AN: Prompts will be displayed at the bottom to avoid them potentially giving away things.
An Unexpected Visitor
AlwaysPadfoot
Andromeda wanted nothing more but to sleep.
When she wasn't being disturbed by Teddy crying, she led in bed tossing and turning, willing her mind to turn off. If she could get even three hours uninterrupted sleep then maybe it wouldn't feel as though even simple tasks were laborious and exhausting.
But Andromeda forced herself through each day. She had a child in her care that needed her; she would not sacrifice Teddy's wellbeing for the sake of her depression.
This morning was no different.
Andromeda woke up, going through the motions to make sure Teddy was happy and healthy. She sat in the living room, watching Teddy who was captivated by the snow, his dark hair slowly speckling white. She wanted to smile, but Teddy being a metamorphmagus made Andromeda's heart ache painfully in her chest. Just as her mood took a dive, the doorbell rang. She knew no one who would visit, with the exception of her Muggle neighbour, who was currently on holiday.
Andromeda tiredly got to her feet and went to answer her front door.
As soon as she realised, however, who was there, the world stopped around her. It was as though all the air had been sucked out from around her.
Narcissa stood, her greying blonde hair tied in an elegant knot, on the doorstep of her home. Her sister, who she hadn't spoken to in years, was here. It took Andromeda a long moment to realise that Narcissa was saying her name, until her estranged sister took her hands.
"Andy, you look exhausted," she heard her say. "Please, let me get you inside and make you a cup of tea."
Andromeda couldn't seem to formulate words. Instead, she let her sister guide her into the house and sit her into the living room. The next thing she knew, Narcissa was in front of her with a teacup in one hand, and Teddy, balanced on her right hip. Andromeda had no idea her sister was so... maternal. Teddy had his hands in her hair and Narcissa didn't even bat an eyelid.
"Thank you," Andromeda said shakily as her sister passed her the cup.
"It's fine. You look like you need it," Narcissa said, bouncing Teddy slightly, who giggled. "Andy, I wrote to you…"
Andromeda thought about the drawer in the kitchen that was stuffed full of unopened letters and then shook her head. "I haven't opened any post since…"
Narcissa's expression softened. "I'm so very sorry, Andy. I can't even imagine how difficult this must be."
"Why?"
"Because I'm your sister," Narcissa said firmly, "and family is all we have in the end."
Comp/Challenge & Prompts:
- Insane House Challenge: 934. Relationship - Siblings
- 365 Prompts Challenge: 144. Genre - Family
- FanFiction Resolutions Challenge: 32. Write something HurtComfort
- Conversation Starter Prompt Challenge: 16. Write about a character being really good at something.
- Bath Bomb Appreciation Challenge: 31. Supermum - Write about a mother or maternal character being wonderful (restrictions: Molly Weasley, Lily Evans Potter).
- Writing Club [Character Appreciation]: 7. Plot point: Protecting a child
- Writing Club [Showtime] - 5. Requiem - (emotion) Grief
- Writing Club: [Book Club] - Mary Terrafino: (plot point) suffering from depression, (word) care, (word) sacrifice
- Writing Club: [TV Show of the Month] - Mrs Hudson: (character) Andromeda Tonks, (object) Teacup, (word) Maternal, (dialogue) "Family is all we have in the end."
- Dragon Appreciation Challenge
Word Count: 439 — not inc. notes, titles, or ANs.