A/N: So I am three glasses of wine in and let's see where this one ends up!
Soundtrack: "Worship" and "Just My Soul Responding" by Amber Run
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May warmed the grounds and the castle, filling the large windows with sunlight and the ceiling of the Great Hall changed quickly from blue skies to storm clouds as the weather changed its mind three times a day.
Andromeda felt her brain was similar to the swirling, changing clouds above her head. She watched them move quickly into new shapes and wished that she could change just like them. These weeks she had spent sneaking around with Ted had been amazing. When he pulled her into an empty classroom or she pushed him under a stairwell it made the fire inside her burn all the brighter.
But what was she going to do in a few short weeks when they left school? When she was married? The fire that Ted ignited in her would either consume her or burn her out. Andromeda didn't know which one was worse.
She could tell that this was taking a toll on Ted as well. He often seemed distracted and was quick to anger. She knew he felt the same pressure as her and the days sped past them. When he was with her, he was his normal self; sweet and funny. But when she risked watching him when he was on his own he often had his hands stuck in his pockets and his eyes always seemed a shade darker than they should be.
Andromeda noticed that it was not just her that he was watching now. Those dark eyes were often trained on Lucius too
Lucius had been brutal since the night in her room. His hands were always on her, as she was a wild animal who was going to break free from him. It looked simple and affectionate enough to anyone on the outside; a hand around hers, his arm across her shoulders, his palm against her thigh. But she knew it was a reminder, to him, to herself, and to Ted that she was taken. Owned. Possessed.
This was not helping Ted's blackening mood. She tried to play it off, but if she pushed him away he came back twofold. She tried to appease him as best she could, but her heart wasn't in it. And Lucius was noticing.
Andromeda sat down in the study desk with the crack in the side of it and heard Howard shift from the other side to get closer to the crack where they could whisper and talk.
"How're you doing, Black?" He muttered.
"How's Ted?" Andromeda breathed.
"Good. Busy. Quidditch, you know?"
Andromeda smiled. She was glad that he was still doing things he loved like playing Quidditch and not just brooding.
"So you finally told him, huh?"
"Yeah," Andromeda exhaled. That conversation had been one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do. Part of her couldn't believe that Ted had still stood by her after hearing that she wasn't trying to fight the wedding, the marriage… or Lucius anymore. It was just a waiting game now.
"He's written to the Arrows asking how much of his salary he can get in advance," Howard sounded a little bitter.
Andromeda sighed. "He shouldn't. It won't be enough," She muttered and thinking of Lucius' cold eyes and hard grip on her added, "Nothing will."
"You're a good sister, Black," Howard said gently. "But a shit girlfriend,"
Andromeda laughed a little. She glanced over to where Thaddeus was sitting at the table not far from her; her guard for the evening.
"Tell me about it," She rolled her eyes. "How someone like me got two people to fall for them, I'll never know,"
"Neither will I," Howard muttered.
Andromeda smirked. She had gotten used to Howard's dry humor and actually enjoyed it now.
"Oh! What did Chever say?" Andromeda asked. Last time Howard had told her of his plans to ask Imogen Chever to the Graduation Gala and she had tried to give him some pointers on girls, but admitted, maybe she wasn't the best to listen to.
"I've got a date," Howard whispered and Andromeda could hear the smile in his voice.
"That's great, Rogers," Andromeda found herself smiling back. She liked this. She had never really had friends before. She had always kept company with her sisters. Lucius had been her first real friend and his friends, only by association. The other Purebloods weren't really friends, they honestly felt more like family than anything else. They had grown up together, played together and now they would marry each other so their children could grow up together.
It had been different when she had met Ted and even though it took a while, they had become a sort of friend to each other. But there had always been something more there too. It remained unspoken for a while, but it hadn't stopped the feelings for him growing. And once they were there, nothing she could do had ever helped to quell them.
Talking to Howard was calming, relaxing, and cathartic in a way. She enjoyed his sarcastic wit and his snide comments. It helped that she didn't have to hide her feelings about Ted around him either.
"In fact, we are going to Hogsmeade together on the next weekend,"
"There's a Hogsmeade trip?"
"Yeah, two weeks,"
"Rogers… you kind of have a girlfriend now," Andromeda teased.
"Yeah, now we can double date," He joked.
Andromeda didn't laugh.
Howard's chair creaked under him.
"I… I was just making a joke. A bad one." He muttered.
"It's fine," Andromeda brushed her hair behind her ear and glanced back at Thaddeus who had stuck his feet up on the table.
"You coming to the game this weekend?" Howard asked.
She had heard Lucius talking about Quidditch the other day. The Cup, once again, had come down between Hufflepuff and Slytherin, but since they already played each other, it all depended on their games against Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. If Hufflepuff lost to Ravenclaw this weekend and Slytherin won against Gryffindor at the end of the month, Slytherin would take the cup.
"I don't think so," She said slowly. She would have loved to be in the stands, cheering Ted on and congratulating him, properly, once he won, but she doubted that Lucius would let her go see him play.
However, if she could convince Lucius to watch the game himself, she of course, would be expected to be at his side. But would that throw Ted off, seeing her in the stands with Lucius? She didn't want to distract him. And she didn't put it past Lucius to make a show of him and her there together. Andromeda's head hurt.
"I can't wait to watch my girlfriend catch the Snitch," Howard grinned.
"Make sure she does," Andromeda whispered. "I'd love to see Lucius' face when Hufflepuff wins the cup again,"
Howard breathed out a laugh, "Never thought I'd see the day when a Slytherin is rooting against their house,"
"I'm rooting for myself," Andromeda corrected. "That's the most Slytherin thing there is,"
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Lucius' knee bounced up and down nervously as he checked his pocket watch again. She should have been back by now. How long did it take that girl to bathe? He had half a mind to storm in there and pull her from the water. Lucius pursed his lips in frustration and shifted in his seat slightly.
He ran his long fingers over the curve of the silver watch that Andromeda had gotten him. It had an ornate design detailed into the front of it and attached to a long silver chain. Inside it was inlaid with black mother of pearl with several different silver hands showing the time, movements of the planets, and several that Lucius had never really figured out what they were for.
He gazed into it intently, hoping to catch a glimpse of something, anything. Nothing. Just black. And not the kind he wanted to see.
"You've checked your watch every minute for the past half hour, Lucius," Narcissa's smooth voice sounded. "What are you waiting on?"
She slid onto the sofa across from him and crossed her ankles. Andromeda would have crossed her legs, letting her skirt ride up her thigh, Lucius noted. Narcissa was better behaved, folding her hands in her lap and looking at him expectantly, but not snidely so like Andromeda would have; instead, she actually seemed interested in his answer. In him.
"Your sister," Lucius growled and snapped the watch shut again.
"Well I don't think she's in your watch," Narcissa said with a smile.
Lucius' eyes shot up to hers.
"What do you mean by that?" He snapped.
Narcissa's mouth opened slightly.
"Nothing, I… I didn't mean anything. It was a joke, Lucius" She stammered.
Lucius breathed a little easier. The last thing he needed was for Andromeda to find out about her ring.
"Of course," He covered his slip easily. "I knew that."
Narcissa smiled nervously at him. "I have the patterns for wedding dresses you wanted," She said in a small voice.
"Yes, thank you," Lucius beckoned her over to the seat next to him.
She sat down lightly, barely making an indentation on the black leather. "I went off of what you said and I gathered these for some inspiration," Narcissa pulled out a few torn out pages of magazines.
Lucius opened his watch one more time and glanced down into its black, blank face before snapping it shut again.
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A large tawny owl landed on Ted's breakfast, holding out his leg as he helped himself to some of Ted's bacon.
"Oi!" Ted shouted before he saw the logo for the Appleby Arrows on the front of the letter attached to the rude owl's leg.
"Help yourself," He muttered and untied the letter, ripping it open. It was short. That was not good.
Dear Mr. Tonks,
We received your last letter about collecting your salary in advance and we unfortunately must decline this request.
More so, we must explain that a new owner has recently acquired the Appleby Arrows and has exercised much control over the team branding and register. The new owner has frozen the current team register in place for the next season.
At this time, we are currently declining your position as Keeper with the Appleby Arrows. We are willing to offer a place to try out for next year's team, if a spot opens up again.
We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you and have enclosed two tickets for the first game of the season for you in recompense.
Thank you,
Aaron Hastings
Appleby Arrows Team Manager
Ted read the letter several times, not able to believe the words on the parchment in his hands. He had lost his position. He wasn't playing Quidditch when he left school. It had been the one thing he thought might have been able to let him compete with Malfoy. It was no where near the amount of old wealth that Lucius had, but it was a start. It was better than nothing. But nothing was all that he had now.
Slowly he turned the letter over. He hadn't paid attention to the seal on it when he got it; he had been too excited to read it. Instead of the Arrows' logo on the wax was a large, ornate M with two dragons on either side. The Malfoy crest.
The new owner.
Malfoy had bought the Arrows. Malfoy had taken his position from him. Malfoy had taken his chance from him. Malfoy had taken Andromeda from him. Ted's eyes darkened to almost black and his heart hardened in his chest.
He looked over at the Slytherin table as the owl in front of him took flight. Malfoy was sitting next to Andromeda as he always was these days. They were looking at Narcissa who was sitting across from them. She had her hands in the air, making the shape of what looked like it could be a very large cake.
Andromeda's honey eyes lit up and she laughed as Narcissa's hands climbed higher into the air. She brought her cup to her lips and took a long drink before leaning forward and smiled as she talked with her sister. Ted didn't want her to be miserable, but he was having a hard time watching her be happy talking about what he could only assume was her wedding.
Malfoy's arm snaked around her and he pulled her close to him. Her smile faded a little and she gave her sister a knowing look, but did not try to remove Malfoy's arm from around her. He leaned down and whispered something into her ear. Ted felt sick watching his lips so close to her skin.
Andromeda's face fell a little and she stopped smiling at her sister and slowly turned her face towards him. Malfoy's hand wrapped around the back of her neck and pushed her head towards him and his other arm slithered around her waist, pulling her body in. Her hands fell on his chest. Ted knew she was pushing him away, but the sight of his hands on her and her hands on him…
Ted felt rage inside of him in the likes he had never known before. It was all consuming, enveloping, and pure. Malfoy had taken everything from him. And he wasn't even man enough to do it to his face. He just snuck in and bought up everything that Ted had worked so hard for.
Andromeda untangled herself from him and shifted back to her original position. Lucius rolled his shoulders, obviously frustrated with her denial of him. 'That's my girl,' Ted thought to himself as Andromeda ran her fingers through her hair, fixing it back.
Narcissa spun a magazine around and pointed to something in it. Andromeda leaned forward to look closer when Lucius' hand reached out, turning her face back towards him. He smiled at her, his teeth bared. Andromeda took a breath, blinking, and, much to Ted's surprise, returned the smile as Lucius cupped her cheek.
Ted crumpled up the letter in his shaking fist while Malfoy brushed his hand over Andromeda's skin.
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Ted felt many things over the next few days. He understood the reason why Andromeda had agreed to marry Malfoy, but it didn't make him feel any better about that fact. She hadn't been able to sneak off with much anymore so he had just had to watch as she played the role of the future Mrs. Malfoy.
His final Quidditch match was this Saturday against Ravenclaw and he tried to throw himself into practice to try and distract himself, but every time he mounted his broom he was just reminded that he had lost his position with the Arrows and found it hard to take joy in his sport now.
"Im, on Saturday," Ted started.
"I know," She said quickly. They had played Quidditch together for three years and Imogen hardly needed any coaching. "I'll catch it as fast as I can," Her expression was soft and she placed a hand on his shoulder in solidarity.
"Thanks," Ted sighed.
"I heard about… about the Arrows," She said sadly. "That's rotten of them,"
"Thanks," Ted said in a dead tone. He didn't really want to talk about it.
Imogen gave him a sad smile, squeezed his shoulder, and left him to it. He saw her meet Howard at the edge of the pitch and watched as they walked up to the castle together.
Ted looked over the green grass on the pitch. Had it really only been two years ago that he had given Andromeda a flying lesson and she had kissed him for the first time? He walked to the spot where they had fallen and knelt down, running his hand over the grass.
Is this what it would be like for him now? Only memories. In a few short weeks they would leave school and she would marry him. Ted felt a terrible sense of helplessness to stop it. It seemed useless trying to change Andromeda's mind now and short of winning himself a lifetime in Azkaban there didn't seem to be any way to stop Malfoy either. She would stand next to him and pledge her life to him.
Ted did his best not to think about what would happen that fateful night. He saw her lying back on a large bed and saw Malfoy looming over her. He could picture Malfoy's sick smirk as he ran his hands over her. Andromeda would turn her head to the side, not wanting to look at him, but he wouldn't care about her face just then.
His hands would be rough on her, digging too deeply into her soft skin. He wouldn't care about hurting her, only that he was going to get what he had wanted for so long. His lips would move over the tender flesh on her neck and he would pull at it with his teeth until she finally cried out.
That's when he would make his move, once he had brought her out of her head and back in that bed with him. He'd press himself between her legs, her secret center, and he'd shove himself in.
She'd cry. She'd hit him. And he'd fuck her.
Ted couldn't breathe.
He didn't want to think about Malfoy on top of her, his hands on her body, his lips on her mouth… He would take her over the minute she took his name.
Andromeda Malfoy… Ted felt his stomach lurch inside of him.
She was his. It was his hands that should be running over her skin. His lips that should kiss her. His body that should rest on hers. His name that she should take…
Andromeda Tonks. Ted's heart beat a little faster.
All of a sudden his brain replaced Malfoy with himself. He imagined Andromeda laid out on his bed, beckoning him to come to her with a bright smile on her face. Her hair was pulled back from her face, tied simply behind her head; she wore a white dress and a plain gold band encircled her left ring finger instead of the obscene black pearl that currently sat there.
Ted felt his blood race through his veins and back into his heart. That's what he wanted. He didn't just want small glances, stolen kisses, or a torrid affair. He wanted Andromeda; to be together, forever.
And he had never told her that. He had told her he wanted to be with her, that he wanted her to give them a chance, that he wanted to date her, which now sounded so basic compared to how he really felt.
Ted felt a renewed surge of love that quieted the anger that raged in him like an inferno. He needed to talk with her. He needed to tell her that he didn't just want to be with her, he wanted to marry her. He needed to say those words and he needed her to hear them.
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"Can you get away tonight?" Ted whispered during a Care of Magical Creatures lesson a few days later.
Andromeda's breath hitched in her chest.
"I don't know," She said softly, keeping her eyes on the front of the class.
"Gonna make me beg?" Ted's voice was low and Andromeda could almost feel it reverberating through her.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Narcissa said they needed to finish the floral arrangements tonight, but an evening with Ted was a much better offer than wedding planning.
Ted leaned down to tie his shoe. He let his eyes move up her legs until her skirt blocked his view. He reached up and trailed his fingers up the back of her leg.
Andromeda sucked in a breath and held it.
"Please," Ted whispered. "Please, Baby," Ted ran his nose against the skin on the back of her knee.
Andromeda bit her lip as she felt her knees go weak; she was sure they wouldn't support her much longer.
Ted brought his fingers back down and rested his head against the back of her thigh, breathing in deeply. "I need to see you again," His voice was hoarse and Andromeda was glad they were in the very back of the class so no one else could see her shaking.
He ran his other hand up the back of her other leg, but this time didn't stop at her skirt hem. He let his large, warm hand slide underneath and grasped her ass firmly in it. Andromeda gasped. His thumb pressed in between her legs and Ted relished the softness, the warmth that he found there.
"I know you need it too," Ted kissed the back of her thigh. "Let me worship you,"
Andromeda's legs were shaking now. She dropped her quill but made no movement to retrieve it.
How was she supposed to say no when he was making her feel like this? Andromeda closed her eyes for a moment and swallowed, trying to keep her composure.
Ted picked up her quill and slowly stood back up; the rest of the class none the wiser. He turned to stand in front of her and holding up the quill trailed the feather down her jaw line and over her neck.
"Tonight?" He asked again with a raised eyebrow.
Andromeda felt warmth seeping in between her legs. She bit her lip. She wanted to jump on top of him right here, right now.
"I'll try,"
"What, like you have a better offer?" Ted said sarcastically.
Andromeda's expression changed and Ted noticed.
"Of course you do," He said with an edge to his voice. He couldn't help but think back to the way she laughed with Narcissa… She had smiled at Lucius. Had that been just to appease him or… Ted gritted his teeth against the thoughts that plagued him. It was getting harder to separate his emotions from the truth.
He didn't want her to go back to her empty, miserable self, but he also didn't want her to settle. To learn to accept that life with Lucius.
It was selfish, it was wrong, but… Ted felt like he had boiled down to his darker emotions.
"Teddy," Andromeda said softly.
"You know what, don't bother. And don't call me that anymore," He snapped and a few students turned around to look as he did so.
He was fuming, but held his peace. Clenching his jaw, Ted turned back to the front of the class.
Andromeda felt all the warmth in her evaporate and a cold sickness settled inside her instead.
"I'll try," She whispered again after a few moments, but Ted kept his eyes straight ahead and the muscle in his jaw popped.
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"I don't like my new job," Howard grumbled as he sat down in a chair in Ted's common room.
"What do you mean?"
"Messenger boy," Howard sneered.
Ted pulled his brows together.
"Andromeda says 'Sorry'," He sighed.
Ted immediately snapped his books shut and set it down.
"You talked to her?" Ted felt like his entire attention span narrowed in on Howard.
Howard rubbed his chin. "Yeah."
"And?" Ted jumped forward on the couch. "What else did she say? Did she say anything about me?"
He had been feeling rotten about the way their last conversation had gone. They had such little time together and they spent it almost equally fighting and fucking, but less of the latter these days.
"She wants to see you," Howard admitted.
Ted's heart soared.
"When? Where?" He asked eagerly.
"Mate…" Howard looked up at him, trepidation on his face. "Look I like her, but…" Howard hung his head. "I don't think this is going to end well."
"You don't know that," Ted said in a low voice. "How, she… she loves me. I know she does. And I just have to… to get her to see that I'm the right one for her. I… I'm going to-" Ted paused at the expression on Howard's face. "What?"
"She's engaged," Howard said softly.
"She loves me though!" Ted said almost in an effort to convince himself too.
"You act like that is going to change something," Howard pulled his brows together. "It never did before so why should it now?"
"It did change something!" Ted shouted. "She was going to be with me! She chose me!"
"But she didn't!" Howard yelled back. "I have sat here and watched you pine away for her for years and now she's getting married. She's just cheating with you, don't you get that?! It's wrong, Ted… What you're doing is wrong." Howard shook his head.
"It's not like that," Ted's voice lacked conviction.
"Are you going to keep it up once she's married?" Howard asked harshly.
Ted raised his eyes to meet Howard's hazel ones. He didn't have to answer, his face did it for him.
"I can't believe you," Howard scoffed. "I know you love her, but… Ted… She's going to have a husband,"
"I know," Ted groaned. Howard was voicing the things he was trying not to think about.
"You need to stop," Howard said firmly.
Ted's jealousy rose up in him, carrying him to what left like the edge of a cliff inside of him. "No," He said barely above a whisper.
"I can't keep doing this," Howard shook his head. "I won't,"
"Then get out!" Ted snarled and pointed to the portrait hole.
"Fine!" Howard snapped and stormed off.
He opened the portrait hole door and paused, turning back for a moment. He turned and looked back at Ted. "Friday. HoM club room. Have fun fucking someone else's future wife,"
He slammed the door behind him.
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Ted hadn't been back here since the night he found the note on the door that HoM was cancelled. He hadn't wanted to see it empty and dark; a glimpse into what his future was going to look like. No, he couldn't think like that. He couldn't give up hope that Andromeda would come back around. There had to be some way…
He was a little surprised to find it empty. Andromeda always got here before him. Ted felt a jolt of anxiety shoot through him. Maybe she changed her mind. Maybe she wasn't coming. He felt his stomach turn. Maybe Malfoy caught her.
He had been so foolish getting upset over her not agreeing to meet him. Of course she couldn't just skip off to him whenever she wanted to. Ted was aggravated with himself; He had let his desperation get the better of him. But he had to admit, it was getting the better of him more often than not now.
It was so hard not to let it though. Everything in his life was spinning out of control and away from the center. He felt like everything he had worked so hard for was out of reach now and he had no time, no time to get it back.
It was already well into May and that meant there were only a few weeks left before the end of school and the end of… whatever it was that he had with Andromeda now. Or would it? Would she still sneak off to be with him, taking her ring off and climbing into his bed even after she was married?
Howard's angry words sounded in Ted's head. He had never really seen what they were doing as wrong until Howard spelled it out for him. In his head, Andromeda had never stopped being his so their being together wasn't wrong in any way. But that wasn't the whole truth. The truth included the fact that she was engaged, and planned to marry, Lucius Malfoy.
And Ted was just… the other man. And he always would be. He would never get to be with her the way he wanted. He would never have her the way he needed her. She would never really be his again.
He felt her before he heard her.
Ted turned as the door opened and Andromeda locked eyes with him.
Ted exhaled as he saw the apprehension on her face. She was nervous.
Ted rushed to her, closing the space between them quickly. He pulled her into his arms, one hand in her hair, one at the small of her back.
Her appearance made all of his inner turmoil and strife get tossed to the side. She was here again, in his arms.
Andromeda turned away as he tried to kiss her.
Ted felt her cold rejection roll through him. But something else was wrong too. Her smell. It wasn't the citrusy floral it normally was, instead it was something deeper. Something… He had smelled that years ago. Back when she had dated...
Malfoy.
He was all over her.
Ted released her.
Taking a few steps back he ran his hand through his hair.
He hadn't noticed it at first but something was different about her. She hadn't smiled when she saw him. She hadn't rushed to his side. She hadn't hugged him back.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get away the other night," Andromeda bit her lip. "I tried, I really did. Lucius, he…" Andromeda cast her eyes to the ground. "He wouldn't let me go,"
Ted looked her over. She dropped her eyes to the floor and pulled her arms tightly against her sides. She was nervous. Because of him, Ted realized.
"Teddy- Ted," She quickly corrected herself, looking up at him under her dark lashes. "I-"
Ted kissed her. He didn't care that she had had Malfoy's scent all over her. He didn't care that she hadn't been able to meet him. She was here now and that was all that mattered to him in this moment. Maybe later, he could think about what all this meant, but right now he just wanted to think about her.
"Don't," Ted said in a low voice. "Don't apologize for that. I should never have gotten upset in the first place." Andromeda seemed to melt in his hands a little. "And don't ever stop calling me that," He grinned down at her.
Andromeda smiled sweetly up at him. "Teddy," She breathed out and tilted her face up towards him. He leaned down and captured her lips with his once more. His hands moved over her and he felt the small bump in her pocket where she had stashed her ring.
"So," Ted leaned back against the desk, locking his wrist in his hand around her as he did so. He felt better just having her here, in his arms. His worries seemed to fade to the back of his mind when she was in front of him. "How did you get away tonight?"
"I poisoned Corban," Andromeda said simply and leaned up to kiss him again.
Ted pulled back slightly. "Poisoned?" He asked, shocked.
Andromeda smirked. "Just enough to sent him to the hospital wing for the night so I could patrol alone,"
Ted stared at her. Then he burst out laughing. "Merlin's beard, Dromeda…" He finally managed. "You poisoned someone for me?"
Andromeda shrugged. "Just a little," She ran her finger down his black and yellow tie. "I thought you liked bad girls,"
Ted grinned as he reached under her ass and picked her up, spinning her around before setting her down on top of their desk. Andromeda giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck while she opened her legs slightly to allow him to place himself between her thighs.
Andromeda's tongue snaked out of her mouth and she licked his bottom lip slightly. Ted felt a shiver pass down his spine and shoot to the tip of his cock, making it harden.
"Damn it, Dromeda…" Ted shook his head, making his sandy blonde hair fall into his face. "How do you do it? How do you make me fall more in love with you every time?" Ted grabbed her hips and pulled them against him until he could feel her warm center pressed against his hardening cock.
Tonight. He wanted to tell her tonight. He had to; he couldn't keep going like this.
Andromeda gave a small gasp and lightly brushed her fingers down his neck, before beginning to loosen his tie. "Well I poison people, so there's one theory," She teased.
He chuckled and lowered his lips back to hers. They were so soft and sweet. Even though he could smell Malfoy on her, there was no hint of him on her lips. Ted growled possessively and wrapped his hand in her hair, holding her head in place as he massaged her tongue with his.
Having her here after the week he had just endured was causing emotions to ripple through him quickly. His hatred for Malfoy surged forward, his jealousy crashed over him. His anger at losing his position, at losing her burned a hole in him. The feel of her warm thighs around him and her sweet, full lips pressed against his was overpowering.
"Oh, Teddy," Andromeda breathed out, pushing her body into his solid chest.
Andromeda felt warmth spread between her legs.
Ted ran his hands over her hips and up her sides.
He felt the ring in her pocket again. Did she think what they were doing was wrong? Andromeda's moral compass had never pointed true north exactly. Was that what was happening to him? Was he losing sight of what was right and wrong? Ted's body surged with desire. He needed her. He needed her with him. He needed her to not go back to Malfoy tonight, to prove that this wasn't just cheating. To prove that this was something more than that.
"Stay with me," Ted whispered. "Tonight. Stay with me,"
"Mmm, I can't," Andromeda said as she pulled his lips back onto hers. "Narcissa wants me to look at bridesmaid dresses with her,"
Ted pulled back.
"I hate this," He said harshly, unable to push the jealousy away.
Andromeda raised her eyebrows a little. "Looks to me like you're enjoying yourself," She commented as she glanced down to his groin.
"I hate that you leave me and go back to him," Ted said, frowning in disgust.
"But I come back," Andromeda said in a small voice after a moment.
"Yeah, but for how long?" Ted took a step back from her and Andromeda brought her knees back together. "How long until you're off living your new life and get too busy for me,"
"Ted,"
"Will I have to wait until he's out of town on business and sneak in through the window? Will you lie and say you're going shopping and come round mine for a quick shag?"
"Ted,"
"How about when you're busy throwing some big dinner party and you forget about me… forget about me in some… cheap motel room?" Ted finished bitterly.
Andromeda wanted to reach for him, pull him into her arms, and comfort him. But the truth was even worse than what he thought.
"Ted," She said his name again. He brought his deep chocolate eyes back up to hers, full of pain and anger. Andromeda didn't want to hurt him further, but he had to know. "Purebloods, when we marry," She took a breath, "We don't take wedding vows, we take Unbreakable Vows,"
Ted's face fell and whitened. His eyes grew large and then a rush of hot blood colored his cheeks. "You mean to say…" His breathing became erratic.
"That once I marry Lucius… I'll be bound to only him."
"No," Ted said in a low voice, moving towards her.
"Teddy,"
"I can't…" Ted placed his shaking hands on hers. "I can't do this," He gasped.
Andromeda felt a sick, sinking feeling inside of her.
"I can't watch you marry another man, especially…" Ted took a deep breath. "I can't stand thinking about… about that night. What he's going to-"
"Shh," Andromeda ran her hands over his chest and up to his neck. "Don't… I don't want you to think about that," She said softly.
"It's all I think about," Ted gritted his teeth. "That night… Fuck…" Ted's hands shook as he rested on the desk on either side of her. "How am I supposed to sit there knowing that he's-" Ted hung his head.
Andromeda felt her chest tighten.
"And it won't just be that one night," He said bitterly. "It'll be every night."
"Teddy," She said his name softly and brushed her fingers through his hair.
"I'll see photos of you in the paper, on his arm. I'll read about where he takes you on holiday and when you're hosting a charity event for his company."
His earthy eyes met her honey ones.
"I can't take it," He forced out. "I can't do it,"
Andromeda's hands dropped to his chest, "What are you saying?"
Ted focused on breathing for a moment, trying to calm himself down. "He's taken you. He's taken the Arrows…"
"What?"
Ted let out a short breath. "He's bought the Arrows and revoked my position."
"No!" Andromeda's hands moved to cover her mouth.
"He's won," Ted said bitterly, standing up straight.
"You still have me," Andromeda reached for him, but Ted pulled back.
"No I don't. I have bits and pieces of you, but even those are falling away." Ted ran his hand through his hair and surprisingly it did not fall back into his face this time. "I don't want this," Ted admitted.
Andromeda stayed perfectly still. Terror gripped her and stopped her from moving, from speaking, from anything other than watching the anguish spill over Ted in front of her.
"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I don't think I can do this anymore," Ted said, tears welling in his eyes.
The glass inside Andromeda shattered. Shards of it cut into her heart and sliced up her soul.
Something coiled deep and dark inside her rose up, slithering through her insides until it took over. Survival.
"Okay," She said, her voice strangely calm.
"What?"" Ted gasped. "That's… That's it?"
"You just said it was."
Ted saw the mask slide over her face and all of a sudden it wasn't a mask anymore. It was just her. His Andromeda was gone.
Andromeda watched behind guarded eyes as Ted's anger boiled inside of him. She didn't blame him; she couldn't. He had lost everything he cared about all to Lucius. The least she could do was to respect his decision. He was just trying to survive too.
Andromeda slid off the desk.
"You're leaving?" Ted's voice was harsh.
She didn't want to. She wanted to stay here with him. She wanted to bury herself in his arms and against his chest and forget everything else but the way he made her feel.
"I suppose so,"
Ted straightened his back. His eyes never left hers. For a brief moment she saw then soften; there was something in him begging her to stay. If she did, this would start all over. They would go on, fighting and fucking for the next few weeks until she married Lucius. And by then Ted would be ruined.
Andromeda took a few steps towards the door.
"If you leave," Ted was trying to remain composed. "Don't come back,"
Andromeda glanced at him. This was it; this was his last shred of dignity, of himself. And she wasn't going to take that from him.
Andromeda slipped the black pearl ring on her finger and opened the door.
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"Ted… Ted, Wake Up!"
Ted groaned and rolled over.
"WAKE UP!" Imogen yelled.
Ted jerked awake. He blinked and rubbed his eyes as the images of Imogen and Howard came into view above him.
"Get up," Imogen ordered, throwing his Quidditch robes at him. "The match starts in ten minutes."
Ted rubbed his hand over his face. His head pounded. Howard picked up a bottle of Butterbeer from the floor.
"Celebrating is for after you win, mate,"
"Fuck the match," Ted's voice was heavy with sleep.
"Excuse me?" Imogen placed her hands on her hips. "I know losing the Arrows is hard but-"
"Fuck the Arrows," Ted punched his pillow and fell back on it.
"Get Up!" Imogen shoved him again. "I won't let you wallow here in your self pity while we still have a match!"
"I don't care," Ted hissed.
"What's wrong with you?" Howard asked.
"Like you don't know," Ted snapped and pushed himself up some. "Doesn't she tell you everything?"
"What are you talking about?" Imogen asked.
Howard's face fell slightly. "Shit," He murmured.
Imogen turned to Howard. "What? What is it?"
"She left you?" Howard asked softly, his eyes trained on Ted.
Ted felt his stomach churn with the alcohol from the night before.
"The other way around," Ted admitted.
Howard's mouth fell open.
"What are we talking about?!" Imogen threw her hands up.
"It's…" Howard paused. "It's a long story, Im. But, I don't think he's going to make it to the match today,"
"Oh yes he is!" Imogen shouted. "This is our last chance at the Cup!" She smacked him with a pillow. "This is my last year at school!" She hit him again. "GET UP!" Imogen raised the pillow again but Howard grabbed it from her.
"Fine!" Ted snarled, his head pounding.
He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Bottles of Butterbeer littered the floor. The smell of it hit him and Ted retched.
Imogen jumped back out of the way.
"Helga, help me," She pleaded. "Get him cleaned up and dressed as fast as you can. I'm going to talk to Hooch and make sure she doesn't count out late Keeper as a forfeit," Imogen threw Ted a nasty look.
"I don't think he should be flying," Howard looked nervously at his best friend.
Ted spit on to the floor.
"I'll tie him to the broom if I have to," Imogen muttered as she past by him and hurried out the door.
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Andromeda and Narcissa made their way back to their common room after breakfast. She hadn't eaten much. Narcissa was carrying an armful of new bridal magazines that she had received along with a few letters stacked on top.
"Oh we can look at this one first, Dromeda," Narcissa pulled a large magazine out of the stack. "See? 10 Ways to Make Your Big Day Magical," She began to flip through it as they made their way down the stairs.
Andromeda nodded. Sure, she would look at whatever she needed to. She would listen to Narcissa talk about flatware and matching table linens. This was her life now. This was her wedding. She might as well get used to it.
She had spent the last few months in a dream state; trying to pretend that this wasn't happening. She distracted herself with thoughts of Ted and let herself dream that she could have a life with him. But it was just that, a dream, and it was time to wake up.
But now Ted was gone. She didn't blame him. What would she have done in his situation? She couldn't even imagine what it would feel like to watch Ted with someone else. He was stronger than her, but she had broken him. Andromeda missed a step and slid down the stone stairs.
A strong hand closed around her arm and pulled her up before she went tumbling. She knew his cold grip before she looked up at him.
"Careful, love," Lucius cooed.
"Are you okay?" Narcissa asked, worried.
Andromeda tried to get to her feet but Lucius easily heaved her up and carried her to the bottom of the stairs, placing her gently on the floor again.
"Thank you," Andromeda breathed out. Her hip was sore and she knew she would have a bruise there, but it could have been worse if Lucius hadn't been there.
"I'll always be here," Lucius purred and ran a finger down her jaw line. "To catch you when you fall," His grey eyes seemed kind but she saw something deep inside them.
Narcissa sighed deeply beside them.
He was there and Ted was gone. Andromeda realized her hand was still on his shoulder. She hesitated before she moved it. She could easily slide it up over his neck to his face. His eyes would light up and he would smile down at her.
She had done it before, lost herself in him. Made the pain stop for a while. And Lucius would gladly comply.
All she would have to do is move her hand just a few inches…
Andromeda pulled it back from him and dusted herself off. Ted might not be hers anymore, but she was still his. She would always be his.
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Andromeda paged through the magazine without really paying attention. She was thinking about Ted. As she always was. She wondered how he was handling this. He was playing in his final match today and she wanted to watch him so badly, but instead she was stuck inside in the dark Slytherin common room, looking at bridal magazines.
"Oh…" Narcissa's voice was soft.
Andromeda glanced over at her. Her small hand was covering her mouth, her other held a piece of parchment with the Black family crest as the header and their Father's thick print on it. Narcissa's eyes were filling quickly with tears.
"What? What's wrong?" Andromeda asked quickly, throwing down the magazine.
Narcissa just shook her head, keeping her eyes on the parchment in front of her.
"Cissy, what is it?" Andromeda asked urgently. Had something happened?
"I'm…" Narcissa gulped. "I'm getting married," She shuddered.
"Married?!" Andromeda said loudly.
Narcissa nodded and offered her the letter. Andromeda grabbed it and read it eagerly.
Their Father wrote that he had found a suitable match for Narcissa and she was to become formally engaged at the end of this school year to Brutus Bulstrode.
"Does he mean Mr. Bulstrode?" Andromeda gasped. "But he's got to be near 60 years old!"
"And fat!" Narcissa's tears spilled over onto her face.
Andromeda gathered her little sister in her arms. She knew why their Father was doing this, for the gold. He had always been a greedy man and after selling Andromeda for such a high price must have put his youngest daughter on the market for the highest bidder as well.
"Oh, Cissy," Andromeda brushed her fingers through Narcissa's long blonde hair. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," She wished she had better words of comfort. Instead she just held her, and rocked her back and forth.
"I… I can't believe this," Narcissa said between sobs, looking down at the letter again. "You and Bella got," She hiccupped, "Got boys from your year and I get an old man!" She wailed.
"It's not fair," Andromeda said sadly as she cradled her sister's head.
"I… I wanted someone young and rich, someone like…" She trailed off. Andromeda knew what she was going to say. She saw the way Narcissa still looked at Lucius sometimes.
Maybe she had been wrong to ask Narcissa to plan her wedding. Having to plan a wedding for someone that you wanted to be with must have been it's own kind of torture.
Andromeda closed her eyes tightly as she held her crying sister. When would she stop hurting people she loved?
"No, you don't get it," Narcissa pulled back. Her face was blotchy and red but she was still beautiful. She would be wasted on an old man who wanted a young wife to show off.
"I remember the way Bella looked at her engagement party and I remember the way you cried all of Christmas… But I was always good; I never talked back, I never got in trouble. I deserve someone better than Bulstrode. I deserve someone like-"
Her tear stained eyes cut across the room to Lucius.
"You deserve someone far better than him," Andromeda said quietly, taking Narcissa's hand in hers.
"I won't do it." Narcissa gulped. "I won't marry Mr. Bulstrode."
Andromeda watched Narcissa's blue eyes turn to ice.
"They can't make me."
"Cissy," Andromeda breathed out.
"I'd rather die than marry him," Her voice like venom.
Andromeda felt selfish for thinking about herself at this moment, but couldn't help it. Could she have been wrong this whole time? If she told Narcissa the truth, all of it, would she understand?
What did it matter? Ted was gone. How could she go back to him now and say 'Oh so I was wrong and Narcissa is actually going to refuse her marriage too so now we can be together'? Would Ted even still want her after what she had put him through?
Andromeda was pulled out of her own thoughts. "Why are you marrying Lucius when you love someone else?" She asked softly.
Andromeda sighed. Now was not the time to tell her the truth. She wasn't going to cause any more pain or turmoil in the people she loved lives'. So instead she pulled Narcissa close and hugged her sister tightly.
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Ted was dreading seeing Andromeda in classes again. He had stayed in bed the whole weekend, with the exception of the match on Saturday. He had flown terribly, hardly able to balance on his broom. Imogen had caught the Snitch, but only as a mercy to him. Ravenclaw had scored enough times that even the 150 points didn't make a difference.
If the Arrows hadn't already revoked his position, they would have after that game.
Howard tried to drop by Sunday but Ted had shouted at him until he left again. He didn't want to be cheered up. He didn't want to be consoled. He wanted to lie in his bed and be miserable. Like he would the rest of his life.
He did his best to ignore her on Monday. But, of course, he could feel her there, across the room. It was hard not to look over at her, just for a second, to see if she was looking back at him. But he kept his eyes down. He listened to the lectures. He took notes. He did anything other than look in her direction.
The next week was harder with more practical lessons instead of lectures. He kept his head down in Transfiguration wishing that he could just stare at the board and copy down notes while he quietly fell apart. Ted flicked his wand and the mop in front of him switched into a Murtlap. It sniffed and wiggled its tentacles. Ted flicked his wand and it switched back into a plain mop again.
"Put it down, Andromeda," Ted heard Malfoy's voice across the room. "It's disgusting."
"No it's not," Andromeda cooed in a soft voice.
Ted couldn't help it, he glanced up.
Andromeda was holding the Murtlap in her arms, stroking it gently. The Murtlap stretched out and tucked itself into her, grunting happily.
"Look at those things," Malfoy wrinkled his nose. "How can you even stand to hold it?"
She lifted it up in front of her and softly touched the tip of its nose to her own before settling him down in her arms again.
"I like him," Andromeda said gently and the Murtlap made a strange gurgling noise in response. "I think he likes me too," She smiled a little, just a little, as she ran her fingers through the tentacles.
Ted was struck dumb as if he had been trampled by a Hippogriff. She had held a Murtlap just like that in their third year and that's when Ted had fallen for her. She didn't care that everyone else thought it was ugly or gross. She liked the little creature despite all of that.
She was still the same girl who he had fallen for all those years ago. She was still there. She wasn't married yet. She wasn't gone. She still loved the unlovable. She still loved him.
Ted blanched. What had he done?
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A/N: Okay so I know that was a tough one. I originally planned on it ending after the scene in the HoM room, but I didn't want to leave you thinking that Ted and Andromeda were over. Because they aren't. Not at all.
Okay so do you want fewer but longer chapters or more but shorter chapters? Let me know in your review!