The state of things at Hogwarts involving the Marauders and the Blacks made Valentine's Day out to promise to be a VERY interesting day indeed. Remus and Andromeda still refused to talk to each other. Andromeda, her plan (according to Sirius, who told her everything) was working to a T, although Remus wouldn't admit he was on the verge of tracking down Malfoy during a full moon to rip him up into pure-blooded steaks. In the meantime, Andromeda kept flashing off her ring and talked about wedding preparations, particularly in classes she shared with Remus. She, Sirius, and James kept discussing ways to make things move along faster, for Remus was still stone for the most part. They eventually came to the conclusion that a 'visitor' to Hogwarts on February 14th would help things along a bit…

Meanwhile, Cissy pouted the entire time Andromeda 'mused,' saying that she still wanted Lucius Malfoy for herself. Andromeda smiled as she imagined handing Lucius over to a squealing Cissy as she and Remus exchanged wedding vows, Druella and Bella all in a fuss! Andromeda smiled. This daydream alone got her through some hard times and classes.

To make things for the sisters Black even MORE out-of-the-norm, Bella and Rodolphus Lestrange quickly became an 'item' around the school. It made Andromeda and Sirius (not so much Cissy) sick to their stomachs to see them snogging around the school in various places (and in various ways, much to the horror of Sirius). One particular day, Andromeda and Sirius had gone to the Great Hall to study after a double Herbology class. Bella and Rodolphus were flirting around the next table over.

Sirius leaned over to talked quietly in Andromeda' ear. "What's your opinion on this guy?"

Andromeda sniffed back a laugh (or a sneeze). "He's handsome enough. Pureblooded too, which is always a plus for Bellatrix. But he's a bit of a pervert," she said. "There are fifty girls here alone who's give their souls for a minute to talk to him, and yet he chooses my sister, the Hooker of Hogwarts."

"You really think they're having sex?" asked Sirius. "They've only been dating a few weeks…"

"I wouldn't put it past her," Andromeda sighed. "She's not one to wait very long if YOUR long, if you know what I mean."

"Okay, new subject!" Sirius pleaded. Andromeda laughed and softly smacked Sirius over the head with a book.

"So, 'Pads'," asked Andromeda, using the nickname James used for him (although she still had no idea what it meant), "Are YOU getting a date for Valentine's day this year? You know the 14th is on a Hogsmeade weekend, and I'm going 'out' with Lucius…"

"Um, I've actually got an ulterior motive for that day. James is still trying to get Lily Evans to go with him, and because she…"

"…would rather have a root canal…"

"…exactly. I'm going with James, for moral support."

Andromeda snickered. "Yeah, THAT'S why you're going with James!" Sirius growled and smacked Andromeda in the back of her head, making her laugh a little more.

That was when Remus appeared at the table. Sirius quickly spoke, "So, you're going to Hogsmeade with Lucius, eh? Oh, Remus! I didn't SEE you there!" Andromeda rolled her eyes. Sirius could be such a dork sometimes.

"Pads. Andromeda," Remus nodded at the both of them. "I wanted to talk to you, Andromeda, do you mind?"

Andromeda winked at Sirius as she felt her heart speed up. She left the Great Hall with Remus and kept walking until he stopped her. Andromeda looked at him and caressed her engagement ring from Lucius tenderly with her index finger.

"What do you need?" she asked. Remus bit his lip.

"I've been thinking quite a bit," Remus said. "And—"

"—how's your Beauxbatons fiancé? I was thinking, actually, we could have a double wedding!" Andromeda said. Remus groaned.

"May I talk?"

"Yes. Sorry."

Remus looked around, then down at Andromeda's ring. It was so big and garish on her hand, it was like the too-bright headlight of a gorgeous sports car. "Andromeda, I'm going to Hogsmeade on the 14th, and I was thinking, I owe you a drink at The Three Broomsticks. Would you accompany me?"

Andromeda would have said yes, but that would screw up the plan. Yes, the goal WAS to have Remus ask her out, but if she consented now, then it would become clear the whole thing was a hoax, and then what would happen? Besides, Remus was only saying her 'owed her.' This wasn't how it was meant to go.

"I can't. Lucius and I are going together."

Remus looked sorely disappointed. "Oh, right, your future husband."

"You can't blame me for that, Remus," Andromeda said. "You sprung your engagement on me, and I was hurt. Lucius is going to take care of me, because you evidently didn't want to," she said cleverly.

"Well, you're not exactly being fair here either," said Remus. "You didn't exactly tell me right away about YOUR plans!"

"WHAT plans?"

"You're engaged to him because you were still pissed off at me. I was pretty bad to you, but this is just a vengeance trick on me, and I'm not buying into it anymore! You think being engaged is going to get me to crawl back in your lap? Well, too bad, because I'm getting a date of my own to Hogsmeade!"

The words stung Andromeda. She knew that despite her 'clever plan' they were very true. She was doing the same thing to Remus, if not a worse thing. Guilt suddenly welled up inside her. But she kept stone-cold, as much as she wanted to melt at that moment.

"What about your fiancée?" she asked. Caught in the lie, Remus furiously snarled like a wolf at Andromeda and walked briskly away. Andromeda bit her lip and ran back to her own dormitory to cry herself into oblivion, realizing how stupid this whole 'plan' was all along.

Bright and early on Valentine's Day, Andromeda dressed in the new dress and cloak she'd ordered from a magazine for her date with…ugh…Lucius. Bella, who had been oddly calm and quiet all morning instead of making snarky commentary, escorted her sister upstairs. Cissy, who was still a year too young for Hogsmeade, was sleeping in late.

The students going to Hogsmeade with dates were all gathered at the front gate. Remus was there, linking arms with Viola Illyria. Ted Tonks was there, no date in sight, going over a list of groceries. Sirius was with James, who was ranting on about Lily deciding to 'skip the day to study.' Sirius was exchanging worried glances with Andromeda, looking over at Viola and Remus. Viola was running her long, fat fingers through Remus's hair and musing about how he needed to find a potion to help his scars. Before she could approach Sirius, Lucius appeared alongside Rodolphus. The two men had been talking. Lucius kissed Andromeda on the cheek (some of the third and fourth years 'oohed' at this) and conjured a boquet of green and silver roses from his wand, handing them to Andromeda, who accepted (still playing her game, she figured that she was in a deep enough hole already, she might as well come out on the other side of the world). Bella looked uneasily and whispered something on Rodolphus' ear.

"Why, what's wrong?" he asked. Bella shushed him and looked around, wondering if anyone heard.

Once in Hogsmeade, Lucius and Andromeda headed to the pub for a butterbeer. Remus and Viola ended up sitting nearby and chatting, Remus glancing at Andromeda every so often. So awkward and confusing, everything was! All Andromeda wanted was time to herself to think things through, so she asked Lucius about his family's history. That would give her at least twenty minutes to drone him out and think.

"Will I have to marry Lucius after all? He's evidently smitten with me. We ARE engaged. What's the use of breaking it off if Remus is on to me and will never come around? But, Lucius isn't my soul mate. I can't be with him. I have to find a way to break it off anyway. But…things are so wrong! Remus exposed himself as lying about the Beauxbatons girl, and he knows my goal with this masquerade, so why aren't we snogging behind the pub already? Oh, damn! I just need to get out of here!"

"I need to piss," Andromeda blurted out, taking Lucius by surprise. Andromeda shot up and ran out of the pub out of Hogsmeade. She stopped in front of the infamously haunted Shrieking Shack to cry and yell, which she did. Looking out at the Shack, something inside Andromeda tingled. Something about the small house made Andromeda want to know it's history. It had a story to tell too, didn't it? So did she, if only Remus would listen! She knew Remus had a story too, if only…if only—

"—Andromeda?"

Andromeda quickly rubbed her eyes dry of any tears and turned on her heel to see Ted Tonks standing there, looking at her curiously. "Ted! What are you doing here?"

"Am I interrupting something?" he asked. Andromeda shook her head.

"Nothing at all…"

"Well, if you need anything, what with your loveless relationship with Lucius and all—"

"—wait, how the hell do YOU know I don't love Lucius?" asked Andromeda. Ted smiled.

"It's obvious," said Ted. "You love Remus Lupin, and because he won't take you, you're engaged in order to spite him. I'm a very observant—and bored—wizard," he explained. Andromeda looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"You stalking me?" she asked. Ted shook his head.

"No, but how can I not help wondering what your story is?" he asked. "You stand out. You and your sisters all do, but you stand out even among them," Ted said. Andromeda smiled.

"You know, I've never had anyone say that to me," she whispered. "You're a good friend. How come I never noticed you before?"

"I tend to blend," Ted said, nodded at the somewhat sad fact. "Being a Muggle-born, there are the occasional wizards who go out of their way to avoid me," he confessed.

"Who cares what your blood status is, really?" Andromeda said, moaned. "That's why I admire Sirius so much. He has the courage in him to leave the Blacks. Damn, why can't I?!"

Ted walked in closer and smiled reassuringly. "You do. You just need to find where it is."

Andromeda smiled back. "You're an astounding person," she said.

"Um…thanks, I guess," said Ted, feeling awkward. Andromeda could see he was blushing, so she turned to leave. But then she turned back.

"Ted…?"

"Yeah?"

Andromeda paused a moment. "You'd be a great Emotional Healer," she said. Ted looked at his feet shyly. "I think in Muggle terms, that's a therapist, right?"

"Yes, and thank you," he said. Andromeda waved and headed back into town. Instead of going back to the pub (which is where Lucius and Remus would be), she decided to instead duck into an abandoned bookstore that had been rented out but never moved into.

Andromeda suddenly heard some muffled crying noises. Startled, Andromeda jumped back before going to search for whoever was crying. After a few twists and turns, she found it was none other than Bellatrix: huddled in a corner, her makeup running down her face. She looked more small and meek in that moment than Andromeda had ever seen her older sister.

"Bella? What happened?!" Andromeda asked, leaning down to her sister's level. Bella looked at Andromeda and whined.

"Rodolphus won't see me anymore unless I get rid of it…"

"Wait…what?" asked a clueless Andromeda. Bella looked at her sister.

"He'll take me back if I don't have it or keep it, but if I keep it, he says he won't come back. I want him back, Andromeda…I think…I think I'm in love with him!"

Hearing Bellatrix say she actually loved somebody was enough for Andromeda to run to a hospital to have her ears checked. "Wait…get rid of what? Have what?"

Bella blinked out a tear before she spoke again. "Andromeda, I'm pregnant."