'What's the closest apparition point? I've landed so far from here, I almost got lost,' Andromeda asked with a grin on her face.
Hermione laughed out loud. 'What on earth have you done? It's literally just around the corner!' She gestured to a small alleyway a few meters down the road and took the lead.
Andromeda shrugged and followed Hermione in between number 20 and 22 Grimmauld Place.
They stood opposite each other in the small street. Andromeda took Hermione's hand, placed it on her forearm and encircled it with her fingers. 'Let me. I know better where we're headed.'
She pressed her eyes shut to concentrate, and a moment later, the two witches disappeared with a loud crack.
Both landed on their bottoms in the middle of the enchanted daffodils.
'Oh shite!' Andromeda laughed and let herself fall onto her back, squashing many more flowers in the process. 'Sorry, love. Apparating isn't my forte.'
'You don't say!' Hermione said humourlessly.
Although only a little light still illuminated the young witch, Andromeda could see that her cheeks had a slightly green tinge.
'How are you able to brew such potent potions but can't apparate?' Hermione shook her head incredulously and immediately regretted it when she got overwhelmed with nausea. At that moment, she decided never to let the older witch apparate her again. Once was more than enough.
Andromeda meanwhile contemplated her question. Her parents were more than disappointed with her limited abilities. Slowly, she sat up. Her head and stomach felt a little funny, so she remained seated for a moment and looked at Hermione, who was still holding her head. 'My parents weren't too happy about me not being able to do this. They even hired a private tutor, but I had other things on my mind at the time. I only got the licence by luck.'
Hermione rubbed her temples. Failing at such an easy task was very unlike the otherwise talented witch. Hermione realised more and more that Andromeda was as perfect as she appeared. In Hermione's opinion, it made her even more endearing. Sitting there in her flower bed and laughing like a fool was a sight she would cherish forever. She enjoyed seeing her like this, even if she had to suffer a bit of a headache for it.
She searched Andromeda's gaze and smiled at her. 'At least now I know where Tonks got her clumsiness from!'
Andromeda's lip curled, and she winked at her before standing up. 'I can't argue with that.'
Her gaze fell on the numerous ruined yellow flowers. A problem for the next day, she decided. She reached out to Hermione and pulled her up. Her dark jeans and jumper were covered with petals, which she vanished with her wand.
The moment the door closed behind them with a slight thud, she slipped out of her turtleneck, leaving her dressed in a thin, dark green camisole. 'Oh yes, that's so much better.' She let the grey jumper fall to the floor and pushed it out of the way with her foot before heading towards the kitchen. Turning around, she saw Hermione look at her with wide eyes, her lips slightly parted. Embarrassed and flattered at the same time, Andromeda crossed her arms in front of her chest. She hadn't realised that her bare shoulders could cause such a reaction. She ignored the heat in her cheeks. 'That thing is made of wool, and the anti-scratch spell just wore off. Are you all right?'
Hermione shook off her confusion and looked at Andromeda. 'Sorry, but you just keep surprising me.'
Andromeda took it as a compliment and contemplated her following words for a moment. The young woman did something to her she couldn't quite place yet. She felt almost too comfortable around her. 'I'm used to putting up a show, but I don't want to around you. You feel like home.'
Hermione's face lit up. 'Likewise,' she said and gave her a brilliant smile, which made Andromeda's heart skip a beat.
They held each other's gaze for a moment. Andromeda wondered whether she should hug her but did not dare. Instead, she turned to their dinner. 'This time, I'll cook for you.'
They settled for pizza. Andromeda quickly prepared the dough and passed it to Hermione so she could knead it.
Hermione laughed. 'There's flour all over you. Even some in your hair.' She reached out, gently brushed it out of Andromeda's loose dark curls and then put some stray strands behind her ear. Hermione's fingertips brushed her jaw when she retreated her hand.
'Thank you,' Andromeda whispered slowly, her eyes focused on Hermione's lovely face. The moment was over as quickly as it had begun, and she reluctantly turned her attention back to the pizza.
Before long, she felt Hermione's gaze on her again. She turned and gave her a prompting smile.
'That you can cook like a Muggle still impresses me. I mean, you must have had numerous house-elves when you were a kid.'
Andromeda sighed. 'Indeed. I was nineteen when I left home and moved to Ted and his parents. Neither of his parents was particularly fond of magic, so the culture shock was quite intense.' Despite the initial difficulties with her in-laws, she now thought back fondly on that time. She was happy, had her whole life ahead of her. She closed her eyes for a moment and smiled tiredly. 'It seems like a lifetime ago.'
Hermione didn't quite know if her question was too intrusive. She gave her an apologetic look. 'I'm glad you like cooking like this. It's fun to use my hands. The Ministry work is so head heavy.'
Andromeda nodded. 'That's why I wanted to be a healer. I don't like to sit still.'
She spread the buffalo mozzarella on the pizza and put it in the oven. Then she patted her thighs with her hands. 'Why don't we have a drink while it bakes? I made some lemonade. I hope you like it better than wine!'
She took the glass pitcher from the refrigerator, opened them with a flick of her hand and poured two glasses.
'Here's to us,' she said with a bright laugh. After taking a sip, she grimaced and almost spat it out. 'Way too sour, I wouldn't risk it if I were you.'
Hermione smiled cheekily and took a big gulp. 'Oh, wow,' she said as her jaw muscles contracted. 'Next time, maybe add some sugar.'
Both of them laughed as Andromeda took two bottles of cider out of the fridge. 'Second time's the charm.' She winked.
Their pizza was done before they had finished their drinks, and after eating, they sat down in the living room.
Andromeda knew Hermione was still waiting for the story, and to make that a little easier, she poured herself a glass of wine.
The young witch had made herself comfortable on the couch. Andromeda hesitated for a moment but then sat down on the armchair on the other side. Slowly she took a sip and surveyed the young witch.
As always in her presence, she seemed a little tense. She played with her glass and changed her sitting position a little more often than usual. Her gaze kept shifting between Andromeda and the pictures on the wall. Andromeda didn't' quite dare to ask what made her so nervous, but her curiosity took the best of her. 'What's on your mind, love?'
Hermione winced and almost spilled her beverage. 'Sorry, I got lost in this picture.' She stood and pointed to a small picture with three girls in it, all dressed in frilly dresses and with tame smiles on their lips.
'Ah,' Andromeda said with a melancholy expression on her face. She remembered the day it was taken. It had been a hot summer day, and the process had been tedious because neither her older nor her younger sister had been keen on having their picture taken.
'Those are your sisters, yeah?' Hermione took another long look at it, her thoughts drifting to Draco's mum and the book that she might possess. Even as a child, Narcissa Malfoy had carried herself with pride, and Hermione spotted many of Draco's features in her pale face. After a calming breath, she took her chance. 'When's the last time you've seen her? Narcissa, I mean.'
Before she answered, Andromeda, took a sip of her wine. 'Believe it or not, it was June 5, 1980.'
Hermione stared at her, then sat down next to her and put her hand on her knee. 'Will you tell me about it?'
Andromeda still didn't feel like it. She was frequently drawn into distant memories by accident so going there on purpose wasn't something she enjoyed much. Resisting Hermione, though, was more demanding than giving into the memory. She took another sip. 'Promise me you won't tell another soul.'
Hermione nodded, eager to hear the story.
-§-§-§-§-§-
June 5, 1980
St. Mungo's healing staff was bustling this scorching hot day. The first wizarding war was taking its tolls, with hundreds of severely injured people flooding the wards.
After almost three days without proper sleep, Andromeda was looking forward to a few days off. She was on her way to the exit when a flustered mediwitch tapped her shoulder.
'So sorry, Andromeda, but there's a shortage of healers tonight, and an emergency just came in.'
Andromeda sighed and asked the woman to owl Ted. She climbed the stairs tiredly, unsure whether she could handle this case. The last few days had been unbearable.
With a steady pace, she approached the private room at the end of the corridor.
A young healer in training handed her the file of the patient.
'The poor woman has been in labour for more than fourteen hours. They wanted to do the delivery at home but failed. Her husband said she's lost a lot of blood in the last hour.'
Andromeda thanked the young wizard and steadied herself. Without paying attention to the file, she pushed the hinged doors open.
'Good evening. My name is Andromeda,' she said, her gaze fixated on the floor.
'You!' A cold voice hissed.
The voice sent a chill down Andromeda's spine. Her eyes shot up, and she searched for the patient. She felt lightheaded when she spied the sweat-covered platinum blonde hair of her baby sister.
Anger bubbled in her chest. She approached the man and pressed her wand against his sternum. 'Shall I call back my young trainee? Do you rather have him treat your wife?' Andromeda spat.
'Please.' Narcissa whispered with a weak voice. Her eyes fell shut once more.
Lucius, a little paler than moments earlier, gave a slight nod. Andromeda called the mediwitch, ordering her to bring potions for pain relief and strength for the patient and a sip of pepper-up for herself.
'Do not mess this up, blood-traitor.' Lucius growled.
She glared at him before she turned to Narcissa.
First, she made her drink the bitter potions. Then, Andromeda began scanning Narcissa's belly with her hands. When she felt the baby's head, she placed the tip of her wand softly against Narcissa's ivory skin. The incantations were long and complex, and they drained her of all the energy she had left. As soon as the last word had left her lips, Narcissa woke with a gasp.
'Push, Cissy,' Andromeda managed. 'You need to push!'
She grabbed her sister's hand and was surprised with what force Narcissa squeezed it.
'Once more, ma fleur.'
Moments later, she held her squirming nephew in her arms. He screamed wholeheartedly, and she carefully put him in his mother's arms.
'He's beautiful,' she whispered. For a moment, she pressed her forehead against her sister's, tears welling in her eyes. She gently brushed her wet hair behind her ears. 'You did wonderfully.'
Narcissa hesitantly reached for her sister's hand and give her finger's a squeeze. 'Thank you.'
She wanted to say more, do more, but Lucius interrupted their tender moment.
'Leave now, traitor,' Lucius snarled.
His words hit her right in the heart, and she couldn't swallow her anger. She abruptly turned around and stared at him.
'You better be grateful, Malfoy!
She locked eyes with Narcissa once more. Her younger sister just gave her a defeated smile, and with that, she left the room.
Andromeda fell to her knees the moment the door closed behind her.
'Let me help you.' Her trainee lifted her back on her feet.
'Would you mind apparating me home, Duncan? I'm afraid I'm too tired.' He nodded and linked his arm with hers.
They reappeared in her backyard. She bid him goodnight and staggered towards the front door.
Luckily Ted was waiting already waiting for her and lifted her. Tears ran down her cheeks and wet his shirt as he carried her inside. Gently, he placed her on the bed, wiped her cheek and then cupped it.
She smiled softly through tears. 'I delivered Narcissa's baby boy tonight.'
'Oh, Dromeda.' He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.
-§-§-§-§-§-
'I was so afraid she'd die. She was deathly pale.' Andromeda looked at the young brunette, who was now resting her head on her shoulder.
'She helped us once. Nymphadora was not even one, and Ted had just lost his job. One day at Gringotts, the goblin told me an anonymous donor had made a deposit to our vault. It was over a thousand galleons. With the galleons came a small piece of parchment "I'll love you forever" was written on it. It wasn't signed, but I would've known her script anywhere. I never wrote back.' She wiped a stray tear away.
Hermione mustered her for a moment. There was longing in her face. 'Is that why you planted the enchanted daffodils in your garden?'
Andromeda smiled gently. 'Nothing escapes you, does it? I planted them the day we moved into this house and never stopped doing so.'
Hermione put her head back onto her shoulder. She didn't dare to inquire further and simply let herself enjoy the moment.
Andromeda hesitated before she ran her hand through the young witch's silky hair. Lost in thought, she stroked her hair while Hermione rested her hand on her thigh. Andromeda could have enjoyed this exchange of caresses forever. It had been a long time since she'd been this close to anyone. When Hermione pulled her hand away and began to pull out of her embrace, Andromeda reluctantly let go of her.
'It's late,' the former Gryffindor whispered.
Andromeda nodded, got up and pulled her into a tight embrace. 'Will I see you soon?' She whispered against her neck.
'Of course. Have a good night.' She kissed Andromeda's cheek and stepped into the floo.
Andromeda touched her cheek where Hermione's lips had been, fully aware of the warmth that bubbled in the pit of her stomach. She was falling for her. Fast. A woman not even half her age.
-§-§-§-§-§-
Hermione stumbled out of the floo and rushed upstairs into her bedroom. She closed the door behind herself, leaned against it and let herself slide down to the floor. She put her face in her hands. 'Merlin,' she whispered and rubbed her red cheeks. Andromeda's scent clung to her clothes. It was an intoxicating mix of florals with a hint of musk, and it made her feel all warm and tingly.
After a few calming breaths, her heart rate was steady again. Her eyes roamed over her overcrowded bookshelf. It contained so many books, she had to lay some of them on top of others. When she couldn't find what she was looking for, she summoned the book into her fingers. After flipping back and forth a few times, she found a suitable passage. She wrote it down on a piece of parchment and gave it to Metis, who glared at her. It was late, after all. Hermione hoped that her message would reach Andromeda before she went to bed.
She opened her window and gazed up into the starry night. It was impossible to ignore the attraction she felt towards the magnificent witch.