InsaneJournal

Teddy appreciated what Narcissa was attempting to do, but, honestly, how uncomfortable was it when Lucius lurked about? He trusted his uncle to not openly insult anyone, but Teddy knew it pained the man to open his doors to such an array of guests. The young Slytherin might not have agreed with such ideals, but that didn't mean he wanted anyone hurt, whether it be a friend or family member. That in mind, he was searching out Lucius (and avoiding certain party guests) when he got side-tracked by some of his favorite cupcakes. It wasn't the most refined treat to offer at such an affair, but Kaleigh had insisted her son's tastes be met. And, honestly, Teddy had a sweet tooth; the expensive foods just didn't satisfy.

He took a bite of a yellow one topped with vanilla frosting. Oh, it tasted delicious. So delicious, in fact, that he didn't mind licking his upper lip clean. No one was around anyway. Or so he believed. He picked up a second, chocolate with strawberry frosting that time, and dug in unabashedly.

Tracey felt slightly ridiculous. Parties, especially high class ones of her friends, were usually not her thing. When was the last time she had gotten this dressy and put a bunch of makeup on? The Yule Ball, which was about three and a half years ago. When she went out normally, she didn't get this fancy. This was for Teddy and Draco, though, she had told herself. Moreso for Teddy, so she showed up in her pale pink dress anyway, hoping she didn't look too awkward. Hopefully not, but she had checked her hair and makeup several times already anyway.

"Oh, Circe, Tracey, you're being silly," she muttered to herself, staring down at the ground and quietly making her way toward the table with the sweets. She was nervous. When she was nervous, she craved food, particularly something sweet. Her eyes, however, were trained on the ground as she ducked around people and reached the table. She didn't realize until she was about a meter away that Teddy was already there. And for a moment, she froze, not knowing what to say.

Teddy thought someone wanted his attention when he overheard her muttering. As such, he turned, cupcake still in hand, to find Tracey. He smiled sheepishly. "Er...yes, I am still six." He put a finger to his lips before taking another bite. He gestured to the array of goodies, offering with his hand what he couldn't with his full mouth.

Tracey laughed slightly and took a step close, resisting the urge to reach up to even touch her hair that was in curls for the night. "That's alright. We're all, in some way, still children. Parents would agree." She reached for one cupcake herself but held it in her hand instead of biting into it right away. "You look very nice. I mean, of course you would. I doubt you could ever look horrible, especially at your party." Despite the words coming out naturally, they still sounded cringe-worthy to her own ears, but she didn't dare let her smile falter. This was supposed to be fun, after all. Not awkward.

What Tracey found cringe-worthy, Teddy, in his typical male fashion, didn't notice anything abnormal. She was right; he wouldn't go out of his way to look horrible at his own party! "Thank you. Mum's taught me a thing or two about fashion, I suppose?" Though as his eyes finally fully scanned Tracey, he didn't need any parent telling him she looked amazing. "You look really pretty, Trace." He reached for a pitcher filled with milk. He poured two cups, handing her one.

"Thank you," she said with a slight blush. At least her brain told her not to talk about how the dress was something old she already had rather than some new brand-name thing. "This place is magnificent, by the way. Have I ever told you that before?" She took the cup and took a sip. A part of her already wanted to ask him to dance but it seemed far too quick.

"Hmm, I guess it is. I still like mine better." Teddy rested a hand at her back, leaning in to whisper, "Don't tell Aunt Narcissa, alright?" He cracked another grin while handing his empty glass to an elf that kept scurrying about. "I never did get used to these things." He looked around, taking in the decorations, music, and crowd. "Or these," he added, pulling at his tie. "See, you are lucky. That dress looks scads more comfortable." Of course, her shoes liked weapons and Teddy knew girls always complained about them, but they had never felt a necktie!

Tracey laughed, setting down her glass. "Don't worry. I won't force you to wear one in Greece." Her shoes were actually quite comfortable, only because they were worn several times before so were already broken in. "Actually, with summer approaching, even the fanciest party in Athens would require casual attire." And she planned on taking him everywhere, to all her favorite places.

Of all the places his family had taken him, Greece had never been one. And, truthfully, Teddy was looking forward to it. He hadn't been so sure since he knew getting permission and getting out of the country would prove difficult, but once all that fell into place, he had grown excited. He wanted some time away from it all and what better way than a vacation with a friend? Hence, Hhs eyes lit up as she spoke. "It's going to be brilliant, you know that right? And the fact you just promised no neckties? Made it all the most brilliant."

"I hope so," she said with a smile. So much had happened, that they all definitely needed some vacation time. And taking this trip away would be wonderful. It was also going to be interesting, for both of them, to visit her Muggle side of the family. It had been a while since she'd seen them. She used magic in the house all the time, as did her parents, that it was going to be a fresh breath of air living like a Muggle momentarily. "Your Mum doesn't mind, does she? Since its going to be us two. And, well.. we'd go visit my family who are Muggle for some time. Did I tell you apparently, I own a tiny little home in Mykonos? It's very small, and it's supposed to be our summer house but nothing so glamorous. But it's home."

Muggles actually fascinated Teddy. He had taken Muggle studies despite the dirty looks he had gotten long before he had even dreamed of dating a muggle-born. He didn't always understand the subject, but he did enjoy hearing about their history and inventions and all that. "Why would she mind?" Teddy rested a hand at Tracey's arm, peering at her closely. "Do your parents?" Granted, he knew it seemed a bit improper, but it wasn't like they hadn't invited other people. Of course, they had been turned down, but still, they had tried. "And, I mean, your family will be around, yeah?" He was intruding. He just knew it. She was just too polite to say so.

"No reason. Just wanted to make sure!" Tracey shook her head and gave him a smile, bright enough to clearly show she didn't think he was intruding at all. "My parents don't mind at all. Even after I told them that Draco and Pansy won't be attending. Plus, we will be around family. We're going to be staying in Athens. That's where they all are. But I just want to show you around Mykonos too. It's the most beautiful spot. I live in an apartment but when you come out to the roof, you can see the harbor. I'm right by the waters." She would like to be alone with him, yes, but of course, it was going to be improper if she had decided to stay in Mykonos. Just the two of them in her place...

The thought made her blush, but to cover it up, she fanned herself and grabbed another glass of milk. "Ever had Greek food?"

Teddy might have had his own place, but after the Ministry's raid...well, it was easy to take advantage of a widow. He didn't dwell on that though. Tracey deserved her place and some happiness. "I...don't think so actually. Promise me no hidden snails or brains or anything?" He shuddered, indicating he had definitely tasted those before.

Tracey laughed. "There's grilled octopus but that's the worst it gets. What I will definitely be treating you to is my favourite, a Greek gyro." She could understand his pain, considering her own parents loved to travel and try new things too. Never again was she going to have another escargot without knowing that it was one.. ugh. "We'll have fun, Teddy. That's what matters." If she was willing to move on with life, she really hoped her parents, mostly her mother, would too.

Teddy could related on the wanting parents to move on thing. He really wanted to get his own flat when he saved the money, but he just...felt too guilty to. Who was going to take care of her? "Alright, I'm trusting you," he said seriously, "If that gyro thing is really fish guts or something..." He trailed off, smirking all the time.

"Aw, blimey," she said giving a faux pout. "There goes that surprise!" She laughed, giving him a wink. And then a bolder voice decided to speak up in her head. "If we stay here the whole night, everyone might think we're plotting a disastrous surprise here. So, how about a dance?"

"You mean we aren't going to plot that?" Teddy sighed in exaggeration. "You ruin all the fun, Trace!" He didn't answer her question, but simply held his arm out to her. He hoped he didn't step on her feet. His parents had made him take all those lessons, but he still worried.

"Shhh, Teddy," she said, slipping her arm around his. "That's supposed to be for next time, I promise." And while he worried about his dancing, she worried about her own. She hadn't taken any sort of waltzing lessons, but she had a knack for easily picking up things, even from just watching other people dance.

Teddy easily held her in his arms, but he knew he was supposed to lead...the problem with theory is that practice was always much more difficult. After a moment, he laughed. "Who is leading who anyway? I don't think I am anymore! I am sorry!"

Tracey smiled with a slight blush. That was going to end up as her trademark if she didn't stop soon. "Sorry about that. You know me.. I'm usually the sort to lead, no matter how many times I second guess myself. But, I'll be the proper lady and have you lead now."

"Hey, who said I wanted the proper lady?" He gave up on propriety and spun her around without warning. "I don't think I can lead anyway! Maybe we can just pretend we're ahead of the curve? Inventing all sorts of cool moves?"

The move surprised Tracey, but she giggled slightly. If it had also caught anyone else's attention, it was probably something to be expected. "Theodore Nott, are you trying to put me in a spotlight of some sort in the middle of the dance floor?" A small voice in the back of her head wondered if Pansy was nearby. She was going to get grilled with questions the next day if she was. Tracey knew it. But she was having far too much fun to even worry.

Teddy wasn't thinking about anyone in that moment or he might have wondered if he was being rude toward Hannah in so clearly dancing with another girl. But, after months of anxiety, it felt good to let loose some. And it was his party! "Everyone's jealous of our moves!"

"Or of you because clearly... look at who you're dancing with!" It was said mostly in jest because anyone who knew Tracey well would know that she was too modest to think of herself as worthy of jealousy. Her thoughts had been on Teddy since they had started talking and frankly, nothing else bothered to enter her mind, especially not Hannah. Which was likely a good thing otherwise Tracey would have felt bad.

"Oh, please, look at you!" Gasping for breath, Teddy doubled over, clutching his stomach. "Okay, maybe they're staring at me because I look like this!" Catching his breath, he managed to straighten up again. "Though I imagine all the blokes are jealous." And why wouldn't they be? Tracey was pretty, friendly, and smart. Teddy suddenly felt bad for monopolizing her time. "And you probably want to get to them..."

Tracey didn't say anything for a moment, thinking about the last part he had spoken. If there was any jealous bloke, he didn't seem to be making a move at the moment. Maybe it was better this way. Tracey would have felt awful on rejecting them. She couldn't think of a single guy at the moment that she would have wanted to dance with. If Draco asked, of course, but only because he was a close friend. "Actually,.. they can wait a little longer," she said with a laugh.

"You can't get enough of this, is that it?" Again, Teddy "busted" a move, his arms flailing helplessly. Several did turn and snicker, but Teddy just shrugged and grinned at them. He had been the loner for seven long years. He deserved some fun even if he didn't know half the people present. Besides, he liked making Tracey smile. She deserved it after everything that happened to her family. If she could forget for even a few moments, Teddy would feel good.

And it was clear from how much she was laughing that indeed, she had forgotten about the family tragedy. She had come to the party anyway with exactly that in mind. After all, how would one be able to enjoy a party by thinking about the family's hardships. Her eyes were practically teary from the giggling and, she decided to a silly little move of her own, which basically was a toss of her hair over her shoulder, a tiny bit of gyrating of the hips and an exaggerated supermodel pose. The whistle that it earned quickly turned her red but she started to laugh again. After it subsided she stepped closer putting her arms around Teddy. "Thank you. I needed this."

Teddy hugged her close for a moment. "Me too." Pulling away, he kept his hands on her arms. "Wouldn't have been a party without you." It was true. Teddy had always felt comfortable around the girl in a way he hadn't with Pansy or Millicent.

Those words were probably enough to keep her morale high for the rest of the evening. "Come on," she said, gesturing toward the drinks table. "A quick break before we try and make everyone envious of our wicked dance moves again?"

"Alright, but don't let me at those cupcakes again..." Teddy grimaced and poked at his stomach. "Know how mums always say not to eat too many? Well, they're right." He followed her to the refreshments, pushing his hair away from his eyes. Despite his mother's helpful tips, he never did manage to get his hair to behave in a way he liked.

"No more cupcakes this time, promise." She was more thirsty than hungry anyway. Food could wait. They had all night for that. And it didn't seem like Tracey was going to want to leave anytime soon either.