Teddy POV again! :)

"That's okay. There's training on Thursday as well- maybe ask Carlisle if she has room in that? Otherwise I think Merriborn has his on a Saturday morning."

I couldn't see the boy's face; his back was facing me, unaware that I was even present. Pressed flat against the wall in an effort not to be seen by some fifth year prefect, I strained my ears in an effort to hear what was being said. And to hear when he left.

"Thanks Victoire. I really don't want to miss another one, but they keep clashing with Gobstones and as President; I can't-"

He was president of the Gobstones Club? Nerd. I also didn't like the way he was gushing at her. And only her close friends called her by her first name. This little twerp was obviously slow on the uptake. I guess now that everyone knew she wasn't with Zabini; he thought it was open season. As if she would ever go for such a weasel.

She laughed sweetly. "Don't worry Liam. It's no problem- their groups are slightly less advanced but if it's just for this week, I don't see it being a problem."

He laughed back. Smarmy git.

"Yeah I might find Merriborn tomorrow. Thursday doesn't really suit either. I have a study group. It's luck you were patrolling tonight, or I might not have found you in time. Why is that by the way? I thought it was McKinley's night?"

There was a slight pause. "Oh, I just needed to swap. Times didn't suit me so…" She responded airily. When was this fool gonna leave? My foot was starting to cramp.

He gave a knowing chuckle. "I'm sure he put up a hell of a struggle. If I were you; I'd be on my guard. Now that you are a free agent, I mean. You know McKinley. Bloody pervert."

She laughed breezily. "I'll be on guard. How that tosser was ever made Head Boy is beyond me."

McKinley fancied Victoire? So that's how she got Aelius off too… I made a mental note to be considerably ruder to the Hufflepuff when next our paths crossed. Now that it had been said- there was always something about him I had disliked.

"Make sure you do. Well I better get moving. Do you wanna check the broom closets or do I get the privilege tonight?"

"Oh I'll do it. You head on."

"Thanks. Make sure to tell me if anyone interesting falls out."

More laughter. Fading footsteps.

Finally.

"Want help checking broom closets?" I leaned around the corner, grinning cheekily as she jumped in shock. Whirling around to face me in a flash of swinging pale hair and flaring skirts, her face morphed from outrage to surprise in a second. She stared at me in puzzlement.

"You found me?"

I nodded smugly, pulling the rest of my body around the corner to offer a victorious smirk. She looked around in puzzlement.

"But… how? I switched patrols. I… How did you even get ALL the way here without being caught?"

I laughed easily, avoiding answering. The answer was tucked neatly in my back pocket, safe from her scrutiny just yet. "You almost sound like you wanted me to get caught? I'm sorry to disappoint but I don't really fancy detention again, Vic."

She pouted, the corners of her lips curving upwards despite her best efforts. "Well… I just thought seeing as I've taken over McKinley's duties for the week, I'll be in charge of detention. And I could have thought of wonderful ways to punish you."

My mouth went dry. I had one mad moment when I contemplated how much trouble I would get in if ran after Liam and chucked him out of one the tall windows lining the corridor. His footsteps hadn't fully faded. He was President of the Gobstones Club for fucks sake. There was no way he could out run me.

"Earth to Teddy? I was joking. You've spent enough time in detention to know they aren't run individually anyways. You're in groups."

I sputtered for a moment, torn between disappointment and embarrassment. "I know. God… You didn't actually take over all his duties did you? You didn't have to do that. Alec and Aelius would have survived a few more detentions."

She shrugged. "It's fine. I don't mind. Besides it's good practise for next year. You know, when I'm Head Girl. Better watch out then Lupin!" Laughing happily, she wrapped her arms around my neck as she kissed me softly.

Eyes still closed, I murmured in agreement; still drinking in the feel of her against me. "Merlin. We're all fucked if they give you that kind of power. Dirty little Slytherin."

"You don't know the half of it." She whispered.

My eyes flew open and she threw back her head in laughter. "Teddy what is with you tonight?"

Shrugging, I supressed a smirk. "You know… we don't really have to check the broom closets."

She frowned up at me. "What? What are you even saying Teddy?"

I shrugged sheepishly again, smiling down at her. "If you can't beat them…?"

Her mouth popped open in a perfect "o". "Join them? In a broom closet? Dream on Teddy."

Pulling away with a smirk, she held onto one of the hands linked around her waist, dragging me along behind her. I supressed a groan, following her willingly up the stairs. She turned as she climbed the steps, chuckling at my expression. "Don't pout. And brighten up your hair. You look gloomy."

Mock frowning, I squinted for a second, watching in satisfaction as her face scrunched up with laughter at my electric blue hair.

"Better?"

"Much. It suits you. Like my own little… pixie."

I halted abruptly, pulling her to a standstill mid stairs. "Pixie? Pixie? Could you have picked something manlier?"

She laughed again. "I think it suits you. They're naughty, you know. Hard to pin down. Crafty. Kind of cute in a cheeky way."

Scowling, I quickly adjusted back to my normal hair colour, disgusted with the comparison. Pixie. Merlin. The same description could be applied to a toddler.

She laughed again, pulling me closer. "Naw don't sulk. I actually like it blue. It's a cool colour. On anyone else it would look… ridiculous. But you pull it off. It's hot."

Slightly mollified, I looked up at her from her perch a few steps above. "You like the colour?"

She nodded, smiling sweetly.

"You should. It's the colour of your eyes."

Blinking, she frowned at me for a minute in surprise. The she leaned down and kissed me again.

"Sure about the broom closet?" I breathed.

Laughing in answer, she continued our advance up the stairs; motioning to me to be quiet as we neared an inconspicuous looking door.

"Ssssh." She whispered, shoving me to the side of the door, hidden from view.

She cocked an ear against it's rough surface, her face contorted in concentration. Her eyes flew open quickly. "Nope. Dud."

I raised a brow. "You sound disappointed?"

Sticking out her tongue, she linked an arm through mine. "Not disappointed, just… alright- disappointed. But not like you think, you little pervert. I just like watching people squirm. And nothing makes them squirm harder than trying to explain why you're naked out of hours in a broom closet with company."

"Sadistic wench. Having been the naked squirmer once or twice in my time; I can assure you it's pretty awful."

"Only once or twice? I am disappointed."

I waggled my eyebrows. "That I've been caught."

Shoving my arm playfully, she pulled me to a standstill as we reached another closet. Silencing me quietly, her face lit up in excitement as she motioned for me to listen. Definite movements were coming from inside the door.

Giving me a quick smirk as I hid behind a gargoyle statue, she pulled open the door in a fluid movement, her face registering no emotion as gasps of shock tumbled out of the door. Whilst her face may have been a mask of indifference, her eyes lit up in surprise.

"Evening." She said; her tone measured.

"Weasley- you can't- You can't tell- anyone-"

"Don't call her that! Victoire- please, please- I'll explain everything, I promise I will- just don't-"

Victoire's eyes drifted subtly to where I was hiding. I widened my eyes in curiosity. Who on earth? They both sounded vaguely familiar but I couldn't place where from. I registered brief panic in Victoire's eyes as she looked over at me, before she swallowed and faced the closet inhabitants calmly.

"You both have cost your houses 40 points each. I don't care what lead to this happening. All I care about is that you are both out of bed, way past curfew and I sincerely doubt you were inspecting the quality of the brooms. Get dressed and get to bed."

She made to close the door on them, but paused half way, addressing them in a softer tone. "I'd wait a few minutes if I were you. Liam McCormack is patrolling the second floor right now."

Once the door was shut, she dragged me from my hide out and down the corridor quickly. Once we were out of earshot, I turned on her. "Well? I'm dying here! Who was it?"

She answered my grin with a distracted face. "What? Who-? Oh in the closet?"

I nodded, exasperated. "Obviously? And I thought McCormack went to bed yonks ago?"

Frowning, she tried to concentrate on what I was saying. "Huh? Oh- yeah, he did. But if they'd have come straight out, they'd have bumped into you."

I frowned back at her. "What-? No they wouldn't have. There's no way they could have seen-"

She shook her head clear. "Yeah- yeah- sorry. Um- see you tomorrow yeah?"

"What? But-"

She kissed me quickly, before speeding down the corridor, down to the dungeon.

"Vic-?" I called after her in confusion.

Women.

As fate would have it, my classes were arranged so that I didn't see Victoire once during class the next day. I spent an hour after school searching for her, with a suspiciously helpful and willing Aelius.

"Where haven't we checked?" He mused, looking around the Great Hall for inspiration. He looked over at me. "The dungeons?"

I shook my head. "I checked the map. She's not there."

He frowned. "Check the rest of it."

Rolling my eyes, I shot him an annoyed look. "There's a lot of names on it Aelius. I can't spot hers on it."

"Well give it here then."

"No. You're only going to look for Booth."

He pouted, huffing.

"Fine. Where's Craig anyways? We have… things to do. Later."

I rolled my eyes again. "You can say it Craig. Quidditch. It's called Quidditch." Adopting an indifferent face, I did my best not to show how much it hurt that they got to continue playing. It had only been a few days, but already I missed it. It was like a dull ache constantly in the back of my mind.

He glanced uneasily at me. "Do you wanna come down? I mean… I could probably use your help. Bit nervous actually."

I took a cautious bite of my bread, trying to buy some time. I really didn't want to go. Advising Aelius on how best to replace me; on how best to be me; was not my idea of a good time. Watching him fuck up would kill me; the idea of the team I built suffering because of my actions was torture. But equally tortuous, was the idea that they didn't need me at all, that they would get on fine, move on quickly. Or even worse. That they would bloom under Aelius; that he would be a wonderful Captain. Credit to him; he was a brilliant Chaser and understood the game to a tee. But I had a sneaky suspicion that as capable as he was a Chaser; he wouldn't show the same attention to the other positions. And handling the players was going to be difficult for him. He never really understood when to push and when to plead.

Sighing, I swallowed roughly. I was being a shit friend. It was my fault he was in this position and he was nervous about it.

"Sure thing. I'll be there mate."

He nodded absently, picking at his food.

"The Library!" He exclaimed suddenly, his whole countenance brightening.

I frowned quizzically. "What?"

Rising from his seat impatiently, he motioned for me to keep up. "I was just thinking- where would a nerd like your lady spend free time away from school- and it hit me! Nerds love libraries!"

Shaking off annoyance at him calling Vic a nerd, I followed him eagerly. It did make sense she would be there. She must study an awful lot to keep her grades. I hadn't even thought of checking there!

Bursting noisily through the doors, we both flinched as several irritated faces looked up to scowl at us. We moved more quietly after that, until finally we spotted her at a table in the centre of the room, whispering to some blonde boy beside her. Aelius pulled me to a halt.

"Is that… Craig?"

I squinted over at him. "Holy fuck. Yeah it is. He looks smaller sitting down."

Aelius pulled us into two abandoned seats close to them, as Victoire looked up and caught my gaze. She smiled excitedly, nudging Craig as he looked up to acknowledge us too. They rose swiftly, gathering their books and joining us at our table.

"Hey." She whispered.

I grinned back, leaning in to kiss her until she swatted me away with a blush.

"Teddy- it's a public library!"

I shrugged innocently. "Sorry. I forgot." Whatever seemed to have bothered her last night was seemingly no longer an issue. She smiled happily back at me, with a slight shake of her head.

"Okay, well Craig and I are working, so… if you don't mind." She gestured to their books emphatically, not so subtly hinting that Aelius and I should find another way to busy ourselves. I shot her an affronted look.

"So are Aelius and I. If you don't mind."

Shaking her head again, she turned back to Craig. Half-heartedly, I flicked through a book in my bag, highlighting with reckless abandon. Nothing was really going in though. I was too busy listening in on Craig; making sure he was behaving this time.

"-don't get it. How can it have more than one interpretation?" He said, frustration colouring his tone.

Victoire's reply was patient. "It's interpretation changes depending on the pattern and order of the ruins around it. In general use, it has one basic meaning- outlined there- but the use of certain ruins in succession before, or after it will revert it's meaning to one of these." She flipped through pages in her book, pointing to words I couldn't see.

"What certain ruins?" Craig replied in bafflement.

"The list is here- Advanced Ruin Translation? Here, borrow mine. It's a long, boring list but once you know it, everything starts coming together."

Craig eyed the book she handed him warily. His eyes popped at the page she had opened. "Oh my God. That's not a list- it's a telephone directory!"

She frowned. "A what?"

"Never mind- look, Victoire- I'm not you. I can't learn all that before the next test." He threw his hands up in defeat. "I'm going to fail Ancient Runes."

She bit her lip. "Look, leave it with me. I have patrols again tonight but it's been really quiet so I'll flick through this again and pick out what's important. I'll give you a revised list. It won't be enough for an Outstanding- but enough to pass okay? You just work on what we went through today and we'll cover this stuff tomorrow." She patted his back reassuringly.

Slightly hopeful, he lifted his head. "Are you sure? I don't want to be a bother or anything- I-"

She shook her head with a carefree laugh. "What are friends for eh?"

Craig stilled slightly. "Yeah. Thanks Vic. I'll make it up to you."

"Just fucking pass okay?"

He laughed. "Chance would be a fine thing. You sound like my mom. She just doesn't get how hard it is- being a muggle and all. She thinks it's just like learning Irish."

Victoire smiled. "Is it?"

He made a face. "No. Irish makes no fucking sense whatsoever as a language; but at least it's distinguishable as an actual language. Some of these look like something my dog could have drawn."

She laughed happily. "Yeah. They can be slightly dubious. But it's kind of fun when you crack it, right? The satisfaction of seeing it make sense?"

"I wouldn't know." He responded dryly, before glancing at Aelius. "Shit, Aelius- we're gonna be late for… that thing." He finished lamely.

I bit my cheek. "It's fine Craig. I know. I'm actually coming. You know, moral support."

Victoire glanced between us individually. "What's this?"

"Quidditch." We all replied in unison.

Her face blanched. "Well… have fun I guess." She picked up her quill again before pausing, and looking thoughtfully at me. "Do you want company?" Her voice was soft enough that the others could reasonably pretend they hadn't heard.

I shook my head with a fake grin. Struggling through this for Aelius would be hard enough. Struggling to put on a brave face for her as well but be so much worse.

"Nah. You hate Quidditch anyways. Your presence would be… borderline blasphemous."

She smiled, waving to us as we rose and grabbed our stuff. Craig paused.

"Thanks for today Victoire. I actually think it's becoming clearer. See you tomorrow?"

She nodded enthusiastically, pleased with herself at his praise.

I coughed pointedly. "Hello? I'm leaving too?"

She laughed. "Goodbye Teddy; most dear and important to me."

I nodded. "More like it. See you around Weaselbee."

"Not if I see you first, my little Pixie."

Aelius snorted a few tables down. "Pixie? Is it a size thing?"

I smacked the back of his head with a book as we left the library, the heavy binding leaving an audible "thwack". The resulting scuffle and skirmish between all three of us occupied us all the way to the pitch.

When we reached the locker doors; they turned dejectedly to me.

"Feels shit going in there without you mate." Aelius offered.

I swallowed. "Not as shit as it feels watching it."

Craig sighed. "Doesn't seem fair really. Zabini was the whole reason behind that stupid fight, and he's gotten off scot free."

I murmured agreement; my eyes drifting back to the castle moodily.

Aelius frowned. "You're right Craig. That… doesn't seem fair."

I looked over at him in befuddlement. "You're just realising this?"

He shook his head, leaning against the wall as he gathered his thoughts. "I knew it wasn't fair; but I think the enormity of how wrong it is; is only hitting me now. I think I'm only really just appreciating that you will most probably never play again. Because of that tool."

Shaking my head in puzzlement at him, I laughed hollowly. "I know. That's… kind of old news."

"But it shouldn't be. That's my point." Aelius jabbed a finger in my direction; looking as though he had just made a brilliant argument.

"What?" I asked, bewildered.

"I think what Aelius is trying to say; is the fact that people have just accepted this and moved on- is wrong. It should never have become old news. You can't be kicked off a Quidditch team for defending yourself. It's ridiculous." Craig intervened, scuffing the ground angrily with his shoe.

"But I wasn't kicked off for defending myself. I had to say that I started it. She would never have believed me if I told her Zabini did; it would just look like me being a prick to a guy that she knows I despise. And I had to get Victoire off so… I said I started it and she… had no other choice."

Aelius scowled darkly. "No. I don't accept that she had no other choice. She could have taken the Captaincy and still let you play. Just piled a shit load of detentions on you. And no matter what you said; she knows you and she knows Zabini. McGonagall had to have known what you were up to."

I threw my hands up in frustration. "We are going round in circles and it's pointless. This is the way things are guys and we just have to learn to live with it." My words came out angrier than I intended.

Wincing, I started to apologise.

Craig put on a sympathetic face. "It's okay mate. We know."

I sat up waiting for them in the common room after practise. I had left as soon as they finally gave up and headed for the locker rooms. I had to admit; there was a small part of me that was thrilled by how badly practise had went. I felt doubly guilty for it though and resolved to give Aelius my play book and turn up to all the practises.

But I wasn't sure it would help. It wasn't even Aelius's fault really; it was all of them. They all seemed to play brilliantly individually but just refused to gel as a team. James had real trouble communicating with Louis, first and foremost. I knew James as a player from growing up; and he loved trick passes, fast spins and anything that required guile. Louis was just not familiar enough with his style to read his play. As a result he often ended falling for the tricks James meant for the opposition. In return, Louis, who enjoyed clear, fast play, was shooting so accurately and honestly, that James had to slow down his play and put his more elaborate plans on hold just to be exactly where Louis was passing. Which was not where James thought he should be passing. Aelius and James eventually worked each other out; but it threw Aelius and Louis off key as a result, and from then on, Aelius spent his time dancing between the two of them and halting his own play a lot. He had no clue how to address any of this; and what's more- didn't seem to think it was something he should address. It was their problem to iron out.

Even he and Louis had a spot of trouble linking up; slight errors in judgement and confidence that would never have usually been there. Times when they had allowed the ball slip slightly and gaps open because they had learned to just assume I would close them. Tom's throws and blocks and reading of the game was slightly off, and Gwen seemed to just sit sullenly a few metres above everyone. Aelius was so absorbed in trying to sort out the Chaser mess that he didn't bother to check her.

Alice and Craig worked fine; but didn't have the heart to bombard the Chasers in the state they had worked themselves into.

When the Portrait door finally swung open; I adopted the most indifferent face I could. "Hey guys. Tired?"

Craig swung his stuff onto the armchair. "No. Not really. Just pissed off actually."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "I'm sorry okay? I don't know how many times-"

Aelius brushed past Craig to the fireplace, warming his hands. "Not at you. It was stupid- what you did- but you're noble and all that jazz- and we can't really hold it against you. But fact is- being Captain is fucking shit. It's affecting my game and I hate it."

I leaned back in my chair. "Oh. Then what-?"

"Zabini." Gwen spat the name with venom. "We want his head. On a platter."

Aelius turned slowly and eyed her dubiously. "Gwen. We agreed not to go with that plan. Keep going rogue and I will cut you from the mission."

That got my attention. "Mission? What- Aelius. What mission?"

He tapped his nose secretively; grinning smugly to himself. Abandoning him; I turned to the others.

"What is he talking about?" Gazing beseechingly at each of them I eventually found the eyes of my little cousin. Of sorts.

James smiled sadly at me. "I want to be on the team, Teddy. More than anything. But not like this- not as a chaser- we both know my kind of excellence was not put on this earth to chase after some stupid orange ball- I'm supposed to be chasing the gold Teddy. I'll try out next year and be Seeker. But you- you love chasing the stupid orange ball. And we're going to make that happen. One way or another."

I blinked. "That's sweet James, but not really encouraging. What exactly are you-?"

"You're going to be Seeker over my cold dead body, James." Gwen shot him a withering glare. He smiled demurely back, before meeting my gaze. I knew we were both thinking the same thing.

She'd make a pretty inferi.

I'd known from the off that James was not a chaser; but he was talented all round at Quidditch and was the best alternative. Also he'd die to be on a Gryffindor winning team and I knew he'd work himself into the ground to try and make that happen. But he was never a Chaser. Not because he wasn't good- but because he was born to be a Seeker. The boy had a sixth sense- he just knew where it was! I had never seen anything like it- not even Harry matched it. He was by far the fastest player I had ever seen out of the league and had reflexes that matched players in it. He would destroy Gwen to be Seeker; and skip happily over her dead body to do it.

I only hoped Ginnny let him try out before Zabini left.

"This is great guys- I love that you miss me, and I miss you guys too, but... let's not do anything drastic yeah?"

Aelius turned to face me; the soft red glow from the fire casting ominous shadows across his face as he stared dramatically down at me. "Oh it's too late for that Teddy. The wheels are already in motion."

What the fuck does that even mean?