This took a while, and I am sorry. These two are taking over everything...I don't know what it is. Things will pick up speed a little from here! Enjoy and review xoxo
"It's so nice out here." Andromeda commented for what felt like the hundredth time, but the truth was she couldn't help but comment on the crisp blue sky above them, with fluffy white clouds flying across the sky, while she sat by the shore of the black lake. She felt wonderfully light in the aftermath of her accidental lapse in controlling her magic. Her now burnt and blackened bag was sat a little away from her and Ted who was sat opposite her, their feet almost touching as their legs were stretched out toward one another, the lake on their left and the castle on their right. Andromeda had kicked off her shoes leaving her in knee high, grey school socks which kept wiggling in delight at being outside in the sunshine.
"That it is." Ted replied for the umpteenth time.
"Sorry. I keep repeating myself. Just been an odd first day back." Andromeda watched as Ted's soft brown eyes moved from her to her satchel.
"I can see that." Ted laughed.
"You have no idea." She told him seriously with a sigh and a shake of her head, her hair shining in the sun. She reached up to her tie and loosened it so that it hung similarly to Ted's.
"I honestly don't." Ted shrugged and fell back to lean on his elbows all the while looking at her, the sunshine lighting her hair some, bringing out a reddish hue as the soft breeze lifted it into the air as they sat.
"Well…it's nothing for you to worry about." Andromeda said flippantly before laying back onto the grass bank and stretching out her limbs with a groan of pleasure. "I love free periods." She sighed once she relaxed back against the soft grass, her hand moving back and forth across the blades.
Ted knew he was staring but the sight of her sprawled on the grass, reminded him of the night of Prewett's party, though he much preferred this moment; they were utterly alone in that moment and the daylight meant that he could see her wholly. Her shirt was riding up from where it had once been tucked into her pleated skirt, which itself had risen up and inch or so, giving Ted a delectable view of her milky thighs which were half covered by her socks. Once again Ted felt slightly flawed by her, and that groan was something that would be replayed over and over for while.
"M-me too." Ted announced after a moments hesitation.
"We should make this a weekly thing, if we both have free periods." Andromeda said, eyes closed and head still on the grass floor.
"Definitely!" Ted said enthusiastically, and then wanted to hit himself over the head, too keen, he thought as Andromeda lifted herself up to a seated position a smile playing on her lips and a blush in her cheeks.
"OHO!" A voice shouted out over the peaceful grounds. It was Gideon and he was pelting it down the steepest part of the incline from the castle down to them, his bag bouncing against his hip, ginger hair flying behind him. "So this is where you got to." Gideon puffed as he reached them, giving Ted a very pointed look. "What happened to the bag?" He asked quickly, chucking his own to the floor before pulling off his jumper and then his tie before unlacing his shoes.
"Not quite sure." Ted said with a smirk at Andromeda who rolled her eyes in reply. "Are you going to stop taking your clothes off?" He asked quickly as Gideon slipped his socks off before standing and undoing his belt buckle.
"Yes Gideon please do keep your clothes on." Andromeda said but found herself suddenly having to cover her eyes as Gideon's black trousers fell to his ankles in one fell swoop.
"Sorry my dear Miss prude. I'm going for a dip. It's far too hot not to." He told Andromeda, and she heard another item of clothing fall to the floor before there was a splashing sound and she felt the icy drops of the black lake running down her face. Taking her hands away she couldn't help the grin that formed on her face, Gideon was neck deep in the lake making faces that said the water was cold.
"It's fucking freezing!" He exclaimed loudly.
"What did you expect?" Andromeda shouted back.
"For it to not be this cold!" He shouted back. "Watch yourself!" He warned pointing toward her and Andromeda turned in time to catch a glimpse of Ted in a pair yellow boxers before he too launched himself into the lake with a high shriek and loud laughter. Andromeda found herself laughing along with them in shock as they splashed about, diving under the surface of the water, disappearing from view and reappearing throwing water everywhere, she couldn't help the grin on her face.
"Come on in Andy, the waters fine!" Gideon shouted out mockingly.
"Hah! Yeah come on Andy!" Ted shouted out.
Andromeda crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head at the two boys in the water. "Not a chance." She shouted.
"Oh of course Miss Prude! Wouldn't want anyone thinking you were hanging around with blood traitors and muggle borns!" Gideon shouted and quickly disappeared beneath the surface under the water, he knew he was in for it.
Andromeda didn't say a word, she stood from the grass, grabbed her wand from her bag, pulled her tie off and pulled her skirt off, her shirt hanging just to cover her modesty, though her bright pink underwear could be seen. In grey socks, white shirt and pink knickers Andromeda waded into the freezing water of the black lake, wand in hand and a murderous look on her face.
Ted had never been more turned on or frightened in his life. He'd just seen Andromeda Black half strip before his own eyes, but he had to admit that the mixture of cold water and the look on her face stopped any rise from his desires.
Andromeda stopped when the water hit her waistline, it was cold but her fury was overpowering her. She knew Gideon had done it to get a rise out of her and even though she knew that, it had worked. It worked because that is exactly what people thought of her and she did not want to be remembered in that way, she already had that reputation just because of her last name, but she wanted everyone to know that that was not her.
Gideon surfaced sputtering and gasping for air some 10 metres away, within seconds of surfacing his eyes widened in panic as he noted Andromeda and her wand aimed directly at him.
"Orbis." She said quietly and watched, as if in slow motion, as Ted quickly swam into the line of her spell, in front of Gideon and as it hit he was sucked under the water.
"Fuck." Andromeda said as she moved further into the water before diving underneath the surface to try and get Ted in her sights.
Underneath the surface of the black lake the water was murky and Andromeda struggled to catch a glimpse of Ted who was now being dragged down to the bottom of the lake by her curse.
She'd had her plan laid out in her head as she'd cast the curse at Gideon, but the surprise element of Ted had thrown her completely. She was searching wildly around, running out of breath when she spotted him plummeting further down below herself.
She quickly cast the counter curse at his disappearing figure, hoping against hope that her nonverbal casting abilities had improved over the summer. Just as Ted had been covered in the murky darkness of the lake he suddenly came pelting up, flying past Andromeda and surfacing with a huge crash.
Ted couldn't believe his luck as he fell back into the water, gasping for breath after almost drowning, he'd never been as stupid. He hadn't thought she'd cast that spell, thought it would only be stinging jinx or something…idiot, he thought to himself as he floated in the water on his back, taking great lungful's of breath.
He heard another gasping breath as Andromeda surfaced beside him and felt a soft, warm hand touching at his shoulder, it was feather light but he knew it was her hand.
"Merlin's beard, are you alright?" She shouted between great hulking breaths. "You're an idiot! You know that wasn't meant for you right? Why did you get in the way?" Her voice was shaky and high pitched as she fussed over him, Ted floated in front of her and smiled grimly.
"I'm fine." He told her softly, treading the water.
"I've always said you were put in the wrong house Tonks!" Gideon roared as he came over. "You!" He pointed an accusing finger at Andromeda. "You are exactly where you should be." He was joking but Ted could see the anger in her eyes once more and her wand hand rising from the water.
"Hey, lets not do that again." Ted joked, taking a hold of her wand arm that was under the water. She turned her head and looked guiltily at him.
"I'm so sorry!" She cried out loud and suddenly felt as though tears were surfacing in her eyes.
"Hey, look no harm done here." Ted noted rubbing is hand along her arm under the water.
"Yeah but there could have been." Gideon noted under his breath, but Andromeda heard.
"It was meant for you, you ignorant prick." She shouted before turning in the water and swimming for the shore.
"I mean she's right." Ted said with a chuckle. "You are a prick…" His voice trailed off as he watched Andromeda walk out of the lake.
Her shirt was clinging to her, see through and dripping, Ted could make out the black lace of a bra underneath her shining shirt. Her pink knickers were also clinging and her shirt had ridden up so that her arse, though clad in bright pink, was displayed to him as she walked up the banking to the grass. Her hair was plastered and dripping down her back and one of her socks had fallen down so that they were uneven. She looked magnificent, Ted thought.
"Worth it?" Gideon asked giving him an elbow in his side.
Ted didn't answer, only placed his hand on top of Gideon's head and pushed him down below the surface.
Andromeda had reached the grass banking where she looked about and was thankful that they were still the only people out on the sunny grounds. She looked about and spotted Ted's watch, worn and battered on the floor, it was 3.30, classes would be ending soon and no doubt people would come flocking out to enjoy the last of the days heat. She snatched up her skirt and quickly slid it back on, suddenly feeling slightly conscious of the fact that she was bearing her body in a way that could be deemed wrong and began squeezing the water out of her drenched shirt. She was sat by the boy's clothes as they came trudging out of the lake, dripping and shivering. Andromeda couldn't help but give Ted a quick look over, hoping that he wouldn't notice where her eyes were looking. His yellow boxers were clinging to his crotch and Andromeda felt her cheeks heat at the sight of what was hiding beneath. He was slim, slimmer at the waist than his shoulders, with a slight muscular definition, there were moles dotted about on his chest and arms marring his tanned skin.
"Here." Gideon said, pulling her attention from Ted's half nakedness. He was holding out his abandoned jumper as he slid his shirt back onto his damp shoulders. "You'll get a cold." He told her with a serious stare.
"Thanks." She muttered reluctantly taking the jumper from him. She knew this was the peace offering, they always did this, mounting tension, a fight and then…peace once more. They were too volatile and too alike to never clash. Andromeda slid the grassy wool jumper on over her shirt and was grateful for the warmth that it provided, although the sun was shining, the cool lake water felt like it was still seeping into her bones.
"So…dramatic first day back." Ted sighed sitting down beside Andromeda, once more wearing his school trousers and shirt.
"Yeah…you can say that again." Andromeda sniggered, the culmination of the day's events seemed to wash over her, she didn't think she'd ever had a year as dramatic as this one day. She only hoped that it was an anomaly.
Ted began to laugh loudly, his voice bouncing around the sunny grounds alongside Andromeda's, warming Andromeda through and lightening her mood considerably.
As Andromeda had predicted, classes ended and students came out in mass to the grounds, people setting up by the lake just as she, Ted and Gideon were. They had a few funny looks thrown their way as people took in their drenched dishevelled appearances. The three of them sat, not talking about anything in particular, just discussing their summers, though Andromeda kept silent for much of it, just listening to the boys.
"Were the family sad to see you go?" Gideon was asking Ted. Andromeda was laid out on the grass, her hair spread above her head in an attempt to get it to dry, Gideon nearby in a similar position, hands behind his head, while Ted was a little further away, sat cross legged and doodling in one of his books with a pencil.
"Were they? Jess was so upset!" Ted said, a longing in his voice that had Andromeda perking up to listen.
"I bet, she always misses you so much. Me more though." Gideon pointed out.
"Well, yeah but that's only cause she fancies you. She misses me cause she actually likes me as a person and knows that Dick's not going to be paying her any attention…he's got another new girl on the go." You could almost hear Ted rolling his eyes as he spoke of his family.
"Yeah well it'd be weird if she did like you like she likes me." Gideon garbled, half asleep from his position in the sun. "So who's this new girl Dick's got? He always goes for crazy girls."
"Well this one's just as crazy as the last. Pretty but mental!" Ted was shaking his head in disbelief.
"What did she do?" Gideon asked, rolling over onto his stomach to face Ted, the curiosity in his voice had Andromeda intrigued and so she rolled onto her stomach to listen.
"Well, she's been smoking in the house and you know how mum gets about that. She doesn't say anything to her, obviously, but Dick gets an earful once she leaves, but he won't tell her to stop he thinks its hot when girls smoke."
"Well it is." Gideon butted in with a shrug of his shoulders.
"And I walked in on them twice" He held two fingers aloft dramatically; quite obviously enjoying the attention he had from Andromeda and Gideon. "in the middle of…it" He glanced awkwardly toward Andromeda as he said it. "I mean who does it in the middle of the day in the living room?!"
Gideon was laughing and Andromeda couldn't help but join in as Ted wallowed in self pity.
"I bet you enjoyed it." Gideon choked out between laughs.
"No, I'd rather not see my brother pounding into a girl on the sofa where I had to sit that night!" Ted moaned, but smiled as he watched to two fall about laughing, their laughter echoing across the grounds along with the voices of the other students who lay about on the grass.
"What does Jess think about Dick's new girl then?" Gideon asked, Andromeda noted that Gideon obviously knew Ted's family well, maybe he had spent summers with them.
"Hates her, just like all the others. She thinks he needs a nicer girl, but you know Dick…" Ted gave a shrug as though he honestly didn't understand him at all.
"Sounds like he's playing a dangerous game." Andromeda commented.
"Well, like I've always said, if Dick had any Wizarding blood in him, he'd have been a Gryffindor." Gideon said proudly. "Lives for the danger that one."
Andromeda rolled her eyes and saw Ted doing the exact same, they caught one another's eye and laughed.
"He's not wrong though, Dick would have been in Gryffindor." Ted told Andromeda, chuckling still. "He's an idiot like this one." He jabbed his thumb at Gideon who sat scowling, arms crossed over his chest.
"You do realise you are being very prejudiced." Gideon announced grumpily.
"Whatever." Ted muttered.
"So you're the only one in your family with magical blood?" Andromeda asked curiously.
"Yup, just me. It was a complete shock when we got the letter through, got a visit from McGonagall who explained everything to my family and me. It was a crazy year." He said wistfully. "Must've been completely different for you."
"Well, I knew it was coming. After Bella started sending me letters in her first year I wished the whole year away waiting for my time…I don't want next year to be my last." Andromeda said softly to the two boys.
"Agreed." Gideon said as he sat up from the grass, eyes narrowing at whatever he saw in his line of sight.
"What?" Andromeda asked before spotting who he was staring at.
Evan Rosier and Rabastan Lestrange were heading right in Andromeda's, Gideon's and Ted's direction, smirks on their faces as they came to stand before the three on the floor.
"Andy, what on earth are you doing out here with this scum?" Rabastan spat, not even glancing at Gideon or Ted, only staring at Andromeda, as though the two boys weren't worth his glance.
"What's it to you?" Andromeda asked scathingly, sitting up and folding her legs beneath her. In their presence she suddenly felt as though her father was watching her and lying out on the grass like she had been with two boys would have been frowned upon.
A wicked grin lit up Rabastan's face as if he knew something that she did not.
"Bella's not told you?" He laughed harshly and Andromeda noted the smirk on Rosier's face. "We're going to be family you and me." He told her with a simpering voice before he laughed loudly again capturing the attention of those around them.
"What does he mean?" Gideon asked suddenly, he too had sat up and was looking at Andromeda in shock, she knew what he was thinking, that Rabastan and she were betrothed.
Andromeda shook her head in Gideon's direction, though she didn't drop her glare from Rabastan's look of euphoria.
"And do you want to know something else? We all know who's family you'll be joining too."
"SHUT IT!" Andromeda shouted, rising from her prim position on the floor, to a duelling stance, her wand in her hand.
Rabastan roared with laughter and Rosier joined in.
"Be careful who you point that thing at Black…you never know who's watching." Rabastan taunted before turning his back and walking away back towards the castle, Rosier walking beside him, the two of them laughing wickedly.
Andromeda felt utterly humiliated, stood in her wide legged stance, stiff and ready to fight…but nothing, she couldn't do it. The threat had been all too real.
"Andy? You ok?" Gideon asked and Andromeda felt a hand once again against her wand arm, but this time it was Gideon's and not Ted's who sat exactly where he had been looking decidedly confused.
"Yeah." Andromeda whispered shaking herself off and dropping her wand to the floor and collapsing down onto the grass with a huff.
"That was the most cryptic conversation I've ever witnessed." Ted commented watching Andromeda carefully.
Andromeda couldn't help the grin she cracked at his comment. "You haven't spent enough time with Slytherin's then."
"You're the first." He told her, his brown eyes soft and calming a smile on his face. "You're not so bad."
"They're not all like Andy, Ted." Gideon said with a scoff.
"I don't doubt that." Ted's eyes stayed trained on hers and Andromeda felt her cheeks flush under his stare, so different from his usual casual demeanour.
With a sigh Andromeda stood and gathered up her tie and shoes in one hand, her wand in the other, which she pointed at her blackened bag and watched as it rose and came to her side.
"Well…I should go tidy myself up." She told the two boys below her, who were both squinting to look up at her. "I'm sure I look hideous."
"Nah, you just look like you tried to drown someone." Gideon commented.
"Prick." She muttered. "See you later." She gave Ted a smile, his answering grin had here biting her lip as she slowly made her way back up to the castle, her still damp socks leaving a trail all the way down to the Slytherin common room.
"What in Merlin's name happened to you?" Narcissa exclaimed as Andromeda entered the common room.
"Went for a dip." Andromeda remarked not stopping to speak to her sister or anyone else in the common room who were giving her odd looks as she marched up to the sixth year girls dormitory.
Charlotte was laid out on her bed, her Potions textbook open in front of her. She only glanced up as the door slammed shut behind Andromeda.
"Wha-?" Charlotte began.
"Don't." Andromeda answered dumping her belongings onto the bed and falling face forward onto her covers.
"Ok. But I'm guessing you're the reason Ted Tonks was seen being dragged down to the bottom of the lake."
"What!" Andromeda exclaimed. "How do you know?"
"The whole of the Slytherin common room saw him through the windows…caused quite a scene."
"Shit." Andromeda cursed pulling off Gideon's jumper and dumping her still damp clothes in a pile at the end of the bed and headed toward the bathroom.
"No one recognised him…after all, he is a muggleborn." Charlotte noted flippantly and turned a page.
Andromeda just shook her head as she entered the bathroom and got under the stream in the shower. She found herself smiling again, she didn't think she'd smiled this much in a long time, especially sober. His smirking face kept popping into her mind, his eyes soft and friendly, his lithe body bolting past her into the lake, those yellow boxers. Andromeda caught herself in that moment, she could feel her body tingling at the thought of Ted in those yellow boxer shorts, she couldn't. She was betrothed, soon to be engaged…to Malfoy. She'd have to try and keep herself in check around that muggleborn, Ted Tonks.
