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Post by Amelia Bones on Nov 16, 2008 14:56:23 GMT -5
Amelia didn't know what to do. If Andi saw Ted, her evening would surely be ruined. And if Ted saw Andi, how would he react? And Andi didn't want to leave. To push it would make it seem like something was going on, and she didn't want Andi suspicious of anything else. She had enough worries on her mind.
"Yeah, alright." Amelia spotted a table in the far back corner of the pub. "Let's sit over there, so we can talk." Amelia guided Andi toward the table, trying to block her view of the couple at the bar as they went.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Nov 16, 2008 18:16:48 GMT -5
"That looks good," Andi said as she followed Amelia to the table in the corner, remaining blissfully oblivious to Ted's presence. She sat down, facing the opposite direction from the bar, and buried her face in her hands.
"It's so hard, you know? I want to believe in him. I put everything out on the line for him... I gave up my family... I really want to believe that he was worth it. That I wasn't duped again. What do you think?"
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Post by Arthur Weasley on Nov 16, 2008 22:24:57 GMT -5
Arthur was the only one who saw them as they moved toward the table in the back. He was facing Veronica and Ted, so he spotted Andi immediately as she passed behind them. He wasn't aware that Amelia had seen Ted and was trying to shield Andi from seeing Ted. All he knew was that he had to find a way to keep Ted from seeing Andi.
Unfortunately, there was only one way he could think of to do that. "You know what, Veronica? I think this was a bad idea. We should just let Ted go home. It's obvious he doesn't want to be here."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Nov 16, 2008 22:34:52 GMT -5
Ted glanced up at this outburst from Arthur. He hadn't even said anything. He gave Arthur a dark look for a moment, and resisted telling him to go to hell.
Instead, he finished his drink and turned to Veronica, putting his eyeline in Andi's direction, though he didn't spot her right away.
"Roni, let me go home. You and I will go out another time, just us, and we'll catch up, all right? I promise. I'll even be shaved beforehand," he added, trying to smile.
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Post by Veronica Massey on Nov 17, 2008 0:12:51 GMT -5
Veronica glared at Arthur. What was he doing? He'd agreed to be nice and supportive tonight. Now why was he acting like this? "Ted, don't listen to Arthur, OK? Tell you what. Why don't you and I get a table over there and Arthur can stay here and talk with Joseph? You're here to see me, remember? Come on, I'd love to tell you about my time in Madrid..."
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Post by Amelia Bones on Nov 17, 2008 0:23:54 GMT -5
"It's not as though you didn't do the right thing in dropping your family, Andi. They weren't good people. They weren't good for you. So even if Ted 'duped' you, which I really don't think he did, your better off without you family. And as for Ted..." And as for Ted what? Amelia didn't know whether Ted had been honest about his cheating or not. She had no idea if he had seduced Andi to get at the Black Family money, like Rita's article said. "I do know how he spoke about you at my brunch. I've never seen a man with such love in his eyes. I don't think he got into a relationship with you for any other reason than he fancied you."
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Nov 17, 2008 0:36:25 GMT -5
Andi felt a little better at this. "You're right, Amelia. My family... they're horrible. After the article came out, they all descended on me like vultures. My father disowned me just because I didn't apologize for falling in love... and then my mother came over and insulted me and then ordered me to marry Rabastan Lestrange!" She sighed. "I won't do it. I don't want to be let back in the family. I'm happier without them."
At the mention of Ted at the brunch, she looked at her friend hopefully. "I know the look you mean," she said. "I saw it, too. And it's one of the reasons I can't believe he was lying to me. And I don't believe he was cheating on me with Rita, either. I think she threw herself at him to get a better story. I just don't know why he let me believe it. The only thing I can think of is that he was trying to protect me."
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Post by joseph on Nov 17, 2008 0:40:22 GMT -5
Joseph shook Ted's hand, feigning enjoyment at their meeting. Joseph respected everyone who worked for the Department that didn't mean he couldn't consider himself better than some. As Arthur introduced Veronica, Joseph couldn't help but smile at the lovely Auror. Grabbing her hand gently he lightly kissed the top of it, "Enchante, Veronica. My, I didn't know the Auror's made em as good looking as you."
Taking a step back, Joseph allowed the three friends to continue talking as he watched in silence. Slipping into Hitwizard mode his eyes began to scan the crowd in the small pub until he noticed Amelia Bones enter the place, then Arthur seemed to try and break up their little group, deciding he was going to try and have a little fun he grabbed Arthur around the shoulder and pulled him back. "How about we all just keep having fun, Arthur will behave...promise?" He flashed a wink at Veronica, she was quite lovely perhaps this evening would be fun after all, if nothing else he could have fun in the attempt.
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Post by Amelia Bones on Nov 17, 2008 0:44:19 GMT -5
Amelia shook her head slightly. "I can't help you there, Andi. I don't have any theories as to why someone would do that. Clearly he wasn't trying to protect you from Rita, because she can't be stopped. And its not right what your family did to you because of it." She waved down the waiter, hoping to get some drinks so they didn't have to go to the bar to get them. "And please don't marry a Lestrange," she said as an after thought. "They're as bad as your family."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Nov 17, 2008 5:28:51 GMT -5
Ted wanted to go home, and Joseph, the man Arthur brought to keep him distracted from Ted, was complimenting *his* best friend now, and he didn't like it.
He nodded to her before she could respond to Joseph. "Yeah, all right. I'd love to hear about it," he said, getting to his feet and grabbing their drinks. The only reason he had given in so easily was because he didn't want Joseph flirting with Veronica and taking her away too. It was a silly concern, but he hadn't been very rational, lately.
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Post by Veronica Massey on Nov 17, 2008 17:11:17 GMT -5
Veronica smiled apologetically at Joseph. "I think maybe I need to talk to Ted alone... he's going through a rough time, you know." She shot another glare at Arthur, who would certainly be hearing from her about this in the office tomorrow. She turned around, intending to look for a table in the back, where she and Ted could be alone. If she had turned her head just a little bit more, she would have spotted Andi, but she was stopped by the sound of Arthur's voice.
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Post by Arthur Weasley on Nov 17, 2008 17:22:33 GMT -5
Realizing that Veronica and Ted were about to go straight towards Andromeda, Arthur had to stop them. He wasn't sure at this point whether he was protecting Ted or Andi, or perhaps both, but he was reasonably sure that this was not the best place for the two of them to see each other. Not while Ted had Veronica at his side.
"Wait," he called again, sighing. "Don't go. I promised I would be nice, and I've been an arse. I'm sorry, Ted... I'm really not mad at you. I'm just upset about the thing with Molly. Come on, stay. I wanted to ask you about this muggle thing that Gideon found for me, anyway."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Nov 18, 2008 0:02:44 GMT -5
Ted turned, glaring at Arthur. "If you're not careful, I'm going to pay you back for that punch you threw," he threatened. He didn't feel like dealing with Arthur's hot and cold. He'd already pushed Ted twice, a third time and he would hit his friend.
"Come on, Roni," he said, turning back towards the tables.
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Post by Arthur Weasley on Nov 18, 2008 0:13:34 GMT -5
Well, that just bloody did it. He no longer cared if Ted was hurt by the sight of Andi on the other side of the room. But he did care if Andi saw him. She hadn't done anything wrong, and as far as he knew, she wasn't being a pain in the arse. She didn't deserve to be hurt.
But what could he do? He shot Veronica a look, kind of nodding in the direction that Andi was sitting. With Ted looking on, he couldn't think of any other way to get the message across.
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Post by Ted Tonks on Nov 18, 2008 4:30:07 GMT -5
Ted started towards the tables, and wanted to get as far away from Arthur as possible.
Of course, Amelia had taken Andi as far away from Arthur and Ted as possible, and it only took another moment for him to see her.
He steps stopped dead, and he thought his heart did too. He needed to talk to her.
His hand reached behind him, looking blindly for Veronica. Finally, he tore his eyes from Andi, and looked at his friend. "I have to go home."
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Post by Veronica Massey on Nov 18, 2008 11:27:50 GMT -5
Veronica had been trying to talk with Arthur, mouthing "what is wrong with you?" to him when Ted had spotted Andi. So when he grabbed her and said he had to go home, Veronica was about to protest. But as she turned to him, her eyes fell on Andromeda sitting in the corner, and she understood. She realized then why Arthur seemed to be all over the place, and why Ted suddenly needed to leave.
Nodding slowly, she put her hand on his arm. "Of course," she said. "Do you want me to go with you?"
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Nov 18, 2008 15:35:06 GMT -5
"Oh, believe me, I have no intention whatsoever of marrying Rabastan or any one else my parents approve of," Andi was saying, a trace of her proud attitude returning to her voice. "I always do the opposite of what my mother tells me to do. It's the only way I can be sure I won't turn out like her." She shuddered in horror. "Besides, after what happened with Ted, I'm not sure I'll ever get married." Her gaze was fixed on Amelia as she twisted her lips into a sad half-smile. "He was the one I wanted, and I just don't think I can give anyone else that much of myself. I don't think I have enough left, you know?"
The familiar ache in her heart flared up, and she turned slightly, looking around for a barmaid in the hopes of getting a drink. But instead her eyes caught a movement near the bar and her eyes locked with Ted's.
She felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't move. All she could do, for one terrifying second, was stare at him, her heart pounding in her throat. Part of her hoped that he was come to her and tell her that it had all been a mistake and that he still loved her and wanted her back. Another part of her wanted to run to him, to yell at him ask him why. And yet another part just wanted to run away, with the hope that he would chase after her. Her decision was made for her when she caught another movement next to him. A pretty brunette turned around and put her hand on his arm.
Instantly, her world crumbled around her, the effect of which was mirrored in her face. Her eyes filled with tears, and she didn't even turn to Amelia as she mumbled, "I'm sorry, Amelia, I have to go."
Then she got up and ran fir the door, nearly crashing into a barmaid as she went.
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Post by Ted Tonks on Nov 18, 2008 16:58:39 GMT -5
Ted couldn't tear his eyes away from her. He couldn't remember, was the the first time he had seen her since that day at the school? Yes, it was, and God, she was beautiful and perfect, and he missed her.
He was frozen when their eyes locked, and he was unable to answer Veronica right away. Then, she bolted, and it may have been the alcohol that made him act, for once, helping him out.
He pulled out of Veronica's arm and followed Andromeda's path, not looking at his bestfriend or hers, and ran until he caught up to her. Reaching out and taking her arm, he gently turned her to face him.
"Andi, wait."
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Nov 18, 2008 17:19:32 GMT -5
He stopped her. He had come after her. Those were her only thoughts; hopeful, desperate thoughts, as she turned around to face him. She couldn't breathe as she looked into his eyes.... those beautiful blue eyes.
She'd almost forgotten how handsome he was. She had half-hoped, when she saw him, that he would be shaggy and unshaven and as miserable as she was. But instead, he was clean-shaven. His hair was a little long... just long enough to tangle her fingers in. And he looked a little thinner than she had remembered. But he still looked incredible and she wanted nothing more than to lose herself in his arms.
A tear trickled down her cheek and she drew a shaky breath. She didn't even know what to say... she didn't trust her words at that moment. "Ted, please..." she breathed. She wasn't even sure what she was asking for.
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Post by Ted Tonks on Nov 18, 2008 17:33:12 GMT -5
Oh, Merlin, she was crying. He couldn't handle her crying, especially knowing it was because of him.
"No, don't tell me to leave," He said. She didn't want to stay and talk to him, and understood that. He didn't really deserve her staying, after all, but everyone kept pushing him to talk to her, and now that he had that chance, he felt that he had to. He needed to make things right.
"I miss you."
It was stupid, but it was something.
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