Andromeda savagely kicked the unconscious Goyle, hearing a whimper and felt what might have been a rib cracking, but honestly couldn't care. He lay sprawled across Crabbe in the small landing, where they'd both fallen when she'd hit them in the back with stunners. And in the corner opposite, with swelling eyes and a bleeding broken nose was Edward Tonks, currently attempting to scramble away from the girl with the wand and the steel-capped boots. (Not that he would have known they were steel-capped. Andromeda had been very pleased in her handiwork.)

Edward flinched when she grabbed him by the shoulders. "Hey, just relax okay?" Andromeda was pleased when he stopped struggling, but could feel the tension under her hands. "This should help with the eyes. Stay still Edward."

Teddy blinked as the light moved over his eyes, seeking her face. "Andromeda?"

"Er... yeah," Andromeda reached forwards and grabbed him by the nose. "This is going to hurt Edward." She tugged it sharply to once side, straightening it.

"Ow. You know there's a spell for that, right?" he asked as she helped him up.

"Well I'm no good at it, so..."

"Fair enough," replied Ted, looking at her thoughtfully. "Thank you Andromeda. I- thanks."

"No problem," replied Andromeda. "Now if you could just help me hide these two. I'd rather not get detention for this..."

"Ah! Right." It took a good four minutes to get both of the large bulky boys off the landing, into the third floor corridor and hidden in the broom closet. She caught Goyle's ankle in the door twice before they finally managed to jam it closed and latch it shut. It was a good thing it was as sunny as it was, or they probably would have been seen.

"Come on," said Andromeda, grabbing him by the arm. "Let's get out of here and find somewhere to talk."

"Oookaay?" said Tonks hesitantly, letting himself be dragged downstairs and out a side entrance, into a courtyard abandoned for its lack of sun.

"Any particular reason it was you being beaten up?" she asked as she sat down and patted the bench beside her. It was nicely hidden from view behind a large tree in need of pruning. "You're still bleeding by the way."

"I noticed," said Ted wryly, producing a threadbare handkerchief from a sleeve and pressing it to his nose. "Honestly I think they bet me up because I was there. They're kind of cunts."

Andromeda laughed. "Yeah. They kind of are."

He watched her for a while, his smile fading slightly. "Why did you help me?"

"Why do you think?"

Ted stared at the ground, clearly uncomfortable. "I always though you might have fancied me a bit," he said finally, after a long wait.

Andromeda blinked in surprise. "Huh. I never thought anyone picked up on that, especially you."

He shrugged. "Not exactly the kind of thing you go shouting around, is it?"

"I suppose." She clicked her tongue thoughtfully, before leaning down to look into his eyes. "Do you fancy me too?" she asked softly, searching his face.

"Yeah." Ted grinned awkwardly back at her from behind his blondish fringe. "Yeah, I do. Kind of hard not to, you know?"

"Well of course," Andromeda said, straightening in a way that highlighted her good looks and smirking.

"The way you dress probably helps too," Ted replied, grinning at her outraged expression. "I'm certain Madam Malkin doesn't usually provide robes quite so... fitted."

"I-" Andromeda didn't know how to respond and took a moment to collect herself. "I'm not that kind of -"

"I know, I know!" Ted stared at her, alarmed and worried. "I didn't mean anything like that! It's just not the kind of thing most witches wear. It looks more like muggle clothing. I was just trying to..." He paused for a moment. "I'm sorry. I just meant that you look nice, not... that."

"Well, okay then," replied Andromeda, mostly mollified. "So, know that we both know we like each other, what are we going to about it?"

"Well, what can we do about it, really? I can't imagine it going over well with your house or family."

"It's nearly the holidays," replied Andromeda, letting her foot gently brush the hem of his trouser leg. "We could meet up somewhere, away from the major wizarding haunts."

"Your parents would let you do that?" He sounded shocked.

"Blacks are expected to marry before they're twenty. Usually we get a lot of free rein before then. You know, get it all out of our system before we have to settle down and start producing babies."

"You have to be married by twenty?" Ted looked deeply uncomfortable with that.

"Well, I'm meant to be looking for someone, but I'm still sixteen. I've got a bit of time before I get myself disowned." She caught his eye. "You don't expect I'd marry the kind of man they'd want, do you?"

"No, I don't." Ted knew a little about her family, but not much more than most.

"So, how about it?" Andromeda asked, looking directly at him.

"Okay then," he replied, running a hand through his hair. "If you think we can make this work I say we go for it." He snorted in amusement. "Mum's going to be pissed though."

"Why?" asked Andromeda, eyebrows furrowing.

"She wants me to date a nice, normal girl," Ted replied, shaking his head. "She's never been exactly happy with me being a wizard. Thinks magic is unclean."

Andromeda couldn't help herself. She laughed as she leant over to kiss him.