Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Rocks)

Chapter Six (Chapter rating: Light R)

He should have felt better. He supposed he did in a small way. His team didn't hate him anymore—Hazel had blushed when he presented her with a bouquet of Dancing Daffodils at breakfast—and everything with Myles was back to normal again.

They all sat together at lunch, Myles piling food on his plate.

"You hardly ate anything at breakfast," he said. "And you're going to talk to him today, because if you come to practice and you haven't, I'm going to Petrify you and stuff you in a locker, and Hazel can play for you on Saturday. Did you, ah, sleep last night?"

James nodded and absently spooned mashed neaps into his mouth. Albus was looking at him funny, probably because he knew James hated turnips. He was dreading Care of Magical Creatures class and purposely avoided looking at the High Table. He considered skiving off, but he was afraid that Myles might actually follow through on his threat.

"Want me to meet you after class?" Myles said as they left the Great Hall.

"I don't need a minder."

Myles eyed him warily. "Yes, I think you do. But I have faith in you. Gryffindor courage," he added, turning to head up the stairs to his Muggle Studies class.

"You can shove your Gryffindor courage up your arse," James muttered as he trudged outside. The rain had let up, though it was still drizzling and the air was saturated. He was soaking wet within minutes. At lunch, Charlie had asked them to meet him outside Greenhouse One. Apparently the shipment of Mimbulus Mimbletonia Professor Longbottom received this morning also contained an infestation of Saharan Flying Fire Ants.

"Okay everyone, inside," Charlie said, when they'd all arrived. He was wearing a strange sort of one-piece suit that was bright orange and clashed horribly with his hair. "Don't worry. They're in Greenhouse Three. You're safe in here.

"Right. I've set out baits and traps, and we've managed to stun and contain some of them. But there are still plenty more, and we haven't been able to capture the queen. I want you all to strip off your robes. Ladies, if you're not wearing clothes underneath, you can change in the back. Everyone take one of these jumpsuits and put them on."

"What the hell are these?" James asked, holding up one of the suits and wrinkling his nose.

"These are so you don't pick up any uninvited guests. Unless you'd like to risk having them fly beneath your robes, Mr Potter, then by all means." Charlie turned to the rest of the class. "We'll use Bubble-Head Charms, again. Leave your bags here. You'll just need your wands and your gloves. Now, what we want to do is..."

James scowled and tuned Charlie out, examining the suit. He removed his cloak and robes, and stepped into it. It was a bit awkward getting it on, but it had a long zipper up the front from navel to neck. They all looked ridiculous, but he supposed it was better than ending up in the hospital wing with his knackers swelled five times their normal size and his pubic hair burnt off.

"Remember," Charlie said, leading them to the infested greenhouse, "We don't want to kill them if we don't have to, and that goes for the plants as well, so have a care. And try not to stun each other if you can help it."

It was actually rather fun, despite the fact that the ants—nearly three inches long with a sharp pointy stinger at their tails—were enraged, and attacked them the moment they stepped inside. One nearly escaped, but Charlie stunned it before it could fly away. At least most of the swarm was young, so the flames shooting from their mouths only had a range of about a foot.

The jumpsuits weren't sting-proof, and only marginally fire-proof, but the colour made it easier to see the little blighters, who were a reddish-black with huge iridescent wings. They flew in coordinated formations, and several times he had to duck under a table to avoid being dive-bombed.

Of course they did stun each other quite often, since it was difficult to aim with precision when the ants were flying at them so fast. He had a headache from cracking his head on the floor each time he fell, unconscious, and the sleeves and back of his jumpsuit were scorched in several places.

Some of the more mobile plants were eager to assist the students, swatting their branches and leaves in the air, and snapping at anything within reach, including the students, with their mouth-like pods. He kept a wary eye on the Fanged Geraniums.

Once they stunned the queen, though, the others stopped attacking and merely hovered in confusion. He pointed his wand at one of the ants and sent it flying in loop-de-loops around the greenhouse.

"What the hell are you doing, Potter?" Charlie said.

"Just having a bit of fun," he said. "What's it to you?"

"Bring it down, now," Charlie said. His voice was light, but there was an edge to it.

James shrugged, flicked his wand, and the ant zoomed across the room toward the trap. He wasn't paying attention, and before the ant reached the trap, a Fanged Geranium shot out and plucked it out of the air. It swallowed and belched loudly, a thin wisp of smoke wafting from its fanged mouth.

"Oops," he said, chuckling. "That was pretty cool though."

Charlie narrowed his eyes at him. "Detention, Potter. Tonight. I want to see you after class."

"Sorry," James said loftily, "I've practice tonight."

"You'll come," Charlie said with a glare, "or you can serve another tomorrow with me while the rest of the school is at the match. And don't think I won't do it."

"Bastard," James snarled under his breath. Shit. Of course Myles would laugh and say it was fate. And then he'd smack him in the head for getting another detention. He couldn't miss practice tonight; they'd kill him. Not that it mattered; McGonagall wouldn't let him play now anyway.

After class, he changed out of the jumpsuit in Greenhouse One. Charlie was waiting for him at the door.

"My place, now," he said. "And I don't want to hear you open your mouth unless I ask you a question. I've had about enough of you. Let's go."

James sulked the whole way down. He knew he was being childish, but he couldn't help himself.

"Inside," Charlie said, He closed the door and cast an Imperturbable Charm. James stiffened. He knew the Charm wasn't for any nefarious reason, but it was still a bit of a shock.

"Sit down," Charlie said, kicking out a chair.

James took off his cloak and robes, hung them on a hook and sat down, leaning back on the two rear legs of the chair. Charlie walked to the back of the hut and returned a few minutes later wearing jeans and a jumper.

"Now, we can do this like men, or I can bend you over my knee and give you a good thrashing. Which is it going to be?"

James started so violently he nearly overturned the chair. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead and his mouth was dry. He stared wide-eyed at his uncle.

"Y-You got anything to drink?" he asked in a hoarse voice.

Charlie sighed, shook his head, and grabbed two beers from the cold cupboard. "What the hell is going on with you, Jamie?" he asked, handing one to James and sitting down beside him.

James gulped down half the bottle in about five seconds flat. He glanced over at Charlie through his fringe, and downed the other half.

Charlie looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Thirsty, were you?" He took a drink from his own bottle and set it down on the table. "Right. We're not here for chit-chat. I'm not your father, but I am your uncle and your professor. I thought if we left you alone, you were adult enough to work through your issues in your own way. Apparently I was mistaken."

James narrowed his eyes. "My problems are none of your business."

"No, they're not. Except when you act like an insufferable, arrogant arse, when you disrespect me and mouth off to your professors in class, when you treat your brother and sister and your cousins like rubbish. And Teddy. You've really hurt him, you know."

"Don't you dare talk to me about Teddy!" James snarled.

"I will talk to you about whatever, and about whomever I please. If you don't like having me as your professor, you're free to drop my class at any time, but we are still family and we will always be family. I have no idea what I've done to infuriate you so badly, but I'm asking you, man to man, to tell me."

James glared at his uncle, spitting daggers. "You really don't know."

"If I knew, would I ask? Everyone's been talking about you—teachers, students. From what I've heard, your whole team was ready to commit mutiny. If McGonagall finds out I've given you detention she'll suspend you from playing tomorrow. Whether or not she finds out is up to you. She wanted to owl your parents a week ago. I asked her not to, to let me talk to you first."

Charlie ran his hands through his hair. "Look, I know you're going through a rough time, and I wish you'd talk to me about it instead of exploding at everyone."

"Right, talk to you about it. That's the last fucking thing I want to do."

"What's that supposed to mean? I've kept your secret. I'd never betray you like that, and you know it."

James laughed, and it was an ugly sound. "Right. And I'm ever so grateful to my favourite uncle for his fucking discretion." He picked up his bottle and threw it hard against the wall, but the tinkling sound of the smashing glass didn't make him feel any better.

"Feel better there, Sparky?"

He looked up sharply and exhaled through his nose. "No."

"Well, there's more where that one came from. Feel free," he said, and slid his own bottle across the table toward James.

James picked up the nearly-full bottle, but instead of throwing it, he drank the rest of it down.

"I'm fresh out of Hangover Potion, so you'd better have a care," Charlie said lightly.

James wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and set the bottle down. His hand was shaking. He heard Myles' voice echoing in his head. Gryffindor courage! "Shit," he whispered and bit his lip.

Charlie laid his hand lightly on James' wrist. "I can't help you if you won't talk to me."

"I saw you," James whispered hoarsely.

"Saw me where?"

"Here. You. With...with him." He glanced briefly toward the back of the hut and looked down. Charlie's hand was still on his wrist, and his skin tingled.

"With him?" Charlie asked. "What, with Teddy you mean?"

James clenched his fingers around the bottle. "Yes," he said, biting off the word.

"You saw us.... Oh. I see."

James nodded. A surge of anger shot through him, and he picked up the bottle and threw it against the wall. "Shit!" He turned back to Charlie, eyes blazing. "How could you? How could you do that to—to—"

"Now wait just a second. It's none of your business who I sleep with. Teddy is a grown man. Yes, he's quite a bit younger than I am, but if you're even insinuating that I've coerced him in any way—"

"How could you do that to me!" James shouted, and his voice cracked.

"I haven't done anything to you," Charlie said, puzzled. "What are you—Oh, Christ on a Christmas cracker." He sat back in his chair, a stunned look on his face. "It's Teddy. The bloke, your bloke, the one you fancy."

James' face was twisted in abject misery. He gulped, nodded, and turned away, blinking back tears.

Charlie vaulted out of his chair and knelt beside James. He put his arm around the back of the chair and rested his other hand on James knee. "I didn't know," he said softly. "Christ, how could I know? You wouldn't tell me his name. I'd no idea. I thought it was one of your friends. Myles.

"No wonder you were so angry. It was the night you got pissed, wasn't it?"

James nodded.

"Merlin, Jamie, I'm sorry."

James sniffed, breathing deeply. He covered Charlie's hand with his own and squeezed it hard.

Charlie slid the chair back. "Come here, you daftie," he said, and pulled James into a hug.

James wrapped his arms around Charlie's back and nestled his head against Charlie's shoulder, nuzzling against the side of his neck. "I know I shouldn't have been, but I was so furious. And—and jealous," he whispered as Charlie rubbed his back, holding him close.

"I can imagine," Charlie said. "How the hell did you see us, by the way?"

James pressed his face against Charlie's neck. "Ummm. I peeked through the window in the back," he said, his voice muffled.

"You little shit," Charlie said, and James could feel him laughing. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he did know that Charlie's arms felt really nice holding him like that. He shuddered as dream fragments flashed through his mind, and he sat back slowly, licking his lips.

Charlie was looking at him with an almost tender expression, and James leaned in and kissed him. Charlie started in surprise, but didn't pull away when James slipped his tongue into Charlie's mouth. It was a nice kiss, gentle, not at all like his dream, although Charlie was a brilliant kisser in reality as well as fantasy. He pulled away almost reluctantly and opened his eyes.

"Jamie," Charlie said.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I don't know why—"

"I do, and it's okay. I understand. It was a nice kiss. But..."

"I know," James said, and covered his face with his hands. Christ! He snogged his uncle.

"Teddy and I," Charlie said. "Well, it is what it is. You should know though, it started before we got to Hogwarts. Not long before, but..." He shrugged and got slowly to his feet, his knee cracking as he stood. "Shit, I'm getting old," he said, dragged his chair closer and sat down.

"You don't have to hide, you know," he said, nudging James' knee with his own, and James dropped his hands to his lap.

"I snogged my uncle!"

"And nobody will ever know except the two of us. Stop worrying. I promise I won't give you Dragon Pox."

James snorted.

"You know something? When you got hurt at Quidditch trials, Teddy sat by your bed for five hours while you were unconscious. Wouldn't leave until Madam Pomfrey made me take him to get something to eat. He was furious that you woke up while he was gone, but relieved, obviously, that you were okay. He loves you. That's obvious enough, though whether that extends to the, ah, romantic side of things, I've no idea."

So he hadn't dreamt that after all. "Then why is he fucking you?"

"That's something you'll have to ask him, won't you? I can't answer for him. But if you want to know why I'm having sex with him—or would you rather not?"

"I have eyes, you know."

"You certainly do," Charlie said. "And apparently you use them more frequently than you should, hmm?"

James blushed. "It wasn't on purpose. Well, not at first. I... I saw him come down here on the map. You know about the map?"

Charlie nodded. "A bit."

"It was after practice, and I was looking at it to see if you were at home. I wanted to come and talk to you again, but it doesn't show the inside of the hut. I was about to put it away when I saw Teddy. So I came by. I thought about knocking, maybe, but I saw you'd put up an Imperturbable Charm, and all the curtains were drawn, and well..."

"How'd you know I'd put up a Charm?"

James blushed. "The extendable ears didn't work," he muttered.

Charlie laughed, and smacked James on the thigh. "You really are a little shit, you know that?"

James shrugged. "So I've been told. By several people."

"It's well earned. Jamie," Charlie said. "You have to tell him."

"But what if he doesn't fancy me back?"

"That's a chance you have to take, isn't it?"

James sighed. When had he become such an abysmal Gryffindor? "I'm sorry. I really am. Do I still have detention tonight?"

Charlie pushed back his chair and stood up. He stretched his arms over his head and arched his back, joints popping. "Hell of a day. Thank Merlin it's Friday. Come help me compost the pumpkin patch, and promise me you'll retire from the voyeurism business, at least when it comes to me," he added, winking, "and I'll think about it. Oh, and Jamie? Clean up the broken glass, will you?"

~*~

*

And did those brooms of Gryffindor's team
Fly above Hogwarts' pitch so green?
And did they play with great esteem
The best Quidditch we've ever seen?

Our Seeker Lily Potter
She couldn't get much hotter!
She zips around the pitch
And always grabs the Snitch!

"GRYF-FIN-DOR! GRYF-FIN-DOR!"

*

They swarmed through the halls of the castle, still cheering over their victory and singing loudly. Lily was riding on the shoulders of one of James' dorm-mates, blushing and laughing, and several of the sixth years had nicked the team's brooms, leading the throng and brandishing them high in the air as a standard.

After a month of turmoil and near-mutiny, it had all come together and all was forgiven. They'd crushed Slytherin 370 to 60, he'd scored twelve times and had six assists, and nobody had been rushed to the hospital wing.

James was dizzy with euphoria; recruitment scouts from several teams had attended, and both the Tornados and the Magpies had expressed a keen interest in him. As they climbed the last staircase to the seventh floor, he realised he had no memory of the trip back from the pitch; he'd been carried along with the tides of the surging mob, buffeted by their merriment and pre-party celebrations. His back and shoulders ached from being smacked and pounded so many times with congratulations, and his feet seemed to be moving of their own volition. Nothing could be better than this, he thought as he raised his arm and pumped his fist along with the rest of his house.

Someone seized him by the arm, dragged him to the edge of the crowd, and before he could protest, something soft and shimmery was thrown over his head. He recognized the invisibility cloak immediately and balked, but someone shushed him.

"This thing's a lot smaller than I thought," Teddy said, crouching and pulling them both into an alcove behind a tapestry. "That's better. Don't have to worry so much if our feet show now." He flicked his wand, murmured, Muffliato, and pocketed it. "Now, where was I?"

"Teddy?" James asked, teetering between confusion and shock. They were so close that James could feel Teddy's warm breath on his cheek. "What—?"

"Shut up, Jamie," Teddy said, tilted James' chin up and kissed him.

James' eyes widened, and he opened his mouth, gasping in surprise. Teddy seemed to take that as an invitation and slipped his tongue between James' parted lips. He stood completely still for several rapid heartbeats, completely gobsmacked, while Teddy kissed him, licking deeply into his mouth. Teddy moaned softly and rubbed his thumb across James' cheek, and James, finally spurred into action, flung his arms around Teddy's neck and stopped thinking about anything except Teddy's mouth on his, his tongue, his fingers.

The kiss lingered for what felt like an age, and when they parted, his legs felt like someone had cast a Jelly-Legs jinx on them. He clung to Teddy's shoulder, thinking, Bloody hell. That stupid cliché really is true!

"Um..." he said, and cleared his throat.

"Sorry," Teddy said, though he didn't look the least bit so. "You look quite fit in your Quidditch kit, you know."

"You kissed me," James said, touching his lips absently. His gloves were warm and smelled faintly of broomstick polish.

"Can't get anything past you, can I?"

"Teddy!"

Teddy sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Should I not have? You didn't seem to mind. Rather enthusiastic in fact."

"Of course I didn't mind. That's not the point. We haven't spoken in over a month, you're fucking my uncle, and out of nowhere you grab me and snog me senseless."

"Senseless, was it? Glad to know you enjoyed it," Teddy said lightly

"Can you possibly be serious for one fucking minute?"

"Right. We should talk, I suppose. Where would you like to start?"

James groped for the first thing that came to mind. "Where did you get the cloak?"

"Where do you think? Al, of course."

"But—"

"He came to see me yesterday," Teddy said. "We had a nice little chat. Enlightening."

"Nosy, interfering git," James grumbled.

Teddy laughed and pointed his finger at James. "You are an ungrateful brat. Someone had to. You've been a right prick, you know."

James blushed and looked at his feet. "Sorry," he muttered.

"Part of it is my fault, I guess. Inadvertent as it may have been." Teddy paused and shifted, rubbing his hand over his chin. "About Charlie..."

"You don't have to tell me anything."

"Don't I?"

James shrugged.

"I didn't know. That you knew about us, I mean. Neither of us did. And speaking of, I also talked to Charlie last night. He laughed at the both of us."

James was still looking at his feet. Once again, he'd cocked up a good thing. Teddy had come to him, snogged him breathless, and he'd put on the brakes and demanded they talk. Talk! When they could be snogging. Or.... He bit his lip, not certain he should take that thought any further. He had to be the biggest big girl's blouse in the history of Hogwarts.

On the one hand, Teddy obviously wasn't angry with him anymore. On the other hand, they really did need to clear the air, though James wasn't sure he wanted to hear any of the details. He'd seen enough. Granted, he'd felt a lot better after his talk with Charlie yesterday, and last night, for the first time in over a month, he hadn't had the dream. He'd finally started to come to terms with...things, and now Teddy was throwing another Bludger into the mix. Not that that was such a bad thing...

Teddy touched him gently on the shoulder. "It wasn't...well, all right, I suppose it looked like we were in a...a relationship. But it wasn't like that. We like each other well enough, obviously, but we're not in love with each other. It wasn't ever meant to be a long-term thing."

James frowned. "But you liked it, liked fucking him, and you won't get sacked if anyone finds out," he said, surprised at the bitterness in his tone.

"There is that, yes. And I won't deny that I enjoyed it. But you're missing the point." Teddy lifted James' chin with his index finger. "Charlie was my first. My first bloke," he amended as James snorted.

"It was during the Cup. While we were in Spain," he continued. The whole family, including Teddy—twenty-five in all; his grandmother hadn't come—had gone to Spain last August for the Quidditch World Cup. "I..." He sighed. "It's not important. But like I said; it's not serious. Wasn't serious. Sounds a bit callous to say it was just sex, though.

"Do you know why I took the position here when McGonagall asked?" Teddy asked, leaning closer until the tips of their noses were touching. James held his breath as Teddy skimmed his finger along James' jaw line.

"No," James whispered, sounding a bit strangled, and closed his eyes. Teddy's finger was tracing his ear with light, deft touches. Breathe, Potter, breathe.

"Granted she was a bit desperate, and I do love this school. I was happy to help her out of a bind. But I said yes, and stayed on again this year because I was selfish," Teddy said. His fingers tickled along the nape of James' neck, toying with the hair that curled damply past his collar. "I wasn't going to say anything until you finished your N.E.W.T.s, after you left school," he continued. "Until yesterday, I didn't even know if you fancied blokes.

"Every Sunday we'd go flying," he whispered, kissing James just below his left ear. "You'd come to my office to do your homework while I marked essays." James moaned softly, tilted his head, and Teddy ran his tongue down the side of James' neck. "You'd come to my rooms for tea, and we'd play chess or one of those Muggle games you like, listen to Quidditch." He sucked lightly at the juncture between neck and shoulder. "And all the time, I'd watch you."

James felt Teddy pull back, and he opened his eyes to find Teddy looking at him. It was dim, not dark in the tiny alcove, but his face was shadowed, and close enough that it was hard for James to focus, so he concentrated on Teddy's mouth. Teddy's lips were full and wet, and a smile seemed to lurk in the corners. When Teddy's tongue darted out and licked them, James inhaled sharply, thinking he should have chosen a different focal point. His palms were sweaty under his gloves, and he had an itch between his shoulder blades that he desperately needed to scratch. He was filthy from the Quidditch match, but Teddy didn't seem to mind.

"I thought that you'd maybe cottoned on and were rejecting me. All of a sudden you were so insistent about my being a professor, going on about how we couldn't act like we did at home. You didn't come round as often, kept your distance. And then you started dating Lavinia Moon. She was one of my best students, too. Can't say I wasn't a bit jealous."

"We just went to Hogsmeade a couple times," James said, leaning against the wall and trying to ease the itch as unobtrusively as possible while he mulled over Teddy having felt rejected. He wanted to smack himself for being such an oblivious git. "And she was always busy revising for N.E.W.T.s anyway." He took a deep breath and grinned rather crookedly.

"Er, I was afraid you'd guess about me. We were down by the lake with Al and Myles and Scorpius and that lot, remember? And you jumped on my back, nearly knocked me into the water. Merlin, I had a massive hard-on. I thought everyone would notice. I thought you'd hate me if you knew. Also thought it might go away if I wasn't, you know. Tempted, I guess."

Teddy shook with laughter. "Oh, Christ. Couple of idiots, aren't we. You know, it honestly never occurred to me that you.... Bloody hell." He rested his forehead against James' and they stood there, breathing each other's breaths. James had to close his eyes; he was getting dizzy, and Teddy looked oddly Cyclops-ish, which made him want to burst out in an unbecoming fit of nervous giggles.

"So what do we do now?" James asked. "I mean, I'm still a student. You're a professor. You really would get sacked."

"I know. Had to go and bugger up my timeline, you little smart arse, didn't you?" Teddy said, though his tone was light, teasing.

James shrugged his shoulders and licked his lips. "And what about...what about Charlie?" he asked in a small voice.

Teddy leant back, but James kept his eyes closed this time. "What about him? You mean are we still going to...sleep together?"

"Weren't doing much sleeping when I saw you," James muttered. When Teddy didn't respond, he cracked open one eye. Teddy was looking at him, his expression one of exasperation.

"First of all, you shouldn't have been spying. Second, you should have said something to one of us, you know. Don't think I'm completely absolving you here. You've been impossible these last few weeks, Jamie, and there were times where I wanted to wring your bloody neck. Maybe I should have. I'm not going to apologise for—" he gestured absently with his hand "—for having had sex with someone else. I am sorry I hurt you; I never meant to do that, and I think you know that."

James nodded, gripping his left index finger with his right fist. First Charlie, now Teddy was scolding him. Well, Al and Myles were first, but that was a bit different. He deserved it, he knew, but that didn't mean he wanted to hear it. What he really wanted was for Teddy to kiss him again.

"Third," Teddy said, and his hand closed around James' nervous fingers. He splayed his other hand against the wall beside James' head, and leant in close. "I'm not going to sleep with Charlie anymore. Have you not heard a word I've said?"

James licked his lips and swallowed, his pulse racing faster than his broom. He'd heard. He was just far too incredulous to actually believe it. The dreams had consumed him for weeks, wearing him down, mocking him, driving him completely mad to the point where he didn't trust his own instincts any longer.

"I think I'm in love with you," he blurted out, and shut his eyes tight. Whoever said confession was good for the soul was a right plonker.

Teddy inhaled sharply and squeezed his hand, murmured, "Oh fuck, Jamie," and the next moment he was kissing James again; hard, rough, deep. He pressed James back against the wall, and James freed his hand, wrapping both arms around Teddy's back, pulling him closer. He was so hard, and he rubbed himself against Teddy's thigh with abandon.

Teddy growled low in his throat—James could feel the vibrations through his chest—and thrust himself against James, his own erection evident, stiff and solid beneath his robes.

It was even better than the dreams; it was real and close and immediate. The scent of arousal, musky sweat, wet mouths, slick tongues, and the slide of hard bodies, harder cocks, the rustling of their robes as they thrust and rubbed against each other; it was nearly overwhelming.

Teddy pressed James' back roughly against the wall, hooking his leg around James' as if he were trying to climb inside him. He groaned deep and loud, and the sound went straight to James' cock. He bucked his hips hard and pulled away from Teddy's mouth, gasping, his mouth forming words he couldn't find the breath to speak, and came in a white hot pulse of Ohgodfuckyes!

"Oh, God," James groaned, and buried his face against Teddy's neck, mumbling a muffled, "Sorry."

"I hope that was for you being an arse, and not for what just happened," Teddy said, running his hand down James' back. "Merlin, your robes are soaked through!"

James bit Teddy's collarbone. "You had me pushed up against the wall, and it's hot under here. What did you expect?"

Teddy wrinkled his nose. "You could do with a shower, too. Not that I mind. Just an observation."

"Always knew you were quick," James said, smiling. He stood up straight and looked up at Teddy, his expression serious. "I'm not patient."

"Really?"

"Shush, you. I'm trying to be an adult here."

"Where's my camera?" Teddy said, and ducked when James tried to smack him on the side of his head.

"Oi! It's your arse if you want to get sacked."

Teddy ran his fingertip down the slope of James' nose and tapped gently on the tip. "I know. Still fun to tease you. Call it a lifetime habit."

"So what happens now?"

"I expect you'll want to go celebrate with your teammates and your house. Probably wondering where you are, considering you're the captain. Should be a good party."

James exhaled forcefully. "That's not what I meant."

"I know. I don't know what happens next, and I'm not sure I want to. Surprises are much more exciting. Hush. I know, I know," he added as James bristled. "I suppose we'll both have to be patient. You're right; I'd rather not get sacked. Wouldn't look good in the Prophet either, would it? I can see the headline: 'Son of Werewolf Preys on Young.'"

James ignored Teddy's attempt at a joke and bit his lip. "And there's—well..."

Teddy raised his eyebrows. "Having second thoughts?"

"Don't be an arse," James muttered.

Teddy laughed. "That's good to know. Then what's troubling you? I know it's not going to be easy, but..." He shook his head and chuckled. "Merlin, you're not very discreet either, are you? I suppose I'll have to keep you in line. Responsible professor shaping young minds and all that rot. Seriously though, we'll find a way. Mischief managed, yeah? Oi, you're not smiling."

"It's not that. Well, that bit's going to suck Erumpent bollocks, but..." He ducked his head. "I saw what you did with Charlie," he whispered. And I saw Charlie's enormous cock, he thought, but didn't say. "I'm not, I mean, I don't know if I can—"

Teddy once again raised James chin with his finger, and placed it against his lips to quiet him. He bent and kissed James lightly.

"I don't want you to. It's you I want, not you trying to be someone else. We'll figure out our own thing. Together. That is, if you want to."

"Shut up," James said, and kissed Teddy roughly.

"Right then," Teddy said. He sounded reluctant which made James feel rather giddy. "You should go. Party can't start 'til the captain gets there. Want to take the cloak? Give it back to Al for me?"

"Nah," James said, straightening his robes as best as he could. He really did need a shower. "Keep it for a bit until he asks for it back. Might want to clean it, too. Besides, it might come in handy, although I have this map, you see." James said, grinning, and stepped out from under the cloak.

Teddy pulled off the cloak, and James paused, staring as he appeared from thin air. Teddy's hair was mussed, and his face flushed with heat, robes askew, and James thought he looked even more gorgeous that way. Teddy balled up the cloak and stuffed it in his pocket, taking out his wand first. He combed his fingers through his hair, performed a quick Scourgify, and then turned to James, wand poised.

"Christ, a charm wouldn't even make a dent."

"Ha ha."

Teddy removed the Muffliato spell, and James peeked out of the alcove, finding the corridor empty. Teddy squeezed James' shoulder, and they stepped out, walking together towards Gryffindor Tower.

"So. Flying tomorrow?" Teddy asked as they stopped before the portrait of the Fat Lady.

James raised his eyebrows and grinned. "Gee. Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"

~*~

.

End Notes:

1. The first verse of the victory song the Gryffindors sing was shamefully stolen from Arsenal Football Club of the English Premier League (Go Gunners!), and the lyrics altered accordingly.

2. Angus Podgorny, along with much of his background information, was nicked with love and affection from Monty Python's Flying Circus.