FIC: Many Precious Things [chapter 5]
Jan. 30th, 2009 12:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leashy_bebesTitle: Many Precious Things [Chapter 5][wip]
Author: Lyds
Rating: PG? Bits of swearing, I suppose. Awkward sex talk? Is that a warning? Nothing really graphic.
Disclaimer: HP characters etc are not mine. Title is from an Elvis Costello song, When It Sings, and that's not mine either.
Words: 10000 [this part - i don't even know how that happened]
CLICK HERE to read from the start.
When Teddy wakes up on Wednesday morning, it's to a sinking feeling about the day ahead. He's been busy all week, but by Tuesday afternoon even Lorraine seemed to have cottoned on to the fact that he was mostly inventing work for himself. Almost a week earlier his boss had collared him first thing in the morning to request that he adapt his last report for publication in a well known charms journal. He's flattered, of course he is, and a bit nervous. Mainly, he's annoyed at just how hard he's finding the unfamiliar task. So he's been putting it off and putting it off - on Tuesday morning he'd resorted to reorganising his files, which had led to tidying and rearranging the office until Lorraine threw a book at his head and ordered him home, not to return until he had at least a draft.
Ignoring the temptation to roll over and go back to sleep, Teddy forces himself to sit up, untangling his limbs from the bed sheets. He blinks blearily at his bedroom walls for a moment before rubbing his hands over his eyes and yawning hugely. He stretches and yawns again before dragging himself off to the shower. Fifteen minutes later finds him in the kitchen making a cup of strong black coffee and feeling decidedly more human, if no more confident about the task ahead. Blowing gently on the surface of his coffee to cool it, Teddy wanders from the kitchen to the living room table where his own notes and reports, along with a sample of journals and a couple of books are taking up most of the surface space. He'd set them there last night in the vain hope that the sight of them first thing in the morning would spur him on to a productive day. Teddy sometimes thinks that he's the worst Ravenclaw in the world. Ian would leap at an opportunity like this, and would have drafted and redrafted an informative and original article by now.
"Right," Teddy mutters, taking a swig of his coffee and leafing through the latest issue of the journal in which he's hoping to publish his article. A flick of his wand sends his cup back to the kitchen and Teddy sits at the table. He reads an article about the theory behind cheering charms and the need to update it in the light of Poliakov's Second Theorem without once acknowledging to himself that it has nothing to do with what he's meant to be writing. Eventually, he shoves the journal away and grabs one of the muggle-style notepads he prefers to use for rough work.
After he's written the title and underlined it twice and stared at the otherwise blank page for five minutes, Teddy groans in frustration and throws down his pen. He hasn't struggled like this with a piece of work since he was in school. The reports he presents to his boss are straightforward, usually accounting for his time, and focusing on the practical applications of his work. If he wants to get published - which he does, of course. He was a Ravenclaw after all, and the very thought of other people reading and discussing his work makes him dizzy - he'll need to bring in much more theory, and probably change his style of writing quite a bit. Of course, there's more than a little fear wrapped up in his inability to get started, and Teddy is honest enough with himself to recognise that. At the moment he's not sure whether submitting for publication and being rejected would be more or less traumatic than being accepted and waiting until his article is critiqued by people with decades more experience than himself. Frustrated at himself, Teddy pushes his notebook away and stretches his arms up above his head before slumping back down in his chair and idly flicking open another journal, leafing through perfectly structured and written articles, and wondering how the hell anyone completes more than one in a year.
When the floo flares green half a wholly unproductive hour later it's all Teddy can do not to cheer. Even the most unwanted guest would be welcomed with open arms right now, but as it is, Teddy smiles hugely when James' face appears in the fireplace. James hasn't yet taken Teddy up on his offer of company this summer, and Teddy's wondered a couple of times if James had thought he didn't really mean it.
"Hey, you!"
"Are you busy?" James asks.
"Busy staring at a blank page, yeah," Teddy says. "Come through."
"My saviour. Back in a second."
James disappears from the fire for a moment and then steps through, a book and magazine tucked under his arm.
"Thanks," he says, as he drops his stuff onto the sofa, kicks off his shoes, and just stands for a moment. "Ah, peace."
"Why? What's going on?" Teddy asks, vaguely concerned that Scorpius might not be getting on as well with Ginny as he'd expected.
"Nothing, it's just manic over there," James shrugs. "Feels like Lily's got about a million friends round today, and Al's on the verge of hexing them blue if they don't stop following Blondie and him around the place. Can I get a drink?"
"Of course. Make yourself at home," Teddy says, and James trails off into the kitchen.
"Got any juice?" he calls a minute later.
"Only apple," Teddy says.
"Oh, found it," James calls. "D'you want some?"
"No thanks. How's Scorpius holding up?" Teddy adds, when James walks back into the room, sipping from a glass of juice.
"Remarkably well," James grins. "I don't think Mum believes he's actually a Malfoy."
"Oh, he is," Teddy says. "To the core. He's just less...insane and snobbish than the ones Ginny encountered."
"Anyway, I just needed to get my head down somewhere else. I've got stuff to do so I won't get under your feet."
"That's fine," Teddy says. "I could use the distraction, to be honest."
"What are you supposed to be working on?"
"A report they want me to publish."
"Publish? Bloody hell, well done! Are you going to be an author?"
"Not of anything interesting," Teddy laughs. "But yeah, hopefully."
"Fantastic!"
"Well, don't get too excited. It's only an idea at the moment, it might not get accepted."
"I'm sure it will."
"Not if I go insane and drive my quill into my ear in desperation before it's finished."
"Well no, not then. Then I'll finish it from your notes and take all the credit," James threatens.
"You swine!" Teddy laughs. "You probably would, as well."
"Are you struggling with it?" James asks.
"Mmm," Teddy nods, rubbing a hand over his forehead. "It has to be so short..."
"Is it for a journal?" James asks, leaning over Teddy's shoulder to look at the papers spread out on the table.
"Hopefully," Teddy nods, then points to the latest issue of British Journal of Experimental Charms Research. "I'm thinking that one."
"Hmm," James murmurs, picking up the copy and leafing through it. "Where's your original report?"
"Umm... Here," Teddy says, locating a thick sheaf of papers and passing them over.
"Hmm..." James mutters again, sliding into the chair next to Teddy's and skimming through the report. "Well... If you think about it, your original justification section maps onto the aims and hypotheses of these articles... You just need to rephrase it. Same for your theoretical basis, it's not far off their existing evidence, but you need a bit more previous research... If you go through your report and work out what's going in what section of the article then just keep trimming it down."
"You - you are a star," Teddy smiles. "Do you know I didn't have a single clue how to even start?"
"Thanks," James grins. "I told Mum and Dad about Jack's potion and they went nuts. Dad got on to Aunt Hermione and she told me I should start recording what I've done so far as something to show potential employers, so I've been reading up on experimental write-ups."
"Swot," Teddy jokes.
"Takes one to know one, Ravenclaw," James teases.
"I told you they'd be proud," Teddy says.
"Yeah," James grins. "It was really nice, actually." He claps Teddy on the shoulder and wanders off to sprawl on the sofa.
Miraculously, words start flowing and Teddy is almost startled a while later to find that he is well over halfway through a first draft. As he drops his quill and stretches his arms above his head James appears at the table with two steaming mugs in hand. Teddy hadn't even noticed him moving from the lounge to the kitchen.
"Tea?" James offers.
"Oh, brilliant. You can come again," Teddy jokes, shoving a pile of papers aside to make way for the cup James is fetching over.
"Want me to leave you to it?"
"No, sit down," Teddy says. "I'm going to stop for a bit. D'you want some lunch?"
"Oh, alright. Thanks."
"Nothing too impressive, I'm afraid," Teddy says. "But I'm sure I can rustle up some sandwiches."
"Cool, d'you need a hand?"
"No, that's alright," Teddy says, stretching again before standing and picking up his tea.
"Can I read your report?" James asks and Teddy nods, leaving James at the table as he strolls through to the kitchen. A few moments of investigation reveal rather slim pickings.
"Cheese or chicken?" Teddy asks, tossing a packet of crisps towards James' head. James bats the packet aside easily, but not without a comical little flinch that has Teddy snickering as James glares at him.
"Chicken, thank you very much," James says, tearing open the packet of crisps.
A few minutes later, Teddy is back, setting a plate down in front of James and falling into his own seat again.
"I had a postcard from Jack the other day," James says around a mouthful of sandwich.
"You charming boy, you," Teddy jokes, pausing for a bite of his own sandwich. "How's he doing?"
"Good," James nods. "Sounds like he's having an amazing time. They were just about to head into the jungle for some mad sounding expedition with platforms up in the trees."
"Jammy bugger," Teddy says, a bit morosely.
"Jealous?"
"Wildly," Teddy admits. "I really fancy a holiday, you know."
"Shut up, you've only been back a while!" James protests.
"Yeah," Teddy shrugs. "It'll have to wait a while, I suppose. Save up some money. Finished with that?" Teddy asks, nodding at James' plate.
"Uh-huh," James nods.
"Anything else?"
"Ummm... Got any sweets?" James asks. "Actually, that's a stupid question, of course you do."
"You know me so well," Teddy admits laughingly. "There's some muggle ones or some Bertie Botts."
"Ooh, muggle ones!" James says enthusiastically.
As James is sorting through Teddy's stash of muggle kids' confectionary - Teddy would be the first to admit he has a seriously sweet tooth - Teddy makes another round of tea.
"What are these ones?" James asks, and Teddy looks in from the kitchen to see him holding up a round sweet, pink on one side, blue on the other.
"Flying saucer," Teddy says. "They've got sherbet in the middle."
"Ah, sherbet!"
"I've always thought you needed more sugar," Teddy jokes.
"On the contrary, I am just sweet enough, Mr. Lupin," James calls back and Teddy laughs, shaking his head as he quickly scourgifies their plates and heads back to the living room with fresh mugs of tea.
"You're an idiot," he tells James, leaning over him to snag a handful of white mice from the pile.
"Ooh, what are those?" James asks.
"Amazingly synthetic chocolate stuff," Teddy says. "They're good." He tosses one into the air and leans back, catching it in his mouth.
"There's a life skill," James jokes, and Teddy nods happily.
"Catch," he says, but James is too slow, and the mouse that Teddy throws hits his lips and bounces off before he can open his mouth.
"Idiot," James snickers.
"Perfect throw," Teddy defends himself. "Not my fault you have crap reflexes."
"You have a lot of muggle stuff, don't you?" James observes, apropros of nothing.
"I suppose," Teddy shrugs. "It's interesting. Also, Gran taught me to do a lot of things the muggle way."
"Why?" James frowns. "She's a pureblood, isn't she?"
"Well, yes, but she was also a Black. I doubt she ever had to do a spell to do with cooking or cleaning in her life until she ran off with my grandad. Then she learned most of it from him and he was muggle born, so - " Teddy shrugs again. "I suppose it spilled over."
"Does - does she talk about him much?" James asks curiously.
"Sometimes," Teddy nods. "She used to tell me stories when I was a kid, about when they first got married."
"Yeah?"
"Mmm. They didn't have much money, but she said they just had so much fun that they didn't care. She told me about one time, when he was teaching her to cook, they managed to set fire to the oven. I did the exact same thing when I had Harry and Ginny over just after I moved in."
"They never said!"
"They didn't?" Teddy grins. "I'll have to thank them."
"How did you set fire to the oven?"
"Honestly, I have no idea. I've done it twice now, actually."
"Really?"
"Uh-huh," Teddy nods. "I um... I was trying to impress someone, you know. Terribly suave."
"Right," James laughs. "Smooth. Who've you been trying to impress, then?"
"What?" Teddy asks. "Oh, it was ages ago. Ancient history." He says it jokingly but abruptly realises that it does feel like it all happened so long ago. He was nineteen then, but it already seems like decades have passed. There's a moment of silence and Teddy glances over at James to see he looks suddenly serious.
"Teddy?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?" James requests quietly, suddenly pushing the bag of sweets away and curling up small on his chair. He perches his feet on the edge of the seat and picks at a loose thread on his jeans where they are starting to fray at one knee.
"Of course," Teddy says, frowning a bit. "Sounds serious..."
"Um - whatsitlike?" James asks in a rush, and Teddy's stomach sinks like he's just swallowed a stone instead of a bunch of muggle sweets. He does not want to have this conversation, and wonders desperately if James is talking about some other kind of it. Seems unlikely though, from the way James is fidgeting and not quite meeting his eyes. Teddy is a bit ashamed that his first instinct is to derail the conversation in some way, anyway, even with a lie (don't know, never done it, go home, James, springs treacherously to mind). Still, he reasons, who the hell else is James meant to have this particular talk with?
"Sex?" he clarifies, stalling for time.
"Um - Yeah," James says, his blush darkening to an angry red. "I never did, with - you know - that bloke."
"Well, good," Teddy says fiercely, surprising himself a bit with his own intensity. "He sounds like a right wanker, and you're too young for all that, James."
"I'm sixteen," James points out.
"Right," Teddy nods. "And the age of consent is seventeen."
"Sixteen for muggles."
"Are you a muggle?"
"Oh, Teddy - "
"Are you a muggle, James?"
"No, Teddy, I am not a muggle. And yes, Teddy, you do spend far too much time with my bloody dad."
"Sorry," Teddy says, a bit chastened.
"S'alright."
"I'd just hate to think of you rushing into something like that."
"Right. Does - does it hurt?"
"Oh. Um. Yeah," Teddy nods, trying to back-pedal as James' eyes widen instantly. "A bit, I mean. The first couple of times. Not much if you - er - start properly," he says, wondering hopefully if maybe they will get through this conversation without the words lubrication or fingering or even preparation coming into play.
"Start - ?" James echoes, looking completely blank.
"Er - " Teddy looks off to one side, wiggling the fingers of one hand.
"Huh - oh! Oh. Alright, I'm an idiot," James says, blushing again.
"No, I'm sorry," Teddy says, shaking his head. "I'm not making a very good job of this, am I?"
"Sorry," James says. "I shouldn't have asked you - "
"That's okay. Better you have some vague idea from my sign language and incoherence than no clue at all."
"Right," James says, with an awkward laugh.
But a vague idea isn't really good enough, Teddy thinks. If James goes rushing off into something and gets himself hurt, Teddy doesn't think he'll ever be able to forgive himself. "You'll also need some sort of lubricant."
"R-right."
"It makes - well, it does what it sounds like it does."
"Okay, and you just - do you just - "
"You just have to do it slowly. But you - blimey. You have to be relaxed, alright, and - if you're nervous or not sure you want to do it then that makes you tense, and it's harder to... You know?"
"Um - no," James says a bit slowly. "But I can sort of imagine."
"Right, so - um. You also need to use some kind of protection. You can get protective lube from most apothecaries, or you can use a muggle condom. But you have to use something."
"Okay," James nods, looking serious, which is something of a relief.
"Is that it?" Teddy asks.
"I wouldn't know," James laughs.
"Okay," Teddy admits. "But - you know? Any questions?" Teddy can't help a grin at the scholarly tone of his own question and to his relief James laughs quickly too before sobering up.
"Um. No. Don't think so."
"Right. Okay."
"Should - I have no idea what to say now," James says, rubbing a hand over his face.
"Listen - don't feel awkward," Teddy pleads. "I'm actually pretty impressed."
"You are?"
"Yeah," Teddy smiles. "I think I'd rather have been completely clueless than asked someone when I was your age."
"Gryffindor, remember? Also, Potter. We're brave in stupid situations. Kind of famous for it."
Teddy laughs, feeling a sudden wave of affection for James. He's growing up into such a good bloke, and Teddy feels absurdly proud of him sometimes.
"Let's go out," Teddy offers.
"Alright," James agrees, looking pleasantly surprised. "Where?"
"Well, give me half an hour to finish this, and I need to drop it off in the office because Lorraine offered to read it through, but then, Mr. Potter, your wish is my command."
"Can we do something ridiculous?" James requests.
"Like what?"
"I don't know. A muggle funfair or something."
"That sounds perfect! I'm sure Lorraine mentioned taking her nephews to one a little while ago, we can find out where it is."
"Brilliant! Get working, then. I'll go and make another cup of tea if you want one?"
"No, that's okay."
"Alright. I let mine go cold, so..."
"Help yourself," Teddy nods. "Honestly, I meant it when I said to make yourself at home."
"You're the best, Teddy."
"I aim to please," Teddy nods, watching for a moment as James wanders back into the kitchen before turning back to his work. He glances up as James crosses the room with a cup of tea and curls up on the sofa again. Teddy drums his fingers on the tabletop for a moment before he starts writing again. It takes almost another hour, but when he finally stops, he's fairly pleased with the draft. He stretches his arms up above his head and turns to look at James.
He's lying on his back on the sofa, a cup of tea balanced on his chest, one hand steadying it gently. Teddy still can't quite believe that little Jamie is tall enough to take up a whole sofa, legs dangling over one arm. He's got a book propped in his other hand, three fingers along the spine. As Teddy watches, James flicks a page with his little finger and catches it with his thumb, flattening it carefully. Actually, now that Teddy notices, the book is a very familiar looking battered copy of Catch-22.
"What are you staring at?" James asks, looking up suddenly as though he's felt Teddy's eyes on him.
"Huh? Oh, nothing, just that's my book."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I lent it to Albus a while ago."
"Ah. That would make sense. I stole it from Al," James admits, closing the book.
"You like it?"
"Yeah, it's a bit - "
"Weird?" Teddy fills in, and James nods fervently. "Here, you might like this a bit better," Teddy says, summoning one of his many Wodehouse anthologies and holding it out to James.
"Yeah?"
"Mm-hmm," Teddy nods. "It's hilarious. I can't read it in public, it makes me laugh too much."
"Excellent," James says, thumbing through the book. "Are you finished?"
"Yeah, ready to go?"
"Absolutely!" James says, jumping up.
"Leave the books, we can come back for those," Teddy says. "You want to floo or apparate to the office?"
"Floo, please," James says, crossing over to the fireplace and opening the box of powder, holding it out to Teddy. "What number is it again?"
"48," Teddy says, flicking through his draft to make sure everything's there.
"Is it alright to go or should you go through first?"
"No, go ahead, I'll be right behind you," Teddy says.
"48 Empiric Alley," James calls, stepping into the flames. Teddy follows him through the floo a moment later and finds James on his own in the main office, his hands stuffed into his pockets, looking around idly.
"Right, wait here a sec, I won't be long," Teddy says, and James nods, perching on the edge of a table and craning his head to look upside-down at a yellow pamphlet. "I'll be five minutes," he adds, heading over to the office he shares with Lorraine.
Inside, he finds her at her desk, looking distinctly frazzled.
"Hi," Teddy says, and she looks up distractedly.
"Oh, hi, you."
"I've got a draft of that article if you've time to look it over?"
"That's fine," Lorraine says, a bit distractedly.
"You have..." Teddy says, waggling a finger towards a dark smudge on her cheek.
"Right," she nods, brushing her cheek against her shoulder. "An incident," she says in the slightly clipped tone she always uses to let Teddy know that incident is as much description as he or anyone else at the company is going to get.
"So you'll read it?"
"Yeah, yeah," she nods, standing up to accio a folder from a shelf. As it zooms over she cranes her neck to look out of their small window.
"Right, thanks," Teddy says. "Also, where was that funfair you took the kids to?"
She looks out of the window again, and then back at Teddy.
"Did you actually bring your date to the office, Lupin?"
"Huh?" Teddy looks over his shoulder but can only see James, still sitting on the edge of the table, now reading the pamphlet with interest. It takes a moment for realisation to sink in. "What? Lorraine! That's James!" Teddy protests, nodding towards the old photo of Harry, Ginny and the kids on his noticeboard.
"Oh!" Lorraine cranes her neck again to peer more closely at James. "My, my. Didn't he grow up nicely..."
"Put your eyes back in, you filthy old woman! He's sixteen!"
"He's never!"
"Yes he is. He's a child. Ugh, I'm not having this conversation. Just read the bloody thing and owl me later."
"Alright, alright, don't get your knickers in a twist."
"Well!" Teddy protests. "You - !"
"Bye-bye," she says, flicking her hand imperiously towards the door. "Oh, here," she says as an afterthought, scribbling on a piece of parchment before screwing it up and throwing it towards Teddy. "Nearest apparition point to the funfair. It's just over half a mile along the road, heading east."
"Brilliant," Teddy says, stooping to pick up the parchment.
"Have fun."
"Right," Teddy nods, a bit preoccupied. Despite what James told him earlier in the summer, and what they'd discussed a few hours ago, Teddy still finds it a bit disconcerting to realise that people will look at James these days and think that he's an attractive, date-able adult. He wonders if this is maybe what it means to feel protective towards a small person. One day they become a big person and there are, weirdly, more things to feel concerned about, not less. It's definitely a good job that children of his own aren't likely to feature in his life, Teddy reflects. He'd be a nervous bloody wreck.
When Teddy steps back into the main office, James pushes himself off the table he's been sitting on and smiles.
"Done?" he asks, and Teddy nods.
"Got the co-ordinates as well," he says. "You ready for several hours of acting like a pair of five year olds?"
"Absolutely," James beams, and Teddy checks the co-ordinates one more time.
"Right, give me your arm, then," Teddy says, getting a good grip on James' arm as well as making sure he has the sound awareness of him necessary to side-along. "Ready?"
"Yep," James nods, and Teddy closes his eyes.
"Gaah, I hate that," James shudders when they arrive.
"Sorry," Teddy says. "I'm not the best."
"Nah," James shrugs. "It's just the same when Dad does it. I don't like the feeling, that's all."
"Yeah, it's a lot better when it's just yourself."
"So they say. Which way are we going, then?"
"East for about half a mile, apparently." Teddy pulls out his wand, intending to cast the Four Point spell to get his bearings.
"That way," James says, pointing over Teddy's shoulder.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, let's go," James nods.
"How are you so sure what way we're going?" Teddy asks, falling into step alongside James.
"I have a sense of direction," James jokes.
On one side of the road they're walking down, there's a small, fast flowing river. On the other side are a handful of rundown looking muggle buildings. Lorraine had mentioned that her home town was a bit of a dump and going by what he can see, Teddy is inclined to agree. Still, even if the area isn't that nice it's a warm day with a gentle breeze and the light glints off the river sharply.
"Oh, bugger!" James says suddenly in dismay, coming to a stop.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't have any money changed over. Well, I've got a few pounds, but everything else is in sickles."
"Don't worry about it," Teddy shrugs. "My treat."
"Oh, but - "
"Shut up, James, I'm allowed to spoil you."
"I can pay you back."
"No, you can not," Teddy says firmly.
"But - "
"A day at the funfair isn't going to bankrupt me, James. You can even have some candyfloss if you want."
"Alright, then. Cheers, Teddy."
"Oh, hey, look," Teddy says, nodding his head. Around the next corner a few of the taller rides are coming into view.
"Brilliant! Come on," James grins, stepping up his pace.
Before long they arrive at the funfair and while James stares around avidly at the rides and stalls, Teddy goes up to the booth and pays for both of them, receiving two wristbands in return that will allow them on all of the main rides and a few of the stalls.
"C'mere," Teddy says, herding James off to one side and taking hold of his wrist, lifting his arm.
"What're you doing?" James asks, a bit sharply, and Teddy glances up at him.
"Sorry, did I hurt you?"
"No, just - what are you doing?"
"Here," Teddy says, holding out the wristbands. "Need to put one of these on for the rides."
"Oh, okay," James nods, letting Teddy wrap the thick strip of waxed paper around his wrist, sliding the end into one of the slits and twisting it to make it stick. "Need any help?" James asks as Teddy drops his arm and wraps the other band around his own wrist.
"Nah, I'm a master," Teddy says, fastening the band easily. "Right," he says, turning towards the rides. "What first?"
"Umm... Ooh, that one looks good," James says, pointing, and Teddy suppresses a groan. The ride is one of those boat shaped ones that swings slowly back and forth, gaining momentum and speed until it does half a dozen or so full loops. Knowing that suggesting a different ride will not only be futile but will open him up to wholly justified accusations of being a complete wuss, Teddy lets James drag him over to the ride and they join the little group of people waiting for the next turn.
When the boat swings to a stop, James clambers on eagerly, taking a seat right at the front and watching expectantly as they are strapped in and a metal bar lowered across their laps. James tenses and grabs Teddy's arm tightly when the boat starts moving a bit creakily.
"This feels a bit - unsafe," he says tentatively.
"That's half the fun, apparently," Teddy points out and James laughs a bit sheepishly, letting go of Teddy's arm. The boat starts swinging in a wider arc, the movement terribly slow when it gets up high. Teddy closes his eyes as they swing forward, not sure if that makes the lurching in his stomach better or worse.
"You've got your eyes shut," James' voice says into his ear.
"Yes," Teddy admits.
"D'you not like this one? You didn't have to get on, you know."
"No, it's okay," Teddy says, opening his eyes. "When it gets going properly it's fine, it's just these big slow swings I don't like."
"Aw, don't be scared Teddy, I'll protect you," James teases.
"Tosser," Teddy laughs, letting go of the metal bar to give James a clip around the ear.
"Oi," James says, elbowing him. "At least I'm not a wimp - ohshit!" James yelps as the boat does its first full loop, teetering almost upright for long seconds before it swoops down fast.
"Yeah, I'm the wimp," Teddy scoffs.
"Shut up!" James laughs, joining in with the muggles behind them who are whooping with each downward swing.
When the ride finally comes to a stop the pile off and James looks around eagerly for the next ride.
"What's best?" he asks Teddy.
"Have you never been to one of these before?" Teddy asks quietly, walking a little way apart from the stream of muggles.
"Not for ages," James says. "Mum came with us and she wouldn't let us go on any of the decent rides. You know how she gets. What's your favourite?"
"I would have to go with the dodgems," Teddy says, craning his neck to spy them out. "Oh look, over there, next to the ghost train."
"Ghosts?"
"Not like that, idiot," Teddy laughs. "We'll have a go later, they're always good for a laugh."
"Alright, let's go and try the dodgems," James says, and they wander through the funfair towards the dodgems. On the way, they pass an automated stall which has a large round punch bag hanging from a metal arm.
"What's that?" James asks curiously, nodding over at it.
"What's what? Oh. Oh, you punch it as hard as you can and - " Teddy shrugs. "A bell goes off if you punch it hard enough. That's about it, I think. You want a go?"
"Er - alright," James shrugs. Teddy flips James a coin and watches as he slips it into the machine. "So just – hit it?" he asks, and Teddy nods. "Right," James shrugs, shifting one shoulder as though he's loosening it and then swinging his fist at the punch bag. It swings back on its metal arm, but not very far.
"That was pretty pathetic," Teddy laughs. "I think Lily could do better."
"Shut up! You do it, then!"
"Alright," Teddy smirks, putting another twenty pence piece into the machine. He steps onto the little platform and punches the bag as hard as he can. It swings up and back, setting off a bell, and Teddy smiles a bit smugly at James.
"How did you do that?"
"Talent," Teddy shrugs.
"No, but how did you do that?"
"Are you saying I'm a weed?"
"Not - no, but you know... How?"
"There's a knack," Teddy says. "You have to try to hit it almost from underneath, but that doesn't mean you punch upwards. Straight from the shoulder, just a little lower down than you hit it."
"Why - how do you know all this mental muggle stuff?" James asks.
"My first boyfriend was a muggle," Teddy says casually, glancing at James.
"Oh, okay," James says, a bit of surprise evident in his voice. "Come on, show me these dodgem things, then."
When they get to the dodgems they have to join a fairly short queue.
"Be five minutes," the operator of the ride grunts and Teddy and James exchange little looks. The man is taller than either of them, broad shouldered and red-faced with long blond dreadlocks. He looks pretty fierce, and is certainly glowering.
"Cheerful soul," James mutters, leaning in to whisper it in Teddy's ear. Teddy laughs and pushes James gently.
"Be good."
"Yes, boss."
Finally the little cars come to a halt and the people on the ride file off. James and Teddy claim a car each, and James peers uncertainly at the steering wheel and single pedal.
"Don't hit the kids," Teddy says before a klaxon sounds and he slams his foot down, zooming into the rear end of James' car before James has got to grips with what's happening. "Ta-ta," Teddy says with a little wave, turning the wheel hard to veer off towards the left. A few seconds later he feels an almighty jolt from behind and lurches forward in the seat.
"Ha!" James cries triumphantly, manoeuvring to hit Teddy's car again.
"Right, that's it, you little toerag," Teddy laughs, wheeling around a bit awkwardly to try and chase James down. He manages to catch the back left of James' car hard and sending him spinning in a circle. Then, earlier than Teddy was expecting, the cars all whine to a halt.
"Right, you two, off," calls the attendant.
"Does he mean us?" James hisses to Teddy.
"I, er - " Teddy shoots a look over his shoulder. The man is standing with arms folded and nods when Teddy turns.
"Yeah, you two. Off. Now."
"Ah, why?" James protests.
Teddy can hear kids snickering as he grabs James' arm and pulls him out of the car. They pick their way between the now stationary cars and get to the exit where the attendant glowers at them as he powers the cars up again.
"S'called the dodgems. You're s'posed to fucking dodge."
Teddy presses his lips together, knowing somehow that he absolutely cannot look at James right now, or they will both start laughing and very possibly be unable to stop.
"How old are you, anyway, eh? Ought to bloody know better."
"Right," James says and then makes a noise that he tries to turn into a cough, but is definitely closer to an escaped giggle.
"Sorry," Teddy fills in over the noise.
"Piss off."
They walk away together and Teddy can hear James very determinedly breathing slowly for a few seconds before he cracks up, almost falling against Teddy in his laughter.
"Oh my god," James breathes around deep belly laughs and Teddy shushes him, trying to drag him out of sight of the dodgems before they both collapse. When they get round the corner and finally calm themselves down, Teddy's cheeks are aching and he has to wipe tears from his eyes.
"Damn," he says, still feeling breathless. "Haven't laughed like that in ages."
"Me either," James says. "God, all those little kids watching us - "
"Oh don't," Teddy says, wrapping an arm around his stomach. "Don't make me start again, I'll be sick."
"Alright, okay," James nods, rubbing a hand over his face. "I'm done. What are we doing next?"
Teddy can't help laughing at James' enthusiasm. It's infectious as well as endearing, and Teddy finds himself laughing along with James, getting excited about stupid rides and rigged games.
"Oh, look!" Teddy says a while later. "The waltzers, that's always good."
"Er - alright, then," James nods, trailing after Teddy to the waltzers. This particular ride is entirely made of wood, including the angular floor. The seats are not much more than big plastic buckets with a ridge to sit on, and a gap for stepping in and out. Teddy drags James to a cart and they settle inside, sliding around a little on the smooth plastic. "So what happens here, then?" James asks.
"Well this spins around," Teddy says, tapping his hand on the cart, "And so does the whole base."
"Oh, that sounds good!" James grins. "Does it go fast?"
"Pretty fast," Teddy nods, and after a few moments, the ride starts spinning slowly, gradually gathering momentum and whirling faster. Then, as they spin around towards the front of the ride, Teddy notices the operator picking his way between the carts delicately, upending a bottle onto the wooden floor every now and then.
"What is that maniac doing?" James shouts into Teddy's ear.
"Washing up liquid," Teddy laughs. "Makes the carts spin faster."
"Oh, we are going to die," James says with certainty in his voice.
"Don't be such a wimp," Teddy chides, leaning in to add quietly, "You're supposed to be a Gryffindor."
"That doesn't count on wooden muggle death traps!" James hisses.
Teddy throws his head back and laughs. Then, without warning, he grabs James around the shoulders and hurls their combined weight against the side of the car, making them spin even faster. James looks positively ashamed at the not-even-vaguely manly shriek that he lets out then. Teddy is still laughing helplessly when the ride comes to a stop and James shoves him out of the car, following on slightly wobbly legs.
"What next?" Teddy asks, and James shrugs.
"Let's just wander, see what we see," he suggests, and Teddy nods agreeably.
"What was his name?" James asks out of nowhere a few seconds later.
"Who?" Teddy frowns.
"The muggle," James says, lowering his voice as they pass a group of teenagers. "Your first boyfriend."
"Oh. Right. Andrew. His name was Andrew."
"Is he the one you were trying to impress when you set fire to the oven?"
"Yes, and I didn't set fire to it, it caught fire."
"Ah, the little details," James laughs. "How did you meet him?" he asks, and then adds quickly, "Is it okay for me to ask about this?"
"Of course," Teddy shrugs, looking at James curiously. "There's no big hidden drama anywhere, James, you can ask me whatever you like. He was one of Ian's friends - his neighbour actually, when they were kids. That's Ian's idea of sensitivity and tact, you know? Setting me up with Andy when I'd never laid eyes on the boy before."
"Obviously worked, though," James points out.
"Yeah," Teddy says, grinning again. "Yeah, it worked." It might have been awkward when it was drawing to an inevitable end, but Teddy mainly has good memories of his almost-a-year with Andy.
"What was he like?"
"He was great," Teddy says fondly. "We still talk every now and then. He's at an art school in Paris now, doing really well for himself."
"An artist? That's not terribly original, is it?"
"Oi, you!"
"I'm only joking," James laughs. "Was it weird, going out with a muggle?"
"A bit, yeah," Teddy shrugs. "That was probably why we broke up, to be honest. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was - there were just so many bits of my life he could never have been part of, so - it was like we just came up against a brick wall. I liked him a lot. I think I loved him, but - I don't know," he shrugs again. "I just felt like I'd nothing to give him."
"That's - a shame," James says carefully.
"Yeah, I suppose it is," Teddy nods. "But we were - it was good. We had a lot of fun together and - I know you probably don't want to discuss it any more, but what we were talking about earlier - you need someone like that for your first time. Someone you care about, someone who cares about you."
"Girl," James teases.
"Yeah," Teddy says, smiling awkwardly. "I know it does sound pretty girly, but it's a big step. A big moment. And you can't undo it once it's done, you can never have that time again with anyone else."
"You obviously don't regret it, then," James says.
"Not at all," Teddy grins.
"Right," James nods. "Not that - I don't even have a bloke, you know?"
"Well," Teddy says uncomfortably. "Like I said, don't rush into anything."
"Chance'd be a fine thing," James jokes.
"Oh, now," Teddy laughs. "Good looking lad like you, I'm sure you won't have to wait too long."
"Hmm," James mutters speculatively. "Want some ice cream?"
"Yeah, can I have - "
"Chocolate with strawberry sauce," James fills in.
"Ha, yes, spontaneous and unpredictable, that's me," Teddy jokes, watching idly as James bounds over to the muggle ice-cream van. There's a bench nearby in the shade of a tree and Teddy sits down there, stretching his legs out in front of him.
"Here," James says when he gets back, holding out an ice cream to Teddy. "They had white chocolate as well as normal so I got you a scoop of each."
"Brilliant, cheers," Teddy says, taking the cone from James. "What did you get?" he asks. James' usual is vanilla with chocolate sauce but he is currently clutching a cone with two scoops of light green ice cream balanced a little precariously, one on top of the other.
"I'm not sure. Pistachio, or something," James says excitedly. "That van has all kinds of mad flavours. This one's green!"
"I see that," Teddy says, hiding his smirk by taking a bite of his own ice cream.
"Oh, disgusting!" James says, sticking out a tongue covered in pale green ice cream. "That's vile!"
"Pistachios are nuts, James," Teddy points out.
"Oh. I don't like those," James says, looking a bit embarrassed, although Teddy personally can't help finding his ice-cream related enthusiasm endearing.
"Here," he offers, holding his own ice cream out towards James. "Swap?"
"That's okay," James says, shaking his head. "I know how you like your chocolate."
"I also like pistachio," Teddy says. "And I can't bear watching your face while you try to choke that down."
"Ha, alright, thanks," James nods, and they swap ice creams.
"What do you want for your birthday?" Teddy asks abruptly.
"Hmm? Oh. I don't know, it's ages away," James shrugs, licking away the strawberry sauce from his ice cream. "Just get me a Quidditch shirt or something."
"Don't be daft, it's your seventeenth! There must be something you want?"
"Not especially. Surprise me."
"That's very helpful, James, thank you," Teddy says, rolling his eyes.
"Sorry," James says around a mouthful of cone.
"You're completely impossible. Don't blame me if it's socks."
"Anything you get'll be fine," James assures Teddy.
"I might remind you of that," Teddy laughs, leaning across James to drop the end of his cone in the bin.
"What're you doing?" James asks.
"Cone's the boring bit," Teddy says. "Come on, we've got a little while still before we should be heading back. What d'you want to do?"
"Ummm... Maybe the ghost train again," James says and Teddy grins. They'd been on their own in a little four-seater carriage of the ride and James had spent the whole thing explaining how this ghost wasn't realistic or that vampire's teeth were too long. As they wander through back through the funfair, James stops abruptly and Teddy looks around.
"Look at that!" James says, pointing towards a stall. There's a large paddling pool inside it, filled with yellow rubber ducks and plastic bags containing water and a single goldfish each.
"Oh, no way," Teddy laughs. "Absolutely not. Ginny'll kill me if I take you home with a bloody fish."
"Oh, please," James says, turning pleading eyes on Teddy.
"I - "
"Pleeeease, Teddy?"
"No - "
"I'll even name it after you."
"Strangely, sharing my name with a fish isn't much of an incentive."
"Your middle name, then," James suggests.
"So, my dad's name," Teddy laughs. "There's a moving tribute."
"Oh, please, go on, look at how sweet they are!"
"You're not going to stop, are you?"
"Nope."
"Alright, alright. You get one go, though, okay? You have to hook one of the ducks with the fishing rod, yeah?"
"Got it," James nods, and Teddy hands him some money, trailing after him to the stall. James hands over the money and spends an inordinately long time picking out one of the twelve or so identical rods. He gets an intense look of concentration on his face as he leans forward.
"Both hands," Teddy says. "Makes it steadier."
"Right," James nods.
"You're taking this very seriously," Teddy points out.
"Of course!"
Then he leans forward, and with such an intensely focused look on his face that Teddy has to swallow his laughter, hooks one of the plastic ducks out of the water. He flicks it towards Teddy, splattering him with water.
"Idiot," Teddy says, and the stallholder hands James a plastic bag. James holds the bag up to his face and waggles a finger at the little fish.
"Hey fishy!" He mimics the movement of the fish' mouth, and Teddy can't help laughing. "What?" James asks, teasingly defensive.
"Nothing. The resemblance is uncanny, that's all."
"Git."
"Yeah, yeah. We done?"
"Sure, let's go."
"Alright, we'll got back to mine first, there's a pet shop round the corner, we'll get it some food."
"What food do they eat?" James asks, still looking closely at the fish.
"Er...fish...food? I'm not really sure," Teddy shrugs, as they head towards the exit. They pass the walk back to the apparition point by suggesting more and more outlandish names for the unfortunate fish and somehow, between that walk and the short visit to the pet shop, James manages to persuade Teddy to go over for dinner. Back at teddy's flat, James goes through the floo first, the bag containing the fish – possibly called Lucinda, or maybe Albus – clutched protectively close.
When Teddy follows him through holding to small plastic tank, it's to find Harry standing with arms crossed and eyebrows raised, the beginnings of a smirk on his face as James lifts the fish up into his eye level and says, in the tone of someone concluding an elaborate story,
"So we liberated it!"
"My fault, Harry. Sorry," Teddy offers and Harry just shrugs.
"Alright, why not," he says, heading towards the front garden where Teddy can hear the sounds of Lily and her friends chattering.
"Brilliant," James grins, leaning over to reach for the tank. "Thanks for this, by the way," he says to Teddy. "I really will pay you back for that."
"If you really insist," Teddy says. "It was only a few pounds."
"I do," James says. "Insist."
"Alright then," Teddy nods, adding, "Idiot," under his breath.
"Yeah, yeah," James says, grinning at Teddy. "See you in a bit, I'm going to try to find space in my room for Fishy."
"I hope you're going to give it a better name than Fishy," Teddy says as James heads for the door.
"I think maybe Gary," James calls over his shoulder.
"Gary?" Teddy asks curiously.
"Short for Garibaldi," James' voice floats back and Teddy can't help laughing before he heads into the kitchen to make a pot of tea. As he's waiting for the leaves to stew, the kitchen door opens and Scorpius sidles in.
"Alright?" Teddy smiles. "Tea?"
"Save me," Scorpius says.
"With tea?"
"If that's all you have," Scorpius shrugs.
"What's wrong?" Teddy asks, pouring a cup for both of them.
"It's so loud. There are so many girls. High pitched ones."
"Yeah," Teddy chuckles. "Well if it's any comfort, you get used to the noise, there aren't usually nearly so many girls, and while I can't speak for the rest of them, Lily is rarely this high pitched about anything but Quidditch. I think it must just be you, mate. Natural magnetism and all that."
"Yeah, great," Scorpius smirks. "For my best friend's little sister? Al would tear my head off, and I think it'd put dad into an early grave."
"Very possibly," Teddy admits.
"Which might just make Mrs. Potter reconsider murdering me in my sleep. She's fairly fearsome."
"I'm sure she likes you," Teddy says.
"She's been nice," Scorpius shrugs. "I just - " he lowers his voice a little and Teddy shifts a bit closer to hear. "I can feel how much they hate my dad. They look so surprised when I say please or thank you or that something's nice and I - "
"Hey, hey!"
For Scorpius, a little bit of babbling counts as extremely wound up, and Teddy pats his arm a little awkwardly.
"Listen, Harry and Ginny might not have got on with your dad at school, and the war - " Teddy hesitates for a second. For a long time he'd refused to hear anything about that time, hadn't wanted to know the history or the details of the war, because it had stolen his parents, and what else did he need to know? Then, when he was a little older, and started to understand the mysteries that spring up between people a bit better, he'd come to realise that maybe his parents would never have found each other if it wasn't for the war. That had been the catalyst for Teddy to start seeking out all the books he could find on the subject, and then, when he felt a bit bolder, to quiz Harry on the details.
"I know," Scorpius says. "I know all that. I just - don't think my father is as bad as they think he is."
"Well. Nor do I, if it comes to it," Teddy shrugs.
"No?"
"Of course not. He's just - look, when you know someone and then they aren't a part of your life anymore, your understanding of them tends to stop at that point. That's not good, obviously, but it's just the way things are."
"I know," Scorpius nods, nudging Teddy. "Thanks."
"Yeah?" asks a voice from the other side of the kitchen and Teddy and Scorpius both snap their heads around to see Al standing in the doorway to the kitchen with his arms folded. "Well I have just sat through fifteen minutes of my mother wittering on about how unexpectedly un-Death-Eater-y you are, Scorp, and I say that the way things are is completely shit. I swear to Merlin... And then when I told her what your dad said about visiting you? Absolutely not, Albus." He makes a noise of complete frustration and throws himself down into a chair at the table, stretching his foot out to tap Scorpius' knee. "I'm really sorry about this," he says.
"It's alright - "
"No it's not. At least your parents have manners."
"My dad would definitely appreciate that sort of attitude," Scorpius nods. "Very good, keep it up."
"Shut up, Scorp, it's not a joke - "
"It's not a problem, either. Al it's always - "
"But it's not - "
"Nothing's fair! Merlin's beard, I'm still a better Slytherin than you even when I'm a Ravenclaw. Let it go."
"But - I - they're being rude."
"In fairness, your dad's being nice. I think your mum's just amazed that I haven't tried to poison her or something. And - Al - " Scorpius almost glances at Teddy but seems to change his mind at the last instant, giving Al a significant look. "You know what I think about that."
Teddy tries not to stare at their half-coded conversation as it rolls on. It reminds him pretty strongly of the way he and Ian talk – and argue. Not for the first time, Teddy realizes how much he's going to miss his friend when he buggers off to Cambridge in a month or so to do intelligent things with particle physics.
He's just wondering if he should leave them to it when –
"It's stupid!" Al says, sounding properly angry now. "You're being stupid!"
"No I'm not," Scorpius snaps. "They can't just ignore the past, Al!"
"Why not? We do!"
"We weren't there!"
"Exactly!"
This time it is Scorpius who makes the frustrated noise, flinging himself back in his chair and glowering at Al.
"You keep twisting things."
"Only because you keep saying stupid things!"
"Alright, enough," Teddy says suddenly, standing up. "I'm not entirely sure what you two are fighting about, but either do it outside, or keep the volume down, or start thinking about how you'll explain to your parents, Albus, when they want to know what's going on."
Al glares for a moment and Scorpius just looks vaguely surprised before they both relax a notch.
"I vote for option four," Scorpius says quietly. "Letting it go."
Al huffs and taps his fingers on the table for a moment.
"Teddy – "
"Don't get me involved," Teddy says, or starts to say, but he doesn't get much further than don't before Al continues.
" – we are fighting because my idiot best friend thinks that it is reasonable for my mother to mistrust him because of things said and done by other people in the past."
"No, actually, I said that think that she would be justified in being a bit wary about a third male Malfoy, given what the last two have tried to do to her and her family. And you know I'm right, Albus."
"Your Grandmother also saved Harry's life," Teddy says quietly to Scorpius, sitting back down next to him.
"Right!" Al agrees. "I knew that, you just wind me up too much for me to be sensible," he says to Scorpius.
"It's my fault you're a drama queen?" Scorpius asks.
"Yours," Al nods. "Or the sorting hat's. Or James'."
"How James' fault?" Teddy laughs, relieved at the relative calm.
"Everything bad can be traced back to him somehow," Al says confidently.
"Is that right?"
"Yes. We just lack the spells to discover how."
"We?"
"Cowering masses of humanity," Al shrugs.
"You're insane," Scorpius comments.
"Yes, well. I still have some residual urge to strangle you," Al says, but he doesn't sound that angry anymore.
"Is that right?"
"Yes it's right. No one says a word about your family at school, you wouldn't even take this kind of crap from a professor!"
"No one at school is married to Harry Potter. And anyway, Al, of the reactions I expect to get to my family name over the years, someone being shocked that I'm nice is probably one of the best."
Al groans, and horrible as it is, Teddy can see the truth in his cousin's words.
"Teddy," Al pleads. "You're good at this. Please explain to him why he's wrong."
"I think – don't hate me, Al – I think Scorpius is right. About some things," he adds when Al opens his mouth to protest. "It's much easier to ignore history if you didn't live through it. It's just the past to us, but to them it's their past."
"I know," Al admits, deflating a bit, and Teddy can't help feeling a bit sorry for him. "But it's so – it's not – I hate it."
"Me, I think it's fun," Scorpius says a bit scathingly and for a second Teddy worries that it'll set Al off again. Certainly anything in that tone from James would be tantamount to a declaration of war. Unexpectedly, Al grins broadly.
"Sorry. I know you hate it too. I catch insanity when I come home, I told you that."
"You are very different around your family," Scorpius acknowledges.
"Sorry."
"I don't mind," Scorpius says. "Pretty funny, actually."
"It is not – "
"Stop!" Teddy begs, laughing. "You're giving me a headache."
"Right," Al nods. "Scorp, mum said we can clear off for the rest of the day if we want, Lily's friends are leaving at about six, apart from Louise."
"The quiet one?"
"Mostly," Al says with a half-hearted shrug.
"Let's go," Scorpius begs. "Coming, Teddy?"
"No, I'll stay. See you tonight, probably."
"Alright, later Teddy," Al calls, already halfway out of the door.
"See you," Scorpius nods and Teddy waves vaguely as he leaves.
"Wow," he says to the empty kitchen after a moment, and casts a warming spell on the cup of tea he'd let go cold.
"Alright," James nods when he wanders into the kitchen a few minutes later. "Gary has a new home, he's settling in well."
"Please to hear it," Teddy nods.
"Seen Al and Scorpius?"
"They just left. After a massive bloody row, actually."
"Yeah?" James seems unconcerned, picking a green apple out of the fruit bowl and polishing it against the arm of his t-shirt before taking a massive bite. "Wha' a'aht?"
Teddy just raises his eyebrows and tries to hide a smile. James chews frantically for a second and swallows.
"Ow. Apple pain. Damn you, Lupin."
"Apple pain?"
"Yeah. You know, when you swallow a big bit of apple and you get that mad pain in your chest and – you have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"
"Maybe you need to learn to chew your food," Teddy suggests.
"Shut up, smart-arse. What were they arguing about, anyway?"
"Oh – " Teddy glances to the door and then closes it quietly with a flick of his wand. "Historical guilt? I have no idea, really. Al seems to think your mum isn't being fair to Scorpius, and Scorpius seems surprised he wasn't searched for dark objects on arrival, and it sort of escalated from there."
"Oh," James says, taking a more manageable bite of apple this time and sitting down opposite Teddy. "That stuff. Mum's – you know how mum is with us. Way over the top."
"Sometimes," Teddy acknowledges. "So, listen. Do Al and Scorpius always – "
"Argue like a pair of old women?" James suggests. "Yeah. I mean, not all the time, but quite a bit. They've had some memorable ones at school."
"But – they're best mates," Teddy says, not quite a question.
"Oh, yeah," James nods, talking around a mouthful of apple. "If anyone else says anything bad about either of them they close ranks pretty sharpish. They're worse than mum's lot."
"Sounds like a lot of hassle," Teddy says.
"Yeah," James shrugs. "Works for them, apparently, but I can't imagine working up the energy to argue like they do with anyone, let alone if it was with Jack."
"Tell me about it," Teddy agrees fervently.
"Anything for a quiet life, eh?" James jokes. "We're the black sheep."
"Yeah, right. So listen, what do you think of Scorpius anyway?"
"He's alright," James says, giving Teddy a bit of a weird look. "He's...you know. He's just Al's friend. He's quite funny. Do you see him a lot, with your gran, I mean?"
"A bit," Teddy shrugs. "A few times most holidays."
"And his dad?"
"Of course."
"What's he like?"
"He's – alright," Teddy says. "He's always been – I was going to say nice but that's not the right word. More like highly sarcastic but not actively unpleasant. He can be a bit standoffish, but – we're family, I guess," Teddy shrugs. "That's a big thing for him."
"Hmm," James mutters.
"Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," James shrugs. "I saw mum on my way in, she said we're having chicken and salad and stuff for dinner unless anyone can think of anything more interesting."
"Nope. I'm completely out of brain power for the day."
"Me too," James agrees. "Listen," he adds seriously, nudging Teddy with his foot, "I had a really good day today. Thanks for putting up with me."
"James," Teddy protests. "I wasn't putting up with you, stupid. We're friends, aren't we?"
"Yeah," James says, smiling and casting his eyes down towards the tabletop. "Of course we are."
>>Next Part
Author: Lyds
Rating: PG? Bits of swearing, I suppose. Awkward sex talk? Is that a warning? Nothing really graphic.
Disclaimer: HP characters etc are not mine. Title is from an Elvis Costello song, When It Sings, and that's not mine either.
Words: 10000 [this part - i don't even know how that happened]
CLICK HERE to read from the start.
When Teddy wakes up on Wednesday morning, it's to a sinking feeling about the day ahead. He's been busy all week, but by Tuesday afternoon even Lorraine seemed to have cottoned on to the fact that he was mostly inventing work for himself. Almost a week earlier his boss had collared him first thing in the morning to request that he adapt his last report for publication in a well known charms journal. He's flattered, of course he is, and a bit nervous. Mainly, he's annoyed at just how hard he's finding the unfamiliar task. So he's been putting it off and putting it off - on Tuesday morning he'd resorted to reorganising his files, which had led to tidying and rearranging the office until Lorraine threw a book at his head and ordered him home, not to return until he had at least a draft.
Ignoring the temptation to roll over and go back to sleep, Teddy forces himself to sit up, untangling his limbs from the bed sheets. He blinks blearily at his bedroom walls for a moment before rubbing his hands over his eyes and yawning hugely. He stretches and yawns again before dragging himself off to the shower. Fifteen minutes later finds him in the kitchen making a cup of strong black coffee and feeling decidedly more human, if no more confident about the task ahead. Blowing gently on the surface of his coffee to cool it, Teddy wanders from the kitchen to the living room table where his own notes and reports, along with a sample of journals and a couple of books are taking up most of the surface space. He'd set them there last night in the vain hope that the sight of them first thing in the morning would spur him on to a productive day. Teddy sometimes thinks that he's the worst Ravenclaw in the world. Ian would leap at an opportunity like this, and would have drafted and redrafted an informative and original article by now.
"Right," Teddy mutters, taking a swig of his coffee and leafing through the latest issue of the journal in which he's hoping to publish his article. A flick of his wand sends his cup back to the kitchen and Teddy sits at the table. He reads an article about the theory behind cheering charms and the need to update it in the light of Poliakov's Second Theorem without once acknowledging to himself that it has nothing to do with what he's meant to be writing. Eventually, he shoves the journal away and grabs one of the muggle-style notepads he prefers to use for rough work.
After he's written the title and underlined it twice and stared at the otherwise blank page for five minutes, Teddy groans in frustration and throws down his pen. He hasn't struggled like this with a piece of work since he was in school. The reports he presents to his boss are straightforward, usually accounting for his time, and focusing on the practical applications of his work. If he wants to get published - which he does, of course. He was a Ravenclaw after all, and the very thought of other people reading and discussing his work makes him dizzy - he'll need to bring in much more theory, and probably change his style of writing quite a bit. Of course, there's more than a little fear wrapped up in his inability to get started, and Teddy is honest enough with himself to recognise that. At the moment he's not sure whether submitting for publication and being rejected would be more or less traumatic than being accepted and waiting until his article is critiqued by people with decades more experience than himself. Frustrated at himself, Teddy pushes his notebook away and stretches his arms up above his head before slumping back down in his chair and idly flicking open another journal, leafing through perfectly structured and written articles, and wondering how the hell anyone completes more than one in a year.
When the floo flares green half a wholly unproductive hour later it's all Teddy can do not to cheer. Even the most unwanted guest would be welcomed with open arms right now, but as it is, Teddy smiles hugely when James' face appears in the fireplace. James hasn't yet taken Teddy up on his offer of company this summer, and Teddy's wondered a couple of times if James had thought he didn't really mean it.
"Hey, you!"
"Are you busy?" James asks.
"Busy staring at a blank page, yeah," Teddy says. "Come through."
"My saviour. Back in a second."
James disappears from the fire for a moment and then steps through, a book and magazine tucked under his arm.
"Thanks," he says, as he drops his stuff onto the sofa, kicks off his shoes, and just stands for a moment. "Ah, peace."
"Why? What's going on?" Teddy asks, vaguely concerned that Scorpius might not be getting on as well with Ginny as he'd expected.
"Nothing, it's just manic over there," James shrugs. "Feels like Lily's got about a million friends round today, and Al's on the verge of hexing them blue if they don't stop following Blondie and him around the place. Can I get a drink?"
"Of course. Make yourself at home," Teddy says, and James trails off into the kitchen.
"Got any juice?" he calls a minute later.
"Only apple," Teddy says.
"Oh, found it," James calls. "D'you want some?"
"No thanks. How's Scorpius holding up?" Teddy adds, when James walks back into the room, sipping from a glass of juice.
"Remarkably well," James grins. "I don't think Mum believes he's actually a Malfoy."
"Oh, he is," Teddy says. "To the core. He's just less...insane and snobbish than the ones Ginny encountered."
"Anyway, I just needed to get my head down somewhere else. I've got stuff to do so I won't get under your feet."
"That's fine," Teddy says. "I could use the distraction, to be honest."
"What are you supposed to be working on?"
"A report they want me to publish."
"Publish? Bloody hell, well done! Are you going to be an author?"
"Not of anything interesting," Teddy laughs. "But yeah, hopefully."
"Fantastic!"
"Well, don't get too excited. It's only an idea at the moment, it might not get accepted."
"I'm sure it will."
"Not if I go insane and drive my quill into my ear in desperation before it's finished."
"Well no, not then. Then I'll finish it from your notes and take all the credit," James threatens.
"You swine!" Teddy laughs. "You probably would, as well."
"Are you struggling with it?" James asks.
"Mmm," Teddy nods, rubbing a hand over his forehead. "It has to be so short..."
"Is it for a journal?" James asks, leaning over Teddy's shoulder to look at the papers spread out on the table.
"Hopefully," Teddy nods, then points to the latest issue of British Journal of Experimental Charms Research. "I'm thinking that one."
"Hmm," James murmurs, picking up the copy and leafing through it. "Where's your original report?"
"Umm... Here," Teddy says, locating a thick sheaf of papers and passing them over.
"Hmm..." James mutters again, sliding into the chair next to Teddy's and skimming through the report. "Well... If you think about it, your original justification section maps onto the aims and hypotheses of these articles... You just need to rephrase it. Same for your theoretical basis, it's not far off their existing evidence, but you need a bit more previous research... If you go through your report and work out what's going in what section of the article then just keep trimming it down."
"You - you are a star," Teddy smiles. "Do you know I didn't have a single clue how to even start?"
"Thanks," James grins. "I told Mum and Dad about Jack's potion and they went nuts. Dad got on to Aunt Hermione and she told me I should start recording what I've done so far as something to show potential employers, so I've been reading up on experimental write-ups."
"Swot," Teddy jokes.
"Takes one to know one, Ravenclaw," James teases.
"I told you they'd be proud," Teddy says.
"Yeah," James grins. "It was really nice, actually." He claps Teddy on the shoulder and wanders off to sprawl on the sofa.
Miraculously, words start flowing and Teddy is almost startled a while later to find that he is well over halfway through a first draft. As he drops his quill and stretches his arms above his head James appears at the table with two steaming mugs in hand. Teddy hadn't even noticed him moving from the lounge to the kitchen.
"Tea?" James offers.
"Oh, brilliant. You can come again," Teddy jokes, shoving a pile of papers aside to make way for the cup James is fetching over.
"Want me to leave you to it?"
"No, sit down," Teddy says. "I'm going to stop for a bit. D'you want some lunch?"
"Oh, alright. Thanks."
"Nothing too impressive, I'm afraid," Teddy says. "But I'm sure I can rustle up some sandwiches."
"Cool, d'you need a hand?"
"No, that's alright," Teddy says, stretching again before standing and picking up his tea.
"Can I read your report?" James asks and Teddy nods, leaving James at the table as he strolls through to the kitchen. A few moments of investigation reveal rather slim pickings.
"Cheese or chicken?" Teddy asks, tossing a packet of crisps towards James' head. James bats the packet aside easily, but not without a comical little flinch that has Teddy snickering as James glares at him.
"Chicken, thank you very much," James says, tearing open the packet of crisps.
A few minutes later, Teddy is back, setting a plate down in front of James and falling into his own seat again.
"I had a postcard from Jack the other day," James says around a mouthful of sandwich.
"You charming boy, you," Teddy jokes, pausing for a bite of his own sandwich. "How's he doing?"
"Good," James nods. "Sounds like he's having an amazing time. They were just about to head into the jungle for some mad sounding expedition with platforms up in the trees."
"Jammy bugger," Teddy says, a bit morosely.
"Jealous?"
"Wildly," Teddy admits. "I really fancy a holiday, you know."
"Shut up, you've only been back a while!" James protests.
"Yeah," Teddy shrugs. "It'll have to wait a while, I suppose. Save up some money. Finished with that?" Teddy asks, nodding at James' plate.
"Uh-huh," James nods.
"Anything else?"
"Ummm... Got any sweets?" James asks. "Actually, that's a stupid question, of course you do."
"You know me so well," Teddy admits laughingly. "There's some muggle ones or some Bertie Botts."
"Ooh, muggle ones!" James says enthusiastically.
As James is sorting through Teddy's stash of muggle kids' confectionary - Teddy would be the first to admit he has a seriously sweet tooth - Teddy makes another round of tea.
"What are these ones?" James asks, and Teddy looks in from the kitchen to see him holding up a round sweet, pink on one side, blue on the other.
"Flying saucer," Teddy says. "They've got sherbet in the middle."
"Ah, sherbet!"
"I've always thought you needed more sugar," Teddy jokes.
"On the contrary, I am just sweet enough, Mr. Lupin," James calls back and Teddy laughs, shaking his head as he quickly scourgifies their plates and heads back to the living room with fresh mugs of tea.
"You're an idiot," he tells James, leaning over him to snag a handful of white mice from the pile.
"Ooh, what are those?" James asks.
"Amazingly synthetic chocolate stuff," Teddy says. "They're good." He tosses one into the air and leans back, catching it in his mouth.
"There's a life skill," James jokes, and Teddy nods happily.
"Catch," he says, but James is too slow, and the mouse that Teddy throws hits his lips and bounces off before he can open his mouth.
"Idiot," James snickers.
"Perfect throw," Teddy defends himself. "Not my fault you have crap reflexes."
"You have a lot of muggle stuff, don't you?" James observes, apropros of nothing.
"I suppose," Teddy shrugs. "It's interesting. Also, Gran taught me to do a lot of things the muggle way."
"Why?" James frowns. "She's a pureblood, isn't she?"
"Well, yes, but she was also a Black. I doubt she ever had to do a spell to do with cooking or cleaning in her life until she ran off with my grandad. Then she learned most of it from him and he was muggle born, so - " Teddy shrugs again. "I suppose it spilled over."
"Does - does she talk about him much?" James asks curiously.
"Sometimes," Teddy nods. "She used to tell me stories when I was a kid, about when they first got married."
"Yeah?"
"Mmm. They didn't have much money, but she said they just had so much fun that they didn't care. She told me about one time, when he was teaching her to cook, they managed to set fire to the oven. I did the exact same thing when I had Harry and Ginny over just after I moved in."
"They never said!"
"They didn't?" Teddy grins. "I'll have to thank them."
"How did you set fire to the oven?"
"Honestly, I have no idea. I've done it twice now, actually."
"Really?"
"Uh-huh," Teddy nods. "I um... I was trying to impress someone, you know. Terribly suave."
"Right," James laughs. "Smooth. Who've you been trying to impress, then?"
"What?" Teddy asks. "Oh, it was ages ago. Ancient history." He says it jokingly but abruptly realises that it does feel like it all happened so long ago. He was nineteen then, but it already seems like decades have passed. There's a moment of silence and Teddy glances over at James to see he looks suddenly serious.
"Teddy?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?" James requests quietly, suddenly pushing the bag of sweets away and curling up small on his chair. He perches his feet on the edge of the seat and picks at a loose thread on his jeans where they are starting to fray at one knee.
"Of course," Teddy says, frowning a bit. "Sounds serious..."
"Um - whatsitlike?" James asks in a rush, and Teddy's stomach sinks like he's just swallowed a stone instead of a bunch of muggle sweets. He does not want to have this conversation, and wonders desperately if James is talking about some other kind of it. Seems unlikely though, from the way James is fidgeting and not quite meeting his eyes. Teddy is a bit ashamed that his first instinct is to derail the conversation in some way, anyway, even with a lie (don't know, never done it, go home, James, springs treacherously to mind). Still, he reasons, who the hell else is James meant to have this particular talk with?
"Sex?" he clarifies, stalling for time.
"Um - Yeah," James says, his blush darkening to an angry red. "I never did, with - you know - that bloke."
"Well, good," Teddy says fiercely, surprising himself a bit with his own intensity. "He sounds like a right wanker, and you're too young for all that, James."
"I'm sixteen," James points out.
"Right," Teddy nods. "And the age of consent is seventeen."
"Sixteen for muggles."
"Are you a muggle?"
"Oh, Teddy - "
"Are you a muggle, James?"
"No, Teddy, I am not a muggle. And yes, Teddy, you do spend far too much time with my bloody dad."
"Sorry," Teddy says, a bit chastened.
"S'alright."
"I'd just hate to think of you rushing into something like that."
"Right. Does - does it hurt?"
"Oh. Um. Yeah," Teddy nods, trying to back-pedal as James' eyes widen instantly. "A bit, I mean. The first couple of times. Not much if you - er - start properly," he says, wondering hopefully if maybe they will get through this conversation without the words lubrication or fingering or even preparation coming into play.
"Start - ?" James echoes, looking completely blank.
"Er - " Teddy looks off to one side, wiggling the fingers of one hand.
"Huh - oh! Oh. Alright, I'm an idiot," James says, blushing again.
"No, I'm sorry," Teddy says, shaking his head. "I'm not making a very good job of this, am I?"
"Sorry," James says. "I shouldn't have asked you - "
"That's okay. Better you have some vague idea from my sign language and incoherence than no clue at all."
"Right," James says, with an awkward laugh.
But a vague idea isn't really good enough, Teddy thinks. If James goes rushing off into something and gets himself hurt, Teddy doesn't think he'll ever be able to forgive himself. "You'll also need some sort of lubricant."
"R-right."
"It makes - well, it does what it sounds like it does."
"Okay, and you just - do you just - "
"You just have to do it slowly. But you - blimey. You have to be relaxed, alright, and - if you're nervous or not sure you want to do it then that makes you tense, and it's harder to... You know?"
"Um - no," James says a bit slowly. "But I can sort of imagine."
"Right, so - um. You also need to use some kind of protection. You can get protective lube from most apothecaries, or you can use a muggle condom. But you have to use something."
"Okay," James nods, looking serious, which is something of a relief.
"Is that it?" Teddy asks.
"I wouldn't know," James laughs.
"Okay," Teddy admits. "But - you know? Any questions?" Teddy can't help a grin at the scholarly tone of his own question and to his relief James laughs quickly too before sobering up.
"Um. No. Don't think so."
"Right. Okay."
"Should - I have no idea what to say now," James says, rubbing a hand over his face.
"Listen - don't feel awkward," Teddy pleads. "I'm actually pretty impressed."
"You are?"
"Yeah," Teddy smiles. "I think I'd rather have been completely clueless than asked someone when I was your age."
"Gryffindor, remember? Also, Potter. We're brave in stupid situations. Kind of famous for it."
Teddy laughs, feeling a sudden wave of affection for James. He's growing up into such a good bloke, and Teddy feels absurdly proud of him sometimes.
"Let's go out," Teddy offers.
"Alright," James agrees, looking pleasantly surprised. "Where?"
"Well, give me half an hour to finish this, and I need to drop it off in the office because Lorraine offered to read it through, but then, Mr. Potter, your wish is my command."
"Can we do something ridiculous?" James requests.
"Like what?"
"I don't know. A muggle funfair or something."
"That sounds perfect! I'm sure Lorraine mentioned taking her nephews to one a little while ago, we can find out where it is."
"Brilliant! Get working, then. I'll go and make another cup of tea if you want one?"
"No, that's okay."
"Alright. I let mine go cold, so..."
"Help yourself," Teddy nods. "Honestly, I meant it when I said to make yourself at home."
"You're the best, Teddy."
"I aim to please," Teddy nods, watching for a moment as James wanders back into the kitchen before turning back to his work. He glances up as James crosses the room with a cup of tea and curls up on the sofa again. Teddy drums his fingers on the tabletop for a moment before he starts writing again. It takes almost another hour, but when he finally stops, he's fairly pleased with the draft. He stretches his arms up above his head and turns to look at James.
He's lying on his back on the sofa, a cup of tea balanced on his chest, one hand steadying it gently. Teddy still can't quite believe that little Jamie is tall enough to take up a whole sofa, legs dangling over one arm. He's got a book propped in his other hand, three fingers along the spine. As Teddy watches, James flicks a page with his little finger and catches it with his thumb, flattening it carefully. Actually, now that Teddy notices, the book is a very familiar looking battered copy of Catch-22.
"What are you staring at?" James asks, looking up suddenly as though he's felt Teddy's eyes on him.
"Huh? Oh, nothing, just that's my book."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I lent it to Albus a while ago."
"Ah. That would make sense. I stole it from Al," James admits, closing the book.
"You like it?"
"Yeah, it's a bit - "
"Weird?" Teddy fills in, and James nods fervently. "Here, you might like this a bit better," Teddy says, summoning one of his many Wodehouse anthologies and holding it out to James.
"Yeah?"
"Mm-hmm," Teddy nods. "It's hilarious. I can't read it in public, it makes me laugh too much."
"Excellent," James says, thumbing through the book. "Are you finished?"
"Yeah, ready to go?"
"Absolutely!" James says, jumping up.
"Leave the books, we can come back for those," Teddy says. "You want to floo or apparate to the office?"
"Floo, please," James says, crossing over to the fireplace and opening the box of powder, holding it out to Teddy. "What number is it again?"
"48," Teddy says, flicking through his draft to make sure everything's there.
"Is it alright to go or should you go through first?"
"No, go ahead, I'll be right behind you," Teddy says.
"48 Empiric Alley," James calls, stepping into the flames. Teddy follows him through the floo a moment later and finds James on his own in the main office, his hands stuffed into his pockets, looking around idly.
"Right, wait here a sec, I won't be long," Teddy says, and James nods, perching on the edge of a table and craning his head to look upside-down at a yellow pamphlet. "I'll be five minutes," he adds, heading over to the office he shares with Lorraine.
Inside, he finds her at her desk, looking distinctly frazzled.
"Hi," Teddy says, and she looks up distractedly.
"Oh, hi, you."
"I've got a draft of that article if you've time to look it over?"
"That's fine," Lorraine says, a bit distractedly.
"You have..." Teddy says, waggling a finger towards a dark smudge on her cheek.
"Right," she nods, brushing her cheek against her shoulder. "An incident," she says in the slightly clipped tone she always uses to let Teddy know that incident is as much description as he or anyone else at the company is going to get.
"So you'll read it?"
"Yeah, yeah," she nods, standing up to accio a folder from a shelf. As it zooms over she cranes her neck to look out of their small window.
"Right, thanks," Teddy says. "Also, where was that funfair you took the kids to?"
She looks out of the window again, and then back at Teddy.
"Did you actually bring your date to the office, Lupin?"
"Huh?" Teddy looks over his shoulder but can only see James, still sitting on the edge of the table, now reading the pamphlet with interest. It takes a moment for realisation to sink in. "What? Lorraine! That's James!" Teddy protests, nodding towards the old photo of Harry, Ginny and the kids on his noticeboard.
"Oh!" Lorraine cranes her neck again to peer more closely at James. "My, my. Didn't he grow up nicely..."
"Put your eyes back in, you filthy old woman! He's sixteen!"
"He's never!"
"Yes he is. He's a child. Ugh, I'm not having this conversation. Just read the bloody thing and owl me later."
"Alright, alright, don't get your knickers in a twist."
"Well!" Teddy protests. "You - !"
"Bye-bye," she says, flicking her hand imperiously towards the door. "Oh, here," she says as an afterthought, scribbling on a piece of parchment before screwing it up and throwing it towards Teddy. "Nearest apparition point to the funfair. It's just over half a mile along the road, heading east."
"Brilliant," Teddy says, stooping to pick up the parchment.
"Have fun."
"Right," Teddy nods, a bit preoccupied. Despite what James told him earlier in the summer, and what they'd discussed a few hours ago, Teddy still finds it a bit disconcerting to realise that people will look at James these days and think that he's an attractive, date-able adult. He wonders if this is maybe what it means to feel protective towards a small person. One day they become a big person and there are, weirdly, more things to feel concerned about, not less. It's definitely a good job that children of his own aren't likely to feature in his life, Teddy reflects. He'd be a nervous bloody wreck.
When Teddy steps back into the main office, James pushes himself off the table he's been sitting on and smiles.
"Done?" he asks, and Teddy nods.
"Got the co-ordinates as well," he says. "You ready for several hours of acting like a pair of five year olds?"
"Absolutely," James beams, and Teddy checks the co-ordinates one more time.
"Right, give me your arm, then," Teddy says, getting a good grip on James' arm as well as making sure he has the sound awareness of him necessary to side-along. "Ready?"
"Yep," James nods, and Teddy closes his eyes.
"Gaah, I hate that," James shudders when they arrive.
"Sorry," Teddy says. "I'm not the best."
"Nah," James shrugs. "It's just the same when Dad does it. I don't like the feeling, that's all."
"Yeah, it's a lot better when it's just yourself."
"So they say. Which way are we going, then?"
"East for about half a mile, apparently." Teddy pulls out his wand, intending to cast the Four Point spell to get his bearings.
"That way," James says, pointing over Teddy's shoulder.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, let's go," James nods.
"How are you so sure what way we're going?" Teddy asks, falling into step alongside James.
"I have a sense of direction," James jokes.
On one side of the road they're walking down, there's a small, fast flowing river. On the other side are a handful of rundown looking muggle buildings. Lorraine had mentioned that her home town was a bit of a dump and going by what he can see, Teddy is inclined to agree. Still, even if the area isn't that nice it's a warm day with a gentle breeze and the light glints off the river sharply.
"Oh, bugger!" James says suddenly in dismay, coming to a stop.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't have any money changed over. Well, I've got a few pounds, but everything else is in sickles."
"Don't worry about it," Teddy shrugs. "My treat."
"Oh, but - "
"Shut up, James, I'm allowed to spoil you."
"I can pay you back."
"No, you can not," Teddy says firmly.
"But - "
"A day at the funfair isn't going to bankrupt me, James. You can even have some candyfloss if you want."
"Alright, then. Cheers, Teddy."
"Oh, hey, look," Teddy says, nodding his head. Around the next corner a few of the taller rides are coming into view.
"Brilliant! Come on," James grins, stepping up his pace.
Before long they arrive at the funfair and while James stares around avidly at the rides and stalls, Teddy goes up to the booth and pays for both of them, receiving two wristbands in return that will allow them on all of the main rides and a few of the stalls.
"C'mere," Teddy says, herding James off to one side and taking hold of his wrist, lifting his arm.
"What're you doing?" James asks, a bit sharply, and Teddy glances up at him.
"Sorry, did I hurt you?"
"No, just - what are you doing?"
"Here," Teddy says, holding out the wristbands. "Need to put one of these on for the rides."
"Oh, okay," James nods, letting Teddy wrap the thick strip of waxed paper around his wrist, sliding the end into one of the slits and twisting it to make it stick. "Need any help?" James asks as Teddy drops his arm and wraps the other band around his own wrist.
"Nah, I'm a master," Teddy says, fastening the band easily. "Right," he says, turning towards the rides. "What first?"
"Umm... Ooh, that one looks good," James says, pointing, and Teddy suppresses a groan. The ride is one of those boat shaped ones that swings slowly back and forth, gaining momentum and speed until it does half a dozen or so full loops. Knowing that suggesting a different ride will not only be futile but will open him up to wholly justified accusations of being a complete wuss, Teddy lets James drag him over to the ride and they join the little group of people waiting for the next turn.
When the boat swings to a stop, James clambers on eagerly, taking a seat right at the front and watching expectantly as they are strapped in and a metal bar lowered across their laps. James tenses and grabs Teddy's arm tightly when the boat starts moving a bit creakily.
"This feels a bit - unsafe," he says tentatively.
"That's half the fun, apparently," Teddy points out and James laughs a bit sheepishly, letting go of Teddy's arm. The boat starts swinging in a wider arc, the movement terribly slow when it gets up high. Teddy closes his eyes as they swing forward, not sure if that makes the lurching in his stomach better or worse.
"You've got your eyes shut," James' voice says into his ear.
"Yes," Teddy admits.
"D'you not like this one? You didn't have to get on, you know."
"No, it's okay," Teddy says, opening his eyes. "When it gets going properly it's fine, it's just these big slow swings I don't like."
"Aw, don't be scared Teddy, I'll protect you," James teases.
"Tosser," Teddy laughs, letting go of the metal bar to give James a clip around the ear.
"Oi," James says, elbowing him. "At least I'm not a wimp - ohshit!" James yelps as the boat does its first full loop, teetering almost upright for long seconds before it swoops down fast.
"Yeah, I'm the wimp," Teddy scoffs.
"Shut up!" James laughs, joining in with the muggles behind them who are whooping with each downward swing.
When the ride finally comes to a stop the pile off and James looks around eagerly for the next ride.
"What's best?" he asks Teddy.
"Have you never been to one of these before?" Teddy asks quietly, walking a little way apart from the stream of muggles.
"Not for ages," James says. "Mum came with us and she wouldn't let us go on any of the decent rides. You know how she gets. What's your favourite?"
"I would have to go with the dodgems," Teddy says, craning his neck to spy them out. "Oh look, over there, next to the ghost train."
"Ghosts?"
"Not like that, idiot," Teddy laughs. "We'll have a go later, they're always good for a laugh."
"Alright, let's go and try the dodgems," James says, and they wander through the funfair towards the dodgems. On the way, they pass an automated stall which has a large round punch bag hanging from a metal arm.
"What's that?" James asks curiously, nodding over at it.
"What's what? Oh. Oh, you punch it as hard as you can and - " Teddy shrugs. "A bell goes off if you punch it hard enough. That's about it, I think. You want a go?"
"Er - alright," James shrugs. Teddy flips James a coin and watches as he slips it into the machine. "So just – hit it?" he asks, and Teddy nods. "Right," James shrugs, shifting one shoulder as though he's loosening it and then swinging his fist at the punch bag. It swings back on its metal arm, but not very far.
"That was pretty pathetic," Teddy laughs. "I think Lily could do better."
"Shut up! You do it, then!"
"Alright," Teddy smirks, putting another twenty pence piece into the machine. He steps onto the little platform and punches the bag as hard as he can. It swings up and back, setting off a bell, and Teddy smiles a bit smugly at James.
"How did you do that?"
"Talent," Teddy shrugs.
"No, but how did you do that?"
"Are you saying I'm a weed?"
"Not - no, but you know... How?"
"There's a knack," Teddy says. "You have to try to hit it almost from underneath, but that doesn't mean you punch upwards. Straight from the shoulder, just a little lower down than you hit it."
"Why - how do you know all this mental muggle stuff?" James asks.
"My first boyfriend was a muggle," Teddy says casually, glancing at James.
"Oh, okay," James says, a bit of surprise evident in his voice. "Come on, show me these dodgem things, then."
When they get to the dodgems they have to join a fairly short queue.
"Be five minutes," the operator of the ride grunts and Teddy and James exchange little looks. The man is taller than either of them, broad shouldered and red-faced with long blond dreadlocks. He looks pretty fierce, and is certainly glowering.
"Cheerful soul," James mutters, leaning in to whisper it in Teddy's ear. Teddy laughs and pushes James gently.
"Be good."
"Yes, boss."
Finally the little cars come to a halt and the people on the ride file off. James and Teddy claim a car each, and James peers uncertainly at the steering wheel and single pedal.
"Don't hit the kids," Teddy says before a klaxon sounds and he slams his foot down, zooming into the rear end of James' car before James has got to grips with what's happening. "Ta-ta," Teddy says with a little wave, turning the wheel hard to veer off towards the left. A few seconds later he feels an almighty jolt from behind and lurches forward in the seat.
"Ha!" James cries triumphantly, manoeuvring to hit Teddy's car again.
"Right, that's it, you little toerag," Teddy laughs, wheeling around a bit awkwardly to try and chase James down. He manages to catch the back left of James' car hard and sending him spinning in a circle. Then, earlier than Teddy was expecting, the cars all whine to a halt.
"Right, you two, off," calls the attendant.
"Does he mean us?" James hisses to Teddy.
"I, er - " Teddy shoots a look over his shoulder. The man is standing with arms folded and nods when Teddy turns.
"Yeah, you two. Off. Now."
"Ah, why?" James protests.
Teddy can hear kids snickering as he grabs James' arm and pulls him out of the car. They pick their way between the now stationary cars and get to the exit where the attendant glowers at them as he powers the cars up again.
"S'called the dodgems. You're s'posed to fucking dodge."
Teddy presses his lips together, knowing somehow that he absolutely cannot look at James right now, or they will both start laughing and very possibly be unable to stop.
"How old are you, anyway, eh? Ought to bloody know better."
"Right," James says and then makes a noise that he tries to turn into a cough, but is definitely closer to an escaped giggle.
"Sorry," Teddy fills in over the noise.
"Piss off."
They walk away together and Teddy can hear James very determinedly breathing slowly for a few seconds before he cracks up, almost falling against Teddy in his laughter.
"Oh my god," James breathes around deep belly laughs and Teddy shushes him, trying to drag him out of sight of the dodgems before they both collapse. When they get round the corner and finally calm themselves down, Teddy's cheeks are aching and he has to wipe tears from his eyes.
"Damn," he says, still feeling breathless. "Haven't laughed like that in ages."
"Me either," James says. "God, all those little kids watching us - "
"Oh don't," Teddy says, wrapping an arm around his stomach. "Don't make me start again, I'll be sick."
"Alright, okay," James nods, rubbing a hand over his face. "I'm done. What are we doing next?"
Teddy can't help laughing at James' enthusiasm. It's infectious as well as endearing, and Teddy finds himself laughing along with James, getting excited about stupid rides and rigged games.
"Oh, look!" Teddy says a while later. "The waltzers, that's always good."
"Er - alright, then," James nods, trailing after Teddy to the waltzers. This particular ride is entirely made of wood, including the angular floor. The seats are not much more than big plastic buckets with a ridge to sit on, and a gap for stepping in and out. Teddy drags James to a cart and they settle inside, sliding around a little on the smooth plastic. "So what happens here, then?" James asks.
"Well this spins around," Teddy says, tapping his hand on the cart, "And so does the whole base."
"Oh, that sounds good!" James grins. "Does it go fast?"
"Pretty fast," Teddy nods, and after a few moments, the ride starts spinning slowly, gradually gathering momentum and whirling faster. Then, as they spin around towards the front of the ride, Teddy notices the operator picking his way between the carts delicately, upending a bottle onto the wooden floor every now and then.
"What is that maniac doing?" James shouts into Teddy's ear.
"Washing up liquid," Teddy laughs. "Makes the carts spin faster."
"Oh, we are going to die," James says with certainty in his voice.
"Don't be such a wimp," Teddy chides, leaning in to add quietly, "You're supposed to be a Gryffindor."
"That doesn't count on wooden muggle death traps!" James hisses.
Teddy throws his head back and laughs. Then, without warning, he grabs James around the shoulders and hurls their combined weight against the side of the car, making them spin even faster. James looks positively ashamed at the not-even-vaguely manly shriek that he lets out then. Teddy is still laughing helplessly when the ride comes to a stop and James shoves him out of the car, following on slightly wobbly legs.
"What next?" Teddy asks, and James shrugs.
"Let's just wander, see what we see," he suggests, and Teddy nods agreeably.
"What was his name?" James asks out of nowhere a few seconds later.
"Who?" Teddy frowns.
"The muggle," James says, lowering his voice as they pass a group of teenagers. "Your first boyfriend."
"Oh. Right. Andrew. His name was Andrew."
"Is he the one you were trying to impress when you set fire to the oven?"
"Yes, and I didn't set fire to it, it caught fire."
"Ah, the little details," James laughs. "How did you meet him?" he asks, and then adds quickly, "Is it okay for me to ask about this?"
"Of course," Teddy shrugs, looking at James curiously. "There's no big hidden drama anywhere, James, you can ask me whatever you like. He was one of Ian's friends - his neighbour actually, when they were kids. That's Ian's idea of sensitivity and tact, you know? Setting me up with Andy when I'd never laid eyes on the boy before."
"Obviously worked, though," James points out.
"Yeah," Teddy says, grinning again. "Yeah, it worked." It might have been awkward when it was drawing to an inevitable end, but Teddy mainly has good memories of his almost-a-year with Andy.
"What was he like?"
"He was great," Teddy says fondly. "We still talk every now and then. He's at an art school in Paris now, doing really well for himself."
"An artist? That's not terribly original, is it?"
"Oi, you!"
"I'm only joking," James laughs. "Was it weird, going out with a muggle?"
"A bit, yeah," Teddy shrugs. "That was probably why we broke up, to be honest. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was - there were just so many bits of my life he could never have been part of, so - it was like we just came up against a brick wall. I liked him a lot. I think I loved him, but - I don't know," he shrugs again. "I just felt like I'd nothing to give him."
"That's - a shame," James says carefully.
"Yeah, I suppose it is," Teddy nods. "But we were - it was good. We had a lot of fun together and - I know you probably don't want to discuss it any more, but what we were talking about earlier - you need someone like that for your first time. Someone you care about, someone who cares about you."
"Girl," James teases.
"Yeah," Teddy says, smiling awkwardly. "I know it does sound pretty girly, but it's a big step. A big moment. And you can't undo it once it's done, you can never have that time again with anyone else."
"You obviously don't regret it, then," James says.
"Not at all," Teddy grins.
"Right," James nods. "Not that - I don't even have a bloke, you know?"
"Well," Teddy says uncomfortably. "Like I said, don't rush into anything."
"Chance'd be a fine thing," James jokes.
"Oh, now," Teddy laughs. "Good looking lad like you, I'm sure you won't have to wait too long."
"Hmm," James mutters speculatively. "Want some ice cream?"
"Yeah, can I have - "
"Chocolate with strawberry sauce," James fills in.
"Ha, yes, spontaneous and unpredictable, that's me," Teddy jokes, watching idly as James bounds over to the muggle ice-cream van. There's a bench nearby in the shade of a tree and Teddy sits down there, stretching his legs out in front of him.
"Here," James says when he gets back, holding out an ice cream to Teddy. "They had white chocolate as well as normal so I got you a scoop of each."
"Brilliant, cheers," Teddy says, taking the cone from James. "What did you get?" he asks. James' usual is vanilla with chocolate sauce but he is currently clutching a cone with two scoops of light green ice cream balanced a little precariously, one on top of the other.
"I'm not sure. Pistachio, or something," James says excitedly. "That van has all kinds of mad flavours. This one's green!"
"I see that," Teddy says, hiding his smirk by taking a bite of his own ice cream.
"Oh, disgusting!" James says, sticking out a tongue covered in pale green ice cream. "That's vile!"
"Pistachios are nuts, James," Teddy points out.
"Oh. I don't like those," James says, looking a bit embarrassed, although Teddy personally can't help finding his ice-cream related enthusiasm endearing.
"Here," he offers, holding his own ice cream out towards James. "Swap?"
"That's okay," James says, shaking his head. "I know how you like your chocolate."
"I also like pistachio," Teddy says. "And I can't bear watching your face while you try to choke that down."
"Ha, alright, thanks," James nods, and they swap ice creams.
"What do you want for your birthday?" Teddy asks abruptly.
"Hmm? Oh. I don't know, it's ages away," James shrugs, licking away the strawberry sauce from his ice cream. "Just get me a Quidditch shirt or something."
"Don't be daft, it's your seventeenth! There must be something you want?"
"Not especially. Surprise me."
"That's very helpful, James, thank you," Teddy says, rolling his eyes.
"Sorry," James says around a mouthful of cone.
"You're completely impossible. Don't blame me if it's socks."
"Anything you get'll be fine," James assures Teddy.
"I might remind you of that," Teddy laughs, leaning across James to drop the end of his cone in the bin.
"What're you doing?" James asks.
"Cone's the boring bit," Teddy says. "Come on, we've got a little while still before we should be heading back. What d'you want to do?"
"Ummm... Maybe the ghost train again," James says and Teddy grins. They'd been on their own in a little four-seater carriage of the ride and James had spent the whole thing explaining how this ghost wasn't realistic or that vampire's teeth were too long. As they wander through back through the funfair, James stops abruptly and Teddy looks around.
"Look at that!" James says, pointing towards a stall. There's a large paddling pool inside it, filled with yellow rubber ducks and plastic bags containing water and a single goldfish each.
"Oh, no way," Teddy laughs. "Absolutely not. Ginny'll kill me if I take you home with a bloody fish."
"Oh, please," James says, turning pleading eyes on Teddy.
"I - "
"Pleeeease, Teddy?"
"No - "
"I'll even name it after you."
"Strangely, sharing my name with a fish isn't much of an incentive."
"Your middle name, then," James suggests.
"So, my dad's name," Teddy laughs. "There's a moving tribute."
"Oh, please, go on, look at how sweet they are!"
"You're not going to stop, are you?"
"Nope."
"Alright, alright. You get one go, though, okay? You have to hook one of the ducks with the fishing rod, yeah?"
"Got it," James nods, and Teddy hands him some money, trailing after him to the stall. James hands over the money and spends an inordinately long time picking out one of the twelve or so identical rods. He gets an intense look of concentration on his face as he leans forward.
"Both hands," Teddy says. "Makes it steadier."
"Right," James nods.
"You're taking this very seriously," Teddy points out.
"Of course!"
Then he leans forward, and with such an intensely focused look on his face that Teddy has to swallow his laughter, hooks one of the plastic ducks out of the water. He flicks it towards Teddy, splattering him with water.
"Idiot," Teddy says, and the stallholder hands James a plastic bag. James holds the bag up to his face and waggles a finger at the little fish.
"Hey fishy!" He mimics the movement of the fish' mouth, and Teddy can't help laughing. "What?" James asks, teasingly defensive.
"Nothing. The resemblance is uncanny, that's all."
"Git."
"Yeah, yeah. We done?"
"Sure, let's go."
"Alright, we'll got back to mine first, there's a pet shop round the corner, we'll get it some food."
"What food do they eat?" James asks, still looking closely at the fish.
"Er...fish...food? I'm not really sure," Teddy shrugs, as they head towards the exit. They pass the walk back to the apparition point by suggesting more and more outlandish names for the unfortunate fish and somehow, between that walk and the short visit to the pet shop, James manages to persuade Teddy to go over for dinner. Back at teddy's flat, James goes through the floo first, the bag containing the fish – possibly called Lucinda, or maybe Albus – clutched protectively close.
When Teddy follows him through holding to small plastic tank, it's to find Harry standing with arms crossed and eyebrows raised, the beginnings of a smirk on his face as James lifts the fish up into his eye level and says, in the tone of someone concluding an elaborate story,
"So we liberated it!"
"My fault, Harry. Sorry," Teddy offers and Harry just shrugs.
"Alright, why not," he says, heading towards the front garden where Teddy can hear the sounds of Lily and her friends chattering.
"Brilliant," James grins, leaning over to reach for the tank. "Thanks for this, by the way," he says to Teddy. "I really will pay you back for that."
"If you really insist," Teddy says. "It was only a few pounds."
"I do," James says. "Insist."
"Alright then," Teddy nods, adding, "Idiot," under his breath.
"Yeah, yeah," James says, grinning at Teddy. "See you in a bit, I'm going to try to find space in my room for Fishy."
"I hope you're going to give it a better name than Fishy," Teddy says as James heads for the door.
"I think maybe Gary," James calls over his shoulder.
"Gary?" Teddy asks curiously.
"Short for Garibaldi," James' voice floats back and Teddy can't help laughing before he heads into the kitchen to make a pot of tea. As he's waiting for the leaves to stew, the kitchen door opens and Scorpius sidles in.
"Alright?" Teddy smiles. "Tea?"
"Save me," Scorpius says.
"With tea?"
"If that's all you have," Scorpius shrugs.
"What's wrong?" Teddy asks, pouring a cup for both of them.
"It's so loud. There are so many girls. High pitched ones."
"Yeah," Teddy chuckles. "Well if it's any comfort, you get used to the noise, there aren't usually nearly so many girls, and while I can't speak for the rest of them, Lily is rarely this high pitched about anything but Quidditch. I think it must just be you, mate. Natural magnetism and all that."
"Yeah, great," Scorpius smirks. "For my best friend's little sister? Al would tear my head off, and I think it'd put dad into an early grave."
"Very possibly," Teddy admits.
"Which might just make Mrs. Potter reconsider murdering me in my sleep. She's fairly fearsome."
"I'm sure she likes you," Teddy says.
"She's been nice," Scorpius shrugs. "I just - " he lowers his voice a little and Teddy shifts a bit closer to hear. "I can feel how much they hate my dad. They look so surprised when I say please or thank you or that something's nice and I - "
"Hey, hey!"
For Scorpius, a little bit of babbling counts as extremely wound up, and Teddy pats his arm a little awkwardly.
"Listen, Harry and Ginny might not have got on with your dad at school, and the war - " Teddy hesitates for a second. For a long time he'd refused to hear anything about that time, hadn't wanted to know the history or the details of the war, because it had stolen his parents, and what else did he need to know? Then, when he was a little older, and started to understand the mysteries that spring up between people a bit better, he'd come to realise that maybe his parents would never have found each other if it wasn't for the war. That had been the catalyst for Teddy to start seeking out all the books he could find on the subject, and then, when he felt a bit bolder, to quiz Harry on the details.
"I know," Scorpius says. "I know all that. I just - don't think my father is as bad as they think he is."
"Well. Nor do I, if it comes to it," Teddy shrugs.
"No?"
"Of course not. He's just - look, when you know someone and then they aren't a part of your life anymore, your understanding of them tends to stop at that point. That's not good, obviously, but it's just the way things are."
"I know," Scorpius nods, nudging Teddy. "Thanks."
"Yeah?" asks a voice from the other side of the kitchen and Teddy and Scorpius both snap their heads around to see Al standing in the doorway to the kitchen with his arms folded. "Well I have just sat through fifteen minutes of my mother wittering on about how unexpectedly un-Death-Eater-y you are, Scorp, and I say that the way things are is completely shit. I swear to Merlin... And then when I told her what your dad said about visiting you? Absolutely not, Albus." He makes a noise of complete frustration and throws himself down into a chair at the table, stretching his foot out to tap Scorpius' knee. "I'm really sorry about this," he says.
"It's alright - "
"No it's not. At least your parents have manners."
"My dad would definitely appreciate that sort of attitude," Scorpius nods. "Very good, keep it up."
"Shut up, Scorp, it's not a joke - "
"It's not a problem, either. Al it's always - "
"But it's not - "
"Nothing's fair! Merlin's beard, I'm still a better Slytherin than you even when I'm a Ravenclaw. Let it go."
"But - I - they're being rude."
"In fairness, your dad's being nice. I think your mum's just amazed that I haven't tried to poison her or something. And - Al - " Scorpius almost glances at Teddy but seems to change his mind at the last instant, giving Al a significant look. "You know what I think about that."
Teddy tries not to stare at their half-coded conversation as it rolls on. It reminds him pretty strongly of the way he and Ian talk – and argue. Not for the first time, Teddy realizes how much he's going to miss his friend when he buggers off to Cambridge in a month or so to do intelligent things with particle physics.
He's just wondering if he should leave them to it when –
"It's stupid!" Al says, sounding properly angry now. "You're being stupid!"
"No I'm not," Scorpius snaps. "They can't just ignore the past, Al!"
"Why not? We do!"
"We weren't there!"
"Exactly!"
This time it is Scorpius who makes the frustrated noise, flinging himself back in his chair and glowering at Al.
"You keep twisting things."
"Only because you keep saying stupid things!"
"Alright, enough," Teddy says suddenly, standing up. "I'm not entirely sure what you two are fighting about, but either do it outside, or keep the volume down, or start thinking about how you'll explain to your parents, Albus, when they want to know what's going on."
Al glares for a moment and Scorpius just looks vaguely surprised before they both relax a notch.
"I vote for option four," Scorpius says quietly. "Letting it go."
Al huffs and taps his fingers on the table for a moment.
"Teddy – "
"Don't get me involved," Teddy says, or starts to say, but he doesn't get much further than don't before Al continues.
" – we are fighting because my idiot best friend thinks that it is reasonable for my mother to mistrust him because of things said and done by other people in the past."
"No, actually, I said that think that she would be justified in being a bit wary about a third male Malfoy, given what the last two have tried to do to her and her family. And you know I'm right, Albus."
"Your Grandmother also saved Harry's life," Teddy says quietly to Scorpius, sitting back down next to him.
"Right!" Al agrees. "I knew that, you just wind me up too much for me to be sensible," he says to Scorpius.
"It's my fault you're a drama queen?" Scorpius asks.
"Yours," Al nods. "Or the sorting hat's. Or James'."
"How James' fault?" Teddy laughs, relieved at the relative calm.
"Everything bad can be traced back to him somehow," Al says confidently.
"Is that right?"
"Yes. We just lack the spells to discover how."
"We?"
"Cowering masses of humanity," Al shrugs.
"You're insane," Scorpius comments.
"Yes, well. I still have some residual urge to strangle you," Al says, but he doesn't sound that angry anymore.
"Is that right?"
"Yes it's right. No one says a word about your family at school, you wouldn't even take this kind of crap from a professor!"
"No one at school is married to Harry Potter. And anyway, Al, of the reactions I expect to get to my family name over the years, someone being shocked that I'm nice is probably one of the best."
Al groans, and horrible as it is, Teddy can see the truth in his cousin's words.
"Teddy," Al pleads. "You're good at this. Please explain to him why he's wrong."
"I think – don't hate me, Al – I think Scorpius is right. About some things," he adds when Al opens his mouth to protest. "It's much easier to ignore history if you didn't live through it. It's just the past to us, but to them it's their past."
"I know," Al admits, deflating a bit, and Teddy can't help feeling a bit sorry for him. "But it's so – it's not – I hate it."
"Me, I think it's fun," Scorpius says a bit scathingly and for a second Teddy worries that it'll set Al off again. Certainly anything in that tone from James would be tantamount to a declaration of war. Unexpectedly, Al grins broadly.
"Sorry. I know you hate it too. I catch insanity when I come home, I told you that."
"You are very different around your family," Scorpius acknowledges.
"Sorry."
"I don't mind," Scorpius says. "Pretty funny, actually."
"It is not – "
"Stop!" Teddy begs, laughing. "You're giving me a headache."
"Right," Al nods. "Scorp, mum said we can clear off for the rest of the day if we want, Lily's friends are leaving at about six, apart from Louise."
"The quiet one?"
"Mostly," Al says with a half-hearted shrug.
"Let's go," Scorpius begs. "Coming, Teddy?"
"No, I'll stay. See you tonight, probably."
"Alright, later Teddy," Al calls, already halfway out of the door.
"See you," Scorpius nods and Teddy waves vaguely as he leaves.
"Wow," he says to the empty kitchen after a moment, and casts a warming spell on the cup of tea he'd let go cold.
"Alright," James nods when he wanders into the kitchen a few minutes later. "Gary has a new home, he's settling in well."
"Please to hear it," Teddy nods.
"Seen Al and Scorpius?"
"They just left. After a massive bloody row, actually."
"Yeah?" James seems unconcerned, picking a green apple out of the fruit bowl and polishing it against the arm of his t-shirt before taking a massive bite. "Wha' a'aht?"
Teddy just raises his eyebrows and tries to hide a smile. James chews frantically for a second and swallows.
"Ow. Apple pain. Damn you, Lupin."
"Apple pain?"
"Yeah. You know, when you swallow a big bit of apple and you get that mad pain in your chest and – you have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"
"Maybe you need to learn to chew your food," Teddy suggests.
"Shut up, smart-arse. What were they arguing about, anyway?"
"Oh – " Teddy glances to the door and then closes it quietly with a flick of his wand. "Historical guilt? I have no idea, really. Al seems to think your mum isn't being fair to Scorpius, and Scorpius seems surprised he wasn't searched for dark objects on arrival, and it sort of escalated from there."
"Oh," James says, taking a more manageable bite of apple this time and sitting down opposite Teddy. "That stuff. Mum's – you know how mum is with us. Way over the top."
"Sometimes," Teddy acknowledges. "So, listen. Do Al and Scorpius always – "
"Argue like a pair of old women?" James suggests. "Yeah. I mean, not all the time, but quite a bit. They've had some memorable ones at school."
"But – they're best mates," Teddy says, not quite a question.
"Oh, yeah," James nods, talking around a mouthful of apple. "If anyone else says anything bad about either of them they close ranks pretty sharpish. They're worse than mum's lot."
"Sounds like a lot of hassle," Teddy says.
"Yeah," James shrugs. "Works for them, apparently, but I can't imagine working up the energy to argue like they do with anyone, let alone if it was with Jack."
"Tell me about it," Teddy agrees fervently.
"Anything for a quiet life, eh?" James jokes. "We're the black sheep."
"Yeah, right. So listen, what do you think of Scorpius anyway?"
"He's alright," James says, giving Teddy a bit of a weird look. "He's...you know. He's just Al's friend. He's quite funny. Do you see him a lot, with your gran, I mean?"
"A bit," Teddy shrugs. "A few times most holidays."
"And his dad?"
"Of course."
"What's he like?"
"He's – alright," Teddy says. "He's always been – I was going to say nice but that's not the right word. More like highly sarcastic but not actively unpleasant. He can be a bit standoffish, but – we're family, I guess," Teddy shrugs. "That's a big thing for him."
"Hmm," James mutters.
"Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," James shrugs. "I saw mum on my way in, she said we're having chicken and salad and stuff for dinner unless anyone can think of anything more interesting."
"Nope. I'm completely out of brain power for the day."
"Me too," James agrees. "Listen," he adds seriously, nudging Teddy with his foot, "I had a really good day today. Thanks for putting up with me."
"James," Teddy protests. "I wasn't putting up with you, stupid. We're friends, aren't we?"
"Yeah," James says, smiling and casting his eyes down towards the tabletop. "Of course we are."
>>Next Part
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-01-30 03:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-30 11:31 am (UTC)thanks for reading.
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Date: 2009-01-30 04:15 am (UTC)I cannot help but think that your Teddy is a bit like you (all in good ways, mind you.) The intelligence, the academic anxiety, the acceptance of that which many find different. That's cool, really. Oh, and not to mention quite witty. Empiric Alley? LOL!
I love how confident he was with James and how completely obvious it was that the two of them should be together.
And the bit at the end with Albus and Scorpius was inspired. I can very much imagine that that is how they would feel.
Wonderful!
no subject
Date: 2009-01-30 11:37 am (UTC)And haha, mayyybe there are some similarities (largely unintended, actually, apart from the job). Maybe it is unconscious guilt that I wrote this chapter when I should have been drafting an article? Who can say.
I have this terrible feeling that I might have seen Empiric Alley somewhere before, I hope I'm not a thief!
They should very clearly be together. Alas, dunderhead boys.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-30 05:04 am (UTC)James and Teddy are constantly having tea and sandwiches. Its their way of life.
Also, this was so funny:
"What's wrong?" Teddy asks, pouring a cup for both of them."It's so loud. There are so many girls. High pitched ones."
I laughed out loud. Not in the "lol" way either, in the actual laughing way.
:)
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Date: 2009-01-30 11:37 am (UTC)I'm really glad you liked it, thanks for reading.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-30 05:35 am (UTC)(James offering to name the fish Remus? My favourite part. That would have been a touching tribute.)
I can't wait to read more! I'm always so excited for your updates!
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Date: 2009-01-30 11:40 am (UTC)More will be forthcoming as soon as humanly possible (although knowing me, that's not that soon). And dude, I am always highly excited for your updates! It's like a love in in here
no subject
Date: 2009-01-30 05:28 pm (UTC)And Al and Score are made of pure WIN!
please don't take this long for the next chapter :)
no subject
Date: 2009-01-31 08:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-01 04:44 pm (UTC)Firstly, of course, being a total maniac, I loved the parts about
sexTeddy watching James and their 'date'. Gary was awesome though I think I'd prefer Teddy or Remus.Thank you very much! :]
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Date: 2009-02-02 11:49 am (UTC)I'm really glad you enjoyed it, and ahhh yeah, teenage days of date-not-a-date haha good times. Thanks for reading :)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-05 01:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-05 04:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-28 01:42 pm (UTC)One question: how long is Teddy's vacation? He says he'll be gone for four months, but several clues indicate that he leaves before James' sixth year begins and returns when said year is almost over. Since I'm already nitpicking: Lily describes James as "monody" (sic) in Chapter 2, and in Chapter 1's "There wouldn't even be a choice," I don't quite get why "choice" is italicized instead of "be".
Don't get me wrong - those are minor issues, and I really enjoy this story. The characterizations are sharp and believable, the dialogue is witty, and I particularly like the subtle ways in which the issues and discussions regarding a romantic relationship are foreshadowed. For instance: Teddy give sex advice but treats James as his equal when they discuss the article; Teddy refers to 16-year-old James as a child but also says he feels younger than he really is.
Come on, James, just pin Teddy to the nearest available wall ... ;)
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Date: 2009-02-28 08:17 pm (UTC)And thank you for the nitpicks (seriously!). In answer to your question, I believe I meant to put six months, rather than four. I'll go back and correct the others, too.
There will be no pinning to walls for a while yet but it will happen, I swear!
no subject
Date: 2009-05-27 04:10 am (UTC)♥
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Date: 2009-05-27 08:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-27 06:16 am (UTC)"don't know, never done it, go home, James, springs treacherously to mind"
That would be me, snorting ingloriously.
Wodehouse and Catch 22 explains a lot. Not just about Teddy, but about this fic in general and its hilarity and tragicomedic flangst. Except it's better than all that. *grins*
no subject
Date: 2009-05-27 08:11 am (UTC)Haha, Wodehouse = <3, more than I can possibly say. Better than Prozac.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-27 02:23 pm (UTC)