Chapter 1
"Are you sure about that, Bellatrix?"
"Of course. You know that Rodolphus is Lucius Malfoy's friend, and he saw them" she said, shaking her glass of mead.
The Black family was almost completely gathered in their sitting room, chatting. Narcissa was doing her Magic History homework on a table in front of the chimney. Her mother sewed beside Bellatrix on the sofa, in the opposite side of the room, while her father read the Daily Prophet on his armchair. The winter holidays had just started and they had lots of things to tell each other. One of them being the rumour about the Black's second daughter seeing a muggleborn too frequently.
"I'm sure it was all a misunderstanding"
"I don't think so, father. It has already happened several times. I don't want to be a bother to Andromeda, but it is not convenient for her that she is related in any form with scum like that." she caressed her left forearm "Particularly now."
"What do you think, Cissy?" her father asked "Do you know that kid?"
"Tonks? Yes, I know who he is"
Her mother raised her head and gave Narcissa an inquisitive look.
"He plays in his house's team. I've never seen him with Dromeda" she said, returning to her work.
Druella resumed her sewing, calmer after her daughter's words. But Bellatrix was not giving up that easily.
"Are you sure, Cissy? Malfoy wouldn't lie with those things"
"That's because you don't know him that well"
Bellatrix scowled.
"And how are things with Rabastan, Bella? Does she get along with him?" asked Cygnus.
"Last time madame Lestrange invited us for tea she barely looked at him. In fact, she only spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Lestrange that day"
"Dromeda doesn't like him very much" said Narcissa.
Cygnus exchanged looks with his wife.
"Nonesense. You have to invite them frequently to your house after the wedding, Bella" she said "If the rumours about our Andromeda mingling with people with an undesirable blood status are true, no one would want to marry her. I don't like those rumours. And I don't like the idea of my daughter being disowned. Rabastan is a respectable man. I've heard he had become a... what's the name, Bella, darling? I always forget."
"Death eaters, mother. You better learn the name because we soon will conquer the wizarding world. When the Dark Lord reigns, he will get rid of all the scum of these earth and reward us purebloods.
"It was time someone did it" Druella said.
"Has the Dark Lord many followers?"
"More and more each time, father" Bella's eyes shined with emotion.
"I'm glad to see so many people comit to the cause"
"Mr. Lestrange was one of the first, and all his family served the Dark Lord. And it has not been long since Avery and Malfoy vowed their loyalty to him"
Narcissa gave her sister a worried look.
"Malfoy has joined the death-eaters?"
"That's because you don't know him that well" Bella scoffed.
"But he's still in school"
"The Dark Lord needs servants in Hogwarts. He would probably wait until he finishes his studies to ask him anything important" Bellatrix smirked "So don't worry, you'll have your darling Lucius for another year"
Before Narcissa, red as a tomato, could reply, Andromeda walked downstairs.
"I finished writing Penelope. What were you talking about?"
"Nothing important" said Cygnus "Stay with us, Andromeda. We will have dinner soon"
She sat sideways on a chair beside Narcissa, who continued with her homework. Bellatrix stared at her, as if she was judging her. She shaked her glass of meal with a hand a couple times and, suddenlly, she dropped the bomb.
"Tell me, Dromeda, darling. Do you happen to know someone called Ted Tonks?"
There was a silence and everyone stayed motionless. Andromeda got tense. Mr. Black gave her a glance over his newspaper. Mrs Black raised her eyes from her sewing. Narcissa stayed still, with her pen above the parchment paper.
"He plays quidditch" she replied, coldly "It's everything I know"
"Really? I've been told you are very good friends"
Andromeda did not like her sister's sarcastic tone.
"People lie" she looked away.
"Oops, I annoyed her. Are you really that unpopular that only mudbloods get close to you?"
"I just spoke to him once, and it was for a Herbology project. I told him I'll do my part, he would do his and asked him to leave me alone"
"Oh, well. Then I suppose I'll have to fire all my sources..."
"I don't know what is this all about, Bellatrix. But when you talk to me properly and stop accusing me of things that aren't true, call me"
She got up and went upstairs to her room, with a bang on the door.
"Someone is sensitive today..."
"Bella..."
"I'll go"
Narcissa climb the stairs and knocked on her sister's door. There was no answer. She knocked again.
"Dromeda? It's me, Cissy"
"Are you alone?"
"Yes, I promise"
Andromeda opened her door. Her eyes were read and she was crying. Narcissa hugged her.
"What's the matter?"
"Itis true"
"What's true?"
"I'm dating him"
"Dromeda..."
"Don't tell anybody" she begged "please, Narcissa..."
"Andromeda, you have to break up with him"
"I know..."
"Then, why won't you do it?"
"Because I love him... I really do. And he... he loves me too."
"But he's a mudblood, Andromeda. You know what will h-"
"What can I do, Cissy? I tried to be discreet about it, but someone has seen us and probably all the magic community in Britain knows already"
"Leave him Even if you love him. It's for the best, Andromeda. Marry Rabastan, as mother and father want you to. You can ask for a divorce later. If you don't do that, you'll have to leave"
"But I can't do it"
Someone knocked the door.
"Miss Andromeda, dinner is ready" the domestic elf announced "Are you coming downstairs or do you want Kirky to bring it to you, Miss?"
"We're coming" said Narcissa. Andromeda dried her tears in an attempt to calm herself.
"How long has it been" she asked her sister when they were sure the elf was gone.
"Three years"
"Years? And not a rumour until now?"
"He understands my situation, so we try to be discreet. We don't even talk about each other. We met at midnight, in an empty classroom in the first floor. But that day in the library... Well. You know the rest of the story"
Narcissa kept quiet, trying to digest her sister's words.
"Wash your face and come downstairs for dinner" she said, finally. "When we go back to Hogwarts, leave that boy. For your own good"
Andromeda nodded and Narcissa came out of the room. When they went back, everything would return to how it was before. There was no reason to tell her parents. It was going to be alright.