I don't have much to say, but I thought I'd give you the second part since I'm in such a good mood, I hope you like it! As I literally just posted the first half of it less than thirty minutes ago.
My wonderful Beta: prattster666 xxx
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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and only the story line and any OC's belong to me.
Pandemonium. Chaos. Nothing could describe the moments that had followed Andromeda's arrival. Narcissa let go of Lucius and bolted to her sister's side, reaching into her robes and retrieving her wand.
"She is my guest," Narcissa said in a firm, cold tone, reaching behind her and grasping onto her sister's forearm.
"Cissa!" Bellatrix snarled, eyeing Andromeda like she was a lion stalking a gazelle, ready to rip her teeth into her prey.
"NO! Bella, she is our sister, and if I wish to have her at my wedding, I will." Narcissa declared in a no-nonsense tone.
"Narcissa," Cygnus started but the murderous look on his youngest daughter's face halted him in his tracks, hands raised in surrender.
"Cygnus," Druella hissed into her husband's ear, tugging on the back of his robes by his elbow.
"Now, now. There's no need for all this tension and animosity," Abraxas Malfoy remarked, emerging through the crowd.
Abraxas Malfoy had a presence about him that filled the room, your eye immediately followed him regardless of whether you wished to or not. His platinum blonde hair was cropped fairly close to his scalp, combed backwards with a few bangs hanging down onto his forehead. Hermione shivered when she met him gaze for a split second, his grey eyes sharp and piercing. Abraxas was not a man to be trifled with, that much she gained from the brief moment their eyes met. He was a tall man, about six foot three, with impeccable posture and no movement was without purpose; calculated and precise. Abraxas Malfoy was a man who believed in wit and knowing how to present oneself, and to be able to deal with any situation that arose. It was obvious how widely respected he was, within this room alone, as all of the hushed whispers ceased instantaneously upon his remark.
"She married a filthy Mudblood, she's tainted! She is no sister of mine!" Bellatrix shrieked at the top of her lungs, wild-eyed, strands of hair freeing themselves from her up-do. The veins in her neck were bulging and her fist were shaking at her sides.
"I suggest you watch your tongue, Bellatrix. Especially how you address my husband or I," Andromeda spoke for the first time since arriving, and her tone bit and sliced through the air.
"Cygnus," Abraxas said in a calm tone, but as he turned to face the man in question, it was clear what he wanted. Control your daughter or I will.
"Bella-"
"I don't listen to Blood Traitors!" Bellatrix snarled, wand in hand she opened her mouth to throw what was probably a nasty hex Andromeda's way. Hermione didn't know what came over her, or why she did it, but the image of the Bellatrix looking so much like her future self in the Department of Mysteries; flipped something inside of her. She didn't think, she didn't hesitate, in a clear voice that rebounded vociferously throughout the room, the next words that spilled from her lips changed everything. "Enough, Stupefy!" Hermione was turned on her side, wand raised defiantly as she and the other guests watched the red flash of light sail through the air and hit Bellatrix straight in the chest.
Abraxas faced Hermione with interest and a crooked smile was splayed across his face; with high cheekbones, a sharp jawline, and a pointed nose. With a smooth grace he made his way across the way to them, clearly happy to see Dorea.
"I see your daughter is as straight forward as you are, Doe," Abraxas grinned broadly as he lightly embraced Dorea. She arched a brow at the nickname, but her lips twitched upwards anyways. "Charlus," Abraxas shook Charlus' hand with a single, solid pump.
"You're going to ignore that everyone is now staring at us, of course," Dorea tilted her head to the side, hand against her cheek.
"Let them stare, I didn't see any of them stepping up to stop the girl," Abraxas tsked, angling his head in Hermione's direction he added, "Brilliant aim, my dear."
"Thank you," Hermione responded politely, feeling strong, powerful. I knocked her out, I knocked Bellatrix out...I'm not shaking, I'm okay. I'm Hermione Potter and I faced her, I defeated her.
"Are we not going to acknowledge the fact that Dorea's daughter just assaulted young Bellatrix?" Orion asked in a loud, snooty tone. Hermione glanced up when she heard a low growl coming from her Father, hazel eyes flashing dangerously, Dorea put a hand on her husband's forearm. Charlus blinked hard, seeming to come to his senses; eyes still guarded and vigilant. Daddy really doesn't like Orion. Hermione was filled with a rush of affection for her Father at how protective he was, especially since it was on her behalf.
"Well then we would need to first examine that Miss Black was about to do the same to a guest at her sister's wedding, her own sister," Abraxas replied in a firm voice, not even bothering to look at Orion.
Walburga looked like she was about to say something when Narcissa spoke up.
"This is my wedding, she is my sister, she is my guest, anyone else that has a problem can show themselves out." Narcissa had yet to put away her wand, waiting to ensure that no one else was going to try their hand at hexing or cursing her sister.
After that everyone went back to their conversations, albeit a little more forced that they had been previously. Dorea, Charlus and Abraxas made sure the children were okay by themselves, before they excused themselves, to go back out into the gardens to get some fresh air and catch up. Hermione, Sirius, Draco and James were beckoned over by Narcissa, ignoring the stares, they held their heads high as they strode across the room. Hermione in particular felt the complete opposite of how she did during the ceremony. She could hear her heart beating in her ears, she had conquered her fear; or at least faced it. Nothing would be able to tear her down right now, she was infallible.
"Thank you," Narcissa offered her hand to Hermione, who took it and was surprised when the older witch lightly squeezed it.
Lucius was conversing with his groomsmen not too far away, just out of hearing range, a concerned look on his face, but Narcissa shot him a reassuring look, though it did not seem to soothe his nerves or concerns.
"I would like to echo my sister's sentiment, thank you very much," Andromeda smiled warmly, her dark curls were shoulder length, grey eyes kind, and there was an underlying sense of constant vigilance about her. She was quite slender, and Hermione thought that they wouldn't be able to stop the conflict if any of them noticed how rounded Andromeda's stomach was; even with how loose her robes were. The woman's eyes sparked with curiosity as she looked upon Hermione. "I'm five months along, but I'm quite small," Andromeda whispered, Narcissa's eyes rounded, and she swiped at her eyes before hugging her sister tightly.
"Don't cry now, love," Andromeda ran her hand along the side of Narcissa's hair, ensuring that she didn't disturb her sister's elaborate hairstyle. "You must introduce me to these fine young wizards and witch. Aside from our reckless little Sirius," Andromeda smirked when Sirius smiled innocently at her comment.
"Draco Potter and Hermione Potter, they are the adopted twins of Charlus Potter and Dorea, well Great-Aunt Dorea," Narcissa gestured to the twins respectively, Draco winking at Andromeda when his name was called. Which drew a soft, breathy laugh from the fine featured woman. She was the essence of elegance, evident in the way she spoke and carried herself. "Last but certainly not least, James Potter, their son by blood."
"Lovely to meet you, mon cheri," James did a miniature bow, an arrogant grin on his face.
Their pleasantries were short lived however when Druella and Cygnus joined the works. "You are not welcome here," Cygnus hissed in a harsh tone, Druella pinched his side, but she avoided meeting her eldest daughter's eye. They had both been occupied with taking Bellatrix to another room and making small talk with the guests. Now the whispers were focused on the fact that Missus Malfoy had failed to make an appearance at her only son's wedding, (Cygnus had asked his cousin Walburga to take some of the attention off of the events that had just taken place, and she had done so gladly).
"Hello Father, how nice to see you," Andromeda responded dryly.
"I cannot say the same," Cygnus gritted out between clenched teeth, the vein by his temple pulsing with silent anger.
"I only came since Cissa invited me, after this you don't have to worry, you will never see me again if I can help it," Andromeda blatantly cleared up any misunderstandings about her actions and why she was here with one fell swoop.
"Today is supposed to be happy, at least try," Narcissa smiled sweetly, but her Father's eyes drifted to her hand; her wand still firmly in her grasp, and he read between the lines.
"Fine," Cygnus narrowed his eyes at Andromeda and turned on his heel to leave, Druella followed him without a word having been spoken to her eldest child.
"Family," Draco drawled in a blasé manner, breaking up the tension filled silence that had prevailed in the moments after Narcissa and Andromeda's parents left.
"I like him," Andromeda said fondly.
"So do I," Narcissa winked playfully at Draco. "I think it best if Dromeda and I slip away for a bit, you lot will be alright on your own?" The subsequent words in the affirmative did not do much to reassure the blonde, but she nodded regardless, leading her sister away from the rest of the guests.
"One hell of a wedding," Sirius shook his head in disbelief, propping his forearm on James' shoulder.
"One hell of a wedding," James repeated, shaking his head. "Let's go back by Mum and Dad."
"Yea, I second that, not only will it infuriate my Mum, but I get to spend more time with you lot," Sirius sang exuberantly.
"Infuriate? Whoa, we're pulling out all the big words today," Draco chuckled.
Sirius swung his arm across James' shoulders as the two boys led the way. This has definitely been a wedding to remember, I got to see my parents get married, how bizarre. Not many people can say that. Draco shook out his hair, it was longer than it had ever been in his life, hanging over his ears, yet he couldn't find it within himself to care. Draco took one last look over his shoulder at Lucius, talking with his friends and a pang went through him. It was a cruel yet beautiful thing to have them here like this. Here, but not have a clue who he really was. I can't wait to see the look on Father's face when he sees me again, in the future...if we get back that is. I'm sure it'll be priceless.
...
"I shouldn't have come, Cissa. It was a mistake," Andromeda grasped her sister's hands in hers. They were in a small study on the first floor, far away from the ruckus of the reception.
"No. I wanted you here, I don't think you should have been shunned for marrying a...muggleborn," Narcissa said tactfully.
"Cissa...our paths are diverging, we can't see each other anymore," Andromeda said with a closed eyes, squeezing her sister's hands.
"Dromeda-"
"This is what I want, Cissa," Andromeda opened her grey eyes and they pierced her sister's blue ones sharply. "This is how it needs to be. I love you, and I'll miss you, but I made my bed and I need to lay in it."
"I'm going to miss you," Narcissa said after a few pregnant moments. "Please send me an owl when you have your baby at least."
"It's a girl," Andromeda pulled her sister into a hug, surprising Narcissa. "We're thinking about calling her Nymphadora."
"She won't like that name," Narcissa teased her sister, trying to remember what she smelt like; she smelt like the gardens after it had just rained, fresh and fragrant.
"I love you, Dromeda," Narcissa said as her sister pulled away.
"Remember, Cissa. You don't have to do what everyone expects you to. It's your life, you can live it how you want." Andromeda said solemnly.
Narcissa didn't even manage to get a word out before Andromeda let go of her and hurried to the door, pausing with her hand on the knob. Taking in a deep breath, Andromeda Tonks walked out of the room, and thus her sister's life for years to come.
Please let me know what you think!
Indieblue xx