How To Tame A Gryffindor

Chapter 5: Side Effects

That evening at band practice, Teddy wasn’t as into the music as he usually was.

Their practices were held in Jorah Davies’ garage.

Their band still had no name, every time they tried to settle a name, it ended in a full scale argument with some hexing here and there. In the middle of one of their songs, “Talon Talk”, Teddy gave up and lay down on the floor, still playing the guitar.

He couldn’t fathom what had gone wrong with Vic, because it obviously wasn’t because of George. She’s independant and self assured, she didn’t worry about other people’s opinions, why would she worry about George’s? The most he would do is take the mickey out of her a bit, he wouldn’t go as far as telling anyone.

Maybe the dancing was a step too far, she obviously wasn’t on the same emotional wavelength as him….

“TED!” Kent thundered, silencing the amp with a flick of his wand, “I know you want to come across as the moody, deep musician type and everything but we’re never going to perfect anything if you keep getting distracted.” Teddy sighed and stood up again, slinging his sleek black guitar over his front.

“What’s up with you anyway, Ted? Usually you own that song.” Jorah coaxed, sounding a little more concerned.

Teddy considered telling them about Victoire, but it seemed like something that should be kept secret from the universe. It wasn’t something to boast about, but something fragile that he had to keep away from hands that could crush it.

“Nothing, sorry I was being stupid,” Teddy said, becoming flustered, “I’ll do better next time.”

He came home and flopped onto his bed. His Nana had been trying to pull the answer to his distress out of him all day, but Teddy would not indulge the true source of his moping.

He kept picturing Vic ignoring him, the firmness in her expression, the warning signs that he wanted to ignore. Work was going to be awkward now, he was sure of it. Maybe he could tell George that he wanted to focus on his music….But that would be ridiculous, giving up over something as trivial as an awkward coworker relationship. And it’s not as if his nameless band is going anywhere anytime soon. What would Harry say? “Confront her, ask her what’s wrong.” That didn’t seem like an option right now. What would Ron say? “I dunno mate, just leave her to cool off a bit.” That seemed more rational. He would let Victoire figure out how she felt about him. But the thought that she probably didn’t feel anything towards him kept coming to the fore of his agonising, it was insidious. This was probably just him over-analysing something that ought not be over-analysed.

That night, Teddy sat on his roof, as he couldn’t sleep. His mind was filled with the day, the working, the dancing and the band practice. He’d tried listening to his records, but sleep just wasn’t within his grasp. He had come to the conclusion that he needed to put that girl out of his mind. He’d only been with her a few days, yet the effect she was having on him was astronomical. He got up and walked to the edge of the rooftop, looking at the crescent moon. The moon twinkled, like a great smile in the otherwise pitch black sky.

Then he heard the unmistakable clearing of a throat.

He turned around and saw the face that he had been trying to repress all day, grinning at him waywardly, the light of the moon glinting in her pale hair. She sat in the seat that he had just evacuated.

“Sorry, were you sitting here?”