Chris Hughem
After 20 minutes Andromeda arrives at the Leaky Cauldron. Her sisters and mother are sitting at the bar with worried faces, while her father is screaming at a piece of paper.
“You tell me where my daughter went right this minute, this is an outrage! I can’t believe–,“ before he can say anything else Cygnus spots his daughter. “Andromeda!” he shouts and runs toward her. “Where have you been? I almost sent the ministry a howler! The one time I allow you to actually do something on your own and you sneak of??”
“I’m sorry father, but I didn’t sneak off! The floo network transported me to the pet shop “Magical Menagerie” and I crashed into some boy. I came here as soon as I could, really!” Andromeda tries to explain.
Her father doesn’t seem to believe her. “You know I don’t like being lied to Andromeda,” he says with a deep frown. A shiver runs down Andromeda’s spine, but not because of the words that come out of his mouth, but from the way he looks at her. She despises his face in this state, it foreshadows the worst things imaginable, her worst nightmares.
Andromeda freezes, unable to say anything, silently begging for someone to wake her up from this frozen world. As if her mother could hear her thoughts, she steps in. “Cygnus dear,” she says in a sweet voice while putting a hand on his shoulder. “How about me and the girls just go along shopping, and you calm yourself down a little? I think I can handle them from here.”
Cygnus sighs. “If you say so, but if something falls out of line today, you will be to blame!” They watch him storm out the door, taking a sharp right. Andromeda shakes the dark thoughts from her head, coming back to herself. She knows where he is going. When he’s angry he always storms away and comes back with a sickening smell in his breath. Bellatrix once told her he is “getting a drink”. Andromeda has never been to the right side of Leaky cauldron, but she once sneaked a peak and all she saw was a dark, dirty alleyway. She wondered where exactly that place was were her father would get his drink, and why he just wouldn’t get one right here.
Druella grabs Andromeda’s hand with an angry expression on her face. “No more sneaking off, do you understand?” she asks her.
“But mother, I didn’t-,” but before Andromeda can explain herself Druella interrupts her.
“I don’t want to hear it,” she snaps. “You will listen to me and not go astray, do you understand?”
Andromeda looks at the floor and murmurs “Yes, mother.”
“Good,” she looks at the eldest sister. “Bellatrix, where would you like to go first? I say we go to Flourish and Blotts to get all the books, and as a reward for your successful travel,” she side-eyes Andromeda, “you may choose two books to take home.”
Bellatrix, who ignored Andromeda the entire time smiles at Druella. “Thank you mother, that sounds wonderful! Let us go now!”
They arrive at the bookstore, a tall red building with many glass windows through which new books are laid out. They go into the store, where they are met with huge bookshelves which are crammed with all kinds of books. Andromeda looks up the big staircase to see a huge number of people walking up and down, chatting and trying to find the right books.
“All right girls,” their mother says. “I will be looking for all your books. Narcissa and Andromeda, I would like you to come with me, Bellatrix you can go look for the books you want.”
“Sure mother,” Bellatrix replies. “Though, could Andromeda please come with me? I would really enjoy her company.”
Her younger sister frowns. Wasn’t Bellatrix just now ignoring her entire presence?
Andromeda looks at her mother. “Okay, but keep an eye on her, please.”
“I will, thank you, mother, that is very kind of you. Come on, Dree.”
Andromeda looks at her mother. “I really am sorry about the incident mother. I promise it will not happen again.”
Druella gives a little smile. “Don’t worry, just please don’t cause any more trouble.”
“Of course. Thank you.”
Bellatrix tugs at her arm and drags her up the staircase. Andromeda takes it all in, the air filled with excitement, the smell of new and old books and the most extraordinary book covers. They arrive at the second floor – the Defence Against the Dark Arts section. As Andromeda found out last year, this is the section where a lot of Hogwarts students gather, especially Slytherins. She doesn’t really understand why, since all of the Slytherins she met so far would rather learn the dark arts than act against them. Bellatrix nudges her arm and she turns around.
She looks Andromeda into the eyes. “Dree, I want you to listen to me. You were born into a great family. You have all the riches you desire in your youth, and now all you need to secure this for the future is a rich, pureblood husband. And I can help you do this. As you know I made connections these past two years and I will help you make some too. All you need to do is follow the rules mother and father have set, and then you will be happy forever. Okay?” She smiles lovingly at her younger sister.
Andromeda returns this smile and gives a small nod.
“Look over there,” she whispers into her ear. The person she is looking at is wearing fancy dark robes, just like them, but with snakes imprinted on the dark material. He has a handsome face, though it is evident he is going through puberty. “That’s Nicholas Goyle. He is in my year and also in Slytherin. He has proven to be a good ally, a little too nice for my taste, but he is alright. Oh, and do you see him?” she is now pointing at a boy with dark curls. “That is Daniel Nott, also in Slytherin in my year. His father Roberto is a pureblood from Mexico. Can you believe that? Daniel always tells me about their trips, and it sounds truly amazing. He is a bit of a fool, honestly, but he is pureblood and he is interesting, so whatever.”
Andromeda looks up at her sister. “Um… Bella?” she interrupts her. “You know so many people, do you by any chance know someone named Tonks?”
Bellatrix frowns at her. “Yes, in fact I do. There is this girl a year below me, Michelle Tonks. She is in Ravenclaw. I only know some rumors about her but nothing else. I don’t really talk to her. Why are you asking?”
“Oh, I just heard that name somewhere. Why don’t you talk to her?” Andromeda asks, keen to get more information.
“Well, people told me to stay away from her, telling me she is weird, and she really is! I mean, she isn’t even a mudblood, just a muggle! She is only taking the courses that don’t involve magical abilities and studies them. Apparently her younger brother is a mudblood, so she is allowed to go. I think the brother is in your year… Promise me to watch out for him, you know our family doesn’t associate with these… people. And honestly, I advise you not communicate with any mudbloods, because that kind of association will not get you a good future! It’s not like you’re going to get disowned, but it just isn’t a good look on the family altogether.”
Andromeda nods knowingly. “Yes. Thank you for showing me all this. I really hope I can make you, mother and father proud!” She smiles at Bellatrix, hoping this statement will make her forget about her questions about Tonks. It accomplishes this exact thing.
Bellatrix smiles at her. “Of course you will! I believe in you, Dree.” She kisses her forehead and hugs her. “Alright, let me get a book and we can head down.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Andromeda laughs.
A little bit later they start going downstairs again and meet their mother at the entrance. As they walk down the stairs Andromeda can’t stop thinking about that girl Michelle. She knows she shouldn’t be thinking about this, but it seems so strange that Bellatrix barely knows a person. She usually know everything about everyone. In the family, she is the person who knows all their blood relatives, the “blood traitors” and everything there is to know about them. The fact she doesn’t make her think if her sister might be lying to her.
Andromeda is so deep in her thoughts, she doesn’t notice a person walking towards her, which makes them crash into each other.
“I’m sorry,” Andromeda apologises.
“Oh, no worries. I should have watched my step,” the person in front of her apologises as well. Andromeda looks him up and down. He has shoulder long, blond hair and dark blue eyes. “Chris Hughem,” he introduces himself.
Andromeda is about to respond, when she is cut off by Bellatrix. “Did you say Hughem? Hello, my name is Bellatrix Black. It’s great to meet you! I’ve heard so much about your family. Where are your parents?”
“Oh, they are at Gringotts, they said I can walk around. Your last name… are you related to the Noble and most Ancient House of Black?” he asks.
Bellatrix has never smiled so much. “Yes, we are! I haven’t see you at Hogwarts, are you enrolling this year?”
“I most certainly am. I am truly excited, life is so different here than in the Sates and I can’t wait to find out all about this great school.”
“Well my sister Andromeda here,” she nudges her sister, “is starting her first year as well. Maybe you’ll be in the same house!”
Chris looks back at Andromeda. “That would be amazing.”
Andromeda blushes a little and looks down.
“We have to get going,” Bellatrix chirps in, “but maybe we will see you on the train!”
“Yes, see ya!” and with that he continues walking up the stairs.
Andromeda looks at Bellatrix. “Who is Chris Hughem? I’ve literally never heard of him!”
She stares at her, a hint of disappointment in her face. “Dree, I know you’re not very social, but Chris Hughem? His mother was Minister of Magic in the United States! They moved here this summer, I was wondering if he would be attending Hogwarts, and he is! Oh, Dree you have to promise me to be friends with him! Think of the contacts you will make!” She goes on about how important this alliance would be, until they reach the end of the stairs, where their mother is already waiting for them. She continues to tell her the good news, and Druella is very delighted.
“This is a great opportunity and I agree, Andromeda, you must befriend him,” she says in a commanding tone which let’s them know that this is not negotiable.
Narcissa, who grew bored of this conversations moans. “Mother, can we go shop for robes now? I want new ones, this one is already too small!”
Druella smiles. “Let’s get going then.”
--------------------
They finally finish running their errands and arrive back at the manor. Druella decided that Bellatrix and Andromeda should floo together because of the incident before. Cygnus is already in the living room, sitting in one of the arm chairs, smoking a cigar and reading the Daily Prophet.
“Hello darling,” Druella greets her husband after she sent the girls upstairs to their rooms to get ready for dinner. “Did you have a better day after what happened?”
“Yes, that drink really helped,” he answers in a grumpy tone, not looking up from the paper. It seems like the drink didn’t actually help. “When will dinner be ready?”
“My dear, I just arrived!” Druella sighs and lets herself fall onto the other arm chair. “You should ask Louise, I told her to get chicken and vegetables ready for tonight.”
“Well go ask her and tell me then!”
Druella stand up again. “Alright, I will be right back.”
She goes outside the room and closes the door. This is one of the many things she hates about her husband. One little inconvenience and he grabs the bottle. He becomes a different person when he drinks. When he is sober he can be nice, even fun at times. He even laughs with the girls, and he tries to keep his temper as much in check as he can. But when he had a sip it’s like all the aggression he pushes down when he is sober comes to the surface. The more he has to push down the worse it gets. She isn’t complaining though since his aggression is being let out on her or expensive vases. If it would be let out on their children, she knows she couldn’t handle it. But she can handle it on herself. She can handle it. She can handle him. She can.
Druella calls Louise to her and finds out that dinner will be served in five minutes. She goes back to Cygnus and tells him, only to find him asleep in the chair. She takes a minute and looks as him. He actually looks peaceful, as if he couldn’t hurt a soul. And seeing him lying there, so defenceless stirs up an unwanted emotion inside of her. She could do it. She knows she can. It would be so easy, so-
Her thoughts are cut of as Cygnus snores and grunts, catching a breath in his sleep. Druella shakes her head and goes upstairs to fetch the girls. The darkness inside of her left as fast as it came.