Chapter 5


With my arms crossed, I stared up at Tonks and broke the silence.

"You shouldn't be up in that tree."

It was less of an olive branch and more of a fear that he would tip over and land on top of me.

"Climb up," Tonks waved down at me. "There's a great view from here."

I frowned over my shoulder at Kettleburn. Of course, he was cradling an injured bowtruckle and not stopping this.

"I rather stick something in my eye than break several bones while covered in spiders." I shielded my head as in response he shook the branch above my head. A chocolate frog box fell out of Tonks's pocket. I picked it up and threw it back where it belonged, missing Tonks's head narrowly.

"Nice throw. But suit yourself," Tonks said climbing higher. "I wouldn't push you out of the tree if that's what you're thinking. And I wouldn't let you fall. I would hold onto you real tight - "

"I seriously doubt a bowtruckle will be up there," I cut across him sharply.

"Trust me." Tonks beamed. "I will get you a nice juicy one, Andromeda. Only the baby ones live at the roots."

"I really do not need your death on my conscience." I had to step back to see him now and put my hand to my forehead to shield my eyes from the sun.

He waved down at me now happily sitting on a high branch and swinging his legs like a child. A laugh escaped my lips.

"I thought you were supposed to be angry at me," he called down to me. "I found one! Catch!"

"No. No." I covered my face with my arms, retreating. Two twigs from the tree landed at my feet.

"Don't worry. I'd never do that to this little wonder," Tonks slipped effortlessly from one branch to another. "Coming down now."

"Try not to get bitten,"

"A bit too late for that." He jumped down from the last branch. His cupped hands made a makeshift cage for the bowtruckle. The bowtruckle was large, mostly brown and gnawing on one of Tonks's fingers. Blood trickled down to his knuckles. I shuddered. But he didn't seem to notice or maybe he was too busy being proud of his catch.

He opened his hands flat and held out the creature to me. "Do you want to hold him? He's actually quite friendly. Deceptive. Exactly like someone I know."

I ignored the last part. "Not in this lifetime. I think it likes your finger too much."

"Very cute."

My eyes went to the mossy, leaf and twig-covered ground. "Let's find a place to set it down. And try to finish with everyone else."

"You know," Tonks cocked his head at me, not moving. "If your sister pushes you, it's okay to push her back."

"How would you know?"

"I have a sister, two of them. One younger and one older."

"I'm guessing Hufflepuffs too. In what years?"

"Unfortunately, they don't have magic. They're still getting over it."

"Muggles?" I said surprised. Is that why he really felt like an outsider?

"Trolls, really," he smiled, thinking of them. "We have our fair fights. And yet we're still a big happy family."

"It's not that easy for me, Tonks," I said leading him to an old stump away from the other pairs. "I must protect Narcissa. And doing that means keeping Bellatrix under control."

"Narcissa?"

"She's in fourth year. Slytherin and blonde. A bit naïve but brilliant otherwise." I paused and looked at him. I could feel myself reddening. "Don't look at me like that, Tonks. I have a heart."

"I always look at you like this," he smiled. "Or maybe it's my crush on you taking over?"

"What?" I suddenly snapped out of our moment of tender emotions. My eyebrows raised in horror at that statement.

"Joking, Andromeda, joking." He dared touch my shoulder again. "Or am I?"

He winked at me. I pressed my lips together at that and started rooting through my school bag as a distraction. I needed a notebook to sketch the bowtruckle. I finally found my notebook for this class and sat on the ground. I didn't escape him for long. He was next to me in a heartbeat, waving his bloodied hand in my face while he talked about the muggle school his sisters attended and how he had to behave like a muggle at home.

"Here," I took his injured hand now bowtruckle free. "Let me heal you."


I stopped before I reached the Slytherin table, scanning it. Everyone was in their usual spots. Bellatrix with the more aggressive pureblood males. Narcissa with her friends, all girls and reeking of perfume and confidence. On the outside anyway. I knew differently from the way Narcissa behaved in private with me. I dared look directly at Bellatrix and was not surprised to find her looking back at me. I thought about clearing the air between us, but she quickly made me forget that thought entirely as she speared a piece of steak with her knife.

I quickly walked further up the table to Narcissa.

"Can I join you?" I tapped her shoulder. She did not bother turning around.

"The answer is always yes," she did not have to scoot over. She always left an empty space and a plate next to her. "You missed quidditch tryouts today. Lucius of course made seeker. He was brilliant. And we all had hot chocolate together. It was a perfect day, beautiful sun."

"Like you saw half of it," her friend, Evelyn sniggered. "You were too busy with your nose in that stuffy old notebook of yours."

Narcissa reddened and took a sip from her cup. "And you were too busy sobbing over Rosier's rejection of your family's proposition." As she set her cup back down, she smiled a sickeningly sweet smile.

Evelyn bit her lip. "What do you think Narcissa writes in that notebook, Andromeda?"

"Probably practicing her cursive," I said but I really did not have a clue.

I knew of the notebook she was talking about. An old tattered black leather one I was pretty sure she had stolen from Father's office. If I had to truthfully guess, I would guess it was a diary. I could not picture Cissy practicing cursive she was practically perfect at everything she did. But she was emotional. She cared more than anything about what people thought of her, how she looked and there was only so much she could confide in me without being repetitive.

Narcissa nodded, happy with my answer.

"Did Bella speak to you today?" she changed the subject.

"Speak," I mused. "Not exactly. Did she say anything to you?"

"Nothing much," Narcissa said suddenly sounding giddy. "But she did make me write to Tom Riddle - "

I shushed her.

"Riddle," she tried again, whispering to me. "It was simple really, I just had to copy what she wrote. And I received the kindest reply in only several hours."

"He must have some time on his hands," I replied, spooning some vegetables onto my plate.

"It gets better," she squeezed my arm. "He thinks we are beautiful."

I narrowed my eyes. "Anything else?"

"He has invited us to the next meeting and he said yes to our Slug Club invitation."

"Invitation?"

"It was a really good idea of yours. Bella told me."

I glanced up the table at Bella, "I said to ask Slughorn first. It's not up to me."

Narcissa pulled at my arm. "How could Slughorn say no? Riddle is the perfect gentleman, every Slytherin adores him and his letter was scented."

"If Slughorn wants him there he would have added him to the guest list himself." My stomach twisted. I was suddenly not hungry.

Of course, this was Bella trying to get her way and get pay back at the same time. The truth was I did not want him there. He creeped me out and now he was pulling at Narcissa's vain heartstrings.

"Is Andromeda still organising the parties this year?" Another one of Narcissa's friends butted in.

"Yes," Narcissa beamed at me. "Isn't it great? I hope she can pass the duty onto me when she graduates."

I turned towards the staff table looking for Slughorn. This could not wait. I was going to do it now so he could say no in front of every Voldemort-loving Slytherin. It would not be my fault and I wouldn't be the odd one out again.

"I have ideas for the party themes this year!"

"Under the sea!"

"Fire and ice!"

"Medieval!"

I pushed myself away from the table and the squealing.

"Where are you going, Andromeda?" Narcissa called after me.

"To Slughorn," I called back, hurrying to the teacher's table.

I locked eyes with him when he looked up from his plate to adjust his bib.

"Miss Black," he announced happily as I approached. "What brings you to the staff table this evening?"

I stepped up onto the platform. "It's a matter I hope to quickly resolve. It concerns the club gatherings and will only take a minute."

"I am all ears," he leaned towards the aging Divination professor next to him. "One of my favourite students, so helpful."

"My sister Bellatrix wishes to invite someone from outside the castle to our gathering. An ex-Slytherin I believe."

"I see no harm in that," he waved me off.

I frowned and pressed. "Professor Slughorn, I believe you taught him before. His name is Tom Riddle."

Slughorn paused, his cheery expression falling flat. "Tom Riddle?" he repeated quietly.

"Yes," I answered, struggling to keep a straight face. This was a delightful reaction.

"Miss Black," said a gentle voice further up the table. "I believe you should sit back down with your fellow students."

Headmaster Dumbledore had never spoken to me before. It made me jolt. I was surprised he knew my name. But then again, he must have been listening to my conversation with Slughorn.

I looked to my head of house for confirmation. He looked to Dumbledore and then to me. "Tell your sister no. We are overbooked."

I nodded. I headed back down to the Slytherin table straight to where Bella was sitting.

"Slughorn said no." I cut across whatever conversation was happening.

"That is unacceptable," Bellatrix looked intensely at the Slytherins around her for agreement. She easily got it. "Go back up there, Andromeda." She waved me away.

I scowled my building anger coming out on my face. I could hear Tonks's voice in my head from earlier today.

"We are overbooked," I said firmly. "Slughorn is not interested and the Headmaster sent me away."

Bella suddenly snapped, "Andromeda, you idiot!" the table hushed to watch us.

"Bellatrix, calm down," Evan Rosier was suddenly standing beside me and forcing me to sit. He looked unusually sweaty. "Everyone can hear you. She does not understand. No one told her."

"It's common sense." Bellatrix dug her nails into the table. She was probably wishing it was my skin.

"I cannot control Slughorn," I said feeling helpless. Everyone was staring at me like I had committed treason. Even the slimy first years on the outskirts of the group.

Bella rolled her eyes so hard, her irises disappeared.

"It's not Slughorn who's the issue here." Evan hissed to me.

His fingers were now digging into my shoulder so hard I could feel him drawing blood. I blinked rapidly.

"Then what is it?"

Bella practically threw herself across the table at me. "It's Dumbledore. He is the enemy. Obviously. You could get us all in trouble and worst of all you're jeopardising our Lord's plans. Dumbledore has always stopped him - us - from achieving greatness. Why else do you think such a brilliant wizard is not teaching here?"

"It is just a party, Bella," I tugged at the end of my skirt.

Bella laughed mockingly, "No it is not, my simple sister. It was a way to get him here. For me to be promoted. To finally rid this tainted school of mudbloods."

I could not breathe. I was so stupid. Of course, it wasn't just a party invitation. Bellatrix never cared for Slughorn's get-togethers. I had so much power in my hands, and I didn't even know it, as party planner. And I think I just prevented a… something. Something that made my head fill with nightmarish images and made Hogwarts feel unsafe. I may be pureblood, but I didn't want anyone to die.

I looked at every Slytherin listening trying to see what I felt in any of their faces. But all I saw was anger at me. I jumped up and ran out of the hall to the furthest bathroom I could think of.

I couldn't breathe. This was so unlike Mother's classes on how to behave in the world. You ignored wizards and witches who were not your kind. Simple. You did not… kill directly or indirectly.

I put the toilet seat down and sat on it. I gave myself a hug.

"It's okay," I whispered to myself. "You can shake no one is watching."