Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations I put all the characters in. Everything else belongs to someone else and that's just the way the lawyers say it ought to be. Thanks so much for reading, hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!

Wasn't A Suggestion

Narcissa didn't talk to Andromeda for a whole week after the incident at Hogsmeade. This depressed Andromeda, but not nearly as much as the cold she could feel creeping up on her. There was nothing in the world Andromeda dreaded more than getting sick, especially since colds always seemed to hit her worse than everyone else. She rarely got sick, but when she did it was not a pretty sight.

As per usual Andromeda did her best to ignore her symptoms, hoping as always that she could convince herself of her wellness to the point where she became well.

But no such luck.

Come Monday night Andromeda had reached her breaking point. Her head and nose were stuffy, her whole body ached, she could hardly find the energy to move, and Andromeda hadn't eaten anything solid in recent memory.

She was holding on by a thread and like an animal who'd been abused one too many times, Andromeda Black was posed and ready to strike at anyone who dared cross her.

Sensing this, everyone had been giving the Slytherin a wide berth. Not even members of her own house approached her now, though part of that could be put down to the rumors circulating about her. She was suddenly becoming pro Muggleborn in their eyes and they were making their displeasure known with cold dismissal. But since no one had the balls to criticize her to her face Andromeda had not been given the opportunity to defend herself. Personally, Andromeda didn't feel she should have to justify herself to anyone outside her family and Cissy wasn't talking to her.

That she had a…almost…sort of…friend in Ted Tonks was her business and no one else's. Though she was hoping her growing…affection for him was a direct result of her cold and would fade with it when it had run its course.

)

Walking down the hallway towards the classroom she was supposed to be meeting Ted in that night, Andromeda cursed under her breath as her vision wavered. Her damn fever. She hadn't taken her temperature, but she was pretty sure it was a lot higher than was good for her. Which meant she should probably be heading for the Medical Wing instead of a tutoring session, Andromeda thought with a sigh. But she hated going there and never did unless her sister dragged her there.

And currently Cissy didn't care enough about her to see she got better.

Cissy apparently didn't care whether she lived or died because of her own gross stupidity.

Shoulders slumping dejectedly as she allowed herself a moment of self pity, Andromeda had to blink several times before she recognized the figure running towards her, just stopping before he ran right through her.

"You are sick!" Ted announced as he slapped his hands on his hips. He'd thought she'd looked unwell the past few days but she'd told him he was just imagining things. But he sure as hell was not imagining the fact that she looked like a weak wind could knock her over, the Hufflepuff thought angrily. "You lied to me!"

Andromeda's eyes narrowed threateningly. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not. And you're going straight to the Medical Wing. Now."

Sticking out her chin Andromeda tried to find the energy to glare at him. "I'm not going."

"It wasn't a suggestion."

Andromeda gapped at him in shock as he took her book bag from her shoulder and dropped it on the floor in a heap. Mouth opening to give him hell for daring to do so Andromeda words died in her throat as he threw his book bag down on top of hers. "What on earth are you…?"

Her words ended in a loud yelp as he suddenly scooped her up into his arms, Andromeda wrapping her arms around his neck in a desperate bid not to be dropped on her rear end. Eyes going as big as dinner plates Andromeda stared at the Hufflepuff like he'd grown three more heads.

"Are you out of your mind? Put me down this instant!" Andromeda screeched, clutching him tightly as he turned and began making his way towards the stairs that would take them to the main floor.

"Quiet!"

Mouth dropping open at his fierce tone Andromeda was shocked into silence.

Andromeda instinctively tightened her arms around Ted's neck as they began walking down the stairs, the Slytherin doing her best to remain as still as possible, least he drop her and send her sprawling down the bloody stairs. He was struggling to carry her as it was. He was not exactly athletic and she wasn't small or delicate in build. Andromeda was willing to bet quite a bit that he'd be gasping for breath before they reached the Medical Wing.

That made her feel a little better.

But he was still carrying her, and he was going to have to pay for that. Breathing a sigh of relief when they reached the bottom of the stairs Andromeda already flushed face went that much redder as she caught sight of The Fat Friar and her own house's ghost.

She'd rather be humiliated in front of the ghosts than someone living, but it still peeved her off royally that anyone was witnessing her embarrassing situation. Oh yeah, Tonks was going to pay big for this, Andromeda thought darkly as she buried her face against the side of the Hufflepuff's neck, so that she didn't have to look at either ghost as they floated over to them.

"Are you injured, Miss Black?" The Bloody Baron inquired, looking her over as she refused to look at either of them. He'd known Andromeda Black since her first day at Hogwarts. The baron knew better than to think she was in the Hufflepuff's arms willingly.

"She's sick." Ted announced before she could answer. "I'm taking her to the Medical Wing. Friar, could you go back up the stairs and down the left hallway? We left our book bags there and I don't want Peeves or Filch to get ahold of them. We'll never get them back from either of them."

"Of course, of course. Happy to help, dear boy." The Friar assured him, thinking to himself that the boy was very brave to be risking the Slytherin's wrath like this. "You get the young lady to Madam Pomfrey, I'll take care of the rest."

"Thanks."

)

Nodding at them since his hands were busy the Hufflepuff worked up a strained smile and then continued on his way. His arms felt like they were being stretched by some torture devise and his back was killing him, Ted thought with a small groan. He could barely get air into his lungs either, and was extremely grateful that Andromeda wasn't chewing him out yet. He didn't have the strength or energy to argue with her.

He barely had enough of either to get them where they needed to go.

Staggering under her weight, all Ted could think of was not dropping her. No matter how much it hurt, no matter how tempted he was to take a break, he had to get her to Madam Pomfrey ASAP. Not to mention the fact that she really would kill him if he dropped her. His lack of upper body strength would not be enough to save him excuse wise.

The right hallway within sight Ted breathed a sigh of relief as he caught sight of the Headmaster.

"Sir! Headmaster! Could you please walk ahead and open one of the Medical Wing's doors for me?"

Turning to look in the boy's direction Dumbledore's left eyebrow rose quizzingly. "I take it one of your spells went rather wrong?" Miss. Black would not be a happy woman when she regained consciousness.

"No, she's sick." Ted didn't take offense; he'd nearly blown them both up once or twice. She just was, thankfully, very good at getting out of the way in time.

"I see." Dumbledore thought about pointing out that the boy could carry the girl using magic instead, but held his tongue. He supposed it was a lot more romantic in the boy's eyes to carry her, not to mention more manly. There was also the fact that young Tonks would be just as likely to drop her using magic as he was using his own man power. And it was very sweet for the boy to carry her, though she would probably not see it that way.

Staggering behind the Headmaster Ted concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, teetering around like a drunk as he struggled to keep them both upright. He even did a couple circles as he spun on his heels in a desperate bid to keep on his feet.

Finally they made it to their final destination, Ted setting her down on the first available bed with a loud sigh of relief. He barely heard Dumbledore leaving to go and find Madam Pomfrey, he was so focused on the wonderful feel of not having all his muscles taxed out.

Bracing his hands on the bed for support Ted struggled to get air into his burning lungs, gasping for air he concentrated on her sleeping face. She had color in her cheeks for once so she didn't quite look like Snow White, but even sick she was still beautiful beyond description in his eyes. She'd either passed out from her fever or from embarrassment, he thought wryly, reaching out to tuck a tendril of hair behind her ear. It was probably best for all of them if she stayed unconscious a while longer.

Rolling his shoulders in an ill advised attempt to work the kinks out, Ted winced at the pain that that caused. He was definitely not doing anything physically taxing for at least a few weeks. In fact, maybe he'd just curl up in the bed beside her until morning. The thought of walking back to his dorm felt far too daunting.

Smiling wearily at Dumbledore and Pomfrey as they reentered the room Ted got out of the way while the head nurse came over to look over the sleeping Slytherin.

Shaking her head as she removed her hand from Andromeda's forehead Madam Pomfrey clucked as she shook her head in disapproval. "She's got quite the fever. I thought she looked a little peaky the last time I saw her. She'll need to stay here; she's the type who needs to be watched over. She's not the sort to take proper care of herself in this sort of situation."

Ted reached out to take one of Andromeda's limp hands in his own, his worry evident. "But she'll be okay, right?"

"She'll be fine after she gets some rest and care." Doing her best to hide her reaction to the boy's gesture Pomfrey turned her attention to her patient. There were things to be done and a couple of them could not be done with men around. "You two need to head along. I need to get her into something to sleep in and rub a potion into her chest to help loosen things up."

Cheeks going red Ted nodded his understanding frantically. But he didn't want to leave Andromeda either, especially now that Madam Pomfrey had confirmed just how sick she really was. "Could I…maybe come back? I mean I have to get our book bags, could I bring hers back here for her?"

Pomfrey wanted to say no, but couldn't say it with the boy giving her his puppy dog look. She caved. "You can bring her her bag and then it's off with you for the night. You…you can visit her tomorrow if you like."

Ted's grin lit up his whole face.

)

Madam Pomfrey had told her that Ted intended to visit her, and Andromeda was more than ready for him the next morning. She was stuck wearing hideous stripped pajamas, had been forced to drink disgusting potions, and had her personal space seriously invaded by the head nurse. Oh yeah, she was more than ready to talk to Ted Tonks.

And she planned to do all the talking.

When the Huflepuff arrived she was ready and raring to strike.

"You're awake!" A wide smile crossing his pleasant features, Ted hurried over to her bedside without a hint of trepidation. "And you look better. Thank God, I barely slept a wink last night, worrying about you."

Blinking, Andromeda felt all her nasty, heated words die in her throat.

He meant it. He really had been that worried about her. She could see it in his face. No one had come to see her, not even her sister. Not only had he cared enough to make her come to the Medical Wing in the first place, but he'd cared enough to risk her wrath by doing it. He wasn't a complete idiot after all, he knew her well enough to know how she'd feel about him ordering her around. But he'd risked it anyway to get her help.

The only one that had cared enough about her to risk it.

Assuming she was too weak and tired to yell at him Ted continued to smile as he took a seat on the side of her bed. "I've got the next two periods free, Madam Pomfrey said she'd get the elves to bring me lunch too when they bring your soup. Do you like soup? We're getting chicken noodle apparently, which is the cure all when it comes to colds. It's also one of the few things my mother can cook without burning the house down, so I get a lot of soup at home. Chicken noodle is my favorite."

The best Andromeda could mange was a shrug, feeling far too emotional to comment. It was her cold, Andromeda thought defensively. It had to be.

"I can help you eat it if you aren't up to it." Ted added, wisely changing the subject when she gave him a dark look. "And I brought something to entertain you with! It's one of my favorite books and I read it all the time. It's a Muggle one, so you wouldn't have heard of it. It's by a man named Ronald Dahl, he's a famous British writer. The books called 'Charlie and The Chocolate Factory'. I thought I'd read it to you."

And not waiting for her agreement Ted dug the book out of his book bag and flipping to the first chapter began to read aloud.

Struck speechless Andromeda said not a word as she was introduced to the Bucket family and a man named Willy Wonka. She couldn't remember the last time someone had read to her, especially from a book that was obviously meant for children. She hadn't even been read children's books as a child. Her father felt they were a waste of time and paper. When stories had been told to her as a child they'd been real life stories about her ancestors and their contributions to Wizarding society. She hadn't learned the stories in 'The Tales of Beedle Bard' until she'd been in her third year at Hogwarts. And that had only been because she was sick of not knowing the stories all the other students knew.

She supposed she should be insulted that he thought she'd enjoy a children's book, but the truth was she really was enjoying it. The story was amusing enough, but it was his reading of it that was truly entertaining. The boy was trying rather unsuccessfully to use different voices for each of the characters, and his facial expressions were more than a little over the top. It was taking all of her skills not to laugh or smile.

When his voice started to get hoarse Andromeda retrieved her wand from under her pillow and pointing it at her bedside table conjured up a glass of pumpkin juice for him.

Looking up from the book when she called his name Ted blinked and then followed her pointed wand to see the glass on the table.

"Oh…do you need help drinking that?"

Andromeda rolled her eyes and put her wand away. "You need it." Was all she said.

Catching on Ted marked his place and set the book aside, reaching out to take the glass from the table. "Thank you." He said softly, glad for the cold liquid as it slid down his throat. He was really thirsty now that he thought about it. "Do you like the story so far?" He asked, looking at her over the top of the cup. She'd been surprisingly quiet since he'd arrived. Maybe it was hard for her to talk?

"The other four children are ghastly." Was Andromeda's opinion. "And Charlie Bucket is obviously going to win whatever game Wonka is playing with them. He's up to something, I know it. He reminds me of Dumbledore, and I don't just mean the way he dresses."

Ted laughed, agreeing with her on that last part. "Yeah, there are some similarities. I should loan it to him, he'd probably get a kick out of it."

Not being a real fan of Dumbledore's Andromeda opted to end the discussion before it could really begin. Reaching out to grab the book Andromeda held it out to Ted in a silent demand for him to keep reading to her. She wouldn't ask, but if he wanted her to even consider forgiving him for what he'd done the night before than he would-

Taking the book from her Ted opened it up again and began reading again, angling the book so that it hid his grin.