Chapter 2
"Well, how does it feel to officially be the heiress of two very prestigious families?" Andromeda teased her little cousin. As it had all been officiated now, her mother Druella said a celebration must be in order. Obviously to regale in the wondrous family connections they had now thanks to Anya. As she welcomed any distraction away from her impending marriage that she still hoped to stop, Andy had aided and encouraged her mother in her plans. Plus, it was always amusing to watch the wixen elite get drunk off their asses.
"Overwhelming," Anya whispered softly, for once offering the truth and not pretty lies or memorised facts. She had decided to stick close to her cousins as she felt like she didn't have the energy for big crowds and unfortunately her friends weren't here to distract her. One Black party a year being too many for the Blackbell and Desmond families and Emma and Pandora were both away visiting family. Andromeda felt her heart go out for the little girl. She would never understand the level of responsibility the mere child already possessed.
"I'm sorry," Andy said sincerely, feeling genuinely sorry for her.
Anya shrugged, "It's not like it's your fault."
"Andy, Anya!" Narcissa exclaimed, happy to see them. She had been touring the room with her devoted fiance. Although she was not in love with him and didn't care if she married him or not, she was only sixteen after all, she couldn't deny that the devotion and adoration were very nice.
"Lucius, allow me to introduce you to my young cousin," Cissy began, her arm in his, "This is Lady Anastasia Forger-Prince, Heiress Briar-Prince. Anya, this is my fiance, Lord Lucius Malfoy, Heir Malfoy."
"Well met, Heir Malfoy," Anya said, inclining her head slightly like her mama and Grandpapa always did. She had no desire to give even the barest of curtsies at the moment and as her family had shown her, her new titles meant a lot. Just the order in which Narcissa introduced them gave that much away.
"Well met, Heiress Briar-Prince," Lucius replied, gritting his teeth as he gave a slight bow. The very idea that someone he considered basically a halfblood had better connections than him and a higher status grated him. As such, he ignored her and turned to Andromeda, "Where is Parkinson? I would expect him to be here."
Andy tried her best to keep an impassive face instead of showing her disgust. Admittedly, they could have chosen her a far worse fiance, as Plutarch Parkinson was at least good looking and not cruel but he was an utter bore and she still didn't have to like this arranged marriage she would soon be trapped in or him, "Plutarch is escorting his sister around. It's her first time back in England since she started at Beauxbatons."
"Oh, and why was Posy Parkinson sent away again? What did they say, oh yes, the additional clubs and electives, wasn't it?" Lucius said mockingly.
"Enough Lucius," Narcissa said with a glare. She had always been best friends with Posy Parkinson and Diana Greengrass and hated when her fiance mocked them. To Anya's great surprise the man actually listened to Cissy and ceased his teasing. Just then, Regulus and Severus, who had run off together, joined their group.
"Andy, tell Sev that it's true that the Black library is one of the most complete wixen libraries ever to exist!" Regulus said with gleaming eyes, not having noticed Cissy and her beau.
“Oh yes, but the Prince one is also very impressive,” Andromeda replied with a genuine smile to the two boys. The friendship they had developed had made them both more open to express feelings and emotions, even if only slightly.
"Oh yes, but the Black library's Dark Arts section is far more complete," Anya replied wearily, knowing exactly what her cousin wished to know. She shared her papa's worries about his interest in this side of magic.
"I can assure that the Malfoy library has an even larger and far more superior section," Lucius gloated then took a moment to look at the boys in front of him.
"You're the Snape Boy, aren't you?" he said with a look of disgust on his porcelain face.
"It's Prince, actually," Anya replied, her previously dull eyes shining with fire as she moved to stand beside Severus. They were touching shoulder to shoulder and she hooked her arm in his, as if claiming him under her protection. Scared of the infamous Malfoy temper, Regulus moved behind them until he reached Andromeda who put a protective arm around him before leaning down to whisper something at him, managing to send him away from the scene.
"Once a halfblood, always a halfblood. No matter how many titles or blood adoptions or name changes you get," Lucius sneered, clearly insulting them both.
"Lucius!" Narcissa exclaimed in surprise and disgust, pulling her arm away from him and shoving him off of her and moving to stand beside Andromeda. She may not care for most halfbloods and muggleborns but Anya was family, and a well loved cousin at that. "That is a beloved cousin you are speaking off."
"You barely even know her," Lucius replied, rolling his eyes.
"And you know us even less, so who gives you the right to pass any judgement?" Anya said prissily while Severus hissed beside her. Her eyes gleamed dangerously and her family jewels shone. A clear show of power in both. If Anya had been older, he would have actually been terrified but as a child, even with the heirdom to two Houses, her powers were more limited.
"I'm the future Lord of the Most Ancient and Honourable House of Malfoy, I can judge as I please," Lucius mocked.
"Well then, enjoy your time in this corner all by yourself as you judge us, your Lordship," Narcissa replied mockingly, her usually icy eyes burning like blue fire. Lucius almost jumped back in surprise. He'd always known his fiancée to possess a gentle smile on her face, no matter the circumstance. Except, it seemed now he had struck a nerve he didn't know she possessed.
"Why don't you two join Reggie to continue your discussion on the values of our different family libraries?" Andromeda said, slowly pushing Anya and Sev towards the crowd. With one last fiery glare at Lucius, Anya nodded at her cousin and marched away. Andy then turned her attention to her sister. If there was one thing she knew was that Narcissa Black was fiercely protective of those she loved and especially so if they were young children. Lucius Malfoy had unknownly dug his own grave but even if she would enjoy the amusing sight of her usually genial baby sister destroying him, she had no desire to draw her mother's attention their way.
"Say Cissy, I just saw the Prewett brothers come in. Shall we go and say hello?" Andy said. The Prewett family was one of the few predominantly Gryffindor families the Blacks ever engaged with. The other two were the Potters and Weasleys and it was mostly out of forced family relationships. The Prewett twins, however, were the most decent of the lot.
Turning to her, Cissy smiled, immediately seeing through her plan, "Of course, sister dearest. Gideon and Fabian are true gentlemen after all, and the most enjoyable conversationalists."
Arm in arm, the Black sisters walked away, not even glancing back once, leaving Lucius Malfoy to re-evaluate many things and realize how idiotically besotted he was with his fiancée as all he could think was how attractive she looked with that fire in her eyes.
"Are you truly set to marry that idiot?" Anya asked, as she found Narcissa sitting in a corner looking down.
"Well, I was. I'm not certain anymore. But I also know my parents won't take kindly to me leaving him," Cissy sighed and leaned against the wall, she had never been the type to try and grab the spotlight anyway and preferred keeping away from the crowd at the moment. So they sat quietly together for a bit, watching Andromeda talking to the Prewett twins and on her fiancé's arm. Plutarch Parkinson had dutifully found her after he had finished reintroducing his sister to their society.
"Especially because I know Andy really doesn't want to marry Plutarch. And really, I don't blame her. He's positively dull," Narcissa sighed.
"Why not marry one of them? You could each marry one," Anya pointed at the twins. She had seen how much the sisters had enjoyed the company and they had always been kind and polite.
"Because the connection is not as good and mother shan't allow it. At least not for both of us. And I want Andy to be happy. Plus, I happen to like being adored and despite his many flaws, Lucius does adore me," Narcissa replied with a shrug.
Anya frowned, "Well, it is your choice but if you ever wish to get away from him even against your mother's wishes, you have me."
As she said this, her eyes and jewels shone in power and Cissy smiled an indulgent smile.
"I know, thank you," she said and squeezed the younger blonde's hand. They sat like that together watching Andy as she dazzled the room like always. They both took comfort in knowing that no matter what, they'd have an ally in each other.