Nobody wanted to sit with me, or even near me, at breakfast the next morning. I came down later than usual, meaning that I had to pass an entire table full of hostile looks and whispered gossip to reach an empty seat at the end of the table. The girls nearest to me moved down to leave an empty seat between us. They giggled and glanced at me as they did it, like this was some kind of stupid game to them.

I glared at them, then gave up and glared at my toast instead. I didn't really feel like eating it, but I didn't know what else to do with myself. At least food was a distraction. As I chewed listlessly, I saw Celandine swooping into the hall with a letter tied to her leg. My heart leapt, and I quickly untied the letter as soon as she landed. She nipped my finger in annoyance that I hadn't fed her, but I barely noticed as I pulled the letter open.

Andromeda,

I'm sorry too, and I wish you hadn't run out too. However, I truly believe that this is the right path for me- and that means I will have neither the time nor the desire for more contact with mudbloods or their hangers-on. However, I do believe that your family would forgive you if you admitted you were wrong, and you could even join Bella and I if you wished.

It's your choice, but I suspect you will make the wrong one. If so, then I wish you good luck and goodbye.

Elladora.

I had to read the letter several times before it sunk in, and then it hit me like a physical blow to the chest. I hurriedly stood up and fled the Great Hall as calmly as I could, noticing Cissy's angry eyes on me as I passed her.

I found my feet carrying me towards the lake again, where I sat down on my usual bench and stared out over the water. I'd rushed away from the breakfast table to avoid crying in public, but now I was alone the tears didn't come. It was a beautiful spring morning, with the lake reflecting the bright green of the new leaves on the willows and the bright blue of the sky. I just felt empty. I wondered whether I should take Dora up on her offer. I could say that I'd only run off because of the grief of Evan's death and my worry that my sister and best friend would follow suit, and beg Lucius to forgive me and marry me. The thought made me feel sick. I couldn't imagine either of them would be very forgiving, but if I could get Cissy and Dora back then maybe that would be enough.

"Hi." A voice behind me made me jump.

I turned to find Ted standing behind me. "Um… Hello," I said, surprised.

"I possibly don't know if you well enough to offer, so please tell me if you want to be alone, but I saw that you left the Great Hall rather hurriedly and, well, I read the news… And I wondered if you wanted company."

I almost said no, furious at myself for being so obviously pitiful, but then I realised that at that moment I wanted company more than anything else in the world. "Yes please."

He sat down beside me on the bench.

"If- if you had to choose between everyone you care about and something that you believe is right, what would you choose?" I asked hesitantly.

Ted paused to think about it for a few moments. "I've always told myself that I'd choose what I thought was right," he said. "But I admit that I've never had to make that decision. It would take a lot of bravery to go against everything I believe. What you did was incredibly brave."

"You've heard about that?" I asked, shocked. "Even in Ravenclaw?"

"Yes- gossip isn't limited to Slytherin, you know." He smiled to show he was joking. "The whole school has been talking about the Death Eaters for months, and you've gotten the Slytherins so riled up that everyone has heard about it."

"Oh…" I said. "I don't feel brave. It all happened so suddenly, and I just want to tell my family I was an idiot and beg everyone to forgive me." I felt my hands play absent-mindedly with Dora's letter, which I still held in my hands. Suddenly the tears were threatening to overwhelm me.

"That's understandable," Ted said. "Honestly, I don't think anyone could make a decision like that without doubts."

"And- the rest of the school, they don't hate me?"

"Of course not," Ted said. "It's unfair that you have to do it, but you can make new friends in time. And you already have me."

I smiled shakily, suddenly feeling more hopeful. The world still looked like a gloomy place, but suddenly there was a glimmer of light. "Thanks," I said. "We'd better go- I don't want to make us both late for Transfiguration."

I nervously took his hand for reassurance and the two of us walked up to the school together, and into my new life.