Title: Skinny Love
Genre: Family/Angst
Rating: T
Summary: In the wake of Andromeda running away, the Black family finds itself a little more broken than they were before. Short vignettes, multi-POV.
Author's Note: Andromeda and the dynamics of the Black Family fascinate me. I kind of view her marriage to Ted as the initial fissure that eventually expanded and destroyed the family. This story is written in nine short parts for each of the family members impacted by her decision to leave. As Bellatrix, Sirius, and Narcissa are the only ones mentioned at any length in the books, I took some creative liberties in developing the other characters. Please read, review, and enjoy.
Chapter One: Sirius
"I told you to be patient"
From downstairs, his parent's voices carried, quick and angry. He had been sent to his room, but had heard enough to know.
He had run away from home plenty of times. Sometimes he stayed at Uncle Alphard's flat. Other times he stayed with Uncle Cynagus and Aunt Druella. Once he had even spent the night in St. James's Park. But no matter where he ran off to, he was always back in his bed by morning.
The last time he had run away, Andy had been the one to find him, perched on the roof of a parapet at Grandfather's.
"I'm not going back," he said, pulling his knees up to his chest.
"Never said you were."
Andromeda settled next to him on the roof, letting her long legs dangle off the edge.
Not sparing her a glance, Sirius tried to resume his silent fuming, hoping his cousin would take the hint and leave. However, Andy seemed happily oblivious, resting back on her elbows, her face tilted up towards the sunlight.
They stayed that way for a long time, neither speaking, or moving. Just sitting.
"I hate her," he said, finally breaking the silence. He kept his gaze focused fiercely on the horizon, his hands clenched at his sides.
His words seemed suspended in the air, lingering around them, waiting to be confirmed or recognized, as if that would make them true.
Andy did not need to ask who "her" was, or even respond. If she didn't believe him, she was good enough not to say so. She just continued to squint up at the clouds, her legs swinging idly off the edge.
"You know," she said, angling her body towards him. "I suspect somewhere in this mop there is some bit of cleverness," she grinned, reaching over to ruffle his hair good-naturedly.
He swatted her hand away, but she reached out and grabbed his wrist. Any plans for retaliation were halted, when he caught her suddenly serious expression. "One day you'll get out of here and do great things," she said, her voice soft but firm.
Whether her words were a promise or a prayer, neither knew entirely, but both desperately tried to believe them.
"When?" he asked quietly.
"One day."
"Not soon enough."
Andy shrugged, looking up at the sky once more. "Don't try to grow up too fast, kid. Be patient. Your time will come."
Andy reached over and gave his hand a squeeze. Sirius felt a warm rush of affection for his cousin.
"Can I take you home now?" Andromeda grinned, elbowing him lightly in the side.
"Fine" he said, giving her a good nudge back.
Andromeda stood up, brushing dirt off the back of her trousers. She offered him a hand, but he ignored her. He'd go with her, but he didn't have to be happy about it.
"Lets get going then, ragamuffin," Andromeda said, mounting her broom. "Aunt Walburga was about to send out the hounds."
She shot him a wink before kicking off the roof, and making a series of loops towards a ridge of trees.
Scrambling for his broom, Sirius kicked off after her, but she was already disappearing beyond the ridge.
The voices downstairs had quieted, and the silence seemed to hang heavy like a fog about his room.
Sirius lay back on his bed, trying to ignore the painful tightening in his chest.
This time was different than any of the thirty-two times he had run away. This time, no matter how much he wished it, Andy would not be back in her bed by morning.