A/N: This chapter was so hard to write. I know a lot gets covered, but there's not much time left. Tick Tock. Tick Tock.
Soundtrack: Phoria's "Melatonin" and "Saving Us a Riot" The National's "Fireproof"
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Andromeda didn't feel guilt for many of the things she had done. She never felt bad about jinxing Ethel Midgen in third year or for cheating on the Charms quiz in fifth year she had forgotten about. She didn't feel bad about snapping at people when they said good morning or laughing when they blew their eyebrows off with a wrong spell.
She also didn't feel bad about cheating on Lucius. Not one bit. She had told him that she would marry him and be his wife. She wore his ring as a reminder to herself, to him, and to everyone around them that she had submitted and was a future Malfoy.
Andromeda Malfoy. She shuddered at the thought.
But she had felt alive for the first time in months when she had been with Ted and nothing could take that away from her. The spark she had felt with him was growing into embers in her chest. Her heart was beginning to beat again and her grey world had a small red glow from the coals inside her.
It had been less than two months that she and Lucius had been formally engaged. It had been the first time she was really alone with Ted. She hadn't thought twice about pulling him into the water and into herself.
Andromeda smirked to herself. Lucius would have killed to have her give herself to him the way that she gave herself to Ted. Again.
Ted had stood there, beside the pool, water dripping from his clothes as Andromeda had dressed quickly. She left the ring in her pocket until she reached the common room and slipped it into place as she slipped back into her role as Lucius' fiancée.
Andromeda had been dutiful to Lucius the rest of the weekend; sitting quietly beside him while he wrote out letters to different business partners and even fetched him a new quill when his blunted. She played her part, serene and silent on the outside, while on the inside she thought of the way the water splashed against her and Ted's writhing bodies.
And the embers inside her burned.
"Are you quite all right?" Lucius asked her with a strange look on his face. "You're flushed," His brows knitted together and he brought the back of his hand up to her cheek, feeling the heat under her skin.
Andromeda flinched and pulled back slightly as he frowned, looking her over.
"I'm fine," She muttered, her eyes fluttering as she tried to push the way Ted had held her face in his hand as he came inside her.
"Do you want me to take you to the hospital wing?" He asked, concern in his voice.
Someone who didn't know Lucius would mistake this for affection, but Andromeda knew that he only wanted her in good health so that she would be in good condition for him. Her state was now a reflection on him and as a future Malfoy, she had to of be the image of perfection.
"No, thank you, though," Andromeda tried to keep her voice soft, but it shook slightly.
Lucius eyed her and Andromeda held his gaze for as long as she could before she dropped it to her lap and fiddled with the ring there. She was very glad that Lucius was not a Legilimens and could not read what was running through her mind.
He placed his hand on top of hers, stopping her fingers from playing with her ring. Andromeda lifted her eyes to his and saw a shadow pass through them. He might not be able to read her mind, but Lucius wasn't a stupid man.
"I think I am going to find Narcissa," She announced.
Lucius looked her over one more time before stating in a very business-like tone, "You're excused."
Andromeda kept her face straight but anger sparked from the embers inside her. Standing up, she turned on her heel.
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Andromeda found it hard to concentrate in classes on Monday. She could feel Ted's gaze on her and only hoped that Lucius did not notice it. She kept her eyes trained on Professor Flitwick as he lectured, but after two hours she found it hard to stop her own thoughts from slipping into the forefront of her mind.
At least this afternoon she had Arthimancy and Ted had Divination. She could have a bit of a break from him because her body was responding to him without her brain's consent. She could practically feel him across the room, like there was some sort of invisible force pulling them together. She didn't have to look at him to know that his dark eyes were burning into her. For her. And she was burning for him.
Andromeda sat next to Lucius, listened to the lesson, copied down her notes, and thought of Ted's hands on her.
Tuesday morning was History of Magic and another lecture. Unfortunately, Andromeda already knew all about Elfric the Eager and found it hard to listen to Professor Binns drone on. Most of the other students were dozing off or talking quietly amongst themselves as the ghost's monotone voice echoed around the large classroom. She glanced at Lucius beside her who looked like he was able to fall asleep.
She couldn't stand it any longer; Andromeda leaned slightly to the left and back, just far enough, and met Ted's warm eyes across the room. As soon as she looked into them she saw them light up and couldn't help but feel that same light inside of her. They crinkled around the edges as the lip he had just been biting lifted into a smile. Andromeda felt warmth flood her chest for just a moment but she clung to that feeling like she had clung to him in the baths.
She thought she would have been able to give him a quick glance and then get back to the lecture, but now that she was in his eyes, she couldn't pull away. Andromeda lifted her hand and tucked her hair behind her ear.
She saw a mischievous gleam in his chocolate eyes and fought the smile that was trying to break onto her face. Ted must have realized the effect he was having on her because he let his eyes move over her body slowly before bringing them back up and she felt heat and color rise into her cheeks along with it.
He leaned forward a little, his chair creaking underneath him, but kept his eyes locked onto hers. The blush in her cheeks was making him bolder, knowing that her blood was pumping for him.
Next to her Lucius started snoring lightly and Andromeda glanced back quickly, then turned back biting her lip to keep from laughing. Ted glanced at Malfoy for a moment then looked back at her, raising an eyebrow.
Andromeda rolled her eyes. Lucius made a loud noise and smacked his lips sleepily. She stifled a giggle and Ted snorted from across the room. Slowly his expression changed from humorous to questioning and he moved his eyes pointedly from Andromeda to Lucius and back again as if to ask, 'Why are you with him?'
Andromeda sighed. She knew she needed to tell him the real reason behind her choice. Was this a choice? It didn't feel like one. It felt like an unforgiving weight slowly crushing her and everyday it pressed down harder, farther onto her. She glanced down at the ring on her finger and twisted it around a few times. Looking back up at Ted, she bit her lip.
Andromeda slowly lowered her eyes back down to the floor. Ted felt a sudden pang of sympathy for her. She didn't want this any more than he did, but something was making her do this. Or someone.
He just wanted her to open up and tell him. They could get through it, together. They had already gotten through so much. She brought her honey eyes back up to meet his.
"That is where we will leave off for today, class," Professor Binns droned. Students started shuffling in their seats as they began to gather their things. Lucius jerked awake at the noise around him and blinked heavily. He looked at Andromeda next to him and saw she was turned in Ted's direction.
"Let's go," He said in a low voice and stood up.
Andromeda hesitated, just a moment, but a moment too long. Lucius grabbed her arm and pulled her up beside him.
Ted jerked forward, but caught himself before he had launched himself across the room at the two Slytherins. Lucius sneered at him as Ted glared back.
"We have to finalize the invitations, love," He said loud enough to make sure Ted could hear him. "They'll need to go out soon,"
"Okay," She mumbled and Lucius ran his hand down her arm and took her hand in his.
Ted felt his body tense. He knew Malfoy was doing this in front of him just to get a rise out of him.
Suddenly she raised her head up and turned to stand in front of Lucius, blocking him from leaving the classroom. "Okay, let's do that over lunch. Narcissa has the samples." Malfoy's eyes lit up at her eagerness. "Because I have a Care of Magical Creatures essay to finish tonight and I'll need to go to the Library."
"That's fine, I can work there with you,"
"No." Andromeda snapped. Ted watched their interaction with interest. "I need to concentrate and I can't focus when you're-" She stopped talking as Lucius brushed his fingers along her jawline.
"Hmm, I'm a distraction?" He purred. Ted saw something flash in Andromeda's eyes for just a moment. "Maybe I can distract you during lunch," He leaned in towards her.
Andromeda turned her head sharply. "We need to finish the invitations, Lucius," She said firmly.
Lucius chewed the inside of his lip in frustration as Andromeda turned and tossed her hair over her shoulder before walking out of the classroom.
Ted couldn't help but grin at her antics; after all these years he was still impressed by her cleverness. She had told him where she'd be tonight and alone at same time shutting down Malfoy in front of him. Ted shook his head. Slytherins.
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Andromeda wandered up and down the aisles of the Library in the Magical Creatures section and waited for Ted to arrive. She had successfully shaken Lucius for the evening by playing nice. All through lunch they had gone over samples of different paper, fonts, and seals for the invitations. Lucius had been upset that she refused to let him use the Malfoy crest as the seal.
"I'm not a Malfoy yet," She argued.
"You're as good as," Lucius snapped.
"What about a L and an A?" Narcissa offered.
"I like that," Lucius said with a small smile.
"No." Andromeda crossed her arms.
"Then what do you want?" Lucius rolled his eyes.
"It can just be plain," Andromeda suggested.
"No it can't!" Narcissa gasped.
"If you want it plain, then why not use the Malfoy crest?" Lucius argued.
"Because I'm not a Malfoy!" Andromeda shouted.
It had gone on like that for almost twenty minutes before finally they agreed on a dragon in the style of the ones of the Malfoy family crest. They were to have a black velvet ribbon tied around them and would be sent out tomorrow to a select group of invitees.
Andromeda reached for a book off the shelf but paused when she saw the black pearl ring, standing out darkly against the pale skin of her hand. It seemed to be looking back at her. Light flashed across it, reminding her of the look in Lucius' eye. Slowly, she slipped it from her finger and placed it in her pocket.
Ted walked through the Library, checking each row for Andromeda. He finally found her and watched her for a moment before he approached.
She was reaching for a book high on one of the shelves. Lifting her body to stand on her toes, Andromeda reached an arm up above her head, fingers barely brushing the binding for the book she was trying to get. Her shirt stretched tight over her chest and Ted sucked in a small breath as her skirt lifted a little also. Her shirt became untucked and just a sliver of her smooth stomach was exposed.
He couldn't help himself.
Ted moved behind her quietly and reached one hand up, grabbing the book she was trying to reach and placed the other lightly on the bare skin at her waist, letting his fingers run over it for a brief moment.
Andromeda gasped and spun around, her wavy hair fanning out around her. Her wide eyes met Ted's, like two pools of melted chocolate. He kept his hand on her and pushed her against the shelf gently, moving his body to hold her there.
Her full lips parted and Ted felt something run down his spine and settle low in him at the sight of her looking up at him from under her dark lashes.
Holding up the book he said, "Is this what you wanted?"
"Not even close," She breathed out as she felt warmth spread inside of her.
Ted smirked. She was breathing quickly, her chest rising and falling pleasantly.
"So," Ted tilted his head to the side a little as his dirty blonde hair fell in his eyes. "You've set a date?"
Andromeda breathed out slowly. "Please don't make me think about that,"
Ted leaned in close to her and placed the book back on the shelf, resting his hand there. "I think I know of a way to… clear your head," Ted said in a low voice.
Andromeda felt her knees go weak.
He sucked in his bottom lip and she felt warmth slide and settle in her lower stomach.
"He's got his little friends watching me," Ted breathed out. His eyes hardened slightly. "I see them, outside my dorm," Ted ran his fingers down her arm. "It's like he doesn't trust you or something,"
Andromeda felt her lips turning into a smirk. "I wonder why," She whispered.
Ted's fingers reached her hand and played with her fingers. He noticed the missing ring and his eyes lit up as he brought them back to hers. "Maybe because you keep sneaking off to fuck a Mudblood," He said throatily.
"Don't call yourself that," Andromeda's voice was soft.
"Why not?" Ted rolled his shoulders forward. "That's what I am. To him at least. A dirty, filthy Mudblood…" Ted leaned down close to her, "That's fucking his Pureblood fiancée," He whispered in her ear.
Andromeda felt a shiver run down her spine and into her core. All she could do was take in a shaky breath.
"Mmm, if only he knew the dirty things you let me do to you…" Ted's voice was hoarse and Andromeda felt lightheaded. "I bet it would kill him to know I got there first,"
Andromeda watched his adam's apple bob in his throat before she frowned.
"Got there first?" Andromeda's voice hardened. "Is that what I am to you? A mile marker in your race with him?"
Ted pulled back and locked eyes with her.
"Dromeda, I'm sorry," Ted took her hand in his. "It's just… You being with him; it's driving me crazy,"
Andromeda stared flatly back at him.
"Let me show you what you are to me," Ted said smoothly.
Slowly, fighting it, Andromeda smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Is that a yes?" Ted grinned.
She sighed. "It's always a yes,"
He leaned down, opening his lips to take hers. Andromeda pushed him back slightly. "Not here," She whispered and glanced around.
"Then where? We'll be seen if we try and go back to mine,"
"You're Head Boy, don't you know somewhere we can go?"
Ted grinned. "I'm Quidditch Captain too,"
"Yeah, I know," Andromeda snapped, annoyed at what she thought was his bragging.
Ted chuckled. Helga help him, but he loved her short temper. He loved everything about her.
"Which means I have keys to the changing rooms, remember?"
Andromeda eyes widened and the fire inside them flickered hungrily.
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She waited ten minutes before leaving the Library. It was the longest ten minutes of her life. Andromeda walked around the Library, making sure she was seen by as many people as possible before sneaking out quietly and sticking to the shadows as she made her way outside.
Once she was out of sight from the large entrance doors, she broke into a run, heading down towards the Quidditch Pitch and the small building that held the changing rooms off to the side of it. She made herself slow as she approached, trying to catch her breath.
Andromeda ran her hands through her hair and hoped it didn't look too messy. Who was she kidding? It was about to become so tangled it would take her half the night to sort it out.
The door opened and Ted appeared in front of her. His rich eyes were alight and burning into her. He had rolled up the sleeves of his white button down and loosened his black and yellow Hufflepuff tie. His dirty blonde hair fell messily into his face.
Andromeda's cheeks were flushed with a light pink and her chest was heaving against the buttons on her shirt.
"For a moment I thought you were going to leave me down here by myself," Ted said in a low voice.
"I'm sure you could just bewitch a few Quaffles to take your frustration out on," She smirked.
"Nothing can get you out of my system," Ted said in a deep voice.
Andromeda walked towards him until she was just inches away from him. Her honey eyes looked like they were liquid as she brought them up to his. "Well I guess that means you need to get into mine," She breathed out.
Ted grabbed the back of her head and the small of her back and crashed his lips down on hers with a groan. He pulled her inside and slammed the door behind them.
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Ted's foot landed in a bucket with a half inch of old dirty water in it. A broom clattered to the floor behind them. A bottle fell off the shelf and rolled across the floor.
"Mmm, Ted, I have to go," Andromeda tore her lips away from his, but he kept his fingers in her hair, holding her in place as he kissed her jaw down to her neck.
"Stay," He murmured. "Just a little while longer," It had been a week since the night she slipped away from Malfoy. They only had bits of moments like this now, but it was something. Even if it was something in Filch's supply cabinet.
The bucket scraped across the floor as he pushed her into the shelves behind them.
Andromeda's lips were pillow soft and she tasted so sweet, like honey.
"Teddy…" She breathed out and ran her hands down his muscular back, pulling at his hips, bringing him closer to her.
Ted groaned and cupped her breast, feeling for the tender nipple through her shirt. Andromeda gasped as he squeezed it, rolling it in his fingers. He trailed his lips over her neck and gently sucked on her earlobe. Andromeda moaned out his name making pleasure shoot through his body along with his blood.
"I mean it," Andromeda pulled away. "I really have to go, I can't-"
Ted pressed his hips into hers and knew that she could feel how hard she had made him.
"Oh, Teddy," Andromeda's eyes fluttered and he dove back in on her.
"Mmm, yes baby," Ted groaned and let his hand travel over her stomach. He felt her muscles contract and her hips jerked forward a little. He continued down until he could get his hand under her skirt and cupped her mound. "Let me feel how wet you are for me,"
"Ted!" Andromeda tightened her thighs around his wrist, stopping him from moving forward, but trapping him where he was.
He crashed his lips back onto hers and she whimpered, as he just barely was able to wiggle his fingers against her.
"Ted we can't," Andromeda said breathlessly and pushed him back a little.
Her honey eyes were staring up at him from under her heavy lids and dark lashes, her wavy hair spilled around her face. Her lips were that delicious shade of dark pink, glistening slightly. He couldn't get enough of her.
"Come on baby," Ted murmured. "Just... just let me have a taste,"
Andromeda's brows pulled towards each other; she was fighting with herself. Slowly she nodded.
Ted sucked in a breath as Andromeda slowly unclenched her thighs.
He looked her right in the eyes as he slid a finger under her panties and ran it along her slit. He could already feel her slickness seeping out. Andromeda made a small high-pitched noise.
He dipped the finger in; she was soaked. He kept to his promise and only pushed one finger inside her, but it slid in so easy.
She was so warm, so soft, so… so fucking delicious.
Ted pulled it out and stuck it in his mouth, sucking it eagerly. He watched as her mouth opened slightly and her eyes swirled with lust until they were almost golden.
"Ohh, fuck, I have to go," She whimpered and pulled herself from him.
Ted grinned as Andromeda disappeared out the door, her wavy hair fanning out around her. He leaned back against the rickety shelf; slowly he brought his finger back to his mouth, tasting her again.
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"Did you see the notice about the Graduation Gala?" Howard asked on their way back from Divination.
"Yeah," Ted wasn't really interested in it. As soon as he saw the notice on the bulletin board he had thought of Andromeda. Andromeda in a beautiful gown, sweeping across the dance floor… In Malfoy's arms.
"So, uh, I was thinking about who to ask and, uhm," Howard watched the stairs carefully as he descended them. "Do you think that, uh, Imogen would want to go with me?" His voice raised an octave as they reached the bottom of the staircase.
"Imogen? Yeah!" Ted said excitedly. He had never really thought about Howard and Imogen together, but she was such a sweet girl and a good friend of his after playing Quidditch together for years.
"She'd want to go with me?" Howard asked skeptically.
"You should ask her," Ted wrapped his arm around his best friend's shoulder. "You never know until you ask. And Im is a great girl. I couldn't have asked for a better seeker."
Howard laughed a little and seemed to breathe easier. "Yeah, she's something else." He said with a far away look in his eye.
"Look at you!" Ted laughed. "Look at your little face!" He grabbed Howard's cheek and pinched it.
"Get off me," Howard shoved him back, laughing with him.
"When are you going to ask her?"
"I guess tonight, maybe after dinner? I don't want to wait and someone else have asked her first," Howard stopped talking as he saw Ted's face slowly falling. "Oh, mate, I… I'm sorry. I didn't think-"
"It's okay," Ted said, dismissing Howard's concern with a simple smile.
But it was not okay. Andromeda might indulge in him in a dark corner or dirty broom closet, but she would be on Malfoy's arm all night. He would be showing her off, his hand on her waist, his eyes on her body… And Ted knew what thoughts were behind them.
"Make sure you get a purple tie," Ted said, trying to push the thoughts from his mind and focus on being a good friend to Howard.
"Purple?" He asked.
"It's her favorite color," Ted explained. "She's always asking to get it added to the uniforms somehow,"
Howard grinned. "Purple it is, then,"
"We're yellow and black!" Ted faked outrage. "Where would purple even fit in?"
"Maybe on the badger?" Howard offered.
"Holy Helga, don't mention that to her," Ted said seriously.
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Andromeda pushed Ted against the wall of the bathroom stall. He chuckled and reached behind her, locking them in together. Andromeda was already breathing heavily, not trying to hide the desire she felt for him. The things he made her feel…
She pulled his mouth down on hers, sucking on his lips and sliding her tongue into his mouth.
"Did you miss me?" Ted grinned and locked his hands around her waist, pulling her against him as he leaned back into the wooden panels behind him.
"Oh you have no idea," Andromeda smirked and slowly sucked on her bottom lip, letting it slide out of her mouth. Ted watched intently.
"I think I do," He said throatily and barely brushed his lips against hers, teasing her.
Andromeda pouted. "Don't be glib, Teddy," She tucked her chin down.
Ted breathed out slowly, knowing she would feel it against her lips. "Keep calling me Teddy and I'll be anything you want me to be," He pushed her against the opposite wall and gave her the kiss he had been teasing her with.
"We don't have much time," Andromeda murmured and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Lucius is at Quidditch practice and-"
"And you're here with me," Ted finished for her. Andromeda tilted her face up towards him and she saw his eyes slide down her neck to the few inches of cleavage visible at the top of her shirt.
He moved his hands up her sides and cupped her breasts firmly. He released a growl from low in his throat and Andromeda felt like she could have melted into his hands. She could lose herself in him. No, this is where she would find herself.
He ran his nose along hers. "I don't care about Lucius," He whispered. "And I don't think you do either. I think that you only care about how good it feels when we're together,"
Ted dipped his head into her neck.
Andromeda closed her eyes as his lips tenderly landed on her skin. He was right, she didn't care about Lucius. She ran her fingers over the back of his head. But Ted wasn't the only one she cared about. She was doing this for Narcissa. She couldn't forget that.
"Just for the record," Andromeda said quickly. "This doesn't change anything," She had to say the words. For him. For herself.
Ted gave a low chuckle and brushed his lips against the shell of her ear, making her shiver under him. "We'll see," He whispered.
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"What do you think about this arrangement?" Narcissa asked excitedly as she pointed to a large display of flowers in Witch Weekly's seasonal wedding magazine.
Andromeda glanced, but didn't bother really looking at it. "It's nice," She commented.
"When I get married I am going to have white centerpieces, maybe with peacock feathers in them," She said wistfully.
"Yeah, let's do that," Andromeda said, only half paying attention.
"The feathers?" Narcissa asked.
"Yeah, whatever you'd like," She said, her voice bland.
Narcissa squealed and dog-eared the page in the magazine.
"In fact," Andromeda turned to her little sister. "Why don't you… pick it all out? As a wedding present to me."
"You mean, I can plan your wedding?!" Narcissa's blue eyes lit up brightly.
"I'd love it if you did," Andromeda said truthfully. She did not want to pick up centerpieces or flowers. She didn't want to choose silverware or plates. She didn't think she could stomach spending the next few months thinking about the worst day of her life that was approaching faster with each passing minute.
Narcissa screamed happily and threw her arms around Andromeda hugging her tightly.
"You're going to love it, I promise, I'll do such a good job!" She said eagerly.
"Now that's the kind of enthusiasm I like to see," Lucius drawled from behind the two Sisters. He leaned down and kissed Andromeda on the cheek before walking around the couch and sitting next to her. "You should try being a bit more like your sister, Andromeda,"
Narcissa blushed and gathered the different magazines she had spread out in front of them. "Oh my gosh, I have to go get the order forms!" She said excitedly and took off towards her dormitory.
Andromeda liked that she was able to make Narcissa happy. She was doing this for her, for her future. Andromeda watched her bounce off down the stairs and smiled a little for the first time in weeks. If she was this happy planning Andromeda's wedding she could only imagine what Narcissa would be like planning her own wedding. And that was what all of this was for, after all.
"And what would you like me to get you for a wedding gift?" Lucius purred as he ran the back of his fingers down her arm to her lap, resting his hand on her thigh.
"You've done enough," She said softly, turning her face away from him. "You're paying for the wedding after all,"
"I'm paying for you," Lucius said darkly.
Andromeda turned sharply back towards him. His grey eyes glittered.
"You better be worth it," Lucius said harshly and gripped her thigh. She hated the feeling of his hands on her. Every time he touched her she was reminded of the way his hands tore at her on his birthday, pinning her down underneath him.
Ted's hands had always been tender. Even when he grabbed her thighs and hiked them up farther on his hips he never was harsh; he was reverent.
"You're disgusting," Andromeda spat at him, breaking her submissive role she had adopted with him as the sparks from the embers flared up into a small flame.
"You have no idea," Lucius growled and dug his fingers into her thigh and Andromeda winced. "I am going to get what I'm paying for," Lucius said, his grey eyes narrowing, "In ways that Mudblood of yours could only dream of," He added just to hurt her.
Andromeda bit her tongue. She wanted to tell him that he would never have her like Ted had. She would never want him or love him or beg him for more. She wanted to tell him that she had fucked Ted and loved it. All the pain and suffering in her hardened into hate and she sharpened it into a knife, forging it in the low flames inside her.
One day. One day she would tell him. She would tell him how she gave herself, her purity, to Ted, to a Mudblood, and then laugh in his face. He had bought damaged goods. But until then Andromeda let the mask slide over her face and blinked as it locked into place.
"That's more like it," Lucius muttered and released her thigh, kissing her on the cheek before pulling back slightly then, looking deep into her eyes for a moment before grabbing her face in his hand and pressing his lips firmly on hers.
Andromeda groaned and tried to pull away. Lucius released her with a smirk and Andromeda fell back against the sofa and recoiled from him.
"You're going to have to do better than that," He sneered.
"I'll make an effort to swallow my vomit next time," Andromeda snarled.
Lucius leaned down, placing his face close to hers. "I can give you something else to swallow, love,"
Andromeda shoved him back roughly.
Lucius raised his hand in a threat.
"Do it," Andromeda snarled. "Do it here, where everyone can see you."
Lucius glanced around at the common room, Slytherins scattered around. Slowly he lowered his hand.
"Coward," Andromeda spat.
Lucius leaned towards her and Andromeda dropped her hand to her side, readying herself to draw her wand if needed.
"I'm a lot of things, Andromeda," He said in a low voice. "But the only thing that matters is that I am going to be your husband so you better start acting like my wife." His eyes flashed. "Starting with wearing your ring at all times. No more taking it off,"
Andromeda blinked in surprise. How could he have known she had taken it off?
"How… how did you know that?" Andromeda breathed out.
"I couldn't see you. It. I couldn't see it," Lucius quickly corrected himself. "It wasn't on your hand until you got back here."
Andromeda stared at him warily. He had slipped; he had said something he hadn't meant to. She just wasn't sure what he meant yet. She always slipped it in her pocket whenever she had a tryst with Ted, but always replaced it once they were done. Surely he hadn't seen it off her hand?
"Now why would you need to take it off? You wouldn't have… snuck off to anywhere you weren't supposed to be, would you?" Lucius' voice was dark and held a threat in it.
"No, of course not," Andromeda said and let the false truth ring clear in her voice.
Lucius sneered at her. "You're a liar." Andromeda's heart raced in her chest. "You're a good one too," His eyes surveyed her for a moment. He leaned in close to her again.
"Lucius, where is this coming from?." Andromeda tried to turn the nervousness in her voice to concern. "I'm your fiancée," She whispered.
"Most of the time it feels like I am engaged to Narcissa, not you. She's the one picking everything out. She's the one coming up to me and getting my opinion on things. And you're just…" Lucius sneered at her.
Andromeda's heart was racing but she did her best to keep her face calm. He couldn't know. She couldn't slip up. If he found out… Ted would be a dead man.
Lucius cast his eyes down. "You said you loved me," He said softly.
Andromeda was paralyzed.
"Were you lying then?" His grey eyes turned back up to hers. Not angry, not guarded. Just open.
"Do you think I'd lie about something like that?" She asked softly. And just to put an end to his questioning, Andromeda reached her hand up and lightly touched the blonde hair framing his face.
Lucius grabbed her wrist hard and pulled her hand in between them, looking at the ring on her finger.
"Were you lying that night?" Lucius' eyes turned cold and he gripped her wrist tighter.
She knew what night he was talking about. The night she had said she loved Ted in front of her Father and Lucius. His fingers were turning white as her hand turned red.
"Does it matter?" Andromeda said barely above a whisper.
A shadow settled behind his pale grey eyes and they turned cold again. He threw her hand down and Andromeda rubbed her wrist. The outline of his hand already appearing on her pale skin.
"No." He snapped. "It doesn't." He pulled back from her and took a deep breath. "You'll breed all the same." His voice was harsh. "Keep the ring on, Andromeda. Or I'll put a Permanent Sticking Charm on the blasted thing,"
"Okay so here is the form for the centerpieces and here is the one for-" Narcissa stopped short as she lifted her deep blue eyes up from the papers in her hands to Andromeda and Lucius on the sofa.
Lucius cleared his throat and slowly stood up, straightening his robes.
"Thank you, Narcissa," He said calmly. "You two fill them out and then bring them to me to sign." He gave her a small smile, cast his eyes back to Andromeda with a knowing nod before turning and walking away.
Narcissa paused for a moment, watching him leave before she sat down uncomfortably. She knew she had walked in on something and the tension hung in the air until Lucius made it to the other side of the room.
Andromeda tried to breathe normally but was finding it hard to do so. She turned her face away from her sister. She didn't want Narcissa to see her like this.
"Andromeda?" Narcissa's soft voice sounded and she placed a light hand on Andromeda's arm.
"I'm okay," Andromeda said softly. "We just had a disagreement." Lies. More lies. Would she ever get to stop?
"My God," Narcissa breathed out. "Andromeda… your wrist…" She reached a small hand out but Andromeda pulled her arm back away from her.
Andromeda closed her eyes briefly against the tears that pricked behind them.
"I'm okay," She repeated before turning back to Narcissa. "Hand me that form, will you?" She pointed to one of the papers on the table in front of them.
Narcissa did not move, only stared at her sister; her blue eyes widening and then darkening.
"I… I didn't think you were being serious," She said softly. "I thought you just said those things because you…"
Andromeda bit her lip. She didn't want to cry. Not in front of Narcissa. Not where Lucius could see her. She would cry later. In her bed. As she held the snow globe. She would retreat back into her glass world for now.
"So he never…" Narcissa's voice was barely a whisper.
Andromeda's eyes shot up to hers.
"He didn't do those things to you. Lucius… Lucius did." Narcissa seemed to be having a hard time with this realization.
Andromeda sniffed and took a deep breath. "The order form, Cissy," She said firmly, but her voice shook.
"You love him," Narcissa breathed. "Tonks, I mean"
Andromeda closed her eyes at the sound of his name. She didn't want to lie anymore. Slowly she nodded.
Narcissa sucked in a sharp breath. "Then why are you marrying Lucius?"
Andromeda's honey eyes locked onto Narcissa's crystal blue ones. She didn't know about the gold. She didn't know all of this was for her. And Andromeda didn't have the heart to tell her.
"He's not the only one I love,"
.
.
.
Ted pushed his hips up towards Andromeda as she bounced up and down on him. A flush of pink rose up from her chest into her cheeks as she threw her head back, mouth open and gasping for breath. Ted put his hands on her hips, rocking her back and forth on top of him.
He couldn't take his eyes off of her. Her ashen waves spilled over his shoulders, bouncing along with her with every movement. She bucked her hips forward and Ted moaned loudly as he reached a new depth in her.
Andromeda fell forward, her hands landed on his strong chest and she dug her nails in. She ground her hips into his, feeling him stretch her wider. The impending threat of her wedding and what followed after was making Andromeda reckless.
They had spent most of March sneaking around in different places and now it was April. They were running out of time. She had lied to Lucius again tonight, claiming an essay she had put off, but this time didn't even bother to go to the Library. She had come straight here and jumped on Ted without a second thought.
"Oh God, Dromeda," Ted gasped. "Yeah, take it all," He pushed his head back into the pillow, but kept his eyes locked onto her. Her hair fell around him like a curtain and her floral scent overpowered him.
Her moans became more frequent, more urgent as she began to move almost erratically against him. She slid up and down his length and then crashed her hips into him, grinding as hard as she could back and forth on him. He could feel her tighten around him. She was close.
"You need me to make you come, baby?" Ted said in a low voice.
Andromeda whimpered, "Yes, please,"
Ted reached down between them and grazed his thumb across her clit.
Andromeda cried out. She closed her eyes tightly and then opened them as he swirled his thumb around her. "Come on, baby." Ted groaned. "Come for me,"
Andromeda gasped and rocked herself faster on his cock. It wasn't long before she felt something coiled up inside her strike out in ecstasy, causing her body to shake and vibrate on top of him.
Ted felt her tighten and clench around him; her warmth squeezing him exquisitely. He watched as pleasure took her over, her breasts heaved with every breath, her nails digging into his skin around his heart, her thighs quivering against him. "Dromeda… Dromeda Yes!" He cried out as his cock twitched and he shot himself up into her.
Andromeda rode out her orgasm, milking him for every drop at the same time. Finally she slowed and collapsed on the bed beside him.
"Holy Helga," Ted breathed out and placed a hand on his stomach. "That was… Wow."
"I know," Andromeda said between breaths. She looked over at him and bit her lip as she smiled.
This was Andromeda as she should be, not forced into submission, not broken like a trained animal. She was wild, free, and divine. A force of nature. A goddess.
"Fuck, I love you," Ted breathed out and brushed a bit of her hair back from her face.
Andromeda gave a small laugh and tucked her head down in embarrassment. Ted lifted it back up to his with two fingers under her chin.
"I mean that," He said softly. "Dromeda, I… I really love you,"
She leaned forward and placed her pillowy lips on his again, softly, passionately.
He could have died and not known it because this was pure heaven. Andromeda, smiling, happy, in his arms, in his bed. This is all he ever wanted, would ever want, right here.
He didn't want to ruin this moment, but he couldn't stop the question from bubbling up inside of him. "Why…" Ted shifted so he was facing her more. "Why are you marrying him?"
They had both silently agreed on the unspoken rule to not talk about her engagement while they were together. It hurt, knowing that she left him each time and returned to Malfoy's side. But it was rare that she was able to tear herself away from him and sneak off. Up until tonight he had been able to hold his peace, but no longer.
"I have to," She said in a small voice and tucked her hands under her chin.
"But what about… what you said to me? Before?" He could barely make the words come out. "You said you were mine,"
Honesty had always been an issue for Andromeda but she had made an effort to be truthful with Ted. Even if it was hard. And this was the hardest it had ever been.
"Was it that night?" He asked softly. "That night… Helga, help me, I think about that night all the time. I was so stupid for thinking that… I'm so sorry, I should never have come there. If I hadn't-"
"I would still be engaged to Lucius," Andromeda cut in. "He was there that night for that reason. You just… delayed the plan a little. My Father would have agreed whether you had been there or not,"
Ted felt sick hearing this. Andromeda wasn't something to be bought and sold. She was a person who had made her choice. But then something had changed after he had been thrown out. That was the piece he was missing. A piece of her keeping her from being his again.
"But that's your Father, not you. You… you could just refuse," Ted said. Andromeda watched several emotions roll over his face; confusion, anger, pain, and jealousy. "He stole you from me," Ted added darkly. She had been his. All his. But Malfoy had taken a piece of her and placed a piece of himself on her hand.
Ted looked down to her hand, tucked under her chin. She always took the ring off when they were together. He wasn't sure if she did it for him or herself. It didn't matter because she always put it back on when they were done. He felt like a stone had landed inside of him.
"But I agreed. I took his ring and I'll take his name." Andromeda said flatly and Ted locked his eyes onto hers, searching them for some sort of answer. How could she say that after what had just happened?
He stared at her for a few moments before speaking. "Then what are you doing with me?"
"I'm…" Andromeda started. "I'm doing what I want," She added bitterly
"So," Ted's voice was harsh. "You fuck around with the Mudblood for fun, but marry the Pureblood for power?"
Andromeda sat up and narrowed her eyes. "How can you even ask me that?"
Ted shrugged. "Seems to sum this up," He snapped.
Andromeda looked into his brown eyes, normally so warm, but now dark. She knew that look; it was the same one he gave her last year after they had been found. And he had left her there. With Lucius.
She raised her chin. "I love you, Ted Tonks. And don't think for one moment that my love is something that I give easily. I gave you…" She forced out a breath. "I gave myself to you, my purity. That wasn't just for fun." She spat. "It meant something then and it means something now,"
Ted's expression changed from aggravation to shock.
"So next time you want to accuse me of…" Andromeda curled her lip, "Fucking around with you, remember that I gave you something that Lucius had to buy with almost half his fortune," Andromeda snarled. "And I've never let him-"
"Andromeda, I didn't mean…" Ted sighed. "I didn't mean it like that," He reached out for her, waiting to pull her close to him but she rolled her shoulders and shrugged him off. "I'm sorry," Andromeda tossed her hair back and looked away from him. "Baby, I'm sorry," Ted moved his body closer to hers and wrapped his arms around her. Her skin was cool against his.
Andromeda tucked her face against his chest and let his warm arms and sweet earthy smell surround her. If she could stay here forever she would. She knew it was wrong to keep sleeping with Ted. She didn't want to give him false hope, but… She couldn't stop. She didn't want to stop. It was just a few more weeks, a couple more months. Couldn't she just have that little bit of time?
Andromeda pulled back only far enough to look into his eyes. "There's something I need to tell you," Andromeda swallowed.
Ted felt nervous as he dropped his hand to her shoulder. "What is it?"
"You asked me why I'm marrying him," Andromeda tried to find the right words, but there were none. She knew she had to tell him now or she would never be able to. "I'm marrying Lucius because of his money." Andromeda dropped her eyes to the yellow damask bedspread.
"You're doing this for money?" Ted asked. "But, I've got my position with the Arrows, I can take care of you, of us!"
"It's not me I'm doing this for," Andromeda said softly and brought her honey eyes back up. She knew as hard as this was to tell him, it would be equally as hard for him to hear. "Lucius' gold is going to get my Father out of debt. He's lost everything, everything, Ted. Without it he would have to sell the house, the furniture, the heirlooms,"
"So he just sold his daughter instead," Ted said disgustedly.
"I'm not saying he was right," Andromeda snapped, "And I'm not doing it for him," Ted's eyes searched her face. "It's for my sister," Andromeda admitted. "For Narcissa. If my family is ruined, she will be too. She won't marry someone," Andromeda paused and glanced up at Ted as he frowned. "Respectable, and… that's what she's always wanted. A big house, a big wedding, a family. She's… She's not like me,"
Ted's brows pulled together. "So you agreed to… give up your happiness for hers?" Ted's heart lurched in his chest. He had thought she had changed her mind about him, thinking him too common, too poor for her; that her family had gotten in her head and changed her mind, but he had never thought she was doing this for her little sister.
Ted pushed himself up some. "I sort of hate myself for asking this, but, what about us?"
"What else was I supposed to do?" Andromeda said sadly and her shoulders slumped. "Narcissa has been dreaming of her wedding since she was a little girl. I couldn't be the reason she lost that. Even if it meant that I lost…" She trailed off as her eyes met Ted's again. "I'm so sorry," She went on. "I never wanted to hurt you and I know I have. You should hate me. I hate me," She added bitterly.
The small space between them on the bed seemed to be growing larger.
"I meant everything I said, Teddy," She brought her eyes back up to his. "I… I wish I could, but… She's my sister…" Andromeda felt tears prick behind her eyes.
Ted understood the pull of loyalty. There was almost nothing he would do to help his parents if they ever needed it, but just because the rational thought was there didn't mean the emotions stopped flowing inside of him.
"Come here," Ted pulled her close against him. She slid easily inside his arms, her bare body cool against his.
Andromeda allowed herself to take comfort in him. Is that what she had been doing all this time? Was she using him just like she had used Lucius last year? No. This was something else. Something different. Something new. And it would be over before she even realized what it really was.
"I'm hopeless." Andromeda murmured into his chest.
"No, you're not," Ted whispered and held her tighter. "You're mine,"
.
.
.
Andromeda wrung out her hair quickly and pulled her clothes back on. She had detoured to the Prefect's Bath quickly on her way back to the common room, not wanting Lucius to sniff out where she had been. He had been able to taste Ted on her once before and didn't want to give him any reason to suspect where she had been tonight.
She hurried into the common room, sliding the ring back on her finger and glanced around. Narcissa was sitting at a large round table surrounded by her friends; Thaddeus, Rabastan, Titus, and Corban were talking closely in a darkened corner; Slytherins of all ages and years were scattered around; the only one she couldn't find was Lucius.
She hoped it was nothing and tossed her hair back, making her way to the stairs that led down into the girls' dormitory. Her evening with Ted had worn her out and all she wanted to do was crawl into her bed and watch the snow fall around the cottage in the snow globe she kept beside her bed as she fell asleep.
She opened the door and stopped short. Lucius was lying on his side in her bed. In her bed. Andromeda's heart skipped a beat and then made up for it by pumping double time.
"Where were you?" He asked casually, not even looking up at her. Instead, he was tilting the snow globe with the cottage inside back and forth, watching the snow fall around inside it.
Andromeda was still frozen, her hand on the doorknob, her knee still bent in a half step. Her instincts told her to run and fast. She wanted to turn and flee from the room, race up seven flights of stairs and dive into Ted's arms.
But it would be useless; with his long legs Lucius would catch her before she made it to the common room and drag her, screaming, back down here.
"Andromeda?" He asked with a frown as he drummed his fingernails against the glass dome.
"I told you," She breathed out. "I had an essay,"
"Liar," He hissed. For the first time he turned his eyes up to her. Andromeda saw the hatred and jealousy swirling in his storm grey eyes.
Andromeda felt cold panic shoot through her veins. He could be guessing, trying to trap her like he did last term with the tie in Ted's room. Or he could know. He could have followed her, or paid someone to.
Her cunning mind spun fast. No, if he knew where she had been he wouldn't have waited for her here. He would have stormed in there, somehow, and drug her from Ted's bed. He was bluffing. And she could lie.
"Lucius," She said his name softly and took a step inside the room. "I was going to the Library, I was but," Her heart was beating so fast, but her brain was working even faster. She took another step towards him and saw his grip tighten on the snow globe. "But… I couldn't focus. I've got so much on my mind with the wedding and…"
He narrowed his eyes on her. Andromeda saw a curious gleam in them and knew she had his attention. "So I left."
"And where did you go?" He asked harshly. "Somewhere dark?"
Andromeda paused. "Dark?" She asked, confused. What was he talking about? "Yes." She lied and took another slow step towards him. "I went to the Prefect's Baths," It was technically the truth. She just left out the middle part where she had had sex with Ted, is all.
"Where was your ring?"
The best lies always came from the truth. "I took it off,"
"I told you," Lucius' grip on the snow globe tightened. "Not to do that anymore,"
"I know, I know, but…" Andromeda "I wanted to be alone. To think,"
Andromeda softened her face, her eyes, her shoulders. She needed him to believe her. Her heart rate slowed, she could do this. Lying had always come easy to her.
"About?" Lucius asked, this time his voice a little less harsh.
"Us," She breathed out and let her lips part.
His expression immediately changed to one of hunger, longing, lust.
She had him. Now she just had to keep him.
"I know I've been… distant," She placed her hand on the poster of the bed. Lucius looked up at her with intense interest. "And… our wedding is getting closer," She added softly.
Lucius sat up, his grey eyes locked onto her, the snow globe still in his hands. If she said the wrong thing he would break it. If she said the wrong thing he would break Ted.
"I suppose…" She looked to the snow globe. She wished she could shrink down and hide in the cottage.
"Suppose what?" Lucius said in a low voice.
"That I should…" Andromeda's eyes fluttered slightly.
Lucius' hand closed over hers and she watched as he set the snow globe down on the bed beside him.
"Andromeda," He breathed out, "What are you saying?"
She wished they were almost anywhere else but her bedroom right now. She didn't know where she was headed in this conversation but this was not where she wanted it to go. She hated how out of control she felt around Lucius sometimes. But she wasn't just doing this for herself; if he found out, Ted would be a dead man.
"I… I don't know. That's why I needed to think," She said breathlessly.
Lucius stood up from the bed and she saw the snow globe roll along the bedspread. He ran his hands up her arms, closing them on her shoulders. "Stay with me tonight," He whispered and Andromeda lifted her eyes to his. "I can help you think," He brushed her cheek with his fingers. "Or not think," A smirk spread across his face.
"I can't," She said breathlessly.
"You can," Lucius purred and moved closer to her.
Andromeda watched the snow globe roll slowly on the bed, moving closer to the edge. She looked back to Lucius for a moment. Twenty minutes ago she had been in Ted's arms, kissing him, loving him. She couldn't stand the thought of spending the night with Lucius after that. He leaned down towards her.
Andromeda darted forward out of his grip and grabbed the snow globe as it rolled from the bed before it hit the floor. She landed hard on the ground, cradling it to her chest, just the way she had done on Christmas after she had been sold to Lucius.
Slowly she brought her honey eyes up to his. He was towering over her, his white fists balled at his sides. His eyes turned colder as he saw her on the floor, holding the snow globe as though it was precious.
"Where did you get that?" He asked darkly.
Andromeda pushed her hair from her face. "Christmas gift," She muttered.
Lucius' hand closed over her arm and he yanked her up before throwing her onto the bed. Andromeda did her best to hold onto the snow globe and protect its fragile little world. She looked up at Lucius glowering down at her, cold anger on his blotchy face.
"Give it to me," Lucius growled.
"No," Andromeda pressed it into her chest. "It's mine,"
Lucius dove on her, knocking the breath from her body as his hands harshly clawed at the snow globe. Andromeda curled up, holding it close to her body. Lucius' hands tore at her clothes, skin, and hair, anything he could get a hold of. He grabbed her arm and ripped it back from her. Andromeda cried out. His other hand clasped onto the snow globe.
"It's from him, isn't it?" He snarled.
"Stop!" Andromeda shouted.
He pulled the snow globe from her and held it back, high over his head. Andromeda reached up for it but his other hand collided with her cheek with a smack and Andromeda fell back as stars flashed in her vision for a second.
Lucius reached down with a shaking hand and wrapped it around her throat. He pulled her up to his level, his thin lip curled. Andromeda clawed and pulled at his hand around her throat but it did nothing to stop him.
Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth, gasping for breath that she could not take.
Lucius felt his lower stomach contract at the sight of her like this in front of him. He pulled her closer to him and took a deep breath.
"I'm keeping this," He hissed, shaking the snow globe. "And I'm keeping you. I know you'll never love me but," He pressed his thin lips together for a second. "But I'll never let him have you."
Andromeda didn't know she could feel like this. Deprived of oxygen she felt her body slow down, but her heart beat faster than ever. She opened her mouth wider, just trying to get air that would not come.
Lucius leaned in and pressed his mouth onto her open one. His tongue sliding in and slithering over hers. Andromeda pressed her hands into his face, trying to push him back, but her arms were giving out.
"If I ever found out you were with him," Lucius' grey eyes bore into hers. "I'd rip him open."
Black dots speckled in her vision.
Lucius' cold eyes traveled over her body, slowly. "Then I'd rip you open,"
.
.
.
A/N: Okay so I have to leave it off there because honestly I changed this chapter around so many times I can't even count anymore. So hopefully I will soon be on a better schedule updating. I want to get back to twice a week, but things are still a little tough for me and this is such an emotional fic that it is taking a lot out of me to write it.
I wanted to give y'all some smutty goodness in this chapter because it's going to get rough in the next one. I think there will probably be three, maybe four more chapters. So hold onto your horses, dear readers, it's going to be a wild ride.