August 5th, 1960

"It is ridiculous that the man is still in position as Headmaster at Hogwarts," Druella told her husband as the Black family sat around the dinner table. Tonight's selection, as always, had been prepared by their two very loyal House Elves. "I do hope he is gone before you three attend. I do not want any of you following rules made by a muggle-lover. I cannot have your brilliant minds being tainted by such ridiculous ideas."

Druella was a very beautiful woman, as most Black girls turned out to be in the end. She had long, curled dark hair that hung down her back like curtains. Her eyes were a deep dark brown, almost, but not quite, appearing as if they were black. Her skin was pale, but it contrasted nicely with the darkness of her hair and eyes. Her waist was slim, and almost too small, it seemed. Druella had long thin fingers, with sharp polished fingernails at the end. She was beautiful, but frightening at the same time. Sometimes, a 7-year-old Andromeda thought, her mother reminded her of a spider, ready for the kill.

"Oh, I will not listen to him when I get to Hogwarts!" Bellatrix piped up, her tiny hands situated on the table as if she was about to stand up. "I would never listen to a fool like him, Mother." Bellatrix often did this. She'd try to prove herself to their parents, though it was very clear to Andromeda that Bella was already the favorite. "You know that, right, Mother? Father?" Bellatrix questioned, her curly black locks falling over her heavily lidded eyes as she stared at her mother with wide eyes. Andromeda thought Bellatrix looked a lot like their mother, except for her eyes. All of the Black sisters had their Father's eyes.

"Now, now, Bellatrix, we trust you would not like a man who pities mudbloods. You are far too smart for such nonsense," Cygnus stated, waving his finger at his daughter in an amused fashion. Cygnus was very handsome, with his short blonde hair, which was graying now. His eyes were a dark blue, a trait he had passed on to his daughters. He reminded Andromeda of a hawk. Or an eagle. One or the other.

Bellatrix said no more, though she appeared satisfied with his answer, and she began to continue chewing on her dinner.

The Black family didn't say much after that for a short while, until Druella spoke up again. "Andromeda, what do you think about Dumbledore?" She asked in a quiet voice, eying her daughter with an intensity that made the 7-year-old feel very uncomfortable. Andromeda knew she only asked because she questioned if Andromeda thought the same of muggles as she, as Andromeda never commented on the subject.

"He is, um, he is very -" Andromeda began, but she was rudely interrupted by her mother before she had gotten to say much on the matter.

"Do not stutter. Ladies speak confidently, Andromeda," Druella stated, looking proud that she found something to point out that Andromeda had done wrong. She did that quite often, Andromeda noticed.

"I meant to say, he should not be the Headmaster of Hogwarts." Andromeda said clearly, a frown etched onto her lips. This, however, was not her opinion. She just knew very well that it was pointless to argue. Sometimes she'd ask Bellatrix if she ever thought differently than their mother and father, but her sister would often ignore those specific questions Andromeda would ask. Andromeda just didn't understand why her parents were so against muggleborn witches and wizards, it made no sense to her.

"Very well," Druella said curtly, which made Andromeda wonder whether or not she was happy with the answer provided. Her mother glanced at the plates of every Black at the table to see if they had finished eating before she spoke again. "The three of you may go to bed." She announced, gesturing with her delicate hands towards the door that led out of the dining room.

"Goodnight, Mother. Goodnight, Father," The three sisters chanted. They left the room in a line, Bellatrix in the lead, Andromeda following, and Narcissa walking silently in the back. None of the three said anything as they slipped silently up the stairs. They did not say goodnight to each other when each turned into their own room.

Andromeda opened the door to her large bedroom, shutting it quietly behind her. She walked to a chair that was sitting in front of a small framed mirror, and sat down. Her room was painted, much like the rest of the house, a dark brown, with hand-painted intricate designs wrapping themselves around the walls. Her bed was five sizes more than she needed, with a dark comforter and several comfortable pillows that had been prepared by the House Elves. Her black dresser that held her clothes sat under the window to the right of the bed. The window itself did not bring any light in, as long dark curtains had been pulled shut to cover it. The only source of light in her room came from a single candle, which sat on her bedside table.

She stared into her own reflection for several moments, observing her facial features. Her dark hair hung in waves, which made her think that the strands couldn't decide if they wanted to curl or fall flat. Her skin was pale, but not quite as much as Druella's. Her cheeks had a pink glow, as if she had been standing in the cold for too long. The only trait she managed to inherit from her father was the color of his eyes, which were a dark blue.

Andromeda jumped sharply in her seat when there was a soft knock on the door. She stood up slowly, smoothing out the front of her elegant robes before she walked to the bedroom door. She turned the knob and pulled open the door slowly. Standing just outside, already changed into her nightgown, was Narcissa. Without a word, the younger sister slipped into Andromeda's bedroom. Andromeda shut the door, and turned around. Narcissa was sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands resting neatly in her lap.

"Why did you lie to Mother?" Narcissa asked suddenly, her blonde hair covering her face as she stared down at her feet.

"Whatever do you mean, 'Cissy?" Andromeda returned, sitting down beside the sister whom was only two years younger than herself.

"You said you didn't think Dumbledore should be Headmaster at Hogwarts, but you were lying. You scratch your nose when you lie, and you did just that after you said Dumbledore should not be Headmaster," Narcissa said, looking up to glance at Andromeda with narrowed, accusing eyes. "Why would you lie?"

Andromeda sighed softly, tucking stray strands of dark hair behind her own ear. "It is complicated and hard to explain, Narcissa." Andromeda began. It was difficult to explain her situation to a 5-year-old girl, whether it was her sister or not. "Mother...would not approve of my thoughts, I think."

"Why not? What are your thoughts?" Narcissa asked.

"I...Narcissa, you cannot repeat this to anyone, but I do not agree with anything Mother and Father have to say. I believe that there is no difference between a wizard born from muggles and a pure-blood. I like Dumbledore as Headmaster, he seems very kind. And I am not too fond of Mother and Fathers friends, I am afraid that they are horrid people. I do not like the way they talk about other people, as if they would murder them if they got the chance."

"Andromeda, why would Mother and Father mind that you think that?" Narcissa questioned, chewing on her lower lip while she waited for Andromeda's answer.

Andromeda smiled kindly at her sister, and took Narcissa's hands in hers. "Narcissa, Mother and Father...they just cannot understand. If I said what was on my mind, I do not think they would forgive me for it. It is better to keep my thoughts to myself, rather than cause trouble that does not need to be caused."

Narcissa frowned at her. "But, they are our parents, why do you think they would not love you no matter what you think?"

"'Cissy, I am afraid that our family does not work like that. We have strict rules and opinions. If we act against our Mother and Father, then the consequences will be severe. I know it is hard to understand now, but it will make more sense when you are older."

"Andromeda, what is the difference between a muggleborn wizard and a pure-blood?" Narcissa whispered. She made it obvious to Andromeda that she was worried their parents would overhear Narcissa asking that question, though Andromeda doubted they would. It was not like Cygnus and Druella to eavesdrop on their children.

"Mother and Father would say that muggleborns are not honorable, and they must have found a way to steal magic from the pure-bloods, who have worked long and hard on their magic." Andromeda stated. The idea of a muggle stealing magic – especially a child – was ridiculous in Andromeda's mind, but it was what her parents thought. However, she believed that they were just trying to think of a good argument against muggle-born witches and wizards.

"Well, I know that, but what do you think?"

Andromeda frowned while she tried to come up with a good answer for her sibling. "Well, I do not think there is a difference, Narcissa. Both have magic, and I think that is all that matters. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with me." She stated. "Narcissa, you are going to hear a lot of people saying many horrible things about muggleborns, but I hope you do not listen to them." Andromeda added slowly.

Narcissa nodded slowly and did not reply on the matter. By her expression, though, Andromeda thought there was much Narcissa wanted to say. The blonde rose to her feet, clutching the silk around her waist tightly with her fists. "Goodnight, Andromeda."

Andromeda stood up slowly and placed a hand on Narcissa's shoulder. "Promise you will not repeat what we have just talked about to anyone."

"I promise," Narcissa agreed. "I will see you tomorrow morning, Andromeda."

"You will, 'Cissy," Andromeda promised.

Narcissa left the bedroom after that, shutting the door behind her quietly.

Andromeda then changed into her own silk nightgown, which, like the rest of her clothes, had been sewn just for her. Once she had changed, she climbed into her warm, very comfortable bed. After she pulled the covers over her feet, she sat up and leaned her back against the dark wooden headboard with her hands rested on her lap.

There was a hard, quick knock on the door, and Andromeda knew very well who it was. "Come in, Mother," she said, loud enough for Druella to hear. The door opened, and her mother came in. She walked slowly over to Andromeda's bed, before she sat down at the edge as she always did when she visited each night.

For as long as Andromeda could remember, Druella would come up to each of the girls bedrooms to put them to bed about twenty minutes after dinner every night. Andromeda thought it was the most motherly thing Druella ever did. Sometimes Druella would tell her a story, or give her a lecture about avoiding muggleborn wizards and blood traitors, and sometimes it would just be a quick good night.

"One of the House Elves told me that they saw Narcissa coming into your room shortly after dinner," Druella stated. "I want to know what you were talking about." It was not a question, it was an order. Andromeda knew the difference. To ignore an order or disobey it would have very unpleasant punishments that Andromeda hoped to avoid.

She stared at her mother for a few moments before she answered. "Narcissa came in here to tell me about a recurring nightmare she has been having for the past few nights. I advised her to ask you about a dreamless sleep potion, like the one you gave me a few years ago when I was having nightmares." Andromeda stated. She was a very good liar, a trait that she was actually quite thankful for. Andromeda only noticed that she was about to scratch her nose – her tell-tale for lying, according to Narcissa – when she was halfway there. She stopped her hand, and lowered it again, which probably looked more suspicious than if she had just scratched her nose. Andromeda could feel her heart start to beat a little faster. She was worried that Druella would start to notice, and it wouldn't take much after that to realize Andromeda had lied.

Druella observed Andromeda for a few moments, as if she was waiting for Andromeda to do something else. Then she nodded slowly and patted Andromeda's legs. "Goodnight, then, Andromeda. Your Father and I will see you tomorrow. And I will make sure to purchase the potion for dreamless sleep for your sister," she told her daughter.

"Goodnight, mother," Andromeda replied. Druella rose to her feet, and headed towards the door. Just before her hand touched the doorknob, though, Druella turned to her daughter with raised eyebrows. "Andromeda, I hope you did not lie to me. If you did and I find out, you will be in much trouble." She did not let her daughter respond, and instead left the room quickly, shutting the door sharply behind her.

Andromeda let out a breath that she hadn't realized she had been holding when the door shut with a click. Andromeda did not want to know the consequences that would occur if her mother found out that Andromeda had lied. Druella could be very frightening if she wanted to, and Andromeda preferred to avoid that part of her, much like most everyone else who had seen that side of her before. It really wasn't pretty.

Andromeda shook her head of the thoughts of punishment, and bent over towards the candle on her bedside table. With a single breath, she blew out the candle and left her room in total darkness. She scooted down her mattress until she could lie her body down. Then, she pulled the blankets up over her shoulder and shut her eyes gently, hoping that sleep would come easily that night.

Authors note:

I know that the Black family sound a bit funny when they talk because they don't talk the same as you and I(for example, it's, you're, shouldn't, can't). But I think that's how they would talk, so don't judge.

Just so everyone knows:

Andromeda, in my story at least, was born in 1953.

Bellatrix was born in 1951, making her two years older than Andromeda.

Narcissa was born in 1955, making her two years younger than Andromeda.

Ted, in this story, was also born in 1953, so that way Andromeda and him will be in the same year at Hogwarts.

And Sirius(And James, Remus, and Peter) was born in 1959.

On estimate, Voldemort rose to power for the first time in the late 1960's and early 1970's, so I'll be talking about him more when we get to that era of time.

Anyways, I'm sorry that the first chapter isn't especially long, but they'll get better as we get more into the story, I promise.

Basically, I'll try and update this every Monday, but no promises. If it's not Monday, then it'll be the next day I can get it in.

Read and review, please!

Thanks for reading!