Andromeda hurries down to Hogsmeade, keeping a distance from any other group. She had packed everything in her trunk before realizing that it would be too suspicious to take with her down to Hogsmeade. Ted had let her stash as much as they could fit in his trunk before he sent it ahead to his parents and she packed a satchel with everything else that she could. She had to leave some things behind, mostly books, and it broke her heart to think of all the little things at home she'd never be able to go back for. There was a necklace Narcissa had given her for christmas a few years ago, a clumsy little thing, but Andromeda had always kept it. There was also her collection of letters that Ted had sent her, carefully hidden away, but she was sure her parents would find them sooner or later once she was gone. Andromeda sighed thinking about it. There wasn't much she could do, and her absence would be noticed sooner or later.

She'd tucked her copy of Moby Dick onto the top of her pile, stroking the cover gently and remembering her first days with Ted. He was worth all of this. Him and that little bit of him growing in her stomach.

On her way to Hogsmeade, Andromeda thought about Ted. In less than an hour, she'd be making a decision that would change everything in her life. She had done everything she could to finish as much school work as she could, but she knew that she'd have to find a new way to get her education. She didn't know when she'd see Cissy again, or Trixy for that matter. And as much as she knew her parents didn't understand her and were sometimes cruel because of it, she would miss them, too. But Ted… Ted made Andromeda feel warm. He made her feel understood and loved. She didn't have to hide a single bit of herself with him. He just loved her. He was so gentle with her as well. The first time they had slept together, he had traced along her body gently with his fingertips, leaving a trail of small goosebumps like a map to her skin. It was such a simple, soft thing, but Andromeda had seen his eyes… There was a familiar look there as he looked at her. Andromeda couldn't explain it, not even to herself, but she was sure that the same look would come across her eyes each time she read a brilliant line of poetry or learned about the nature of some rare plant.

And this baby. This baby changed everything. Andromeda could have given up Ted. She would have been miserable as Rabastan's wife and she knew it, but it would have been her misery. She would have given up Ted to keep him safe and she would have willingly suffered the misery. But this baby… this baby deserved everything. It deserved to be raised with love and care and gentleness. More than that, it deserved to be raised in a world that wasn't cold and filled with anger and hatred. That world that belonged to her parents, to Rabastan and to Trixy… No, her baby deserved better than that.

Andromeda neared Hogsmeade and her heart beat fast. She took a moment just outside of town to collect herself. She brushed her hair back, tucking it behind her ears and smiling to herself. This was it.

She makes her way through town and slips into the alley that her and Ted had determined, setting her satchel down besides her. She pulls out her Moby Dick to read while she waits, going over Ted's highlighted passages, but he isn't long in coming. Once she sees him coming around the corner, out of breath, she smiles and slips the book back into her bag.

"Ted," she beams.

"Dromeda," he smiles, hurrying to her. He takes her in his arms and spins her around, smiling. "Look at you, my beautiful girl."

Andromeda smiles and wraps her arms around him, leaning in and kissing him slowly. "Oh, Ted. It's happening. It feels so surreal, but it's happening."

"Are you ready for this?" he asks her, setting her back down on the ground but keeping his arms around her.

"I am," she promises. "I really am, Ted."

"Well," he smiles, digging his hand into his cloak clumsily, searching for something. "Before we go, there's something that I wanted to ask you, Dromeda."

"Yes, Ted? What is it? Nothing is wrong is it?"

"No, no," he smiles. "I just…" He grins and sinks down to one knee, pulling out a box from his cloak with a small simple band inside it. He presents it to her proudly, knowing that there's no diamond or anything truly special about the ring. "Dromeda. I love you. You're the smartest girl I've ever met, but you also are the kindest person, too. You have such a passion for making things right in this world, and I love you for it. I love you. You're already running away with me and you're already having my baby… I think the only proper thing is to ask the girl that I love to marry me. So, will you, Dromeda? Marry me, that is?"

Andromeda's smile spreads across her face like a sunrise. "Oh Ted. Oh, you darling boy. Of course I'll marry you. Of course I will."

Ted smiles and takes Andromeda's hand, sliding the small band on her finger and kissing where the diamond should go. "I know it's not much," he says, "and I promise someday I'll get you one, but for now this little thing is going to have to do."

"Don't you dare," Andromeda says passionately. "I love it, Ted. It's perfect. I love it and I love you."

Ted smiles and stands up, pulling her into his arms and kissing her gently. "Andromeda Tonks," he says. "You know, I like the sound of that. I think it suits you."

Andromeda just smiles and kisses him again.