Ted told himself he didn't care what people thought about him, and he didn't. After he'd been tortured by Bellatrix and word had gone out that he'd had a dalliance with Andromeda, he hadn't cared about the pity and insults thrown his way. He'd been too crushed by losing Andromeda to care.

And then, when Rita had circulated rumors that Andromeda wouldn't shag him because she was ashamed, he still hadn't cared. All he'd cared about was Andromeda. The whole time they'd been together, he hadn't cared if that made people hate him, or admire him, or envy him. It was always about her.

But now, as he wondered if looks could kill, he was tempted to use the invisibility spell and disappear entirely. He'd known he'd put Andromeda through a lot being her boyfriend, but he'd always been able to blame the corrupt world around him. He couldn't do that anymore. He'd done this to her. He'd put her into this position.

Lily ushered them away not long after that. Gideon followed Lily, and Sirius followed Meda. The other Marauders came too, though it was unclear whether Potter was following Sirius or Lily. Once they were in a private classroom, Lily breathed out a sigh.

"That was bad."

"Come on," Potter said, "They're not really going to start condoning Death Eaters because of this, are they?"

"Maybe not," Lily said, "But plenty of them are on the fence about muggleborns, and this will tip them back the other direction."

Sirius glanced at Meda. "And it's true? It's not just something Narcissa made up for revenge? Because Rita was lurking and she looked incredibly fishy."

Andromeda sighed. "It's true. I bet Rita told Narcissa, though I don't know how she found out."

Gideon sniffed. "Rita could smell a secret even if it were buried at the bottom of the lake, and seems like she's been after you all year."

No one could look at them. It was like the spot where Andromeda and Ted stood was an endless void, and if they looked at it, they'd be sucked in and end up with their own teenage pregnancy to deal with.

"So, what do we do now?" Potter asked. No one answered. It seemed no one knew. That had been a theme in their life a lot lately.

Finally, Lily turned to them, braving the void, and said, "You two should lay-low for a while. Right now you'll do more harm than good."

She didn't say it like an accusation, but Ted and Andromeda both flinched. Ted knew she was talking about their muggleborn defense movement, but he couldn't help but remember what Narcissa had said. Andromeda had been on a very different path before he'd come into her life. If it hadn't been for him, she would have been engaged to an incredibly wealthy and handsome pureblood, one who was probably more careful with his sexual choices than Ted.

He could argue that marrying Rabastan would have put her in that monster Rodolphus' path more often. But for all Ted knew that was his fault as well. Maybe Rodolphus had only hurt her like that to punish her for loving a muggleborn in the first place.

Lily sighed deeply, again, then said to Gideon, "Let's go."

Gideon looked up at them as they left. He looked like he wanted to say something, but then changed his mind.

The Marauders didn't leave, they just stood there being uncharacteristically quiet. They were still unable to look either of the potential future parents in the eye. Pettigrew kept glancing at Andromeda's belly and shuddering, like the idea of a baby being in there terrified him. Remus was doing his best to look concerned, but he couldn't stop shifting uncomfortably. Potter, well, Potter was staring at the door where Lily and Gideon had disappeared. At least his obsession with Lily meant he wasn't making one of his smartass comments.

Sirius, however, steeled his shoulders and braved the void too. "Are you going to keep it?" he asked.

He said it Andromeda, so Ted stayed silent. Honestly, he was awaiting Andromeda's answer on that as much as anyone.

"I don't know," she said finally, "I—we haven't decided."

Sirius nodded. "Whatever you decide, we're here for you."

Ted knew the Marauders usually operated as a single unit, but he wondered if Sirius really spoke for the others in this case. Potter hadn't looked away from the door, and Pettigrew still seemed on the verge of a panic attack, but Lupin gave them both a solemn nod and even managed a comforting smile. Two out of four wasn't bad.

Tears sprang into Andromeda's eyes, making speech difficult, so she just nodded.

The Marauders turned to go, but Lupin stopped and said, "I know Lily said to lay-low, but you are more than welcome to come to vigil tonight, if you feel up to it."

Andromeda just nodded again. Ted, however stayed still as stone. The Marauders had all left, except for Potter who hung back. Both of them tensed, as Potter wasn't known for being the nicest of the Marauders.

But he looked like he was trying as he said, "Don't listen to what anyone says. They're just scared. Most of them know this could've been them, easy. You just got unlucky."

Ted raised an eyebrow. Was that Potter's way of saying he could have also been one of these unlucky people? Before Ted could ask, not that he really wanted to, Potter disappeared.

He sighed, and glanced at Andromeda. Tears still rolled down her cheeks, and she shook slightly. Normally, he would have pulled her into his arms and assured her everything would be alright, but now he didn't dare touch her. It was like he felt unworthy, like if he touched her, he'd only bring her more pain.

Instead, he said, "I'm sorry, Andromeda, it's all my fault."

She shook her head. "No. We did this together."

"Yeah, but I knew better."

"And it didn't?" her tears dried up as she looked at him incredulously. "You didn't make me do anything, Ted. If you had, well, you know…"

He stiffened. He hadn't wanted their conversation to go that way, as he knew how painful that memory was for her. But she didn't shut down the way she normally did. Instead, she wiped away the rest of her tears and lifted her shoulders.

He was struck again with how beautiful she was, but it wasn't just her physical beauty. She'd been faced with darkness all her life, and she'd never let herself succumb to it. He loved her for it, but he had no right to.

He cast his eyes down. "Narcissa's right. I'm not good enough for you, and I never will be."

He expected her to deny it, but that wouldn't make it false. Instead she marched over to him and grabbed his arms.

"I don't care," she said, "I don't care if you think you're not good enough for me. I'm happier with you than I was at any other time in my life."

He opened his mouth to point out all the time he'd caused her pain, and there had been plenty, but she put a finger to his lips. "Even our darkest moments were a thousand times better than my best moments before. Because with you I'm free, and I won't give up that freedom for anything." She pulled him against her. "But I need you to get through this, so promise me, whatever they say, you'll face this with me."

He couldn't say no, not to her. He nodded, and then pulled her against his chest. The feeling of her skin, her heartbeat against his skin, melted away any thoughts he had about walking away.

But if he couldn't leave her, then he had only enough choice. He had to become the kind of man she deserved, and he would, no matter what it took.