ANDROMEDA BLACK

“ weren’t you taught languages too ? at least just one other one ? ” she reaches for a cup that isn’t by her side anymore, and completely slumps against him when she realizes it isn’t there. “ it’s some rubbish druella thought was necessary. i mean, who even speaks french and italian here ? i guess she wanted me to go to beauxbatons, but cygnus was so into this slytherin family tradition. a load of rubbish if you ask me. ”  she pauses right after, a slight frown on her face. “ well, now you know that that’s a truth. and me owning a dragon is impossible, the ministry would go INSANE. so there goes that round. what are your truths and lie ? ”

at first, she doesn’t quite know how to react to verdandi adjusting the necklace that she’s sure is all sorts of tangled now. she’d made the mistake of forgetting to take it off before practice, and that messes up a necklace like no other. at first she opens her mouth, perhaps to say something that might be a little sharp, but then thinks better of it. there’s no point in being awful to someone that only means to help her - not to mention that it’s rude. so instead she waits patiently until her necklace is back to how it had been prior to practice, and shoots a grateful look. “ thank you. this necklace has always had some sort of significant memory, so losing it due to a mistake would’ve been downright awful. thank you so much. ”

they’ve been silent for the better part of the last hour. it always better that way, especially in the astronomy tower. she’d managed to cast some sort of spell that left the top of the tower transparent, allowing them to see the night sky with an unrestricted view. and from so high up, it almost seems as if they are near the stars. “ when i was younger, i used to do this very thing on my balcony, with all these astronomy books i stole from the black library, ” she says rather fondly. it’s a memory that will only ever be just that; because the black manor is no longer her home. “ when i get homesick, i look for andromeda and regulus. ” she looks down at him, at the serene face resting on her lap, but pauses once she notices that he hasn’t stirred once in the last twenty minutes. he’d fallen asleep. so she runs a hand through his hair while she seeks out andromeda or regulus, hoping to feel some sort of familiarity in her new world. 

♦: Slow dancing

eyes are narrowed, if only to see how genuine that oh no can be before she gives up ; she can’t figure out if he’s attempting to be cheeky, and only shrugs it off. she does, however, perk up at the mention of entertainment, and the drunk sixth year lifts her head off his shoulder for the briefest of moments excitedly. but then she hears muggle games and gives an exaggerated roll of her eyes before resting her cheek on his shoulder again. it’s only in that moment where she’s a sixth year, intoxicated off of whatever cheap liquor had filled the cups on the table many steps away. she’s no longer a pureblood slytherin with some ridiculous reputation to maintain ; only a sixteen year old girl that’s at her first bonfire with a guy she’s barely ever spoken to until now. “ you know,  here i was thinking you’d say something about exploring the castle, or sneaking out to hogsmeade. something we shouldn’t do.” now add in a ridiculous huff, one meant to be teasing only before she carries on. “ you won’t figure out the lie, ted, but here we go. i speak three languages, and understand four. i own a dress worth seven hundred galleons. and i had a pet dragon from france. absolutely difficult, right ? ”

“ one of mine ? ” her eyes widen quite a bit, and she lets go of his arm so she can lean back and take a lingering look at him. “ have you fallen into the tight shirts and sweaters trend that that one ravenclaw unfortunately thinks is flattering ? oh no. i can’t let you fall into that trap. lucky for you, your new friend also likes to look out for her friends, so you’ll only be receiving something top notch. nothing but the best. ” she turns right after, looking for something before pausing. then she turns back, slightly upset. “ i can’t believe i left my bloody cup over there. what am i supposed to DO ? oh merlin. the worst truly does happen to me. ” and with that her hand somehow finds his arm again, and she even leans slightly against him. “  the best night of my life ? you can’t set the bar that high. i’ll settle for the best night i’ve had in hogwarts, just so it’s fair. you’ve got a deal, tonks. ” there it goes. a pink promise to seal the deal, too. 

“ and what’s so wrong with unwanted-christmas-gift-sweaters ? i’ve got quite a ton, now that you mention it. ” her words are accompanied by a nudge, and also by a hand tightening around his arm so that she doesn’t continue in stumbling. “ besides, i’m his favorite cousin. i’m sure that gives me closet raiding rights. you’ll have a brand new, tag attached, hideous christmas sweater tomorrow, courtesy of your new friend andromeda black. ” one more stumble and it’s finally over ; she’s finally able to sit, and she lets out a sigh of relief. “ you ought to be ready for this responsibility. it’s HUGE. a make it or break it factor in our future friendship, really. you’ve got to make this count. ”