Andromeda reacted so fast it was as though she had almost suspected - expected even - her estranged sister to be standing on her doorstep; she drew her wand. Tonks stood motionless under the cloak, horrified and not knowing quite what to do.
The likeness between the sisters was extraordinary: the same grey eyes with unnaturally large pupils; the same pale skin, though Andromeda's was a pleasant, clean white, Bellatrix's an unpleasant, dirty grey; similar hair, the coarseness, the length, though Dromeda wore hers curled, neatly charmed to stay up out of her face as she did household duties, Bella's was more of a filthy, unclean mess.
"Why are you here?" asked Andromeda harshly. "Anything we had to say to each other, we said years ago."
"I think you know why I'm here, sister," said Bellatrix, giving her a look of the haughtiest contempt.
Snape stepped forward. "Let us keep this cordial," he said silkily, striding past the sisters and into the shadows of the living room. Bellatrix followed him; glancing around the room. She picked up an old picture frame from the table next to the sofa and her lip curled. "This Mudblood is tainting one of our family heirlooms," she said disdainfully, "as your marriage has tainted your blood."
"This is all very entertaining," said Snape. "We do, however, have other business to attend to, Bellatrix."
Bellatrix scowled back at him but said nothing. Instead, she turned to Andromeda and spoke clearly: "I want the girl."
Andromeda stuck out her chin defiantly. "Over my dead body," she snarled quietly.
"That can be arranged," said Bellatrix menacingly.
Unseen, Tonks was holding her breath. She had always been aware of her mother being a little on edge; she thought it came with being a Black, but now she saw the sisters together, she was aghast at the similarities. Andromeda would never stand for wrongdoing, never for any less than she or her family deserved. She was a gifted witch, too, just like Bellatrix – though the fairer tried to use hers for nothing but good.
Somehow managing to balance the cake on one hand, Nymphadora slowly drew her wand as Bellatrix raised her own threateningly at Andromeda. Snape stepped forward and grabbed Bellatrix's arm.
"Are you here for her protection or mine?" spat Andromeda at Snape, who kept a firm grip on the struggling elbow of Bellatrix.
"Get your hands off me!"
"Neither," answered Snape coolly to Andromeda. "I am merely fulfilling a request."
"From who?" she snarled.
Bellatrix let out a loud, mad cackle and stopped struggling. "The Dark Lord –"
At this, Andromeda laughed too, competition for the madness of her sister's. It made Bellatrix flush slightly.
"You dare laugh at The Dark Lord?" she whispered, wrenching her arm away from Snape and pointing her wand at her sister's chest. Andromeda raised her own. For a minute, they stared at the pieces of wood; both walnut, over twelve inches, but Bellatrix had a dragon heart-string core, and Andromeda a unicorn tail.
"You aren't even worthy to speak his name!" said Bellatrix, proceeding to shriek, "Blood traitor! Crucio!"
The curse was swiftly deflected by Tonks, who had thrown the cloak and cake aside and ran in front of her mother. There was a look of horror on everyone's face, Snape especially. Glancing briefly at him, Tonks realised why. The strawberry, double whipped cream, chocolate topped, whizzing hundreds and thousands birthday cake had landed squarely upon Snape's chest and then, as everyone silently watched, it slid slowly to the floor and landed on his black boots. He lifted his head to Tonks. His face bore an expression of quiet fury.
"Is nothing safe in your hands, Nymphadora?" Snape sneered, cleaning himself, seemingly unfazed by Tonks' sudden appearance. But the Black sisters were still surprised by their daughter and niece, who had apparently come out of thin air. Andromeda's eyes, although still keeping her wand directed at Bellatrix, blazed at Snape. "Don't talk to my daughter like that," she barked at him.
"Your daughter?" shrieked Bellatrix.
"What do you mean by that?" said Tonks, tightening the grip on her wand.
"Tell her why don't you," said Bellatrix to Andromeda, thin lips set in a smirk.
