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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 27, 2008 18:09:40 GMT -5
His eyebrows went up, impressed. "An assignment already?" he asked. "Thatla great. Don't suppose you can tell me what it is?"
He felt that need to protect again, and he didn't quite like that she was being given assignments. He was happy for her and proud of her and everything like that, but it meant that soon enough, she'd be doing dangerous assignments. The thought of her getting hurt was nearly unbearable.
Granted, not all of their work was life threatening, or required you to be gone like he had been, but there was still that chance.
He took a breath, listening to her talk. The air was crisp tonight... Warm, but crisp, and the stars were shining. It really was a gorgeous night.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jul 27, 2008 18:25:30 GMT -5
She frowned slightly. She was a little worried about her assignment at this point, after seeing Bella at Hogwarts. "Yeah, I think I can tell you about it," she said. She glanced around to make sure no one was around, before she leaned in a little closer to him. "It's nothing really big, actually. I'm just supposed to take a job at Hogwarts. Vincent thinks that You-know-who is going to try and mount some kind of attack there, and he wants a few aurors to be close by, just in case. I was supposed to get a job as a teaching assistant, but I'm afraid I might have lost it--to my sister, of all people!"
If she couldn't even get a stupid teaching assistant job, what would happen if she was given a harder, more dangerous assignment? Would they look at her as a failure, and pass her over for the more complicated assignments?
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 27, 2008 18:48:55 GMT -5
"Which one?" he asked. He didn't really see Bellatrix as the teaching kind, but then, he wasn't sure Narcissa was even out of school yet. It wasn't like he followed her family's affairs.
Either way, he didn't think anyone in their right minds would choose either of those girls over Andi, and that wasn't a biased opinion, either.
He shook his head. "Did they tell you when they would be making their decision?"
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jul 27, 2008 21:13:22 GMT -5
Andi, of course, had not introduced Ted to her sisters, or any of her family for that matter. But she was sure he probably remembered both Bellatrix and Narcissa from their days at school. Part of her wished she could bring him to meet her parents, like other young women did. But it wasn't that she was ashamed of Ted--it was quite the contrary. She was ashamed of her family, and afraid of how they would treat him. She could just imagine how her father would react if he knew she was dating a muggleborn.
"Bellatrix," she replied. "I was beyond shocked to see her there.... It's been more than a year since I've seen her. At first I was thinking that, if she was actually interested in a teaching assistant job, maybe he had actually changed for the better. But I saw her tonight, and... well, let's just say she hasn't changed a bit..."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 27, 2008 21:24:12 GMT -5
He gave her a sympathetic look. He really had no desire to meet her family... It was hard not to hear stories of how they were, or their stance on things. They were somewhat infamous. Money tended to do that to people, he thought.
Which is why he had been surprised the day she showed up in the Auror office at the Ministry.
Now, he was starting to realize the time he missed in school. It wasn't that he had avoided her. She was just two years younger, and they moved in different circles.
He wasn't sure what to say about her sister being at the club tonight, and he couldn't tell if she was upset by it, or how much. "Well, if it means anything to you, I'd hire you," he said with a smile and a playful glint in his eye, deciding to try and get her mind off worrying about it until she heard for certain.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jul 27, 2008 21:52:13 GMT -5
Somehow his reply made all the difference in the world. Maybe it was just knowing that she had someone on her side, or maybe it was his fierce Hufflepuff loyalty, but it was good to hear, nevertheless. Besides, it was a relief to change the subject away from that of her sisters. The encounter with Bella still stung, but she didn't want him to see how much.
She broke into a smile, and nudged him playfully with her arm. "Well, thanks, I think," she joked. "But just what is this job you're hiring me for? What kind of work would be required of me?"
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 27, 2008 22:12:14 GMT -5
He gave her a purely cheeky grin before he laughed.
"I meant as a teaching assistant... But perhaps you'd be a good personal assistant, hm?" he teased her.
What he was really saying was that he would hire her for anything, were in such a position. She was clever, and he was sure she could pick up just about anything quickly.
"You'll let me know when you get the job?" he asked, careful not to say "if." He had confidence in her, and wanted her to as well.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jul 27, 2008 22:37:45 GMT -5
Still feeling playful, she laughed. "Well, if you decide that you need a personal assistant, be sure to let me know, and I'll apply," She gave him a flirtacious wink, then walked a bit ahead of him.
Somehow, this was so much easier than it had been in the club. Just walking with him, joking around, without all the music and lights and other people around. Here she felt comfortable, yet excited. Alive. It was strange how he could make her feel that way.
She turned around and walked back to where he was, stopping to face him seriously. "Of course I'll tell you," she replied. "I'm pretty sure you'll be the first one I talk to afterwards."
Slipping her hand into his, she looked up at him with interest. "So what about you? Can you talk about your mission at all? Or is it top secret?"
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 27, 2008 22:49:22 GMT -5
His jaw dropped ever so slightly at that statement and he stopped walking as she moved ahead of him. What had happened to his Andi? He liked it.
And oh, goodness, now he was calling her his, if only in his head.
He smirked before she turned back, gaining his bearings again. "I think there might be an opening..."
When she was back, he gave her hand a little squeeze out of habit, and tilting his head, wondering how much he could actually share with her.
"I don't think I can tell you where I was, or what I was supposed to do... But it went all right," he said. "I've got a few things to tell Vincent that he should be pleased with."
He entertained the idea of making up some heroic story to impress her, but smiled and decided against it. "Actually, I was chasing a lead that should have lead to a Death Eater or two, but on the whole, it was pretty uneventful."
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jul 27, 2008 23:14:14 GMT -5
Andi wasn't quite sure what had gotten into her tonight, unless it was the alcohol. Or was it just the excitement of seeing him again? It seemed to be true, the old adage about absence making the heart grow fonder. Now that he was back, she wanted to tell him that she didn't want him to leave ever again. Would that be too much? Although he was clearly still interested--and he'd thought of her while he'd been away--she couldn't help but worry that, sooner or later, he was going to realize that she wasn't really all that interesting after all. And she didn't want to act too eager, for fear it might scare him off.
She listened to him talk about his trip, nodding quietly. She understood that some things needed to be kept confidential. "Well, I'm sorry it didn't go as you'd hoped," she said. "But I'm glad you're back now. Hopefully, you won't have to go away again. I kinda like having you around."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 27, 2008 23:25:48 GMT -5
"Yeah?" he asked, smiling a little. "I kind of like being around."
He rolled his eyes at himself. If he could go off for weeks chasing Death Eaters, why couldn't he talk to a girl? He had thought of her while he had been away, on several occasions, and he liked the idea of coming back to her. He had given up immediate sleep just to find her tonight.
Grow some balls, he told himself. "What I meant is that... I like being around you."
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jul 28, 2008 10:55:58 GMT -5
Andi blushed. He was probably the only person who had ever been able to make her blush, and tonight she had done it more than ever before. "Thanks," she said softly, shivering as a cool breeze wafted through.
"It's funny, you know.... I was just thinking about you tonight, while I was at the club. I was wishing you were there... and suddenly you were. Is that strange or what?"
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 28, 2008 12:31:47 GMT -5
He wished he had a coat or something warm to give her when he saw that shiver, but he had nothing. "We can head back if you're cold," he offered.
"Oh, well, you must be magic," he laughed. "Wait... You are. That line works better on my little cousins," he decided, and shrugged. "It is a little strange actually, because I was supposed to be out for another week or so."
He hoped what she said hadn't meant that she'd only thought of him once while he'd been gone, and he just happened to show up. Well, after searching her out, but that was beside the point.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jul 28, 2008 13:11:43 GMT -5
"No, it's OK," she replied, shifting closer to him for warmth. "It's just a girl thing. We're always cold."
She laughed at his joke. "Oh, so do you think maybe I summoned you with my thoughts? Like, I could just say 'Accio Ted' and you'd appear whenever I wanted to see you? I like that idea, but there's only one problem with it...."
She stopped walking then, and smiled up at him teasingly, as the unspoken question hung in the air. She couldn't believe she was saying these things, but she couldn't seem to help herself. Somehow, she found herself just tossing caution to the wind, as she allowed her feelings to come out.
Moving in front of him, she put her hands on his shoulders. Her face was very serious, and her eyes met his boldly. "You see, if I could have you with me whenever I wanted to see you, I wouldn't have to summon you... you'd never leave."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 28, 2008 13:27:07 GMT -5
He gave her a serious look in return, waiting for her to tell him what exactly the problem with that would be.
Her reasoning made him smile, and he tilted his head slightly, regarding her. He swore he could see the stars reflected in her eyes.
He couldn't say anything at that point, and his hand came up, tilting her chin upwards.
"I would never want to leave, Andi,"
He kept his eyes on her as he pressed his lips against hers.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jul 28, 2008 14:59:20 GMT -5
If Andromeda had been the type of girl who swooned, she might have done just that as soon as he spoke. Still, she felt her knees going weak as he looked into her eyes... and then he kissed her. She closed her eyes and kissed him back without hesitation.
Finally she pulled away and looked up at him, her eyes filled with emotion. There were things she wanted to say, but she hesitated. She wasn't someone who could just toss those words out and not mean them. And she did mean them, very much. But if she said them, there would be no going back. But then... who wanted to go back, anyway?
"I think I..." she began, her heart pounding in her throat. "I think... I'd like to go back to my place now. Will you come in with me?" she said at last.
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 28, 2008 15:05:28 GMT -5
His eyes remained closed for a half second after she pulled away, as if committing that kiss to memory.
He was smiling gently, though, when he did open his eyes, not pressing her to talk or anything.
When she did, he wasn't quite sure what to say. Yes was the only word that came to mind, but then he thought of all the awkward moments, the pressure, that might result and he didn't want to do that to her.
But he wasn't going to say no. He swallowed and nodded. "If you'd liked me to, yes."
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jul 28, 2008 15:57:17 GMT -5
Andi took a breath, then nodded slowly. "Yes," she breathed, her voice just barely audible. "I think I would like that very much." She wasn't quite sure what she expected, or wanted, to have happen once they got there, but she found herself craving the comforts of home, where she could curl up on the sofa with him and just let whatever happened, happen.
"Or we could go to your place... I guess it doesn't really matter. I just want to be with you."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Jul 28, 2008 16:50:59 GMT -5
"Wherever you want to go, love," he said. They hadn't really been in each other's apartments. He had seen just inside her door once or twice, and he wasn't sure she had even seen that much of his. "You're always welcome at my place, though, Andi," he said, just to be sure she knew.
He took her hand again. "Lead the way."
He didn't know what she expected to happen, or wanted, but he swore silently that he'd be nothing but gentlemanly. He'd be whatever she wanted him to be.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jul 28, 2008 18:36:15 GMT -5
Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "I've never seen your apartment," she commented. "Tell me, is it like a typical single guy's apartment, with stacks of junk on the floor, old used furniture with holes in it, and a refrigerator with nothing but beer and old, stale pizza?" She tried to imagine what his place might look like, and she found she couldn't quite picture him being like that. The only single guy she had known, her uncle Alphard, had an apartment that was so messy, she was sure it would one day be condemned. And although she didn't think Ted was the messy type, she also knew she wouldn't mind even if it was. To her, he was perfect.
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