"Darling, I forgive you. After all, anything is better than to be alone."
"He's perfect, really," Teddy sat with his head in Michael's lap as the two studied up in Teddy's room. He'd gotten rather skilled at sneaking in his friends from other houses, not that anyone really cared anyway. Teddy needed someone to talk to, and as Michael and Victoire were the only ones that knew of his bisexuality, and as Victoire was off snogging some random Ravenclaw sixth-year, Teddy had cornered his best friend in the library and insisted they head to have a private conversation.
"I don't know, Teddy," Michael sighed. Jarred was a year younger than they were, and was a Gryffindor like Michael. Teddy loved how he looked at him, how his light brown eyes seemed to take in every detail of Teddy's body and mind each time Jarred looked at the metamorphmagus. So it was no wonder really that he wasn't that happy with Victoire and Michael's disapproval of the boy.
"Why not?" Teddy pouted and sat up, pushing his Transfiguration textbook to the side.
Michael sighed and leaned back on his elbows. "Don't you think it's a bit odd that he doesn't want to spend time with you in public?" Teddy started to open his mouth, but Michael put a hand up to silence him. "I mean think about it, really. I know you two don't want to be outed or whatever, even though I know none of your family is going to care, but he won't even acknowledge your presence."
"He doesn't want people to suspect anything," Teddy crossed his arms.
"And why would they suspect anything?" Michael raised an eyebrow. "I'm not saying you go around shoving your tongues down each other's throats, just like talk here and there. Or at least say hello in the corridors or something." Teddy rolled his eyes and stood up. "And where are you going?" Michael asked.
"To meet with my boyfriend," Teddy said more harshly than he intended to and left his room, leaving his friend standing with his mouth wide open. Of course it made sense that Jarred didn't want to be seen with Teddy in public. He was the school freak, after all. The one that no one liked. The one that had been sent to the headmistress McGonagall's office on more than one occasion after having been caught drunk, high, or both. Really no one in their right mind would want to be seen with him. You're just a stupid freak, the tiny voice inside of his head told him. Your lucky to have someone who wants you at all, really. Merlin only knows why anyone even puts up with you. Teddy shook his head and made his way to the Astronomy Tower. He and Jarred had taken to meeting there when they knew no one else would be around. It wasn't as though they were doing anything inappropriate, kissing at most, after all Teddy wanted to take things slow. His last several relationships had ended in disaster after moving too quickly.
"About time," Jarred was leaning against the wall, looking more annoyed than Teddy had ever seen him. "What the hell took you so long?"
"Studying with Michael," Teddy shrugged and set his book bag down. He frowned when he thought he saw something flash in Jarred's eyes. "Something wrong?"
"I just don't like that you constantly hang around Wood and Weasley," Jarred said.
"Well considering you never seem to want to deal with me in public, who the hell else am I supposed to talk to?" Teddy demanded. Things happened too quickly for him to register. He remembered a stinging feeling across his cheek, and stumbling a bit to the side, but Jarred wouldn't hurt him. Jarred loved him, he always told him so. He wouldn't hurt Teddy... He glanced into his boyfriend's eyes, looking much like a kicked puppy.
"I'm sorry, Teddy," Jarred said gently and took Teddy's hands in his own. "I didn't mean to. I won't do it again."
"No, right," Teddy sighed and stared at the floor. "Sorry I snapped at you." He didn't lean into Jarred when he hugged him, as he normally would have. He was still trying to process what had happened.
"Just don't do it again, love," Jarred said gently, though Teddy thought he detected a hint of warning in Jarred's low, soft voice.
"I won't," Teddy sighed and shut his eyes. You deserved it, you freak, he told himself. And you're lucky to have him. No one else wants anything to do with you. You have to keep him happy so he doesn't leave you like your parents did. They probably hated you too.
"And stay away from Wood and Weasley," Jarred added "They're bad influences on you."
Teddy wanted to argue with him, to tell Jarred there was no way in hell he was going to just stop speaking to the only friends he had. You have to keep him happy, the voice in the back of his head said. He's the only one that's ever going to care.