Secrets Well Kept

Chapter Four || Edward

Ted sighed, shaking his head slightly, as he leaned against the table. Even though it had only been a few days into the new school year, he couldn't help but feel things had been better between him and Andromeda when Bella had plagued the school's halls.

First on the train, and then just now, she was pushing him away. He didn't have much time to think alone, however, as a voice spoke up behind him, startling him greatly.

"A bit of extra studying young Edward?" spoke up a voice that Ted recognized as belonging to the Fat Friar, his Houses ghost.

"Friar," Ted greeted, as he turned to face the ghost. "I was just getting ready to leave actually, tutoring sessions over and all," he explained, picking up his textbook.

The Friar smiled slightly. "Tutoring with Miss Andromeda Black I assume?" he asked.

Ted frowned. "How did you-?" he asked, sounding mildly confused.

"I passed by the girl on her way out, and besides, many of the castles ghosts have been talking about it," the Friar explained.

Ted nodded slightly, although he didn't look too relieved at an answer.

"I'm not one to give into rumors, but word amongst us ghosts is that these tutoring sessions are a bit more than just study sessions?" the Friar asked, raising a ghostly eyebrow.

Ted's blushing gave it all away, even as he glanced down. "Look, it's not-" he started to say.

"Oh to be young and in love," the Friar said, shaking his head slightly as he smiled, leaving Ted to flush even more. "Miss Black is a smart young lady too," he added.

"Look, Friar, I should really be heading back to the common room..." Ted started to say.

The Friar now frowned. "Ah, I see," he said, seeming to have figured something out. Before Ted could question, the Friar spoke again. "You two are not seeing eye to eye? Perhaps you would like some advice?" the Friar suggested.

Ted felt himself blushing even more, by this point he was surely tomato red. He was on the verge of saying no, when he changed his mind, relaxing a bit. "Actually yeah, some advice would be nice," he conceded.

The Friar nodded, smiling a bit. "Well, tell me what it is that happened," he invited.

Ted nodded slightly, before launching into explaining how worried Andromeda had seemed, and how strangely enough, even with Bella gone, she seemed even more worried than usual.

"Basically, I'm hopelessly confused as to what it is she wants," he concluded, now focusing on the floorboards beneath his feet.

The Friar nodded thoughtfully, remaining silent for what seemed to stretch on for eternity. Finally, he spoke.

"The Black family has been around for a long time," the Friar said. "And they have always been a family that takes much pride in their blood status, as some witches and wizards do," he said.

"Miss Andromeda here, and I suspect her young cousin Sirius are a different case than the rest of their family," he said. "Miss Andromeda has always been much kinder than any of the Blacks who have come through these halls, and young Sirius, why he's only been here a few days and already he has shown to be much different than the rest of his family, the Sorting Hat saw that much," the Friar said.

"Miss Andromeda may very well be right, Edward, I fear that you do not quite understand how highly the Blacks praise their pure-blood," he cautioned. "Miss Andromeda, she does not appear to care about such insignificant things as blood purity, but that does not mean her family is the same," he said, now noticing that Ted looked rather distressed by this news.

"But," he said. "Love is a powerful thing, more powerful than many give it credit," he said. "If you truly love this young lass, and she feels the same way, there may just be hope for you two young ones yet," the Friar concluded.

Ted nodded a bit, digesting this carefully. "Thank you, Friar," he said, now standing to pick up his stuff. "I appreciate the advice, I really do," he said, now glancing at his watch. "I do think that I should be returning to the common room, however," he said, stepping towards the door.

The Friar nodded, smiling a bit. "Good night, young Edward," he bided farewell.