Written For:
Quidditch Fanfiction League Competition: Caerphilly Catapults - Round 12 - Keeper
Write a soulmate!AU where an arrow on your wrist points you in the direction of your soulmate, like a compass
Betas: CupCakeyyy, Wellwick
Notes: Lucius was born in 1953. Andromeda was born in 1954. Narcissa was born in 1955.
Compass Catastrophe
Sixth-year Lucius stared at his wrist. The arrow was pointing down the Slytherin table. His eyes followed the path of the arrow, and it seemed to point right in between two girls: Narcissa and Andromeda Black.
Despite being in different years, the girls seemed to always be together. They were only a year apart in ages which caused a tight bond to form, especially when their other sister was a little eccentric.
Lucius narrowed his eyes, looking first at the dark-haired sister, then the fairer sister.
Which one was it? They were always together. There was no way to tell to whom his arrow pointed. It was annoying. He frowned and turned his attention back to his dinner plate. 'There has to be a way to separate the two of them. If I can just get one without the other, I'd know for sure who my soulmate was.' If only he was in the same year as Andromeda, then he'd know. One way or another.
xXx
After dinner was over, Andromeda and Narcissa stood up and walked side-by-side back to the Slytherin dormitory.
"He was staring again," Andromeda murmured.
Narcissa glanced down at her wrist where she knew her compass was pointing behind her, in the direction of where they had left Lucius Malfoy mulling over whatever was on his mind. "I know."
"When are you going to put him out of his misery?" Andromeda asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I'm not trying to make him miserable, but he's the man. It's his duty to make the first move towards courtship." She rubbed her hand against her adorned wrist. "Although, I do wish he would hurry up."
"It's possible he's waiting until you're a little older," Andromeda remarked.
Narcissa glared at her older sister. "I'm 15. Not 9. I'm old enough for him to respectfully request my hand in courtship."
Andromeda nodded. "You had a crush on him even before your compass appeared on your wrist. I'm surprised at your patience."
"It's not easy," Narcissa agreed, "but the best things in life are worth waiting for."
"Worth waiting for," Andromeda echoed, looking at her own wrist, the arrow on her compass pointing in the general direction of the Hufflepuff dormitory.
Narcissa watched Andromeda as they walked down the dark steps. "What are you going to do about your soulmate? Mother and Father would never approve."
"I know, but he's my soulmate for a reason. How can I ignore what fate is telling me?"
"Well, you have always been a little different. Not like a normal Black. Just be ready to say goodbye to your family when you make your move because there's no way Ted "Hufflepuff" Tonks will make the first move."
Andromeda nodded. Her sister was right. It would be either Ted or her family, and she had to be ready to make that decision.
xXx
More times than not, Lucius spent his time in the Great Hall watching the sisters.
He watched Narcissa Black, her perfectly proper blonde hair in an updo that would make any Pure-blood witch proud. He watched how her posture was perfectly straight. He watched as her light blue eyes softened with emotion when it came to listening to the woes of her sister. She was attentive to whatever Andromeda needed and never cut her off, waiting patiently before she could say her piece.
Then he would watch Andromeda Black. She was the darker sister, often compared to Bellatrix as their looks were similar. She had the air of Pure-blood aloofness, but Lucius had a hunch that it was all a hoax. That she put on airs to hide the truth from the world. Every now and then, she'd glance over at the Hufflepuff table, and he wondered what was so interesting about the badgers. She was intelligent and serious, but there was a gentleness as well. He imagined she'd make a good healer one day if she continued on her chosen career path.
Lucius frowned. He didn't like the idea of his future wife having a job, so maybe his soulmate was Narcissa.
Narcissa arched an eyebrow at something Andromeda said. She glanced over at the Hufflepuff table and lightly nudged Andromeda with an elbow. Both girls looked and their eyes locked on a Hufflepuff that was in Andromeda's year. A Mud-blood. Tonks. Narcissa smirked at her sister.
Then again, Narcissa was younger. He'd probably be much more compatible with Andromeda. She was mature and knew what she wanted in the world.
Lucius nodded to himself as he stood up. He had made his choice.
xXx
Narcissa had just taken a small bite of her stew when she heard a throat clearing behind her. She put her spoon down and shifted in her seat, turning her body so she could look. Andromeda did the same.
She smiled as she looked up at Lucius Malfoy. Today must finally be the day. And he was going to request her hand in courtship in front of the whole school. If she was that type of girl, she might have swooned at the romance of it all.
Lucius bowed formally, a smile on his face. He glanced at her, and then he turned his full attention onto Andromeda.
Narcissa frowned. 'What's going on?'
"Andromeda Black, it would be an honor if you'd formally accept my offer of courtship so we can one day be married."
Whispers broke out amongst everyone in the Great Hall. Slytherins were impassively watching. Gryffindors were snickering. Ravenclaws were studying them. Hufflepuffs were exclaiming with shocked looks, except for one lone Hufflepuff that stared at his wrist before looking at Andromeda, anger written on the normally sweet-faced boy.
Andromeda's eyes were big, her mouth forming a perfect 'O' in her surprise. She looked over at Narcissa, her face all too apologetic.
Narcissa stood up. "You're asking to court my sister?" she whispered, keeping her face expressionless in order to not add fuel to the gossip that this was surely going to garner.
Lucius looked at her oddly. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Why wouldn't you?" Narcissa asked incredulously. She showed her wrist. "Some soulmate you turned out to be!"
She stormed away, doing her best to keep her tears at bay. 'How could he do this to me?'
xXx
Andromeda quickly left Lucius standing there. The normally unflappable Slytherin looked gobsmacked, and it was sure to be the talk of the school tomorrow.
Ted moved to come after her, but Andromeda minutely shook her head. She needed to speak to Ted about what she wanted to do, but that could wait. Narcissa needed her now.
The brunette hurried out of the Great Hall, following her sister. There was no sight of her anyway, but Andromeda had a feeling that she would run back to the common room, which was where she found her.
Narcissa was in her room in the dormitory. She sat on her bed, staring at the wall, unblinking.
Andromeda moved to sit on the bed, but Narcissa said, "Don't."
It stopped her in her tracks. "Cissa, are you okay? Do you want to talk?" Andromeda asked.
Narcissa took a deep breath. "Do I want to talk? My soulmate asked to court you, and your question is if I want to talk?"
Andromeda bit her bottom lip. "I'm not sure what's going on in Malfoy's head. He must have a reasonable explanation for the mistake. But you said it. He's your soulmate, and I'm sure he'll make this right with you." She thought that would make Narcissa feel better.
She was wrong.
Narcissa shook her head. "You don't get it." She stood up from her bed, her pale cheeks flushed with either rage or sorrow. It was hard to tell.
"I had feelings for Lucius even before I knew he was my soulmate. I don't want him to be with me just because a compass tells him to. I'm not sure what's going on with his compass, but when it came down to it, he chose you. He wanted you to be his soulmate."
Andromeda moved to hug her.
Narcissa backed away, the back of her legs bumping into the bed frame. "Don't touch me," she demanded.
"You're not blaming me, are you? I had nothing to do with his choice!"
"Except you're so perfect that he couldn't resist you. I wonder what he'll do when he finds out you're nothing but a Mud-blood lover."
"Narcissa," Andromeda exclaimed, hurt by her sister's words.
"Go away," Narcissa commanded. "I'm done with you."
Andromeda gulped down the lump that had formed in her throat. "You don't mean that. You're hurt right now. Malfoy hurt you. You're lashing out. We'll talk again when you've had time to calm down."
Narcissa didn't respond. It was more like Andromeda was saying it to herself, after all, like she was trying to convince herself that things would resolve themselves.
Andromeda walked out of the room. She was sure her and her sister would patch things up. No way could Narcissa stay angry at something that wasn't even Andromeda's fault. She wasn't sure if Narcissa would forgive Lucius for his faux pas, but she certainly did not want to be the blond. He might have to grovel to be granted her forgiveness.
Andromeda and Narcissa would talk later and the young Black hoped with all her might that she would be able to make her sister see reason. But right now, there was still time before curfew. Maybe she could find Ted so they could have their long-overdue talk.
XX
(word count: 1,588)