Work Text:
Andy meets Andie
By: SnarkyGranger1
Hermione is waiting for her girlfriend, Andy Sachs, to come to Grimmauld Place for some afternoon tea on a Saturday in July. She moved in there with Harry and Ginny after the war ended and has completed her schooling at Hogwarts. Kreacher brightened the place once he found that Tom Riddle was gone. He even has taken down the portraits and house elves’ heads. It looks so much better than it had when they all stayed there briefly during what would have been their final year.
Harry walks into the kitchen to find Hermione pacing. “What is bugging you today?”
“I am nervous for some reason,” Hermione grips her hands together as they walk out of the room to head towards the drawing room. “I don’t know why. I mean, Andy has been here before for dinner.”
“Is it that I told you that Andie is bringing Teddy over so she can do errands for the afternoon?”
“Maybe?” Hermione looks at Harry. “Having two Andies in the room at once will be weird.”
“True, although they both spell it differently.” Harry rubs his chin, then smiles when the floo roars into action as they enter the room. Teddy comes through the Floo. “Hey, Teddy.” Harry hugs his godson as Andromeda comes out of the fireplace. “Hello, Andie; how are you doing today?” Harry remembers the first time he met her. She looked so much like Bellatrix that he almost hexed her but realized it was someone else; it was strange, but once he looked at her closely, he realized that she wasn’t her crazy sister. Instead, she looked nice today, her hair pulled back and her hazel eyes dancing in delight.
“I am fine; I am glad you are free today.” Andie sounded grateful. The doorbell went off, which made everyone jump.
“Oh, that must be Andy.” Hermione hurries out of the room, which confuses Andie.
Hermione yells out, “I got the door, Kreacher!” Hermione rushes over and opens it. She smiles when she sees her beautiful girlfriend, whom she met at a new bookstore, slash cat café.
They had hit it off when a cat couldn’t decide who to chill with at the bookshop. They started to talk and have a meal together but had forgotten to exchange numbers. Andy stands there with her bright smile, and her eyes shine back at her. “Hello, my dear. Come in!”
“Hello, Hermione!” Andrea walks into the house and allows Hermione to shut the door before she wraps the older witch into her arms. Andy tilts her head slightly down so she can kiss her. Hermione wraps her arms around her waist. “Hm… I think I can get addicted to your kisses, darling.” Hermione smiles back at her before letting her go.
“Come into the drawing room. Harry is here, and so is his godson, Teddy, and his grandmother.” Hermione starts explaining as she starts walking to her left into the room. She turns around when she hears a crash behind her.
“ANDY!”
Andrea has fallen over by the umbrella stand next to the door. She looks up wide-eyed, “Darn it; I thought I’d gotten rid of my clumsiness.”
Andie hurries over to check on Andy, which causes her to look at her wide-eyed at the beautiful older woman. “Hi, I am Andy Sachs.”
“Hi, I am Andromeda Tonks, but you can call me Andie,” the older woman smiles. “Are you hurt? Are you okay?”
“Oh, yeah.” Andrea blushes. “I am such a klutz sometimes. Even my old boss could not understand how I could trip in my heels.”
Andie is suddenly hit with a flashback when she sees the stand beside Andy. She starts to cry, which confuses Andrea.
“Oh dear, Andie,” Hermione runs over to help the older witch up off the floor and over to the sofa.
“Why is she crying? Did I say something wrong?” Andy finally gets off the floor, trips on the corner of the settee, and crashes into Hermione and Andromeda. Andrea gets off of them.
Andie starts to laugh while crying in Hermione’s arms. Hermione appears over Andie’s head towards her love with a sad smile. “You didn’t do anything wrong, my dear.” Hermione continues to rub Andie’s back. “She lost her daughter during the war I told you about the other night.” Hermione jerks her head to the child, whose hair keeps changing colours from Andy’s to Harry’s to his grandmother’s. “Andie is Teddy’s grandmother and has raised him since childbirth.” Andrea gasps.
“Hey Teddy, can you come here?” Andy asks him to join them as she turns toward him in the seat. He looks up at Harry, who nods his approval. Teddy scrambles onto Andy’s lap. “You have a special magic, little one. Did you know that?”
Teddy smiles broadly at the praise.
“Do you know whom you get it from?”
Teddy shrugs as Andie lifts her head from Hermione’s shoulder and looks at the young lady. “Are you magical?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Andy beams. “I was raised in the States by a well-respected family.”
“Pureblood?” Andie interrupts.
“Um…no,” Andy pauses. “My father was a Muggleborn, so Half-blood?” as she looks at the other three adults.
“Oh, so you are like me, then.” Harry chimes in.
“I guess so, but we don’t usually have issues with blood status over there. I went to one of the American magical schools in Massachusetts.”
“How did you end up in Britain?” Andie tilts her head.
“Well, I … um.” Andy stutters as she tightens her grip on Teddy. “I quit my job in Paris and didn’t want to go home to New York.”
“Why not?” Andie raises an eyebrow.
Andrea’s face grew pale.
“Andy, are you alright?” Hermione shifts to the other side of the settee as Teddy moves over to his Grammy’s lap. Hermione wraps her arms around her waist to comfort her. “Take a slow, deep breathe.”
Andy closes her eyes and takes a slow, cleansing breath. “Sorry, but can I have a cup of tea?”
“Kreacher!”
“Yes, Harry?” A tiny house elf pops in and wears a little suit with the Black and Potter crests on his chest.
“Can you please get a cup of Earl Grey?” Harry looks at Andy as she nods, “for Hermione’s, Andy?”
“Certainly, Harry” Kreacher snaps his finger, and a cup of tea appears on the coffee table. “Plain with one sugar. Yes?”
“Perfect, Kreacher.” Hermione smiles at him as she picks up her girlfriend’s tea. “Here, Andy, take a sip.”
Andy gently takes the cup, carefully sips the tea, and places the cup back on the saucer. Hermione takes it from her and puts it back on the table.
“Sorry, your facial expression reminded me of my old boss. She is one of the reasons I don’t want to return to New York or the States.”
Andie grabs one of Andy’s hands to squeeze it. “I am sorry; I get told I look like my sister.”
“Really? Do you want to talk about it?” Andrea looks at her in interest. “I think it would make a great article.”
Andie looked at her funny. “Article? Are you a reporter?”
“Yes, I am, but not for the Daily Prophet.” Andy looks nervous, “I work with Luna Lovegood.”
Andromeda laughs at the first comment and waves her hand toward Hermione. “Your girlfriend is the reason for their downfall.”
Andrea flips around to see Hermione blush. “What did they do to get you to go after them?”
Harry starts to laugh. “I am going to take Teddy to the park.” Harry snickers. “This isn’t a story for little ears.”
“Aww. Harry,” Teddy whines.
“Let's go, Teddy." Harry gestures. "I will push you on the swings."
"Yay!" Teddy cheers as they leave. "Bye, Grammy. See you later!"
The ladies on the divan laugh at their antics before Hermione gets up. "Shall we move into the kitchen and have a pot of tea?"
Andy and Andie acquiesce as they move toward the kitchen.
"KREACHER!"
"Yes, Hermione?"
"Can we have a pot of tea and something to nibble on?"
"Of course," Kreacher snaps his fingers again, and the table has a sizeable flowery pot with three teacups waiting alongside a large plate of ginger snaps.
"Thank you, Kreacher." Kreacher dipped his big head and popped out of the kitchen.
Andy and Andie sit opposite each other, and Hermione pours them tea before she sits beside Andy.
"Thank you, Hermione." The two of them chorus, which startles them.
Hermione sniggers before replying, "You are most welcome, Andies."
Andrea rolls her eyes as she stirs her cup, and Andie glares at her half-heartedly.
"So, storytime, Hermione?" Andy tilted her head.
Hermione sighs as she takes a sip of her plain tea. As she gathers her thoughts, she looks at the other two and can see the smirk on Andie's face and the curiosity on her love's.
"Let me preface this, Andy, by saying that they had this coming for a long time concerning me, and it began while I was at school."
"What? They used children in their papers." Andy gives them a surprised look at the other two.
"Andy," Hermione breathes, "Harry Potter was the chosen one, so he was made out to be off his rocker even though he wasn't lying." Hermione shakes off the memories. "In our Fourth year, we had a tournament at our school. It pitted us against two other schools within Europe."
Andy's eyes widen as Hermione's tea bubbles with her ire rising. Finally, she calmly puts her hand on Hermione's to soothe her. "Oh, that woman still gets under my skin even after all these years."
"What woman?" Andy turns her gaze into Hermione's fiery brown eyes.
“Rita Skeeter!” She spits out.
"Her?" Andrea gasps as she smacks her forehead. "Why didn't I make the connection before?"
Hermione and Andie look at her strangely.
"I was in school when this went down over here. My journalism professor told us that it is illegal for employers to secretly train you to spy on the general public to write 'scandalous' things."
Hermione nods her head as Andrea explains herself. "Wait, how are we only a couple of years apart?"
Andrea cackles, "You forget that I went to university in the States to get my journalism degree. I don't like gossip rags or trashy storylines, especially after working for Miranda Priestly." Andrea groans.
"Miranda? Is she the boss that you were referring to earlier?" Andie tilts her head.
"Yes, the press always hounded her because she was the fashion queen." Andrea takes a sip of her cooling tea. "Anyways, they didn't say what they caught Skeeter or Daily Prophet doing to warrant their demise."
Hermione grumbles as she puts her face into her hands, as Andie laughs out loud.
"Oh my, this must be a great story." Hermione shudders. "Or maybe not?" She looks at them both as Andie finally calms down and pats Hermione's hand.
"She will understand, Hermione." Andromeda encourages her friend.
"Okay, let me add another thing to my pretext," Andrea nods. "She was an Animagus in a beetle form, I discovered during my fourth year, and I trapped her in a jar. I should have reported her then, but I just got her to stop bothering me in her posts."
"Wait, she was bothering you?" Andrea's nose scrunches in confusion.
"Yes. I suddenly became a hot topic for that witch because I was friendly with two of the competitors of the Triwizard Cup. Harry was one, obviously, and the second one was Victor Krum."
"The Quidditch star from Bulgaria?" Andy looks surprised.
"Yes, him. I have stayed connected with him much to Ron's displeasure." Hermione rolls her eyes. "He didn't like that Victor asked me to be his date for the Yule Ball at Christmastime."
Hermione pauses to sip her tea and sets the cup down, "She was finding out stories in her bug form by chatting with Slytherins for gossip." Hermione growls.
"Yes, she certainly had something against you and Harry that year." Andie shakes her head in recalling the stories. "My daughter would be livid for you two because she remembered you during her final year."
"Yes, she told me as much when we stayed here when Sirius was here." Hermione curses at herself for mentioning Andie's cousin as she sees Andie's face crumble. Hermione quickly gets up, moves to the other side of the table slides into the seat next to her, and pulls her into her arms as she cries for her lost cousin.
"I'm sorry, Andie," Hermione murmurs into her ear before she glances at Andy. She can tell that Andy is puzzled by the look on her face. "Andy?"
"Yes?" Andy looks into Hermione's sad eyes.
"Yes?" croaks Andie next to Hermione.
"Oh my god, this isn't going to work." Hermione jumps up to start pacing the floor, startling the other two ladies.
"What?"
"What is wrong, love?"
"The two of you are Andies." Hermione wildly gestures. "I can't keep calling you that because it's driving me daft."
Andie and Andy make the mistake of looking at each other and start giggling.
"It's not funny!" Hermione stomps her foot, "I am leaving you two alone. I need some time. I'll be back." Hermione storms out of the room.
Andie places a hand on Andy's arm to stop her from following. "Give her some time. Plus, I would like to talk to you some more."
"Oh! Okay." Andy flashes a nervous smile.
"It isn't bad." Andie patted the young witch's arm. "I thought about allowing you to ask questions about me."
"Ah, right; I am sure Luna would love the interview." Andrea smiles gratefully. "But what about Hermione's story?"
"I am sure she will tell you, but as Harry said, it isn't for little ears like Teddy’s."
"I understand. Now, do you mind if I take out paper and pen?"
"Sure, whatever helps you." Andie smirks.
Andy whips out a small notepad and a ballpoint pen, which makes her sigh. Andrea focuses on the pen, and it slowly changes into a self-inking feather. "That’s better.”
“Impressive magic, but you could have left it as a pen,” Andie motions to the feather.
“Oh, right, you married a Muggleborn, right?”
“Yes, I did, to the chagrin of my family.” Andie breathes out. “I was born into a fanatical pureblood family, the Blacks, whose motto is Toujours Pur.”
“Oh, yeah, I can see why they would be upset. Some families don’t like to mix their ‘blood,’ which is ridiculous because we will die out if we don’t. Luckily, my upbringing was with a half-blood family atmosphere, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t demands to do well.” Andy sighs before taking a sip of her tea.
“I would love to talk to you someday about the differences between here and American society.” Andie perks up in interest with Andrea’s remark.
“Sure, and maybe I’ll write an article on that too.” Andy beams. “Anyways, you grew up with a sister?”
“Two. I was the middle child. Bellatrix and I looked a lot alike, but my hair was lighter. Narcissa, the baby, has blond hair. I was disowned by the family when I ran away to marry Ted. We lived in the countryside and raised a daughter together. She was a metamorphmagus, which Teddy inherited from her. Thank goodness he doesn’t inherit his father’s werewolf gene.” Andy looks up in surprise. “I think the reason for that is because Remus wasn’t one when he was born. He got turned as a child. Dumbledore figured out how to allow him to go to school and still turn safely during the full moon.”
“Oh wow, whatever happened to Remus?” Andy tilts her head in curiosity.
“Bellatrix!” Andie spats, causing Andrea’s breath to hitch.
“Bellatrix killed my son-in-law, daughter, and cousin, Sirius. His family owned this house.” She waves her hand around.
“Oh my, I just realized that you meant Bellatrix Lestrange.” Andie dips her head. “I am so sorry that you are stuck with the indignity of your birth family. What do you do now?”
“I am a healer when needed at St. Mungo’s.” Andy smiles sweetly. “I have always been interested in medicine since I visited Sirius in the hospital wing.” The older witch shakes her head. “He and his friends were always pranking people and each other.”
Andy scribbles down some notes. “Was there a good healer at Hogwarts?”
“Yes, Madam Poppy Pomfrey. She helps at St. Mungo’s when we are in desperate need, especially after the Battle at Hogwarts. I was in a terrible mess. Not only did I lose my daughter and her husband, but I had lost Ted the year before while he was on the run.”
“Why was he on the run?” a confused Andy pauses in her notetaking—Andie growls, which makes Andy’s eyes pop out a bit.
“The Ministry was overrun by Lord Voldemort’s evil forces and passed an illegal law against Muggleborns. Your girl was number 1 on the list.”
“What? I am grateful to be American,” Andrea shudders before her face saddens. “I’ll ask Hermione about that some other time. But, unfortunately, this other story seems more difficult.”
Andie ponders and shakes her head. “I don’t know about that. But, of course, she had it rough during what would have been her seventh year, being on the run with Harry and Ron, having a bullseye on their backs, and so forth.”
“Hm…” Andrea taps the feather on her lips. “Valid point; nevertheless, I’ll ask which is more difficult.” Andrea picks up the teapot, “More tea?”
“Yes, please.” Andie moves her cup closer to the middle. “I guess I’ll be doing my errands another day.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” Andrea exclaims. “I would have arranged a different time or date to chat with you.”
Andie waves her off. “Forget it. I knew once I started crying up there,” Andromeda points to the stairs, “that I wasn’t going to get them done.”
Andrea moves next to the older woman. “Can I give you a hug?” Andie nods, and Andy carefully wraps her arms around her and squeezes her arms. “I would like to think that we could be good friends once we get to know each other better.”
“I would like that too.” Andie smiles as she pulls out of Andrea’s arms.
“I think we have talked enough for today.” Andrea decides as she grabs her notepad and feather from the table, shoving them into her bag. “Let’s go find Hermione and cheer her up. I am not going to force her to tell me about it now, even though I am intrigued,”
“I am right here, my love,” Hermione returns to the kitchen, looking calmer than when she left it. “Did you ladies have a nice chat?”
“Yes, we did.” Andrea wraps her arms around her girlfriend and gives her a soft kiss. “I want to know the story, BUT it can wait.”
Hermione stares into Andrea’s dark mocha eyes, sees her willingness to wait, and lets her set the pace about the stories of her life. “Thank you, my love.” Hermione caressed her soft cheek.
“Ahem!”
Hermione rips herself out of Andrea’s arms and whips her wand looking around for someone.
“What the hell, Andie?” Andy whines while trying to figure out how to calm her woman down.
“Shite, I forgot that woman makes that sound,” Andie slowly walks over to her friend, “Hermione, Umbridge isn’t here.” Andie slowly pushes Hermione’s wand down, “We made sure that she got her judgement day for her crimes during the war and when she was at Hogwarts.”
“Wait, what did she do at the school?” Andy blurts out.
“I’ll tell you, Andrea.” Harry walked into the room. “Teddy is taking a nap in his room. Andie. I didn’t realize that you were staying.”
“I wasn’t going to, but circumstances got in the way. So I will do my errands another day.” Andie waves him off. “Thank you for taking him out to play.”
“Harry!”
“Yes, Hermione,” Harry sighs.
“Just get on with the story already,” she grumbles.
“Okay, but let us first sit at the table, please?” Harry requests.
“Fine,” Hermione huffs as she plops back down in her spot, with Andrea sliding into her chair and gently rubbing Hermione’s back, slowly calming her down.
Andie sits across from Hermione, and Harry lowers himself down next to Hermione. “Okay,” Harry exhales. “I am sure that you have noticed this.” Harry holds up his hand, showing Andy the faint etching into it.
“Yes, I did, but I didn’t feel comfortable enough to ask because I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the story then,” Andrea explains. “But now I am curious how an adult can be so bad to have charges against her?”
“Do you know the name Dolores Umbridge?” Andy shakes her head. “I’m surprised her trial didn’t hit the paper.”
“When was this, Harry?” Andrea tilts her head.
“It was five years ago.”
“I was already at Northwestern and wasn’t focused on magical news. More of the No-Maj version.”
“No-Maj?” Harry inquires, puzzledly.
“Oh, I think you all call them Muggles?”
“Oh! Right.” Harry’s face clears up. “Anyhow, she was finally found on the run and was brought to trial for her actions with the Muggleborn Registration Commission and her hostile control of the school during our fifth year,” Harry waves to Hermione and himself. Andy dips her head. “I am only going to talk about our fifth year. She strongly disliked me and anyone who kept saying that Lord Voldemort was alive, and she loved to put people in detention.:” Harry and Hermione shuddered.
“I will take a wager that it wasn’t legal.” Andy queries.
“No, it was not legal, and as you can see, it was painful.”
“Harry?” Andie interrupts.
“Yes, Andie?”
“Please tell me that she didn’t use blood quills.” Andie pales at the thought.
“I can’t say that, Andie.” Harry sighs. Andrea’s eyes grew wide.
“WHAT?” Andy shouts as she jumps up. “Let me at her!” Hermione jumps up; grabs her before she thinks about doing anything rash.
“Andy, my love, calm down.”
“You are telling me this isn’t upsetting you, and you want me to calm down,” Andy growls.
Hermione gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, love, for being outraged, but we don’t necessarily need you to go after her. She isn’t leaving Azkaban at all, plus they turned her punishment onto her by giving her the Dementor’s Kiss.”
“Wait,” Andrea held up a finger. “Did she use the Dementors during her time with the Commission?”
“Yes, Andy.” Hermione softly replied.
“How do you know that?” Hermione blushes. “Now I need to know.”
“We…um… may have used the Polyjuice potion to go into the Ministry of Magic filled with Death Eaters or their supporters.”
“That was risky, Harry and Hermione,” Andie admonishes them. “It could have worn off before you got out.”
Hermione nervously chuckles. “It did as we left the Ministry and had to pop somewhere quickly. Nearly got splinched.” Both Hermione and Harry shivered at the memory.
“Why were you there in the first place?”
“We needed to find something there; unfortunately, that witch had it.” Hermione groans. “It took some trickery, but we got it and got out as quickly as possible.”
“Oh snap, that’s horrible.” Andy rubs Hermione’s back after they sit down again.
“It was, but we recovered and destroyed the object. Right, Hermione?”
“It felt good to destroy it!” Hermione smirks.
“Grammy!” Teddy runs into the kitchen. “I didn’t know you were back.” Teddy sits on her lap.
“I never left, sweetie.” Andie hugs her grandson as his hair turns like hers.
“You know what?” Harry is talking to Teddy. Teddy shakes his head. “It is time to eat.”
“YAY!” Teddy yells as his stomach rumbles, which has all the ladies laughing.
“Boys and their stomachs.” Hermione shakes her head.
“Kreacher!”
“Yes, Harry!” He pops in.
“Once Teddy gets settled into his chair, we are ready for the afternoon tea.” Teddy slips off his Grammy’s lap and into the seat next to her.
“I’m ready, Harry.” Teddy beams as he grabs his utensils.
Kreacher dips his head and snaps his fingers. The table groans with a large roast chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy, and some rolls.
“Well done, Kreacher.” Harry praises him.
“Thank you, Harry.” Kreacher pops out of the room.
“Let’s eat!” Harry grabs some sliced chicken and a leg.
They discussed what Harry and Teddy did while out and light-hearted topics.