– Chapter Twenty-One –

Meeting Andromeda

Neville stood looking around the Great Hall. It seemed exactly like they had left it, except he could notice the things that were odd. Like all the chairs around the tables were recliners, and no one was eating anything but reading children's books. He looked around and saw Andromeda on his other side.

"Well, I guess we go find, Draco," he said. "Where would we even start?"

"The place that he feels most insecure," Andromeda replied. "His home."

The dream shifted and changed around them, only Neville and Andromeda were the same, until finally they settled in the large front foyer of the Malfoy Manor. Neville was staring at Andromeda for a long time.

"What?" she asked finally.

"You look different," he replied.

"So you actually notice?" Andromeda said. She looked around the house and then took to the stairs.

"What does that mean?" Neville said jumping after her. "You don't look like the Romi I know."

"I'm not the Romi you know," Andromeda replied.

"Okay, stop," said Neville, putting a hand on her arm, halting her movement. She looked at Neville curiously. "Who are you, and why did you come up with me and Romi didn't?"

"I'm Romi, well, no, it's really, really complicated," Andromeda said. "I'm her... but not..."

"What the hell does that mean?" Neville demanded.

"You're best friend and I are the same person. I can remember everything that I am, and your friendship with me. I mean her. I mean us. I have too much knowledge and memories to be always in a mortal body – So, you know me without memories; and the sometimes when I do remember who I am, and then when I forget again, often I forget what's happened when I've remembered. Basically I won't remember any of this."

Neville stared at her.

"Look, Neville," Andromeda said, taking his hands, "the reason why the me you know is so powerful is that it stems from this, the reason the white wand works is because of me, and ultimately the White Witches are involved with us… because I'm one of them."

"Romi's a White Witch?" Neville repeated. "You're a White Witch and your Romi…"

"Di did say that you'll need a White Witch's help," Andromeda said. "I know, it's really, really complicated. But it'll get better with time, I promise, you'll understand. But I can't stay too long here… I'm using up all of my mortal magical limits even in dreams, so we have to hurry."

Neville watched for a little while longer and then nodded. Andromeda smiled and hurried up the stairs.

"Where are we going?" Neville asked.

"To where Draco feels most vulnerable," Andromeda replied.

"And you know where that is?"

"Of course I do," Andromeda answered. "I'm still Romi – Just with memories, and no one except my sister really called me Romi."

"What did they call you?" Neville asked.

"Andromeda," she answered, "my full name."

Andromeda led Neville up through a maze of corridors and hallways and through rooms and passageways until they reached the large Music room. The room was full of different people and instruments. Andromeda and Neville wandered through the room.

"Who are all these people?" Neville asked. "I don't recognize any of them? Thinking about it, every person that I met in those other dreams I recognized as people I knew."

"That's because you were in your mind," Andromeda said. "Your brain never really forgets a face, so in dreams the random people were always someone that you saw in real life. This is Draco's mind, all of these people are the ones that he's seen."

They made their way through the crowd to the far side, where Draco was standing, looking out a window to a dark, starry night outside.

Andromeda slowed and looked back at Neville.

"He may not know he's dreaming," Andromeda said to Neville, "so be prepared for anything."

Neville nodded. Andromeda slowly walked up to Draco and placed a hand on his shoulder. She smiled as he turned around, then it fell slightly and an expression of surprise and recognition took its place.

"Andromeda?" Draco said, looking surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Perseus?" she replied, baffled.

"Yes," he answered. "Next question, why do I remember, normally I don't."

"Um," Andromeda stuttered. "You're dreaming."

"And you decided to do some dream hoping, coming for a visit?" Perseus asked, smiling at her.

"It was kinda unintended," Andromeda admitted, blushing slightly.

"Wow," Perseus replied teasingly, "7000 years of being in love with you, and you still don't feel it."

"Don't be ridiculous," Andromeda answered, looking sideways at Neville. Perseus looked to him as well.

Neville was staring at the two of them, slightly shocked. "I feel really uncomfortable," he said after a moment, "like I walked in on my grandparents in a very private moment. I should probably go."

"I know you," Perseus said. "You're Neville."

"Yes, I am," said Neville, awkwardly. "And I did not live seven thousand years ago, like I'm guessing you two did."

"Yeah, I wasn't really going to explain that bit to you," Andromeda said, "I didn't think it would be relevant. I figured 'too many memories' would have been sufficient."

"Okay, I see how seven thousand years of memories wouldn't fit in a normal brain," Neville said. He looked to Draco, "I guess that's why you don't remember either."

"Nope," Perseus replied. "Except sometimes in dreams."

"Are you a White Witch too?" Neville asked awkwardly.

"A what? Oh, no, I'm not a Reaper – or a White Witch, whatever you called it," Perseus answered.

"They started calling themselves White Witches because it's less creepy than Grim Reapers," Andromeda said. "And he's not one of them."

Neville nodded. "Okay, can we get this over with, so I can stop feeling so uncomfortable?"

"Get what over with?" Perseus asked.

Andromeda looked between Neville and Perseus. "You – as Draco – are being targeted by an Astaroth. Neville, Luna, Ginny and I have been trying to stop it."

"Well, that would explain the nightmares," Perseus said. "You're here to help them aren't you?"

Andromeda nodded. "I don't have a whole lot of time."

"Alright," Perseus said. "What do you need me to do?"

"I need you to be Draco," Andromeda answered. "He's the one who's afraid. With you right now, you're not going to be afraid of the same things…"

"Okay," Perseus answered.

"Wait, you can just turn it on and off like that?" Neville asked incredulously.

"You learn a lot of things when your seven thousand years old," Andromeda answered. "I can do the same."

Neville looked back and forth between them, astonished.

"Are you okay," Andromeda asked. "You seem to be having difficulty processing this information."

Neville stared for a moment, "Just – just give me a minute." Perseus and Andromeda watched him for a couple of minutes. "Okay," he said finally. "I think I'm getting used to the idea. Holy crap, my best friend is a Greek Myth."

Andromeda laughed awkwardly. "I think it's time we move on."

"Would you mind giving me a moment with Andromeda," Perseus asked Neville. "I don't get to see her that often."

"Okay," Neville said quickly and turned around, taking a couple of steps away from them again. He looked around the Music room at the couples dancing away in them. He tried to take in every detail of the dream, anything to not think about Andromeda and Perseus.

Neville watched a young couple dance and laugh, and after a moment he realised that he recognized them. They looked so happy and in love that he couldn't help but smile. The red haired girl and the blonde boy disappeared into the crowd and suddenly Andromeda was at his shoulder.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

"Yeah," Neville said looking to her. She was watching the dance floor, looking so incredible sad. Neville put a hand on her shoulder; she smiled softly at him.

"Here it comes," Andromeda said. Neville looked to where she was pointing and saw a tall man, with long white blonde hair, and an ugly look approaching.

"Is that the Astaroth?" Neville asked, glancing at Andromeda.

"Yup," Andromeda said, she looked over to wearing Draco was standing, watching the man approach him. "The thing Draco fears the most."

"And what's that?" Neville asked, frowning confused.

"His father," replied Andromeda.

Lucius Malfoy strode up to his son and looked down at him. In a menacing whisper, he spoke to him.

"I don't pretend to understand how I came across just a pathetic coward for a son," he hissed. "But if it is at all possible, try not embarrass me in front of the guests. You're mother gives you too much sympathy. Hardness is what makes a man, and you're a pureblood Malfoy – enough with this soft, sticky inside. One hit you'll crumble, and I disown you," Lucius Malfoy hissed. "And trust me, I will give that one hit if I have to."

Draco stood staring forward, fear playing across his face.

"Shouldn't we do something?" Neville said looking to Andromeda. "Shouldn't you be doing something?"

"Not yet," Andromeda said, and she looked over her shoulder. "Ginny's not ready yet."

"How long!?" Neville demanded looking back to Draco. "He can't just stand there and take it forever. Shouldn't he fight back?"

"I don't know if he will," Andromeda answered. "Draco's not exactly… strong willed against his father."

"You can run cowering, hiding back into the shadows like a cockroach. Coming from filth, until you can grow up. How many bruises does it take for you too grow some skin, become what a pureblood should be."

"Okay, that's enough," Neville interrupted. "I don't care if Ginny's ready or not."

Neville strode forward, and grabbed Lucius Malfoy's arm, turning him around.

"Hey!" Neville said, drawing the entire room's attention to him. "Leave him alone, you ugly, wretched monster!"

Draco stared at Neville stunned beyond belief. Andromeda smiled and laughed. Lucius Malfoy disappeared, the dream dissolving around the three of them. The Great Black Dragon was standing on all fours, head to the ground, looking up at Neville with large, scared eyes.

"Ginny's ready now," Andromeda answered, and Neville looked back to her, stunned with himself. Andromeda closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, then let it go. Magic was released like a breath of air, glittering and glowing. It encircled the Astaroth, and he disappeared.

Andromeda looked to Draco.

"What's going on?" Draco asked, looking between the two of them confused. Andromeda smiled.

"Wake up, Draco," she said. Draco disappeared, and Neville looked to where he had just been shocked.

"What just happened?" Neville asked.

"He woke up," Andromeda replied. An expression of pain crossed her face, and she gripped her side, bending over slightly.

"What's wrong?" Neville asked, hurrying up to her.

"I have to go," Andromeda replied. "I've stayed too long already, my presence is harming my body."

"Then you should go," Neville said, quickly.

"First, though," Andromeda said swiftly, "I won't remember any of this – none of it… if you want to tell me you can… but I don't recommend it. It will be hard to come to grips with once I know and I'm not like this."

"Okay," Neville replied, practically holding Andromeda up now.

"And secondly, I used my magic to help seal the Astaroth. It'll be loyal me now," Andromeda said.

Neville huffed slightly, "You always gets the cool stuff."

Andromeda smiled, "you subdued it, Neville. He'll be loyal to you too."

"I guess that's alright then," Neville said smiling.

"I'm going to need it," Andromeda said softly. "You all will before the end… and still, it may not save me."

The world vanished.