The Blacks made their way through King's Cross Station, looking something more like a cross between a circus and battalion than a family. The adults outnumbered the children as they marched double-time through the crowded platforms, in strict formation. Many of them cast withering glances at passing muggles where they likely wanted to cast curses. Andromeda reckoned they were just looking for an excuse to break the bloody Statue of Secrecy. Andromeda was near the head of the pack just behind Uncle Orion and Aunt Walburga, Sirius, between them. Her mother, Druella, was beside her, while her sister Narcissa was just behind her with Uncle Alphard and little Regulus. Great Uncle Arcturus and Great Aunt Melania were behind them while the tail was made up of Grandfather, Grandmother, and Cygnus, Andromeda's father, pushing the cart piled with three school trunks, two owls, and Narcissa's cat.
It was quite a change from last year when their own mother had said her goodbyes to Andromeda and Cissy from their front steps, not even deigning to journey to London. It had just been Daddy with them last year. But it was different this year. The Heir of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black was going to school.
Sirius walked with his head high, cool, and confident in a way few first years could on September 1st. Andromeda had been anxious and excited, and Narcissa cried when her mother kissed her goodbye. Andromeda spent that whole train ride soothing her baby sister. Only Bellatrix had been like Sirius, confident and seemingly above it all. At least she had seemed that way to nine-year-old Andromeda. There was something about being the eldest that perhaps made you a bit more self-assured, a bit more special. It was the reason Sirius could ignore all this pomp and circumstance and gushing over him, and it was why Bella could get out of being apart of this circus altogether.
And they did look like a circus. The oldest generation had not even tried to look like muggles. Grandmother and Grandfather and Uncle Arcturus and Auntie Melania were all dressed in their brilliant best robes, in shades of purple and green that would make your eyes hurt in direct sunlight. The others had made an effort, but a wasted one since dear Auntie Wally's ideas about inconspicuous muggle clothes were about 50 years out of date. People were staring, most pointedly, at her, a tall, striking dark-haired woman in an Edwardian-style gown and the ridiculous ruffle around Regulus's little neck. And yet she'd scolded Daddy for letting his daughters leave wearing dresses "like that," "that" only meaning cut somewhere above the mid-thigh.
"Here we are," Uncle Alphard said delightedly as the circus made it finally to the barrier. He looked like Daddy and Aunt Walburga, tall, dark-haired, and handsome. But while they were domineering and patrician in their looks, there was something impish and friendly about his rounder face. They formed a little half-circle around Sirius and his parents. This would not stop people from looking at them, not that any of them besides Andromeda really cared.
"The girls should go first," Uncle Orion said. He was shorter than Auntie Wally, and somewhat less handsome, but sturdy-looking. "They'll show you how it's done, Sirius."
"I don't need to be shown," Sirius asserted sharply. He straightened his back and walked right through without hesitance.
"The boy didn't need to be shown!" Uncle Alphard said much amused, before Uncle Orion or Auntie Wally could hurry after Sirius. "Come on, Reg, let's go get your brother," Regulus clutched Uncle Alph's hand, eyes wide. They walked forward through the barrier, Regulus bracing at the moment he would have hit the bricks had they indeed been there.
"You next, Girls," Mummy said, ushering Andromeda and Cissy forward. They both slipped through Platform 9 3/4 shimmering into existence before them. The train was there, as always, crimson and shining, billowing smoking onto the platform teeming with people.
Sirius, Regulus, and Uncle Alph were standing off to the side, waiting for them. Regulus's eyes were the size of dinner plates, gazing at the train, and even Sirius looked a bit more excited than before. Once the rest of the family had joined them, Auntie Wally made Daddy and Uncle Orion take Narcissa's and Sirius's trunks onto the train. Andromeda, at seventeen, could levitate her own as well as they could, so she went with them and found an empty compartment.
"No, you won't being going into the Lake," Andromeda heard Grandmother saying as they made their way back to the family on the platform. They were once again focused on Sirius, who was grinning devilishly.
"You're going to be getting more than a few howlers, I reckon," Uncle Alph said with a laugh. He found all of the children's antics hilarious, but Sirius was the best at making mischief and thus his favourite.
"I'll be disappointed in myself if I don't," Sirius said, giving his mother a cheeky look.
"What's this about howlers?" Daddy asked.
"We're just discussing Sirius's future at Hogwarts," Uncle Alph said.
"Which will consist of nothing but being a model student with behavior befitting a Black heir," Auntie Wally said, in a somewhat facetious tone. She knew her son.
"Just like your cousin," Grandmother said with a nod toward Narcissa, who beamed. She had just been made Slytherin prefect, and though she hadn't been insufferable about it, Andromeda knew she was proud of herself.
"Sirius will be a credit to Slytherin, just you wait. He's bright as they come." Uncle Arcturus said, tapping his cane on the platform. He was not really Andromeda's Great Uncle. The title was a courtesy because he was the Head of the House of Black, Grandfather's first cousin, and Sirius's other grandfather.
No one put forward the notion that he would not be in Slytherin. Not even Sirius, who didn't seem at all interested in the adults bloviating about his grand future. For the first time, he seemed anxious to get going.
"Can we get on the train yet?" He asked.
Uncle Orion got out his pocket watch. "Yes, Alright. It's not quite 11. We should say our goodbyes if we want to beat the rush out. We have brunch reservations at half past and Walburga, and I can't disapparate there with Reg."
"Oh! I forgot to tell you all. I'm afraid I can't make it to brunch," Uncle Alphard said. "Meeting with my publishers. I already pushed it back to make it here." Regulus looked dejected at the idea of going to eat with only the grown-ups, since Uncle Alph certainly didn't count as one of them.
"How terrible," Auntie Wally said unconvincingly, before turning back to Sirius to give him a final goodbye and reminder to be good.
"Goodbye, Girls. I'll be writing, do remember to reply promptly," Grandmother said in her stately way to Andromeda and Narcissa, kissing both of their cheeks. She turned back to Sirius. Everyone took turns between wishing Andromeda and Cissy well and adoring Sirius for the last time until Christmas.
Daddy kissed both girls goodbye and then Mummy with her usual sad smile.
"Oh, my girls. Where have my little girls gone... Have a good year! Be good!" She hugged Narcissa first and then pulled Andromeda into a hug. "And, Drommy, keep an eye on your cousin, especially on the train. You never know what kind of riffraff he could meet."
"Yes, Mummy," Andromeda tried to sound dutiful.
"7th year goes by so quickly. Do try to enjoy it."
"Yes, Mummy."
She pulled Andromeda tighter for a moment before Regulus came over to them.
"Have a good year at school," Regulus's little voice squeaked.
"Oh, thank you, Reg," Andromeda said.
"We're going to miss you awfully," Cissy said. "I can't wait until you're at school with us."
Cissy crouched down in front of him. Like most little witches, Andromeda and, most especially, Narcissa had always loved babies, and they'd been absolutely delighted when they got two of their very own as cousins. Sirius was far too independent to allow himself to be babied for very long, but Regulus was softer and sweeter.
"But you'll write me, right, Cissy?"
"I'll write you so much Aeolus will be sick of it," She cooed.
"Oh, no!" Regulus's eyes were wide and fearful. "But if he flies too much, he'll die! I don't want him to die! I'll be sure to give him enough water and mice, so he doesn't!"
"Ok, yes, I'll do the same," Cissy said, giving Andromeda an amused smile.
"Goodbye, Girls," Uncle Alph came over to them, smiling. "I'm not going to tell you to be good because I am many things, but I am not a hypocrite, but do have a good year. All my love and Etienne's, too," He quickly glanced at the rest, who—besides Regulus—were paying attention to Sirius. His voice dropped lower, "And you still want me to send you those other books, Drommy?"
"Oh, erm, yes," Andromeda said, acutely aware of Cissy and Reg.
"Lovely," He smiled, his voice loud and jolly again. "I think you both should be getting on with it, or Sirius may combust."
"Right," Uncle Orion said, pocket watch in hand again. "We've got to be going,"
"Yes, and so have we," Sirius said. Just as he spoke, the warning whistle sounded. "See!" He started making his way to the carriage door, and Andromeda and Cissy followed, waving a final hurried goodbye.
"We should find our compartment. I need to change into my robes and go to the prefect's carriage. The Heads are leading a meeting," Cissy said, as other stragglers climbed aboard the carriage with them. "Which way, Drommy?"
But Sirius was already leading the way, like he knew exactly where he was going. He was going the right way, so Andromeda let him. At the very least, she didn't have to worry about him crying the whole ride like Cissy had. They pushed past the crowd of people still boarding the train.
"What books is Uncle Alph sending you?" Cissy asked as they walked. The train had started to move underneath them.
"Some things one of his friends wrote," Andromeda shrugged and spoke in a low voice as Sirius was close enough ahead of them to hear.
Cissy made a disgusted face, her nose seeming more upturned than usual.
"Mummy says all of his friends are deviants and rabble-rousers."
"Mummy says a lot of things," Andromeda protested. "She likes Etienne well enough,"
"You know she tolerates Etienne for Daddy's sake," Cissy said. " Anyway, did Etienne write the books? We'd surely have heard if he'd written books. Are they books of music? You haven't touched the piano in years,"
"I'm taking it up again," Andromeda said, glancing into the compartments as they passed them, so she didn't miss theirs by accident, and so she didn't have to look at her sister.
"No, you're not," Cissy shook her head. Cissy looked like their mother, blonde with the same upturned nose, and Andromeda privately thought they shared something of the same nervous disposition. "Why don't you want me to know?"
"Why do you even care?" Andromeda asked.
"I'm not going to tattle on you. I'm not a little girl."
"I don't think you are," Andromeda lied. There were few things Andromeda did not tell her sisters, but she knew very well what those things should be.
Just then, they passed a compartment full of familiar faces. Andromeda stopped.
"Wait."
"What?" Cissy turned around, arms crossed.
"Get Sirius, and wait for me, I'll just be a moment," She gestured to the compartment.
"But I've got to go to my meeting."
"You won't be late. The bloody Head Boy is in there," Andromeda said.
"Oh." Narcissa raised her eyebrows, all of her annoyance gone. She peered into the compartment with interest. "Why do you want to see Frank Longbottom?"
"I don't."
"Sure, you don't," Cissy smirked. "You're always hanging around him. I'm sure you haven't even noticed how handsome he is."
"I don't give a toss about Frank Longbottom." Andromeda asserted. "And Frank's got a girlfriend."
"Like that means anything."
Andromeda glared at her sister. She was probably right as far as Frank Longbottom was concerned. "Just go get Sirius," She added, slipping inside before Narcissa could reply.
"Dromeda!" There was an excited squeal, and with a flash of reddish-brown hair, arms were tight around her. Gwendoline Fawley was a deceptively waifish looking little thing, who had built up muscle through years of Quidditch.
"Oi, Black, what are you doing in here?" said an amused boy's voice.
"Leave Andromeda alone, Frank," Gwen protested lightening up on the hug but, with a vice grip on Andromeda's arm, pulled her into the seat beside her.
"Hi, Andromeda," Ted Tonks was sitting on her other side. He looked quite smart in his muggle clothes. He had wavy golden hair and lovely blue eyes, that twinkled when he smiled and he was smiling at her. "Don't mind Frank."
"Hi, Ted," She smiled back. "Don't worry, I never do,"
"Turning my best friend against me now?" Frank was lounging in the window seat with his arm around his girlfriend, Sonia Crickerly, the 7th year Ravenclaw prefect. She was perhaps the prettiest girl in their year. "Typical Slytherin."
"I wouldn't say that in front of the Head Girl," Sonia said teasingly, leaning into Frank.
"Right, she might send an unforgivable your way, Frank," said Des Appledoorn. Both Des and his girlfriend, Mary Lazarus, the 7th year Hufflepuff prefects, were sitting opposite Andromeda. Frank and the rest of the prefects were already in their black school robes, shining badges pinned to their chests. Andromeda didn't mind Sonia, but the other two were complete swots.
"Wait! Who's Head Girl?" Barbara Belby, Sonia's friend, was asking from her seat on the floor.
"Melinda McKinnon," Mary said the name like it was a swear word.
"Really?" Barbara said incredulously, looking to Frank.
"Yeah, it's her," Frank said.
"Merlin's pants!"
"Do you reckon Dumbledore did it out of pity?" Des asked.
"I feel so bad for her," Barbara squeaked.
"I heard he let her and her brother and sister move in early," Mary said. "If it were my dad, I wouldn't have even come back."
"He probably did it so they wouldn't have to listen to everyone gossiping about them on the train," Frank said, and Andromeda hoped that would be the end of it. She had heard variations on this conversation so many times over the summer.
"Are we just not supposed to talk about it? Pretend it didn't happen?" Mary persisted.
"Yeah, I reckon we should because whatever her dad's done, it's got nothing to do with her," Ted said, his usual jovial tone gone from his voice.
"Come on, Ted, you really want to sit in class with someone who's dad did that?" Des said. "You of all people—"
"Shut up, Des," Frank said in a voice that made it obvious why he had that Head Boy badge.
They fell silent. Andromeda felt incredibly tense. Most of these people weren't even her friends. Gwen looked nervous, and she spoke in a tight voice.
"We all know Melinda's perfectly nice. We've gone to school with her for six years."
"And Marlene must be alright. She's dating one of the Prewetts," Sonia said. "I can never tell them apart."
"Molly?" Frank grinned cheekily.
"Oh, shut up," There was only playful exasperation in this declaration.
"Anyone up for Exploding Snap?" Des asked, perhaps wanting to change the subject off of the McKinnons, now that he'd been told off.
"Actually, we all ought to be going to that meeting," Frank stood up.
"Yes, Mr Head Boy, Sir," Sonia intoned.
"Right," Des said, standing and opening the door. "But, I want a game when I get back." Des, Mary, and Sonia filed out of the compartment. Andromeda stood to leave.
"You're staying, aren't you, Dromeda?" Ted said quickly.
"Oh, yes, stay!" Gwen said.
"Sorry, but I have a cousin to look after."
"Come back after the meeting!" Ted said with an imploring look. She had an urge to say yes.
"I'll see," Andromeda said before leaving, Frank behind her.
"Finally," Cissy huffed. She was standing in the corridor, alone.
"Where is Sirius?" Andromeda said.
"He ran off with some other firstie," Cissy said. "He wouldn't come back with me."
"Narcissa, Mummy said we were supposed to keep an eye on him."
"She said you were supposed to keep an eye on him if I remember correctly," Cissy crossed her arms. "Finding Sirius is your problem. I have a meeting I'm going to be late for. I haven't even changed into my robes yet."
"You don't have to change," Frank said from behind Andromeda.
"But you're in your robes," Cissy said.
"But I don't look as good as you in muggle clothes," Frank smiled roguishly. Cissy was right. Frank was undeniably handsome, and a prat. Cissy was wearing one of Andromeda's muggle dresses, colourful and eye-catchingly short. "You won't get in trouble with me."
"I suppose you are Head Boy." Cissy smiled at him and then gave Andromeda a look that seemed to say, I told you so . "I'll come find you after the meeting."
Cissy and Frank headed toward their carriage at the front of the train.
As the train was running steadily north through the English countryside, Andromeda was wandering around looking for Sirius. She peeked into several compartments here and there, thinking she saw a dark-haired first year. Every wrong guess left her more and more annoyed, wanting to go back to Ted's compartment. She'd even shouted at a dark-haired boy and a red-headed girl coming down a corridor, thinking the boy was Sirius. They had both jumped out of their skins.
She found him, eventually, in a carriage at the very front of the train with a group of rowdy boys belting a Quidditch chant. There was something about "a Magpie murder's a mercy" and "a quaffle up the arse, you see." One of the boys was standing on the seat, conducting the others with grand flourishes of his arms. There were candy wrappers everywhere.
"Boo, what are you here for?" Sirius asked, the remains of a chocolate frog, or ten, around his mouth.
"Is this your sister?" said the bespectacled boy standing on the seat. He looked Andromeda up and down with a stupid grin.
"My cousin."
"She looks like you," the boy said, and Sirius pulled a face.
"What are you doing in here?" Andromeda crossed her arms.
"Having Fun!" The bespectacled boy said.
"I didn't ask you," She glared at him.
"Don't talk to James like that," Sirius was outraged. "He's my mate."
"You just met him!"
"And I already like him better than you," He replied. Andromeda glared at him and this James character. He was undoubtedly of some magical stock and other three boys in the compartment seemed fine enough. Two were wearing everyday robes, and the third wore a Tutshill Tornadoes shirt. At the very least, they weren't her mother's idea of riffraff.
"Come get your robes before it gets dark," And she left.
She thought briefly about going back to Ted and Gwen's compartment or going to find her Slytherin friends, but she was not really in the mood for either of them. So she returned to her original compartment that she hadn't sat in yet. It was empty.
The trolley witch came around eventually. Andromeda felt a bit better after eating a few pumpkin pasties. Mummy always said never to spell cast on an empty stomach, and that advice could be applied to most things, not just spells. But she still had a terrible smoldering unhappiness that sat somewhere in her chest. She didn't know what to do about it. She never did.
Taking advantage of being alone, she brought down her trunk, pulling out her school robes. They were buried deep inside and wrapped tightly around a small square book. She unwrapped them, revealing its bright red cover stamped with the title, Your Brothers and Your Sisters: The Case for Squib Rights by Euphemera O'Brien in gold. Uncle Alph had slipped it to her a few days after catching her roll her eyes during some hateful tirade of Grandfather's at family brunch. They had only had a stilted conversation about her feelings on the matter that day. She was hesitant at first to share her opinions, fearing her father had put him up to it. But Uncle Alph was genuine. He had always seemed like just her fun silly uncle, who said scandalous things to make Aunt Wally angry with him. But it seemed he had friends not just among the salacious and sordid, but the downright radical as he'd promised to send her Artemisia is Dead: Magical Anarcha-Feminism in the 20th Century and Wands Against Wizards from his own library. Andromeda could not even imagine the interesting people he must know.
She pulled on her robes, curled up in the window seat, with Cissy's cat, Bianca in her lap, and began to read.
After about an hour and two chapters, there was a commotion in the corridor. Andromeda had just enough time to shove the little book into her robe pocket as the door opened. It was Cissy. But she wasn't alone.
"I found some friends," She said, as Lucius Malfoy slid in behind her, followed by Ian Crabbe, so large he had to duck under the doorway.
"The more, the merrier," Andromeda intoned, sitting up. Bianca, startled awake, hopped off her lap with an annoyed flick of her tail. Cissy picked her up, cooing and petting her.
"That's what I told your sister," Lucius sat down next to her. He grinned. His smile had always reminded Andromeda of a snarling dragon. "I knew you wouldn't mind having us hang around."
Narcissa took the seat on the other side of Lucius. Ian sat down opposite them. "Where is Sirius?"
"With some other first years. I couldn't get him to come back so I left him."
"I hope they're the right sort," Malfoy teased.
"Of course they are."
"Because you have the best judge of character," Crabbe said acerbically.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Cissy's eyebrows were knit together.
"She's always running around with Fawley and her friends."
"There's nothing wrong with Gwen," Andromeda said defensively. The Fawleys were more pureblood than the Crabbes and probably even the Malfoys. "We were divination partners."
"You and all of Hufflepuff?"
"Knock it off, Ian. He's just upset that Gwen's Hufflepuff's Captain. If she's half as good at that as she is at seeker, we're in trouble this year." Lucius said, leaning toward Andromeda, teeth out again. "How was your holiday?"
"Dull."
"Oh, come now."
"She's right. Dorset is terribly boring," Cissy lamented. "We only made it up to London a few times and only really to visit family. What about you?"
"We had fun," Lucius shared a look with Crabbe, shifting closer to Andromeda. She moved closer to the wall. The book in her pocket pressed uncomfortably into her hip. "We both ran into your sister a few times, at parties and things."
"Yes, Bella mentioned you!" Cissy chirped. She didn't tell Malfoy what Bella said about him. None of it would have pleased him. What their father said about him, or any of Bella's friends, would please him even less. "I wish we were invited to some parties. But Daddy says we're too young and Bella shan't—"
"I'm sure I could get you an invitation," Lucius said to Cissy, then looked pointedly back at Andromeda. "Both of you, the next time we have a get together."
Andromeda had no desire to get anything from Lucius Malfoy, but Cissy was smiling sweetly.
"Oh, Thank you! That's so thoughtful, isn't it, Drommy?"
"It's very nice of you."
"Anything for the Black sisters." Lucius was still looking pointedly at Andromeda. "Of course, it won't be until Christmas we can go to a party again. Perhaps we could go together to Hogsmeade before then?"
Andromeda faltered. "Oh. erm, perhaps."
"Don't hold your breath, Lucius," Cissy smiled. "I think Drommy wants to go with Frank Longbottom."
"Cissy!" Andromeda stared at her sister, who she realised was perhaps still annoyed with her. "I don't fancy him. I don't know why you've got it in your head that I do."
"Andromeda's too clever for that. The only person who fancies Longbottom is the one daft enough to make him Head Boy." There was an edge to Lucius's voice that Andromeda was convinced was jealousy. "My mother was sure I was going to be Head Boy, but I knew there was no chance since Dippet's retirement. Dumbledore's always favored his own house."
"He probably would have picked that Mudblood Winthrop for Head Girl too," Crabbe shared an amused grin with Malfoy. "Except McKinnon's dad went barmy."
Andromeda was not sure she would call attacking a squib family member with an unforgivable curse "barmy." She also certainly didn't feel comfortable saying as much with the book that was in her pocket.
"Our grandfather said Mr. McKinnon's going to Azkaban for life," Cissy said.
"Some nutters are calling for him to get the Dementor's Kiss too apparently. He didn't even kill anyone."
"Oh, it's all awful business, isn't it?"
"Quite. And of course, people are using it for their own agendas..." Lucius shook his head. "It's just more evidence that our kind shouldn't mix with muggles."
"None of it would have happened if that were the case." Cissy agreed.
The conversation was unbearable, and Andromeda felt like the book was burning a hole in her pocket the longer it went on. Until Cissy remembered that as prefects, they had to do patrols of the corridor and persuaded Malfoy to do them with her, they left with Crabbe. Andromeda cautiously pulled her book out of her pocket and began to read again. She only noticed how much time had passed when the compartment lanterns overhead came on, and the gradually fading light in the compartment brightened immensely. Outside the window, the sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, and it wasn't long before Sirius showed up to change, his new little gang all hanging about in the corridor, laughing and yelling. Andromeda hid her book again and helped him get down his trunk with her wand.
"We're almost there," She said as he pulled his robes over his head.
"I know," His head appeared through the neck hole.
"Are you getting excited? Or nervous?" Andromeda asked. She reached forward to straighten his collar.
"No," Sirius frowned and wrenched away from her. He left, letting the door slam behind him.
She had to put his trunk away, and before she could get back to her book, Cissy returned. She had been in Malfoy's compartment with the other Slytherin seventh years, many of whom were Andromeda's friends, and chattered on about him and them while she changed into her own robes.
By the time she had finished talking about Moira Goyle's holiday in Rome, the Hogwarts Express had come to its final stop at Hogsmeade station. Sirius had returned for his owl and luggage, and Cissy left again for prefect duties.
There was a scramble to exit, with a great deal of bumping, shoving, and shouting, as there was every year. Andromeda realised this would be the last of all of this for her and tried to savor it. She even decided not to be too annoyed when Sirius's little bespectacled friend, who had appeared again, as if by apparition, nearly knocked Aeolus's cage out of her hand as they clamored their way out onto the platform. Ogg, the groundskeeper, and his gigantic apprentice were both calling for first years and Cissy, prefect badge shining on her chest, shepherded Sirius and his friend and the other first years toward them at the end of the platform. Andromeda went the opposite way to wait for Cissy by the coaches.
"Dromeda!"
Ted Tonks was waving to her, holding open the door of a coach. Gwen suddenly popped her head out the door. "Oh, well spotted, Ted!"
"Come ride with us!" Ted called.
"Oh, erm," The thought of riding back with not just her sister but a carriage full of Slytherin prefects compared to Gwen and Ted Tonks...
"Come on! We don't bite!" Gwen called again.
Andromeda glanced down the platform. There was no Cissy in sight, no Lucius Malfoy or Ian Crabbe, or any other unsympathetic housemate.
"Alright."
A smile broke out onto Ted's face. Andromeda couldn't help but smile back at him.
Climbing inside, she found that it was nearly already full. Barbara Belby was in the coach, too, along with two other Hufflepuffs. The door closed with a snap behind Ted, and the two of them squeezed in beside Barbara for the bumpy, lurching ride to Hogwarts Castle.
"How was your cousin's first train ride?" Ted asked her. Andromeda was pleasantly surprised he'd remembered.
"You'd have to ask him." She said, her annoyance with Sirius slipping through.
"He didn't sit with you?" Gwen asked.
"You should have come and joined us then," Ted said.
"I'm sorry. I ended up riding with my sister." She lied, hoping he would understand.
"I can't believe your cousin wanted to sit by himself," Barbara said.
"Sirius is very independent."
"No, kidding. I was bloody terrified my first train ride." Ted said and then glanced at Andromeda with some discomfort. "But I reckon it's different when everyone in your family's already done it."
She knew Ted was Muggle-born, but he rarely mentioned it, at least when she was around.
"I was still scared on my first train ride," Andromeda said.
They passed through the gates, finally on school grounds.
"Almost there," Ted nearly pressed his face to the glass window of the carriage.
"There it is," He pointed at the imposing castle just becoming visible in the distance. Everyone gathered around the windows; Andromeda looked out over Ted's shoulder. He was grinning. "This is the last time we'll see it like this."
Ted was right. This was it. Andromeda had had a similar but fleeting thought to savor getting off the train, and she felt an even greater urge to remember this moment. Maybe she should have felt a sad bit of nostalgia watching the castle grow from a miniature on the horizon until only the grand oak doors were visible. But with her face so close to Ted's, she only felt an exhilarating kind of nervousness.
The coach came to a halt at the doors. The six of them disembarked and followed the swarm of students climbing the stone steps inside. In the Great Hall, the Slytherin table was closest to the doors, so she had to leave them first. Ted smiled at her as she did.
Students continued pouring into the Great Hall until the four tables were crowded, all of their voices bringing the noise to a comfortable din. Cissy came in with the other Slytherin prefects and sat down just as Professor McGonagall appeared carrying a stool and the Sorting Hat, the long line of first years trailing behind her. Sirius was just behind his new friend. McGonagall set the Hat on the stool. Andromeda had hated the Hat since her very own sorting and found this part needlessly tedious.
"There once was a young wizard
who journeyed to Hogwarts from Mudford Sock
He envisioned a life of enchantment and charm.
But all he could do when he saw me was gawk..."
Narcissa slid down the bench closer to Andromeda.
"Why didn't you wait for me? Is this about what I said to Lucius about Frank—" she hissed quietly.
"You were just taking too long. I didn't want to be late." Andromeda lied, trying to turn her attention back to the Hat.
Cissy frowned at her, and Andromeda was unsure what she was thinking.
The Hat had stopped singing, and it only took a beat before the applause began. Professor McGonagall unfurled the class list to the floor.
"Adams, Xavier," She announced loudly, and a little tawny-haired boy came forward, eyes round. McGonagall set the Hat on his head.
"Ravenclaw!" Shouted the Hat, and the table beside Slytherin broke out with cheers.
The next first year also went to Ravenclaw, and there were three Hufflepuffs in a row before "Avery, Oswald" became the first Slytherin.
Andromeda and everyone around her cheered.
"Baddock, Elizabeth."
"Slytherin!"
There was even more cheering.
Sirius was standing as confidently as he had on the train platform, amidst a line of fidgety 11-year-olds. Even his friend from the train kept smoothing his hair and adjusting his glasses.
"Black, Sirius."
He sat down, and the Hat covered his dark hair and slipped over his eyes. Cissy caught Andromeda's eye, frown long gone, replaced with an excited smile. They'd been waiting for this all day.
There was another, more torturous wait.
Sirius and the Hat appeared to be in deep conversation as every so often, Sirius's face would break out into a grin, or he would wrinkle his nose in distaste. A few other Slytherins were starting to glance at Andromeda and Narcissa.
Andromeda was reminded uncomfortably of her own sorting. Hers had not lasted this long, though. The Hat had only teased her...Anyway, Sirius certainly wasn't a Hufflepuff. No, perhaps a Ravenclaw?
"Gryffindor!"
A roar erupted from the opposite end of the Great Hall. McGonagall plucked the Hat from Sirius's head, revealing Sirius's wide, surprised eyes. He recovered quickly enough, hopping down from the stool and making off toward the Gryffindor cheers.
Andromeda and Cissy were less resilient.
"Did it say Gryffindor!?" Cissy squeaked in disbelief.
Andromeda craned her neck to watch Sirius shake hands with Frank Longbottom. At the Gryffindor table. Sirius was at the Gryffindor table. She couldn't believe it either. A small part of her, she suspected the part that had been annoyed with Sirius all day, was less surprised. Of course, Sirius couldn't do one bloody thing the way he was supposed to.
"Auntie Wally's going to lose her mind," Cissy moaned. Andromeda was frowning. Her sister was right. There would be owls in the morning.