AN: For the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition.

Round 6: Link 'Em Up

Position: Chaser 1

Team: Ballycastle Bats

Prompt pairing: platonic/familial Andromeda Black & Sirius Black

Optional prompts used:

11. (trait) cheerful

Word count: 1,213

With only a few days before Christmas, Druella and Cygnus demanded a reunion between the two sets of Black families. Mum and Dad dutifully whipped me and Regulus into some semblance of order, shoving us into formal wear and yanking us along by floo to the manor. As if spending the holidays of my first year away from James, Remus, and Peter wasn't bad enough, now I had to be around my bloody extended family in addition to my immediate family members. Compared to my three best mates, even Regulus was mind-numbingly boring.

The only reason I didn't stab out my eyeballs with the fine silver tableware embossed with the Black family crest was because my favourite cousin Andromeda would be there. Even though she was so much older than me, she was still kind and never let on that it was a bother to talk to me. Was it better that she at least pretended to like talking to me? Well, it certainly felt better talking to her than my bloody parents, not to mention batty Bellatrix and priggish Narcissa.

It was snowing outside when the four of us stepped out of the fireplace and into the manor. Mum laid a claw-like hand on my shoulder, hissing in displeasure when I tried to run headlong for the front door, my only thoughts revolving around pelting Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Regulus with handfuls of wet snow stolen. Dad gave me a stern look, his mouth a harsh line. Bloody proper parents.

After barely managing to stay awake through a tedious dinner, Mum and Dad kicked the children out of the sitting room, preferring to discuss adult things over tea and fawn over grown-up Bellatrix. They'd even locked all the doors and windows, leaving my dreams of initiating a snowball fight to melt and drip away.

I scuffed my nice shoes along the dark carpet, turning away from Regulus who had already entrenched himself in studying the massive Black family tree that had been painted on one of the foyer walls, complete with separate gold-framed portraits for each family member of note. There was no moving portrait of me on there, thank Merlin. I'd rather go bald than end up on Dreadful Druella's dusty wall.

Dragging my feet as I paced the foyer, the gilded door closest to me flew open with a bang.

"Sirius! There's my favourite cousin! Made it through that awful Yorkshire pudding?"

I grinned. "Barely."

Andromeda Black, my older cousin of six years, came skipping over to me to ruffle the top of my head. "Glad you made it through. And glad they kept Bella with them." Andromeda's wide, kind eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. "Fancy going outside in the snow?"

"Yes!"

"Sirius," Regulus whined, "Mum and Dad said we're not allowed to go outside."

"That means sod-all," Andromeda said to me, making me laugh.

"The door is locked. How do you reckon you're going to get past that?" Regulus shot back.

She waved her hand. "Don't you worry, Regulus. I can use my wand, unlike you two young hinkypunks."

I spluttered. "Oi! Who're you calling a hinkypunk?!"

She laughed and mussed my hair before walking towards the front door in a swirl of joy. "Fancy joining us, Regulus?" she said, her mouth spread in a cheery grin as she looked over her shoulder at her two younger cousins.

Regulus turned back to the family tree and said nothing, while Andromeda used a non-verbal alohomora to unlock the door. Bounding down the steps, her bubbling laughter made me run headlong after her. I slipped on the icy steps and landed arse-first in a pile of snow.

"Oh, Sirius! Watch where you're going!" she laughed, helping me up and brushing me off before casting a warming charm over both of us.

A snowball hit her on the chest with a wet splat and I burst out laughing. "Watch for the snowballs, Andy!"

She raised her finger at me in mock anger. "You watch who you pick a snowball fight with, little cousin."

We lobbed snowballs at each other as fast as we could to the tune of her peals of laughter. She always made me happy to be around her. Ever cheerful, Andromeda loved to share her joy with those she cared about. We'd both gotten soaked from the slushy snow and our pale cheeks were red by the time we reached a ceasefire. Standing under the intimidating veranda near the front door, she stared out at the falling snow for a long moment.

"Andy?" I asked, my voice sounding squeaky and juvenile to my ears.

She smiled and ruffled my magically-dried hair. "Sorry, Sirius. I'm just thinking about this Muggleborn boy I've met. I think I'm going to marry him. We're both planning for that once we're done at Hogwarts this year."

I stared, feeling like she'd grown leagues taller than me in only one moment. "But… your parents won't like that."

She smiled ruefully. "In the end, it's my life. If I can't do what I want, be who I want, spend time with who I want, then what's the sodding point of it all?"

"I reckon you're right." She was always right; she was six years older than me.

"Ted and I are going to elope and after that… I won't be able to come back home."

"What? Why?"

She smiled sadly at me. "Because I won't be welcome in this house anymore, and not in yours either."

I kicked a heap of snow. "Sounds stupid. You never getting to come back, I mean."

"I know, Sirius. It is bloody stupid. But I won't ever be able to change their minds, and I need to follow my heart. And being around Ted makes me so much happier than any of my family members ever have. I'm willing to chase after that feeling. I'll probably get disowned for following my heart, but it'll be worth it. I know it will."

"So… I'll never get to see you again?" The words accidentally came out in a whine.

Andromeda smiled and brushed some snowflakes from my shoulders. "I hope we'll see each other again, little cousin. But I don't know. I can't make any promises. And I will miss you. You are my favourite cousin."

I grinned up at her. "I'll miss you too, Andy. You're so much better than any of my stuck-up other family members."

She laughed and ruffled my hair. "I snuck us outside, didn't I?"

"Yeah," I agreed, her laughter infectious.

Andromeda led the way back inside, warming us with a flick of her wand. She smiled down at me, her eyes warm and bright even in the gloomy interior of the mansion's entrance hall. "Remember, Sirius. Follow your heart, even if it means going against those around you. And whatever you do, I'll be here to cheer you on."

My face split into a grin. "Thanks, Andy. Always know that you are my favourite cousin."

Her laughter seemed to brighten the room. "And you are mine, even if you are a tiny hinkypunk."

"Who're you calling a hinkypunk?!" I retorted, chasing after her down the hallway. Even though it was always temporary, Andromeda's contagious joy could always brighten my mood when it came to family gatherings.