And then there were Two

"Goodbye dearests," Druella Black said kissing her daughters' cheeks. "Have a good term."

"We will Mother." Narcissa said sweetly. Their mother put a hand on both girls' shoulders.

"Now, don't forget, it's Sirius' first year, do keep an eye out for him – althought I'm sure he'll make friends easily. He's close to you Andromeda, make sure he's alright."

"Of course," Andromeda agreed "But Mother, we really must go now...the train's about to leave."

"I do hope you'll be alright without Bellatrix, it's seems so strange to see only two of you."

"We'll manage fine, Mother." Andromeda said taking Narcissa's hand and pulling her onto the train where both girls ran to the nearest carriage and leant out of the window, waving at their mother.

As the whistle blew, and the steam rose; the great red train pulled out of the station and the people on the platform grew smaller and smaller until, at last, they were out of sight completely. Narcissa was looking around anxiously as the other students settled down to find carriages. Andromeda looked at her younger sister and smiled knowingly.

"Alright, go find Lucius! But don't stay the whole time!" Andromeda added quickly as her sister skipped out of the carriage to look for her boyfriend. Andromeda knew her sister well, Narcissa would excitedly skip all the way to the prefect's carriage before acting completely cool and refined as she greeted the Malfoy heir. Narcissa was her parents' pride and joy for good reason. Blonde and beautiful and had been a perfect lady since a young child. Andromeda decided to go check on Sirius, he was a rebellious boy and could already be up to mischief. She wandered down through the carriages while nervous and excited first years wriggled past her. They all looked up scared and surprised to see a seventh year girl walking through their 'territory'. It did not take long to find Sirius. A pretty little girl with red hair, holding the arm of an unkempt, pallid little boy emerged looking angry from a compartment.

"Come on Severus, let's find another compartment. She said as she left. Two voices from inside the carriage followed.

"Oooooo"

"Yeah see ya, Snivellus!"

The two little first years rushed passed her looking upset and red-faced. Andromeda rolled her eyes, she recognised that voice from within the carriage.

"So Sirius...causing trouble already?" Andromeda asked as she opened the sliding door. Sirius looked up at Andromeda with surprise. He did not look as bored as he usually did; in fact he had an ear to ear grin on his handsome little face.

"Oh Andromeda...it's just you." He said looking relieved. Andromeda raised an eyebrow

"What's that supposed to mean?" she frowned. The other little boy in the compartment looked from cousin to cousin.

"So...I take it she's one of your Slytherin family." The boy said obnoxiously. Andromeda looked sourly at him.

"Yes...but Andromeda's alright."

"An alright Slytherin?" the boy said raising his eyebrows in feigned surprise.

"And who might you be?" she asked.

"James Potter." He said proudly. Andromeda nodded.

"Oh you're a Potter are you? Yes I was wondering when you'd be joining Hogwarts. I thought your parents might have in a retirement home by the time you entered the school. Are they?" she said remembering her parents mentioned the Potter family heir was born so late in the couple's marriage. James face flushed slightly but he just looked angrier. He turned to Sirius for support.

"Yeah...an alright Slytherin, huh?"

"Dromeda...are you really going to stop me making friends on my first day?" Sirius said lazily, putting his feet up on the chair.

"Sirius...just remember, you're representing the Black family, the first male member of our family to go to Hogwarts in a while. Try to set a good example and teach your friend here about what it means to be a good Slytherin."

"I'm not a Slytherin...I haven't been sorted yet."

"Yet...is the operative word, Sirius." Andromeda raised an eyebrow. "All Blacks are Slytherins and you seem to me to be very Slytherin-like to me."

The smile fell from Sirius' face.

"I've always been the black sheep of the family...maybe I'll surprise you."

Andromeda smiled

"See you at the feast," she said and smirked at Potter before leaving the carriage.

She found a carriage with some of her friends from her year and ate a few snacks from the trolley while they regaled each other with stories from their holidays. Narcissa eventually emerged from the Prefect's carriage looking rather pleased with herself; the time past quickly while they all chatted and before they knew it the train was stopping at Hogsmaede. With that, they hurried into their Slytherin robes and gathered together their belongings.


"Lucius, Sirius is a Black so he's going to be sorted quite early on, move up a little so he can come sit next to me." Narcissa said sweetly to the blonde fifth year. Lucius Malfoy, who was deep in discussion with the Head Boy, Rookwood, complied without confirming.

Andromeda chose not to sit beside the other seventh years and stay close to her sister. It did feel strange to be seated at the table without Bellatrix present. Bellatrix was only a year older than her. For the first time, Andromeda did not feel like the middle child She felt older and very protective of her younger sister. It would be lonely for Narcissa when she too finished the year, she would be alone then for another three years. Hagrid led in the first years who looked excited and windswept from the boat ride to the school. Andromeda recognised the red head girl and the shabby little boy, then Potter and Sirius lingering near the back looking arrogant while the rest of their peers admired the Great Hall.

The sorting hat began its latest song but Andromeda barely listened. Seven years on, and she found the songs had become very samey both in tune and content.

"Is it true that your Bellatrix is engaged to Rodolphus Lestrange?" Coraline Blishwick said leaning across. Andromeda shook her head

"Not for definite, all I know is that our Father and his Father have been meeting a lot." She whispered back.

"Doesn't Rodolphus work for He-who-must-not-be-name?" Coraline asked in surprise. Andromeda shrugged.

"I really couldn't say for sure."

"Isn't it incredible, it's the first wizard in England to really try and make a difference to society since...I don't know...Merlin?"

"Anyone who has made any impact anyway." Another boy agreed. Narcissa made a hushing motion at Andromeda and pointed as the Sorting progressed.

"Black, Sirius."

A number of people looked up at Sirius' name, after all the Blacks were a famous family and most of the school were at least familiar with the three sisters. Sirius did not look the least bit nervous as he sat on the stool, he sat down with an air of ease as if he had done this many a time, and had a presence of a much older boy.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat called out. There was a definite gasp from the Slytherins. Narcissa looked so wide eyed and shocked that if the situation was not so serious it would have been comical. Sirius looked far from calm and relaxed now, he positively skipped off the stool, nearly, with the hat still on his head. The Gryffindors were jeering,

"Look Slytherin! We've got one of yours!"

"So rude." Coraline frowned. Sirius looked very pleased with himself as he sat amongst his new Gryffindor brothers. He smirked as they clapped him on the back jubilantly all the while glaring at the shocked Slytherin table.

The rest of the sorting proceeded as normal and the Slytherin first years seemed a perfectly acceptable bunch, in Andromeda's point of view. They listened to Dumbledore's speech and gladly tucked into the feast.

"No...I really do believe there is some mistake." Narcissa said loudly.

"The sorting hat is final, Narcissa. It's clear that your cousin is just a bad egg." Lucius Malfoy said exasperatedly

Narcissa shook her blonde head.

"But if I simply had a word with Dumbledore...Slughorn. Professor Slughorn, I'll go talk to him." She announced, and got up immediately, leaving her plate of uneaten food behind.

"One thing you'll learn about Cissy, is as gentle and sweet as she is, if she wants something she'll get it." Andromeda sighed.

"Well, I expect even with all her force she won't persuade Slughorn to rebuke the Sorting Hat."


"I'm going to turn in for the night, Coraline, I'd rather avoid the general stampede back to the Common room." Andromeda said towards the end of the feast. Coraline nodded

"You don't mind if I stay for a little while? I'm still rather enjoying this trifle."

"Not at all. I'm too tired to eat any more." She said standing up and walking out of the Great Hall.

She enjoyed the quiet of the hallways when the rest of the students were in the Great Hall. There was something truly beautiful about the castle when the soft moonlight seeped in through the large windows on the great stone walls and the sound of footsteps echoes through the corridors. She liked to hear the muttering of the portraits and the creaking of the staircases when they moved. You could not hear those sounds when hundreds students were running around between lessons.

"HEY SLYTHERIN! HEY BLACK!" A voice called out. She could hear footsteps echoing now, rather fast, someone was running "Black! BLACK!"

Andromeda turned around. Who dared to address her like that?

A Hufflepuff boy, with a round face and soft fair hair was running towards her, he was breathless but smiling. Andromeda rolled her eyes, it was Tonks.

"You move fast, I didn't even see you leave the Great Hall."

"What do you want, Tonks?"

"Please call me Ted, Black, how many times have I said that?"

"You always address me as Black."

"You've not told me otherwise." Tonks said grinning stupidly.

"What do you want?" she asked sourly.

"So your cousin made Gryffindor, huh? Never saw that coming."

"If you've come to gloat, Tonks, then I'm in no mood." She said turning to leave. Tonks ran around her quickly to block her way.

"Sorry...don't wanna gloat. I'm not a Gryffindor, what do I have to gloat about?"

"True...what on Earth could a Hufflepuff ever have to gloat about." She smirked. Tonks did not look offended, he laughed; his blue eyes glinting.

"Ha! Ha! I know...Hufflepuffs are a bunch of wallies, heard it all before, Black. Anyway...are you taking Arithmancy this year?"

"I intend to; I'm not sure why I would take it for my sixth year and not continue for my N.E.W.T."

"Excellent, I look forward to seeing you then." He said taking her hand and kissing it dramatically. Andromeda snatched her hand back in disgust.

"Don't touch me! How dare you...you filthy mudblood..." she said gasping in suprrise. Tonks seemed unfazed. She immediately brushed past him and stormed off down the corridor, wiping her hand on her robe. His voice called out once again.

"Ah a pleasure as always, Black...a pleasure as always!"


AN: Ok guys, what do you think? It's not my best but it it's an idea I've been toying with only for a day or so. If it gets a good response I'll continue and probably vamp up the first chapter a bit.