The Malfoys'
A week slipped through Andromeda’s fingers quicker than she hoped, it's funny how the loss of time can obscure your present perception of it.
By the time she finally realised how quickly time was slipping away, Andromeda found herself running out of patience. She found her present perception of it to be obscured by the weight of worries on her mind. Every minute felt like an hour, every hour felt like a day, and every day felt like a week. But she couldn't afford to waste any more time, as she knew that one wrong move could cause irreversible damage. So, she took a deep breath and refocused her attention on the task at hand.
As Andromeda finished getting ready for the Malfoy Ball, she felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Although she appreciated the invitation, and had put a lot of effort into her outfit and hair, she was not in the mood to attend a ball. She was feeling too anxious and overwhelmed to deal with the crowds and all the chaos that came with an event like this. But she knew that she couldn't bail at the last minute, her parents would surely disown her.
So, she took a deep breath and stepped outside to face the madness.
The house was a bustle of busy energy as preparations for Bellatrix's wedding were still underway, because of it Andromeda was to attend the Malfoys' by herself. It rarely happened, even if her parents were out of the country or something, they girls would attend functions together.
"Go, go, go." Her mother hushed her out the front door and towards the family thestral carriage. "You mustn't be late, and send Eleanor my best. This is the first party they're hosting since Abraxas passed."
"Yes, mother."
Druella paused for a moment, grasping Andromeda by the shoulder and pulling her in. "Make this work. Both our families need this."
Andromeda nodded gently.
"Now, go!" Druella broke back into a frenzy and pushed her out the door.
Entering Malfoy Manor, she suddenly felt like an uninvited guest. The music was deafening and the lights were too bright. She didn't want to be there, but at the same time, she felt strangely drawn in by the noise and chaos of it all. Everywhere she looked, there were people smiling and laughing, having a great time. But Andromeda wasn't able to fully enjoy herself. In fact, she felt more anxious now than ever. But despite her discomfort, she was determined to stay and see the ball through.
It hit her full force that she was there because she was supposed to marry Lucius Malfoy, and that she had no choice in the matter. This was no fun outing, this was serious business. The music and lights that had first drawn her in now felt overwhelming and oppressive. But she had to make the best of the situation, so she forced herself to take a deep breath and carry on.
"Oh dear, you look lovely as always, Andromeda," Eleanor Malfoy said, smiling at her future daughter-in-law as she entered the ball. "So glad you could come. Don't you think so, Lucius?" she added, turning to her son.
Lucius seemed distracted, and simply nodded in response. Andromeda felt a sinking feeling in her stomach as she realised that Lucius was not nearly as happy with their arranged marriage as Eleanor. But she didn't know what she could do to change the situation.
"You look wonderful yourself, Mrs Malfoy." Andromeda gestured to her stunning dress. "And this party is just extravagant, truly. Mother so dearly wished she could come but with preparations for Bellatr-"
"Oh yes, I completely understand dear and call me Eleanor, I insist." Eleanor continued with a surprisingly cheery demeanour for a recent widow. "Every mother wishes to be buried in wedding plans, that's when you know you've done right."
As Eleanor continued chattering on, Andromeda tried her best to remain polite, although she was distracted by her growing anxiety and discomfort. With nowhere else to turn for comfort, she was struggling to maintain her composure and keep her anxiety in check.
Suddenly, Lucius Malfoy called out to her from across the room, at some point he must have slipped away from his mother's grasp. Thankfully, this disrupted the conversation allowing her to draw her attention away from Eleanor. She looked up to see him headed towards her and hoped that he would provide a much-needed distraction.
As Lucius Malfoy approached, Andromeda felt her heart racing. She had hoped that he would bring a much needed distraction, and she expected that he would have some words of comfort or reassurance. But when he finally reached her, she noticed the troubled look on his face, and she began to panic even more.
"Andromeda, I need to speak with you privately," he said, taking her by the arm. "Please, come with me for a moment."
A small squeak of excitement escaped Eleanor's lips. Andromeda felt her heart sink as she followed him away from the ball.
As she followed him, Andromeda could feel her anxiety heightening with every step. She was already uncomfortable at the ball, and now Lucius was pulling her away for a private conversation. She knew where this was going, but so early in the night? maybe she had been stuck talking to his mother longer than she thought? Finally, they reached a small empty hallway and he turned to face her, his expression serious.
"What is it, Lucius?" she asked. "What do you need to talk to me about?"
A small flicker of disbelief flashed through his eyes. "Really? They told me you were the smart one."
Andromeda had to forcefully make sure to remain polite. "I was just trying to keep a natural flow to the conversation."
"Oh I see," Lucius frowned. "Well, um…"
"Do you want me to do it for you?" Andromeda let her snark get the better of her, taunting him with a raised brow.
"No, no, no!" Lucius flustered. "We can't do it here either. My mother insisted it be a public event, but she also thought it best to give you a warning so you could…powder your face… or whatever you girls do."
"Oh…I see."
"Good, now that's settled. We should head back out, I'll find you again by the fountain." Lucius said. "It's impossible to miss, like eight feet tall and shaped like a swan."
And with that, he slipped back into the party and left Andromeda alone in the hallway.
Merlin's beard.
Bringing honour to her family had never seemed so unappealing. Leaning against the wall, as he said, she had a few minutes to powder her face so she wasn't expected back to the party anytime soon.
If only Narcissa was here, or anyone. Someone to talk this over with, even though that wouldn't change the situation.
"Andromeda, darling!" Rita Skeeter greeted her with a fluttery wave and a conspiratorial smile. "I was just about to hunt you down to get the scoop on my favourite topic of the night, but I see that Lucius has already shared the news." Rita looked up at Andromeda, who was trying to keep her expression neutral despite her shock and distress. "Please don't tell me that the engagement is off? I need to hear all the juicy details of the scandal."
"The engagement isn't even technically a thing yet." Andromeda sighed. "I've got five minutes still."
"You're kidding!" Rita Skeeter gasped, her eyes wide with surprise. "But I was told it was a done deal by one of the strongest sources I have. So, it's just speculation, then? Or will your engagement actually be official soon?"
Andromeda's heart sank a little further at Rita's question. She didn't want to say it out loud, in case it cemented the reality, but her engagement would be official soon. And she wasn't happy about it. "Not long till it's official, unfortunately," she finally replied.
"Well that black girls are all growing up I see." Rita crossed her arms. "I assume that's why um…Bellatrix isn't here tonight?"
"Yes, Bellatrix is quite busy." Andromeda gave her a soft smile. "She's quite committed to the idea now…I'm sorry."
"No, no it's fine." Rita frowned. "I just wish she'd talk to me…imagine the story I could get if she'd let me cover her wedding."
"Well, is the story of my soon to be engagement not enough for you?"
"Okay, yeah a Black sister getting engaged is big but I mean…Bella did it first but no one's covered a Black sister wedding yet."
Andromeda let out a defeated chuckle. "Fair enough."
Reaching forward, Rita pinned a stray hair back into Andromeda's otherwise neat updo. "I've missed this. We were good friends once, weren't we?"
"Then you screwed my sister." She laughed.
"Yeah, I guess I did…anyways, this is your night." Rita offered her a soft smile. "Time to go get engaged."
"Do I have to?" Andromeda let out a heavy sigh.
"There's a whole party waiting for you."
"I know, but..." Andromeda sighed again, uncertain where to go from here.
"Andromeda, dear," Rita Skeeter put in. "Do not make me say it twice." Rita's voice took on a firm and stern tone, one which made Andromeda feel like a child being scolded.
Resigned, Andromeda nodded her head and followed Rita into the ball. She knew that she didn't really have a choice in the matter, and as Rita had so aptly put it, the whole party was waiting for her.