Chapter 10 – Taking sides

"Andromeda!"

The door to the dormitory was flung open. Fresh from her weekend in France, Bellatrix stomped in, like a dragon charging its prey. Her cloak was flickering behind her like a pair of wings, her cheeks were reddish and her dark eyes were blazing with anger. No one would have been surprised if she had started to breathe fire.

She turned on the first person she encountered, which happened to be Narcissa. "Where is she?" she snarled.

"I don't know."

"I am sure you do! Don't try to hide her from me. I demand to know what is going on!"

"I know no more than you do," Narcissa insisted wearily. "Sirius knows something, but he refuses to tell me..."

"To hell with Sirius!" In fury, Bellatrix pulled off her cloak and flung it on her bed in a violent gesture. "I can't believe this is happening! It is scandalous, outrageous..."

She was interrupted as the door opened and Andromeda silently stepped into the room. She had black rings beneath her eyes and looked like she hadn't gotten much sleep. She seemed like she wanted to turn away again, when she spotted her oldest sister. "Bella," she said wearily. "You are back early?"

"Yes, I am! I had a great weekend, but for some unknown reason I missed you! But this was certainly not how I expected to be received!"

"What do you mean?" sighed Andromeda. Not looking up, she sat down on her bedside.

"Don't try to play innocent with me," Bellatrix warned her sternly. "Regulus met me down in the main hall when I came back. He informed me that I have ignored my duties as the eldest daughter of this family. He claims I am not looking out for my sisters properly. Apparently, they seem to have forgotten their proud heritage. Some of them even sink low enough to go out with muggleborn students!"

Narcissa let out a small gasp. Andromeda painfully closed her eyes. Bellatrix kept fixating her with her dark eyes. "Are you going to deny it? Are you going to deny that you were seen at Hogsmeade at Saturday evening in the company of a filthy mudblood?"

"No," answered Andromeda quietly.

Bellatrix resolutely shook her head. "I don't believe this. And I thought her judgement was bad." She nodded at Narcissa. "Sirius might be an idiot, but at least..."

"Don't talk that way about him!" Narcissa fiercely got to her feet and her fists closed tightly.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes, wondering whenever Narcissa was going to wake up from her illusion. Why did she have to be cursed with two such naive and hopelessly sentimental sisters? "I am sorry. This is not about you. Andromeda, I want to know how you could humiliate your family in this way! Did you do it just to provoke us all?"

"No." Andromeda sighed deeply. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"Then how could you flaunt yourself in the company of a stinking mudblood?"

"I didn't know... I didn't know that he was a... that he was..."

Bellatrix blinked in surprise. "You didn't know? He tried to trick you then? What a git, I can't believe..."

Andromeda blushed fiercely. "He didn't trick me... He just... didn't tell me."

"Of course not," snorted Bellatrix. "How else would he get a date with a girl from one of the decent houses!" She resolutely shook her head. "This was a serious mistake on your part, Andromeda. You really must check up on the types you hang out with."

She shuddered just by thinking of how her newfound friends would react if they found out that one of Bellatrix's sisters was fraternizing with the enemy. That she had been going out, not with an ink, not with an elf, not with a half-breed, but with a mudblood!

She spun back to Andromeda, attacking her again: "Regulus said that the creature held your hand. Did you let him kiss you too? On the mouth? Oh, Merlin..." Bellatrix put a hand over her mouth, cringing. "I feel sick. I forbid you to go anywhere near that filth again, Andromeda, do you hear? If you defy me, I will send an owl to mother and father at once."

"I don't think you have to worry," said Andromeda dourly. "It isn't very likely that he will ever want to go near me again."

"I mean it, sister. I will not have you shaming the family. From now on, I expect you to keep to the company of..."

"Oh, just shut up, Bellatrix!" Andromeda seemed to have heard all she could stand. She got up from the bed and headed for the door.

"Fine," said Bellatrix, looking out through the window. "I guess Regulus will deal with him anyway..."

"What?" Andromeda turned back to see what Bellatrix's was looking at. She shoved her aside and gazed out over the school yard. What she saw made her grit her teeth tightly together.

"Damn him!"

As Andromeda ran over the school lawn, she heard the mocking laughs and insults even before she had reached the great oak tree where Ted had been captured. He was surrounded by Regulus and four of his friends. They had raised their wands and paralyzed him. His wand had fallen from his hand. He was humiliatingly nailed to the ground and his blond hair was smeared with dirt.

"I am going to teach you a little lesson, mudblood," she heard Regulus saying menacingly. "It is for your own good, so you'll learn to keep your dirty paws away from those who are above you."

"Stop it, Regulus!" shouted Andromeda and reached for his hand holding the wand. "Leave him alone!"

Regulus shook her off and glared at her. "Stay out of this, Andromeda. But you can watch if you like, so you can see what happens to those who try to corrupt the members of the house of Black!"

"Must I remind you what happens to those who threaten other students?" Andromeda asked him angrily, shoving her prefect badge in his face. "Do you want me to get Dumbledore?"

For a moment, Regulus looked insecure, but then he snorted superiorly. "Why should I care about an old fool like Dumbledore? This one deserves a lesson and he will get it!"

He lashed out and kicked Ted's sunken form, sending him rolling over on his back. Andromeda saw rage in Ted's eyes, but also deep fear. She tried to step in between them, but Evan Rosier grabbed her and pulled her back. Evan was also her cousin, on her mother's side, but that didn't seem to matter now as he roughly shoved her aside. In horror, Andromeda saw that Regulus had raised his wand again.

"Regulus, you bloody fool!"

Suddenly Sirius was there, like a great, black, canon ball. His face was bright red when he grabbed his younger brother and jerked him away from Ted. In the next moment, his friends, the marauders had surrounded Regulus and the others. They were older, they were bigger – and everyone knew that they were among the best students in the whole school.

"Get away from here, you pathetic little worms!" screamed James Potter. "Go pick on someone else!"

Sirius had grabbed Regulus by the collar and gave him a couple of hard slaps. Andromeda managed to get to her feet. Quickly, she pulled out her wand and freed Ted from the spell. He got to his feet, somewhat shaky on his legs. She hurried up to him. "Are you all right?"

He brushed himself off. "Fine." His voice was cool.

"I am really sorry about my cousin..."

"It wasn't your fault. Don't worry about it." He pulled away to show that he didn't want her excuses.

"But..."

"It's fine." He turned away and headed for the school, ignoring the dirt that was dripping from his hair.

Regulus and his friends had loomed off and Sirius gestured at his friends to follow them and make sure that they would stay away. He looked coldly at his cousin. "Well, you handled that well, didn't you, Andromeda?" He nodded at Ted's retreating form.

Andromeda glared at him and her cheeks heated. She wanted to snarl at him that he should have told her right from the start. But the thought made her feel ashamed and she didn't know what to say.

"I really thought you would have grown a little brain," Sirius continued sarcastically. "But it seems like I forgot that you are still a Black."

Andromeda didn't know what to answer. Ever since Ted had told her that his parents were muggles, her mind had been spinning. She had been so stunned that she didn't know how to think straight.

Like every member of the Black family, Andromeda had been taught to keep away from mudbloods and other forms of life that her parents considered unworthy. She had obeyed them, just like her sisters. Sirius had done the same, until he joined Gryffindor. His new friends seemed to have changed his way to look at things forever.

Andromeda used to shut her ears when Bellatrix or her parents made some speech about the filthy muggles and the way they would eventually bring the wizard world down. Unlike them, she had never felt that the muggleborn students should be kicked out of Hogwarts. She certainly didn't think that they should be killed or used as slaves like Regulus and his extremist friends would sometimes babble about.

However, there was one thing she couldn't change: she had always believed that she belonged to a superior race.

That was what she had been raised to believe and she had never questioned it. Her blood was pure, her fathers and mothers had all been wizards and witches. The muggleborn students were born by muggles. Muggles could not do magic. That just had to mean that they were inferior. Didn't it?

Suddenly, she wasn't sure of anything anymore. She felt like her whole world had been turned upside down. All she knew was that she had been blind.

She looked up at Sirius who was watching her grimly. "That film group... The things you do... It is some kind of opposition, isn't it? Against Regulus and his friends and their likes? That was why you got those flowers, wasn't it?"

Sirius eyes narrowed. "I am sure you understand that I can't tell anyone from the other side."

Andromeda stared at him for a moment. Then she turned on her heel and left.

Sirius was watching Andromeda as she walked away with a deep frown on his forehead. He was so deep inside his thoughts that he didn't seem to notice that Narcissa had discreetly walked up to him. He flinched when she placed her hand on his shoulder and whirled around, as if he expected to see another opponent. He looked relieved to see that it was just her.

"Are you all right?" she asked him. She had seen him fighting from distance and she really didn't like it.

Sirius smiled reluctantly to her. "Sure. It takes more than my pathetic little brother to knock me off balance."

"You could have been hurt," she said seriously.

He sighed, looking annoyed and affectionate at the same time. "Don't you trust me?"

"I wish you could stay out of fighting a little bit more often," Narcissa told him honestly.

"I can take care of myself," muttered Sirius defiantly. "Besides, I do pick my fights. I don't throw myself into a clash unless I have to. But in this case, I couldn't just stand by, for Ted's sake."

"Ted, yes," she sighed.

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "I suppose Andromeda told you?"

"No, Bellatrix did, after Regulus told her."

"And dear Bella exploded, I suppose?" He watched her closely when she didn't answer. "Perhaps I should ask where you stand? Do you think Andromeda has disgraced the family as well?"

Narcissa raised her head. "It's her life. She can do what she wants – just like you." Her blue eyes were clear and reflected no hesitation. She knew that he would know what she was talking about.

Sirius' face softened. "You are right." He put an arm around her shoulders. "Let's get back inside."

Narcissa snuggled up close to him as they walked across the lawn, enjoying the feeling of his tall, strong body next to her. "I have been thinking," she started slowly, slightly blushing.

"About what?"

"About what we talked about at Hogsmeade this weekend," she admitted. She kept her voice low, even though the school yard was empty.

She hadn't told Bellatrix or Andromeda about it, since she knew that they probably wouldn't approve, but she didn't care. Sirius was her betrothed and there was nothing wrong about wanting to get to know him better – in all respects.

Sirius' interest was immediately awoken. "Do you have any... suggestions?"

"Maybe. I was thinking the next Hogsmeade weekend..." She blushed, but continued bravely. "The common rooms are usually deserted then. I could smuggle you into Slytherin and we could... well, you know..." She looked up at him, nervously awaiting his reply.

Sirius looked doubtful. "What if someone comes along?"

"We could put a jinx or something at the door."

"James has an invisibility cloak," he admitted to her. "I could ask him to let me borrow it." Seeing her delighted expression, he quickly added: "But I still don't know. It seems a bit risky... And besides, you are so young..."

"I am almost fifteen!" she said fiercely. "And you are just a year older than me, aren't you?"

"Well, yes, but it's not just that," he said sheepishly. "What if your parents found out? They'd turn me into a wet spot."

"They won't find out," she assured him. "We'll be careful."

Sirius hesitated. "No," he finally decided. "No, it seems too dangerous. And it wouldn't be right to you or to them." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. "We'll wait for a better time."

Narcissa sighed. "I just want to make you happy," she said earnestly.

"You do," he assured her, kissing her lips gently. Narcissa threw her arms around his neck and their kisses deepened. During the past weeks, they had gotten closer to each other, both in a physical and emotional sense.

Narcissa pulled back slightly and smiled up at him. "I can already see how handsome you will be."¨

"What? When?" he asked her in confused amusement.

"In your bride groom robes of course, silly! My mother has told me that she wants us to start picking the clothes as soon as possible. You can never start preparing too soon."

Sirius smile stiffened. "Let's go inside," he said, taking her hand.

"Ted."

Ted Tonks turned around as his name was spoken. He had just stepped out from the Ravenclaw house and looked surprised to see someone waiting for him. Andromeda didn't know how long she had been standing there, but it didn't matter.

Ted looked flatly at her. "What do you want?"

"Can I talk to you for a moment? Please?" Andromeda asked him quietly.

He looked hesitating, but then he nodded and gestured at a niche in the corridor where they could speak privately.

Andromeda nervously cleared her throat. "I want to apologize for my cousin. The way he treated you... in Hogsmeade and today... It was unacceptable. I promise I will talk to him and I am sure Sirius will do the same."

"You don't have to bother. I don't really care about his behaviour."

She blushed in shame. "I am really sorry about my own reaction as well. I was just stunned... I guess I had never expected you to be a..."

"Mudblood?" he finished.

She shook her head fiercely. "No, I would never call you that, Ted. I promise you. It's just that I..." She tried to find a way to explain herself, but she realized that she really didn't have any excuse. "I just haven't really known anyone like you before."

Ted sighed. "I guess I should have told you. I knew that you were a Black after all. It's just that Sirius has never showed me those opinions. But of course he is in Gryffindor. He might have gotten different perspectives?"

That was true. Before Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor, his opinions had not been that much different from his family. But this was not about Sirius.

"It's the way we have been brought up," said Andromeda meekly. "We have been taught not to question such things. I don't know if it is right, but..." She shrugged pathetically.

Ted nodded slowly. "I suppose a muggleborn boyfriend is out of the question for you then? Not to mention a fiancé or husband?"

Andromeda felt miserable. "Ted, I like you, I really do. You must believe me, but I just don't know if I could..."

Ted's face softened. "You care very much about your family, don't you? You couldn't stand to disappoint your parents?"

Andromeda firmly shook her head. "No, it is not my parents," she told him honestly. "It is my sisters. Our parents have never had much time for us so we have learned to depend on each other."

She sighed. "I love them both more than anything in this world," she told him truthfully. "And the thought of them hating me or stopping to speak to me... is more than I can stand. I couldn't live with it. Not even for you. I am sorry."

He nodded. "I don't have any siblings, but I guess I can understand. I suppose that's it for the two of us?"

"If we have some kind of relationship, it will have to be a secret one," she told him frankly. "And you deserve something better than that."

"Don't you think that should be for me to judge?"

Andromeda shook her head. "I can't ask you to put up with that. It would be wrong."

Ted nodded. "Well, I am sorry, Andromeda. Because I really would have liked to have some kind of relationship with you."

When she walked out of there, Andromeda could feel his sad eyes burning in her back. Something inside her stung and told her that she had just thrown away something very important.

A/N: Tank you for your reviews, they really mean a lot to me. I know Andromeda's reaction in Chapter 9 was quite unsympathetic, but I just thought it was realistic, considering what family she has grown up in.

A problem I see with this story is that things are moving too slowly. That's why I have decided to make a jump in time for the next chapter. It will take place in the spring when the students will have their OWL-tests (Not GET-tests as I wrote in another chapter, that's what they are called in the Swedish translation. Very embarrassing, sorry.) Since I don't plan to make this a 100 chapter story I am going to try to go ahead a bit faster in the future, but hopefully the story won't suffer for it. I am grateful for any feedback, thoughts or suggestions.