Ted rolled over, breathing into his pillow to find an intoxicating scent of shampoo, and flowers, before withdrawing his head to note his surroundings. Sunlight was pouring through the room's dingy window and he was all alone in this bed, facedown and spreadeagle. He drew himself up on his elbows, then rose completely, and headed toward the bathroom to get cleaned up.

Andromeda stirred her coffee, cursing Ted for the umpteenth time. Ever since she had descended the steps, this blighter Tom was prodding her for questions on her and Ted's engagement. She was lying through her teeth, but she was thankful anyway to see Ted's frame descending into the pub.

Is it just me, Ted thought, or did Andromeda's eyes just light up? But he shunned away the thought as he slid into the seat across her and picked up her coffee, taking a sip.

He looked up at her, and she smirked, "You drink your coffee black?!" He questioned.

"Of course!" She said gleefully, attempting to get her mug back, but the joke was on her.

"What a coincidence, I do, too!" He smiled and and she rolled her eyes.

"Tom!" Ted called for the bartender and Andromeda's eyes widened, grabbing the extended hand he'd been using to call him over.

"Don't!" She hissed.

"Why?" He whispered.

"He's been asking questions about our engagement all morning! I was enjoying a respite!" But to Andromeda's chagrin, Tom had hobbled over to their table anyway.

"Hope I wasn't... interrupting anything." He said, noting their entertwined hands as the other two realize them, pulling them apart.

"One coffee, Tom."

"Right-o, Ted." And with that, he was back toward the bar and the coffee was before Ted.

"How'd you do that?" she asked in awe of the speedy service.

He shook his head and she groaned.

--

Hours later, Ted had convinced Andromeda she needed to see what a joy Diagon Alley was at Christmastide. She had groaned and mumbled, but thrown on her sweater and scarf and mittens and heavy wool coat despite her prostetations. So they strolled the snow-covered streets together, their breath fogging in the air.

Around noon, he pulled her into a restaurant and they ate big, greasy slices of pizza. Andromeda had looked at the slice as if was roadkill, before Tonks burst out laughing at her expression and convinced her it wasn't poison. She loved it.

The two were now strolling the streets, which were filled with people in the Christmas rush. They were talking and laughing like old friends among haggard mothers and fathers looking for that last-minute perfect gift.

"Look, it's a tradtition that I eat with Tom and his wife on Christmas Eve. It wouldn't seem right, to them I mean, for you not to be there. So, will you come tonight?"

She nodded her head and he smiled, "Go-" but she gripped the front of his jacket and rushed him into the narrow alley.

"Andromeda," he questioned, she was still gripping the front of his clothing with her mittened hands, pressing him against the dirty wall behind him. She shushed him, looking around her and biting her lip. They were still in plain view, and so Andromeda was beginning to panic, pulling his lips crashing down to hers in an attempt to hide her face.

Tonks, however, knew absolutely none of what was going on and froze as soon as her soft lips met his. Then he melted, half realizing what was going on, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and bringing her closer toward him, not breaking the kiss. Andromeda had done this all as a plight, but she hadn't expected Tonks to kiss like this. She didn't really know what she had expected, either, but she opened her eyes half-way through to find his clamped tightly, then she pulled herself from him.

He didn't let go automatically and his eyes were half-lidded. "What the Hell was that?" He asked her, sliding his arms off her shoulders.

"My sister." She said, grimacing, and stepping out of the alley and he followed. She began to walk very fast, and he followed.

"With Lucius." she continued.

"Lucius?" he echoed her, "Lucius Malfoy? Your boyfriend up until a couple months ago, Lucius Malfoy?"

"Narcissa. They were the same year, same house, I dunno how I could've blindsighted myself. Well, someone's having a happy Christmas," she said, sarcasm lacing her words, "D'you know where I was this time last year?" She turned to him, stopping abruptly, and he bumped into a hazard shopper.

"Malfoy Manor." He said plainly, and she looked taken aback.

"Yes, Malfoy Manor," she paused, "That's where she is this year. And she told me she was going with friends!" She laughed bitterly.

"Andromeda," he said softly, "Why are you here?"

She looked crestfallen, and tucked an arrant strand of her blond locks behind her ear. She began to speak but Tonks cut her off, "I want an honest answer."

"Okay," she said, "because the holidays in Narcissa's seventh year, we had a big, jovial family Christmas. And I just thought, y'know, the same would happen for me. So I loaded up and headed home, and after an hour or two of waiting, called Mum through the fire. She's at the Montague's, with Dad, for the holidays. She told me I should've stayed at school, and there was no where to go."

"Look, Black, I'm sorry," he said, looking at the top of her head, because she was looking at her boots.

"Yeah, well, I don't need your sympathy," she said bitterly, looking up at him. "I'll be getting ready in the room for dinner around six-thirty, so I'll see you then." And with that, she sped off down the road, leaving him alone in the streets.

Author's note: mkay, sorry it took a couple days. Whaddya think? I know they aren't really bickering, but... and Narcissa and Lucius, yum! And ... dun dun dun! The kiss! Weird much Meda's instincts told her the only way to hide her face was by meeting with Ted's? Coo! Next chapter, dinner at Tom's! Where I don't know if there will be as much embarrassment, but very awkward moments, let me say that. And a very happy moment between the two... but Meda ruins it. O'course. It's her Black-dom, it poisons everything. But never fear, it'll all be cleared up by the fourth chapter, cos you can't not have a Merry Christmas! Right?!

Author's note 7 / 24: okay, first, I leave to go deeper south than I already am today, but I'll be back Sunday (7 / 26) and I'll probably have the next chapter. Eraserhead asked for the ages, and they fluctiate every fanfic I write, but on this one:

Narcissa and Lucius: 19, 'Meda and Ted: 17, and Bellatrix and Sirius: 15 (but neither of them will be appearing in this fanfiction).

Hope that cleared that up! And I like Meda dating Lucius though he's much older. She's ... mature. Hah. Well, talk to ya'll (Anna Ierse and Eraserhead, my two reviewers on every chapter! Whoo!) when I get back.

Review, please!