Word Count: 1200
They're halfway through dinner when Andromeda decides that she can't hold it in anymore. She takes a deep breath and sets her fork down. "Mother, Father," she says, and her heart is racing so fast that her chest aches. "I have something to tell you."
Bellatrix catches her gaze, eyes narrowing. She knows exactly what Andromeda is going to say. As a warning, she shakes her head, her meaning clear.
Don't do this. You're making a mistake.
But Andromeda doesn't think she is. How can falling in love really be a mistake.
"I… I know that it is tradition for you to choose my future husband, but I have decided to save you the trouble." If she phrases it that way, maybe they will see it as a favor and ignore who it is that she has fallen in love with.
Her mother's head tips curiously to the side. "You have chosen?" she asks. "How unconventional."
"How scandalous!" Narcissa chimes in, giggle with a little too much excitement.
Andromeda clears her throat. "Quite," she agrees, hoping they can leave it at that.
"And what is wrong with Antonin Dolohov?" her father demands.
"To be fair, he has the personality of wet bread," Bellatrix mutters, and Andromeda is surprised. It's something close to defense.
Her father scowls, pouring himself another generous helping of Scotch. "Well? Who is he, then? Maybe you will get lucky, Andromeda."
Her mother tenses. Is she resentful? Andromeda knows that she never wanted to marry her Andromeda's father, that she had been bound by duty. Andromeda almost feels bad for her.
"Ted," Andromeda answers. "Ted Tonks."
"The Mudblood?" Narcissa demands, nose wrinkling.
"Don't call him that!" Andromeda snaps, and she wants to reach for her wand and hex the tongue right out of her younger sister's skull.
"It's what he is," Bellatrix says dryly. "He is a Mudblood, Andi, and you know that we would never destroy our family's reputation that way."
But Andromeda doesn't care about their reputation. Isn't it time for their family to move on? These prejudices are outdated. She once held them, but Ted has shown her another way; he has opened her eyes, and she can't ever go back to the way things once were.
"What's so special about him?" Narcissa asks, folding her arms over her chest. "He is just a man. Just a boring man."
"Enough!" Their father rises to his feet. "I will hear no more of this Tonks boy. Andromeda, you will marry Antonin, and you will never even think about this Mudblood again. Do I make myself clear?"
She wants to argue, but there's such a sharp finality in his words. Her voice falters. Andromeda hangs her head in defeat. "Yes, Father," she says in a whispered hiss.
…
Bellatrix is practically gloating when she walks into Andromeda's bedroom that night. Andromeda scowls, smoothing out the creases in her lemon yellow nightgown.
"You should have defended me!" Andromeda snaps, squaring her shoulders. "I am your sister!"
Bellatrix rolls her eyes and waves a dismissive hand, unimpressed by Andromeda's display of emotions. "Exactly. You are my sister, and I love you. That's why I'm trying to protect you from making the biggest mistake of your life, Andi!"
Andromeda scoffs. "My happiness is not a mistake."
"Do you think I will be happy with Rodolphus? The man is weak and spineless," Bellatrix says, stepping closer. She rests a surprisingly gentle hand on Andromeda's shoulder. "Happiness can be sacrificed, but our family's honor can't."
It's something that has been drilled into her brain from an early age. Family comes before everything. The Blacks are an ancient and noble family, and they will not tolerate those who refuse to comply.
Andromeda had never imagined that she would ever be faced with this choice. Does she defy her family and cling to her own happiness? She has seen the tapestry at Aunt Walburga's; she knows exactly what happens to those who do not get in line and go with the flow. Can she really risk it?
Truthfully, she is afraid. She wishes she could be brave enough to believe that love is all she needs to save herself. In the end, she doesn't think that she has the strength.
"I love you," Bellatrix says, patting her cheek affectionately. "When this is over, you'll see that, and you'll forget you ever thought you loved him."
Andromeda doesn't believe that. She loves Ted in a way that can never be duplicated. It is her once-in-a-lifetime love. Still, she smiles. "I'm sure you're right, Bella."
"Of course I am."
…
She's lost in a deep sleep when she hears a voice whisper her name. Andromeda groans, covering her face with her pillow. "Go to bed, Bellatrix," she says in sleepy, heavy tones.
"Andromeda!"
That isn't her sister's voice. Andromeda sits up, the pillow falling into her lap. She blinks in confusion, wondering if she is somehow still asleep.
No. Her mother is at her bedside, dressed in her nightgown. Her blonde hair is pulled back into a messy braid with stray hairs sticking out, indicating that she has at least been lying down.
"Mother? What is it? Has something happened?"
"This boy you love," her mother says, taking her hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze, "does he love you?"
Andromeda hesitates. Why does this feel like a trap?
If it were anyone else in the house, maybe it would be. But not her mother. The older woman understands better than anyone else.
"He asked me to marry him," Andromeda admits. "His family has a little cottage by the sea."
"Is he good to you?"
Andromeda smiles at that. Good. Ted is nothing but good. Even on her worst days, when she is not easy to love, he is always there with kind words and a smile. He kisses her until she feels better, until she can smile too.
"He's wonderful," Andromeda says, nodding. "I think you would like him, Mother."
"I already do." Her mother closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. There's an emotion on her face that Andromeda cannot quite name. Pain? Acceptance? Her eyes open again, and she offers Andromeda a smile. "I loved someone like that once."
"Who was it?"
Andromeda has always wondered, but she hasn't asked. She has her suspicions.
Her mother shakes her head. "It doesn't matter. I missed my chance, but you…" She looks at Andromeda with a wistful look of longing. "You can be happy."
She can barely believe what she's hearing. Is it really possible that her mother is giving her blessing?
"Go to him. I have a little bit of gold I will send to you at our Paris estate this weekend," she says. "It will be enough to get you set up and comfortable for a while."
Andromeda climbs out of bed, her head spinning. This is really happening.
"Thank you," she whispers.
Her mother nods. "I only wish that I was brave enough to choose my own happiness. Go. You need to leave tonight."
It turns out to be harder to leave than she thought, but, somehow, she finds the strength. She will get through this; she will be happy.
