witness me.

When Ted saw the line of people waiting to vote he couldn’t help but let out a loud sigh. He had hoped that they could get that over with quickly and just get on with the rest of their day and not have to worry about it. But that was obviously not going to happen when the line didn’t even look as though it was moving. And he knew there was no point in waiting. Not when they had Nympadora with them. So it would just need to wait until later. Not that he was all that desperate to vote for anyone. The options weren’t exactly the best.

“Guess everyone else had the idea of doing it early.” He said and turned his back on the queue to fully face his family instead. Smiling down at his daughter he put the thoughts of the election to the back of his mind and focused on enjoying the day out instead. “We can get the clothes shopping out of the way and see how the line is during lunch? It can’t stay that busy all day. We can take turns then if it isn’t too bad.”

✩

Andy hummed in agreement, but her brow was furrowed. “I hope that’s it. But yes, let’s go get the shopping done. Where first, Little One?” She let Nymphadora down, the girl taking both their hands and pulling them along toward the shops.

Andy chuckled and met Ted’s eye fondly. “Do you remember whether her primary school has a uniform?” It was still a bit overwhelming to wrap her head around the fact that she was sending her baby off to muggle primary school for a second time. “I feel like I remember washing uniform shirts and she can wear whatever bottoms.” She specifically remembered getting called in a few times because Nymphadora was in trouble for her trousers being distracting, but she couldn’t remember if it was because she’d chosen something outlandish or if it was an accidental magic situation. They’d had quite a few of the latter, especially in these early days when Nymphadora didn’t always have perfect control over her appearance.

(Written in code, the same on Regulus and Sirius used after Sirius left home.)

Dearest Regulus,

Congratulations on finishing your NEWTs. I can’t possibly imagine the stress of having to take them so suddenly. So really, you deserve all the accolades in the world for getting through that no matter your grades.

I know we haven’t spoken in many years. Many more for me, really, since the majority of our time together was while you were still a toddler. You were barely more than my daughter’s current age the last time I saw you. It saddens me that I only ever got to know you through rumor, shoddy news reports, and occasional comments from your brother.

It would make me so happy to have a chance to talk to your properly. With things so dangerous these days, I couldn’t stand the thought of putting it off and potentially never getting the chance to know you. At your earliest convenience, I would love to meet you somewhere and catch up. There’s a wonderful muggle tea shop I know where we can meet discretely. I’ve written the address on the back of the letter.

If you send Euclid back without a response, I’ll take that as an answer. But know I’m always here if you do need to talk about anything.

Your loving cousin,

Andromeda Tonks

P.S. Forgive Sirius for sharing your code. For obvious reasons, I can't have your parents reading this accidentally.

Cordelia gasped in shock as Andromeda stopped her, opening her mouth to snap at her and tell her to get out of her way, but then let out a yelp at the pieces of plaster falling above them. She knew that the older woman was right; she couldn’t do any good just rushing out there without a second thought. But Julien was somewhere out there, and there were explosions, and the only thoughts she truly had were that she couldn’t lose him like this again.

Shaking, Cordelia managed a nod to Andromeda’s words, though tears welled at that. “My hus–my fiancé, he’s… I don’t know, we were going to meet up here, he, he had a few places he was going, but I can’t… I can’t lose him like this again, I can’t, I can’t, please…” A sob left her then, completely panicking and trying to pull away once more.

.

Again. Andromeda blinked. This girl wasn’t in the Order, she knew that much from the meetings. Who was this girl who apparently remembered?

Another explosion went off, further down the street. No time for interrogating her right now. Instead of just holding her back, she took Cordelia’s hands, squeezing and rubbing them to focus her in the moment. "What’s your name?” She waited for an answer. “Cordelia. Ok. I’m Andromeda. Cordelia, do you know how to cast a shield charm? ...Good. We’re going to go find your fiance. But we need to watch each other’s backs. Can you do that for me? Go toward the last shop you remember him saying he was going to go to, and we’ll figure it out from there.” She pushed the door open, leading with her wand. She jogged while facing backward partway, watching Cordelia’s back while they went down the street.

Going to Diagon still made Cordelia rather nervous, though she tried not to show it. After all, even if everything was to go the way it had before, which it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be for awhile that anything should happen in Diagon, right? Still, letting go of Julien’s hand so he could go get what he needed, and so she could wander into the clothing shop, was a lot more difficult than she’d ever imagined. But she also couldn’t smother him, and she knew that.

She was absently looking over the dresses, looking at the fabric in her hand when she heard a voice next to her. Looking up, she flushed and smiled at the older woman. “Lavender is such a beautiful color, isn’t it?” She said softly, noting the tiny socks in the woman’s hands. She didn’t recognize the woman, at least not at the moment, and it made her curious, and want to ask questions.

Before she could, however, there were screams coming from outside. She froze up, eyes going wide, and before she could make any movement, the building shook with an explosion. She stumbled, falling to the ground in shock, and then her own scream of pure panic joined those from outside. No, not again, not with Julien out there, not now…

The woman’s words didn’t register to Cordelia; all she could think about was Julien, and getting out of the shop to find him. “NO!” She screamed out again, unable to help it. She scrambled to try and get up and get past where Andromeda was, desperate to get to the door, and not thinking of anything else.

★

Andromeda cursed under her breath. She stood up and ran after her. She got between Cordelia and the door and put her hands on the girl’s shoulders. “You’re not going to do any good running out there in a panic.” Another explosion. Andromeda reacted quickly, casting a shield charm above their heads to keep off the falling pieces of plaster.

She glanced out the door, trying to think of the things Alice had taught her in their lessons. Other than the spells to protect herself and that she needed to stay calm and quickly assess, she was drawing a blank. She took a deep breath. “We’ll go together. Watch each other’s backs, find who we need to find. My husband and daughter are at Fortescue’s. Do you know where you need to go?”

After Nymphadora was measured, Andromeda kissed both her and Ted and let him take her off for ice cream since she’d been good. She technically didn’t need new clothes yet, just shoes, but she could always do with a few extra pairs of pants for how often she ripped the knees of hers. She had a few brightly colored things over her arm and couldn’t help but pause in the section for infant clothes. With everything going on after Valentine’s Day, she hadn’t had time to ruminate on her declaration to Ted. Still, it was in the back of her mind.

With the infant clothes next to the ladies, she couldn’t help but notice a young woman next to her shopping as well. She glanced over at the selections the woman was debating over, a tiny pair of socks in her own hands. “I think you’d look lovely in the bright lavender.” She commented casually, flashing her a slight smile.

Just as they started their conversation, the screams outside in the Alley started. Andromeda’s blood ran cold. She took a step for the door, but then the building around her rumbled with the first explosion. “Get down, everyone!” She cried out, ducking before pieces of debris started to fall.

Discussion over the breakfast table that morning didn’t take long to reach the conclusion that the entire Tonks family had to go to Diagon Alley. Both Andromeda and Ted needed to vote, and Nymphadora needed some new clothes as the weather turned warmer. Andy had forgotten the way her heart would ache every time her daughter would outgrow clothes or shoes. It was felt doubly this time, knowing how quickly time really did fly.

So after they were fed and dressed, Andromeda held Nymphadora close in her arms while they apparated right into the Alley. Seeing the lines outside the Ministry, Andy whistled lowly. “So much for taking turns. Seems like everyone came here at once.” She shook her head a bit and put Nymphadora down. Her hair today was a pleasant mint green that Andy rather liked. “Let’s...start with shopping for her, I suppose. Yeah?”

Dumbledore, at least at Hogwarts, had never been her favorite professor. He was a brilliant wizard, she always knew, but the way he spoke was in riddles and Narcissa had never enjoyed guesswork. Her life had always been straight, fine lines. And now? Well, she supposed her life was as jumbled up as the words that fell from her new leader’s lips. “Interesting,” she said, softly. “I suppose he’ll keep me at arms length for quite a while then, which I’m fine with.” A small shake of her head. “I’m sure he’ll be questioning me, though, soon enough.”

Then again, what she knew wasn’t all that different from what Peter or Severus knew. She wondered why he’d gone through all this trouble for her, but she doubted a real answer would be given any time soon.

Andromeda’s words caused her heart to stop beating in her chest, and she smiled back, genuinely bright, at the thought of meeting Nymphadora. “I’d say I’d make her something but, truthfully, I haven’t had my own cooking in years, and I’ve no idea how it tastes now.” A deep breath followed those words, looking down at their hands again, this feeling so surreal that it made her scared, for a moment, it would drift away. Starting over, though, was rather a terrifying feeling, and it was bloody nice to know Andromeda was here. “Oh,” she said, another smile, despite it all falling on her lips. “I’d love that, if Edward is alright with it. All considered, I assume he’s not my biggest fan, but… I would love that.” It was too much to bear and Cissa found tears springing to her eyes at the thought of getting to be with her sister. “I only wish you’d been able to meet Draco. He would– He would have loved you.”

...

Andromeda hummed in sympathy. “Him or Moody. Or both. Probably both. Moody’s alright. A bit rough around the edges, but he’s a good man.”

Cissa’s smile made her heart ache with joy. It felt so good that something so simple could make her happy. “I remember that feeling. I was bloody useless when I moved in with Ted at first.” Her eyes crinkled in a slight wince, but she didn’t let that get to her. “Following a cooking recipe is not that much different from following a recipe in potions. And same as in potions, you eventually learn how to do some things by memory if you do them often enough.”

She took Narcissa’s hands gently in hers, squeezing them. “He doesn’t know you. He’ll be...he’ll be wary at first, but you’re my sister. He’ll come around. Particularly if Nymphadora’s already attached to you, which I know she will be soon enough.” Her thumbs ran over the backs of Cissa’s hands. She was just so glad she could. Narcissa was here, and she was safe. “I wish I could have, too. I was looking forward to it. But we can remember Draco and Teddy together, yeah?”

With such loving parents, Alastor had no doubt that Tonks felt that was as a child. It was almost a reassurance to hear that, while they had lost a valuable Order member with being thrusted unexpectedly back into this time, at least she was happy, “I’m sure on many levels, that still holds true. Even when she was an Auror,” he was grateful when Andromeda didn’t linger on his sympathies. Alastor was still relatively new to all of that. And it didn’t help that Andromeda confirmed his suspicions that not any were left after the war. Even weeks prior to his own death, Moody recognized the sheer decline in their own numbers and support compared to the other side with Death Eaters and dark creatures alike, “What of the Weasley clan?”

“Splitting your soul that many times…” Alastor lingered on such a terrible thought. In all his years, he knew Voldemort was capable of horrible spells and curses, but nothing that would detriment his own power, “No wonder the ugly git didn’t have a nose,” he practically spat, remembering that bolt of green light seconds before his own fall. “Those two are a good pair to trust - and I’m sure they’ll keep that information to themselves, no matter the cost,” he nodded, completely understanding their views, but paused heavily before continuing in a grave tone, “Would you mind keeping it to those few until we get a fair few more answers? Dumbledore’s been vague, even with me, and I’m not sure how I feel about that this time ‘round…”

★

Andromeda hummed at the mention of the Weasleys. “They only lost Fred, and not until that final battle. I was just with them on New Year's Eve, actually.” She bit her lip as her mind slipped back to all the happiness. Everyone wanting to hold Teddy, everyone excited about Fleur’s pregnancy starting to show, various budding romances in the young adults. They were all finally moving on. She took a shaky breath to bring her back to the moment. “So Arthur and Molly likely remember. But with all their kids...” She did some quick mental math from knowing Charlie was the same age as Nymphadora. “Percy’ll be hardly out of nappies and the twins still crawling. I don't blame them at all if they want to keep their heads down.” It was what she had done the first time, after all.

She couldn't help her nervous chuckle at the comment about Voldemort’s nose. Alastor didn't seem to be fully joking, though. “Well. You know what they say. People who get their noses blown off later shouldn’t throw stones in glass houses.” Andy knew her joke hardly made sense, but she still tapped the side of her nose anyway. 

Andy watched Alastor carefully while he answered her question about Dumbledore, but really it provided few clarifications. “I have no problem doing that. Nymphadora trusted you more than she trusted us sometimes, which I’m happy to default to. If you think it’s for the best, I’ll keep it to just the four of us knowing for now.”

“You won’t see me complaining.” Ted grinned. Time being reversed, or restarted however you wanted to look at it, definitely had it perks he was discovering. Though it surprised him still just how much energy he used to have. Did he really used to wake up and not feel a single ache? It was truly baffling.

“How could I say no? Regardless of what is going on it’s still a night with you. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.” He could feel the stress that surrounded tonight. And though he had no idea how Andromeda must be feeling he would have been here with her regardless of it being Valentines or not. He wouldn’t let her go through this alone. Even if all he could do was hold her hand it was better than not being here at all. “Are you doing okay?” He asked her quietly as they danced slowly to the music. While he didn’t know the details he knew it must be getting close to them reaching Narcissa. He still wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about it but those were thought for his mind alone. “I’m sure everything will be alright. We would have known by now if it were otherwise.” 

★

Andy smiled at his sweet words, nuzzling his neck affectionately. “It is a fairly nice Valentine’s Day date, ignoring the obvious.” What she would give for tonight to just have been a chance for them to dance and enjoy each other instead of what it was. It was that thought that had her pausing over how to answer his question. “I’m just tipsy enough to not be too anxious about everything.” She huffed a bit, half a laugh. His reassurance helped ease what little tension had formed in her. “You’re right. Something that big, even the ministry would interrupt the ball for. If something’s going wrong, we would know.”

So she just let herself get lost in her husband. In their slow steps together, their breath. His touch, his scent. The rest of the atrium melted away. She loved Ted every moment of her life, but moments like this where they could just be quiet together, moments where she could just linger in that love until it filled her, until it felt like her chest could burst with it...those were special. It amazed her every single time, after growing up seeing so many loveless marriages, that she could still feel after nearly thirty years with this man the same giddiness she felt in those empty classrooms at sixteen. It had her mind flashing back to all the other moments like this. All the moments that she’d sat around telling Narcissa, not so long ago for her.

When the music came to a close, she lifted her head and pressed her lips to Ted’s in a series of soft, slow kisses. She wasn’t sure what exactly had the next words leaving her mouth. Maybe it was the mood, maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was just missing her grandson. But as she met Ted’s eyes, she couldn’t stop them pouring out. “Ted...I think I want to have another baby.”

A nod of her head followed Andromeda’s words, knowing them to be true. Even she would need to figure out what it meant to be good; what it meant to be proud of herself and the person she was presenting to the world. There were days that she never thought she’d get there, especially dark ones before the final days of the war. Perhaps, being here with Andromeda once again, was the first step. “Some secrets are best left at bay,” she said, shaking her head. “That woman could survive anything.” Narcissa didn’t really mean that as a testament to her strength, either, but that didn’t mean she didn’t admire Rita for it. 

It was hard not to think of their mother in a foul light after what she’d learned today. Still, those words, the kindness of her older sister, the warmth lined in them, made tears spring back to her eyes. “I would like that very much,” she said, softly. “If we could move forward I mean. I suppose I’m just exhausted. Not just of our family but… well, everything. Everything but Draco, that is.” A soft sniffle followed those words, one that would only be heard by Andromeda, and was kept fairly hidden for the most part. “You were one of the few people in my life that I remember actually enjoying being around. It’s rather pathetic, isn’t it?”

Narcissa patted her sister’s hand and then pulled back with a full intake of air, trying to stop anymore pesky tears. “We’ll have a special service,” she said, then, shrugging her shoulders. “One just for you and me. ”

Andromeda couldn't help her slight chuckle. “If it's pathetic, then that's a reflection on our family, not on you. Because I felt the same way. The exhaustion, the isolation, everything. I hated every minute of being a Black. Of course being with you was a bright spot. Bella too, when she was little. But that pressure never really went away for me, even in those moments with you. I found a refuge from that in Ted at school. And then...well, when they started looking to lock me into this life with a marriage? That's when I ran.” She just hadn't been able to see that was what they were doing to her until she’d had Ted’s ring on her finger.

The solution that Narcissa finally suggested brought a smile to her face. “That sounds perfect. A private service. Let everyone else say goodbye to Bellatrix. You and I can say goodbye to Bella.” She swallowed painfully around that thought. “We can do the same thing for my funerals. I can't change that you weren't there for them, but I still want to share as many of my happy moments with you as I can. And let me tell you. Even with the ending, I have more happy moments with Ted and Nymphadora than I could ever hope for.”

With Andromeda, she felt safe. Whether or not the house was as well guarded as the Order members had said didn’t matter. Andy was here. There was nothing outside these walls that could get to her, right now. “Interesting,” she said, softly. “From our– the other side, it always seemed like Dumbledore was leading you all like a knight into battle.” She waved her hand ever so slightly. “I suppose even the greats have their faults.”

It was never a fact that she’d considered, after all, knowing Dumbledore in school was different from knowing him as the leader of a faction of war. He had defeated Grindelwald, after all, and Narcissa had always assumed that leader was their biggest enemy. It still seemed he was pulling strings, but maybe that his people didn’t respect him quite as much as Lucius and Bellatrix had been led to believe. 

At the mention of Nymphadora, she perked up, her heart leaping with the thought of potentially getting to meet her niece. “Oh,” she said, softly, not entirely sure how to bring it up, and just as she was about to… “Oh, Andy… I’m…” The thought that a mission for her had hurt her sister’s husband– Salazar, her stomach hurt. Blimey, is this what it was like to have people to care about again? “I can’t imagine how you’re feeling. I hope, well, I’m thankful he’s stable, and home. That’s a wonderful sign.” A pause as she looked at their fingers. “I’m quite confined to this space but if there’s ever anything I can do… watch Nymphadora or…” She steadied herself by taking a deep breath and then, she met her sister’s eyes once more before asking. “Would that be alright? I mean, if I met her. I wouldn’t want to impose, but I would just… I would really like to meet her.”

★

Andromeda paused at Narcissa’s comment. Making her doubt Dumbledore probably wasn't a smart plan at the moment, but she also wasn't going to lie. It was a careful line to toe. “...Well, I was always behind the scenes, before Ted and I stayed entirely out of things the first time around, and only became somewhat involved after Nymphadora joined the Order. But...Dumbledore has always been difficult to deal with. He doesn't let anyone else in on even the broad strokes of his plans until they're needed.” Which wasn't inherently a bad thing, but it was irritating.

Andromeda gently reached out and tucked a piece of Narcissa’s hair behind her ear. “Once she wakes up, the three of us will have breakfast together. Alright?” She smiled softly. “I’ll probably be popping back and forth between here and Mungo’s until Ted’s been cleared to go home. So yes, it would be very helpful for her to be able to spend time with you, too.” She trusted Narcissa, and even if she didn't, there would be plenty of other Order members around. “And once you're cleared to leave the safehouse...well, my personal plan was to offer you our guest room.”

Hearing that Tonks didn’t remember was a relief for Alastor. Not that he expected someone so young would, but he wanted a better life for Nymphadora that wasn’t filled with war…giving up so much of her life at such a young age. This, as bizarre and seemingly awful some of this new reality was, at least gave many a second chance. A better chance. “I can only imagine. Fitting she had even more of that fire in her when she was younger,” he nodded at Andromeda’s response to the offer, letting himself enjoy these little moments he had more than in that other life. So much so, that he sensed talking about her grandson (how he was so easily taken away from their arms) wasn’t easy, “Sorry fer your loss…” Moody said quietly, retaining the next bit of information Andromeda supplied, “Wonder if there was anyone else we know who has memories up to that point too,” he mused.

When the focus turned to Harry, Alastor became sucked in entirely - lingering on each and every word. The stories were for himself. Ater living through two wars himself, Moody could understand that, “Everyone has different ways of coping,”  he agreed before the color left his face, “Seven?” A hand came up, trying to relax he lines of his face as they furrowed into a scowl. How could someone split their soul seven times? What kind of life was that? Concerned, troubled, and nauseated were a few of the emotions running through the Auror.

As Andromeda began to say the specifics, Moosy got up in a flash to the other side of a room. Finding a parchment and divided the page by thirds. One with a list and spaces between two separate dates. The year they were were in and 1995 - the year of Voldemort’s return. Quickly, he scribbled the info she provided, stopping briefly at the fact that Harry was one. Yet, he pushed those emotions down to process later, sighing heavily, “Damn…” he muttered, knowing this meant that Snape knew much more and that they’d have to speak once again. Turning to Andromeda, curious, Moody asked, “Have you spoken to anyone else about this? To Dumbledore?”

★

“I don't think there’s more fire, just nothing tempering it. She can't imagine anything I can't protect her from or any hurt her Daddy can't fix in a heartbeat.” Andromeda’s smile was bittersweet. It was that innocence she wanted to fight to protect, but the same innocence that made parenting in general so terrifying. She gave him a small smile and nod of thanks for the sympathy. It was clear that it wasn't something either of them was comfortable with, though, “I don't know. It’s possible. There weren't that many people left on our side, in the end. Not outside of the children.” And wasn't that a heavy thought?

“Seven,” She confirmed with a heavy sigh. “I have to assume for the power of the number.” she couldn't fully wrap her head around what splitting one's soul really meant, but if it sickened someone as experienced as Alastor, she didn't want to understand. She stumbled over her words slightly when Alastor got to his feet, but after seeing what he was doing she understood and kept going. It felt like a weight off her shoulders, telling this to someone who might be able to do something about it.

“Just Emmeline. And a bit to Remus, but not everything and I genuinely thought he already knew. But not to Dumbledore, no.” She chewed on the inside of her cheek, not sure how to ask her next question. “Alastor...a few people I've spoken to have been...less than positive about their faith in Dumbledore. I was never close enough to know what was going on behind the scenes. Should I bring this all to him, or...?”

Sirius wasn’t entirely sure how to take the news of his best friend having a son that he didn’t know about up until now. And the rational side of him knew that Remus had every right to tell him in his own time, if at all considering he knew he must be hurting over the loss. But the selfish side wondered why Remus never said anything. Did he think he would be angry? He’d probably be right in that assumption. But mostly Sirius was just…confused.

And maybe a just a little bit grossed out.

“At least he waited until I died so I didn’t need to see….that.” If he had to have lived through seeing his friend falling in love with his younger cousin he might have just tossed himself through the veil on his own to save himself the misery. “I’m glad that Remus found someone that made him happy in the end. And Nymphadora of course. But I just can’t picture them dating never mind married and having a kid. That’s…too weird for my brain to try and put together.”

...

Andy snorted lightly. “That's about how I feel about it, and I was there to witness the whole thing.” It was so hard, being so weirded out by it but so happy that her daughter was happy to do anything. It felt good that someone other than Ted understood. “Not like I could say anything. I sort of set myself up for not being able to disapprove of anyone she dates.”

She took a biscuit to nibble on and watched Sirius. He was a difficult man to read, but there were definite signs of anger there. “We joke, but I can only imagine what he's going through. He only got to know Teddy for a few weeks. And losing her on top of it...” She sighed. “He came here yesterday. I don’t know what he expected, and I don’t think he knew either, but I obviously didn’t let him in. That would just be too much, you know? But he... Finding out she died in the final battle too was a lot for him, Sirius. He nearly broke down, and we don’t have the sort of relationship where we show that sort of thing to each other.”

Sirius thought that maybe he would feel a sense of justice knowing that Bellatrix had eventually met her end. But instead he was just filled with regret. What would their family had been like if the war had never happened? If Voldemort hadn’t been there to poison so many minds? Maybe this was their chance to find out. But even though she had hurt so many he couldn’t be glad that his cousin had been killed. It just made him sad.

Though that sadness was quickly replaced by complete and utter confusion as Andromeda spoke. Remus and Nymphadora? His best friend and his cousin? He couldn’t picture it in his head, nor did he particularly want too. But he had already seen Remus since they had all been back and he hadn’t said anything. Especially not about him having a baby with a member of his family. Sirius didn’t know how he felt right now. So instead, as usual, he let anger take over.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me right?” 

｡･:*:･ﾟ★

Andy couldn’t help but burst out laughing at Sirius’ reaction. The shock was delicious after so long of having to just suck it up for their sake. It was just so hilarious. “I wish I was. Well, no. I adored Teddy. It’s what they named him, after Ted. But I can’t say I ever approved of them together.” She shook her head and flicked her wand to put the kettle back on the burner. This was definitely going to require more tea.

She sat back in her chair and sighed. “I mean, you saw the beginnings of her crush. The flirting, all that. They just...I dunno.” She ran her fingers back through her hair as she tried to think of what to say. “They loved each other. I know they did. I can’t begrudge them that. If he wasn’t so much older than her, I would even say they were good for each other.”

The fact that Snape was not immediately pushed away or met with a frown, gave him a bit of hope that at least he wouldn’t have to convince nearly every soul in this lifetime that he was an ally or comrade. Severus was well aware of his reputation and that his work was cut out for him. Which meant, while Andromeda displayed her usual kindness, there was still trust to be earned. As she asked him to call her by her first name, he gave a small smile as he amended his first statement, “Good evening, Andromeda,” and stood beside her while looking out to the crowd briefly for other familiar faces that could have been watching.

“As much as I can. Although, I think you remember quite well that I’m not particularly fond of careless frivolity,” he said nonchalantly and looked to meet her eyes fully, “And yourself? Or at least occupying your time?” Snape couldn’t help but wonder how Andromeda was handling the mission of rescuing her sister while she had to stand there and mingle with such silver-tongued witches and wizards within their society.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★

Andromeda huffed lightly. “I hardly think any moment of frivolity is careless in times like these.” Times were only going to get worse. Despite the stress to come tonight, she was doing her very best to treasure her moments with Ted before things in the war got too bad. “My husband and I are enjoying our Valentine’s Day, yes. Though I suppose I share the sentiment ‘as much as I can.’”

She took another sip of wine and glanced out over the crowd. She wondered if it was truly just the Order that remembered, or if there were other people in the crowd like Narcissa that were just better at hiding it. She chewed the inside of her cheek for a moment. “Do you feel ready for tonight?” She asked casually, even though she was picking her words oh-so-carefully. “I know you were normally more behind-the-scenes than this, before.”

A small laugh escaped him at her words, mostly because he didn’t think Andy or Ted could ever embarrass their daughter. Maybe, in at that time when all children are somewhat embarrassed by their children. But, he was also from the Bones family. He never once was embarrassed by his parents. Instead, he found their faults endearing. Then again, his papa had two left feet, so he supposed at fifteen he might’ve been quite red watching him dance. 

“Ah, I embarrassed Susan enough without having to dance, I’m sure,” the past tense made him wince ever so slightly, but he hid it by biting into his remaining food. “Besides, from what i remember, you and Ted were quite lovely dancers. What was that move? The disco one I learned to tease him with him?” He used his pointer finger to point both to the corner of the room and then to the opposite corner of the floor, grinning at her ever so slightly. “Now that might have Dora running for cover.”

The light-hearted talk was enough to make him feel slightly better, and he took another sip of his wine, trying hard not to drown his fears in alcohol. Felix was on duty, anyways, even if he didn’t want to admit it. “I do hope, either way, he’s asked you to dance tonight. Or else, I’ll have to, I s’pose. My poor, poor feet.”

｡･:*:･ﾟ★

“Merlin, she was embarrassed enough at us putting on Elvis or Celestina Warbeck. Imagine if I’d brought out some of our disco favorites.” Andy made a peace sign in front of her eye and then broke into a proper giggle. The same wistful look in his eyes was reflected in hers. She knew it wasn’t quite the same. At least she had Nymphadora. But she still missed the young woman she’d become with a fierce ache.

It felt so good to be legitimately distracted, to relax for just a moment. “Oh, we’ve danced plenty, don’t you worry about that.” She finished off the last of the shrimp and placed the empty plate on a passing tray. “Though I certainly wouldn’t say no if I could convince you out on the dance floor. You say that we’re lovely dancers, but I happen to remember you’re not too bad yourself.”