An: Sorry for the long delay in updating. I've been ill, and with only a desktop not a laptop, I haven't been able to get to the computer. However, thanks to everyone who has reviewed, or favourited or alerted. If I haven't said thankyou already, thanks. It really means a lot to me. This hasn't been proofed, because I'm still not feeling great. But I hope you enjoy it anyway.

Chapter Eleven – Keeping Secrets

"I can't believe you're actually going to the Slug Club." Titus was holding her up. She was ready and was about to leave the common room, when he'd called her across. He was now doing his best to make her late. "What happened to all of the times we laughed at it?"

She rolled her eyes. "No Titus. You laughed at it, while I reminded you that Bella and Cissy are in it."

"Oh yes." There was a pause, as he frantically tried to think of another thing to say. "Are you meeting him there?"

"Yes." She checked her hair once more in the mirror. "And I'm going to be late, so I'll see you later."

"I didn't want to go anyway," he muttered churlishly, as she left him alone. "Stupid slug club. Stupid party." He flopped down onto the sofa in a huff. At least, he could see Holly now. Yes, he hadn't seen her in a while. He gulped as he suddenly realised his girlfriend may have thought he was snubbing her.

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Dolohov was waiting for her outside Slughorn's office. He was dressed in a grey suit and for once he didn't look abnormally pale. His hair was tidy, perfect excepting a tiny tuft that was sticking up.

"Good evening." She smiled as approached him.

"Andromeda." He bowed slightly, and presented her with a white rosebud. "You look lovely."

She coloured slightly. So few pureblood men actually bothered with the niceties that were not required. Yes, they bowed, the spoke politely, they didn't press too close in crowds But none of them gave flowers, especially not to girls they were seeing for convince. She took the flower and smiled. "Thank you"

"Shall we go in?" he offered her his arm, and she nodded at the door.

"I don't think both of us will fit through at the same time, she said gently.

He scowled at the door. "I always forget how small this school is." He opened the door for her. "Please. After you."

Slughorn's office was big, a lot bigger than she was expecting. And the way it was decorated, it wouldn't have looked out of place in a Moroccan bazaar, apart from all the candles. They were everywhere. It wasn't overwhelming; she'd been to parties a lot more extravagant than this before, but she would never have expected it at Hogwarts. Dolohov placed a hand on the small of her back, skilfully guiding her away from the door. "Would you like a drink?"
"Yes, please." As he left, she realised she didn't actually know most of the people in the room. Of course, she recognised them, it was a small school, but she didn't know them. there were a handful of Slytherins: Samuel Rosier, Bertrand Mulciber, Susan Marksure, but the rest of the throng was made up of the other houses. How on earth were these people well connected?
"Ah Miss Black, how lovely to see you." Professor Slughorn was bearing down on her, and if she'd been paying attention she would have tried to avoid him. "You came with Mr Dolohov I see. Excellent student. Quiet. His father's quite high up in the Russian government I understand." Andromeda nodded. That was true, but there were tensions between Russia and Britain, and most people did not like Dolohov for his connections, whereas it appeared Slughorn revered him for it. "Over there is Dirk Cesswell, exceptional grasp of languages. He's taking his Ancient Runes NEWT early." Andromeda nodded. She recognised the fourth year. He was occasionally in her runes class, and he was very good, but he was a Ravenclaw. It'd be more of a surprise if he wasn't good at something. "I assume you know Lucius Malfoy. A credit to our house, eh, Miss Black?" She remained impassive. Acknowledging that Malfoy was a good wizard would cause him to bring it up at every opportunity, and as she saw him a lot, she didn't need that kind of headache. "The red head over there? Lily Evans. Only a first year but excellent at potions. Simply remarkable. A natural ability." Andromeda nodded, wishing Dolohov would hurry back. "And then, this is Ted Tonks. You came with Melanie didn't you?" As Ted nodded, Slughorn continued, "Lovely girl. Her Dad works for the ministry, Head of Muggle relations? I taught him as well."
"Ted, Andromeda managed to blurt out. "What are you doing here?"

Slughorn moved away, spotting some of the actual members of his club that were alone. Ted smiled. "Mel asked me to come, and hey, free food."

She scoffed. "We're at boarding school. We always get free food."

He shrugged. "It's an expression. Kind of. Anyway, I didn't know you were part of the Slug Club."

"I'm not," she admitted. "I came with Dolohov." She gestured to where he was standing, talking to Malfoy, holding two glasses.

Ted frowned as he tried to put a face to a name. "He's one of the your beaters, right?"

She nodded, glancing round to see Dolohov beginning to move towards them. "I'll talk to you later, okay?" She turned away from her friend to accept a glass of what looked like red water from her date. She wasn't stupid. She knew that none of her Slytherin friends would ever accept the fact that she thought Ted was nice. They would assume she was using him for something, and she didn't want him to come in contact with them, because they would treat him like dirt. They, especially the boys, would be worse than she had been at the start of the year. And she didn't want him to be treated like that ever again. He didn't deserve it.

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"Did you have a good time?" They were in a free classroom practising turning mice into goblets, a few days later. "At Slughorn's thing, I mean."

"Yes." A flick of her wand left a champagne flute standing on the table and she frowned. "Dolohov is lovely."

It was Ted's turn to frown. "Dolohov? Haven't you seen him on the Quidditch pitch?" Ted was right to point this out. Dolohov was a good beater, but he often resorted to collisions and other underhand tricks to help his team win.

Andromeda shrugged, as she attempted the spell once more. "He's awfully sweet."

"You said that about Lestrange." The cry burst out of him, and an awkward silence fell. She waited a moment before replying.

"I know." She was quite again, before continuing, "But this is different."

"How? How is it different?" he demanded, now ignoring the mouse that was squeaking on the table, as he turned to face her.

"Ted. I'm seventeen, nearly eighteen. I'm old enough to pick men sensibly. And-" she said hurriedly, before he could protest again, "I don't want us to fall out over this. So I'm going to tell you the situation." She explained the deal that she and Dolohov had struck, and he seemed to relax slightly. "But you have to swear not to tell anyone."
"I swear." He seemed happier now that he knew they weren't really dating. "Oh, I swear."

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"So Black's dating Dolohov?" Tom shuddered. "Now there's a pairing made to make your skin crawl."
"Oh come on," Ted protested, "she's not that bad."

"She is. And the Russian boy is too." Ruth looked up from her potions essay. "He's really creepy. You know, he'll come into our changing rooms before a Quidditch match, specifically to try and intimidate us. It's not right."

"I'm sure they'll be very happy together." Ted's voice was quiet, as he tried to change the conversation topic. "Did you know Sally-"

"And he's violent," Ruth continued, talking over him. "Boy do we have to watch it when we play Slytherin. He's not fussy about whether he hits a bludger or someone's head with that bat."

Tom smiled darkly. "Didn't he hit Jones that one time? Had to have stitches, didn't he?"

"Guys!" The outburst shut his friends up. "They'll be fine. Dromeda knows what she's doing." He walked, but not stormed, out of the common room, leaving his friends certain that Ted knew more about this latest pairing than he was letting on.