Love The Heartless

Chapter Eleven

May 12th, 1970

"Wakey wakey! Happy birthday!" Aurora exclaimed as she burst into Andromeda's bedroom, confetti shooting from her wand.

"Aurora, it's eight am." Andromeda groaned from under her blanket.
"Yes, but it's your sixteenth birthday!" Aurora threw herself on the bed, making Andromeda scoot over to give her room.
"It's just sixteen. It's not even a special birthday."
"Every birthday is special, my dear. Besides. You have a present waiting in the living room for you to open."

"Really?" Andromeda opened one eye to peek at the older witch.
"You think I was gonna let you go without having a present to open on your birthday? Come on. Up!"

Andromeda yawned and got out of bed, sleepily walking to the living room to see a life-size box.
"Rory, what did you do?" Andromeda poked the box, expecting it to explode.

"Just open it!" Aurora could hardly contain her excitement. 

Andromeda pulled the large bow, letting the box magically open, revealing her present.

Ted Tonks.

"TED!?" Andromeda gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
"Surprise, love!" Ted held his lanky arms open. 
"How- what- how?" 

"Ted reached out and asked if there was any way that he could see you for your birthday. I flooed over and got him this morning, and he's staying until Arthur and Molly's wedding. Although, he'll be sleeping in the living room." Aurora added that last part with a warning tone. She didn't want any funny business going on between the two teenagers.
"Oh my God! I can't believe you're here!" Andromeda launched herself into Ted's arms, hugging him tightly.

"I know you've missed him. I figured this was the best birthday gift you could get."

"Thank you, Rory! You're the best!" Andromeda stepped away from Ted and wrapped Aurora in a hug. 
"You're welcome, kid. You deserve the best," Aurora patted the younger girl's back. "Now, I need to pop off to work. I'm trusting you two to not get into any funny business." 
"No funny business." Ted held up his hands in surrender.
"Please try to keep the house clean, we're having a few people over for your birthday." 

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"'Dromeda! Ted! Door!" Aurora called from the kitchen.
"Good evening, Professor!" Aurora heard Ted say cheerfully.
"Good evening, Mr. Tonks. Happy birthday, Miss Black." McGonagall's voice carried to the kitchen.

"Dinner is almost finished, Minnie!" Aurora pulled the roast out of the oven, letting it sit on the counter.
"Good evening, Aurora. Thank you for the invitation." Aurora turned to see McGonagall in her signature green robes, her hair down in a braid instead of her usual bun.
"Thank you for coming. I wanted Andromeda to have a nice dinner," Aurora turned and waved her wand, expanding the dining room table. "Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett are coming, and so are Gideon and Fabian. Kingsley Shacklebolt said he would try to stop by for a bit if he had time."
"Everything looks wonderful, Aurora. You should be quite proud of yourself." McGonagall patted the younger witch's shoulder while placing a bottle of wine on the counter.

"Why, Minnie. Are you trying to get me drunk?" Aurora laughed.
"Just a little something for the host. Although, I wouldn't mind if she spared a glass or two for her favorite Professor."
"Of course," Aurora tapped the bottle with her wand, placing a silent never emptying spell she had learned from one of the many parties she had attended in the Slytherin common room on the bottle while grabbing a few wine glasses.

"Kids! Door!" Aurora called.

"Got it!" Ted called.

------------

"Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Andromeda
Happy birthday to you!"

Andromeda closed her eyes, smiling as she blew out the candles on the cake that Aurora had made.

"Wicked-looking cake, Nott!" Fabian exclaimed.
"Looks brilliant!" Gideon agreed.

"Thanks, guys. It's a butterbeer cake. 'Dromeda's favorite." Aurora waved her wand, the cake splitting into equal pieces for everyone. 
"Time for gifts!" Molly clapped happily, pushing a box towards Andromeda.
"You guys! You didn't have to get me anything." Andromeda smiled brightly.
"Mollywobbles and I wanted to. You were always my favorite cousin." Arthur smiled at the younger witch.

Andromeda opened the box, pulling out a knitted green sweater, with a silver 'A' on the front.
"Thanks, guys! I love it! It'll be great during winter."

"Here's a little something from us." Gideon handed Andromeda a box with a wink.
Andromeda opened the box with a laugh.
"I don't think the Professors in the room would approve of these gifts, but thank you, guys!"
"Now I'm curious." Aurora tried to peek into the box, but Andromeda put the lid on it.
"Sorry, Professor Nott. Can't show you. I do believe this is on Flich's banned product list."

"Well, I'm sure my gift will pale in comparison, but regardless." McGonagall handed Andromeda a book.
"Advanced Transfiguration! Thank you, Professor!" Andromeda opened the book and flipped through the pages.

"One last gift." Ted handed Andromeda a small box.
"But you're my present. You didn't have to get me anything." Andromeda shook her head.
"Just bloody open it!" Gideon and Fabian shouted.

Andromeda opened the box and gasped, almost dropping the box.
"Ted?" She turned to see Ted Tonks kneeling on one knee, grinning up at her.

"Andromeda Irma Black. I've loved you since the day I saw you on the Hogwarts Express in first year. I've known that you were the one for me since you finally agreed to give me a chance in our third year. Nothing would make me happier than to be your husband. So, will you have me?"

Andromeda's mouth was dropped in shock. She was staring at Ted, unable to move.

"Answer the man!" The Prewett twins exclaimed, earning a slap on the back of their heads from Molly.

"Yes! Bloody hell Ted, of course I'll marry you!" Andromeda leapt up and knocked the boy over in a hug.

Aurora wiped away a happy tear as everyone in the room started cheering and congratulating the young couple.
"He's a good one, that boy," McGonagall said while patting Aurora's shoulder.
"Oh, I know. I'm just so happy for both of them. They deserve everything good in this world."

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"Did you know?" Andromeda asked Aurora after everyone had left.
"Of course, I knew. Ted asked for my permission to ask you." Aurora smiled at the memory of the boy asking this morning.

"He did?"
"Of course I did," Ted said as he walked into the room. "She's essentially your parent. I'm old-fashioned." 
"The three of us do need to talk though." Aurora sat down at the dining room table, the young couple joining her.

"My only request is that you two finish school before you get married. And I know that you two are now engaged, but if you two decide to be intimate-"
"Oh my God." Andromeda groaned and put her head in her hands.
"Please do it safely. I was sixteen not that long ago." 
"I did not need the image of you and my sister in my brain." Andromeda balked.

"I'm just saying. I understand teenage hormones and all that. And Ted, you'll still be sleeping in the living room." 
"Yes ma'am." Ted nodded with a grin. 

"Now I'm going to bed, you two try to get some sleep. We need to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow to get you two outfits for Molly and Arthur's wedding this weekend."