An: okay, so I was going to do some shameless self publicising, but then I felt bad, so I've resisted. And I would like to point out that I don't share the same views as the purebloods on being gay. I also don't think having non magic parents make you inferior. Oh, and the sketch of Regulus is stolen from 'Sellotape' by TangerineFields (with permission, naturally). Enjoy.

Chapter Ten – The Lady Doth Not Protest

Things were going well for Ted and Melanie. They held hands in the corridors, hung out after classes, and had even had a few detentions for "inappropriate behaviour". It was only kissing and most professors turned a blind eye, but Binns really had it in for anyone who actually enjoyed their life. The first few weeks after the Christmas holidays they spent getting to know each other better. Ted discovered that she was scared of spiders but loved Care of Magical Creatures, that she had two older brothers, one who was working for the Ministry, the other who was working in a muggle post office, and that she hated oranges. She thought they were too bright. He had yet to find out her opinions on lemons.

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Andromeda was standing up in the Great hall, scanning the multitudes of students for a familiar crop of messy blondish hair. She was having difficulty with the latest transfiguration spell and she knew Ted had a free period after lunch. She intended to collar him and ask him to help her practise. She sighed, sitting back down, because he was nowhere to be seen.
"Dromeda!" She turned to see her cousin grinning at her, a piece of parchment clutched in his hand.

"Hey." Her gaze slid past him to watch the gaggle of Hufflepuffs who were entering the hall. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, see the thing is-" He began talking extremely fast, almost as he was embarrassed. "the picture that Bella drew of Regulus got ripped and I was kind of wondering maybe if youcouldfixitformeplease?"

She raised an eyebrow, her attention firmly on Sirius now. "You need my help? What happened to the boy who told me I was never to help him with magic ever, because he was, and I quote 'possibly the best wizard ever to grace Hogwarts with his presence'?"

Sirius blushed, shuffling his feet. "Please Andy?" He gave her his best puppy dog eyes. "You know Bella doesn't draw anymore, and it's really good."

"Fine." She sighed, knowing she would do just about anything for her cousin when he pulled out the 'why would you want to hurt me' look. He'd perfected it when he was about seven and had been abusing it ever since. "Hand it over." She took the parchment from him, placing it on the table, and then she frowned. "What's this?" She gingerly touched the clear thing that was attached to the corners.

"It's sellotape," Sirius explained eagerly. "It sticks things."

Andromeda rolled her eyes. "Couldn't you just use a sticking charm?"

"This way's more fun," he told her, with an infuriating air that gave the impression that he knew far more than she did. She sighed again, taking her wand from her pocket. As she did so, she caught sight of the blonde boy she was looking for. He was walking out of the hall, and who knew where he would go after that? She began to jog after him, until a plaintive voice called after her. "What about the picture?"

She rolled her eyes and muttered something, causing the pieces of parchment to reattach.

"Thankyou!" Sirius' voice was loud, but she wasn't paying attention as she left the Great Hall behind her. She looked left and right and saw him at the end of the corridor.

"Ted!" She shouted and most of the students in between her and her target turned around. Sadly, Ted seemed to have gone deaf. She pushed her way through the sea of people, and finally caught him up. "Ted!"

"Oh hey." He smiled at her. "You okay?"

"Yes." She breathed deeply, not being used to having to force her way past fourth years. They thought they owned the corridors and didn't move, even when she glared at them. They were so unlike the first years who ran when any seventh year approached. "I was wondering if you could help me with the transfig spell, because it's ridiculously difficult."

He pulled a face. "I'm really sorry but me and Mel need to write an essay for Care of." For the first time, Andromeda realised there was a blonde girl standing next to him, holding his hand. "Dromeda, this is Mel. Mel, Andromeda."

"Hi." Mel offered Andromeda a smile. "We have runes together."

"We do?" Andromeda frowned, trying to picture the girl in Vector's class. "Oh, yes, we do. You sit near the front."

"Yeah." Melanie nodded. "You sit next to Malfoy. You're good."

"Thanks." The unexpected compliment made Andromeda flush. "Well, don't let me stop you." As she began to walk away, she felt a familiar emotion building up in her. Jealousy. What was she jealous of? She tried to think as she made her way to the library. The hand holding. That was it. Not that she wanted to hold hands with Ted. Of course not, he was muggle born. And a friend. No, she wanted someone, anyone, to hold hands with. But who?

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"Mulciber?"

Despite having gone to the library with the best of intentions, she had bumped into Titus on the way there, and they were currently ensconced in a dark corner of the library, discussing suitable boys.

"Which one?" she asked, pushing her hair out of her eyes.

"Bertrand," Titus replied. "Not Bertie; he's a third born." He paused. "You've got me doing it now."

"Doing what?" she asked, looking at him quizzically.

"Talking about what position people were born in as if it means something."

Andromeda laughed. "It does mean something. There's no point me marrying a third born, or even a second born. They'll have no inheritance."

Titus frowned. "But Bellatrix is marrying Rodolphus. He's a second born."

"Yes," Andromeda sighed. "I'm not quite sure what happened there." She drummed her fingers on the table. "And going back to Bertrand, he's seeing Susan Marksure."

"Really?" Titus widened his eyes. "There's no accounting for taste."

"That's a little harsh," she reprimanded.

He rolled his eyes, putting his hand on top of hers to stop her drumming. "You were thinking it."

"I was not," she protested. "I'm nice."

"Yeah." He scoffed. "What about Chester Blishwick?"

She shuddered. "Have you seen his hair?"

Titus laughed. "I said you weren't nice. Samuel Rosier?"

"No, he dated Bella. That would be…icky." She glanced over at the bag containing her untouched homework. "I was going to do work."

"Yes, but this is more fun." Titus grinned wickedly, "Cyril Nott?"

"No, no, a thousand times no." She stretched, and then her eyes glinted. "I know."

"Who?" He was intrigued, and he sat up slightly straighter.

"The Russian." She smiled innocently at her friend. "Dolohov."

"No way." Titus almost fell off his chair. "But he doesn't date. Not ever. He even turned down Hannah Rosier."

Andromeda raised an eyebrow. "Does Holly know of your admiration for Hannah?"

"You know what I mean," he said, pushing her slightly. "But seriously, Dolohov? Are you sure he's not…" His voice trailed off, as he approached an uncomfortable topic of conversation. "I mean, he's never had a girlfriend."

"No, he's not that," Andromeda said darkly. There were so few eligible pureblood men that she did not need them pairing off amongst themselves. "I know for a fact that he's the reason that Gloria Haven won't be getting a good marriage."

Titus stared at her in disbelief. "How do you know everything? Seriously, how?"

She shrugged. "People tell me things."

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"Mr Dolohov." They were in the courtyard. She had finally found him, and she was thankful it was not raining, because no man was worth getting drenched. He was tall, with perfect posture. There were rumours that he had been sent away when he was very young to a special school, where how to be a gentleman had been drummed into him. She did not know if it were true or not, but the way he acted supported the rumour.

"Miss Black." His voice was still accented, despite the fact he had been in Britain for at least seven years. "How are you?"

"Well, thank you," she replied, with a smile. "And yourself?"

He nodded. "If the weather would make up it's mind, I would be better."

She looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean?"

"It is overcast." Dolohov gestured to the sky. "It cannot decide whether to rain or not, and I have no wish to practise in the rain."

"Oh of course, Quidditch." Andromeda had never been very interested in the game. She pretended to be, because Titus was not only on the team, but was Quidditch Captain and he did love to talk about every match for days on end. She had never seen the appeal. Dolohov was a beater; that much she knew. "Maybe I could cheer you on, next match."

He frowned at her. "You do not usually support Slytherin?"

"Of course I do," she told him, taking a half step towards him. "But I was thinking I could cheer you, just you."

"Miss Black." His face was impassive. "I am not entirely sure what you are suggesting."

She smiled slightly. "I know about Gloria Haven, unlike much of the community. But sadly, your reluctance to boast has caused some unsavoury rumours to circulate." His face was still blank, and she was forced to continue. "Mr Dolohov, there are some serious allegations being flung about behind your back. Many people think you are…" She trailed off, trying to think of a delicate way to put it. "Beating for the wrong team."

He coloured, which looked wrong, because usually he was so pale. "If you know about Gloria Haven, then you know full well that these rumours are lies."

"I know." She resisted the urge to ruffle his hair. Something about the darkness of it reminded her of her cousin. Of course, Dolohov's hair was always perfect, unlike Sirius'. "So I was thinking we could come to a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"Explain." The word was clipped, and a frown was beginning to cross his face.

"I need to be seen with a suitable boy," she said, "after Mr Lestrange, my position is precarious. You need to be seen with a suitable girl, if you do not want society to reject you." Of course, there was the fact that she thought he was fairly cute, and she could listen to his accent all day. But he did not need to know that.

She watched him think about it. "It makes sense. Professor Slughorn is having one of his gatherings on Friday. Would you like to accompany me?"

She smiled widely. "I'd love to, Mr Dolohov."

"Please. Call me Antonin, Miss Black."

She nodded. "Of course. And my name is Andromeda."

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Slughorn's gatherings were legend throughout the school. He brought together the daughters and sons of the most influential people, and those he thought would go on to do great things. Narcissa was part of the slug club. So was Lucius Malfoy. Bellatrix had been, and of course, Dolohov was too. Andromeda was not. She put it down to the fact that she wasn't exceptional enough for Slughorn. Potions had not been her forte.