Andromeda: The Grand Reveal

Andromeda looked at herself in the mirror lukewarmly. She would've enjoyed this day if she didn't have to think about her mother and Narcissa. There was also the more immediate problem of lying in front of a full house. Will I sound convincing enough?

To sum up the Grand Reveal, it is a coming out party for the first years. That was the front of it anyway. It was more of a way to gather important families to reinstate bonds and gather information. Today she would have to showcase herself to a group of people that she didn't like. Many put up heirs and if that weren't the case they were pandering to her and her family.

Her mind spun at the thought that the man in the picture frame could be there. Should I risk it? She looked down the long hallway. At the other end would be her father's library.

She took a step forward, but heard Oak's voice. "My lady…" Andromeda spun around with her heart in her throat. "I am sorry Lady Andromeda but they have announced your name."

"Oh…" Andromeda took one last glance at the library and proceeded in the other direction. It would have to wait.

She made a wry smile. She thought of her mother's comment: "It gets worse every year!"

A sudden thought occurred to her: Who is the lord father was speaking about? Eh! Why can't I focus on what I need to do? Andromeda stepped down the stairs ignoring the curious glances of the audience. She wanted to run down the stairs, but she knew that elegance was very important.

She stood on the stage seeing that the other first years were already seated at a table. They had already given their speeches and she dreaded that she would have to eat with them for the entire meal. She didn't really talk to any of them back at Hogwarts.

There was one thing she could immediately feel grateful for, it was the right lights focused on the stage. She wouldn't have to see the audience.

"I'm sure we all know the story of how Bellatrix was sorted, but my story is very different. I couldn't possibly pass up the chance of talking to the Sorting Hat. He had revealed so much about Salazar Slytherin…" she quickly told the audience a brief story about Salazar that she read in an old book. She had hoped no one had known about it to have more of an effect. Besides, this way she could poke at Bellatrix a little and she wouldn't have to tell anyone that she was actually arguing with the hat as to which house to be sorted in.

She finished and was quite proud to have heard only two yawns throughout her little speech. Her table waited for her, and the moment she sat down everyone began to chat and eat. Andromeda ate with a bored air occasionally talking to her neighbors. She needed to put on a show that she was better than everyone else otherwise she would hear no end of it from father.

When they were finally done, she could hear Narcissa's quick footsteps. "You look so beautiful Andromeda," Narcissa said.

"You gave us a dramatic entrance and a boring speech," Bellatrix smiled at Andromeda.

"I'm sure you were the one yawning," Andromeda said flatly.

"I wasn't the only one," Bellatrix smirked.

"By the way Bellatrix, what are you up to? One of the first years was talking about your so called experiment with my and the Magnum brothers. They also say that the boys are wrapped around my little finger?"

"I only experimented with the one boy. Crowe is an extra," Bellatrix looked about as they entered the courtyard. "Besides, I can't be responsible for what my underlings say about me. Things can get stretched. You should be thanking me not badgering me. You two could use some brownie points." As if expecting it, Bane popped out of the bushes scaring both Andromeda and Narcissa.

Narcissa gave an added scream as she felt something had grabbed at her leg. She looked down to see that it was Sirius.

"You two had better go find Aunt Walburga. She might be having a fit by now," Bellatrix said as she walked up to Bane.

"What about you," Andromeda said giving a wary glance at Bane. People said that his face was always composed, but Andromeda felt like it wasn't composed but expressionless. She didn't like him.

"You two go ahead. I'm sure you don't need me around being that you are such a big girl Andromeda." She disappeared behind a hedge.

Andromeda felt Narcissa give her a little tug. "I'm sorry Narcissa, but could you take Sirius back? I want to check on something."

She saw Narcissa was feeling hesitant but she eventually nodded and took Sirius back inside.

Andromeda followed the direction Bellatrix took. She could hear some noise just beyond a ridge. Her knees buckled as a shrill scream echoed in the night air. Andromeda inhaled deeply trying to get her legs to stop shaking. Slowly she peered over the hill and she saw Bellatrix flick her wand as she cried "Avada Kedavra!" A small creature slumped against a tree.

"That was simple," Bellatrix cheered.

"Now you know all three of the Unforgivable Curses," Bane said dryly.

It was as if her body was being commanded by someone else. Slowly she walked down the hill all the while focusing on the slumped creature by the tree.

"Oak," she gasped. Oak's face was covered in blood and tears. Andromeda gathered his small frail body against hers and sobbed.

"Egh," Bellatrix cried in disgust.

"This was Oak," Andromeda said as rage was building inside of her.

"He was expendable. He was getting on in years and I needed to learn the Unforgivable Curses since they don't teach that in school," Bellatrix said lazily. "If I had known you were so attached to him I would've chosen another."

"I wasn't the only one who was attached to him," Andromeda hid her smile. "Narcissa was also close to him." Andromeda could feel it. Bellatrix finally felt uncomfortable. "Why was it necessary to kill anyone," Andromeda shouted.

"I already told you why," Bellatrix said trying to look indifferent.

Bane stepped in between the two girls. "Bellatrix, let her be. Let's try to enjoy the rest of the night."

"… Fine." She heard Bellatrix leave her.

Andromeda held onto Oak firmly. He was the only one in that house that would comfort her when she was down. He even taught her the ways of natural magic the sort of magic that didn't require a wand. He even watched over Narcissa while they were gone. She could see how much better Narcissa had become over his watch. He didn't deserve the pain, the humiliation, and the theft of his life.

What am I going to tell Narcissa?