Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)
Warnings: canon character death
Prompts are at the end.
Word Count: 520
"What're you doing, Ted?"
He flinches at the sound, then tries to disguise it, unconvincingly, by turning towards his wife. She doesn't seem to notice any of that, which has to be her sleepiness - but thank Merlin she didn't, because if she did there's be questions, and then-
"Andy! I'm so sorry, did I wake you? Is it too early for breakfast?" His joke falls flat.
She waves a dismissive hand. "It's fine, but why are you up right now? It's three in the morning."
"I'm sorry," he says again. "I just need to write something down, I'll be back once I'm done."
"Mmm," she hums, and for whatever reason, something about her, standing there in all her tousled-haired, pyjamaed glory, makes him stand and wrap his arms around her as he presses a kiss to her forehead.
Well, not for some reason - he knows why he's gotten so sappy.
"I love you."
"I know," Andromeda smiles sleepily at him. "But what's the occasion?"
"N-nothing. I just… I don't know, I just wanted to say that. I love you, more than anything else in this world. No matter what happens-"
"What?" she asks, eyes suddenly more alert. "What do you think will happen?"
Ted barely keeps down the flinch. "Nothing, I think we'll all be fine. I mean, we're at war, and I'm a Muggle-born while you're a pure-blood, and our daughter's part of the Order of the Phoenix and an Auror- Sorry."
"No, you're right," she says. "I get it. I'm not thinking clearly, I just want to go to bed. But Ted? I love you too."
Even though there's no way that Andromeda means it that way, it feels like a goodbye.
"You should still come back to sleep, though…"
"Sorry, sorry, I just need to finish this."
She rolls her eyes, hand brushing along his shoulder before she nods and steps back up the stairs, disappearing through their bedroom door.
It takes Ted several moments to remember to sit down. He glances back at the sheets of parchment on his desk. Should he…?
No. It's fine. He doesn't think it likely that the letters will ever be read, anyway.
My dearest Andromeda,
If you're reading this, I must be dead.
-oOo-
The Snatchers catch up with them, in the end. Ted tells his companions, his friends, to run, says that he'll be right behind them, and stays behind. Because there's no way for all of them to escape.
Dean returns, once the Snatchers are gone. Ted bleeds out in his arms, though not before he guides Dean's hands to his breast pocket, to four small envelopes, yellowed with exposure and slightly crumpled, inside.
"Give then- Andy- Dora-" Ted wheezes.
"I will. I- I promise," Dean says, then holds his hand until he slumps, dead.
But it's not until after the Battle of Hogwarts that the letters are delivered, and by then-
Well, only two letters are delivered. Andromeda lays the other two by the bodies of her daughter and son-in-law, unopened. Teddy's, she saves until he'll be old enough to understand, and her own…
Adieu best of wives and best of women.
Forever yours,
Ted
Writing Club: December
Record Collection: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas: Write about relaxing on a cold night.
Book Club: April: (emotion) concern, (action) rolling your eyes, (plot point) lying to someone
Showtime: Just Like That - (action) Crying
Elizabeth's Empire: (dialogue) "I love you more than anything else in this world."
Liza's Loves: Write about someone knowing something they shouldn't.
Bex's Basement: Impossible: (word) Impossible
Scamander's Case: (setting) forest
Film Festival: (action) running
Marvel Appreciation: Captain America - (trait) Stubborn, (trait) Sweet, (trait) Strong, (emotion) Nostalgic
Lyric Alley: Love has been lost
The Forecast Says… 18th. Snow: Fearless
EnTitled: The One on the Last Night - Write about someone moving out
Christmas Fair
Christmas Eve Boxes: Festive Film - The Muppet Christmas Carol: (dialogue) "Is it too early for breakfast?"
Snow Globe Maker: Nimbus 2000: (action) Falling
Ugly Sweaters: Colour - Green - Prompt: (era) - Trio
Treasure Hunt: Word: Deliver
Advent Calendar: Door: Plot Point - Unable to sleep
Nativity Play: Joseph - (relationship) Husband
Holiday Crackers: Jokes - I just want to go to bed.
Naughty or Nice: Nice List - (character) Andromeda Black Tonks
Hot Chocolate Station: Cocoa Flavors - White Chocolate Peppermint Hot Chocolate: (action) hugging, Toppings - Chocolate Syrup: (pairing) TedAndromeda
Write Letters to Santa: Prompt 6 - Seriously, how do you visit every house in one night?: (dialogue) "It's three in the bloody morning."
Snowball Fight: Dean vs Seamus: [Colour] Yellow
Big Dinner Bash: Potatoes: (action) Mashed: Sleeping
Christmas Party: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Pentatonix: (word) dismay
New Year Resolutions: Travel: (plot point) traveling
Pop Figures: Movies - Sparkle Edward Cullen: (word) Sparkle / (trait) Overprotective
Stickers Club: Spike - My Little Pony: Plot point: sending letters/messages
Goodbye to Hogwarts: Write about having to say goodbye