For 'The Snakes and Ladders Challenge' by Fire The Canon over at HPFC.

BREAKING FREE

Andromeda Black liked to sit under the tree by the lake furthest from Hogwarts. It helped her take her mind off of everything. She wasn't like her fellow students. She didn't think Hogwarts was the greatest place on Earth – in fact, she despised it.

Hogwarts was where she didn't belong. Then again, it was the same at home. There was Bella, who was the perfect big sister, and Cissy who was the perfect little sister, and then she was the okay sister in the middle.

She stared out at the rippling water, leaning her back against the tree. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't even notice that somebody was standing next to where she was sitting.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

She jumped and looked up at the boy who had spoken to her. He had light brown hair and light brown eyes, and was wearing a friendly smile. Her eyes automatically fell to his school robes – Hufflepuff. She sighed. This couldn't be a good idea.

"Yes, of course," she said with a small smile. He dropped down onto the grass next to her and held out his hand.

"Ted Tonks," he said cheerfully. She shook his hand.

"Andromeda Black."

"Oh, I know who you are," Ted said. "Everyone knows you three."

"Us three?"

"The Black sisters," Ted said.

"Is that a good thing?" she asked. Ted scrunched up his nose.

"Not really, no. They say the three of you are evil."

"Well, nice way to be blunt," Andromeda said, feeling hurt. "You know, just because I'm part of this family and got sorted into Slytherin doesn't make me evil. If you were here to clarify that I'm really evil, then here goes. Just go away, I don't have time for people like you."

"Oooh!" Ted said, looking amused. "Ouch. That's evil as ever. Go away. You have no heart right there missy."

Andromeda blushed. "Okay fine, I don't have an evil bone in my body."

"I know you don't," Ted said. "I saw you helping that first year Gryffindor the other day when Lucius Malfoy hexed him."

"Oh no, you saw that!" Andromeda said, feeling frightened. "If my family finds out-"

"It's okay, I wouldn't tell anybody," Ted said. Andromeda let herself relax.

"So why are you here?"

"I wanted to talk to you," Ted said. "You seem like a nice girl, and you must know how beautiful you are."

Andromeda laughed and rolled her eyes. "No, I'm just an uglier version of Bellatrix. That's what my Narcissa says anyway."

"You're beautiful."

"Thank you," Andromeda replied, with a small smile. "You're not so bad looking yourself."

"Tell me something I don't know," Ted joked. "Andromeda Black, I was wondering if you would accompany me to Hogsmeade this weekend for a drink at the Hog's Head?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Andromeda asked, blushing. She'd never been asked out before.

"Yes, I am," Ted said, grinning.

"I-"

"-You don't know me," Ted said. "True, but you can get to know me."

"I was going to say that my family would kill me if I did."

"They don't have to know."

"You're a Hufflepuff," Andromeda said. "What's your blood status?"

"Does that matter?"

"Not to me, no," she replied. "But my family-"

"I'm a Muggle-born."

"Oh."

"So, will you accompany me to Hogsmeade?"

"I... oh, okay. But nobody can know. And call me Andie. I prefer that to Andromeda."

"Well," Ted said with a grin. "It's a date then, Andie."

Andromeda felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement inside her as Ted walked away. This was it, she was finally breaking free of her family's tight grasps, and she had no idea what to expect. This was a good thing.

~THE END~