It seemed strange to Ted that he was playing Quidditch when his entire life was falling apart. On the other hand, he'd never been more motivated to be Slytherin than he was today, and it was showing. Despite their best efforts, Hufflepuff rarely won. Today though, they were neck in neck. Of course, it all came down to which seeker caught the snitch, and while their own seeker, Serena Abbott, was talented, Barty Crouch Jr. had only ever failed against James Potter, and even then it was often close.

But emblazoned by her team's stellar performance, Serena seemed more determined than ever to make sure the snitch ended up in their hands. Even when she was clearly fouled by the Slytherin Beaters, it didn't dampen her spirits. The other chasers elected Ted to take the penalty shot, but before he took the shot he glanced over at the stands. He doubted Andromeda had sat among the Slytherins, as she hadn't been comfortable there even before her pregnancy was revealed. She usually sat with his friends, but he didn't see among them either.

Maybe she wasn't here at all. He wouldn't blame her, even though it stung. They hadn't spoken in over a week, and even though he knew he should get used to her absence, he missed her violently. But just when he'd given up hope of spotting her, he found her familiar head among the Gryffindors.

He'd never really been the Marauders biggest fan, or Gryffindors in general, but seeing her seated next to her cousin made his heart feel lighter. At least he knew she wasn't alone, not completely.

"You going to take the shot or not, Mudlood?" Adrian Nott said.

Despite his less than humorous mood, Ted shot him a grin. "So eager to get shown up again, Nott?"

Nott glared at him, but didn't say anything else. Ted raised the Quaffle. Nott was faced but Ted was faster, and he knew how to fake Nott out better than anyone. But just as he prepared his release, his broom caught on fire.

Watching the game was torture, but she couldn't look away. The school end was coming, and assuming she managed to pass all her N.E.W.T.S. given all the stress she was under, the days when she could be around Ted were coming to an end.

They hadn't officially broken up, and there was a still a chance he'd come back to her, but she wasn't staking her life on it. It seemed she'd finally done the unforgivable. He'd told her he would still be there for her child, but she didn't see how if he couldn't stand the child's mother. It would become too much, even for Ted, and she would find herself alone.

"Damn," Potter said on Sirius' other side. "Never knew Tonks had it in him."

"We might find ourselves facing Hufflepuff in the championship game," Sirius said. "What is this world coming too."

"I hope not," Potter said, "I want the chance to smear those snakes heads into the ground again."

Sirius turned to her. "What's the chance that spawn on yours turns out to be a Gryffindor."

She smiled sadly. "Suppose it depends on how much time it spends around you." And if her child's father wasn't around.

Sirius clapped her shoulder, as if he could sense her thoughts. She and Ted hadn't told anyone what had happened between them. They couldn't, without putting themselves and others in danger. The whole school had noticed they were no longer attached at the hip. Their friends, and whatever Lily Evans was, had asked them what was wrong, but they both dodged the question. She'd been surprised when both Lorie and Olivia had reached out to her anyway, promising they'd still be here for her. She would have taken them up on their offer, but she didn't want to do anything that would put a rift between Ted and his friends.

That left her with only one options, but despite the fact that she was absolutely nothing like them, the Marauders had welcome her with open arms. She doubted they'd be so open if they knew what she'd done, but she couldn't refuse their friendship when it was the only thing holding her together.

Slytherin, in a desperate attempt to hold off Hufflepuff, had fouled their seeker yet again. Ted was given the resulting penalty shot. Like the others she was impressed, except she knew him well enough to know his competitive spirit came from a place of pain, not determination. And yet, if she wasn't mistaken, she thought his gaze found her in the crowds.

She couldn't be sure, as a moment later he was engulfed in flames. Several people gasped, and the Marauders cursed beside her, but she barely heard them. She barely felt herself move off the seat, all she knew was that she was leaping toward the end of the stand, wand out, as she cried, "Accio Broom!" She had no idea if a broom would even get to her in time, and she didn't care. She leapt off the stands just as one of the school brooms swept in under her.

It was old and slow, and she was screaming in rage and fear as she pelted toward Ted. Someone presumambly Dumbledore, had stopped the flame, but the damage had been down, as Ted's scorched body slipped off his charred broom and fell to the earth, someone, once again presumably Dumbledore, slowed his body's descent. Andromeda dove with them, and she touched down just as Ted's body gently landed on the field below.

"Ted!" She screamed. Tears and shakes ran through her body, but she barely noticed. Have of his hair had been singed off in the flame, and one eyebrow was grown. His robes had burned away at his knees, reavealing violently burns. His hands were so charred they looked almost black, and half his was covered in blood.

She knelt next to him, pulling him in her arms.

"Andromeda," A stern, but gentle voice said, "Let me attend to him." She knew it was Dumbledore, and she knew he had the best chance of saving Ted, but the idea of letting him go filled her fear. Professor Mcgonagall had to gently pry Andromeda away so Dumbledore could heal Ted.

She could barely breathe as Dumbledore waved his wand over Ted, murmuring softly. Eventually the more violent burns began to recede, and Ted cough as breath was returned to his lungs, though he didn't regain consciousness.

"A powerful fire caused this accident," Dumbledore said. "I've done what I can, but we should transport him to St. Mungo's to complete the rest of his healing. I'll accompany him. Minerva, I leave the school in your care. Do you what you can to discover the source of this enchantment.