AN: Happy New Year! In a few days. * ahem* anyway, here is the latest update. Thank you, as always, to everyone who has alerted and/or reviewed this story. There'd be no point writing it if you didn't enjoy it. Hope you enjoy the latest instalment.

Chapter Nine – A Happy Detainment

My dearest Andromeda,

Between your father's sudden illness and our New Year's party, I was quite rushed off my feet. I intended to have a serious talk with you about your future, but as it is I will have to limit myself to this one question, which I insist you answer honestly. What is the nature of your relationship with Mr Titus Greengrass?

Your loving mother.

Andromeda snorted inelegantly, causing Titus to look at her from where he was perusing the shelves for a copy of 'Poor Elocution: A Warning'. Their latest charms essay was on the issues that could cause spells to go awry. Andromeda had finished it before Christmas, but Titus, of course, had left it until the last minute. "What?"

Andromeda turned to face him, smoothing her skirt down. "My mother has delicately enquired into my relationship with a certain Mr Titus Greengrass."

He dropped the book, catching it just before it passed his knees, swearing as he did so. "It's my punishment for rescuing you at the Winter Ball, isn't it?" He placed the book on the table, taking a seat next to her. "Tell her we're engaged. Tell her I mean nothing to you. Tell her I promised you the sun and only delivered the moon." He flicked through the book distractedly, picking his quill up with his other hand. "Tell her anything if it means she won't marry you off to the first well bred dandy who flatters her enough."

Andromeda scoffed, dropping the carefully scripted letter on the table, watching Titus scribble furiously on his parchment. "Firstly, I think Flitwick wants to be able to read that essay, and secondly, I think mother trusts me to find a suitable man. I mean, Bella managed it."

"Mmmm." His noncommittal noise was so dark, he may as well have muttered 'well the less said about her, the better.'

"What exactly do you mean by mmmm?" she asked, drumming her fingernails on the heavyset table.

"Dromeda," he began carefully. "Rodolphus Lestrange is a very different kettle of fish to me, or Malfoy, say. He's cold, supercilious and there a few rumours about him that are less than savoury."

Andromeda flicked her mousy hair, her gaze glancing down the long corridor of books they were situated in. "I think you are confusing him with his brother. Rodolphus is never anything less than a gentleman."

Titus sighed, knowing he would not win this argument. "Of course. So what are you going to tell your mother?"

Andromeda looked down at the letter and paused thoughtfully, before saying diplomatically, "I'll answer it tomorrow."

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There was silence in Transfiguration. For some unknown reason, McGonnagall was in a furious temper and was making them take notes from the board. Everyone had their head down and were scribbling as fast as they could so as not to incur the wrath of their teacher. It was in this atmosphere that Ted decided to nudge a note onto Andromeda's side of the desk. How was your Christmas?

She rolled her eyes, and nodded slightly to the front, where McGonnagall was sitting at her desk, watching them all with a steely gaze. Ted widened his eyes slightly, as if to say 'so?' and nudged the note slightly closer to her. Sighing, she took it and scribbled Fine. How was yours?

Amazing. Got lots of chocolate. And new trainers. You?

Yes, my presents were good too.

Did you like the tiara?

Yes, it was lovely, thankyou.

Did you bring back to school, or did you leave it home in case it was stolen?

She quailed slightly, under the force of the grin that she knew he was wearing. She did not want to admit that it was broken, but she did not want to mislead him.

My sister broke it. I'm so sorry.

It's fine. It was only a joke gift anyway.

Well, it made me laugh, and I loved it.

Are you actually still copying any of the notes from the board? Cause if you're not we're in trouble.

"Miss Black! Mr Tonks!" The imperious voice of their teacher reverberated around the classroom. "It is our first lesson back. Can it be that you are already so bored that you must pass notes?"

"No, no professor," Andromeda stuttered. "I mean, I'm not bored professor."

"Detention." The pronouncement was final.

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"Hey." Ted caught Melanie unawares and caused her to drop her books. "God, I'm sorry." He knelt down to help her pick them up. They'd met up a couple of times over the holidays and it seemed to be going alright. She made him laugh and he returned the favour.

"You okay?" she asked, when she was holding all her textbooks again.

"Yeah," he smiled. "It's just I can't help you with your magical creatures essay till later than I thought, 'cause McGonnagall had a cow and gave me detention."

Melanie shrugged. "Ted, we're in the same house. I'll see you in the common room at some point. "

"Just didn't want you to think I was standing you up," he told her seriously.

She laughed, and planted a quick kiss on his lips. "You wouldn't dare."

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Professor Sprout was sitting in the classroom when Andromeda walked in, all sulky looks and swirling hair, because she did not want to be in detention. She had had more detentions since meeting Ted than she had ever had in her entire school career. "You're to write lines," the woman told her. "I must not write frivolous notes during class." With very bad grace, Andromeda sank into a seat and began to scribble furiously. "Miss Black, I think Professor McGonnagall would like to be able to read your lines."

Andromeda was scowling as Ted burst into the room, with his usual trick of pushing the door so hard it slammed open. "Professor," he smiled. "Sorry I'm late. Professor Kettleburn was showing me the sick Hippogriff."

"Ah, how is he doing?" Sprout was smiling at Ted in a way she had never smiled at Andromeda. Andromeda had to admit this was probably because she had been appalling at Herbology, and from what Titus had muttered after a bad lesson, Ted excelled in it.

"Fine. The wound's closing up." Ted took a seat next to Andromeda. "Apparently, the new potion stopped the infection."

"Oh that's good." Sprout settled back in her seat. "You'll be writing lines. Miss Black can give you more details. Feel free to talk."

Andromeda stared open mouthed at Ted.
"You'll catch flies," he said cheekily, glancing over at her ink splattered parchment. "I must not write frivolous notes during class? Man, that's long."

"How do all your teachers love you?" she demanded. "It's entirely unfair."

He raised an eyebrow. "We're in detention. Surely if all my teachers loved me we wouldn't be here."

"Don't be pedantic," she snapped back. "If you hadn't had a burning urge to ask me about Christmas, we wouldn't be here."

"Well, if you'd written to me like a normal person, then I wouldn't have had to pass you notes." He sounded more bemused than angry, but he was definitely working up to a frown.

"You didn't write to me!" she replied, wondering when Sprout would tell them to calm down.

"I sent you a present." He sounded hurt and his eyebrows were knitted together, making him look wounded. "It's more than you sent me."

Sprout coughed pointedly and an awkward silence fell. They continued to write their lines, until Andromeda quietly said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you."

"You're forgiven." He smiled at her, angling himself in his seat so he was facing more towards her. "So, how was the winter ball? Did you dance with eligible young men? Or, shock horror, did you dance with a married man all evening?"

She laughed at his mock shocked expression. "I mainly danced with Titus." She glanced at him. "You know. He's in your Herbology class." When Ted's face remained blank, she continued. "Slytherin. Darkish blonde hair. Taller than me."

"Oh. Greengrass." Ted's voice was neutral and the smile stayed on his face. "I can't imagine him as much of a dancer."

"He's really rather good," Andromeda replied, adding an unnecessary flourish to the last s in class.

"I'm not. Two left feet," Ted admitted. "I can sway, but that's about it." Andromeda stifled a smile, remembering when she had first met him. He'd fallen over several times in the great hall, making a complete fool of himself. "What?" He'd noticed her smirk, and wanted to be in on the joke.

She shook her head. "It's nothing." She stuck her tongue out at him impulsively. " You'll never know half of what I think."

He laughed. "I'm not sure I'd want to."

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