A/N Finally back with an update! There are direct quotes from Half-Blood Prince, and I do NOT know own them. They belong to JK Rowling. It is NOT word from word, however.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Andromeda blinked, expecting the image of her daughter to disappear when she opened her eyes. However, that was not the case. Still she stood, a shocked expression on her face at the presence of her mother. Soon shock turned to anger, and her eyes turned hard. She gulped, masking the grief that her daughter's glare caused her.
A wrinkled hand grabbed her daughter's shoulder, and Andromeda bit back a gasp. Dora jumped, and the hand pulled her out of the room before a commotion could be caused. Turning back to the table, she saw Rodolphus holding a sobbing Narcissa as an awkward looking Bellatrix tried to calm her down. Figuring she wouldn't be missed, she escaped the room from where Dora disappeared.
She found Dora in the drawing room standing in front of her mother. "You're-you're the woman from the picture. So if- I don't," Dora panted, placing her hand on her forehead.
"Andromeda, come here." She said, waving her unoccupied in her direction. "We've got a bit of an issue." Druella sighed, taking a sip of her strawberry daiquiri.
"What are you doing here?" She whispered, stepping closer to her daughter.
"I just-" She took a deep breath, "All I remember is dueling Bellatrix, having a terrible headache, and Dumbledore and You-Know-Who were dueling. I didn't know what to do, didn't want to get caught, and I saw Bellatrix sliding towards the Floo, so I grabbed her cloak, and-"
"We get it," Druella smirked. She glanced down at the glass and lifted it towards her. "You want some? You need a little something to calm your nerves."
She shook her head nervously, avoiding her mother's gaze.
"We'll hide her." Andromeda decided, moving closer to Nymphadora.
Druella snorted rather unladylike, "Where?"
"The cellar," She answered plainly, "No one's down there now, and they won't know she's here, mother."
Druella frowned before taking another sip of her drink, "Alright. Better make this quick. Haven't put a dent in the new wine collection yet." Andromeda nodded, taking her daughter's arm gently to lead her to the cellar.
"You're making me your prisoner."
"We're protecting you." Druella said pointedly, taking a hold of her chin affectionately. Dora shied away from her, and her hair turned a mousy brown.
"You're my grandmother?"
Druella laughed softly, "'What have you taught her, Andromeda? Can't even recognize her own grandmother." She sighed dramatically.
"She came and visited you!"
Druella rolled her eyes. "Not enough to fill my grandmotherly needs!"
"You have no needs," Andromeda chuckled.
"I thought you were dead." Dora whispered.
"Unfortunately, I'm not." Druella said, a sadistic edge seeping into her tone. Dora blinked confusedly, and opened her mouth to say something before closing it quickly.
They had reached the stairs in no time. Opening the cellar door, they were met with the sight of cobwebs, dust, skeletons, and more dust. Druella gasped as her heel crushed a skull.
"This may need some cleaning, sorry." She smiled sheepishly.
"This hasn't been used for a few generations." Andromeda frowned.
"It's fine." Dora sighed, plopping down on the floor and putting her hands over her face.
"Leave us alone for a minute, mother. I would like to speak with her." Druella nodded, glancing back at Nymphadora with a concerned look.
As she passed Andromeda, she leaned towards her ear and whispered, "Told you she'd come back," She turned her head back just enough to see Nymphadora, "Didn't expect her so soon though," She cackled drunkenly and ran up the stairs.
"That was stupid of you." Andromeda chastised, sinking next to her on the floor.
"Hypocrite. We haven't seen each other in months, and that's the first thing you say to me?" She shook her head and dropped her hands in her lap. "Hypocrite."
Andromeda shook her head, as if accepting her criticism. "You still shouldn't have gone with Bellatrix. Be glad she didn't notice."
"Why didn't she?"
"She was too upset. The prophecy was dropped, and The Dark Lord has promised to punish us."
Nymphadora snorted, "You call him the Dark Lord?" She said, unbelieving.
Andromeda nodded, looking ashamed. After a moment of silence, Andromeda rose and swiped the dust off of her trousers. "I'll be back to check on you soon. Your grandmother and I will bring you down some food. Don't make too much noise. You don't want anyone to know you're down here." Nymphadora turned away from her and laid down on the floor, using an arm bone as a pillow.
Many miles away the chilly most that had pressed against the Prime Minister's windows drifted over a dirty river that wound between overgrown, rubbish-strewn banks. An immense chimney, relic of a disused mill, reared up, shadowy and ominous. There was no sound apart from the whisper of the black water and no sign of life apart from a scrawny fox that had slunk down the bank to nose hopefully at some old fish-and chip wrappings in the tall grass.
But them, with a very faint POP, a slim, hooded figure appeared out of thin air on the edge of the river. The fox froze, wary eyes fixed upon this strange new phenomenon. The figure seemed to take its bearings for a few moments, then set off with light, quick strides, it's long cloak rustling over the grass.
With a second, two louder pops, and two hooded figure materialized.
"Wait!"
The harsh cry startled the fox, now crouching almost flat in the undergrowth. It leapt from its hiding place and up the bank. There was a flash of green light, a yelp, and the fox fell back to the ground, dead.
The third figure turned over the animal with its toe.
"Just a fox," Said a woman's voice dismissively from under the hood. "I thought perhaps an Auror- Cissy, wait!"
"Go back Bella! I've listened already. I've made my decision. Leave me alone!"
Side by side they stood looking across the road at the rows and rows of dilapidated brick houses, their windows dull and blind in the darkness.
"He lives here?" Andromeda asked in a voice of contempt. "Here? In the Muggle dunghill?"
"We must be the first of our kind ever to set foot-" Bella trailed off as they stood in front of the door. "He can't be trusted, Cissy."
"The Dark Lord trusts him, doesn't he?"
"The Dark Lord is... I believe... Mistaken," Bella panted.
Narcissa knocked on the door anyway, ignoring Bella's pleas to leave. After a few seconds, they heard movement behind the door and it opened a crack. A sliver a man could be seen looking out at them, a man with long black hair parted in curtains around a sallow face and black eyes.
"Narcissa!" Said the man, opening a door a little wider, so that the light fell upon her and her sisters too. "What a pleasant surprise!"
"Severus," She said in a strained whisper. "May I speak to you? It's urgent."
"But of course."
He stood back to allow her to pass him into the house. Her still-hooded sisters followed without invitation.
"Snape," She said curtly as she passed him.
"Bellatrix," He replied, his thin mouth curling into a slightly mocking smile as he closed the door with a snap behind them, "Andromeda, I see your safe." He said to her, who had not spoken much the entire night.
Narcissa sunk down on the couch, staring at her white and trembling hands clasped in her lap.
"So what can I do for you?" Snape asked, settling himself in the armchair opposite the three sisters.
"Severus, I'm sorry to come here like this, but I had to see you. I think you are the only one who can help me-"
Snape held up a hand to stop her, then pointed his wand again at the concealed staircase door. There was a loud bang and a squeal, followed by the sound of Wormtail scurrying back up the stairs.
"My apologies," Said Snape. "He has lately taken to listening at the doors. I don't know what he means by it... You were saying, Narcissa?"
She took a great, shuddering breath and started again.
"Severus, I know I ought not to be here, I have been told to say nothing to anyone, but-"
"Then you ought to hold your tongue!" Snarled Bellatrix. "Particularly in present company!"
"Present company?" Repeated Snape sardonically. "And what am I to understand by that, Bellatrix?"
"That I don't trust you, Snape, as you very well known!" Andromeda pulled her back on the couch next to her to keep her from pouncing on the man.
"Andromeda, I think we ought to hear what Bellatrix is bursting to say; it will save tedious interruptions. Well, continue, Bellatrix," said Snape. "Why is it that you do no trust me?"
"Don't answer him, Bellatrix," Andromeda snarled through gritted teeth. Bellatrix glared at her sister before turning away from Snape.
"Now... You came to ask me for help, Narcissa?" Narcissa looked up at him, her face eloquent with despair.
"Yes, Severus. I- I think you are the only one who can help me, I have nowhere else to turn. Lucius is in jail and..." She closed her eyes and two large tears seeped from beneath her eyelids. "The Dark Lord has forbidden me to speak of if," Narcissa continued, her eyes still closed. "He wished none to know of the plan. It is... Very secret. But-"
"If he has forbidden it, you ought not to speak," said Snape at once. "The Dark Lord's word is law."
Bellatrix looked satisfied for the first time since she had entered the house. "There!" She said triumphantly to her sister. "Even Snape says so: You were told not to talk, so hold your silence!" Andromeda sighed and pulled her back against the couch.
"It so happens that I know of the plan," he said in a low voice. "I am one of the few the Dark Lord has told. Nevertheless, had I not been in on the secret, Narcissa, you would have been guilty of great treachery to the Dark Lord."
"You know about the plan?" Said Bellatrix, her fleeting expression of satisfaction replaced by a look of outrage. "You know?"
"Certainly," said Snape. "But what help do you require, Narcissa? If you are imagining I can persuade the Dark Lord to change his mind, I am afraid there is no hope, none at all."
"Severus," she whispered, tears sliding down her pale cheeks. "My son... My only son..."
"Draco should be proud," said Bellatrix indifferently. "The Dark Lord is granting him a great honor."
"And I will say this for Draco: He isn't shrinking away from his duty, he seems glad of a chance to prove himself, excited at the prospect-" Andromeda started, attempting to comfort Narcissa.
"That's because he is sixteen and has no idea what lies in store! Why, Severus? Why my son? It is too dangerous! This is vengeance for Lucius's mistake. I know it!" She sobbed. "That's why he's chosen Draco, isn't it?" She persisted. "To punish Lucius?"
"If Draco succeeds," said Snape, looking away from her, "He will be honored above all others."
"But he won't succeed!" Sobbed Narcissa. "How can he, when the Dark Lord himself-?"
Bellatrix gasped; Narcissa seemed to lose her nerve.
"She didn't mean that, Bellatrix." Andromeda whispered, pulling her back again. Bellatrix elbowed her in the stomach and Andromeda winced.
"It might be possible... For me to help Draco."
"Severus- oh- Severus- you would help him? Would you look after him, see he comes to no harm?"
"I can try."
"If you are there to protect him... Severus, will you swear it? Will you make the Unbreakable Vow?"
"The Unbreakable Vow?"
Snape's expression was blank, unreadable. Bellatrix, however, let out a cackle of triumphant laughter.
"Aren't you listening, Narcissa? Oh, he'll try, I'm sure... The usual empty words, the usual slithering out of action... Oh, on the Dark Lord's orders, of course!"
"Certainly, Narcissa, I shall make the Unbreakable Vow," he said quietly. "Perhaps your sister will be consent to be our Bonder." Bellatrix's mouth fell open. Snape lowered himself so that he was kneeling opposite Narcissa. Beneath Bellatrix's astonished gaze, they grasped right hands. "Andromeda, you will be witness. You will need your wand, Bellatrix."
She stepped forward with Andromeda so that she stood over them, and placed the tip of her wand on their linked hands. "Will you, Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes?" Narcissa spoke.
"I will," said Snape.
A thin tongue of brilliant flame issued from the wand and wound its way around their hands like a red-hot wire.
"And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?"
"I will," said Snape.
A second tongue of flame shot from the wand and interlinked with the first, making a fine, glowing chain.
"And, should I prove necessary... If it seems Draco will fail..." Whispered Narcissa. Snape's hands twitched within hers, but he did not draw away, "Will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord had ordered Draco to perform?"
There was a moment's silence. Bellatrix watched, her wand upon their clasped hands, her eyes wide.
"I will," said Snape.
Bellatrix's astounded face glowed red in the blaze of a third tongue of flame, which shot from the wand, twisted with the others, and bound itself thickly around their clasped hands, like a rope, like a fiery snake.
Dora slammed her head against the wall as the cellar door opened once again. Druella walked in carrying a tray of food and alcohol. "Get up," she demanded. She frowned. "C'mon, no one's home, you're getting out of here."
Dora jumped to her feet, grinning, and followed after her drunken grandmother. She was finally free.
A/N Okay, so I lied, I WAS going to update before Thanksgiving. This chapter was a pain in the tush, but oh well. ATTENTION: If you were confused, there was time jump between the first line break! I'm sorry if you were confused! Anyways, REVIEW!