Birthday
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BESTIE!!" Jade pulled back the curtains covering Victoire's four poster bed and jumped on top of her mercilessly.
"Ow," groaned Victoire, pushing Jade off of her as Jade only snuggled in closer.
"Stop fighting my love," Jade complained, and Victoire laughed as she gave in.
"You love a little too hard, a little too early."
Jade looked contemplative for a moment before it was her turn to say. "Ow."
Vic arched a questioning brow as Jade explained, "I know you were just referring to my toppling into your bed at seven in the morning, but the same sentiment could be said of my romantic life and that kind of cut deep. Open up your present before I take it away from you for being a nasty bitch."
Victoire cackled, hugging Jade affectionately as she tore into her present. It was a long, midnight blue dress that looked as though it'd hug her body attractively and perfectly matched the shade of blue in her hair.
"Jade, this is perfect. I love it so much, thank you."
"I got it for you to match your eyes, but by a happy accident, now it matches these bits, too," she grinned, tugging on Victoire's hair lightly.
"You're the best."
"You can wear it tonight to show that jerk what he's missing," Jade smirked.
Victoire's heart immediately began pumping as she remembered her plans to meet with Teddy in the hidden passageway to Honeydukes. "You don't think it's a bit too nice for that? I don't even know where he plans on taking me."
"Absolutely not. He'll be eating his heart out looking at you in this, and that's exactly where we want him. He might actually explode in his pants just looking at you."
Victoire giggled. "You're evil and I love you. Sometimes I think you belong in Slytherin."
"They don't take muggleborn scum like me, remember? That's why I walk around looking this hot all the time," she wiggled her fingers around her general countenance as if to present it. "To show that crusty old bastard Salazar Slytherin what a fine piece of ass he missed out on by being a blood purist prick."
"Damn straight. But if you ever call my best friend 'muggleborn scum' again, I'll throw you off the Astronomy Tower."
Jade smiled as she held her best friend's hands. "Do you think that's what Snape said after he blasted Dumbledore from there?"
"Oh my god, Jade. Too soon. We weren't even alive then, but too soon."
***
Victoire showered, did her hair and makeup, and wore the dress Jade gifted her; throwing a leather jacket over her shoulders to make it look slightly more appropriate for daytime.
Link stood from his chair by the fire as Vic approached - and if his reaction was any indication, Teddy would indeed 'explode in his pants'."
"You are so fucking beautiful, Victoire. Happy Birthday." He kissed her on the cheek and she smiled brightly at him as they hugged. The familiar tingling sensation occurred again, and she gave into its urge to kiss Link. She kissed him softly, and he met her pace as they met each other's lips languidly. He placed a hand on her lower back, and she knew if they continued along this route she'd end up having to go right back up to the dormitory to clean herself up again, so she pulled away.
"Thanks, Link."
He handed her her present and she sat on the couch, grinning as she opened it. It was a little, delicate silver bracelet that had a single charm on it with the Libra constellation.
"I saw you looking at it through the window of one of the shops in Hogsmeade and I snuck in there when you weren't looking."
"Link, that's so thoughtful. I love it so much, but you really shouldn't have," Victoire said, smiling as she admired the necklace but casting Link a guilty look.
"Of course I should have. It's your birthday." He fastened the bracelet to her wrist before pulling her hand to his lips, placing a kiss there and smiling at her shyly. She beamed at him, staring into his green eyes and the curls of his dark hair hanging above them.
"You're so dreamy," she purred, the words tumbling out of her before she could think about them. "And you're so good."
Link's brows raised in surprise and amusement, though he looked chuffed. "Do go on."
She laughed, taking him by the hand and leading them downstairs to the Great Hall.
***
At five minutes to 10 PM, Vic snuck out of her dormitory with the cloak pulled over her head. Jade saluted her invisible form in a silent wish of good luck as the door snapped shut.
Link was alone in the dormitory sitting by the fire, looking pensive. He wore grey sweatpants and a black t-shirt, and for a moment Victoire had the desire to curl up in his lap and forget Teddy. Something about the sight of him there alone broke her heart a bit, so she slid off the cloak and approached him.
"Link?" She called softly.
He turned to her, giving her a tight smile. "Hey."
"Is everything alright?"
"Yeah."
She gave him a look that pleaded for him to be honest with her, and he blew out a breath. He couldn't find the right words for the moment. He didn't want to pull a dick move like emotionally dumping on her before she met up with Teddy. He knew she had to meet with him and work out whatever it was that existed between them. He'd been friends with Victoire for so long and being her friend was more than enough; but he couldn't deny the attraction he felt for her, too. It was way more than just physical attraction. He felt a magnetism to her that he'd never felt with another girl before. He didn't know what it was, but he knew that he was fighting a losing battle in pretending it wasn't there; pretending like he wasn't insanely jealous that she was about to meet with another guy she had had feelings for first.
"Just...Be safe tonight. I would guard your heart for you if you I could, but I can't," he said in his gentle voice, stroking her cheek with the back of his finger.
"I'll be fine, Link," she whispered, nuzzling into his shoulder. She looked up at him from beneath her long lashes, concern etched into her face. "Will you be?"
He touched her forehead with his own, inhaling a breath before pulling away from her and sighing, forcing himself to smile once more. She'd been transparent with him about her not being ready for exclusivity, and he knew it wouldn't be fair of him to make demands on her while she was figuring things out with the guy she'd been crushing on for as long as he'd known her. He might not be able to have all of her to himself like he wanted, but he could never face having none of her. He knew he had to let her go, even though he wanted nothing more than to lock the door and carry her up to his own bed. He bent down, unable to stop himself from at least stealing a kiss from those perfect lips of hers before she left to be with Teddy.
"As long as you don't forget about me entirely while you're with him."
She ran a hand up through his hair, looking at him with such tenderness that he knew he needn't worry on that account. "I could never forget about you, Link. Whatever happens from now on...Well, he's the one that has to contend with my feelings for you, too. You're in my heart as much as he is."
He brushed her hair with his fingers, placing a final kiss on her head. "Go on then, love."
She gave him a last affectionate look before putting the cloak back on and continuing to meet with Teddy. She swept quickly through the halls, her heart thundering as she stood before the one eyed witch. "Dissendium," she whispered, and the statue jumped out of the way to reveal Teddy Lupin waiting for her.