Who: Albus Severus, Teddy, and a brief cameo by Rita Skeeter Where: The Whizzer When: Noon Summary: Lunch turns into a pseudo-date thanks to Skeeter. Status/Rating: Complete, PG-13
Teddy had not seen Albus in far too long. Even though he had a sad lack of leads concerning the case of the missing beanie, wanting Albus's company outweighed the shame of having no progress to show. When noon rolled around, he decided to amend that.
Wasting no time, he Apparated straight to Albus's house and knocked on the door. He hoped to Merlin that Sirius didn't answer the door. He wasn't in the mood to deal with him right then.
Albus had been sitting in the darkest corner of the room, wishing that he had a telly to watch. He missed having telly, but he certainly couldn't afford to buy one. He wondered if people older than him was paid more for their jobs, then looked up sharply as he heard a knock on the door.
Moving across the room, Albus pulled open the door and arched a brow at Teddy. He hadn't seen him in so long, but his infatuation hadn't died. He blushed. "Hi. Something wrong?"
"Hullo Albus!" Teddy said brightly, smiling. "Why should something be wrong?" Aside from the lack of beanie-findings, that is. But he wasn't bringing up that unless Albus asked.
"We're going for lunch," he told him, brooking no room for argument. "Get your shoes on."
Albus stared at Teddy for a long moment, then decided it would be best if he didn't argue. Arguing with Teddy in the past had never gotten him very far and something told him it wasn't going to be very different this time either.
Turning, he slipped on his shoes that were by the door and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Where are we eating? I don't have much to spend."
"S'my treat," Teddy said, already starting down the porch steps. "Our options are pretty limited here as far as dining out goes. What do you say to trying the Whizzer?" he asked, glancing back over his shoulder.
The Whizzer? Albus was fairly certain that The Whizzer was the place he'd eaten with Scorpius and was very, very expensive. He bit his lip for a moment and sighed, then looked at Teddy and shook his head. "That place is a little expensive. Don't you think we could just... go to where I work? I won't even have to bus the table."
"But you've probably had enough fish and chips to fill a lake by working there," Teddy protested, shaking his head. "No, it's fine. We're going to have a nice lunch and you're not going to worry about the price. Understood?" He slung a companionable arm across Albus's shoulders.
Albus blushed and scuffed his foot against the pavement. Teddy's arm around him was familiar and welcomed, but also turned him into a shy little school girl. He nodded firmly and looked away from Teddy, fearing that he might catch his blush.
"Haven't seen you around much." Albus pointed out. "Thought you might not like me anymore."
"Yeah, you're right. That's why I'm taking you out to an expensive lunch. Because I don't like you anymore." Teddy managed to keep a straight face for all of five seconds before he laughed.
"I know, I know. I should have dragged you out sooner. Starting today, I'm changing my ways henceforth. You're going to be sick of me, soon enough."
"Much sooner." Albus agreed as he reached up to pull down his beanie, only then remembering that he hadn't found it yet. He sighed in disappointment and grumbled. "Your buying me lunch makes up for your lack of finding my hat."
Teddy's smile turned sheepish instantly. "It really was hoping for too much to expect you to forget about that, huh?"
"It's okay." Albus shrugged as he glanced at Teddy, wondering what that smile was all about. "You're a great detective. I'm sure you'll find it." He looked up at the rows of buildings. "So.. is there a reason we're going for lunch?"
"I never reckoned hunting down beanies would prove more difficult than hunting down dark wizards. But it is." Teddy gave a little laugh, shaking his head. "Iunno. It's noon and I'm hungry. Aren't you?"
Besides the fact that Albus was completely infatuated with the other boy, there was nothing uncommon about the lunch date. Not a date. Albus pushed that out of his mind quickly. Teddy probably wasn't even gay. And it wasn't something Albus screamed at the top of his lungs either.
"I had cheese curls for breakfast," Albus admitted. "But, I guess I could eat."
"Cheese curls? You call that breakfast?" Casting a side-glance, Teddy quirked an eyebrow at Albus. "I'm surprised Molly and your mum aren't taking turns making sure you get your daily regimen of vegetables."
"Let's just call it luck," Albus replied with a shrug. "And hope they don't try taking my grilled cheese sandwiches away and replace them with parsnips. I hate parsnips." He shuddered a bit. "I'm sure there will be real food for me to eat."
"You'll have to create a secret special compartment in the fridge. Just for your cheese. There's no telling when they might start trying to feed you properly with parsnips," Teddy pointed out solemnly. Or tried to. There was a hint of laughter in his eyes, creeping into his voice.
Albus rubbed his messy hair and nodded. "Yeah. Hopefully Sirius doesn't try to eat all of my snack food. I don't trust that man with anything delicious." He stopped outside of the place and grinned. "What do they have?"
"Yeah, I wouldn't put it past him either." Teddy snorted as he held the door open for Albus. "Dunno, but let's go on in and see," he said, waiting for Albus to step in first before he followed right after.
Albus stepped inside and took a look around. Lockewood was growing fast. Too fast. He could barely keep up. He bit his lip as he saw Rita Skeeter dining, ordering around people. "Oi. Look who's here. What a twat."
"I.. don't think I've ever seen her outside HQ," Teddy said, surprise kaleidoscoping to annoyance. He wouldn't forgive the woman for making him keep Regulus locked up. "Let's get a table far away from her."
"The last thing I need is her having more dirt on me," Albus replied, sighing. "The old bird will probably see us and write some stupid column about how you and I are madly in love." He bit his lip. "So, I won't snog you or anything. Promise."
Teddy's laughter came unbidden. "Oh Merlin. You're right. She'll think I'm answering your personals ad -- but I could do something to stop her."
"Buggering fuck. Not that stupid personals ad." Albus grumbed and rubbed his forehead, shaking his head. "What are you going to do to stop her?" He asked, arching a brow.
"Who do you want to be seen with? A boy or a girl? Decide, quick!" Teddy whispered, lest Skeeter notice them.
Albus in a panic stuttered for a moment and didn't think about his answer. "A boy," he blurted out, then blushed hotly. Well, that killed the illusion of him being heterosexual.
Teddy's face pinched in concentration, and then his hair grew slightly longer, curly, and blonde. His face became pointier and his eyes brightened to a periwinkle blue. He looked androgynous.
"How do I look?" he asked, grinning broadly.
Albus stared at Teddy for a moment, then snorted and nodded. "Like... Not Teddy. It's been so long, I'd nearly forgotten you could do that." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Do you... So, you're my date?"
"If you want me to be," Teddy replied, eyes atwinkle with mischief. "Skeeter will probably still talk about this in her trash rag, so it's up to you."
Albus glanced at the woman who had dropped them off here in the middle of nowhere, then back at Teddy. It wasn't like she could do much else to him. And this was his shot to show Teddy that he was a good date. "Of course." He nodded. "You're my date... What should I call you?"
"Blake," Teddy said because, oddly, it was the first name that came to mind. Plus, he was pretty certain there weren't any other Blakes afoot in Lockewood.
Finally, the hostess led them to a table and seated them. They were a good distance away from Skeeter, but still within eyesight.
Albus looked at the table, grabbing up his menu, his heart racing. This was stupid of him, to be pretending to be on a date with someone who was actually Teddy. Moments before, things hadn't been so serious. Now they were. "So.. what do you do on a date?"
"Flirt loads, usually," Teddy answered, peering over his menu at Albus with a smirk. He gave him an expectant, 'well?' look.
Well.. it was a start. Teddy decided to roll with it. "Really, do you like them?" he asked, grazing Albus's leg with his shoe. He pretended to be doing nothing of the such by looking down at his menu. "A lot of flirting isn't spoken," he added helpfully to explain himself.
Albus swallowed thickly as his leg came into contact with Teddy's foot. Why was he doing that and why did Albus feel like he was going to explode? Obviously dates were needed in order to actually fake flirting. He chewed his lip, trying to think of what he could possibly do to flirt silently.
Reaching across the table, Albus grabbed Teddy's hand and brought it to his lips. But, out of nerves his knee hit the table and knocked over a candle there, wax spilling out.
Teddy blinked. He didn't know what had happened. Albus kissed his hand, then all of the sudden he heard a bang and the candle fell over. "All right there?" he asked, fixing the spilled wax with a quick flick and charm.
"Yuh. Of course." Albus was mentally kicking himself. He hated how stupid he got around Teddy. He wondered briefly if Teddy thought he was as lame as Albus knew that he was, then sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm really bad at this." He blushed.
Noticing the flush in Albus's cheeks, Teddy only smiled lightly. He was chalking it up to Albus being nervous about pulling off a convincing date. "There's nothing to be sorry about," he assured him, giving his hand a soft squeeze. "I know it's difficult to pretend like you're enjoying this. D'ya know what you want to eat?"
Albus gave Teddy an offended look for a brief moment, then looked down at his menu. How foolish he'd been to think that Teddy Lupin could ever have any sort of feelings for him. His eyes teared up for a moment, then he sat the menu down. "I should leave. I shouldn't be here."
"No!" Teddy protested and gawked at Albus. "What? Why? Did I say something? I thought we were going to have lunch and try to have some fun with this."
Albus sighed softly and glanced at Teddy. He rubbed the back of his neck, his head falling back in defeat. Teddy had always been oblivious to everything and it annoyed Albus. "It's just... Nothing. It's not important," he told him. "I just think I should go home is all."
"Telling me it's nothing is a crock pot full of hippogriff shit," Teddy said, frowning. He didn't know where he had gone wrong. "Please stay?"
Wrinkling his nose in disgust, Albus finally sighed and shook his head. "It's really nothing," he promised. "But, I'll stay. I'll just have the chicken." And try to avoid the awkwardness.
Teddy's frown flipped back to a smile when Albus agreed to stay. "Chicken? Okay. I'll have.. well, I guess this isn't the joint to get a burger, is it? Think I'm going to try the chicken penne pasta."
When the waitress arrived, Teddy ordered their food and drinks.