La Vie en Rose
Summary: The best thing about being seen as nothing more than pitiful, traumatized children is that no one would believe it possible for any of them to conspire with the Fae to kidnap the Girl-Who-Lived. FemHarry.
Just a warning: FemHarry, AU, Language, Clichés, Non-Cannon Character Death, More in the Future…
Just so you know (Name): FemHarry's name is Andromeda Rhoswen Potter. The name Andromeda means "Ruler/Protector of Men" and was the name of an Ethiopian princess whose mother angered the gods. To placate the gods, Andromeda was fastened to a rock to be used as a sacrifice to a sea monster, from which she was rescued by Perseus. In astronomy, Andromeda is a large northern constellation between Perseus and Pegasus as well a galaxy located two inmillion light years away. Rhoswen is a Welsh name meaning "White Rose" as well as "Fair/Blessed Rose".
I don't own anything related to Twisted Wonderland or Harry Potter!
Chapter 5. Snowdrop for Support
BLAISE
The tension in the room was almost tangible. Despite the calm facet they all wore, there was a feeling of anticipation that weighted over their heads as the D.A. waited anxiously for Andromeda to come barging into the room. Shacklebolt , Blaise noted, was still indulging the small group that had courageously taken the burden of distracting the older wizard with elaborated questions and exaggerated flattery.
The guard dogs were standing closer to the middle of the room, watching their boss with different levels of unhappiness. But, despite not liking to merely stand there like the good underlings they were trained to be, they stayed in silence.
At least until one of the Aurors opened his mouth.
"Why don't we just grab the bodies and leave? This place creeps me out."
Every eye in the room snapped in direction of the trio, narrowing dangerously when they found that it was the youngest member who had the audacity to blurter that out. He was barely older than Fred and George, and his inexperience showed in the arrogant way he held himself amidst what could only be described as a hostile environment.
Blaise lowered his head, grinning from ear to ear at the sight.
Would you look at that? It seemed as though he had found the weakest link. And if the protective and fondly exasperated looks the other two were sending the fool was any indication, this weakest link could surely be used to Blaise's and the D.A's advantage in fighting against their uninvited guests if necessary.
"No, McDonald," the only woman in the trio sighed shaking her head, "we can't do that."
"Why?" the fool — McDonald — scowled.
"Because the boss want to speak with Potter before doing anything, kid," the other man, who looked at least twenty years older than McDonald, said.
Blaise's grin fell when McDonald rolled his eyes at the mention of Andromeda.
"Why?" McDonald whined. "He is the Ministry. He can do whatever he wants and doesn't need that girl permission for anything."
The dark-eyed Slytherin sneered, unsurprised when he heard a growl from somewhere in the room and the echo of something cracking.
Those talking to Shacklebolt tensed while everyone else stared at trio with calm and blank features, Blaise reminded himself that while patience was virtue that the D.A. learned to cultivate since the beginning the war, that didn't mean they didn't have a limit.
"Interim Ministry," the older Auror corrected gently but firmly.
"And, like it or not," the woman said a little uncomfortably, "Andromeda Potter is the one with the power inside this castle. Her word is law."
Well, at least someone seemed to have a brain, Blaise thought.
"Right," McDonald, " power. She is just a little girl."
The woman sent a glare at him that lacked the fondly exasperated of early and, instead, looked far more sharp and disappointed, "A little girl who saved our country from You-Know-Who."
"I still think there was some kind of fluke —"
"McDonald!"
McDonald averted his eyes in a way that reminded Blaise of a overgrown child; he just missed to complete the image was the petulant pout and crossed arms. The man started mumbling, uncaring of what was being said and if everyone else in the room could hear him or not.
Quickly, Blaise scanned the faces of his friends and comrades, wondering how long their calm facet would last. Probably not all that long, he decided, maybe less than three or two minutes if McDonald continued mumbling insults under his breath. After all, while the D.A. could care less if the fool insulted them for one thing or another, the same couldn't be said about any insult attached to Andromeda's name. And if he didn't stop, the D.A. would throw that facet out of the metaphorical window and force him shut up. Even if that meant burning his tongue off or ripping his head from his neck.
His eyes flickered towards the door, noticing that several of the more battle inclined members had shifted to block it, discretely gripping their wands while staring at the Auror without something akin to bloodlust. Others, he noted, were closing ranks around Shacklebolt and his guard dogs.
And none of them (Not even the woman who seemed to hold the brains of the trio) noticed the danger.
And if they did, they were ignoring it; dismissing the D.A. as though they were mere children playing a game instead of hardened soldiers who can and will kill to defend their sanctuary as well their leader.
And that is the so called Britain's first line of defense? Blaise thought with a hint of dark humor, shaking his head at McDonald and his coworkers.
"How long do you reckon it will take for Cho to come back with Andy and Ron?" Terry asked Seamus, eyes glued to the group blocking the door.
"I don't know," the Gryffindor replied, pursuing his lips. "But I doubt they will take too long."
"I hope they don't come," Astoria admitted nervously. "I really don't want Andromeda to be in the same room as that man."
That man, Blaise knew, being Shacklebolt . Astoria was usually the polite one, and her refusal to call the former Auror by his name was a testament of how little respect the blonde held for him.
"Do you really think Andy won't come running the moment Cho opens her mouth?" Tracey mumbled, crossing their arms.
There was a moment of hesitation before Astoria managed to say hesitantly, "Ron can stop her."
Tracey clicked their tongue, "You know better than to lie to yourself, Tori."
Astoria looked down, unhappy but knowing that they weren't wrong about that.
Believing that Ron could possibly stop Andromeda from putting herself in danger or stop her from sacrificing herself for those she cares about was laughable — A nice but unrealistic dream really.
"We could attack and run for the hills?" Seamus suggested, his accent a little ticker than usual at the end. "We outnumber them."
Terry sighed and merely shook his head.
Astoria, who wasn't all too familiar with Muggle sayings, gave her Gryffindor friend a confused look, "Which hill?"
At the same time, Tracey looked up at the ceiling as though they couldn't bother themselves with idiots any longer.
"Great idea. We should definitely turn into wanted criminals and live the rest of our miserable lives on the run for attacking the new Interim Ministry and his guards."
"Andy would be so proud," Blaise couldn't help saying, allowing himself to smile despite how tense he was. "We can make it into a family trip."
Those close enough to hear snickered.
Tracey frowned, thinking about something for a brief second before they opened their mouth to speak. However, they never got the chance to do so.
The D.A. froze as a small click reached their ears as the door opened. Shacklebolt and the Aurors blinked and frowned, looking at around the room while the McDonald questioned them about what was happening. The D.A. ignored him – ignored them all – and focused on the group gathered in front of the door, watching with wide eyes, some practically vibrating with anticipation, as the group moved out of the way to allow a familiar girl in ripped, bloody clothes to enter the room.
Everyone stared, waiting for their chosen leader – for their beloved protector and friend – to make the first move. Some of the younger children shifted, looking as though they were itching to hug her and find the comfort she always provided. Others seemed to be battling with themselves, trying to not jump at the small raven-haired teen so they could check if she was truly standing in front of them and not laying dea — Blaise immediately stopped that line of thought, clenching his fists and taking a deep breath as he forced himself to focus on anything other than the last half an hour of what was already being called the Battle of Hogwarts.
Andromeda paused by the doorway, making a striking, if not heartbrokenly beautiful, image as she scanned the faces of all three Aurors with otherworldly green-eyes.
Blaise grinned widely when they shifted in their spots, looking uncomfortable and averting their gaze as though afraid of finding those eyes staring at them. It was good to know, he thought with dark amusement, that the guard dogs had enough brain cells to recognize the power and authority Andromeda Potter had over them.
The raven-haired witch's eyes dropped to the bodies. Sadness and raw grief flashed in the raven-haired witch's face, washing away what he had thought to be hope; a small and hesitant glint of hope that flickered in her like a candle, burning still but one gust away from being snuffed out forever.
His grin dropped, clenching and unclenching his hands. Blaise wished to reach out for her as her small frame shook slightly, an aftereffect of several sections of torture under the Cruciatus Curse that showed up whenever she was feeling anxious or angry. Blaise didn't give in though, not wanting to bring anyone attention to it for he doubted that anyone other than himself or and Ron noticed it; Andromeda was quick to hide her moment of weakness with the ease of someone who was used to hiding her pain and suffering.
When small witch raised her chin and turned to look at Shacklebolt , there was nothing more than stillness and blankness.
"Why…" Andromeda started slowly. Her voice was nothing but a whisper; a weak and frail thing that reverberated through the walls as though she had just shouted those words at the top of her lungs. "Why are you here?"
There was a moment of silence.
Then, Shacklebolt smiled, ignoring her question and saying cheerfully, "There you are, Andy! I wanted to speak with you!"
"And you couldn't send a letter?" Andromeda asked softly.
"I thought I told you before, didn't I?" Shacklebolt shook his head. "There are things that are better said face to face,"
"Huh... And I thought that was meant for important and serious conversations."
If Andromeda's soft and gentle voice reverberated through the walls from the sheer power and authority it carried, Ron's chilling, dark baritone was enough to give anyone nightmares. And, this time not even the Aurors were able to ignore the danger, visibly shivering and staring at the tall red-haired wizard standing languidly behind Andromeda as though he was a bloodthirsty and highly dangerous magical beast ready to bounce and rip their throats out with his teeth.
Which — Fair.
After all, there was a reason why Death Eaters tried their best to avoid the red-haired Gryffindor's path during the war even after he was forced to rely on a cane to walk.
Shacklebolt , who would always see Andromeda and Ron as the clueless teens he meet not so long ago, blinked and arched his eyebrows.
"I won't have been here if it wasn't important or serious, Ron," Shacklebolt said.
Ron sneered.
Shacklebolt stared at the blue-eyed wizard with amusement before his eyes flickered to Cho, who was half hidden behind Ron, before turning towards Andromeda. "I do need to speak to you, Andy."
Her lips curled down, creating an almost unnoticeable frown upon hearing the use of her nickname coming from the black-skinned wizard.
Instead, Andromeda asked, "About the removal of the bodies?"
"So your friend told you about it?" he asked, glancing at Cho once more. The Chinese girl flinched, suddenly finding her old boots much more interesting.
Blaise frowned, unhappy that Shacklebolt apparently noticed the moment Cho left the room before he did.
"She said enough," Andromeda said. Unsurprisingly, she stepped to the side to hide Cho from view. "What I still don't understand is why you're here."
"Now, Andy –"
She cut him off. "You should be speaking to Professor McGonagall, not me. She would surely inform you that the bodies of your Aurors were placed in the old Muggle Studies classroom."
"You know I'm not here for my fallen Aurors, Andy," Shacklebolt cooed.
"You're not," she confirmed calmly. "Neither are you here for them. You don't need them. So, I am going to ask again: Why are you here?"
Silence.
Ron stared at Andromeda unblinkingly for a second before sighing. Shacklebolt's smile faltered, dark eyes sharpening dangerously.
Andromeda was usually more cautious, but Blaise's dear leader definitely wasn't in the right state of mind to deal with politicians of any kind. She was far too tired to play Shacklebolt's little games and it showed.
That scared Blaise to his very core because Shacklebolt could very well use that frail state of mind, and heart, to his advantage. And by the way Ron's expression changed from furious to murderous, the red-haired Gryffindor must have reached the same conclusion.
"Well," Shacklebolt hummed, eying Andromeda as he clasped his hands behind his back and stood straighter, "the Wizengamot believes that the Ministry has to find a way to gather the public's support if we want to heal our country from the damages done by the war."
Blaise hear a few people hissing at the mention of the old sharks. Aside from handful number of them, the Wizengamot was majority composed of greed and apathetic old men and women who only cared about themselves and their pockets.
Shacklebolt continued, "Their plan was to make a public memorial where our fallen heroes could be honored for the sacrifices done in our country name." He made a pause, tapping his chin with a hum, "But then, I thought that such thing would cause more grief than anything."
"As though you care about our grief," someone said bitterly from behind Blaise.
"So, I proposed a solution!"
The hissing turned into growls but Blaise didn't even notice. His ears started ringing as a thought hit him and he finally understood where this was going.
Oh, Blaise thought.
If placing the bodies of the fallen on display wasn't a option. Then it meant that they wanted –
"You're their symbol of hope, the one who won this war for us." Shacklebolt made a grand motion with his hands. " You can be the face of strength of our country! All you would need to do is –"
"No."
It wasn't Andromeda who spoke.
"I wasn't talking to you, Ron," Shacklebolt said, never looking away from Andromeda who had closed her eyes.
Blaise felt his heart sink at the sight, dread washing over him.
"I don't care," Ron said, baring his teeth and leaning closer to his best friend. Andromeda's presence was the only thing stopping him from attacking the new Interim Minister. "The answer is still no. She isn't doing anything for you or the Wizengamot."
"Ron," the older wizard shook his head in a what that reminded Blaise of some of the teachers whenever they felt exasperated with the younger years. "I don't think you understand. The public –"
"Doesn't matter," the Gryffindor spit out. "Andy already did enough. Deal with the public yourself!"
"They won't listen to me, Ron." Shacklebolt said, pursuing his lips. "The public doesn't trust me or the Ministry."
Ron barked a laugh. It wasn't a nice laugh by any means and the Aurors flinched at the sound.
" Good." Ron grinned, "They are finally growing a brain."
There was a moment of silence. With every passing second, the dread grew. Blaise doubted that Shacklebolt would give up so easily just because Ron was being Ron. No – Knowing how the line of thought of men like him worked, Blaise was sure that he would merely use an approach more effective and brutal.
"You know very well how flick the public is. They do matter," Shacklebolt informed him, smiling sadly at Andromeda as though he already regretted the words that left his mouth next. "Especially when their opinion can affect all of us, even your little group."
"Shit," Tracey mumbled.
Seamus snarled, "That fucking cunt! He is using us to get what he wants from her!"
And because she was the kind of person who would do anything for her loved ones, it worked as intended.
Andromeda flinched, opening her eyes. Shacklebolt's words were the breeze needed to snuff out that small glint of hope, leaving only traces of tired resignation and something else – Something that sent a cold chill down his spine.
He knew that look.
The last time Andromeda looked like that, she left them with a simple goodbye and walked to her dea —
Blaise couldn't breathe.
The beautiful raven-haired girl tried to keep her distance, to create a barrier between her and everyone else, but she loved too freely and felt far too strongly – neither her heart nor her soul would be able to withstand for much longer if she got roped into working for the Ministry (And withe the D.A. being basically used as a form of blackmail, there was no doubt that she won't hand herself over in silver plate). The old politicians will destroy her; pulling and pushing until there was nothing left.
Not that it would take a lot from their part for tragedy to strike for once and for all.
"How would it affect the D.A?"
Ron's pupils dilated at her question, the blue in his eyes darkening.
The sound of wood cracking echoed in room. Andromeda ignored her best friend, staring at Shacklebolt who smiled widely and victorious. The black-skinned wizard opened his mouth to speak but was cut off before he could as much as say a single word.
" No."
Shacklebolt's eyebrows twitched. He was getting tired of interruptions.
"Ronald —"
"No!" Ron snarled, gripping his cane as though he was going to launching it into someone. "Absolutely not!"
"It's her choice," the new Interim Ministry said, waving a hand to signal for his Aurors to back down when they tensed and pulled out their wands.
Shacklebolt gave a step back, ignoring the way Ron growled, shaking from the efforts of containing his anger, and pursued his lips at the teen before turning his attention back to Andromeda.
"You know what? I don't believe we'll resolve anything today." Shacklebolt sighed, "Why don't we talk about this later this week, Andy? I think Ron needs some time to think about the consequences of spurning the public."
Slowly, Andromeda nodded.
She didn't say word, not even blinking when Shacklebolt smiled that disgustingly fake smile of his and clasped his hands behind his back while walking out of the room. Ron stood still as the man walked past him, muscles tensing when Shacklebolt sent him a cheerfully goodbye and well wishes. The Aurors followed their boss in silence, sending a few looks over their shoulders as though Ron would snap and attack their unprotected backs.
The door closed behind the last Auror and the sound it made was almost ominous.
There was moment of silence. Blaise closed his reddish-brown eyes and started to countdown until Ron could no longer contain his temper. Tapping his fingers against his thigh, he followed the erratic beat of his heart: Five, four, three, two –
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT, ANDROMEDA?!"
Several people flinched, stepping back as though that could protect them from Ron's wraith.
Andromeda blinked slowly, raising her head to stare at the ceiling before saying softly, "I know better than anyone just how flick the wizarding public is. I am the leader of the D.A, and anything I do will affect all of you. What is stopping the public of twisting the reasons behind my refusal? What is stopping them from spreading rumors about us turning into the next Voldemort and his Death Eater?" She closed her eyes in a attempt of keeping her tears at bay. "What is stopping them from making it impossible for Astoria and Lavender to open their own dress shop? Or destroying Fred's and George's business? Or blacklisting Neville and Luna from getting their desired Masteries?"
Ron shook his head, gritting his teeth. He lunged at her, moving so fast that no one had time to react. The D.A. watched with wide eyes as he grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look into his wide and desperate eyes. The red-haired Gryffindor looked like he had gone crazy and neither Blaise nor any of the others could bring themselves to move; frozen in place from shock and watching the scene happening before their eyes as though they couldn't believe it was real.
"Fuck, Andy, they don't matter! We can deal with them! We always do!" Ron shouted, fingers digging into her skin.
"But you do. Everyone here matters the world for me," she said lovingly.
It was possible to hear more than one person sobbing at this. She didn't say anything else but they all heard the unspoken While I don't.
Ron ignored her words, growing more panicked and desperate, "Andy, listen to me — You don't need to do anything for anyone but yourself! You're free!"
Andromeda stared, shaking her head silently. There was a spot of blood in the bandages around her neck, one that seemed to grow little by little whenever she moved her head.
"I'm the Girl-Who-Lived, the Chosen One… The Sacrifice…" she whispered brokenly. Blaise's eyes burned, heart breaking little by little with every word that came out of her mouth. "Princess Andromeda is forever tied to a rock, bound to the whims of her people. There is no hero coming for her, there is no freedom waiting for her, and…"
She made a pause.
Blaise wanted to stop her, to tell her it wasn't like that. But he couldn't move, much less speak.
"…and there is no hope to be held."
The olive-skinned Slytherin knew that at that very moment, something inside Ron shattered. He sobbed silently, not even managing to scream much like he would have done any other day. He settled down in mumbling something incomprehensible followed by a heartbroken No over and over again, shaking Andromeda as though it would wake her up and allow her to see just how much they loved her.
"Blaise!"
The sound of his name snapped him out of whatever trance he has been stuck in. Without thinking, the dark-eyed Slytherin turned his head and stared at Astoria's face. She was pale, tears streaming down her eyes as she reached out to grab his arm.
"Blaise, no one is doing anything!" she shouted. "He is hurting her and no one is doing anything!"
He hesitated for a brief second, scared of what he was going for see. But the worry over Andromeda won in the end and he turned around.
Blood.
There was so much blood.
Blaise didn't think twice before running towards the duo and pulling Ron's arm, trying to pry him away from the green-eyed witch. With a force that Blaise never knew the Gryffindor had, the other teen fought against him, refusing to let go of Andromeda.
"Ron!" he shouted, pulling again. He was ignored, "Let go! RON! STOP!"
That snapped him out of his panic. His hand loosened up their hold on the small raven-haired witch's shoulders and Blaise immediately pulled him away from Andromeda who stumbled backwards. Panting, she moved her blood-soaked hands to cover the completely red and wet bandages around her neck. There was blood everywhere, creating a small puddle under her feet and while guilty flashed in his eyes at the sight she made, Ron ignored everything.
Ron ignored the screams from his friends and comrades (They had finally broke out of their frozen states, Tracey and Astoria actually running to Andromeda's side). He ignored the blood. He ignored how sickly pale Andromeda's skin was or the way she could barely breathe; more blood dripping from her lips whenever she tried. He ignored the way some of her other wounds had opened once more and how her body was shaking in a way that only happened before she had a seizure.
He merely stared into those sad, resigned eyes, and Blaise didn't need to be a Legimens to know that the Gryffindor was unable to bring himself to care for anything other than the fact that he had to do something. For Ron, nothing else mattered aside from finding a way to keep Andromeda away from the Ministry.
Ron blinked, a lone tear escaping from his right eye. With a shaking finger, he pointed at Andromeda.
"I want you to be happy, and I don't fucking care about what kind of obstacle I have to go through for that to happen," Ron said, freeing himself from Blaise who was still holding him. His voice was strained but still strong, firm in a way that made everyone pay attention. "Even if that obstacle is you."
He took a deep breath, leaning his weight against his cane.
"I'll find a way," he told her.
Bright but sad green, green eyes stared for a moment before she shook her head, silently pleading for him to stop talking; to not give her any more false hope because it would hurt more coming from him.
Blaise's heart twisted painfully at the sight.
"I'll find a way," Ron repeated once more, sounding far more confident.
And while Andromeda couldn't bring herself to believe him, Blaise did. The D.A. did.
They could all see in his eyes that didn't matter what he had to do, Ron would find a way to ensure her happiness — her freedom — and the D.A. would be there to support both of them in every step of the way.
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– Cissnei.