A Vagrant's Beginnings

"Andromeda," Narcissa said in more of a question as she stepped into her sister's room. It would be another week before Andromeda would also be going to school at Hogwarts. "Please say something to me before you go."

Andromeda paused, "Narcissa, have you ever thought of what might happen if you don't go to the Slytherine house?"

"Is that even possible," she laughed. Narcissa's humor dissipated upon seeing her sister's expression. "You don't really think…"

"Think about it Cissy," she saw how Narcissa stepped back. She never called Narcissa, Cissy. That was Bellatrix's name for her, but she knew it would get Narcissa's attention. "When we have to give our speech at the Grande Reveal and we were to say which house we were sent to… If we said that we went to a house other than Slytherin… Can you imagine it?"

Narcissa began to tremble. Her sister always spoke concisely. This wasn't like her at all, and the questions that she asked her were outrageous. "No… I can't."

"No matter what that hat says, you are a Slytherin. You will tell it that you are. When I go, I will tell him that you are too."

"Thank you," Narcissa said quietly. She couldn't understand why she felt so afraid and why it was important. The grand scheme of things was just too much for her. She ran out of the room and went to hers crying.

"Remember you are a Slytherin," her father echoed the words he had said two years ago.

"Could a Black be put into any other house," she asked with a sly smile, but in her heart it was all a lie.

Her father returned the smile, "No, it isn't possible. You will make us proud."

"Well it seems that father has a new favorite," Bellatrix teased.

"Nonsense, I have no favorites amongst my children." Andromeda's fingers twitched. That same night that Narcissa had fled her room, Andromeda left hers to get a drink of water. She never summoned the house-elves because they were just far too annoying for her wits to withstand. She then saw that her father's library was opened a crack. The light danced in the room feverishly as she heard the urgent hushed voices of her parents.

"Andromeda," her father said.

Andromeda awoke from her flashback. "Hurry now, we need to find our own booth before they are all taken up." Andromeda was being dragged away. "Write to me every day, Narcissa."

"The owl will get tired!"

"Then lend me Mina, and I'll have her sent to her after I learn a spell. I'll explain to you once I send her back to you. Okay?"

Narcissa let her Hill Myna fly over to Andromeda. "I can't wait to hear from you!"

Andromeda was grateful that her sister didn't hold a grudge, but at the same time was afraid of her kind nature as well. "You will hear from me soon."

"Narcissa, stop yelling like a commoner," Druella said under her breath.

Narcissa smiled warmly at Andromeda and waved.

"Since when did you two get all close," Bellatrix asked as she zipped all of the doors opened. She was apparently looking for someone.

"Well," Andromeda began, but then Bellatrix exclaimed with joy as she found who she was looking for Rudolphus and (to a much lesser extent) Rydus. "Rudolphus, I never got to really properly introduce you to my sister…" Bellatrix looked annoyed. "I'm sure we don't need to get into that. Andromeda give your hellos to Rudolphus and Rydus."
"Hello," Andromeda said hesitantly.

"Now don't be like that. Have a seat, Andromeda," fussed Bellatrix.

"I am sorry to have caused a commotion. How is your house elf?" Rudolphus said with a very suave air.

"He's Narcissa's elf. He is doing as best as he can without much use of his fingers." Narcissa said as politely as she could.

"I was sure that there was a cure for it." He nudged his friend. "I was teaching Bellatrix the Krulkyte spell on their house-elf."

Rydus snickered, but his friend gave him a nudge that it wasn't appropriate at the time.

"Sorry, I have a twisted sense of humor," apologized Rydus, but he saw that Andromeda was doing exactly the same pose as Bellatrix when he first introduced himself.

Bellatrix smiled at her sister who was looking out the window. "Well, I think she has done enough talking for one day. She prefers the company of books over people any day."

Andromeda felt revolted by the company surrounding her, but as she did with her father at the station she grinned and bore the horrible situation as best as she could. Andromeda took comfort that she didn't tell Bellatrix her concerns for Narcissa and herself. Bellatrix may have already been lost in that superior mindset and who knows what she would do to keep her image untarnished.

"Come along first years! We don't have all day!"

Andromeda got herded onto a boat with some boys. The two boys across from her were having some fun with a water-skimming frog while the one sitting next to her was strumming his fingers on a book with a bored look on his face.

"What book is that," asked Andromeda curiously. She felt so naked without having one in her hands.

"A History of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For a book about the wizardry world, it is certainly very dry."
"You act as though your parents are muggles," laughed Andromeda.

"They are."
"Oh." Andromeda said feeling a little uncomfortable. She realized that none of her family was around, so it wouldn't hurt to give him a suggestion. "Well, if you really want a preface on the wizarding world then might I suggest Grimmel's History of the Wizarding World. I really do think he highlights all the more interesting stories and he does talk about a few interesting spells."

"Oh really? Thanks," said the boy looking very happy. "What kinds of spells are in the book?"

"Well, there aren't any instructions, but he does mention a few. There is a mimicry spell that I plan to use on my sister's pet bird."

"Really," asked the boy excitedly. "Would you cast it in front of me?"

"Well I'll need to ask a teacher how to do it first, but it would be great to have someone to help me rehearse it. I can't hurt my sister's bird or she will be even more upset with me."

"Well we can't have that, can we? My name is Ted Tonks. What is your name?"

"Narcissa Black," she could hear the two other boys gasp. She looked at them and they shied away instantly.

"What's wrong," asked Ted.

"Nothing," muttered one of the boys who continued their silence throughout the ride, but she hadn't had time to notice them. She found Ted to be a most welcomed distraction from what she had been noticing back at home. His curiosity and energy was infectious.

She had been so involved in the conversation that she had to be tapped on her shoulder by Professor McGonagall to return to the world around her. "Perhaps you can have your conversation a later time. I would like to give you all an introduction to Hogwarts now if you don't mind," the austere professor asked. Andromeda stopped talking and noticed how the professor was looking at all of the other students curiously. "As you can see, she doesn't bite."

The professor stood in front of the doors once again and began her speech. Andromeda panicked. She was already going to face that dreaded hat. She turned around and ran.

"Where are you going young lady," cried the professor.

"I think she is sick. May I go check on her," asked Ted.

"Please do," said the professor helplessly.

Andromeda could hear the professor go through her speech with more speed. Ted sat next to her. "You are just getting sick from being on the boats," laughed Ted.

"No, it's not that." Andromeda said while clutching her stomach. "I'm just very nervous."

The boy laughed, "Why should you be nervous? You'll probably be at the top of the class… Unless, do all the kids know as much as you do? Maybe I'm just a dunce!" Ted actually looked concerned.

Andromeda smirked, "No, you're not a dunce Ted. I'll be fine in a moment. I just didn't think that we would be sorted so soon. I kind of didn't pay attention to my sister's story on her first year."

"I still don't understand, but I'll be there with you. We'll make it together."

Andromeda remembered that the boy was a mudblood, and if her sister ever found out that he was her friend, things might get dicey. "Thank you Ted, but I'm sure you'll hear all about my family. I think it would be great if you find some new friends."

"What? But we hit it off so well! I don't remember ever meeting anyone that I could really relate to."

"Well young man, I have finished my introduction. Please go with the other first years. I'll take care of Miss Black from here." The professor waited for Ted to leave. "Miss Black, would you like me to take you to the infirmary?"

"No… I'll be fine," Andromeda said. She turned to look down the long hall. It was filled with good cheer and celebration. She felt none of that inside of her. "Let's get this over with," she told herself and began to take her long journey to the Sorting Hat.