"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Ted asked, yet again.

"As I'll ever be," Andromeda forced another smile, but it didn't meet her eyes. Sighing, Ted ran his hand through his hair, but he didn't know what else to say as they stepped into the Great Hall.

They'd talked about whether or not they wanted to enter together or separate. If they were going to be a public couple, Ted had said, they were going to have to get used to people seeing them together in public.

Andromeda had agreed, but as they emerged into the hall, and all those eyes turned on them, she pulled her hand out of his. His heart sank, but based on the glares they were getting from the green-clad table, he couldn't blame her. Still, it took everything he had to let her go alone and walk over to his own table.

He got his fair share of whispers too, albeit far less nasty than Andromeda's.

As he sat down, Edgar Bones, a fellow seventh year, immediately asked, "So it's true, then? You're going out with Andromeda Black?"

"Ummm…" he glanced up at Andromeda's table. She'd taken a seat next to Magdalena, one of the few other non-psychopathic snakes as far as he could tell. She wasn't one of the most proactive people either. Sure, enough, as the Carrows leaned over to say something to Meda—something that made her flinch—Magdalena did nothing.

"Yeah," he muttered. "We are."

Edgar punched his arm. "You old dog you. How'd you manage that?"

Ted, however, wasn't listening. Andromeda had just caught sight of Narcissa. For a moment, the two of them locked eyes. Then Narcissa waved her head and resumed her conversation with her friends, like Meda was a mangy dog. Ted didn't miss the obvious grief that ravaged Meda's face. She and Narcissa had always been close, and he knew it was her love for Narcissa that kept her tied to her family all those years. He couldn't even imagine how painful it was for her sister to dismiss her like that.

"I, for one, have lots of experience dating powerful woman," Gilderoy Lockhart, another seventh year, interjected. "I would be more than happy to pass what I've learned on to you."

Ted barely listened. He just wanted to be with her. He'd even let her tell him all the reasons Narcissa wasn't a monster if it would make her feel better.

"Can it, Lockhart," Liv said through clenched teeth. "Everyone knows Celestina only dated you to make Stubby jealous."

"Well, I'll say—" Lockhart huffed back, but he had no actual retort.

"I think it's wonderful," Teresa added, Ted pulled himself away long enough to give her an appreciative smile. She had more reason to resent his relationship than anyone, since she'd gotten caught in the crosshair.

"Wasn't she engaged to Rabastan Lestrange?" Bertha Jorkins asked. Ted gritted his teeth. Bertha was like a dull version of Skeeter, but she could be just as destructive if she got the right piece of gossip.

Ted didn't respond, but it didn't matter. The murmurs of yes from his classmates were answer enough.

"How'd you manage to wrest her away from Lestrange?" Bertha asked, while a couple of other girls giggled. Ted, however, was on edge. Rabastan was gone and he still couldn't get out of his shadow.

He continued to ignore them, and his attention snapped back to Andromeda. Skeeter was hovering around her again. He wished he could tell what she was saying, but the Ravenclaws sat between them, and in the hum of students reuniting it was impossible to make out anything.

At that point the entrance hall opened, and McGonagall lead in the first years. Ted tried not to make too much of a fuss, but it was difficult. Every time one of the little brats got called to Slytherin, he couldn't help but wonder if they'd join in on the "Andromeda Black is a disgrace," bandwagon.

He barely ate anything, watching Andromeda the whole time. Some of his classmates kept trying to pick his brain about the Andromeda/Rabastan/himself love triangle, but his stony glares were enough to shut them up.

Andromeda's classmates seemed to have gotten bored with her. They still cast her dirty looks every now and then, but she could take those. Maybe she'd make it through the Welcome Feast in one piece after all.

As if the universe could hear him, Andromeda chose that moment to choke. And not a little choke either. The hands on her chest and throat, struggling to breathe kind of choking. Her classmates took notice, but instead of offering to help her, they began jeering.

Amycus looked particularly smug, like a man admiring his spell work.

A burst of rage sparked in Ted's chest as he leaped from his seat. No way was he letting them get away with this. But before he could reach Meda another boy darted to her side. He pulled out his wand and muttered something, and Andromeda's choking immediately ceased.

He placed a hand on her back, steadying her. Ted didn't recognize him. He was fair-haired and fair-skinned with freckles, but he had an easygoing smile that he supposed some girls might find good-looking. He said something to Andromeda, and she smiled slightly.

At that point he glanced up and saw Ted. The Slytherin gave him a faint nod and a smile, as it to tell him everything was all right now. Ted waited until Andromeda looked up, and gave him confirmation. A part of him wanted to rush to her side anyway, in case Amycus tried something else, but before he could Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat. A sign he was preparing for his speech. Ted had no choice but to return to his seat.

"I welcome you," Dumbledore beamed out at them, his eyes twinkling, "To another year at Hogwarts." Ted had always felt there were two sides to Dumbledore, the Jolly Father Christmas side, and the Merlin-reincarnated mega-powerful wizard side. He was never sure which kind they were going to get.

"Seeing you all here, the future generation of magic, in the warmest sight a man such as me could ask for." He took a moment to gesture to them all, but then his aging face grew somber.

"It would be amiss of me not to acknowledge the uncertain times we live in. Dark and mysterious forces are rising." That was one way of putting it, Ted thought. Disappearances, attacks, increased pressure on the Ministry from "unnamed parties" to put more restrictions on muggleborns. Luckily, it seemed enough muggleborns and sympathizers existed in the Ministry to keep that from happening, but who knew. As Andromeda had said, her former kind had deep pockets, and gold was a major influencer, as was fear.

"I want to assure you that your safety is of the utmost importance, and no harm will come to you while you walk these halls." If Ted wasn't mistaken, Dumbledore's gaze shifted to the Slytherins. "I will see to it personally, as well the Prefects and teachers who have graciously agreed to step up their patrols." He paused for a moment, like he was debating his words. Ted leaned in closer, as did a few others. Dumbledore usually spoke so flawlessly, like he'd planned out his speeches weeks in advance. Ted had never heard him hesitate before.

"It my belief, that the answer to all this chaos… is you. You will forge new paths, paths that will lead us out of darkness and into light. You will change our world with your strength, brilliance, and love." His eyes twinkled again. "And I am humbled to play in a part in the process, however small.." And then he bowed to them.

"Now, enough with speeches. Off to bed with you." The end of his speech was met with applause, and even a few cheers. Even some of the Slytherins applauded, though others glared at Dumbledore sourly.

Ted immediately shot Andromeda a glance. He doubted Dumbledore knew their situation specifically, but if anyone was forging a new path, it was them. He just hoped it really ended in light, like Dumbledore had promised.