𝑪𝑰𝑵𝑵𝑨𝑴𝑶𝑵 𝑮𝑰𝑹𝑳 .

Tilting his head to the side as he listened to what she was saying, he hummed. “I do agree with you on the creepy part. No one should be worshipped. No one should be put on a pedestal” he mused. “But I don’t think things would be easier if we became big Quidditch players. There’s too much pressure”

eyes squint for a moment, thinking over andromeda’s words ——- a silence forms between them (one that should prompt andromeda to disclose more) but it’s all in vain. or maybe just needs a little push. “he’s not exactly subtle about his endeavours, is he?” though vince was her good friend, when it came to picking sides, narcissa’s loyalty would always remain by her sisters. “have you spoke to him about it?”

“I wouldn’t either, if I was in your position.” Emma didn’t see a reason in pretending otherwise or trying to reason with Andromeda. She’d heard about how strict the Black family was in their views, convincing them to see it from a different light seemed to be an impossible feat. Her own parents were more lenient than that, but only because they viewed her future goals as the greater evil. “I remember, but hey, there’s still time. You’re not married off yet. Maybe you can find a way to get out of it?” The chance wasn’t big, but it was better to have some hope rather than none, wasn’t it? 

“Freedom” he said with a nod as he continued to watch the birds. The first sign of spring. Or so they say. It always gave him this sense of hope. That everything would be alright in the end. He may be somewhat of a cynic when it came to his own future. But he did have hope when it came to his loved ones. They had so much potential. And he didn’t want to see them disappointed in themselves, he knew that feeling all too well. 

“Do I look like the kind of person who the kind of person who blabs to teachers?” Aisha asked. “Because if so, I clearly need to work on my attitude. Me, a tattler? Unbelievable.” She glanced down, trying to catch a glimpse of what the other was working on. “Charms? Aren’t we missing like, right now?”

“i’m not going to tell on you, lovel-andromeda.” the nickname fell from his lips before he could stop it. she was with peter now, but that didn’t mean he hated her. “if i’m not mistaken, you’re the one avoiding me.”

Just looking at Andromeda, he then nodded and sighed. His gaze then moved away, back to looking out the window. The bags under his eyes were getting worse, he knew that. He must look a mess, he felt like one that’s for sure. Twiddling his thumbs, the boy smiled to himself as he saw two birds fly around. They looked so free, he wished he could be free. 

“Oh I doubt that they would be thrilled about that.” Emma laughed at the confession, wiggling her eyebrows when Andromeda said she couldn’t stay away from her boyfriend. She’s been there before so she understood it, especially during the honeymoon phase focusing on other things could be difficult. What she often struggled most with in relationships is prioritising quidditch and her practice time over them.  “Honestly, I think my parents wouldn’t even be mad at me if I told them I’m dating a half-blood as long as I would give up my career dreams and be a good little housewife. I say do whatever you can so that they don’t find out. What’s the point in aggravating them and yourself when you know they’d disapprove?” 

Emma chuckled when she took in the look in andromeda’s eyes and the way she was pleading her not to let anyone know she was skipping class. She waved it off. “Don’t worry. I’m no tattle-tale. I have morals.” She considered asking for a cigarette, but she had just quit recently and was doing her best to hold off.

peter laughed when andromeda asked about wendy. he wanted to say yes, but he couldn’t be certain, for a cat she had a surprisingly big personality. the last time peter and andie had been together, she didn’t take too kindly to being sidelined, literally, and embarrassingly enough he had sat her down and told her he was dating andie again and that she needed to be nice. leading the way, he swung their hands a little bit between them, shrugging while turning his head to look at her. “you can try, she’s been informed of my relationship status already but i can’t promise anything.” 

he was both grateful and hated the fact that the gryffindor tower wasn’t very far from andie’s classroom. it was nice because on every other day he was closer to her, but today he actually had to commit to the plans he promised. to keep himself distracted, he knocked his elbow into her arm lightly to get her attention. “how’s your day been before this?” peter asked before giving the fat lady the password. 

andromeda is silent for a few unlikely seconds, hand swinging in his. “ she really does hate me. ” it’s an astute observation, and despite the fact that last time they were together andie couldn’t even manage to get wendy to allow her to touch her fur –– she’s determined for a triumphant return to the cat’s life. “ i feel like she always judged me very harshly, ” she frowns, “ but i guess that was warranted. ” it was easier for andromeda to acknowledge the elephant in the room rather than ignore it. the last thing she wants is for peter to have an unvoiced seed of doubt in his mind about her feelings for him –– and not talking about their previous time together seemed like a straight shot to that unwanted outcome. 

“ don’t tell ––– ” andromeda’s wide eyes plead with the other’s as she looks down from her perch on the higher steps of a moving staircase, cigarette dangling from her lips and hand clenched around a quill that scribbles out the few remaining words of her charms paper –– which was due forty minutes ago in class, along with her presence. “ tattling's frowned upon, you know. ” 

。·:✧:· SEEING HER SISTER smile again made her feel good. To know that something was finally going right in her life was inspiring. It proved that maybe everything could work out the way she wanted it to as well. “Andie, I’m so happy for you! I don’t know what’s going on, but I love it. This is exactly what I wanted for you, to see you this happy,” she explained, clapping excitedly. Bellatrix had no idea what made her sister so happy, but whatever it was, it was good. Whether or not their parents would approve of what made her like this, she wasn’t sure, but they didn’t have to deal with that now. Their opinion always hung in the back of her head, wondering if anything she did anymore would be accepted. But to know that Andromeda was happy, despite the rules, it made things seem alright. “Want to share some of that with me?”

。·:✧:· EMILIA COULDN’T HELP the small laugh that left her mouth. She was most definitely being silly and probably should’ve have been outside alone with the sky looking like that. “Oh gosh, I’m sorry! I thought I heard something. I’m not good with strange noises,” she explained, hoping the girl wouldn’t judge her right now. “Are you okay though?” the small redhead asked, hoping it would all be alright. Shifting awkwardly, she twirled a strand of her hair, trying to remember the reason she came out here in the first place. “Well, I was sitting over by the lake with some small animals and I hadn’t looked up at the sky until it was too late. I tend to get distracted by cute things.” This was completely true. Emilia loved all animals and found herself spending far too much time with them and definitely got distracted by them.

。·:✧:· PUSHING THROUGH THE doors, Bellatrix found herself in a good mood, in a mood that she hoped would last quite a while. As she walked toward the Slytherin house table, she heard her sister calling her name. A bright smile grew across her face as she walked right towards her, sitting down next to her. Looking over at her sister, Bellatrix chuckled. “What’s got you all smiley? Not that I’m complaining, but I really like seeing you like this,” she explained, a light laugh slipping through her lips. If this could be how they greeted each other all the time, the dark haired Black sister was quite sure she’d thoroughly appreciate every conversation they had together, not that she didn’t usually.