Andromeda Lestrange
Strolling beside her sister in her family's garden, Andromeda adjusted her scarf and curled her fingers into her palms to warm them against the nippy chill of the wind. Narcissa began to chatter her teeth beside her. The sound drawing her gaze, Andromeda decided to take the time to study 'Cissy's features openly. Her little sister looked much older than she ever had before. There were lines sunken into her forehead and a purple, bruise-like, hue sat beneath her eyes. It gave Narcissa a sickly look. However, it was the silvery strands of gray that were scattered amongst Narcissa's blond tresses that truly made her look older than her thirty some years.
Andromeda subconsciously ran a hand through her own frail hair and thought of the ever deepening crows-feet that lined her eyes.
War aged one terribly, she thought.
"How is your daughter?" Narcissa asked abruptly.
Shaken from her musings, Andromeda went over the question her sister posed; she didn't know if she had a worthy answer. Thinking rapidly, Andromeda concluded that less would be more today. Hopefully, if she kept her answer short, their rather pleasant walkabout would continue a while longer. Andromeda wasn't keen on returning inside just yet.
When they did, she would see signs of Rabastan around her home. Though, it was not his presence that set her on edge. It was more the fact having his touches around the manor meant his brother's, and sometimes, Bellatrix's, could be found too.
Time had only cemented Andromeda's distaste (and dare she say it? Hate) for Bellatrix. It was she who had forced Andromeda into this life all those years ago, it was she who put her daughter's life under threat of shame and death. The worst part of it was that it was all done with the pretense of being for Andromeda.
But Andromeda didn't care if purebloods reigned supreme. She didn't care if muggleborns and halfbloods held prominence in their world. Nor if muggles continued to exist in almost blissful ignorance beside them. All she cared about was Nymphadora. About her daughter being safe, happy and alive.
As for Nymphadora…
Andromeda hoped the girl was smart enough not to believe in the Dark Lord's cause. She hoped that sentiment she'd expressed such a long time ago still rang true for her. She still hoped Nymphadora just wanted a world where no one had to be scared.
Andromeda would love a world like that, too.
Finally, Andromeda met her sister's crystalline gaze and answered, "Nymphadora doesn't much say, actually. She spends a great deal of time away from home. Sometimes she isn't even home when Rabastan is…"
"Well, what does she tell you when you ask where she's been? You do ask, don't you?"
Andromeda snorted. "Of course I ask!" she snapped. "She says…She says…" Andromeda trailed off. Oh, there was no way around saying this, she knew. Everything else would just sound weak and too much like a lie otherwise. So, taking in a deep breath, she forewarned her sister, "Narcissa, please understand I don't know what she means by this. She refuses to say more on the subject whenever I broach it. What Nymphadora says when I ask her where she has been is: 'I can't tell you everything quite yet, but I think I've found a way to get us out of the war on the right side of things.'"
Narcissa was silent, face turned forward. Andromeda held her breath. She then let her fingers drift into the folds of her dress where her wand was kept, Andromeda feared what the coming moments might hold too greatly to not do so.
"Do you think you could ask her if that 'us' includes Draco?" Narcissa implored.
Andromeda sighed. Perhaps Narcissa and her own priorities were aligned closer together than she'd ever thought. Reaching out, Andromeda took her little sister's hand in hers. "I will, 'Cissy. For you and Lucius too, even," she promised.
"You don't have to go that far, Andy. Lucius and I made the wrong decisions and we know that. Draco, though, he never had a choice. I don't want him to end up dead or in Azkaban if the Lord's mission fails."
Andromeda paused. A terrifying question was brewing on the tip of her tongue and she wasn't quite sure she should even dare to ask it. Narcissa might be feeling similar sentiment, but that didn't mean she'd take such a blasphemous question well. Finally, though, Andromeda decided the plunge had to be made if she wanted to know if one of her sisters actually was an ally in these dark times.
Gathering all her courage, Andromeda asked in a burst of breathlessness, "Do you think we'll lose, Narcissa? Have you become disillusioned with the cause as well?"
"I-" Narcissa stopped. Casting a look back to the manor, she asked, "This will stay between us, yes?"
Andromeda glanced back too. She knew just who Narcissa was looking for. "Between you and me," she swore.
"…Yes, Lucius and I don't care who wins anymore. We just want Draco to make it out alive and well from this war."
Blinking back tears of relief and joy, Andromeda brought her sister close to hug and whispered, "Want to know something? That's what Rabastan and I want for Nymphadora too."
"Do you think anyone cares who wins now?" Narcissa questioned as she pulled away from their embrace.
"The light does. The faithful followers do. Bellatrix does," Andromeda replied without doubt.
Narcissa turned her eyes to the ground. "I feel Bellatrix isn't in her right mind anymore…"
"She was always addled," Andromeda reminded Narcissa softly.
Andromeda's little sister took in a deep breath and let it out in a tired sigh. "I suppose you have a point, Andy."
The two sisters stood silently for a long while after their conversation came to a close and just stared at the green of the garden around them until the the cool weather forced them to return to Andromeda's home.
-v-v-v-v-v-
Directing the house-elves as they put together tonight's dinner, Andromeda grabbed one that was about to run into another elf who was walking toward the dining table with a stack of plates.
"Watch where you are going, Bipbop!" she snapped at the creature.
Crouching in on himself, the creature covered his head and apologized, "Sorry, Missus! Sorry!"
Rolling her eyes at Bipbop, she pointed at the onions that were in need of chopping. "Just go finish the onions, would you?" she ordered.
"Yes, Missus!" the house-elf replied, scurrying over to the pile.
Shaking her head at the bumbling creatures that were her house-elves, Andromeda went to the dining room to see how Twiggy was doing with setting the plates.
Usually, this was a matter that had little importance. Today, however, Nymphadora was bringing a guest to their home for dinner and Andromeda wanted everything perfect for it.
Her daughter had rarely ever invited anyone to their home since she was a young girl. More often than not, Nymphadora had liked going to her friend's homes or to places to meet them. Sometimes, Andromeda wondered if it was because she embarrassed her daughter. Other times, she thought it might have to do with the fact by bringing them to their home, her friends would be reminded of the missing part of her family when they met Andromeda and only Andromeda.
No matter the reason, she was just happy to see her daughter was still managing a social life in the midst of this awful war. Maybe, if Nymphadora's plans went accordingly, she'd think about continuing her ambitions from before the war and start bringing home colleagues and the like for Andromeda to meet.
Perhaps Andreas would come for a visit. Nymphadora had said they parted on amicable terms, after all.
Satisfied that the plates and silverware were all laid out perfectly, Andromeda looked to the waiting house-elf and said, "You can go help the others in the kitchen, Twiggy."
The knobby creature bowed and murmured, "Thank yous, Missus, Twiggy will go help."
The fireplace in the parlor roared to life and Andromeda smiled. Smoothing her hands down her skirt, she giggled with giddiness and hurried to meet her daughter.
"Nymphadora!" she greeted with open arms at the sight of her daughter.
The young woman walked eagerly into her arms and squeezed Andromeda tight in return. "How are you, Mum?" she questioned.
Pulling away to take in the pale countenance of her daughter, Andromeda smiled. "Much better now that you are here, my dear."
Taking her hand, Nymphadora turned her head toward the hearth. "Mum, come meet my fiancé."
"Your fiancé?" Andromeda gasped. Had Nymphadora and Andreas been in communication this whole time since Nymphadora left Greece? Had the duo thrown caution to the wind in favor of cementing the love they had for one another? What a nerve-wracking, but beautiful thought! However, when Andromeda's gaze caught sight of the man standing stiffly by the hearth, all her hope plummeted and muddled confusion took its place.
That wasn't Andreas! But he was familiar…
It took her a moment, but Andromeda recognized the man. He was Draco's godfather! From that, she was able to recall other snippets about him; like he was the potions professor at Hogwarts, and a willingly branded Death-Eater. Just like Rabastan.
Allowing herself to be lead over to the lanky fellow, Andromeda only listened with half-ear as her daughter asked, "Do you remember him? This is Severus Snape, Mum."
"He was your potions professor - and is your cousin's godfather," she whispered.
Shifting, Severus gave a nod of his head and replied, "It's a pleasure to see you again, Missis Lestrange."
"I-" Andromeda took a breath and stilled her heart. "No, my dear, it's Andromeda now. You are engaged to my daughter…"
He looked uncomfortable as he mumbled lowly, "Pleasure to meet you again, then, Andromeda."
As Andromeda intertwined her fingers with the Severus's, Nymphadora questioned, "Where's Father?"
Glancing between the two, the woman didn't answer immediately and instead tried to see how they could possibly be a couple. Severus was still tense and staring at her with a blank expression. Her daughter, on the other hand, couldn't stop herself from toying with her curls and kept smiling at Andromeda whenever their gazes met.
Looking down to their linked hands, Andromeda was surprised to find it wasn't her daughter just clinging to Severus, but he clinging to her as well.
It seemed their coupledom wasn't a sham after after all.
"In the library," she answered.
Stepping forward, Nymphadora began, "Thank you, here, Severus, why don't we-"
"You will do no such thing," Andromeda declared, cutting off her daughter in the process. "Can you imagine what he'll do? Nymphadora, springing this on him will only lead to problems. Now, both of you take a seat and I'll get some tea. You can tell me how you two came to be a couple and at dinner, I'll tell your father about your relationship."
Nymphadora gave her troubled frown, but nodded and led Severus over to the sofa to take a seat. "Thank you, Mum," she said.
"This better have a very good story and reason for why you've kept it from me," Andromeda grumbled as she disappeared to gather tea.
On her way back into the parlor, she paused at the door way as she heard the low rumble of Severus's voice.
"-you really didn't say a word about our entire relationship to your parents?"
There was a beat of silence before Nymphadora's alto-pitch voice replied, "I just kept waiting for the right moment and never seemed to find one - until now, anyway."
Severus's voice grew heated as he hissed, "I know our relationship isn't traditional, but I would think you'd be grown up about it!"
"Don't you take that tone with me, Severus! Have you told your father?" Andromeda's daughter demanded.
Nymphadora's fiancé scoffed. "Why would I have? The lout would have just insulted me for 'taking so long' and when he found out you were a witch, he'd tell me that I was a dunderhead for wanting to marry another freak over a 'fine, normal lass'."
"Still! It's important, isn't it? Or…That is why you've been giving me that nasty look for the past five minutes, isn't it?" Nymphadora growled at Severus
Feeling now would be the best time to make her reentrance, Andromeda put on a mild smile and marched into the room. "Here's the tea!" she told them, "sorry, it took a moment."
Accepting the cup as it was passed to her, Nymphadora shook her head. "No worries, Mum."
"Thank you, Andromeda," Severus muttered as he took his own cup and brought it close to his chest.
Taking a seat in one of the chairs across from the sofa, she let her eyes rove between the two expectantly. However, when both failed to say anymore she let her smile dissolve before asking, "So, when are we going to get to your love story, dearies?"
Severus slipped his gaze to something behind her and Nymphadora sighed.
"There's really nothing to it," her daughter muttered. "At the end of a Death Eater meeting, I - we - bumped into each other and just started talking. A couple months later, here we are."
Andromeda didn't believe Nymphadora in the slightest. It was too simple, too…Normal.
"Severus, do you love my daughter?" she demanded.
Severus's black eyes snapped to her, the surprise at her forwardness obvious. "I-" he stopped and turned his stare to Andromeda's daughter. "I care for her very deeply and wish to help her make it safely out of this war."
Reading between the careful words, Andromeda surmised flatly, "So, you do not love each other as man and woman."
"That's not-" Nymphadora began.
"Yes, bluntly put, we are not in love, but as I told you, I care about her future. I admire her and appreciate what she is trying to do for herself and your family. I wished to aid her in her goals and taking this step, becoming engaged to be married, is just the best way for me to help her, " Severus broke in, eyes boring into Andromeda's.
Considering his dark stare, Andromeda was surprised by the stubbornness and passion that lay within them. Obviously, he felt very deeply about what he and Nymphadora were doing. "What, exactly, are my daughter's goals?" Andromeda inquired.
"Mum..." Nymphadora protested weakly.
Sending her daughter a withering look, she raised an eyebrow at Severus and waited.
"She wishes to ensure you come safely out of the war. She does not want your name tied with the Lord's cause when the end comes and I - I can help her with that."
"How?"
Severus brought out his wand and cast several spells on the room before he leaned in and murmured, "I am a spy for The Order, Andromeda. For you and Nymphadora, I will leave a confession saying that both of you were cohered into working for Voldemort and if I survive, I will speak on your behalf as well."
The old woman scrutinized the man closely. His face was completely serious and his knuckles were bone-white from where he was gripping his wand. She wanted to believe him. Andromeda glanced to her daughter, Nymphadora's eyes were very soft as she looked at Severus. Fighting against disbelief, the Andromeda gave her daughter's fiancé a hand.
He took it.
"Welcome to the family, Severus," she declared with a satisfied smile as she shook his hand.
Her daughter and he may not be in love like Narcissa and Lucius were, but she knew there was some sort tenderness between them that ran deeper than that of friends. Even though Andromeda understood that she was giving up her dream of Nymphadora finding true love like she had once had with Ted by accepting Severus into her family, she did hold a great deal of hope for the two.
Their mutual affection, she believed, could turn into Narcissa and Lucius's love. The love she had with Ted Tonks. They would not become stuck in some realm of friendly endearment and dependency as she and Rabastan were.
Surprised?
I hope you liked this turn of events, anyway, I think it's especially clever way to bring her and Andromeda on to the right side of the war.
Thank you to reviewers, KodeV and Nightmare prince; I appreciate you guys :)
And...because I haven't in a while, let me tell you about a couple of my other stories that I've put out lately.
There's my fic Bygone where George Weasley's regressed into a teenager and his children get to know their father on another level because of it and then I have Friend Found where Severus meets a time-traveller Lily and attempts to make sense of her.
Thank you so much for reading and please review!
EDITED: 1/10/15
