2nd August 1972

Andromeda and Ted lay on their backs, side by side, on the grass in a Muggle playground, in the summer air and the fading light. It was late evening, so the playground was closed, but they had climbed over the fence and just lay there, hands joined, in companionable silence. They didn't need to speak. Both of them just needed some time to be together and de-stress. This was the perfect place. They could be nobody. Just two teenagers that nobody knew or cared about. It didn't matter. They cared about each other.

Suddenly, Andromeda spoke. She couldn't spend every minute of the day worrying about it on her own any more. She needed to tell him. "Ted?"

"Yes?"

"I... I'm sorry, I should have told you this as soon as I found out. I..."

"What?"

"I'm pregnant."

The expression on Ted's face went from one of shock, to one of joy, to one of worry.

"Wh- what are you going to do?" he asked fretfully. "I mean, it's wonderful, absolutely wonderful, but... your family! What about them?"

"I... I don't know," she said honestly. "I don't know what to do, Ted."

Ted sighed, worry lines creasing his brow. "Well," he said finally, "you don't have to do anything yet. How far along are you?"

"About eight weeks, I think."

"So it'll be at least another couple of months before you start to show," said Ted reasonably. "You can hide it from your family for that long, before you decide what to do."

"Mm," Andromeda agreed uncertainly. Her mother was bound to suspect something if she was given the slightest clue. Andromeda would have to be careful. "Let's run away, Ted," she said suddenly. "Right now. Then I'll never have to explain to my parents. And we can be together forever. You, me and the baby. We'll be a family."

Ted thought for a second. "I don't think so, Dromeda," he said.

Her face fell. "Why not?" she demanded.

"Well, it's not just about us any more, is it?" he asked. "Maybe if things were different. But we have to think what's best for our child," he added, gesturing at Andromeda's stomach. "Look at us, Dromeda. We're barely out of school, still teenagers, with no homes outside our parents, no money to our names. The least we can do is wait a few months so you can save up your wages. And you can make the most of the time you have left with your family." Andromeda opened her mouth to protest, but he held up a hand to stop her. "I know you say you're willing to leave your family," he began, "but I know that even though you disagree with their beliefs, you love them. You must at least want a chance to say goodbye."

A single tear rolled down Andromeda's cheek. "You know me so well," she whispered. "Thank you, Ted."

"There's no need to thank me," he laughed. "I love you!"

"I love you too." There was another brief silence. "Ted, you'll think I'm crazy. But I can't help but hope... they're my family. My family. Do you think there's even the tiniest chance that they might... accept us?"

"Dromeda..." Ted said warningly.

"I love them, Ted. They've done some awful, awful things, but they're still my family. Nothing can ever change that, can it?"

"No," he admitted. "But don't get your hopes up, Andromeda. You know what they think about Mud... people like me. You'll only get hurt, Dromeda, and I'd hate for that to happen."

Andromeda sighed dejectedly. "I know, Ted. I know I'm living in my dream world. I know they won't accept us. I know that really. But there's always hope, isn't there?"

Ted nodded, a strange expression on his face. "There's always hope."

A/N: Poor Andromeda :'( Cheer her up with a review?

Disclaimer: Last time I checked, I still wasn't J K Rowling!

Thank you again to the amazing kci47 for her help with this story! Go read her stories, they are wonderful!

Thank you to my reviewers: Empty Pen Name, chewinggumandpencils, Lolaaaa, Gamma Orionis and HeadlessHuntsman, you're all fantastic and I love you lots.