Alicent was irritable and snippy the whole ride home from school. As the winter-finals results for Potions were being passed around the day before, Professor Sylvestra had singled her out. She made sure that the whole class knew Alicent was the one with the lowest grade. This was atypical for both Alicent and Professor Sylvestra. Sylvestra was often aloof and rambling, never truly bothered by any student or issue. Alicent had nearly killed herself to become the star pupil in everything she did, ever since they were first years. She had perfect attendance and grades, was a prefect and now Head Girl, and turned down the position of quidditch Captain due to so many other commitments clogging her schedule. Alicent's face had been beet red since the altercation.

"You know, I bet Sylvestra was just mad that Professor Longbottom married that Lovegood lady. She was feeling insecure and took it out on you." Hazel placated quietly. From over the top of her book, she saw Alicent grow redder.

"I don't care. She knows I want to work at St. Mungo's, she knows how important a good potions grade is to get into the program! I mess up ONE question on an Honors Potion test, a trick question I might add, and she feels the need to shame me before the whole school!" Alicent was bravely fighting off tears. "Being perfect is everything to me! You know that."

"I do." Hazel took Alicent's clenched hands in hers. "You'll recover. Just come back fighting after Christmas, yeah? Maybe learn a really tricky potion for extra credit."

Alicent sniffled. Hazel could tell that she was fighting a lump in her throat. "It's silly, but she's actually making me question even going into medicine at all. I have a trust fund. I could live off of that when I graduate."

They stared at each other for several minutes, one dejected, and one flabbergasted.

Hazel dropped her friend's hands and jumped to her feet, grabbing her wand. She pointed it between Alicent's eyes. "Who are you, and what have you done with Alicent?!"

Alicent brought her knees up to her chest. She stared at the rolling hills as they flew by the train window. "Quit, I'm in no mood. I was serious."

"Duel me." Hazel made a dramatic gesture with her wand. "If you win I'll let you be pitiful and quit your dream. If you lose you have to become the best Healer in London."

A fire flickered to life in Alicent's eyes. "I have an unfair advantage. I took Dueling as an extracurricular."

"I have an unfair advantage. I have an older brother." Hazel hopped into a dueling pose. She narrowed her eyes. "And I'm better at charms than you."

Alicent threw herself to her feet. "That's a lie and you know it!"

"Prove it!" Hazel tossed a mute-ness hex at Alicent and ran for the hall of the train.

"Is that all you can do?!" Alicent had blocked the hex, it seemed, and was hot on Hazel's trail. Heads started to poke out of cabins to spy on the commotion.

"You'll soon find out!"

A rough and dirty battle ensued, with neither participant going unscathed. They flung curses and hexes until both were so afflicted that they could fight no more. Onlookers crowded to stare at their prone bodies. Hazel's whole face was covered in red scales and she was puking black liquorice pieces, her legs caught in ropes. Alicent had bat wings poking through her blazer, spider webs instead of hair, and cat's paws instead of hands. Both were covered in goo.

Professor Longbottom, the regretful escort for this section of the train, managed to shove his way through the giggling crowd.

"Of all the girls on this train, you two are the last ones I would suspect." He shook his head fondly at two notorious teacher's pets brought so low. "This takes me back to my school days. Now, commit to a truce and I'll reverse all this damage."

Both girls nodded eagerly, especially Hazel, who despised licorice.

By the time the professor finished with them the train was rolling into the station. A fight, it seemed, was all Alicent needed to relight her fire. She couldn't stop chattering about how clever Hazel had been with her bat-wing hex, or the near miss she herself had with a rainbow snot spell.

Hazel felt quite mellow, and perhaps a bit ashamed. She had never caused so much mischief before, and it was sure to be the talk of the school for the rest of the year. She was staring so intently at her shoes as they walked through the station that she walked right into Teddy.

"Oof," Teddy stumbled forward, somehow making even that look lazy and slow. Hazel, predictably, blushed.

"I'm so sorry! I don't see you." She grabbed ahold of his hand to steady him. He seemed unruffled, righting himself easily. He did not let go of her hand. Hazel, predictably, blushed a deeper red.

"No matter." Teddy said, ruffling his hair with his free hand. "We're headed the same way anyway."

Hazel hummed, agreeing, and they started a quiet trek through the sleepy train station. Teddy seemed his normal self, which relieved her. She hadn't had much time for him with winter finals. She had taken to hiding to study so that he wouldn't show up to distract her. His favorite pastime was to lay his head in her lap and levitate her hair as she worked. It wasn't done with evil intent, but the very smell of him distracted Hazel, so it was just as well.

"Do either of you know how cold it is here? I forgot earmuffs." Alicent asked as they neared the exit. Hazel herself had forgotten gloves, and Teddy didn't even have a coat. He wore a thick wool sweater and tan slacks.

"Let's just hope that Hargrave has the car nice and warm for us." Hazel said, taking her hand back from Teddy to adjust her cotton beanie over her ears. "He should be waiting nearby."

Teddy looked a bit surprised. "Hargraves? You call your father by his name?"

Hazel gave him a small, sad smile. "No, he's our driver. Richard Hargraves."

"Hazel's parents aren't exactly hands on." Alicent explained. "They put all of their energy into Thomas, molding him to be the next head of the family."

"I don't mind, though. They let me do as I please." Hazel didn't want to put Teddy off. He had already returned to his normal, laid back state. He held the door for Alicent, and then Hazel. The wintery wind numbed Hazel's cheeks.

"Better than never leaving you be." Teddy shrugged, his hair turning a dull gray. They walked toward the Aston Martin and, hopefully, a fun vacation.

…..

Hazel was, for once in her life, happy that Alicent was taking some personal time. Alicent enjoyed the Nott family library and always made sure to give it some undivided attention. She had left Teddy and Hazel after tea, and promised to see them at breakfast. That left the two of them all alone in the guest house.

The guest house was a proper house in its own right. A frozen lake with a cobbled bridge separated it from the main house, and it had its own garden. It had three bedrooms, a spacious kitchen, a very large bathtub in the master bathroom, and a sitting room with a fireplace. It was decorated in browns and greens, with handcrafted furniture. Hazel had been living there since she was fifteen, on the promise that she would return to the main house if a guest needed the space.

Teddy was on cloud nine, lounging on a couch in front of the fire with a bowl candied nuts. Hazel dozed with her head on his shoulder. She roused a bit as she felt his foot stroke hers gently. She looked at him, but he was staring intently at the fire.

They were alone, cuddling in a warm sitting room, bellies full of hot cocoa. Hazel felt heat and need coursing through her. She decided to be brave.

"Teddy?"

"Hm?"

"Is…is your lap cold?" Hazel bit her lip and blushed, looking at his lips instead of his eyes. He licked them, thinking on what she said for a moment. His breath smelled sweet.

"A bit." He murmured, stroking her chin with his thumb. He gently lifted her chin until she looked him in the eye. His hair was dark red and Hazel's heart skipped a beat. "Is there something you wanted to ask me?"

Hazel felt small and meek, her thighs shaking. "May I…sit on it? To warm it…of course." Even to her own ears, she sounded like a frightened mouse.

Teddy nodded and reclined against the back of the couch. Hazel hadn't thought out her plan very well, as she was wearing a knee-length skirt. She bashfully pulled it up a bit and climbed onto his lap, straddling him. Her whole body shook with nerves and desire as she settled in. Teddy placed his hands on her thighs and massaged them. Hazel thought she would burst into flame.

Hazel thought about dancing around her intentions, but found herself without words. She licked her lips, put her hands gently on his neck, and leaned in to do what she had longed to for months. His lips were full and soft, and they tasted like something she wasn't old enough to have. They kissed slowly, deeply, exploring each other's mouths. They barely stopped for breath. Air seemed like a want instead of a need.

Teddy started to explore with his hands, making a moan slip from Hazel's lips. He firmly kneaded her rear, as lazily as he did everything else in his life. Hazel could feel his arousal grow beneath her, and found herself wanting what she had never had. She knew that she wouldn't regret indulging with Teddy. She had never trusted another boy as much as she did him.

So she did the unthinkable. She gently moved her hips against his. Teddy groaned, reciprocating. The kiss became rough and heated, breathing in each other's breath.

Teddy laid Hazel down on the couch and started nibbling at her inner thigh. She dug her fingers into his hair, trying to stifle little whimpers. He reached the top of her thigh and hesitated.

"Do you really want to? It's okay if you don't." There was something vulnerable in Teddy's eyes. He needed this as much as Hazel did.

"Yes. I… I've been wanting to for a long time." Hazel whispered.