(Set Yourself) On Fire - HP
Title: (Set Yourself) On Fire
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1458
Pairing(s): Victoire Weasley/Teddy Lupin
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended. The song “Your Ex Lover Is Dead” belongs to the band Stars.
Prompt: "There's one thing I have to say so I'll be brave / You were what I wanted, I gave what I gave / I'm not sorry I met you / I'm not sorry it's over / I'm not sorry there's nothing to save."
Summary: Teddy and Victoire meet by chance in Montréal a few years after their relationship has ended.
A/N: Written for the 2011 HP Nextgen Fest and first appeared here.
(PRESENT)
Montréal. Raining. Blech.
Victoire throws a soggy, useless cigarette into the gutter. Sodding Québec, she grumbles to herself. Damn her choice to go to Healer's Academy in a place with some of the worst weather in the world. When it wasn't bollock cold it was fecking raining. Or so windy that it obscenely lifted up her skirt before she had the foresight to make it stick by magic. She takes a quick look around her and decides that there were too many muggles around to chance an impervius charm. Grumbling again she manages to dig out an umbrella from the depths of her large purse. She is just about to cross the street when she hears someone call out behind her.
“Fuck me, Victoire? Victoire Weasley, is that you?” a voice says in astonishment from somewhere to her left.
Victoire tries to move the umbrella in order to see who has said her name.
“Teddy,” she says, astonished. He hugged her before she could stop him, and in what seems like a blur they are suddenly taking an awkward cab ride over Pont Champlain, watching the city retreat behind them.
They sleep together because it's comfortable, familiar. But something feels wrong and Victoire can't shake a premonition of dread.
-
(PAST)
She sees them kissing in the Charms corridor. Teddy and Elaine Flutterbush. They are too busy to see her, and Victoire freezes for a moment before summoning the strength walking numbly back to the common room. She doesn't know how long she sits in one of the armchairs in front of the fire, but it seems like only a few minutes later when Teddy appears and asks her, with his casual bloody smile if she would like a game of gobstones. Victoire doesn't answer, only turns her face back to the fire to watch the flickering of the flames. Teddy wavers for a second, then is gone. By the time Victoire can pull herself out of the chair to get to her dormitory the common room has emptied of even hard-working N.E.W.T. and O.W.L. students. As she ascends the stairs she feels two hundred years old. She slips in-between the covers and tries to cry, but it just won't come. There is only anger.
-
(PRESENT)
“So what are you in town for?” Victoire asks, lighting a cigarette. This one takes, and she smiles approvingly before rolling her eyes at herself. It's not pissing rain in here, what the fuck did you expect?
“Educational conference,” Teddy replies. “Something about the 'Witches and Wizards of Tomorrow' and cutting down on squib cases through proper intervention early in life. Utter shite, of course.”
“Of course,” nods Victoire. Was this conversation, being with Teddy easy or painful? She can't decide, so she takes a drag of her cigarette to keep from having to make up her mind.
“Victoire,” Teddy says suddenly, pleadingly. “I'm sorry about before. All those years ago. I never meant to hurt you. I don't even-- I'm not sure why I did it.”
Victoire shrugs and says, “it was so long ago. Besides, who can even remember why we do anything?”
She turns to look at him and sees that he's still staring at her. He looks a little sad, a little wistful, but mostly like he wants to say something more. It's too much, she almost can't bear to look at him.
“Nox,” she whispers, and her wand goes out.
-
(PAST)
Teddy's time with Elaine comes to its inevitable end. He never discusses it with Victoire, but the looks of loathing Elaine sends her are enough for Victoire to piece together what has happened. After what seems like years it's she who is sneaking off to meet Teddy in empty classrooms, and nothing could make her happier.
“Oh Teddy, you don't know how long I've been waiting for this,” Victoire breathes in-between kisses.
Teddy smiles and says earnestly, “Me too, Victoire. Now hush, fifth years aren't supposed to be out this late. You'll be caught.”
Victoire grins, waving his concerns aside. “Why didn't you do it before? Kiss me, I mean.”
“Does it matter? I'm kissing you now.”
She smiles as she melts into his kiss. All her dreams were finally coming true. What could go wrong now?
He breaks up with her the next day. Or maybe it's not quite breaking up, Victoire reflects, but he puts a stop to things. He says all the right things about how lovely she is, looking at her with tenderness in his eyes and giving her strange, not-quite excuses. “I've my N.E.W.T.S. coming up,” or “the family wouldn't approve”.
She is sad for a few days, but a week later they are back to snogging after curfew, and being broken up doesn't seem so bad after all. They split again--this time what she thinks is for good--right before the summer holidays, but when September 1st comes around he is there to take her to King's Cross and their kissing almost makes her late for the train.
-
(PRESENT)
Victoire wakes before it's even light outside. She thinks of sneaking away while Teddy's still sleeping, then remembers they're in her apartment. She lets out a harsh laugh at the thought, then claps a hand to her mouth in guilt. Her eyes shift involuntarily to watch Teddy's chest rise and fall as he sleeps. She doesn't feel anything. How could that be? There was a time she had thought the two of them were meant to be together. What had changed?
-
(PAST)
The note is delivered to her by owl not at the breakfast table, but early in the morning before she's even properly awake. Bleary-eyed, Victoire opens the window and tears the letter from the owl's leg.
Dear Victoire,
I'm sorry to have to write you like this but there's no way I would be able to say what I have to say in person. I'm not doing this to be cruel, please believe me. I have to tell you that we can't see each other anymore. I'm doing this now although things have already gone too far. I know this will hurt your feelings but I don't have any choice and it would be much worse to delay things.
This has to be the final word on the matter and we can't go on as we have been doing. You won't see me or hear from me anymore. It would be too difficult otherwise. I know this won't make you happy and I don't like it either, but I can't feel the way about you the way you feel about me. I don't imagine it has been how you might have imagined it if you did.
I hope you can forgive me but please respect my decision. I still think you are a wonderful person but this seems to be the way it has to be. I'm very sorry.
--Teddy
Victoire reads it once, twice. The rambling, jumbled phrases don't seem like Teddy at all. The words are far more cruel than she knows him to be. She doesn't even cry, she just sits on her bed staring at the letter. Surely he'll come around? He always has before.
But he doesn't. Victoire feels like a ghost for weeks. Later she can only be thankful that she was between her N.E.W.T. and O.W.L. years when it happened, or she would have failed every subject. When she is home for the holidays she sees Teddy once or twice, but he never even meets her eyes.
That Christmas Victoire knows it's really over. Everyone else seems to know too. They use laughter to cover up the awkwardness and they never tease her about him anymore. It's as if he was never there. At first the thought makes her cry. Then, slowly, it helps her heal.
-
(PRESENT)
Teddy leaves her apartment after several cups of coffee and a slightly awkward promise to stay in touch. He kisses her on the cheek when he leaves and she almost relaxes enough to smile.
Victoire knows she will be late for class, but somehow can't bring herself to move from the kitchen table. She stares into her coffee cup for a few more silent minutes before searching for some parchment and a quill.
Dear Teddy,
There's one thing I have to say so I'll be brave: you were what I wanted, I gave what I gave. I'm not sorry I met you, I'm not sorry it's over, I'm not sorry there's nothing to save.
-V
As Victoire opens her window and sends her owl out into the morning fog she breathes in the fresh air and laughs. Finally, she feels free.
FIN
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1458
Pairing(s): Victoire Weasley/Teddy Lupin
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended. The song “Your Ex Lover Is Dead” belongs to the band Stars.
Prompt: "There's one thing I have to say so I'll be brave / You were what I wanted, I gave what I gave / I'm not sorry I met you / I'm not sorry it's over / I'm not sorry there's nothing to save."
Summary: Teddy and Victoire meet by chance in Montréal a few years after their relationship has ended.
A/N: Written for the 2011 HP Nextgen Fest and first appeared here.
(PRESENT)
Montréal. Raining. Blech.
Victoire throws a soggy, useless cigarette into the gutter. Sodding Québec, she grumbles to herself. Damn her choice to go to Healer's Academy in a place with some of the worst weather in the world. When it wasn't bollock cold it was fecking raining. Or so windy that it obscenely lifted up her skirt before she had the foresight to make it stick by magic. She takes a quick look around her and decides that there were too many muggles around to chance an impervius charm. Grumbling again she manages to dig out an umbrella from the depths of her large purse. She is just about to cross the street when she hears someone call out behind her.
“Fuck me, Victoire? Victoire Weasley, is that you?” a voice says in astonishment from somewhere to her left.
Victoire tries to move the umbrella in order to see who has said her name.
“Teddy,” she says, astonished. He hugged her before she could stop him, and in what seems like a blur they are suddenly taking an awkward cab ride over Pont Champlain, watching the city retreat behind them.
They sleep together because it's comfortable, familiar. But something feels wrong and Victoire can't shake a premonition of dread.
-
(PAST)
She sees them kissing in the Charms corridor. Teddy and Elaine Flutterbush. They are too busy to see her, and Victoire freezes for a moment before summoning the strength walking numbly back to the common room. She doesn't know how long she sits in one of the armchairs in front of the fire, but it seems like only a few minutes later when Teddy appears and asks her, with his casual bloody smile if she would like a game of gobstones. Victoire doesn't answer, only turns her face back to the fire to watch the flickering of the flames. Teddy wavers for a second, then is gone. By the time Victoire can pull herself out of the chair to get to her dormitory the common room has emptied of even hard-working N.E.W.T. and O.W.L. students. As she ascends the stairs she feels two hundred years old. She slips in-between the covers and tries to cry, but it just won't come. There is only anger.
-
(PRESENT)
“So what are you in town for?” Victoire asks, lighting a cigarette. This one takes, and she smiles approvingly before rolling her eyes at herself. It's not pissing rain in here, what the fuck did you expect?
“Educational conference,” Teddy replies. “Something about the 'Witches and Wizards of Tomorrow' and cutting down on squib cases through proper intervention early in life. Utter shite, of course.”
“Of course,” nods Victoire. Was this conversation, being with Teddy easy or painful? She can't decide, so she takes a drag of her cigarette to keep from having to make up her mind.
“Victoire,” Teddy says suddenly, pleadingly. “I'm sorry about before. All those years ago. I never meant to hurt you. I don't even-- I'm not sure why I did it.”
Victoire shrugs and says, “it was so long ago. Besides, who can even remember why we do anything?”
She turns to look at him and sees that he's still staring at her. He looks a little sad, a little wistful, but mostly like he wants to say something more. It's too much, she almost can't bear to look at him.
“Nox,” she whispers, and her wand goes out.
-
(PAST)
Teddy's time with Elaine comes to its inevitable end. He never discusses it with Victoire, but the looks of loathing Elaine sends her are enough for Victoire to piece together what has happened. After what seems like years it's she who is sneaking off to meet Teddy in empty classrooms, and nothing could make her happier.
“Oh Teddy, you don't know how long I've been waiting for this,” Victoire breathes in-between kisses.
Teddy smiles and says earnestly, “Me too, Victoire. Now hush, fifth years aren't supposed to be out this late. You'll be caught.”
Victoire grins, waving his concerns aside. “Why didn't you do it before? Kiss me, I mean.”
“Does it matter? I'm kissing you now.”
She smiles as she melts into his kiss. All her dreams were finally coming true. What could go wrong now?
He breaks up with her the next day. Or maybe it's not quite breaking up, Victoire reflects, but he puts a stop to things. He says all the right things about how lovely she is, looking at her with tenderness in his eyes and giving her strange, not-quite excuses. “I've my N.E.W.T.S. coming up,” or “the family wouldn't approve”.
She is sad for a few days, but a week later they are back to snogging after curfew, and being broken up doesn't seem so bad after all. They split again--this time what she thinks is for good--right before the summer holidays, but when September 1st comes around he is there to take her to King's Cross and their kissing almost makes her late for the train.
-
(PRESENT)
Victoire wakes before it's even light outside. She thinks of sneaking away while Teddy's still sleeping, then remembers they're in her apartment. She lets out a harsh laugh at the thought, then claps a hand to her mouth in guilt. Her eyes shift involuntarily to watch Teddy's chest rise and fall as he sleeps. She doesn't feel anything. How could that be? There was a time she had thought the two of them were meant to be together. What had changed?
-
(PAST)
The note is delivered to her by owl not at the breakfast table, but early in the morning before she's even properly awake. Bleary-eyed, Victoire opens the window and tears the letter from the owl's leg.
Dear Victoire,
I'm sorry to have to write you like this but there's no way I would be able to say what I have to say in person. I'm not doing this to be cruel, please believe me. I have to tell you that we can't see each other anymore. I'm doing this now although things have already gone too far. I know this will hurt your feelings but I don't have any choice and it would be much worse to delay things.
This has to be the final word on the matter and we can't go on as we have been doing. You won't see me or hear from me anymore. It would be too difficult otherwise. I know this won't make you happy and I don't like it either, but I can't feel the way about you the way you feel about me. I don't imagine it has been how you might have imagined it if you did.
I hope you can forgive me but please respect my decision. I still think you are a wonderful person but this seems to be the way it has to be. I'm very sorry.
--Teddy
Victoire reads it once, twice. The rambling, jumbled phrases don't seem like Teddy at all. The words are far more cruel than she knows him to be. She doesn't even cry, she just sits on her bed staring at the letter. Surely he'll come around? He always has before.
But he doesn't. Victoire feels like a ghost for weeks. Later she can only be thankful that she was between her N.E.W.T. and O.W.L. years when it happened, or she would have failed every subject. When she is home for the holidays she sees Teddy once or twice, but he never even meets her eyes.
That Christmas Victoire knows it's really over. Everyone else seems to know too. They use laughter to cover up the awkwardness and they never tease her about him anymore. It's as if he was never there. At first the thought makes her cry. Then, slowly, it helps her heal.
-
(PRESENT)
Teddy leaves her apartment after several cups of coffee and a slightly awkward promise to stay in touch. He kisses her on the cheek when he leaves and she almost relaxes enough to smile.
Victoire knows she will be late for class, but somehow can't bring herself to move from the kitchen table. She stares into her coffee cup for a few more silent minutes before searching for some parchment and a quill.
Dear Teddy,
There's one thing I have to say so I'll be brave: you were what I wanted, I gave what I gave. I'm not sorry I met you, I'm not sorry it's over, I'm not sorry there's nothing to save.
-V
As Victoire opens her window and sends her owl out into the morning fog she breathes in the fresh air and laughs. Finally, she feels free.
FIN