Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

A/N: This is for QLFC Season 8 Round 1

Appleby Arrows-Beater 2

Archetype: The Creator

Fear: Mediocrity

Prompts Used:

4. (dialogue) "You don't understand."/"No. But I want to."

15. (character) Teddy Lupin

...

Also for HPFC Rubik's Cube challenge: White 1. (restriction) No Gyffindors

Word count: 1,043

My heart pounds. I failed the test. I actually failed the test. I, Victoire Weasley, failed. I'm not supposed to fail. I am supposed to be perfect at everything. How am I supposed to get Outstanding on Owls if I can't even pass the test? I am supposed to be top of the class if I don't get perfect grades? How will I be able to get a good job, if I can't pass one simple quiz?

"Alright class, your assignment is two feet of parchment on the properties of Moonstone and its uses by tomorrow. You are dismissed." Professor Slughorn announces.

The potions class had gone great. For a while, I had actually forgotten about yesterday's test: the one I failed. I love potions. I love the precision, the perfection. It all must be done exactly right, or else it won't work, and you know the outcome. It's not uncertain. Potions is an art. Potions is the highlight of my day. That is until I failed. Usually, Ravenclas have potions with Hufflepuffs, however, my class is big enough to have a class all to ourselves. I get up from my seat and start for the door. While the potions classroom is what most would call "creepy", it's one of my favorite parts of the castle. It's cold and dark, and most of the time, silent. It's the perfect environment for studying. The stone walls give a sense of security. I leave the room and turn right. All of my classmates go the other way, the normal way. This way, however, is a shortcut to the library, my other favorite place in the castle. My boyfriend Teddy and I both have a free period right before lunch, so we almost always meet in the library.

I walk into the library and sit down at our table. We have made it a tradition to sit at the same table since our first year. It's at the back corner of the library and big enough for about six people. A few minutes pass before I see Teddy walking towards me. His turquoise hair is messy and he is smiling.

"Hey Victoire," he says, planting a quick kiss on my cheek before sitting down. He sets down and spreads out his books.

"What's wrong, Vic?" he asks. He can always tell when something's wrong, and he can usually figure out what it is too. I'll never know how he does it. He has always been so caring, no one was surprised when he got sorted into Hufflepuff.

"Something happen in class?" he asks. I just sigh and nod.

"I failed a quiz," I say, looking down at my books. I still have my essay for potions and my one for history of magic, and it's not even 12.

"That's okay," he says, "I'm sure it won't hurt your grade that much," Though I know he's only trying to help, I can feel my anger building up. Usually, tests come easy for me, most schoolwork does, but I forgot to study for this quiz. Well, I want to say I forgot. The reality is that I spent all night playing quidditch. I was just so fed up with school, I decided to skip studying and have some fun. What I didn't think about, was the quiz.

"No, it's not okay," I say, my teeth clenched. He doesn't understand. People don't expect perfection from him. He doesn't expect perfection. I do. I was made a prefect this year, I can't let people think I can't handle that. If I fail at being a prefect, how will I ever have a chance at becoming head girl? He moves his chair closer to mine and puts his arm around me.

"You'll be fine," he says, "It's just one quiz, no one's going to care," I push away from him and stand up.

"You don't understand," I say barely suppressing a yell. The last thing I want is to get kicked out of the library.

"No, but I want to," he replies. His voice barely reaches above a whisper. He looks sincere. Honestly, I thought he was going to yell. I wanted him to yell. He reaches out for my hand and I sit back down. Tears streak down my face, and I bury my face into his shoulder. He strokes my hair and I try to calm my breathing.

"You don't have to be perfect, you know," he whispers. He's told me this before.

"You are amazing," he says. I wipe my tears from my face and sit up. I'm glad that our table is in the back of the library, I hate it when people see me like this.

"I just," I say, "I don't want to be like everyone else," His gentle eyes meet mine. I hold his gaze for a moment before looking down. All of my life, I've just wanted to make myself known. I don't want to be like everyone else. Unfortunately, that means I sometimes come across as uptight and goody-two-shoes. I don't want to disappoint my parents or my teachers but most of all, I don't want to disappoint myself. I want to know that I have done the best I possibly can on everything I do. I'll admit, it can get exhausting.

"I want to stand out," I say, "I want to make a difference," We sit in silence for a few moments before he responds.

"You do stand out," he says, "You do make a difference, but that doesn't mean you have to be perfect at everything," I look up at him.

"I mean who else could pass all their classes, win almost every quidditch game, be a prefect, and still have time to join a couple of pranks? By the way, I have an idea for another one," I have to laugh.

"What is it this time?" I ask smiling. He just grins.

Only Teddy could cheer me up and start planning a prank in just a couple minutes.