"Black! Hey, Black!" A male voice hollered through the corridor. Andromeda sighed and closed her eyes, trying to muster up some patience. Then she opened her eyes and turned to face the tall boy approaching her, a strained smile plastered to her face.

"What do you want, Tonks?" she asked in a falsely sweet voice. She could see his friends waiting just far off to give the illusion of privacy but close enough that if they strained to hear – as they were doing now – they could catch snippets of the conversation.

"Well, I was wondering…how are you?"

She stared into the round hazel eyes of Edward Tonks, chin raised haughtily. The Hufflepuff boy smiled tentatively; she did not return it.

"I am well, thank you. But, if you do not excuse me, I will be late to class." And she turned on her heel, ready to march off to Potions class.

"Wait!" He sounded desperate. Andromeda stopped as she felt his fingers brush her wrist, but did not turn around to face the sandy-haired boy. He rushed in front of her, blocking her way to class. His anxious state did nothing to help his usual disheveled look; if anything, it made him appear slightly more untidy and flustered. His black robes were slipping off of one shoulder and his tie, the yellow and black of Hufflepuff House striped across it, was coming undone. His white shirt, visible from beneath the black school robe, looked as if it needed desperate pressing.

"And if I am late to class, then Slughorn will most definitely have me in detention, Tonks, and then I will not be well but extremely vexed!"

His nervous smile faltered as he heard the impatient snap that leaked out in her tone. Andromeda felt bad – honestly, she did – but Tonks was so tiresome! And while she was sure she would not land herself in detention, she most certainly was going to be late to class.

"I – just – two minutes, please, Black?"

She knew she should not be doing this – knew that she really should not be doing this. But he looked so pathetic, looking at her with his pleading hazel eyes, and she knew that he must have been planning for a while to find the nerve to come talk to her. So she popped her hip and tilted her head, indicating him to get on with it.

"I was wondering if," he took a deep breath, "if you were planning to go to Hogsmeade this weekend. There's going to be a visit over there and-"

"Yes, I am quite aware of that, Tonks," she cut across his explanation. "And yes, to answer your question, I was planning on going."

His face lit up hopefully.

"Cool, so was I. And," here he began to shuffle his feet nervously, "I was wondering if you would want to go with me." He glanced at her hopefully, holding his breath.

Andromeda sighed to herself. Well, he had finally asked her. There was no denying it anymore. Ismena would have a field day telling her 'I told you so'.

"That's very nice of you, Tonks, and I appreciate your offer," she told him steadily. Uncertainty flickered through his face, as he recognized the kind words that always preceded rejection. "But your offer comes three days too late. I am already going with someone." Andromeda watched as his face fell, disappointment clearly etched upon it.

"If you don't mind me asking…who are you going with?"

Andromeda lifted her chin slightly, mouth curving into a small smile as she answered, "Acanthus Yaxley."

There was no missing the darkness that passed through his face. She felt her pride prickle with irritability; Yaxley may not have been the most popular with the Hufflepuffs but he was very good looking and a sixth-year. She had been very flattered when he had asked her to Hogsmeade. Tonks may not have liked the older boy but he needn't have shown his dislike so plainly!

"Now, if you will excuse me, I really must be heading off to class!" She pushed passed him, marching off to the dungeons where Potions class always took place, leaving Ted Tonks staring after her.

There were just some things he would not understand, indeed could not understand. She was pureblood, a Black, part of the most noble and ancient family in the wizarding world. And he, well, he was a Muggle-born, a Nobody.

And a Black did not get seen with a Nobody.

Edits: Mar. 2015