"Geez Andy, can u get any worse? First day of school and you're already running late", Narcissa stood at the door of her sister's dorm watching Andromeda frantically trying to pull her hair back into a bun.
"What do you want?" replied Andromeda grumpily, she had over slept and none of her roommates had had the courtesy to wake her. Andromeda could just picture Georgiana Montague, Frederica Crabbe, and the twins, Desdemona and Blanche Rosier, giggling to themselves as they left her there in the room, sleeping soundly, knowing full well that she would likely miss breakfast.
"I got an owl from mother", replied Narcissa, as she strode into the room and took a seat on the edge of Andy's bed.
"mmm", replied Andy, as she reached for her hairbrush,
"Bella's getting married on November 1st."
"What!?" Andromeda dropped the brush she had been holding, and it fell to the floor with a loud bang, "but that's only two months away!"
"I know", replied Cissy, as she reached for Andy's brush, "I don't get it. Apparently it was Rodolphus and Bella's idea that they get married so soon, but it just seems so odd."
Andromeda collapsed onto the bed beside her sister, she alike Cissy could not understand why on earth Bella would want to speed up her marriage to Rodolphus, surely there was something else going on. "Maybe Aunty has something to do with it", replied Andy thoughtfully.
"Mmm ... I dunno", replied Narcissa, "mother did say it was Bella and Rodolphus' idea and besides when I was helping Aunty she seemed pretty frazzled by the whole planning thing, then again she did say she would want it over before Christmas, but still..."
"Do you have the letter?", interrupted Andy,
"Yeah", replied Narcissa, clearly annoyed at being cut off by Andromeda "I've already replied, but here you can read it", she pulled out a rolled up piece of parchment from her pocket and handed it to her sister.
"Thanks", replied Andy as she unrolled the letter, and positioned herself comfortably on the unmade bed.
"Maybe you should read it later, there is only ten minutes of breakfast left, and you still have to get your new timetable."
Andromeda rolled her eyes at Narcissa's predictable, yet practical comment, stating "I'll be five minutes."
"Okay, whatever. Don't blame me though when you get in trouble off Professor Slughorn for not collecting your timetable", and with that she walked from the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
Andromeda stared after her for a moment and then laid the parchment flat on the doona and began to read;
Dearest Andromeda and Narcissa,
Thank you so very much for sending an owl to let me know you had arrived safely. I am glad to hear that your trip was leisurely, and I do hope that you had a wonderful night with the sorting and the feast. I hear young Fyodor Rosier was beginning this year. Did he get sorted into Slytherin?
Well we did some entertaining of our own last night, your dear Aunty wished for your Uncle and your young cousins to meet the Lestrange's. I must say it was quite an eventful night, Rodolphus announced that he and Bella have decided on a date for their wedding - November 1st at Norrington Chapel. It is quite soon I know, but apparently it was both Bella and Rodolphus's wish to be married as soon as possible, though I can not work out why.
Your Aunt Walburga had a fit as Norrington Chapel only seats fifty. Though, apparently your father and Monsieur Lestrange managed to talk her round. I am going with Bella today to Diagon Alley to pick out material for the pageboy suits and the dresses that the two of you shall wear as bridesmaids. We shall have to estimate your exact sizing's as I cannot possibly allow you to miss out on school since this is such a big year for both of you. I will write to Professor Dumbledore in a few days time, requesting permission for the two of you to come home for the wedding, though I am sure he shall not refuse for that occasion.
Do remember to be good and study hard, and I wish you both the very best for your first day,
Mother
Andromeda folded up the note and slipped it into her pocket. November 1st was only two months away. Why on earth did Bella want to get married so quickly? If anything Andy had assumed Bella would drag the process out for as long as possible, determined not to give in so easily to Aunt Walburga, despite being chained by the unbreakable vow.
Small raindrops began to pelt on the dormitory windows, waking Andy from her thoughts, suddenly realising the time, Andromeda grabbed her small backpack and stuffed various books inside. Seizing her wand, Andy ran down the stairs to the common room and up through the dungeons, heading toward the Great Hall. When Andy arrived, the Slytherin table was almost full. Students were chatting excitedly and reading yellow pieces of paper, which Andy could only assume were the new timetables.
"Hi", muttered Andy as she took a seat by Georgiana Montague.
"Andromeda! Awake at last I see", replied Georgiana with a mock smile, Blanche, Dessie and Frederica laughed adoringly at Georgiana's smart remark.
Andromeda rolled her eyes at the girls' petty antics, for six long years she had suffered their relentless sarcasm and teasing, how glad she would be at the end of this year when she would finally say good bye to them forever.
"Miss Black!?"
Immediately recognising the voice of her head of house, Andromeda turned from the table, preparing herself for Professor Slughorn's over indulgent onslaught which was sure to come.
"Oh, Miss Black! Tsk tsk, late to breakfast again, and my dear, it is only your first day!"
"Yes sorry Professor", replied Andromeda, she could hear Georgiana, Blanche, Dessie and Frederica sniggering behind her.
"No need to apologise. Though do promise me you will make an effort not to be late to my class this afternoon, I have a special surprise for my favourite potions class."
"Yes of course Professor."
The plump man smiled at her with sheer admiration before offering Andromeda her timetable, and then running off quickly to scold Alecto Carrow, a plump sixth year, who had just attempted to turn the milk from the breakfast jugs into chocolate milk, but had thus far succeeded in making a sticky mud substance.
"Stupid Girl! How many times have I told you NOT to use magic in mealtimes! Must I really deduct points from my own house on the first day!?"
Andromeda giggled as she watched Professor Slughorn attempt to turn the icky substance back into milk, but only managing to succeed in cracking the jugs, which caused the mud like liquid to run all over the Slytherin table.
"Yuck!" screamed Georgiana, as she flung herself from her seat and against the wall of the Great Hall, "This is a joke! I'm going to class!", and with that she picked up her bag and trailed out the door, Frederica, Blanche and Dessie, following in her wake.
At the mention of class, Andromeda picked up her timetable from the table, carefully wiping the spots of mud from it. 'Great, a double of Ancient Runes', thought Andromeda as she scanned the day's classes. Whilst Andy didn't mind Ancient Runes all that much, she was not particularly fond of the Professor who taught the class. Being the only Slytherin who had chosen the subject for her NEWT's, Andromeda was always picked on by Professor Hassinni who despised Slytherin, and its head of house, Professor Slughorn.
"I see you made it just in time", quipped Narcissa, as tapped Andromeda on the shoulder, "What have you got today?"
"A double of Ancient Runes, then Herbology, and Potions. And you?"
"Potions, Defence against the Dark Arts, Charms, and Divination. Not quite as boring as your day, but still bad enough", she smiled and reached for an apple from a dry basket in the middle of the table, "Anyway, I better be off before Slughorn bites my head off", she nodded her head toward her sister, and ran off after Norman Parkinson, and his fellow fifth year Slytherin cronies.
Andromeda, noticing the dwindling crowds that now only remained in the Great hall, decided it was perhaps best if she too began to make her way to class. 'Atleast if I arrive early that's one less thing Professor Hassinni can scold me for, she thought to herself as she walked slowly down the long corridor that led to the Ancient Runes classroom. Upon arriving Andromeda noticed that she was not the first one there, as she had anticipated, but rather two Gryffindor boys, who she recognised as Frank Longbottom and Ted Tonks, were also waiting patiently by the Ancient Runes classroom door.
"Morning", smiled Ted, as he nodded his head courteously toward Andy.
"Hi", she replied, feeling slightly awkward. Despite having been in many classes with Ted Tonks before she had never spoken to him, or any of his fellow Gryffindor's.
"How was your summer?" he enquired, still smiling.
Andromeda blushed a little before replying, "Yes, I had a great time. And how about yours, how were you're holidays? "
Ted grinned a little wider but before he could reply Hera Davies from Hufflepuff came running down the corridor shouting, "Ted, Frank!"
Andromeda was quickly pushed out of the way, as Hera wrapped her arms around Ted and Frank, all the while exclaiming how much she had missed the two of them.
While Andromeda was no expert on boys or relationships she could definitely tell that Hera was flirting. In fact, Hera Davies had quite a reputation around Hogwarts for being a pathological flirt. Andy was sure the only reason Hera had passed the Ancient Runes exam last year is because she had managed to flirt study notes out of James Williamson, who was currently top of the class.
"What is this commotion!?" shouted Professor Hassinni as he flung open the door to the classroom, upon noticing Andromeda the man rolled his eyes, "Come on get in here you bunch of louts."
Andromeda walked slowly into the classroom, making a special effort not to attract any unwanted attention to herself.
"Still waiting on James and Graham are we?", inquired Professor Hassinni, as he walked slowly toward the blackboard at the front of the room.
The class managed a muffled reply, and Professor Hassinni quickly instructed them to be quiet. Andromeda took her usual seat in the left corner of the room, and pulled her books out, preparing herself for a two hour onslaught from her least favourite teacher.
