Hogsmeade
It's just Link. It's just Hogsmeade. So why is my heart beating more erratically than a heavy metal song?
Victoire took a steadying breath descending the dormitory staircase to meet Link in the common room. She was nervous and excited to be spending the day with Link. She stepped into the common room to find Link pacing with his hands in his pockets - he evidently didn't hear her arrive. There was nothing of the man who dominated her in his nervous glance at the clock, wondering if he told her the correct time to meet him. She bit her lip to contain her smile as she took a heavy step forward to alert him to her presence.
His eyes widened as he turned his head to take in her appearance; a bright, relieved smile forming easily on his lips. She mirrored his smile as he looked at her. She wore skin tight jeans that hugged her curves and a cream colored cropped blouse, paired off with heels that still made her a good foot shorter than him.
"Do you ever have bad days where you look at least slightly short of breathtaking?"
Victoire smiled, if possible, even more widely. She felt a similar sensation to how she felt the morning she dyed part of her hair blue: a sort of faint inner glow tingled beneath her skin. She had no idea what the physical sensation was about, but emotionally, Link had just made her feel beautiful. She knew she was attractive and didn't need compliments; but the way that Link gave them always felt so genuine.
"Thank you," she said quietly. Normally, she'd shrug off the compliment with a joke, but doing so now would've felt more disingenuous than her thanks. Because she was truly grateful for his ability to make her feel good.
He stared at her a moment longer. She cocked her head to the side as she tried to decipher his expression. "Why do you look like you're surprised I'm here? We were supposed to meet at this time, right?"
"Yeah. Sorry, it's just..." He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, a hint of his shyness returning. "I thought that with you meeting Teddy later, that maybe you'd..."
Victoire stepped closer to him, frowning. "What, you think I'd ditch you for him?"
Her frown deepened as he didn't contradict her.
"I know you like him. It's been painfully obvious for years, and I wasn't sure if anything's changed between you two, so when he invited you, I wasn't sure..."
"I'd never ditch you like that, Link," she reassured him, and his worry softened immediately. "It's true that I've liked him for years, but I'm trying to get over him since it seems he's never felt the same. It's also true that I like you," she breathed, the confession surprising even her. But it was true - they'd been good friends and she hadn't stopped thinking about him since they shared that moment together in the empty classroom. "I don't want to be exclusive to anybody right now while I'm still getting over Teddy, but if it's alright with you for us to continue...well, whatever it is that we seemed to have started, then..."
Link beamed at her, tucking a blue strand of hair behind her ear. "That sounds just fine to me, Vic." He held out a tanned hand, and Vic arched her brow but accepted it nonetheless. They'd just cleared up that she wasn't looking to be exclusive, but she wasn't opposed to others assuming her and Link were an item. People could draw whatever conclusions they wished - Teddy included.
Students bustled around Hogsmeade, Link and Victoire cramming into Honeyduke's candy shop. Victoire grabbed a box of her favorite Coconut Ice while Link looked very interested in a box of Fizzing Whizbees. Vic also grabbed an Acid Pop on a whim and before she could pay for her own treats, Link grabbed them from her hands and payed for their lot. She felt a blush crawling along her cheeks, and she wasn't certain why. She had been nervous to spend time alone with Link, though she hadn't really thought of this as a date since she'd thought he only asked her out of pity when she looked sad about Teddy. But holy Helga Hufflepuff - Link was paying for her stuff. This was most definitely now an official date - and she found she really liked that idea.
"You know," Link started, holding her hand once more outside of the shop, "I heard that Zonko's has an adult line now where they sell joke versions of Honeyduke's confections."
"Oh, really?"
"Mhm. I heard they sell Cock Clusters and Exploding Bubble Butts."
Victoire cackled, throwing her head back in laughter. "You're lying."
"I sincerely wish I were."
"You have to be! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. And Jade Cresswell is my best friend, so that's saying something."
The corner of Link's mouth twitched in amusement. "I don't know if I'm insulted or flattered that you think my imagination is capable of thinking up such an abomination as an Exploding Bubble Butt."
Victoire wiped a tear from her eye. "We are obviously seeing this for ourselves. Right now."
***
Victoire and Link spent a ridiculous amount of time laughing over Zonko's adult confection range - including, but not limited to: Pepper Pimps, Shock-O-Cock, and Ton-Tongue Titty. They decided to go to The Three Broomsticks a little earlier than the time she said she'd meet Teddy there just so that they could sit somewhere.
Link bought them a round of butterbeers and tried to get Victoire to eat a Cock Cluster. "C'mon, Vic. Just try my cock and see if you like it. You can spit it out if you don't."
Victoire laughed, shaking her head at his one millionth ridiculous innuendo based on the chocolates. "I can't believe you bought those. Keep them very far away from me, please."
"Here comes the chode chode train!" He said, pretending to fly the chocolate like an airplane and feed it to her.
"NO!" She protested, laughing hysterically and squirming as he tried to feed it to her. She knocked it out of his hand, and the rudely shaped chocolate went flying into some poor unsuspecting patron's tankard a few tables away. Victoire and Link slunk down in their seats hiding, laughing themselves stupid as Teddy Lupin approached.
Link immediately stiffened, traces of his laughter dying as he assessed Teddy Lupin. His honey brown eyes fell on Victoire and Link hated the softness he found there as they looked at her. She seemed convinced that he didn't like her back, but one look at his gaze now made Link suspect differently. Not that he'd be telling her that, of course. As far as he was concerned, Teddy had missed his chance with Vic. He'd had forever to make a move and it was too late - she'd decided to move on now. But did Vic see it that way?
He glanced at her next, and found her laughter had died, too. She was looking at him uncertainly, an innocence and naiveté there that made him frown. He could admit that he was of a jealous disposition - he liked to protect what was his. But it was more than just jealousy that Link was feeling now; it was an instinct to protect Vic's feelings. He didn't want to see her hurting over Teddy anymore, and he wouldn't allow him to mess with her head or heart. She deserved far better, and he'd try to be that for her if she'd let him - exclusive or not. They were friends, first and foremost. So fuck Teddy Lupin and his stupid hulking Auror muscles. He was only two years older, anyway - that didn't make him any more of a man. They looked the same age.
Teddy's gaze finally tore away from Victoire and assessed Link, surprise at his presence. It was a long, awkward silence, broken by a guy from several tables down who screamed "Ah! There's a cock in me mug!"
Link and Vic lost it, all awkwardness falling away as they laughed their heads off. Teddy took a seat, looking confused and distressed at the sight of them. When they could breath again, Victoire said, "Hey, Teddy."
"Hi," he answered, his brow raised questioningly though a small smile played at his lips.
"You know Link, right?" She said.
"Yeah. Good to see you, man."
"Likewise," Link lied, his eyes fixed in a cold glare. Teddy looked at him like he expected him to dismiss himself now that he'd arrived. Link stared back, rising his brow in a challenge. I was here first. You're interrupting my date with Vic, not the reverse, buddy.
"So!" Victoire breathed, wanting to dispel the awkwardness that settled in once more. "What's new, Ted?"
Teddy's attention shifted back to her, running a hand through his dark hair. A stray piece fell back in front of his eyes in a way that made Victoire just want to reach across the table and fix it for him, but she resisted.
"Not a whole lot personally, I've just been holed up in an inn here while working on Kieran Dillon's case. I'm sure you've heard that he's been found?"
Vic leaned in, sitting up straighter. "Yes, I read it in the Prophet. Has he gotten any of his memory back at all?"
Teddy shook his head. "He's in St. Mungo's, and healers are trying to work on him but they haven't succeeded with anything yet. I've been told to remain at the scene of the crime in case any of another attack, since they've all been in this general location. Not to mention that..." He cast a pointed look at Link, as if he wanted to say more but couldn't in present company.
"You can trust Link," Vic said, reading Teddy's mind.
Teddy didn't look convinced, but nodded nonetheless. "In one of the memories healers were able to extract, one of the culprits was wearing Hogwarts robes. Given the proximity to the school, we have reason to believe at least one student was involved in this attack and may be linked to the others. Since you're a prefect, I was wondering if maybe you could keep an eye out for anything suspicious?"
Victoire frowned as she remembered Salvatore Rookwood creeping along the third floor corridor and skipping dinner. Maybe she'd have to keep a closer eye on him from here on out so that she could rule him out for the sake of her own peace of mind. "Yeah, of course. Link's a prefect, too, so he could help."
Link nodded, willing to do his part for the sake of the poor muggleborns who've been targeted.
"Great. Thank you both."
Silence crept in uncomfortably, making Victoire remember why she'd been particularly pissed with Teddy today.
"So. Was this why you demanded to meet me here? To ask me this?"
Teddy looked confused as he cocked his head in an adorable way. She wanted to slap that innocent look right off his stupidly handsome face. He didn't get to play innocent after smashing her heart unwittingly a million times over.
"Of course not, Vic. I wanted to see you. I just didn't know you'd - er, bring company."
Vic frowned. For whatever reason, it seemed Teddy couldn't be himself around Link. But that was his problem. Link asked her first, and actually asked - with the decency to know that rejection was a possibility. He didn't demand it like some cocky asshole.
"Well, Link asked me to come here with him, and I said yes. This was before you commanded me to meet you here like I'm some sort of puppy you could call and I'll come running to you the minute you do."
Teddy looked as though she had actually slapped him across the face. "Vic...Is that what you think of me?"
"That's certainly how your note made me feel."
"Vic," he called, her name said in his deep voice sending heat through her body. He looked pleadingly at her, then stopped himself as he remembered Link and held himself back. "Could you please give us a minute?"
"No," she said, her voice a demand for Link to stay. She didn't want Teddy to coax her into hating him less. She wanted to stay angry with him - it was easier than being in love with him.
"Sorry. Sounds like she wants me here," Link taunted, relishing the fact that Teddy wasn't going to get his way. He wouldn't be leaving Vic alone with him - no chance in hell.
"Then I'll say it in front of him, but it might be embarrassing for us all."
"So be it," Vic replied coolly.
"I don't think you're some puppy that'll come at my call, Victoire. I..." he stopped himself again, struggling to talk freely in front of Link. "I'm sorry if my letter was presumptuous. Believe me, I feel like an asshole right now. I wrote that letter a thousand different times asking to meet with you and they all just sounded...I couldn't find the right words. Kind of like right now. I didn't know if you'd had other plans for today and I didn't want to risk your rejection so I was direct and...Obviously you did have other plans. So I don't know if any of it matters now," he finished.
He stood, and Victoire felt heat in his eye contact that made her whole body respond to it; preparing itself for touches from him that would never come. "I'm sorry," he repeated before leaving.
Victoire sat dumbfounded, uncertain as to what just happened. But it sounded as though Teddy Lupin might have wanted a date of his own with her.
***
Vic and Jade were the last two in the common room, talking about their respective days in Hogsmeade. Victoire filled her in on every detail of what transpired, desperate for her opinion on Teddy's strange speech.
"So? What do you think?"
Jade stole one of Vic's coconut ice squares, tucking into it before sighing dramatically. "Honestly, Vic? I think Teddy's far too complicated. You should settle down with a nice, simple Gryffindor boy. #himboshavemyheart."
Vic rolled her eyes. "I'm serious, Jade. Do you think what Teddy said makes it sound like he likes me, or am I just holding on to the hope after all this time that maybe he does like me back?"
Jade's look was sincere this time as she gave Vic her honest opinion, her tone kind. "From what you said, it certainly seems like he might like you. But I don't think that should change anything for you, babes. It's possible that he was demanding you meet him, because he expected you to come when he called; then seeing you with Link triggered some sort of jealous response. You know, like the whole 'I don't want you but I don't want anyone else to have you' thing? I just think it's best for you to forget about him. I know you have to see him often outside of Hogwarts 'cause he's almost like family, so you can be friends and whatever. But if it took him seeing you with Link for him to realize what a fucking catch you are, then I think he's too dim-witted for you in a way that even a himbo would look down upon."
Vic forced a small smile on her face as she thanked Jade for her honesty, and for being a good friend. Jade went up to bed after Vic assured her she'd be up in a minute herself and just wanted a few more moments to think. Vic licked her Acid Pop, contemplating Jade's words as Link came down the stairs from the boy's dormitory.
"Vic? What are you still doing up?"
"I might ask you the same," she smirked.
His eyes followed her lips closing around the Acid Pop, his dick twitching in pants at the sight. She was so seductive without even trying. He sat himself on the chair adjacent to her. "Are you..alright?"
She looked at him softly, a rare vulnerability in her expression. "Yeah, I think so. Is it insensitive of me to ask you...what you made of Teddy's little speech?"
Link stared at the dying embers in the fireplace, gathering his honest thoughts. "No, it's not. I'm your friend before anything else, Vic." He turned to her, an intensity in his gaze that made her blush. "Your friendship is so important to me. And whatever might be between us, our friendship is the foundation of it all. And as your friend, I'll admit that I think old Teddy Lupin probably reciprocates your feelings more than you thought. But as a wildly jealous potential lover, I'll also admit that I think he's an asshole for taking this long to show any indication of his feelings for you. I think you deserve...better."
Vic's eyes widened with emotion as she put her candy down and stood slowly, making her way towards Link. She sat herself in his lap, putting her arms around his neck as she continued to look at him dreamily. He wrapped his hand around her waist, the other resting on her thigh. He stared at her lips, parted for him as she leaned in and kissed him. It was soft, a tentativeness to their kiss as if it were their first. He kissed her back gently, her lips so sweet that no Acid Pop could compete. She placed a hand on the back of his head as they continued to kiss, and he gripped her thigh. His cock hardened and pushed up against her soft ass, and she began to grind her hips against it slowly, driving him wild. He pulled her legs apart gently, putting her in a straddling position as she continued to grind herself against his length, her eyes hooded in pleasure as the friction rubbed all the right spots. His hands gripped her ass as she continued, a soft moan falling from her lips as she came from the friction against her clit alone. She stood and knelt at his feet, pulling down his pants as she looked up at him from beneath her lashes.
"It seems I do want to taste your cock after all, Link."