Chapter Two
I paced back and forth in front of the fireplace, unable to stay still. I felt like sprinting across the grounds, flying into the wind and rain in the dark or even venturing deep into the Forbidden Forest, anything really to take my mind off my thoughts. I didn't, of course. Blacks are not so foolish. My eyes flicked to the clock above the fire. Eight o'clock. Bella would probably be gone by now, though I couldn't know for sure. She hadn't said precisely when the ceremony was taking place, but it would almost certainly be under the cover of darkness. There was less chance of discovery that way.
My letters sat like rocks in my pockets. Neither of them were finished, just failed attempts to dissuade her without letting slip that I didn't hate muggles. It mattered little now, anyway. It was too late.
'Are you okay Dromeda?' I glanced up. It was Cissy, staring at me from her armchair to the side of the fire. I collapsed into the seat opposite her.
'I'm fine, Cissy.' I told her, attempting to smile. 'Where's Lucius?' I let her chatter wash over me without really taking it in, unable to focus on it. I longed to tell her. We were a unit, the three Black sisters, and it wasn't right of Bella to tell me and not her, forcing me to bear the burden alone. A promise was a promise, though, so I kept quiet.
I tried not to think of it, as much as I could, and was even semi-successful. I'd buried myself in books and schoolwork all week, brewing potions until my robes stank of newts and flobberworms. If this continued I'd probably get straight O's and be able to become a Healer. Every cloud had a silver lining, I supposed. When I'd finally run out of work to do I'd devised elaborate schemes to get my book back. I'd returned to the passageway the following day but it had disappeared. Tonks had probably taken it, not that I could blame him after what I'd called him.
'Dromeda?' Cissy's voice broke into my thoughts.
'Sorry Cissy. What was that?' I asked.
'Are you sure you're okay? I've been talking for about ten minutes and it's been like talking to a stone wall. I swear you haven't heard a single word I've said.'
'I'm sorry Cissy.' I told her. 'I'm just a bit stressed. I've got a lot on my mind at the moment. What were you talking about?' She looked suspiciously at me but let it drop.
'I said that my new dress robes have finally arrived. I decided on the purple fabric with the black lace in the end but now I'm not so sure. I think they make me look a bit too pale. I wanted to know what you thought.
'Okay Cissy.' I followed her to her dormitory, fighting to keep my mind on clothing, however trivial it seemed.
Breathing deeply, I stood with my back against the wall. It was nearing midnight and, as I couldn't sleep, I'd decided that tonight was as good a time as any to carry out my plan. I'd got dressed and slipped out of the dorm. I cast a renewed Disillusionment Charm on myself and hoped it would hold. It was a difficult charm to maintain at the best of times as you had to keep part of your mind on it constantly but right now nerves were making it even harder. I tried to remember how to enter the common room. I'd stood in the shadows watching people enter but now I wasn't sure exactly which barrel to touch. Tapping my fingertips to one, I jumped; something had squirted in my face. I doubled over coughing; it was vinegar. Clear I'd got the wrong one. Who would have thought the Hufflepuff would have booby trapped their common room? I touched the one to the left even more gingerly this time and was relieved to see the lid swing open, revealing the entrance. I took a deep breath and entered.
I stared around the room I wasn't sure what I'd expected but it wasn't this. I'd always assumed all the common rooms were the same. Despite it being underground, like the Slytherin one, that was where the similarities ended. There was none of Slytherin's eerie green glow but rather warm yellow lights lining the walls. It had a rather homely feel. I skirted the edge of the room, avoiding the plants that covered the tables, struggling as I couldn't see my legs. Glancing at a mirror as I passed, I was pleased to see only the faintest outline visible. I was blending in almost perfectly with the background. I reached the sixth year boys dormitory, identified by a sign on the door, and paused.
My plan seemed stupid now, but I reminded myself of its necessity. A simple finite incantatum on the book would reveal it as a muggle one to all and sundry. I would be branded a muggle-lover and my world would fall apart. Granted, most people wouldn't care what books I read but Bella and Cissy would, particularly as I'd kept it a secret. Plus since we'd 'gone to war against mudbloods and other such filth' most Slytherins would too.
I stepped inside and shut the door behind me with a click. The extra hours of study had paid off and I'd found a spell in an obscure library book that, when used, caused the castor's possessions to glow with a bright blue light. I would find my book in no time. The only flaw was, though, that to cast the spell I had to drop the Disillusionment Charm. I scanned the room. The curtains were drawn around most of the beds so I couldn't tell if they were sleeping but there was nothing to be done about that. I wished that I'd decided earlier when to carry out my plan. Then I could have slipped a Delayed Reaction Sleeping Draught into their pumpkin juices at dinner but it was too late for that now. I mouthed the incantation.
A blue glow emanated from beneath one of the beds, presumably Tonks'. I crept towards it. Crouching down, I reached under the bed towards it and breathed a sigh of relief. It was, indeed, my book with 'Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy' printed across the front in large letters. With the book in my hand, I wriggled quickly out from under the bed, eager to get back to my dormitory as soon as possible. It didn't quite go as planned. Bang. My head hit the edge of the bed and I swore loudly. A light flicked on above me.
'Who's there?' I extricated myself, this time with more care, one hand clutching my book and the other held to my head.
'Andromeda Black,' I said, trying to inject more surety into my voice than I felt. I'd managed to forget the fundamental rule of any plan; always have an explanation ready for if it goes wrong. 'I was just retrieving my book that you stole.' I said, straightening my back and sticking my chin up. He smiled.
'You could have just asked for it, you know, rather than breaking in in the middle of the night. Although, I don't know whether I should return it to you as its clearly furthering your misplaced sense of superiority.' It was obvious what he was referring to. I blushed. I knew I should apologise but that wasn't something that came naturally to me.
'I'm sorry,' I stammered out. 'I honestly didn't mean it. I just lashed out and it was wrong of me.' He smiled again, that same genuine, slightly amused smile. It made me want to smile too
'I've been called a mudblood many times but that must be first time anyone's ever apologised for it.' He said. 'I'm curious, though, though. If you really don't hate muggleborns, why are you reading that book?' I tensed up. I'd been starting to relax when he didn't seem likely to curse me or inform a professor but this was exactly the sort of question I was hoping to avoid. I considered it for a few minutes. The most sensible thing to do would be to make an excuse. Say that I was interested in family history or that I'd run out of other things to read. I didn't want to, though. There was just something about him that seemed very trustworthy.
'Can you keep a secret?' I asked, feeling foolish.
'Yes.' He frowned, puzzled.
'I've enchanted it. It only looks like that for appearances. It's really Lord of the Rings.'
'Seriously?' he laughed. 'Why on earth would you bother?'
'It's not exactly popular reading in Slytherin house.' I explained. 'Nobody openly admits to liking muggles. People don't even admit to being half-bloods. I think they're fascinating, though. All their inventions and stories. There's so many of them too, with so many different cultures. If Bellatrix found out she'd hit the roof.'
'Well I swear I won't tell anyone.' He promised. 'But it's ridiculous that you have to go to such extremes just to read books.'
'I should be getting back now.' I told him, although I didn't want to. It was so nice just to be able to speak honestly to someone. I had just reached the door when he called after me.
'Miss Black, if you ever want to talk about whatever was upsetting you, I'd be happy to listen.'
'Thank you.' I walked all the way back to the common room grinning like an idiot, this time with my book in hand, despite the fact that I could never, of course, tell him.
