BACKPOST: The morning after the Death Eater attack on Hogwarts
Andromeda turned the key in the lock, balancing books and her morning coffee in the other hand. As she pushed the door open, she smelled the comforting scent of old leather and dusty books, and smiled. The ambrosial aroma of the coffee completed her bliss.
She was jolted out of her thoughts by a voice, harsh and commanding. "Back away from the door, lady, and wand down."
She whirled around to see two men in Aurors' robes and badges. "I'd put my wand away, but I haven't got it out, you see."
"Beg pardon," said the other Auror. "We mistook you for..."
"Bellatrix Lestrange," she interrupted wearily. "You might say I get that all the time." My traitorous face, she thought.
"We apologize. We're all a little jumpy, see, after the Death Eater raid last night at Hogwarts."
Death Eater raid at Hogwarts? Nymphadora was stationed there. Andromeda closed her eyes, saw green light and a gasp dying on Nymphadora's lips, and heard Bella's cackling laugh. "Raid?" she said, voice cracking. The coffee cup slipped from her hand and fell to the ground, murky liquid snaking away between the cobblestones.
"Terrible," said one of the Aurors. "They killed Dumbledore--I thought he'd live forever, that one..."
Andromeda shook her head in disbelief. Dumbledore, dead? "And Nymphadora? You're Aurors, surely you know her?"
"No wonder you look like Bel-" began one of the Aurors, recognition dawning on his face; he was silenced by a jab in the ribs from the other.
"Tonks is fine," he said. "Owled us a report as soon as she got the chance."
Andromeda breathed a sigh of mingled relief and sadness. She nodded a thank you to the Aurors, and retreated into her store. There was something comforting about its neatly shelved treasures, lined up in flawless alphabetical order. Something pure, something calming. She sank into the chair behind the sales counter, and waited for the Daily Prophet to arrive.