Chapter 11 – Platform 9 and ¾

True to his word, Teddy stayed away from Bill and Victoire, and the rest of their family, for the rest of the summer holidays. Even though it killed him, and he was miserable, he knew it was for the best, and knowing that even if she couldn't see him, but that she truly loved him, made him feel reassured and determined to please Bill.

Harry visited him frequently, bringing him the latest news and reassuring him that he and the others were doing all they could to convince Bill he was being completely unreasonable. Teddy was very grateful for this.

Also, like Ginny had suggested, Teddy went in search for a job. He still had complete faith in his theory that Victoire possessed some kind of unexplored, hidden magic, but, at the moment, he needed a reliable job and a steady source of income. So after a lot of thinking, and a deep conversation with Harry, he'd plucked up the courage to talk to Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister of Magic.

Kingsley was delighted at the idea of Teddy becoming an Auror. He told him all the stories of his parents, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks, and his adventures, and the battles they'd fought together 'back in the day'. Teddy listened politely, but thinking about his parents only made him more miserable. As Teddy hadn't gotten all the required grades in his OWLs and NEWTs, Kingsley was bending a few rules, but being close friends with the Minister of Magic, and some of his best Aurors, had its obvious advantages. Kingsley was reassured that Teddy would inherit his parents' skills naturally, and Teddy only hoped that this was true. He felt he had a lot to live up to.

"Enjoy the rest of your summer and then you'll be enrolled in Auror training in September," Kingsley promised. But how could Teddy enjoy his summer? He felt more miserable and alone than he could ever remember. His grandmother had returned from Tahiti, but still Teddy felt empty because of the one person he couldn't bear to be apart from.

The first of September rolled around slowly, and Teddy could hardly sleep with excitement the night before. He didn't know how Bill would react, but he couldn't stop Teddy from travelling to Platform 9 and ¾ to see off the Potter children, and if he just happened to bump into Victoire...

He arrived at the platform much earlier than the time the train was due to leave, in the hope that he could blend into the crowd and wait undetected for Victoire's arrival. He waited patiently, trying to alter his facial features and hair the best that he could, so he was disguised and unrecognisable.

When she arrived, Teddy spotted her immediately. Victoire hadn't changed at all since he'd last seen her, and he was relieved to discover his heartbeat still rapidly increased, as it always did when he saw her. She looked anxious, and not at all happy, compared to the hordes of children that were skipping around merrily, much too eager to board the train.

Cautiously, Teddy crept up behind her whilst Bill and Fleur were bombarding Louis and Dominique with last minute check lists. He had to clasp a hand firmly over her mouth, to stop her from shrieking in surprise, and dragged her away from her family. He pulled her over to a secluded corner where they were almost completely hidden by the large mass of witches and wizards.

Victoire was terrified though, and moved with him reluctantly, before biting his hand viciously. He yelped in agony and released her immediately.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" she demanded furiously, turning to glare at her captor.

"Merlin's beard, Victoire – it's me, you fool!" Teddy responded, transforming quickly back into his normal appearance.

She gasped in shock. "Teddy! I'm so sorry – I had no idea, I swear! I'm so glad to see you!" Victoire thrust her arms around him. The contact made him yelp again and he cradled his bitten hand tightly.

"I'm – I'm f-fine," he managed to stutter through her continuous apologies.

"Here, let me help," she begged, taking his hand softly.

"What are you going to do? Sing to it?" he said in an eager tone.

She mock glared at him. "I can't believe that you actually believe that will work," she scoffed.

Teddy shrugged his shoulders. "It was a worth a try," he grinned at her.

Victoire rolled her eyes, but after sighing deeply, began to sing the same sweet tune she had when he'd wounded his hand before. They were both staring at his bitten hand intently whilst she serenaded it.

Teddy began to go red when it seemed like nothing was happening. He felt like a complete fool for being so convinced that this would work. Victoire sung louder, with a slightly smug and triumphant edge to her voice. And then both their eyes widened in shock.

Teddy let out a small gasp of astonishment, and Victoire nearly choked on her words. Slowly but surely, the ripped skin where Victoire had bitten Teddy's hand, began to reseal itself, and the blood simply stopped flowing from the open wound. It was completely entrancing and unbelievable to watch.

After a few minutes the cut had healed to a faint pink line, which barely looked like a wound at all. It seemed impossible to believe that only a brief moment ago Teddy's hand had been physically injured at all. He turned it over, inspecting every little detail.

"I – I don't believe this!" Victoire exclaimed in shock. Teddy was still open-mouthed in disbelief. He was certain that Victoire's singing had the magical quality that could cure wounds but part of him had never believed that it would actually work.

"Victoire, you have an amazing gift," Teddy told her excitedly. She continued to stare wide-eyed, and let out a nervous laugh. "I told you it was true," he said proudly. "Think of all you could do with this. We've got to experiment and find out how strong this is, and if it can be controlled, or stored, or something. You'll be famous!"

But Victoire looked terrified at the thought. "No, Teddy, please don't tell anyone," she pleaded.

Teddy was very confused now. "But... why not?" he asked.

Victoire looked embarrassed. "I don't know... I just don't want people to know. Not until I've finished Hogwarts at least. Please can we just keep this a secret for now?"

"Sure. Fine. Of course," Teddy promised, although he didn't understand Victoire's reasons in the slightest. "I'll miss you," he told her miserably. "You better get back soon if you don't want to miss the train."

"Just once more," she said simply, with a keen expression, and Teddy knew exactly what she was after. With a happy chuckle he leant down and kissed her with more energy than he ever had before. It felt good to be kissing her again.

"What are you doing?" a confused voice demanded, scarily close. Startled, Teddy let go of Victoire, and turned a deep red, as he saw James Potter's baffled face watching him closely, with his arms folded angrily. "Victoire!" he accused, recognising his cousin. She smiled at him awkwardly.

"I'm, err, just seeing her off," Teddy assured him, blushing intensely.

James didn't look convinced in the slightest. "But you were snog– "

"Go away, James," he said forcefully. The eldest Potter child recognised the angry and extremely irritated expression that filled Teddy Lupin's face, and ran off back to his family, shocked at what he'd just witnessed.

"I guess I better get going," Victoire said sadly. "I'll write you," she promised. And with one last kiss she ran off back towards the scarlet steam engine. Teddy felt it best to stay where he was, so as not to encounter Bill within the crowds

As the Hogwarts Express started pulling away from the station, Teddy stood amongst the weeping parents waving their children off. He felt slightly guilty, as he probably should have gone to wish Rose Weasley and Albus Potter good luck with their first year at Hogwarts. But all the guilt flooded out of him as he saw the most beautiful, blonde, angelic girl drifting away from him on the train, blowing a kiss in his direction.

He couldn't keep it in anymore. As the final pieces of Teddy's heart shattered, the tears he had been so determined to keep within, leaked from his eyes like a gushing waterfall.