Okay, now to get the story really started! Sorry if the last chapter was a little dull but I felt the need to set up some kind of structure and background first since everyone seems to have their own interpretation of Bella's childhood. Hope you enjoy! =)
Chapter 2 – Defiance
"Dromeda."
It wasn't a greeting nor was it a question. Bella knew it was her the instant she saw her – Andromeda was much taller than Narcissa and the white of her night dress was quite visible. Bella held her wand out and wordlessly lit it so that a bright beam of light shone across the room, confirming her suspicions. The middle Black sister was stood in Bella's doorway, her arms folded across her chest while her eyes scrutinized her with obvious suspicion. Bella returned her look with a disgusted glare, furious that she might be held back any longer from seeking out Lord Voldemort. What did Andromeda think she was doing?
"What?" Bella demanded sharply, an irritable scowl on her face as she continued to glare furiously at her sister. Andromeda frowned at her older sister's hostile tone.
"Where are you going, Bella?" she asked calmly although the way she spoke, it was clear that she was going to disapprove of it no matter what Bella said.
"That is none of your business," she replied curtly. It was only after she said this that she realized that she had just inadvertently admitted that she intended to sneak out. This realization caused her scowl to intensify three-fold.
Deciding to waste as little time as she could arguing with her sister, she checked her hair in the mirror and proceeded to touch up her make-up, purposely ignoring that Andromeda was still stood in the doorway.
"Tell me where you're going Bella! It's one o'clock in the morning – who are you going to see?" It seemed Andromeda was going to persist in her own agenda instead of getting the hell out of her room and going back to bed.
"Why should I tell you?" she demanded, suddenly turning and giving her whole attention to the figure in her doorway.
"If you don't tell me, I will tell mother and father because if you're going to meet a boy in the middle of the night I don't they'll be too pleased!" Andromeda fixed her with a determined expression which Bella met with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh will you now? Last I recall you were doing the very same thing only at school or so I've heard from the girls in your dorm," she grinned triumphantly as her sister's face fell. Her point had been made and she was going to take a couple seconds to gloat about it before she disapparated. Well, she had intended to had Andromeda not spoken again.
"You're not meeting a boy, are you?" She sounded as though she were only just working something out, as though some great reckoning was taking place. "You're going to join them aren't you?" her voice was full of incredulity and was that disgust? Bella stared coldly back at Andromeda, not showing any emotion that might confirm or deny the accusations. Bella strode over to where her sister stood and grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled so Andromeda's head was pulled backwards.
"If you tell anyone about this, then so help me I will tell mother and father that the boy you have been sneaking out to meet is a mudblood," Bella pursed her lips tightly together and pulled just a little harder as Andromeda's shock became more apparent. "Yes, that's right, I know. Cissy told me. For a Slytherin you sure are careless when you're trying to sneak around." She suddenly released her sister's hair and walked away from her again.
Bella didn't want her parents to know that she was seeking out Lord Voldemort – they respected and believed in everything he stood for but wanted their eldest daughter to marry a good pureblood man and settle down to produce heirs like a good little girl. Bella couldn't do that – it was completely against her nature and every fiber of her being. Bella liked action, excitement and adventure and she wanted her life to mean something. Being just another pretty little housewife and mother did not appeal to her in the slightest.
It seemed Andromeda was going to try one last time to convince her sister out of going as she stepped closer to her, her face resolute with the look of a martyr about her.
"That man is an abomination. Surely out of all those articles and news reports that you've read, you've heard of those disappearances? It's him! Can't you see that? He's a murderer! You can't support a mur-"
"Watch me," she cut in abruptly. She had pieced together the same conclusion as Andromeda weeks ago but instead of tarnishing her opinion of him, it heightened it. He was so dedicated to his cause and Bella wanted to be a part of that.
"As I said, Dromeda, if you breathe a word I will tell. As it is I want you to stop fooling around with the scum and start acting like a proper pureblood; I excused you for a while under the impression that it was a passing phase but it's been going on long enough from what I understand. It's time to rid yourself of Tanks and take an interest in some of the eligible Slytherin boys."
With that, Bella extinguished the wand light and disapparated, leaving the room and her sister in darkness.
"It's Tonks…" Andromeda murmured to the empty room, the sound of defeat evident in her voice.
Reviews of all natures welcome! =)
