Disclaimer: It's not mine, although I love it so…

If you asked Teddy Lupin, he would tell you that sin tasted like cinnamon and cigarettes.

Metal was safety, although it was bitter in his mouth, and stung his eyes and his tongue as he swallowed. Metal was sharp, cool, shiny Victoire—all he ever knew, or ever hoped to.

If you asked Teddy Lupin, he would tell you that sometimes what you want doesn't really matter, and that sometimes there was just no point in chasing dreams.

Sometimes what's good for you is good for no one else, and you just have to swallow hard and wish your will away and keep on living your pretty little lie—only it isn't pretty, really, now is it? Because she's pretty, she's beautiful, and she's all fire and slippery smiles and drags on Muggle cigarettes and musky auburn hair.

And what are you? You, Teddy Lupin, he says as he looks in the mirror, are nothing. You are merely an ugly little liar with the ugly little heart that a fucking pedophile and half-blood has. You don't even deserve the sacrifice your war heroes of parents gave for you. And you definitely don't deserve classy, beautiful, spoiled Victoire—or her.

One day she asks him to dance. He says no, and laughs to himself in that oh-so-desperate shade of black that he knows so well now. And off he goes, walking away from another broken heart, broken to match his own, as he rejoins her—his brand new bride, just as happy and oblivious as could possibly be.

And he laughs even harder, laughs till tears fall out of his eyes, as he watches his—but not his, really—little Lily Luna as she spreads the heartbreak around. She flounces off, returns to Hogwarts—but everything is different this time around.

Because now, she's finally living up to what the Sorting Hat called her—Slytherin. And she's wearing those dangerous little mini-skirts, and she's not even bothering to hide her cigarettes from the professors, and she's walking just so and oh man, she's quite the little heartbreaker now isn't she?

And she leaves a trail of broken boys behind her, kissing her innocence good-bye with a smirk and a wink and tears that no one ever sees in the bathroom stall.

And Teddy, Teddy bear? Oh he isn't much better, really. He's living the married life—but it's a life in sin although he's touched no other woman. Because sweet spoiled little Victoire loves him so—or at least she thinks she does—and she just loves to make him happy. And what does Teddy do in return? He lies, just like he's always done—because that's all he is really, a liar—and he whispers his false promises, and he dreams at night. He dreams of long auburn curls, and he dreams of acid green eyes, and he dreams of wishes coming true… but most of all he dreams of heartbreak, which tastes exactly like cinnamon and cigarettes.

Author's Note: Because not everyone gets a happy ending, every time. Let me know what you think! :)