for the houses competition, year two, round one
house: ravenclaw
word count: 494
story type: drabble
prompts: crossroads, "family, first and forever", any canon pairing of your choice
characters: andromeda tonks, narcissa malfoy, ted tonks
a huge thank you to my betas - the wonderful niamh (ElectricClover), the sweet AJ (nottheonlyfangirl), and the amazing victoria (extramundane epeolatry)
pinky promises
word count: 494
When Narcissa sees her sister standing proud and tall, hand entwined with that of a Mudblood's she knows that she's lost her forever.
Narcissa isn't very surprised at how everything is playing out. Unlike her parents, who look absolutely livid, Narcissa has observed Andy's interactions with the Hufflepuff – how her emotions went from utter disdain to helpless love, how determined Andy was to be with him – she knows that her sister's estrangement from the Blacks is inevitable.
However, there's a little pang in her heart, looking into Andromeda's determined brown eyes, so unlike hers. She remembers those days when they were little, laughing and smiling with delight, when they made that innocent pinky promise to never be apart for too long.
But now… she's stuck in between, standing at crossroads, daring her to choose, choose between what is right and what is safe, between bravery and cowardice. Between her sister and the miserable life that awaits her.
It should be an easy choice. Her sister was there for her throughout her whole life, supporting her through the tears, and the pain, and the joy, too.
It should be easy.
But it's not – because Narcissa is a coward, she can't do what is right if it isn't safe for her. If she chooses her family, she'll at least be safe. Her life will be that of a deferring pureblood wife, a mere belonging of the prestigious Malfoy family. She doesn't want it, she never has.
But is she willing to take the risk for her sister?
The voices around her seemed muffled as Narcissa loses herself in her thoughts. She can hear Andromeda's calm rebukes, her mother's lamenting wails and her father's thunderous roar, full of white-hot ire – "Family, first and forever, Andromeda!"
No, Narcissa wants to whisper. It's love, first and forever.
She is snapped out of her thoughts abruptly as she spots her mother's blood-red robes as she heads in Narcissa's direction, towards the Black tapestry. Narcissa's sure that now, she'll find a black mark where her sister's name should be.
Make your decision, the voices whisper. Now!
Images flit past her eyes with dizzying speed. Andromeda. Lucius Malfoy. Her parents. She can see the latter's sneering faces now. No. No. She can't do it, she's not brave enough. She cannot oppose them.
Suddenly, Narcissa feels terrible, because she'll be breaking that old, sweet pinky promise.
She raises her eyes from the gold-speckled carpet to meet Andromeda's sad expression and Ted's understanding gaze. They look at each other and then at her. Andy gives her a slight shake of her head and Narcissa's heart breaks.
She knows that she'll let her parents drag the couple out of the house. She knows that she'll return to Hogwarts for her final year, wed Malfoy and lead the rest of her life in bitter sorrow – because once upon a time, she stood at a crossroads.
And she made the wrong choice.
i haven't slept all night but it was beta'ed by three amazing people... so i posted it. :)