Chapter Fifteen: At the Ball
Disclaimer: Most everything in this belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Andromeda stood morosely by the dessert table as she watched the dancing couples spin across the floor. It was bad enough that she had to be at this Masquerade Ball in the first place. But without Ted...
At least Derrick seemed to be having a good time. He was dancing with none other than Priscilla Normad. Andromeda smiled in spite of herself. Derrick dutifully asked her to dance with him first, but five minutes later he went off to find Priscilla. An hour later, they were still dancing.
Sirius was the only person more miserable than her. He came over to complain, "I hate everyone here. It's only stupid pure-blood families like the Malfoys and Lestranges."
"The other pure-blood families weren't invited," explained Andromeda. "The Bones, Potters, Longbottoms, Macmillans, and everyone else like them. But I'm surprised that the Prewetts and McKinnons were invited. Or that they came, for that matter."
"They're mostly Ravenclaw families—'appropriate', in other words. The Potters would never come to a ball held by the Blacks. And I really wanted to see James."
Andromeda was surprised. "Are you two friends, then?"
"Are you kidding?" Sirius laughed. "I wanted him to be here so I could play a new prank on him."
"You'll never fit in with your roommates if you don't learn to behave, Sirius."
He raised his eyebrows doubtfully at her. "You've obviously never had a run-in with my roommates. They seem nice on the surface—especially Remus and Peter—but they're all troublemakers deep down. Like me."
"Poor McGonagall," muttered Andromeda. "To have four boys like Sirius in her House!" Louder she asked him, "If you and James like pranks so much, why don't you play them on other people, not on yourselves?"
Sirius said thoughtfully, "Why not? It could work. I dunno if James'll go for it, but I'll Owl him right away!"
"What have I unleashed?" she thought, shaking her head as he ran off. She adjusted her mask. Her parents would no doubt want her to socialize with the guests. But if the guests didn't know who she was...
Her plans to escape were interrupted by a masked girl with thick, wavy brown hair coming over to her.
"Hello," she said. "My parents insist I talk to someone here, and you look about my age. I'm trying to hide from the Black sisters. No doubt my parents would make me talk to them, and they're horrible! I'm Marlene McKinnon, by the way. What's your name?"
"Er, actually..." Andromeda faltered. Then she remembered the mask. She could be anyone she wanted here tonight— and the last person she wanted to be was Andromeda. "I'm Anna, here as a guest with the...Averys. I'm a seventh year at Hogwarts."
"I graduated Hogwarts last year. Ravenclaw, as you'd probably guess."
"I'm in Hufflepuff." Now the lies were getting bigger and bigger. "I really don't want to be here at all."
"Neither do I," said Marlene. "My parents think that if they talk to the old Slytherin pure-blood families here, they can change their minds about Muggles and Muggle-borns. I work at the Ministry, and believe me; pure-bloods need to change how we treat the rest of the world." She paused. "Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble on like that."
"You didn't ramble," Andromeda said. "I bet you can change a lot of people's minds. I'm pure-blood and certainly not prejudiced."
"But, well...you're in Hufflepuff. I bet the Black sisters don't feel the same way."
"Oh, really?" she asked lightly. "So, how much would you be willing to bet?"
Marlene peered closer at her. "You don't know one of them, do you?"
But Andromeda never got the chance to answer. Sneaking around the hall opposite the ball room, donned in green robes and a green mask, was the all- too-recognizable stocky figure of Ted Tonks.
After Ted owled Kirley and Talia letting them know that he was sorry and that he wanted to talk to them at the Three Broomsticks the next day, he threw all caution to the wind and apparated to Black Manor. With his mask, he snuck in with a flood of guests.
But how could he find Andromeda in this zoo? All he wanted to do was let her know that she was right; he didn't go about the Kirley situation in the right way. He was about to venture onto the dancing floor when—
"Ted! You idiot!" A girl in a mauve mask and robe tackled him and pulled him into a deserted back room filled with guests' brooms and bags. "I told you not to come here!"
"Wha—Meda? You sure found me fast! Do I stick out? Great party, by the way."
"Your hair sticks out! What are you doing here? And don't say 'to see me'. It's not a good enough excuse."
"We're like...Romeo and Juliet! Star-crossed lovers, meeting by chance at a masked ball..." To her blank stare he added, "It's a Muggle play."
Ted glanced at her hands on her hips and knew she meant business. He had to tell the truth. "I got into a fight with Kirley and Talia."
Her mouth dropped open. "And what happened? Are you hurt?"
Ted almost felt better, knowing that she cared about him. "No. Not physically, anyway. Talia stalked off crying and Kirley ran after her."
"So much for talking it out, eh?"
"Actually, the heartfelt talk will have to wait until tomorrow when we've all calmed down."
Andromeda reached out and hugged him tight. "I'm still mad at you, though! This could have waited until tomorrow."
"I know," he sighed. "But I felt so bad, and so scared...I wanted to see you."
"You're supposed to be scared, silly," she told him gently. "It's Halloween."
"Er...boo?" a voice said from the doorway. Ted and Andromeda both jumped.
It was a girl with wavy brown hair. Andromeda seemed to know her, because she gasped, "Marlene?"
"Sorry to interrupt, Anna," Marlene said. "But when you took off like that—" she shrugged.
"Why's this girl calling you Anna?" Ted asked. "Her name's—"
Andromeda kicked him, but it was too late.
"Andromeda," he finished.
"What?" Marlene snapped. "As in Andromeda Black?"
Andromeda pulled off her mask. "Er...trick or treat?"
To his surprise, Marlene laughed aloud. "I can't believe it! What a prat I was! The whole time I was bashing the Blacks to one of their own! You can't blame me for not knowing, though. You could have said something."
"It's fine," said Ted. "I bash her family all the time and I'm her boyfriend."
She smiled at him. "I'm Marlene McKinnon, pleased to meet you."
"I'm Ted Tonks," he said, shaking her hand.
Andromeda rounded on him. "You don't go announcing that to complete strangers!"
"Aren't you a—? Wow," murmured Marlene. "I really misjudged you both."
"I'm used to it," said Andromeda bitterly.
Marlene took off her mask, revealing serious, bright blue eyes. "Then I'm sorry. Can't we all be friends?"
After a tense moment, Andromeda answered, "Sure. Sorry for pretending to be someone else back there."
"Andromeda!" someone screeched. "If you're hiding back here all alone—"
"Oh no, that's my mother. Hide, Ted!"
"Hide where, exactly?"
Mrs. Black appeared at the door. She was a tall, stately woman who gave the air of conceited superiority and confidant assurance. Her severe expression changed when she saw that her daughter not alone.
"And who are your friends?" she asked sweetly.
Marlene saved them. She introduced herself, clearly expressing her pure lineage and Ravenclaw background. And then she introduced Edward, her "third cousin."
"He lives in France," explained Marlene, "And doesn't know a word of English, otherwise he'd be at the center of attention just like he is at Beauxbatons. It's so kind of Andromeda to make us feel welcome back here."
"Oui," added Ted, one of the only bits of French he knew.
Mrs. Black held out her hand for him to shake. "Welcome to our ball. We hope to see much more of you now that you're in England."
Ted bit back a smile. How ironic that Mrs. Black seemed to be setting him up with her daughter! No need for that!
"Eh, merci?"
Mrs. Black gave them a nod and turned to leave. In the doorway she turned around and said, "Please do not feel self-conscious about joining the ball. We may be snakes, but we don't bite."
The three of them breathed a sigh of relief when she left. They thanked Marlene, who shrugged it off, saying, "You deserved it, considering what I said earlier."
Andromeda put her mask back on. "You're going to have a busy day tomorrow, Ted. We should have fun now. Shall we dance?"
A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter! And thanks to Clarey the Angelic Squishy for the Romeo/Juliet line. As for Frank and Alice, I have some ideas for a fic about them too (in the future). (
Andromeda stood morosely by the dessert table as she watched the dancing couples spin across the floor. It was bad enough that she had to be at this Masquerade Ball in the first place. But without Ted...
At least Derrick seemed to be having a good time. He was dancing with none other than Priscilla Normad. Andromeda smiled in spite of herself. Derrick dutifully asked her to dance with him first, but five minutes later he went off to find Priscilla. An hour later, they were still dancing.
Sirius was the only person more miserable than her. He came over to complain, "I hate everyone here. It's only stupid pure-blood families like the Malfoys and Lestranges."
"The other pure-blood families weren't invited," explained Andromeda. "The Bones, Potters, Longbottoms, Macmillans, and everyone else like them. But I'm surprised that the Prewetts and McKinnons were invited. Or that they came, for that matter."
"They're mostly Ravenclaw families—'appropriate', in other words. The Potters would never come to a ball held by the Blacks. And I really wanted to see James."
Andromeda was surprised. "Are you two friends, then?"
"Are you kidding?" Sirius laughed. "I wanted him to be here so I could play a new prank on him."
"You'll never fit in with your roommates if you don't learn to behave, Sirius."
He raised his eyebrows doubtfully at her. "You've obviously never had a run-in with my roommates. They seem nice on the surface—especially Remus and Peter—but they're all troublemakers deep down. Like me."
"Poor McGonagall," muttered Andromeda. "To have four boys like Sirius in her House!" Louder she asked him, "If you and James like pranks so much, why don't you play them on other people, not on yourselves?"
Sirius said thoughtfully, "Why not? It could work. I dunno if James'll go for it, but I'll Owl him right away!"
"What have I unleashed?" she thought, shaking her head as he ran off. She adjusted her mask. Her parents would no doubt want her to socialize with the guests. But if the guests didn't know who she was...
Her plans to escape were interrupted by a masked girl with thick, wavy brown hair coming over to her.
"Hello," she said. "My parents insist I talk to someone here, and you look about my age. I'm trying to hide from the Black sisters. No doubt my parents would make me talk to them, and they're horrible! I'm Marlene McKinnon, by the way. What's your name?"
"Er, actually..." Andromeda faltered. Then she remembered the mask. She could be anyone she wanted here tonight— and the last person she wanted to be was Andromeda. "I'm Anna, here as a guest with the...Averys. I'm a seventh year at Hogwarts."
"I graduated Hogwarts last year. Ravenclaw, as you'd probably guess."
"I'm in Hufflepuff." Now the lies were getting bigger and bigger. "I really don't want to be here at all."
"Neither do I," said Marlene. "My parents think that if they talk to the old Slytherin pure-blood families here, they can change their minds about Muggles and Muggle-borns. I work at the Ministry, and believe me; pure-bloods need to change how we treat the rest of the world." She paused. "Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble on like that."
"You didn't ramble," Andromeda said. "I bet you can change a lot of people's minds. I'm pure-blood and certainly not prejudiced."
"But, well...you're in Hufflepuff. I bet the Black sisters don't feel the same way."
"Oh, really?" she asked lightly. "So, how much would you be willing to bet?"
Marlene peered closer at her. "You don't know one of them, do you?"
But Andromeda never got the chance to answer. Sneaking around the hall opposite the ball room, donned in green robes and a green mask, was the all- too-recognizable stocky figure of Ted Tonks.
After Ted owled Kirley and Talia letting them know that he was sorry and that he wanted to talk to them at the Three Broomsticks the next day, he threw all caution to the wind and apparated to Black Manor. With his mask, he snuck in with a flood of guests.
But how could he find Andromeda in this zoo? All he wanted to do was let her know that she was right; he didn't go about the Kirley situation in the right way. He was about to venture onto the dancing floor when—
"Ted! You idiot!" A girl in a mauve mask and robe tackled him and pulled him into a deserted back room filled with guests' brooms and bags. "I told you not to come here!"
"Wha—Meda? You sure found me fast! Do I stick out? Great party, by the way."
"Your hair sticks out! What are you doing here? And don't say 'to see me'. It's not a good enough excuse."
"We're like...Romeo and Juliet! Star-crossed lovers, meeting by chance at a masked ball..." To her blank stare he added, "It's a Muggle play."
Ted glanced at her hands on her hips and knew she meant business. He had to tell the truth. "I got into a fight with Kirley and Talia."
Her mouth dropped open. "And what happened? Are you hurt?"
Ted almost felt better, knowing that she cared about him. "No. Not physically, anyway. Talia stalked off crying and Kirley ran after her."
"So much for talking it out, eh?"
"Actually, the heartfelt talk will have to wait until tomorrow when we've all calmed down."
Andromeda reached out and hugged him tight. "I'm still mad at you, though! This could have waited until tomorrow."
"I know," he sighed. "But I felt so bad, and so scared...I wanted to see you."
"You're supposed to be scared, silly," she told him gently. "It's Halloween."
"Er...boo?" a voice said from the doorway. Ted and Andromeda both jumped.
It was a girl with wavy brown hair. Andromeda seemed to know her, because she gasped, "Marlene?"
"Sorry to interrupt, Anna," Marlene said. "But when you took off like that—" she shrugged.
"Why's this girl calling you Anna?" Ted asked. "Her name's—"
Andromeda kicked him, but it was too late.
"Andromeda," he finished.
"What?" Marlene snapped. "As in Andromeda Black?"
Andromeda pulled off her mask. "Er...trick or treat?"
To his surprise, Marlene laughed aloud. "I can't believe it! What a prat I was! The whole time I was bashing the Blacks to one of their own! You can't blame me for not knowing, though. You could have said something."
"It's fine," said Ted. "I bash her family all the time and I'm her boyfriend."
She smiled at him. "I'm Marlene McKinnon, pleased to meet you."
"I'm Ted Tonks," he said, shaking her hand.
Andromeda rounded on him. "You don't go announcing that to complete strangers!"
"Aren't you a—? Wow," murmured Marlene. "I really misjudged you both."
"I'm used to it," said Andromeda bitterly.
Marlene took off her mask, revealing serious, bright blue eyes. "Then I'm sorry. Can't we all be friends?"
After a tense moment, Andromeda answered, "Sure. Sorry for pretending to be someone else back there."
"Andromeda!" someone screeched. "If you're hiding back here all alone—"
"Oh no, that's my mother. Hide, Ted!"
"Hide where, exactly?"
Mrs. Black appeared at the door. She was a tall, stately woman who gave the air of conceited superiority and confidant assurance. Her severe expression changed when she saw that her daughter not alone.
"And who are your friends?" she asked sweetly.
Marlene saved them. She introduced herself, clearly expressing her pure lineage and Ravenclaw background. And then she introduced Edward, her "third cousin."
"He lives in France," explained Marlene, "And doesn't know a word of English, otherwise he'd be at the center of attention just like he is at Beauxbatons. It's so kind of Andromeda to make us feel welcome back here."
"Oui," added Ted, one of the only bits of French he knew.
Mrs. Black held out her hand for him to shake. "Welcome to our ball. We hope to see much more of you now that you're in England."
Ted bit back a smile. How ironic that Mrs. Black seemed to be setting him up with her daughter! No need for that!
"Eh, merci?"
Mrs. Black gave them a nod and turned to leave. In the doorway she turned around and said, "Please do not feel self-conscious about joining the ball. We may be snakes, but we don't bite."
The three of them breathed a sigh of relief when she left. They thanked Marlene, who shrugged it off, saying, "You deserved it, considering what I said earlier."
Andromeda put her mask back on. "You're going to have a busy day tomorrow, Ted. We should have fun now. Shall we dance?"
A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter! And thanks to Clarey the Angelic Squishy for the Romeo/Juliet line. As for Frank and Alice, I have some ideas for a fic about them too (in the future). (