Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JK Rowling

Chapter 1

"Oh, Bella! It's absolutely magnificent!" Narcissa squealed in admiration, mesmerized by the ring on her eldest sister's finger. The three Black sisters were gathered in Andromeda's room. It was late at night, and Bellatrix had just gotten back from a dinner at the Lestrange house. The engagement was not a surprise, yet Narcissa was still amazed.

Bellatrix however, did not hold half the enthusiasm her youngest sister did. "I suppose it is rather big," She glanced casually at the huge diamond on her hand, "If I didn't know better, I'd think Rodolphus might be trying to compensate for something."

Andromeda rolled her eyes. "Bella, not in front of Cissy." Her exasperated tone suggested that this was not the first time she'd had to scold her older sister for her such remarks.

Andromeda glanced at their younger sister. The blonde would be starting her fifth year in the fall, and thus was far too young to be hearing crude comments in Andromeda's mind.

"Don't be such a prude, Andy." Bella teased. She adapted a playful glint in her eye, "From what Roddy tells me, Lucius Malfoy is quite interested in our little Cissy." She pressed her finger against the blonde girl's knee. "If that's true, I doubt you'll be staying so innocent much longer." She let out a laugh at the astonished, yet not unpleased, look on Narcissa's face.

Andromeda sighed. "So, do you have any ideas yet for the ceremony?" She really couldn't care less about the wedding plans, but she was desperate to change the topic and guessed Cissy would have lots to say on the matter.

Andromeda was right. The rest of the night was spent discussing flowers, gowns, and other things she thought qualified as nonsense.

No time was wasted in celebrating the engagement. The Lestranges managed to put together one of their famous lavish balls for the announcement in only a week. It was all anyone who was anyone could talk about. So, naturally, Andromeda was dreading the affair.

The day of the event, she hid in her room. Yet, sometime in the afternoon, a soft knock on the door interrupted her reading.

"Come in," she called without bothering to get up or even put down her book.

One of the Black family house-elves, Blisty, walked tentatively inside carrying a garment bag three times her size.

"Mistress is telling Blisty to bring this to Miss Andromeda." The elf looked as if she were about to fall over.

Andromeda sighed. "Put it on the bed. Is that all?"

"Mistress is also saying that Miss must be ready to leave in one hour."

Andromeda fought the urge to groan. She had been expecting as much, but it was still unwelcome news. The girl reluctantly closed her book. "Very well. Help me dress."

The elf hastily went to work.

Andromeda glanced at the gown she would be wearing—a shimmering dark blue dress with a corset top and flowing skirt. It was less modest than her previous ball gowns, which was probably a not so subtle message from her mother. Now that Bellatrix's marriage had been arranged, it was Andromeda's turn to begin looking for a husband.

The ball started out the way they always did. People came, people talked, people drank, people danced. And Andromeda glanced around the grand ballroom from a table in the corner.

The Greengrasses appeared to be furious at each other, but put on false smiles anytime anyone came their way. Her Aunt Walburga was discretely scolding Andromeda's favorite cousin, Sirius, most likely for some etiquette error he had made. Lyonella Avery, whose wedding was not for another two weeks, desperately was trying to conceal the fact that she was pregnant. The most hilarious display however, was Bellatrix and Rodolphus. There was no denying they were a dynamic couple. Both had a distinct aura of power to them. Rodolphus was dressed in his signature entirely black robes, and Bella in a daringly sultry dark red ball gown. The two were dancing far too close to be considered appropriate and whispered what appeared to be lecherous comments in each others ears every so often.

Yet, even with this live entertainment, Andromeda still found herself rather un-entertained. She was currently wishing her champagne flute would suddenly become a portkey. She'd already made up a whole tale in her mind about what would happen if it were. In her story, she touched the glass and had ended up in some romantic and charming French city and was able to spend the night alone exploring and adventuring. Sadly though, it was all a work of her imagination, and, even more sadly, Andromeda was still stuck in this room—with these people.

Normally, she would have been better at this. She would usually have at least pretended to be enjoying herself, but tonight was different. Her parents wanted her to start searching for her future husband. She knew that, and she knew what she should be doing, but it was much harder to talk to her male classmates knowing that she would one day marry one of them. Andromeda had never been interested in any of the boys she knew to begin. They all seemed the same to her. How was she going to choose one to marry?

Andromeda looked up from her drink and glanced around the room looking for a distraction. Bella was still dancing with Rodolphus, and Narcissa appeared to be gossiping with some of her classmates. She kept looking around until she noticed her mother was staring at her. Andromeda quickly looked away, but it was too late. She was positive from the look on the older woman's face that she was about to be scolded for her antisocial behavior.

Sure enough, Andromeda watched as Druella Black politely excused herself from the conversation in which she had been engaged and made her way over to her daughter.

Andromeda straightened her postured unconsciously, as her mother folded herself elegantly into the chair adjacent to Andromeda's.

Druella gave her daughter an eery smile. "Andromeda, I will not even pretend to know what is bothering you tonight, but I can assure you it does not matter. Your father and I will not allow you to be an embarrassment to our family." Druella's icy blue eyes were so piercing that Andromeda had to fight the urge to look away. "I do not care if you feel as if it will kill you. You are going to stand up and act as if you are having a simply wonderful time, because that is your obligation to this family. Do you understand me?"

Andromeda's reply was automatic. "Yes, mother."

Druella rose. "Do not disappoint me again."

And with that, she walked away. Andromeda took a deep breath and pushed her emotions back down. She was a Black. She could do this.

Downing the rest of her drink, she stood up. Andromeda smoothed the skirt of her gown and glanced again around the room. She knew that she should dance with someone. Her first choice of dancing partners would always be her cousin, Evan Rosier, but he was nowhere to be seen. Angus Goyle appeared to be without a partner but there was no chance she would even consider dancing with that oaf. Just as Andromeda was beginning to panic, she saw a solution to her problem standing over by the drink table.

"...So, I told Slughorn that it wasn't my fault that the cauldron melted, but he didn't believe me! Isn't that completely unfair?" Cornelia Wilkes tossed her hair over her shoulder as she spoke.

"It's astounding." Rabastan Lestrange replied deadpan.

She nodded enthusiastically, "Isn't it! I-" The girl stopped talking abruptly and shot an annoyed look behind Rabastan's shoulder. "Oh, hello Andromeda."

"Nice to see you, Cornelia." Rabastan heard an amused (slightly sarcastic) voice reply.

He turned around to see Andromeda Black nod at Cornelia before turning her attention to him. "Dance with me?" Her question was more of a command, but he had no problem with that. Andromeda was better than Cornelia any day. And it appeared she knew it.

Rabastan eyed the brunette with a smirk, "Certainly."

He offered her his hand and led her over to the dance floor. Neither gave a second thought to the furious-looking blonde they left behind.

"I think you may just have the best timing in the entire world." Rabastan breathed into Andromeda's ear as he led her towards the dance floor.

"Glad I could be of assistance," Andromeda laughed. "Although, it wasn't entirely for your benefit."

Rabastan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

She took a deep breath before speaking, "It appears my mother is under the impression that I am not quite social enough. I figure if she sees us dancing together she will be content. Then, I can go back to sitting by myself and enjoying the lack of company."

Rabastan gave a false sigh, "Now Andromeda, how are you ever going to find yourself a respectable husband with that attitude?" His impression of her mother was impeccable.

"I don't know. It's a miracle I can even sleep at night." Andromeda said through a smile.

Rabastan surprised himself by giving her a genuine grin in return. "So, if you had to choose tonight, who would it be?"

They were spinning around the dance floor by this point.

She responded with a slight laugh. "I'm not answering that."

"Okay, fine. I'll make it easier for you." Rabastan looked around at the options in the room, "Nott or Wilkes?"

Andromeda pursed he lips in thought, deciding to play along with his foolish game, "Nott, I think."

"Interesting...Nott or Rosier?"

The brunette rolled her eyes, "Oh, definitely Rosier, incest is such a turn on."

Rabastan looked thoughtful. "You two are cousins, aren't you? I always forget that."

"An understandable mistake with all of that sexual tension between the two of us." Andromeda replied wryly.

Rabastan leaned his head down to whisper in her ear, "Speaking of sexual tension, what would you say to a tour of my chambers?" He spoke in an incredibly seductive tone.

She laughed and rolled her eyes. "I am not sleeping with you, Rabastan."

Rabastan clicked his tongue in disapproval. "I'm shocked that you think I would be so forward, Miss Black."

"I'm shocked that you were not more forward, Mr. Lestrange." Andromeda mimicked his polite voice.

"Well let me rephrase that then. I have a full bottle of fire whiskey in my room. Would you like to leave and go get drunk?"

Andromeda smiled. "See, that's an offer that I will actually take you up on."

Andromeda didn't drink often. In fact, she had only gotten drunk once before, at The Rosier's Annual Summer Ball the previous summer. She, Bella, Evan, Rodolphus, and Rabastan had formed their own sub-party in the dungeons. Andromeda didn't remember much from the night, but even still, it was always one of her fondest memories. She had let loose that night, and this was something she hardly ever did.

However, she was doing it tonight.

Rabastan and Andromeda were sprawled comfortably on the huge black sofa in Rabastan's bedroom. They were both drinking from a large bottle of fire whiskey, not bothering with glasses.

The two were currently discussing their older siblings' relationship.

Andromeda took an unladylike swig from the bottle. "I still can't decide if it's a really good thing they found each other, or if we're all in trouble." She was laughing as she spoke.

"Trust me, it's a good thing." He held his hand out for her to pass him the bottle. "She is the only girl in the world with a chance of handling his temper."

She gave him an incredulous look. "His temper? Have you ever seen Bella angry?"

"Well, at least we won't have to deal with them any longer." said Rabastan before taking a drink of fire whiskey.

Andromeda rolled her eyes, "You don't honestly believe that. They're just going to come to us every time they get furious with each other."

Rabastan shook his head. "No, I thought that at first too, but it's not what happens." He took another swig from the bottle before handing it back to Andromeda. "Whenever they disagree about anything they just start yelling and hexing each other. Then, they both just get really horny, fuck, and eventually forget they were even fighting in the first place."

Andromeda cringed slightly at the vivid picture he created before looking at him questioningly. "And you know this how?"

"The walls in this place," He gestured at his surroundings, "are much thinner than they should be."

She laughed. "Well, on that disturbing note, I think we should be heading back. Someone has to have noticed our absence by now."

She started to rise, but Rabastan pulled her back down.

"Just relax. I do this all the time, no one ever notices," he said in a soothing tone, but she wasn't about to be persuaded.

"Have you met my mother?" Andromeda asked in a skeptical tone. "Trust me, if she hasn't realized I'm missing by now, she's about to."

"It's fine," he said, still not giving in, "Just stay up here." His persuading voice would have worked on almost any other girl at the party.

Andromeda ignored his attempts to convince her. "And what do you propose I say when my mother asks where I was all this time?"

"You will say that you miraculously won the attention of the most eligible bachelor at the party." He gave an arrogant smirk.

"But then what will she say when she finds out I was with you?" she quipped. "Seriously though. If she finds out we've been together all this time then she will start planning our wedding."

He stretched out lazily on the couch. "I'm willing to take my chances."

"No. Get up, we need to go back." she persisted.

He smirked. "You Black women always have to get your way, don't you?" He made no move to get up, choosing instead to challenge her.

"What do you mean, 'always'?" she asked impatiently.

"Thin walls, remember?" He laughed darkly, without humor. "Let's not go any further than saying Bella likes to get her way, too."

Andromeda cringed. "I really didn't need to hear that." Yet she recovered quickly. "Alright, come on. It's time to go back."

"No," he challenged still not moving from his position on the couch.

She smiled sweetly at him. "If you don't come down now, I'll send Cornelia up to get you."

That did it. He reluctantly got up. "You conniving little bitch." Most people would say this as an insult, but Rabastan spoke with admiration in his voice. It was as if he were giving her a compliment.

Andromeda was not phased, "Let's go,"

She stood up but stumbled as she got to her feet, probably from the Fire Whiskey.

Rabastan caught her by the upper arms to steady her. "Careful now," he growled seductively into her ear. Taking advantage of his grip on her, he slid his hands down to her waist and tried to pull her closer to him.

Yet, even in her slightly drunken state, Andromeda still had the sense to push him away. "Rabastan, I already told you. I'm not going to sleep with you," she said firmly before turning towards the door.

Rabastan watched her walk away, smirking. Maybe not yet, he thought.

And with that they made their way back downstairs.

Andromeda and Rabastan immediately parted ways once they reached the ballroom again. It appeared that no one had noticed their absence. Rabastan had been right, not that that was surprising considering he usually was.

He immediately made his way back to his spot by the drink table, not wanting to dance with anyone. Observing the guests was always preferable to Rabastan. He was noting that Rodolphus and Bellatrix were still dancing inappropriately when a familiar voice came up behind him.

"My mother just forced me to dance with Irvette Bulstrode," drawled an annoyed Lucius Malfoy. He downed a glass of the first drink he saw.

Rabastan scoffed. "How did you manage to lift that girl? She's the size of a bloody hippogriff."

Lucius gave him a miserable look. "She lifted me."

Rabastan almost spit out his drink from laughter. "Just think, your mother could be planning your marriage to her as we speak."

"I think I would rather be disowned," said Lucius with his signature drawl. He took another drink from the table. "So, where have you been? Rosier and I were looking for you earlier."

"I was otherwise engaged," said Rabastan.

Lucius gave a dark laugh, "With who this time?"

"Andromeda Black," Rabastan stated with a proud smirk.

Lucius scoffed. "You did not get Andromeda Black to fuck you." His tone suggested Rabastan had a better chance of getting an O in Herbology.

"Not yet," said Rabastan, "but I will."

"Right," Lucius said skeptically, before setting down his empty glass. "Well, if you'll excuse me I'm going dance with someone who doesn't resemble Hagrid." He walked away, and Rabastan laughed again at how irritated the blond boy still was about his last dancing partner.

Rabastan went back to observing the crowd. He quickly found Andromeda on the other side of the room conversing with Narcissa. She had this essence of perfection to her. It was like no one could touch her, nothing could affect her. It was like a challenge.

Author's Note:

First, I just want to thank anyone and everyone who is reading this story-It is much appreciated! As, of course, are reviews ;)

Second, I thought I would explain some things with this story. It's something I started working on a while ago and just found and decided to revisit. I have the first few chapters done, but I'm not entirely satisfied with them so they might require a great deal of editing. That being said, I will try to update as frequently as possible.

Third, In response to Qoheleth, I began writing this story after doing a fair amount of outlining and planning, and I wrote the prologue after writing the first few chapters. So, the objects in the box that Andromeda goes through were chosen after I knew where I wanted to go with the story. I hope that answers your question!

Once again, thank you so much to anyone taking the time to read this! I'd love to hear what you think :)