Modern Hogwarts

Darkness in the House of Hufflepuff

Teddy's least favorite subject was Potions. But he needed to fill his schedule with another class and he had scored high enough on his O.W.L.'s, so he picked it up. The only redeeming feature was the class was smaller and on the relaxed side.

"Alright," Professor Cross said with his thick, barely understandable Scottish Accent. "We're going to start our polyjuice potions this week. Since it's a very complicated brew, you'll be working in pairs- pairs that I will assign."

Everyone groaned as Professor Cross assigned partners. Teddy was the last one to be assigned. "That leaves Teddy and Adrian," Cross rambled off and went back to his desk.

Teddy had never spoken to Adrian before, but he knew him as the best potions maker in the class.

Adrian Marius Orion had dark clothes, hot pink hair, long nails painted black and silver, and always had a dark smokey eye on. He was handsome, as Teddy recalled, and had high, pale cheekbones.

Adrian introduced himself with his deep, bass-like voice, and Teddy introduced himself nervously, forgetting he was Head Boy and everyone knew who he was.

The boys started working on their polyjuice potion. Adrian rolled up his sleeves, revealing many random tattoos, such as a tic tac toe board missing the final space, a banana with a face, and an old school landline telephone. Teddy kept getting lost in the intricate designs as well as the emerging veins on Adrian's arms, as Adrian made a plan and schedule for the potion.

Teddy couldn't recall anything Adrian had said after they'd left the classroom, but those warm brown eyes never left his mind.

It was late September now, and some of the leaves were starting to turn orange. This was Martha's favorite time of year and she was outside in the chilly air as often as she could manage.

Teddy walked from Potions to the courtyard, where Emily, Martha, and Maggie were laughing over something Melody had failed to do to undermine Martha.

"I mean she really thought she could take over my club?" Martha laughed. "Sister's got another thing comin!"

Teddy sat down next to Maggie on the bench.

"Whoa, someone's happy," Maggie laughed, looking at Teddy.

"What?" Teddy asked.

"Your cheeks are all rosy and you can't stop smiling," Martha said. "What happened?"

"Okay, so I may have met a guy," Teddy whispered.

"Teddy's got a crush!" Martha teased.

"Oh shush, nothing will come of it." Teddy couldn't help but smile at the idea that something could come of it. "He probably doesn't like me."

"And who is this man of mystery?" Emily asked.

"Adrian Orion," Teddy muttered. The girls didn't recognize the name. "He's in Slytherin, he's got pink hair-"

"Oh is he the one with the Hello Kitty tattoo on his neck?" Martha asked.

"Yeah that's him," Teddy said.

"He's not bad," Martha said. "I didn't think he was your type."

"What's Teddy's type then?" Maggie laughed. "And what type is Adrian?"

"Teddy's type is fun, carefree, loving, charming, witty," Martha said. "Adrian is a hardcore e-boy and looks like the teenage version of death itself."

"He does not!" Teddy defended his new love as the girls laughed at Martha's description.

"We're not trying to be mean, Ted," Martha said. "We're just trying to make sure this guy is worthy of the Edward Lupin."