For Thanatos Angelos Girl

Backwards Rebel

By Toffrox33

It was a strictly traditional wedding. Of course Mr. Black would not pay for anything more or anything less.

The largest room in Lestrange Manor sported elaborate bouquets of expensive white flowers adorned with black and deep green ribbons. An ebony table stood behind an intricately designed wedding arch, which acted as an altar. Rows and rows of white seats filled the large hall with black ribbons on the seats left of the aisle and deep green on the seats to the right.

Guests talked among themselves having all found their seats. Every one of them in dress robes of the latest fashions. Many guests sported obvious heirlooms such as brooches or jeweled necklaces, showing off proud, pureblooded family histories.

Rabastan studied the crowd as he stepped into the hall behind his brother to polite applause and stood beside the altar. On both sides of the hall sat various well-known pureblooded families; the Crabbes, Goyles, Notts, Parkinsons and of course the Blacks and Lestranges were seated in the front.

Rabastan caught the eye of Barty Crouch (Jr of course) sitting in the third row who shot him his usual cruel grin, checked his watch and feigned boredom. Rabastan chuckled to himself.

He turned to survey the esteemed Black family guests; Lucius Malfoy and his family (he being the fiancée of the Maid of Honour) sat in the second row among the rest of Bellatrix's relatives. Bellatrix's parents, aunts, uncles and Regulus Black occupied the front row.

And finally, of course at the very back of the 'esteemed' guests section was Andromeda: An almost exact copy of her sister with warmer eyes and softer hair. Rabastan's eyes lingered on her. She looked exceptionally elegant and almost beautiful in a dress which was a regal blue and much brighter than any of her relatives' clothes. She seemed wiser and more cautious in comparison to the other Black daughters. Rabastan had always thought of her as the Black family rebel. While most would guess the blood traitor Sirius, Rabastan saw Andromeda as the one more dangerous to the family's name. While Sirius deserted the family altogether, Andromeda stuck around, her calmer personality and questionable friend circles making her stand out more.

Andromeda did not belong and her being here at this wedding, was causing trouble.

After the ceremony, Andromeda stood away from the crowd. They were avoiding her and shooting her filthy looks anyway. After she had congratulated Bella and had a brief conversation with Cissy, there was no one left willing to be seen with her.

She had been alone for several minutes when she sensed movement behind her. She turned to see Rabastan Lestrange: the best man. Andromeda felt a jolt in her stomach. She was suddenly reminded of her Hogwarts days, many of which she had spent infatuated with the youngest Lestrange brother, before she decided in seventh year that he wasn't her type (and would never go for a girl like her anyway).

"Well, well, if it isn't Miss Rebellious." Rabastan said in his deep voice. He looked amused as if indulging in an inside joke. Andromeda felt her eyebrows lift, caught by surprise.

"Rebellious?" She repeated. "I doubt anyone would call me rebellious." They were speaking in low voices, making Andromeda feel like the conversation was a secret.

"Well then allow me to explain" Rabastan said. "First of all- you're here."

"Here?" Andromeda frowned. "As in, at my sister's wedding?"

"Of course. What with the rumours about you and that dress you're wearing, it's surely 'rebellious' of you to show up at a Black-Lestrange wedding." Rabastan slowly moved his eyes over Andromeda as he said this with a rather smug expression on his face. Andromeda felt heat flood her face and glowered at him.

"What rumours?" She spluttered "And- and- what on earth is wrong with my dress?" She added crossly.

"Well rumour has it, you've been making friends with mudbloods." Rabastan said lightly and he watched with great amusement as she floundered, not knowing how to reply. "It's also been said that you and your sister Bellatrix haven't spoken in weeks… months even."

"Nonsense. We spoke just now," Andromeda snapped.

"Naturally. She did look very pleased to see you here," Rabastan said. Andromeda looked away at the thought of the outright scowl Bella had given her as she walked down the aisle. "Of course as her beloved sister, I'm sure you full-heartedly approve and support her new… career choice" Rabastan was of course referring to the pitch black tattoo on Bella's left arm which she had displayed with nothing but pride on her bare skin.

Again, Andromeda chose not to reply.

"With all this talk, one does wonder why you chose to attend such a marriage- especially to attend it so calmly and politely as you have done considering all the rumours- other than to stir trouble…" Rabastan shot her a smirk, knowing that merely causing trouble was not rebellious enough for Andromeda Black.

"I came because Bella is my sister and I want to support her," Andromeda said stiffly. Rabastan grinned at her as if this was exactly what he wanted to hear. He looked over her again, the cruelness momentarily slipping from his eyes. Andromeda frowned at him angrily. "What's wrong with my dress?" She snapped.

Rabastan laughed. "It's… different," He said. "You don't look so severe as the rest of the guests."

"I don't follow," Andromeda said with narrowed eyes.

"Oh, not to worry," Rabastan chuckled, "I think you look rather… alluring."

Andromeda scoffed. "You're lying."

"I'm not." Rabastan's tone turned completely sincere. Andromeda felt trapped by his gaze. And suddenly she was thirteen-years-old again. Rabastan Lestrange was giving her a compliment. "Perhaps" Rabastan said quietly, stepping closer so that Andromeda's breath caught, "Next time there's an event like this one. You'll come not for your sister" His eyes- merely inches away from hers now, almost- almost softened "But for me."

Andromeda felt then what she hadn't let herself feel since Hogwarts: the exhilarating urge to kiss Rabastan Lestrange. To her that felt rebellious. But she supposed in her family's eyes it would be the opposite.

She forced herself to take a step back.

"If you believe all those rumours about me, then why would you risk your own name coming to talk to me?" She said boldly.

Rabastan's eyes reverted to how they'd been before, his mouth curving upwards into an amused smile once more.

"Ah, Andromeda" He chuckled, "You must know that no one can resist a rebel"

Andromeda did know. She felt her own lips turn up into an amused smile "We'll see."

And with as much will power as she could summon, Andromeda Black, labeled rebellious through her polite, unwavering, unearned and never returned support of her sister, turned and left the wedding.

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A.N- Happy Holidays Brooke, I hope you like it!

-Toff