Andromeda Black was six years old the first time she fell. Her father had brought her and her sisters down to the frozen lake behind their house. They were all laughing and playing at the edge of the lake, Bellatrix had been brave enough to stand on the ice.
She called out to her sister “Come on Andy, don't be a scaredy cat!”
Andromeda giggled before running past her sister on the ice, “Okay then, race me!!”
Cygnus had only managed to stop Bellatrix, but Andromeda took off sprinting across the lake, but Andromeda ran too far, and the ice began to crack. No matter how old she got, she would never forget the sound of the ice cracking and the sudden fear as she fell through the ice. The splash as she fell beneath the water to the muffled sound of her father as he screamed her name. The feeling of ice cold water before she no longer felt anything.
Andromeda woke to her father holding her hand. She blinked at the bright lights before turning to him questioningly “Father? Where are we?”
Cygnus almost let out a sob of relief as his daughter awoke, trying to hold it in he replied “We're in the hospital, you almost drowned Andy”
Before she could reply, she was interrupted by her sisters bursting into the room, followed by their mother.
“Andy, you're okay!” Bellatrix shouted, jumping onto the bed, followed by a little Narcissa who managed to babble “Andy!!”
Druella stood in the doorway disapprovingly as she watched the scene before clearing her throat and giving her husband a look.
Cygnus sighed before half heartedly scolding “Bella, where are your manners? You should be a good role model for Andy and Narcissa”
Bella pouted “But I'm just happy Andy's okay”
Cygnus smiled, Druella did not.
~~~~~~~~~
Andromeda Black was 16 years old the second time she fell. She was at a track meet with her friends when she saw Lucius Malfoy.
Her friends laughed at her as she watched him.
“Aww does Andy have a crush on Lucius” one of her friends teased.
Andromeda blushed as she defended herself “What? No, I just uh… “ she trailed off as Lucius walked towards them.
She didn't even think, it came naturally to her, like breathing as she ran onto the track, away from Lucius. As he tried to call after her, her friends giggled “There goes the Bolter.”
The next time they met, she didn't run. Lucius cornered her after class, and Andromeda discovered she did actually like him.
“Hey Bolter” Lucius called as he approached her.
She blushed as she turned “Oh uh hi Lucius, sorry about before I um” she stuttered nervously.
“Don't worry about it, I found it endearing” Lucius said with a wink, “May I walk you to class?”
She regained her composure like her mother had taught her. “Of course, how kind of you.”
As they walked, they talked, managing to find a few things in common, Andromeda told him about herself and her family. Lucius did the same. He also gave her updates on her cousins, Sirius and Regulus, whom she hadn't seen for a while. She seemed happy. Her and Lucius began officially courting. Both of their families were delighted that they had found such respectable partners.
She brought him home to a family dinner so that her family could get to know him.
When she heard the doorbell ring, she bolted down the stairs to get it, throwing her arms around him and kissing him before leading him through the hall.
Bellatrix was the first to meet him, looking at him as she walked down the stairs, a modest look of approval on her face. “So this is the infamous Lucius that I've heard about.”
“Only good things, I hope.” Lucius replied with a smile.
Narcissa was next, peeking around the corner, shyly smiling at Lucius.
He winked at her, and she blushed before running back to the dining room.
Lucius shook Cygnus’ hand before taking a seat next to Andromeda.
They made polite small talk as they ate. Once they finished, they moved to the living room.
“I must thank you for the wonderful food, Druella.” Lucius complimented as he sat next to Andromeda on the sofa.
“It's an honour to have someone interested in marrying our daughter. However, we will have to discuss the terms of the engagement ” Druella responded.
Andromeda choked, ‘marriage? No way!’ she thought as she resisted the urge to run.
She remained frozen and stiff the rest of the evening as her family discussed her engagement plans.
That weekend, she accidentally bumps into Ted Tonks on her way to go to the mall and spills her coffee on him
“Oh my God, I'm so sorry!” she exclaims, trying to clean the coffee stain.
“Oh we must stop meeting like this.” Ted laughs, “Don't worry about the coffee, I've had worse.”
Andromeda groans as she recalls the last time they met “Oh God, I tripped you last time, didn't I? I'm so sorry” she says, laughing now.
“Yep, you're always in such a rush.” he says as they laugh, walking side by side. They fall back into step as they had years before when they used to be best friends
Until a car slows down beside them, before stopping and Lucius gets out.
“Hey Andy! I know it's only been a few days since the engagement, but I was wondering if you'd want to come with me to buy the ring or if you want a surprise.” He called walking towards her and Ted
Andromeda laughs as Ted gasps at the news of her engagement, “I'd like to come with you, I think it would be a fun trip.” She smiled
Lucius looked nervous before asking “How about we go now? I don't want to pressure you into anything, but my mother would love to see the ring. He paused, waiting for a response.
She feels a bit overwhelmed but doesn't show it for his sake, “Of course, we can go now. Let me just grab my bag” she says, turning to grab her backpack before waving to her friends and getting into his car.
When at the jeweller, she and Lucius discuss the different ring types, sizing, etc. She takes pictures of a few different rings and sends them to Ted, wanting his opinion.
Lucius looks over her shoulder and sees a previous picture in their chat, of them standing with their arms around each other, posing for the picture. He freezes before walking out to the car silently. She follows confused.
He gets in the car, Andromeda tries to get into the passenger seat, but Lucius slams it shut before she can get in and drives off without a word. Andromeda goes home sad and confused.
The next day, when she shows up for class, she hears people whispering all around her:
“did you hear she's talking to that guy from the slums”
“I heard she slept with him”
“poor lucius, she ditched him to fuck someone lowerclass”
“she's fucked half the school”
Andromeda leaves the class and walks down the hall, wanting to get away. As she walks
Lucius knocks shoulders with her “Whore” he snarls as he walks past.
And so she runs and for the first time in a while she can breathe.
Her mother is not happy when she finds out that her engagement was called off, nor was she happy that Andromeda was friends with someone ‘lower class’. But she doesn't care as memories of falling through the ice come back, sometimes there's escape in escaping.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andromeda Black was 17 years old the third time she fell. After Lucius she was no longer trusted to find her own suitors, Druella had been so embarrassed after being shamed by the Malfoy family that as an apology she had promised Narcissa to Lucius. She had decided to kill two birds with one stone and marry Andromeda to Bellatrix's fiance Rodolphus Lestrange's younger brother Rabastan. Andromeda had tried to argue but was quickly shut down.
Still trying to make an effort, she had arranged for a coffee date. While waiting for Rabastan she bumped into Ted, he spotted her first and waved.
“Hey Andy!” he waved “another ill-timed meeting huh?” he gestured to her waiting at her table
“I don't know if you've heard, I'm engaged to Rabastan. I thought it'd be nice to get to know him before we get married.”
Ted's happy demeanour flickered for a moment but returned moments later.
“Oh that's great, congratulations! I'm so happy for you.”
“Thanks that means a lot Ted, anyone new in your life?” She said, raising an eyebrow and winking “I'm sure someone like you has them lining up.” she laughed
“Haha ah no, well I better get going” he said awkwardly walking off to his table.
Andromeda sits at her table, waiting and waiting. Rabastan never shows. She texts him and waits for a response, he doesn't respond.
On his way out, Ted notices that Andromeda is still sitting alone. He slips into the seat across from her.
“He's an idiot, you know”
“Huh?” she says as she looks up, startled.
“To leave you here, by yourself”
“Oh, I'm sure he just forgot, we're both very busy” she looks away as she tries to justify it.
“Well I wouldn't leave you here” Ted says as gets up and leaves.
Andromeda is left sitting in the cafe with a light blush and a smile on her face. Rabastan texts her back
>Oh sorry ml, I was with Bella and Rod. I can come now if you want?
The smile falls from her face.
>Oh don't worry! It's alright, I have to go now anyway :)
Andromeda doesn't forget her meeting with Ted, but she doesn't have a choice in who she marries. Not anymore.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andromeda Black is 18 years old when she puts on her dress, ready to walk down the aisle.
She and Bellatrix get ready in tandem, dancing around each other to get makeup, earrings, and finally, their dresses. Andromeda is still uncertain but Bellatrix is delighted to be independent.
“Can you believe it Andy? We're getting married! Mother won't be able to tell us what to do!”
She tries to share her sister's enthusiasm but to her surprise, all she can think about is Ted?
The way he can make her laugh, the exact way Rabastan can't.
“Aren't you even a little nervous Bella?”
“About what? Rodolphus? I already have him wrapped around my finger, I could fuck another man and he'd apologise to me”
“But how can you marry a man you don't love?” She asks shifting nervously
“Ask yourself that question Andy, I'm not the only one getting married today.’ Bellatrix retorts before turning to finish doing her eyeliner.
It seems as only seconds later to Andromeda that their mother starts rushing them out the dressing room as the music starts to play.
Andromeda and Bellatrix start to walk down the aisle. Arm in arm. Black sisters for the last time.
She watches Rabastans face carefully as she walks towards him, as she comes nearer she notices roll his eyes at her father as he stands with tears in his eyes. It's in that moment that she knows, she must bolt.
She turns her head towards Bellatrix with an apologetic look in her eyes. Her sister understands immediately.
Andromeda lets go of her arm, and she runs out of the church. She doesn't wait long enough to hear the angry cries of her mother.
She almost sobs in relief when she reaches the road next to the church and sees Ted sitting in the drivers seat with a grin on his face.
“Thought you might need rescuing?” he says, opening the passenger door for her.
She jumps into the car, hesitating for only a moment before leaning over to kiss him.
“We must stop meeting like this, huh?”
Ted only laughs before they drive off. Andromeda doesn't have the heart to look back at her sisters as they drive off. She knows she will not see them again, she can only hope that Narcissa will understand.
~~~~~~~~~
Andromeda Tonks is 20 years old and for the first time, she feels at peace, almost as she did beneath the ice as she sits in the bathroom. Staring. Unblinking. As she looks down at the test in her hand. Positive. She's going to have a baby.
But oddly for the first time in her life, she doesn't run.