Distractions
November, 1973
Andromeda set to find her cousin Sirius to convey the message of Bellatrix and Lestrange's engagement party that was to be held during the Christmas break. She headed over to the Gryffindor table at breakfast and spotted Sirius, chatting animatedly with his usual cronies- James Potter, star chaser of the Gryffindor quidditch team- a confident boy with a mop of messy dark hair, Remus Lupin, a tall and skinny boy who was covered in suspicious scars and often had his head behind a book, and Peter Pettigrew, smallest of the group, who followed the others around earnestly trying to fit in.
She approached the boys- there was an eruption of muttering as she walked past the Gryffindor table.
'Sirius' she said, smiling at her cousin.
'Andromeda!' he said, eyes widening as he noticed her.
James Potter cheerfully introduced himself, Peter gave an awkward wave and Remus Lupin gave her a small nod, she noticed the boy had dark rings under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept, there was also a sharp scar on his neck, running over his collarbone, like a claw mark...
'I'm supposed to tell you that Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange's engagement party is set for December, in the Christmas break' she said.
Sirius groaned. 'Ugh, that'll be a drag. Why's she marrying that troll Lestrange?'
Andromeda laughed. 'You know Bellatrix' she chuckled.
'Yes' he said gravely, 'Unfortunately I do.'
***
Andromeda had tried to convince Bellatrix to end it with Lestrange, although from the looks of it, not even felix felicis could help her now. Bellatrix seemed set on the engagement, as did their mother and father, Bellatrix had been conversing with them in the post- planning the engagement party, no doubt. Whenever Andromeda tried to mention the events she witnessed in the charms classroom, Bellatrix would either snap at her sister or simply ignore her.
Another thing for her to worry about- Rabastan Lestrange. She had been earnestly avoiding her date to the ball. Although, one evening as she was completing her Transfiguration essay on her favourite armchair by the fire in the Slytherin common room, the lean figure of Rabastan Lestrange appeared before her.
'We'll make a fine couple at the ball, do you not think' he took a seat on the sofa opposite her.
Andromeda forced a smile. 'Of course'
'I am pleased to be accompanying Andromeda Black, who, as I've heard, has been notoriously declining people for weeks'
'Well, balls just don't interest me much I suppose' her fake smile faltered.
'Oh come on now, It'll be great fun... You'll look a vision in a dress, with that body' his eyes wandered unabashedly across her body, down to her chest, her waist.
She felt uneasy from his gaze, and fought back the urge to snap.
'I must be getting to bed. Goodnight' she said, masking her anger with a pleasant façade.
Her mind was a mess of tangled emotions as she lay in bed that night. Rage about the situation with Bellatrix crept up on her, tangling itself around her like devils snare, consuming her. She let it take hold of her, let herself fester in the feeling. The only escape from this rage was to avert the attention of her mind to something else, something distant and separate from the all-consuming family drama. Ted Tonks. He was an easy distraction. Listening to him talk in potions was a distraction. Thinking about his ruffled golden hair poised perfectly in his eyes while he leant over reading his notes in potions, was a distraction. Those eyes, brown and tender, questioning and curious as they surveyed her, were a distraction. The splatter of freckles across his nose were a distraction...
Toujours pur. A sharp voice in her head snapped, abolishing the image of Ted Tonks from her mind.
She sat up abruptly, her heart hammering fiercely in her chest, her breath shallow.
***
The first quidditch match of the season rolled around, Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff. Hogwarts was awash with students dressed in their house colours, scarlet and gold for Gryffindor, yellow and black for Hufflepuff. Andromeda had never cared much for quidditch, Narcissa, of course, only enjoyed watching matches when Malfoy was playing.
She sat in the stands with Amaryllis, Prudence and Esmerelda. As she surveyed the Slytherin stands, she noticed Narcissa with that sleaze Malfoy. Her brow furrowed as she watched him loop an arm around her. Bellatrix, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen. Andromeda scanned the stands and noticed Rodolphus Lestrange's absence as well. She fought the urge to go and find the two of them, worry building in the pit of her stomach.
As she sat dwelling on her sisters whereabouts, her favourite distraction presented itself- Ted Tonks was striding on to the quidditch pitch with his team, wearing his yellow and black Hufflepuff quidditch kit, broom under arm.
The snitch was released, and the game begun. Flashes of scarlet and yellow zoomed in and out of sight before her.
'Armstrong of Gryffindor passes the quaffale to Potter- who SCORES!, 10 points to Gryffindor!' boomed the commentator, Lockhart.
A cheer erupted from the Gryffindor stands, as Sirius' friend James Potter punched the air in delight.
The game progressed, looking in Gryffindor's favour as Potter scored even more goals- he was very good, she'd give him that.
Andromeda found herself involuntarily glancing at Ted- the way his quidditch robed ruffled up as he soared across the pitch, the way he swung his beaters bat at oncoming bludgers, how his hair was tousled and messy in the wind. Realising she was staring, Andromeda abruptly averted her eyes away, fighting the blush that crept on to her cheeks.
'Ooh what's this- seeker Abbott of Hufflepuff has seen the snitch! Look out! A bludger sent by Gryffindor beater McKinnon is about to hit- Tonks of Hufflepuff swoops in and bats the bludger out of the way- ABBOT CAUGHT THE SNITCH! HUFFLEPUFF WIN!'
The Hufflepuff stands broke into a loud chorus of cheers, as the team gathered, patting each other on the back. Ted was beaming as he hugged his team mates, James Potter along with the rest of the Gryffindor team, looked put out, but clapped good-heartedly all the same. Andromeda watched as Ted ran a hand through his windswept hair, as his face split into a wide smile... distractions.