'Minister of Magic Nobby Leach was found dead in front of his house on October 22nd, 9h45 pm. The body was discovered by his wife, Mrs Leach, as she looked out her window. It was missing an arm and had lost a lot of blood. It was immediately taken to St Mungoes and subjected to a partial autopsy.
In the early morning of the 23rd of October, the healer in charge of the autopsy, Emmeline Vance, reported that the late Minister's wound did not appear to have been caused by splinching. She added that at first glance, it seemed unlikely that Mr Leach had died after apparating home. Following that report, Headmaster of Hogwarts, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Grand Sorcerer Albus Dumbledore, with the blessing of Mrs Leach, demanded for a complete autopsy to be executed on the body and a thorough investigation to be led. Damocles Macmillan, Head of the Auror Office, proclaimed that he himself would lead the team in charge of the investigation.
Later that day, Healer Vance handed out a report declaring that Mr Leach had died before apparating in front of his house. Cause of death was determined to be the killing curse. Two hours later, Auror Constable Macmillan declared in a similar report that, according to the investigation, Mr Abraxas Malfoy, Elf Legislations Advisor to the Minister, was the last person seen in company of Mr Leach. Mr Malfoy and Mr Leach had seemingly disapparated jointly outside Hogsmeade pub "the Three Broomsticks" at around 9h30 pm, on October 22nd. According to testimony, the Minister looked in excellent health and appeared to be sober. Following that discovery, Mr Malfoy was arrested on October 23rd at 5pm and is currently being detained in a cell in the Ministry of Magic's Department of Justice as the prime suspect for the murder of the late Minister for Magic, Nobby Leach.
Since the Minister's death, Eugenia Jenkins, Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic, has called the Wizengamot for an urgent session with the goal of organising a committee to lead Wizarding Britain in the absence of a Minister of Magic and prepare upcoming elections. As of today, members of the committee include Mrs Jenkins herself, Albus Dumbledore, Damocles Macmillan, Alexander Nott — and blah, blah, blah,' read Andromeda.
She felt odd. Reading the Prophet aloud was usually Sophie's role, but Sophie was in no condition to read for anyone. She had not gotten out of bed this morning, claiming she was not hungry, but truth was that her mood had not improved since the Leeswood incident and every day she looked gaunt and lost in thought. To add salt to the wound, her boyfriend Theo Travers had not shown sign of life in a few days, he whose correspondence had been consistently daily since the year had started. Now that Sophie needed him most, his silence was at best conspicuous, at worst a cause for anguish. Despite her own worries, Andromeda had tried to comfort Sophie but nothing she nor anyone said would bring her peace of mind.
'This is a mess,' huffed Bellatrix, dropping her chin in her hand and pushing her plate further down the Slytherin table.
It truly was. A few hours only after the Leeswood incident, the Minister of Magic had been murdered and the prime suspect in the crime was one of the most influential people in not only the Ministry of Magic, but all of Wizarding Britain. Dumbledore had been almost completely absent from Hogwarts since then, Slughorn had postponed his Slug Club party which was supposed to happen a few days before Halloween and now Sophie's boyfriend seemed to have disappeared.
'Lucius isn't coming,' said Narcissa, who had been absent-mindedly gazing at the doors from the moment she had sat herself at the table.
Following her line of sight, Andromeda and Bellatrix turned their heads towards the entrance of the Great Hall. Lucius Malfoy had been hiding in the Slytherin dormitory since the news about his father had hit Hogwarts, only stepping out to eat and go to class. Now it seemed he had given up on eating as well. Andromeda pitied him. If his father truly was the murderer, Lucius would have to carry the burden of his crimes all his life.
'Did he tell you anything?'
Narcissa eyed Bellatrix suspiciously. This must have been the first time Bella did not try to tease her after she had mentioned Lucius.
'Why do you want to know?' she asked.
Bellatrix threw her a dark look. 'Just answer me,' she groaned.
Narcissa clenched her jaws. 'I did talk to him,' she replied. 'He told me his father had asked him to befriend you to protect Lucius's social standing whilst he was being investigated.'
'Lucius wants out protection?' Bellatrix asked.
'Obviously,' replied Narcissa curtly.
'What did you tell him?'
Narcissa hesitated briefly. 'At first, I said yes, but then he was being an idiot so I decided I wouldn't help him and that would teach him a lesson.'
Andromeda wondered what the fool had done to attract Cissy's infamously unquenchable anger.
'It doesn't matter. Whatever he did, I'm taking him under my wing.'
Andromeda's jaw dropped. 'Bella, his father is the prime suspect in a murder case!' she reminded her.
Bellatrix shrugged. 'It doesn't matter.
'Great Salazar, what could you possibly gain from this?'
There was a pause before she replied, 'Security…' in a mysterious voice. She then rose to her feet and grumbled, 'I'm going back to my dorm. I've got to talk with Sophie before classes start. If only she would stop moping all day…'
And just like that, she was gone.
Andromeda bit her lip. Everyone might have been too distracted by Nobby Leach's death to care about her sister's involvement in Deborah Leeswood's case, but Andromeda certainly had not. It had been two days since the incident and the girl had yet to awaken. It was pure luck that Dumbledore, busy with the downfall of the Minister's death, had been too absent to oversee the investigation on what had happened to her.
There had been an investigation but it had been executed ridiculously poorly: two Aurors had asked a few questions to Bellatrix, Sophie, and some of Deborah's classmates, without even analysing anyone's wand. They had left about two hours later, promising to inform them of any future progress. But Andromeda knew the investigation was as good as dead; she had recognised one of the Aurors as Holland Brooks, a good friend of her father's.
This whole affair bothered Andromeda so much she feared she was becoming paranoid. She could not help but feel like the Minister's death had been extremely convenient to Bella and Sophie, even though it would be ridiculous to assume that such an important personality could be murdered to cover up the mishap of two teenage girls and their friends (the identity of whom Andromeda had been trying to worm out of Bellatrix's mouth with no success).
Sometimes she told herself that she should draw a line under this whole story, which would have been easier if Bellatrix and Sophie were not involved, and if Leeswood was nothing but another name in a flow of faceless Hufflepuffs. Which she was not. She was the girl who she and Joy had made fun of in History of Magic, back in September. She was also one of Ted Tonks's close friends.
Andromeda released a long sigh. Accidents, murders… If people stayed at home and minded their own business like she did, none of this would ever happen. World Peace achieved.
She realised, then, that Narcissa was being oddly silent. When she turned towards her little sister, she found her lost in thought, eyes squinted as she looked in the distance.
'What is it?'
Narcissa hesitated for a few seconds. 'Hmm… it's just... nothing.'
Andromeda put a hand on her shoulder. 'Are you worried about Lucius?' she asked softly.
Narcissa turned a violent shade of crimson but did not bother to deny it. 'I'm also worried about Sophie,' she said. 'And her boyfriend. And Bella. She seems very shaken by the Minister's death, doesn't she? You'd think she would be happy about it, she has been criticising his incompetence for months, but...'
'You're right,' said Andromeda, biting her lip. 'I'm sure it's just because she's as worried as we are about everything. Things will go back to normal soon enough.'
'Will they? I overheard Rita saying there have been violent protests inside the Ministry of Magic yesterday. Supporters and opponents of Nobby Leach, casting spells at each other, arguing over who would succeed him. She also said that Muggle-born households were attacked last night and the Ministry has been busy looking for the perpetrators and obliviating the muggles in the area. Does that sound like things getting back to normal?'
Andromeda frowned at Cissy's distant expression and in a strong voice said, 'It will, soon enough.'
Narcissa looked about to say more but stopped when a hand fell on Andromeda's shoulder.
'Morning, Meda.'
Andromeda swirled around only to find Maggie Greengrass looking down at her.
'Morning, Maggie,' she replied.
Maggie smiled. 'I just learned your first class is Herbology,' she said.
Andromeda nodded carefully as the Ravenclaw released a chuckle. 'Oh Merlin, you're going to have so much fun!' she exclaimed, a baleful grin on her lips.
Andromeda frowned. 'What are you talking about?' she asked, but Maggie was already leaving.
'I know how you love getting your hands dirty!' she called one last time while stranding out of the Great Hall.
'What did she mean?' asked Narcissa.
Andromeda shrugged. 'No idea.'
She only hoped it was not some sort of
joke at her expense, not that she believed Maggie capable of doing such a thing.
'Maybe we should be going then,' she said.
She called Joy who was conversing with Liantris further down the Slytherin table and together the girls headed off towards the greenhouses.
oooOOOooo
Upon arriving in Greenhouse Four, Andromeda released a long sigh, finally understanding Maggie's words and feeling inexplicably betrayed as Professor Sprout, her pitiful robes covered in dirt and mud, cheerfully exclaimed: 'Today and for six months, you will be growing plants!'
Now, Andromeda Cassiopeia Black did not hate plants, not at all, but there was little she disliked more than gardening. Gardening involved crouching, wearing ugly clothes, getting dirt everywhere, meddling with crawling insects, and possibly sweating. Not to mention, it required being able to distinguish some green leaves from more green leaves which, Andromeda thought, made little sense. All in all, gardening was clearly — among other thing — the reason why people had house-elves. The only reason Andromeda had not given up Herbology was Professor Sprout's free handing of excellent grades. And really, Herbology was enjoyable when strictly restricted to theoretical learning.
'There are five different types of magical plants for you today,' the plump Professor was saying, 'and four specimens for each. You will be divided into groups of four for each type and individually care for your own plant. Is that clear?'
There was a collective "yes" from the class — to which Andromeda took no part — and Sprout clapped her hands.
'Fantastic!' she said. 'So let's make it simple: you four together, you four together, you four and you four. Now each group agree on a type. Here are the five...'
Whatever Professor Sprout was saying then, Andromeda did not register. She was too busy trying to deal with the realisation of who she had been paired with as her eyes fell on the uncharacteristically closed-off face of Ted Tonks.
She had tried to catch his eyes when she had entered the green house but he had not noticed her, he who until recently had been stealing glances her way at every opportunity. They had not had the chance to to exchange a word since the Leeswood incident, although Andromeda had caught a glimpse of him in the infirmary one day.
She had gone there, on her own, for reasons that even she had trouble discerning, but with the clear intent of seeing for herself the consciousless body of the girl her childhood friend had almost murdered. Instead, all she had found was a boy with sandy blond hair and a square-jawed face, slouching on a stool, bent over what had to be Deborah Leeswood. And in that moment, his features had seemed to contain all the misery in the world and his shoulders had seemed to bear the most heavy burden of pain.
I have caused this, Andromeda had thought. Because eventhough she had not been the one to cast the spell, eventhough she had not even been present during the incident, she knew the truth and still held it back. In so doing, she was denying Leeswood and the people who cared for her any chance at fair justice.
On the threshold of the infirmary, she had told herself that if she was brave, she would go over to Ted Tonks and apologise. She would place a hand on his shoulder and attempt to comfort him. She would tell him how truly sorry she was that things had come to this. But Andromeda was not brave. She had always been a coward, always hid behind Bellatrix, and when that was not an option, she had always ran away. She had ran away this time as well. She had turned on her heel and let the doors close behind her.
And since then, she had felt nothing but a terrible sense of guilt whenever she looked at Ted Tonks.
'Meda?' Joy's voice brought her back to reality. 'Which plant do you you think is the best?' she asked brightly. As it were, Joy actually enjoyed Herbology.
Andromeda looked around, feigning reflexion. In truth, she had no idea what the plants were, not having listened to Professor Sprout, and found she cared very little. Her wandering eyes breezed over her classmates, Annie and Paloma, already busy at work with two Hufflepuffs, including a serious-looking girl Andromeda recognised as Amelia Bones, but were inevitably pulled back to Ted Tonks who was nervously fidgeting with the pan of his robe.
'I don't know,' she said to Joy. 'Maybe we should let the Hufflepuffs decide. It is their element after all.'
Joy made a face. 'But I don't want to talk to them,' she complained, glaring towards Wispbelly, and thus reminding Andromeda of Joy's last interaction with him. It had been rather conflictual. Thinking back on it, it was a little amusing.
Controlling the smirk she felt peeking at the corner of her lips, Andromeda simply shrugged.
'You four,' suddenly called Professor Sprout. 'Why are you standing so far apart? Have you made your choice?'
Andromeda and Joy exchanged a glance. Then Andromeda looked up and saw Tonks and Wispbelly do the same.
'We're still thinking, Professor,' she said in a gentle voice that the teachers usually seemed to find reassuring.
Naturally, it worked as Sprout nodded brightly and turned back around to care for some other group. In the newfound silence, the atmosphere felt even
heavier than before. Boys and girls were now standing several feet apart and awkward glances flashed left and right like casted spells. Finally, Andromeda had enough; the more time passed the more uncomfortable she was getting.
'You guys can pick whichever you want,' she said gently, looking at Tonks and hoping she did not sound as uneasy as she felt.
But Tonks, although he met her eyes, remained silent, and it was Wispbelly who spoke instead.
'I don't think we're left with much of a choice,' he said, looking around. 'I say we go with the Flitterbloom.'
Andromeda's eyes followed his finger pointing to the plant in question and actually took a step back. Next to her, Joy gasped.
'I thought that was a Devil's Snare!' she exclaimed. Andromeda did not blame her; with its long tentacles and dark green stems, the Flitterbloom could easily be mistaken for a young Devil's Snare's shoot. Great, she thought. It really was anything but.
Joy seemed to agree. 'Why can't we go with the Magiflower?' she asked.
On the other side of the big central table, Paloma spun around. 'Already taken!' she exclaimed.
Joy pulled a face.
'Flitterbloom's better,' a voice uttered just then. Andromeda's eyes snapped to Ted Tonks. He was speaking now, she thought. DId it mean he was feeling better? 'Magiflower is a fragile plant, used to warmer climates. Flitterblooms won't need as much effort to grow healthily,' he continued.
How would a muggleborn know that? Andromeda wondered, but despite his apparent nervousness, he seemed certain. Andromeda also noticed that he was trying hard not to look at her too long. With a tinge of worry she wondered why. Did he blame her for Leeswood's condition? Did he hate her?
When Professor Sprout came back to them, they had settled on the Flitterbloom plant - not that they had any other options left. Sprout had given each of them a seed of the flower as well as a large pot full of earth. Then, she had gone back to her usual place at the end of the table and called for everyone's attention.
'Your assignment is to give me, as a group, a full written study on the plant on which you are working. It must include sketches of the plant as it grows, its
different properties and uses, explanations on how and why it is used, and so on... Is that clear?'
"Yes" replied the students.
'I can tell you where to find examples of reports at the end of class,' Sprout continued. 'For now, you can plant the seed and start writing down the first
observations.'
Andromeda watched everyone put themselves to work and started wondering why her heart felt so heavy. Was it because Tonks probably hated her? Well of course he would, for all he knew, her sister was probably the one who put Leeswood in a coma and he had no reason to believe she, Andromeda, did not approve of that act.
No, she thought. He should realise I wouldn't approve. I saved him and his friends when Bella and the others tried to attack them in Hogsmeade!
She was staring reproachfully at the little seed in her hand when he came up to her, making her jump.
'Goodness!' she breathed.
Tonks raised his hands apologetically. 'Sorry,' he said, 'I didn't mean to scare you.'
'Better not,' she grumbled.
For a beat, there was silence. She took a deep breath and turned back to him, calmer, only to realise he was standing markedly closer than anticipated. She stumbled a little backwards trying to put more space between them and barely managed to steady herself with the table.
She bit her lips, hoping she wasn't blushing as much as she felt she was. Wordlessly, her eyes fell on the hand he had extended to catch her. She looked up then, slowly. She might have stared a little too long.
'I - I came to help, actually...' Tonks managed to say in a low, deep voice.
Shivers shot up Andromeda's body. Warm shivers, if it was possible, the sort that rumbled in her stomach before turning to butterflies and fluttering all through
the rest of her being. Suddenly, she found herself wondering what it would have felt like if he had caught her, wondering about the feel of his hand around hers…
She looked away to compose herself, pushing to the back of her mind all embarassing thoughts.
'Okay,' she said. Pointing at her seed, she added: 'Go ahead.'
Tonks's eyes bounced between the grain, her pointing finger and her expectant eyes. The smallest of smiles appeared on his face, digging dimples into his cheeks.
'I said I'd help you, not do everything for you,' he said.
Andromeda shrugged. 'I don't see the contradiction.'
'It refers to the amount of work happening on your part,' he replied cheekily.
Andromeda put her weight on one hip and crossed her arms. 'Fine then, let's make a deal,' she said. 'You do that for me and I'll... owe you a favour in return... later.'
To be honest, she had not expected herself to say that. It must have shown on her face because Ted looked rather nonplussed.
'Are you sure?' he asked.
She rolled her eyes 'Yes.'
Ted hesitated for a few seconds, until his eyes were shining mischievously.
'So... You'll do anything I want?'
'No,' Andromeda replied, outraged.
His eyes flickered for an imperceptible second. Then they were back on hers.
'How about you try not to look too disappointed that I am in the group,' he said, and although he was smiling, there was an odd tone in his voice.
Andromeda opened wide eyes. Try not to look too disappointed? She thought he would be the disappointed one! She thought he hated her! Relief brought a smile to her face and she pushed her hair back.
'Fine, it's a deal,' she said, and Tonks shot her a brilliant smile, one of his best smiles, and went to work without another word.
Andromeda had planned to leave then, but she found herself looking at him as he gardened, his thick fingers removing the earth expertly while his brow furrowed in concentration. He was advancing fast.
'What about yours?' she found herself asking in a low voice.
In the back of her mind, she heard Bellatrix's voice warning her not to come five inches close to a Muggle-born, much less talk to them, but she ignored it. Bella, after all, had decided to befriend the son of a possible murderer, so her judgement was not exactly convincing to Andromeda right now.
Tonks glanced up at her. 'I took care of it while Professor Sprout was talking,' he said. 'Adrian is writing down the first details for the report.'
Andromeda looked behind her back to see Wispbelly was indeed busy with his quill and a piece of parchment. Joy was standing next to him and reading over his shoulder. Her seed had been roughly planted and she hadn't watered it yet.
Andromeda straightened her back and started looking between Joy and Tonks, until Tonks looked back and she was caught like a fly in the golden web of his eyes. Something inside of her inexplicably fluttered.
'You've got something on your mind?' he asked, reverting his attention back to the plant.
Andromeda bit her lip. She had a lot on her mind, yes. Most of it was unintelligible. A lot of it she would rather ignore. Some of it she had to stop running from.
She sighed and gathered her courage before speaking again.
'I'm sorry about Deborah Leeswood.' Ted stopped working. He froze up. Then, slowly, he shifted his eyes towards Andromeda. 'I know she was— is your friend.'
Ted gazed at her with a mix of confusion, suspicion, and sadness which made her want to reflect on all the bad deeds she had ever committed in her life.
'She's my best friend,' he said, 'but thank you. I didn't — I didn't know whether you'd care.'
Andromeda almost chuckled. She had been agonising over the issue for three days. If that was not caring she did not know what was.
'You were the one to remind me we've been classmates for six years,' she said instead. 'Of course I should.'
It warmed her heart, then, to see a genuine grin brighten his features. Happiness fit him so much more than torment.
'Your reply was that we couldn't be friends,' he said.
'And you responded to that by moving to sit right behind me in Charms.'
'You didn't seem to mind all that much.'
'Your friend and my friend almost got into a fist fight.'
'But you and I didn't.'
'Well, of course not. I don't fight.'
'Neither do I.'
'What's your point?'
'I think we get along pretty well.'
Andromeda scoffed to hide genuine amusement. 'You're delusional.'
Ted laughed lightly and turned back to his plant. After a few minutes of comfortable silence he turned back to her and, with a certain air of solemnity, said, 'Thanks for making me smile. I needed that.'
Andromeda's throat constricted into a knot and her lips pursed as if determined to seal her mouth forever. Had she been able to utter a word, she would have had no idea what to say.
'I saw you, by the way, that day at the infirmary,' Ted continued nonchalantly. 'I saw you at the door. Did you leave because of me?'
Andromeda gulped and crossed her arms over her chest. 'I remembered I'd forgotten something,' she said with false disinterest to hide her embarrassment.
'What did you forget?'
'Something.'
Ted smiled. 'I assumed you left because of me.'
Andromeda's face revealed nothing of her internal panic. 'Why would you think that?'
Ted raised an eyebrow. 'Well, there was no one there besides me and Debbie. I assumed you wanted to visit Debbie but left when you saw me because it would have been awkward or something...'
Andromeda frowned. 'Why did you assume I was there for your friend?'
'There was no one else there.'
'Maybe I had a headache.'
'Maybe.' A pause. 'But I don't believe that.'
'Why not?'
'You told me you were sorry about her just a moment ago.'
Andromeda bit her lip and looked away. He had a point.
She could feel him staring at her.
'Have you ever talked to her? Debbie?' he asked.
'Not really, no,' she replied.
'Well,' he said slowly, as if to himself. 'She is kind and hardworking, like all good Hufflepuffs, but you know what? She's terrible at keeping a secret. She's an open book. Nothing to hide. So why would she be roaming around the castle grounds so late into the night?' He frowned and started fidgeting with his robe without realising it. 'I can't get that question out of my head. It's so frustrating.'
Andromeda had also been wondering about that, but she had no answer to give him, so she said nothing.
'And then,' Ted continued, almost in a whisper, 'your sister and Sophie Gamp found her...'
Andromeda stiffened and closed her fists and instinctively, said, 'My sister didn't do it.'
It took Ted by surprise. But he had regained an expression of solemn reflection soon enough.
'Okay,' he said.
Andromeda frowned. 'It's true!'
'I didn't say it wasn't.'
'You don't believe me.'
'I do.
Andromeda raised an eyebrow. 'Why?' she asked. 'Everyone thinks she did it.'
'Everyone has other things to worry about. Except for you, apparently.'
Andromeda took a deep breath. 'Well my sister's mixed up in all this business, so...'
Ted started scratching the back of his neck. 'Well, I can't say I'm a big fan of your sister, but for what it's worth, I don't think you're a liar.'
She felt taken aback for a moment so she simply stared at him. How could he have so much faith in her? He made her feel even worse about all that she was hiding from him. It was almost unbearable. So after many seconds of silent reticence, she said, 'Well... thanks,' in a whisper so low she could barely hear her own voice.
Ted looked at her with curious eyes and blushing cheeks. She turned away and walked over to Joy, trying to ignore the knot in her throat and the flutters in her stomach.
'Meda,' called her friend when she saw her arrive. When Andromeda reached her, she raised an eyebrow while looking above her shoulder. 'What were you two talking about? Wait, is the muggle-born doing your job for you?' she asked, disbelieving.
Andromeda shrugged. 'He wanted to.'
'Well,' chuckled Joy, 'he does have a lot to be forgiven for.'
Andromeda caught herself from asking "what?" as she remember that time he simply stood there while she was being insulted by his friend in Hogsmeade, that time he nearly got himself into serious trouble by attempting to talk to her at the Slytherin table, that time he embarrassed her in Charms class by throwing a... a pen at her... The memories nearly brought a smile to her lips, but she remained composed. Even when Wispbelly stood up to chide them, she only raised an eyebrow.
'His name is Ted, you know,' said the Hufflepuff flatly, standing straighter to meet their eyes.
Joy glared angrily. 'Of course we know!'
From where she stood, Andromeda looked back to see Ted leaning a little away from the pot. He had heard.
'Then call him by his name,' continued Wispbelly.
Joy looked at him with a mix of confusion and annoyance. 'We do!'
She exclaimed.
Wispbelly cocked his head. 'No,' he started very slowly, as if talking to particularly slow children. 'You called him "the muggle-born".'
Joy looked genuinely taken aback. 'Oh,' she said. 'I didn't notice.'
Wispbelly paused for a few seconds before shaking his head in exasperation.
Andromeda turned back again to see Tonks had gone back to work. He seemed relieved.
He finished not long after and, at Andromeda's subtle request, went to correct Joy's work. Wispbelly had nearly finished the first page of the report by then and they wrote the last bit together. Their group was the first to be done with the work, and after Sprout proved satisfied, she allowed them to take their leave.
As Andromeda gathered her stuff, Tonks slid to her side, awkwardly stroking the back of his neck.
'About the deal,' he whispered. 'How long is it effective?'
Andromeda hesitated. 'Are you saying you don't want to do my work for the rest of the school year?'
Ted smiled. 'Depends on the compensation.'
Despite herself, Andromeda found herself smirking also. 'It stands as long as we have this group project. Then it's done,' she said.
Ted nodded. 'Perfect.'
Andromeda nodded also.
There passed a moment, Andromeda was not sure how long, during which they simply stared at each other, and she felt surprisingly at peace, as well as a
little warm... Then he spoke:
'So... are we still not friends?'
She sighed and pushed him out of her way as she headed for the door. Idiot.
And as she walked, she could feel his eyes on her and his dimpled smile widening. Her heart felt like it was swelling to gigantic proportions and she was trying really hard to convince herself that it was because she was annoyed with him, not because he made her happy. But even she could not deny that she was relieved by the fact that he looked much happier now than he had at the start of the lesson.
Joy was waiting for her at the door. 'What did he want?' she asked.
'He was talking about plants, I don't know,' mumbled Andromeda.
Joy stared at her oddly for a few long seconds before she started rambling about that one time she
went to her grandmother's and Andromeda sincerely tried to listen but found her mind was always drifting elsewhere. Elsewhere, most of the time, was Ted Tonks.
Her heart was beating fast now, as she thought about the number of words they had exchanged today. The feeling had a very distinct sense of déjà vu, and that because it was, indeed, déjà vu. How many times would Andromeda find herself talking with the muggle-born only to regret it right afterwards?
Bellatrix can never know, Bellatrix can never know, Bellatrix can never know, Bellatrix can never know...
Because really, it was much harder not talking to Ted than it was hiding the truth from Bellatrix. And Bella was hiding her own truths anyway. It was only fair that way.
Yes. It was only fair.
It was also terrifying.