Chapter 4
"And then, and then she just disappeared and the next thing I knew she was at the other end of the room. How brilliant is that? Imagine being able to just disappear like that, it would be so much fun!"
Andromeda smiled patiently as Evan blabbered on excitedly. Ever since Bellatrix had turned seventeen, she had apparated anywhere and everywhere and used magic at every opportunity and Andromeda was bored sick of it. It wasn't even as if it was a novelty for her, as Bella had never exactly paid a great deal of attention to the rules forbidding the use of magic outside of school.
"Then she opened a door with her wand and it sort of burst open with a huge slam."
Andromeda marvelled at how easily excited eight year olds could be by the slightest signs of magic, even when they had been brought up with magic as a part of their daily lives. Still, she thought, she should be relieved that Bella at least seemed to be refraining from using certain types of magic around their young cousin.
Evan launched into a long description of how Bellatrix had transfigured his toy dragon into a live lizard, to which Andromeda, though smiling and nodding encouragingly, was only half listening. Bella had grown bored of Evan's excitement and adoration within twenty minutes of the Black family's arrival, and handed him over to her younger sisters, just as she had always done. Andromeda knew it was ridiculous to feel jealous, but she couldn't help but resent the fact that Evan was so in awe of Bellatrix when it was generally she, Andromeda, who was left to occupy him during their visits.
Evan had stopped talking and now stared up at her with a smile, to which Andromeda replied with a questioning look.
"When I grow up, I want to be just like Bellatrix."