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Hey Joey! Here to read some of your faboulous Things Change 'verse. :)
And I must say, I absolutely adore the Ted and Andromeda pairing. They're such an amazing couple--parents to Tonks, resisters, lovers, the whole package, really. And I can relate to Andromeda's backstory as well, so it's nice to see her journey represented! Since you've written this fic as part of the Slytherin-centric challenge, I believe it's appropriate to delve into just how I relate to Andromeda's character, while highlighting the differences that make her a Slytherin (and me, a Gryffindor, lol).
I one hundred percent get the fitting in but going under the radar. Andromeda was born in an elitest class with xenophobic and racist ideology at its core. A huge "Us vs Them" mentality. While I was not born in the elitest class by any means, I was in a religious community that used this very same mentality. The way that Andromeda keeps her head down is a way for her to survive as she tries to deconstruct her childhood upbringing and see the world clearly through a more open-minded lens. It's hard work, lonely work, dismaying work. But Andromeda does it and once she's set in her perspective, she's able to endure the exile that comes with leaving such a closed-off community. I think, as a Gryffindor, it's hard for me to live in the shadows like that, because I strive to live to my truth--boldly, unabashedly. Being in the background like that and doing that essential work quietly, like Andromeda does, is tantalizing to think about--but it's so true to her character. Love that!!
The way you use Ted and Benjy in Andromeda's journey is really effective. I would have loved to have seen Benjy and Andromeda's friendship at Hogwarts (maybe in a spin off? yeah? ;) ). He seemed to have been a magnetic force, allowing Andromeda to visualize a life outside of her pureblood supremacist roots. And when he's threatened by the Death Eaters, in true Slytherin fashion, she goes out to protect her own. And then we meet Ted Tonks (brb, swooning)! Their dialogue throughout the piece is absolutely lovely. You capture a lot of their backstories and their fears and their hopes in only brief exchanges (well, they're brief to me because I could probably read their conversations forever, lol).
It's interesting that you have Andromeda get pregnant outside of wedlock. I have pondered this before. After all, I imagine the pureplood community to frown on premarital sex--especially for the witches. This goes to show how much Andromeda is outside of their fold--and how dangerous it is for her to stay. Pregnant with a Muggleborn's baby? Does not look good!
And then you time jump to after the end of the First War (cries, RIP beloved Order members) and then their proposal was so gosh darn adorable!!! I like your take on them raising Nymphadora together "outside of wedlock" for a number of years before getting married--that really drives home the point that Andromeda has completely left pureblood society.
And then we get to the Second War. Ugh. As much as I love this pairing, they are a tragic one. I suppose for a fic that examines the scope of their relationship, this is an absolute necessity to include (This is reader me speaking, trying to rationalize my heartbreak. Writer me is going "Excellent" in a very Mr. Burns from the Simpsons-like fashion, lol). It's really not fair what happened to Andromeda in the Second War: her husband had to go into hiding, her pregnant daughter and spouse are Order members (and thus targeted), her newborn grandson is orphaned when he's only mere weeks old. It's just... harrowing.
But really, I enjoyed reading these snippets of Ted and Andromeda's relationship: from their first meeting to their tearful goodbye. It's a wonderful snapshot of their life together. As much as I bemoan the tragedy, I simply adore bittersweet endings, like the one you've given us here. I was thrilled to see that Book Dinosaur was a source of inspiration for this fic as well! I do hope that you write more of Ted and Andromeda, either in this universe or in another story altogether. Great work!
Hi, Joey!!
Tedromeda is one of my new favorite ships, AND YOU WROTE THEM SO WELL. There’s so much to love about this story, from the elegance of the opening description paragraphs to the progression of her involvement in the war. It’s so tense yet poetically rich; in particular, the distance of the narrator from the characters works extremely well here. There is a sense of detachment that I get from the narration, which I actually think serves the purpose of this story extremely well?? After all, Andromeda is always shielding a part of herself away, as a cost of the prejudice of the Purebloods, and that resonates really well with the kind of narration you have!
I really love the opening, so so much! It is really lovely and well constructed, with the to-the-point opening sentence (which, despite [or perhaps because of?] its shortness, rings with this lovely clarity of image somehow). I don’t really know how you manage to place such specific pictures in my mind with your descriptions, but you do! I loved the way that the narrator told Andromeda’s Hogwarts story -- it genuinely felt like the opening of a book I could pick up in the library, or something like that, because of how captivating it was. Though her Hogwarts story isn’t remarkable, you managed to provide the necessary exposition in an extremely enjoyable way.
Something about Tedromeda is very conducive to a spy tale, an old vintage-y style, and I'm so pleased that you made use of that concept! From the very moment Ted emerged in his secretive middleman way, I was all jittery with excitement; something about Andromeda and Ted falling in love in secrecy is so compelling. I noticed that you mentioned AWR in your Author’s Notes, which I thought was interesting because while the concepts between the two stories are similar, the executions are very, very different. You very much have your own personal stamp on the writing, as it feels practiced and controlled -- all the quiet, formal dialogue and subtle signs of Ted and Andromeda’s love were really well done, in my opinion!
The way that this story sails through the years, managing to describe the entire life of Andromeda, really, was SO good. Each little break could signify a few weeks or years and years, and I think that was a really good format selection for this kind of story.
The end was too heartbreaking, though, because of the way she grieved Ted dying!! I always forget that they didn’t die together, which makes me so unhappy; you took that emotional tragedy and wrote it into a really powerful grieving scene. Overall, I really loved this piece, and it was an excellent story to begin my trek into your “Things Change” ’verse! Thank you so much for sharing!
Eva
Hey Joey! Here with your entry review for my Broadway Musical Song Challenge! :)
Okay so I know that you warned me about this piece breaking my heart just like the other fic, but I mean, come on man! I like the different connotation here for "Only Us" as it's still got that romantic setting but takes place during the first Wizarding War with what is soon to be one of my new fave couples to read about. What I think you've done well here is start out with describing Andromeda as a child and student, and initially talking about Benjy Fenwick as if they're going to get together until you veer off and throw Ted into the mix. Very well done because I *totally* actually looked at the story shell before reading this :P
But really though, I like the separation between "eras" of Andromeda's life with the lyrics. We go from seeing her not quite knowing where she fits in in the War to her deciding her side and to be with Ted. The timeline goes a bit fuzzy for me personally after she tells him she's pregnant, but that's okay because I know it's at least in the future for the next scene. The proposal is so cute, and then we go further into the future at the beginning of the Second Wizarding War. I understand the heartbreak now because you just have to write Ted's death, but it's not as severe as I thought it would be. The end with Tonks introducing Andromeda to little Teddy is heart-wrenching and heartwarming at the same time, and ending with that little set of lyrics is the perfect cap.
Great job with this fic, Joey! I'll have the results posted soon. :)
~MadiMalfoy x
Hey, Joey! I'm here for our swap and the April EvS! O/
I can't help but feel bad for Andromeda. Much like in Sirius' case, she was born into a family whos values far from align to her own. It must've been difficult to continue acting like you belong when you don't feel apart of that world at all, especially when it must feel a lot like failing to let your family down again and again. I think you captured Bellatrix and Narcissa rather nicely in passing, too -- Bellatrix, a warrior in her own right, and Narcissa, beautiful and practically intangible. Having to compete with both of them for her parents' affection and attention must've proven rather difficult.
I also absolutely adore the portrayal of the friendship between Andromeda and Benjy Fenwick -- the pair seem like they could cause a good bit of trouble if they put their minds to it. It largely makes sense that Andromeda would find herself betraying her family (& the Dark Lord, though she hasn't made much of an alignment that way) in order to protect him. Friendship is strong and precious, and with Andromeda's characterization, I do believe that it's something she holds dear -- protecting Benjy came first. I also love that this brought her and Ted together, if only for a moment.
While I'm happy to see Ted and Andromeda meet again, it's under regrettable circumstances. It's awful how many innocent people had to die during the war (both, really), and it's upsetting that, despite Andromeda's efforts and despite the Order's efforts, Benjy was still captured. What's more is that he was taken in a raid led by her own sister. I also believe that this is an extremely large moment for Andromeda when she first says what she has been thinking about her family aloud. There's something about saying something out loud that makes it more of a tangible thing -- like it actually exists when it previously was only an idea.
Ted and Andromeda's third meeting was also unfortunate, though there was good news of Benjy being alive (though I'm uncertain of what'd happened to him during his time captured). Having information leaked to the Dark Lord and his followers gives them an advantage they most certainly didn't need. However, I do love that it leads to Andromeda and Ted spending the night together, and of course the chat that would eventually lead to the beginning of something more. They're cute. She seems to find talking to Ted easy, and talking is probably something she needs more than anything in this moment.
And then Andromeda is pregnant and they're going into hiding together and it's so amazingly sweet. I mean, it must be terrifying, of course -- neither of them prepared for a child, hiding their relationship from her family, forced to go into hiding, the war... none of this are opportune. And yet, Dumbledore apparently saw something there, and he was right. I feel terrible that Ted blames himself for Benjy's capture & inevitable death, though Benjy was the thing that brought them together in the first place. Of course, the squee comes when he asks her to marry him.
And the final flash-forward, to the second war, is absolutely heartbreaking and sweet at the same time. Losing Ted after wondering for months where he was and if he was okay, or alive, must've been torturous. And then Teddy's birth, pulling Andromeda back from the brink of whereever she was following Ted's death, was amazingly sweet... and the story is still so sad.
Anyway, this was a fantastic story! Thanks for sharing!
--R.
Hi, I came from the review swap chat on the forum.
I read this story last night and wondering how to write my review. Your writing style is very different from the others, 'cause I have read a few Andromeda/Ed Tonks ship before. Compared with the others, in my poinion, yours does not focus on only Romance nor the detailed flirting each other, I mean your poise towards writing is far distant from the characters, you are a cool and calm observer of the story. I think it quite unique. The incidents are written from Andromeda's POV, not subjectively, I think objectively.
The whole story is written themed one character, Benjy. It's also very original. Sorry, I don't know about musical songs well, so I'd like to mention the other spots.
Peace lily things is very impressive. The magical parchment is a stunning idea. The readers imagine easily how they get to trust each other exchanging information or seeing each other under the circumstances.
I spotted beatiful expression such as : she watched the days pass from a glass enclosure.
It is marvelous you depicted Andromeda's situation, her attitude towards Pure Bloods ' grandeur and evil movement.
:The dry heat of the night seeped through the walls, scratching at Andromeda's throat. She stared at the single potted plant thriving in the corner of the small room - - if it could hold firm in such feeble light maybe she could too.
They are excellent that you expressed how anxious Andromeda was as a spy and had hope supported by Tonks.
:Time distorted like putty no longer relevant to the life Andromeda lived
It's very poetic, you caught her fear and the feeling of loss quite well.
'the gardens looking fine' line sounds very Hufflepuff-ish line, I like it.It suits Ed Tonks well.
These lines and phrases are connected with the propose scene. Fantastic!
The story after that, we all know the sad episode around Ed, then you created one of the best scenes describing Andromeda's sadness, grieving and joy along with happy news Tonks brought her with her grandson.
K
Hey You!
im here for our review swap!
i really loved this story! You wrote Andromeda and her fear for those she cared about and her own safety very well. I think the time jumps were perfect for the story and that it was fantastic especially at the end knowing that her mother was so touched by the name of her grandson!
I really thought that it was interesting to see how they could have met and how they fell in love. I really liked that he remembered her from hogwarts and thought she was beautiful (“even then” Great add in there sounded so perfect!)
i haven’t read many stories about the tonks family. And it’s interesting to see from Andromeda’s point of View what it would be like to be the odd one out of a trip of pureblood sisters that are part of such a die hard traditional family.
Great writing as always!! <3
LB
Hi Joey, I’m here for our swap :-)
Once again, I really enjoy your writing style. You have a wonderful turn of phrase. The opening line here tells us so much about the Black family by comparing it to a machine. This is actually the first Ted/Andromeda story I’ve read and it’s a story I’m glad to see explored in such a beautiful way. I thought your choice of scenes to present in this treatment of the story was nicely done.
I like how you developed sympathy for Andromeda right away. She doesn’t fit into her family, but she knows how to make waves. She’s good at fading into the background and staying out of the way, but she doesn’t seem terribly happy there. I loved that she attached herself to Benjy, ‘the most absurd person she could find.’ It’s nice to think of her finding a friend after being alone for so long and inspiring that it gave her the courage to start fighting for the other side in the war she’d tried to stay out of. It’s good that she got away with such a dangerous form of communication as the owl in her first attempt to contact the Order. I really liked the code phrases for the parchment and how you used the peace lily throughout the rest of the story. I saw in your note that you hadn’t intended to use the flower throughout the story at first, and I think it really tied the piece together nicely.
The line “She stared at the single potted plant……maybe she could too” was excellent.
You work together both the pain of the war with this blossoming romance so well. I really like how you made the pain personal by following Benjy’s story and how it affects Andromeda. But they are also obviously developing feelings for each other. The intensity of the times must make the dark darker and the light lighter. In fact, Ted and Andromeda would probably never have met at all if not for the war. That is profound and chilling at the same time.
I love how you portray their relationship with such hope. They are going to meet whatever challenge they are given together. Their date at the restaurant is particularly sweet—and wrenching since we all know what eventually happens. The line about Nymphadora not having to face what her parents faced was suitably upsetting. I particularly liked the part about Occulmency in the war being a kind of currency too.
And, oh my, Ted’s proposal had my eyes watering. Just beautiful.
They stayed wet too during the last scene. It’s so true that the deepest hurts are sometimes impossible to cry about. The final section where Andromeda meets her grandson and feels that it is an interlude from someone else’s (presumably happy) life was lovely and it’s so perfect that she is finally able to cry when she’s presented with a piece of joy.
Excellent work! Thank you for writing this. Good luck in your challenges!
Hey there!
I'm here for our review swap! I think you already know, I'm always excited to see when you have a new piece of writing up. Especially so when I see that it's about Andromeda.
Immediately, I was struck by the way that you described Andromeda's position in life. She isn't the loyal, blood purist like Bellatrix. She isn't the cold, beautiful supremacist like Narcissa. Deep inside of her she's aware, but it seems she hasn't quite figured out what her place is yet.
I like that her first attachment to someone outside of the pureblood circle is Benjy Fenwick. Usually, she's written as having fallen head over heels for Ted and being motivated out of her love for him. It's nice seeing her do something out of platonic care for someone.
I also really enjoyed the introduction of Ted as Andromeda's handler. I think it was a clever way to bring him into her circle and allow them to slowly get to know each other. Again, I appreciate that it wasn't a love at first sight deal. It's much more realistic this way.
Aww. Ted's proposal is so sweet. I love that he had lilies from floor to ceiling in their home. That's such a thoughtful way to remember how they met and eventually fell in love.
The ending is, of course, quite tragic. I didn't expect to get this beautiful love story with out the final chapter. I wish it didn't have to be that way though. I always thought that Andromeda's lot was one of the cruelest in the whole series. To turn her back on her family out of a desire to do what's right, to lose her husband, and then to lose her daughter and son-in-law. I know that at least she has Teddy, but that's just so much pain and grief for one person to bear.
Definitely feeling a lot of things now as I contemplate the story. Good writing as always. I think you did a good job of illustrating the Slytherin characteristics within Andromeda in a very unique way.
~Kaitlin
OMG, Joey! I am overwhelmed by how beautiful and poignant this piece is. I made the mistake of reading it in the coffee shop where I was writing, and I teared up when I got to the end and it was very awkward. I totally fell in love with this pairing reading Em's amazing fic, and I think you do an amazing job capturing their rapport here and telling their (epic) love story. Hopefully this will be somewhat coherent.
I love your characterization of young/teenage Andromeda as this diffident middle child who keeps her head down and her toes in line. She's the opposite of the sort of person you'd expect to rebel. (I also love that this is picked up later when Ted tells her he remembers her from Hogwarts -- this is all the more remarkable given that she doesn't seem like she drew a lot of attention to herself! That line -- "Maybe it was only me" -- is so adorable, I can't even handle it.)
Even though we never meet Benjy Fenwick in the story, I feel like I know everything about him on the basis of this one line: "If you needed someone to pull off a mission that appeared impossible, he would accept with a grin proportional to the odds stacked against him." It's so easy to imagine how the person who fits this description would get along with Andromeda, with Ted, and I really felt sorry when he died. Pretty amazing given that, again, we never actually meet this character.
All the Andromeda/Ted moments in the safehouse are just astounding. You perfectly capture how freeing it is for Andromeda to be able to be her secret self in these stolen moments, and how painful it is that she then has to go back to living a lie. This came out especially well in the scene where Andromeda asks for Ted's name. After AWR I was looking forward to this moment, and I love that you made it your own -- I love that she's the one who asks for it, and that he offers it to her is a rush of sympathy and understanding.
The enchanted parchment is just great. One small thing -- did you mean to refer to Ted as "Ted" in the scene where he's explaining the parchment/password?
The motif of the peace lily is, of course, brilliantly done. Andromeda is like a plant who thrives in adversity, and is cared for -- like the plant in the safehouse -- by Ted. The peace lily proposal, OMG -- I have no words, it was so sweet and hopeful. And the farewell peace lily at the end is ridiculously sad -- she endured the first war only to face the adversity of the second.
Relatedly: one thing this story really drove home for me was how tragic this whole generation is, their whole lives dominated by the two wars, the interval of peace haunted by residual paranoia, bad dreams, and the awareness that Voldemort's supporters remain at large. You make all of this concrete in Andromeda and Ted's love story, and show that in spite of all the darkness, there are still moments of joy and hope (the pregnancy, the proposal, baby Teddy at the end. . .).
Amazing work, Joey -- this is such a beautiful, moving peace.
Jane
hey joey, i'm here for EvS, team emerald! :)
i really enjoyed this story. i think the idea of andromeda being a spy for the order and for ted to be her contact person is incredibly original. i can definitely see him volunteering for that role because he noticed her at school, thought she was smart and beautiful...and in times of war it makes sense for them to give in to their feelings because who knows if they'll be alive the next day.
the progression of their relationship through these snippets of their lives you wrote felt very natural and i though you managed to show how much chemistry there was between them. and it only made the ending all the more sadder. for andromeda, ted was the first real family she had....and to lose him must have been devastating.
i would love to read about andromeda and teddy! tbh, she's such a tragic character - she basically loses her entire family inn a couple of months and is left to care for her grandson...she must be one strong lady to be able to do that and you've done a great job showing her strong character!
kris
JOSEPH i'm SCREECH god i'm so glad you posted because now i can throw all my feelings at you and SCREAM, which is FULLY what i intend to do throughout this review!!
okay, so first of all, i can't believe that this is not even 4k. i didn't even check in the gdoc, and then to see it in the story shell -- i don't even know how many words i thought it was, but 4k was not it! you have packed so many of the feels in here that it feels like an entire novel -- and seriously, i would READ an entire novel of your tedromeda headcanons, so i am immensely glad that you are going to continue this verse (even if we have passed the tedromeda phase v_v)
i love that your andromeda has been a bit of a rebel since the beginning! but then, at the same time, i love how we see how her circumstances have shaped her -- the metaphor of watching her own world through glass seems so apt for the kind of strict compartmentalisation she would have to do in order to survive, let alone live with herself. it's only natural that she would find herself attracted to someone like benjy, and i really love -- you've gotten us to buy their friendship in only a few paragraphs! it's so fast, but when andromeda reaches out to the order, we get it. i think we the audience -- and me in particular -- are already rooting for her, which is impressive work on your part, in my opinion
and aaahhh, the rapport between ted and andromeda! [insert a million sob emojis here] you know i love them, and i love them when they're -- gently looking out for each other! lowkey in denial about how they feel and slowly realising what each other means to them! god i am a sucker for all of this and you developed it so well, i'm going to cry. the peace lily! plant absolutely steals the show -- i LOVE that andromeda takes inspiration from it, that she thinks of it and the safehouse and ted all sort of wrapped into each other
i don't know whether i love or hate the time jumps, because it lets you set up a nice scenario and then smack it -- and me -- with All The Feels. she's pregnant and running away but she hasn't seen his face good lord they're so...young. they're in the middle of a war! it is the smallest details that really drive the atmosphere and you are so good at evoking those -- either in a war or in the ghost of one, haunting ted and andromeda even after they had gotten out. "my dreams don't" is so poignant and ;-; her friend!! that was her friend that died ;-;
oh man it's such a small thing but the way they are hoping for better for nymphadora kills me. parents do that, all the time! they are doing the same thing so, so many other people have done. there are always shreds of normalcy in the strangest times
PEACE LILY PROPOSAL oh my goddddd i'm DEAD, ted REMEMBERED and he gathered a ROOM FULL OF PEACE LILIES. i'm so emotional. THAT'S my tedromeda right there. FLOWERS!!!!
oh noooooo andromeda not being easily moved to tears is a HORRIBLE, TERRIBLE detail to add before you note that she's actively crying!! my heart ;-; HANDING HER A SINGLE PEACE LILY i am EXTREMELY sad about this motif, THANK YOU for that. when is a plant just a plant? never in a Joseph Fic(TM). It is so heartbreaking that she doesn’t cry, funnily enough -- like a sort of building up, like some kind of thunderstorm. you know it’s going to come, but -- ! and then it DOES, and it’s almost like catharsis, but extremely sad. which is probably also still catharsis but i need to differentiate between the two because you have made me feel things and i’m upset about them and this and you
that last line is absolutely heartbreaking -- it’s almost like she’s regressed, without ted, back into the glass box she’d been in before everything. looking at this as though it is “someone else’s life” -- my heart just breaks for her. she’s been through so much! ;-; but then, something about the phrase “a beautiful culmination” is just. gorgeous. so there is that, too
in conclusion, you have made me feel things in my heart parts and i think this is extremely rude of you!! and yet here i am being extremely thankful. i love that you have added more tedromeda to the world, thank you for this lovely contribution ;-;
❤emily
Author's Response:EMILY. EMIIIILLLLYYY.
I always get so happy with people saying that these grand romances I write feel like they’re much longer than they are. I try to fit a lot into a little and it’s very nice to know that it doesn’t feel too rushed. Don’t tempt me with another novel! I have TWO running and they aren’t even approaching the end! (But ohhhh my do I want to write some of these two on the run with young Dora)
My Andromeda could never help herself - she was awful at falling into line. I do love that line about looking at the world through glass, I think it sums up her life sans-Ted quite well.
I really, really needed to sell her friendship with Benjy or, basically, the entire fic falls apart. It makes me so very excited to see that it worked out! I, too, wanted to go another direction than the most obvious ‘she goes to the other side because of Ted’ route. I wanted them to meet halfway more than anything, partially because I already sort of did the ‘turning traitor for love’ thing in Lead Existence.
I really felt as though their conversations were so easy to write as soon as I figured out what I wanted to do with the characters; they really feel like soulmates to me the way my perception of their personalities just fell into place against one another.
You know that I’m just about obsessed with the peace lily. As soon as I found out that it can thrive in low light I knew what needed to be done!
Haha, I really do just throw you into the upsetting parts, don’t I? When I wrote the line about her not knowing his face very well as they were set to run away, I actually paused for a moment like What In The World. The ghost of the war really follows them forever! And then they have to relive it! Uggh
Oh yes, peace lily proposal! I STRUGGLED with that scene because I have never written a proposal in my life, but I hope it struck the right chord!!
The single peace lily was just cruel of me hahaha why did I do that. I had to make her cry at the end while holding him because, like, she totally would when faced with that baby and that name so soon after his death. If that didn’t make her cry, nothing would.
As I said before, I did not draw the line between the ‘someone else’s life’ line and the glass box line, but now that you’ve brought it to my attention I am heartbroken. It really is a kind of regression. I can’t wait to write her after some time has passed, oh my. I did like the last line as well :P
(Side note, I based that line on the time Harry told Ginny that being with her had been like something out of someone else’s life - I always did like that turn of phrase even if I made it much sadder here)
I cannot explain how big my grin is, I’m over the moon about your approval of this story! You inspired it from the ground up in every way!! Thank you so much ahhh!!
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