no-one knows (so let's just stay hidden)
andromeda knew him as the boy who sits quietly at the front of the class.
ted knew her as the nicer black sister.
they're worlds apart, but she can't resist sneaking down to the kitchens where she's welcomed by the house-elves and ted, and a steaming mug of tea, sitting, ready for her.
and they talk. at first about the ridiculously long essay that mcgonagall assigned about transfiguring a rat into a hat, about who has a better chance of winning the next quidditch match (ted insists hufflepuff, and of course andromeda backs the slytherins). and then their conversations turn to the dark lord and the muggle-borns.
ted doesn't care, but andromeda does.
she tells him so one evening when she manages to evade regulus' patrols outside the dungeons.
'she's joining.'
'who?'
'bella's joining the dark lord. mama and papa are happy.'
'you're not.'
'what do you mean, i'm not. i am.'
'no, you're not.'
'i am. i have to be. otherwise they'll know, bella suspects me already, and then they'll kill you, or do whatever they want to do with the muggle-borns.'
he tries to laugh it off.
'no, ted. they will kill you. that's what it's all about. getting rid of muggles and muggleborns, and anyone who's not pureblooded. and idontwantyouttodie.'
she can sense the smirk on his face as her cheeks flush pink.
'awww, andy, i didn't think you cared. don't worry, i won't let them get to me. and i won't let them get to you either.'
she knows, and he knows, that they will. eventually.
but it's nice to be hidden from the outside world for a while, not letting anyone know about their little conversations at night, with their shared pieces of chocolate cake and steaming mugs of tea. because if they're hidden away, if everyone can only hear the redheaded third year shouting at that potter boy, if they're not written in the history books, maybe they will survive just a bit longer in this world that's falling to pieces around them.