Chapter 14

Consequences and Meetings

The romance between Andromeda Black and Ted Tonks was all the students of Hogwarts talked about for days on end. Needless to say, the news reached Narcissa very quickly and she was livid. She spent days trying to convince her sister to dump Ted, and resorted to threatening to tell their parents.

"Meda, I mean it! I'll tell Mum and Dad that you're a blood traitor if you don't dump him now."

"Cissy, I'm not dumping Ted alright. Mum and Dad will have to get over it." Andromeda snapped after three days of being yelled at.

"I'll tell Bella!"

"Then tell Bella. Go on, tell them Cissy. I'm not ashamed of it, they're the ones who should be ashamed."

The two sisters just stared at each other for a few moments.

"Go on Cissy. Tell them, all of them. Tell them Andromeda Black is with a muggleborn."

With a final glare, Narcissa turned her back on Andromeda and walked away, probably to write those letters. Andromeda guessed she'd be getting a Howler in a few days time, but she didn't care anymore.

"You probably shouldn't have done that." Andromeda turned to see Ted standing behind her.

"I don't care anymore. I don't want to hide us anymore." She reached up and kissed him. He grinned, and they set off to meet Molly and Arthur by the lake.

"What did your sister want Andromeda?" Molly asked.

"To have me thrown from the Astronomy Tower most likely, but resorted to threatening to write Mum and Dad. She's probably at it right now."

"So, you think you'll be getting a Howler?"

"Wouldn't surprise me, but whatever. They're the ones who will look stupid not me."

"What about summer holidays?" Ted asked, worried.

"I'll worry about it when the time comes. For now, I'm enjoying this." She said as she stretched out on the sand, feeling truly free for the first time in a long time.

Oddly enough, Andromeda didn't get a Howler the next day, or even a week after Narcissa had threatened to write home. Andromeda was confused, because she was pretty sure Narcissa had not been bluffing. But, she wasn't complaining, Howlers were embarrassing at all times, but with this particular subject matter it would be down right humiliating. Sixth year exams were soon upon them, and then the summer holidays approached. Andromeda was nervous for all the normal reasons, but she hadn't spoken with Narcissa much since the threats, so Andromeda still didn't know whether her parents had heard about her and Ted Tonks.

The train ride home was cozy. Since Arthur and Molly both had prefect duties for most of the ride, Andromeda and Ted were able to enjoy some last moments alone together before she had to go back to hell. She knew Ted didn't want to let her go back to her house, as was evident by how close he held her as they were cuddling.

"If it gets really bad, just write me, I'll come get you."

"That's sweet Ted, but they'd probably try to kill you." Andromeda said sadly.

"I don't care about me, I just don't want him to hurt you anymore." He declared. "I love you."

She looked up at him and kissed him lightly.

"I love you too Ted. That's why I don't want you in a position where either my father or my sister will harm you."

He looked at her, and they made a silent agreement. The rest of the journey was quiet.

When they finally got to King's Cross Station, Andromeda saw Narcissa walk straight up to Cygnus and Druella and started to whisper to them. And that's when Andromeda knew: Cissy had not told their parents about Ted after Easter, she'd decided to wait until she could show them that Andromeda had betrayed the family.

Narcissa pointed and Cygnus and Druella just stared at their second daughter in shock as she grasped hands with a muggleborn. Andromeda just stared back at them, unblinking. Ted whispered,

"Is that them?"

"Oh yeah, that's them."

Andromeda thought about kissing Ted just to shock her parents more, but decided that wasn't a good idea, and just walked purposefully toward them. Her mother didn't move to embrace her like she usually did. They all just started walking towards the exit.

As soon as they got back to the house, the bomb dropped.

"What were you thinking Andromeda Lucretia Black!" Druella screeched.

Andromeda chose not to dignify that with a response. Her father spoke next.

"How dare you attempt to sully the name of Black by, by, mating with a Mudblood?!" He sputtered.

"Don't call him that!"

"That's what he is Andromeda!" He yelled. "You are rejecting your families' honor!"

That's when Andromeda nearly lost it.

"Honor! Honor! You think it's honorable to talk trash about people you know nothing about? It's honorable to think about trying to kill off hundreds of people for so called purity! Nothing you think or do is honorable Father!" She spat the last word out with disgust, but her feeling of somewhat triumph was terminated when her mother smacked her face. It stung, but not so much physically. She looked at her mother in shock, and willed herself not to give way to tears.

"Now," Druella said icily. "You are never to see that boy again, do you understand. You will start upholding this families' value of purity. And you will take back the ugly words you just said about your father."

Cygnus and Druella waited for Andromeda to submit to their will as usual, but something suddenly changed in her. She was not going to let them be in control anymore, she was of age and she was going to control her own life.

"No." She said calmly and coldly.

"What?" Druella said just as coldly.

"I am seventeen years old. I am an adult. I will continue to see Ted whether you like it or not. I will not uphold values I don't believe in and I will not apologize for speaking the truth."

They stared at her for a moment, looking like they were struggling with something.

"Your decision is final?" Cygnus asked.

"Absolutely."

"Then you can't stay here anymore." Druella said.

Andromeda stared, not sure if she was surprised or not. However, it hurt, although probably not as much as it should have.

"Then I'll be gone in an hour." She went upstairs to pack her stuff.

There was a knock on her door, and Narcissa entered, looking pained.

"Meda, I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't think they'd do that."

"It's not your fault Cissy." Andromeda sighed. "Honestly, I don't think I would have lasted much longer here."

"But where will you go?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll figure it out. I'll see you in school Cissy."

With that, Andromeda shrunk all her stuff so it would be easier to transport and started down the stairs and out the door. When she reached the gate, she looked back and saw Narcissa standing in the doorway, looking sad and a little frightened. Andromeda felt a little guilty, but not enough to go back. She waved, and then walked outside the Black property for the last time.

About five minutes later, reality began to take over her feelings of freedom. She knew where she could go – Ted would insist she stay with him anyway. The problem was, she wasn't sure of his address. You didn't need it to owl someone, and she didn't have an owl with her. She had passed her Apparition test but wasn't sure if she could apparate to his house without knowing what it looked like.

But wait, she knew he lived in Bath, and she'd been there before. She decided to give it a try. Two seconds later she was in the pretty city of Bath, but she still didn't know how she could reach Ted. She saw one of those weird telephone things that you had to stick coins in, but she had no muggle money nor did she know how to use one. But, there was one of those books in there that listed phone numbers and addresses, which Ted had once told her how to use when explaining the muggle world.

She looked in it, remembering the white pages listed home numbers (this is how it is in the U.S, I'm not sure about England) by last name. She looked up Tonks, and was thankful there was only one listing. Tonks, Jeffrey, Catherine and Ted, 12 Eden Terrace, Bath. She started walking around, cursing herself for not planning better before setting out. There was nothing for it, she would have to ask someone. She decided on a middle aged woman coming out of a café, that seemed safe enough.

"Excuse me, ma'am? Could you tell me where Eden Terrace. is?"

"It's rather far dear, I'd recommend getting a taxi." Andromeda struggled not to look confused.

"I don't have any money." Andromeda said.

"Well, a nice girl like you shouldn't be walking around by herself, especially as it's getting dark. My husband and I could give you a lift if you'd like, we're going down that way."

Andromeda was sure this woman was a gift from someone, she just wasn't sure who.

"Thank you, that would be lovely."

The couple drove her down to Eden Terrace, a good twenty-minute drive from where she had been. Andromeda had to struggle not to appear fascinated by the car as she'd never ridden in one before, but the couple didn't seem to notice.

"What number are you looking for dear?"

"Number 12, please."

A minute later they pulled up beside number 12. Andromeda thanked the kind people profusely while getting out and walking toward the door. She hoped Ted would answer the door, because she had never met his parents before and didn't feel like awkward introductions right now. Her wish came to when Ted opened the door.

"'Dromeda, what…" But he was cut off as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He held her for a minute, then pulled away and asked her,

"'Dromeda, what happened? Did he do something? Are you hurt?"

"No. I'm not hurt. But…they kicked me out."

Ted stared for a moment, then decided not to push it. He opened the door wider and let her inside.

"Ted dear, who is it?" Asked a fair haired woman who came into the foyer at that moment. Andromeda immediately realized from whom he'd gotten his fair hair and eyes.

"Mum, this is Andromeda Black, my girlfriend." Ted introduced. Mrs. Tonks looked surprised, but was friendly anyway.

"Oh, well, hello dear. Ted, you didn't tell me she was coming."

"He didn't know." Andromeda answered for him. "I didn't even know myself until an hour ago."

"Well, okay, you're welcome to stay for dinner."

"She'll be staying for more than just dinner Mum." Andromeda and Mrs. Tonks both looked at him, surprised.

"What do you mean?"

"She needs a place to stay for awhile. I figured she could take the spare room."

"Ted, I don't know…"

"Could I talk to you in the sitting room Mum?" Ted quickly dragged his mother into the sitting room, leaving Andromeda in the foyer. She knew it was rude to eavesdrop but she felt she needed to hear this, so she moved a bit closer to the sitting room.

"Look, Mum, her parents made her leave, and she has nowhere to go, so I want her to stay here."

"Ted, darling…"

"Mum please, I know this is sudden and shocking, but I can't turn my back on her."

"Look, she seems like a very nice girl, but doesn't she have any other friends she could stay with?"

"Probably, but I want her to stay here."

"Ted, I'm not comfortable with this and I doubt your father will be either. We don't know her and…"

"Mum, she got kicked out of her house because she was seeing me. I feel like I should give her a place to stay for awhile." Mrs. Tonks was silent for a few seconds.

"Because of you, she told you that."

"She didn't tell me, but I know that's why. Please Mum, I can't tell her she has to find somewhere else to go."

Mrs. Tonks spent a few minutes deliberating.

"She can stay for a few days, and we'll see how it goes. But Ted, I don't want to find…"

"Trust me mum, you won't." Ted said quickly, and Andromeda flushed with embarrassment, glad she wasn't in the room. She quickly backed up when Ted and his mother came back to the foyer.

"You can stay for a few days for now Andromeda." Mrs. Tonks said with a nervous smile.

"Thank you so much."

"I would like to understand why this whole thing happened though."

Andromeda and Ted looked at each other. Andromeda said,

"I suppose I can tell you a bit about it."

"Later though. Let's leave it until after dinner so you can meet Dad first." Ted put in. Mrs. Tonks and Andromeda accepted this and they all went into the sitting room to wait.

Ted's father Jeff was a rather large man and very cheerful. Dinner was an enjoyable affair, Andromeda could never remember enjoying a meal more. However, towards the end, the question came up.

"Andromeda, what exactly is the reason your family made you leave? Ted said it was because of him?" Catherine asked.

Andromeda took a deep breath, and began explaining her families' crazy views about blood purity. The Tonkses listened intently, but they were definitely confused, especially when Andromeda couldn't explain exactly why her family believed that, they just did. Catherine seemed much warmer to Andromeda after that, probably because this girl had basically just told her that she had chosen her son over her own family.

Catherine showed her the guest room later and told her she was welcome to whatever soaps and shampoos were in the bathroom. She did do something that Andromeda found rather embarrassing. She over heard Catherine say to Ted later that night,

"Ted, I better not hear of any late night visits to her room, or her to yours."

"For god sake mum." Ted said exasperated as he headed to bed.

Andromeda fell asleep quickly that night due to exhaustion. She was sure she was in for a much better summer than the previous ones, provided she and Ted could persuade Catherine and Jeff to let her stay that long.