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A Star To Light The Way

Soon she would be gone. Free to follow who she truly was. Her seventh year at Hogwarts was halfway through, practically over. Summer had crept along as it always did. Christmas had flashed before her eyes in an instant. She would take her NEWTS and pass with flying colours. Then she would leave and never come back. Not only would she be leaving Hogwarts, she would be leaving her sisters, her mother and her father.

She loved her sisters. There was no way around it. She always thought it was strange how you can watch people you love do terrible things, and say horrid stuff, but still love them. It pained her to think of never seeing them again, but when she refused to just hand herself over to that Crabbe boy. Their mother would most likely not want her around setting an example for her younger sisters.

She walked down the corridor to the library. There she spent the hours studying for exams. Maybe she could be a healer, She always wanted to help rather than fight. She walked, letting her mind drift off. Thinking of her family and that horrible Christmas that seemed to pass so suddenly. It was like her life was drifting past her but she could do nothing to stop it. She walked until she found herself on the cold stone flood.

'Ow.' She said rubbing her shoulder where it had collided with the floor. 'I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going-.' She cut herself off as a pair of black eyes met her black eyes. 'Cissy?'

'Andromeda.' Cissy replied quietly. It had been months since they had talked. Which seemed odd, they where sisters, they practically saw each other every day and every holiday. But they didn't speak to each other. Andromeda understood why Cissy didn't dare speak to her, between their mother and Bella. Cissy was domed to follow their orders, she was, after all, the youngest.

Andromeda knew exactly where she stood with muggles and half bloods. She had spent six years around them, they where no less than she was. All the stories her mother had drilled into her where lies. Her mother barely tolerated her these days but nothing was more important than keeping up appearances to her. However, when she found out that Andromeda had no intention of marrying the sorry excuse for a human being, Dorcas Crabbe, all hell would break lose. Andromeda had been preparing herself for the last year that running away from her family may be her only option. It was why, when rare moments like this, being able to just talk to Cissy, meant a great deal to her.

'Here.' Andromeda said reaching her hand to her sister. Cissy studied her hand carefully. Andromeda through she might rejects her before she finally grabbed it. Pulling her up the two faced each other not knowing what to say. It was like they didn't know each other at all. 'How have you been?' Andromeda asked lightly not wishing to scare her away.

Cissy took her time before replying, an inner battle storming through her. 'Fine, I guess.'

'I like your hair Cissy.' Andromeda said smiling at her. Cissy really was something to behold with her bleach blond hair. She almost looked like she wasn't a Black at all, but the eyes gave her away.

'Thanks!' Cissy finally smiled at her. Andromeda expected most, if not all of the family had chastised her for doing it. 'Lucius said he liked it too.' Cissy added her eyes glazing dreamily off into the distance.

Andromeda thought for a moment. Ah Lucius, he was the year below her. Andromeda wanted nothing more than to tell Cissy to stay away from that boy. He was far too old for her and Cissy had a tendency to think with her heart not her head. But she supposed her parents probably overlooked the fact that Lucius was older because he was a pureblood, a marriage between the two had all but been made. Andromeda held her tongue, the last thing she wanted to do was push Cissy away from her.

'That's nice. Have you seen much of Sirius?' Andromeda asked. Unfortunately she hadn't been able to meet the boy yet and she didn't know what to expect when she did. But she was surprised when she saw him at the sorting. To have a Black in Gryffindor, it was unheard of.

'Nope, but Bella sure has.' Cissy replied. Andromeda didn't need to ask her more, she knew perfectly well what Bella had done.

Over Christmas Bella had been seriously punished by their mother and Sirius's mother for, as the put it, 'Failing to keep the standards of the noble house of Black'. Andromeda had been about to walk into the kitchen one morning when she had head her mother yelling at Bella. Looking through the crack of the door she watched as Bella sat there, head down and fingers fidgeting on her lap.

'Bella I expected more from you. People have begun to talk about this family and it's your fault.' Their mother said angrily

'But mother, I couldn't stop him being placed in Gryffindor.' Bella said pleadingly to her mother. She had seemed so small, reduced to a small child. Their mother had snapped at her words, choosing to take her anger out on Bella with a slap of her face. Andromeda had felt her own anger well up inside her as she watched. Their mother once again wound her hand back, but before she could deliver another blow Andromeda had burst into the kitchen and held back her outstretched hand back.

She would never forget they way Bella had looked at her. Tears in her eyes and surprise across her face. The room was silent before their mother had began directing her anger towards Andromeda. Every word from her mother cut through her like a knife. As much as she wished she could pretend she didn't care what her mother thought, she just couldn't. Once her mother had finished she sent Bella and herself away. Not another word was spoken about it.

'Andromeda?' Cissy spoke bringing her out of her memories.

'I'm here.' Andromeda said as she focused back on her youngest sister.

'I was just saying that Lucius is expecting me so I should probably go.' Cissy spoke.

As much as Andromeda wanted to keep her sister there, she knew she couldn't. She felt jealousy at Lucius for taking Cissy away. Who knew when she would get a moment alone with her sister again. And so it was, Andromeda nodded and watched as Cissy turned her back and walked off down the corridor and out of sight.

Sighing to herself, Andromeda shook her head and continued to the library. She wasn't certain that she could even begin to study now, feeling to drained to do so. But the idea of sitting somewhere quiet for the next few hours comforted her.

The library was as quiet as always. Madam Pince bustled around the library waving her wand, flying books back onto the shelves. It was a relativity quiet day so Andromeda walked strait to her favourite table and sat down. She brought out her books and lay them in front of her. With NEWTS coming up, the teachers where really plying on all the extra homework they could. She had already spent hours yesterday completing reams and reams of parchment, only to find that she had not even completed half the work load she had.

'Looking good Andromeda! You know, I recently looked up what your name means. Ruler of men. Don't think I'd mind, if you catch my drift.' A boy with a strong build and red snotty nose that no matter how much Andromeda had seen him wipe on his sleeve, never seemed to be dry. He sat down at the table across from her.

'Piss off Crabbe.' Andromeda said snarling at him. Dorcas Crabbe was perhaps one of the most vile creatures she had ever met. He was related to her somehow. Either her fourth cousin, three times removed or her third cousin four times removed. The Black family was so large it was hard to keep track. He was kind of engaged to her which annoyed her no end, her parents could really pick em. For some reason he thought it was appropriate to talk to her like this. Although it wasn't something that she wasn't used to. Andromeda had grown into a very good looking girl, she was aware of it but never flaunted it. Boys had always come up to her and said the crudest things. She had finally snapped a few months ago when one boy took it too far. He reached out to grope her, but before he had the chance she had grabbed his wrist and bent it backwards. The room had cheered and no one dared entered her personal space again.

'Listen, once we graduate you'll be my woman!' Crabbe said threateningly.

Andromeda shot her face up to meet him. Her face was a mix of pure anger and loathing. Crabbe seemed to regret his words in that moment as he flinched away from her.

'Listen you scumbag.' Andromeda spat and she reached over and grabbed Dorcas's collar. 'I don't give a damn what my parents said to you. I will never, and I mean ever! Marry a low life like you. The only reason they chose someone like you is because you're a pureblood. But I'll tell you now, I would rather run away and live on the street than be your wife. If you ever speak to me again that way, so help me I'll curse you into an oblivion.'

Andromeda let go of his shirt and picked up her charms book and began reading. Dorcas sat staring stupidly at her before hunching his shoulders and getting up. She glanced at him as he walked away, he looked like a dog with his tail between his legs. Once he was gone Andromeda sighed and put down her book. She ran her fingers through her thick and slightly curled hair and let her shoulders slump.

'Hey-' A voice spoke.

Andromeda felt herself growl as she threw her hands onto the table. 'I thought I told you to piss off Crabbe-!' Andromeda snapped before cutting herself off. She had thought Crabbe had been just stupid enough to test her again, but when she looked at the boy in front of her she didn't see a lumbering buffoon, she saw a little boy. He was half her size and kind of scrawny looking. But his black eyes and messy, curly black hair where unmistakeable.

'Oh.' Andromeda said staring at the boy. She was at a loss for words. She had never actually met Sirius but he was instantly recognisable. 'I'm sorry, thought you where...Um I'm Andromeda , I...'

'I didn't mean to eaves drop but...are you really engaged to him?' Sirius asked slightly discussed as he looked to where the boy had left. Sirius knew who she was when he saw her. They had never talked but he had seen her at family gatherings. The idea that she too was forced into a marriage like he would be intrigued him.

Andromeda felt a laugh bubble from her lips. 'Not if I have anything to say about.' She said as she swung her legs around the bench.

Sirius smiled to her and walked to the bench and sat down. 'I have to marry someone too, but I don't want to.' He said, not being able to hide the anger out of his voice.

'Our rotten family eh?' Andromeda said smiling at him. 'Look, you can't let them dictate your whole life, you'll probably have to pick and choose your battles. But I probably know better than anyone what you're going through. If you don't want to marry her you don't have to.'

Andromeda looked at the shocked face in front of her. He was still so young and still under his mothers thumb, but she would not tell him that he had to go along with every crazy plan their family thought up. 'Who did you get anyway?'

'Larissa.' Sirius spoke with pure disgust on his lips.

'Oh that is bad, she's the one who bites.' Andromeda said smirking. She had a half forgotten memory of that girl biting Cissy when they were younger.

Sirius's eyes widened at her words. 'But what are you going to do, after you know, not marring him.' He asked seemingly interested in any hope that he would one day be free from the family they shared.

'Look, I've had time to think about it. When I do graduate and tell my mum I won't marry that oaf, she'll probably disown me. They already know I'm against that whole pureblood thing so I'm already in the bad books. Running away from them will be the last straw.' Andromeda answered.

'Why haven't you done it sooner, I mean you sound pretty miserable there already, why go back for the summer?' Sirius asked. Andromeda knew what he was really asking. He wanted her to give him a reason now to never return home.

'My Sisters.' Andromeda said simply. She looked at Sirius's face coil in dislike. 'I know you don't like them and I wouldn't ask you to forgive them for the things they say and do. But I've grown up with them my whole life. There was a time when they all looked up to me as the big sister. It wasn't until mother warped their minds and I began to lose them. I know it might be futile, but I still think I can get them back, you know. I stay for my sisters because if there is anything I can do to help them maybe see the world differently to my mother, I won't hesitate.' Andromeda poured out. 'What about your brother? Regulus.'

'Yeah, I didn't think of it that way.' He said in deep thought. He didn't speak for a long moment before finally closing his eyes. He looked towards his cousin giving her a weak smile. 'This mean I'll have to go back for every summer doesn't it.' It wasn't a question.

'I'm afraid so, but it will be worth it, for Regulus.' Andromeda said. The two looked at each other. Both feeling comforted that they were not completely alone.

'Sirius?' A boy said as they both looked over to him. 'Who's that?'

'James! Man, I completely forgot.' Sirius said standing up. He looked back to his cousin and smiled. 'I was supposed to be getting a book on Potions. James this is my cousin, Andromeda. Andromeda this is James Potter.'

'Your cousin?' James said wearily.

'No, no. She's...like me I guess.' Sirius said. James's expression seemed to change instantly as he walked forward and reached out his arm.

Andromeda felt herself laugh aloud and grip James's hand in return. 'It's nice to meet you James.'

'You too.' James said with a goofy smile.

'Come on James!' Sirius said smiling and dragging his friend away. 'I'll see you around Andromeda?' Sirius said hopefully.

'Defiantly.' Andromeda said as she watched her cousin drag his friend away. His friend seemed to give her one last smile before disappearing.

She couldn't be completely sure but she thought she had heard James say 'Your cousin's hot!' before yelping from being punched by Sirius. She shook her head and glanced at her work in front of her. If she didn't start now she would be working well into the night to finished everything.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, I love the relationship between Andromeda and Sirius. Next chapter will be a Lily and James one. Please review! It makes my day.