I know, you're probably in shock I'm updating so soon, but I found a trick that helps me get these done a little quicker, so I'm using that for now :)
Anyway, it's time for Chapter 11!
Woww ... we're at 60 reviews, that's pretty awesome!
Chapter Dedication: Leanora, BellaPur, Sapphire-Rosethorne, and yellow 14.
OK guys, only 4 reviews? Really? To those of you who did review, THANK YOU! THIS CHAPTER IS ALL FOR YOU!
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J.K. Rowling
(NOTE: Italics represents the letters, AND a flashback scene).
At 11 o'clock that night, Andromeda walked carefully up to the Astronomy Tower, her first time going out this late when not for a class, and she was terrified of getting caught. Finally she reached the top and found Ted Tonks sitting there waiting for her.
"Hello Dromeda," he said, like it was after Herbology class, and not 11 o'clock at night on the top of the Astronomy Tower.
"Why did you call me up here Ted?" she asked and Ted grinned.
"Well first, you just used my first name, not my last, not my full name, and not Mudblood, so I'm happy about that. And second, I know it's your birthday, and the House of Black or whatever you call yourselves doesn't seem to give you any treats, so I decided you deserve a little cake for your birthday," Ted told her showing Andromeda the cake he had the house elves make for her. It was red velvet flavored, not his personal favorite, he liked chocolate best, but it was the most elegant in his opinion, and Andromeda was definitely elegant.
"Why so many candles?" Andromeda asked.
"18 candles for 18 years, and then 1 for good luck."
"Wait," Andromeda said, she felt herself beginning to fall into his Mudblood trap, "I only came up here so you could tell me what your gift was."
Ted grinned again, "It's a coupon to a fancy Muggle restaurant in London, Clos Maggiore, I've only been there once, for my grandmother's 70th birthday years ago, and it still sticks out as some of the best food I've ever had."
"Even better than house-elves?" Andromeda asked disbelievingly.
"Yup, although the Hogwarts elves do come close, they made this delicious cake."
Andromeda leaned closer to the cake which had Happy Birthday Andromeda! written across it in white frosting, and the frosting covering the cake was black.
"It looks delicious," she sighed.
"Well let's light the candles then, and you can make a wish, and then we'll eat it."
Andromeda nodded as Ted took his wand out and lit all the candles.
"Make a wish," Ted told her. Andromeda shut her eyes tightly and wished for things to eventually work out so in the end, she was happy. Then she blew the candles out.
"Happy birthday to you," Ted sang a whole little song.
"Thanks," Andromeda told him.
"Let me cut you a piece," Ted said taking out the cutting knife, plates and silverware the house elves had given him.
"Thanks," Andromeda told him again taking a tentative bite of the cake, "Mmm this is delicious!"
"I'm glad you like it," Ted chuckled taking a bite of his own cake.
"It's probably so fattening though, I really shouldn't, Mother and Father will notice, and-" Ted cut Andromeda's ramblings off by putting a tiny piece of cake into her mouth, with his fork.
"Just enjoy," Ted told her and Andromeda continued to eat her cake under the stars with Ted Tonks.
"It's beautiful outside," Andromeda commented.
"Nothing compared to you," Ted replied. Andromeda felt her cheeks turn hot as she began to blush slightly.
"Can I ask you something?" Ted asked and Andromeda nodded, her cake long finished, "Can I- Can I kiss you?"
Andromeda didn't really know how to reply. She hadn't realized it, but she didn't feel the urge to call him Mudblood anymore, or even feel disgusted by the fact she had eaten from the same fork as him. In fact, she felt a bit flattered by him, and unknowingly to her, had begun to like him more than she should. Her cheeks flared red again.
"That was really-I mean-I shouldn't of-" Ted stammered over his words and Andromeda came to a conclusion as Ted blushed red too.
"Yes," she told him. She had begun to see Ted as human not just a Mudblood, almost more human than Rabastan, or the other pureblooded men she knew who were just so distant in their manner and personality.
"Yes what?" Ted said and Andromeda couldn't help but chuckle a little bit.
"Yes, you can kiss me," Andromeda told him and Ted grinned as his cheeks turned redder than a tomato. He scooted closer to her and leaned in hesitantly, before Andromeda's body took over and smashed her lips on his. Unlike the disastrous first time they had kissed, this time his lips felt warm, and fit on her's perfectly. She began to open her mouth and their tongues began to battle with each other. Slowly she pulled away, needing to breath.
"Merlin Dromeda," Ted sighed. Andromeda looked at Ted sitting there, his face bright red, but with a humungous grin plastered on his face, and realized that she had fallen for him, hard.
"I-I should go," Andromeda said, a smile on her face too.
"Can we-I mean-, you're not going to call me Mudblood anymore, are you?" Ted asked.
"No," Andromeda shook her head, "But, these private meetings, they're nice, can we do this again?"
"Of course Dromeda, I'll send Flip," Ted told her and she grinned.
"Great, well, I'm going to, bye," she scurried off back to the Slytherin dorms and snuck in so no one would hear. She rolled over in her bed, and fell asleep to an odd dream of her married to Ted Tonks.
Ted began to stroll happily into the Great Hall the next morning when he felt an unknown force hit him and yank him into the tiny alcove next to the Great Hall. Ted whipped around to discover the identity of his attacker, who looked at him, her face in a hardened mask.
"Good morning to you too Dromeda," Ted chuckled.
Andromeda began to smile, then her mask slid back into place.
"No one can hear about last night," she hissed.
"Okay, can I ask why?"
"You remember what happened when Sirius got Sorted into Gryffindor right?"
Ted nodded.
"It would be at least ten times worse than that if any of my family hears."
"I got it Dromeda, my lips are sealed."
Andromeda smiled gratefully, "Thanks Ted. I really did have a good time last night."
"Perhaps we can do it again sometime?"
Andromeda nodded.
"I'll send Flip again, see you later," Ted said, leaning forward and pecking Andromeda on the cheek.
"Don't forget, you have prefect duty Friday," Ted called back before walking away, leaving Andromeda alone with her thoughts.
After breaking out of her daze, Andromeda proceeded into the Great Hall and straight to the Slytherin table.
"Morning Meda," Narcissa called.
"Good morning Cissy," Andromeda replied.
"Quiet," Professor Dumbledore yelled from the front podium and the Great Hall slowly drifted into silence.
"I have become aware of a game that involves attempting to touch the Whomping Willow."
"Who would be crazy enough to do that?" Grace asked.
"The Whomping Willow is extremely dangerous, and students should not mess with it. Beware, it will not spare students. Tuck in, eat up!"
"He's crazy!" Avery shrieked.
Yaxley scowled, "Who decided the crazy old coot is qualified to run Hogwarts? Even Slughorn would have been better."
"He's better than Professor Dork," Evan sneered, "Dork wouldn't know the difference between a Stinging and Tickling Hex!"
"Could you tell the difference Rosier?" Flora retorted.
Yaxley and Adrian Nott got together and said, "Ohhh."
"Hush you imbeciles," Lucius drawled.
"Cissa, pass the pumpkin juice," Avery said.
"It's Narcissa, Avery," Narcissa sighed, passing the juice. Lucius scooted closer to Narcissa, almost protectively.
Andromeda finished her meal, then went to inform the prefects of their duty on Friday.
"Friday?" Lucius asked, "I'm afraid I cannot be there Andromeda."
"Lucius, you do not have a choice."
"Get the idiot Brocklehurst to go with you."
Andromeda suddenly got an idea that filled her with excitement.
"Fine, just do not make a habit of it."
"Of course not," Lucius said, kissing her hand then turning back to Narcissa.
Andromeda quickly stopped by her dormitory to pick up her books before heading to Potions.
After Herbology, Andromeda waited outside for Ted.
"Ted!" she cried pulling him aside.
"Hello Dromeda," he grinned.
"I need you to do prefect duty with me on Friday."
Ted nodded, "I'll see you then."
"Good bye," Andromeda said as she walked away from him.
Ted scurried off in the other direction for his meeting with Cynthia and Dumbledore.
"Hello Ted," Dumbledore greeted Ted, his eyes twinkling.
"Hello Professor."
"Please, come in," Dumbledore told him, letting Ted into the office where Cynthia sat.
"Now, we have a few things to review at this meeting. First, how are you two getting along in the Heads' dorm? We have had some issues in the past."
"We're doing good Professor," Ted told him.
"We get along very well," Cynthia added.
"Excellent! Next, the Whomping Willow game."
"I've seen a few fifth-years playing before. It is extremely dangerous, the Whomping Willow has a Ministry rating of triple X," Cynthia said.
"Correct, so, anyone seen playing loses 20 points, each."
"Yes sir," the Heads replied together.
"Very well, now, lemon drop?" Dumbledore asked holding out the bowl.
"No sir," Ted replied.
"No thank you sir," Cynthia replied.
"Well then, you may go."
"Thank you sir," the two said, leaving Dumbledore's office.
"So, Ted, are you going home for Christmas?" Cynthia asked.
"Yes, I have to get gifts for my family, since I don't think we go back into Hogsmeade."
"Well, maybe we can hang out? I can help you pick a gift for you sister," Cynthia asked, her attempts at flirting were borderline pathetic.
"Actually, I'm going to spend time with the family, you know? I don't get to see them too often," Ted told her.
"Oh, well, alright," Cynthia stammered, fully embarrassed, before walking away, most likely to the library.
Ted on the other hand, went back to his room in the Heads' dormitory, where Flip was waiting for him.
"Hey there Flip," Ted cooed, untying the letter from Flip's leg, "Thanks boy, go back to the Owlery."
Flip hooted and flew away. Ted opened the letter, which as usual, had two papers, one from his parents, and one from his sister Dana. Ted opened the letter from his parents first.
Dearest Ted,
We were so happy to hear in your last letter that being Head Boy is going well. We know you're sick of hearing this, but we're so proud of you. Mrs. Phillips across the street says hello, and that her niece will be staying with her for Christmas. Perhaps you two want to get together, you're about the same age. Dana got on the varsity volleyball team at school, all that extra training you two did over the summer must've helped. She's still talking about that game you took her to, the broom game. I know you said you weren't going to uni, as it's not necessary for any job in the magic world, but, if your owl flies fast enough, you may be able to get the application in by the due date. We miss you lots and we can't wait to see you over Christmas.
With lots of love,
Mum and Dad
P.S. Those sweets you brought home over the summer were delicious. If the owl's up to it, perhaps you could send a few home? -Dad.
Ted laughed at his mother's continuous tries to get him to uni, and made a mental note to himself to go to Honeydukes and get more sweets for his father. Then he turned to the next letter and opened it up.
Ted,
How's Hogwarts this year? Mum and Dad still brag to everyone they see that you're Head Boy. By the way, the cat lady down the street says congratulations. Volleyball's good this year, I made varsity! It's not as good as the game you took me to though (I can't spell it). The little figurine still moves if I nudge it. School's been good so far, a bit boring, but school always is, isn't it? I miss talking to you, and I can't wait to see you over Christmas. Any girls?
Love,
Dana
Ted sighed at the thought of his little sister, who over the years he had become closer to. He put the letter inside the frame that held a Muggle-style picture of him and Dana and laid back on his bed.
Andromeda sat in her room looking at the picture of her, Narcissa and Bellatrix that Bellatrix had given her from her birthday. It was from they trip they had taken to the Spanish coast with the Rosiers, a trip that Andromeda remembered clearly.
"Meda! Meda come on!" Bella yelled, running down the shoreline, ahead of Meda and extremely ahead of Cissy.
"Bella! Meda! Wait up!" Cissy whined, pumping her 7-year old legs as fast as they would take her. Bella stopped with a scowl. Meda ran and caught up to Bella who had sat down in the sand.
"Can we build a sand castle?" Meda asked.
" 'Course Meda," Bella replied, and they began building. A little ways over, their cousins Evan and Adelaide sat, Evan building his own castle, and Adelaide twirling her wand.
"I bet we can build a better castle than you Evan!" Bella yelled.
"In your dreams!" Evan replied and all three children began working.
"Don't start without me!" Cissy panted, taking a break to breath, then running blindly towards her sisters, not noticing she was heading straight for Evan's castle until she ran into it and tumbled to the ground.
"Cissy!" Meda yelled running with Bella towards Cissy.
"You destroyed my castle!" Evan screamed at Cissy who cowered slightly.
"I-I'm sorry," she stammered, wiping off her outfit.
"Rebuild it!" Evan commanded.
"I-I don't want to!" Cissy pouted.
Evan got an extremely mad look on his face, then Cissy's hair turned blue. Meda and Bella couldn't help but laugh, even Adelaide cracked a smile.
"What?" Cissy whined. Evan looked shocked at his outburst of magic.
"Your hair's blue!" Bella shrieked with laughter. Cissy yanked a piece of hair into her line of vision, and when she saw it, she yelped, then burst into tears.
"Sh, it's alright Narcissa, don't cry," Adelaide tried to soothe, constantly glancing over her shoulder in worry of the adults coming back.
"What has happened here?" Mother asked, barging onto the private beach with Father, Aunt Bridget and Uncle Cornelius.
"Evan turned my hair blue!" Cissy cried.
"Don't cry Narcissa, we can change it back," Mother told her, tapping her wand on Cissy's head, changing her hair back to it's natural blonde. Cissy stood up and glared at Evan before going to stand behind Mother.
"I can't wait to go to Hogwarts next month and learn how to do that," Bella whispered to Meda, and the two girls began laughing, and soon Cissy joined in, although she didn't know why they were laughing. Unknowingly to the girls, Mother took out her new camera Father had bought her, and snapped a picture.
Andromeda snapped out of her daze when she heard the dormitory door open with a creak.
"Hello Andromeda," Annabelle said.
"Hello Annabelle."
"Do you want to come with Grace and I to study Charms in the common room?"
Andromeda thought about it for a moment, "No thank you Annabelle, I can never concentrate in there."
Annabelle nodded, grabbed her books, and left Andromeda alone again.
There you go :) Chapter 11!
As stated above, the third set of italics is a flashback, I also tried to differentiate it by calling them Bella, Meda and Cissy instead of Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa. (Oh, and if you didn't realize, Adelaide is Evan's older sister, she's mention in the Hogsmeade chapter).
DID ANYONE WATCH GLEE LAST WEEK? DARREN CRISS IS AWESOME! AND I WENT TO A STARKID MEET AND GREET AND MET SOME REALLY AWESOME PEOPLE :D IF YOU WATCHED GLEE, WHAT DID YOU THINK?
Anyway, please REVIEW! Thanks guys :) I hope this had enough action for you!
-dancergirl7