They forgot about us.

They let us live our lives and didn't bother us.

Which was exactly what we wanted.   

"I will wage a trendy war from the floor!"

"Teddy, your face is literally resting on my shoe."

Everything was spinning. Typical.

"Let's get into some trouble," I said.

Also typical.    

From a box to my left, I grabbed the Hufflepuff Disco Pumpkin, a horrible seven-year-old pumpkin preserved with black and gold glitter and crystals we strung up every year. It was almost painful to look at, but it was a tradition.    

"Calvin, we are going to have a very long talk about boundaries, safety, and the Quidditch Elite when I'm done sorting out your mess," I said, narrowing my eyes. Calvin looked petrified. "You may have just undone seven years of my hard work."     

"Everyone decent?" I said.

"Sawyer is going through the play-by-play of snogging Victoire last night, but otherwise yes," said Finn.

"WHAT?" Victoire said, shoving open the door.    

That's why the group of us decided, in the middle of the night, to begin phase one of the plan.

Looking back, not our best decision.     

"Sometimes you're not all that bad to look at, Teddy Lupin."    

"You had no obligation to help me."

"I know," I replied. "I didn't need one."    

Finn left his long and unbuttoned at the bottom. It wasn't like there was anyone at the party for him to impress anyway.

Or me, I reminded myself.    

 I was fine.

Absolutely fine.    

Fine, a little jealous.

But not because I wanted Freya.

Because I wanted that.    

Until Victoire reached up, sliding her fingers through my hair. "Red again," she said. "You're terrible at controlling yourself, Teddy."

Teddy, she'd said.

"I know," I conceded.    

For the first few days, everything was normal.    

"Ted." He paused before the door. "The sooner you realize you run away from everything, the sooner you can stop."    

George released a frustrated sigh. "You know, I asked Harry when you were little if I could teach you how to lie properly. He said no. I should've gone behind his back. Gin would've let me."

"Ted Lupin? Didn't know you owned a suit. Your Captain lend it to you?" A few people laughed.

"I know you're trying to insult Sawyer, but he's much stockier and muscular than I am so you know that can't be the case or my shoulders would look really unattractive," I said. "And they don't."

"Most attractive shoulders in the room," said Freya.     

No more hiding from what I was feeling.    

"You're devilish."

"You're wonderful."