“Promise me we’ll always be together,” the silver-haired girl squeaked.
“Cissy, we’re sisters. Of course we’ll always be together,” a tangle of unruly black curls replied.
“Andi? Do you promise too?” the youngest – Cissy – asked.
“Duh. Like Bella said, we’re sisters,” said the middle sister, ruffling Cissy’s hair. The sister, Andromeda, with her beautiful brown curls, more manageable than her sister, Bella’s, and her familial grey eyes, much kinder and softer than the rest of the Blacks.
Andromeda, who, like her namesake, was the chained lady of the Most Ancient and Noble Family of Black.
Andromeda was having a particularly hard time focusing on the glittering dresses and sparkling lights, standing with only the most troublesome boy in existence.
“Andiiii, I hate being here. Can we go outside now?” complained Sirius, jumping on the balls of his feet, head thrown back, ready to dart at the first sign of his favourite cousin’s answer.
“Not now, Siri. You know we ought to stay for at least a little while. Out of courtesy,” replied Andi. “I hate these just as much as you do.”
“Yes, so let’s go. I’m sure Uncle Alph can cover for us.”
“Siri-”
“SIRIUS,” screamed an all-too-familiar voice. “GET HERE NOW”
“… shit”
“Sirius, what did you do this time?” questioned Andi, fondly exasperated with her 14-year-old cousin.
“You’ll see! Gotta go!” Sirius sped off as quickly as if death herself was chasing him. Which, in Andromeda’s highly sought after opinion, was true. His mother, the infamous Walburga Black, with her slate grey eyes and hair as dark as night, stormed the ballroom searching for her oldest son. Andromeda winced. Sirius and Walburga rarely got along. Like, sure, Walburga loved Sirius, and vice versa. But Sirius pushed his mother’s buttons as often as he could, always eliciting a chase such as the one occurring currently at the Black family Christmas dinner.
Andromeda took this opportunity to gape at the decorations. Every year, the dinners seemed to become more extravagant. Snow globes, baubles, fake snow, littered the room, while a cozy fire burned in the oak brown fireplace. There stood two tables: one for the elders and the other - slightly smaller – one for the cousins. 18-year-old Bellatrix, 16-year-old Andromeda, 14-year-olds Narcissa and Sirius, and, of course, the baby of the family, 13-year-old Regulus.
As much and Andromeda hated these gatherings, what with all the questioning about her love prospects and her studies (which everyone knows they don’t really care about) and, of course, the disregard and hatred they must all harbour against halfbloods and mudbloods, she can’t help but enjoy being around her sisters and cousins, however annoying one particular one may be.
“Wally, leave the boy alone. It’s just one small fire,” requested Andromeda’s darling father. Andromeda always had a special bond with her father. She would often enter his office while he’s working, if only to curl up on the chair – the one he bought for her – reading her latest book.
“I don’t care, Cygnus. There was simply no need for him to do that!” snapped Walburga.
Andromeda caught Sirius’ eye, the same slate grey as his mother’s and her own, and saw his silent plea hidden there. She sighed. And, once again, saved the poor boy.
“I’ll watch after him, Aunt Wally. I’ll make sure he doesn’t set anything else on fire. He has always had a passion for pyrotechnics,” provided Andi, her eyes glaring at her rascal of a cousin.
Walburga eyed Sirius before removing herself from the long dinner table and came to sit beside the rest of the adults, muttering a “thank you” to her niece, patting her arm. Sirius let out a sigh of relief and extricated himself from the other end, making his way over to Andromeda, winking.
“Thank you, Meda,” he breathed.
“Shut up.”
Andromeda tightly gripped Sirius’ arm as she surveyed the room. Her mother was sat beside her father and her aunt and uncle at the smaller table. Her grandfather, Pollux Black, the scariest person any of the cousins have ever seen, sat at the window ledge with her favourite uncle, Uncle Alphard, while her grandmother, Irma, sat with Andromeda’s sisters, Narcissa and Bellatrix, no doubt mumbling about how girls are far superior to boys, especially since seeing Sirius’ most recent antics (there was a mishap with the cake a few weeks ago, on his father’s birthday).
“Where’s Reggie?” inquired Andi, scanning the room again, in case she had missed him the first time. “He’s not here, where is he?”
“He’s probably upstairs. He was moping around earlier and refused to tell me why,” supplied Sirius.
“Moping? Why?”
“No idea.”
“Let’s go find him.” Andi tugged on Sirius’ arm and ushered them towards the door.
“Where are you going?” asked the ever-curious Cissy.
She stood up. Bella frowned, wondering where her younger sister and annoying younger cousin were off to. Their mother looked over, concerned at Cissy’s sad tone.
“We’re just going to go upstairs, Cissy. To look for Reg,” answered Andi. She smiled, gently. Cissy’s always wanted to be involved in everything Andromeda did, ever since she could walk. Everything. She supposed it was sweet, her baby sister always wanting to be around her. It gave Andi immense satisfaction to know Cissy adored her, that she always wants to know what she’s doing, that she cared for Andi like no other.
Cissy nodded, sitting back down. Bella looked at Andi, and gave her a slight tilt of the head, as if to say “are you alright, do you need help?” Andi shook her head and grinned at her sisters, turning back towards the door, dragging Sirius with her. He yelped; he was not expecting his sweet cousin to have such a firm grip on him.
“Come on, Siri! You’re so slow,” she exclaimed, already 4 steps ahead of him.
“I’m coming! I don’t have as long legs, you know.”
“Oh, I know. You’re so small.”
“Wha – No, I’m not! I’m growing! Mother said I’m just taking longer because Father did, too!”
Andi looked back to see her cousin angry, standing still a few stairs below her, arms crossed over his chest like a petulant child. She giggled. “Oh, okay, fine. You’re growing. Now come, let’s go.”
Sirius gave in quickly; he was never cross at Andi for long. How could he be? She was the best person ever. He ran after her up the stairs, both laughing like children stealing sweets.
They walked, arm-in-arm to Regulus’ door, and knocked.
“Reggie? It’s Andi, I’m with Sirius, can we come in, please?”
“Whatever,” came a grumble from the other side of the door.
Sirius pushed the door open, entering Regulus’ room, Andromeda trailing behind him tentatively. She didn’t want to upset the poor boy further.
Regulus was laid across his too-big bed, head buried under the covers.
“Regulus, let’s go down now, stop moping already,” exasperated Sirius.
“Sirius, stop. He’s upset. Reg, sweetheart, what’s wrong?” cooed Andi, ever the mother hen.
Regulus peeked his head out, his eyes misty. He looked once at Andi and put his head back under the covers.
“Reggie, please?”
Regulus mumbled something undecipherable from under the covers.
Sirius sighed. “We can’t hear you from under there, Reg,” he added not unkindly.
Once again, Regulus removed his head from the covers and sat up. He avoided the gazes of his family members, and muttered “I don’t want you to get married, Meda.”
“…What? Where did you hear that, Reggie?” Andromeda moved closer to the frail-looking boy and out her arms around him, looking befuddled. Regulus nuzzled into Andi’s chest and made no response. She lifted her head from Reg’s to meet Sirius’ eyes. The other boy looked as confused as she left, and shrugged. “Reg?”
“Mother and Father were discussing it yesterday. Saying how you’re obedient and intelligent and good, so you’ll be bringing in many suitors. They said you’ll marry before even Bell does because you’re a great match and will make a great wife one day,” Reg said, against Andi’s chest, sniffling. “Apparently, Lucius Malfoy and Rabastan Lestrange have already asked about your potential marriage prospects, and intend to speak with Uncle Cygnus as soon as you’re out of Hogwarts.”
Andromeda’s mouth opened and closed, unable to form words. She was utterly taken aback. This was not what she was expecting Regulus to say, let alone to hear at all.
“Like hell is she marrying at 18. You don’t have to worry about that, Reg. Merlin help whoever tries to sell Meda off. It’s not happening. Never,” Sirius raged, anger twisting his features so intensely like his mother’s.
“Siri, Reg –”
“If you leave...” Reg sobbed, wiping his face, “if you leave, then – then we won’t see you anymore, and you’ll forget about us and you’ll be happy without us and – and – and –”
“Reggie, no – Sirius, stop pacing, Listen, both of you.” She grabbed Sirius’ arm, plopped him next to his brother and lifted Regulus’ head. “Listen to me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not marrying anyone, I’m not being sold off, I’m definitely not marrying Lestrange or Malfoy. I’m staying here, until you sick of me and practically beg me to leave. And, even if I did get married in the next 5 or so years, I’m not forgetting about you guys. We’ll meet every day and we’ll go to Fortescue’s for ice cream whenever you want to, and we’ll crash Sirius’ friends’ stupid parties or dunk Evan’s head into punch, again. Whatever you guys want, we’ll do. I’m not just going to forget about you, how could I? Please, don’t dwell on that Reg, Siri, it’s not – I’m not leaving you guys.”
“You swear?” the brothers asked timidly, eyes as big as a does’, staring straight at Andromeda.
“I swear. On Merlin, on Morgana, on whoever. I won’t ever forget about you, even if I’m dying.” She ruffled their identical hair and grinned at them. “Now, come on. I know how to cheer you up.” Her grin expanded, her eyes shining with a mischievous glint.
Instantly, the brothers’ moods cheered. Andi’s plans were always fun.
Andi moved closer and whispered into their ears, their eyes widening in amazement. She pulled back to see ecstasy painted on their faces.
“Let’s go.”
The three left Regulus’ room and moved to the stairs, where they were approached by Cissy and Bella.
Bella narrowed her eyes. “What are you guys up to?”
“Nothing…” they all replied in union, barely suppressing their giggles.
Bella took a deep breath.
“Does it involve me?”
They shook their heads.
“Will I be blamed?”
“Only if you join us,” answered Sirius.
Bellatrix mulled it over, glancing at Cissy, who shrugged.
“It could be fun, the dinner’s not until another hour. Whatever it is they’ve planned, the house-elves can clean before then,” reasoned Cissy.
A smile crept its way onto Bellatrix’s face. “Okay, let’s do it.”
All five cousins giggled, and proceeded down the stairs, hiding their giddiness and setting their plans into motion.
Ten minutes later, screams were heard from almost every adult.
“CHILDREN WHAT IS THIS-”
“SIRIUS, I KNOW THIS WAS YOU-”
“SIRIUS ORION BLACK GET HERE THIS INSTANT-”
“BELLATRIX NARCISSA WHAT IN MERLIN’S NAME-”
“REGULUS ARCTURUS BLACK WHAT HAVE YOU DONE-”
“ANDROMEDA YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO WATCH HIM-”
Andromeda laughed heartily. Merlin, she loved her family. She only hopes they’ll forgive her for doing what she must. Regulus’ concerns certainly didn’t help. They’ll understand though, right? She meant every word of what she said. She isn’t going to forget about them. Never. Andi’s smile faltered slightly. But… she was leaving. She was marrying a muggle-born. She shook her head. This was her family, they’d understand, and they’d forgive her and even if they didn’t, she would never stop trying to reconcile with them.
She was leaving to be with Ted, yes. But she’s still Andromeda Black, daughter of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black.
Only now, she’s choosing to be with someone who loves her. Someone who doesn’t look at blood purity or wealth. Someone who’s devoted to her, who she knows, she knows, would love her sisters and cousins, if they would get to know him, who would love him, if only they would look beyond blood status.
Andromeda loves her family. She loves messing around with them, teasing them, everything. She doesn’t want what Regulus feared to come to fruition, she won’t let it.
But, this time, she’s choosing love.
She’s choosing Ted.