Chapter Fourteen:

Andromeda woke up the following day, curled up on the couch next to Molly. She stretched, confused and tired. She started to list how she got here.

She had finished a midnight snack with Ted and curled up with him and Molly on the couch. She must've fallen asleep, and Ted must've gone upstairs. Her stomach clenched with worry; what would her mother say?

Andromeda swung tiredly off the couch. It was 7:00; no one else seemed to be awake. She snuck into the kitchen and was surprised to see Septimus Weasley sitting at the table, reading the Daily Prophet, and Cedrella was preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Andromeda," greeted Cedrella. "I'm surprised you're awake. The boys probably won't be awake until 9:00."

"I need to leave," she said. "My mum is going to kill me, my papa will be furious. This is something characteristic for Bella, but not for me."

Cedrella smiled a little. "I don't suppose you told them you came here."

"No. I'd be disowned before I could blink."

Cedrella said, "I refuse to let you leave before you have something to eat. Sit down girl. I know that whenever my parents got mad at me, they wouldn't let me eat. I used to beg Septimus to bring me food. One night he snuck into my room on a broom with steak and a baked potato."

"I can imagine Ted doing that," Andromeda replied absently. She sipped the tea placed in front of her quietly.

Cedrella smiled kindly. "He must love you a lot to want you to come here."

Andromeda nodded, sipping her warm tea. "We don't get to be around each other often. There are some days I think I'd do anything for us to be able to be together every day."

There was a silence where Cedrella walked to her eggs frying on the stove, and then she turned back to Andromeda. "Why don't you?"

She looked back to her hands, which were closed around her mug of tea. For some reason, tears were touching her eyes. Then, a warm hand touched hers. She looked up through tear filled eyes into the face of Septimus Weasley, his expression full of kindness and concern.

"Lotsa reasons," she whispered. A tear dripped down her cheek.

"Then tell us them all. You can trust us, Andromeda.". Septimus's voice was tender and kind, so much so that she had a sudden epiphany: this is how fathers truly treat their daughters in these sorts of families. With love.

And she did trust him.

"Andromeda, I know what it's like to be in your family," Cedrella murmured.

And so the reasons spilled from her mouth. "I'm scared. I don't know what will happen and I suppose I don't have faith in that 'everything will be alright'. I don't really know anything about life other than Black life. I can't do anything: cook, clean, wash. Even if I could...I don't think I'm...strong enough. To leave."

A small plate of eggs landed in front of her, and a second one landed in front of Septimus Weasley.

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," she murmured.

"No problem, child. Andromeda, do you feel happy around Ted?"

She took a bite of eggs, chewed, and swallowed. Cedrella sat next to Septimus. "Yes, he makes me very happy."

"Do you feel safe?"

"Yes. As long as I'm with him, I feel like everything is okay."

Cedrella looked into her eyes unflinchingly. "Then he makes you strong. Love is strong, Andromeda. As long as you have love, I believe everything will turn out. Just don't ever leave Ted's love."

Andromeda swallowed the rest of the eggs and finished her tea. She stood, brushing her skirt free of wrinkles and checking the time. 7:30. "I'm sorry, but I must leave. My mother is going to be very upset at me. Thank you so much for letting me sleep on your couch and feeding me all this excellent food, and...all your advice."

Cedrella smiled. "The advice was a gift. I also have a demand."

"Oh?"

"Go wake up your boyfriend and say goodbye before you leave. If you don't, the boy will be mopey until you come back. I don't think we could put up with that."

Andromeda smiled. "I can live with that demand."

She ran upstairs and tiptoed into the boys room. All were very asleep. Bilius and Charles were asleep in their own beds. Arthur and Ted were sharing. Fabian and Gideon were sleeping on the floor, something she realized much too late: she tripped over Fabian and landed on Gideon, waking up both of them and Ted.

"I'm so sorry!" she whispered.

Gideon groaned when her elbows dug into his stomach so she could get up.

"I'm sorry Gideon. Fabian, I'm sorry for tripping over you."

They suddenly didn't seem to mind, and were staring at her in surprise.

Fabian whispered, "How can you tell us apart so easily?"

"It normally takes people ages of knowing us!" whispered Gideon.

She shrugged and moved over to Ted's bedside. He was grinning with amusement.

"I didn't know you're clumsy," he whispered, and then started laughing quietly.

Andromeda glared, but then held his hands, her eyes soft. "Ted, I have to leave. I wasn't supposed to stay this long, my mum is going to be really mad. I'll come over as soon as I can, I promise."

Ted leaned forward and kissed her tenderly. "I'd beg you to stay, but I know you can't. I'll see you soon, love."

Sadly, she stepped over the Prewitt brothers and crept downstairs. Septimus Weasley was getting ready for work as she pulled her shoes on and put on her cloak.

"Can I escort you home?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I appreciate the sentiment, but my parents would be furious. However, I'd love some help buying Ted a Christmas present. Do you have any suggestions? I'll have you know, money isn't a problem, so I can get him just about anything."

Septimus started to grin. "He'd love a new Quidditch broom. He plays Quidditch."

"Yes, I know. He plays Chaser. He's very good."

He offered her his elbow as they stepped outside. "At least allow me to apparate you to Diagon Alley so you can buy presents."

She reluctantly accepted.