Amortentia
Chapter Three – Pen Friends
The Quidditch hoops disappeared with a 'pop' and the beautiful clearing was no longer a Quidditch pitch that had just hosted a tense game that was in running with one between Slytherin and Gryffindor. Instead, It was restored back to it's natural beauty, a natural beauty that muggles would be able to find again soon.
"I beat you Teddy Lupin and you can't deny that!" Victoire danced around an annoyed Teddy waving her broom around, Teddy's broom was clenched so hard in his hands he thought it may snap at any moment due to the pressure. Victoire's laugh tinkled throughout the clearing as Ginny and Harry removed the protective charms they had bestowed upon the area so that muggles couldn't find them or see wizards flying around playing the game of Quidditch that had just ended with a victory from the girls.
Two hundred and thirty points to one hundred and eighty.
Ginny jogged over to where Victoire was teasing Teddy and placed an arm over her shoulders, her breathing heavy and in pants but her eyes sparkled brightly.
"Girl, we rock. Our team beat them boys!" Ginny high fived Victoire as Ron came charging over, followed by a giggling Hermione. Teddy looked into Ginny's sparkling eyes and saw a ghost of the girl that Harry talked so much about during dinner's and visits. He wanted to find love like Harry and Ginny had.
"We let you win." Ron spat and Ginny looked murderous, Ron stepped forward and Ginny mimicked him soon they were squaring each other up; to Ginny it was an insult that someone had accused of being 'let to win' she was able to fight her own battles and was just as good, if not better a Quidditch player as she had played for The Holyhead Harpies. The other men were walking away annoyed, the girls following looking smug. No one else seemed to pay attention to the tense argument that was taking place.
"We won fair and square Ronald." Teddy watched as Ginny's hand reached to her back pocket; obviously for her wand and stared at them in disbelief.
They were supposed to be mature adults, not teenagers. Wasn't it supposed to be himself and Victoire acting like this.
"Ok break it up." Victoire's laugh was nervous as she stepped between the two siblings, Teddy joined her standing by her side. It was better to defuse the situation before someone ended up curse.
Most probably Ron.
"I don't mind losing." Teddy said grinning, partly to laugh off the thrashing and partly because of imagining Ron losing an ear due to a curse from Ginny. "As long as it's to someone decent. " Teddy looked down to a grinning Victoire that was beaming up at him and then to Ginny who's eyes were narrowed in assessment. Her hands came across her chest and away from her wand.
Ron sighed in defeat.
"Fine." He growled and stormed off. Teddy flung his arms over Victoire's shoulders where Ginny's had been earlier and both of them walked away after Ron.
"Teddy, arn't you the teeniest bit mad." Victoire taunted poking him with her broom. He dodged her last swipe and grabbed her by her waist pushing her away lightly, he always had been faster. He carried on walking ahead smiling, counting down the seconds in his head as he heard Victoire running to catch up.
3,2,1...
Teddy's arms gripped her legs as Victoire jumped onto his back.
"You didn't answer my question, only cowards run away." She pondered as he continued to carry her, The Burrow was insight and his back was starting to hurt. He didn't remember this hurting so much when they were younger.
He definitely didn't have a beater's build but he carried on. Teddy couldn't explain it but everytime their skin collided an electric current charged through his body and the feel of her soft warm hands on his shoulders was relaxing and the smell....
Teddy cut himself off and stopped abruptly overwhelmed by the direction his thoughts were taking. Victoire repeated her question.
"I'm not a coward Victoire, if you know me at all you'd know that." Teddy's tone came out a little harsh and Victoire suddenly became reassuring, she started to play with his hair like she had done on his birthday.
"Ah Teddy, you know I was joking. I love you really." She laughed and she tugged on his ear. The thrumming of her hands running through his hair continued.
"Love you too." He said blushing, a warmth spread through him as he said these words and it was true. He did love Victoire ever since they were young, she was the sister he never had.
It had always been brotherly love that's why he was so comfortable around her and that's the way they had always been. Their close knot bond would make some siblings green with envy.
"And in answer to your question, I am annoyed yes, but not at you for winning but at me for losing." Teddy quickly continued and he began to walk again. Victoire seemed happy with the information he had given her and didn't speak until he put her down by the gate at the entrance to The Burrow. He stretched his back trying not to be obvious about it.
"You're a great Quidditch player Teddy, you know that. So what are we doing later?" she titled her head at me and then smiled wide. I studied her smile.
How was it a fifteen year old girl could still have cute dimples like a toddler?!
"Uh, I dunno'." Teddy started rubbing at his hair self consciously and he put on his thinking face. This always made Victoire laughed.
Her laughter cut off as Molly appeared at our side carrying flowers, her face was serious and she looked at Teddy with what were tears in her eyes.
"If you haven't got plans this afternoon..." Molly looked from Teddy to Victoire and back. "then you are more than welcome to accompany me to the cemetery." Molly's voice was strong but it faltered at the end. Teddy thought about it and moment and then nodded.
"Yes, Molly it's around the anniversary isn't it?" Teddy tried to shrug it off as it meant nothing and Molly gave him a small smile. His sudden excitement and happiness was starting to ebb as more words slid out of Molly's mouth.
It was like a cloud blocking out the sun.
"Sixteen years tomorrow, but as we are going to Diagon Alley tomorrow so I thought it'd be better if we went today. Not all of us can go today, and most of the others will go tomorrow."
Teddy studied Molly's face and then looked down as he felt a hand in his.
Victoire had wound her hand around his in encouragement, he gave it a little squeeze.
"Molly is there room for another to come, I don't mean to intrude." Victoire looked at Molly who looked taken aback and then started crying.
"You are such a good girl Victoire, so beautiful." Molly blubbered as she pulled Victoire into a vice tight hug that was strange considering Teddy still had hold of her hand. "I expected you to come anyway, you two are inseparable." Molly gave a faint laugh as she gestured to the pair holding hands.
"Let me take them for you Molly." Teddy let go of Victoire's hands and took the beautiful assortment of flowers into his arms. There was a huge assortment of lilies, roses, daisies and carnations all with bright colours.
"Arthur, George, Angelia, Ginny and Harry are coming also. I'll go and tell them to hurry up."
Molly tottered off wiping her eyes and Victoire looked at Teddy unsure. The light glistened off her hair and she nervously scratched the back of her neck.
"Uh, I hope you don't mind me inviting myself sort of. I'll stay if you want." She bit her bottom lip in a sweet way and her green eyes burned with sincerity. He never thought he'd meet a girl more understanding and caring than Victoire.
"No! I'd be glad to have you there. I should be thanking you Vicky." Teddy said immediately and Victoire smiled.
"No problem, what are friends for." With that she play punched his arm and then gave him a dazzling smile. He opened his mouth to speak when a squawk came from behind her, with a puzzled expression Teddy gazed over Victoire's shoulder at an owl that was flying towards them.
Victoire turned to look at what Teddy was seeing.
"Oh, Marvin is back already." Victoire held out her arm and the owl landed on it neatly holding it's foot out that held a scroll. Carefully Victoire untied the scroll from Marvin's leg and sent him on his way. She placed the scroll into her pocket.
"Who's that from?" Teddy asked curious, Victoire blushed. At her reaction Teddy narrowed his eyes.
"Armand, we've kept in touch. You know like pen friends." She said and Teddy chewed on the inside of his cheek. He may not know this Armand but he knew for a fact that he didn't like him.
"So what does it say?" he asked trying to keep his tone light. Victoire pushed the scroll deeper into her pocket.
"Won't be anything important. Come on Molly's back."
Teddy looked at the pocket in which the scroll was hidden and wanted to wrench it out and read it but he controlled the urge. Instead he stared to the kitchen window where Fleur was standing tending to the kitchen window boxes. He didn't look away until he felt a warm hand on his shoulders.
The pressure was too heavy to have been Victoire's and the sturdiness had to be male.
"Are you ready to go Teddy? You can stay here if you want; you could visit in the holidays." Teddy looked around to see his godfather Harry looking down at him serious, he could make out the lightning bolt scar that peeked through his messy hair that Teddy shared.
"I'm fine Harry, as ready as I'll ever be."