Amortentia

Chapter Eleven – After Dark

Teddy stared through the Gryffindor students over to the Ravenclaw table where Victoire was sat chatting to Amy and their other friends. He felt euphoric now they were friends again.

Friends.

Teddy chewed over the word as he spooned another lump of mashed potato into his mouth still watching Victoire. As he watched her now he couldn't help but notice things he'd never noticed before, like the fact her eyes lit up as she laughed, or how her hair looked so much brighter as the Hogwarts lights flickered around her.

He was seeing her in a completely different way. Like friends didn't really extend fully to how he felt. Maybe he was, loving her in a different way.

As he thought this Victoire's eyes found his and she smiled. She held her goblet up to him and he did the same, before blushing, taking a sip and getting back into the conversation.

"Teddy did you hear a word I just said?" Cody's voice was harsh as he cut through Teddy's silent fight. He turned and smirked at his friend as just like Victoire he too took a sip from his goblet.

He turned the tables, well conversation into a different direction.

"Amy huh?" Teddy said smiling wickedly, Cody blushed scarlet and Bronx laughed.

"Good luck with that one mate, she's a fire cracker. I mean look you only need to look at her hair to see that." Bronx joked. Cody peered at the brute.

"I think it's bold." Cody snapped.

Before the boys got into a fight Teddy took charge.

"Since when have you been interested in her?" he asked, his hands making gestures so Cody would continue. His tone was friendly.

"Since Christmas when we spent the week together, playing cards you know. She's amazing."

Teddy thought about the snowball fights he and Vic had, had last Christmas.

"Then why haven't you done anything about it?" Bronx was always very forward, her spoke his mind. This could be a problem sometimes, he never quite knew when he was being rude.

"Because Teddy and Amy had a…thing." Cody blushed again avoiding Teddy's look.

Teddy choked on his food.

"We never had a thing. I took her to the Christmas dance so that I could avoid Fran, we fake dated for three hours!" Teddy stated regaining his composure and Cody nervously laughed.

"Are you sure?" he asked again and Teddy nodded.

"Yes, now shut up and eat."

The whole 'fake dating' thing had been made up last Christmas when many girls had swarmed upon Teddy looked for an escort for the Yule Ball that has now been a tradition in Hogwarts even when the Triwizard Tournament is not taking place. For many boys that may had been a dream but for Teddy it was a nightmare so he was glad when Amy offered to be his 'girlfriend' for the evening to keep them at bay.

The crowds in the great hall cleared away slowly as the four house tables dwindled down until Teddy and the Gryffindor Quidditch team were the only ones left. They were so engrossed in their conversation over Quidditch moves that they didn't hear Professor McGonnagol approaching.

"Teddy Lupin." Her voice pierced the air as he turned to face the aged woman.

"Good evening professor." He said as the others filed away, she smiled warmly at him. As headmistress of Hogwarts Teddy respected Professor McGonnagol greatly and he made sure any rule breaking was kepy under wraps a he feared her shrill shouts.

"Did you get my owl?" she asked her eyes boaring into his.

"No, professor."

Her eyes were wide in surprise.

"That would explain things." She mused, Teddy looked confused.

"Explain what?"

"Your absence at the first years welcome party. The Prefects are always present." She smiled as she said the last bit and Teddy stared shell shocked.

Wow, him…A prefect?

"I'm a Prefect?" he stuttered out and McGonnagol nodded sternly.

"Yes, isn't that what I just said."

"But I'm only a sixth year …" he carried on blabbering. His headmistress put her hand up.

"I do not dish out responsibility willy nilly Mr Lupin, I have chosen you for a reason. Do Gryffindor proud and don't make me regret my choice."

With that she turned around and signaled for a little first year to approach he was shaking with fear and bore a Ravenclaw badge.

"As your first task can you please escort this Ben to his common room, he's lost his prefects."

Then she left him standing with the little boy.

"Come on Ben." He said leading the way out of the hall. They walked in silence as Ben gawped around.

"Incredibly isn't it?" Teddy smirked, he almost laughed as Ben jumped scared.

"Yes, I'm not u-used to t-t-this." Hew stuttered. "My parents are muggles."

Teddy nodded and smiled.

"You've got a nice family though, your school family I mean. A girl called Victoire is in Ravenclaw."

"Is she you're girlfriend?" Ben asked, his shaking was stopping and Teddy sighed.

"No, she's my best friend."

"Ok, sorry."

They climbed the stairs in silence towards the common room entrance when they came to the door Ben looked frightened all over again.

"Just relax. You'll love it here, and if you ever need me my name is Teddy Lupin and I'm in Gryffindor."

"Thank you Teddy."

Teddy almost didn't want to leave the little boy as he moved through the almost silent Hogwarts towards the Gryffindor common room. The only noises were his footsteps and the disturbances the ghosts caused as he walked fast as he could back to his room.

That's when he heard the giggles, two familiar giggles.

Teddy followed the sounds towards the potions rooms downstairs.

"I don't think it's supposed to go blue." Teddy heard Amy laugh as he came to the door. He peeked through the crack in the door at the two girls huddled over a cauldron.

"It smells like poo too." Victoire giggled back.

Teddy pushed the door open.

"Potions after dark already?" Teddy leant against the frame and laughed at the stunned girls as they jumped back.

"Don't do that Teddy!" Amy snapped clutching at where her heart was. Victoire was moving the pot of potion ready to pour it away.

"So what are you girls up to?" Teddy asked walking in, it was after curfew so to find them down here meant they were up to something.

"Well I'm off to bed. I'll tell you tomorrow." Amy said yawning. "Coming Vic?"

Victoire shook her head.

"I'll clear up and then catch up with you."

"Do you want me to stay and help—" Amy started and then Teddy cut in.

"I'll give her a hand, it's fine."

Victoire gave him a smile and Teddy smiled back.

None of them noticed Amy's cheeky grin as she slipped out of the door.