An: Just a warning: as Christmas comes closer, I won't be able to update as regularly. Ina all honesty, I'm updating faster than I ever anticipated, but yes, it may start to slow down over the next couple of weeks. Possibly. Anyway, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter Five – Too old for this

On the day of the Hogsmeade visit, Andromeda changed her clothes seven times. The problem was she did not know whom she was going to meet. If it were a first born pureblood son, then the floor length dark green dress that hugged her tightly before flaring out at the waist was perfect. But if it were only a fifth born half blood, then the black trousers with a plain T-shirt would suffice. In the end she settled on dark grey flannel trousers with a white linen shirt, with a deep pink scarf wrapped round her neck to give her outfit a twist. It did not matter to her that because it was cold, her ensemble would be hidden by her coat. What mattered to her, was that if she ran into her father whilst with whoever it turned out to be, he would not think she was over or under dressed.

Titus was waiting for her when she hurried down the stairs that led to her dormitory. "You look nice," he commented. "Any particular reason?"

"No." She smiled at him. "Shall we go?"

][][][][][][][][][][][][

As she walked through the main street of the village she shivered, though not from the cold. It was cold; mid October always brought a stiff chill to the air around Hogwarts, but she was nervous. Nervous because she knew who she hoped it would be (His last name was Lestrange and was not engaged to her sister), nervous because she was worried about who it might be (Cyril Nott had been watching her intently over the summer and his spots were revolting. Also, he was a year younger than her), nervous because she was almost there.

When she arrived she could feel her stomach turning over, and she forced herself to take deep breaths. She looked around her and there was no one. Suddenly all the anticipation drained out of her stomach, just as if someone had pulled a plug. All that was left was a hollow feeling of disappointment. She leant against the fence surrounding the ramshackle house, trying to get a hold of herself before she went back to the main part of the town.

"Andromeda!"

One word called in a deep, slightly husky voice was enough to raise her hopes again. She looked up to see the owner of that voice and a smile spread across her face so wide that she had to rein it in to avoid looking like an idiot. "Mr Lestrange," she called back to the tall figure making his way towards her. "I trust you are well."

"I am not." He was standing in front of her, reaching for her hand to place a kiss on her knuckles. "I fear I am sick."

She was furious with herself as she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. "Sick, Mr Lestrange? How so?"

"Please," he smiled gently. "Call me Rabastan."

She bit the inside of her lip to stop the smile widening again. "Of course Rabastan. But how are you sick?"
"Over the summer I saw you almost everyday." As he talked, he smiled almost shyly, which made no sense because if there was one thing Rabastan Lestrange was not, it was shy. But it made him look vulnerable; completely different to how he usually looked. "And now you're back at Hogwarts, and I cannot see you, and it hurts my heart." She refused to smile any more, absolutely refused to. She was biting the inside of her lip so hard, she was worried she was about to draw blood. "So I sent you notes. Did you get them?"

She feigned thought. "Notes…" She paused and looked straight at him. Oh he was handsome. Long dark hair neatly tied back in a ponytail, dark eyes that glinted, the nicest lips she had ever seen. "Yes," she admitted finally. "Every day."

"Is that okay?" he asked, taking a half step towards her, towering over her. "If it is not, I'll stop. It will be hard but I will try."

She shook her head. "It is lovely," she murmured, "to be appreciated." She smiled up at him, and her heart turned over when he returned that smile. Then, suddenly, his lips were on hers, softly pressing against them. Never, not even in her wildest dreams, did she ever think that Rabastan Lestrange would kiss her. She may have imagined it, but she never thought it would happen. That kiss was sweet, short, left her wanting more.

"I'm sorry." He was contrite, apologetic, and she did not understand why. "It's just that your smile is intoxicating." The second time it was not him who initiated the kiss.

][][][][][][][][][][][][

It did not take long for the news that Andromeda Black and Rabastan Lestrange were courting to fly around the school. On that first day he had taken her to The Three Broomsticks, where most of her year had been, which meant for once Andromeda had not been able to keep something a secret. Of course, only the Slytherins cared. The Gryffindors, the Hufflepuffs, the Ravenclaws could not care less who Lestrange was pursuing at the moment, or, even worse, they did not know who he was.

Andromeda lived the weeks leading up until December in a daze, unable to believe her luck in capturing Rabastan Lestrange without even trying. He was her first appropriate, serious suitor, and many girls had glared at her in the corridors for having tamed the beast that had been Rabastan Lestrange. He continued to send her notes every day and they met every Hogsmeade visit. Naturally, all they did was talk and kiss and even then, in the eyes of some of the older members of her family, she was going too far.

Andromeda-

Congratulations on your relationship. You do realise this will make us doubly sisters, do you think you could put up with that?

On a serious note, please be careful that your relationship is conducted out in the open, in public places, with plenty of witnesses. There are rumours flying around that you meet Rabastan in alleyways; that you emerge with less than perfect hair. Andy, please be careful. It is outstanding that you have trapped Rabastan, but he still has a reputation and there are those that would see our family's standing dragged down based on a few, unfounded whispers.

Enjoy the courtship; if he is anything like his brother I am sure he is suitably romantic.

I remain your loving sister,

Bellatrix.

It was true that Andromeda sometimes met him in less well-populated parts of the village, and that their kissing was far more passionate than she knew was proper, but what did her sister know? Her sister surely did not feel the way about Rodolphus as Andromeda felt about Rabastan. If she did, she would not write in such a tone. But Andromeda knew to not go further than long, deep kisses. She had brought down enough girls to know how to not become one of them.

][][][][][][][][][][][][

"You're not concentrating again."

"What?" They were in an empty classroom, practising the latest Transfiguration spell.

Wandering around in a permanent state of happiness was affecting her schoolwork, so Ted had suggested they meet up to try and get her back on track.

"That's the right wand movement, but you're using the incantation from Charms." His smile had faded now, as he corrected her for what felt for the hundredth time. They had been there for a long time, and she wasn't listening to him, which was frustrating him beyond belief. "Let me guess," he sighed. "You're thinking about your boyfriend."

"As a matter of fact yes I am," she snapped, scowling. "Not that it is any of your business."

Ted shrugged. "I know he's a jerk if he's the reason you're doing so badly in class."

"And what would you know mudblood," she asked imperiously, her hands finding her hips.

"Oh there we go," Ted snapped, throwing his hands into the air exasperatedly. "That's another reason he's an ass. You've gone back to how you were before the truce."

She rolled her eyes, pushing her dark hair out of her face. "It's pathetic how you keep harping on about a lousy truce."

He growled, clenching his left fist, his right hand holding his wand so tightly his knuckles turned white. "No. What's pathetic is you don't have the guts to keep it."

She looked at him disdainfully, and grabbing her bag, headed for the door. She paused and turned. "What would a mudblood know about guts?"

As the door slammed behind her, he let out of cry of frustration, overturning a chair in his anger. He'd thought they were past this. He'd thought they were almost friends.