she's the devil

where: just outside the Ministry

Andromeda’s lighthearted smile disappeared as Bellatrix mentioned their younger sister’s presence, to be replaced with one that was much more forced. She had indeed run into Narcissa, and it had ended just as poorly as every other interaction they had had since Narcissa betrayed their family. Andromeda didn’t know what it was that could make Narcissa’s actions so unforgivable and yet she held a soft spot for Sirius and Regulus, but she was long past trying to make sense of her complicated relationship with family. “Yes, I saw,” she replied, her tone clipped. “We’d better make sure Mother doesn’t see her, I don’t want to cause her any unnecessary upset.” 

She smiled at her sister. Pulling her in with one arm in a sort of hug. Affection of any kind (let alone physical) was unheard of with her upbringing. Both of their parents were rather cold and unfeeling. Passing it on to their children. While they may have never given each other comfort physically. They made up for it in other ways. Bellatrix could see that Andromeda was visibly upset by their younger sister’s being there. Especially since she was as unwelcome as their cousin. Both burned off the tapestry before they had even packed their bags. “Don’t fret, sistermine,” she said, “She’s a foolish girl for stepping foot in our home but I don’t think she’ll be seeking out Mother. I think she’s trying to avoid us which she is right to. Let’s not let this spoil our evening though. You find Ted and I’ll go find Severus, yeah?” With that, Bella planted a soft kiss on her sister’s forehead and drifted away to do just as she had said.

Dorcas couldn’t imagine her life without Quidditch. Once she played for the first time at eleven she was hooked for life. She had a lot to thank Arthur for, but her love of Quidditch was the biggest. “When I played for the first time at eleven I was hooked,” she explained. Doe didn’t care if it made her sound like she was a muggleborn, In so many ways she had been, despite coming to find out that her mother had been a witch, she hadn’t learned of her nature until she was eleven. It had changed her life completely for the better. “But I know playing isn’t for everyone.”  Especially people like Bellatrix who was born in a house like this. She couldn’t imagine parents like that being supportive, but Doe didn’t know for sure. Although most people who didn’t play were definitely fans. “Oh, I’m a reserve chaser for the Holyhead Harpies,” she explained. She loved her team but she just wished that she could be a full chaser. She had to smile at her words. “It does,” she agreed, imagining many alcohol fueled nights that she had had over the years. They always seemed more fun when alcohol was involved. “Of course.”

Bellatrix couldn’t imagine flying around on her broom the way she had seen Sirius do over the years when they were younger. Not that she couldn’t do so or that it wasn’t something she wanted to do. She simply just didn’t have the right mindset or endurance to keep up. At some point in her youth she had begged her parents for a broom. ‘A fast one,’ she corrected herself mentally. Trying time and time again to match the speeds that her cousins had. But she always found herself tired and out of breath after so much as twenty minutes in the air. A smile pulled on the corners of her lips as she listened. “You must be incredibly proud of yourself,” she said, leaning over and laying her hand lightly on the other’s shoulder, “My apologies, but I don’t think I caught your name?”

Regulus had never wished more for the ground to swallow him where he stood. Bellatrix had always set him on edge; and even know he had that feeling as if he was in trouble, or about to be. At least as a child he had been certain that Bellatrix would never truly harm him. With their familial ties cut, that was far less certain.

He nodded politely. “It’s just as I remember.” he said. He had some fond memories here, with Narcissa or Andromeda. But the house overall had frightened him as a child. It felt too big, and oddly cold. “How is the campaign for Rodolphus going?”

Josephine got Bellatrix to her feet, giving her a quick once over to check she wasn’t injured. Thanks to her carefully crafted reputation, few would bat an eyelid at seeing Josephine help Bellatrix, the opposing leader to the group she was supposed to be a part of. But Josephine was known for being kind, courteous and polite to all - besides, with all the chaos around them it was highly unlikely anyone would even notice - they’d been quick to trample over their leader after all.

“I haven’t seen Severus, but think I saw Andromeda over there,” she said motioning to where she’d last saw her friend “She was looking for Ted, she can’t find him anywhere. But it’s a nightmare with all this panic about. Are you alright?”

Her eyes darted to where Josephine had gestured. Narrowing to try and find her sister in the thick of the panic. But it was no use. All she could hear was the hammering of her own heart and the panicked screams of those around her. Ted--of course she had went to look for him. Bellatrix didn’t know why she hadn’t thought of him sooner. Then again, she hadn’t seen him at all that night. She knew that he would be there to support Andromeda, no doubt, but she hadn’t exactly seen him with her own eyes. Her brow furrowed as her head began to pound along with the beating of her heart. “I haven’t seen Ted all night,” she said, her voice growing hoarse from having to be louder than the screaming, “This is disaster. Whoever these people are--they’re with the Order, correct?” It was a stupid question. Obviously they were with the Order. Otherwise Josie wouldn’t have been there.

“That’s how it works,” he said quietly, stepping back as someone passed through the room and once more he was forced to play a part, his face turning into a mask. “I think it was too limited, I’ve said we need to bring in more than just the Pureblood, this just makes the rumors of his favoritism worst. This Gala should have been open to everyone,” he said with a heavy sigh, fixing his tie. “It doesn’t matter now, we continue on, it will still be a success, Andy worked hard and she’s happy, that alone is a win for us.”