My dear readers!

This is the last chapter for now, I haven't written more yet even though I definitely have planned for more. Don't worry, this isn't the end.

I got my AO3 invite yesterday, so I've put all of my fics up there as well. My username there is somehedgehogsmarryotters.

For now, enjoy this chapter!

Hannah x

18

Andromeda is back a few minutes later, just as she's promised. I've tried to calm myself down and it's worked. At least, to the extend that I'm not a sobbing wreck anymore.

She closes the door behind her and is by my side in seconds. She pulls me into her arms and I bury my face in her woolen jumper.

"So, what's going on?", she asks softly.

I look up and fight back tears.

"I fell in love", I mutter almost inaudibly.

She doesn't reply, just looks at me, encouraging me to continue.

"And - and I'm getting married in two weeks. I don't want to, Dromeda, I don't want to marry Lucius."

"Sounds familiar", she offers when I don't say anything else. "And you want me to tell you what it's like - running away to live the life you want to live?"

I nod.

"Well, it definitely isn't easy", she says. "Ted and I had to move around a little bit until we were safe and Nymphadora hasn't made anything easier. But at least I can live my life the way I want to live it. I haven't regretted it at all. Sure, you have to be careful, but when don't you?" She leans over a little bit and pushes a strand of my hair back behind my ears. It reminds me of how Emmy used to do that.

"So who is he? The boy you fell in love with?"

I shake my head and whisper, "Not a boy."

"Oh." She looks at me strangely for a moment, then pulls me in and hugs me tightly to her chest. "Oh, Cissy. Always doing things the easy way, every time except for once, huh? God, dear. Poor you. Poor, poor you." She strokes my head and I close my eyes, feeling safe, feeling at home. Andromeda doesn't judge me, she simply sees the difficulties of my situation and holds me. It seems like this is all I need.

I sit up straight again and she releases me from her arms. I shoot a glance at her. She looks concerned.

"She's my best friend", I say quietly, because it's true. Emmeline has always been a better friend to me than Alecto ever was. "She's in Ravenclaw, she's half-blood. She's really clever, we used to do all our homework together. She came out to me in fourth year and we got together in fifth year." I take a deep breath. "I love her, Andromeda. I don't know how I can live without her."

She nods. She knows what love will do to a person.

"But you're not sure if running away with her is the best thing to do", she remarks. It's not a question. "Why?"

I take another deep breath.

"Bella found out."

"Oh." Andromeda's whole face drops. In a second, she seems to have aged ten years. "Oh, shit."

"Yes", I say flatly.

Andromeda considers this for a second. Then she asks, "Do you want to run away with her?"

"Yes. I do." I look at my sister pleadingly. "More than anything. But Bella would find me, and she would find you too - I saw her, I could tell, she wants an excuse to hunt you down, you and your family... and she would make me watch while she tortured and killed you and Emmy and both your families and..." It's the first time I've said that out loud and it makes me cry again in an instant.

She runs a hand over my back and hands me a tissue. While I mop my eyes, she says, "Well, I'm sure Ted and I can defend ourselves. I don't know your... girlfriend, obviously, but she seems to be capable. If it would make you happy then I am more than willing to take that risk, Cis."

It sounds so easy when she says it. Andromeda knows what Bella is capable of, and she's not afraid. Then why am I?

"The Sorting Hat said I could have gone to Gryffindor", I blurt out without thinking. I've never told anyone this before. "But I don't think so. I'm a coward, Dromeda. If I was brave, I would take Emmy and run away with her. Damn, she said she'd run away with me. But I'm just too scared to do it, Dromeda, I can't risk her life. Or yours. You're the only two people I love and trust and I can't lose you."

I don't know what goes through Andromeda's head at that, but she is definitely thinking something. A few times, she opens her mouth as if she wants to say something, and then doesn't. She just rubs my back, and holds my hand.

"Did you come here for advice?", she finally asks.

I try to remember.

"I thought I came here for advice", I say. "But I think I just needed someone to talk to. Someone who I could actually tell all of this. I don't have friends, Dromeda. The friends I had are spreading rumours about me and would betray my to Bellatrix in a second. I can't talk to Emmy without raising suspicion. And I really, really wanted to see you again."

She smiles sadly. "I'm sorry, dear. I wish we could see each other more often."

I know that if I do run away, I will see Andromeda more often. The thought is nice. But I only have to think of the consequences - an image of little Nymphie being tortured comes to my mind, frightening in its clarity and cruelty - and I know that I can't.

"I thought I came here for advice", I say. My voice sounds a little steadier now. "But I don't really need it, because I've already made up my mind. I know what I'm going to do. It's not what I want to do." I take a deep, calming breath and add, my eyes swimming with tears. "But what I need to do."

x - x - x - x - x - x - x

She shows me out and gives me a firm hug.

"I'll miss you, Cis", she says. "I know you won't be able to write or visit. Just... all the best. You'll be fine."

I know I won't, but I don't say it. It doesn't need saying.

"Andromeda", I urged her quietly just before I left. "No matter what you hear about me, please remember. I love you. I always will."

She looks at me out of sad, sad eyes and I get the funny feeling that she knows my future better than I do.