Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JK Rowling

Chapter 2

The morning after the ball, Andromeda sat in the Black family library buried in a pile of books. She picked up The Cultural History of Traditional Wizarding Society with a sigh. Their collection may have been vast, but it was not exactly diverse.

Her eyes glanced over the first page once then twice then three times before she chucked the book down besides her. Her mind just kept replaying the events of the previous night. She had actually enjoyed herself.

What was even more surprising however, was that she had enjoyed herself while talking with Rabastan Lestrange. She had spent most of her Hogwarts career mocking the girls who hung around him, and last night she had been one of them. And it had been almost fun.

Andromeda knew she did not have any feelings for him. The thought almost made her laugh. Yet, she hadn't been bored speaking with him. It was peculiar.

Andromeda's thoughts were interrupted when the library doors swept open dramatically. Bellatrix sashayed dramatically into the room and dropped carelessly into a chair opposite to her sister's.

Andromeda was slightly concerned at the dark smile her sister flashed her.

"Care to tell me what you and my future brother-in-law were doing all alone last night?" Bella asked.

Andromeda rolled her eyes at her sister's insinuation. "We didn't do anything."

Bella scoffed. "You can tell me, you know. I'm excellent at keeping secrets." Her tone implied that she had lots of experience.

"We talked. That's all," said Andromeda.

"Rabby didn't get you all alone in his chambers to talk" replied Bellatrix. Andromeda almost laughed at the nickname, mostly because she knew how much he would hate it.

She shook her head. "Well, I don't think that's why he took me up there, but that's all I was willing to do."

Bella frowned. "Well, that's no fun. You're a prude."

"I am n—Wait—how did you even know I was with Rabastan last night?" Andromeda questioned.

Bella laughed. "Relax. Mother doesn't know. Roddy and I saw you two leaving together when we were dancing."

She allowed the relief to spread over her for only a second before responding. "Well, that's surprising. I didn't think that either of you noticed much of anything last night." Andromeda commented.

Bella made a defiant noise. "Don't try to change the subject. I believe we were talking about your inappropriate behavior."

"Yes, but we exhausted that topic because there was none," added Andromeda.

"I don't believe you." Bella sang in a childish voice.

Andromeda sighed. "Okay fine. We may have gotten the slightest bit drunk, but I swear on Salazar's grave, nothing else happened."

"Well, that's something at least..." Bellatrix pursed her lips thoughtfully. "I think you should sleep with him," she said absentmindedly.

"Of course you do." Andromeda was used to her sister's bluntness by now.

"Oh, did I say that out loud?" Bella actually looked surprised. "Well, anyway, I do."

"And why would that be?"

"You're just so boring all the time. If I were you, I'd crucio myself just for the bloody excitement of it." Her attention seemed to drift.

Andromeda just stared at her sister. "I am not-"

"Oh, save it. You know you are." Bella waved off her sister's objections. "Anyway, you and Rabby would be a good match."

"Right." Andromeda could not even begin to understand Bella's thinking. She also was not sure when this went from her sleeping with him to them being a "good match." Her sister could not seriously be suggesting she start a relationship with Rabastan Lestrange.

"The Lestranges are a respectable family. There is plenty of money, so there's no need to worry about that, even if he is a second born. And It would satisfy mother and father. It just makes sense."

"Except that he's a complete whore who I could never even begin to care about." said Andromeda as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"What?" Bellatrix was amused. "You think I care about Rodolphus?"

"Well, I know that you don't love him or anything, but you have to at least care for him." Andromeda said with certainty.

"Maybe. Really though, he's just, what's the word? Convenient? Yes, that's it." Bella misread the questioning look on her sister's face. "Don't get me wrong, the sex is great. That doesn't mean I care about him, though. I doubt there's even anyone out there spectacular enough for me to fall in love with."

"I thought you were happy with Rodolphus." Andromeda said with a frown.

"Who says I'm not?" Bella laughed. "It's the best possible arrangement! I can do whatever the bloody hell I want. Mother and father won't be keeping an eye on me anymore, and Roddy is too infatuated with me to actually get seriously angry at me no matter what I do."

"I..." It actually made sense the more Andromeda thought of it.

Bella appeared not to have finished. "Anyway, that's what I was getting at." She paused for a second. "Well actually, originally I was just thinking that you should sleep with Rabby because you're too uptight all the time, and if he's anything like Roddy in b-" She stopped herself upon noticing the glare she was receiving from her sister. "Right, back to the point. I like this plan a lot better though. Rabastan could give you the same freedom Rodolphus is giving me." Bella paused. "Merlin, I'm brilliant."

After a long line of incoherent thoughts, Andy found words. "Bella, this is...great for you if it's what you want, but I don't think it would work for me. Besides, Rabastan isn't like Rodolphus. He would never just let me do whatever I wanted."

"Hmm...well, maybe not exactly like that. He is a bit controlling, isn't he? But you two could come to some sort of an agreement. He wants freedom too. You could compromise. It just makes sense. Plus, we would see each other constantly because we would be like doubly sisters." Bellatrix stood up. "Think about it." She shot her sister a knowing look and stood up to leave the library as abruptly as she had come in.

"Wait, why did you even come in here in the first place?" Andromeda asked gesturing at the library around her.

Bella smirked. "I was looking for an entertaining story—didn't get one though. I should have known you'd never do anything exciting." She added mockingly before exiting.

Andromeda soon gave up all hope of focusing on any book. When had her sister gotten like this? Bella had always been eccentric but never this detached. It was jarring for her to see her sister so emotionless. Is this how Andromeda would be in a year or so? Unable to feel anything, entering a marriage for the mere convenience of it. She'd always known she could never have one of the sappy romances she read about in books. Never be loved by a dashing young wizard who would be willing to die for her. It was all a bit silly in her mind anyway, but she had always pictured herself at least happy in the future, ending up with a man who she could at least grow to love. Yet, maybe even that was too idealistic. Perhaps the only type of marriage that could bring her any happiness was one that offered her freedom.

Sunday Brunch in The Ancient and Most Noble House of Black was an honored tradition. The entire family sat together at the massive table in the dining room. Andromeda found herself seated beside her younger cousin, Sirius, and Narcissa. The young boy annoyed both of Andromeda's sisters to no end, so she usually ended up having to entertain him. Not that she minded. Andromeda actually found Sirius quite amusing, and since the dining table was far too grand for the whole group to engage in conversation, one ordinarilly ended up talking to the people directly adjacent to them. Andromeda greatly preferred this to the normal arrangement as it made the "children must not speak unless spoken to" rule unnecessary.

Sirius would be starting his first year at Hogwarts in the fall, so he was shooting a near constant stream of questions at Andromeda regarding what to expect from school.

"Okay, so what do I need to know about the teachers?" asked Sirius eagerly.

Andromeda laughed. "What do you mean by, 'need to know'?"

"Come on, you know! Like, who gives detentions? Who gets mad about talking in class? Who always checks assignments? Or, more importantly, who never checks assignments?" Sirius's excitement was almost overwhelming

"Well, Sirius. I'm just not sure I should tell you these things. It sounds to me like you're planning to get into trouble." She teased her cousin.

Sirius scoffed. "Get into trouble? That implies getting caught. Now, come on. You have to tell me these things, or I'll just be like all of the other clueless first years."

"You know, that might do you some good." Andromeda said.

Sirius shook his head. "No, I don't think so. Now, come one. What do I need to know?"

"Alright, hmm, I wouldn't try to pull anything over on Professor McGonnagall. She teaches Transfiguration and notices everything. But Professor Sprout, she teaches Herbology, is not the brightest, probably because she was in Hufflepuff. Let's see-"

"I wonder what mother and father would do if I were sorted into Hufflepuff." Sirius said mischievously, cutting her off.

Andromeda gave him a firm look. "Sirius, I know you like to think life is a game of 'what would shock my family the most', but if you tell the sorting hat to put you in Huf-"

He interrupted her again. "You can tell the hat to put you in a certain house?" Sirius had a gleam in his eyes.

Why had she told him that? "Do not even think about it, Sirius. Our family does not need that kind of embarrassment."

He laughed. "Oh, I won't, but it's a good threat to have. You know like,'If you make me go to dinner at the Wilkes's house one more time...'."

She rolled her eyes at the boy. "How are you and Regulus are related?" Andromeda asked, glancing over at Sirius's younger brother who was sitting further down the table, staring at the plate of food in front of him as if it were about to move.

"Why, because I'm amazing and he's boring?" Sirius laughed, taking a huge bite of the sausage on his plate. He chewed it his his mouth open, laughing at his own joke.

"Don't insult your brother and close your mouth. You're eating like a troll." Andromeda was growing impatient.

"Whoa. And you're the nice one." Sirius laughed, but Andromeda could tell her scolding had thrown him off a little.

Andromeda gave him a reprimanding look. "I don't like what you're implying about my sisters, but I'm going to ignore that. Anyway, you just can't say things like that about Regulus. He is n-"

Her train of thought was interrupted by the owls that flew through their open window to deliver the post. Normally, an interruption like this would be discouraged during meals, but at brunch, the men always were anxious to receive The Daily Prophet. As post was being delivered, Andromeda noticed an unfamiliar entirely black owl flying straight towards her. It dropped a letter in front of her and left abruptly, not pausing for a second.

That was strange. She thought looking after the peculiar owl. She hardly ever received any letters, considering she didn't really have any friends. Acquaintances, sure. But the only people she ever actually talked to were her family. She would have thought the letter might be from her cousin, Evan
Rosier. But no, that wasn't his owl.

Sirius eyed the letter impatiently."Don't just stare at it. Open it!"

"What if I'm saving it for later?" Andromeda replied, teasing her cousin for his impatience.

Sirius looked at her with a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Well, then I would think that you have a secret boyfriend. Maybe a Hufflepuff. That would make an interesting rumor..."

Sirius's deviousness failed to surprise Andromeda anymore. "I'm going to have to keep an eye on you this year, aren't I?" She knew it was driving him crazy that she hadn't opened the letter yet.

"Yeah, sure. Whatever. Open the letter!" He was even more impatient now.

"If you insist..." She picked up the envelope now. Mostly because her own curiosity had overtaken her. Could it be from Hogwarts saying she was Head Girl? She had been expecting that letter to come any day now. Yet, as she opened it, she realized it was something else entirely. Something rather unexpected.

Andromeda,

I am writing to thank you for making the ball this previous night so pleasurable. I am quite certain that I would not have been able to endure the event without your charming company. Feel free to accompany Bellatrix the next time she stops by the manor to visit my brother. I wish to see more of you soon.

Rabastan Lestrange

The words were spread across a piece a parchment in incredibly elegant script. She reread it twice to make sure she got everything. It was definitely strange. The things he said in the note were all formal and polite yet she couldn't help noticing a slightly creepy tone in it. Maybe, she was just reading too much into it.

After allowing Andromeda to read the letter, out of politeness, Sirius snatched it out of her hand, and his eyes flitted over the page. "Well, that's creepy." He said bluntly.

So apparently she wasn't reading too much into it.

"Why is he writing to you?" Sirius asked anxiously but then a thought appeared to have hit him. "Wait, don't answer that. What did you do with him last night?!" Sirius took on an overprotective voice, as if disturbed by the thought of anything happening between his favorite cousin and the sender of the letter.

"I'm not sure why I have to tell you this, but nothing. We just got bored of the party and left and talked for a while." She decided to leave out the Fire Whiskey part, not wanting to give Sirius any more bad ideas.

"You're sure?" Sirius asked skeptically.

"Considering I was there, yes. I'm pretty sure," said Andromeda lightheartedly. Sirius was adorable when he got like this, which was pretty much anytime Andromeda so much as talked to a member of the opposite sex.

"Well...good." Sirius said trying to seem tough. "He's a scary bloke."

Andromeda looked at her cousin questioningly. "You know Rabastan?"

He gave her a falsely pompous look. "I know everyone," he said dramatically. Andromeda shot him a doubtful look. "Okay, well I guess I don't exactly know him but I've seen him at parties and dinners or whatever, and he looks at everybody like he knows all of their secrets. It freaks me out!"

Andromeda laughed. "You get 'freaked out' by people?" she asked in mock disbelief. "Sirius the Great can become 'freaked out' by the presence of a one mere wizard?"

He mimicked her disbelief. "I'm just as surprised as you are, sweetheart."

"Sweetheart?" she asked, eyebrows raised.

"I was trying it out...no?" he asked, a smile growing on his face.

"No." Andromeda replied firmly before laughing.

"Seriously though, I—Ha that's my name! Right, sorry you told me to stop doing that, but you're not actually going to see him, are you?" He asked this as if it weren't an option, but he just wanted to make sure.

She decided to laugh it off. "Of course not."

He let out a fake sigh of relief. "Phew. Well, now that that's out of the way—how are the semester exams?"

Andromeda had expected the rest of her day to be uneventful, but she had no such luck. After brunch, everyone had left, and Andromeda had retreated to her room to read. She'd been up there for only a half hour before she heard a knock on her door.

She knew it was her mother simply from the knock and immediately got up to open the door herself.

"Hello, mother." She said as soon as she opened the door.

Her mother smiled at her. It was not a warm smile, but it was a smile nonetheless. She walked into the room and sat down on the edge of the chaise by the window. "Andromeda, I've been meaning to talk to you. Have a seat."

Andromeda did as she was told and waited.

Her mother smiled that same almost eery smile again. "Did you have a nice time at the ball the other night?"

Andromeda nodded. "Yes."

"I cannot believe how quickly you girls are growing up. I feel as though Bellatrix was just starting school last year and now she's already graduated and engaged." The sentimental words sounded strange coming from the cold woman. "She's done such a wonderful job. Given her temperament, I was worried that she wouldn't be able to find a respectable husband. It seemed almost too good to be true when Rodolphus asked for her hand but it has all worked out, hasn't it?"

"Yes." She replied simply. Andromeda was slightly offput by her mother's presence. She clearly had a reason for this visit. Druella Black was not one to simply reminisce for no reason. Andromeda was just waiting for her to get to the point.

"And now, with your sister's engagement locked in, your father and I can focus on you." There it was. Andromeda should have expected as much."Now, tell me, Andromeda, is there anyone in particular that you had in mind? Your father tells me that the eldest Selwyn boy was speaking admirably of you the other night."

Andromeda fought the urge to cringe. Orpheus Selwyn had graduated with Bellatrix last year. He was positively barbaric and had made a habit of hexing defenseless first years between classes. Of course, Andromeda could not tell her mother this. "That is quite flattering," Andromeda said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "But I just haven't given the matter much thought."

Her mother frowned. "Your father has been gracious enough to take your opinion on the matter into account. However, if you cannot find a match yourself, he will arrange something for you. Do you understand?"

"Yes, mother." Andromeda said.

Druella stared at her daughter for a long moment with scrutiny before reaching out to touch her cheek. "You have turned out so pretty. I'm sure you have plenty of admirers. Not one of them interests you? The Malfoy boy in your year is rather attractive, perhaps him?"

Andromeda felt the urge to vomit. "I believe Lucius is interested in Narcissa, mother. As for the others, I just haven't given it much thought."

Druella pursed her lips. "Pretty soon the most respectable boys will be spoken for. Andromeda, you must start giving the matter more thought."

"Of course, mother." Andromeda replied.

Her mother then got up and made her way back to the door. "Your father and I expect great things from you, Andromeda. Do not disappoint us."

Andromeda merely nodded and her mother left. She'd known all of this, yet it had taken this conversation for the fact to finally sink in. Andromeda had a lot to figure out.

As she lay in her bed that night, Andromeda had the hardest time falling asleep. Thoughts were speeding through her mind, and they wouldn't leave. Mostly, she was think about her earlier conversations with both Bella and her mother. Andromeda had always pictured ending up married to someone she cared for. It hadn't ever crossed her mind that she might never care about anyone romantically. And now she had a ticking clock and no one she so much as fancied. Perhaps Bella was right. Perhaps the answer was to simply marry someone you could learn to live with.

In that case, Rabastan would be her best choice. He wasn't quite as barbaric or unreasonable as her other options. He was pleasant enough to talk to, and although she knew he would never be as infatuated with her as Rodolphus was with Bellatrix, she figured they could come to an understanding. She could promise to allow him continue sleeping around once they were married if he offered her other freedoms.

The more she thought about it, it really was her best option. In every other scenario she imagined, she would be constantly forced to play the role of the perfect pure-blood wife. She would have to entertain guests at least once a week, and she would never be allowed to travel, or even read, whenever she wanted. As long as she and Rabastan attended an acceptable amount of gatherings together yearly and feigned happiness, they could get by. The only downside was that she would still have to have children, but she could probably just hire someone else to raise them.

The more she thought about it, the more appealing the plan sounded.