A/N: So I wanted to try something a bit different. Hope you like it. Also, I really suggest listening to the song in the soundtrack this week. You can pull it up on Youtube and just hit repeat lol.
Soundtrack: Phoria's "Evolve"
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First Year, September
Ted's first week at Hogwarts had been amazing. He had never known he was a wizard until just a few weeks ago and now he was living in a castle… learning magic; it didn't seem real. A beautiful terror filled him as excitement mixed with anxiety.
His classes were fantastical; Transfiguration where they watched Professor McGonagall turn into a cat, Potions where Professor Slughorn let them look into different cauldrons of strange bubbling liquids, Herbology where Professor Sprout had lazily swatted away tendrils that steadily crept around her body, and Defense Against the Dark Arts where Ted spent a good portion of the class staring at the skeleton of a real dragon hanging over his head.
As today was the first weekend, Ted wanted to explore the castle. He walked out from the barrels and the Hufflepuff common room and climbed the steps up into the castle. He wandered down the corridors, portraits and tapestries lining the walls, smiling and waving gently down at him. Ted's jaw dropped open when he walked into the Library and saw the collection of books, scrolls, and tomes stacked high.
He wandered through the stacks looking at the titles of the books, occasionally opening one and paging through it eagerly.
"I've read that one," A girl with long wavy hair commented casually. "A bit overwritten. You'd think they'd been paid by the word," She rolled her eyes and Ted saw that they shone like honey, despite the haughty expression she wore. He recognized her; she had been in the same boat as him as they crossed the Black Lake when they arrived at the castle. Ted couldn't help but notice that she was also very pretty.
"Do you like history?" She asked as she leaned against the shelf next to him, tilting her head to the side slightly.
"Uhm," Ted glanced down at the book in his hands, The Historie of Giantes in Euyrope it read and Ted tried to think of anything he knew about giants. Until a week ago, he didn't even think they were real. "Yeah," He finished lamely.
"You should…" She turned quickly, her eyes moving over the multicolored books on the shelf as she ran her finger down the spine of one of them. "Try this one," She smiled and handed him a dusty, dark red book with crinkled pages. "I love the Goblin Rebellions," She said with a small smirk.
"Thanks," Said Ted breathlessly as he took the book from her. His fingers closed on top of hers and he froze.
The girl looked from him to their hands and back up, and Ted felt like her honey eyes were pouring into him.
All of a sudden she pulled back and the book fell to the floor.
"Sorry," Ted mumbled as he leaned down to pick it up.
She tossed her hair back over her shoulder as he stood up again. Ted blushed and the girl seemed to take a moment to compose herself.
"So you're a Hufflepuff?" She asked, nodding at the black and yellow badger crest on his robes.
"Yeah," Said Ted, grinning. "You're in Slytherin?" His eyes moved to the green and silver snake on hers.
"My whole family is," She shrugged. "For generations now," Ted couldn't help but notice the arrogance in her voice at this.
"My parents are Muggles," Ted said simply.
The girl's eyes widened. "So you're… you're a-"
"Muggleborn, yeah," Said Ted, scratching the back of his neck.
The girl looked down at her hand as if she was surprised it was still attached to her body.
"Andromeda, there you are," A tall girl with dark curly hair stuck her head around the corner. "Let's head back, I'm done," She said and glanced at Ted with dark eyes.
"Thanks for the book recommendation," Ted said with a small smile.
"Don't mention it," She said softly but firmly and walked past him towards the dark haired girl.
Ted spun. "Hey, what's your name?" He asked quickly.
She cast a glance over her shoulder, wavy hair moving across her back. "Black. Andromeda Black." She said and let her eyes linger on him for a moment before frowning slightly.
"I'm Ted." Ted said quickly, taking a step towards her. "Ted Tonks." He smiled brightly.
Her amber eyes moved over him, but she did not smile back. Instead she looked confused and perturbed as she followed the older girl out of the stacks.
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Second Year, March
Andromeda sat in the courtyard, enjoying the warm spring sun after so long stuck inside in the cold of winter. She liked the courtyard when it was like this, empty and open. She took a deep breath, relishing the sweet scent of the fresh air as it swirled around her in a morning breeze.
Her attention was brought back to the present as two boys walked through the stone walkway, laughing loudly and shoving each other playfully back and forth. She recognized them as Hufflepuffs in her year; one had deep brown hair and the other sandy blonde hair. They glanced over to her and the sandy haired boy's warm eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than his friend's. She knew his name… it was…
"Ted, you're a mad man!" The dark haired boy cried out laughing at something that Ted, apparently, had just said.
Andromeda watched them as they took a seat on a bench across the courtyard from her. She pursed her lips slightly at the interruption but then lowered her eyes back down to her book. She wasn't going to let these two Hufflepuffs ruin her morning, even if they were being loud in her space.
"Hey Andromeda," Lucius' voice drawled from behind her as he leaned through the opening in the walkway and over her shoulder.
She rolled her eyes. So much for a peaceful morning…
"What are you reading?" He asked, pulling the book from her hands.
"Give it back," Andromeda ordered.
"Just let me take a look first," Lucius said slyly as he paged through the book.
"Rubbish," He tossed the book to Rabastian who was standing behind him.
"Well I was reading that rubbish," Andromeda argued.
Lucius jumped through the opening and sat down on the bench next to her.
"Well now you can talk to me instead," He said cheerily.
Andromeda narrowed her eyes. "Because you're so entertaining," She said sarcastically.
Lucius grey eyes moved over her face before a smirk spread on his lips. "You want to be entertained?" He asked, his eyes glittering.
"If you can manage it," Andromeda crossed her arms expectantly.
Lucius' smirk widened and he turned towards Rabastian behind him, motioning for him to follow. Rabastian tossed her book back towards her and the two boys took off across the courtyard towards the Hufflepuffs on the other side.
She couldn't hear what they were saying but she saw the dark haired boy look quickly back and forth between Lucius and the light haired boy. Tonks, his name was Ted Tonks, she finally remembered.
Tonks stood up and shook his head, his hair falling into his eyes.
Lucius glanced back at her and gave her a wink before turning back around and shoving Tonks roughly back down on the bench.
He stumbled and fell over the back of it, landing in a heap on the stones on the ground.
Lucius and Rabastian laughed loudly at the sight of him struggling to get up.
The dark haired boy helped him and Tonks brushed off his robes, glaring at Lucius and said something under his breath that Andromeda couldn't hear before the two Hufflepuffs started heading out of the courtyard.
"You better go!" Lucius called behind them. "Mudblood!" He shouted out as they walked back into the stone walkway that led into the castle.
Lucius sauntered back over to Andromeda and sat next to her again.
"Like that?" He smirked and Andromeda grabbed her book off the seat next to her.
"Why did you do that?"
"Why not?" Lucius said, leaning back some. "He's a Mudblood, he's used to be dirty." He sneered.
Andromeda gave a small laugh, but didn't mean it. She didn't like Mudbloods and knew they were boorish and ill bred, not like Purebloods, not like her. But they had been over there, in their area, minding their own business… Andromeda pushed these confusing thoughts from her head and looked back to Lucius.
"So, what are we doing now?" She asked as she raised her chin and Lucius' grey eyes lit up.
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Third Year, October
Ted looked over at Black as she gently placed her Bowtruckle back on the branch, making sure each spindly leg was firmly grasping the bark before she removed her hand. They shared Care of Magical Creatures and he had begun to notice that she wasn't exactly the girl he thought she was.
Without Malfoy or his friends around, Black seemed to be much more relaxed and didn't snap at the people around her as much. But especially here, in this class, she was calm and gentle with the creature they were caring for. Ted scooped up his Bowtruckle and walked over to the tree she was standing in front of.
"I like these," He said casually as he placed his Bowtruckle on a limb. "Don't you?" Ted glanced down at Black. Her amber eyes were watching him carefully, a curious look in them before they seemed to harden right in front of him.
"I don't like you," She snarled, all her softness he had just watched gone in an instant.
"Why?" Ted asked, confused. "Do you even… know who I am?" The only conversation she had ever really had with him was in the Library years ago and he doubted she even remembered that. He had though. But they didn't run in the same circles so how could she even know enough about him to form an opinion?
Black wavered, her mouth opened then closed. "I don't need to," She sneered. "I know what you are," She turned and stalked off.
Ted watched in bewilderment as Black stormed off. What had just happened? Had he done something?
"Now next class," Professor Kettleburn announced as the students gathered their belongings, "We will start on…. Murtlaps!"
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Third Year, May
"I'm telling you, it's useless," Howard commented and bent his head back down to the parchment.
"I don't know," Ted said, "She's… different."
"Because all Purebloods are crazy," Howard said slowly as if trying to drive the point into Ted's head.
But Ted's head was turned towards Black who was sitting a few tables away.
"She's not crazy," Ted said, watching her as she bent over her parchment, filling it with small, neat print. "She's actually pretty cool,"
Howard scoffed. "Just because she likes creatures doesn't mean she will ever like you,"
Ted let a small smile spread on his face. "I don't know," He chewed on his lip slightly. "I think there could be something between us,"
"Yeah," Howard nodded in her direction. "Hatred. Loathing." He muttered.
Ted looked back and saw Malfoy sliding into the seat next to her. Black glanced over at him, her honey eyes brightening as she began to talk with him excitedly about something.
He frowned for a moment as Malfoy stretched out his arm to grab the back of her chair, but as Black started moving her hands and smiling broadly, he found himself smiling along with her unintentionally.
They were released for lunch and Ted was gathering his quill and ink back into his bag as Black and Malfoy walked past their desk.
"I'm telling you, it was the cutest little creature," She said in a soft tone. "You just have to get a Porlock, Lucius, for your horses!" She clung onto his arm.
Ted watched Malfoy's silver eyes glance down to her hands on him and a smirk played on his lips.
"Will you come visit it if I do?" He said smoothly.
"Can I name it?" Black asked brightly.
Malfoy smiled smugly down at her as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "Whatever you like," Ted recognized the expression on Malfoy's pointed face because he knew that his face had been the same one just moments before.
They moved past Ted's desk without a single look in his direction, like he was below them. Ted shoved his inkpot into his bag and heaved it on his shoulder as he turned.
Black pulled Malfoy's arm from around her and shook her hair back, as if shedding him and rolled her shoulders. Ted's mouth twitched upwards again.
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Fourth Year, November
"You're late," Andromeda snapped as Tonks walked in the HoM club room. Her amber eyes slid over him to the door that was slowly closing behind him. "Where's Rogers?" She asked in a business-like tone.
"Howard's sick," Tonks said and placed his hand on the back of the chair he normally sat in. Then he paused.
He lifted his chocolate eyes to hers and with a small smile moved over a few seats and pulled out the chair directly across from her and sat down.
"So it's just us then," Tonks said in a curious tone.
Andromeda eyed him. The Hufflepuff had joined HoM club and been an eager participant since the first meeting. She wasn't sure why he liked the club so much, she could admit it was not the most exciting one, but he always showed up with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.
His friend, Howard Rogers, tagged along; she was sure it was so he wouldn't have to come alone. The darker haired boy made it very clear that he was not interested in the discussions or anything to do with History of Magic beyond what would get him a passing mark from Binns. Andromeda didn't care, why was his opinion to someone like her?
But she had to admit that Tonks wasn't… terrible to sit across from and have to look at. His dark blonde hair was always falling into his eyes and he had a habit of tossing his head or pushing it back only for it to fall back the way it was. He had an athletic build with strong shoulders, but his long arms showed that he still had a way to grow before he was done. But his eyes, always warm like pools of melted chocolate, were what seemed to keep drawing her in.
"Just us, then," Andromeda repeated and cleared her throat. "So since we've covered the Statue of Secrecy I think the natural transition is one to the Witch Hunts in the 14th century-"
"Do you want a Peppermint Toad?" Tonks asked quickly.
"What?" Andromeda looked up and blinked at him.
He reached down into his bag and pulled out a box of Peppermint Toads and placed it on the desk. "Do you want one?" He offered again, holding the box out towards her.
Andromeda looked from him to the toads and back again. Slowly she reached out a hand and took one. "Thanks,"
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Fourth Year, January
"Nice necklace," Tonks said as he passed Andromeda a package of Fudge Flies.
"Thank you, it was a Christmas gift," She smiled smugly and ran her finger over the black velvet to the pearl that hung against her pale skin.
"From your parents?" Ted asked as he popped another Fudge Fly into his mouth.
"No," She said in a soft voice. "Lucius." Ted stopped chewing. "Malfoy," She explained thinking his silence was due to not recognizing the other boy's name.
Andromeda saw his eyes linger on the black pearl a little while longer before he tore his gaze down to the floor. "He uh, must really like you to give you that," Ted said, his voice a little harsh.
Andromeda rolled her eyes. "Lucius is an old friend, we grew up together."
"So you're not, uhm," Ted dragged his shoe across the dusty floor, "like… going out with him?" He asked, glancing up at her through his lashes.
Andromeda snorted. Ted looked up at her with large eyes. She tossed her head back, her hair falling around her shoulders in waves as she began laughed loudly and the black pearl rolled across her neck.
"Oh, he wishes," Andromeda finally managed.
Ted chuckled a little.
"Yeah," He said, his dark eyes lingering on her face. "I bet he does," Ted added softly.
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Fifth Year, November
Ted walked down the corridor alone. Poppy had come down with a bad cold and he had told her to stay in and he would patrol on his own tonight. Technically they weren't supposed to patrol on their own, but he figured he would do a quick pass of the castle and get back to the cozy Hufflepuff common room before anyone realized.
What he had not expected was to hear Andromeda's laugh at the bottom of the winding stairwell that he was about to descend down from the Astronomy tower. Ted took a step towards her laughter before hearing Malfoy's muffled voice travelling up the stairs as well. He sounded happy. Ted frowned.
Ted darted behind a large brass sculpture and waited for them. They walked past him without knowing he was there and his earthy eyes watched as they made their way to the railing, looking out over the grounds together. Ted saw Lucius move his hand closer to her just a little as they rested on the railing.
"You know, Lucius, you look a little pale," Andromeda said, sounding concerned as she turned towards her fellow Prefect.
"Checking me out?" Lucius smirked.
Andromeda rolled her eyes. "Like you need another girl following you around,"
"I wouldn't mind," Lucius said smoothly. "If it was you,"
Ted noticed a slight flush of color in Andromeda's cheeks.
"I don't play well with others," She said snidely and Ted felt a surge of pride towards her.
"You play well enough with Tonks," Lucius said and Ted saw his grey eyes watching Andromeda carefully.
She hesitated for just a moment before scoffing and turning back to the grounds. "Ted? That's nothing," She muttered. "He's nothing," She added. Ted felt like someone had shoved his chest hard hearing her say those words.
"He doesn't seem to think that way," Lucius said darkly. "And since when is the Mudblood Ted?"
"Jealous?" Andromeda said quickly as she spun back towards him, her wavy hair fanning out around her.
Lucius' pale eyes moved over her slowly. "Jealousy is for when you're scared someone will take something that belongs to you. Tonks could never take anything that's mine." He reached out and fingered the pearl around her neck, rubbing it in between his fingers.
"Good thing I don't belong to you then," Andromeda said with a smirk.
Ted watched as Lucius reached for her as she smoothly slid away from him, heading back down the stairs. Malfoy's eyes gleamed greedily as he watched her walk away from him before following her back down the stairs.
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Fifth Year, May
Andromeda laid in her bed, tossing and turning. She couldn't get him out of her head. Sighing, she turned on her side and hugged her pillow tightly, wishing she could just fall asleep so she could have a reprieve from these thoughts that just would not stop running through her head.
Why was she, Andromeda Black, lying in her bed and thinking about Ted Tonks? She was dating Lucius Malfoy, for Salazar's sake! And Ted was a Muggleborn! His sandy hair, earthy eyes, and crooked grin drifted to the front of her brain again. This was ridiculous.
Suddenly she imaged that he was here, in the bed with her, right where her pillow was. Andromeda felt her pulse quicken. She could practically feel his hands as they brushed over her shoulders. He would tuck her hair behind her ear. She would lean down carefully… their lips would touch, but not just yet…
Andromeda felt a lightness bubble up in her before her muscles clenched tightly. She squeezed her thighs together and buried her face in the pillow. Ted.
She nestled her head down, pretending it was in the crook of his arm and took a deep breath. Andromeda's eyes slowly closed and her body sunk into the mattress as she drifted off to sleep.
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Sixth Year, December
Lucius sighed and pulled back slightly. His arms were on either side of her on the desk as she sat upon it, her legs open and around him. Her lips hurt slightly from his rough kisses and nips at them.
"What… What is going on?" He asked, annoyed.
Andromeda stared blankly back at him.
"You're… barely kissing me back." He said, raising his eyebrows. "Something wrong?" He asked, frustration clear in his voice.
"I'm…" Andromeda sighed; she didn't care about hurting him. She wanted to hurt him. "Bored."
She liked fooling around with Lucius because it took her mind off Ted, but recently it hadn't been fulfilling. Lucius' allure was fading fast.
"Bored." Lucius sat back.
Andromeda rolled her eyes. "Just… don't worry about it." She shook her head and made to move off of the desk. "Forget it,"
Lucius' hands roughly pushed her back and she fell back onto her elbows.
"You're not going anywhere," Lucius said darkly.
He put his hands on her thighs and began to slowly run them up, under her skirt.
Andromeda began to close her legs as he reached further up.
"I saw Tonks today," Lucius paused, his hands on her upper thighs, squeezing them slightly.
Andromeda lifted her amber eyes to his in surprise.
"In the courtyard, sitting there with his new girlfriend," He sneered.
Andromeda turned her head. She didn't want to think about Ted anymore, especially about him with another girl. "What do I care about-" She said snidely.
"Oh but you do," Lucius said smoothly as he slowly pulled her legs back apart. "See, you lost your plaything," He teased and Andromeda glared at him. Lucius sucked on his bottom lip. "Now you're trying to take," His hand reached between her legs, sliding a finger over her panties. "Mine,"
Andromeda gasped as a thrum of pleasure shot up her body.
Lucius growled and hooked his fingers into her panties and swiftly pulled them around her knees.
"Lucius!" Andromeda gasped at the sensation of the cold air against her center.
He brought his hand back against her and shoved his fingers in her roughly.
Andromeda cried out.
"I'm going to make you come so good that you forget all about that Mudblood," He said darkly.
She opened her eyes to see his grey ones storming and boring into her as he shoved his fingers deeper into her. Her mouth was open and her brows knitted together on her forehead.
"Now," Lucius purred as he curled them inside her making her release a high-pitched moan. "Whose fingers are inside you?" His eyes darkened with lust.
"Yours," Andromeda breathed out and watched his hand move against her.
"Who's making you feel… so good?" Lucius purred, wetting his lips.
"You," Andromeda whimpered.
"And whose hand are you going to come on?" He growled. "Say my name, love,"
"Lucius," She breathed out and let her head drop back. "Lucius Lucius Lucius," She panted.
He sped up and Andromeda felt herself clench. She was close… so close.
'Ted,' Andromeda thought to herself. 'Ted Ted Ted Ted Ted Ted Ted Ted Ted Ted!' Andromeda felt the ecstatic explosion rock through her body.
Lucius let out a breathy chuckle, "Good girl," He purred as she opened her eyes and looked back up at him, a heavy feeling of guilt settled quickly in her stomach.
Andromeda layed back on the desk and brought her knees together again. Ted…
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Sixth Year, March
Ted's leg bounced up and down as he sat in the HoM club room, waiting for Andromeda. He had run into her by the kitchens tonight and she had seemed so… agitated. He desperately wanted to talk to her about what happened by the Lake and she had told him to meet her here tonight but the moon was rising and it was getting later and Andromeda was nowhere to be seen.
After the dung bombs had gone off at dinner Ted had done his best to usher out the Hufflepuffs in what he hoped was an orderly fashion so no first years got trampled, but mostly it had been a mess. He had pulled his shirt up over his nose and mouth and tried to direct his fellow Hufflepuff out of the hall, but students were swarming and stampeding to get away from the stench.
Ted had noticed that a dung bomb had gone off right in Malfoy's face and Ted couldn't help but laugh at his horrific expression.
He was nervous; Andromeda had been hanging around the kitchens acting strangely and he never saw her come up to dinner. He knew that she had been having a rough semester and acting out during classes but he doubted that she would have done something like that. But then again, he had doubted that he would have ever been able to kiss her again and she had definitely done that.
A small smile crept onto his face and Ted sucked on his bottom lip, enjoying the memory of Andromeda's lips on his. But more than that, she had told him she loved him again. And this time with none of the vile harshness she had spat it at him with last time. He had known it wasn't over between them, he had known they hadn't missed their shot.
He sighed wistfully and glanced up at the door again, willing her to walk through it but the oak door stayed still and silent. It was getting later. But she had told him she'd be here. She told him to meet her. So he waited.
Ted laid back on the desk and tucked his arm behind his head. Moonlight streamed in from the window, causing long shadows to fall across the room from the mismatched furniture that lined the walls.
He would wait a few more minutes. Who was he kidding? He would wait the whole bloody night. He watched the stars move across the sky until his eyes burned with sleep.
Red. Ted could see red. Blearily he opened his eyes and tried to sit up. His body was sore and stiff after lying on the desk all night. The calm moonlight was replaced by warm, strong rays of sun bearing down on him. Ted groaned and pulled himself up. His hand slid over something on the desk and he looked down as he wiped his eyes.
It was a small piece of paper folded in half. Ted yawned and opened it.
'You Snore' was written in small, neat writing. Andromeda's writing.
Ted leaned back on the desk again, the parchment resting in his hand on his chest and a large, open mouth smile on his face.
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Seventh Year, December
Ted heaved his bag onto his shoulder and walked out of his dormitory to head down to Hogsmeade to catch the train home for the holidays. Andromeda had left his bed and his arms about an hour ago to go back to her dorm to pack and gather her things for the break. Ted sighed happily. It had taken so long and so much, but he finally had Andromeda.
"Mr. Tonks, just the man I'm looking for," Professor Sprout and Madame Hooch were walking towards him down the corridor. "I'm glad I caught you before you left," She said with a smile.
Ted was a little nervous that they were both here. Had something happened? Was he in more trouble from the incident in Defense Against the Dark Arts?
Professor Sprout held out a letter for him. "This came at breakfast, but you weren't there." She said beaming.
Ted gently took the letter, looking between Professor Sprout's smiling face and Madam Hooch's excited expression.
"It's from the Appleby Arrows!" She whispered excitedly.
Ted's eyes grew large and he ripped the letter open.
His eyes devoured the words, moving quickly down line after line.
"Well?" Madame Hooch asked, unable to hold it back any longer.
"After deliberating with the team, I would like to offer you a place as Keeper for the Appleby Arrows upon your graduation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in June!" Ted read, his voice growing louder with each word.
"Oh, I just knew it!" Professor Sprout said, clasping her hands together.
"Well done, Tonks!" Madame Hooch beamed at him. "Well deserved!"
Ted stared at the letter in his hands, reading it over and over.
"Breathe, boy!" Madame Hooch laughed and slapped his shoulder.
Ted forced a breath out of his chest sharply. He was going to play Quidditch professionally. It was better than he could have ever dreamed of.
"Congratulations, Ted," Professor Sprout said, tears in her eyes.
"Thank you," Ted finally breathed out. "Thank you!" He practically shouted.
This was more than just a dream come true. With this position he would have enough money for a comfortable life, not an extravagant one, but a comfortable one. One he could share with Andromeda. He knew she was worried about leaving her life behind to be with him and this was the first step towards building a new life together.
"I've got to tell Howard," Ted said excitedly and Professor Sprout nodded with pride. "And my girlfriend," He added, almost as excited to say those words as he was about the letter in his hand.
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Seventh Year, January
Andromeda turned on her side as she tried to get to sleep. She glanced at the table next to her bed and saw the snow globe that Ted had given her for Christmas. It hardly seemed possible that it was just a few weeks ago that she woke up in his bed and he promised her a life with him in a cottage just like the one that was enclosed in the glass dome.
She didn't even feel like the same person. That Andromeda had been free, and loved, and happy. Now she was just a shell, just a ghost of who she once was. If she was even that. She felt like there was a hole in her chest where Ted used to be and everyday it seemed to grow larger. One day it would swallow her whole.
Andromeda reached out and picked up the snow globe. She slowly turned it and watched the snow fall gently around the small cottage. At least she would have this. A perfect little world, protected by fragile glass against the brutal truth she was living in now. Andromeda tucked it against her chest and cradled it there.
That's what she would be, what she would turn herself into. Locked away, protected by glass from the world around her. Lucius would be able to touch her, hold her, but never get to what was inside. She would live out her days, locked in his Manor, and locked away inside of herself.
Andromeda ran her fingers over the glass dome and sniffed lightly. She wondered if Ted was lying in his bed right now and looking at the picture she had given him. She had meant it, she still did; she was still his. No ring on her finger would change the way she felt about him. Lucius could try and stamp it out, he could try and beat it out of her, but the love was still there, mixed with her blood. And it would never go away.
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Seventh Year, February - Present
Andromeda slipped her shirt off her shoulders and slid her skirt over her hips. She peeled her bra from her body and her panties hit the floor as she stepped out of them. Folding and stacking her clothes, Andromeda turned to the large marble bath and padded over to the edge, turning the golden faucet letting hot, steaming water stream out of it and fill the small pool.
She pulled her long waves up and tied them messily on top of her head. With a sigh, Andromeda looked down over her body. She loved the way it felt when Ted would run his hands over her until she craved more of him. But soon it would be Lucius' hands on her body. Andromeda shivered at the thought. His hands were rough, urgent, and unforgiving. And they would be the only hands to ever touch her again.
She looked down at the black pearl ring on her hand, diamonds surrounding the jewel. It was a constant reminder of what was coming. She tried to remind herself why she was doing this; for Narcissa, for her parents. She was buying their future with her freedom. She slipped the ring from her finger and tucked it into the pocket of her robes.
Andromeda let her body sink into the scalding water up to her neck and leaned against the side of the bath, sitting on the small seat that ran around the edge. She let her legs stretch out and rise slowly in the water, watching them just under the surface.
Today was Valentine's Day and she had only barely escaped Lucius' clutches by convincing him that she needed a good long soak in the baths tonight.
"I can join you," He murmured as he brushed her hair back over her shoulder, his fingers played on the skin around her neck. Andromeda tried to stop her skin crawling as he leaned in, his lips brushing her ear.
She pulled away from him slightly and didn't need to see his face to know the disappointed look that was in his eye.
"Not tonight. I just want to relax," She said softly.
"Love," Lucius purred. "It's Valentine's Day," His hands ran down her arms to her wrists and Andromeda readied herself for him to tighten his grip on them but it did not come.
Gradually she turned her face back towards him and met his grey eyes, surprisingly soft.
"Come to my bed tonight," He breathed out.
"Lucius," Andromeda started.
"Let me help you relax," His eyes darted to her lips. "Let me make you feel good, you know I can," His grey eyes bore into hers and Andromeda felt her heart skip a beat. Lucius shifted and moved his body closer to hers.
Andromeda swallowed. She couldn't put this off forever, but she could put this off for now.
"Not tonight, Lucius,"
Now she was watching her toes break the surface of the water before she brought them back under again. She liked the feeling of weightlessness she had in the water. Without the ring, she felt lighter as well. She could almost pretend that she wasn't marrying Lucius in just a few months, that she was free to be with who she wanted, that she would be able to feel Ted press into her again-
"Andromeda?"
She screamed and turned quickly in the direction of the voice, wrapping her arms around herself, trying to cover her bare body.
Ted was standing there, turned slightly to the side and his hand over his eyes. He was sliding his foot slowly forward, trying to find his way across the room without seeing.
"Sorry! Sorry," He said quickly. "I didn't mean to scare you," His voice was soft and Andromeda felt a pang ring through her chest at seeing him, this close, again.
"It's… okay," She said breathlessly. Andromeda backed up to the other side of the pool and sunk deep under the water again. She couldn't help but think about last term when Lucius snuck in here and jut how different this experience was.
Ted shuffled closer and eventually stopped, his hand still over his eyes.
"What are you doing here, Ted?" Andromeda asked.
"I need to talk to you; I need to tell you something,"
"And so you snuck in here and ambushed me?" She said accusatorily.
Andromeda could see the blush in his cheeks under his hand as Ted stammered. "It's… hard, to talk to you now,"
She knew what he meant. Lucius did not leave her alone unless there was someone around to chaperone her. Sometimes it was Narcissa, sometimes one of his friends, but Andromeda was never left alone anymore, which was strange because she had never felt lonelier.
"What did you need to tell me?" She asked and squeezed her arms around herself tighter.
Ted paused and Andromeda watched him shift at the edge of the pool. "I love you," He said softly. Andromeda's heart flared to life for a moment only to be ripped through by the pain at the first sign of life. "Too," He added.
It was quiet enough to hear the water drops falling from the ends of her hair into the bathwater.
"Too?" Andromeda asked, surprised.
"Yes." Ted said more firmly. A few more drops. "I know you still love me."
Andromeda's eyes opened wide in surprise. They hadn't talked since the first day back and that was weeks ago. Andromeda had done her best to avoid him, trying to save him from having to see her with Lucius. Instead she had condemned herself to spending more time with Lucius, locked away in the common room, to try and spare him more pain.
"Why…" She took a deep breath. "What makes you think that?" She asked softly. He wasn't wrong; she still loved Ted with every ounce of her being, but she felt like she had lost herself and with that, the happiness and love Ted had brought into her life.
"You warned me, about Malfoy."
"Just because I don't want you beaten to a pulp doesn't mean that-"
"Howard," Ted said quickly.
Andromeda froze. She and Howard had struck up a strange friendship but one that she had latched onto tightly the past month and a half. Howard was someone she could talk to outside of Lucius' influence. At first he had been angry with her for hurting Ted, but Andromeda had told him why she did what she did and he had been understanding and actually been helping her get through these past few weeks.
"Don't be mad at him," Ted said, hand still over his eyes. "He didn't want to tell me,"
Andromeda wanted to jinx Howard good and proper, but instead just rolled her eyes.
"And what exactly did Rogers say?" Andromeda asked with an edge to her voice.
"That you missed me,"
"Once again, doesn't mean that I still-"
"I know you do," Ted cut her off. "Because I can feel it. I can feel you, Andromeda. You're in here," Ted placed his other hand over his heart. "I love you and you love me too. I can feel it,"
Andromeda felt the tearing in her chest again. "So?" She managed.
Ted let out a sharp breath. "So? So… We can be together!"
She could see his brows pull together under his hand.
"Ted, we can't…"
"Why not? Seriously, why not? Why…. Why are you with him?" He asked, frustration in his voice.
"You were there." Andromeda said darkly.
"I know," Ted sounded like he was in pain. "Dromeda, I'm so sorry, it was all my fault,"
"No," She cut him off. "He would have done it even if you hadn't come." Andromeda knew that Lucius had come to the house that night to ask her Father for her hand and since he was in that much financial trouble he would have sold her off whether Ted had showed up or not.
"But… You don't have to marry him," Ted said softly. "You… I thought you wanted to be with me…"
The chasm in her chest ached with a quake, the glass she kept her heart in began to shake.
"I do," She said before she could stop herself.
Ted's body tensed and froze.
A moment passed before he said, "So why are you with Malfoy?" She could see the tension in his body as he said these words.
Having Ted this close, saying these things… It caused her shriveled heart to give a thump, pumping blood through it for what seemed like the first time in weeks. Andromeda moved through the bath gently and stood on the small bench at the edge. Ted still had his hand over his eyes and he was breathing heavily as she lifted herself from the water in front of him.
Andromeda let her arms fall to her sides.
Ever so slightly, Ted parted his fingers and she caught a glimpse of his earthy eyes. Gradually he pulled his fingers further apart and removed his hand from his eyes. They stayed on her face for a moment before they traveled down her frame as his expression changed to one of reverence.
"I'm not with him right now," Andromeda whispered and wrapped her wet hands around the back of his neck and pulled Ted, fully clothed, against her as they tumbled backwards, falling with a large splash into the bath.
Andromeda and Ted sank under the water but that did not stop Ted from wrapping his arms around her, holding her naked body against his clothed one as his lips landed on hers, bubbles swirling around them wildly.
She clung to him, clasping him tightly to her. After all this time, she had him again and she didn't want to let go, even for air, even for life.
Ted held her to him and pushed against the bottom of the pool with his legs and brought them up to break the surface.
They broke apart for only a moment, each gasping for breath before they dove back in on each other.
His hands landed on her waist, and he ran them over her back, holding her tightly. Andromeda ran her hand through his hair, pulling his head down towards her. Her skin felt so good, so soft and tender in his hands and he slid them over her back, wrapping his arms around her and pressing her wet, naked body against himself.
Andromeda whimpered as she moved her full lips eagerly over his. She wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing him free range over her body. She wanted him to have it, to have her, every part of her. She belonged to him; not to Lucius', but to Ted.
Ted pushed her against the wall of the bath. He felt like he was drunk on her as his body reacted to hers. His hands remembered her curves as they ran over them again after so long without her. He massaged her breasts with a deep pressure and Andromeda moaned into his mouth. He couldn't stand it; he had to be with her, he had to have her.
He removed one hand from her only long enough to rip his trousers open and push them down over his hips. He grabbed her thighs and pulled them around him making Andromeda gasp and cling onto his wet collar until he grabbed onto her round ass, holding her up again.
Ted didn't waste any time and thrust into Andromeda with a loud groan. Andromeda made a high-pitched noise and clung onto his shoulders as he pushed into her over and over, panting.
His wet shirt clung to his body, practically see through as water dripped from his hair into his face and onto her chest, droplets rolling over her breasts and into the water, splashing around them with the movement of their bodies. Ted had his face buried in her neck as he groaned from deep within.
Andromeda wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, holding tightly to him and clenching her body around him. "I love you," She whispered into his ear. "I love you so much, Ted," She gasped as he filled her magnificently, making her stretch around him to what she knew must have almost been her breaking point.
She kissed his neck, letting her lips suck gently at the skin there, tasting him. "Oh, Ted!" She breathed out and Ted pushed her harder into the wall of the bath pool with a grunt. He pumped himself into her, his hands sliding over her skin trying to cover every single inch of her and she took all of him deep inside herself.
She felt him start to shake. "Don't stop," She begged, "Please," Andromeda leaned her head back and his lips landed on her throat where the black pearl used to rest. "Please, don't ever stop," Andromeda moaned.
Ted closed his eyes as she tightened around him. This was heaven. Her body was heaven and she let him in. Andromeda gasped and clung onto him as he thrust quickly into her, making sure that she exhausted every second of her orgasm. Slowly she opened her eyes and met his.
They were the deep color of molten gold that they only turned when she was-
Ted lost control and felt his body convulse against hers as he drained himself inside of her. He called out her name in passion, in worship, as he gripped the edge of the pool tightly with one hand and her face with the other, keeping her eyes locked onto his as he twitched a few times, before pulling her lips back onto his.
"I love you so fucking much, Andromeda," Ted breathed out as the water around them sloshed lazily. "I missed you like crazy," He murmured against her neck.
Andromeda wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, cradling his head into her neck and chest as he gasped for breath.
"I love you… I love you," He recited like a prayer into her skin.
Andromeda swallowed hard and felt tears prick in the corner of her eyes as her heart slowed and the all too familiar feeling of self loathing slithered back into her, coiling itself deep inside her and constricting until everything else seemed to fade.
"I love you…" He prayed.
.
.
.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed/sent me messages about my cat. She passed away on Sunday and it's been really rough on me. She always sat on the back of my chair when I was writing and she was really my best friend. It's not been easy for me the past few days.
I hope you liked this chapter, even though it was a little different. I am hoping to have the next one up in a couple of days and then if I can get back on my regular updating schedule.