Leery Lestrange
November, 1973
It was a cool evening of early November, Andromeda Black was patrolling the castle on her prefect rounds. Everything was quiet and still. The castle was sleeping. She was about to call it a night when she heard muffled voices from nearby. She rounded a corner and discovered the origin of these voices- the charms classroom. She was prepared to issue detentions to whichever silly first years were out of bed, however she was to meet a different discovery when she peered through the crack in the door. She took in a sharp intake of breath when she saw the situation in front of her. Rodolphus Lestrange had his hand around Bellatrix's throat, pinning her forcefully against the wall. He was muttering something to her menacingly. Bellatrix gasped for air as he released his hand from her neck, however was caught off guard with a sharp slap he delivered to her face, the ring on his finger slashed into Bellatrix's pale skin just above her eye, leaving a small gash which began to seep with blood. With that, Lestrange started, much to Andromeda's horror, towards the door. She swiftly ran and hid around the corner, and watched as he strode down the hallway, his robes billowing behind him.
As soon as she was sure he had gone, Andromeda rushed back into the classroom. Bellatrix was sat on the cold stone floor, hands around her knees. Her breathing was harboured and tears pricked in her eyes.
'Bella' she breathed, rushing over to her sister.
Bellatrix looked startled to see Andromeda.
'I can't believe he hurt you, Bella' she said, winding an arm around her sisters shoulders.
Bellatrix looked defiant. 'Andromeda- you don't know what you're talking about, It's fine, really. I deserved it. Rodolphus was acting totally reasonably.'
Andromeda couldn't believe what Bellatrix was saying. 'But Bella he-'
'Just leave it ok!' screeched Bella, getting up and wiping the blood with the cuff of her sleeve as she strode out of the classroom leaving Andromeda to tail behind her.
***
The situation with Bellatrix and Lestrange plagued on her mind. Her stomach churned when she saw Lestrange and her sister cosied up sat beside each other at breakfast the next day, as if nothing had happened. The only reminder of the occurrence was the sharp cut on Bellatrix's forehead, which she'd done her best to conceal beneath her black curls.
Dumbledore was expected to be giving an announcement at supper that evening. Dumbledore was often absent from the teacher's table, he made frequent trips to various places, and word had it he was working to stop the Dark Lord's rise to power. Andromeda's family, of course, thought Dumbledore an utter fool, and often scolded him for welcoming 'all sorts' including muggle-borns to study at Hogwarts.
'Now you all must be wondering, for what this announcement concerns' came Dumbledore's magnified voice, echoing from the walls of the sparse great hall. 'I don't doubt that you will all be pleased by this happy piece of news- for fourth years and above, Hogwarts will be holding a winter ball this December!'
There was an eruption of excited chatter, Narcissa looked thrilled.
'The ball will take place shortly before school ends for the Christmas break' Dumbledore added, smiling.
'Ooh this is very exciting!' squealed Narcissa. 'Oh Andromeda I can wear that dress mother and father got me!'
'You'll look absolutely ravishing in that' she smiled at her sister.
'Who do you want to go with- as your date? Ooh I do hope Lucius asks me!'
'Malfoy?' said Andromeda sharply.
Narcissa blushed. 'Yes- well... he's so dreamy isn't he!' she breathed, her eyes wandering over to where Malfoy was sat, conversing loudly with Rabastan Lestrange.
Andromeda privately disagreed, although she allowed Narcissa to have her moment.
***
The announcement of the winter ball was all anyone at Hogwarts was talking about, girls were putting in orders for dresses advertised in Witch Weekly, boys were trying to muster up the courage to ask the girls if they'd be their date to the ball.
By Friday of that week, Andromeda had already turned down three people asking her- a weedy Slytherin fourth year who looked a lot younger than herself, a seventh year Ravenclaw, and Goyle.
Bellatrix was to be going with Lestrange, of course, and Narcissa was evidently still bargaining on Malfoy asking her.
'Goyle asked me to the ball!' said Esmerelda, a wide grin plastered on her face.
'Oh! Wow, that's great!' Andromeda didn't have to heart to tell her friend Goyle had asked her only a mere few hours earlier.
Prudence had already procured a date, a seventh year Ravenclaw called Samuel Davies, a tall boy, with dark hair and strikingly handsome features. Although, he was a half blood.
'Prudence! You cannot be serious!' was Esmerelda's reaction to hearing of this, while Amaryllis shook her head in disdain.
A half blood was, for reasons clear, not as scandalous to consort with as a muggle-born, although if you were part of the families who were strictly blood purist, then they were all considered fifth.
Prudence brushed off the others shock and merely stated that they ought to 'loosen up a bit' and that it wasn't like she was going to marry the bloke. Now that Prudence and Esmerelda had partnered up, the attention wavered over to Amaryllis and Andromeda obtaining dates for the ball.
There was no one Andromeda was at all keen to accompany to the ball. Over the next couple of weeks, another handful of boys asked her, she declined them all.
'Andromeda really?' said Prudence one day when they were sat in charms together. 'You get asked to the ball from more guys than I've ever been asked out by in my life and you decline all of them! At this rate you'll end up going by yourself.'
Narcissa had also been pestering her about acquiring a date- as it turned out Lucius had decided to ask Narcissa, she was delighted.
However, it was Bellatrix who put her foot down and gave Andromeda a most stern talk, pulling her aside in the hallway.
'Andromeda dearest, people will... talk. If you continue declining perfectly respectable pure-blooded boys with ties to our own family, people could start to question where your loyalties lie. Now, I've spoken to Rodolphus and his brother Rabastan would be perfectly pleased with accompanying you-'
'You said I'd go to the ball with Lestrange?' Andromeda glared at her sister incredulously.
'Now, there's no need to get angry with me, I've done you a favour!'
'A favour!'
Bellatrix's face hardened, she resembled their mother. 'Andromeda you will go to the ball with Rabastan, do you understand?' she said, a chilling edge to her voice.
Andromeda shot one last look of disbelief at her sister, before turning on her heel and marching away.
She was seething with rage at her sister- it was just a stupid ball, why was she making this into a huge ordeal. Andromeda's stomach churned at the notion of going to the ball with Rabastan Lestrange, especially if his elder brother was one to judge him from... She still felt uneasy when she remembered the interaction between her sister and Lestrange, and how Bellatrix had brushed it off, had something like that happened before? Or worse?
Surprisingly, listening to Ted Tonks rattle on in potions lessons, had proved to be a great distraction from her troubles. Although she was still cold and distant towards him, she could listen to him talk for hours. He'd talk about his muggle life back at home, mentioning things like 'telly' and talking in awe about a muggle singer called David Bowie and a band called the Rolling Stones. She was interested to hear about what life was like for muggles, growing up, her governess had taught her nothing about them, and if she had taken Muggle Studies it'd probably send her mother into a coma. Still, her replies to him were blunt, and she made little effort to engage in conversation, doing so would prompt people like Yaxley to say something. Although she didn't... dislike him, as much as she had done before. She'd flash him a small smile when he greeted her, cautious of prying eyes, of course, and she found herself not dreading potions lessons as much. Losing herself in the window of Ted's mind, hearing about his life, totally separate from her and her family's, was like a breath of fresh air to Andromeda.
One day in potions, Ted brought up a topic of conversation she was not expecting.
'So, I suppose you've got some burly sour-faced Slytherin accompanying you to the winter ball then?'
Andromeda frowned. 'Well I suppose you've got some dopy eyed Hufflepuff accompanying you'
'Actually, I don't have a date.' said Ted, matter of factly. 'Since the girl I want to ask would most certainly say no'
Andromeda rolled her eyes. Surely Ted didn't want to talk about girls with her. 'Just ask her, for merlin's sake, most girls around Hogwarts are all dying to be asked, and you're not bad looking either'
She instantly regretted saying that last part. Ted's eyes lit up.
'You think I'm good looking' a mischievous smirk appeared on his face.
'Thats not what I said' she narrowed her eyes at him.
'Anyway- it's a losing battle.' he sighed dramatically.
Andromeda wondered who this mystery girl could be. She felt an involuntary twang of jealousy. No. She thought firmly. I am not jealous.