Chapter Nineteen: Enter Teddy

                                    

                                          


                          
As it happened, Scorpius's seething inner anger soon found another target in the form of someone whom it seemed impossible for anyone to dislike. Teddy Lupin, on a visit to Hogsmeade from his position as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts, soon found himself very struck with the newly-minted parisienne that was Lily Luna Potter. He knew it was rather odd for him, a 28-year-old man, to have feelings for Lily, who was only seventeen. But his heart, which until recently had been broken over Victoire's continued resistance to his charms, began to throb whenever he saw Lily's slim figure in his vicinity. 
                          
The truth was that very few people could have resisted her. Her quiet confidence and her undeniable taste and style were immensely attractive. But Teddy, who had always liked his godfather's daughter in a purely platonic way, could not understand why he felt like this around her. And Lily, who had been so immune to the charms of the young men who generally frequented her properties, found she rather liked having Teddy around. He was so unobtrusive, and yet helpful when she needed him. 
                          
Things came to a head at Christmas, when Lily, glowing happily from her recent recruitment for the Holyhead Harpies, bumped into a slightly inebriated Teddy beneath the mistletoe and he kissed her. 
                          
Surprisingly the development pleased Harry, who had been wishing for some time that Lily could find someone, as he did not like how focused on her work she seemed. And the rest of the family seemed to come to the same conclusion. But when Rose turned to Scorpius, beaming at him and whispering, "Oh, isn't it lovely?" she was surprised to see the disgust in his eyes as he watched Lily smile into Teddy's face and kiss him again.
                          
"She is entirely too young for him," he hissed. "How can Harry be pleased about this? It's revolting."
                          
Rose actually glared. "Scorpius, I don't know what's gotten into you lately. You're so cold and rude to Lily, and you're constantly angry-"
                          
"I just don't like seeing that stupi-"
                          
"Will you let me finish, please? Lily is my cousin and I love her dearly and you have no right to talk about her the way you do. I don't like this attitude, Scorpius. She broke up with you nearly four years ago, and I would have hoped that you would be mature enough to get over that. Shape up, Scor." And with that, she hurried over to talk to and congratulate Lily, who was so excited that she was speaking in pure French. Only the amused-looking Victoire could understand her. 
                          
This is mental, Scorpius thought moodily. And, deciding he had had enough of Christmas celebrations, he Apparated home.