A/N: This was written for the This Is Our Song Competition on the HPFC, for the song Uptown Girl.
Ted looked up when the door to the compartment opened. The only Prefects missing were - of course - those from Slytherin. He was ready to make a snide remark about them being late, but then he noticed the girl in the doorway. His jaw dropped. Andromeda was a Prefect as well? He had not expected that. Sure, he knew she was a talented student and a lot of the teachers liked her, yet it hadn't even crossed his mind that they would both be selected. After all, what were the odds? He watched as her eyes scanned the crowd, a half-muttered apology already forming on her lips, when her gaze rested on him. She was obviously not expecting to see him here either, which gave him a strange sense of satisfaction.
As she sat down, and Alicia instructed them on their duties, he only half listened, instead studying Andromeda. There was something in her that had changed since he'd seen her last year, although he couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly it was that differed. Her eyes where still the same colour as his favourite chocolate bar, her clothes still as immaculate as one would expect from the daughter of a renowned family, her curls just as curly as always… No, it was something in her attitude, he noticed. She looked more distant, less involved and somewhat distracted. There was a sadness in her eyes he couldn't place. He briefly wondered if she'd gone the same way as her sister, but hastily dismissed the thought. Not Andromeda.
"… which leaves Ted and Robert to patrol the last carriages."
Ted's thoughts were interrupted when he heard his name. He looked around in embarrassment. Obviously Alicia had just divided the watches, but he hadn't been paying attention.
Robert, a sixth year Hufflepuff, slapped him on the back and grinned. "Come on mate, we better hurry if we want to do the patrols right."
Ted quickly got up and followed Robert out of the carriage. He didn't have a clue as to what they were supposed to do, but he hoped Robert would fill him in on the details.
As it turned out, the fifth year Prefects were to be partnered with the sixth year Prefects, not just on the train ride, but also for the first week at Hogwarts, so that the latter could help the former out and the former could learn from the experience from the latter.
After that first week, they were all mixed up according to a fixed schedule. Ted was disappointed when he learned that he wouldn't be having any rounds with Andromeda for the first four weeks. He tried to get a glimpse of her in between classes, but the only time he really got to talk to her, was during Herbology, because the only other classes they shared were Transfiguration and Potions. He didn't dare talk under the scrutinizing gaze of Professor McGonagall and he needed all his focus in Potions to not mess thing up.
"So… had a good holiday?" he asked as he put on the dragonhide gloves. He tried to sound casual, but his heart was racing in his chest.
Andromeda shrugged. "Could have been better, could have been worse."
It was such an uncharacteristically non-committing answer that Ted raised an eyebrow.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
Ted could practically hear her think "with you". "Is it, is it your sister?" he asked tentatively.
Andromeda closed her eyes for a moment. "Don't do this," she said. "You know we can't be friends."
"I was just hoping you'd gimme a chance," he said softly.
"I-I can't. You don't know half of what's going on."
"Then tell me."
Andromeda shook her head resolutely. "We come from different worlds, Ted. Now please go."
He sauntered a bit, reluctant to leave, but Andromeda's eyes bore into his and she repeated, more exigent this time: "Go."
Ted turned around and walked away. But he was determined not to give up so easily. Somehow, he'd make her give him a chance.