(404): So I got a little messed up on the punch and made out with the family friend - which is, apparently, morally reprehensible. I don't get that.
"Family Friends"
"I still don't understand what the problem is," Victoire complained to her friend Henrietta as they meandered through the clothes store. "I mean, they should be grateful we're not related. The Weasley branches have expanded into practically every Wizarding household these days."
"I think the issue might have been more your lucidity than your partner." Henrietta replied, serving the pale pink haired girl with a disapproving stare.
"So I got a little sloshed on the punch, whatever!" Victoire answered nonchalantly. "They still weren't happy about Teddy and me – they think of him as family. Anyway, it was James who spiked it. Why isn't he in more trouble?"
"James is good at avoiding the consequences of his actions." Henri explained, and held up a red dress. "What do you think of this one?"
"It's pretty, I like it. I'm going to try on the yellow one and the deep blue one." She said, leading the way to the change rooms, her friend trailing behind. Continuing their discussion through the cubicles, Henri mentioned thoughtfully, "Mr Potter didn't seem to mind very much, and he's Teddy's godfather as well as your uncle."
"Great, that makes one adult." Victoire said sarcastically, but her voice contained a joking tone. "Imma get the blue dress, I think."
The faint sing-song voice of Henri floated into her cubicle, "And that's nothing to do with blue being his favourite colour."
She ignored the bait, redressing and going to the counter to pay for the delicate outfit.
They left the shop having added two bags to their already extensive purchases, and as they crossed over the street a young male voice called out Henrietta's name. Recognising it, she turned, a bright smile painted on her face.
"Nicodemus! It's been ages."
Giving the new boy a hug, she pulled back and slapped his arm playfully. "You were supposed to write me these holidays."
"I'm supposed to write every holiday, but I haven't ever, so I don't know why you'd possibly think I might start now." He replied, brushing floppy brown hair from his dark eyes. "Hey Vic."
"Wood." Victoire smiled fondly at him. Nicodemus Wood was the son of the former Puddlemere United Keeper Oliver Wood, the man who introduced Harry Potter to Quidditch. He was the friendliest lout she'd ever met, and possibly the most outrageous, and he had a freakish tendency to be able to hone in on the things that irritated people and then make said irritation a fond endearment for the other person. In her case, it had been the nickname. She'd abhorred it when people called her Vic, but for some reason, coming from Nico, it didn't bother her at all.
"Retail therapy, I see." He noted, raising an eyebrow questioningly.
"Of course." Henri answered. "The Weasleys had a party, and our friend, here, found the liquid courage."
Nico's brows flew towards his hairline.
"I got a little messed up on the punch and made out with the family friend," Victoire clarified, scowling at her best friend before turning back to Nico, "which is, apparently, morally reprehensible. I don't get that."
The boy looked amused. "Could it be that they all think of you as one big happy family? I know Teddy's considered a Potter, anyway."
"How did you know I was talking about Teddy?"
"Oh, please! Who else would it be?" Nico argued fairly. "It explains why all the adults would find it so 'morally reprehensible', and besides, I can read you like a book: you've been panting after him for years!"
"I have not!" Vic denied loudly, but her two companions shared a knowing look that suggested otherwise. She glared at them. "You're both awful."
Nico laughed her half-hearted insult away.
"Come on, Vic, I'll make it up to you with ice-cream." He said, and wrapped an arm around each girl, leading them to Florean Fortescue's ice-creamery where he pacified them both with Old English Toffee, Chocolate, and Raspberry sundaes.