Andromeda didn't understand all the stares she was getting. She'd put a lot of effort into her muggle outfit, and she'd thought it had come out nicely. It was based on a picture she'd seen of Audrey Hepburn, a muggle artist Ted had once compared her too. Her outfit was not quite as flashy as Audrey's had been. She wore a fluffy white dress with black trim, and a large-white sunhat with black feathers to match. She didn't look entirely unlike the people on the train, though none of them had feathers, but that didn't stop them from staring.
Sighing, she stared out the train window. Just a couple more stops, and she'd be with Ted. She could last until then.
It had been almost a month since she'd seen him, after his mother had insisted some time apart would do them. Andromeda could hardly blame her, since she'd shown up on the woman's doorstep after being disowned by her own family. Jean Tonks agreeing to let her stay at all had been no small kindness, even if she asked every day, multiple times, if Andromeda had heard back from her uncle about staying with him. As soon as he did, informing Andromeda that she could stay with him as long as she liked, Jean had enthusiastically helped her pack. She didn't even care that most of the things she packed for Andromeda actually belonged to her, since Andromeda had shown up with nothing.
Right before Andromeda had left Jean had sat them both down, and as tactfully as she could, told them both it would be best if Andromeda not return until school. She thought with everything that had happened between them, then both needed some time to themselves to reflect. They were to young to be so serious.
Once again, Andromeda could force herself to see the point. After all, Ted had run away with her, leaving nothing but a vague note for his already worried mother. They hadn't told her how dangerous that particular trip had been, but the woman wasn't an idiot. She could read into the silences, into the things they didn't tell her.
"It's only a month," Ted said, "we've been through worse."
He wasn't wrong. At least they could write each other. And write they did. Almost every day. Ted would tell her stories on his life on the farm. He'd picked up a lot of extra work since his father had left. Not that he minded, he told her. It kept him busy. Less time to miss her.
She wished she had stories as equally entertaining to tell him. Being with her uncle was amazing, but he worked at the ministry as an Auror of all things. With everything going on, he wasn't home much. She'd spent most of her time tidying up her Uncle's place as a way to repay his gratitude. Her extra time was spent reading. The only thing interesting she had to say was the occasional odd or enchanted object she found in her uncle's home, but even those stories fell flat in comparison to Ted's violent encounters with raccoon dogs, which he described as a "giant, evil puffskein, only worse." Or the times he would try to enchant the farm animals to finish his chores faster, and they would backfire. He'd written in hysterics about accidentally enchanting the milk cow to tap dance, and being unsure how to do undo it.
She, of course, knew how to in an instant, to which Ted had responded, "Who would thought the great Andromeda Black would be such a natural farm hand?"
It had used to bother her greatly when he would say things like that, but now she treasured it. She could imagine the way his mouth would quirk as he said, trying to fight off a smile. The way his eyes would glow with that same smile as they bore into hers…
She sighed, before reaching down and pulling up his most recent letter.
"Dearest Meda,(she almost laughed at his use of the word dearest, as he had never been the most formal, but still, she found it charming)
"Remember how I said be patient with my mother? Well, our efforts have paid off, because she's agreed to let you stay the night before we return to Hogwarts. That way our first time seeing each other again doesn't have to be on the platform with everyone else, for… obvious reasons."
She smiled again at that line. She could almost imagine him stumbling over the words to use to describe the sentiment, and blushing over whatever first popped into his head. Words were not Ted's strong suit. But he spoke true, and whatever he said always managed to weave its way around her heart.
"Anyway, there's a train that leads to the town nearest the farm. I could pick you up and drive you the rest of the way. I think muggle transportation might be better since my mother is still a little unsure about everything. She's not my father, of course, but it's probably best if we keep the magic to a minimum, at least until things settle down more."
Andromeda stiffened at that sentence. It had been a month, so she sincerely hoped things would not be as tense this time, but considering her own mother could hold a grudge for years, she wasn't hopeful.
" I'll see you the 31st. Assuming you want to come, that is.
Your favorite nuisance,
Ted"
She laughed again. She'd used the word nuisance to describe him more times than she cared to count, but he was right, he was indeed her favorite.
She'd written back, "Of Course!" Almost as soon as she finished the letter, and then asked for instructions on how to use muggle transportation.
Ted had been very thorough with his explanation, even telling her what comments were appropriate when speaking with muggles. She was a little affronted he thought her so helpless among them, even if she had called the muggle girl at the hotel a prostitute. She hadn't meant it as an insult.
He'd also sent muggle money, thank goodness, as she was helpless with that. She resolved to pay him back, of course. Though truth be told, she didn't have nearly as much money as she used too, even with the extra help from her uncle.
The train began to slow, and her heart leapt into her chest. She didn't wait for it to come to a complete stop before she grabbed her trunk and headed for the door. Or at least, tried to grab her trunk, but even with her limited belongings it still weighed a ton. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, she muttered, "Perfusorius," And then picked up her trunk like it was as light as feather, which it now was.
A few people glanced at the slender girl carrying a trunk twice her size, and she blushed. She then pretended it was heavier than it was, which was more effort than she would have thought. Finally, mercifully, she made it off the train. Immediately she glanced around for the straw-blond hair that distinguished Ted, but she didn't see it.
Frowning, she fumbled around for his letter. She was fairly certain he'd said 6pm…
A pair of hands snaked their way around her eyes, and a moment later a voice said in her ear, "Dear me, what's a pretty thing such as yourself doing all the way out here?"
Her heart seemed to burst from her chest, but she kept her voice calm as she said, "Looking for a man. Maybe you've met him. He's clumsy. Rough around the edges, and has the manners of a goat."
"You forgot ruggedly handsome and hilarious," the voice said, but Andromeda couldn't take it anymore, she whirled around and threw her arms around him. His hands immediately wrapped around her waist and pulled her so close against him, she was lifted off the ground.
She wanted to stay there forever, but she also wanted to kiss him, and she also wanted to see his face. Unfortunately, she could not do all three at the exact same time.
When Ted finally released her, she moved her hands to his cheeks. He looked exactly like she remembered, not that a person would usually change in a month. Same quirky-smile, same wild hair, same eyes bright with an internal excitement. Same Ted. She wished she could find a way to keep his face in her mind forever. But even as she thought it her eyes traveled to his lips, and then next thing she knew she was standing up on her tiptoes and pressing her lips to his.
Ted's lips were soft and gentle, and they immediately parted for hers. She deepened the kiss, not caring they were on a train station surrounded by people. They were muggles, strangers. To them, she and Ted were just two love-crazed teenagers.
But then Ted pulled away, flushing.
"Umm… Andromeda," he started.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, frowning.
"No, it's… it's…" he didn't answer, just looked over as a person approached them on the left.
"Andromeda," Olivia, Ted's friend, stopped a couple feet from them, taking in Andromeda's dress. She seemed to be fighting off a laugh, which made Andromeda blush.
"It's good to see you," she said finally, almost sounding like she meant it.
"Likewise," Andromeda said, polite as ever, but her eyes were questioning as she turned back to Ted.
"My mom invited her too," Ted said, "So we're uhh… all going back to Hogwarts together." He tried to sound excited by this, but when neither Olivia or Andromeda shared his excitement, his nervous smile turned to a grimace.
Andromeda bit her lip. She already resigned to sharing Ted with his mother tonight, but she figured the two of them would get some alone time. That seemed far less likely now.
"Shall we," Olivia said, gesturing to a large, rusty muggle automobile not far from them. Ted gave her an apologetic smile, before offering her his arm.
Forcing out a smile, she took it, and let him lead her to the car. It was just one night, how uncomfortable could it get?
