Chapter 15:
School did not change; Andromeda only saw less and less of Ted, and it was almost painful. Each moment with him was amazing, but she had so few of them she was sure she would go insane.
And she finally came to her conclusion. As much as she loved him, she had to break up with him. She could not handle this anymore.
So, three days before Valentines day, Andromeda managed to meet with him. It was late at night, and they were wandering around quietly, talking in soft voices.
Ted placed his arm around her, smiling happily. "Ana, you're just perfect. And -"
"Ted, wait," Andromeda whispered. Tears started to come to her eyes, but she held them back. She stopped, leaning against a window sill.
"What is it?"
She took a deep breath and pressed a letter she had scribbled into his hand. A tear fell down her cheek. "Ted," she choked, forcing back more tears. He reached up to brush away her tear. "I have to break up with you."
Ted froze, his hand still against her cheek. Slowly, he dropped his hand down next to his side. "What? Why?" He sounded so hurt that it made more tears fall down her cheeks.
"I can't...Ted, I can't...do this anymore. It hurts too much. Please read my letter. It explains everything." Andromeda turned and hurried away, leaving Ted by himself.
Hurt and in disbelief, Ted slowly walked back to his dorms, staring at the letter in his hand. He still hadn't read it as he collapsed on his bed and fiddled with lighting a lantern.
Arthur groaned. "Idiot," he mumbled. "I'm trying to sleep."
When Ted didn't respond, Arthur blinked and looked to him. "What's wrong?" Arthur asked, sounding more awake and concerned. His eyes were red and puffy from exhaustion, but he sat up to look at his friend. "Eh, what's wrong, Ted?"
Ted slowly opened his letter and began to read.
Dearest Ted Tonks,
Please forgive me. Please, please, please.
I know my actions are probably viewed as cowardly and unfair, and they are. It's just, at this point in time, I don't think our relationship can safely go anywhere. I cannot leave my family now; I have nowhere to go. I do not wish to put your family in danger if I had to stay with you, and I could not impose upon Molly or Arthur, no matter how kind their parents are. I am different, I am not normal, even among Mrs. Weasley. I can't stand it, it hurts, Ted. Not only am I different, I'm dangerous. If we get discovered, there's no one to protect you. I am so worried that someone would hurt you or kill you, and I couldn't live with myself if they did. I'm so sorry. I hope someday you'll forgive me.
And most of all, I'm a huge coward for not being able to share my true feelings with you. Ted Tonks, I am hopelessly and absolutely and unbelievably in love with you. I am so sorry for leaving you with this; again, I hope you are able to forgive me one day. I just don't want you to be hurt.
With love,
Sincerely,
Andromeda Black
"Ted?" Arthur crawled over to him. "What's wrong?"
"Andromeda," Ted whispered, slowly crumbling the letter in his hands to place it on the nightstand. "She...Andromeda...she...she broke up. She broke up with me."
Shocked, Arthur reached to look at the letter. When he had read it, his face had gone from disbelieving to calm. "Ted, I am so sorry," he said carefully. "But Andromeda, she's right."
"What do you mean?"
Arthur thought carefully about his words before saying, "My father was two years out of Hogwarts when he eloped with my mum. In the first year after they eloped, my father endured three near-death experiences at the hands of my mum's family. He's just a blood traitor - imagine how much worse it would be for you, being a muggle. Andromeda has heard these horror stories since birth; she probably fears greatly for your life. She loves you."
Ted shrugged, placing the letter back on his nightstand. "Arthur, I know you're right," he murmured quietly. "But right now...I'm...I'm just upset, okay?"
Arthur smiled sadly at him and crawled into his own bed. "Well, night, Tonks."
"Night, Weasley."
~Slytherin dorms
"Night, Black."
Andromeda stirred a little and blinked a few times. Selia was laying in the bed next to hers. "What are you doing awake?" Andromeda whispered.
Selia gasped a little. "I didn't realize you were awake! Oh, I was...well, I was...er...walking. Walking...around."
Andromeda didn't say that she couldn't sleep. She turned back over and buried her face into her pillow, closing her eyes tightly and trying to sleep. This was to no avail; still, the only thoughts in her mind, were of Ted. The poor, beautiful, kind muggle boy she loved - and the one she had just broke up with.
She could see a perfect picture of his beautiful blue eyes in her mind's eye, but it was not quite the same thing as the real live him. He was so much more beautiful than all the other boys she had ever met: he was so much more beautiful than the dark, cold, arrogant Slytherin boys. He was so much more naive, and gentle, and kind, and loving, and perfect.
Tears came to her eyes at the word perfect. The word he had used to describe her. Often.
And Andromeda wept.