The Teddy Lupin Story

rougette

Story Summary:
Victoire Weasley has always been the only woman in Teddy Lupin's life, though she can't even stand being in the same room as him. After an unfortunate accident brings the two together, Victoire starts to rethink her feelings for Teddy. But is it too late?

Chapter 01 - The Teddy Lupin Story

Chapter Summary:
During a particularly long-winded DADA lecture, Victoire and her friend Nell begin to pass a note. They weren't expecting for Teddy Lupin to snatch it up at the end of class...
Posted:
05/12/2009
Hits:
238


I can feel his eyes watching me as I attempt to concentrate on the problem at hand. Merlin, must he always fixate me as if I were some sort of attraction? Is there no rest? I steadily lean toward my best girl mate Imoen Peters and whisper out of the side of my mouth, as not to attract attention from Professor Piccolo, "Is Lupin still here?"

Imoen demurely looks behind her in the most casual fashion, then turns to the front again and gives a curt nod. "Yes. He's still sitting by the back watching you. Excuse me, he's observing the lesson. And you just happen to penetrate his line of vision."

I shake my head, rolling my eyes. "Doesn't he realize how ridiculous he looks? That he seriously is making a fool of himself? A seventh year 'observing' fifth year Defense classes because he 'aspires' to become an Auror in the future? It's really just incredible that he has the balls to do that."

"To give him credit though," Imoen points out, "he makes sure to look credible when he's, er, observing. He sits with the fifth year boys and all but he still stands out."

I snort. "Purple hair will do that to you."

"That's not what I mean, Tor," Imoen says. "He always looks...regal I suppose. Accomplished."

Accomplished? Teddy Lupin? The boy who has been following me around ever since I can remember? The one who would purposely just happen to be at the Burrow on the days I am to visit Grammy and Grandad Weasley and the one who always happens to be "dropping by" whenever I am babysitting over at the Potter's house? The one who constantly craves my attention and everybody else's? The one who needs to always be the best, the most acclaimed, the brightest? Teddy Lupin is nothing but a thorn in my side and I am completely prepared to admit it. Teddy Lupin will never be anything other than the annoying boy who once had my friendship but compromised it for his own selfish desires.

"Correct, Miss Peters. Five points to Gryffindor for your efforts." While I was daydreaming, Imoen had correctly answered the Professor's question. Murmuring a quick, "Thank you Professor," Imoen taps her parchment and I quickly copy her response to the question. Curse of the Bogies, I'll have to remember that.

"Now onto the Bond of Blood. Who is able to explain that to the class? Yes, Wood. No, not you, Wood. Your brother Wood. Yes, Mr. Wood, in the back."

Imoen and I turn to the back of the chamber from which Oliver Wood II's eloquent "teacher voice" as we call it is wafting. And sitting at his table is none other than Teddy Lupin, the bane of my existence. He's watching me with a queer look on his face. I notice, his hair is a natural sandy blonde today and his eyes a soft brown. He looks almost mild-mannered. At least that's what I would think if I didn't know he was Teddy Lupin.

Imoen nudges me and I turn my attention to Oliver.

"The Bond of Blood is an extremely powerful form of ancient magic," Oliver begins, a very serious look upon his face. "It occurs when a person sacrifices himself or herself for a family member out of love."

Michael Nott laughs from the other side of the room, then disguises it as a cough.

"This serves as protection in the blood of the person who was saved," Oliver continues, ignoring Nott's distraction.

"Very good, Wood. An additional five points to Gryffindor," declares Piccolo. He turns back the blackboard but as he does so, Oliver remarks, "Thank you, Professor. It's a very important and intriguing charm."

A chiming laugh comes from my left side. I turn to notice Nell Wood at the table next to me, laughing with her impish smile at her twin brother's complete suck up attitude to the Professor. It's not uncommon at all, but we're all so used to his demeanor toward the professors that now we simply admire it. But Nell still gets a kick out of Ollie's stunts. And the rest of us get a kick out of the both of them.

Sometimes Imoen and I feel a bit guilty about calling eachother best mates, but when I really think about it, there is no reason we should feel that way. Nell is the kind of girl who doesn't even need a best girl mate. She's completely self-sufficient, smart enough to out-wit anyone, cute enough to get her way with most things, and spunky enough to stand up for herself even in the strangest of circumstances. She can get herself out of any trouble there is and can think up an excuse in seconds flat. She has Oliver for when she needs to talk serious and she has Imoen and I for when she needs to spout girl talk.

But all in all, she's far to catty to have a real best girl mate or to have a lasting dependant relationship with her brother. Or any boy for that matter. Nell is bound to end up an old maid just because I really can't think of any man who can handle her. Except maybe Uncle Ron. Dad says if Ron can put up with Aunt Hermione, he can put up with anyone and I reckon he's right.

Oliver is almost the complete opposite of Nell. He's a load of fun when he's in a good, happy mood (which is typically his personality) but he can also be a real serious thinker. Imoen always kids him that he thinks too much but really that's just Ollie. What a cross breed those Woods are--a complete blend of their Quidditch star father and novelist mother. Oliver typically will hang out with Imoen and I during school, but his real best mate is Jimmy Mayer who he's on the Quidditch team with. Imoen and I both dreadfully abhor Jimmy but mostly because he dismally hates us. He's a real man's man, if you know the type.

And then there's Imoen, the sweetheart of the group. She's the cutest little thing and so soft-spoken that you just want to hug her. She just got out of a year-long relationship with this bloke called Devon Clearwater-Hayes and she was badly marred by the whole thing. It's turned her somewhat quieter still and untrusting but I can't really blame her for that. But still, she manages to see the good in everyone, though even she agrees with me that Teddy Lupin needs to sod off and get a life. Or maybe I just said that and she nodded absently. Whichever it was, she's my best mate and I'm sure she agrees with me on all Teddy Lupin matters.

Speaking of which...

I quickly rip a small piece of parchment from my roll and scribble down, Is Teddy Lupin still back there by Oliver? Looking to my right I notice that Imoen is still steadily taking notes and being a good little diligent student. Instead of disturbing her (not something that best mates should do), I instead fold the parchment and drop it to the chamber floor, flicking it over to the edge of Nell's table with the tip of my foot. She grins at me and picks up the parchment, reading quickly and replying, sending the note my way in the same fashion.

Anything to get out of paying attention in class.

Is Teddy Lupin still sitting back there by Oliver?

Yes, he is. And when I looked he was still staring at you with those incredibly gorgeous eyes. Honestly Tor, any other girl would be freaking excited if Ted were in love with her but you treat him like shit all the time. I don't know how he can still chase after you.

Oh please, Nell. 'Incredibly gorgeous eyes?' You never know what color his eyes are going to be one day to the next 'cus he's always so busy showing off to the world that he can change his appearance with the blink of an eye. And I don't treat him that badly, I just don't always want him on my case. I don't know how Oliver can even deal with him for this amount of class time, let alone be on the Quidditch team with him.

Ollie doesn't just put up with him, from what I hear they're friends. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Ollie needs to get away from his more feminine reputation.

Oliver doesn't have a feminine reputation! Just because he hangs out with Imoen and I a lot doesn't mean that he's gay or anything.

Oh Merlin no I wasn't saying that he was gay! I have firm proof that Oliver isn't gay...though I'd really not like to talk about it. It's just all a bit gross to me honestly, even knowing that my brother has a manhood. But anyway, I was just saying that he hangs out with girls more than boys and that's just a bit odd. So it's good he and Teddy Lupin hang about.

Couldn't he have picked a better one though? All laughing matters aside, Oliver really know how to pick 'em (sarcastic!). First Jimmy Mayer and now Teddy Lupin! He has more luck with girlfriends apparently.

I know, right!? Seeing as he got Marie Donner to date him for FOUR MONTHS last term! And all through September and October he dated that pretty blonde girl, what was her name?

Vesta Finch. You really don't know the names of your own brother's conquests, Nell?!

He can remember his girls' names himself, that's one thing I don't have to pick up after him for. I just looked back again, Tori. He's not looking at you this time. Maybe he's finally given up.

I couldn't be so lucky. Teddy Lupin will never give up on me.

Why must you be so completely negative about him! He isn't all that bad, Tori!

He is too, Nell. You don't see him the same way that I see him, you don't know what I've seen in the past or what's happened between us previously. You see a pretty little face, albeit constantly changing, and you see a charming guy who could get any girl on the face of the planet. I see a lowly womanizer who cares more about putting himself on a pedestal that he ever will about anyone else. I'm not ready to let myself be the girl that succumbs to his act. Let him come to me, I don't care. But I'm not putting out anything in return. I know all he'll be is a sad little orphan who doesn't get anything good out of life because he's too busy keeping up his pride. And I'm the easiest conquest for him to keep pushing at, but I won't be pushed over anytime soon.

That's really harsh, Victoire. No lie. You really don't see anything good in Teddy? Anything at all?

No.

Listen, Tor, I know that all your life you've always hated Teddy. Maybe not all your life but a big part of it. But maybe you've completely brainwashed yourself into thinking it so much that you can't think anything else. Teddy isn't the bad guy you make him out to be. Maybe you just haven't seen what's inside.

...

Admit it, you can't say one good thing about Teddy Lupin because your stubborn old self won't let you. Admit it.

I can so. I could say something if I wanted to.

Then say something.

I don't want to.

Stubborn ass.

Just because I don't like Teddy doesn't mean I'm stubborn about all things. He just wants something that I don't want.

Stubborn prude ass.

Fine! Okay, fine, I'll say something! I just have to think first.

Fine. I'm waiting...

I suppose...he's rather good looking.

...

Fine. He's very good looking. His eyes are very nice and his hair is unique...in a good way. And his smile is good too.

You can't just say looks!

Okay! Fine! He's...he's very committed to things.

What do you mean?

Very committed to...causes. And people I suppose.

How?

He doesn't give up trying.

So what you're really telling me is this: Teddy Lupin is very committed to causes and people. Teddy Lupin is there for people. TEDDY LUPIN DOESN'T GIVE UP ON PEOPLE.

Yeah, maybe. I guess that's what I'm saying.

He doesn't give up on people, he doesn't just walk away.

What are you, a Teddy Lupin expert?

I'm saying that he is perfect for you. He's crazy about you and won't stop trying. Which is perfect for your trust issues.

My trust issues!? I think now you're getting me confused with Imoen.

You both have them. You only trust eachother. And Ollie. And maybe me. Sometimes. I don't know. But you have trust issues too and I don't know where they come from. But Ted would be a perfect way to get over them.

Ha. Not.

Shut up and just listen to me for once, Tor.

Imoen nudges me. "We're dismissed. Get your stuff together, I'm absolutely starving for supper. And you had better tell me all that you and Nell talked about. I'm not daft, I know it was something serious by the way your forehead was all scrunched by the end of the conversation." She started to gather her things, brushing her papers into her bag.

"Oh, it was all really just silly stuff. Nothing to worry about Imoen." Nell folds the note in half and smacks it down on my table, throwing her bag over her shoulder. "Well I'm off to go find Freddie Banes. He owes me a kreuller from this morning. Goodbye all. Oi, Oliver! Wait up!" She scampered after her brother and Jimmy who were just making their way to the door.

"She's completely mental that one," Imoen laughs, watching after Nell. "But she's one of my favorite people here. How does that happen?"

"Dunno," I mutter, still a bit disgruntled from my conversation. I crumple the folded note up a bit and was about to shove it into my bag when a swift hand grabs it from me unexpectedly.

"Oh for joy, what do we have here?" Standing in front of me smirking is none other than Teddy Lupin. And he's holding my note.

"Why would you be interested in a bit of parchment that Tori was just about to throw away, Teddy?" Imoen pleasantly asks. She's so sweet and pretty and honest that usually she can get away with any lie.

"Maybe you didn't know this, Imoen Peters," Teddy tells her almost kindly, "because you were so busy being a good girl and writing your assignments and all, but this happens to be a note that our not-so-good little Victoire and Nell were passing back and forth all class time. Probably filled with asinine gossip." He smiled a half-smirk.

"Why would you care though?" Imoen asks, still as sweet and innocent as ever. "It's probably just filled with girl talk. Whatever's got Nell's wand at the time, you know..."

"I would normally believe that," Teddy replied cordially, "if it hadn't been for Nell's constant looks back at me while the note-writing was taking place."

Damn her.

"So naturally, I'd like to think that this has something to do with me. And if it has," Teddy tosses the note into the air and catches it again with one hand, "I have a right to know what it is."

I feel my face turn exceptionally hot and my eyes water as they do when I get particularly flustered. Damn my mother too for giving me her pale, blonde and blue eyed genes which are so subject to change whenever I feel an emotion.

"You're changing color, Victoire," Teddy says, still tossing the note up and down, up and down. It's really quite comical to me that he should say such a thing, because as we speak I notice that his soft brown eyes are melting into a cool green. A pretty green. "You're turning all red. And I know you, I know how you are. You want to hide something from me." He stops tossing the crumpled note and looks at it curiously. "Which must mean one of two things."

We're all silent.

"It's either something good or something bad," he remarks, turning the crumpled note about in his hand.

I find my voice. "Something good? Something bad? What are you talking about, Teddy?"

He isn't fazed by my hints that he's completely mental. "You're embarrassed for one of two reasons. One: You wrote something about me in this note that's extremely unflattering, rude, or even cruel." I flush even harder. "Something that would essentially hurt me." My face turns redder still, I can feel it. "Or," he continues, "there's reason two: You wrote something good about me, something that shows that you don't harbor nothing but hate for me in your being. And you're afraid to let me see it because you're afraid to show your feelings. Or in other words, you're afraid to feel. So which is it, Victoire?"

Both.

He stares at me, waiting for me to answer for a long time. It feels like hours but maybe it was only a few minutes. Or a few moments. I try not to look at him. I stare at my feet, at the note he is still grasping in his hand. Anything to avoid his ever-changing eyes. The silence is unfathomable.

I hear footsteps from behind us. "Hey everyone; Tori, Imoen, Teddy. Are we going to go to dinner or are we going to stand here looking at eachother all day?" Thank Merlin for Oliver Wood the Second. Honestly he has the best timing I've ever known of anyone. I know he's done it on purpose, interrupted our little moment, but I'm glad. I want nothing but to be out of this room with that note in my hand and to go burn it in the common room fireplace at this moment.

Teddy Lupin still looks at me, but with a suddenly sobering look. His eyes fade back into a soft brown and he tosses the note to Imoen, shoving his hands into his pockets and shrugging. "I'll just be going then, wouldn't want to over stay my welcome with this group. And I wouldn't want Victoire's face to catch on fire or anything." He began to leave.

But as he passed, I heard myself say softly to him, "I'm sorry."

Then, very quietly, he said, "Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth." I don't know if it was in response to my apology or just in general, or if he was just saying it to himself, but he just said it and then continued out of the chamber.

"What did he mean by that?" asks Imoen, already tearing up the note into tiny, unreadable pieces. "Never apologize for showing feeling...I never knew Teddy Lupin was the poet type."

"He isn't," Oliver said, "well at least not that I know of. He's quoting someone else. I've heard it before, but I can't place it."

"Ah, the poetry reader of our group," Imoen grinned and gestured at Oliver. "I don't know why you like it. I can barely understand what they're trying to say."

"It's just a liking for the taste of it," Oliver reasoned, grinning back. "It's the same as liking opera or abstract art or film."

"Another ridiculous concept." Imoen laughs.

"Yeah, well..." Oliver mutters an incantation and waves his wand over the pieces, igniting them with fire. The curl up into tiny flames and fell onto the table as ashes. He waves his wand again and the ashes are gone. "So what was so terrible that you and Nell wrote in that note anyway?"

"Teddy told you?" I ask, concerned.

"Nah," he shakes his head. "But it doesn't take Masterson Leviosa to reason that you two were writing about him. He was getting stared at every two seconds."

"Was it really that obvious?"

He shrugs regretfully. "Yeah." I sigh. "I don't get why you won't just give the guy a chance, Tor! All he wants is a chance."

"I know," I reply, finally gathering my things and taking my bag from Imoen. "I'm just not ready to give it to him."

"That's what you've been saying since first year, Tori. Really ever since I knew you." Oliver leads our group out of the chamber and into the corridor where Jimmy (ew) is waiting for him to come out.

He gives us a curt nod. "Girls," he says in distaste.

I nod back. "Ass." He gives me a dirty look, but continues walking with the three of us.

"Teddy isn't a bad guy," Oliver insists. "Sometimes he gets his priorities mixed up, but you can't blame him."

"Oh don't give me that 'he's an orphan, feel bad for him' stuff again, Oliver," I interrupt. "It didn't work when we visited his parents' graves for our History of Magic field trip and it won't work now. Shady pasts don't make a person who they are."

"Quiet your voice, Tori," Imoen says. "Teddy's at the end of the corridor."

"You're all still trying to get her to give old Ted a chance?" Jimmy says incredulously. "Honestly, he should give it up already! She may be part Veela but that doesn't make up in what she clearly lacks in brain cells."

"Shut it, Mayer," Oliver mutters. "Teddy just wants once chance. Give it to him, Tor."

I sigh and turn to Oliver, all of us stopping. "Have you ever wanted a girl for ten years straight? So much that you wouldn't even have real relationships with other girls? So much that you would make a fool out of yourself for her attention or try and make yourself look cool for her?"

Oliver looks sideways. "Er, maybe. I dunno."

"Right. It doesn't happen to guys. Does it, Jimmy?" I look at him.

"Nah," he shakes his head. "Not typically. But you know, maybe for a certain girl."

"What?" I ask. My only alliance, breaking down.

"If she was really special than maybe." He runs a hand through his black hair. "I'm starting to sound more of a fag than you, Oliver."

"Shut it, Mayer," Oliver repeats, but this time with less heart in it. Insults seem to roll of Oliver.

We walk along in silence for a bit.

"I don't like him," I say after some time. "I can't even fathom him on most days."

"We know, Tori," Imoen says softly. "You don't have to convince us. I don't know why we're always trying to get you to give Teddy a chance when we know you don't like him."

"So...how do I get rid of him?" They look at me as if I just asked why Voldemort was a bad guy. "I mean, not get rid of him...just discourage him."

"Without hurting him," adds Imoen.

"Yeah, that too. I need to get rid of him quick an easy within the period of about ten minutes."

"Tell him straight out," Jimmy suggests. "Lay it all out on the table for him. Tell him it isn't going to work."

"Done it before," I sigh.

"Say you just want to be friends," Imoen concedes.

Oliver shakes his head vehemently. "No, that's even worse than saying you already have a boyfriend. For a guy anyways."

"Why?" Imoen asks curiously.

"Because if you have a boyfriend it's like okay, well she's not available at the moment, but that doesn't mean I won't have a chance in the future. But if she says 'I just want to be friends', that's way worse. It makes a guy feel like oh, I'm not good enough for this girl and I never will be."

"Ohh," Imoen and I coo together. We never knew boys had such insights into what girls do.

"Or you could just do this," amends Jimmy. And before I know what's happening, he's grabbed me by the tops of my arms, swung me around, and is kissing me.

Full on.

In my mouth.

And I have to admit...I never knew French Kissing could be so wonderful. His tongue inside my mouth, massaging mine. I could taste his blessed lips as they enveloped mine, over and over again, his tongue flicked over my teeth and it was all I could do from sighing in pleasure against his mouth.

Not that I like Jimmy. I just like kissing him in this moment. I'll never like Jimmy like that and he knows it. But we both like kissing.

When we pull away, I notice at first glance that Jimmy's mouth has turned a beautiful lustrous red from our kissing and he's breathing heavily. His deep brown eyes look almost hungry as he looks back at me. I look over his shoulder and see Imoen and Oliver looking at the two of us in shock.

And at the end of the hallway, Teddy Lupin is looking at us. He's seen the whole thing. And he's looking absolutely murderous.

I watch regretfully as he hastily walks away.

"And that," Jimmy says, watching after Teddy, "is how you get rid of a guy in ten seconds."


I sincerely hope you enjoyed it! (: