Promises
Before it got too cold, Narcissa wanted to take one last stroll around the castle grounds. It was a routine of theirs since Andromeda’s first year with Bellatrix. Of course, Cissy wasn’t old enough to attend Hogwarts yet, but they later included her. Those quiet mornings when it was just Andy and Bella sprouted from Andromeda’s constant spiraling about school. Bella would drag her out of bed each morning and force Andromeda to discuss her problems. That was the side of her sister no one ever saw except for her. Now the walks were exclusively for deep conversations and gossip.
Most mornings, the two girls would share a few words about a subject and then drop it for a new topic. Andromeda and Narcissa would constantly, and annoyingly, talk over each other, but today Andromeda was quiet. She kept her head down or turned toward the woods, but never at Cissy who was too busy spewing nonsense about a boy who complimented her to notice her sister's silence. There was too much to focus on in her head Andromeda couldn’t prioritize anything else. Her mornings and nights were now consumed by the perpetual thought of three people Bellatix, Rabastan, and Ted.
Since she received the letter from Bella, she had spent days scanning the library for an inkling of an idea of how to help her. She had found a great deal of books detailing healing spells that help prolong memory loss caused by dementia; or other underlying illnesses, charms that will write down memories for you, and self-defense spells. None of which solve the problem of restoring or preventing memory loss from ever happening. Even now, her mind did somersaults trying to find a solution. Despite her failures, she believed there was an answer out there, and she would find it- even if she had to design it herself.
Rabastan was another concern of hers. She had two years before she was married to the man who hates her. Perhaps before then, she’ll meet another pureblood who meets her family's expectations all the while treating her with the same care he would his mother. Her destined husband was the opposite, on all spectrums. Andromeda didn’t understand his anger toward her, but maybe now she will when the two are forced into proximity. Their wedding might be the only day the two are ever in the same room. At the altar, she’ll have her first kiss. The kiss will be tainted by an unrequited love and she’ll have to pretend it happened exactly as she dreamed.
Andromeda wished she could say those were the most prevalent things on her mind. The night in the greenhouse was engraved in every part of her memory. Despite the rays of sunshine that blinded her through the canopies of the trees, all she saw was the moonlight that washed over her and Ted. Screeching owls and faint winds filled her ears along with her silent giggles that she wouldn’t dare let him hear. How had she never known him before? Ted was smart enough to understand the type of information only a wizard who’d grown up among other wizards would know. He knew how to leave an impression. She hated that and she wanted to hate him but couldn’t.
At some point during their walk, the sisters reached the Black Lake. Andromeda had spent so much time in thought that she missed the majority of the trip. Narcissa was still going on about random stuff, paying no mind to Andromeda, but neither was Andromeda. The lake shimmered beneath the light, causing the sun to reflect onto any surface near the water. Small flecks of light sparkled on tree trunks and passing students, there was little to no dark space with the beams from the sun.
Along the lake was a large, beautiful, willow tree that Andromeda frequently studied under during the warmer months. With the drooping nature of its leaves, the light had a different effect on it. Between the leaves, the reflections became smaller and more plentiful decorating the tree with a hundred glittering spots. It was almost as if the world was yelling at her to sit and take a break for a second. Andromeda was so completely enamored by the willow that she didn’t notice what was happening around her.
“Andy!” Narcissa shouted, tugging at her sister's jumper. When Andromeda turned, every student who walked the shore of the Black Lake was gawking at the giant squid. The orange-red tentacles wagged in the air wildly. A few second-year boys stood at the very edge of the lake; toeing the line of falling in, were throwing rocks at the poor creature. Within a few seconds, the scene went from a playfully suspenseful sight to a cold and soggy one. As the last stone was thrown, the giant squid brought down three of his tentacles, thrashing them in the water, and causing a wave that drenched every student nearby.
Everyone nearby reprimanded the boys, saying nice going or thanks a lot. Andromeda kept her thoughts to herself because if she were the squid she’d do the same thing. Narcissa, who recently grew to become accustomed to girlier styles of clothes and makeup along with the stereotypical girly personality, was peeved. Her light curls were now limp down the side of her head and her face was clear of all makeup. She wasn’t happy at all when she saw Andromeda trying to conceal her laughter.
“How are you not annoyed?” Cissy asked.
Andromeda shrugged with a smile, “They deserved it.”
Narcissa scoffed, “Yeah they deserved it, not us.”
The two girls took off their coats as they headed inside and wrung them out. While it was funny for a while, the cold froze her skin and clothes. There was no hiding their constant shivering from passerbyers who were giggling to their friends about their appearance. It never bothered Andy, but she knew it bothered Cissy.
By the time they made it to the common room, both the girls were cross-armed and hunched running to put on their fresh linens. Andy hung her wet clothes around the heater in the middle of her room in hopes it would dry them quicker. Her stomach growled. She had skipped her early breakfast to join Narcissa on the walk. If she left now, she could grab a quick bite before classes began, although Cissy would want to join, she supposed she could wait a little longer.
It took Narcissa twenty minutes to get redressed. When she finally joined Andromeda in the common room, breakfast would only be served for a few more minutes. She stood up to leave but noticed something in her sister's eyes- worry. “What’s the matter?”
Narcissa’s eyes softened sadly, “Do you remember when Bella got married, we didn’t see or hear from her for days?”
Andromeda stepped behind Narcissa and led her to the couch, which was thankfully empty. She took her hands into hers and said, “Yes. We were so worried we demanded Father to visit the Lestrange manor.”
“Do you think she did that because she wanted to or because he made her?” Cissy questioned.
“I think she was trying to make it easier for her and us. Why?” Andromeda soothed.
Narcissa’s eyes watered. She cried very little these days, she didn’t like her makeup to streak. Or maybe she just didn’t want to show others how they affected her. “When you are married off to Rabastan, will you stay with us?”
Andy tipped her head in confusion, “Stay?”
“I mean keep writing and visiting no matter what happens between us. Never leave us, Andy.” She begged.
“Oh, Cissy. Never.” Andy cooed.
“Promise?” Narcissa held out her pinky finger.
Andromeda latched her finger onto her sister and looked into her eyes earnestly, “Promise.”
Suddenly Narcissa started laughing. Andromeda spun around and in the window that leads out into the middle of the Black Lake, the giant squid's eye filled the glass. She howled with laughter. For some reason, the warmness and innocence of their conversation brought the life out of her. The ridiculousness of the sight deserved a good laugh.
“It’s like he’s taunting us!” Narcissa joined in with Andromeda’s enjoyment. They never made it to breakfast that morning.