Author's Note: My Thank goes to lovely Oriental Ramen who betaed my translation of this chapter!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all the other characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I do not earn any money with this.
Chapter 3 - About to crack, defences breaking
Under attack, I'm being taken
About to crack, defences breaking
Won't somebody please have a heart
Come and rescue me now cos I'm falling apart
Under attack, I'm taking cover
He's on my track, my chasing lover
Thinking nothing can stop him now
Should I want to, I'm not sure, I would know how
This is getting crazy, I should tell him so
Really let my anger show
Persuade him that the answer to his questions is a definite no
(I'm kind of certain that's the truth)
Guess I'm kind of flattered but I'm scared as well
Something like a magic spell
I hardly dare to think of what would happen, where I'd be if I fell
(ABBA, Under Attac)
"You want to name the child Nymphadora? Romy, darling, you can't be serious." Ted stared horrified at his wife after finally realizing that she obviously wasn't joking.
"Yes Ted. Don't ask why, ok? Just do me this favor."
"It is not a favor anymore. It is a suicide mission. My parents already think I'm insane since I married a pureblood."
"Why do you always make it sound as if you were speaking about a race horse?"
"Don't start a hare now! Why choose such an awful name?"
"Just because."
"But it is atrocius!"
"I know."
"You... Andromeda, is it your intention do drive me crazy? Since you already know that this name is horrid, why do you want to name your child that? Don't you like her even a little?"
"On the contrary", the young woman sighed while stroking her round belly. "I do love her very much indeed. Therefore, her name has to be Nymphadora. I can't explain it to you, but I will be doing this because I have to. Do you understand? Please, stop questioning and simply trust me."
The young man watched his wife unappreciatively. Nevertheless, he laid his hand on her belly and whispered towards the baby, "Sorry, little one. I'm powerless here. When your mother has gotten something into her head, she will go for it at all costs."
Thankfully, Andromeda kissed the brown-blond hair of her husband. "Ted, we are going to be parents. You and me," she whispered, because she could hardly believe this herself.
He looked dreamily at her. "Just imagine if your child had Lestrange for a father." He grinned cheekily.
She rolled her eyes. "Please. I wouldn't have even let him into my bed."
"Me neither," agreed Ted with fake seriousness. "This little wonder here happened in the open, remember?"
"How could I? The gnat bites pester me to this day."
...
"How did your mother make you come to me?" Andromeda questioned almost casually. Her nephew sat across from her on the train. Between them sat a small plastic table on which two coffee mugs stood. Ted sat contentedly on her lap. Traveling by train seemed to please him.
Draco looked up at her in shock. You needn't be a clairvoyant, to know, what was happening behind his brow. "How dare she question me so boldly about my mother?" he thought.
Andromeda continued unwavering, "I mean, certainly your father had other options in mind for you. Out of Azkaban he cannot do much about it, but it reached my ears that usually you are quite devoted to him."
The boy's lips were as thin as a matchstick. "For acknowledging me as the son of my mother, you are quite interested in my father," he finally replied in a self-controlled manner.
She smiled appreciatively, "Good answer, Draco."
...
To her amazement it was Draco, who reopened the conversation after a while. „Andromeda? I can call you that, can't I?"
"Naturally," she replied plainly. "If you feel you have to, you can also call me Romy. But then, I could end up baptizing you, Draky."
He ignored that offer. "There is a problem," he murmured haltingly.
"Only one?" she answered dryly. "That is what I call a good start."
"I do not have any money," he said hastily.
She knew fully well how embarrassing that statement must have been for him. Therefore, she did not reply until she had eyed him a few moments with insincere surprise. "That is not a problem, at least not a practical one. I have money."
He swallowed. "I'm not sure if I can pay all of it back."
She smiled a fake smile. "Of course you won't be able to do so. Just like not graduating leads to disastrous employment prospects. So keep your fake courtesies. You will get from me what you need. As a quid pro quo, I expect you to obey my rules, but you will do so anyway since I am your guardian."
He eyed her blankly. Since their first meeting she had not spoken clearly with him again. This was straight and unvarnished.
"Why is the importance of my name being Draco Malfoy?" he questioned.
Andromeda looked out the window. They had passed the city region of London already. "Why did you listen to your mother?" she countered simply.
He gave her no answer, so she did not give one as well. Both questions had one thing in common; they were too personal.
...
"What do you mean you cannot cook?" laughed Tonks vociferously.
Andromeda glared at him in rage. "Could you possibly repeat that any louder, you filthy fleabag? Only because I have better things to spend my time with than cutting this roots, that does not mean that I am not able to cook!"
She really was wondering how a teacher could have the idea to place Tonks of all people next to her. He was the most pompous and annoying Hufflepuff of them all.
"Ohohoho, Black," grinned the young man widely. "Did I hit a sore spot there?"
"It is a debatable point whether you are able to hit anything," she hissed in return, hoping that he would start to cut the damn roots at last. He really did not need to know why she could not do so.
"Don't be pathetic, princess," he replied unfazed. "So what now? Will you cut them or not? When you are capable of cooking you will probably also manage to chop this roots..."
Andromeda bit her lip. "No," she breathed barely audible.
He sized her up with his perked up eyebrows. "Why, no?"
"No, I cannot cut them."
"Well, then I should go tell Slughorn that we will not able to finish the potion, because-"
"Tonks, speak more quietly," she begged while panicking.
He looked at her in surprise. Andromeda Black did not beg. "Well princess, what's up?" The volume of his voice was reduced.
Uncertainly, she looked around. "Ok, Tonks. You won. But be quiet, ok?"
He could only nod. She pulled her hand out of her cloak's bag.
It bowled him over. "Black, are you mad? You need to see a doctor for this."
"No, Tonks," she whispered in panic. "Please, will you just cut the roots and leave me in peace?"
Of course he did not. On the contrary, Tonks rolled his eyes, 'accidentally' overturned their caldron soiling Andromeda's cloak, and yelled, "No! Shit. I didn't want that."
Just in time Andromeda managed to put her hand back into her cloak pocket.
"Professor, we just-," she began uneasily, but Tonks interrupted her by explaining, "Sorry Professor, that was my fault. I will guide Black to the hospital wing. The potion wasn't ready, but it can burn the skin if you do are not paying attention."
"Indeed, Tonks," replied Slughorn harshly. "Go ahead! Woe betide you if Miss Black does not arrive duly."
With this he dragged her out of the dungeon. As soon as they were out of earshot, Andromeda yelled at full volume, "Are you insane!"
"Black, you have to go to a doctor for this," he groaned annoyed, as if he was talking to four-year-old.
"Really? And therefore you need to hurt me on purpose, to bring me to the hospital wing?" she hissed back.
"Yes," he replied plainly, shrugging.
Andromeda did not know what to say.
"Why did you do that?" asked a very earnest Tonks suddenly.
She stood still. "That is none of your business," Andromeda answered in a matter-of-fact manner.
For a moment he just watched her sympathetically. "Black, you are a clever women. Why did you do something like this?"
"It wasn't even me," she spluttered back offended, before biting her tongue for that.
"So who?" he had to ask that now, of course.
"You wanted to guide me to the hospital wing, remember?" she countered, self-controlled.
"Indeed," he called and lifted her bridal-style.
"TONKS, NO!" she roared wrathfully.
He laughed, satisfied. "Keep calm, princess."
...
Draco followed her through muggle London without a word. If he was irritated or disgusted, he hid it well. Andromeda, on the other hand, was annoyed that she did not possess a pram. She really had not been attuned to a baby.
"Who are you going to marry?" she asked finally out of boredom.
Again Draco looked at her more than irritated. "Pardon?"
"Who are you going to marry one day?" she repeated.
"No one. Well, not now. No idea," Draco stuttered perplexed.
"Didn't your parents choose someone already?" Surprisingly, she seriously wanted to know.
He shook his head. "No. Mum was ok with Pansy, but no suggestions."
Pulling Ted to the other side, she thoughtfully stated, "Odd."
"Who were you supposed to marry?" he asked interested.
"Lestrange," replied Andromeda.
"What?" the boy asked astonished. "But he was-"
"Stop," interrupted Andromeda urgently. "Spare me the name. I do not want to hear it, not from you. Yes, Lestrange was chosen for me. Did you never wonder why Lucius Malfoy, the pureblood prince, married the youngest of the Black sisters? He was meant for the eldest. Lestrange for me. Sirius for your mother."
"Wait. None of you married the man your parents had chosen?" Draco stated impressed.
For a moment she looked at him, just as astonished as he was. "Yes, now that you mention it," she murmured. "I never gave it much of a thought."
...
In Diagon Alley a lot was going on. Numerous shops were still closed. Many doors were decorated with bereavement excuses. The other shops seemed to be open out of spite. In them, crowds of people found their place.
Andromeda turned her back on most of the stores. It did not escape her notice that her nephew was being watched unpleasantly. Every now and then she noticed quiet murmuring or cursing from passers-by. She could not hold it against them, but it was annoying for her because walking around with a Malfoy by her side had people avoiding to look at her face even more than usual. Holding the little boy in front of her was like having a protective shield since he did not notice anything more than the ordinary hubbub of Diagon Alley.
"Do you have plans to go back to school?" she asked Draco when they entered the dressmaker's shop.
Her nephew's already sinister expression darkened again. "Yes, I think so."
"Then I assume that you are in need of a new school uniform as well?"
He nodded.
At that moment, the shop assistant came out of the back room with a pile of linen sheets in her arms. When she noticed the two of them she stood still. "No," was all she said. Plain, but determined.
Andromeda raised an eyebrow. "Why not? Because of me or because of him?"
The woman pointed at Draco with her free hand. "As to whom you are," she venomously stated towards Andromeda, "It's better to not know."
For a long moment Andromeda said nothing to her. Gradually, she made her way through the room as if she was going to examine the articles of clothing. Then, she turned herself back to the assistant, who looked at her in a frosty way.
"My name is Andromeda Tonks née Black," Andromeda introduced herself politely. "If you have not heard of me before the name Remus Lupin might say more to you."
"Of course," the lady replied stiffly.
"My son-in-law," continued Andromeda calmly. "As tragic as life plays out, left me the godson of Harry Potter." While talking, Andromeda smiled cynically as if she planned to freeze the room. Ted kicked cheerfully when he heard his godfather's name. This very name had achieved the necessary effect. It did not take more than two seconds for the assistant to stand helpfully next to the young Malfoy, handing him one robe after another.
By the time they exited the shop, Draco was carrying two heavy tote bags.
...
They left Diagon Alley fairly quick after Andromeda finished running some smaller errands. The stares of the people became too abhorrent, particularly because she could not say which of them was meant for her and which was for Draco.
"How often have you used this trump?" the boy suddenly asked, relaxed.
Surprised she turned around to him. "The I-know-Harry-Potter-trump? Four times, I guess."
He grinned, amused. She did not miss that he paradoxically moved around a lot more coolly in the streets outside the wizard world than inside of it.
Andromeda finally stopped in front of a department store. "We are almost done," she explained. "I only need a baby carriage for Ted and some muggle clothes for you."
"Excuse me?" Draco snorted, horrified.
She smiled sweetly. "You may have noticed that I live in a muggle house that is on a muggle street, which is in a muggle town. I do not demand you to become part of this world, but my neighbors shall not think that you drink rum from some strange fantasy-parish, in which they pray to the moon and go on a pilgrimage to Stonehenge. And, as you will join me places a few more times, you will at least have the basic clothes requirements."
Andromeda did not wait for an answer, but moved straight forward into the shop. Inside, the air was stuffy and stale. During summer time she usually hated to go shopping. Out of some loudspeaker trilled the newest summer hit. Draco glanced around upset. His face was one big question mark. "What is she doing there?" he whispered horrified by pointing at a young woman who used an escalator.
"Shopping. Come along," explained Andromeda pleased, and pulled Draco towards the very same escalator.
"Hey," he hissed. "No."
"For a Quidditch player you are quite skittish by continuous movement," she remarked dryly. He glared at her.
...
"Oh, look Ted. It is turning."
"Yes Andromeda. It is turning."
"Oh, listen, Ted. Now there is music coming out of it."
"Yes Andromeda. Now there is music coming out of it."
Had it been the second or the third evening at her parents-in-law? Later, Andromeda could not remember it any better. She had not been able to stop herself from praising the new turntable, which Mr. and Mrs. Tonks had gazed at so eagerly before. No one missed her cynicism. She could not have made it on to their bad side any easier.
Only Ted watched her patiently as if he wanted to say, "Go hog wild, princess!"
"Andromeda," her mother-in-law asked with an eternal coolness. "My son told me that you enjoy cooking. Would you maybe like to give me a helping hand in the kitchen?"
"That I ... what?" She glared at Ted, who had suddenly disappeared behind his newspaper. "O-of course," she stuttered a little awkwardly while following the elder women into the kitchen.
When her mother-in-law was not paying attention, she whispered into Ted's ear, "Traitor." She did have to admit that her mother-in-law was cunning. During that year, Andromeda Black learned how to cook. Later, she smiled to herself about how she had spent nights reading heavy books only to prevent herself from looking like a fool.
"Oh look," Tonks joked cheekily, "It is overflowing." He pointed amused at her milk, which had just started to form a tender relationship with the saucepan.
...
"And you're sure that you can eat this?" asked Draco incredulously, while he sat in front of what was most likely his first hamburger.
"You can also drink it, if it pleases you," Andromeda replied seriously. "But with the salt that would become a little unpleasant."
At the same time she put the self-made carrot porridge into Ted's mouth. Jealous, Draco watched his cousin's son. Eventually he persuaded himself to give the fast food a try. Obviously, the first meeting was bearable, because he quit the grousing. Andromeda availed herself later.