Accepting It
Andromeda couldn’t help but look for Edward for the next few days. Every meal she’d glance around the Great Hall to catch his gaze, but she never did. He was like a shadow. You could see him, but you couldn’t catch him. Still, that evening in the library left her vexed about what happened. She just wanted to see he was okay, Rabastan could be cruel.
That morning she let her mind wander through all the negative possibilities. Rabastan could have changed his mind and gone back or perhaps he caught up to him another day. There wasn’t much the Lestrange family wouldn’t do. Her father spoke of them with insistence that the girls mind their manners around the boys. He wasn’t scared, a Black was never scared, but he could recognize power when he saw it. Even now, Rabastan sat at the other end of the table, yet his presence felt eerily close.
He had changed over the summer. Last year, he was annoying and rude, but not violent. She would never say she was quite fond of him or his demeanor; they had barely spoken, yet she felt disappointed. Disappointed he fell into the trap his parents set out for him, the same as his brother. Andromeda was no different, besides the fact she only had one foot in the door of her parent's control. She knew when they shared that moment in her family library that he had changed.
The owls carrying that day's mail came crashing in. An array of feathers and odd squawking filled the room while the students ate- no one seemed worried about getting feathers in their food. Letters were dropped from the ceiling at an alarming rate. It was the time of year when parents felt the absence of their children so the letters came in troves. Andromeda and Narcissa had always got letters. Just as she promised, Bella wrote every day and the other two wrote back. As expected two envelopes marked with sloppy cursive fluttered down into the girls' hands. Andromeda untied the twine that held the letter, then began unfolding it. A second letter landed on her plate before she could even read the first word.
Narcissa was too busy reading her parchment to notice she hadn’t gotten another, but Andromeda saw. She cautiously picked the envelope up, leaving the one from Bella in her lap, and began reading.
Dear Andromeda,
After a fair amount of consideration, your mother and I have agreed it is time for you to grow up. You can only refuse marriage proposals for so long Andromeda. With your sister married to the eldest son of the Lestrange family, we believe it would be in your best interest to be courted to their youngest. Your mother spoke with great admiration of the boy since the day we met him. We have been discussing this arrangement with his family and they have gratefully accepted the offer. You are a blessed girl to be marrying into such a powerful family, but he is luckier to be marrying into ours. The wedding will be held a month after your graduation and as of today, you are promised to Rabastan Lestrange. We are very proud of you.
Sincerely, Druella and Cygnus Black
Her face drained of all color. She looked to the end of the table where Rabastan sat to be met with his leering eyes. She assumed his hands held the same letter and watched as he crumpled it up. Narcissa finally finished Bella’s letter, too distracted by her own amusement to understand what was happening, “What’s the matter?”
“They want me to marry Rabastan,” Andromeda stated matter of factly because it was indeed a twisted, awful fact. Whether she wanted it to be true or not, it was true and she would have to accept that. She always knew she’d marry young, it was a family tradition, but for some reason, she didn’t want to believe it.
Narcissa practically lunged across the table to hold Andromeda’s hands out of excitement, “That’s amazing, seriously, why don’t you seem happy?”
“I don’t know him,” she muttered.
“You know he’s a pure-blood, he’s got money, he’s strong-” Cissy began.
Andromeda recoiled her hands, “I know he is cruel.”
Her sister sighed, ignoring Andromeda, “What else is there to know? You’re getting married Andy, be happy.”
She wasn’t happy. All her life she was preparing for this moment; preparing for when her parents finally snapped and made her accept one final marriage proposal. Andromeda thought she’d be okay with a life full of lies and unrequited love, but she felt uneasy. If she didn’t follow through with this marriage, she would be the family's disappointment just like her Uncle Alphard. The rest of her day was ruined by the dread that pooled in her stomach.
It wasn’t until she was back in her dorm that she opened Bellatrix’s letter. The parchment became slightly crushed from when she shoved it in her bag between classes, but it was still readable. Bella’s writing on the other hand was short of legible. Her quill work was sloppy and ink blots covered her words. She had never been the best writer.
Dear Andromeda,
I hope you opened Father’s letter before mine, otherwise, you’ve spoiled the surprise for yourself! Congratulations on your engagement! When they told me of my engagement we had just gotten home for the holidays and I was ridiculously upset. Even though I was upset, I knew it was for the better. The Lestrange family seems terrifying, I’ve been there. Know they would never let anything happen to you. Their loyalty is as strong as their pride, they’ll protect us. I know you, Andy, you don’t want this, but trust me, you will. You’ll understand one day how this courtship will benefit you. How it will better our family.
You and Cissy have only been gone a month and it has felt like ages. I couldn’t tell Narcissa this, but I needed to tell someone. They’ve been growing restless or rather easily angered. I’m not sure why. Andy, I can’t remember things. It’s like pieces are missing from my memory, but I can’t quite figure out what they are. I think it’s from the punishments. I’m scared. If you were here with me I know you’d know what to do or how to stop it. I need you sister. Please come home as soon as you can.
- Bellatrix
Andromeda couldn’t stop rereading, they’ll protect us. How were they going to protect them when they can’t even save her sister? She doubted they were even trying. Bellatrix was under her parent’s ruse, using her to lure Andy into being okay with being kin to them. The worst part was that she couldn’t go home till the holidays. She could only cry. For the first time in a long time, Andromeda let herself cry.
The room suddenly felt suffocating. She had to leave. Andromeda grabbed a pack of cigarettes from the top drawer of her dresser and a lighter. Sometimes the muggle way was simpler. When she made it to the common room, she stopped by the fireplace to burn both the letters and watched them get reduced to ash. It was relieving to see the flames engulf her written problems even if they were still alive.
It was past curfew, but surely she could pass her midnight escapade off as prefect duties. She planned to sneak into the greenhouses, a place she’d been sneaking off to for a few years now to have a smoke. Her smoking addiction arose when she found a pack carved into the middle of one of the very few muggle books the library has. Plus, most of the students would have a drag or two beneath the quidditch stands, so she wasn’t alone in her addiction. Narcissa didn’t have to know of her “extracurricular” activities though.
The greenhouse was only lit by the few lights shining through the castles windows. Other than that, the moon washed over the building providing the rest of the light. It was a still night. No wind or animals stirred, besides the occasional owl returning from delivering a letter. When she grabbed the handle of the greenhouse, it felt cold to the touch. It was early October and she could tell a cold fall was coming for Hogwarts.
Inside she went to Professor Beery’s stool where he stored it in the far corner. She grabbed the cigarettes and lighter from her coat pocket and began smoking. It had been three months since the last time she smoked. When she inhaled, the smoke burned the back of her throat causing her to let out a small cough. Under different circumstances, she would’ve been embarrassed but she was alone. For the first time in a long time, she was alone. She had stopped crying a few minutes ago so it didn’t really matter if anyone walked in on her. Andromeda didn’t mind the emptiness of the room or the silent night- it eased her nerves.
When you attend Hogwarts, there is very little time for yourself. There is rarely any time outside of school; when there is, her time is spent around her family. The greenhouse was the one place she could get away from everyone and everything. Sometimes she wished she could find this kind of peace in a person- where it wouldn’t matter if she wasn’t alone because that person brings her solitude. Unfortunately, it was starting to look like Rabastan would be that person.
The night was so still that a person could hear the most measly noises- like the greenhouse door opening. A silhouette of a slightly built frame and scraggy limbs crept through the door. In one hand, they held a lantern, but she couldn't see their face as they were turned toward the outside to close the door. When they finally turned around and brought the lantern inside, Andromeda saw him. He had a black eye, but it was still the same Edward Tonks.
“Sorry, I didn’t know you were in here.” He said. It took him a few seconds, but she saw the confusion flicker across his face as he realized who was in the room, “Oh. It’s you.”
Andromeda stared at his eye and motioned at it- ashes fell from her cigarette with the movement, “What happened?”
“Rabastan. He has a mean uppercut.” Edward answered with resignation.
“Uppercut?” She had never heard the term before. Another thing Edward was better at than her.
He smiled that same smile he always has, “You’ve never heard of the word?”
She clicked her tongue in frustration, “Don’t patronize me.”
“I’m not,” Edward set his lantern down on the soil table and made his hand into a fist as he pretended to hit his face, “In the muggle world, an uppercut is when boxers punch at an upward angle. Like this.”
“Well, I’m sorry he did that to you, Edward,” Andromeda said plainly.
“Call me Ted.” he grinned. This one was different, softer, than his other smiles. Ted. It felt less formal.
His lantern flickered and sparked. A small flame bounded into the soil below, but he didn’t notice, he was too busy looking at Andromeda. She shook her head lightly. Something felt wrong, she didn’t know what, she just knew something felt off. “I actually came here to be alone.”
Ted’s demeanor shifted, “Oh yes, sorry. I must have wandered into the wrong greenhouse.”
As he turned to leave, he quickly pivoted back toward her, “Did you ever figure out Golpalott’s third law?”
Her eyes widened playfully, “I haven’t thought of that interaction since the day it happened. I’m shocked to see you obviously have.”
And there it was again, that smile. Ted faked amazement and mixed it with sarcasm, “No? I’ve only thought about it every day since then.”
“Oh really?” she questioned coyly, “You mean how you were taunting me?”
“Taunting you? All I did was smile?” He was genuinely confused this time, his head tilting like a dog.
“Exactly, acting like you were above me.” she pursed her lips and watched for his reaction.
His face softened and he picked up his lantern, “Not everyone is out to get you, I’m not sure who told you they were. I was being playful.”
“Then quit it,” she argued.
“Can’t.” he shrugged.
“Can’t or won’t.” Andromeda countered.
“Both.” Ted then turned to leave, but before he left, he left her with one final message, “I’ll see you later Andromeda.”
She didn’t doubt it. Life has had a funny way of making them meet recently. After all the badness from today, that interaction made her feel- good. Ted Tonks, what a peculiar name she thought, but yet again, who names their child Andromeda? For his sake, she hoped she’d never see Ted Tonks again.