Breakfast was fine today, it was Saturday. She would've been allowed to have slept in; her parents weren't here, her sisters were still asleep, but they had always disrespected rules more effortlessly.
Only a couple students were up. Andromeda noticed the Heads talking at the Gryffindor table, she also noticed that Tonks and his friends weren't awake yet, not even Shafiq and Fawley. They used to wake up at the same time as her.
She played with her food on her plate a bit before eating it.
"Hi," someone said in front of her.
"Hello," she replied, she looked the person across from her in the eyes: it was Rabastan.
"I did not know that you would be awake at this time," she said.
"I didn't know you'd be up, either," he responded.
"Liar," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly. He broke her gaze; he was always easier to scare than his brother.
"Sorry,"
"So why did you seek me?"
"I'm not really sure…"
"Tell me when you are," she said, and went back to eating.
He didn't seem to find whatever he had wanted to talk to her about, because they ate the rest of breakfast in silence. She left, and gave him a quick "Goodbye," which he returned hesitantly.
She decided that she'd find Tonks today. What Prewett had said earlier made sense; if she was confused she should go directly to the source. It was going to be hard to find him without his friends, though… maybe he had to go on the pitch today! The Slytherin/Hufflepuff game was soon, his Captain had probably put more practices in place.
She went over to the pitch and hid in the stands, if they saw her they'd probably think she was spying for Slytherin.
They seemed to be practicing today! She saw the team get on their brooms and listen to their Captain. It was almost certain that Slytherin would win, but wasn't trying the only thing Hufflepuffs were good at?
Ted looked over to where she was and she quickly ducked down. If anything that was more suspicious. She peeked out her head to see if he was still looking. She sighed in relief when she saw that he wasn't.
He was still looking in that direction discreetly, of course, but Andromeda didn't know that.
He was a rather good flyer, if she said so herself.
When practice was over she had planned on meeting him after he changed, but he had found her at the exit of the stands.
"You need to shower," she said.
"Are you spying on me? " he asked, she knew he was shouting even though his voice was at its normal volume.
"No! Why would I do that?!"
"Well, then why are you here?" His voice was a bit calmer than before, but still firm.
"I wanted to ask you something, but I had expected you to change before we talked,"
He scourgified himself.
"Happy?" he said, irritably.
"Everyone knows that a simple Scourgify is not the same as a shower," he gave her an exasperated look, so she added quickly, "Though, how you clean your body is your business."
"Thank you," he huffed, "Now what did you want to ask?"
She pulled on her robes sleeve and looked behind his head.
"What were you trying to say at Slughorn's party?" she whispered.
"What?"
"What. were. you. trying. to. say. at. Slughorn's. party?" she asked slower and slightly louder.
"Which part?"
"Well, I was wondering what you meant by asking if I was 'willfully ignorant or naive'?"
That was an understatement, it had been the only thing she'd thought about since the party.
"So all this, just to ask that?" he asked, and she seemed confused by what he said, he sighed, "You don't seem to see how terrible your family is to people they don't deem of pure-blood."
"I just do not see what they could be doing?"
He looked her in the eyes, and it almost startled her how comfortingly blue they were. She'd seen blue eyes before, but they had always seemed icy, cold and intimidating. His weren't.
He sighed.
"Your older sister hexes kids that aren't pure in the halls," he paused to see if she was paying attention, she was, maybe a bit too much, but he continued, "Your younger sister uses mean looks, and comments, but she still has made kids cry."
"Are you sure?" she said weakly.
"Yes."
They looked at each other for a couple moments.
"Is that all?" he asked.
"Can you show me?"
"Show you what?"
"Show me what they have done to these kids," she said, forcefully.
"I wouldn't know how."
She crossed her arms.
"Well then how am I supposed to know if you are being honest? You could be lying, or tricking me somehow,"
"I'm not," he said, "Don't you think your friends have a reason for being friends with me,"
She didn't seem convinced.
"I'm a Hufflepuff if that means anything to you, we're not really known for lying. That's more your lot's thing,"
That seemed to convince her.
"Okay, I guess you are right," she thought for a moment, "I have another question,"
"You really like chatting," he said, his tone annoyed.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"What is it?" he asked with false enthusiasm.
"You laughed a lot during our conversation before, why?"
"I don't think I did," he said, "If we're going to be talking maybe we should sit somewhere or something."
She wavered.
"Okay, we could sit in the stands."
They walked to the steps of the stands. While on the way she couldn't stop herself from saying:
"You did laugh, and it was very startling. I want to know why."
"Well what did I laugh at?" he said, then stepped aside so that she could take a seat first. She'd probably appreciate manners.
"You seemed to find hilarity in the things that you should not."
"Well, you'll have to be more specific," he said, with an amused tone. He grinned.
"There! You are doing it again! Why?" she pointed at him, fervently.
"I don't know, it's funny," he shrugged, a smile still on his face.
"I should have known that you would keep it secret…"
"I'm not keeping anything secret! I just don't understand," he said, an exasperated laugh escaping.
"So you admit that you are simple-minded?"
"What? No!" he said through another similar laugh.
"What is so funny?"
"You have to admit that that was a joke."
She thought for a moment then said:
"I guess it was in a way, and by the way you are laughing I must be a riot."
He laughed again, but she only smiled this time, satisfied in making him laugh on purpose at least.
"Any more questions?"
"Do you really think that Shafiq, Fawley and I can never be friends again?"
"Only if you change your views on a lot of things very quickly."
"If you have failed to notice, Tonks, I have not made a single comment about your blood this whole conversation, that has been very civil I might add."
He paused.
"You're right," she smiled at that, "You're aware it's going to take more way than that, though."
"I am not simple-minded like you."
"I guess you're still allowing yourself to insult me," he said and smiled, she wouldn't admit that she was disappointed at not hearing that blasted laugh again.
"Your lack of intelligence has nothing to do with your blood,"
He chuckled.
"I have a question for you?" he said.
"What?" If her voice had curiosity in it she hoped he wouldn't notice.
"Do you actually believe all this blood-purity nonsense?"
She gave him a look, then said:
"I do not think that a muggle-born wizard's magic is inferior to that of a pureblood wizard, but-"
"That's all I need to know," he said, then got up to leave, "Besides, who knows maybe you could change your mind,"
Then he left Andromeda alone. She sat for a few quiet moments then got up to leave.
Later that night, by the candlelight, she put her quill to parchment:
Dear Uncle Alphard,
I have had an illuminating conversation with Tonks, the muggle-born boy. Well two, if you count the one we had after the Slug Club Party, which I do not since it was too confusing to be useful. I am going to apologise to Shafiq and Fawley, hopefully if all goes well they will be Gwen and Naya to me once more. I have been waiting for theirs, but I must take the first step. I need them.
Sincerely,
Andromeda Black
She sent it that night.
THIS is one of my absolute favorite chapters!
Review! and Follow! and Favorite!
