A/N: Honestly, I would die for Tedromeda, their sweetness kills me. Enjoy!

WC: 1,000 (wow!)

Wednesday 23rd December 1970, 7PM

Andromeda curls up with a book in a chair in her room. She's said she needs to be in her room because she has homework and she fins it impossible to work downstairs –which is true, it is rather impossible with Sirius curious about everything Hogwarts, and after all, her NEWTs are in a couple of months – but it's mainly because she waiting for a letter from Ted.

She knows her family knows. They're not blind; they've seen the number of letters she sends out every day, and the number of letters she receives. They've seen the way Sugarplum, her owl, is absolutely knackered and they've also raised curious eyebrows at Satyr, Ted's owl. But they don't know who exactly it is she's been messaging like mad.

She's sure they're curious to know, but they haven't pressed her, probably too excited with the news of Bella's upcoming engagement. And she's grateful. She knows she'll tell them, eventually. But right now is not the right moment. The discussions at the dinner table are enough to convince her that maybe never isn't such a bad idea after all.

But she's promised Ted he won't always be her secret. Her dirty little secret, some might say, in probably more ways than one, depending on who you ask. At least she's happy to know she's not a secret from his family.

She met them once, last summer. He has five brothers and sisters (he's the fourth), two loving parents, grandparents that live with them and a gaggle of cousins who come over for any occasion. They're a lot of fun, and they're so noisy, and absolutely nothing at all like her family, and they absolutely love her. To her, it's a mystery why there aren't more of them that are wizards, because all magic comes from somewhere, a distant Squib relative or else, and yet Ted is the only one.

She knows he's with them all this Christmas, and if it's been difficult for her to find a moment to spend with him, it's been bloody difficult for him to extrapolate himself from the grips of his loving cousins. She can understand him, just a little. After all, her cousins and her can share happy moments sometimes, like the snow fight they had earlier today. But still.

Finally, both Sugarplum and Satyr come knocking at her window and she opens it immediately eager to get news from Ted. Sugarplum has a letter in her talons, which Andromeda carefully unhooks before petting her poor owl, who looks exhausted.

"You okay, Sugarplum?" she asks.

Sugarplum gives her an angry hoot.

"I know, I'm sorry, we'll ask Satyr to bring the letter back."

Sugarplum glares at her, and flutters over to her cager, where she eats up the treats Andromeda laid out for her. The Yule holidays are not a good time for Sugarplum. Andromeda knows she much prefers school-time, where she only flies out once a month with the obligatory letter home.

As for Satyr, he's holding a rather large packet, wrapped with brown paper and string. It's quite bulky but doesn't look too heavy. She pets him, and asks him to stay, so she can quickly write a letter back.

Andromeda knows she should probably open the letter first, but curiosity gets the better of her, and she carefully opens the packet, careful not to rip the paper.

She takes out what was inside: a jumper. A spectacularly ugly Muggle jumper. It's red, has bauble all over it, a reindeer with an absurdly red nose, tinsel and lights that twinkle. She thoroughly confused by it. What is the meaning of this jumper? Is this something she should know about?

Putting the horrendous jumper down, she opens the letter, happy to see her name Andromeda Black carefully scrawled with Ted's precise handwriting.

Dearest Ana,

I know you're probably confused right now - that she is – because I just know you opened the package before you read the letter. She smiles, because of course he knows she did that. It's an Ugly Christmas Sweater (and yes, it needs to be capitalised). In my family, we all wear the Ugliest Christmas Sweaters Possible and then we hold a little competition for The Ugliest Christmas Sweater.

Mum thought you might like to participate, so she bought this for you, and you entered the competition with the jumper Mum bought. You'll be happy to know you won 3rd Place (mainly because Sammy and Rose, who were judging, absolutely love you. But I must admit it's a pretty ugly jumper. Mum picked it out well). You'll be receiving your Tonks Christmas Prize when we see each other again.

I hope you'll wear it one day. Maybe not around your family, but maybe one day when it's just the two of us?

Anyway, I miss you so much, and if ever you want to pop over completely uninvited, you're more than welcome. Mum has asked me to ask you over a thousand times, but I know it's hard for you to come over.

I love you so much, and can't wait to hear from you soon,

Ted

P.S. The reindeer is Rudolf-the-Red-nosed-reindeer. He's the main flying reindeer who pulls Father Christmas' sleigh. There's even a song all about him!

Andromeda laughs more than once while reading the letter, because she's just won Third Place in a competition she didn't even know she was participating in, and there's a crazy tradition in his family to wear The Ugliest Christmas Sweater (all with capitals).

She grabs the sweater and holds it close to her. It's so soft soft and smells of something distinctly Ted, she just loves it.

"Meda!" Cissy calls, knocking at her door. "Dinner!"

Andromeda quickly hides her letter, the paper and the atrocious sweater, smiling to herself. She asks Satyr if he can stay a little longer, before hurrying down to dinner. She's got a bright smile on herself, just as bright as those ridiculous little light of her ugly sweater.