This Is How It Ends (Andi, Ted, Rabastan, Rita)

[Evelyn Turner]

Evelyn watched the deceitful scene play out in front of her in horror. She knew Rita Skeeter was cruel, but this was just plain wicked. Rita obviously knew this man, Ted, was Professor Black's boyfriend and here she was throwing herself at him. She was about to leave, disgusted by what she saw, when she heard the charming melody of Rabastan Lestrange's voice. She was frozen in her place. She couldn't let Rabastan see her spying on this. What would he think of her?

[Andromeda Tonks]

Andi didn't see anyone else. Rabastan, for all she was concerned, was just a wall to lean against. She didn't even see the blonde anymore. It was just Ted, against a smear of fuzzy gray colors.

"You didn't expect to see me?" she repeated blankly. Her mind felt fuzzy as she tried to make sense of what she had seen and what he was saying. "Why are you here? Who.... what.... why?" She couldn't even form coherent sentences.

[Ted Tonks]

Ted didn't know what to say, or how to make this right for either of them. Everything he felt told him to run to her and to hold her and to explain that he honestly had no idea how Rita's lips had ended up on his.

But he had been harbouring seeds of doubt since that night, and Rita had given them the water to sprout. She deserved so much more than him. She deserved the world and everything in it, and he couldn't give that to her.

His eyes flicked to Rabastan. Rabastan could give her everything she wanted, needed. He had the name and the means, and he would be welcomed by her family. She was already leaning into him for support, and if she still had feelings for him... well, maybe he was the one for her. Even if Ted loved her more, and harder, and deeper, Rabastan could give her more and make her happier.

"I've been thinking, Andi," Ted said slowly, as his eyes drew back to her. "I came to tell you..."

[Andromeda Tonks]

Andi shook her head vigorously. She didn't like the look in his eyes or the tone of his voice. Her face crumpled, and she bit down on her trembling bottom lip so hard that she tasted blood. Her mind, usually quick, was still in shock over what she had seen and didn't know how to react. She didn't even feel Rabastan's arms holding her up. All of her attention, her senses were focused on Ted.

"You came to tell me what?" she whispered. Her throat felt clogged with unshed tears and she couldn't seem to get her voice to go louder than a whisper. "Please, Ted.... just... tell me it's not what it looks like..." She needed to believe him so badly. Anything to stop her heart from breaking.

[Ted Tonks]

"It's exactly what it looks like."

His voice sounded so far away, and felt detached from his mind. Surely, he never would have willingly said that to her. His heart would have never allowed it, no matter what kind of logic his brain threw at him. His own heartbreak was evident in his eyes, and any third party.... Rita, Rabastan, or Evelyn, would have been able to see that it had not been what it looked like.

"I came to tell you that I got what I wanted." That was true, too, but his treachorous tongue had a way of spinning the truth in terrible ways right now.

[Andromeda Tonks]

Andi was very sure she was going to be sick. Her stomach lurched dangerously, and she doubled over as if he'd kicked her. Her legs would simply not support her anymore, and she found herself clinging to the wall behind her, which she still barely even recognized as another person.

"Wh.... What?" she gasped. "Ted... no... After what we said... I poured my heart out to you..."

She had to wake up from this nightmare. It had to be a nightmare... something where Rabastan and Ted had switched places in her mind. Or maybe Ted was under the Imperious Curse. Because this couldn't be real.

[Ted Tonks]

Ted couldn't continue with his half truths. He had no more he could say to her because he loved her so much. He only wanted what was best for her. While in an ideal world, he wanted to believe that he was what was best for her, he simply couldn't believe that. Love died. You don't belong to someone no matter what kind of contract you sign... you have to choose each other every day. Andromeda would always be his choice, but when the wizarding world at large wanted to pull her away from him... how long until her choice changed? He wanted her to still be able to have that choice.

His head dropped, and he ran his hand through his hair again. "You should go, Andi."

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Rabastan was quiet, letting things happen. Whatever doubts Rita had sewn into the mudblood's head, they had worked wonders. As much as he told himself to stay away from Rita, he was going to have to find some way to congratulate her on fantastic work.

Whenever Andi faltered, he wrapped his arms more securely around her, just being there, and being ready to catch whatever pieces of Andi's heart shattered. Ted was doing this to himself... Andi would only hurt for a little while, but she would be theirs again.

[Andromeda Tonks]

Andi stared at him for a long moment, not speaking. Her breath was heavy, and the edges of everything were smeared with moisture from the tears that swam in her eyes but refused to fall.

And then, as he told her to go, something snapped inside her. How dare he tell her to leave? She worked here! He didn't. He was the one who didn't belong here. And if this was the way he wanted it to be, then fine.

Pulling away from the wall, which seemed to be holding her back, she moved forward until she was just a few feet away from Ted. "No," she said in a loud, clear voice, her eyes flashing furiously. "You leave. If this is the way you want it, then get out. I work here, and as a Hogwarts staff member, I order you to leave the premises!" She pointed to the door. "Get out of my sight!" This last part was shouted, and seemed to echo through out the halls.

[Ted Tonks]

Ted wouldn't meet her eyes, but he swallowed, his throat closing on itself so that he could barely breathe. He was giving up on her. He fought for everything he had ever gotten in this life. People told him how easily things came to him, but they were wrong. He made it look easy, but that was it.

She was the one thing that he hadn't had to fight for. She had fought for him... and he was letting that go.

He had to keep telling himself that it was for the best, that she needed to be with her family. And with that thought, he pressed the flowers into her hands, and then side stepped her, his feet carrying him to the door.

[Andromeda Tonks]

Andi couldn't watch him go. She stood, frozen, staring blankly down at the bedraggled flowers in her hand. What were they for? Pity flowers? "Thanks for the shag" flowers? "Sorry I kissed a cheap blonde tramp in front of you" flowers? Or were they goodbye flowers?

Whatever they were, she wanted nothing to do with them. She brutally ripped the blossoms from the stems and dropped them on the floor. Then she stood there, waiting to hear the sound of the door being closed. She couldn't watch him walk out of her life.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

The door fell closed with a heavy thud. There was silence in the hall for what seemed like an eternity, and none of them knew that Ted hadn't made it past that closed door. He was slumped outside.

Rabastan waited a moment before he took a step towards his ex girlfriend, his teacher, his victim. "Andromeda..." he said softly, surprised to realize that he really did want to be there for her.

[Andromeda Tonks]

Andi was genuinely surprised to hear his voice. She had forgotten anyone else was in the hall with her. That other people had been witness to her humiliation. But she was not at all in the mood for his comfort or his pity.

She spun on him, drawing her wand and pointing it at him. "Get away from me!" she hissed. "For the last time, Rabastan, we are not friends! We never will be, do you hear me? You just forget you ever saw that, and if you repeat it to anyone, I will hit you with a boil curse so bad that no one will want to get close enough to you to cure you!"

Whirling around, she turned to the cheap blond. "And you! Get the hell out of my sight, before I deduct 100 points from your house, whatever it is! Now!" She was shaking with barely suppressed rage, and desperately wanted to break something.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Rabastan didn't move. He stayed still, and watched her, though to his credit, he was quiet. He put his hands in his pockets, a gentle look in his eyes. He really did feel badly for her, but it was for the best. She would see that.

[Andromeda Tonks]

No one was moving. "Just get out!" she yelled. "Back to your houses, now!" Glaring at Rabastan, she again pointed her wand at him. "I do not want your sympathy, Rabastan. Least of all from you. Just go away, do you hear me?"

She needed to cry, she needed to scream, she needed to throw something. The pain inside her was unbearable, and she no longer doubted the silly stories where people died of broken hearts. Anything this painful had to be fatal.

[Rita Skeeter]

Rita watched in silence but she didn't change her demeanor, if nothing else it was more authentic when she acted like a simpering schoolgirl swept off her feet by some roguish man who was willing to use a woman and then toss her aside. The same effect he had painted for himself to Andromeda and Rita wasn't about to betray that effect. After all it was what she'd worked to help happen and she inwardly felt proud of her success. It was for her own good, the woman should know that pureblood should stick to her own kind, being one herself she knew well the status that came from it and was able to be satisfied with herself knowing she was doing the woman a favor.

Though if she'd been Andi she would have taken Rabastan up on his offer.. if nothing else he was sexy and would have been a welcome oblivion from any pain she might have felt in Ted. When Ted left she looked after him as if she wanted to join him, she didn't really but then again she wouldn't have minded another kiss if she knew she could manage .. he was vulnerable after all now.. but upon the thread of Andromeda Black to deduct points she figured she wouldn't tempt fate. She was lucky she'd only gotten threats but Rita knew that it had been worth it. Her own reasons entwined with Bella's.. and apparently Rabastan's as well... she'd have a great story from this.

Rita touched her lips which were slightly swollen from a kiss and then turned and walked very calmly with her head high towards the dungeons and into her house commons. Perfect, ahh the power of words if woven by a master could change the thoughts of men and mankind.

[Andromeda Tonks]

Andi felt better when the blonde had gone. She didn't know her name, and she didn't care to. Thankfully, the tramp didn't appear to be in her class, because she knew she'd never be able to treat the girl with anything but contempt.

Turning back to Rabastan, who still stood silent and motionless, she slowly lowered her wand. Already the fight was going out of her; she just wanted to collapse and give into the pain that was raging inside her like a hurricane. A part of her almost even wanted to let Rabastan hold her and comfort her, if only because he was the nearest warm body. But her pride, though shredded, wouldn't allow it. She wouldn't let this man get that close to her again. She wouldn't let any man get that close to her again.

"Please don't stand there and stare at me with that look on your face," she said, her voice softer. "I can't stand it. Just go back to your house. I'll be fine... somehow."

But she was quite sure that she was not fine. Not in the least. She was plummeting down a very deep hole and she had yet to reach the bottom. Still, without another word to him, she turned and walked down the hall in the direction of the staff room, with as much dignity as she could muster. It wasn't until she entered the room and closed the door behind her that she allowed herself to collapse into tears.

[Evelyn Turner]

Evelyn was completely frozen, but now it was not by Rabastan's presence. The scene that she had just witnessed was far worse than what she had thought she was going to oversee. How could Rita do that? How could Ted go along with it? Evelyn was in tears for Andromeda and she barely knew the woman. She stayed in her hiding spot now until everyone had left. How humiliating that all must have been without a stranger there having seen it all.

Evelyn cried quietly in the small space she had found for herself. She didn't think she would ever care this much about Professor Black, the woman was too close to Rabastan. But what had just happened! Why had Ted lied to her? It didn't make sense. He told Rita he loved Andromeda. Anything Rita said should have just been white noise.

She had to tell Professor Black the truth about what had happened. She couldn't let anyone be hurt that way for no reason. And there was no reason for what had happened.

Evelyn peered around the corner that hid her, but Rabastan was still there. He hadn't gone with Professor Black, that was comforting. At the time Evelyn wasn't able to be pleased that the professor had not turned to Rabastan, but now that they were alone she felt better. The tears stopped at the sight of him, though her face was still soaked and her eyes red.

"Rabastan, that was terrible!" She came forward slowly, scanning the rest of the hall but finding it empty. "Rita is such a b*tch. It wasn't Ted's fault at all!" Certainly Rabastan would help her find Professor Black.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Rabastan had stayed still. It did pull at his heartstrings a little that Andromeda was so hurt... but it would be good for her in the long run. Se'd be safer, happier, better cared for. Heck, maybe he'd even marry her... she would never have to worry about anything, and he would dote on her if she wanted him to.

The redhaired Gryffindor caught him off guard, ripping him from his thoughts as Andi ran off, and it took him a moment to realize what she was saying.

"Evelyn... what do you mean?" He asked, trying to gauge just how much the girl had heard, since she was blaming RIta, she had obviously heard something.

[Evelyn Turner]

She looked to the stairs where Professor Black had disappeared to. "Rita jumped Ted. He was here to see Professor Black. I don't know why he lied, but it wasn't what it looked like. We have to tell the professor." She wiped a lingering tear from her face and looked back to Rabastan.