If I owned it, I would be rich and not at all worried about the economy. As it is, I'm not rich, I don't own Harry Potter. Sorry.

Part Two: Just Because Everything's Changing

December 1969

"Annie," came a quiet voice, interrupting her thoughts. She wanted to scream. Uncle Alphard had just left her room and all she wanted to do was sit and think, but she looked up to see Narcissa seeming like she was sinking in her skin. "Annie, I can't do it. I'm too scared."

"Can't do what?" she asked somberly, looking up at her sister. "Tell on me? Well thankfully you-"

"No," she sat down on Andromeda's bed and pulled out a small pamphlet and put it in Andromeda's hands. For the moment she was shaken out of her trance of thought.

"Cissy, you're-"

"I don't know. That's why I got it. I need to know." Tears began to squeeze out of her eyes. "I lied. I said I was just cold when I came back wearing his robes but Bella, she told me- she told me I would get over him if I- if we-" she broke off beginning to cry too much to talk. Andromeda reached forward and put her arms around her little sister. "It didn't help. Annie I still want him," she said trembling. "I want him to love me." She kept on crying as Andromeda picked up the pamphlet. There was a simple spell on it in order to tell if someone was pregnant or not. She dropped it back onto the bed as Narcissa pulled back, wiping back her tears with her sleeve. Andromeda pointed her wand at her sister and muttered the spell. A whisp of whitish smoke came out lightly encircling her sister's waist and then disappearing. Andromeda shook her head and Narcissa, to her surprise began to cry again.

"Cissy, it's okay. You're not. They won't know or-"

"I know that! And I should be happy. I should be but- but- Annie I don't know. I would have had someone to love me."

"I love you. Cissy, you know I love you."

"But he's going to take you away."

"There's no Ted any-"

"Not him! You'll lose interest in him and move on eventually. You won't risk everything for a stupid mud-blood. It's Rodolphus," she cried. "Rodolphus is going to take you away."

"I'll still come back."

"He'll break you! I won't have you. Either you'll be like Bella or you'll be a shell, you won't be you." She cried. "I could have slept with Lucius. I could have made him think the baby was his. Nobody but you would know, not even Aias." She continued to sob. "And somebody would love me."

"Cissy, that's not right."

"I know it's not! I didn't want to be pregnant and I'm glad I'm not but I could- If I was-" Andromeda reached out and held her again.

"I'll always love you. No matter what. Even if I am far away, even if I'm not the same, I'll love you, okay?" she asked as she held on to her little sister, feeling her sob.

"Do you promise to always love me? Say you can promise."

"I think it's the only thing I can promise," she muttered, rubbing her sister's back. Narcissa continued to cry until she feel asleep, curled up in Andromeda's arms. Slowly, she untangled herself from her sister and laid Narcissa down on the bed. She made a light noise in her sleep before rolling over on her side, her arms held near to her body. Sighing, Andromeda returned to her own thoughts, still trying to puzzle together her feelings about her uncle's revelation. Her mind was a tangled mess, and she struggled to find an end to begin untangling it with. Narcissa had only added to the confusing. After changing into her pajamas, Andromeda walked back over to her bed and lay down next to her sister, putting her hands behind her head and staring up at the ceiling until she drifted into a light sleep.

She woke up with a bit of a headache, Narcissa still asleep beside her, when she heard a tapping sound at her window. Andromeda rolled off of her bed and headed for the window, both glad and frightened to see the dark owl hovering outside in the early morning light with a letter. As quietly as possible, Andromeda opened the window and let her into the room. Within instants, the bird was darting about everywhere, the flapping of wings sounding impossibly loud to someone who was trying desperately not to awaken her little sister.

"Pip! Pip, settle down," Andromeda squealed quietly as she jumped around, trying to catch the dark owl who was darting about. Normally she was a lot calmer. "Pip, get down here!" Andromeda demanded, her voice still in a hushed whisper. Finally the medium sized owl came down close enough that Andromeda could grab the letter she was carrying before she began to fly about again. Andromeda pointed at the window in annoyance, and the owl gave a quiet, feeble hoot and settle down on top of the dresser. With a nod of approval, Andromeda sank down in her desk chair and began opening her letter before Pip flew down and sat on the desk. She gave a light hoot and Andromeda sighed before opening her middle drawer. "You know my room too well," she hissed to the owl as she handed over an owl treat. Pip took her new treasure up to Andromeda's window and waited for it to be opened. Andromeda let her out and then opened her letter, casting a glance over at her bed where Narcissa didn't appear to have moved. After seeing by Narcissa's gentle breathing that she was really asleep, Andromeda began to read her letter.

Dear Dromeda,

I'm sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry about Pip. Really, really sorry. Kitty decided it would be fun to feed her lots and lots of owl treats. If she managed to convince you to give her another owl treat, well, I told her not too. Both Kitty and Pip. Apparently I have no luck getting those of the female type to listen to me, regardless of species.

In case you haven't deduced it from the presence of Kitty both today at Diagon Alley and in stuffing my owl on treats, I'm at my parents' house for the holidays. By the way, Kitty says hi and won't leave me alone until I say hello to you. She and Marianne keep looking over here and giggling like they're both still twelve.

Anyway, I just want to make sure you're alright. Your cousin didn't suspect anything, did he? That was Regulus right? Not Sirius? I'm really surprised Kitty managed to catch on that fast. Although now I have to hear her babbling about how I'm in a Romeo and Juliet type of affair.

Hoping You're Alright,

Ted

Andromeda bit her lip as her eyes scanned over the letter again before she heard Narcissa beginning to stir. She slid the letter under a book and then went and sat down at the edge of her bed, watching as Narcissa's eyes blearily opened. "I think I'm going to head to my own bed now," she muttered quietly.

"Okay," Andromeda agreed. "Are you alright?" Slowly she nodded as she began climbing out of the bed, making her way towards the door. She froze right next to the doorway.

"What's wrong?" Andromeda asked, crawling off her bed and heading towards her sister.

"Bella's out there; I can hear her voice."

"So?"

"She's got a boy with her," Narcissa added as Andromeda walked up and stood behind her.

"So that's Andromeda's room?" the boy Narcissa had mentioned spoke up and Andromeda felt a shiver go down her spine. It was Rodolphus. Narcissa cast a worried glance back at her. Andromeda shook her head and placed her hands on her younger sister's shoulders, listening carefully.

"Leave her alone, Rodolphus," Bellatrix said tiredly. It sounded as if they'd stopped in the hallway right in front of her door.

"I just want to give her a good-night kiss. Or a wake-up one as the case may be," he replied. Andromeda glared at the door.

"Not after what happened a week ago."

"It's not my fault I couldn't get any response out of her," he snorted.

"They'll be plenty of time for that."

"Wish it was you instead."

"No you don't. You can't control me," Bellatrix told him. "And you chose Annie. Go away Rodolphus. You've brought me home. That's as far as you go."

"I chose her when she was thirteen. I was only seventeen myself. I thought the world was going to stay the same; that it would be about bearing children and seducing the ministry. I was naïve."

"I don't believe you've ever been naïve." Bellatrix bit back. "Besides, I'm taken."

"Not in a way your parents will recognize. You'll be married eventually. Why not to me?"

"Is that what this is about? You want what he has? You think you're good enough for what he has?" she asked angrily.

"Hardly. But I'm different than anyone else you could end up with. I'll understand when you need to be his and not mine. Ouch!"

"I am not my sister and you would do well to remember that. When I don't wish to be touched by the likes of you, I won't be, got it?"

"Perfectly clear," he growled.

"Now go away."

"No. Not until I get an answer."

"No. I won't be yours. Not now, not ever. I belong to him and no one else."

"The Dark Lord would not object as long as I didn't hold you back from what you are doing for him, for the world. I saw you fight tonight Bella. I want you. I want you not that coward you have as your sister."

"Annie is no coward. Anything but. Not everyone shows bravery by returning blow for blow. Annie is many things, not all of them positive, I'll be the first to admit, but she's no coward. If she was, she would have kissed the likes of you back."

"That's what I want."

"Then you want Cissy, not Annie, and certainly not me. And fortunately for Cissy, she's already taken."

"Hey!"

"Let go of me!"

"You don't like me."

"I like you when you're not making advances at me. I'm taken."

"He wants you married. It avoids suspicions."

"Marrying my sister's fiancé doesn't. Good-night Rodolphus," Bellatrix told him firmly. Andromeda heard footsteps in the hallway as Bellatrix went of too her room and a pop that signaled that Rodolphus had just left.

"What did they do tonight?" Narcissa breathed in fear.

"What?"

"He said, he saw her fight tonight. It sounded like he saw her being brave," Narcissa explained. Andromeda shook her head.

"I don't know." Andromeda shook her head to clear the muddiness that had overtaken it and then took a deep breath before opening the door.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm not waiting for the paper."

"It'll be here soon and then- Annie we know it's probably bad, okay? It doesn't matter."

"Of course it matters! We're living in a house with a murderer, don't you see that? And we don't even know what all she's done."

"Not now. Please! Let's just go to bed and in the morning-"

"It is morning," she said as she reached Bellatrix's door, Narcissa at her heels.

"You know what I mean." Andromeda shook her head, her hand on Bellatrix's door knob.

"Yes I do. But I want answers." She shoved open the door seeing from a lump on the bed that Bellatrix was already asleep, seeming uninhibited by her actions. Andromeda felt herself shaking. "Get up," she said harshly.

"Annie?" Bellatrix asked blearily.

"Get up."

"Can't this wait? I had a late night. I just got in a few minutes ago."

"I'd realized," Andromeda growled. "Get up."

"No."

"What have you done?"

"Done with who?" she yawned, sitting up in bed and shoving back the covers.

"You know who," Andromeda demanded.

"I didn't do anything permanent to them," she growled back. "I didn't kill them so stop your worrying. Go back to bed."

"Then what did you do to them?" Andromeda asked darkly.

"Annie, come on. Let's just go," Narcissa suggested.

"No! I want an answer."

"I didn't kill them!" Bellatrix insisted, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

"What did you do with them? Where are they now?"

"With him," she answered, standing up. She was a couple inches taller than Andromeda and she was using that as best she could right now. She wanted her to stand down, to leave the issue alone.

"And what's he going to do with them?"

"Kill them I'd imagine," she shrugged. "After he's gotten what he wants out of them."

"Then you as good as killed them, didn't you?"

"No she didn't!" Narcissa yelped, suddenly appearing at Andromeda's side. "Annie, she didn't! It's not the same."

"No, Annie's right. I did as good as kill them," Bellatrix admitted. Andromeda glared at her, at her casual tone.

"No, you didn't Bella. You didn't!" Narcissa insisted.

"Why?" Andromeda snarled, feeling her back tighten, making her as near as possible to her sister's height.

"Did you want me to try and explain this to you again?" Bellatrix asked in boredom.

"How can you- how are you- It's wrong Bella! It's desperately wrong!" she yelped.

"You just don't understand," Bella said, her voice slightly scolding. She shook her head. "You're just too soft to get it. Maybe Rodolphus was right. You are a coward. You're afraid of change." Without thinking, Andromeda darted forward, pressing her sister into the wall, her wand to her throat.

"Annie!" Narcissa yelled.

"I'm not a coward and you know it. No one could be your sister and still be a coward," she growled. "You're mean and you're crazy and you're a murderer, cold-blooded murderer. I can't stand you!" she yelped, digging her wand in further to her sister's neck.

"You wouldn't do anything to me. You wouldn't hurt your sister," Bellatrix answered, her eyes narrowed and her voice sounding strange with a wand pressed to her air way.

"That's what I thought too," Andromeda replied darkly and was rewarded with a brief flash of fear in Bellatrix's eyes.

"That was an accident."

"Doesn't mean it didn't happen. I have the scar to prove it."

"What are you talking about?" Narcissa asked worriedly.

"You still won't do it," Bellatrix said, the fear fading from her eyes as she looked at Andromeda. "You wouldn't hurt someone you loved. You love me, Annie. You can say whatever you like about me but you still love me. You know you do."

"N-not anymore," she said, her stomach beginning to twist. "I hate you Bella. I hate you for what you've done." Bellatrix's eyes widened and she looked nearer to tears than Andromeda had seen her in ages.

"Annie, you don't mean that! She doesn't mean it Bella."

"I do too," Andromeda replied stubbornly. Her eyes caught on Bellatrix's. "I do."

"You still wouldn't," Bellatrix said, glancing down at the wand on her throat, not in fear but seeming disheartened.

"You don't know that," Andromeda retorted though her arm was slackening. Slowly, Bellatrix reached up her hand and grabbed Andromeda's wrist as if to move it. Andromeda snapped, furling back into Narcissa. "Don't touch me!"

"Oaof," Narcissa grunted as she tumbled to the ground.

"Annie," Bellatrix pleaded. Andromeda kept backing up as Narcissa scooted out of the way, not bothering or perhaps maybe not thinking to get to her feet.

"No."

"Andromeda, please."

"No." She was nearly at the door now.

"Say you didn't mean it! Say it!" Bellatrix yelled hurrying across the room and slamming the door closed. Her arms fell on either side of Andromeda's shoulders, one hand leaning against the door and the other against the wall, Andromeda in between. Narcissa shuffled to her feet, standing a few feet behind them, her blue eyes wide as she watched.

"I don't know! I don't know, just leave me alone! Give me five minutes to think."

"Annie-"

"You too, Cissy!" Andromeda yelped at her as she ducked down to escape from between Bellatrix's arms and opened the door, hurrying into her room. She stared around for a moment before grabbing a robe from her wardrobe and flinging it on her bed as she pulled off her pajamas.

"What are you doing?" Narcissa asked, appearing in the doorway as Andromeda pulled on her robe and shoving half the contents of her desk top where her spending money was spread out in to her pocket.

"Going out," she growled.

"Where?"

"I don't know."

"How long are you going to be gone?"

"I don't know."

"Who are you going to see?"

"I don't know. Merlin, Cissy, I don't know. Why do you think I know anything, anything at all?" she asked, brushing past her sister. She saw a look of pain come across her little sister's face and a flash of last night's conversation came into her head. "I'll come back," she added un-heartedly.

"Promise me," Narcissa demanded.

"I promise."

"You promise to come back?"

"I promise," Andromeda replied in annoyance as she hurried down the stairs.

"Swear it!"

"Cissy, I'll come back, just leave me be!" Andromeda yelled at her as she opened the door into the white world outside. The cold air hit her hard as the wind swirled around her, catching her hair and twisting its wild locks around her face as she slammed the door behind her.

Her feet led her along the road, the growing storm making her nearly imperceptible to passersby. Her head was tossing back and forth. She remembered Rodolphus a week ago, her encounter with Ted, her uncle's memories, Narcissa's confession, and her fight with Bellatrix. "I just want to make sure you're alright." "Promise not to hurt her again." "Do you promise to always love me?" "You love me Annie." She bit her lip, trying hard not to cry. Her mind felt pulled and stretched.

"You don't want to have to make that choice Annie. You don't want to be given an ultimatum, especially not now. Things are dangerous right now." Andromeda reached into her pocket with her left hand as she stuck out her right hand to call the Knight Bus. Perhaps she would go to Diagon Alley. At least there she could be warm in her solitude. Or somewhere. There had to be somewhere she could go. Hogsmeade maybe. She could go back to school early. Her hand fell on a crinkled piece of paper. "The choice is yours," she remembered her uncle telling her as the Knight Bus lurched to a stop in front of her. She looked up the conductor.

"Hullo there. Where you headed?"

"I don't have a clue. But I know where you can take me," she told him, stepping on to the bus, the piece of paper held tightly in her hand.

Sorry that this chapter is kind of a hodgepodge of different things. Anyway, next chapter is the last one in part two (so on to the third part). Hope everyone had a happy Halloween!