Andromeda Black

               Rita listened intently whilst she buttered her toast, finding that the girl’s insistence on only doing her studies was a feeble attempt to deflect her questions. Arguably, this was the Black sister that was more approachable and well-liked amongst their peers. Why would she be all cooped up so soon? The Ravenclaw sampled the strawberry jam on her rather empty plate, finding it to be to her liking. “I thought I had stepped into an alternate dimension for a minute,” she replied, with a wry smile. “Andromeda, love, you’ve got brains. You don’t need to do all that for your studies this year. Come on, don’t hold out on poor Rita — she hears enough of study sessions from her Housemates already.”

Andromeda stirred her cup of tea a few times, debating whether she wanted sugar with it or not. Settling to just take the drink as it was, she turned her attention back to the girl in front of her. "I'll make sure Bella knows you were worried about the situation. I'm sure she'll have an explanation and will have a laugh at what you were thinking.' Andromeda smiled in a way that anyone would assume was kindly. "Ah, Ravenclaw a little boring for you? Surely by now you must be used to all of the gossip in the common room being about who has finished their work first."

I think we shall. [Alecto takes Andromeda’s offered arm in a daze.]

[She starts to walk, heading back to their common room.] Do you remember hitting your head or anything?

               To really know the Wizarding world, one had to understand the upper echelons of Pureblood society — purist families with old money and prevailing influences. The Black tree was one of the most prolific of them all, and if Rita wanted to write for her lifelong career, learning about the living branches was crucial to her success. After all, war was upon them. “I caught your older sister reading her Transfiguration text before classes began… watch out, she might usurp your title as the studious one! But which subjects are you studying for in particular? Anything enthralling? Or are you avoiding someone, too?”

         Andromeda was instantly suspicious of anyone from outside of their social circle who asked too many questions or showed too much of an interest in her family. They were an old family, at the top of the social ranks and that came with rumour, suspicion and stories that were a little too true for her to be comfortable. "Bellatrix reading? Well, stranger things have happened." she laughed, "Really, it's nothing all that interesting. I've just been going over the first few lessons of the year and making sure I understand everything fully."

I don’t know what’s wrong… Something’s wrong… I would. I think that might be the best thing to do.

Wonderful. Shall we walk back then? {she offered her arm out to the girl}

Yes, they were fifth years. At least, I believe they were. I only vaguely recognized them so I’m not quite certain. The younger students have been getting into all sorts of trouble as well, but as long as it doesn’t affect me, I don’t really care what they get up to. 

It's getting ridiculous, I really hope they realise that they're absolutely disgusting. It's a serious problem, that needs fixing. I think we should be watching out for them, though, we can't have our house made into a mockery because they don't understand boundaries.

"Now did you mark a falcon, Sister dear, sister dear, Flying toward my window In the morning cool and clear? With jingling bells about her neck, But what beneath her wing? It may have been a ribbon, Or it may have been a ring” — “I marked a falcon swooping At the break of day: And for your love, my sister dove, I’frayed the thief away.” — "Or did you spy a ruddy hound Sister fair and tall, Went snuffing round my garden bound, Or crouched by my bower wall? With a silken leash about his neck But in his mouth may be A chain of gold and silver links, Or a letter writ to me.” — “I heard a hound, high-born sister, Stood baying at the moon: I rose and drove him from your wall Lest you should wake too soon.” — "Or did you meet a pretty page Sat swinging on the gate; Sat whistling, whistling like a bird, Or may be slept too late: With eaglets broidered on his cap, And eaglets on his gloves? If you had turned his pockets out, You had found some pledge of love.: — “I met him at this daybreak, Scarce the east was red: Lest the creaking gate should anger you, I packed him home to bed.” — "O patience, sister. Did you see A young man tall and strong, Swift-footed to uphold the right And to uproot the wrong, Come home across the desolate sea To woo me for his wife? And in his heart my heart is locked, And in his life my life.” — “I met a nameless man, sister, Who loitered round our door: I said : Her husband loves her much. And yet she loves him more.” — "Fie, sister, fie, a wicked lie, A lie, a wicked lie; I have none other love but him, Nor will have ‘till I die. And you have turned him from our door, And stabbed him with a lie: I will go seek him thro’ the world In sorrow till I die.” — “Go seek in sorrow, sister, And find in sorrow too: If thus you shame our father’s name My curse go forth with you.”

               ”Don’t mind if I do!” Rita exclaimed, inserting herself at the Slytherin table beside Andromeda. The opportunity for innocuous chatter was never to be passed up, on principle. Also, the middle Black sister was generally more affable than the other two. “So, Andromeda, where have you been hiding lately?”

       Andromeda smiled kindly at the girl in front of her. She knew not to give any real secrets out to Rita, but in general, she didn't mind the girl sat in front of her. She was just as nice as almost anyone in Hogwarts. "I've been around. I wanted to get a good grounding in my studies so I've kept my head down a little."

I can swim quite well, but your concern is touching. Truly though, have we met before?

Yes, we have. A few times actually.

     ”I’m blunt, not stupid,” She retorted, finishing off the piece of toast in one bite.There was little that Lu hated more then people thinking that she would say something ill of them. She wouldn’t — at least most of the time. "HA. Fat chance of that happening while I’m around. Believe me, I am determined to win this year, only something short of dead could properly stop me.” Lu narrowed her eyes toward the girl. “Not to give you any ideas or anything.”

       "Those things can often overlap in people. Some of the time without them even realising." She smiled tightly. Andromeda was used to people talking about her family and everything they were but she'd never been the one to take revenge over little comments. "Assuming I'd commit murder just for Quidditch? No one cares that much, though I'll be sure to pass the message over to Bella." 

Oh, no, that’s not necessary. It’s a beautiful day out, I think I’ll spend it by the Lake. Did you know there are merpeople down there? Fascinating.

Perhaps you shouldn't be alone at the Lake. I'm a little worried you might end up walking in there and drowning.

     ”Like that you need three chill pills?” She joked, a grin too big for her face plastered on her features. Lucy shrugged,” If I wanted to say something worse I probably would have already.” She picked up a piece of buttered toast, taking a bite. “I need to be faster though, my time in accordance to last year is devastatingly slow, and Bagman is obsessed as always, which means he’ll want everyone at their best to win.” She looked up. “You don’t play Quidditch, do you?”

        "Be careful, that could get you killed around here." Andromeda laughed despite herself. She knew she shouldn't step out and talk to people like this - she had a perfectly good group of friends that would be safer to spend her time with - but at least the girl was a pureblood. "Well, I'm sure you'll get there in plenty of time. But Slytherin will end up winning, it's inevitable." she picked at a mouthful of eggs before answering. "No, I prefer to watch."

Not that I recall. Though I cannot quite recall how I even got here. Goodness, is that what I’m wearing today?

Okay, would you like to go somewhere? Maybe the hospital wing?

     She sat down, unwilling to refute the girl. It wasn’t that Slytherin’s scared her — because they didn’t (in fact her mum was a snake ) — buuuut, she did not want to antagonize anyone unnecessarily. “Geez Louise love I think you ought to take a chill pill, or two.” Her body was rigid as she looked at the food in front of her, her appetite disappearing.”All I said is that I ought to practice flying after breakfast, spending the summer in London has really s l o w e d me down.”

     Andromeda smiled. "I'm sure there are worse things that can be said other than I need to take a chill pill though I wouldn't vocalise them around here. Too many people listening in to conversations."  She nodded at the few first years sat around them, some of which looked away embarrassed causing her to laugh. "Oh, well I'm sure you'll still be able to fly perfectly fine."

     Lu looked at the Slytherin girl skeptically, chewing on her lip. “Uh - um, ya sure about that? Because I can understand if you’re being polite and all but if you don’t mean it you don’t have to be. I certainly won’t take offense.”

      "Well, you obviously said something before and you're stood here so it would be easier for everyone if you sat down." she tapped her fingers on the table in front of her, fighting the urge to roll her eyes at the girl. "It's not really a matter of taking offence, it's a matter of deciding whether you're going to sit. I'd like to get back to my eggs so if you could decide, it would be helpful."