A/N: Oh my goodness, so much happens in this chapter! Get ready for a wild ride.
Soundtrack: Phoria's "Red" and Helios' "Veriditas"
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Andromeda tried to focus on her cauldron, she really did. Professor Slughorn had told them all the brew their choice of potion and Andromeda had selected a Draught of the Living Death, wanting to impress the potions master with her skills on a difficult one. But now she regretted not picking something slightly easier as she kept getting distracted by everyone around her talking about the upcoming grudge match between Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
Ted was at a table not far from her and she kept glancing up at him, hoping that he would be looking back at her one of these times. She had spent almost every waking hour thinking about them and what had happened between them in the changing rooms. She didn't want to hurt him further but at the same time she didn't think she could give him up. She needed to talk to someone about this and Ted was the only one she could talk to about this. He wasn't just the man she was in love with, he was her best friend, her only friend really, and she missed him.
"No way we are going to let them win," Corban Yaxley muttered. "Bunch of ill bred- Hey watch it!" He snapped as Andromeda bumped into him as she passed him on her way towards the supply cabinet.
"Sorry," Andromeda said in a sweetly false voice.
When Corban Yaxley saw that it was her, his harsh expression softened.
"Oh, no problem Andromeda," He smiled toothily at her. "Do you need to get something for you from the cabinet?
Andromeda smiled thinly at him. "No thanks, I'm fine,"
"Yes you are," Rabastian said in a low voice from his position next to Corban and the two boys laughed darkly.
Andromeda tossed her hair over her shoulder and turned, finally catching Ted looking at her. His expression hardened and he rolled his eyes, turning back to his potion.
Andromeda grabbed the eel's blood she needed and returned back to her cauldron and looked down into the bubbling liquid. She had done it again. She only thought about how she was feeling in this and forgot to think about how Ted was feeling. She might be ready to talk to him, but was he ready to talk to her?
"I don't give a fuck," Corban snarled behind her, "I'll knock that Mudblood off his broom again," Andromeda tensed. "In fact," His voice turned sly, "I'm not going to wait until the match to see him where he belongs,"
Andromeda's head spun as she saw Ted walking back to his desk and a jet of light hit him in the back of the knees, causing him to fall, his newt eyes crashing and scattering across the floor.
Corban and Rabastian both broke out in a fit of laughter as Ted tried to gather himself from the floor. Andromeda bit her lip. This was hardly the first time something like this happened to Ted and in fact in their early years at Hogwarts many things like this were done to him purely for her amusement. It seemed not much had changed.
"Dromeda, did you see that?" Rabastian managed.
Ted's dark eyes met hers and she saw the angry humiliation boiling in them as he got to his feet. She stared back at him, mouth slightly open, yet unable to say anything. Ted glanced back at the two Slytherin boys and shook his head before stumbling back to his table.
Andromeda felt a surge of white-hot anger scorch inside her. How dare they touch him? How dare these two simpering fools touch something that was hers? She was going to make them pay for that. Andromeda let a large smile break onto her face and grabbed a jar of eel's blood in her hand.
"Yeah! That was-" She said with fake excitement as she spun quickly, flinging the black eel's blood all over the both of them.
Corban and Rabastian groaned as the sticky black liquid dripped down their faces and stained their clothes.
"Shit!" Rabastian swore. "This fucking stinks!"
"Oh no," Said Andromeda in fake concern, covering her mouth with her hand to hide the sick smile she was wearing.
Ted turned and saw what she had done. For him. He looked from Yaxley and Lestrange to Andromeda, who had a smug, satisfied smirk on her face. Suddenly his heart leapt into action and started beating double time. He couldn't help but laugh as Lestrange and Yaxley tried to clean themselves off unsuccessfully.
"Ugh, this is disgusting!" Yaxley tried to wipe it from his face, but only succeeded in spreading it around more.
"Eel's blood?" Professor Slughorn waddled over to them, "You're going to want to get that off right away or you'll be stuck with it for a week!"
Rabastian and Corban pushed each other in their scramble to get out the door first.
"Miss Black," He turned towards Andromeda who was pinching her lips together to keep from laughing at the sight of them running out the door. "You ought to be more careful when handling ingredients,"
"Yes Professor," Andromeda said, lowering her head slightly and letting her wavy hair fall into her face to hide her expression.
When she lifted it, she caught Ted's eye again. No harshness in his brown eyes this time, just curiosity as he watched her try and fight the smile on her lips. She held his gaze for a moment watching Ted's eyes begin to shine. Andromeda bit her lip and turned back to her potion, but not before she saw Ted smile back at her.
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Ted watched his team flying around the pitch. They had practiced their strategy so many times that they barely needed his instruction now. He pulled his broom to a stop, hovering above the three goal hoops and watched as the yellow and black blurs moved around in the sky.
He still couldn't get over what Andromeda had done in potions today. Sometimes he forgot that she was a true Slytherin and could be just as cunning and even cruel as the rest of them, only she seemed to turn her coldness back on her own house instead of the others.
Ted had been willing to let the bullying slide, being used to it after seven years and preferring to beat them on the Quidditch Pitch than risk getting in trouble for trying to jinx them back, but Andromeda had taken it into her own hands and he couldn't say that he didn't enjoy watching Yaxley and Lestrange be humiliated by her.
It had been almost a week since they argued and they still had not spoken about it. November was rushing towards them and Ted felt a heavy pressure in his stomach at the fact that their time was slipping by. He had hoped that at this point he would have almost convinced Andromeda to be with him, really be with him, but now he felt like he would be lucky if he could convince her to talk to him again.
Ted sat up straighter on his broom. From now on, he was going to devote himself to making every moment count. He would do whatever he had to; apologize, beg, grovel, whatever it took to get her back and then he was going to find some way, somehow to convince her that they should be together.
"I can't seem to stay away from you,"
"And each time I come back and fall even deeper than before."
"Believe in me,"
He felt foolish; letting one moment of doubt, make him lose almost a whole week of her. She loved him even if she pulled away and pushed him away from her. He did believe in her and maybe that is what she needed. Maybe she needed him to show that he wasn't going to leave her when it got tough or hard. She came from a dark and ruthless world, maybe she needed him to prove his declarations were true.
And he would. He called an early end to practice, praising the team and letting them have a night off. Another half hour of practice wasn't going to change the outcome of the match. He was going to win. He was going to beat Malfoy. He was going to show Andromeda that he loved her and that she should be with him and no one else.
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Lucius watched the cool autumn winds rip the colorful leaves from the trees and spin them through the air and across the stone ground of the courtyard. He had wanted to schedule another Quidditch practice today in preparation for the match against Hufflepuff that was only a week away, but business called him to Hogsmeade this weekend instead.
He had spent a large portion of his summer making not only business connections but also connections of another sort, the kind that could get him some real power. The group known as the Death Eaters who were responsible for the attacks last year were recruiting and Lucius was set on joining them once he left school.
He had a plan for when school ended in June. He was going to finally meet the Dark Lord he had heard so much about and pledge his loyalty and devotion to his cause of ridding the wizarding world of the plague of Mudbloods. Malfoy Enterprises was doing well and he had the funds to back any excursions that the Dark Lord may need him to.
Then he was going to pay Cygnus Black a visit and propose they forge a bond between their two families in the form of a marriage. Lucius was certain that with his money and influence there was no way that Cygnus would refuse him Andromeda's hand. Then he would finally have her for his own.
Andromeda had seemed to be behaving herself this year, a fact that he was rather pleased about. He would, of course, have preferred for her to come crawling back to him, but soon enough Andromeda would be his and he wouldn't have to wait or ask or convince her to do anything. He could just take what he wanted.
Lucius thought of the way she had felt under him this past summer at his birthday party; the way her body curved, the way her lips tasted, the way her floral scent had just a hint of panic in it and he felt his lower stomach tighten. Andromeda was headstrong, but even wild horses could be broken.
Lucius felt a lurch inside of him as she walked out of the castle to join the other students who were waiting to be released and make their way down to Hogsmeade for the first visit of the year. She was wearing a dark grey long sleeve dress that hugged every curve of her body and barely seemed to cover her thick thighs that black stockings stretched over. Lucius felt himself salivate at the sight of her.
Many people turned as she strode out of the front doors and down the steps, her wavy hair bouncing around her, looking like it had silver spun in it against the dark grey of the tight dress. He hissed out a sharp breath as he watched her body move down the steps and across the courtyard.
The mass of students began to shuffle forwards as they were released onto the path leading down to Hogsmeade. Andromeda walked past him without a single glance but Lucius couldn't keep his eyes off of her. She looked almost even better from the back and he tilted his head to the side to get a better view of her. She tossed a glance back behind her and he followed her line of sight to find Tonks staring at her with a similar expression on his face, except his mouth turned up in a grin as she smiled back at him before turning back around and walking quickly down the path to the village.
That damned Mudblood… it always seemed to come back to him. Why Andromeda liked to tease him and flirt with him, Lucius would never understand. When he had confronted Andromeda about the tie in the bath he had felt a cold sickness fill his chest. She wouldn't have done anything serious with Tonks… she couldn't, not with a filthy animal like him. Not his Andromeda.
But the fact that her tie had been in his room… A shadow of a threat passed through Lucius' mind and he ground his teeth as he watched Tonks follow after her as if in a daze, his eyes locked on Andromeda's swaying hips.
Lucius rammed his shoulder into the Hufflepuff as he passed him, his long gait making it easy for him to pass by him quickly. He made sure to place himself right in between Tonks and Andromeda, blocking the Mudblood's view of his future wife.
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Ted pulled his jacket around him as he headed out of Zonko's with Howard. He had given his team the day off of practice to enjoy Hogsmeade. They had all been training so hard and performing so well that he could not deny them one day of relaxation. Not to mention Ted needed it himself. He had never been stretched this thin and the stress he was harboring was wearing on him heavily.
Andromeda had still been distant since their fight in the changing rooms, but her display of loyalty in Potions the other day had given him hope. Ted was warmed by the fact that Hogsmeade had plenty of small alleyways and hidden spots that they might be able to duck into even if all they did was just talk… As long as he could just have some sort of interaction with her again.
He caught sight of her up the street, the tight dress hugging her form exquisitely. Ted felt underdressed in his old jeans, striped shirt, and zippered jacket compared to her. Her status as clear; this was a girl of wealth and means. There were times that Andromeda seemed so out of his reach, but he had been able to reach her. He had been able to put his hands over every inch of her… and she had wanted him to. Ted stood up a little straighter. She wasn't out of his reach yet. He still had time.
Ted smiled as he saw her make a beeline for Honeydukes, tossing her hair back as she crossed the full street. He grinned a little; Andromeda had always had a sweet tooth and he guessed some things would never change.
She stopped outside the green and pink shop and hugged her little sister before they headed inside together. Ted felt a crooked smile pull on his lips and took off down the street after her, Howard calling after him.
Ted was greeted with the smell of sugar as he opened the door to Honeydukes. The shelves were lined with an assortment of all kinds of sweets and candy and the store was full of students talking loudly as they grabbed packages off of the displays excitedly.
He found her easily. She was running her fingers lightly over the top of one of the shelves, perusing the assortment. Her honey eyes landed on him and Ted thought they looked sweeter than anything that Honeydukes had to offer. They twinkled slightly as she gave him a small, playful smirk. Ted watched her move around the shelves and she let him, walking slowly with long strides.
Howard finally caught up to him and panted slightly beside him. "Why…" He breathed out, "Why did you run off like that?" He asked, holding onto his side.
Ted kept his eyes on Andromeda as she picked up a sugar quill and ran her fingers over it, glancing up at him for a moment.
"Oh," Howard said simply. "That's why." He muttered.
Ted ignored him.
"Well you enjoy your stalking, I am going to get some jelly slugs" Howard said as he walked off.
Narcissa said something to Andromeda and she nodded before the blonde headed off towards the counter to pay for the collection of candy in her arms.
Andromeda turned back towards Ted, staring at him from across the shop. Her honey eyes moved over him and Ted watched as her full lips parted slightly. He was about to take a walk towards her when she brought the sugar quill up and let it gently slide past her lips into her mouth.
Ted felt a hot rush of adrenaline and the cool prickle of sweat on his skin as he watched Andromeda suck gently on the sugar quill, her eyes locked onto him. He was trapped in her gaze, mesmerized by the sight of her. Leisurely she pulled it from her mouth, turning her lips a shade of bright red. He swallowed hard and felt every muscle in his body contract in response.
Andromeda kept her eyes on him as she ran her tongue over the length of the quill and back up again. Ted was going to lose it. He was going crazy watching her. He wasn't going to be able to control himself. He was going to storm across this store and pull her into his arms and take her right here if she didn't-
Andromeda moved towards him, her hips swaying lazily as she sucked on the tip of the sugar quill. His heart beat wildly as she approached him and he felt his chest tighten the closer she got.
He stopped breathing as she came to a stop in front of him. Her lips were red and shining and Ted felt his knees go weak.
"Outside," She said quietly and Ted's eyes darkened with desire.
Andromeda slid past him and he heard the bell ring as she pushed open the door.
Ted grinned and turned to follow her.
"Okay, well I'll just catch up with you later!" Howard called after him as Ted disappeared out of the shop after Andromeda. "Not like we were hanging out or anything," He muttered under his breath.
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Ted followed Andromeda, a few paces behind, down the busy street and into an alleyway that twisted around the back of some of the shops. She disappeared from view and Ted glanced behind him before rounding the corner and finding her standing there, waiting for him.
He wanted to rush to her, to push her against the brick wall and push up those few inches of dress that were keeping him from where he belonged. Andromeda dropped the sugar quill to the ground, slightly opening her red mouth.
And so he did.
Andromeda let out a high-pitched moan as they collided into the wall at the end of the alley. Ted wrapped one arm around the small of her back and slammed the other into the wall, steading himself as she practically climbed him like he was a tree. Andromeda had her hand in his hair, pushing his head down onto her mouth, her other clawed at his back as she wrapped one stocking clad leg around his waist. He could taste the sugar quill on her tongue and he groaned as he thought of the way she had worked her tongue over it for his viewing pleasure.
Andromeda gasped and looked down, "You're hard as a rock," She said in surprise and Ted shoved his hips into hers.
He placed his hand on her cheek and ran his thumb over her red lips. "Do you have any idea how fucking hot that was? Watching you?" He growled.
Andromeda smirked. "Watch this," She breathed out and ran her hands down his body as she sunk to her knees in front of him.
Ted's sucked in a sharp breath as she knelt in front of him. Andromeda lifted her molten eyes back up to him as she pulled his jeans open.
"Holy fucking shit," Ted said breathlessly as Andromeda pulled his cock from his pants and stroked it before running her tongue along the length of it.
Ted hissed and slammed his hand back against the wall for balance as he began to lose feeling in his legs. Andromeda slowly took his cock in her mouth and Ted watched her full lips pull along it. Her tongue darted and flicked against the tip before snaking over it. Ted groaned out loudly as she repeated the action, again and again.
He ran his hand over the back of her head and cupped her cheek, tilting her head up ever so slightly so that he could watch her eyes as she took him in her glorious mouth. His chest rose and fell heavily and his dark blonde hair fell into his eyes as he stared open mouthed at her in awe.
It wasn't long before he felt the pressure build at the base of his spine and started panting. "Fuck, Dromeda, you're going to make me-" He felt the back of her throat and Ted came, groaning loudly, unable to hold it in.
He tried to catch his breath as Andromeda stood up, smirking at him, clearly pleased with herself. Ted stared at her in wonder.
Slowly Andromeda bit her lip and her smile faded. "I'm sorry," She said as she cast her eyes to the ground.
"What for?" Ted gasped.
"For not thinking about you," She fidgeted in front of him. "How you might be feeling and how hard this is on you,"
Ted placed his large hand on her neck and cheek, running his thumb over her cheekbone. "That was a hell of an apology," Ted managed.
Andromeda let out a bashful laugh and bit her lip again, glancing back up at him.
"I have a lot to apologize for," She mumbled.
"No, you don't," Ted said firmly and meant it. "I knew the terms going into this. And I still dove in head first." He looked down at the woman he loved; she wasn't just a beautiful girl in an amazing dress, she was the soul inside. He didn't want to own or possess her; he wanted to be with her.
"So I am going to make my intentions very clear." Ted stated and Andromeda's eyes locked in on his. "I know you're supposed to get married when we leave school. But I don't want you to. I want you to be with me. I want you to give us a chance. A real one."
Andromeda's eyes widened. "You don't have to say anything now, I am just letting you know that is what I am doing here. I am not giving up. I don't care who I have to go through. I'm fighting for you."
Her lips parted and her mouth opened into a small O at Ted's declaration.
"You're free to make your own choices but I had to let you know that I've made mine. And it's you. It's always been you."
He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers.
"Just… let me know when you've made yours. Okay?" Ted added. "Until then…" He placed his hand on her hip and pushed her back into the wall again, lowering his lips back onto hers.
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Ted could not swallow a single bite the morning of the match. Every nerve ending in his body seemed to be on high alert and his mind spun quickly. He offered his team members each encouraging words and assured them that all their hard work at practice was about to pay off. He only hoped his anxiety wasn't showing too much on his face as he reassured them that he was confident they would come back with a victory under their belts.
Imogen tried to get him to eat something, but Ted refused every offer. He took a sip of pumpkin juice and that was it. He couldn't stomach anything else. He lifted his brown eyes up to see the Slytherin Quidditch team, clad in green, bent over their table, talking quietly to each other. He counted six players; one was missing. Malfoy.
Ted's eyes swept the rest of the Slytherin table and focused in when he saw the familiar blonde head leaning behind Andromeda and whispering in her ear. Her expression was unreadable as she pursed her lips. Ted didn't know how it could, but his stomach clenched even further at the sight of this. Since last weekend in Hogsmeade they had only been able to sneak behind the greenhouses for a quick make out session once that had only left Ted wanting more.
Malfoy was leaning on one arm while his other played with a lock of her wavy hair. Andromeda's face turned blank and Ted recognized the unseeing look in her eye as the same one she had on the train. He didn't think he could sit here and watch Malfoy try to flirt with her. Suddenly Malfoy lifted his face and his pale grey eyes locked onto Ted's. Ted saw a sick gleam in them as he slowly lowered his head back down to Andromeda.
She stood up quickly, fury painted on her pale face. Ted tensed, every muscle tightening in his body. He couldn't pull his eyes away from them as Malfoy slowly stood up, blocking her path.
Malfoy brushed her hair back from her shoulders and tilted his head to the side slightly. He saw Andromeda's breathing quicken as her chest rose and fell heavily. Her heavy lids lowered on her amber eyes in disgust and her lip curled slightly.
Malfoy slowly lifted his hand to rest on her chest, raising it slowly so it almost looked like he was lightly grabbing her throat. Ted felt his hands ball into fists as Malfoy lowered his face to hers. Andromeda remained perfectly still, arms hanging limply by her side as Malfoy's lips landed on hers.
Ted felt his empty stomach turn inside of him and was sure that the acid from it was burning his insides. His entire body felt like it was being eaten alive and corroded away by the hot, sick feeling inside of him. He sat there and watched as Malfoy's lips moved on hers. The same lips that he had kissed, the same lips that… Malfoy wrapped his other hand around her and swiftly pushed her back onto the table, causing plates and cups to fall to the floor.
Once again, every pair of eyes in the Hall turned towards the Slytherin table and the scene that Malfoy and Andromeda were causing. There were wolf whistles and loud noises coming from Malfoy's friends and teammates, cheering him on as he deepened the kiss with Andromeda. Ted felt the blood rush to his head, heard his heart pumping in his ears, as he watched Malfoy press his body against hers.
"GET OFF OF HER!" Ted shouted. He hadn't felt himself raise up from the table, a lone figure in the Great Hall. Suddenly the same eyes that had just been watching Malfoy and Andromeda were all turned on him, including their own.
Malfoy's grey eyes gleamed sickly as he looked up at Ted, standing there shaking in rage. Andromeda looked like she was in pain as her honey eyes landed on him for barely a moment before she tore them away and shoved Malfoy off of her. Andromeda fled from the Hall. Ted locked eyes again with Malfoy, wanting to climb over the tables to get his hands on him.
Malfoy smirked and wiped his lip with his thumb, then stuck it in his mouth for a moment, savoring the taste of her while staring back at Ted.
"Ted," Howard's voice sounded far away from him, as the sound of his rushing blood in his ears drowned out every around him. "Ted, sit down," Howard's voice sounded like a warning and he felt his friend pulling on his robes.
Ted yanked himself away from Howard and headed for the doors that led into the Entrance Hall. He found Andromeda leaning against a stone pillar outside the front doors, holding her stomach and breathing heavily.
He stopped short as he saw her. His anger dissolved into pain as she lifted her eyes to his. He wanted to yell and shout, he wanted to run back inside and beat that smirk off of Malfoy's face. But Andromeda had a lost, broken look in her eyes and she opened her mouth to say something before hanging her head back down and letting out a sharp breath.
He had told her the truth that he wanted her to choose him and be with him. Was this her way of letting him know she had made a decision?
"If you're done with me you could have just said so." Ted's voice came out harsher than he intended. "You didn't have to put on that show,"
Andromeda looked back up at him and he saw something in her eyes he had only ever seen once before, shame.
"That… that wasn't what that was," She said quietly.
"Then what the hell was that, Dromeda?" Ted asked, leaning forward slightly.
Andromeda looked back at the ground. "Can we… can we not do this right now?" She said tearfully.
"Sure," Ted said, frustration in his voice. "I'm sure you want to get a good seat so you can cheer him on properly,"
Andromeda's head shot up and her eyes locked onto his, magnified with pooled tears.
He wanted to go to her, to hold her, to have her tell him it was all a big misunderstanding and press her head into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. He hated himself for getting jealous and upset. They had been doing fine until now, until Malfoy. Ted's face hardened as he realized why Malfoy had done that, and today of all days.
"Good luck, Tonks," Andromeda managed. "I'm sure you'll need it," She tried to sneer at him, but it only made the tears finally fall from her eyes.
He could hear students in the Entrance Hall, making their way towards them. Andromeda wiped her eyes quickly as they began to spill around them. Ted made a small movement towards her but she pulled back, turning her face towards the grounds stretching out around them.
Ted walked past her, not daring to look back at her right now, as he was sure that he would break down. He kept his eyes straight ahead, trying to stop the wave of emotions that were threatening to crash down over him.
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Ted hardly had a chance to breathe before Malfoy was soaring back towards him. The Comet 260 really was a work of art and even with all of Ted's extra hours of practice, he was just barely keeping the Slytherins at bay.
The score was 80 to 60 with Slytherin in the lead. Ted could not have been more proud of his team and felt like they were carrying him as he dived to block another Quaffle thrown by Malfoy. It seemed their altercation in the Great Hall this morning only fueled him on while it was distracting Ted and throwing him off.
Every time he saw Malfoy's blonde hair streaking towards him he saw him on top of Andromeda, his hands on her throat and around her waist. When Malfoy would throw the Quaffle Ted saw him bearing down on her, as if he had done it dozens of times, and for all Ted knew, he had. He knew Andromeda had a past with Malfoy but seeing it right in front of his eyes made it all too real for him.
Ted swore as another Quaffle made it through one of his hoops. Malfoy had done this on purpose. He knew the scouts were here today; they came to watch him too. He had done this to throw Ted off his game… but why had she done it? Why had Andromeda let him kiss her?
The cheers from the crowd were deafening and Ted felt his heart beating hard in his chest. Then he saw it. The Golden Snitch, zipping happily in and out of the right hand hoop. It was four yards from him. Three yards. It was… Malfoy was back, streaking through the air like he was made for it on the broom that Andromeda had bought him.
Ted glanced from him to the Snitch. Imogen was too far away; she was circling high above the pitch, her eyes searching for the small golden ball that he had just seen. Ted looked back at Malfoy; he was veering ever so slightly in the opposite direction. If Ted moved now he could block Malfoy's shot. Or he could go after the Snitch, a risky move and Slytherin would score again.
Was it better to stop Malfoy or win the game? The answer was a simple one. Ted squeezed the handle of his broom and reached his hand out.
He had never actually caught a Snitch before and was surprised at how much it fought to be free of him as his hand closed around it.
"SLYTHERIN SCORES AGAIN!" The announcer called out and Malfoy roared as the crowd cheered.
Ted looked down curiously at the small golden ball in his hand. He had done it. They had won. He looked up with a strange, wild smile on his face and found that he was staring into the golden eyes of Andromeda. Her eyes went wide in shock and her mouth fell open, stunned as she saw the small silver wings beating against his hand.
"He did it!" She yelled out, "He caught the Snitch!"
The people around Andromeda began to murmur. She pointed, open mouthed at Ted who was hovering lightly in the air, still just holding the small ball in his gloved hand.
"Unbelievable!" The announcer called out. "In an unprecedented move, Ted Tonks, Hufflepuff KEEPER, has caught the Golden Snitch winning 150 points for his team and winning the match!"
The stands exploded and Ted looked around as the players all pulled their brooms to a stop and stared at Ted. He looked up at Imogen who was crying tears of happiness and chanting his name.
The Comet 260 really was an incredible broom. He only saw a blur of blonde and green before he felt the impact of Malfoy's body against his own. The momentum he carried with him pushed both of them back and Ted felt his leg hit the metal of the hoop and felt a jolt of pain shoot up his leg. Malfoy's white fingers clawed at his robes, trying to get a hold of him as they tumbled backwards.
Ted couldn't steady or right himself on his broom with Malfoy clinging onto him, landing a blow every now and then. He felt the wind on the back of his head and twisted, trying to free himself. He saw the ground approaching fast as he looked down at Malfoy, now under him, his face contorted with rage.
Ted pushed against him one last time in an effort to break away but the ground broke against them first.
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"Why anyone wants to fly through the sky chasing after a ball is beyond me!" Ted heard Madame Pomfrey screech and blearily opened his eyes. He was in the hospital wing. Again. His leg was bandaged and in a sling hanging low from the tall rafters. Broken. He knew it by the pain that shot up his body as he tried to sit up.
"Oh no you don't!" Madame Pomfrey hurried over to him and pushed him back down. "I can mend it, but I have to wait for the swelling to go down. Drink this,"
She pushed a light purple potion into his hand and Ted gulped it down. He had been injured enough times to not question Madame Pomfrey anymore and just drink whatever she handed him.
"Now lie back and don't move!" She ordered and rushed off.
Ted leaned back, wincing, and looked around. Malfoy was in the bed next to him, unconscious.
"All right, Mr. Malfoy," Madame Pomfrey announced as she tested a large syringe of bright red liquid. "Time to wake up!"
Ted turned as Malfoy awoke with a painful yell. "What the bloody hell are you doing to me?!" He snarled as Madame Pomfrey straightened up, and grimaced.
"Lie back, you have a concussion, a broken collarbone, and several cracked ribs. You're lucky that's all you have after a fall like that," She said as a warning.
She turned and hurried off back to her medicine cabinet.
Malfoy leaned over the other side of his bed and Ted heard him get sick. He groaned as he laid back on his bed before looking around and seeing Ted next to him. His pale face was a sickly shade of green but that did not stop him from curling his lip in a sneer as his eyes landed on Ted.
"Fuck you," He spat, quite literally, but fell short of Ted.
Ted was tempted to tell him he'd already gotten fucked, by Andromeda no less, knowing that this would drive him crazy, but Ted held his tongue.
Instead, all he said was, "Classy,"
"I'll fucking kill you, Mudblood," Malfoy snarled.
"Yeah? Try sitting up first," Ted said and leaned back in his own bed.
He heard Malfoy shift in the bed next to him and then heard him cry out in pain.
"If you try and get up one more time I am going to strap you down!" Madame Pomfrey scolded as she poured a cup of dark blue liquid and handed it to him. "Drink this, for the pain," She ordered.
Malfoy gulped it down and laid back again. Madame Pomfrey set the bottle down on his bedside table and hurried off again.
"You look like shit," Ted commented casually.
Malfoy glared at him and the winced. "Fuck this," He muttered and grabbed the bottle on the table beside his bed.
"Malfoy I don't think you should-" Ted started but Malfoy had already turned the bottle upside down and was gulping down mouthfuls.
"STOP!" Madame Pomfrey cried and rushed back, pulling the bottle from his hands. "Have you lost your mind? Do you have any idea how powerful this can be?" She spluttered.
Malfoy looked up at her, his head weaving slightly, and burped loudly. Ted snorted out a laugh.
"Merlin's beard," She muttered and pushed Malfoy back down on the bed. "You students are going to be the death of me!" She cried and rushed away with the half empty bottle.
Malfoy's head lolled to the side and his grey eyes landed on Ted again.
"I hate you," His words were slurred and Ted's eyes were large as he watched what appeared to be an extremely drunk Malfoy try and sit up in his bed.
"Well that's good because I hate you too," Ted said cheerfully.
"You're… you're a dirty Mudblood." Malfoy mumbled.
Ted gave a short laugh. "Yeah and you're a piece of shit purist, we all have our crosses to bear,"
"Why does she… why does she like you? You're nothing," Malfoy said sloppily. "You're a nobody. I'm Lucius fucking Malfoy."
"Maybe that's why," Ted offered. He was enjoying drunk Malfoy more than he had ever enjoyed sober Malfoy.
"Why won't she love me?" Malfoy's head fell to the side before he lazily picked it back up again. Ted stared at him for a moment. He seemed to be asking in earnest, as if Ted was supposed to know the answer. He realized in that moment that Malfoy might be the only other person in the world that could understand what he was going through with Andromeda because Malfoy had gone through it. He was still going through it.
"Who knows, with Andromeda," Ted said, sighing. It was almost freeing, talking to Malfoy in this state.
"I do," Malfoy slurred. "I know her. I've known her my whole life. I've wanted her since we were kids." Ted turned back to Malfoy in surprise. He had to be really messed up to be speaking like this to Ted of all people. "One year, for Christmas, I asked… I asked my Father for her."
Ted raised his eyebrows.
"I got a horse instead. It had wings." Malfoy flopped back on his bed. "I loved that horse. She died." He added simply. "I rode her too long in the snow. She was sweating when I" He burped again, "When I put her in the stable. I was tired so I didn't give her a blanket or water. When I came out in the morning she was on the ground, shaking."
Ted stared at the blonde next to him.
"She never got back up."
"I'm sorry," Ted said. Malfoy had sounded actually upset about his horse and Ted felt an unwelcome sense of sympathy for him.
"Don't feel sorry for me, Mudblood." Malfoy said disgustedly. "You're the… you're the one whose going to… going to…" Malfoy trailed off and Ted watched as his head fell to the side.
Ted leaned back. He knew that Andromeda was upset with him but did she kiss Malfoy to get back at him? She was a Slytherin and had proved that she took revenge when she wanted to. Now that he had calmed down some he thought about the way she had looked at him, full of regret, sorrow, and shame. She hadn't done that, Malfoy had.
"You love her too, don't you?" Malfoy's slurred voice sounded again.
"Yeah," Ted muttered. He had the distinct feeling that Malfoy wasn't going to remember any of this in the morning. "I love her too."
"So… we're gonna fight?" Malfoy asked drunkenly.
"Yeah, we're gonna fight." Ted sighed.
"Well get ready because," Malfoy heaved. "Because I'm coming for you."
"Okay, Malfoy," Ted said tiredly.
"Loving her… sucks," Malfoy snorted. "Because… because she doesn't love you back, right?"
Ted sighed. He hated to admit it, but he knew how Malfoy felt.
"She just… walks around being wonderful and you have to sit there and watch her walk away again and again… That's what loving Andromeda is like, just watching her walk away…"
Ted didn't like that Malfoy was describing the exact way he felt right now.
"She… she was mine first," Malfoy added.
Ted glanced over at him. He was half sitting up with his arm hanging loosely off the side of the bed.
"She's not yours anymore," Ted spoke those words clearly to Malfoy. Even if he wouldn't remember any of this; it still felt good to say them as he looked into Malfoy's pale grey eyes.
"You think she's yours?" Malfoy's eyes rolled in his head. "She's going to leave you… For me," His words were becoming more slurred.
Ted felt his stomach clench.
"I'm going to make her," Malfoy sighed.
"You're going to have to go through me first," Ted said in a low voice. He knew there was no sense in arguing with him when he was like this, but Ted just couldn't help himself.
"I'm going to make her," Malfoy mumbled, "My wife."
Ted was enjoying drunk Malfoy much less now and felt heat rise up from his chest into his neck again.
"I'm… I'm going to breed her, just like my horses." Malfoy brought his eyes back to Ted's, they were unfocused and rolling in his skull. "I'm going to-"
"Shut your fucking mouth," Ted's voice was shaking with rage. He didn't care that his leg was broken; he was going to crawl his way to Malfoy and make him stop talking about her like that.
"Sleep," Malfoy mumbled and his head fell back against the pillows.
Madame Pomfrey came back brandishing her wand.
"Looks like the swelling is down." She tapped the sling and it gently placed his leg back on the bed. Madame Pomfrey swirled her wand and then a red stream of light came from it and hit Ted's leg. A burning sensation ran deep through his leg and then… nothing. No pain, no discomfort, it felt just like it always had.
"All right then," Madame Pomfrey smacked her hands together. "Well go!" She shooed him. "I'm not running a boarding house, off with you!"
Ted stood up carefully and found that his leg held his weight easily. "Thank you," He said to the Healer and she smiled at him briefly before turning back to Malfoy and trying to push his arm back on the bed.
"Silly fool," She muttered. "Can you watch him for a moment while I get another syringe?" Madame Pomfrey hurried off into the back again.
Ted walked over to Malfoy's bed and gazed down at him. He didn't look threatening or dangerous at all right now, lying crooked in the bed, his mouth hanging open. Malfoy's head lolled to the side but he did not open his eyes.
Madame Pomfrey was almost done at her medicine cabinet and Ted glanced back down at him one last time. This was the person who was trying to take Andromeda from him. This was the man who she was probably going to marry. This was the boy who had picked on him, bullied him, for years just because he had Muggle parents.
Malfoy jerked awake and leaned over the side of the bed, getting sick again into a bucket that Madame Pomfrey had placed there just in time. He groaned as he leaned back on the bed and Madame Pomfrey took the bucket away again as quickly as she had arrived with it.
Ted took a step closer to him, leaning down slightly. "You're going to lose, Malfoy," Ted said in a low voice. Malfoy unsuccessfully tried to focus his eyes on Ted. "We belong together, her and me. I'm going to prove that to her, to you, to everyone," Ted said dangerously.
Malfoy glared up at him then slowly his eyes closed and he began to snore.
.
.
.
Andromeda tapped on the painting of the mountain valley that was the entrance to the Head's dorm with the wand and waited. It wasn't long before it swung open and Andromeda took a deep breath.
Her face fell as she saw Candace Carson standing there instead of Ted.
"Oh," Andromeda said, disappointed.
"Can I help you?" Candace asked briskly.
"I… I was looking for Ted. Tonks." Andromeda quickly corrected herself.
"Well he's not here."
"Do you know where he is?"
"No." Candace answered shortly. "We are dorm mates, not friends."
Andromeda narrowed her eyes at the Ravenclaw.
The dark haired girl sighed. "He's probably in the Hufflepuff common room, celebrating with the rest of them."
"Well," Andromeda tried a new tactic. "He borrowed a book from me, back when I was doing HoM club and-"
"I remember that club," Candace said snidely. "Even I found it boring,"
Andromeda paused, remembering that Candace Carson had been at the first meeting of HoM club with Ted, Howard, and her. It was almost funny that here she was, again, in their lives.
"Yes, well," Andromeda pressed on, her voice tense. "I'm sure it's in his room. Can I just check real quick?"
Candace blocked her path.
Andromeda hardened her face. "Look, Ted, I mean Tonks, said I could come get it whenever, that I had an open invitation so if you don't mind," Andromeda tried to push the door slightly.
Candace laughed. "Hardly! I'm not letting a Slytherin in here, especially to look around his room for a book. Honestly, aren't you supposed to be sneaky?"
Andromeda pulled back and blinked in surprise.
"Nice try, Black." Candace sneered and closed the door in her face.
.
.
.
Candace was right. She was a Slytherin and they were supposed to be sneaky. Andromeda lurked behind a suit of iron, waiting for Candace to leave so she could sneak in. It wasn't too long before Andromeda jerked herself back behind the suit as Lucius appeared at the end of the corridor, walking towards the painting of the Hogwarts Valley.
Andromeda carefully lowered her head to look under the arm and watched as he tapped his wand on the painting and Candace opened the door.
"You better have some good information for me this time." Lucius sneered.
"She was here." Candace said simply.
Andromeda covered her hand with her mouth to stop the surprised gasp in her throat to stop from coming out.
"When?" Lucius asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Not long. She was looking for him. Said he had a book of hers."
"A book? What kind of book?"
"I don't know… a… a history book," Candace shrugged.
"Is she in there?" Lucius growled.
"No, I sent her away. I figured you wouldn't want her-"
"Next time keep her in one place," Lucius growled. "She's a slippery minx,"
"That'll cost extra," She placed a hand on her hip.
"I only pay for what I get," He sneered.
"Then what else do you want?" Candace tilted her head to the side.
Lucius looked her up and down quickly. "Search his room."
"If you tell me what I'm supposed to be looking for it might be easier,"
Andromeda eyes darted back and forth from the Ravenclaw to her fellow Slytherin quickly. Lucius mumbled something quietly so that she couldn't hear.
"I'll pay dearly for it, Carson." He placed a good-sized bag of gold into her outstretched hand. "And so will they, if it's true," He murmured darkly.
Candace didn't seem to hear him as she opened the bag and counted the gold pieces inside.
Andromeda ducked back behind the suit of iron as Lucius' grey eyes swept across the corridor before he started back the way he came.
She leaned against the cool wall behind her, breathing heavily. Lucius was taking over her entire life. She closed her eyes tight briefly against the thought of what would have happened if Ted had been there and let her in instead of Candace turning her away. The things Lucius would have done to her… to Ted… Ted. Andromeda had to warn Ted.
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A/N: Okay I know that was a crazy chapter but don't worry! The next one will be up soon and trust me; you're going to want to read that one.
What do you think Ted would have done to Malfoy in the hospital wing he knew what Malfoy had done over the summer?
Please review!