Nervous energy thrummed through Ted as he stared at the entrance to the library. He could see the top of Madam Pince’s severe-looking bun poking into vision but other than that, his view of the doors was completely clear. Completely clear and devoid of the one person he was both excited and dreading to see. Announcements for the Yule Ball had spread through the school like wildfire. Suddenly the hallways were filled with giggling girls and stressed out guys, and all conversations had turned to this one event. Gossip and speculation about who was taking who to the ball had been running rampant, but Ted had gone largely unnoticed by both sides, which, to be honest, was preferable in comparison to students like Sirius Black and James Potter, who’s dates seemed to be of particular interest around school.
Still, there was one girl Ted was trying to work up the courage to ask. One person, who no doubt, had her own following of eager and gossipy Slytherins if he were to ever ask her in class or in the hallways. That’s why Ted had resolved to ask her during their regular study ‘date’. He’d had to wait a few weeks for the the next quidditch game, but it felt safer to do it away from the prying eyes and listening ears. And when she inevitably said ‘no’, Ted could slink away unnoticed and relatively unscathed compared to in front of an audience. Still, Ted needed for Andromeda to show up before he could know one way or another if there was even a slight possibility that she felt the same way about him as he did about her.
