School: Mahoutokoro

Year: 7

Prompt: (Sound) laughter

Word count: 799

Title: When Beautiful Memories Turn to Ashes

The beautiful sound of music put Andromeda at ease as she played the pianoforte. Despite being a melancholic tune, it was her favourite.

She felt a smile creep on her face as her practise was interrupted by her sisters melodic laughter. Her mother complained that her dreary taste in music would make her irritable, but the dulcet tones of laughter kept Andromeda from being so.

It was a bright, sunny Sunday and the girls were enjoying their break from studies. Andromeda was angled away from the windows that overlooked the yard, and couldn't see what her sisters were doing outside. Though she was sure Bella had lured sweet Cissa into aiding her in some mischief or the other.

Andromeda felt a grin creep onto her face as her sisters let out another peal of raucous laughter. Narcissa's laugh was sweet and as angelic as she looked. But Bella's laugh always made her happy.

It wasn't melodic in the least. Quite the opposite, actually. It would start with a snort, and then she would dissolve into hysterical fits of joyous giggles. It was difficult not to be merry with her when she laughed like that.

"Girls, some decorum please!" She heard her mother complain.

"Let them have their fun, mother," Andromeda remarked as she resumed playing.

Her mother sniffed. "She'll drive away any future husband with that noise she makes."

Andromeda shook her head in amusement and resumed playing.

Andromeda tried to suppress her smile as Bella laughed in that adorable way of hers.

"It's very impolite to not laugh at someone else's joke," her sister spoke in between sputtered laughter,

Andromeda arched her brows. She was sure Bella could see the mirth on her face. "It's also very unbecoming to laugh in that obnoxious way of yours," she said with a smirk.

"Ugh, you sound exactly like Mother." Bella rolled her eyes..

The two sisters had their arms interlinked and were strolling the garden of the Black property.

"Besides, we are the Blacks. We can do as we please." Bella stated with an arrogant tone. "But I guess if anyone can preach that then it is you, isn't it?" she asked with a smirk.

"What does that mean?" Andromeda asked wearily.

"Oh nothing," her sister said airily. "But if I look back, it's always funny to think that people thought I'd be the most defiant of all my siblings."

She then dissolved into another fit of laughter. Andromeda stopped and turned to face her sister, completely amused. Sometimes Bella's mood changed so abruptly, that it was difficult to have a conversation with her.

"What are you on about?" she asked.

"Don't be so coy now, Meda. I know about your dear Ted," Bella said with a grin.

Andromeda was stunned into silence. She felt her hands go clammy.

"You think you could hide my brother-in-law from me for this long?" Bellatrix placed her hands on her hips. "You knew I always wanted a big brother. And now I have one!" She started laughing again.

But it didn't sound sweet anymore. It was harsher. A little manic.

Andromeda had done her best to make her new home with her husband Unplottable. Her old family members were Pureblood fanatics. She wouldn't put it past them harming her husband for being a Muggleborn.

Especially her elder sister. She dreaded to think what Bellatrix would do.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me about Ted!" she all but cackled. "I would have accepted him as family, Meda. Don't you have some faith in me?"

"No," Andromeda whispered as she took a step back.

"Don't be silly!" her sister retorted.

Andromeda felt sick as she heard her sister cackle. Her heart thumped furiously and her breathing turned shallow.

She kept walking backward, away from her sister, but no matter how far she went, the manic laughter only got louder. She pressed her hands against her ears and turned around to run.

"I want to meet my baby niece too!" She heard her sister from behind. "You'll introduce her to her aunt, won't you?"

Andromeda tried to run faster, but she stumbled over a rock and fell facedown.

She felt someone shake her and jerked awake.

"Meda?" Ted looked at her with worry. "You were having a bad dream, darling," her husband spoke to her softly.

She let out a sigh and collapsed into her bed grateful that she was safe. The dreams were only getting worse.

"Dora?" she asked Ted.

"She's deep asleep. Don't worry, we're safe."

Andromeda nodded and reminded herself that Bellatrix had been sent to Azkaban a month ago. Frank and Alice were alive. Barely so, but at least they had made it out.

These days she lost sleep over her sister's madness. But she reminded herself that they were safe.