Andromeda had told him not to tell anyone. And he understood, completely. It wasn't like he wanted anyone to know what an idiot he'd been. He kept thinking back to that night. He could have waited. Or gone to get more potion. Or done something else. It had been ten minutes of stupidity. A blissful fifteen minutes, but now those ten minutes were about to change his life forever.

But the thing was, he needed to tell someone. Not just any someone. A specific someone. Someone who already knew he was an idiot, but who might be able to help him sort through this mess. Andromeda would forgive him, assuming she ever found out.

"I got your message," Olivia said as she slid into the empty classroom. "What's this about?"

Ted didn't answer. He moved to the door and said, "Colloportus," the spell that kept the door from unlocking magically. Now, what was that spell that kept people from eavesdropping? Was it Mubliato? Muchiato? Muzzilato? "Muzzilato," he said finally, settling on the third option, it sounded right.

Olivia raised an eyebrow, "Are you trying to say, Muffliato," she said, casting the spell herself.

"Huh," Ted said, "I could have sworn it was the other one."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "You know. I never believed all that mumbo-jumbo about muggleborns being lesser wizards and witches, but sometimes you make me wonder."

That was an amazing insult, and normally he would have made sure to give her just as amazing an insult in return, but he didn't have time for that now.

"Liv, listen, I got to tell you something."

The humorous mask she put on slipped away as her concerned face took its place. It must have been there all along, her insult just an attempt to lighten the mood. "What happened? Are you okay? Is Andromeda okay? Did one of those Death Eater wannabe's do something. I swear if—"

"It's nothing like that," Ted said, cutting her off before she could get going.

Olivia's eyes widened. She looked even more concerned now, maybe because now she was uncertain. Uncertainty was a whole new level of terrifying, he was learning.

"What's going on, Ted?"

He turned beet red. He'd been so desperate to tell her, but now that she was here, it was difficult. Her piercing gaze would have pulled the truth out of him whether he was ready to say it or not.

"It's Andromeda, she's… she's pregnant."

Liv was uncharacteristically silent. Finally, she said, "You're joking."

"I wish I was."

"No," she said again, "You are. Because this… this…" Ted braced himself for the onslaught, but it didn't come. Instead she smacked him.

"Ow," he said. He assumed she was done, but she came at him again, and again.

"Liv, cut it out," he said. It didn't really hurt, but it wasn't exactly helping him work through the situation.

"How could you be so stupid!" she hissed. "Are you sure those brain cells even work? How hard is it to take that stupid potion? Or keep it in your pants for one freaking week."

That was harsh. "It's not only my fault," Ted said defensively.

Liv's eyes bulged. "Oh, so you want me to blame Andromeda? The girl who finally overcame being sexually assaulted just in time to deal with a teenage pregnancy? Do you have any idea what that will do to her?"

Ted hadn't considered that. Andromeda had already almost been forced to share her body with one person unconsentually, and now she would be forced to share it with another. Different circumstances, but each with their own set of consequences.

"Bloody hell," Ted said, sinking into a chair and dropping his head into his hands.

"Bloody hell is right," Olivia said, though she sounded more weary than angry. "You know better, Ted."

"I know," he said miserably. He thought she was going to keep yelling at him. He deserved it, but instead she took a seat next to him.

"What are you guys going to do?" she asked gently.

"I don't know," Ted said, pulling his head out of his hands. "Andromeda just said not to tell anyone until we decided."

Liv gave him a look, and he sighed. "I know. I just… I don't know how to do this. I can't do this."

She sighed again, before placing a hand on his. "What do you want to do, Ted?"

"No idea," he said hoarsely. "And Andromeda doesn't know either, but I think… I think she wants to keep it."

Olivia stared at him silently. "But you don't."

"I didn't say that," Ted said quietly. "I just… her kind already hate us. Her family. What do you think they'll do when they find out she's giving them a bastard, mudblood grandchild?"

Olivia sucked in a breath. Maybe she hadn't considered that. He wasn't sure Andromeda had even considered it. But he had. He'd read about what other elitists used to do to women who got pregnant with children from "inferior fathers." It was horrific. And he kept seeing that happen to Andromeda and their child.

Olivia chuckled darkly. "Nothing is ever easy with you too, is it?"

She'd warned him it wouldn't be. As had Andromeda. And his own mother. Ted had never been able to listen. But he doubted any of them had imagined something like this.

"What do I do if she decides to keep it?" he asked hoarsely. "Do I talk her out of it? Do I not? Which one makes me more of a monster?"

"I don't know," Olivia said. His new least favorite words. She gently laid a hand on his finger. "Whatever you decide, what Andromeda decides. You won't face it alone."

It was all she could offer. It was all any of them had ever been able to offer. But maybe it was enough.