Written for the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition.
Team: Holyhead Harpies
Position: Keeper
Prompt: cruelty
Word count: 1780
AN/ Big thanks to the Harpies, Romystical and gingerdream for their help and their beta powers. To no one's surprise, this is angst. I can't seem to be able to write anything else, no matter how much I try or want to. Hope you enjoy.
the blood that binds us
Anyone who knew Andromeda Tonks would describe her as a caring and loving woman. The war had wreaked havoc in her life and she mourned the loss of her family dearly, but her dotting and kind nature was still visible in how she took care of her grandson. Little Teddy was the only thing that held her sanity together on her worst days and the sun in her life on her best.
Andromeda was extremely proud of those qualities because it held her apart from her biological family. After being raised in the Black household, she doubted her ability to be a good person more times than she could count, even with the Black family's presence was long gone from her life. She'd distanced herself as much as she could, by now the only visible connection to her old family being her similar appearance to her older sister. She'd changed her name, her beliefs; she buried Andromeda Black as deeply under the surface as she could.
Which was why she had to ground herself when she heard the front door open. Only people that knew her came in through the Floo; the rest couldn't get past the wards at all. The front door could only mean one thing.
"'Meda?"
"Do not call me that, Narcissa." the widow bit out in reply, turning to face the blonde witch that entered the living room. Narcissa's posture was more timid than usual, but still held a sense of pride, with her head still held high – thinking that she still owned the world, even after everything.
"You have no right to that name anymore. You have no right to barge into my home like this either. The wards-"
"Blood wards, 'Meda. No matter how much you deny it, you still have Black blood running in your veins. The wards recognize family, even if you don't." Narcissa waved her off, her voice lilted with that tone of certainty that only a lifelong sense of superiority could give. It was a sound Andromeda could have gone without for the rest of her life.
"I hope the irony of your words is not lost on you, sister. You are one to talk about family. This is the first time we've seen each other after nearly 40 years and you're still the same cowardly little girl you were back then." Andromeda sneered openly. There were very few things that could upset the gentle witch and Narcissa Malfoy was most of them in one.
"You are right." Narcissa's statement left the older witch momentarily shocked. "I've come here to make amends. I know it's been a long time but you're still my family. We're the last true Blacks, 'Meda, father would want us to reconcile for the House's sake."
"Oh, would he now?" Andromeda let out a cackle, the sound eerily similar to that of her deranged sister. "Would Father be desperate enough to sully himself by associating with a mudblood lover for a daughter? Is rebuilding the House that ruined our lives and the lives of so many others important enough for you to lower yourself and socialize with scum like me? Will the burn at the tapestry be hidden away for the sake of pretense?"
"Be reasonable, Andromeda. You were always one for emotional displays but this is important business. Draco is still too young to be appointed Head of House and we need to discard our petty differences and save our heritage." Narcissa scoffed, her accompanying hand movement dainty, graceful and dismissive, irritatingly so.
"Petty differences? You threw me out! Father left me penniless and Mother burned my face off the family tapestry so that I wouldn't sully our pure bloodline! You cared more about your societal standing than your own sister! You acted like I was never born and, at times, I wished I wasn't." Andromeda was left breathless and her hand was itching to grab her wand and hex her sister seven ways to Sunday.
"Do you know how hard it was trying to navigate a pregnancy on my own? See, you had Druella and Cordelia to look after you and guide you through it. I bet they were so proud to have an heir. But I realized something – the first time Ted took me to a muggle doctor. He knew more about what was happening to my own body than me. Any idea why that is? Let me tell you; our families condition us to be dependent on them even when we're supposed to be married and independent.
So, while you were treated to the comforts of Malfoy Manor and the dotting of the best medi-witches, I had to face it all on my own. I had to go through the pain of labour on my own. I had to reassure my baby girl that she was good enough because her own family didn't want to recognize her existence! Because they thought her filthy, sullied! My baby girl, who was taken by that manic bitch you're now claiming to be my blood! No, Narcissa, there are no petty differences to resolve. The Ancient and Noble House of Black can burn to the fucking ground for all I care – hopefully with dear Mother and Father in it."
There was a moment's silence as both witches tried to process the outburst. The wounds were still fresh and raw and, while Andromeda talked, they reopened. Memories of her past life flashed before her eyes as she fought not to collapse; memories of when she first met Ted, when they first realized she was pregnant, when Dora first realized her metamorphmagus abilities, when her grandson had first gripped onto her finger – right before his mother left to fight a battle that would leave him an orphan.
Not now, Dromeda.
Never show emotions in public. One of the many Black lessons that had been beaten into her. She'd tried to reject most of them but some would always remain ingrained to her DNA.
"You need to leave."
"I will do no such thing! Andromeda, contain yourself, please, this is embarrassing." The older flinched at the last word. "You knew what the repercussions for your choices would be and you made them anyway; there's no one to blame for that but you. What happened to Nymphadora was terribly sad – I'm a mother too, I know how you feel. This is beyond us though, it is our sacred duty!" Narcissa made a last-ditch attempt – although it was clear Andromeda's mind was set.
"You have no idea how I feel." Something had clicked in her mind and Andromeda Tonks was gone; the cold, simmering rage that was signature of the house of Black had taken her place. There would be no more yelling or emotionally charged words. Andromeda Black knew not to show emotion – just like she knew to strike where it hurt the most.
"Your son is alive. Your husband is alive – for now. Though your family is far from safe, is it? Death Eater scum. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. You don't care about our House; you care about the good publicity. If an Order widow forgave you, the public certainly would too. Long lost sisters reconcile, putting old prejudice aside for a brighter future. Is that the headline you wanted, Narcissa?
I can give you a few better ones. Long standing Death Eater receives the Kiss, is now a walking corpse locked away in the darkest cell of Azkaban. Turn to page 5 to see how his cowardice failed to save the great Lucious Malfoy. Wait, I have a better one. Draco Malfoy attacked in the street by Order supporters. Draco Malfoy found dead in his own bed because he couldn't bear the consequences of his actions. Like father like son, after all. Malfoy vaults empty, businesses bankrupt, the most respected wizarding family reduced to mere beggars."
Andromeda was seething with a mad fury that would have made the late Bellatrix Lestrange proud. She'd already held no regard for Narcissa's feelings at the start of their encounter, but by now she was striking for the kill without a second thought. She wanted to make her little sister feel all the pain she felt — and she wanted to enjoy it.
"Your sister took my daughter away. Your sister left my grandson an orphan. Your great lord took my husband and son-in-law away. There is no forgiveness to be found here for you, Narcissa Malfoy. You have finally run out of Hail Marys' and it feels so good to watch you flounder. You will sink right to the bottom of the pit with your vermin husband and your vermin son. You will suffer and you will finally fall from your pedestal and there is nothing between you and the cold, hard ground. I hope it hurts when you crash. I hope it hurts when you see your son suffer – the perfect product of your perfect upbringing and your perfect marriage. I hope it hurts when your world crumbles around you, when you try to claw your way out as the sand pulls you under. Maybe then you'll feel a fraction of what I feel. I will not wish death upon you or your family; death is too kind for you anyway. No, I want you to ache every single day for the rest of your miserable life, knowing you are the only one to blame. Now I won't ask you again: Leave."
Narcissa's mask slipped only for a second but it was enough to uncover the wounded look in her eyes. A few years ago, the sight would have moved Andromeda; however, after everything that had happened, it only satisfied the deep, primal part of her that had been awoken and hungered for revenge.
"For all your big talk, you're still as cruel as the best of them. No matter how much you deny it, you're still a Black, through and through. It's in your blood, big sister, you will always be one of us."
As the door shut behind Narcissa, a vase exploded. As the wards rippled with the force of Apparition, the fireplace roared to life, like a lion kind asserting his dominance. As the minutes passed, Andromeda could feel the tension melting away from her body. Her knees buckled and she couldn't be bothered to hold herself up anymore, crumpling to a heap on the floor as the first of many sobs escaped her.
Anyone who knew Andromeda Tonks would describe her as sweet and kindhearted. And she was; until the monster that lurked beneath the surface decided to emerge. Merlin save whoever happened to cross her path then. For Hell hath no fury like Andromeda Black.