Ted would have thought the excitement of meeting with Andromeda in the wee hours of the night would have worn off by now, but he was practically shaking as he made his way to her. He still couldn't believe it was real, that she had chosen him. There were times when he thought it had been a dream. She was still ignoring him in public, especially the last few days, but he knew better than to push her. He would wait, as long as she needed, until they could be together out in the open. He wasn't going to risk losing her again.
He finally reached the room she had chosen, it was a bit further away from both their common rooms then he would have thought, all the way on the 7th floor. Usually they picked something closer so they had less of a chance getting caught as they made their way their or back, but he was sure she had her reasons for choosing this spot.
He creaked open the door, but didn't see her. Trying to ignore the drop in his heart, he eased the door closed. He might have beat her here, no reason to assume she'd gotten cold feet, yet. He glanced around, and then he found her. His heart instantly soared up again.
She looked just as beautiful as always, and as always it took his breath away. He wanted to be with her forever, he realized.
He was so caught up in his fantasy, he didn't notice she wasn't alone, not until the person standing next to her stepped out of shadows.
Ted's heart froze in his chest. Standing next to her was Rabastan Lestrange. He placed a hand on Andromeda's shoulder as he glared at Ted. It might have been a protective touch, but it looked more like he was marking his territory.
Ted's heart raced again, but for an entirely different reason, while his head spun. What was Rabastan doing here? Had she told him and he'd decided to come along to give Ted a piece of his mind? Unlikely, as he doubted Andromeda would have told anyone yet. She wasn't ready for the repercussions. Perhaps Rabastan had seen her sneaking out and decided to come along, but then she wouldn't have led him to the same place she knew Ted would be. Had he found out and forced her hand? He glanced at her, trying to get any clue as to how he should react, but her face was completely impassive. Stony, even. Something was wrong.
But before he could speculate further a cool voice behind said, "Nice of you to join us, Mr. Tonks."
Forget his heart freezing, it was like every muscle in his body froze. Rodolphus Lestrange. And if he was here, that meant they knew, and they were both in big trouble.
He reached for his wand, but before he could even grasp the handle he was thrown forward.
"Now, Now, is that anyway to treat your girlfriend's future family?" A female voice taunted from behind him. He didn't have to wait for her to step in front of him to know who it was. Bellatrix Black.
"That is who Rodolphus is, you know. Andromeda's future brother-in-law." She sauntered closer to him, and he had to resist the urge to cringe away. "Or did you think your little trick would change that?"
Something moved in the shadows as Rodolphus slowly waltzed into view. Ted expected him to join Bellatrix in jamming a wand in Ted's throat, but he didn't. He just stood there, a smile on his lips, like he found the scene before him amusing.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ted muttered, which was partly true. He had no idea what she meant by little trick.
But Bellatrix clearly didn't appreciate his technically. She lunged forward and pressed her wand against his throat.
"Don't play games with me, filth. We know what you did. Did you really thought one simple love potion would pull Andromeda away from her family, from her destiny?"
Ted didn't have to fake any surprise this time. Love potion? What was she talking about? But even as he said it, things started to fall into place. They knew about his relationship with Andromeda, they just thought it was the result of a love potion. After all, why else would the great and noble Andromeda Black go for someone like him?
He glanced at Andromeda. He had to see what she thought of this, but she looked as impassive as ever. She was even looking straight at him, but her eyes were just… blank, like she was staring at a stranger and not the man she was willing to risk everything for.
Or said she was willing to risk everything for. What if she was the one who told them he used a love potion? Would she have sold him out like that? Yesterday he would have said that was impossible, but looking at her now, he wasn't so sure.
"Hmm… Nothing to say? That's odd, you usually have quite a mouth to you." She jammed her wand further into his neck, as if that could make him talk. He winced, but didn't say anything. What was there to say? Tell them that Andromeda's feelings were real? Then she would be on her knees next to him, left to the mercy of these monsters.
"Still nothing?" she said in sickly-sweet voice, still leering at him, when he remained silent she sighed dramatically. Guess she'd been hoping for more a fight.
"Doesn't matter now," she leered again, "because now you're going to watch as your little game comes to an end." She nodded toward Rabastan, who pulled a vial out of robe pocket and held it out over Andromeda's lips. Ted watched, helpless, as she opened her mouth and allowed Rabastan to empty the contents into her mouth. She swallowed, blinking rapidly, and then collapsed.
Without thinking, Ted started to lung forward, only to press his neck so hard into Bellatrix's wand he broke skin. He barely noticed, even as the warm blood started to drip down his neck. His eyes were glued on Andromeda.
Rabastan caught her easily enough, and held her gently, in his arms. He even stroked her hair as he held her.
Ted felt something almost like a growl in his throat. Rodolphus raised an eyebrow, but Ted barely noticed.
Then, slowly, Andromeda's eyes blinked open, giving her a perfect view of Rabastan's concerned eyes. Ted wanted to be sick, but he couldn't tear his eyes away.
"Rabastan?" Andromeda breathed, like she was unsure it was him.
"I'm here," he said, smiling tentatively as he stroked her again. Slowly, he pulled her back to her feet. Their eyes never left each other.
When Andromeda was back on her feet, she smiled breathlessly at him, then she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him.
Ted looked away, the piercing jab in chest as the sight of him almost making his gasp out loud. He wasn't quite fast enough to miss the way her body arched into him, or the way his arm wrapped around her and pulled her body tight against his.
He didn't miss Rodolphus' smirk, and he waited until it faded to look back again. Rabastan and Andromeda had stopped kissing, but they were still wrapped in each other's embrace. It was enough to make his blood boil. If Andromeda would just look at him, even given him one of her apologetic looks to let him know it was just for show, it wasn't real. But he knew, this time, she wouldn't dare.
"Well now, that does look like quite a convincing show, doesn't it?" The way her thoughts mirrored his own almost made him wonder if she could read minds, but if that were true then both he and Andromeda would be dead by now.
"Just one more little test to make sure," she glanced at Rodolphus, who nodded and pulled out his own wand. Bella's sickly-sweet smile turned sinister.
Ted barely had time to react as Bellatrix pulled away from him and shouted "Crucio!"
The pain was instant and overwhelming. It was like every nerve in his body and been set on fire. He fell forward as someone screamed. At first, he thought it was Andromeda, before he realized it was himself.
After what seemed like an eternity, it finally stopped. Ted could barely breathe. He was gasping and gasping but his lungs couldn't find air.
"Well, I guess that's conclusive enough."
Ted glanced up at Andromeda. Her face was entirely impassive now. Her jaw was tight, and there was a look of almost contempt again. As Ted glanced at her she moved closer to Rabastan.
No matter how much the Cruciatus Curse hurt, it was nothing compared to that image being burned in his mind.
Bellatrix laughed slowly, and then raised her wand. Some part of Ted knew he should fight back, but he couldn't find the drive. He just close his eyes, bracing himself as best he could for what was to come.
"Expelliarmus!" A voice shouted, and Bellatrix's wand went flying backward.
Everyone, including Ted, turned in utter shock. They'd been so caught up in the moment, they hadn't noticed the new arrivals. And what arrivals they were. Standing closest to them, with his wand outstretched, was none other than James Potter. The other three Marauders were, of course, right behind. Standing next to them were three other Gryffindors; Lily Evans, Alice Prewett, and one he was pretty sure was named Frank Bigbottom. Or Longbum. Something like that.
The vicious smile on Bellatrix's face turned to a snarl. The smirk was gone from Rodolphus' face as well as he moved closer to Bellatrix, wand outstretched. Both of them were ready for a fight, but even a moron like Amycus Carrow could have done the math and realized they were hopelessly outnumbered.
Even though it was killing him, he couldn't stop himself from glancing at Andromeda again. He expected her to wear the same mask of shock as did Rabastan next to her, but she didn't. A very different emotion washed over her features; relief. The moment it was there it was gone, and when Rabastan tightened his grip on her shoulder, she responded by moving closer to him.
Her gaze never turned toward Ted, but that didn't stop him from staring. It wasn't the first time she'd asked the Marauders to step in, so it wasn't a complete stretch to think she was the reason they were here now. And if that were true, then it meant she hadn't sold him out after all. That was enough to put a smile on his weary face as he watched the fight that was brewing before him.
"Bella, Bella, Bella," Sirius tisked, grinning broadly at his cousin's snarling face. "Making a mess of things as usual."
"This doesn't concern you!" She was hissing so much she could barely get the words out. "It's a family matter."
She clearly meant that as some sort of insult, implying that Sirius wasn't a part of the family, but Sirius only raised an eyebrow.
"Like always, Bella, you don't know your head from your ass, or you would realize this does, in fact, concern me."
It was the certainty in his voice that got her, Ted could tell. As much as she didn't want to, her curiosity must have won out because she asked, "And why's that?"
Sirius shrugged nonchalantly, like he was merely commenting on the weather. "Because I'm the one that made the potion."
Bella's eyes went wide. Whatever she had been expecting, it wasn't that. But she recovered quickly as she said, "Liar, you're just trying to save the mudblood."
Sirius laughed humorously, but he was the only one. The rest gripped their wands tightly in their hands, ready to strike if things didn't go their way.
"Do you any idea how much work it takes to pull off a love potion for this long? Do you really think a Hufflepuff could pull something like that off?"
Ted knew Sirius was just trying to save his skin, and after everything he'd been through a slight on his house shouldn't bother him, but a dog can only be kicked so many times before it's had enough.
Bellatrix glanced at his direction. It was clear from her disgusted expression she didn't think he could pull it off, but that didn't stop from turning back to Sirius and replying scathingly, "If the alternative is you, then yes, I do."
If Ted wasn't mistaken, he thought he saw a sad smile pass over Sirius' features, but it was gone as he shrugged again. "I didn't make the potion, that was Remus. I just made sure they got them."
Bella's eyes flicked toward Remus. He'd always been a star student, it was easy to believe he could pull off a stunt like this.
"Doesn't matter." Bella shook her head. "The mudblood still put you up to it, even if he's too simple to do it himself."
"Are you deaf as well as dumb?" Sirius laughed again. "I said they, not her. As in, we gave the potion to both of them."
Bellatrix flushed. Ted had never seen her look like this before. No one got the best of Bella Black, but then again, Sirius knew her better than most.
"Why?" She finally asked, her voice a mixture of contempt and frustration.
For the first time, Sirius didn't smile as he pointed at Rabastan. "Him. Andromeda wasn't bold enough to do anything about her forced engagement, so we decided to take matters into our own hands."
"You shouldn't be so presumptuous, assuming you know what she wants," Rabastan said. "She's perfectly capable of securing her own happiness."
Ted glanced at her again, and this time, finally, she couldn't stop herself from doing the same. Her usually warm brown eyes were black. The mask she'd been carefully wearing all night finally slipped away, and Ted saw what she was trying to so hard to hide. Fear, and grief. He only had a second to see her face, but it was enough, enough to know Andromeda had far from secured her own happiness.
Sirius only shrugged again. "Can't blame a guy for trying." But even as he spoke is his usual, easy drawl, his gaze flicked in Ted's direction. Alice and Frank slowly started to edge closer to him, trying to get between him and the Slytherins without anyone realizing. That was a dangerous place to be, and it was shocking that two people who barely knew him were willing to risk their own skins like that. Not that Ted was complaining. The Q and A session between Bellatrix and Sirius was coming to close. And even if she decided to accept Sirius' story, there was no guarantee she wouldn't decide to take her rage out on Ted anyway.
"You stupid, foolish, traitor!" Bellatrix hissed. "I'm going to make you regret the day you dared to bring shame to this family."
Sirius smiled easily, but his grip tightened on his wand. "I'm looking forward to it."
For a second, it looked like she was going to strike anyway, even when all four Marauders and Lily Evans had their wands pointed at her. Alice and Frank used that time to reach Ted and gently drag him away from the fight. Ted didn't resist, but he didn't make it easier for them either. There was no fight or drive left in him.
Just as Bellatrix was ready to release a spell Rodolphus shot forward and grabbed her wrist. Ted couldn't hear what he said, but Bellatrix clearly didn't like it as she turned her venomous glare on him. Rodolphus didn't even flinch. For a minute, they just stared at each other, locked in their own battle. Then, slowly, Bellatrix lowered her arm.
"This isn't over," she hissed, which only made Sirius smile lazily again.
"Until next time, cuz." He gave her a little wave, while he the others slowly began to back out. They made sure they were standing between the Slytherins and Alice and Frank, who were still dragging a catatonic Ted between them.
Once again, Ted couldn't stop himself from staring at Andromeda. She was still standing close Rabastan, but Ted could see things he hadn't before. Like the tightness in her jaw and the stiffness in her body. For a minute, he wanted nothing more than to race forward, rip her out of Rabastan's arms and pull her so close, even the forces on hell couldn't tear them apart.
But before he could move he was outside, and Potter was shutting the door between them, pulling Andromeda from his view.
It was like half of his heart had been ripped out with the closing of the door, and in that moment, he wasn't sure if he was going to get it back.