Chapter Eleven:

Andromeda peered out the window of the Astronomy Tower, the place no one ever went, especially at night. The grounds were stunningly beautiful, moonlight of the full moon pouring down.

"Andromeda."

She turned to see Ted. Her mouth formed a small smile and she inched over to him, her eyes light. "Hey."

He grinned and walked up to her, placing his arms around her waist. "How is my pretty lady today?"

She sighed and turned her face into his chest. "Ted, I...I..."

"Meda, I understand you can't talk to me during the day."

He heard her utter a faint whimper.

"It's okay, I promise."

Andromeda shook her head. "Ted, I'm sorry."

"I know, love. It's okay.

He felt her shudder, and knew that she was crying. "How's it okay?" she whimpered. "How can you say it's okay when all of this is happening? I'm not allowed to look at you or talk to you unless it's a hateful insult. I hate it, Ted, I hate it!"

Ted rocked her back and forth, wanting her to be happy. He briefly remembered what Molly said about girls being emotional. "Andromeda, are you going home for the holidays?"

"Yes."

"I'll be at Arthur's. Is there any way you think, you could come see us? I'm sure that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley won't say a word about you,and only friends will be there. Please, Meda?"

She placed her head in his shoulder. "Yeah...yeah, I could find a way to come spend the day with you. I've always been antisocial so that's how my parents will brush it off. It could work.". She paused, then whispered, "What if Cedrella doesn't like me?"

"Cedrella...you mean Arthur's mum? How do you know Mrs. Weasley? And why wouldn't she like you? You're so beautiful and wonderful and perfect."

She felt herself blush and buried her face against his chest. "Heh...oh, Cedrella is my papa's sister. She was disowned back when she got pregnant with her first son and announced her marriage by eloping with...Septimus Weasley, yes, I think that's his name."

"So she's your aunt."

Andromeda gasped. "Oh no, Ted, no, no, no. She was disowned. She is not my aunt. I'm not even allowed to speak of her."

Ted looked down at her, frowning in amusement. "Meda, that is a habit we'll have to break you of."

She frowned back, confused. "What?"

Instead of answering, he lowered his head and kissed her. She slithered her arms around his neck, closing her eyes.

She murmured, "What? What habit?" impatiently, trying to get him to answer her question.

"You sure know how to ruin the moment, Meda," he pouted. "I mean your unfortunate habit of shunning the nonbeliever, as it were."

Andromeda mocked gasped. "Theodore Tonks, I do not shun people!"

"No, you most definitely do not," Ted replied, with a slight smile. He held her around her waist. "It's not like you purebloods shun muggles or anything."

She glared, but found herself starting to smile back at his warm, friendly grin. The shy pit in her stomach started to whirlpool again - what most of the boy crazy giggly girls called having butterflies. She started to wonder how he managed to make her have butterflies inher stomach so easily.

He said something, but she didn't catch it as she was focusing on the butterflies in her stomach. "What?" she asked.

He smiled and repeated, "Meda, school gets out for winter tomorrow."

How he mentioned to change the subject so easily never ceased to surprise her. "Ted, I know."

He kissed her forehead. "Then we can find a way to be together every day."

She smiled at this cheerful optimism. "Yes, Ted. And I'll kiss you every day and we'll drive everyone crazy."

He pressed his forehead against hers. "I wasn't aware you knew how to drive people crazy," he replied, amused.

Andromeda answered softly, "I drive my family crazy regularly."

Ted kissed her nose, rubbing her back absentmindedly. "Meda dear, how do you drive them crazy?"

She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment to enjoy his gentle touch. "I, uh, I'm disrespectful, I don't mind my tongue, I'm antisocial, I have terrible manners, I'm clumsy, and they prefer Narcissa or Bella. Bella is funny, and Cissa is witty. I'm just...I'm just me."

He looked at her for a long time, furrowing his eyebrows as he frowned at her. He reached up his hand to brush some hair behind her ear. "You're not just you, love. You're gorgeous, too gorgeous really, and you are so much prettier than your sisters, and you are smart, and sweet, and perfect."

"You always use that word, Ted. Perfect. I'm not perfect, you know that?"

He chuckled, and that made her smile. "You're perfect to me, my lovely Meda dear."