A/N - So the Muse decided to grace me with her presence yesterday. Whether she decides to stick around for a while remains to be seen.

I also wrote this for the Monthly Prompt List Challenge for the song Rude! by Magic. Thanks to my Falcons for looking this over for me!

Ted looked up as owls began to arrive in the Great Hall, many more than usual. The silver envelopes many of them were carrying confirmed Ted's guess that today was the day. He glanced across the House tables and tried to catch Andromeda's eye but she had been pulled into conversation by a few of her Housemates, not surprising given the invitations that had just been delivered.

Ted sighed. Andromeda's parents always opened the summer social season with their party or ball or whatever it was. Students that were of age that bore the appropriate names received their own invitations. This year it was also Andromeda's debut into Pureblood society, simply code for finding her an appropriate husband as soon as possible.

He continued to glance at the Slytherin table every few moments until Andromeda finally looked up at him. She gave him a sad smile, a look of resignation on her face. Ted's resolve hardened. There had to be something he could do to change her father's mind.

He looked around his table and while there were fewer silver envelopes than there were at the Slytherin table, he saw that Henry Macmillan held one. Sliding down the bench toward his fellow seventh-year, Ted gestured toward the envelope.

"That for the Black's party?" he asked. Henry snorted.

"Of course," he replied. "Who else would be so ostentatious?" Ted chuckled.

"Are you going?"

"My great aunt married a Black, so I'm sure my mother will force me to," Henry sighed. "Keeping up appearances and all that." Ted nodded thoughtfully. He knew from what Andromeda had told him that the invitations were not only Portkeys to the Black estate, but also required for entrance to the ball. He also knew that while those of age received their own invitations, they were mostly symbolic as their families received one as well. Students could attend with either.

"Listen, Henry, I've got a proposition for you."

Andromeda stood greeting guests with her parents and Narcissa, fake smile plastered on her face. Andromeda had lost count of how many men had asked her to save them a dance, but she was sure that her mother was keeping very close track and would inform Andromeda just whom, exactly, she would dance with and in what order. The entire evening was going to be completely tedious.

"Mrs. Black, it is a pleasure to see you again," a familiar voice said and Andromeda looked up to see Lucius Malfoy greeting her mother. Andromeda glanced at Narcissa from the corner of her eye and saw her sister school her features into a pleasant smile. She did not manage to hide the glint of excitement in her eye, however.

"Lucius," her father greeted warmly, shaking the Malfoy heir's hand. "School is going well, I trust?" There was a small smile on her father's normally solemn face.

"Yes, sir, very well," Lucius confirmed politely.

"Good, good," Cygnus replied. "I hope to speak with you more later."

"Most definitely, sir." Cygnus gave Lucius a nod and he moved on to Andromeda.

"Miss Black," he said taking her hand and kissing the back of it quickly. "I do hope you will favor me with a dance this evening." Andromeda simply inclined her head, having no intention of dancing with Lucius, which had nothing to do with her sister's feelings for him. Lucius nodded and moved on to Narcissa.

"Miss Black, you look most enchanting this evening," he said and Narcissa's eyelashes fluttered while a slight blush stained her cheeks. Andromeda nearly rolled her eyes. The man was already obviously infatuated with her sister; she didn't need to pour it on so thickly. Lucius took Narcissa's hand and let his lips linger on the back far longer than he had with either Andromeda's or her mother's. Andromeda saw her father smirk slightly before he looked at his middle daughter.

"You would do well to follow your sister's example," he said quietly.

"Yes, Father," Andromeda agreed automatically, but her mind was filled with thoughts of a different fair-haired wizard, one she knew her father would be incensed to find out about.

Ted checked his appearance in the mirror one last time. The dress robes he wore had cost a bloody fortune, but Henry had assured him that he needed to present himself properly, invitation in hand or no. Ted's mother had raised him to be a polite and thoughtful man, but Henry had given him a few pointers on Pureblood etiquette all the same. Ted wasn't overly worried. He didn't intend to remain at the party long anyway.

He knew this was likely a fool's errand. Andromeda had made it quite clear that her family would never accept him or their relationship. But he had to try, at least. He knew that she loved him and she had sobbed when he asked her to marry him just before school was over. She swore that she wanted to say yes, but that her family would never allow it. And as much as he wanted to, he hadn't been able to bring himself to beg her to leave her family for him. He wanted her to, there was no mistaking that, but she had to decide on her own. He would not force her to choose and have her resent him for it later. There was nothing wrong with letting her know just how serious he was, though.

It seemed as if she had been standing and greeting guests for hours and Andromeda was very glad for the cushioning charm she had thought to cast on her shoes. Still, the number of arriving guests had dwindled and Andromeda was sure that her mother was going to give her the list of dance partners at any moment. She did not relish the rest of the evening.

There was a small gasp from Narcissa and Andromeda looked at her quizzically before following Narcissa's gaze to the top of the staircase that led down into the ballroom. Andromeda's heart leapt into her throat and she somehow managed to hold in a gasp of her own. What was he doing here? How had he even gotten in?

Andromeda watched Ted descend the stairs, looking as handsome as she had ever seen him in the dress robes he wore. Her father's eyes had narrowed at Ted's entrance and her mother just looked confused. Andromeda wasn't sure if she was even breathing as she watched him.

"What is he doing here?" Narcissa hissed in her ear, but Andromeda ignored her, her eyes never leaving Ted.

"Good evening, Mrs. Black," he said, bowing to her mother. "It is an honor to meet you." Andromeda's mother simply stared at him, perplexed. Ted rose and moved to Andromeda's father.

"Mr. Black," he greeted, holding out his hand.

"I am afraid you have me at a disadvantage," her father said, ignoring Ted's hand. "You seem to know who I am; however, I cannot claim the same."

"My name is Edward Tonks, sir," Ted replied, letting his hand rest as his side again. "I am a classmate of your daughter's." Andromeda could feel her father's eyes on her but she couldn't seem to stop staring at Ted.

"I see," her father replied.

"I was hoping I could speak with you in private for a moment, sir," Ted said. Andromeda's eyes widened. What in Merlin's name was he doing?

"I do not think so," her father replied, ever polite so as not to attract attention. "In fact, I fear I am going to have to ask you to leave." Ted glanced at Andromeda for a moment before squaring his shoulders.

"I am sorry, sir, but I cannot do that just yet." Andromeda risked a look at her father. He seemed almost, amused.

"And why is that, pray tell?"

"I have come here to ask for your daughter's hand." Andromeda's mouth dropped open. Narcissa grabbed her hand and squeezed it so hard, it was painful. Andromeda saw her mother's hand go to her mouth. Her father's amused smile never left his face.

"I do not know who you are, although the fact that you were not invited this evening allows me to come to my own conclusions," Cygnus began. "You will never marry my daughter, as she would never sully herself with the likes of you." His lips curled into a sneer. "Mudblood." Ted was shocked into silence for a moment before he smiled once again.

"I am sorry that you feel that way sir, but I can assure you that I will marry your daughter," Ted vowed. "I would like your blessing, but if not, no matter." He turned toward Andromeda and she saw the determination in his eyes. Something in her shifted and her own resolve strengthened. He gave her a genuine smile, then turned to her mother. "I am sorry to have disrupted your evening, Mrs. Black." With that, he turned on his heel and quickly left the ballroom.

A small crowd had begun edging closer to them, curious looks on their faces. Cygnus smiled at everyone to assure them that all was well before looping Andromeda's arm through his.

"It is time for the first dance, my dear."

"Yes, Father," Andromeda managed. He gestured to the band who began to play and led his daughter to the dance floor. At a look from him, she plastered a smile on her face.

"Would you care to tell me what that was all about?" he asked, pleasantly enough, although Andromeda could hear the undercurrent of anger in his voice. Still it was all about appearances, as always.

"I do not know, Father," Andromeda said, smiling up at him even as he gripped her hand just a bit too tightly.

"Why would a Mudblood think you wanted to marry him?" he demanded. Andromeda forced herself not to react to the word.

"I do not know, Father," she repeated. She had put her mask back into place and knew he would read nothing on her face. And her father had always been rather abysmal at Legilimency.

"If I find out you have been lowering yourself to that, that, filth," her father nearly spat the word, but recovered himself quickly as he remembered all of the eyes that were on them. He let the threat hang in the air.

"Or course, Father," Andromeda replied calmly, knowing now what she would do.

Narcissa made her way to her rooms, smile on her face as she remembered the kiss Lucius had bestowed upon her at the end of the ball. The initial ugliness with the Mudblood notwithstanding, it had been a completely wonderful evening. Andromeda had disappeared with Henry Macmillan just before Narcissa had taken a walk with Lucius. Narcissa certainly hoped that meant that her sister had come to her senses, although there were far better choices for husband than Macmillan in Narcissa's opinion.

As Narcissa entered her bedroom, she saw the folded piece of parchment propped on the pillow of her bed. Frowning, she picked it up and opened it, recognizing Andromeda's handwriting immediately. As she read the note, Narcissa sank down onto her bed, her eyes widening in disbelief. She couldn't have. She wouldn't!

Narcissa's hand dropped to her lap, tears coming to her eyes. One fell and splashed onto the parchment, smearing the ink on the last line.

"I am sorry. Good-bye, Narcissa."