A/N: Sirius is a first year, Andromeda in seventh Year.

Disclaimer: obviously I'm not JK Rowling.

Sirius' first year at Hogwarts was filled with friends, pranks, fun and nagging Andromeda to let him meet her boyfriend. It took until April for her to agree. Sirius had worked out back at Christmas that the boy in question was Ted Tonks, but he couldn't just go up to a Seventh year Hufflepuff without people asking odd questions, so he had resisted the temptation.

Andromeda had been right though, he really did like Ted. He was funny and nice, and he let Sirius know how to get into the Hogwarts kitchens, which elevated him to demigod status in Sirus' eyes. Afterwards, Andromeda had walked Sirius back to Gryffindor.

"So, what did you think?" she asked, biting her lip.

"He's great, Dromeda. So much better than all the guys at the balls. They're all so boring."

"That's what I think to. It's a pity," she sighed.

"What's a pity? You can't dump Ted just cos he's not a Pureblood. I mean Lily sodding Evans is a Muggleborn, but she's still just as insane as my mother."

Andromeda laughed, "You're right, that girl is definitely something to behold. But if I stay with Ted I'll get kicked out."

"So? What's keeping you there?"

"Well, I guess... Cissy hardly talks to me, Bella's off in her own world doing God knows what. Maybe you're right. I'll still be able to see you, because there's absolutely no way that you'll get through Hogwarts without being disowned."

Sirius laughed. "Too true! Even if you don't want to stay with Ted, I still think you should leave."

"But they're still my family Sirius. I love them, I can't just leave."

"But you won't be happy!"

Andromeda smiled. "I don't know what I'll do yet. But if something does happen over the holidays and I get kicked out, then don't worry, I'll wait till you're back at Hogwarts to write, so you don't get in trouble, ok?"

"Ok." They had reached the Fat Lady, so Sirius bade his cousin goodbye and gave the password before stumbling through to find James and tell him about the kitchen. He thought it was for the good of them all if Peter didn't know yet, the boy didn't need any extra food.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

15th July 1972

Sirius woke up late to the sound of yelling downstairs. He was tired after the ball of the night before, where he had been bored out of his brains by several girls trying to charm the Black heir. He was only twelve, and the lengths that these girls were pushed to by their parents frustrated him.

The yelling was female, and one sided. It didn't sound like his mother, so he assumed that Druella was paying a visit. Thinking that perhaps that meant Dromeda would be there, Sirius got up. They had rolled their eyes at each other over the table so many times last night that Sirius had developed a headache.

After getting dressed he tiptoed downstairs so as not to interrupt his aunt's raving. The last thing he wanted was her scorn turned on him.

"–some filthy Mudblood! Disgusting! And a Hufflepuff too Narcissa told me! Both Avery and Rosier would have been splendid matches!"

A feeling of doom descended quickly on Sirius. Dromeda. He knew he would not be able to discover what had happened to his cousin from his aunt, she would ask enough questions to find out that Sirius had known, and he was too tired for that tongue lashing. Creeping back up the stairs he heard the door to the sitting room open behind him.

"Ah, Sirius. Wonderful. Come with us," his mother ordered. Sirius dutifully turned around and trailed after them along the corridor, now was not the time to antagonise his mother.

They entered the drawing room and Sirius' heart sank. The tapestry. This was serious. Andromeda was gone.

"This," said Druella, with an evil glint in her eye, "is what happens to members of our family who don't fit. They lose everything. And you wouldn't want that, now would you Sirius?"

He shook his head, gulping. If they burned her off the tapestry, then it was done for good. They couldn't take that back.

"Good. You are forbidden to ever write to, see or speak to Andromeda again. She's no longer your cousin."

Yes, she is. She's family. She will always be your family.

He shivered as he saw the tapestry sizzle and Andromeda's beautiful face burn to black.

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