A New World Bursting into Bloom (1/2)

A NEW WORLD BURSTING INTO BLOOM

Summary:

“Andromeda Black, I like you.” Ted grinned. “You want to go to Hogsmeade together next weekend?”

“What? No,” Andromeda said. “Wait, what are you asking me?”

Was he laughing at her? She was quite sure he was laughing at her. “I’m asking you if you want to go to Hogsmeade with me.”

“I – no. I’m sorry.” Andromeda winced as she said it, but she couldn’t think of a kinder way to reject him. She walked away wondering what in Merlin’s name made him think that was a reasonable thing to ask.

It was only much later, after the lights in the dormitory were out, that it occurred to Andromeda to wonder what made her think it wasn’t.

Characters: Andromeda, Ted, various Black family members

Rating: PG-13 for brief mentions of sex between consenting teenagers

Words: ~11,000

Notes: The idea for this story was initially inspired by MandyinKC, who has called Ted the "great unseen character" in my Andromeda stories – crucial to the story, yet always just offstage. I wanted to give Ted his chance to appear onstage, too!

Thank you to stereolightning for beta-reading!

Oh, and I don't think I've ever thought to say this, but everything I post here can also be found at AO3 – under the same user name, starfishstar – if you prefer reading stories there. This story, for example, is here.

(This story formerly titled "A Series of Firsts.")

Story:

( A New World Bursting into Bloom )

A New World Bursting into Bloom (2/2)

A NEW WORLD BURSTING INTO BLOOM
(second half of the story; continues from the first half)

Summary:

“Andromeda Black, I like you.” Ted grinned. “You want to go to Hogsmeade together next weekend?”

“What? No,” Andromeda said. “Wait, what are you asking me?”

Was he laughing at her? She was quite sure he was laughing at her. “I’m asking you if you want to go to Hogsmeade with me.”

“I – no. I’m sorry.” Andromeda winced as she said it, but she couldn’t think of a kinder way to reject him. She walked away wondering what in Merlin’s name made him think that was a reasonable thing to ask.

It was only much later, after the lights in the dormitory were out, that it occurred to Andromeda to wonder what made her think it wasn’t.

Story:

( A New World Bursting into Bloom, second half )