The next pages are filled with photos of James playing Quidditch and Rosie doing handstands, Ron's 30th birthday cake and a newspaper clipping announcing the new Hogwarts Herbology professor — none other than his Uncle Neville, of course! One page is entirely taken up by a huge photo and a slightly crumpled letter. In graceful, neat handwriting, Victoire had written:
Bonjour, Teddy!
I miss you already! Aunt Gabrielle's wedding was yesterday, and it was so beautiful. I met her new husband for the first time Monday, but I only understand parts of what he says because he doesn't speak English, and as you know, my French is not spectacular. His name is Adrien, and he's my uncle now. I've enclosed a photo so you can see. I'm almost as tall as him, can you believe it? Grandad swears I've grown six inches since we last saw each other.
I won't tell you all about the wedding, because that's what Freddie would call "girly stuff" and you'd probably get bored, but we're having a wonderful time. Would be even better if you were here.
Write me lots and step on James's foot for me, okay? He snuck another dungbomb into my suitcase as we were leaving. Try not to miss me too much.
Love, Victoire
Teddy lingers for a moment over the words "Love, Victoire", tasting them, before he turns his attention to the photograph. A handsome man with dark hair stands arm and arm with Gabrielle, who looks much like her sister, Fleur. At least 15 other people stand around them, beaming, a few of whom Teddy recognizes—Fleur, Bill, Dominique, Louis... Teddy's eyes skim over each of these faces until they fall on one in particular —On the far right, smiling brightly, her head almost level with the groom's, is Victoire.
It was over a year ago, but Teddy remembers his initial reaction to that photo. Even though he saw Victoire nearly every day, he still tended to think of her as closer to 6 than 16, so the young woman in the photo startled him. Her silvery blonde pigtail braids had been replaced by an elegant updo. Her freckles were faded, if not quite vanished. She was as breathtakingly beautiful as a one-eighth Veela should be—but it wasn't that. Teddy had seen plenty of Veela at various family reunions, but none of them had made him feel this way. And he couldn't seem to shake that feeling.
When Victoire finally came home, Teddy stared a little too much and laughed a little too loud. Victoire didn't seem to notice, but Teddy knew, without a doubt, that he and his favorite playmate would never be the same again. But whether that was good or bad, he had yet to discover.