How To Tame A Gryffindor

Chapter 2: Fireworks, Literally

There was an air of awkward silence in the room, Victoire jumped up onto one of the counters and swung her legs back and forth. Teddy watched her, her pale blonde hair was hanging in a plait down her back, ruffled and unruly at the front. As if her mother had tried to prune her feathers, and Victoire had re-ruffled them.

He wasn’t quite sure what to say, she looked uncomfortable. He wondered did she remember the flower, and the beach. Probably not, she was only 8. But he remembered, and he was only 10. He hummed an old song by a muggle artist, Nick Drake.

“What are you humming?” she said, clearly trying to break the tension.

“Things behind the sun by Nick Drake. It’s a great song, have you heard it?” he asked her.

“No, I don’t really listen to music that much,” she said, a little embarrassed.

“What?! Never?!” Teddy had left behind all signs of awkwardness. And at that moment, George walked in.

“Right fellas, it’s opening time. I’ll man the till until lunchtime, you two head upstairs, a load of Whiz-Bangs came in this morning. I need you to sort them into piles: Dung Crackers and Blaze Boxes. Oh and be careful, the load yesterday was a bit ripe...almost lost my other ear…” George tailed off before bounding down the stairs to unlock the door.

“So you’re telling me you never even listen to Wizard music? The Weird Sisters? Even Celestina Warbeck would be better than nothing.” Teddy pleaded with her.

“Nope, sorry,” Victoire said while gingerly setting a rocket into a cardboard box, “my mother hates Celestina Warbeck.”

Teddy began to mockingly sing “A Cauldron Full Of Hot Strong Love” and Victoire laughed and shoved him.

“Oi! We’re in a room with explosives, pushing won’t end well,” Teddy jokingly warned her.

“Then stop singing that horrendous song,” Victoire retaliated.

“Obviously, Victor, I’m going to have to educate you on music a bit. I can’t be working all summer with someone who has never heard of the Beatles.”

“Stop calling me Victor too. Or I’ll be forced to call you Edwina.” Victoire laughed, jokily pointing a finger at him.

“Jokes on you,” Teddy chuckled, and slid closer to her across the dusty wooden floor and leaning into her face whispered “I like Edwina.” and laughed heartily before Victoire pushed his face and he toppled backwards, dropping the mini rocket from his hand that bounced off the floor and headed to the ceiling. Fortunately the rocket died in mid-air and fell back towards his lap.

“What did I tell you about the pushing!”

They continued to joke with each other until lunch. It turned out Teddy could morph his face into Celestina Warbeck’s so that his rendition of her song was almost authentic. Victoire fell back on the floor laughing, tears streaming down her ivory skin.

And although no explosives were lit in that room, sparks were flying.