More Harry Potter starring minor characters
Title: Some Other Spring
Rating: Pg-13 for suggested sex
Genre: Romance/Angst
Characters: Alphard/OC
Disclaimers: I own nothing not even the clothes on my back
Summary: One week in the summer between 6th and 7th year changes everything for Alphard.
It started with a dare. Alphard and Ignatius had to go to muggle London and they had to purchase something to prove they’d done it. London, itself, was desolate and devastated from the years of war. There wasn’t much to buy and less at a decent price. In the end they decided to get a record from some guy named Billie Holiday because Ignatius liked the name, after all it’s not like they could listen to it even if they wanted to.
Alphard was trying to explain how stupid it was to buy a record if they couldn’t play it when he first saw the soldier. He didn’t look a day older then they were. He must have just turned eighteen, Alphard thought as he stared at the short auburn hair framing ocean blue eyes.
“I heard you guys talking,” The soldier’s smile was a little higher on the left side and his eyes were shifting from the ground to Alphard. “I’m being sent to the front, so I won’t be needing this anymore.” He held an odd box out to Alphard. “You can listen to your record now. Good choice by the way,” He looked over at Ignatius for the first time, “She’s brilliant.” With a last glance at Alphard he walked back into the building.
Alphard usually liked staying in the country house. It was quiet and peaceful and spacious, unlike the cramped little townhouse in London where his cousins usually stayed. But that night he couldn’t find the peace he normally sought. He sat on the soft feather bed in his spacious room and dreamed of the soldier. It was a little past eleven at night when the idea came to him, just late enough for such a stupid plan to seem brilliant.
All the lights were out in London and the city was pitch black. He had just cast Lumos, holding up to see where he was when someone threw a dark cloak over his hand.
“Put out the light, are you nuts. What are you doing out here anyways? Never mind, get in.” A familiar voice whispered, tugging the surprised boy back into the building.
Inside the building was even darker then outside and both of them were clumsily stumbling up a flight of stairs. At what Alphard assumed was the top the hand over his wrist let go and he could hear shuffling before a click and a low lamp sitting on a small wooden table washed the small one room flat in a soft yellow glow.
“What are you doing back here? I didn’t think you were from London, and now? Didn’t you hear the sirens? It’s not safe to be outside. It’s not really safe to be inside either but what can you do?”
“I-uh, I um, uh…” Alphard raced to put his thoughts together. Why had he come here? What had he been thinking? What were sirens?
“Doesn’t matter I guess, how’d you like the record? You ever heard Billie before? Sit down. Get comfortable. It’s not safe for you to go out again. You’ll stay here tonight.” The soldier continued
“Oh, I didn’t mean to impose…I mean I can go…I’ll be fine” Alphard stepped back towards the doorway.
“You’re not. I don’t mind, stay. Please.”
“Ok.” Alphard nodded sliding stiffly into a one of the two wooden chairs that stuck out oddly from under the table. “Um…the uh, the record was good. It’s real different.”
“You don’t listen to a lot of jazz do you? Those Americans,” He shook his head, “they got no class, but their music is aces.”
“I’ve never really heard any American music before,” Alphard admitted.
“You’re shittin’” the soldier exclaimed, laughing as Alphard shyly shook his head. “Come on, you must have, what about Crosby, you know ‘swing on a star’.” He started singing, “Oh would you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams in a jar…no? Wow, your education has been lacking.”
“Yeah, I’ve been getting that feeling lately.”
“You want my records? Here, I’ll show what I’ve got. I’m Frank, by the way, and you are?”
“Alphard.”
“Alphard, that a pretty unique, that’s cool though, I mean I’m sharing my name with like half the army. Where did you’re parents come up with it?”
“It was my great-grandfather’s cousin’s name. We reuse names a lot in my family, I’m actually the fourth.”
“The fourth, no shit? I guess your family must be pretty old. You nobility?”
“Um, not technically. We were-“ Alphard stopped realizing he was about to break the cardinal rule of the Wizard world. “It’s really weird.” He finished, hoping if he played it off like it was embarrassing Frank would drop it.
“Yeah? Come on tell me.”
“Nah, it’s stupid, really.”
“Please…” Frank clasped his hands together a pleading look on his face.
“We were the kings advisors…”
“Hey, That’s really cool, not weird at all.”
Alphard began to wonder if someone had slipped him vertruserum, because instead of stopping there he kept going.
“Mystical advisors.”
“Mystical?” Frank asked
“Like wizards…”
“You taking the piss out of me?”
Alphard felt his lips pulling up into another smile, a weight lifted off his chest. What did it matter what he said? He was wizard. If something went wrong here he’d just oblivate Frank and apparate home. No harm, no foul. Besides, he wanted to tell him, wanted to share who he was and the part of his family he could be proud of.
“No, I swear it’s true, I’m descended from a long line of wizards.”
“That is fucking awesome. So you know how to do magic?”
Alphard froze, realizing the delicate line he was suddenly treading. He could say yes. See what would happen. He was an adult. If Frank turned out not to be trustworthy he would be fine.
“Don’t be stupid, there’s no such thing as magic,” He lied.
“I know but like tricks and shit, you know magician secrets, make a copper come out of your ear or something.”
“No, I can’t, I don’t know any magic tricks.” Alphard leaned farther back in the chair creating more space between himself and Frank.
“Come on, you must know something.” Frank did that thing with his eyes again and Alphard found himself nodding.
“I…I could read your palm?” He offered. That was safe, plenty of muggles pretended to do those sorts of things.
“Brilliant!” Frank grinned holding out his hand which Alphard took hesitatingly examining the lines and scars that criss-crossed his calloused palm.
“So, um, this one.” Alphard pointed to the line circling around the thumb, “is your life line. It’s curvy and wide so you’re really…lively. And um, this is your head line, it’s all broken up, which means you don’t really think logically, you just sort of skip around from one idea to the next, but you’re really creative.”
“What about my love line?”
Alphard looked up, his breath catching when he realized how close they were. “Uh, it’s…” He ducked his head again swallowing. “It’s good, you, um, you’re really expressive, it says, so your um girlfriends feel loved and um you fall in love really fast.”
“I do.”
“What?”
“Fall in love really fast.”
“Really? Palm reading must…“ Alphard faded off. His words lost in the warmth of Franks breathe so close to his, mixing together as it left their lips. “I, uh…”
“Shh,” Frank’s lips crooked up starting on the left but Alphard didn’t notice, mesmerized by his eyes, before even they were too close to see.
The raising sun had found the one crack in the heavy black clothes taped to the windowpanes leaving a thread of light stretched across the floor. Alphard stared at it, watching the way is weaved about the apartment running over the floor and up the foot of the bed, breaking of for bit before weaving over the messy sheets and across Alphard’s bare shoulder.
“Morning,” a muffled voice came from behind him and a hand moved through the line of light and across Alphard to fiddle with something on the bedside table that washed the whole room in light.
“Morning,” Alphard replied, biting his lip and holding the blanket under his chin. “I, uh, I should probably get back to my cousins before they start worrying about me.”
“Right, you wouldn’t want that.”
Alphard nodded eyeing his robes strewn across the room, wishing he could summon them instead of having to get up and walk across the room naked. After about a minute of extravagant schemes to get dressed with out standing up Alphard gathered his bravery and slipped out of bed pulling on bands and the undershirt, bundling his robes up in his arms.
“Well, thanks for the, uh, night. I’ll just show myself out.” Alphard said carefully not looking as Frank dressed himself.
“It was no problem, really. I, I enjoyed your company.”
“Me too.”
“Good. I’m glad you enjoyed it-yourself, last night.”
“Right, I, I’ll be going now.” Alphard finally opened the door.
“Hey Alphard” Frank called and Alphard paused turning around.
“Yeah?”
“My mates are going to this bar tonight, they have a live show, do you want, I mean if you’re not busy with your cousin, maybe, you could come?”
“Yeah, I’d like that.” Alphard smiled before stepping out into the street and apparating home.
The day after he brought back the record player. The day after that he came to listen to the new Billie Holiday record. The day after that there was an open mike night at the bar from before. After that Alphard stopped going home in the morning. Over the course of the week he learned to lie spectacularly. He lied about magic, about his family, about himself. He lied about where he was, whom he was with, what he was doing. He lied to everyone, until the last night.
“What are you doing?” Frank asked lying on his stomach trying to watch as Alphard traced runes onto his back whispering the words of a spell he’d learned for the OWLs a year ago.
“A spell.”
“Really? I thought you didn’t believe in magic?”
Alphard smiled. “It’s all I can do though isn’t it? You’re leaving tomorrow.”
“I’ll write. I’ll send the letters here, so your parents don’t find out.”
“Thanks, I’ll write too.”
“It’s late, come sleep.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Than just lie down, please?”
Alphard finished the final rune and curled up in the warm bed promising himself if Frank came back he would stop lying, he would tell him everything, leave his family and they would be happy.
Three weeks later Alphard learned he wasn’t very good at protection spells. He bought the flat, he was an adult by wizard standards and what he did with his money was his business. He stopped going as often as time went on and eventually handed the key of the dusty flat to his fifteen-year-old nephew. It seemed right. Sirius liked American music too.
Title: Blackbird
Author: Teshumai
Gift for: Sugeredarsenic
Pairing: Ted/Andromeda
Rating: PG
Warnings: somewhat bloody
Word Count: 4300
Summary: Andromeda was content to follow her family but as she grows up and the world becomes more complex she’ll have to decide who she is and how she wants to live. Thank you to my Beta!
Part one: Proper Behavior
Andromeda Black chewed nervously on her lip as she stood behind her sister on the train, her cheek still damp and slightly red from her mother’s lipstick. She tried to wipe it away but only made her whole cheek a rosy color. Bellatrix it seemed had nearly forgotten her shy little sister as she giggled with a gang of friends and led them into a small compartment, which Andromeda was fairly sure she wasn’t going to be invited to enter.
“Andrea, dear, hurry up and come in,” Bella called using the familiar nickname. “You should get to know the people you’ll be in a house with.” The small rebellious voice in Andrea’s mind wanted to point out that technically her house was undetermined until she was sorted, but the logical part of her brain pointed out that every single Black had been in Slytherin since the tapestry had been woven and it was very unlikely that Andrea was going to break that tradition.
“These are the Lestrange’s Ruddy and Rab.” Bella gestured to the two boys sharing a seat with her. “And that is Mari Prince and Evan Rosier. Hurry up and sit down.”
Andrea quickly dragged her trunk in and whispered a thank you as Evan levitated it up to the baggage compartment. She could tell after just a few seconds that Bella clearly was the leader of the little gang. The Lestrange boys were both practically drooling over her and nodded enthusiastically to everything she said. Mari had a star-struck look in her eyes as she gazed at Bella asking for her opinion on absolutely everything. Evan, however, mostly seemed to stare out the window and not participate much. Andrea thought he had the right idea. Holding in a sigh she resigned herself to spending the next seven years as she had spent the first eleven in Bella’s shadow.
Andrea spent the majority of the trip staring at her hands. Evan had offered her one of his chocolate frogs after the sweets cart had come around, which she had taken with smile. After she had read the wizard card that came with it three times and listened to Bella talk about how awesome the Slytherin quiddish team was going to be this year, and how they were sure to win the house cup, the boredom became to much for her.
“I’m going out to find the snack lady, I want another chocolate frog.” She said, standing and shuffling to the door.
“You shouldn’t eat so many sweets, Andrea dear, you’re going to get fat.”
“I know. I won’t eat it, I just want to see if I can get Grandpapa’s card. I got Dumbledore again, and I already have five of him.”
“I’m getting a bit hungry too, you don’t mind if I come along?” Evan asked, rising as well.
“Well be careful. There are all sorts of filthy mudbloods wondering around.” Bella sniffed turning her nose up, then went back to her adoring audience while Evan and Andrea slipped out and started down the hall.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Andrea spoke up “I don’t actually want more frogs, I just wanted to get away for a bit. I’m sorry I misled you.”
“I know, I’m not that hungry either, but you sister can sure talk a lot. Not to be offensive, she’s a wonderful girl and all but sometimes it’s a bit much when she’s holding court.” Andrea giggled, holding a hand to her mouth. “Besides which, she was right, there are all sorts of unsavory folk coming to Hogwarts these days, mudbloods and half-breeds and the like. I heard they let a half giant in here not so long ago, and he was expelled after he killed a girl. But don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” Evan puffed his chest out a bit, trying to look bigger and stronger.
Andrea shivered at the thought of a half-giant. Mudbloods she expected and knew to be harmless and not nearly so talented at magic as a pure-blood like herself, but half-breeds…why would anyone ever let such a creature near a school full of children?
After wandering though several train cars without any incidents involving half giants they managed to run into the snack cart and bought several chocolate frogs, some licorice, and two small cakes. Walking back with their arms full of sweets they passed by a compartment full of people squished together and laughing loudly. A dirty blonde boy poked his head of one of the windows when he noticed them passing, “Oy, you want to join in? We’re all playing jacks and trading wiz cards, it’s tons of fun.”
“Don’t talk to us, you filthy mudblood.” Evan sneered and grabbing Andrea’s hand pulled her quickly down the corridor, Andrea glanced back to see the boy stick his tongue out at them and she returned the favor before lifting her nose and turning away.
They slowed down when they reached the next car. “That was Tonks,” Evan said as though the name had a bad taste. “He’s a muggle, and doesn’t know his place at all. You should avoid him.” Andrea nodded thinking she certainly wanted nothing to do with a rude boy like him.
**
She did not see Tonks after that except to occasionally pass him in the halls. They certainly never to spoke to each other. It was a bit disconcerting to Andrea that she could never quite ignore him completely. Though she never sought him out she was always aware of him whenever they were in the same vicinity. Even now when she was supposed to having a wonderful time with Evan at the 1000-year anniversary of Hogwarts, which was being celebrated by a ball, she was still aware of Tonks. He was spinning some girl from Ravenclaw around and laughing.
Though perhaps she was noticing him now because she was standing by the wall watching as Skeeter began the third dance in a row with Evan, even though Andrea was supposedly his date.
Finally sick of being nothing more than a wall ornament, Andrea made her way out of the crowded great hall and onto the grounds. She walked around the side of the castle taking deep breaths and slowly blinking until the heat behind her eyes and the tightness in her chest were gone. She was a Black and she wasn’t going to ruin her make up over anyone. Besides, by Friday Evan and Skeeter would be friendless and alone.
She was so caught up in planning her long and painful revenge she didn’t notice anyone approaching until a friendly voice interrupted her thoughts.
“The professors are way off with their music, aren’t they?”
“What?” Andrea looked up from her feet into the smiling face of Tonks.
“The music, it’s bloody awful. I mean come on who listens to Celestina Warbeck anymore? Especially now when we have bands like Dancing Leprechauns and the Beatles to listen to.”
“The what?”
“The Beatles. Come you must have heard of the Beatles. I know they’re muggles, but they’re bloody amazing.”
“I don’t listen to muggle music.” Andrea said turning her nose up.
“You should, they’re really quite brilliant. Much more fun than this.” He gestured to the Great Hall and with a wry grin waved his wand and the music faded away. Taking Andrea’s hand he started swinging it back and forth rocking his shoulders and singing something about love and money.
Against her better judgment Andrea found herself smiling.
“Aha, the lady smiles.” Tonks grinned. “Perhaps with a bit more persuasion the lady might be enticed to dance as well.”
Andrea looked down watching their feet and biting her lips to keep herself laughing. It wouldn’t be very becoming for her to be too friendly with this muggle, regardless of how sweet he was being.
Suddenly Tonks' face was under hers. “Don’t be shy, no one else is out here. Please, just one dance.”
Glancing around to make sure Ted was right, she nodded.
With a brilliant smile Ted took her hand and placed his other on her waist and together they began swaying Tonks singing and moving their hands with exaggerated swings while Andrea giggled and tried to keep up as he spun her away and pulled her back.
He paused and Andrea suddenly became aware of just how close she had allowed herself to be pulled to him. Her chest was pressed against his and her face was mere centimeters away. He was looking at her and with perfect certainty she knew that he was going to kiss her-and what’s more, that she would kiss him back. His hand had come up and hesitating fingers brushed a stray strand of black hair away from her face. He began leaning down his eyes flickering between hers. She tilted her head up and shifted her weight onto her toes. His breath ghosted across her cheeks and corner of her mouth.
“Andrea!” The sudden shout broke through the bubble around her and Tonks and she quickly broke away, rushing towards the caller. “Andrea, there you are, I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Evan, I just went to get some air. It was getting a bit stuffy inside.”
“Ah, shall we stay out here than?”
“No, no, I’m fine now, let’s go back inside.”
“Certainly, we’ve barely had anytime to dance.” He smiled and dropped a kiss onto her lips before turning them around and walking back inside. With a last glace back to where Tonks was standing Andrea threaded her fingers through Evan’s and ignored the twisting of her stomach.
**
She didn’t expect to anything to come of that night. She was a Black, and attached to the very appropriate Evan Rosier. It had been a mistake, she had been angry at being ignored, and that was all. Tonks seemed to be on the same page; he certainly never approached her or tried for a repeat performance. Which was good because she certainly didn’t want to, so much so that she had horrible dreams about actually going through with that kiss and sometimes more. They were nightmares, that was the only explanation for why the dreams left her breathless and out of sorts. So it was a bit of shock as she joined the throngs of people congratulating her sister and boyfriend on completing their education, to find herself sought out by him.
“Black, I know this is a bit strange, but you know how I’m studying to be a healer and....” He bit his lip, fiddling with a piece of parchment in his hand. “Ah hell, look, it’s getting bad out there and just in case you ever need help…here.” He took her hand and pressed the slip of paper into it. “It’s a way to contact me. I know it seems silly, but if you ever need anything....” He disappeared into the crowd without finishing his thought. Andrea should have ripped it up or thrown it way. What use was a muggle to her? But for some reason she placed the piece of paper into her pocket and kept it safe.
Part 2: The Door
Andrea would probably have never looked at the parchment Tonks had given her again if not for her wayward cousin. Truthfully, she had not seen much of Sirius since the incident with the sorting. He had left the house in flurry of screams and thrown objects the summer before his last year. Andrea hadn’t been here for that final meltdown but the details had trickled down though the family, and the burnt tapestry was constant reminder. Which is why his appearance in the back garden of 12 Grimmauld Place accompanied by the crack of apparation was such a surprise.
“Sirius?” She asked taking a step towards the disoriented figure.
“Andrea?” He looked up confused and Andrea could see that what she had at first thought was shadows and hair was in fact blood covering half his face and soaking the hand that clutched his stomach. He staggered forward dropping to his knees. “What are you…I was trying to go home….”
“It’s ok, I’ve got you.” Andrea rushed forward holding Sirius up and digging through her robes for the scrap of parchment she kept with her at all times. The blood soaking Sirius’s shoulder was dripping down her hand and leaving bloody fingerprints as she quickly unfolded the small paper. Inside written clearly in black ink were the words
Part Two: Our Song
Andrea’s mind raced. “Our song” didn’t make any sense, they didn’t have a song. They barely knew each other, just the one brief encounter on the train and the night of the ball…when he had sung some muggle song. What was it?
“I..don’t care for diamond rings?” she tried, “If it makes you feel alright? Say you love me? I don’t care about money? Money can’t, can’t, shit.”
“Can’t buy me love.” Sirius murmured into her collar, “Didn’t know you liked the Beatles.”
“Can’t buy me love.” Andrea repeated and the writing faded away to be replaced with the picture of a small house near some forest. Concentrating on the look of that doorway and gripping Sirius as tight as she dared, Andrea closed her eyes and apparated.
They arrived on the brick step barely a foot in front of the peeling green door. As soon as she was balanced and sure Sirius was in one piece Andrea wasted no time in banging as loudly as she could.
“Hello! Is anyone here? Hello!”
It only took a few seconds before the door opened and Andrea was looking up into the still familiar face of Tonks. “Black?”
“He needs help, I didn’t know-”
“Sirius?” Tonks’ attention was quickly focused on Sirius who was slowly tipping forward. With a quick flick of his wrist the weight on Andrea’s shoulder was suddenly lifted, “Frank!” Tonks called back into the house.
“What?” A man Andrea vaguely remembered from Hogwarts emerged from a room farther back in the house. “Black? What are you doing here?”
“Get the door please,” Tonks directed him, “Hold Sirius steady, and keep pressure on the stomach wound,” he instructed Andrea while guiding Sirius’ floating body to one of many beds, banishing the blood and his clothes. The mess finally gone, Andrea could see the full damage. Sirius’s chest was covered with long deep slashes. The deepest on shoulder cutting straight through as though someone had pressed a knife down until it connected with his collarbone. The worst though was the one across his stomach. It bled freely and even with her limited knowledge of anatomy Andrea could tell it was dangerously close to killing him.
Ted frowned, running his wand over the deep slash and repeating the incantation he had just tried. Nothing happened. Grabbing a towel from the shelf next to his bed he pressed it against the gash.
“Frank, hold this.” Andrea stood back watching as Ted tried several other spells on a shallower cut while Frank held the white cloth against Sirius’s pale skin. “Push harder.” Tonks commanded holding another cloth over the deep shoulder wound with one hand and directing Sirius’ eyes to his face with the other. “Sirius? Sirius what spell was used.”
“Just your natural charm, Moony.” Sirius slurred.
“Sirius, I need you tell me how you got hurt. What spell did this?”
“Snivillus, his fault. We’ll get him back, Moony. Gonna put tickle powder in his trousers.”
“Snivillus? Whose that?” But Sirius’ eyes had drifted shut and his head dropped back to the pillow. “Sirius? Sirius, don’t do this now.”
“That’s what they called Severus, isn’t it?” Andrea spoke up.
“Snape, of course. Take the shoulder Frank.” The two men switched position and Ted peeled back the now dark crimson cloth, clearing away the blood again he accioed a red box and pulled out long silver needle and a spool black thread.
“What are you doing?” Andrea started forward.
“Snape uses a spell we’ve never seen before. We don’t know any counter spells for it, the only way to close the wounds is the muggle way.” Ted explained using magic to thread the needle and slowly pulled the separated flesh back together.
“You should wait outside,” Frank offered in a tone that made it clear it wasn’t a simple suggestion.
“I-” Andrea started to protest but another sharp look from Frank and she nodded and backed out the door into the front room.
The house wasn’t all that big now that she had the proper chance to look at it. It seemed to consist of just three rooms: the main room, the long room filled with beds where Sirius lay, and one in the back, Andrea assumed that was the room where Tonks or Frank slept, but she wasn’t sure. Andrea rubbed her hands together and looking down at them realized she was a mess and covered in Sirius’ blood. She quickly cleaned herself off and took a seat near the fireplace. She adjusted her robes, inspected her fingers to make sure she had removed all of the blood, got up and inspected the stonework of the fireplace, sat down in a different chair, and got up to take a better look at one of the pictures on the mantel.
“I’m sorry for being so short with you.”
Andrea whirled around, dropping the picture in surprise as Frank closed the door behind him.
“Will Sirius be alright?”
“Probably, Ted is good at this.” Frank took the seat Andrea had originally occupied. “It’s damn unsettling though. Muggle medicine is so barbaric.”
Andrea nodded and sat on the other chair. The silence stretched out between them long and awkward. “Can I see him?”
“Not yet.”
Andrea nodded and inspected her hands again.
“That’s a lovely ring. When’s the wedding?”
“What?” Andrea looked up and than back down remembering the diamond on her finger. “Oh, um August.”
“I see.”
Frank tapped his knee and looked into the fireplace. Andrea tried to count the frayed threads of the chair she sat on. The minutes passed between their stilted attempts at conversation until finally Ted appeared in the doorway. Andrea immediately shot up.
“Is Sirius ok?”
“Yeah, you can go see him if you like.” Ted nodded stepping out of the door.
“It’s probably better if she goes.” Frank spoke up, with a meaningful look at Ted, “We’re expecting company soon.”
“Already?” Ted looked surprised, “I’m sorry, Black. He’s going to be fine. You can see him another time, alright?”
“But-” Andrea tired to protest as she was quickly ushered out the door and finding herself standing alone outside gave up and apparated back home, fully intending to never see Tonks again.
**
The wooden door looked exactly the way Andrea remembered as she desperately banged on it until the increasingly familiar face of Tonks appeared.
“You have to help. I don’t know how-she’s dying and they aren’t doing anything.” She babbled grabbing his wrist and pulling him out of the house.
“What? Who? Black you-” Ted began only be cut off as Andrea pulled him to a side-along apparation. They reappeared moments later in the front hall of her childhood home and without pause Andrea dragged him up the stairs past the quiet and haggard men standing in the hall towards one of the bedrooms from which a pained scream was emitting. On the bed drenched in sweat, eyes squeezed shut lay Bella, dark red blood trickling down her ashen thighs and staining the white sheet underneath.
“Help,” Andrea implored turning to face Tonks. He stared at Bella, taken in her distend stomach, her whimpering sobs punctuated by screams of pain, the dour faces of the other occupants, before returning his gaze to Andrea.
“I can’t, I don’t know how.”
“Please.” Andrea stared into Tonks’ dark blue eyes. He returned the gaze, studying her face before nodding.
“I’ll try.”
**
It was the first time she had come to this place without a real purpose and so the first time she ever had a chance to look around. It was actually quite pleasant. The house was small, much smaller than her parents country manor, but it had it’s own charm. The walls were brown stone partially covered in ivy and she realized there most be stairs somewhere in the house for there was a second floor with two small windows looking out over the overgrown but bright garden she was standing in now.
She slowly made her way towards the door, checking her pocket to make sure the amulet she was bringing as a thank you gift had made it through safely. Though expensive and undoubtedly real, it hardly seemed an adequate way to thank Tonks for all her had done for her and her family.
To her surprise the front door was opened and she could here raised voices coming from beyond it.
“Bellatrix Black! Ted, are you insane?” A voice Andrea recognized shouted. She wasn’t sure but she thought it was Frank.
“She was dying.” Ted’s voice answered
“Good!” Frank countered. “You know how many of our people she’s killed?”
“She needed help.”
“She’s a Deatheater!”
“So! I told you when you first came to me, that I wouldn’t turn away anyone.”
“Don’t try and pull some self righteous bullshit. You didn’t do it for Bellatrix; you did it for her sister.”
“That’s not,” Ted started to refute the accusation but Andrea didn’t stay to hear the rest of it.
Back home, safe in dark shadows of her room Andrea could think about what she had overheard. She already knew of course about her sister’s political leanings, Bella and Evan spoke of them often, but Andrea had never really thought about what that meant. Her sister was fighting in a war. She killed people, and people wanted to kill her. Evan was the same, and so was Sirius. They were all fighting and Andrea didn't understand it. It was the first time she had allowed the traitorous whispers in her heart to form a solid thought.
She didn’t understand this war. She didn’t understand what they were fighting for. She didn’t understand what the Dark Lord Bella spoke so reverently about hoped achieve. Andrea had never spoken to or even seen the man himself, but from what Bella and Evan said she thought privately that he sounded insane. Muggles were a fact of life. They would never go away whether they were barred from Hogwarts or not. Besides, the traitorous thoughts added, muggle medicine barbaric as it may look had saved her family twice when magic had failed to.
Tonks, a simple muggle-born from Hufflepuff, was twice the wizard any of her pure-blooded classmates had turned out to be. He was kind and smart and as her thoughts turned to him Andrea recalled the final bit of the conversation she had overheard. Frank, or the man she assumed was Frank, had said Tonks had been doing all this for her, or at least she thought that’s what he meant. The only other sister Bella had was Cissy, and Andrea was fairly sure that wasn’t whom they meant.
But why? The question plagued her mind and she focused all of her energy on it ignoring the question that followed: what did she want it to mean? She knew the answer was there if she really wanted, but she danced around it. It wasn’t right. It couldn’t be.
“Andromeda.” Her mother stood in the doorway, tall and white, the high cheekbones and pointed jaw gave her a bird like appearance, a trait that had been passed down to all of her daughters, though only the youngest had inherited her light coloring. “Where have you been?”
“I just went out for a bit,” Andrea replied hoping no farther questions on where exactly out was would follow.
“You were with that muggle again weren’t you?”
“No, mama, I was just…” Andrea trailed off under the cold stare she was receiving.
“How could you do this to us, Andrea? How could bring someone like that into our home?” Her mother stepped over the threshold and fully entered Andrea’s room talking a seat next to her on the bed.
“I, I just didn’t want Bella to die, and he’s the only one I thought could save her.”
“How can you defend him after what he did?”
“He saved her life, mama.” Andrea argued.
“He cut her open. He killed her baby.”
“The baby was already dead!” Andrea stood up turning towards her mother, “Bella would have died too if it wasn’t for him.”
“Don’t raise your voice at me Andromeda Cestina Black.” Her mother stood as well still a few centimeters taller than Andrea. “And I don’t want you to ever see that mudblood filth again.”
Andrea opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself and nodded. “Yes, mama.”
With a relieved smile and a kiss on the cheek her mother swept out of the room and Andrea was once again left lone with her thoughts.
**
The plan was probably Bella’s; she had always been the inventive one. Evan was more the type to go along for the ride. Bella though, she was good at putting pieces together and making them work for her. It made Andrea sick, the way they had smiled at her and told her she could something great for the “the cause”. She knew how to reach the Order. All she had to do was give Bella the picture of the little cottage with the green door. They, of course, wouldn’t force Andrea to join them in the raid, but if she wanted to, well then that would be good too. The hints were dropped about her becoming more, following Bella like she always had.
She had nodded said she’d think about it with a smile on her lips that made the bile rise in the throat. She sat pretty and quiet like a good girl until Bella and Evan left, they had “business”, but maybe next time she could come with them to “business”. Evan kissed her cheek and promised to back shortly. Andrea didn’t tell him she wouldn’t be there when he got back.
The ring slid easily off her finger. A sign, she was sure, that this was the right thing, not that she need one. She left it above the fireplace next to a picture of them at one of her aunt’s social gatherings. Andrea doubted she would ever be attending one of those again. The thought stung, and for a moment she hesitated. It wasn’t just Evan and Bella she was leaving. It was all of them. Mama and Papa, Cissy, Reggie, even Kreacher, she would never be able to see them again. She could lie. She could say she misplaced the note and she didn’t remember well enough to apparate without ending up in a wall of cement. She could go on being blind to her sister and fiancé’s actions.
She put the ring down and walked out of the house she thought she would one day call home, and picturing the peeling green paint of the house she thought she would never see again apparated.
The door was closed this time and her knock was answered almost immediately.
“Black? What’s wrong?” Ted asked, taking her hand.
“Andromeda, my name, it’s Andromeda. But you can call me…” She smiled “You can call me whatever you like,” she said, leaning up to take the one thing she had wanted since she was fifteen. His lips were chapped, but warm and after a moment they were pressing back against hers and his arms were circling her waist pulling her closer and into his home.
Rating: Pg-13 for suggested sex
Genre: Romance/Angst
Characters: Alphard/OC
Disclaimers: I own nothing not even the clothes on my back
Summary: One week in the summer between 6th and 7th year changes everything for Alphard.
It started with a dare. Alphard and Ignatius had to go to muggle London and they had to purchase something to prove they’d done it. London, itself, was desolate and devastated from the years of war. There wasn’t much to buy and less at a decent price. In the end they decided to get a record from some guy named Billie Holiday because Ignatius liked the name, after all it’s not like they could listen to it even if they wanted to.
Alphard was trying to explain how stupid it was to buy a record if they couldn’t play it when he first saw the soldier. He didn’t look a day older then they were. He must have just turned eighteen, Alphard thought as he stared at the short auburn hair framing ocean blue eyes.
“I heard you guys talking,” The soldier’s smile was a little higher on the left side and his eyes were shifting from the ground to Alphard. “I’m being sent to the front, so I won’t be needing this anymore.” He held an odd box out to Alphard. “You can listen to your record now. Good choice by the way,” He looked over at Ignatius for the first time, “She’s brilliant.” With a last glance at Alphard he walked back into the building.
Alphard usually liked staying in the country house. It was quiet and peaceful and spacious, unlike the cramped little townhouse in London where his cousins usually stayed. But that night he couldn’t find the peace he normally sought. He sat on the soft feather bed in his spacious room and dreamed of the soldier. It was a little past eleven at night when the idea came to him, just late enough for such a stupid plan to seem brilliant.
All the lights were out in London and the city was pitch black. He had just cast Lumos, holding up to see where he was when someone threw a dark cloak over his hand.
“Put out the light, are you nuts. What are you doing out here anyways? Never mind, get in.” A familiar voice whispered, tugging the surprised boy back into the building.
Inside the building was even darker then outside and both of them were clumsily stumbling up a flight of stairs. At what Alphard assumed was the top the hand over his wrist let go and he could hear shuffling before a click and a low lamp sitting on a small wooden table washed the small one room flat in a soft yellow glow.
“What are you doing back here? I didn’t think you were from London, and now? Didn’t you hear the sirens? It’s not safe to be outside. It’s not really safe to be inside either but what can you do?”
“I-uh, I um, uh…” Alphard raced to put his thoughts together. Why had he come here? What had he been thinking? What were sirens?
“Doesn’t matter I guess, how’d you like the record? You ever heard Billie before? Sit down. Get comfortable. It’s not safe for you to go out again. You’ll stay here tonight.” The soldier continued
“Oh, I didn’t mean to impose…I mean I can go…I’ll be fine” Alphard stepped back towards the doorway.
“You’re not. I don’t mind, stay. Please.”
“Ok.” Alphard nodded sliding stiffly into a one of the two wooden chairs that stuck out oddly from under the table. “Um…the uh, the record was good. It’s real different.”
“You don’t listen to a lot of jazz do you? Those Americans,” He shook his head, “they got no class, but their music is aces.”
“I’ve never really heard any American music before,” Alphard admitted.
“You’re shittin’” the soldier exclaimed, laughing as Alphard shyly shook his head. “Come on, you must have, what about Crosby, you know ‘swing on a star’.” He started singing, “Oh would you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams in a jar…no? Wow, your education has been lacking.”
“Yeah, I’ve been getting that feeling lately.”
“You want my records? Here, I’ll show what I’ve got. I’m Frank, by the way, and you are?”
“Alphard.”
“Alphard, that a pretty unique, that’s cool though, I mean I’m sharing my name with like half the army. Where did you’re parents come up with it?”
“It was my great-grandfather’s cousin’s name. We reuse names a lot in my family, I’m actually the fourth.”
“The fourth, no shit? I guess your family must be pretty old. You nobility?”
“Um, not technically. We were-“ Alphard stopped realizing he was about to break the cardinal rule of the Wizard world. “It’s really weird.” He finished, hoping if he played it off like it was embarrassing Frank would drop it.
“Yeah? Come on tell me.”
“Nah, it’s stupid, really.”
“Please…” Frank clasped his hands together a pleading look on his face.
“We were the kings advisors…”
“Hey, That’s really cool, not weird at all.”
Alphard began to wonder if someone had slipped him vertruserum, because instead of stopping there he kept going.
“Mystical advisors.”
“Mystical?” Frank asked
“Like wizards…”
“You taking the piss out of me?”
Alphard felt his lips pulling up into another smile, a weight lifted off his chest. What did it matter what he said? He was wizard. If something went wrong here he’d just oblivate Frank and apparate home. No harm, no foul. Besides, he wanted to tell him, wanted to share who he was and the part of his family he could be proud of.
“No, I swear it’s true, I’m descended from a long line of wizards.”
“That is fucking awesome. So you know how to do magic?”
Alphard froze, realizing the delicate line he was suddenly treading. He could say yes. See what would happen. He was an adult. If Frank turned out not to be trustworthy he would be fine.
“Don’t be stupid, there’s no such thing as magic,” He lied.
“I know but like tricks and shit, you know magician secrets, make a copper come out of your ear or something.”
“No, I can’t, I don’t know any magic tricks.” Alphard leaned farther back in the chair creating more space between himself and Frank.
“Come on, you must know something.” Frank did that thing with his eyes again and Alphard found himself nodding.
“I…I could read your palm?” He offered. That was safe, plenty of muggles pretended to do those sorts of things.
“Brilliant!” Frank grinned holding out his hand which Alphard took hesitatingly examining the lines and scars that criss-crossed his calloused palm.
“So, um, this one.” Alphard pointed to the line circling around the thumb, “is your life line. It’s curvy and wide so you’re really…lively. And um, this is your head line, it’s all broken up, which means you don’t really think logically, you just sort of skip around from one idea to the next, but you’re really creative.”
“What about my love line?”
Alphard looked up, his breath catching when he realized how close they were. “Uh, it’s…” He ducked his head again swallowing. “It’s good, you, um, you’re really expressive, it says, so your um girlfriends feel loved and um you fall in love really fast.”
“I do.”
“What?”
“Fall in love really fast.”
“Really? Palm reading must…“ Alphard faded off. His words lost in the warmth of Franks breathe so close to his, mixing together as it left their lips. “I, uh…”
“Shh,” Frank’s lips crooked up starting on the left but Alphard didn’t notice, mesmerized by his eyes, before even they were too close to see.
The raising sun had found the one crack in the heavy black clothes taped to the windowpanes leaving a thread of light stretched across the floor. Alphard stared at it, watching the way is weaved about the apartment running over the floor and up the foot of the bed, breaking of for bit before weaving over the messy sheets and across Alphard’s bare shoulder.
“Morning,” a muffled voice came from behind him and a hand moved through the line of light and across Alphard to fiddle with something on the bedside table that washed the whole room in light.
“Morning,” Alphard replied, biting his lip and holding the blanket under his chin. “I, uh, I should probably get back to my cousins before they start worrying about me.”
“Right, you wouldn’t want that.”
Alphard nodded eyeing his robes strewn across the room, wishing he could summon them instead of having to get up and walk across the room naked. After about a minute of extravagant schemes to get dressed with out standing up Alphard gathered his bravery and slipped out of bed pulling on bands and the undershirt, bundling his robes up in his arms.
“Well, thanks for the, uh, night. I’ll just show myself out.” Alphard said carefully not looking as Frank dressed himself.
“It was no problem, really. I, I enjoyed your company.”
“Me too.”
“Good. I’m glad you enjoyed it-yourself, last night.”
“Right, I, I’ll be going now.” Alphard finally opened the door.
“Hey Alphard” Frank called and Alphard paused turning around.
“Yeah?”
“My mates are going to this bar tonight, they have a live show, do you want, I mean if you’re not busy with your cousin, maybe, you could come?”
“Yeah, I’d like that.” Alphard smiled before stepping out into the street and apparating home.
The day after he brought back the record player. The day after that he came to listen to the new Billie Holiday record. The day after that there was an open mike night at the bar from before. After that Alphard stopped going home in the morning. Over the course of the week he learned to lie spectacularly. He lied about magic, about his family, about himself. He lied about where he was, whom he was with, what he was doing. He lied to everyone, until the last night.
“What are you doing?” Frank asked lying on his stomach trying to watch as Alphard traced runes onto his back whispering the words of a spell he’d learned for the OWLs a year ago.
“A spell.”
“Really? I thought you didn’t believe in magic?”
Alphard smiled. “It’s all I can do though isn’t it? You’re leaving tomorrow.”
“I’ll write. I’ll send the letters here, so your parents don’t find out.”
“Thanks, I’ll write too.”
“It’s late, come sleep.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Than just lie down, please?”
Alphard finished the final rune and curled up in the warm bed promising himself if Frank came back he would stop lying, he would tell him everything, leave his family and they would be happy.
Three weeks later Alphard learned he wasn’t very good at protection spells. He bought the flat, he was an adult by wizard standards and what he did with his money was his business. He stopped going as often as time went on and eventually handed the key of the dusty flat to his fifteen-year-old nephew. It seemed right. Sirius liked American music too.
Title: Blackbird
Author: Teshumai
Gift for: Sugeredarsenic
Pairing: Ted/Andromeda
Rating: PG
Warnings: somewhat bloody
Word Count: 4300
Summary: Andromeda was content to follow her family but as she grows up and the world becomes more complex she’ll have to decide who she is and how she wants to live. Thank you to my Beta!
Part one: Proper Behavior
Andromeda Black chewed nervously on her lip as she stood behind her sister on the train, her cheek still damp and slightly red from her mother’s lipstick. She tried to wipe it away but only made her whole cheek a rosy color. Bellatrix it seemed had nearly forgotten her shy little sister as she giggled with a gang of friends and led them into a small compartment, which Andromeda was fairly sure she wasn’t going to be invited to enter.
“Andrea, dear, hurry up and come in,” Bella called using the familiar nickname. “You should get to know the people you’ll be in a house with.” The small rebellious voice in Andrea’s mind wanted to point out that technically her house was undetermined until she was sorted, but the logical part of her brain pointed out that every single Black had been in Slytherin since the tapestry had been woven and it was very unlikely that Andrea was going to break that tradition.
“These are the Lestrange’s Ruddy and Rab.” Bella gestured to the two boys sharing a seat with her. “And that is Mari Prince and Evan Rosier. Hurry up and sit down.”
Andrea quickly dragged her trunk in and whispered a thank you as Evan levitated it up to the baggage compartment. She could tell after just a few seconds that Bella clearly was the leader of the little gang. The Lestrange boys were both practically drooling over her and nodded enthusiastically to everything she said. Mari had a star-struck look in her eyes as she gazed at Bella asking for her opinion on absolutely everything. Evan, however, mostly seemed to stare out the window and not participate much. Andrea thought he had the right idea. Holding in a sigh she resigned herself to spending the next seven years as she had spent the first eleven in Bella’s shadow.
Andrea spent the majority of the trip staring at her hands. Evan had offered her one of his chocolate frogs after the sweets cart had come around, which she had taken with smile. After she had read the wizard card that came with it three times and listened to Bella talk about how awesome the Slytherin quiddish team was going to be this year, and how they were sure to win the house cup, the boredom became to much for her.
“I’m going out to find the snack lady, I want another chocolate frog.” She said, standing and shuffling to the door.
“You shouldn’t eat so many sweets, Andrea dear, you’re going to get fat.”
“I know. I won’t eat it, I just want to see if I can get Grandpapa’s card. I got Dumbledore again, and I already have five of him.”
“I’m getting a bit hungry too, you don’t mind if I come along?” Evan asked, rising as well.
“Well be careful. There are all sorts of filthy mudbloods wondering around.” Bella sniffed turning her nose up, then went back to her adoring audience while Evan and Andrea slipped out and started down the hall.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Andrea spoke up “I don’t actually want more frogs, I just wanted to get away for a bit. I’m sorry I misled you.”
“I know, I’m not that hungry either, but you sister can sure talk a lot. Not to be offensive, she’s a wonderful girl and all but sometimes it’s a bit much when she’s holding court.” Andrea giggled, holding a hand to her mouth. “Besides which, she was right, there are all sorts of unsavory folk coming to Hogwarts these days, mudbloods and half-breeds and the like. I heard they let a half giant in here not so long ago, and he was expelled after he killed a girl. But don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” Evan puffed his chest out a bit, trying to look bigger and stronger.
Andrea shivered at the thought of a half-giant. Mudbloods she expected and knew to be harmless and not nearly so talented at magic as a pure-blood like herself, but half-breeds…why would anyone ever let such a creature near a school full of children?
After wandering though several train cars without any incidents involving half giants they managed to run into the snack cart and bought several chocolate frogs, some licorice, and two small cakes. Walking back with their arms full of sweets they passed by a compartment full of people squished together and laughing loudly. A dirty blonde boy poked his head of one of the windows when he noticed them passing, “Oy, you want to join in? We’re all playing jacks and trading wiz cards, it’s tons of fun.”
“Don’t talk to us, you filthy mudblood.” Evan sneered and grabbing Andrea’s hand pulled her quickly down the corridor, Andrea glanced back to see the boy stick his tongue out at them and she returned the favor before lifting her nose and turning away.
They slowed down when they reached the next car. “That was Tonks,” Evan said as though the name had a bad taste. “He’s a muggle, and doesn’t know his place at all. You should avoid him.” Andrea nodded thinking she certainly wanted nothing to do with a rude boy like him.
**
She did not see Tonks after that except to occasionally pass him in the halls. They certainly never to spoke to each other. It was a bit disconcerting to Andrea that she could never quite ignore him completely. Though she never sought him out she was always aware of him whenever they were in the same vicinity. Even now when she was supposed to having a wonderful time with Evan at the 1000-year anniversary of Hogwarts, which was being celebrated by a ball, she was still aware of Tonks. He was spinning some girl from Ravenclaw around and laughing.
Though perhaps she was noticing him now because she was standing by the wall watching as Skeeter began the third dance in a row with Evan, even though Andrea was supposedly his date.
Finally sick of being nothing more than a wall ornament, Andrea made her way out of the crowded great hall and onto the grounds. She walked around the side of the castle taking deep breaths and slowly blinking until the heat behind her eyes and the tightness in her chest were gone. She was a Black and she wasn’t going to ruin her make up over anyone. Besides, by Friday Evan and Skeeter would be friendless and alone.
She was so caught up in planning her long and painful revenge she didn’t notice anyone approaching until a friendly voice interrupted her thoughts.
“The professors are way off with their music, aren’t they?”
“What?” Andrea looked up from her feet into the smiling face of Tonks.
“The music, it’s bloody awful. I mean come on who listens to Celestina Warbeck anymore? Especially now when we have bands like Dancing Leprechauns and the Beatles to listen to.”
“The what?”
“The Beatles. Come you must have heard of the Beatles. I know they’re muggles, but they’re bloody amazing.”
“I don’t listen to muggle music.” Andrea said turning her nose up.
“You should, they’re really quite brilliant. Much more fun than this.” He gestured to the Great Hall and with a wry grin waved his wand and the music faded away. Taking Andrea’s hand he started swinging it back and forth rocking his shoulders and singing something about love and money.
Against her better judgment Andrea found herself smiling.
“Aha, the lady smiles.” Tonks grinned. “Perhaps with a bit more persuasion the lady might be enticed to dance as well.”
Andrea looked down watching their feet and biting her lips to keep herself laughing. It wouldn’t be very becoming for her to be too friendly with this muggle, regardless of how sweet he was being.
Suddenly Tonks' face was under hers. “Don’t be shy, no one else is out here. Please, just one dance.”
Glancing around to make sure Ted was right, she nodded.
With a brilliant smile Ted took her hand and placed his other on her waist and together they began swaying Tonks singing and moving their hands with exaggerated swings while Andrea giggled and tried to keep up as he spun her away and pulled her back.
He paused and Andrea suddenly became aware of just how close she had allowed herself to be pulled to him. Her chest was pressed against his and her face was mere centimeters away. He was looking at her and with perfect certainty she knew that he was going to kiss her-and what’s more, that she would kiss him back. His hand had come up and hesitating fingers brushed a stray strand of black hair away from her face. He began leaning down his eyes flickering between hers. She tilted her head up and shifted her weight onto her toes. His breath ghosted across her cheeks and corner of her mouth.
“Andrea!” The sudden shout broke through the bubble around her and Tonks and she quickly broke away, rushing towards the caller. “Andrea, there you are, I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Evan, I just went to get some air. It was getting a bit stuffy inside.”
“Ah, shall we stay out here than?”
“No, no, I’m fine now, let’s go back inside.”
“Certainly, we’ve barely had anytime to dance.” He smiled and dropped a kiss onto her lips before turning them around and walking back inside. With a last glace back to where Tonks was standing Andrea threaded her fingers through Evan’s and ignored the twisting of her stomach.
**
She didn’t expect to anything to come of that night. She was a Black, and attached to the very appropriate Evan Rosier. It had been a mistake, she had been angry at being ignored, and that was all. Tonks seemed to be on the same page; he certainly never approached her or tried for a repeat performance. Which was good because she certainly didn’t want to, so much so that she had horrible dreams about actually going through with that kiss and sometimes more. They were nightmares, that was the only explanation for why the dreams left her breathless and out of sorts. So it was a bit of shock as she joined the throngs of people congratulating her sister and boyfriend on completing their education, to find herself sought out by him.
“Black, I know this is a bit strange, but you know how I’m studying to be a healer and....” He bit his lip, fiddling with a piece of parchment in his hand. “Ah hell, look, it’s getting bad out there and just in case you ever need help…here.” He took her hand and pressed the slip of paper into it. “It’s a way to contact me. I know it seems silly, but if you ever need anything....” He disappeared into the crowd without finishing his thought. Andrea should have ripped it up or thrown it way. What use was a muggle to her? But for some reason she placed the piece of paper into her pocket and kept it safe.
Part 2: The Door
Andrea would probably have never looked at the parchment Tonks had given her again if not for her wayward cousin. Truthfully, she had not seen much of Sirius since the incident with the sorting. He had left the house in flurry of screams and thrown objects the summer before his last year. Andrea hadn’t been here for that final meltdown but the details had trickled down though the family, and the burnt tapestry was constant reminder. Which is why his appearance in the back garden of 12 Grimmauld Place accompanied by the crack of apparation was such a surprise.
“Sirius?” She asked taking a step towards the disoriented figure.
“Andrea?” He looked up confused and Andrea could see that what she had at first thought was shadows and hair was in fact blood covering half his face and soaking the hand that clutched his stomach. He staggered forward dropping to his knees. “What are you…I was trying to go home….”
“It’s ok, I’ve got you.” Andrea rushed forward holding Sirius up and digging through her robes for the scrap of parchment she kept with her at all times. The blood soaking Sirius’s shoulder was dripping down her hand and leaving bloody fingerprints as she quickly unfolded the small paper. Inside written clearly in black ink were the words
Part Two: Our Song
Andrea’s mind raced. “Our song” didn’t make any sense, they didn’t have a song. They barely knew each other, just the one brief encounter on the train and the night of the ball…when he had sung some muggle song. What was it?
“I..don’t care for diamond rings?” she tried, “If it makes you feel alright? Say you love me? I don’t care about money? Money can’t, can’t, shit.”
“Can’t buy me love.” Sirius murmured into her collar, “Didn’t know you liked the Beatles.”
“Can’t buy me love.” Andrea repeated and the writing faded away to be replaced with the picture of a small house near some forest. Concentrating on the look of that doorway and gripping Sirius as tight as she dared, Andrea closed her eyes and apparated.
They arrived on the brick step barely a foot in front of the peeling green door. As soon as she was balanced and sure Sirius was in one piece Andrea wasted no time in banging as loudly as she could.
“Hello! Is anyone here? Hello!”
It only took a few seconds before the door opened and Andrea was looking up into the still familiar face of Tonks. “Black?”
“He needs help, I didn’t know-”
“Sirius?” Tonks’ attention was quickly focused on Sirius who was slowly tipping forward. With a quick flick of his wrist the weight on Andrea’s shoulder was suddenly lifted, “Frank!” Tonks called back into the house.
“What?” A man Andrea vaguely remembered from Hogwarts emerged from a room farther back in the house. “Black? What are you doing here?”
“Get the door please,” Tonks directed him, “Hold Sirius steady, and keep pressure on the stomach wound,” he instructed Andrea while guiding Sirius’ floating body to one of many beds, banishing the blood and his clothes. The mess finally gone, Andrea could see the full damage. Sirius’s chest was covered with long deep slashes. The deepest on shoulder cutting straight through as though someone had pressed a knife down until it connected with his collarbone. The worst though was the one across his stomach. It bled freely and even with her limited knowledge of anatomy Andrea could tell it was dangerously close to killing him.
Ted frowned, running his wand over the deep slash and repeating the incantation he had just tried. Nothing happened. Grabbing a towel from the shelf next to his bed he pressed it against the gash.
“Frank, hold this.” Andrea stood back watching as Ted tried several other spells on a shallower cut while Frank held the white cloth against Sirius’s pale skin. “Push harder.” Tonks commanded holding another cloth over the deep shoulder wound with one hand and directing Sirius’ eyes to his face with the other. “Sirius? Sirius what spell was used.”
“Just your natural charm, Moony.” Sirius slurred.
“Sirius, I need you tell me how you got hurt. What spell did this?”
“Snivillus, his fault. We’ll get him back, Moony. Gonna put tickle powder in his trousers.”
“Snivillus? Whose that?” But Sirius’ eyes had drifted shut and his head dropped back to the pillow. “Sirius? Sirius, don’t do this now.”
“That’s what they called Severus, isn’t it?” Andrea spoke up.
“Snape, of course. Take the shoulder Frank.” The two men switched position and Ted peeled back the now dark crimson cloth, clearing away the blood again he accioed a red box and pulled out long silver needle and a spool black thread.
“What are you doing?” Andrea started forward.
“Snape uses a spell we’ve never seen before. We don’t know any counter spells for it, the only way to close the wounds is the muggle way.” Ted explained using magic to thread the needle and slowly pulled the separated flesh back together.
“You should wait outside,” Frank offered in a tone that made it clear it wasn’t a simple suggestion.
“I-” Andrea started to protest but another sharp look from Frank and she nodded and backed out the door into the front room.
The house wasn’t all that big now that she had the proper chance to look at it. It seemed to consist of just three rooms: the main room, the long room filled with beds where Sirius lay, and one in the back, Andrea assumed that was the room where Tonks or Frank slept, but she wasn’t sure. Andrea rubbed her hands together and looking down at them realized she was a mess and covered in Sirius’ blood. She quickly cleaned herself off and took a seat near the fireplace. She adjusted her robes, inspected her fingers to make sure she had removed all of the blood, got up and inspected the stonework of the fireplace, sat down in a different chair, and got up to take a better look at one of the pictures on the mantel.
“I’m sorry for being so short with you.”
Andrea whirled around, dropping the picture in surprise as Frank closed the door behind him.
“Will Sirius be alright?”
“Probably, Ted is good at this.” Frank took the seat Andrea had originally occupied. “It’s damn unsettling though. Muggle medicine is so barbaric.”
Andrea nodded and sat on the other chair. The silence stretched out between them long and awkward. “Can I see him?”
“Not yet.”
Andrea nodded and inspected her hands again.
“That’s a lovely ring. When’s the wedding?”
“What?” Andrea looked up and than back down remembering the diamond on her finger. “Oh, um August.”
“I see.”
Frank tapped his knee and looked into the fireplace. Andrea tried to count the frayed threads of the chair she sat on. The minutes passed between their stilted attempts at conversation until finally Ted appeared in the doorway. Andrea immediately shot up.
“Is Sirius ok?”
“Yeah, you can go see him if you like.” Ted nodded stepping out of the door.
“It’s probably better if she goes.” Frank spoke up, with a meaningful look at Ted, “We’re expecting company soon.”
“Already?” Ted looked surprised, “I’m sorry, Black. He’s going to be fine. You can see him another time, alright?”
“But-” Andrea tired to protest as she was quickly ushered out the door and finding herself standing alone outside gave up and apparated back home, fully intending to never see Tonks again.
**
The wooden door looked exactly the way Andrea remembered as she desperately banged on it until the increasingly familiar face of Tonks appeared.
“You have to help. I don’t know how-she’s dying and they aren’t doing anything.” She babbled grabbing his wrist and pulling him out of the house.
“What? Who? Black you-” Ted began only be cut off as Andrea pulled him to a side-along apparation. They reappeared moments later in the front hall of her childhood home and without pause Andrea dragged him up the stairs past the quiet and haggard men standing in the hall towards one of the bedrooms from which a pained scream was emitting. On the bed drenched in sweat, eyes squeezed shut lay Bella, dark red blood trickling down her ashen thighs and staining the white sheet underneath.
“Help,” Andrea implored turning to face Tonks. He stared at Bella, taken in her distend stomach, her whimpering sobs punctuated by screams of pain, the dour faces of the other occupants, before returning his gaze to Andrea.
“I can’t, I don’t know how.”
“Please.” Andrea stared into Tonks’ dark blue eyes. He returned the gaze, studying her face before nodding.
“I’ll try.”
**
It was the first time she had come to this place without a real purpose and so the first time she ever had a chance to look around. It was actually quite pleasant. The house was small, much smaller than her parents country manor, but it had it’s own charm. The walls were brown stone partially covered in ivy and she realized there most be stairs somewhere in the house for there was a second floor with two small windows looking out over the overgrown but bright garden she was standing in now.
She slowly made her way towards the door, checking her pocket to make sure the amulet she was bringing as a thank you gift had made it through safely. Though expensive and undoubtedly real, it hardly seemed an adequate way to thank Tonks for all her had done for her and her family.
To her surprise the front door was opened and she could here raised voices coming from beyond it.
“Bellatrix Black! Ted, are you insane?” A voice Andrea recognized shouted. She wasn’t sure but she thought it was Frank.
“She was dying.” Ted’s voice answered
“Good!” Frank countered. “You know how many of our people she’s killed?”
“She needed help.”
“She’s a Deatheater!”
“So! I told you when you first came to me, that I wouldn’t turn away anyone.”
“Don’t try and pull some self righteous bullshit. You didn’t do it for Bellatrix; you did it for her sister.”
“That’s not,” Ted started to refute the accusation but Andrea didn’t stay to hear the rest of it.
Back home, safe in dark shadows of her room Andrea could think about what she had overheard. She already knew of course about her sister’s political leanings, Bella and Evan spoke of them often, but Andrea had never really thought about what that meant. Her sister was fighting in a war. She killed people, and people wanted to kill her. Evan was the same, and so was Sirius. They were all fighting and Andrea didn't understand it. It was the first time she had allowed the traitorous whispers in her heart to form a solid thought.
She didn’t understand this war. She didn’t understand what they were fighting for. She didn’t understand what the Dark Lord Bella spoke so reverently about hoped achieve. Andrea had never spoken to or even seen the man himself, but from what Bella and Evan said she thought privately that he sounded insane. Muggles were a fact of life. They would never go away whether they were barred from Hogwarts or not. Besides, the traitorous thoughts added, muggle medicine barbaric as it may look had saved her family twice when magic had failed to.
Tonks, a simple muggle-born from Hufflepuff, was twice the wizard any of her pure-blooded classmates had turned out to be. He was kind and smart and as her thoughts turned to him Andrea recalled the final bit of the conversation she had overheard. Frank, or the man she assumed was Frank, had said Tonks had been doing all this for her, or at least she thought that’s what he meant. The only other sister Bella had was Cissy, and Andrea was fairly sure that wasn’t whom they meant.
But why? The question plagued her mind and she focused all of her energy on it ignoring the question that followed: what did she want it to mean? She knew the answer was there if she really wanted, but she danced around it. It wasn’t right. It couldn’t be.
“Andromeda.” Her mother stood in the doorway, tall and white, the high cheekbones and pointed jaw gave her a bird like appearance, a trait that had been passed down to all of her daughters, though only the youngest had inherited her light coloring. “Where have you been?”
“I just went out for a bit,” Andrea replied hoping no farther questions on where exactly out was would follow.
“You were with that muggle again weren’t you?”
“No, mama, I was just…” Andrea trailed off under the cold stare she was receiving.
“How could you do this to us, Andrea? How could bring someone like that into our home?” Her mother stepped over the threshold and fully entered Andrea’s room talking a seat next to her on the bed.
“I, I just didn’t want Bella to die, and he’s the only one I thought could save her.”
“How can you defend him after what he did?”
“He saved her life, mama.” Andrea argued.
“He cut her open. He killed her baby.”
“The baby was already dead!” Andrea stood up turning towards her mother, “Bella would have died too if it wasn’t for him.”
“Don’t raise your voice at me Andromeda Cestina Black.” Her mother stood as well still a few centimeters taller than Andrea. “And I don’t want you to ever see that mudblood filth again.”
Andrea opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself and nodded. “Yes, mama.”
With a relieved smile and a kiss on the cheek her mother swept out of the room and Andrea was once again left lone with her thoughts.
**
The plan was probably Bella’s; she had always been the inventive one. Evan was more the type to go along for the ride. Bella though, she was good at putting pieces together and making them work for her. It made Andrea sick, the way they had smiled at her and told her she could something great for the “the cause”. She knew how to reach the Order. All she had to do was give Bella the picture of the little cottage with the green door. They, of course, wouldn’t force Andrea to join them in the raid, but if she wanted to, well then that would be good too. The hints were dropped about her becoming more, following Bella like she always had.
She had nodded said she’d think about it with a smile on her lips that made the bile rise in the throat. She sat pretty and quiet like a good girl until Bella and Evan left, they had “business”, but maybe next time she could come with them to “business”. Evan kissed her cheek and promised to back shortly. Andrea didn’t tell him she wouldn’t be there when he got back.
The ring slid easily off her finger. A sign, she was sure, that this was the right thing, not that she need one. She left it above the fireplace next to a picture of them at one of her aunt’s social gatherings. Andrea doubted she would ever be attending one of those again. The thought stung, and for a moment she hesitated. It wasn’t just Evan and Bella she was leaving. It was all of them. Mama and Papa, Cissy, Reggie, even Kreacher, she would never be able to see them again. She could lie. She could say she misplaced the note and she didn’t remember well enough to apparate without ending up in a wall of cement. She could go on being blind to her sister and fiancé’s actions.
She put the ring down and walked out of the house she thought she would one day call home, and picturing the peeling green paint of the house she thought she would never see again apparated.
The door was closed this time and her knock was answered almost immediately.
“Black? What’s wrong?” Ted asked, taking her hand.
“Andromeda, my name, it’s Andromeda. But you can call me…” She smiled “You can call me whatever you like,” she said, leaning up to take the one thing she had wanted since she was fifteen. His lips were chapped, but warm and after a moment they were pressing back against hers and his arms were circling her waist pulling her closer and into his home.