Megan was excited to get an invite to visit Teddy at his place. She liked hanging out with her friends, especially friends from different houses in school since she usually didn't see them as often. Even though his relationship with Hannah hadn't worked out, Megan still liked Teddy. After cleaning up from working in a greenhouse all morning, Megan packed a basket with some brownies and cupcakes she had made over the last couple of days.
She couldn't help laughing at the thought of her previous conversation with Teddy about the goodies she had made. This was sure to make him "rotund." Arriving at Teddy's, she knocked on the door as she hid the basket behind her.
Teddy was only grateful his break-up with Hannah hadn't cost him a friend. Megan was one of the first in Hannah's group to welcome him and Teddy hadn't forgotten. He was glad for their journal chats and her willingness to include him in things. And the fact she baked? Definitely icing. However, naturally, Teddy had to return the favor, so he had ordered in dinner and asked Megan to join him.
"Hi, Meg," Teddy greeted her on opening the heavy, oak door. "Thanks for coming." He smiled brightly as he swept a kiss over her cheek.
"Hello, Teddy!" Megan replied. "Thank you for inviting me. And to show my thanks..." Megan held out her basket. "I brought you these. They are even better than the muffins that I gave you the other day. Especially the cupcakes." She grinned. "So how have you been since we last spoke?"
"Oh, no!" Teddy laughed while pretending to pat his non-existent tummy. "A regular old St. Nick you'll make me yet." He ushered her inside after taking the basket from her. "You shouldn't have, love. Now I'll have to insist on repaying the favor again. You'll never get rid of me!" He placed the basket on his living room table. "Dinner first," he insisted. "Mum always said good little boys and girls ate all their dinner before dessert." He nudged her playfully in the side before nodding toward the dining area. "That way."
"I wouldn't mind not getting rid of you. But you really don't have to do that, Teddy. I enjoy baking and sharing what I bake with my friends." Megan winked. "It's my way of making sure you all stay friends with me. I've no problem with you lot liking me because I can bake." Megan joked. She really didn't mind because she really did enjoy baking. She made a face at him before heading toward the dining area. "After we eat all our dinner, we will be well rewarded with the brownies and cupcakes."
As the proper young pureblood had been taught, Teddy easily maneuvered so that he could slip Megan's chair out for her. "Now, baking is the only reason," he insisted. "Just a big one," he teased with a sly smile. He waved his hand over the chair. "Sit, sit."
Megan didn't even get a chance to say that she could get the chair herself. "A very big one indeed," she agreed before sitting down. "You are such a gentleman, Teddy."
It was something several girls had told him, but for the ones he had grown up around? It was expected. It was nice to hear a thank you once in awhile and yet another reason Teddy liked spending time with girls like Megan. "Just something Mum always said a gentleman does." He shrugged; it really wasn't a big deal for him.
He slipped into the seat across from her. "Hope you like baked chicken?"
"It's nice. Not everyone does that. I know my older brother doesn't." Megan wasn't used to it, it wasn't how she was raised. However, she didn't mind either way. She nodded her head. "Is that what we're having? I do like baked chicken."
"How old is he?" Teddy asked. It was not only for polite conversation either. He was genuinely interested in the sweet Huffelpuff's life. He pushed a plate filled with chicken, potatoes, and string beans toward Megan. "Wine?"
"He's 20. Working as a cursebreaker for Gringotts." Megan told him. He had only asked for the age of her brother, but she felt like sharing what he did for a living. "Andrew is awesome though." Megan took the plates of food and took a little from each to fill her plate. "Yes, please." The food smelled and looked really good and she couldn't wait to eat it. "This looks really good, Teddy."
He poured the wine into her glass before giving himself some as well. "Sounds interesting," Teddy said though he tried not to dwell on that jealous pit in his stomach. Teddy had never imagined himself working in an office for a mate's real estate business, but he had to be grateful given the Ministry's rules. It would have been nearly impossible for him to find work had Ernest not been so generous. He took a sip of his wine and then a bite of food to keep his mind from spilling its secrets. "Your family's close then?"
"It does. But I'm bound to think pretty much anything is interesting." Megan did think his job was interesting, but not one that she had ever wanted. She had enough trouble as it was trying to find a job that she wanted to have for a long time. "A bit. We weren't all that much when we were younger, but after dad moved us to Holyhead to live with our grandparents we got a bit closer."
"It's nice," Teddy said thoughtfully. Memories of Angus and Kaleigh flooded his memory. Despite it all, they had been happy and he missed it. It felt empty some days even with all the love that surrounded Teddy. "Sorry," he added, realizing he had floated off. "Just thinking about my father a bit, I guess." He supposed it was natural given the time of year, but Teddy hated when his dad's memory brought a frown rather than a smile so he didn't often talk to anyone outside his family, Hannah, and Ernie about him.
"It's alright. I don't mind." Megan said. "Are you alright?" She didn't know that much about Teddy, but she did know his father had died.
"Sure, of course." It wasn't a lie really. Most days, he was fine. He just missed Angus. It was something he and Ernie shared though it was a club membership Teddy woudn't wish on anyone. "Over a year now." He chewed a string bean and smiled again. "What do your parents do?" It seemed unfair that everyone knew what his father had done, but he knew very little about most others.
"Totally and one hundred percent sure?" Megan asked. There wasn't much Megan could really say or do. She had never gone through the death of a parent, but she did lose her mum when she had decided to leave the family when Megan was younger. "I don't know about mum. She left some time ago and has another family. Dad is on the Accidental Magic Reversal squad."
"Oh," Teddy replied. He felt rather foolish for asking after such a personal matter. "I'm sorry. I didn't intend to pry." He stuffed another forkful into his mouth in a desperate attempt to keep his mouth shut.
Megan shook her head. "It's alright. You didn't know. I haven't really told anyone about her because I don't know what to say and not because it bothers me." She ate some of her chicken. "This is really good." Megan said. She didn't like the silence and had to fill it.
Teddy felt like he should offer some comforting word, but thought any further conversation would prove improper so he simply smiled at the comment and nodded. "I got it from a place down the road. I can give you the menu," he offered.
"That would be great. Thank you, Teddy." Megan looked forward to the chance that she'd be able to have a good meal similar to this again. "And my cupcake and brownies will be the perfect dessert to eat after this."
"I think those would be perfect anytime," Teddy corrected, chuckling. "I can barely manage cereal most days. I admire everyone who can actually cook. Even with a wand, I'm rather hopeless."
"Well they are, but we're being a good boy and girl and eating dinner first," she laughed. "I'm sure you're not so hopeless at cooking. It's not all that hard really. I could teach you! Though, I'm a much better baker than I am a cook. You won't find me making something like this often, but rather all the delectable goodies you can possibly imagine."
"I can't do any of it so anything is a start!" Teddy joked. He finished his food and banished off his plate. "More wine?"
"Yes, please!" Megan said. "And you'll be great in no time."
He dutifully poured another glass. "Great I doubt, but I'd like to not poison my guests. It would play right into the Slytherin stereotype and all." He grinned wickedly.
Megan laughed. "Well, I can certainly teach you that much. Still think you'd be great anyway. I'll keep you out of that stereotype."
"Well, so long as you promise me you'll also teach me how to keep the weight off," Teddy answered. "Star athlete and chef? I think I have the best darn teacher out there!"
"I'll have you running around in circles then." Megan joked. "Oh thanks," she said feeling her cheeks get warmer. "I'm not a star athlete yet. And I'm more a baker than a chef. But I think I can be the best teacher."
"A pastry chef then." Teddy looked smug at knowing such a term.
"Alright. A pastry chef, I am." Megan grinned. "When do you want to start learning?"
"Not sooner than I eat what your brought us!" Teddy gestured back to the goodie basket she brought which still sat in its place in the living room.
"I didn't think we'd start today. Unless you really wanted to." Megan took her glass of wine and headed for the living room. "But yes, these to be eaten now!"
Teddy followed Megan though he summoned some milk first. "What?" He said, looking sheepish. "Milk and dessert go hand in hand." He felt silly when she held her wine, but, upperclass upbringing or not, Teddy was who he was.
"Oh I agree. I'll have some milk after I finish my wine." Megan smiled. "Have you ever had oreos? I had them when I was younger and I bought some not too long ago. Those are great with milk."
"Oreo what?"
"It's a cookie. It's two chocolate cookies with some cream in the middle. You can twist and dunk them in milk. I'll have to send you some." Megan told him.
He pulled the basket between them on the sofa. "Twist and dunk?" It sounded like playing with his food and, even at 18, it thrilled him. "Oh, yes, you do need to introduce me!" He offered her first choice in the basket.
Megan nodded her head. "Yeah! It's a lot of fun! I like the cream filling in the middle." She reached her hand in the basket and took out a cupcake. "And I certainly will."