Amortentia

Chapter Ten – Big Year

"Pass the ketchup!"

"Oh, this pie is amazing."

"No, it's my turn to have the last piece of bread!"

The rickety old tablet that stood pride of place in The Burrow was groaning under the weight of the many witches and wizards, young and old gathered around the table. The bustling of voices and demands echoed up and down the table, the mood being light and happy.

But one at least sat uncomfortable in his space. Teddy tucked his elbows deep in, in hope of not hitting Amy's arm. He could hardly cut his pie, which as someone had echoed was truly amazing. He glanced up softly under his blue fringe and stared across as Victoire. She was pushing her vegetables across her plate, fiddling quietly; her hair curtained her face so Teddy couldn't even read her expression.

"Homework done Teddy?" Cody asked grinning across the table. Cody had arrived within the last half hour, and was greatly excited when he was invited to one of Molly Weasley's famous magical feasts. He'd only ever had muggle meals at home.

"I hope so." Teddy replied. His grandmother's eyes zoned in on him.

"You better have my boy, or maybe I should have gotton' you a remembrall for your birthday." His Grandmother's words evoked laughter through the table, but only Teddy seemed to sense the wrath that faced him if he hadn't done his homework or forgotten something, as he often did. He made a mental note to re- check his suitcase before leaving for the Hogwarts Express tomorrow morning.

"Victoire, you're quiet tonight." Bill said quietly, addressing his daughter. Victoire's head snapped up as if she too had been caught off guard by a sudden question.

"Yes, just a little nervous. A big year ahead of me." She said quickly giving a small smile. Amy laughed.

"We sure do, ready for library all nighters and potions after dark?" Amy continued and Vic laughed.

"Of course, study buddy."

Teddy smiled at Victoire before continuing with his pie, the soft mutter and chatter still echoing around the table.

Platform 9 ¾ hadn't changed at all.

The same shiny red train puffed the think grey smoke high into the rafters above the wizarding families that stood below.

"I'm too old for this." Harry panted as he pushed Teddy's trolley though the barrier, his large hand wiped the sweat away from his scarred forehead as Teddy chuckled.

"You'll have to do this for James next year."

A look of fear crossed Harry's face as he stopped pushing; they'd reached the train on time even after all the accidental late start that morning.

"I suppose you're right." Harry wheezed catching his breath. He helped put the trunk onto the train before checking his watch.

"Sorry Teddy but I have to go, Ginny is expecting me. Have fun and don't do anything I wouldn't do." Harry's smile was mischievous as he gave Teddy a hug.

"See you soon Harry, bye." Teddy waved goodbye to his godfather before stepping onto the train to find an empty carriage, or one with Cody and Bronx in it.

It was difficult for him to maneuver through the packed corridors, his lanky frame hitting many of the younger students, as he apologized for the eighth time he spotted Bronx outside the window. After swearing not-so-quietly he exited the train and walked over to him. The rest of his Quidditch team were moving away ready to get onto the train, as Teddy passed them they waved in his direction, some other students called 'hello' to him as well.

"Hey Teddy, I was about to get on the train." Bronx explained as Teddy just steeped off, he rolled his eyes and stepped back up again as Amy landed beside them, she clutched at her side as she panted heavily.

"Ah, hello Miss Chesters." Bronx smiled teasing Amy. She looked fuming, her face matching her red hair colour.

"Don't make me hex you!" She hissed wheezing, she put a porcelain hand on Teddy's shoulders.

"Oooo feisty." Bronx noted, her hand twitched for her wand until she too looked at Teddy. She smiled.

"Hey Teddy, I was just about to ask where Victoire was…" she started.

Bronx cut in.

"Over by the conductor talking to Cody."

Amy's face was lit up in relief.

"Great, now that's sorted I'm off to find Victoire! Bye guys."

Bronx chuckled as she ran away.

"Why the hell isn't she in Gryffindor? She's got more balls than half the Quidditch team."

Amy was in Ravenclaw, Victoire's house. They had been best friends since there first day at Hogwarts in which Amy got attacked by the Whomping Willow.

"I don't know Bronx, trust me, I don't."

Both boys piled onto the packed train and walked down the narrow corridors searching for an empty compartment, they finally found one at the very end. However, Cody wasn't anywhere in sight.

"I wonder where Cody's gotten to?" Teddy asked as the train started to pull away, his head was resting on his hand as he let his eyes slide shut. What was he and Victoire talking about that could take so long?

"Who knows." Bronx started putting his Quidditch magazine away, " But I heard about your little present."

The Silver Speeder was safely stowed away with the rest of his luggage and from the way Bronx's eyes were glinting he was glad of that at the moment.

"Yes, it was a pretty good present." Teddy smiled, that was the understatement of the century.

"Slytherin don't have a chance!"

"Correction; they've never had a chance."

The boys high fived briefly before the compartment door opened and Cody slipped in. He was breathing heavily as if he was nervous, quickly he perched on the end of the seat.

"Ah, we wondered when we'd be seeing you again." Teddy noted, his tone itching with anticipation to grill Cody over his conversation with Victoire. As far as he could remember, Cody and Vic had never been good friends particularly, however she preferred him over Bronx.

"We were beginning to think you'd been left at the platform." Bronx chided in. "The train left ages ago."

"Sorry, I had a bit of a problem that needed to be discussed." He kept his lips sealed as he stood up again. "I was just coming in to say hello, I'll hopefully not see you now until the feast."

And with that Cody left the compartment. Teddy stared opened mouthed in the spot Cody had just left.

"Bloody hell. What was that all about?"

Bronx didn't reply, instead he stayed silent and shrugged his shoulders, a moment later he stood up.

"I'll go find him, if I pass the trolley do you wasn't anything?"

"A box of 'Bertie's every flavor beans' please."

Then Bronx left. Teddy was left sitting alone.

He stared into the countryside as the sky grew darker, the rain lashed hard against the window in a rhythmic fashion and soon the sleepless night caught up on him; Teddy drifted off into a deep sleep.

"I'm right here Teddy."

Teddy awoke with a start as the familiar voice drifted into his dreams.

"Vic?"

"Yes, you said my name."

Teddy opened his eyes and peered at Victoire sitting across him, he rubbed his eyes and looked hard again.

"Look I've come to apologize." She sighed putting down Bronx's magazine which Teddy assumed she'd been reading. His hair turned a bright shade of red.

"I'm sorry too." He muttered. His hair colour didn't change back to normal as he was still embarrassed at his total lack of control over his sleep talking.

Victoire smiled.

"Plus, I didn't want to watch Cody and Amy eat each other's faces off any longer."

Her laugh was like a shot of happiness into Teddy's core, he laughed with her and then suddenly stopped taking in what she'd just said.

"Amy and Cody?" he stuttered out. "Since when?"

"Since now. He came to talk to me about it earlier, he's such a nice guy, unlike B-"

The door slammed open and Bronx plundged in.

"Dude, come quick you'll never believe what I've just seen." He spluttered.

"Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear." Vic muttered acidicly. Bronx gave her a quick confused expression and turned back to Teddy.

"You don't understand. I've just seen Amy and Cody snogging." Bronx said slowly, Teddy laughed.

"Vic just told me."

"Oh, well ok. I'm off to tell the rest of Gryffindor. Bye!"

Just as quickly as Bronx arrived he disappeared, slamming the door again as he left. The glass wobbled with the force.

"So are we friends?" Teddy asked after a moment of silence, Victoire nodded and moved to sit beside him.

"Best of, as always." She replied linking little fingers with Teddy, both laughed at the childish gesture.

And as they held hands, or well fingers, Teddy felt a small warmth spread to all other parts of his body.