A/N: I always imagine Andromeda being the quiet, middle sister who always has to break up fights between Bella and Narcissa. So this is a normal day for Andromeda living with her sisters. In this story, Bella is 13, Andromeda is 11 and Narcissa 9. RxR. FxF.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Andromeda sat near the window reading her newest book, Prince Harry and the Serpent King, as she tried to ignore the screaming between her two sisters.
"Give me the damn music box, Cissa!" Bella screamed as she chased the younger girl around the place, her clawed hand extended towards Cissa's flowing blonde hair.
"You already had your turn, Bella!" Cissa screamed, clutching the trinket to her chest, the little tiny dancer almost crushed against her body. "You always hog it!"
"Because it's mine, you little brat," Bella screeched, her fingers passing through the golden strands.
Andromeda sighed before closing her book and putting it down in her chair. She stood up and grabbed Cissa's shoulder, the music box almost falling from her hand. "What is heaven's name the problem? Why must you always be screaming while I'm trying to read?" she asked staring between the two.
"That little monster stole my music box and won't give it back," Bella said, trying to reach around the small girl to grab it from her hands.
"It's not hers. Mum bought it for all of us, and Bella has had it in her room this whole time," Cissa said, sticking her tongue out at Bella.
"Why were you even my room to begin with?!" Bella said harshly.
Andromeda looked between her two sisters before grabbing the music box out of Cissa's hands. "How about I just break it and each of you get half?"
The two sisters froze staring at their sister with wide eyes. "No," Cissa cried out, trying to reach the music box but Andromeda held it above her head.
"Don't be stupid, Dromeda. If you break it then it's of no use to anyone," Bella spat as they tried to grab for it herself but Andromeda moved out of her reach.
"The two of you can't agree on who should use it, so either you both get it or none of you get it," Andromeda said sagely, her hands already twisting the box slightly, the tiny dancer curving under her hands as she gripped it firmly.
Tears were coming to Cissa's eyes, and though Bella wanted to seem disinterested, her curiosity was obvious from the twitch of her fingers, her heavy-lidded eyes still focused on the music box.
"Fine, fine!" Cissa cried while furiously rubbing at her eyes and then pointing at her oldest sister, "Bella, you can have it!" Then she ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Bella's mouth stretched into a wide grin before she took the music box from Andromeda's hands. "Thank you, dear sister, for solving our little problem. But I didn't need it really, I just didn't want her to have it."
Andromeda gaped at her sister, "So you waited until she left the room in tears?"
Bella shrugged, throwing the box over her shoulder, fortunately landing on Andromeda's chair without shattering. "I just wanted her to know she doesn't always get what she wants just because she's Mommy's little girl. The tears were just a bonus," Bella said while walking to the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to make sure that brat never enters my room again", she said, shutting the door quietly behind her.
Andromeda pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a long breath. She probably should follow after Bella to make sure she didn't do anything worse to Cissa, but she had had enough of her sisters for awhile. She walked over to her chair by the window, picking up the music box and her book. Scanning the page quickly, she finally found where she left off, the heroics of Prince Harry and killing of Sir Cedrik.
She looked up from her book for a moment and her eyes fell on the music box she had placed on the window sill. She picked it up, admiring the way the light from the window bounced off the tiny mirrors on the surfaces of the box. Andromeda pulled the tiny drawer, the music box doubling as a jewelery box, but found nothing. Of course Bella would never put anything of value in this thing. She ran a finger over the fragile figurine. The tiny glass dancer, a lithe girl in a clear green tutu and leotard, her hair in a neat bun, posed on the mirrored stage, her hands high above her head. It really was a beautiful trinket; their mother bought it for the three of them on her last trip to France.
Andromeda turned the small key at the back of the box, and the girl sprung to life, the sunlight passing through her body and casting rainbows on the walls. She spun in a circle on the tips of her toes before beginning her intricate dance around the edge of the box in time with the soft melody. She leapt and twirled, her legs raised high in the air as she stretched to her fullest. As the music died down, she returned to her original position, her hands above her head and stopping with the music.
Then Andromeda smiled and placed the music box on her lap, already imaging its place on her dresser, and continued her reading of the adventures of Prince Harry.