but that was different. You were coming out of the shower." Teddy shrugged. "At least I had a towel on." Claire's face went full reed then paled as she thought about what he said. Teddy laughed it off. "Relax. I just like to joke with you is all. What's up?" Teddy motioned to the messy bed, sliding the sheets to the foot of it. Claire stepped forward and sat down, her hands grasping the mattress.
"You remember asking me if I was okay yesterday?" she started Teddy did remember her being very quiet, barely saying three words all day. That did strike him as unusual now that he thought more about it. "There was or rather is a reason. I didn't want to mention it in front of the others, but something happened over the summer." Claire stared at the ground not moving. "You know things are tense and there are things about my life I don't like to talk about, right?"
Teddy knew her life a home was a little rough. Her family had never been on the greatest of terms, sometimes barely speaking to each other for days on end. "Mum and Dad have been fighting a lot." Teddy laced his fingers into hers. "My sister's pregnant…again." Teddy looked up at her face, knowing the tears were coming.
Claire's sister had always been trouble. She had already had one child with a different man. Teddy knew this was one reason why Claire often had her head buried in a book and spent so much time focusing on her studies. "She's due sometime around Halloween." The look of pain on his friend's face made Teddy swell up with anger at her family. He knew what she was saying. Her family had practically abandoned her to rejoin to her no-good knucklehead of a sister, who would just leave after the kid was born and not speak to them for months after that.
"I'm sorry. If you need to, Gran or Ginny would gladly take you in." Teddy told her again. Tears started falling now. "Teddy, what did I do? I just don't get it. She's such a-"
"Screwup. Knucklehead. Arsehole." Teddy offered, making the crying female on his bed laugh again. "Sorry I just laid this all on you, but I just needed to tell someone. I'm feeling better now. Not great, but better." Teddy nodded and moved to hug her. The two sat there for what seemed like an hour before separating. "Thanks. I should go. Lauren's saving me some breakfast. Are you coming?"
"Nah. I'm gonna go pick up our knucklehead from the nurses. I'll see you there though." Teddy stood up and started grabbing his clothes. Luckily, today was Sunday and the First Day of Term so no classes until tomorrow. Claire shut the door behind her as Teddy started stripping down. After a quick change, Teddy grabbed his small bag and headed down the hall to the Hospital Wing.
"You just couldn't wait a day for school to start, could you ya Belgian Waffle.?" Teddy sighed as he entered the Infirmary. The teen in the far bed started coughing and laughing together. "Did you at least win?" The boy in the bed nodded. "The nurses said you could leave if someone walked with you. They're still serving breakfast for another hour. Plus, I want to hear this story." Justin sat up and grabbed his rail to steady himself.
"You'll have to wait until I've had a few…biscuits. I'm starved." The 4th Year Gryffindor and 4th Member of the boys group rubbed his belly. Teddy poked him with his wand. "Yeah, I can tell. Look at you. You're all skin and bones."
Justin and Teddy rounded the corner, entering the Great Hall to a roar of applause (mostly from Gryffindor). Justin soaked it up, waving the whole way down to their seats next to Ryan, Chloe, and Lauren. "What can I say? He looked like he wanted it. Then, he started talking trash about our House and friends. I was just defending our honour like a true Gryffindor."
"A 'True Gryffindor' wouldn't have started a fight in the middle of 9 ¾. Wait until you get on the train at least." Lauren scoffed. Teddy and Justin shared a concerned look. "Okay. You two need to separate." Justin mimicked Ryan and Lauren moving FAR apart. Soon, Dylan and Kaylin were also sitting down and sharing embarrassing stories from summer.
"I was hearing a very interesting embarrassing story about Teddy last night. I would LOVE to hear how it ended." Lauren spoke up. Teddy looked confused. "Someone said you got beat up by a girl." She emphasized the last part with a long drawl. Ryan and Justin perked up. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Teddy feigned ignorance while shooting her a hard look.
"She doesn't either. I only told her I heard a funny story about you. She's too nice to rat you out." Sierra slid in next to Chloe. "I however,-" Teddy turned his look to the two girls, "Would be willing to share in my knowledge for a small nominal fee." Justin immediately reached for his pouch. Teddy's jaw fell open at his best friend.
"Really? You of all people? With friends like these." Teddy said. "I'm glad at least some of you have this illustrious 'Gryffindor Honor'." Kaylin and Chloe started laughing. The boys cocked their heads, wondering what was so funny. "Teddy darling," Kaylin started, "It's not that we don't want to. We just know better ways to get it. We could wait until Sie tells us or someone starts rumors, but truthfully." She paused, looking up. "We both know there's only two" "Three" "girls who are brave enough to beat you up, and they're all in our House. Besides, I owe you from the train." Kaylin was quick to add.
Teddy hung his head in his hands. "I hate you all." Teddy grabbed his bacon. Ryan slipped him a paper under the table that Teddy instinctively slid into his pocket. He knew what it was: the password for the Gryffindor Common Room. The guys were good like that. The four had an agreement to share details and have each others back. The topic soon changed to school studies and what classes each had. Soon enough, the bell rung, indicating the Breakfast was over as Teddy fell in with a pack of fellow Ravenclaws heading into their House Commons.
Teddy found a seat near the fire, watching two games of wizards Chess begin when he felt another body sit down. "Hey Teddy, Have you seen AJ? I wanted to know when tryouts were." The voice belonged to Carson McNally, a 3rd year and one half of the "Black Beaters Of Ravenclaw." The other half was a 7th year who graduated last year.
"Not yet. But Tryouts won't be until next week at least." Teddy reminded him. "You gonna be okay playing without Jacob?" Teddy wondered how hard it would be playing with a new partner.
"Depends on who replaces him? So you've seen the rest of the team?" Carson asked. The only one Teddy had actually seen was Michelle, a reserve chaser who was entering her 7th year also. "No actually." Teddy folded his book. "I haven't. That's weird. Make sure you're ready. Slytherin's got a BIG speed advantage this year, and Gryffindor's returning all their players." Carson bit his thumb as he thought about it.
"Well, I'll see you then." Carson popped his knuckles as he headed up to his room. Teddy chuckled as he found a piece of paper. He decided to go ahead and write a note to send to the Weasleys early in the morning.
Grandma Molly, Thought you would want to know. Dom got sorted into Gryffindor. Haven't seen her today, but I bet she's still smiling. Would you make sure the rest of the family and Bill and Fleur know. Teddy
Teddy hoped the message was enough for one of the Weasleys to figure out without them knowing that Teddy knew something he shouldn't. Teddy stowed the letter in his pocket, making his way over to the chess game in the corner. A 1st year had issued a challenge as he played on both boards simultaneously He managed to hold his own: winning one game whilst getting his queen trapped and focusing on saving her. "He's trapped both ways. He can't sacrifice her, but he'll get checked in two if he doesn't." Someone whispered to Teddy.
"Ryan wants to talk to you after lunch. Sorry about earlier." Teddy felt Claire land her head on top of his. Teddy reached up trying to poke her in the ear. She evade, forcing Teddy off balance and face up on the floor. "Why are you upside down?" he asked the girl standing over him. Claire deadpanned before whacking him with a rolled up paper and pushing him out of the Common Room. Before Teddy could attempt to jump back in, the door slammed shut. "Wow! After I tried to help you…"
Teddy threw his hands up in defeat as he made his way towards the Library, which was easy enough. The Library was literally on the other side of the Great Hall from the Ravenclaw House. Teddy saw a few first years sitting together by the entrance trading cards and discussing what magic they would learn that year. Teddy walked towards the Magical Creatures when he heard his name and turned to see Ash Frost, the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain walk out of the Restricted Section with a two sizable books. Teddy waved, walking over.
"Hey. Long time, no see. What's up?" Teddy asked, sitting down. She held up her book in response. Theories of Advanced Magical Potions. Teddy opened the book. "That's why I'm not in that class." The two laughed silently. Ash grabbed the book back and opened her parchment and quill. Teddy began asking questions about what certain phrases and mixing methods meant. Miss Frost was more than happy to answer his questions as the distractions actually seemed to help her relax.
Two and a half hour later, the two were still sitting over a cluttered table. "So how's the team this year?" Teddy slyly inserted the probe, moving the conversation. His tablemate was better at deflections. "I might tell you after we have one. You're getting creamed." She sang as she stuffed her papers and books into her bag and walked out with Teddy. "Can I ask you a question Ash? Have-Have you talked to your sister yet?"
Ash stopped, leaning against a wall, looking at Teddy. "Of course. She's my sister. We met after dinner and again before breakfast. Why do you ask?" Teddy wondered that too.
"I don't know really. I just saw you two at dinner last night. She looked really happy. I was hoping…Never mind. I'm just hungry." Teddy said as they walked into the Great Hall together. The silent stares from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw went unnoticed by the distracted pair as they fist bumped and separated.
Lunch went y quick as Teddy slipped off and entered the Gryffindor Common Room after Lunch with a group of 2nd Years. Ryan immediately grabbed him ad led him to the fireplace where Dylan and Lauren were waiting. "Okay. Okay. One, you-You've got to tell me your secret. What happened? What happened? What did you do?" Teddy backed up cautiously. Ryan started pacing and walking around the chairs in the Common Room.
"What are you talking about?" Teddy scratched his head. "You. This. Her. Them How do you do it?" Teddy grabbed his friend's shoulders, stopping him. "Words. English, do you speak it?" Ryan took a big breath before beginning again.
"You and Victoire Weasley. You two are like perfect for each other. Everyone ships you two. Then, you just walk into the Great Hall with the 'Lightning Queen' in front of everyone and act like it's no big deal." Teddy glanced over at the couch pair, who nodded along.
"Okay…Me and Ash? We were just talking. It's no big deal. And me and Victoire? Seriously? We're like best friends. I've known her my whole life. She's a Weasley." Teddy stated indignantly. He couldn't believe he was actually defending himself against something he didn't even understand yet.
"Okay, Teddy, you're a nice bloke but you are dense. You have two 'God Tier Beauties' who any guy would kill to go steady with. How do you do it?" The exasperated teen pleaded. Teddy put his hand on his mate's shoulder. "I just don't care about that. Yeah, they're pretty but so are Lauren and Sierra. Besides, we're just friends…for now" Teddy mumbled that last part. He liked watching his friend fumble over himself.
"Teddy, there is pretty, there is beautiful, goddesses like Victoire Weasley, and then there's Ashley Frost. And they are nothing like Lauren or Sierra." Ryan blurted out layering his hands. The words were barely gone when a shadow from the couch stood up. Teddy backed up and slipped over to take her seat. "Lauren, what are you doing?" Teddy closed his eyes as Dylan turned his head, avoiding seeing their friend hit the floor a minute later.
Lauren turned to the couch, "Teddy, Dylan. I'm sure whichever girl you two end up dating or going wherever with will be lucky to have you." She picked up her books and strolled up the stairs to her dorm. The two boys decided it would be best to put Ryan in his bed and return for a game of chess. "Your thoughts?" Teddy asked making his first move.
Dylan looked around nervously. "He's right but he needs a more delicate handle. Victoire is beautiful, but she also has that veela charm going on. It intimidates a lot of guys I think. I would also ask for your blessing before even thinking about asking her out or anything. Miss Frost is the same way. She slimmed down and toned her muscles over the summer, and with that tan and her new haircut, she is by definition 'A Bombshell.'" Dylan air quoted. His move over, he reached for the pillow behind his back.
"Yeah, okay, but you just have to talk to them." Teddy replied, moving his second pawn out. "Why would you ask for my permission?" Dylan bit his thumb, thinking.
"Ash is the captain of the Quidditch team and she won the Dueling League Women's Overall last year. Her mum's also a lawyer. That kind of power can make guys think that they might not be good enough and she'd laugh them off. You're dealing with a lot of complicated feelings here and feeling have a way of changing how people act around other people." Dylan returned the pillow and hovered his hand over the board.
"That's not an answer." "I wasn't done. Outside of her parents, everyone knows you and Victoire are best friends or something similar. I respect you Teddy Lupin. If anyone went after Victoire and didn't tell you or was a real asshole, you wouldn't stand for it very long, would you?" Teddy couldn't poke a hole in that logic. "And if you had problems with them, all of us and most of the 3rd years would stand right there with you." Dylan moved his index finger around the room. Teddy understood the gesture and chuckled. It was his move now.
"She hit me. Over the summer. She's got a wicked right hook. I had a black eye for a week." Teddy mimicked a fist punching himself. "I was in Weasley's Wizarding Wonders…" Teddy launched into a full blown story about what happened between the two during the summer. "You can't tell him." Teddy pointed to the room. "He'd never let me live it down." Dylan made a motion across his chest. "Cross my heart."