15th of August 1988.
"I have business to attend to in Knockturn Ally Hydra. You are to stay here and not wonder off this time. Am I making myself perfectly clear?" Narcissa Malfoy asked, a single pale eyebrow raised as if daring her niece to defy her. Nodding numbly, Heidi absentmindedly rubbed her redarning cheek, a small pout forming on her trembling lips as she fought back the inevitable tears from spilling from her watering eyes. She would not cry in front of her aunt, such action would be improper of a lady. She'd ball her littler heart out once she was in the safety of her room, away from the prying eyes of her family.
"Good," Narcissa placed one of her hands on her niece's cheek and let it rest for a fraction of a second before scurrying out of Florish and Blotts and leaving the ten year old to her own devices. Heidi didn't mind though, she liked being left alone around the endless supply of books. It allowed her to wonder around timelessly without having to worry about any Malfoy looking over her shoulder, raising or lowering their opinion about her on the book she was thinking about reading. It also left her alone to converse with any other book lovers without having to ask for their blood status first.
So with the thought that she may have an hour or two to her own in the book store, Heidi began her wonder. Having already picked out or heard about a few good books that were a must read for anyone with a basic grip on the English language, Heidi had a pile of about twenty or so books within minutes of being left alone. Smiling a smile she rarely flashed to people, not her 'Oh, you're a Pure-blood? As am I! Let us talk,' smile or her 'Yes aunty, I love this overly tight dress that I can barely breath in,' smile, or even her 'Draco you are the best cousin in the world! / You're my best-friend Astoria,' smile. No, this smile was pure happiness about getting to do her own thing without the worry of her family name following her.
And that's how she was for a little over an hour. Sitting in a dark and silent corner of the book shop with a thick book about a girl who was raised by ghosts on her lap, and that smile on her face. That was until she caught sight of a head of dark curls that were oh-so very familiar to her. Heidi's smile fell from her face and her breath caught in her throat. No, her mother was locked away on an inescapable island guarded by creatures from the bowels of the Muggle version of Hell. Heidi cringed a little at that though, not a good enough reason to use the word 'bowels.' No one should ever use that word unless talking about the actual human bowels.
Swallowing the fear and hope that began to rise in her throat, Heidi dropped her book on the ground with a thud and raced towards the woman with hair as curly and dark as her own.
"Mother?" Heidi asked in a small and hesitant voice.
A few seconds ticked by before the woman turned to look at Heidi, but those few seconds told Heidi that this woman was not her mother, no matter how much they looked alike. And when she turned around it just confirmed it in Heidi's mind. This woman's features were much softer then her mothers, much lighter and kinder. And, even though Heidi would never admit it to her mother or aunty, this woman lacked the insanity in her eyes. This woman was not her mother, but certainly a Black.
"Oh I'm sorry Ma'am, I must have got you confused. Please forgive me," Heidi asked, casting her eyes to the ground, not wanting to look at the face of her mother that wasn't her really mother.
"O-oh, that's alright dearie. Y-you look a lot like someone I know as well. Might I ask you your name sweetheart?" the woman who was and wasn't Heidi's mother asked.
"Hydra LeStrange," Heidi whispered, not really sure why.
A gasp from the woman made Heidi's head shoot up. It was like a chocked sob mixed with a cry of happiness.
"LeStrange," the woman whispered, her dark yet light eyes drinking in every inch of Heidi's face. "I-is your mother Bellatrix LeStrange by any chance?"
Nodding numbly, Heidi began to back away into her corner, unsure why she had ever thought that this woman was her mother. Bellatrix was locked away for life, Heidi would never be able to see her as a free woman, and truth be told she wasn't sure she wanted to.
"My names Andromeda Tonks sweetie. But before I was married my name was Andromeda Black," the woman, Andromeda, paused for a moment as she took in Heidi's eyes widening, "Yeah, your mother is my sister sweetie. I'm your aunt."
"No," for a moment Andromeda seemed shocked at what her niece had said, "I have one aunt and two uncles. No more no less."
"Oh sweetie they've got to you already," Heidi's not aunt sighed, a sad look over coming her face. But it quickly turned to confusion as she saw the pile of books behind Heidi, and the one that was still open to its page, if only the cover was on the outside.
"The willowing child?" Andromeda asked, a smile playing on her face. "I've read that. Not something a Pure-blooded lady should be reading is it? Muggleborn author."
It took barley a second for her words to register with Heidi, but as soon as they did, panic began to take root in the small girl.
"Oh please don't tell aunty Narcissa!" Heidi all but begged, fear flickering across her face. "She'd never let me read another book alone if she knew what I've been reading!"
Whilst fear embedded it's self in Heidi, hope did the same thing to Andromeda. Perhaps her niece wasn't too far gone in the pure-blood craze to be shown the light in the world. Perhaps she wouldn't end up like the rest of her family. Her beloved sisters, who had both turned into death-eaters, even if only one was charged for it. Or her favourite cousin, who was a spy for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Perhaps, Hydra might be saved.
So with that thought in mind, Andromeda sat down and crossed her legs right where she was and pulled out the book she was buying.
"This books called Little Kisses and it's about a wizard who falls in love with a Muggle back in the 14th century. I haven't read it yet, but I've heard some good things about it. I believe the man who wrote it married a Squib."
As Andromeda talked about her book, Heidi stared at her in wander. No member of her family had ever taken the slightest interest in her books, well apart from her uncle Sirius, but that was a given what with him having nothing else to do bar read. So having someone to talk to about reading was a rare treat. One that Heidi would enjoy, so with that she sat down with her knees bent under her. The perfect vision of ladyship.
As time ticked by the two slowly began to talk about things other than books. Whilst talking about how Draco wouldn't stop pestering Heidi to hang out with him, Pansy and two bulky children with half a brain cell between them called Crab and Goyle, Heidi told her aunt to stop calling her Hydra and start calling her Heidi. That bought a smile to Andromeda's face. When Andromeda talked about her daughter not allowing her to call her Nymphadora, she told Heidi to call her aunty Andy instead of Aunt Andromeda or Andromeda. In all honesty it was one of the beast conversations Heidi had ever had.
"Aunty Andy I better be going now," Heidi said after having a quick glance at the fob watch Draco had gotten her last Christmas.
"That's a very nice watch you have their Heidi," Andy noted, warily staring at the golden pocket watch that had been threaded on a light golden chain.
"Oh, yeah I suppose it is a little odd. Draco got it for me for Christmas. I simply adore it."
"You really love Draco don't you?" Andy asked in a quiet hesitant voice.
Heidi froze for a moment, her eyes still on the little arrows pointing at roman numerals. Slowly she raised her head to look at her new aunt. "Yes I love him. We are the best of friends. Why?"
"You'll be at Hogwarts soon Heidi, an-" Andy began, only to be cut off by a groan from Heidi.
"Why is everyone so obsessed about what House I'll be in. And don't even attempt to say you weren't going to mention it," Heidi accused, giving her aunt a pointed look.
"Heidi please listen-"
"No Aunt Andy you listen. I've got two more years before I have to attend Hogwarts and I don't want to have to stress about it now. I love my family, and they love me, but I'm not stupid enough to be fooled into thinking that if I am placed in any House bar Slytherin, I'll be treated as well as I am now. My family might still hold me to the degree they now do in Ravenclaw, but that may be a stretch. And whilst they love me, I know they do, they would disown me if I was placed in Hufflepuff, and-" Heidi's voice quivered a little and her eyes got a far of look as she finally admitted her fate if she was placed into Gryffindor. "And if I was to be placed into Gryffindor, they would stop loving me."
A few tears fell from Heidi's eyes before she wiped them away and regained her composure.
"Oh Heidi I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," Andy apologized as she watched her niece stand up and gather her books in her arms.
"I'm fine aunt Andy. Aunt Narcissa should be back soon and I don't think she'd be happy to see me talking to a blood traitor. Even if they are family. Goodbye aunt Andy, I hope we see each other again."
"Me to Heidi. But if we don't get a chance any time soon, my daughters in Hufflepuff. You should look her up when you start," Andy said, offering her niece a smile.
"I'll do that. Good day," and with that Heidi disappeared behind a book shelf, leaving her aunt still sitting on the floor.
"That girl is too old to be ten," Andromeda Tonks whispered smiling at where Heidi had vanished.
(So this took a while. I'd just like to point out this little booboo I made on the last chapter. See it was meant to follow after the one where Heidi and Astoria meet, but I put the wrong date. I just kind of went with it so meh.
Okay we're getting closer to Heidi attending school now, and she's finally admitted that her family will stop loving her if she's in Gryffindor. So what will she do? We all know she has a say in her House so she might just get to choose the end result. Please have your say in her House though.
Hufflepuff: 5
Ravenclaw: 4
Gryffindor: 1
Slytherin: 1)