Amortentia

Chapter Two –Grief

"Teddy." A soft whisper filled the black room as Teddy felt a soft shake on his shoulder, he was instantly awoken from his dream and forced back to face the ceiling of The Burrow's front room.

Teddy rolled to the left to find the source of the pressure to see Victoire knelt beside him. Her head rested on the sofa arm, her eyes glazed with worry.

"What time is it?" Teddy said yawning he stretched his arms out.

"A little past two." Victoire's voice was worried, Teddy could pick it out even in her soft whispers, her eyes stayed on his face.

"Huh? Man, did I fall asleep." Teddy chuckled a quiet sound and Victoire gave him a small smile, she moved closer to him as he stared at the blanket that had been draped over him, most probably by Molly."What are you doing down here this late?"

"I came down for a glass of water and you were talking in your sleep." Victoire bowed her head embarrassed and Teddy moved to a sitting position patting the space beside him.

"Talking?" he questioned. Teddy didn't remember anything from the dream but he felt a bit restless, his heart rate suddenly accelerated. What had he been saying?

"You called out." She said quietly, her voice caught in her throat and he heard her sniff. Lazily he threw an arm over her shoulders and she laid against him. She could hear her pants and feel her heart rate that was also running fast beneath her t-shirt.

Teddy was silent as he sat playing with strands of Victoire's hair, she seemed reluctant to go further but he had to ask.

"Who or what did I call for?"

Just as Teddy had expected Victoire froze, he could practically hear the clogs in her brain working.

"You called for your parents." Victoire's last whisper was practically inaudible but Teddy felt like it had been shouted. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He'd had similar episodes like this before, it was always around the time of the anniversary. "I'm so sorry Teddy."

Teddy didn't want Victoire's pity. She had been his sidekick they had always been equals, he didn't like feeling weak when Victoire was always so strong. Teddy still remained silent.

"Do you want to talk about it?" her voice was cautious and controlled as she spoke which made Teddy feel worse. He opened his mouth to say 'Thanks but no thanks' when a sudden urge came over him.

Did he want to talk about the parents he never got to know?

"I miss them, a lot." Teddy felt Victoire grip his hand as he whispered into her ear. Her hands were smooth, soft and warm. Just like he'd always imagined his mother's to have been.

He wound his hand tighter around hers.

"Your mother was very beautiful." Victoire said a little louder, her voice no longer unsteady. She reached for her wand. "Lumos"

The tip of Victoire's wand was alight and dark shadows were thrown back to the corners of the room as she slowly got off the sofa. Teddy watch her as she cautiously walked over to an antique dresser and pulled at the draws. After three different draws she pulled out four heavy books and then walked back to the sofa.

"Have you seen these?" she asked pointing to the books that she had placed on Teddy's lap, he studied the brown books.

Yes he had, they were old photo albums but he hadn't seen them in years. He nodded as he opened the first book.

"I don't know who many of them are." Victoire admitted in a small voice as Teddy flipped through the pages. Teddy gave her a small smile and pointed to a dirtied and worn photograph that was on one page.

"That was the order of the phoenix, the original one anyway."

"Oh yes, is that...Grandma?" Victoire lowered her wand closer to the page and touched the photo carefully. Her pale finger hovered above Molly's bright ginger hair and she narrowed her eyes as if evaluating the moving figure of a younger Molly Weasley.

"Yes, these-" Teddy indicated to a man with black hair and a woman with the most beautiful green eyes. "they are James and Lily Potter, Uncle Harry's parents."

Victoire stroked the page again and a tear slid down her face as she touched each face.

"That's Mad-Eye...and Mr and Mrs Longbottom..." Victoire closed the book quickly pushing it away almost catching Teddy's fingers in the process he looked from her blank face to the books. After a moment of silence Teddy placed the others on top of the photo album Victoire had just pushed away.

"How could he do that?" Victoire spoke in a small voice, her green eyes searched Teddy's face for something before looking to her hands. "I mean, Uncle Harry was left orphaned just like you and he killed so many not to mention the fate worse than death he bestowed upon the Longbottom's." Victoire shuddered gently and Teddy swallowed.

She was talking about Lord Voldemort.

"Yes, but he's gone now." He started to burn with hatred and longing to hurt the person who had hurt him and everyone else before he remembered that he was dead.

No one could return from beyond the grave, not even the darkest wizard of all time.

"You get your O.W.L results soon don't you?" Victoire asked smartly changing the subject. Teddy smiled despite the sadness and grief and realised that all his life he knew that Victoire was on the same wave length as he. Like they were connected, she seemed able to predict his moods and thoughts.

"Yes, and you are doing your O.W.L's this year." Teddy chuckled and Victoire shuddered.

"Yes, I do..." Victoire trailed off and quickly extinguished the light from her wand. Teddy heard a creak upstairs and Victoire scrambled off the sofa.

Just as she stood up lights in the room were turned on.

"What the bloody hell are you two doing up?"

Teddy breathed a sigh of relief, it was only James. Victoire seemed the register this and too filled her lungs with air.

"Don't use that language James, or I'll tell your mum and dad." James pulled a face and continued down the stairs into the kitchen area.

"What do you want James?" Victoire asked as she watched him reaching for a glass. Teddy pulled out his wand.

"Wingardium Leviosa" the glass fluttered down from the cupboard and James took it and filled it with water. Victoire two glasses and filled them herself.

"Thanks Teddy. Night Victoire, night Teddy." James trudged back up the stairs with a yawn and Victoire passed the cup of water.

"Where are you sleeping too Teddy?" Victoire asked, her gaze went from his to the sofa and back to his face. Teddy scratched his head.

"I'll stay here for now that sofa is rather comfortable." Teddy took a sip from the water and smiled at Victoire, she smiled back. Teddy sat back down and pulled the blanket over him, he watched as Victoire never moved.

"Play Quidditch tomorrow?" Victoire said smiling, a glint came into her eyes and Teddy smirked.

"Sure, I never miss out on an opportunity to beat a Ravenclaw. Even though I prefer beating the Slytherin's" Victoire's eyes narrowed.

"Don't get too cocky Lupin, I'm a pretty good seeker." With that Victorie started to walk the stairs. Teddy turned onto his back and the lights in the room went out plunging him back into darkness. Teddy knew that Victoire was a good Quidditch player; last year Gryffindor lost to Ravenclaw by thirty points as Victoire caught the snitch.

He had to admit the way she was so driven while playing made her look daring and intimidating although the shimmering blonde hair and perfect physique made her look, dare he say...sexy?

Teddy shook his head and rolled over onto his side, as soon as he closed his eyes he dropped off into a deep sleep that would keep him unconscious until way past daybreak...