Ted laid his ink stained hand out for Andromeda Black. "By all means then, let us go see the Vicar immediately. After we're done, we'll have tea and time with my parents. We'll get a room in Keswick for a night or two and decide from there."

Andromeda laid a hand on his arm. "Don't you want to stay with them after we see the Vicar?"

Ted laughed, a resounding one that echoed on the now empty platform. "Would you feel comfortable letting my parents see us kiss, much less anything else intimate?"

Andromeda blushed. "I hadn't –"

Ted bent down and kissed her waiting lips, gently yet full of promise. "You might not realize it, but this isn't going to be a Pureblood marriage. I don't expect you to keep your vows to me while I take a mistress or have dalliances outside our marriage. That's not who I am. We get married, you're it for me. I mean my vows and binding. That includes the promise to love you, like you deserve."

They shared another kiss. Andromeda broke it first but Ted trailed a finger down the imaginary laugh line down her face. "I've respected your wishes, held back because you have standards of behavior. But we're also getting married, and I hold to those vows – In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, 'til death do us part. My upbringing, at home and in the church we're going to, taught me that you love your wife more than you love yourself. Those are part of my vows to you."

Ted pulled her hands together and placed them over his heart. "Loving you includes our marriage bed. Unlike others, I don't want anyone else around when that happens. You're my betrothed and I won't have anyone disparage you for it. This includes my parents. That's why we'll stay somewhere else after we have tea with them." Ted pulled her hands from his chest and dropped kisses upon her knuckles. "But after tea, I want to spend time with you," Ted winked at Andromeda, "and get to know you better."

Andromeda blushed further and averted her eyes. "Ted, I – "

He looked at her and waited.

"I'm nervous. Bellatrix saw that I was protected. No one would dare trifle with me, not under threat of pain from her wand. By the time she departed, I could hold my own." Andromeda worked past the reticence in the throat. "We've hugged, and snogged, quite a bit, and maybe did a few things more, but that is nothing like what you're asking of me."

"It's ok. I'm glad you're not like your older sister." Ted shrugged. "It's not like I had interest in anyone else, much less snogged anyone. I'm learning as I go, too."

Andromeda looked up at Ted. "But I thought –"

"I've known since I was 15 that you were the one for me. Why else would I ignore other girls, in my own house and at school? None of them hold a candle to you."

Ted stood watching Andromeda make her decision. Until the binding was final, he'd not hold her to anything she didn't agree to. That was his unspoken promise in all of their actions and affections. But watching the subtle emotions cross her face was something to behold. It was the first time she showed anything overt – or he learned enough about her to read the crease between her eyes, the shift in her jaw, or even the slight upturn of her lips.

Her eyes clicked back into focus. "Yes, Ms. Black?" he asked quietly.

"Let's go to Cumbria. I'm ready."

She laid her hand out, waiting for him to lead them on their journey together.

Ted apparated the couple to the landing point in Keswick, an alley off of Church and St. John Streets. Trees surrounded the couple, hiding their sudden appearance. Ted held Andromeda's hand while he turned to make their way to the path to the church.

Cemetery markers behind the church lined their path, giving just enough room between them for the couple to walk. "You know this area quite well."

Ted looked to his side and smiled, warm and most inviting. "I used to come here so I could read in peace. I couldn't' study much while at home, not since Mum would have me helping out, whether washing the autos of the guests, or running to the farmer up the road to get chickens and eggs for breakfast or dinner. And then there were the usual chores that were required, like changing the linens in the rooms and washing dishes or carrying guest bags to and from the cars."

They arrived at an old oaken door, wizened with age and weather. Ted pulled on the iron handle and it opened silently. "I did that for the Vicar as a favor to him. He said that no matter what oil was put on the hinges it still made a ruckus. So, I put silencing charms on the hinges so it wouldn't interfere with his duties."

Ted held the door open for Andromeda and they walked into the side of the sanctuary. Stained glass filtered the afternoon sunshine into the room, vibrant light shining down upon the wood pews still in use.

"I'll go find the vicar and make our request. He takes galleons or pounds for the ceremony."

Andromeda looked up at Ted's soft features. "Really?"

"The Vicar is a Muggleborn. He attended Hogwarts back in the 40's but then went to St. John's College once he left Hogwarts. He's one of the few Vicars in the country who do weddings and Bondings. He's an astute and humble man. I hope you like him as much as I do."

"So you know him?"

"Well enough, really. Mostly I help around the church when the normal boys are away at school. He knows about me and we've talked candidly. He understands more, sometimes, when my parents had a hard time comprehending. He's come by the bed and breakfast on occasion for afternoon tea."

Ted stepped up to the unadorned door before him, knocking three times in succession. He stepped back and waited.

The door opened silently and out walked the Vicar. He was a spry man, clean shaven with bright hazel eyes. His hair had receded which he had shorn to a respectable crown on his head. "Ah, Ted. How are you? Is this the young lady who bewitched you?"

Ted stuck his hand out and they shook in greeting. The vicar turned to Andromeda and smiled widely. "Greetings. I'm Father Stewart. Ted has spoken quite highly of you."

Andromeda let Father Stewart gently kiss her knuckles.

"So what brings you to me today my good man?"

"We wish to be married, Father. We'd also like a binding, too."

Father Stewart went to the cabinet behind the desk and pulled out a small vial of clear potion from the shelf. He then pulled his wand from inside his sleeve to open the compartment with his tea service. "You'll forgive the displays, I hope, but part of my charge is that I have to make sure that both of you are here of your own free will, and not under coercion of any sort."

The young couple watched him brew tea for them, then added three drops to each cup. "This was brewed by the potion master at Hogwarts. He lets me have a vial once every few months for these situations. In return, I get him seats for the Exmoor matches during breaks. Horace doesn't mind our barter in the least."

Ted took his cup and sipped. "Irish Breakfast?"

"It's all I ever drink."

Andromeda put the cup to her lips and sniffed. No additional odors were present.

"If you're hesitant, ask Ted something before drinking deeply. I won't mind at all."

Andromeda turned to Ted sitting next to her. "What is your opinion of Bellatrix?"

Ted chuckled. "I think she's so barmy it's not even funny. I also think that she is a terrible sister to you and that she does no favors for her parents."

Andromeda smiled and put the cup back to her lips, taking a sip of the tea before her. A frisson coursed through her, a side effect of the Veritaserum working through her system.

"Ask your questions, Father."

Father Steward sat behind the mahogany desk and steepled his hands. "Ted, do you love this woman enough to marry her, submit to binding, for the rest of your days?"

"I do."

"Why do you love her?"

Ted looked over at Andromeda. "As I speak these words true, she captivates me because of how gentle her soul is, her dedication to duty but also her rebellious streak, and how compassionate she is for others who can do nothing for her. She is beautiful and brilliant and I would be remiss if I didn't marry her and work to make a life with her."

"Now you, Andromeda. Do you love this man enough to marry him, submit to binding, for the rest of your days?"

"I do, Father."

"And why do you love this man?"

"Ted encourages me to be better than my upbringing. He's kind, hard-working, steadfast, honorable, and I would be less of a person if I didn't marry this man."

Father Stewart looked to both of them before him.

"Why are you coming to see me, in secret, rather than having a Ministry approved marriage?"

Ted looked to his beloved beside him. "Andromeda is betrothed to a man not of her choosing. She does not wish for this marriage to happen and she is defying her family by choosing me."

"The man my parents chose for me for my hand in marriage is suitable in name only. He has station and a name but there is no love or affection for him. He prefers the company of men and our marriage would be of convenience to him, and my parents, but nothing more. They see me as only a means for a proper Pureblood marriage, and to beget children worthy of our name. I am nothing more than a breeding sow for their pleasure."

"I see." Father Stewart looked at the two before him. They held hands, suitable for where they were.

"Ted, can you provide a suitable living for this woman?"

"I have guestright at home, and a job lined up in London. Andromeda starts a Healer apprenticeship in September so we have time to settle and get established. It might not be an estate but it would be ours, from our hard work."

Father Stewart trained his eyes to the witch before him. "And what consequences will happen to you should you go against your family's wishes?"

"If I'm fortunate, the worst that will happen is that they will banish me from their lives, culled out from their social circles, and be a pariah, only spoken in secret in the dark of the night. If they are irate enough, they might try to break the binding, or if they so dare, try to have one or both of us killed for betraying the family."

Ted squeezed her hand. "No one will lay a hand on you while I am around. I'll die before they hurt you."

Father Stewart stood up from his desk and went back to the cabinet. He procured another vial, this one in gold, and handed each of them one. "This is the antidote to the tea. You'll feel better in moments."

They took the proffered vials and drained them. Each looked at one another and grinned like children.

"I do apologize for putting you through that. I have to be sure since I get questioned for each bonding ceremony I perform."

Andromeda looked to the Vicar across from her. "How long do we have before you are called on the carpet for your part in this?"

"2 days. I send an owl the next morning from my quarters and it arrives at the Ministry the next morning. Owls are rather slow but the only approved way of communicating."

Andromeda turned back to Ted. "It appears we're out of time, dear."

"We'll have to be back at your residence in Hertford by tomorrow evening, then."

"We could wait until the following morning then apparate to the residence. That would give us time to figure out how to deal with them."

"Why so soon?"

"Father's barrister would inform him immediately since he works inside the Ministry. Father would then send an elf to find me. If I'm going to be disowned, or worse, I want it on my terms." Andromeda squeezed his hand. "Besides, I want you there by my side when we confront them."

The couple turned to the vicar sitting behind the desk.

"Well, Father, what donation to the church would suffice for our marriage and binding today?"

Father Stewart stood behind his desk and smiled. "Ted, my boy, whatever you donate to the church's coffers is more than adequate. You've known that since we talked about this back at Easter." The vicar turned to Andromeda. "Ted's talked about you for ages. I just wanted to meet the formidable witch who caught his eye and to make sure she was worthy of him."