The Black Sheep

Andromeda hated almost everything about going home for the holidays. At home, she wasn't able to pretend she didn't have a mother that hated her or a father that neglected to spend even a few minutes in the same room with her. She could pretend her mother actually loved her a great deal while at Hogwarts, but as she stepped into the house to see her mother's scowl, months of playing pretend didn't matter.

They spent the holidays as they always had, in their rooms by themselves. Andromeda only interacted with Narcissa unless it was dinner. During dinner, they were expected to sit at a table lit by candles and engage in conversation with their parents. She usually tried to stay as quiet as possible, when you didn't speak, you couldn't say anything wrong.

On Boxing Day, they hosted the annual pureblood dinner party. Andromeda's family had done so ever since she could remember, and this year had been no different. She appeased her mother by getting in an unnecessarily tight dress,  straightening her hair, and helped by getting Narcissa get ready too.

Andromeda found herself standing next to Sirius and Regulus nearly halfway into the event. In her opinion, which could not be wrong in this case, they were her coolest cousins. They were the only other relatives she had that she had an inkling of respect for, and she had a suspicion they might share her views.

Sirius yawned obnoxiously as Druella tapped a spoon against her glass at the front of the room. Andromeda laughed quietly before elbowing Sirius just as Bellatrix cleared her throat to speak next to Rodolphus Lestrange.

"Rodolphus and I would like to take the time here today to announce our engagement!" Bellatrix held up her left hand, and there sat a ring.

Narcissa was the first to rush over to congratulate her, but Andromeda stayed in her place, unmoving. Suddenly, it all made sense. That day in the library when Bellatrix had hinted she knew more about courting than they originally thought. Andromeda would catch up with her sister later, there was no way that she would make it gracefully through the crowd.

Regulus tapped on her shoulder with a curious expression, drawing her attention from the people crowding around Bellatrix and Rodolphus to him and Sirius.

"Bella hasn't even graduated yet, Meda," Regulus said, tilting his head to the side in confusion, something Andromeda had heard his parents were trying to stop him from doing so often.

"Yeah, why is she getting married already?" Sirius chimed in.

Andromeda truly didn't have an answer for them. However, she didn't want them to think any less of her, so she quickly diverted their attention.

"She must really love Rodolphus," Andromeda said, while Regulus nodded in agreement, Sirius saw through her. "Why don't you two get some pudding?"

Regulus shot right over to where the dessert table stood, but Sirius loitered next to Andromeda, looking like he wanted to ask a question, but was nervous.

"Do you need something, Sirius?" Andromeda asked gently.

"Am I going to have to get married too?" Sirius asked.

"Depends," Meda bit her lip. "Do you want to?"

"Not really."

"Then, I'm sure you won't have to," Andromeda replied, which seemed to satisfy Sirius for the time being.

A deep cut of resentment for their family made its way through her. She would be surprised—pleasantly, no doubt—if Sirius wasn't forced to court someone when he reached sixth or seventh year. It didn't feel right to lie to him, but she couldn't break his heart with the truth yet, he was just too young.

Andromeda watched as he joined his brother and piled his plate with far too much pudding. She decided that after talking to Bellatrix she would join them as well, seeing as they were the only two interesting people here.

She saw her chance to talk to Bella when she broke free from the crowd to go to the drink table. Making her way over, Andromeda made sure to plaster a large smile on her face.

"I'm so happy for you, Bellatrix," Meda said and was surprised when Bellatrix handed her a flute of champagne.

"Don't lie," Bella laughed lightly. "You've never liked Rodolphus."

This was true. Andromeda had never liked the Lestrange for more than one reason. He was easily one of the most prejudiced men she had ever met, which was saying something. And, he creeped her out.

"That's hardly what matters," Meda spoke, not wanting to lie knowing that Bellatrix didn't care whether or not Meda liked her future husband. "You're engaged!"

"I know, that's what this ring is for," Bella replied, holding up her left hand so Meda could see the ring better.

If Andromeda was getting engaged solely on what the ring looked like, then she would not have hesitated in accepting this proposal. However, she wasn't judging based upon ring quality, instead, she wanted a man who wasn't bigoted.

"Are you going to wait until after graduating from Hogwarts to get married?" Andromeda asked. "I mean, I know this is Rodolphus's last year-"

"I don't need that scummy place anymore," Bellatrix spoke now with a harsh tone. "I'm off to bigger and better things."

Andromeda thought quietly to herself that whatever Bellatrix was planning on doing could hardly be considered better than graduating from Hogwarts. It was probably at least ten times worse.

"You're not bothering to graduate? You only have one more year after this," Andromeda pointed out, shocked Bella would even consider dropping out.

Bellatrix had always been feared among the corridors of Hogwarts, which had become comfortable for her. Andromeda suspected that it was much harder to get that kind of respect (if it could even be considered respect) in the real world. Why would Bellatrix want to throw away her position in Hogwarts for the unknown?

"It's not worth it," Bella said. "Don't tell anyone I said that, Mother doesn't know."

"Mother doesn't know?" Andromeda repeated, surprised her older sister had even told her.

"Yes, and she doesn't need to," Bella spoke, making direct eye contact with Meda, who felt a shiver run down her spine. "Hear me?"

"Loud and clear," Meda forced a smile.

"We're surrounded in greatness, Meda, soak it in," Bellatrix said before leaving her sister alone at the drink table.

Andromeda had no intention of ever soaking in this so called "greatness" around her. She forced herself to force down the feeling of disgust that had risen in her ever since she saw her sister standing next to Lestrange with a look of satisfaction on her face. Meda always tried to deny the fact that her sister, who she once very dearly loved, was as deranged as the rest of them, but it struck her dumb that she couldn't do that anymore. So, she took another swig of champagne, very nearly gagged, and then made her way over to Regulus and Sirius.

As she sat down next to Sirius, she noticed that the two boys were clearly laughing about something that they had watched happen. Being a little more cautious than his older brother, Regulus slapped Sirius on the arm to get him to stop once Andromeda had caught their attention.

"What's so funny?" Andromeda asked, a light hint of amusement meeting her tone.

Regulus still looked weary, but Sirius, on the other hand, looked as if he was going to burst from excitement when Andromeda expressed her interest.

"Sirius," Regulus said, appearing to be a little uncomfortable.

"Oi! Stop it, Reg! Meda doesn't care, she isn't like the rest of the lot," Sirius spoke, rolling his eyes, and turning towards Meda to speak to her.

Sirius didn't notice as Regulus got up from the table, upset with tears in his eyes. Andromeda did though, and she gave Sirius a reproving glance before getting up from the table. He grabbed her wrist to try to stop
her from leaving.

"Sirius, I have to make sure Reg is alright," Meda said, taking back her wrist. "Hold down the fort without us."

"Yes ma'am," Sirius replied.

Andromeda winked before finally leaving and very strategically walked on the opposite side of the room than anyone who would try to speak with her. It was a very short list considering that she was in a room with her family, but some people there could talk nonstop, and that would not help her in this case.

She found Regulus sulking upstairs, sitting right outside her bedroom door. He shifted uncomfortably when she sat next to him, but Meda pretended not to notice.

"You know, what Sirius said about me being different than the rest of them," Meda paused as she grabbed all of Regulus's attention. "It was true. He wasn't bluffing."

Regulus shifted again and swallowed before he started to speak. Andromeda wondered what he was thinking.

"I knew that before," Regulus said quietly. "You're not as scary as everyone else."

Andromeda smiled briefly. Anytime she wasn't grouped in with the rest of her family, Andromeda felt a surge of appreciation for whoever was speaking. It made her feel stupid sometimes, but she just couldn't help it.

"Sirius loves you," Meda said after a moment of silence. "He doesn't know how to show it, and eventually it'll come back to bite him in the arse."

Regulus giggled, but then slapped a hand over his mouth and looked startled at her.

"Meda!" Regulus spoke through a hesitant smile. "We aren't supposed to use that word! Especially you."

"Why especially me?" Andromeda asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Well, you're a girl, that's why," he replied, tilting his head to the side again.

"Being a girl doesn't mean I should have any different rules than you, Reg," Meda said gently, not wanting to make her cousin upset again. "All it means is that we're different genetically."

"Genetically?" Regulus asked, clearly confused.

"It's how we're made up inside," Andromeda sighed, pointing at her chest, which made Regulus look down at his own like something was going to jump out of it. "What makes you a boy and me a girl."

"What if I'm not a boy?" Regulus said, taking both Meda and himself by surprise.

Andromeda smiled softly at her cousin to give him encouragement. She didn't exactly know where he was going with his question, but she felt it was important that Regulus talked to someone about it because it was clear he was disturbed.

However, before he could continue speaking, Narcissa appeared at the bottom of the staircase catching their attention immediately. Meda stood up off the ground and held out a hand for Regulus to take. She lead him down the stairs and then looked questioning at her sister.

"Aunt Walburga and Uncle Orion are leaving," she said, and Regulus stiffened at Meda's side, dropping her hand.

He gave the two of them a short smile before darting back into the party room, probably to join Sirius's side. This left the sisters in each other's company. Andromeda hadn't exactly been avoiding Narcissa, but she was wishing earlier that Regulus and Sirius stayed in her company long enough to steer clear of any forced conversation.

"What were you speaking about?" Narcissa asked curiously.

Narcissa had always favored Regulus, which Andromeda never thought was fair. Sure, Sirius was obnoxious and said some things that Cissy would consider rude—Meda, on the contrary, thought he was quite funny—but Andromeda didn't like the fact that she pitted the two boys against each other. It kind of reminded her of what her mother did to her and her sisters.

"Nothing of your concern," Andromeda said, the perfect picture of placidity.

If her sister didn't like being brushed off, then she didn't show it. Instead, Narcissa just changed the subject and bit her tongue.

"I'm so excited for Bella's wedding," Cissy grinned, and Andromeda smiled softly at her sister's excitement. "Do you think we'll be bridesmaids?"

To be absolutely truthful, Andromeda hadn't even thought about the actual wedding itself. Not having gotten past the fact that Bellatrix wouldn't be graduating from Hogwarts, Meda wasn't able to put a thought into what the wedding will be like. She tried her best not to shudder.

"I'm sure," Meda replied.

"Well, you're mighty talkative," Narcissa said, rolling her eyes as she briskly walked back into the party room.

Andromeda knew she should join her sister, however, if she so much as had to speak to another one of her parents' friends, Meda felt she would vomit onto the ground. Lucky for her, the clock showed that there were a mere fifteen minutes until midnight, so all the adults were probably much too drunk to remember this part of the night anyway. This meant that Meda could pretend that she was in the room mingling the whole time and they just didn't remember.

She traveled the short distance into her room and sighed as she sat on her bed. There were too many thoughts floating around her head for sleep, much too many thoughts. Sleep would find her eventually—no telling when—yet, for now, Andromeda would spend her time staring at her ceiling while considering every conversation she had had that night very carefully.