Andromeda had no idea why she was so nervous. When Ted had told her he had a "special" day planned for them in Hogsmeade. She'd felt butterflies. Things between her and Ted had been so … conflated, but his obvious excitement at spending the day with her in Hogsmeade filled her with excitement as well.
But somehow, the idea of it being a double date made her nervous, though she had no idea why. Jake and Lorie had been nothing but kind to her the moment they'd met, and the two of them hadn't been dating long, far less time than she and Ted themselves. And yet, maybe that was what worried her. What if Jake and Lorie were a "better" couple? They hadn't had the same struggles and Ted and Meda had. For her and Ted, every moment felt like an uphill battle, and it hadn't gotten any easier.
When she arrived at the Entrance Hall, she saw dozens of excited and chattering students preparing to leave for Hogsmeade, but no Ted. What she did see was a rose floating in the middle on the Entrance Hall. Most of the students eyed it curiously, but none of them disturbed it. A parchment with Andromeda's name written in glowing green ink made it clear who it was for.
Andromeda laughed, though she was impressed Ted had managed to keep both objects hovering for so long. He usually could only maintain one object like this. She also assumed he was hiding nearby, though she still couldn't find him. She fluttered down to the Entrance and grabbed the rose. As she did, a warm, invisible hand wrapped around hers while a voice said, "Gotcha!"
She jumped out of her skin, and a moment later Ted appeared, still holding the rose. He hadn't hovered the objects, he'd just made himself invisible.
"Ted!" she said, but he only grinned.
"And that is why you never mess with—" he didn't get to finish that sentence, as a moment later Andromeda pressed her lips to his. It was different than their recent kisses, completely devoid of fear. The sweetness and tenderness of it filled Andromeda with warmth, and for a moment she forgot all their troubles. When she finally pulled away she could see Ted felt very much the same way.
"I got something for you," he said, once his breathing had returned to normal. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small jewelry case. Andromeda's heart skipped a beat, but a moment later he opened it to reveal a necklace, not a ring. She let out a long breath, then blushed, fearful he noticed her reaction, but he seemed oblivious as he held the necklace out to her.
The necklace was made of a silver chain that had been threaded with green chains in a way that made it look like snake scales. The pendant was a deep, ocean blue and in the shape of the M. A galloping horse weaved through the necklace. She stared at it, dumbfounded, before glancing at Ted.
"I, uhh… had it custom-made," he said, flushing. "It's all the things that make me think of you. You're still a Slytherin, hence the snake. And your favorite color is blue. Your favorite horse in an animal. And you like muggleborns, hence the M." When she was still silent he scratched his head nervously, "I'm not really the best jewelry designer, but—"
"I love it," she said suddenly, surprising him. He visibly relaxed. She had the urge to kiss him again, but before she could, he said, " Let me put it on you."
As he clasped the chain around her neck, she sniffed, realizing the necklace had a scent. "Is that… cinnamon?" she asked.
He grinned. "Those were all your answers from the favorites game we played. You remember? The first time we ate lunch together?" She did remember, though she was surprised he recalled all her answers, but then, that was Ted. Always surprising her.
She leaned into him, and he pressed a kiss to her neck. "Where are Jake and Lorie?" she asked, her fear suddenly vanished. If anything, Jake and Lorie would be intimidated by her and Ted.
"They can't come," Ted said, "Lorie's sick, and Jake wouldn't come without her." Andromeda's face fell slightly. She actually been looking forward to spending the day with them.
"So it's just us?" she asked.
Ted shook his head. "Olivia's coming with her date, whoever he is."
And just like that, Andromeda's nervousness returned. She had nothing against Olivia, though she wasn't sure Olivia could say the same. She always felt like she walked on knives around Olivia, and Andromeda hadn't spent time with the Hufflepuff girl since she'd found out Ted and Olivia used to date. And there was the matter of Olivia's date, Andromeda dreaded the thought of spending the day with a stranger.
"There she is," Ted said, somehow oblivious to her distress, "And… son of a bitch." Alarmed, Andromeda looked up. Olivia indeed strode toward them, though she came on the arm of a handsome young Gryffindor with long hair that curled around his face. Her cousin, Sirius Black.
Olivia and Sirius smiled as they reached the other couple, obviously enjoying their surprise, before Sirius said, "Shall we?"
Andromeda gave Sirius a questioning glance as they walked toward Hogsmeade. He made a point of checking out Olivia's many, many superb feminine qualities, before giving Meda a lopsided grin. Andromeda made a face at him, though she was grateful. All potential awkwardness aside, there were few people in the world she loved more than Sirius. And if anyone could soften Olivia's attitude toward Andromeda, it was him. He had plenty of experience defending Andromeda to James.
As they reached Hogsmeade's town center, Andromeda turned flirtatiously to Ted. "Where to next?"
"Drinking competition at the Three Broomsticks," Sirius answered before Ted could say anything.
Andromeda glanced at Ted to see if this was true, but he only winked. Andromeda flushed. "I have terrible alcohol tolerance," she said sheepishly.
"How would you know?" Sirius said. "You've never been drunk before." That was true, in part because she feared what would happen to her if she lost the control she worked so hard to maintain.
Ted, sensing her distress, squeezed her hand and whispered, "Don't worry. I can drink enough for the both of us." She made a face at him, but it worked. Her smile had returned.
Once they had their table Ted and Sirius went to get drinks, leaving her alone with Olivia. It occurred to Andromeda that she'd never been alone with Olivia before, and as such she had no idea what to say to her now. Olivia, it seemed, felt the same way. Back when she thought Jake and Lorie were coming, Andromeda felt assured they'd be able to fill up any silence with chatter, but Olivia wasn't Lorie.
Andromeda tapped her foot. The boys hadn't returned, though with the crowds of Hogwarts students milling around the pub, it might be a while. Sighing, she glanced at Olivia, and found that the Hufflepuff was staring at her. She looked away as soon as Andromeda made eye contact. Andromeda, however, took a deep breath. If she planned on being a part of Ted's life, they she needed to make an effort to connect with his friends, even one as intimidating as Olivia.
"So, you and Sirius, huh?" Andromeda cringed at how forced that sounded, something that didn't escape Olivia's attention.
Olivia raised an eyebrow, and Meda feared she wouldn't respond until she said, "We'll see. This is our first real date." She chuckled softly. "I actually have you to thank for that." Andromeda gave her a curious stare, and Olivia continued. "I'd thought he was an egotistical arse until we all shared that compartment in the Hogwart's Express on the way here."
Andromeda merely lifted an eyebrow. "And that convinced you he wasn't an egotistical arse?"
"It convinced me he had other redeeming qualities," Olivia said with a wry smile.
Too which Andromeda responded, "Just wait until he makes you double with Potter." Olivia laughed so hard at that she snorted, catching both of them off-guard.
Ted and Sirius chose that moment to return. Ted glanced between his girlfriend and his best friend with a bemused expression. "What's so funny?" he asked.
"Nothing," Olivia said as she regained her composure, and then she shot Andromeda wink, which Andromeda returned with a smile. Ted still glanced inquisitively between the two of them, but he seemed to not want to question whatever had broken the ice between them.
"Here we go!" Sirius said, throwing six bottles of Firewhiskey, on the table. "So here's the rules. Each bottle passes back and forth between each couple, and the couple who finishes their bottle first, wins. Whoever finishes the most bottles wins, and the losing couple gets to pay me back for all this booze." He grinned, making it clear who he thought the winning and losing couple would be. Andromeda was inclined to agree, but Ted gave her another drink.
"Ready?" Sirius said, raising his bottle while Ted did the same, "One, Two . . . "
But he never got to three, for at that moment, an icily familiar voice said, "Well, doesn't this look cozy."
Andromeda's blood froze in her veins. Even before he'd hurt her, Rodolphus had that effect on her. With an excruciating amount of dread, she glanced up. Rodolphus Lestrange leered down at her, but he wasn't alone. On his arm was none of than her sister, Bellatrix.