A/N: Please don't hate me for taking so long to update but I literally spent this whole time working on this chapter. It's just so close to the end of the year so everything is coming to a head and I am trying to wrap it all up together. It's a super long one if that helps at all.
I didn't spend as much time editing this one as I normally do so hopefully there aren't too many mistakes.
Soundtrack: Amber Run's "Dark Bloom" and "What Could be as Lonely as Love (Unplugged)
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Ted turned over in his sleep. The covers twisted around him; the sheet sticking to his barely sweaty skin. Dark shadows loomed across the room from the pale, waxing moon outside but Ted did not wake.
Andromeda was calling out to him, telling him to hurry or they would be late. He wasn't sure where they were going or why he was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans instead of his uniform, but he followed her voice. He would follow her anywhere.
She waved him into the HoM club room, but it was all wrong; the sun was shining brightly in the windows and the desks were filled with students. He paused for a moment and watched as Andromeda took a seat next to Lucius, smiling at him, and ran her hand through his light blonde hair.
Ted sat down behind them but his attention was pulled to the front of the class where Professor Flitwick was stationed. He started talking about molecules and their movements. Ted's brow furrowed. Since when did they learn science at Hogwarts?
"Teddy," Andromeda cooed and his attention was brought back to her. "Are you coming to the wedding?" She asked, a bright smile on her face.
Lucius turned to look at him. "Yeah, we need a final count,"
Ted's mouth dropped open. He was invited to the wedding?
"Ted-dy!" Andromeda drawled out his name, pouting.
"Yeah," He murmured, "Yeah I'll be there,"
"Oh, goodie," Andromeda chirped and turned to write something on a piece of paper.
"Andromeda," Ted said her name softly.
She turned.
"When… When is it?" He asked, realizing that he actually didn't know the date of what was sure to be the worst day of his life.
"Silly Ted," Andromeda said, her voice turning darker, harsher.
The classroom was dark now, as it had been the last time they were in there together. Dust collected on the desks and furniture.
"That was a long time ago, Ted," She said only her voice was thinner. Strained. Balanced.
Ted stared at her. She wore a long black gown, her hair tied loosely behind her. The black pearl ring glinted on her finger, only now an intricately carved silver band accompanied it.
She was married.
"But…" Ted stammered. "When did you get married?" He asked, barely above a whisper.
"I should go," She turned her head but her body remained motionless.
Ted moved closer to her. Dromeda…" It was then that he saw the dull, flat color of her eyes.
He had done it. Malfoy had broken her.
Lucius appeared at his side and clasped his shoulder tightly.
"I just wanted to say thank you," He tried to smile, but it just came out wrong. "You trained her up well in your time with her. But don't worry," His smile became sickening, "I still taught her a few new tricks,"
He licked his lips and walked behind Andromeda, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his head on her shoulder.
"Could never have done it without you, Ted," Malfoy tried at the smile again. Ted tensed at the use of his first name, as if they were friends, as if they had something in common. "Without you she would have fought me forever. But you handed her right over… like ice on a hot day."
Lucius dragged his mouth across her skin.
Andromeda stood completely still.
He grazed his teeth over her neck, snaking his hand up her body to grab her throat. "You broke her for me," His smile worked this time. Horrific, gleeful, and evil, but it spread across his face like it was made to be there.
"Get your hands off her," Ted's voice shook. His arms seemed to be pinned at his sides. He wanted to rush forward and rip Malfoy's arms off of Andromeda and then off of his body. He wanted to strangle him. Wanted to kill him.
"Teddy," Andromeda's voice was soft.
His eyes snapped to hers.
She screamed. Screamed as if she was dying. As if her blood was poison in her veins.
Lucius chuckled darkly in her ear.
Ted raised his wand. Had he had it this whole time? He didn't know but didn't care. He pointed it at Malfoy's grinning face.
Ted tried every spell he could think of but his wand movements were sluggish and slow. Nothing came out of his wand. Nothing… It was as if he wasn't a wizard anymore.
Suddenly she was on the ground. He didn't know where Lucius was but he didn't care either. Ted rushed to her side, pulling her body into his lap.
"Dromeda, please," He begged. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," He buried his face in her neck but she just hung in his arms like a doll. "I didn't mean it… please, come back, come back,"
Ted looked up and Andromeda's honey eyes were gazing into his very soul. "I loved you," She said, as if she was confused by the words. "I was going to leave it all behind for you,"
Ted heaved in a breath. "You still can, we can leave right now,"
"But…" Andromeda looked down at her hand. "He's watching me," She whispered, eyes widening as she stared at her ring. "He can see me right now,"
Ted wound his fingers into hers and slowly she looked back up at him. "I'm so sorry," He said again. He couldn't say it enough. "I love you,"
"I love you," Andromeda repeated his words like she was remembering them from a long time ago. "I love you, Ted Tonks. And I want you to have me, every part of me," Ted knew these words. He had played them over and over in his head too many times to ever forget what she had said to him the night she snuck into his bed for the first time. "I'm yours," She breathed.
He was inside her before he knew how. They were in his bed with the white sheet wrapped around them. Ted thrust himself deeply into her, relishing the feeling of her body under his and her legs around his hips.
"God, yes, Dromeda," Ted leaned his head back for a moment before dropping it back down to capture her lips with his. He felt her body twist and turn under him, her hips bucked up against his.
"More," She gasped. "More, Teddy, more," She moaned and Ted submitted to her pleas. He watched the way her eyes fluttered closed, the way her lips parted as she called out, the way her skin moved as she pushed up into him. She was perfect. She was a goddess. She was his.
Then she was crying. She pushed her hands into his chest, trying to push him off of her. "Stop, please!" She shouted through tears that wet her still blushed cheeks. "Please, don't,"
Ted pulled himself from her so quickly that he was surprised he even stayed on the bed.
"Andromeda, are you okay?" He asked breathlessly and reached his hand out towards her.
She scuttled away, pulling the duvet up over her.
"I'm sorry!" Ted gasped. "Did… Did I hurt you?"
"You said you would stop," She said through angry tears.
Ted's breath quickened. He dropped his hand to the bed and saw an ornately designed ring on his finger.
"You said that if I gave you a son you would stop," Andromeda bit back tears. "I… I tried,"
Ted could only stare at her.
"Dromeda…" He finally managed.
"Don't call me that," She spat. "Don't," She added, emotion embedded in that one word.
Ted slowly turned around and looked in the mirror that sat on top of his dresser. But it was not his reflection who looked back at him, but the reflection of Lucius Malfoy.
He raised a hand to the foreign face framed by white blonde hair.
"Andromeda, no!" Ted shouted, turned back towards her. She flinched away from him. "Andromeda, I'm not Lucius, I'm Ted, I'm Ted!" He shouted and reached for her.
Andromeda tried to dart away, but she was tangled in the duvet and he pinned her down on the bed.
"I'm Ted!" He shouted again.
She turned her face from him and squeezed her eyes shut. "Is this your new way of punishing me?" She finally said, turning back towards him.
Ted gaped down at her.
"Low, even for you," She said, holding back tears.
"Baby, I'm not… I'm not him, I swear," Ted felt his heart breaking for her. The look in her eyes…
Andromeda swallowed and he felt her shift under him. Her legs opened slightly.
"I'll do better this time," She said as her eyes turned glassy.
"God, no," Ted flung himself back from her. "Andromeda… no…"
Lucius walked in and stopped at the bed, shaking his head.
Ted felt his face. No more sharp angles, no more white blonde hair. He pulled a lock of dirty blonde hair down where he could see it, just to make sure.
"Well, I can't say I'm surprised," Lucius said. "You've always been a whore," He said it so casually that if Ted hadn't been paying attention he would have missed the foul word.
Andromeda cowered down under the covers.
"You know what this means," Lucius said in an almost bored tone.
Ted looked from Andromeda to Lucius.
Andromeda screamed again as white hot lines appeared on her arm, slithering up to her shoulder. She tried to crawl away, holding her arm out from her as the white lines burned into her soft flesh. They stretched across her chest and almost seemed to rise up before they buried themselves into the skin right above her heart.
"Andromeda!" Ted called out but was rooted to the spot.
She gave a blood curdling scream before she collapsed on the bed, her eyes a lifeless yellow-brown.
Lucius shrugged. "You can have the corpse," He said callously. "I'm done with it," He turned and walked out of the room.
Ted stared down at the lifeless body of Andromeda in his bed.
He jerked awake, sweat drenching his skin and sheets.
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Andromeda was having a bad day. She had been having a bad few days, to be correct. Today was Wednesday. Today Lucius had backed her into a corner and felt her up before she was able to duck away from him. Yesterday was Tuesday. Yesterday she had held Narcissa while she cried about her upcoming engagement. The day before was Monday. Monday she had to face Ted in classes again and barely made it through the day. Before that was Sunday. Sunday Andromeda had stayed in bed dreading Monday and wishing she still had the snow globe. The day before had been Saturday. Saturday Lucius and she argued so loudly that Professor Slughorn had to be called into the common room to break them apart.
None of that compared Friday. Friday night Ted had left her.
Andromeda took her seat at the Slytherin table beside Lucius. There was no point in fighting it now. He struck up a conversation with Titus and Corban quickly, probably discussing the upcoming Quidditch game that weekend. She pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet she had gotten that morning but hadn't been able to read because Lucius had pulled her out of breakfast and let his hands slide all over her.
She scooted an inch away from him. If she did this slowly enough, by the end of the meal she could be almost a full seat away from him. If he didn't notice.
She opened the paper and saw another article about a small muggle village that had been terrorized by the Death Eaters. Of course damage had been repaired to the best of the Ministry's ability and the memories of the muggles who witnessed anything had been modified but Andromeda could not get the picture of Bellatrix striding down the dark street out of her head.
"Just a few more weeks, yeah? Then we will be able to do some real damage," Corban's voice was eager, excited.
Andromeda dipped the paper slightly and watched them over the top of it. His mouth was open, smiling, happy at this news. She let her honey eyes slide to Titus who was glancing between Lucius and Corban, watching them for clues on how he should respond.
She barely moved her neck but it was enough to bring Lucius into her view. His face was set, poised, ready. "It will be an honor," He said in a low voice. "An honor to-"
He craned his neck towards her, feeling her gaze on him. His pale grey eyes were cold. "So that's why you were so happy this morning," She said softly enough that Titus and Corban couldn't hear her.
Lucius gave her a half smirk. "Cause for celebration, love," His voice was like velvet. "We can celebrate properly," He added. "Tonight,"
"I have-" Andromeda started.
"A fiancé," Lucius cut in and placed his hand on her thigh. "And a duty to him," He added in a low voice.
"I don't owe you anything," Andromeda said in a harsh whisper.
"I think we both know that's not true," Lucius said in a falsely sweet voice. "Narcissa will be needing a new dress to meet Mr. Bulstrode for the first time," He ran his hand up her thigh, carving his fingers into her skin.
"I'm your fiancée, not your whore," Andromeda spat quietly.
Lucius let his eyes slide over her, hovering in the same places his hands had spent time on this morning. "Either way, you're bought and paid for," He dropped the sweetness from his voice.
Andromeda felt her heart hammering in her chest. He had gotten worse the closer they got to the wedding. He used to only say things like this when they were alone, then he started saying them in the common room. Now he was saying them in the Great Hall.
Andromeda couldn't help it. She glanced over the top of the paper towards the Hufflepuff table. And much to her surprise she found Ted's chocolate eyes right away, as if he had been waiting on her to look in his direction. They were careful, guarded, and… tired. He must not be sleeping well.
Ted broke their gaze and turned his eyes down to his plate.
Andromeda tossed the paper down on the table. "You can celebrate with this," She grabbed his hand off of her thigh and tossed it back at him.
She saw his arm twitch. He wanted to hit her. But he hadn't started doing that in public. Yet.
Andromeda raised her chin as Corban gave a small low laugh.
Lucius' head shot in his direction. "What are you laughing at?" He snapped.
"Nothing," Corban said quickly, pushing his food around on his plate, trying to look busy.
Andromeda pushed herself up from the table but Lucius grabbed her arm and yanked her back down.
"You're not going anywhere," He snarled.
Andromeda pulled her arm out of his grasp.
"Sit here quietly like a good little girl," He said darkly under his breath. "Or I'll teach you some manners,"
Andromeda raised her chin and took a few deep, quick breaths.
"Eat your lunch," Lucius ordered.
Andromeda sat completely still.
"Eat. Your. Lunch." Lucius repeated, stressing each word.
Andromeda moved the paper she had thrown down on the table and looked at the food on her plate. She wanted to throw it in his face. She wanted to turn the table over. She wanted to scream.
Narcissa took the seat across from her. "You will not believe what McGonagall assigned us today!" She huffed and rolled her eyes.
Andromeda stared at her little sister for a moment.
"What?" She asked, hoping she sounded interested as she brought the fork to her mouth.
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If Ted thought it was hard to get to Andromeda before, it was nothing compared to now. Not only was Malfoy keeping her under constant supervision, but she was avoiding him herself.
But it wasn't like the times she had ignored him before. She wasn't pretending like he didn't exist. She was giving him space. She was giving him exactly what he had asked for and he hated himself for it.
Andromeda's attitude had seemed to change overnight.
'Of course it did,' Ted said to himself, shaking his head.
It was as if she had accepted what was coming. Without Ted, what did she have to fight for?
The closest thing he could compare her to was Narcissa and it was uncanny how similar they were now. The two seemed joined at the hip even more than before and Andromeda had even adopted some of the same mannerisms. She was polite, well mannered, and… biddable.
Most of the time. Ted could still see her honey eyes fire up every now and then but it was never long before she settled back in at Lucius' side.
Although her new attitude seemed to be one that Malfoy enjoyed, Ted could tell that he was annoyed that Narcissa was now taking up almost all of her free time.
Once again, Lucius had been supplanted by someone she loved more than him.
Ted would watch her, as he had for the past, oh, four years of his life now. Sometimes she and Narcissa sat quietly together, sometimes they joked and smiled, and sometimes it seemed that Andromeda was comforting her sister. She would wrap her arm around Narcissa's small frame and whisper closely to her.
He knew that she loved her sisters more than anything else, but had never really seen that in action until now. She and Narcissa had spent a lot of time arguing but he never really noticed that no matter how much they snapped at each other, they still spent time together.
He thought back to the times she had told him stories about Bellatrix. She had talked about her sister's strength and abilities but now he recalled the way her voice softened when she talked about her older sister. She looked up to Bellatrix, respected her even.
Ted sighed. Maybe that was the silver lining, the only silver lining, of this entire situation. If she married a Pureblood, she would still have her sisters in her life.
"I don't want to marry him. Teddy, I don't want to marry Lucius, I don't want to,"
He leaned back, thoughts racing through his head. Lucius was smarter than Ted had given him credit for. He made sure that Ted saw the way he could touch her, speak to her, be with her. He showed her off to drive Ted away. And it had worked.
He pushed his hands into his eyes. He had let his jealousy take over. He had just focused on the worst that could happen instead of the best that could happen. If he had just held it together maybe…
No, there was no changing her mind. She was doing this for her sister and nothing he could say would pull her from that path. Ted smiled a little; just another thing to love about her.
He pushed himself up from the chair in his common room and headed for the door. His thoughts continued to pound in his head with each footfall through the castle.
He was running out of time. There were only a few weeks of school left and she wasn't even speaking to him. And that was his fault. He had thought it was bad seeing her at Lucius' side the mornings after she had snuck off to be with him. This was worse. She was… accepting it. She was settling.
Ted began to walk faster.
He had to talk to her. He had to tell her he was sorry. So sorry. That he didn't mean it. That he had been wrong. That he had just been upset and overreacted. That he loved her. That he would never stop loving her. That they belonged together.
He stopped short as he walked in the Charms classroom.
She was sitting next to Lucius. Her chair was pulled close to his. His arm was around her neck, playing with her hair. Lucius was smiling.
"Mr. Tonks!" Professor Flitwick squeaked. "Please take your seat. And Mr. Malfoy, Miss Black, please keep your hands to yourself!" He said reproachfully.
Andromeda pulled herself from Lucius' grasp and he seemed loath to let her go, keeping his hands on her as long as he could.
Ted threw his bag on the floor on the opposite side of the classroom and pulled his chair back roughly.
Her honey eyes met his, just for a moment, but it was long enough.
They widened instinctively at the sight of him.
She could have looked away, but she didn't. She held his gaze.
Then she blinked and turned back around.
Ted sank further into his seat, running his hand through his hair and tried to focus on Professor Flitwick's lecture.
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They were released for lunch and Ted leaned against the wall outside the classroom. He knew that Andromeda would be walking out with Lucius, but he was desperate and running out of options. Maybe Lucius would be distracted and he could… What? Mutter 'Sorry' as she passed by?
Ted sighed.
He could hear them arguing as they walked out of the classroom.
"You can let me finish my sentence before you cut me off," Malfoy snapped.
"Fine," Andromeda answered. "Go ahead and ask me what you want, but the answer is still the same."
"You're supposed to be my fiancée," He growled.
"I am," Andromeda said blankly.
They passed by him without noticing him. Lucius pulled her against the wall across from Ted.
"Then why have I barely seen you the past week?"
"Cissy needs me; She's still distraught over-"
Ted inclined his head, wondering what could have upset Narcissa so much, but Lucius cut her off.
"I know! It's all I bloody well ever hear about anymore!" He shouted.
Andromeda glanced around the hall at his outburst and for just a moment, her honey eyes landed back on Ted. Quickly she turned them to the floor.
"You're right," She muttered.
"What?" Lucius snapped.
"I'll… I'll do better," Andromeda said quietly.
"How?" He prompted.
Ted could tell she was watching him out of the corner of her eye without actually looking at him.
"Can we talk about this later?" She whispered.
"Anytime you say 'Later', you end up with Narcissa instead of me," He said, sounding put out.
Ted's heart bloomed just a little.
"Lucius, please," Andromeda said in a small voice, "People… People are watching,"
Lucius looked around and his cold grey eyes found Ted and narrowed.
"What the fuck are you looking at, Mudblood?" Lucius shouted across the hall, causing more eyes to turn towards them.
Andromeda flushed pink and kept her eyes down.
Ted realized she had been trying to spare him from seeing her with Lucius. He might not be able to talk as plainly as he wanted, but he hoped his message would get across.
He turned his earthy eyes from Lucius and locked them onto Andromeda.
"Her." Ted said in a loud, clear voice. "I'm looking at her." He squared his shoulders and raised his head. She didn't even know that he had been looking for opportunities to speak to her again. If she did, maybe she would make herself available. Maybe.
Lucius turned from Andromeda and took a step towards Ted. He didn't want to have an altercation in the hallway, but if it took Lucius' attention off of her Ted would bear that weight. Andromeda had already borne so much of Lucius' weight already, maybe he could give her a reprieve.
"How dare you?" Lucius narrowed his eyes. "You keep your filthy eyes off of her. She's taken," He growled.
"She's gone," Ted raised his eyebrows and nodded to the empty space Andromeda had just been filling.
Lucius spun around, looking for her. "Andromeda!" He called out.
"You seem to lose her quite a bit, Malfoy," Ted said viciously.
Lucius turned on him, glowering. "Not as much as you," He spat.
"You'd think," Ted tilted his head to the size. "But she's not your wife yet,"
Fear flickered in Lucius' pale eyes.
Ted let his dark gaze burn into him until Lucius flicked open his watch and glanced down.
"I should have known," He muttered.
Ted glanced down at the watch, looking at it curiously.
Lucius brought himself up to his full height, a few inches taller than Ted. "Soon." He sneered and held Ted's gaze for a moment before turning to heading towards the stairwell.
Ted fought with himself for half a second before following after Malfoy; keeping his distance, but keeping his eyes on him. Malfoy quickly made his way down several flights of stairs and into the Entrance Hall before continuing out onto the grounds.
It was harder to follow Malfoy out here since there were less places to hide but he did his best and peered out from behind a tree to see Malfoy's tall form head straight for Andromeda, who was sitting by herself on the shore of the Black Lake.
How did he find her so fast? He… He had known, in the hall, where she was. But how? Something about this seemed familiar, but he just couldn't place it. Ted watched carefully as they talked for a moment before Andromeda stood up and Lucius took her hand in his, leading her back up to the castle.
The next week passed fairly uneventfully other than the building excitement over the last Quidditch match of the season. Hufflepuff had lost, so all Slytherin had to do was win by more than 60 points and they would win the Cup. Anything less and Hufflepuff would take it. Tensions were high between Gryffindor and Slytherin.
Ted felt helplessly powerless again. Once again, his fate was resting in someone else's hands. He wished there was something more he could do other than wait for Saturday and the match.
But after that, there wasn't much left to wait for. Spring was rapidly turning into Summer and everyone was excited about the upcoming events. After the Quidditch Match was a week of final classes, then the last Hogsmeade weekend, a week of NEWTs and then they would be practically done. The Gala would be on the Saturday and the following morning a ceremony for friends and family before the Seventh years would take the boats back across the Black Lake.
Everything seemed to be rushing forward like a warm gust of air blown up over the grounds. Every day, time moved faster. The end of their time at Hogwarts was soon. Soon. That was quickly becoming Ted's least favorite word.
When they weren't talking about Quidditch, people were talking about the Gala; what they would wear and who they were going with. Ted couldn't care less himself. It was another night he would have to watch Andromeda in Malfoy's arms. He shut his eyes and ran his hands through his hair, wondering if this is how he would feel for the rest of his life. And it was his own damn fault.
If he wouldn't have gotten so jealous, so upset, he would still have a chance with Andromeda. Maybe a small one, but still it would be there. But he had told her not to come back and she, for the first time in her life, did what she was told.
How could he have been so stupid? To let her go when there were only weeks left? How could he have let his emotions run so far away with him that he pushed her away? He kept replaying that night in his head over and over.
The only thing worse than seeing her face when he told her it was over was hearing about the Unbreakable Vow. He had always known the wedding would be a turning point, but he hadn't known it would be a point of no return. Once she made that Vow she would belong to Malfoy and he couldn't let that happen.
The image of her writhing in pain as the white marks slid up her arm flashed in his brain and Ted did his best to shut them out. Andromeda wasn't meant to be contained, wasn't meant to be bound. That Vow would be the death of her.
Ted risked it and took a chance, glancing over to the Slytherin table. Andromeda was wedged between Lucius and Narcissa. She had her head turned away from him and looked to be in deep conversation with her sister.
Malfoy wrapped an arm around Andromeda's neck and pulled her in close to him, whispering something in her ear with an open mouthed smirk.
Ted saw Narcissa blush and Andromeda pale. Lucius kissed her temple and pulled his arm tighter around her.
He felt sick as he watched them. He watched from afar as Andromeda settled into her new life. This is what he couldn't take; This is what he couldn't stand. Seeing her move on with her life. Because he had told her to.
He wanted to get a message to her, but Howard was not speaking to him right now and he had no clue if Howard was still speaking to Andromeda or not. Had he had a conversation with her like the one he had with Ted? Had she said the same things he did? Of course not. She had known about the Vow. Everything was different for Purebloods. They lived in the same world, but had an entirely different set of rules.
Any other girl and Ted could have tried to talk to one of her friends or even slip her a note in class. But once again, nothing was ever easy with Andromeda. She didn't have many friends and the ones she had would never help him. In fact, they were more likely to hex him.
Ted looked around, hoping for some inspiration on how to proceed. He would never be allowed into that world. He would never be allowed close enough to her. He needed help. He needed a Pureblood. He needed… A Black.
Ted almost hurt himself with how fast his head spun around to the Gryffindor table. He scanned it quickly before finding the dark, wavy hair of his only hope. Sirius Black.
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Andromeda sat on the long cushion in front of the window in the common room. She liked sitting here and watching the light filter in from under the lake. Occasionally you could see something drift by. If you were lucky you saw something get eaten.
That's a bit how she felt right now. Like she was living underwater and being eaten by something larger than her. She hadn't realized how much time she had spent with Ted, or thinking about ways to sneak off and be with him. Or just plain thinking about him until those thoughts were too painful to bear.
She twisted the black pearl ring around on her finger. She hadn't really thought through what she was doing with Ted these last few months. It had just been the only thing keeping her head above water so she hadn't stopped. She hadn't even stopped to think about how it was affecting him. How it would affect him once she was gone. Really gone.
Andromeda felt her eyes well up with tears but quickly blinked them away, tilting her head back slightly. 'No more tears,' She told herself in a firm voice. She made this decision and now she was going to live with it. And she wasn't going to spend the rest of her life crying.
She was going to close it off. She was going to be an object in Malfoy Manor? Fine. Then that is what she would be.
Andromeda loved her sisters, but right now she couldn't stand to even think about Bellatrix. And Narcissa… She had agreed to this so that Narcissa could have a chance at the life she wanted and now she was being sold off to someone three times her age and more than three times her size.
Was that the life she had bought with her own?
'Too late,' She thought, leaning her head against the window. 'Too late for thoughts like that.'
Andromeda took a deep breath, hating the deep ache in her chest. It was a familiar one; one that she knew well. She hated this feeling. This pain that would not go away. She took a deep breath and decided to never love another person again.
She couldn't do anything about the people she already loved. That would just keep going on. But new people? Never. Love made you weak and weak got you hurt. She felt like her heart had been turned to ice inside of her and looked down to see her hands shaking.
Is this what love did? Hurt you? Turn you cold? Drive you insane? Make you cry? Turn you into a monster?
Her eyes cut through the room and landed on Lucius. He was talking with a few of his friends in low voices. They had a copy of the Daily Prophet out in front of them. He claimed to love her. Maybe he thought he did. Maybe he thought what he felt was what love was like.
Was love different for different people? Were there different kinds of love for different people? Andromeda felt a headache forming behind her eyes and closed them briefly. It didn't matter. She was done with love.
Narcissa walked up from her dorm, wiping her eyes gently. Their Mother had written and said that Mr. Bulstrode would be making a visit to the house their first week back from school and that Narcissa should prepare herself properly for the visit. She had read the letter and excused herself. Andromeda had thought about following her, but knew she needed some time and space to calm down. She would never know love in that marriage. And maybe, just maybe, that was a good thing.
She would never get her heart broken by Bulstrode. She would never feel this ache in her chest that made earthquakes seem calm in comparison.
But Andromeda had agreed to marry Lucius to give Narcissa the life that she wanted. Was this the life she wanted? She wanted to be rich and powerful, but was this a price that Narcissa was willing to pay for that? Was she willing to give up her life too?
She made her way over to Andromeda by the window and sat down heavily on the other end of the cushion.
"How do you do it?" She asked in a small voice.
"Do what?" Andromeda answered.
"I know you… still care for… you know," She said in a low whisper so no one else could hear them. "So how do you deal with being engaged to Lucius?" Her blue eyes cut across the room to him for just a second.
"I just do," Andromeda said sadly.
"You don't even like him," Narcissa said, sounding confused.
Andromeda just stared at her.
"And I know you don't love him," She added, picking at a stay thread on the cushion. "So who is the other person?"
"What are you talking about?" Andromeda asked tiredly. She had spent the afternoon wallowing in her thoughts and feelings and didn't feel up for a game of 'Guess My Vague Question'.
"You said that he wasn't the only one you loved. And at first I thought you were talking about Lucius, but… I don't know what's going on with the two of you but I know it's not love."
"Cissy, can we… Can we not talk about this right now?" Andromeda leaned her head back.
"I need to know," She whispered urgently. "Because I am about to throw off Mr. Bulstrode and I need to know-"
"You're what?!" Andromeda hissed, her head shooting back up.
"I don't want to marry him." Narcissa's blue eyes turned icy. "Honestly, it's preposterous. I mean, look at me!" She waved her hand over herself. "I don't need Father to make me a match. Do you know how many boys have asked me out over the years? I've always said not because…" Narcissa blushed a little, "Well I've always said no but I'd have no problem attracting the kind of husband I want."
Andromeda felt a cool wave of shock pass over her. She had never heard Narcissa talk like this.
"So I am going to tell him I'm flattered, but my answer is no." She leaned back and raised her chin.
"Father is going to-"
"Father is going to get over it," Narcissa snapped. "I am not marrying Brutus Bulstrode. His son is in my year for Salazar's Sake!"
Andromeda blinked in surprise.
"Yeah!" Narcissa whispered fiercely. "And he's disgusting so I can only imagine what his Father is like. I won't do it. I won't!"
She could only watch the cold determination on her younger sister's face.
"Father can say what he likes. But I can find a better husband than that old frog! And I will!"
"You really mean it?" Andromeda breathed out. "You're really going to turn him down? You know what Father will do, don't you?"
"I am going to march into his office and tell him that I can get a better offer than the one Mr. Bulstrode has given him. Oh, I'm not naïve, Andromeda," She snapped at her sister's shocked expression. "I know it's the highest bidder who gets us. And I can drive up the price," Her blue eyes hardened like steel.
Andromeda could not believe the words coming out of her little sister's mouth. But Narcissa was not a little girl anymore. She didn't have the same curves as Andromeda or the height and strength of Bellatrix, but she had a deadly edge to her that they all seemed to share.
"Rodolphus is a bit or a moron, but he and Bella get along well enough. Lucius is…" She sighed wistfully.
"Narcissa," Andromeda started.
"I know, I know," She shook her head and her long blonde hair fell around her face. "He's got a temper. He's got some serious issues. But he's also got everything else that I want."
"Trade you," Andromeda murmured under her breath.
Narcissa's eyes shot to Andromeda's quickly and Andromeda saw a glint of something that looked a lot like jealousy for just a moment.
"I was joking," Andromeda said quickly. As much as she didn't want to be with Lucius, she didn't want Narcissa with him either.
Narcissa took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, looking over at Lucius again. "I am not wasting my life waiting for him to die so it can actually start," She said slowly, carefully.
Andromeda felt a tiny ray of hope in her heart. Would Narcissa understand if she told her the truth? Or would she get scared, imagining a life with no money and latch onto Bulstrode for the things he could provide? Would she be hurt? Upset? Mad?
Was there a way out of this where both she and Narcissa could get what they wanted?
"I simply will not do it," She said and shook her hair back over her shoulders.
"Father is going to throw you out if you tell him that," Andromeda said blankly.
"Then I'll come stay with you," Narcissa said as if it was the simplest answer in the world. "That is, if you'll have me," She added in a small voice.
"Of course," Andromeda answered quickly. "You know I will always be here for you; My door will never close to you. Not ever."
Narcissa's face softened and she smiled a little. "You know there was a time when I thought I might lose you," She said softly
"What do you mean?"
"I… I just had this crazy feeling that you were going to run off with… him and… I know, I'm insane for even thinking that. But sometimes… Dromeda, the way you would look at him… I've never seen that look on your face before."
She had stopped breathing.
"Would that be so bad?" She breathed out so quietly she wasn't sure if she had actually said it.
"Would it be so bad?" Narcissa gasped. "Andromeda I know you… liked him or whatever, but he's a… A Mudblood," She whispered the last word.
"But… But if he made me happy," She choked out the words. "Would that make a difference?"
Narcissa watched her carefully and Andromeda guarded her face the best she could.
"I don't know," Narcissa whispered. "Would it?"
.
.
.
Ted leaned against the cool stone wall of the basement level of the castle outside the kitchens. It was late, after hours, but excitement surged through him so that he did not feel the long hours of the day resting on him.
"Awesome! I love those!" A young boy said as the portrait hole to the kitchen opened up and four boys came spilling out, arms full of treats and snacks.
"You've got to try one of these, Remus," Sirius' voice was a little more affected than his comrades and Ted easily picked up on the underlying confidence in it. Pureblood, for sure. Ted smiled to himself.
He cleared his throat as Sirius shoved a raspberry tart into whom he could only assume was Remus' mouth.
The four boys all froze, staring right at him.
"You're out after hours," Ted said, trying to keep the smile from his face. "And stealing from the kitchens is forbidden,"
"We didn't steal it," Potter piped up. "They gave it to us. They wanted us to have it,"
Ted raised his eyebrows. He knew very well that the house elves loved giving away food to any students who wandered in the kitchens.
"Hey, I know you," Sirius said, his dark eyes focusing on Ted. "You're-"
"Head Boy," Ted interjected. "And I am going to need to speak with you about this infraction," He struggled to keep the smile off of his face.
A short, rather large boy with large teeth was whimpering behind James and Sirius.
Remus let the raspberry tart fall from his mouth. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this," He said under his breath.
"You three," He pointed to James, Remus, and the other boy, "Get back to your common room. You," His gaze turned back to Sirius, "Come with me,"
"You mean we're not in trouble?" The boy with the large teeth asked.
"No," Ted's grin began to spread across his face.
"It's cool, guys," Sirius said, handing his treats over to Remus who struggled to hold it all in his arms. "I know him,"
Sirius followed Ted a little ways down the corridor before Ted stopped and turned towards him.
"I need your help," Ted said quickly. "I need you to talk to Andromeda for me,"
Sirius sighed with an expression that looked too old for a 12 year old to wear it. "Why can't you do it yourself?"
"She's not really talking to me right now,"
Sirius eyed him and pulled a crumb off of his jacket. "So why should I help you then?" He flicked it into the darkness. "If she doesn't want to talk to you then maybe you shouldn't talk to her,"
"Because she's not talking to me only because I told her not to, not because she doesn't want to,"
"Look," Sirius pushed his wavy hair back out of his face. "I don't really hang out with her anymore. That Malfoy bloke… He… I don't like him," His face turned dark.
"Me neither," Ted pursed his lips. "And he hates me so it's not like I can just walk up to her myself. He'd throw a fit if he knew she was talking to me. That's why I need you,"
Ted watched Sirius' eyes study him for a moment and process a few thoughts.
"Please, Sirius," Ted leaned down a little. "I just need you to get a message to her. Can you do it?"
"Can I sneak around and pass secret information that will most certainly cause trouble?" Sirius raised his eyebrows. "You bet your ass I can,"
.
.
.
Andromeda and Narcissa were walking out of the Slytherin common room and headed up for dinner when she heard her name being called by a familiar voice. She had barely seen Sirius since the Holidays and that was mostly because Lucius kept her at his side at all possible times.
She missed her little cousin.
"What are you doing here?" Narcissa didn't bother to keep the annoyance from her voice. She had taken it as a personal offense when Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor.
"I need to talk to Andromeda," Sirius said nervously, tugging on his robes as if he was extremely uncomfortable being down here in the dungeons.
"What is it?" She asked.
Sirius glanced around. "Alone,"
Andromeda and Narcissa shared a quick look before Andromeda said, "It's fine, Cissy. I'll be up in a moment."
Narcissa hovered for a second; clearly torn on whether to stay or leave.
"It's Sirius," Andromeda did her best to sound lighthearted. "It's not like I'm plotting some nefarious scheme with him," She forced out a laugh.
"All right," Narcissa bounced on her heels for a moment. "But don't be too long because you know that he'll-"
"I know," Andromeda snapped. She softened her voice. "I won't, this won't take long will it, Sirius?"
"No not at all," He said quickly.
They watched as Narcissa headed up out of the dungeons before Andromeda turned back to Sirius.
"Tonks wants to see you." Sirius let the words tumble from his mouth.
Andromeda tensed.
"At the Match tomorrow. He said to meet him in the changing rooms."
Andromeda tensed and her stomach did several backflips inside her.
"Did he say anything else?" Andromeda asked breathlessly.
Sirius shook his head. "Just to meet him,"
Andromeda swallowed down the storm of emotions that was rising in her and nodded.
She squeezed his arm and said, "Thanks,"
.
.
.
"Why were you talking to Sirius?" Lucius asked her as she sat down.
"He's my cousin," Andromeda said in a bored tone. "I can't talk to my cousin?" She grabbed a roll and began tearing off bits and sticking them in her mouth. "Where's Narcissa?" She asked as she swallowed.
At that moment a very nervous looking Narcissa walked into the Great Hall. She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as she saw Andromeda sitting there and hurried over.
"Wait," Andromeda turned to Lucius. "How did you know I was with Sirius?"
Lucius' pale grey eyes stayed on hers for only a moment before he glanced down.
"Narcissa knew where I was, but if she wasn't here, how did you?"
Lucius muscles tensed and his hand slid to his pocket, grabbing something there through the clothes.
"Lucius?" Andromeda prompted.
He glanced up at her for just a moment, his eyes dark, as Narcissa sat down.
"Narcissa," Lucius said curtly, turning towards her quickly. "Did you set up everything for next Saturday?"
Narcissa nodded eagerly. "Yes. Ms. Stolas is closing the shop for you,"
"What's happening next Saturday?" Andromeda asked, not liking being left out of not one, but two secrets now.
"Your dress fitting," Narcissa smiled.
.
.
.
Lucius had been a nervous wreck the week leading up to the final Quidditch match of the season. He snapped at anyone who talked to him when he was trying to think then yelled that everyone was being too quiet when they stopped speaking.
Andromeda decided the night before the match was a good time to annoy him with pointless wedding questions.
"But if they play the Adagio before the Waltz no one will want to dance," She affected a pout.
"Fine, Waltz then Adagio," He snapped.
"But Lucius," She drew out his name in a whiny tone, "The Minuet has to come after the Waltz!"
"Bloody Salazar, Woman, will you leave me be?!" Lucius shouted and threw his papers down on the table. "Have them play a Polka for all I care!" He snarled viciously.
"If that's the way you feel about it then fine!" Andromeda snapped and shoved herself up from the table. Smiling inwardly, she headed for the door of the Slytherin common room.
"Now where are you going?" Lucius called from behind her. "Andromeda!"
She smirked as she disappeared from the large door and into the corridor.
"Rab, go follow her," He said tiredly, rubbing his forehead.
Rabastan sighed and heaved himself up off the sofa where he had been reclining.
"I swear on Salazar's watery grave, she's going to be the end of me," Lucius muttered.
Narcissa watched him carefully as he pulled his papers back towards him.
Her pending engagement to Brutus Bulstrode still weighed heavily on her mind and she couldn't help but feel jealous. She knew Lucius had a temper, and the fact that his personality and Andromeda's personality seemed constantly at war didn't help.
She wondered how her own personality would mesh with her future husband's. Would he be kind? Cruel? Indifferent? What would a 60-year-old man care about a young girl's thoughts?
If she had been given to someone like Lucius it would be different. She knew Lucius and she knew how to handle his mood swings.
Narcissa stood and walked behind him. Lightly she placed her hands on his shoulders.
"You're tense," She said softly.
"I know," Lucius snapped.
Narcissa gently pressed her fingers into the tight muscles.
Lucius groaned and she felt him relax under her.
"Let me help," She whispered. Maybe this was crossing a line with her future Brother-in-Law, but right then Narcissa didn't care. She moved her hands on him with a tender pressure, working the tense muscles on his shoulders and neck.
"Oh, love, yes," Lucius groaned and let his head fall forward.
Narcissa reached up and ran her nails through his long blonde hair.
Lucius spun and grabbed her wrist.
"You don't want to do that," He said in a low voice.
"Why not?" Narcissa breathed out.
He looked up at her, his eyes darkening.
"Because, I wouldn't be able to control myself," His voice was hoarse.
Narcissa's breath hitched in her chest and her heart beat faster.
"What about Andromeda?" She breathed out.
Lucius slowly wound his fingers in hers and Narcissa watched as he latched them around her small hand.
Lucius gave her a small smirk, "What about Andromeda?"
.
.
.
"Stop walking away," Rabastan said angrily as he stomped after Andromeda.
Andromeda kept walking.
"Hey!" He reached for her but she jerked her arm away.
Andromeda didn't know where she was going. Just away.
"I said stop," This time his hand closed around her arm tightly and he pulled her back.
"Get off me," Andromeda snarled.
"Where are you running off to, huh?" Rabastan sneered at her. "Gonna go see your boyfriend?"
Andromeda tensed.
"Yeah," Rabastan's dark eyes glittered dangerously. "You never even noticed me, did you?"
Andromeda narrowed her amber eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about," She said darkly.
"Don't you?" Rabastan shoved her into the wall. "You weren't as careful as you thought you were, little Andromeda. You might have figured out Lucius' little ring trick, but then you got sloppy and I saw you with him,"
These words echoed in Andromeda's head over and over, with each heartbeat, each breath.
There was no denying it. Rabastan's eyes shone with a dark fire and she knew he was telling the truth.
"Little ring trick?" Andromeda breathed out.
Rabastan chuckled darkly. "Don't have to play dumb with me," He brushed a bit of hair out of her face. "I know who you are. Lucius told me all about you,"
Andromeda turned her face to the side, breathing heavily. She could smell his breath he was so close to her now.
"He's going to be furious when I tell him that you've been sneaking off with that Mudblood,"
"Don't call him that," Andromeda snapped, her eyes back on Rabastan and as hard as gemstones.
"Or what?" Rabastan shoved her into the stone wall behind her again. "What are you doing to do, Andromeda?"
Andromeda pulled out her wand and pointed it at Rabastan's face. "I'll carve out your tongue," She said darkly, raising her chin.
"What a waste you are," Rabastan snorted as he looked her up and down. "A Pureblood Princess who'd rather wallow in mud… You disgust me." He spat.
"Oh, I'm no Princess," Andromeda hissed.
"You're right. You're a Blood Traitor and a dirty little slut." His dark eyes held loathing in them. "You know I used to like you," He added after a minute.
Andromeda stiffened.
Rabastan's eyes dropped to her chest. "Lucius claimed you way back, but never stopped me from…" He sucked in a breath. "Used to think about you at night," He said in a low voice. "Still do sometimes,"
Andromeda fought revulsion as he patted the front of his trousers and rubbed his hand over them slowly.
"That's all you're good for now," He sneered, bringing his black eyes up to hers. "A hard fuck."
Andromeda pushed her wand tip into his chest, which only caused him to laugh a little.
"I'll make you a deal," Rabastan smiled sickly. "I won't tell Lucius about you spreading your legs for that Mudblood," He tilted his head to the side and let his eyes slide up and down her. "If you-"
Andromeda twisted her wrist and Rabastan went flying into the opposite wall.
She advanced on him, her wand outstretched.
He was lying in a heap on the floor. As she approached he touched the back of his head and his fingers came back red and wet.
"You cunt!" He snarled.
"I'll make you a deal," Andromeda's voice dripped with venom. "I'll forget what you said, if you forget what you saw,"
Rabastan panted, glaring up at her.
"Or I can make you forget," Andromeda hissed. "I can make you forget all sorts of things; your name, who you are," She twisted her wrist again.
"All right!" Rabastan shouted. "All right," He said softer as he slowly got to his feet. He righted himself and touched the back of his head gently again. "You've got a darkness in you, Andromeda."
"I know," She snarled.
Andromeda turned on her heel and marched back down to the dungeons, head raised high. She stuck her wand back in her pocket and left her hands in them too, trying to hide their shaking.
.
.
.
Ted poked at his cereal and glanced down the table to where Howard and Imogen were sitting together. In the course of a few days he had lost his best friend and his… Well Andromeda hadn't been his girlfriend exactly. In fact, he had no clue what they actually had been to each other over the past few months except… together.
Howard laughed at something Imogen said and Ted sighed. He needed to make peace with them. He missed them both and they had tried to help him but he had pushed them away. He made a plan to go to the Hufflepuff common room this evening and apologize to both of them. Profusely.
He took a bite and chewed it slowly. His leg bounced under the table nervously as he swallowed. He had no clue if Andromeda was going to meet him today or not. If she didn't… Ted let out a low breath. He didn't know what he would do. He didn't want to force her to talk to him, but… Even if she decided to stay with Lucius she needed to know he was sorry for what he said.
But he hoped with every shred of his ruined heart that she would come. That she would walk through the door and throw herself into his arms. That she would tell him that she understood and still cared about him.
And then if she did, he was going to ask her. He was going to ask her to run away with him. He was going to ask her to leave it all behind for him.
He was going to ask her to marry him.
Ted knew it was a long shot, but he didn't have any other options. He knew she was doing this for Narcissa but they would figure something out. He refused to believe he lived in a cold and unfeeling world that would not allow something, anything, to go right for him.
He glanced up at the Slytherin table.
She was there, eating a strawberry and letting the thick, red juice trail down her fingers. Surprisingly Lucius was not next to her. He was sitting with his team, a serious expression on his face. Andromeda on the other hand, seemed lighter without his presence. She was even smiling.
Narcissa must have said something because she suddenly threw her head back and laughed loudly, shoulders shaking. Ted's eyes locked in on her. He loved her laugh, having heard it so many times in History of Magic club, but he hadn't heard it lately and Holy Helga was it good to hear again. He couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face at the sound of it and the sight of her as she let it bubble up out of her.
Narcissa was giggling behind her fingers as Andromeda took another bite of a strawberry and the juice ran quickly over her fingers and down her hand.
Ted sucked in a breath as he watched her tongue snake around her fingers as she brought them past her full lips, sucking the red juice off. He didn't even bother trying to close his mouth because he hadn't even noticed it had fallen open.
"Hey!" Lucius' cold voice rang out across the Hall. "Mudblood!"
Ted was pulled from his trance and quickly turned in Lucius' direction. His expression immediately darkened as his deep eyes landed on the blonde Slytherin.
"Keep your eyes in your head and off my fiancée," He shouted roughly.
Ted glanced back at Andromeda who was looking at him in surprise. Ted had noticed that Malfoy was more on edge lately; it was hard not to when he constantly snapped at anyone within a five foot radius of him. And most of the time, that meant Andromeda.
She dropped her gaze from him and kept it trained hard on the bowl of strawberries in front of her, purposefully not looking at him.
He glanced back at Malfoy and did the only thing he could think of; He laughed. It started out low and slow, he let it rise up from deep inside him, from the place where he kept his secret relationship with Andromeda tucked away. He let his body shake with it, staring straight into Malfoy's cold, angry eyes as it grew stronger.
Malfoy stood up and slammed his hands on the table, seething with rage.
Ted's laughter turned harsh before it ended. He let his disgust show clearly in his expression as he held Lucius' deadly gaze.
Malfoy was heaving in breaths, obviously trying to control himself. If he got in trouble now, he could be thrown out of the match and they both knew it. Suddenly the tables had turned, just slightly, in Ted's favor.
"If I was you I wouldn't be worried about where I'm putting my eyes," Ted said in a low voice, but the Hall had quieted enough that it carried to Lucius who's eyes widened in shock before narrowing into almost slits.
There was a crash and both Ted and Lucius turned to see Andromeda standing up, her eyes hard and her jaw set. The bowl of strawberries was scattered across the floor.
Ted expected her to give him a small smile but instead she was glaring almost as hard as Lucius was.
Something inside Ted started falling apart and he was almost sure that it was his spine. He had done it again; let his emotions get the better of him at her expense. Another thing he would have to beg forgiveness for. If she even showed up now.
Andromeda's lip curled just slightly and she stepped over the bench, still holding his gaze as she shook her head a few times in his direction. She looked once towards Lucius who was staring at her as if he could strangle her right here and now before walking out of the hall, doing her best to keep her chin up amidst the whispers that were now filling the silence.
Ted dropped his head to the table and hit it against it several times. He lifted it again and caught Howard's eye down the table. He gave Ted half a smile in sympathy and his expression clearly stated he felt bad for him. Ted was moved by this small sign of friendship and gave him a small nod to show his appreciation.
He looked back up knowing that Lucius wasn't going to just let this slide.
But Lucius was gone.
.
.
.
Lucius slammed Andromeda into the wall.
His chest collided with her back as he held her there. He wrapped his fist up in her hair, pulling her hair back along with her head so that he could see the pained expression on her face.
"You better have one hell of an excuse, Andromeda or I swear on Salazar's watery grave that I'll-"
"You'll what?" Andromeda snarled. Pain shot down her neck as he pulled her hair back farther. "You've already threatened me with everything under the sun,"
Lucius pressed harder into her, making it hard for her to breathe between the wall and his solid chest.
"Really want to keep running your mouth?" He growled dangerously. He slammed her head into the wall and pulled it back roughly again.
"Lucius, I swear," Andromeda gasped. "I promise you there is nothing going on between Ted and I," And this time it wasn't a lie. This time it was the truth.
"Then what the fuck was that about?" Lucius hissed in her ear, his breath hot on her neck.
"I don't know, okay?" Andromeda bit her lip against the pain as Lucius twisted his fist, tightening his hold on her. "I don't know what is going on with him because I don't speak to him. You can't expect me to know what he's thinking can you?"
Lucius loosened his grip only slightly, but enough that Andromeda was able to move her head slightly to the side so she could see him better.
"I'm engaged to you, think about how crazy that must drive him. Knowing that I am with you. That I am going to marry you. That I am going to-" Andromeda stopped talking. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the truth either.
"What?" Lucius breathed out in her ear. "What are you going to do, love?"
Andromeda recognized the husky tone in his voice. He was actually getting off on this. She felt his lips graze the shell of her ear and tried to hold as still as possible. The smell of mint and cedar surrounded her and Andromeda stopped breathing. Lucius' lips traveled over the skin on her neck and she felt them part and his teeth hover over her neck.
"Say it," He whispered.
Andromeda swallowed hard. "That I'm going to be yours," She did her best to keep the revulsion from her voice.
Lucius spun her around so that her back was against the wall now. His pale grey eyes bore into hers and he seemed to grow larger in front of her as his breathing quickened.
"No," He said softly. "You're already mine."
Andromeda's hand inched slowly towards her pocket where she knew her wand was.
He took a deep breath, inhaling her and moved his body against hers again, foiling her plan to hex him. "If I didn't have this match, I'd take you right now," His voice was low.
She needed a new plan. And quickly.
"Lucius," Andromeda said his name softly and gently raised her hands to his chest. He would mistake it for affection when she was preparing herself to shove him away.
"Yes, love?" His voice was deep with desire.
"Don't worry about him," She said, wrapping her hand around his neck. She could grab it if she needed to.
Lucius began to feel his blood quicken in his veins. This was the most affection she had shown him in months. She had tolerated his advances but never reciprocated.
His body stiffened in response to her.
"He always did get your blood going," Lucius said, his voice harsher.
Andromeda tried to act nonchalant at his comment. He was testing her. If she took offense it would only drive Lucius on.
"Who?" Andromeda asked softly as she played with a lock of his hair.
Lucius smirked at her, obviously happy with her response.
"You're right, love. Who knows what goes on in a Mudblood's mind?" He said, licking his lips slightly.
Andromeda held her tongue.
Lucius leaned down towards her, his mouth already open as he did so. She braced herself for the feel of his lips on hers.
.
.
.
Ted paced back and forth in the Hufflepuff changing room. He ran his hand through his hair and it fell back into his eyes the second he stopped. If his outburst in the Great Hall this morning stopped Andromeda from coming he would never forgive himself. He had a chance of speaking with her but opened his stupid mouth to Lucius instead.
Ted grunted in frustration and banged a fist against the wooden locker, breaking a part of it. He leaned his head against the broken wood and rolled until his back was against it. He brought his hands up and pressed them into his eyes until he saw colors sparkle behind his eyelids.
The door opened.
Ted's head shot up in shock as Andromeda stormed through the door.
He didn't even care that she was shooting daggers with her eyes or that she looked like she could kill him and walk off happily right now. All that mattered was that she was here. She came.
"If you ever," Andromeda started, "Ever, decide to make a comment like that again,"
Ted couldn't stop the smile from spreading on his face.
"I will personally cut off any bit of you that is mentioned." She stopped in front of him, crossing her arms over her chest.
"You came," Ted managed.
"I wasn't going to," Andromeda spat. "Not after this morning." She glared hard at him and Ted's smile faltered.
"Andromeda," He started, ready to begin his groveling.
"I don't want to hear it, Ted." Andromeda stated firmly.
Cold fear doused him.
"You broke up with me," She said, a little softer this time. "You left me."
"Dromeda," Ted reached for her but she recoiled.
"Then you get my cousin to tell me to meet you," She continued. "And then you decide it's a good idea to taunt Lucius and insinuate in front of the entire school that I slept with you?" She shook her head in disbelief. "I never would have if I thought you were this much of a fool!" She spat out harshly.
"I am," Ted said seriously. "Baby, I'm such a fool. I'm so stupid. I made the worst mistake telling you to go," He took a breath and swallowed it. "I was upset. I was stupid. I was jealous… Helga help me, I was so jealous I couldn't think straight,"
"Idiot," Andromeda snapped.
"I was wrong. I was dead wrong."
"Imbecile," She hissed.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Ted implored. "I'm sorry for that night, I'm sorry for this morning… Baby, I'm sorry for everything,"
He reached for her again and this time she let him. Ted ran his hands up her arms and onto her shoulders. God, it felt good to touch her again.
He moved his hand over her neck and she winced.
It was then, with her hair pushed back, that he noticed the mark. A single dark imprint of Lucius's mouth on her pale skin. It was still forming.
Ted's hands dropped from her and he took a step back.
"Lucius," Ted let the name fall from his mouth like it was a piece of rotten fruit.
Andromeda looked him dead in the eye. He could see the hurt in hers along with a flicker of shame.
"Because of this morning?" He asked, knowing the answer.
"Because he's awful," Andromeda corrected.
"He's never going to touch you again," Ted said in a low voice. "You're not going to marry him,"
"Don't start with that," Andromeda said, exasperated.
"I mean it," Ted grabbed her again. "I love you. I love you, Andromeda."
"I don't want to fight about this again," She pleaded.
"We're not going to fight," Ted said, almost laughing.
"Really? Because we always fight when we talk about-"
Ted kissed her. Not softly, but not rough. Not slowly, but not urgent. Just passionately.
He felt her soften in his grasp.
"We're not going to fight anymore, Andromeda," Ted gently cupped her cheek. "We're going to run away together,"
Andromeda had stopped breathing.
"We can go now, while Lucius is distracted." Ted began to get animated. "I am going to steal you back from him," He let his hand run down her neck, chest, and slide to rest on her hip.
"Do I get a say in this?" Andromeda breathed out.
"Do you love me?" Ted grinned.
"Yes, of course," Andromeda started.
"Then there's your answer. Dromeda, that's all that matters. That I love you and you love me. Everything with your sister and your family… We will figure it out. We will because we will be together,"
"Ted,"
"If the last couple of weeks showed me anything it's that what I can't stand is not being with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with-"
"Stop."
Every muscle in Andromeda's body tensed.
"Ted, don't ask what I think you're about to ask,"
"Andromeda, will you-"
"No." Andromeda pulled herself from him and backed up a little.
"Just listen to me," Ted took a step towards her.
"No!" Andromeda said more forcefully. "You listen to yourself! You just broke up with me and now you're asking me to… To…"
"Marry me,"
.
.
.
Lucius thrust his fist into the air triumphantly. He landed on the pitch and looked around for Andromeda. He hadn't seen her in the stands during the game. He had expected her to be with Narcissa, who had been in the front row, jumping up and down and cheering for him until she was red in the face.
Slytherins stormed the field and still he did not see her. He accepted the congratulations graciously along with the silver Cup. He pulled off his gloves with his teeth and ran his hands over the cool curve of the metal. There was only one thing that could have made this moment any more perfect. So where was she?
As the crowd dispersed, Lucius made his way off the pitch towards the changing rooms. He pushed his long, blonde hair out of his face and sighed happily. 'This ought to show that jumped up Mudblood who his betters are,' Lucius thought to himself as he crossed the grassy expanse to the Slytherin changing room.
He wished that he could find her. After their session in the hallway this morning he felt rejuvenated and excited to get back to her this evening. He wished he had his watch on him, but it was back in the changing rooms. So that's where he headed. Maybe she was already back in the castle, waiting for him.
Lucius allowed himself a breath of relief. He had won the Cup. Andromeda had finally let down her walls. His mind concocted an image of her, undressed on his bed, with only the large silver cup in front of her.
Then she appeared, as if he had summoned her from his fantasy.
Andromeda was walking towards him, pulling her fingers through her tangled hair.
Lucius smirked and shoved the cup into Corban who grunted and stumbled back a few steps. He surged forward and gathered her in his arms as the rest of his team filed into the changing room.
She gasped in surprise as he lifted her up in his arms.
"Come to congratulate me?" He said wolfishly as he lowered her back to the ground.
"Lucius!" Andromeda seemed to be in shock.
He grinned at her with an open mouth as he wrapped his arms tightly around her, eyes glancing down to the mark he left on her earlier. He loved seeing his work on her and had plans on where he would plant his masterpiece tonight. His blood was already pumping from the game and her tight little shirt and short skirt were making it all rush in one direction.
Lucius lowered his face towards hers as she pulled back slightly. He didn't care and leaned forward more, intent on capturing her lips when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye.
From the same direction Andromeda had just appeared from emerged Tonks; A stupid grin on his face and his hair mussed… just like hers…
Lucius looked down at Andromeda in his arms then back up at Tonks. He had just come out of the Hufflepuff changing rooms.
Ted froze at the sight of Andromeda in Lucius' arms.
Andromeda's body tensed as she followed Lucius' line of sight to Tonks.
Lucius slowly brought his eyes back to Andromeda's, which were wide and fearful.
Andromeda felt like her blood had been replaced with ice water.
He knew.
Lucius knew.
.
.
.
A/N: Okay so longest chapter yet, but I needed to get it all in there.
Also, for the reader who asked, I don't have any particular pictures for inspiration for the characters, but once I am done with this I am going to post it on my Tumblr and I am going to try and do aesthetics for each chapter so be on the look out for that!
Please please please review! I am deciding whether to wrap this up or let it go a little longer once their seventh year is over. Let me know what you think, what you want, etc!