From Opposite Sides

No One Is Alone

"Throw me a rope
to hold me in place;
Show me a clock
for counting my days down;
'Cause everything's easier
when you're beside me;
Come back and find me,
'Cause I feel alone."

-KT Tunstall

Andromeda endured about two months of uncertainty. She knew it would be dangerous for Ted to contact her, but she still yearned to see him again. Receiving no news whatsoever left her drained of happiness; drained of power; drained of... everything. Where was he? Colorful leaves and a drop in the temperature announced the arrival of autumn. He must be dreadfully cold, Andromeda thought. Every passing day became more nerve-wracking than the one before.

Knock, knock, knock.

Andromeda hadn't anticipated anyone, yet she wasn't altogether shocked to find her daughter, Nymphadora, when she opened the door. Dora's eyes were puffy. She's been crying again. Her husband had left her because she was pregnant. Well, no; it was more complex than that. Remus Lupin was a werewolf, and he'd run away because he was frightened that he'd given life to another one. Kind of a cowardly thing to do, in Andromeda's opinion. Dora still went to work at the Ministry, though, trying to find updates on Ted.

She waved to her daughter, whose baby bump was beginning to reveal from the outside of her coat. "Come on in, Dora. I was just going to put some tea on the stove."

Dora walked up the steps, shaking her head feebly. "No thanks. I'm not thirsty or hungry." She wordlessly took her mother's hand and brought her to the living room sofa.

"Do you have any news?" Andromeda urged anxiously when they were settled down.

That set Dora off into terrifying sobs. "Oh, Mum... the Snatchers killed Dad this morning."

With those words, Andromeda's world crumbled from underneath her. She clutched onto her daughter, the most valuable thing she had left. Unlike when she was a teenager, Dora held onto her for dear life. After crying for a few minutes straight, Andromeda's mind flooded with memories of Ted. She'd miss the way he called her "Dromeda"; the cute awkwardness he had when they started dating; the thousands of laughs they'd shared, as well as kisses; the safety of his arms when her parents and sisters had shunned her. He'd taught her to stand up against the injustices of the world, and now, he'd become a victim of it.

Andromeda practically squeezed Dora, desperately trying not to lose her head. "Thank goodness I still have you."

Within months, Dora was gone, too. She and Remus were murdered in the Battle of Hogwarts, where Lord Voldemort finally fell. Thankfully (and tragically), their son, Teddy Lupin, was born a few weeks beforehand. On that wonderful day, she'd been ecstatic to learn that he would share Ted's name, and that he was a Metamorphagus like Dora. Like most grandmothers, Andromeda couldn't wait to shower him with gifts on his birthday and for Christmas. She'd even agreed to be Teddy's guardian if something terrible occurred, but she hadn't ever thought it might actually become real.

Spring turned to summer, but it felt like a permanent winter to Andromeda. Half-heartedly, she took care of Teddy, nursed him and rocked him to sleep. A never-ending chill filled her soul that consumed her from inside out. In the midst of July, the hollow shell that had once been Andromeda Tonks went to bed early, as had been her custom lately. She never did get used to sleeping alone. Of course, the minute she crumpled onto her mattress, Teddy cried out for her.