Chapter 20: Victoire and Ted

"You shouldn't have come," Victoire said in a voice that clearly told Teddy that she didn't agree with herself. "Someone might see us and you know how I love to have a secret."

"Especially if it's such a nice secret to have," Teddy smirked and draped his arm around Victoire's shoulder.

"Yeah, it's a good secret," she said and kissed his fingers, which were resting on her shoulder.

"Wonderful secret," Teddy added and leaned his face closer to her to kiss her. But before he could do anything, the door to the compartment banged open and a familiar, yet completely unwelcome voice rang out.

"There seems to be some room in – Vicky? Teddy?"

Teddy groaned. "Hello to you, too, James."

"What are you doing here?" James asked. "What were you doing with Vicky? Were you snogging her? You were snogging her, weren't you? You were! You were snogging Vicky! I can't believe it! You were! Way to go, Teddy! Wait 'till I tell Nicky! Wait 'till I tell everyone!"

"No! James!" Victoire shouted, but she was late. James had already run away, leaving his friend standing at the compartment door uncomfortably.

"I told you someone would see!" Victoire told Teddy. "And that it had to be James! He'll tell Dominique! And she'll tell dad! And everyone will know by the time the train leaves the station!"

"Vicky, I don't care if he'll tell Nicky and Licky, it would have had to come out eventually, anyway," Teddy said, trying to snake his arm around her again.

Victoire snorted in an unladylike manner which didn't quite seem to suit her. "I dare you to call Louis that to his face."

"I'm not suicidal!" Teddy laughed, relieved that Victoire wasn't as tense any more. He kissed her lightly and said, "It won't change anything, though, that they know. Your dad likes me."

"But I like having a secret," Victoire said.

"Oh, so that's what you're angry about. Not everybody knowing, but not having a secret any more!"

"It was a nice secret to have," Victoire said, shrugging. Teddy nodded, took his arm away and stood up.

"I should get going, I suppose. The train is about to leave."

"You're going to leave, just like that?" Victoire asked incredulously.

"Well…" Teddy said and sat down on the other seat, facing her. He studied her, deep in thought, then took hold of her hands.

"I'll give you another secret, if you want," Teddy said slowly and carefully, his eyes locked with hers.

"Another secret? But it won't be as good as the last secret was," she said.

"It will be even better," Teddy promised, his eyes sparkling with some inner light. "Do you want to keep this secret? Will you?"

Victoire could feel a blush rising on her cheeks. "A wonderful secret," she whispered.

"An amazing one," Teddy said just as low, nodding.

"Yes, I will keep this secret. I will, Teddy!" she said, tore her hands free from his, jumped up from her seat and flung herself onto him, throwing her arms around his neck. "I will, Teddy!" she repeated, and kissed him deeply full on his lips.

"Oh no!" Teddy suddenly said, pulling away. "The train's moving!"

"You did say that you have the whole day off, though," Victoire answered in a hushed voice and pulled him down to her again. "You can Apparate home just as well from the Hogsmeade station as from here, and I've never seen anyone checking the tickets on this train." And their whole attention was once again focused on one another.

Gareth Montgomery, James' best friend, silently stepped out of the compartment and slid the door closed behind him.