This is my second one-shot for the 'Forum-wide competition' and I really enjoyed writing this one. Please read, and hopefully leave a review – I welcome constructive criticism.

Thank you to Dannii (Another-Picture) for beta-ing this for me :)

- Leanne

Challenge: Write about a character from your own house and another character.

House: Slytherin

Characters: Narcissa Black and Andromeda Black. No Romance

Where her loyalties lie

Nightfall seemed to take an age to arrive that day. As she waited for the skies to darken, Narcissa Black sat in the window seat, watching the stars appear against the darkening backdrop, tear tracks still glittering on her cheeks. She was listening for the tell-tale creak of the stairs that meant her parents, and finally her sister, had retired to their beds. Narcissa fastened her traveling cloak, and under the cover of blackness apparated with a faint pop, concentrating firmly on her destination.

She reappeared in the shadowed hallway of a quaint country cottage, which usually she would have scorned, however tonight it seemed of little consequence. She was here for one reason and one reason only. A tiny spot of light made a dent in the blackness – Narcissa raised her wand, muttered 'lumos', casting a bright light over the room, to find her elder sister standing there, wand nervously outstretched.

On seeing who her unexpected midnight visitor was, Andromeda cautiously lowered her wand. "Cissy… what are you doing here?" She approached her slowly, unsure of her sister's intentions, or indeed, whether she was there of her own free will or on her parents orders. She suspected the latter. "Did they send you?"

For a second, her younger sister just stared at her as if she didn't recognise her – which she realised – she barely did anymore. Never would she have imagined Andromeda to turn her back on her family in such a manner. "No they didn't, they – they don't know I'm here." Narcissa swallowed hard and it was clear she felt uncomfortable disobeying her parents. The moment of awkwardness passed and she ran forward and enveloped her sister in a fierce hug. "I had to see you– I needed to know you were okay." Her voice was barely more than a whisper, her parents angry recriminations still resounded in her ears. "Daddy's furious; I've never seen him this angry," Narcissa's voice wobbled and Andromeda could tell she was close to tears. It pained her to see what she was putting her baby sister through, but knew there was no way she could back down. "They really are serious Andy."

Andromeda's bottom lip trembled. She'd battled against her parents beliefs in silence for years, ever since she'd learnt to form her own opinions. Not having them in her life, though it sounded terrible, didn't seem like much of a punishment. Losing her sisters however, felt like losing the use of one of her limbs. The strangest thing was though, when weighing up the negatives she still couldn't bring herself to have a change of heart.

"So am I," she stated firmly. "I know what they believe in – I've known it for years and I've never agreed with their principles. The only difference is that now I have the strength to turn my back on it – just as they have me." She added quietly as an afterthought.

Narcissa all but ignored the dig at her parents, "they'd take you back though," she protested. "All you have to do is go to them and apologise; swear never to see Ted ever again." She begged, her blue eyes bright, reflecting her unshed tears, "Please Andy, this is your only chance. They've forbidden us to see you ever again – Bella agreed straight away."

Andromeda pulled away from her, tears clinging to delicate eyelashes and clouding her vision. "I've made my choice, Bella has too," She paused, as if gathering her thoughts. Bellatrix's loyalty to her parents came as no real shock to her for she and her eldest sister had rarely seen eye to eye. She put that down to their teens when they'd been so competitive in vying for their parents' attention. They even looked somewhat alike (more so than she and Narcissa), although Bella's appearance was much more refined and when she was around Andromeda faded into the background by comparison.

She knew Bellatrix had always been intent on going down the same route as her mother and father, and she never tried to dissuade her, nor follow her lead. That was one path Andromeda had no desire to explore. "Now it's time for you to choose yours," Andromeda spoke into the silence. "You don't have to be like them Cissy, you can make your own choice now."

For what felt like an eternity neither of them spoke. "I do know they're wrong about this," she admitted. "They're still our parents though and I need them," Narcissa conceded meekly. "You know what Andy? I think you do too, you're just too stubborn to admit it." It was a bold statement coming from her, and she suspected grimly, a result of her mother's influence.

Andromeda's expression hardened, she'd never known where Narcissa stood in choosing right from wrong. Bellatrix had always followed her parents and whilst Narcissa had tried to live up to her eldest sister's reputation, Andromeda had noticed she'd been somewhat less certain. Now it seemed clear.

"I'm sorry it has to be this way then," the elder of the two sisters said firmly, when it became apparent that Narcissa wasn't going to give in. "I never meant for this to happen." Andromeda let the tears fall, tired of fighting and having to defend her feelings to the people who were supposed to care.

Narcissa looked at her as if she was seeing her in an entirely different light, "I have to go," she said hoarsely. "I can see it was a mistake coming here, I just thought I could make you see reason." Her voice lacked conviction, her sister knew that she doubted her decision and that she probably had from the minute she'd voiced it. She knew that it was only her conscience screaming betrayal towards her parents, which stopped her from changing her mind.

"Mother and Father are the ones who should be seeing reason," Andromeda said, keeping her voice even. "I wish I could tell you I regret how things have turned out, but I can't because I – I don't. I had to choose Ted, I love him and if I had to make that choice everyday for the rest of my life it'd always be the same"

"Then you know what happens now," Narcissa's voice was small and unsure, however much she tried to hide her emotions, she never could from Andromeda, who felt as if another piece of her heart was being torn from her body. "I can't see you anymore. When I leave here tonight, I can no longer call you my sister; if I see you in the street I have to ignore you. In a social setting, you'll be the filthy little blood traitor and at home, it'll be as if you never existed." Tears trickled from her eyes and she leaned forwards, letting her hair fall across her face. "Please change your mind Andy."

A sob escaped Andromeda's throat, and a lone tear ran down her cheek. "I can't," she choked. "I love him too much for that Cissy; I only hope that one day you'll be able to understand that." Narcissa couldn't speak, and crying freely now, she grabbed Andromeda and held her sister tightly one last time. For more than a minute they stood there, delaying the inevitable. They drew apart, and hands shaking Andromeda removed the necklace she was wearing. Pressing it hard into the palm of Narcissa's hand, she took a deep breath, "Should you ever change your mind, you'll always be welcome in our house. We won't turn you away." She promised. "The same applies to Bella."

Narcissa was sobbing almost too hard to speak, but she couldn't leave without letting Andromeda know she cared, "I know you think I'm doing the wrong thing, but for what its worth I think you're doing what's right" she whispered, half afraid to voice the words out loud. "And I hope you have a happy life together – that you always think you've done the right thing, because that's the most important thing. Never have any regrets."

Her words meant more than Andromeda could ever have expressed, and it was just as well, because by the time she turned to look at her, she was gone. She never even said goodbye. It was when in the comfort of her own room, that Narcissa looked at what she'd been given – a tiny white flower on a silver chain. She smiled through her tears, fingering each delicate petal.

A Narcissus; which she still wore to this day.