Sacred

Her eyes drifted across the Great Hall.

Hogwarts was a mess now.

Barty Crouch was sitting at the Gryffindor table, of all places, laughing at something one of the Weasleys had said. Persephone Parkinson was with the Hufflepuffs, practically sitting in the lap of some muggleborn boy. Even Lucius Malfoy was huddled at the corner of the Slytherin table with Frank Longbottom, engrossed in hushed conversation over some new book they were reading.

Andromeda watched it all.

She would never admit it out loud – she’d barely admit it to herself – but she was jealous. She was jealous of the way the others had branched out, jealous of the way they were forced into new comraderies through their living situations. She loved Professor McGonagall, and she certainly loved her sisters, but the allure of friendship was something that had always called to her.

Blacks didn’t have friends.

Most of the Sacred Twenty Eight didn’t have friends.

They had contacts. Connections.

It wasn’t about who could provide companionship or whose company you enjoyed the most – that was irrelevant. It was about what they could provide for you. She understood the hierarchy of the Sacred Twenty Eight – it had been hammered into her since the moment she was born.

The Blacks were at the top. They were the most influential, the most rich, the most powerful. Then came the Malfoys. Then the Lestranges, then the Crouches, the Parkinsons, and so on down the line. To associate with the lesser, such as the Weasleys or the Longbottoms was unfathomable to a member of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black.

But the hierarchy had been overturned.

Nobody had any power anymore – they were all on level ground. The evidence of that was written all over the Great Hall.

Andromeda’s eyes drifted across the hall as she watched the burgeoning friendships that surrounded her. There was nothing Billius Weasley could give that Barty Crouch didn’t already have. Nothing that Alice Fortescue could give Alecto Carrow.

There could be nothing between any of them except a genuine fondness.

She could never admit it, certainly not to her sisters or cousin, but she was jealous.

Andromeda wanted to sit somewhere different. She wanted to be engaged in conversation with someone who didn’t care about her name. She wanted to know how it felt to be liked for herself rather than for the prestige and power that came with being a Black.

She glanced back to the Gryffindor table.

Sirius was leaning over the table, his elbow in a bowl of mashed potatoes as he tugged gently on some girl’s braids. The girl dissolved into laughter before shoving him back, upending the mashed potatoes as he collapsed back onto his side of the table.

She was jealous.

Sirius gestured wildly, knocking over a goblet of pumpkin juice. The boy next to him stood up suddenly, his robes now soaked. She could see Sirius’s flushed face as he grabbed napkins and sort of shoved them at the boy, who pushed him away and cast a simple cleaning charm on the robes. Sirius flushed an even darker red, presumably, Andromeda thought, because he’d seemingly forgotten about his magic. She smiled and shook her head slowly as the boy opened one of the many notebooks he had stacked beside his plate, scribbling something on the page. He gathered his things and stood up, waving off Sirius as he seemingly apologized once more for the mess and made his way through the crowded hall towards the large double doors.  

She watched him go with unusual fascination. He was tall, she noticed, with auburn curls that swept over his ears. It was an unruly haircut, the kind her mother would’ve never tolerated, but Andromeda thought it suited the boy quite well.

He paused by the door.

Andromeda’s breath hitched in her throat as he turned his head, his eyes immediately finding hers.

She stared at him, her mouth suddenly very dry. He winked and gave her a small grin as a small bird made out of parchment fluttered to the table, landing in front of her. She swallowed hard as she grabbed the parchment and unfolded it.

Caught you staring.
Don’t worry. I’ve been staring at you too.
- Ted Tonks

Andromeda dutifully followed Bellatrix up the stairs towards the Great Hall for breakfast, Narcissa behind her. Bellatrix was muttering something to them, something that Narcissa was nodding along with and that she was certain Bellatrix expected her to be listening to.

But she couldn’t bring herself to pay attention.

Her attention was instead focused on the curly haired boy she hoped would be present in the Great Hall.

She jammed her hand in her pocket, dragging her finger along the folded edges of the note she had hastily stuffed in her pocket. She wasn’t entirely sure why she’d grabbed it this morning – it wasn’t as though she’d have any need for it – but touching it sent a funny fluttering sensation through her belly.

“Annie! Are you paying attention?” Andromeda stopped inches away from her sister, nearly running into her. Bellatrix was glaring down at her, hands on her hips.

“Sorry?”

“What has gotten into you this morning? I was saying that I won’t be joining you for studying after supper this evening.” A ripple of excitement trickled down Andromeda’s spine. She’d have the evening free! Maybe she’d see Ted at supper. Maybe she could slip him a note, meet him in the library..

“Andromeda!”

Andromeda looked up. Bellatrix was staring at her with shrewd, suspicious eyes. Andromeda forced herself to meet her sister’s eyes, giving her a small, apologetic smile.

“Sorry Bella. A lot on my mind this morning. A lot of assignments to complete before the winter break. You know.” Bellatrix stared at her for a beat.

“Right,” She said slowly. “Well, I’ll be gone this evening anyhow so you might as well use that time to catch up.” She turned around and continued her ascent to the Great Hall. Andromeda followed after, allowing her mind to drift once more to the boy with the auburn curls.

It was silly, she knew, to obsess over a boy. Blacks didn’t pine, and they didn’t have crushes. Blacks had strategic matches meant to strengthen their bloodlines and create formidable political alliances. She had known for years that the three of them were destined for a Lestrange, a Malfoy and a Black, it had only been a mystery who would be destined for who. At one point Bellatrix had been destined for Sirius, until it had been determined that the two were more likely to destroy one another than to produce an heir.

And then Sirius had left, clawing his way through the floo on bloodied hands and effectively terminating his right to anything other than the Black name. She knew from eavesdropping that her aunt and uncle were in favor of marrying Regulus to one of them. She knew what Narcissa would choose, given the option. She and Regulus had been close – far closer than any of the other cousins. Bella would probably be destined for one of the Lestrange’s. They were a formidable family, and the eldest daughter was a far higher prize than the younger spares.

Andromeda wrinkled her nose as she rounded the corner into the Great Hall. She followed her sisters towards the Slytherin table, settling in across from Bellatrix and Narcissa.

The thought of marrying any of them sent her stomach in backflips. She didn’t want to marry for power or good breeding or political alliances. If she was going to marry, she wanted it to be with someone who cared about her, who might even love her.

A quiet fluttering drew her attention as a small, parchment bird fluttered to the table, resting beside her plate. She stifled a smile as she picked it up and unfolded it on her lap.

Free period this morning. Library?
PS. I like the green dress. Matches your eyes

T.T

Andromeda bit back a smile and shoved the letter deep into her pocket. She concentrated on shoveling scrambled eggs into her mouth until Bellatrix stood up.

“Well. I’m off to Potions then.” She declared loudly. “Narcissa?” Narcissa dabbed her mouth demurely with the napkin.

“Transfiguration,” Andromeda shook her head, swallowing the mouthful of food with an audible gulp.

“Free period,” She said. Her heart hammered in her chest loud enough that she thought her sister might hear it. She swallowed again, cursing her nerves. It wasn’t even like she was lying to them, she did have a free period.

“You’ll be in the library studying, I presume?” Bellatrix asked. Again, Andromeda forced back the wave of guilt that threatened to overtake her as she nodded at her sister. She would be going to the library, she would make sure she got some studying done, and if a certain muggleborn happened across her table, well.. that wasn’t really her fault now was it? It certainly wasn’t a lie.

She stood up, stuffing a last bite of toast into her mouth as she did.

She wasn’t lying. Everything was fine.

The library was mostly vacant when she arrived. Perhaps whatever gods existed were looking for out her. Andromeda clutched her books close to her chest as she wandered the aisles, her eyes scanning for the familiar head of auburn curls.

“Looking for someone?”

She whirled around to see Ted Tonks smiling at her.

“You scared me!” She breathed. He only grinned wider.

“I got us a table in the back,” He said. Her heart fluttered, a rapid staccato beat. He reached out and grabbed her hand, interlacing their fingers as he led her to a small table next to a window, adjacent to the restricted section. He pulled out her chair and gestured. Andromeda sank into it, a stupidly wide grin on her face.

Such a gentleman.

He sat in the chair opposite her, watching with sparkling eyes as she laid her books out on the table. She flipped open her Transfiguration text and unrolled the parchment she’d been working on.

“Aren’t you going to be working on anything?” She asked, looking up. The boy had no books with him, no parchment. Not even a quill.

“I thought I’d keep you company while you worked, if that’s alright.” She frowned.

“You’ve got no schoolwork to do?” He shook his head.

“All caught up.”

“And you had nothing better to do with your time than hang out in the library and watch me?” Ted smiled at her.

“There is nothing I’d rather be doing right now,” He said earnestly. Andromeda felt her cheeks flush.

“Nothing?” She asked. Ted shrugged his shoulders.

“Well if I had my choice, I’d love to get to know the mysterious middle Black sister a little better, but it looks as though she’s got a lot of work to do, so I’ll settle for silent company.” Andromeda bit her lip, glancing down at the schoolwork in front of her. She did have a lot left to do on her essay..

“What sorts of things would you want to know about her?” She asked shyly. Ted closed his eyes, seeming to ponder the question for a moment.

“What is.. your favorite color?” He asked finally.

“Green,” She answered. Ted tsk’d, shaking his head slowly.

“Typical Slytherin.” Andromeda laughed. “What is your favorite food?”

“Too easy. Chocolate frogs.” Ted wrinkled his nose.

“That’s not a food, that’s a candy!” He said.

“Candy is food!” She protested. Ted shook his head again.

“Barely. Alright, what is your favorite animal?”

“A giraffe.” Ted laughed out loud at that.

“A giraffe! Really?” Andromeda crossed her arms.

“What’s wrong with a giraffe?” She asked. “Have you ever seen one in real life? They’re magnificent. Hugely tall, with a ginormous neck, and yet they don’t utter a sound! They’re truly incredible creatures.”

“Have you seen one in real life?” Andromeda nodded, her eyes glazing slightly.

“Once,” She said softly. “When we were children. We were in Australia. Father had some work he was doing there and Mother thought she’d take us along. Cissy was only.. maybe four, I think? One of Father’s contacts was a magizoologist, and he recommended taking us to the Australia zoo. Mother didn’t want to, it’s a famous muggle zoo but Father was trying to appease him so he forced her to take us,” She laughed lightly. “Mother was beside herself. We were surrounded by muggles and animals and filth but.. we didn’t care. I remember stopping beside the giraffes and they were so.. regal looking. Just these tall, beautiful creatures. And then,” She paused, her lips quirking upwards slightly. “One came over to me. It came over and lowered it’s head, and I reached my hand out and it.. it touched me. Just a quick press of it’s nose to my palm. It was as though it could read my thoughts and it knew how desperately I wanted it. And then as quick as it had come, it wandered away, back to the others.” She shook her head slowly. “It was the happiest moment of my life.”

“Have you ever been back?” Ted asked softly. Andromeda chuckled sadly.

“No,” She said. “Mother could not wait to get us out of that muggle hellhole, as she called it. She cursed Father up and down after we got back. And that was the last business trip we went on with him.” Ted regarded her sadly.

“Would you go back?” He asked. “If you could.”

“Mother would never allow it.” Ted shook his head.

“I’m not asking if you’d be permitted to go. I’m asking if you would. Forget your family, forget their ridiculous rules and customs. If you could go back to the zoo, back to the giraffes, would you?” The question left her breathless. Without her family, what would she do? Who would Andromeda be? It was just a question. An innocent, harmless question.

She knew what she was expected to say, what had been ingrained in her since birth. No, she would never go back to a muggle place like that. You’d never catch a daughter of the Noble House of Black cavorting in a muggle zoo, not when there were perfectly acceptable magical places to be.

But Andromeda was different.

She had always been different.

She looked at the boy. His unruly curls hung in his eyes, and his robes were disheveled, showing the jeans and muggle t-shirt underneath. He was everything her mother hated.

She swallowed hard.

“I’d go.”