Chapter Ten:

Andromeda had never had a boyfriend she actually liked. She stared dreamily at the back of Ted's head during her Transfiguration. For the first time in her life, her notes lie untouched under her hands.

She was busy listing all of Ted's good points in her head, when the bell rang, causing her to jump in surprise. She blushed, realizing her notes were nonexistent. The student professor announced the homework for that week so she quickly scribbled that down before standing and pulling up her bag over her shoulder.

She brushed past Ted, who obnoxiously yelled, "Eek! The pureblood touched me!"

She turned and glared at him, and had to force her anger when his cheerful smile almost made her smile back. "You should feel lucky. Purebloods normally won't come so close to mudbloods for fear of being too close to scum.". Her voice was beyond cold, it was as hateful as she could muster.

Andromeda hated being mean to him, but each time she said something rude to her boyfriend, he would grin and laugh. On most days, she would continue her rant, but today, she was too tired and miserable over having to keep up this pretense, so she turned and rushed from the scene.

When it was just Ted, Molly, and Arthur left back in the room with the professor, Molly turned and glared at Ted. "Ted, don't provoke Ana. You know she hates being mean to you but you force her hand every single day."

Arthur looked around to be sure they were alone. "Molly, be careful not to talk of her too loudly."

"Sorry, Molly. I just want to talk to her in some way every day, but I don't get to see her much at all. And that Lestrange is all over her, and it makes me insanely jealous. Every day, Molly. Every single day," Ted spoke bitterly, his usual smile not present.

"Ted, she warned you when you two started dating," Molly replied, raising her eyebrows at him.

Ted nodded wearily.

"Are you going to see her tonight?" Arthur asked.

"Yeah. You know, I haven't been able to speak to her, just you know, like normal people do, in over a week and a half."

Molly started out of the room and she turned to look at the two boys. "You think it's just driving you crazy? Girls are the emotional ones; I talked to her yesterday. I'm worried she's seriously contemplating killing her sisters so she can be with you every day."

Molly spoke slightly jokingly, but her tone implied that Andromeda was growing as desperate as Ted. Molly turned and left the room.

Arthur and Ted exchanged looks.

Arthur started to grin teasingly. "This was easier before you got yourself a girlfriend."

In reply, Ted punched his shoulder and then they were both laughing, heading out towards the Great Hall for some dinner.

Andromeda quickly ate her small portion of dinner and rushed out of the Hall. Arthur and Ted were outside, heading in. She smiled cautiously at Ted, and felt herself glow when he smiled back.

"Hello, Andromeda," said another voice.

Andromeda turned quickly, disguising her smile at Ted. She felt her spirits lower when she saw Rabastan Lestrange. "Hi, Rabastan."

"Andy, we should do something fun tonight," Rabastan said cheerfully.

Andromeda shook her head. "You know I don't like being out at night."

"Andromeda, you don't like doing anything. Do you know how boring it gets? Being with you is boring."

She swallowed her hurt at the insult - she didn't know why his insult hurt, but it did. "Hush, Rabastan. We will not have this conversation in front of blood traitors and mudbloods."

"Well, we are."

"Okay. Fine. I understand you feel like you're not having enough 'fun' in this relationship. I know I'm the most boring Black sister. So I'll make it easier on you. I'm not interested in keeping this relationship on. I'm breaking up with you."

With that said, Andromeda turned and walked away.

Rabastan shouted after her, "You'll regret embarrassing me, Andromeda."

She waved her hand back at him and rushed off.

Ted grinned at Arthur, walking quickly into the Great Hall to avoid getting yelled at or targeted by the angry pureblood. He grinned happily at Arthur, and Arthur rolled his eyes at him.

"I think that Miss Black needs a new boyfriend," Arthur said.

"I volunteer!" Ted announced.

Frank had caught up with them by then. "I'm sure Ted is volunteering for a ver noble and just cause."

"Why yes, I am!" Ted proudly replied.

They sat to lunch. "Nah, Frank. He's just volunteering to be the boyfriend of Andromeda Black."

"Aw, Ted, do you miss her?"

Ted sighed, his eyes having a faraway look. "I'd kiss her now, in front of everyone, if it didn't hurt her. It hurts her to consider leaving her family, so I can't ask her to."

"So what are you going to do?" snapped Molly. "Sneak behind everyone's backs the rest of your lives? Be her secret boyfriend? Do you both really think that will work? She just needs to do what Arthur's mum did."

"Molly, she doesn't know what to do," Ted replied awkwardly. "She has been different her whole life. Everywhere she goes. You realize that, don't you? She's different when she's with her own family even. They treat her differently. Even we do sometimes, without realizing it. She just wants to be normal, but she isn't, because she's perfect."

Alice giggled. "Ted, what I think you mean, is that no one treats her quite right. And that's what led her to you. You know how to treat people nicely."

Ted thought about what Alice said for a moment, and then shook his head. "Nope. I mean she's absolutely and wonderfully perfect."