A.N.-This chapter is dedicated to LilliaSnape. Not only did she make my sweet banner, but she leaves me amazing reviews. Thanks so much!! And now onto Chapter 3. Enjoy! Oh an the italics part is a memory, so you know.
Andromeda was glad when the ball finally ended. If she had to be in the presence of these people any longer she would surely scream. She smiled and bid adieu as the endless sea of guests left. The smile she had on her face was the only true one she had worn all night. Andromeda was glad to see them go, especially Rodulphus.
“Goodbye Bellatrix,” she heard him say to her sister.
Andromeda looked over at the scene and saw Rodulphus kissing Bellatrix’s hand. Bellatrix looked as if she was being force fed poison, but Rodulphus knew she couldn’t get away even if she tried. Not with Druella and Cygnus present. Andromeda glared at Rodulphus until he finished. He turned and saw Andromeda’s face and smiled.
“No need to be jealous, Andromeda darling,” he said behind his smile.
“You wish,” she replied behind her now false smile.
Rodulphus gave a little laugh before bringing her delicate hand to his lips.
“Remember what I said,” he finished in an undertone.
With that he was finally gone and Andromeda released a sigh of relief. Why couldn’t a herd of hippogriffs just trample over him?
When all the guests were finally gone, Andromeda bade her parents and siblings goodnight and retired to her bedroom. The first thing she did when she reached her room was shed her jewelry and dress. The dress lay slung over her armchair and her jewelry lay scattered over her dresser. She could really care less if they got ruined, for they were symbols of the life she hated. She opened up her drawer to look for pajamas. She pulled out a purple silk nightgown and threw it on before walking out onto the terrace. It was warm summer night and there was a light breeze in the air. She wrapped her arms around herself and then noticed the bruises on her arms again. The memories they stirred were more painful than the bruises themselves.
Andromeda sat at the Slytherin table with the usual crowd of seventh-year, pureblood bigots. It was really unfathomable how much she hated all of them. All they did was talk about how much money they had or how pure their blood was. It was all very repetitive and dull, but as Rodulphus Lestrange’s girlfriend she would have to sit like a good girl and listen. Speaking over Rodulphus, he had just snaked his arm around her waist and was now trying to kiss her. She turned away, so all he got was some cheek and hair.
“I love you Andie,” he said grabbing her arm quite forcefully to turn her to face him.
“I love you too,” she lied.
Rodulphus looked satisfied and released his grip on her. She rubbed the spot he had held her at. Rodulphus didn’t seem to notice this and went back to talking with his friends. Andromeda rolled her eyes, got up from the table, and walked out of the Great Hall. Rodulphus’s mates laughed and he glared at them before following Andromeda out of the hall. She was walking toward the dungeons by the time Rodulphus exited the hall. He walked up behind her and grabbed her arms. She let out a gasp of surprise before he pinned her against the wall.
“What the hell was that back there?” he asked angrily.
“Rodulphus you’re hurting me!” she cried.
He ignored her pleas, “Never disrespect me like that ever again! Do you understand me?”
She nodded and released her smiling triumphantly.
“I have Arithmancy now, so meet me for lunch,” he said in a much calmer tone as if the previous incident had not just happened.
“All right,” she said before turning to leave. Rodulphus gently pulled her back and gave her a kiss.
“Bye baby,” he said before retreating up the steps.
Andromeda shook her head; willing herself not to think of Rodulphus anymore. That part of her life was over. Now she had Ted and couldn’t be happier. She smiled before turning to go back into her bedroom. She walked to the door and was about to go in when a pebble hit one of the door’s panes. Andromeda turned and rushed over to the edge of the terrace, looking over the railing. What she saw was surely a surprise.
“Hey, Juliet, get your pretty little arse down here!” Ted called up to her.
Andromeda smiled down at him completely lost for words. Ted had never come to her house before.
“I guess Romeo will just have to come up there!” he called back up.
Before Andromeda could say anything, Ted was scaling the wall up to her terrace. Pretty soon Ted was stepping over the railing and brushing leaves and other vegetation off himself. He smiled at her and she ran into his arms. She buried her face in his chest and he ran his hand up and down her back. It felt good to be in Ted’s arms. Andromeda felt home in his arms.
“How did you get here?” Andromeda asked incredulously; looking up at him.
“I Apparated outside your property and then I snuck in as some of the tight arses were leaving.”
She laughed, “I’ve missed you.”
“And I you,” he said before gracing her lips with a loving kiss. After he said, “How about you spend the night at my place?”
“Mmm I would love to, but I promised I’d take Bella shopping in the morning.”
“Damn. How about tomorrow night? We could do a little dinner and then go back to my place for the night.”
“That sounds heavenly. I’ll just need to think of something to tell my parents.”
“Excellent. Meet me at our place at six.”
She nodded and Ted walked back over to the railing and said, “Until tomorrow then Juliet.”
Then, he was gone. Andromeda smiled thoughts of earlier slowly leaving her mind and being replaced with thoughts of Ted. Tomorrow couldn’t come quick enough. She loved spending the night with Ted. They were nights that were so rare due to her family and familial events. She walked back into her bedroom and fell onto her bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow she fell asleep.
Andromeda awoke the next morning promptly at eight in the morning. Everyone was probably already at breakfast. She rolled out of bed, pulled on her bathrobe and walked downstairs. Sure enough when she entered the dining room her parents and two sisters were already sitting at the dining table. Cygnus, her dark-haired, hard-faced father, sat at the head of the table reading The Daily Prophet, Druella, her blonde, soft-featured, but tight-lipped mother, chatted with Narcissa, the spitting image of herself, and then there was Bellatrix, who could pass as Andromeda’s twin. Andromeda settled into the seat next to Bellatrix where a plate of eggs and toast was waiting.
“Good morning all,” she said jovially to the table.
She got a murmur of “good mornings” in return. Shrugging, she started in on her eggs. This day just has to go smoothly, and then she’d be free with Ted the whole night.
“So girls, what are your plans for the day?” Cygnus asked his daughters suddenly.
“Wonderful. And you Narcissa?” he said turning to his other daughter.
“I’m meeting with the wedding planner. Can’t do all the planning by myself!” she laughed.
Cygnus nodded and a small smile cracked at his lips. Andromeda stared at her father. He must be in a good mood for he really inquired into his daughters lives outside of pureblood relations and such. Perhaps it was just the mention of Narcissa’s ridiculous wedding to an even more ridiculous man. Whatever, it takes the focus off of me.
When Andromeda and Bellatrix finished their breakfast, they excused themselves and got ready to go out shopping. Bellatrix needed supplies for the upcoming school year, so Andromeda volunteered to take her. Andromeda adored spending time with Bellatrix anyways, so it would be guaranteed good fun. When the two girls were ready to go Andromeda apparated them to The Leaky Cauldron, where they would fine the entrance way into Diagon Alley. They laughed and talked with each other as they walked the length of the pub to the back courtyard. A few patrons smiled at the two sisters as they passed. Once in the back courtyard, Andromeda whipped out her wand and did the necessary tapping. The walls parted and they stepped into Diagon Alley.
“Where do you want to go first?” Andromeda asked Bellatrix.
“Madame Malkin’s, I need some new robes,” Bellatrix replied.
The two sisters set off to Madame Malkin’s and got Bellatrix fitted for some new robes for school. After that they went to about every other store; Flourish and Blotts for books, the Apothecary for potions ingredients, the Magical Menagerie for cat items for Bella’s cat, and about ten more stores after that. By the time they finished shopping it was a little bit after noon. Andromeda decided that they should just have lunch at a café in the shopping area. So the duo sat under a brightly colored umbrella whilst deciding what to order.
“Thanks for today Andie. And last night,” Bella said suddenly.
“Anytime Bella, I’ll always be here when you need me.”
Just then Andromeda spotted a pregnant woman looking her way. Andromeda turned her head and attempted to hide behind her menu. Too late though. She had already been spotted.
“Andromeda? Andromeda is that you?” said the woman coming towards Andromeda and Bellatrix’s table.
“Hey Annalisa,” she said plastering a false smile on her face. Annalisa was an old friend from school. A little too bubbly for Slytherin, but somehow she managed to get in, meet someone, and now was reproducing precious heirs.
“I thought that was you! How are you?”
“I’m great. I didn’t know your were expecting,” Andromeda replied.
“Really? I sent out announcements ages ago,” Annalisa replied confusedly.
Now Andromeda remembered that cutesy little announcement that had arrived a few months ago, announcing Annalisa’s pregnancy.Too bad I throw stuff like that out.
“You need to get back into the loop Andie,” Annalisa said. “Idea! Come to the baby shower that Claudette’s throwing for me tonight! It’s bound to be great fun and you can catch up with everyone!”
Just when Andromeda was about to make up and excuse and decline, she thought about her date with Ted tonight. She needed an excuse to get out of the house and Annalisa had just handed her one.
“I’ll be there,” Andromeda replied smiling.
A.N- Well, what did you think? I hope you enjoyed it. Leave a review please!
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