Disclaimer: All characters and setting belong to J.K. Rowling
Butterfly
She gazed at the parchment before her and read:
Dearest Bella,
To my beautiful older sister and oldest friend, I only wish I could be there for you as you read this letter.
I pen this as it begins to turn light; the house is peaceful—I am terrified at the thought of what will happen in this household in just a couple hours once everyone is awake. In just a few minutes, I will walk out the kitchen door for Ted's house.
Ted is wonderful. I never thought I could feel like this, but he makes me laugh, love—and merely feel alive and warm. Do you remember those romance novels you sneaked from Mother's bookcase? We read, giggled, and dreamed about the men in them. Well, he may not be as dark, and dashing, but when I look at him, I feel just as romantic and in love as those heroines in the stories. He has helped me to understand the erroneous way of our views. I felt like a butterfly in a jar—trapped and out of place. I can never share the views of our family, our blood as I once naively did.
The only thing I regret is leaving you and Cissy. However, I have managed to convince myself that neither of you need me. Narcissa will have Lucius to depend on from now on and you have long ceased to have me as your confidant. Instead, I am sorry for myself. For who else will share with me the memories of our years together? Who else will soothe my childhood fears and give me sisterly advice, again? As my footsteps carry me to a new future, I will lose my family, my sisters. Tell Cissy how I hope that she gets all she wants and that I hope one day she will have the tenderness and warmth she craves. I will never forget the feel of her golden skin and hair as we slumbered together when she climbed into my bed; nor will I forget your strength and security when we, in turn, climbed into yours. How can I let you know how it pains me to know that the Black sisters will no longer include a third?
I never expressed the fear I felt over the past years as you slipped further and further away from us, and became more and more drawn to the dark side. You were my sister but at times I didn't think I knew who you really were. I know that inside, my Bella, my dark rose, is still there.
Oh Bella, will you ever wish to see me again? How simple things would be if we were children again. I ask that you turn away from this path of destruction which you are now moving rapidly along. It will ravage both the world we know and yourself. I hope that one day you will understand why I did what I have done. Finally, before I officially become inexistent to our family, as your beloved sister I ask that you never forget me— I hold thoughts of you with me forever, Bella.
With love and for the last time,
Andromeda Black.
She moved to hurl the letter in the blazing fire the house-elves had prepared for her, but hesitated and instead headed for her dresser. She felt around, retrieved a necklace, folded the sheets up into a tiny square and stuck it in her childhood locket. She placed the necklace in the back of her drawer and shut it. She sat down on her bed and blinked rapidly for a couple seconds.
Her face hardened again, she stood up, steadied herself on a chair for a brief moment, and went to inform Mother and Father of yet another traitor.