A few mor weeks passed and Valentin day was approaching, Ted hadn't lost it again but everybody could see that something was wrong with him. His hair which normally shone in the brightest colors were just brown for a while now. Chara went with Emily and Elliot across the grounds, they had had a lesson of care of magical creatures and were on their way back to the castle. "Hei isn't that Ted?" Elliot suddenly asked and pointed at the figure at the lakeshore. Chara shielded her eyes against the light with her hand. "Yeah probably", she said. "What is he doing there?" Emily wanted to know. Chara shrugged meanwhile her best friend was just a riddle to her. She sighed and kept looking at the person at the lake. "Chara are you coming?" Chara hadn't realized that her friend had gone on. She bit her lower lip and made a decision she was a Gryffindor after all. "Go on, I'll be right there", she said and moved toward the lake. Elliot and Emily looked after her then they exchanged a glance. "It's about time, it was unbearable," Elliot laughed took Emily's arm and went into the castle. Never in her life Chara's heart had beaten so fast and she wondered if it was really a good idea but she had to speak with Ted. She wanted that he knew that she was sorry how she had acted lately and she just wished the best for him. Also she couldn't stand how down he seemed, she wanted her always happy best friend back. Ted seemed to be lost in thoughts because he didn't realize that Chara stepped to him and kept throwing stones over the water. "Ted?" Chara asked carefully. Ted looked up to her and smiled dull. "Are you talking to me again?" he wanted to know. Chara sighed and sat on the rock beside him. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have treated you like that." "It's alright", Ted said throwing stones over the water again. Chara shook her head even though Ted couldn't see it. "No it's not alright. You're my best friend and I should be happy for you and want that you're happy. So if you're happy with Victoire that's fine I just want my best friend back." Ted sighed and pulled a leg close, laid his arm on it and put his head on his arm. "The thing with Victoire was a one-off." "Oh", was all Chara could say. For a while the two sat there without saying anything and it felt good for both to feel the closeness of the other. "What about your hair?" Chara wanted to know. She couldn't remember when Ted had had brown hair before. Most of the time they were turquoise or dark blue. Sometimes they were blond or fire red. "That?" Ted said and pointed at his brown shock of hair. "Is my natural hair color". Chara tilted her head and eyed Ted, she had to admit that even though the color was unusual for him it suited him very well. Especially his dark eyes, which had so much expressiveness, came into their own so much better. "And why are you wearing them like that now?" Chara wanted to know. Ted snorted. "It's not voluntary. I can't change it anymore", said Ted. "Why that?" Chara was confused she didn't understand how this could happen. Ted sighed and said: "My abilities are tied to my emotions and they are a bit troubled at the moment." Chara bit her lip she couldn't help but feel responsible for Ted not being able to control his ability to change. "Didn't your mom have problems with it as well?" Chara asked, she thought she could remember that Ted had told her something like that. Ted nodded. "Yeah before she got together with Dad. He was so stubborn, thought he was too dangerous, too old and too poor for her. That she deserved someone else, but she wouldn't listen. She suffered so much from the situation that she couldn't use her ability any more either," Ted said and ran his hand through his hair. "Is it the same cause in your case?" Chara wanted to know. For the first time since she sat beside him he looked at her. She could see the pain in his eyes and wished nothing more than to lessen this pain. "Pretty similar", he confessed. Chara's heart went into her throat and before she could change her mind she started to speak. "You know Ted there's a reason why I avoided you like this. I couldn't stand the thought that you could fell in love with someone else. I didn't want to destroy our friendship but it's clear for me that I fell more for you than just friendship." As she spoke Chara had closed her eyes so she didn't have to see Ted's reaction. His eyes widened, before he started to grin and a smug expression appeared on his face. Ted pushed himself from the ground with one hand so he was on the same height as Chara's face. He saw how her chest rose as she took a deep breath and he knew that she would open her eyes to see how he reacted. Before she opened her eyes Ted laid his lips on Chara's and her eyes snapped open. She was completely baffled. But than she relaxed, closed her eyes again and started to return the kiss. Ted let go of her and put his forehead against hers. "You have no idea how long I wanted to do that", he breathed. His warm breath tickled on Chara's skin. "And now?" she wanted to know. Ted only grinned wrapped the arm he wasn't supporting himself with around Chara and pulled her close. Then he lowered himself to the floor and pulled Chara onto his lap. "Ted", Chara laughed and punched his chest. "Hi no reason to get violent", he said and took a hold of her hands. Chara glared at him and pouted. Ted grinned and kissed her again. When they disengaged again, Chara looked thoughtfully at Ted. "What?" he wanted to know. "Do you think it will work again?" Chara asked. Ted didn't have to ask what she meant. "I think so", said Ted and his hair started to change colors. "I'm sorry, that was all my fault", said Chara and put her head against his chest. "Nonsense", Ted said, "If I had said something earlier I could have saved us both a lot of pain."
Of course, word had spread like wildfire around Hogwarts that Chara and Ted were now together. Wherever the two of them appeared now, there was immediate whispering. What annoyed Chara more than Ted. It was Sunday and they had both decided to stay in their common room to learn for the N.E. . Chara just came out of her room when she saw Ted shacking his head about some letter. "What's that?" she asked and wrapped her arms from behind around his shoulders. "It's a letter from my grandma", said Ted. "What does she write?" Ted snorted. "It's actually funny. She heard that we're two are a couple and she just wanted to remind me that you're my cousin." Chara rolled her eyes and swung over the backrest to sit next to Ted. "She can't be serious can she?" She grabbed the letter from Ted's hand and looked it over. "We know already that my Dad was your Grandmother's cousin what does that make us? Cousins four time removed?" she asked and looked at Ted. He shrugged. "Something like that, but I don't care what she or somebody else says. I want to be with you." Ted pulled Chara to him. She giggled as Ted spread soft kisses along her neck. "From where does she know about it anyway?" Chara asked when she caught her breath. "James will have written it to Harry and he probably told Grandma." Chara immediately resolved to have a serious word with the young Potter as soon as possible.
On the day of their graduation, both Chara's mother and Ted's family, i.e. his grandmother, appeared together with Harry. Chara saw that her mother was standing and talked with them, while James was trying to get his fathers attention. Together with Ted Chara moved closer to the three grown ups. "Chara!" Prue called out as she saw her daughter and embraced her. "Hallo Mama", Chara said and returned the hug. Ted grinned while he greeted Harry and his grandmother. "I'm so proud of you", Prue said as she let go of her daughter. "Thanks", Chara said smiling weakly. Prue was startled when she saw something golden shining on her daughter's neck. "What's that?" she wanted to know and pointed at the delicate necklace. Chara's smile got bigger and pulled the necklace out of her collar. "It was a gift from Ted for my birthday." On the necklace was Ted's name, his real name. "I thought that you don't like it when people call you Edward?" said Harry and looked grinning at Ted, when he saw the writing. "True, but Ted seemed a bit pathetic so it's like that," Ted said and stood by Chara. She looked up to him and smiled. "I like it either way", she said and smiled up to him. "I'm sure you're glad to be done with school", said Andromeda. "Yeah I can't wait to work with Dad", said Ted and smiled at Harry. He grinned at him. It didn't happen often that Ted called his godfather his father but every time he did Harry's chest filled with pride. "Only when you have finished your training Ted," said Harry sternly. Ted rolled his eyes. "Sure. We should go or they will start without us. See you later!" Ted called out, pulling Chara along with him so they could get to the end-of-year party on time.