Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter series.
Storming
Storm clouds hung low in the sky, pressing heat upon every inch of the late July afternoon. Strange mixes of purples, blues, and blacks twirled ominously as murmured thunder began to play across the sky. The day, stagnant and unending, weighed upon Narcissa heavily. The approaching gale had been brewing for some time, due to burst at any moment. Still, Narcissa wondered if it might pass over. She didn't fancy facing the roaring unpredictability of summer weather alone.
She handed the results of a few hours of shopping to the house-elf that held open the door. The ghosts of an argument waited for Narcissa as she entered the house. Bellatrix had appeared early in the morning, livid, and without a word to anyone, had marched into Andromeda's room. Narcissa had been eating breakfast downstairs, catching only disconnected snips of her sisters' argument. Something about a letter, something about keeping secrets, something about using a smarter owl next time, something about no next times. Narcissa hadn't been able to piece the conversation together, but it made no difference.
Lately her sisters fought about anything. Narcissa found she rarely spoke to either of them anymore. When Andromeda snapped at her, Bellatrix was sadly missing. When Bellatrix did grace the house with her visits, they were with mounting irritability once she realized how confrontational Andromeda seemed to be. Needless to say, neither treated Narcissa very kindly. Still, she tried.
"Merlin, it's hot," Narcissa muttered, announcing her presence as she sat on the edge of Andromeda's bed. As she fanned herself, to no avail, she watched Andromeda freeze in the middle of cramming a large trunk with clothes.
"Cissy," she said, with a touch of resentment, "You didn't knock."
"Your door was open," Narcissa replied, frowning at the unnecessary rudeness. Since when had she been required to knock anyway? Andromeda latched the trunk. "Where are you going?"
Andromeda bit her lip, turning from Narcissa. The silence lasted too long. "Bella's," she finally said. "Mother and I had a row again just before she left with Father, and we both thought it'd be in everyone's best interest if we just gave each other some space."
"I thought you and Bella were fighting, though too."
"Huh?" Andromeda winced, as if mentioning the idea caused her physical pain. "No, um, we've resolved that issue. It was a silly thing, really."
That was not the impression that Bella had given Narcissa when she had crossed her visit at breakfast that morning. However, Bellatrix and Andromeda had a way of understanding each other that was beyond Narcissa, so she didn't press the issue.
"Merlin, how long are you staying?" Narcissa laughed, looking at the trunk. "You call me a heavy packer; you've got half your room…"
Narcissa trailed off as she noticed Andromeda's necklace.
"What is that?"
Andromeda's fingers darted to the chain, hiding it beneath the fabric of her dress.
"Just a necklace I bought in Diagon Al-"
"No. What was on the necklace, Meda?" Narcissa giggled, her eagerness getting the better of her as she stepped closer to her sister. It was a ring, Narcissa knew, an engagement ring. It had to be. Suddenly months of agonizing over Andromeda's nonexistent line of proposals seemed pointless. Andromeda had been hiding her engagement all summer. This proved only the terrible influence Bellatrix had on her, toying with their mother's frustration like it was part of a game, but Narcissa couldn't help the overwhelming feeling of relief.
"I told you, Narcissa. It's nothing," Andromeda said, stepping back.
"Oh, stop it! I've already seen it, so now you've got to tell me. Whose is it?"
Andromeda shook her head even as she backed into a bedpost.
Narcissa stuck out her hand with a grin. "As long as it isn't Rabastan I'm not going to laugh, Meda. It's Evan's, isn't it? I bet it's Evan. That's why you haven't told Mother yet!"
But the ring strung upon the necklace fell heavy in Narcissa's waiting hand. She brought it to her eyes slowly, though she needn't have done so. As one well accustomed with the feeling of fine jewelry against the skin, Narcissa knew the ring was not goblin-made. The ring was a tiny thing in every respect. Ordinary and simple, though Narcissa couldn't even muster the adjective quaint. A sinking feeling of dread replaced her so quickly found state of celebration. The ring couldn't possibly have belonged to a pureblood.
"Andromeda."
They stared at the ring, though each looked at something different.
"A halfblood?" Narcissa whined, struggling to suppress the disappointment in her voice.
Andromeda's nostrils flared. She snatched the ring from Narcissa, pulled it off the necklace, and placed it upon her finger.
"His name is Ted Tonks."
No face came to Narcissa's mind at the name and that worried her. She remembered everyone and anyone of importance.
"He was in Hufflepuff."
A feeble flicker of an image surfaced. A shock of sandy blond hair. The touch of laughter in Andromeda's voice when she expressed frustration for him once with Narcissa. A silly, stupid, lopsided grin. But that couldn't be possible. Ted Tonks was a mudblood.
Andromeda's hand twitched by her pocketed wand, prepared to fight if necessary.
Narcissa's eyes didn't leave the ring around Andromeda's finger.
Her surroundings went fuzzy as her mind numbed with confusion. A mudblood meant dishonor, disgrace, disloyalty. With a sharp, cold jab that interrupted the impenetrable July heat, Narcissa surfaced. Thoughts exploded around her. How could you. How dare you. She looked into Andromeda's face and saw a gleam she had never seen before.
"How?" she demanded, though her voice trembled upon the one word.
Andromeda's lips twitched at a smile. There was something superior about the movement. "Love?"
"No," Narcissa snapped, everything rushing around her violently. "No. No. NO! That isn't love! Love is three sisters who understand each other; who've grown up with each other; who are each other. You aren't supposed to love the man you marry. It's not a requirement, Andromeda. Just a convenience."
Andromeda drew a shaky breath. "If I had known I would be addressing Bellatrix, I would have used a word she might understand."
"She'll be furious," Narcissa cried wildly. "She's been different lately, you've seen it! And this sort of thing will set her over the edge!"
Andromeda pressed her lips together, almost wincing. But there was resolve even as she whispered, "I have no doubt that Bella will never forgive me."
"So break off the engagement! Forget the mudblood. Nobody ever need know. We won't even tell Bella. You still have time to find a proper husband. You'll forget Ted Tonks by the end of the sum-"
"Narcissa," Andromeda interrupted sharply, "I'm leaving."
Narcissa's mouth went dry, the full extent of the situation finally settling upon her, clammy and surreal. A thousand protests fought to break free from Narcissa's mind. She bit back a scream of hurt feelings. She closed her eyes, hoping she'd wake up from the nightmare. A storm cloud rumbled in the distance.
"You don't know how this will destroy us."
Us. One word that meant so much; one word that suddenly fell into the harshest jeopardy. Three. Sisters. An untouchable force of nature that everyone strived for, that no one would attain as they had. Bella, Meda, Cissy. Bella, Meda, Cissy. Didn't Andromeda care? Didn't Andromeda recognize her part in the all powerful trinity of the Sisters Black? Didn't she love them?
"Everything's different now."
Narcissa felt as though Andromeda had slapped her. Change could not come. Narcissa hated it. Bellatrix wouldn't allow it.
Suddenly, in a strained state of apology without regret, Andromeda rushed to kiss Narcissa's cheeks, petting her blonde hair one last time. "I still love you, Cissy," she said so lightly it could have been a breeze, "Because you'll find your way out eventually too. Someday you'll really see Bella and then you'll see yourself. It might be years from now when it's too late. But someday."
Narcissa didn't waste time trying to comprehend her sister's riddles. There were too many things to be said even as time had ended, spent itself on foolish childhood.
"What do you think I'm supposed to do without you?" Narcissa demanded, anger pounding out her words through clenched teeth.
A final look as their eyes locked. A final strangled attempt to understand one another.
"You don't need me, not really."
But Bella does.
Narcissa opened her mouth to say so when a door creaked downstairs, the sound of a house-elf being ushered away unceremoniously.
"Cissy, Meda?" Bellatrix's voice rang through the air with bolts of electricity, causing the younger sisters to freeze.
Narcissa heard the petulance echo through the house, hanging eerily around them. As though somehow Bella could already know what was happening.
Andromeda gave a small squeak. Narcissa felt the blood rush from her face.
"Promise me you won't turn into Bella," Andromeda said, clutching Narcissa's shoulders.
"What?"
"Promise me!" Andromeda hissed with such urgency that Narcissa couldn't help but nod.
"Meda. You aren't going to do this to us."
"Don't let Bella find me," Andromeda said, suddenly breaking away from Narcissa to grab her trunk and wand.
"Wh-"
Andromeda gave an odd, cold laugh. "Because she'll probably try to kill me."
Narcissa opened her mouth without realizing what Andromeda had said. Narcissa faltered, was caught by the intensity of her sister's eyes. Andromeda had thought about this for a long time; she knew what she wanted to do.
"Besides," she continued, her voice suddenly hoarse, barely above a whisper, "I don't think I could say goodbye to Bella."
Narcissa watched everything she had ever known change in a matter of seconds as Andromeda vanished from the room. The dull noise of feet descending staircases dissipated until finally Narcissa could strain her ears no more. Her legs shook, though not so badly as her hands. She felt feverish, the world growing hot, cold, and inescapable all at the same time. As though it knew of the turmoil within, the house shook with the approaching thunder.
"Cissy!"
Narcissa jumped as Bellatrix entered.
"Bella!" Her voice came out in a muffled shriek. "I didn't hear you come up."
"You don't listen well enough, then. What's the matter with you?" Bella demanded as Narcissa struggled to compose her face from emotion.
Narcissa managed a shrug.
"Why are you in Meda's room?" she asked suspiciously, not convinced by the lackluster façade of blasé.
Narcissa opened her mouth, torn between blurting out everything and comprehending Andromeda's last words to her. "I… I was looking for you," she lied.
A bolt of lightning flashed violently outside. A few seconds passed when the windows rattled with the closeness of the storm. Narcissa jumped, threatened by all sides. Bellatrix glanced out the window, her face pale and hardened by the darkening backdrop. Her dark eyes slid back to Narcissa.
"Have you seen Andromeda?" Bella asked.
If she finds Andromeda she'll kill her.
"N-no."
Narcissa's lower lip began to tremble as Bellatrix looked around the uncharacteristically disheveled room, putting the pieces together. Bits of parchment scattered on the floor as unwritten letters whispered what ifs. Andromeda's copy of Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy sat opened on the unmade bed. An empty picture frame rested on the ransacked vanity. A tear slipped down Narcissa's face. She barely smothered a dry sob.
"No," Bellatrix snarled, turning upon Narcissa after slamming the wardrobe door. "You're lying to me."
The room seemed to shrink. Narcissa couldn't even manage to shake her head, terrified, for the first time, of Bellatrix as she stepped closer, eyes burning menacingly.
"Where is Andromeda?" Bellatrix spat, grabbing Narcissa by the wrist. "Where is she going?"
Bella knew. Somehow, Bella had known for a long time, even if neither acknowledged it. Narcissa wanted nothing more at that moment than to return to her previous state of all consuming naivety.
"Where?"
Narcissa felt her lips move, though the world grew muffled around her. The lightning in her sister's eyes struck Narcissa as she squirmed under Bellatrix's pulsing, rising anger. "She's…"
Seemingly miles below, a door slammed. The unearthly stillness of the air shattered.
Bellatrix gave out a shriek before tearing out of the room, leaving Narcissa sick with fear. Had she not slammed the door, Andromeda could have easily escaped unnoticed. But it was what Andromeda wanted, Narcissa realized. She wasn't brave enough to leave on her own; she needed Bella to chase her out as much as she couldn't say goodbye.
Bellatrix thundered down the stairs with Narcissa several feet behind her. She heard herself crying out to Bella, pleading and begging her not to go after Andromeda. In high pitched whines, she told Bella it was too late, that Meda had already fallen. But it didn't matter. Bellatrix wasn't listening. Bella ran with the intent only to pull her sister back.
As her feet hit the last steps, Bellatrix drew her wand. Throwing a spell over her head, she blasted the door open. She sprung over the threshold onto the wide expanse of lawn and bolted towards the receding figure of her sister.
"ANDROMEDA!" Bellatrix screamed across the grounds.
The wind had picked up and the air no longer rang hot with sluggish summer but chilled with the threat of a storm about to break overhead. Bellatrix's cry, however, was not lost in the persistent thunder and howling, moaning wind. It swirled through the air with a danger equal to that of Bellatrix herself. But Andromeda did not stop, and that only drove Bella harder.
Narcissa clambered through the doorway after Bellatrix, struggling to keep the same pace. Bellatrix ran with a speed such as Narcissa had never seen. Her legs pounded furiously against the ground, the past pushing her forward towards the escaping form of her sister, silhouetted in the storm light. Narcissa saw Andromeda as though she had lost sense of time. She ran without really moving; for it wasn't possible that Andromeda would really leave.
Bellatrix raised her wand again, slashing it through the air furiously. Sparks flew out, hitting the ground around Andromeda. The trunk Andromeda carried slowed her considerably and Bella gained on her. But within twenty feet or less, Andromeda would hit the boundary line, would be able to Apparate without a second thought. The torrent of spells increased, and their proximity to Andromeda increased as Bella realized the closeness of her sister's escape. Andromeda didn't glance back once, though it was apparent she struggled towards her destination. With a roar, Bella hit the trunk with a stunner, sending it flying out of Andromeda's grip.
Before Narcissa could grasp what was happening, Andromeda whipped around with her wand drawn.
"Don't make me fight you, Bella!"
Their wands pointed directly at one another.
"Then don't make me your enemy."
The air went oddly still as Bella's words thundered with terrible emotion. The final calmness anointed the deadly storm eerily.
"Don't you dare leave me, Andromeda."
Neither wand lowered.
"If you love him you can not possibly love me any longer."
"Those are your words, Bellatrix. Not mine."
A breeze whispered through the air promises from the past; laughter, friendship, unyielding loyalty. Bella's eyes glistened with hurt. Harsher murmurs crept from the morning's argument. Meda's eyes didn't apologize.
"You told me it was nothing. You promised me you would stop writing and forget him," Bella said, a strange weakness in her voice.
"Well, clearly we all can't be as good to our word as you, Bella."
The mocking struck deeply as the past bonds of sisterhood, the loyalty they maintained, turned to urgent wailings as the wind stirred fiercely once again.
"I need you, Andromeda."
Narcissa watched Andromeda faltered, clearly not prepared for what Bellatrix had admitted.
"No! Don't you dare be so selfish as to say something like that, Bellatrix. You don't even understand love. So how could you possibly-"
"I understand that it is a weakness, that in time it will destroy you."
"No, Bella. You-are-wrong," Andromeda said, punctuating each word with rising volume. "You and everything you stand for. And such flawed opinions will destroy you!"
"You're really going to let a mudblood take you away from me?" Bella demanded coolly.
"I can not stay around to be responsible for what you're becoming!"
Narcissa looked at her sister's searchingly, possessively, wondering if she would still recognize them.
"You're afraid of the future," Bella sneered though Narcissa could see the worry Andromeda's words evoked, "You're running away because you're afraid."
"No. I'm leaving because I'm braver then the rest of you. You're the coward Bella; the future gives you nightmares and you don't know how to deal with them."
"I am doing my utmost to protect my world's future!"
"Your world, Bella! Your world!" Andromeda shrieked, madness straining her voice.
"But you are a part of it so you should thank me! How dare you accuse me of such cowardliness?"
"How can you call hiding behind a mask brave?" Andromeda laughed, practically leering at Bella. "Your fear of change has reduced you to a minion, a follower, a slave."
"You have no idea what you're saying," Bella hissed, her eyes flashing with warning.
"Don't I? How long did you think you would hide it from me?"
"You yell at me for hiding things?" Bellatrix scoffed bitterly.
"Hide what!" Narcissa demanded, confusion mutating into uncontrollable dread.
"You haven't told Cissy yet, have you? Such sneakiness has little company with bravery, Bella."
"She's just a girl; she isn't-"
"You're just a girl, Bella!"
"She isn't even out of Hogwarts yet," Bellatrix continued, ignoring the interruption, "These things shouldn't concern her."
"It will concern her when she loses her sister!" Andromeda exclaimed hysterically.
"And yet you're leaving," Bella said, cold and vengeful, "Then that only proves how little you care, traitor."
Finally, Bella's words stung Andromeda. Suddenly, years of love meant nothing in light of the treason being committed.
Bellatrix faced Andromeda, but Andromeda faced something more than just her sister. Even with the wind whipped hair around their faces, Narcissa noticed something all too clearly. Never before had she seen such a stark contrast between the sisters. The absence of similarity haunted, evoked horror, because it spoke so clearly the shattering bond between them. A bond that both Andromeda and Bellatrix broke with each word they uttered.
A strangled whimper finally escaped Narcissa, "Meda, please. You can't go. Please. Please don't leave us."
Bella gave a sort of unappreciative growl.
Andromeda laughed. "Oh, Cissy. Reduced to pleading; I don't think Bella approves. Bella would never plead, never beg me to stay. No, she's far too proud to care. Far too superior to love."
Narcissa was sobbing now. She grabbed the sleeve of Bella's robes, clinging desperately. "But she does, Meda, she does. Bella, tell Andromeda she can't leave. You love her, Bella. You love her."
Bellatrix's face was hardened, her lips set in a tight line, her eyes burning dangerously. Andromeda stared back anxiously.
"Say it," Andromeda finally said, her voice cracked and hungry. "I really don't think you can. Just say it. Just once, I dare you."
Bellatrix didn't flinch. Narcissa was thus driven to new depths of frenzy, grabbing Bella's arm tighter. "Bella, please! Bella, just answer her!" Narcissa screamed, her terror spiraling higher with each unanswered plea. "Please, Bella. I still love her; you still-"
Bellatrix let out a shriek of pain as Narcissa's white fingers wrapped around her forearm. Reflexively, it seemed, Bellatrix pushed Narcissa away with such force that she almost fell to the ground.
"You can't even see that you're hurting the few people foolish enough to love you," Andromeda seethed. Sobbing harder still, Narcissa was not sure if such angry words were sprung out of protective feelings for Narcissa or mere anger towards Bellatrix.
"Hmm, and do you count yourself among those precious few? Tell me, dear sister, are you so better than me?" Bellatrix's teeth were bared as simper turned to snarl. "Don't be so clever. You brought me here, Andromeda."
"Then say it yourself."
The words were harsh, but then Andromeda continued with great urgency, unfounded hope straining her voice. "Say it, Bella. Prove Narcissa right, if you can. Justify my fears, if you can't. Merlin, Bella," Andromeda whispered hoarsely, "Say something."
A silence raged through the air between the two sisters.
"I hate you."
Bellatrix shook with the weight of Andromeda's betrayal and Narcissa staggered with pain. But Andromeda remained still, her eyes closed, mouth set in a frown as the words crowned her unwanted in Bella's eyes. The only gaze Andromeda had ever cared about. The only thing that might have convinced her to stay.
"Thank you," Andromeda breathed, her eyes opening only to reveal frigidity.
Bella had never been less welcoming.
"Get. Out. Now."
Narcissa bit her tongue till she tasted blood, restraining herself from begging her sister to stay because Bella couldn't plead herself.
The wand clasped in Bella's hand suddenly sparked danger. Narcissa had never truly thought of it as a weapon, but then, she had never seen her sister so emotionally unwell.
Andromeda stared at the wand then at Bella as though they were the same entity. "You don't scare me, Bella," she said finally, almost in a sigh, "You never have, and you never will."
"You'll regret this," Bella snarled. "I promise you. Just wait; I will terrify you."
Andromeda did not flinch. "No, Bella. You may anger me, disgust me, worry me… no doubt you will disappoint me. But what you mistake for fear will only be regret for what you once were to me."
Three figures waited in the gusty wake of a carefully constructed tempest. Three sisters searched for one last glimpse of the past. Rain drops fell sporadically. Time would pass final judgment, but for now they had only their selves to lose.
"Meda…" Bella breathed.
She turned, walked forward.
A final crack split the air as Andromeda Disapperated. The sky broke. Narcissa knew her heart broke. And with a final howl of fury, Bella broke.
Author's Note: All I can say is that this story means a lot to me, it's been exactly an entire year, and thank you so so much. Oh, that and: why, Meda, why?