Chapter Twelve:
Andromeda easily fell into the routine of being home. Her father left early in the morning for work, her mother started planning who to have over for afternoon tea, Bella immediately escaped upstairs with her boyfriend, and Narcissa quickly took to helping her mother.
"Mother, do you think I could, uh, go out today?" Andromeda asked timidly.
Her mother obtained a scowl. "You are beginning to sound like Bella. Bella always wants to leave. But you know what happens while she's gone?"
Andromeda started a whole list: Bella finds boys, she gets drunk, they do what they do, Bella is gone until next day, Bella comes home.
"She is the absolute epitome of how a Black daughter should be!"
Well, her mom sure didn't know what Bellatrix was up to.
Druella Black fixed her daughter with a dark glare. "And you either stay out of society, or you behave very well in society, is that clear? You will not disgrace us in any way, shape or form while you are out, got it?"
"Yes, Mother. Of course, Mother," Andromeda replied softly.
"Make sure you look perfect before you leave."
Andromeda quickly walked upstairs, as it was not ladylike to run. She checked her appearance in front of her mirror, fixing her dark brown hair into a tight, sleek bun. She checked her face, smoothed her skirt of wrinkles, and left.
When she finally escaped the grounds of the Black Manor, she pulled her cloak over her, hiding her hair and thus becoming less recognizable.
She started to list in her mind how to get to the Weasley's home. She had never been inside a home before; only manors. She had been by the place before, her mum had told her to never come near the place before.
Of course, that just encouraged her curiosity of the place. Everytime her parents told her off from something, she just got curious. Curiosity killed the cat.
She walked quietly through the street, feeling hidden inside her big cloak. She hadn't a clue what she was going to say; she wasn't even quite sure it was the right house. She walked up the small wooden porch.
Andromeda closed her fingers into a fist and tapped the door nervously. She heard footsteps and someone yelling behind the door.
The door swung open, revealing two very identical, very attractive, red haired young men, probably a few years older than herself.
"Hello. Who are you?" asked one of them, blinking his dark green eyes at her.
She cleared her throat awkwardly. "I uh, I'm looking for, uh, Ted. Ted Tonks."
Her voice felt very shy and quiet, and she was relieved that they both smiled identical smiles.
"Oh, it must be his very spoken about secret girlfriend!" exclaimed the other one.
"It is so nice to meet Ted's absolutely beautiful girlfriend. I am Fabian Prewitt," said the first, green eyes twinkling.
"Gideon Prewitt," introduced the second.
She had to fight the urge to curtsy. "Andromeda Black."
The two exchanged shocked looks.
When Fabian had recovered his manners, he smiled kindly and extended his arm to lead her in. She took it cautiously, walking into a warm home that smelled of cookies.
"May I take your cloak, Miss Black?" asked Gideon politely.
"Please," she whispered. "Call me Andromeda.". She slid out of her cloak and handed it to Gideon. Her hair was still in its tight bun.
A woman's voice called, "Fabian, Gideon, who's here?"
"Is that Mrs. Weasley?" asked Andromeda in a whisper.
"Yes," they replied in unison.
"Come on," Fabian said.
Gideon offered her his elbow. "You can meet her."
Fabian added, "Ted didn't tell us you were from the Black family. That means you're cousins with Arthur and Bilius and Charles!"
Andromeda just nodded, unsure of what to say, and knowing her cold comments were a bad idea at the moment, considering her two companions that were being so kind. They whereas kind as Ted - something she rarely saw in her own home.
They led her through a beautifully decorated hallway. It was lined with old pictures and Christmas decorations, so much different from the dark, austere, cold walls of the manors she had ever been in.
The room they walked into resembled a small kitchen. There was a charming little table that currently three adults were sitting around. The fourth stood.
The fourth could only be Cedrella Weasley.
Cedrella smiled warmly to her.
"Mrs. Weasley, mum, dad," introduced Fabian. "And Mr. Weasley."
The fair haired woman sitting next to the red haired man were the parents of Fabian and Gideon, she could gather. Mr. Weasley was the red haired man with the pleasant expression holding a mug of butterbeer.
"It's nice to meet you," Cedrella said quietly.
"This is Ted's girlfriend," Gideon said, pointing to Andromeda.
Andromeda must've glared at his pointing - it is rude to point - for he looked kind of surprised at her narrowed eyes.
"It's rude to point," Cedrella admonished kindly, speaking Andromeda's mind. She turned to Andromeda. "I am Cedrella, I'm Arthur's mum. I don't know if you've met Bilius and Charles? They're Arthur's older brothers."
"I'm uh, I'm Andromeda Black," she said softly. She started to curtsy, as it was only polite, but then straightened, remembering she was in the presence of blood traitors. People who didn't observe the etiquette she did. She felt her face flame with a blush she desperately tried to hide under the stares of all adults present. She suddenly wished she hadn't uttered her name.
"Oh." was all Cedrella Weasley replied.
After a long, awkward silence, Andromeda looked into Gideon's face. "Where's Ted?" she whispered.
Both Fabian and Gideon grinned and turned and shouted, "TED! Hey, Tonks!"
She heard feet hitting the stairs. Andromeda quickly turned to see Ted appear in the doorway and felt her stomach fill pleasantly with butterflies.
"Meda!" he exclaimed.
She ran into his arms, burying her face in his chest. "Ted. Ted."
"I'm so glad you were able to come!"
She looked up at him and whispered, "I missed you."
Ted's smile was gentle and warm and comforting. He reached up and pulled the bobby pins from her hair, causing her hair to cascade down her back in a mess of curls.
"I missed you too. Come on, let's go find Arthur and Molly.". Ted laced his fingers through hers and tugged her towards the stairs.
"Ted, we're going to play Quidditch soon!" announced Fabian.
Gideon added, "Go get Arthur and Bilius and Charlie and see if they want to play!"
Ted and Andromeda made it to the top of the stairs and she stopped and glared at him, still embarrassed and red faced and furious now.
"What is it, dear?"
Seething and barely managing to keep her voice level, she hissed, "You should've told me they'd hate me!"
Ted seemed to be having difficulty suppressing a smile. "Meda, they don't hate you."
"You didn't tell them that I am Andromeda Black?!"
He didn't seem ashamed of that at all. He replied, "I didn't think you wanted to tell anyone. We do have a secret relationship after all."
She frowned at him, crossing her arms. "They hate me, Ted."
It didn't help he immediately started laughing. Her frown deepened. "Meda, they were just surprised. It's impossible to hate you!"
Arthur chose that moment to walk over. "Meda!" he exclaimed cheerfully. "You look as lovely as ever. You're all we've heard about. Ted talks about you all the time."
"Why are Fabian and Gideon here? Who are they anyway? And they just all stared at me as if I was the giant squid or something! Arthur, the next time someone tells me they can come over to their house no problem and that happens, I'll hex them!". Andromeda rarely said so much so quickly so she shut her mouth and glared.
"Heh, ha, Andromeda, Fabian and Gideon are my older brother's friends. I'll introduce you to him in a few minutes. They are Molly's older brothers. Our families have been good friends for a long time. And Andromeda, don't ever compare yourself to the giant squid. I think it upsets Ted."
Ted was too busy grinning. "Maybe we should've explained more. Oh, and that reminds me!"
Andromeda glared at him, and then at Arthur. Molly walked in then and squealed, "Andromeda!". The two girls hugged.
"Fabian and Gideon want to play Quidditch."
Before she knew it, both boys had disappeared into a room and reappeared with brooms.
"Come on, sweetheart," Ted took Andromeda's hand and tugged her down the stairs.
"Dad, come play Quidditch with us!" begged Arthur as he pulled on a hat and rushed outside.
Septimus Weasley stood up, excusing himself from the table. He kissed Cedrella's cheek before following the boys outside. Mr. Prewitt was soon to follow.
"Molly," said Mrs. Prewitt. "Why don't you come sit with Cedrella and I? You too, Miss Black."
Ted looked at her pleadingly. "Ted, I'll be out in a few minutes to watch," Andromeda encouraged softly. "Okay?"
He slowly nodded, and left her to sit with the two women she'd much rather run away from. Of all the tea parties and social events she had attended, talking to these women scared her much more.