Reclaimed

Who: @withering-lilypotter

Andromeda had always gone out of her way when it came to meeting any members of the order during the war to mask her true identity from not just the order members but from anyone who might be observing them.  Polyjuice potion, something she became exceptionally talented at brewing with was kept hidden in her own within a hodgepodge of other potions that she claimed to keep in stock for potion lessons with students to allow them to see accurate examples of said potions before crafting their own.  

Today she had gone out, visiting several stories, laying out the ground work for cover on her story incase she was questioned.  Stopping into several pubs before making her way about the park, disappearing into the words after being certain she wasn’t followed.  She changed her clothes stashing them in her bag and downing the polyjuice potion. Her appearance shifted into that of a middle-aged man.  Her bag changed to look like a suitcase and she regained a path, just a simple muggle man on his way home from work.

She carried her path walking to their predetermined meeting place.    Andromeda couldn’t risk doing exchanges like this in her flat even with Lily’s altered identity as if either got caught  it would mean an end to all the good they do in the world.  Her foot patted impatiently against the ground before Lily arrived.  A smile appeared on her altered face, “I was beginning to worry.” She stated honestly, “You aren’t usually so late.” The two were meeting to exchange paperwork for some muggleborns who needed a way for their families to escape the country.  

Andromeda had running around London, a nice habit that helped her keep a clear head and give her a nice break from the reality of the world.  While running through the crowded muggle streets, it was almost as if her world was still spinning.  On her back toward Diagon Alley, she couldn’t help but feel reality returning. The streets became less crowded, the world grew just a little bit more silent and only a handful of people were moving around.  Purebloods and Half-blood sympathizers felt comfortable to be out and about just because.  

Muggleborn seemed to only venture when needed and other half-bloods who lived in tentative fear carried themselves the same way.  The Wizarding world was in a quiet panic and only the chosen few seemed to carry on as if life hadn’t changed.  Andromeda slowed her run into soft pace, a finger pressed into her pulse for a moment before letting out a sigh.  

…

The concept of house elves never made a lot of sense to her.  At which point in their history did the magical community determine that it was appropriate to control an entire species like that?  Admittedly, she didn’t have a lot of experience with the elves, but something just felt off to her about it all.  But she felt grateful for this small piece of relative safety.

It took her a moment, but she returned the embrace, holding tightly to the knowledge that she and the other code 5′s weren’t entirely alone in this fight.  Andromeda was arguably in a more precarious position than they were.  

She stepped back and offered her a shaky smile, feeling strangely emotional in the moment.  “There aren’t a lot of opportunities to blend like this.  We had to come, to see if there’s anyone out there still on our side, who we can still trust.  Or – I suppose if there’s anyone who could be persuaded to move in that direction.”  She sighed at the mention of Frank.  He was… a problem.  But she couldn’t bring herself to feel too angry with him.  He had lost more than she could ever fully comprehend.  “I’ve seen a lot of people tonight, but none of them recognized me.”

-

Andromeda should have known even the most wanted criminals would still hold out hope and even try to see where the public stood on their view of The Fallen Order.  “Smart and Dangerous all at the same time.” She admitted, but it wasn’t as if The Order was shy to taking risks and dangers.  “Please tell me one thing.” She took a breathe.  “Please tell me Sirius is not out there on the floor with his parents hosting this event.” Her faith in the survivability of her younger cousin was minimal at this point but she had faith in the rest of the order to not let him risk such exposure.  

status: closed starter for @msandyblack​ location: black kitchens

Considering the fact that more and more people were beginning to ask after Druella’s brother-in-law and Bellatrix had been no help in finding out information about Orion’s whereabouts, she figured it might be about time to search out her husband and let him deal with explaining away their new minister’s absence. Druella hadn’t caught sight of her husband in a bit (not that she was that interested in looking for him up until now), so she wondered if he might have retreated to his study for a private conversation. But after heading that way and finding it empty, she figured she must have missed him in the main ballroom somewhere.

Druella felt no desire to return to the party immediately, so she took the long way back to the ballroom, thinking that she wouldn’t mind popping through the kitchens so that she could eat something without the whole world watching. As she entered the massive rooms, she was startled to find someone else there. Upon further inspection, she realized that it was her middle daughter.

“Oh, Andromeda!” Her voice held a bit of surprise. “What are you doing in here?” Of course she knew that her daughter was attending the ball (Andromeda wouldn’t be stupid to not show her face after the code she was assigned), but Druella hadn’t expected to be caught off guard by her daughter’s appearance here.

-

Andromeda had thought she’d make it through the night without a sighting of either parent.  After all to maintain face, she just needed to be seen by plenty of people which she had and potentially get caught in a photo or two which she was also certain she had.  Nothing more was needed so she didn’t worry of such.  So when she grew wary of the noise and senseless chatter, she made her way to the kitchen.  

Few people moved in and out of said location and so it was just her, sitting on a stool trying to hold a conversation with Kreacher who treated her with about as much respect as he used to treat Regulus, perhaps it came from the fact Andromeda outside of Reg had always found a bit of respect for him.    At the sound of the door opening, Andromeda’s face dropped for a moment.  Her drink lowering to the table. 

“Mother.” She stated softly, turning in her seat and instinctively flattening her dress out and sitting up as straight as possible.  “Just enjoying some snacks outside of preying eyes.” She commented innocently and truthfully, “Care to join me?” She offered, where Andromeda had defiance against her sisters.  She was much more passive when it came to her parents and the simple answer to that was, her parents held all the power.  Her sisters were just as disposable as her.

&

As Andromeda wrapped her hand around Lily’s wand, some of the fury that she felt abated, to be replaced by embarrassment. To think that she had almost cursed the other woman without considering who it was or the kind of scene it would cause at a ball hosted by the Blacks to attack one of their daughters. Not to mention the fact that Andromeda was clearly only trying to keep Lily safe from her own insanity.

At Andromeda’s words, Lily felt a sense of shame envelop her. She was right — Lily had almost lost her mind. It was one thing to put herself in danger by revealing herself to Peter or attacking a Death Eater in a party crawling with them, but what about the others she had come here with? If Mary, Fabian, Sirius, or Remus saw Lily in trouble, they would behave just as stupidly as she had — that Gryffindor brashness would make any one of them put themselves in mortal danger to bail her out. Lily couldn’t risk them, no matter how much rage she felt at the mention of her son’s murder.

Taking a deep breath, Lily lowered her wand, pocketing it again, and ran her hand through her charmed blonde hair. “I’m sorry, you’re right,” she said softly, looking away from Andromeda for a moment so that she could further compose herself. Finally, she turned back to the other woman. “Thank you, I’m pretty sure you just saved my life and many others by stopping me from what I was about to do. Just add it to the list of things I owe you for.” Lily laughed humorlessly.

“I have to say, though, I’m impressed by how strong you are,” she said with a forced smile, trying to move on from her near blunder. “Have you been working out?” Lily bit her lip, hoping that Andromeda wouldn’t think she was mocking her. The adrenaline that had coursed through her as she approached Peter was beginning to make its way out of her system, and she could feel herself rambling as the crash hit her.

-

Andromeda was grateful the other relaxed, Lily mere moments ago had murder in her eyes and now the woman she knew seemed to recement into place.  She had would never not say the other wasn’t justified but she needed to be smart.  “It’s no problem.” She assured the other with a warm smile, and a soft pat on her shoulders.  “Sometimes other people need to look out for you, not just yourself.” She added softly, she firmly believed that she didn’t do anything that the other wouldn’t have done for her or anyone else.  

At the mention of stuff that she owed her for, she just shook her head.  “You owe me nothing, I don’t know how many times I have to assure you of that.” Andromeda stated.  “I don’t take care of you guys and help where I can.. for my own benefit, I do it for the benefit of everyone, because I believe in you guys.” She assured her.  The Order were the last hope for society, for people like Ted, Lily and others to live normal magical lives within the EU. 

She dusted herself off, keeping her composure as even as possible.  Even though they were free from their voices being spied on, she was still quite aware what body language could give away.  “Thank you.” She chuckled, “I grew up with cousins like Sirius and Regulus, had to keep up with them somehow.” She smirked.  It was no secret Andromeda always felt like she was born to the wrong set of the family.  She just made the best with what she was given.  

“Though I do keep a work-out schedule, appearances do matter and I still have a few friends willing to work out with me time and time again.”  She should say it was Emma’s friends, their quidditch workouts were basically hell but they kept her in shape.  

@msandyblack​

There were very few people in this world that she trusted as of late, so many who either turned their back on them when things got hard or who didn’t find them worth defending.  But as she saw Andromeda walking on the other side of the room something ached inside of her.  She knew that not everyone knew of Andromeda’s involvement with the Order, and somehow that made her more inclined to trust her.  And maybe she’d have information that made this night, and the risks involved, worth it.

It was easy to move through the crowd, dodging around people who were, typically, much taller than her.  She caught up to Andromeda quickly, albeit a bit breathless.  “Andromeda?  Can we talk for a moment?  Somewhere a bit quieter?”  She hesitated, looking left and right to ensure no one was close enough to overhear.  “It’s Mary MacDonald.”

-

Andromeda was lingering for a bit, conversations were boring her, the non-alcoholic drinks had run stale and frankly unless you were interested in senseless hook-ups most of these events just became a drag after everyone had their fifth-sixth drink.  She had seen her elder sister come and go looking more worse for ware then had she left.  Rita’s mood had skyrocketed and she honestly wasn’t in the mood to find out why, she was certain Alecto and Amycus had probably rounded up a conquest or two but that was more of knowing them less so of seeing any proof.

Andromeda had paid the young woman mind who approached her until she spoke, eyes darting to her with a moment of relief.  She hadn’t seen the woman since the last few days of the Order and had honestly feared the worst.  She and Sirius were the only two who knew her full involvement with the Order, Lily she had simply helped as Lily believed her to be a silent asset helping move muggleborns out of Death eater controlled areas.    

Andromeda kept her voice soft, “Right this way dear.” She motioned with her hand walking her off, as if she was guiding her to one of the many washrooms as she had done all night.  Except this time with a quick motion the two were in a small House Elf living quarter.  A place no self respecting pureblood would dare venture and no house elf should come too until the end of the night.  

status: closed starter for @msandyblack​ location: black ball

Lily was lurking on the edge of the dance floor when she caught sight of the man she had been looking for all night. Peter was a mere few feet away, in conversation with a Death Eater Lily recognized both from her school days and from the night of James and Harry’s death. Stepping inconspicuously closer, she strained her ears to listen in to what they were saying.

“Ah, Pete, it’s quite a good night, isn’t it? I haven’t had this much fun since that night in Godric’s Hollow. What do you think your little friend would think of you now?”

Lily bristled at the boastful tone, all thoughts of discretion forgotten. As Peter murmured something back that Lily didn’t quite catch, she reached into the folds of her gown where she had stashed her wand, her ears ringing with rage. She didn’t remember where she was or what her mission was here or even the sure hell she would go through if caught by the Death Eaters in the midst of their celebration ball. All she thought of was the desire to make Peter hurt.

She had just begun stalking forward when a hand reached out and pulled her in the opposite direction, leading her to the nearest door and out into the grounds. “What the hell?” Lily rounded on her captor, raising her wand, before she registered sight of Andromeda Black.

-

Andromeda was well aware of her surroundings, even while maintaining pleasant and appropriate conversation with others.  Her eyes still wandered, only when it wouldn’t be noticed by others.  She smiled, she laughed, she looked the part in all the ways she felt comfortable in.  Enjoying dodging topics on politics outside of the obvious support for her Uncle who ‘worked’ so hard to gain his status and how proud she knows all of her family is.  . 

Her eyes caught the sight of Lily, she had been keeping a rather close eye on her since she noticed her enter the ballroom.  Her identity would hold under scrutiny but that didn’t mean, she would hold and therefore she needed to be watched.  Hoping she was on some order business and not looking to out herself in such a public setting.  

Seeing her lock eyes with Peter, she immediately moved.  Excusing herself from conversation and maneuvering the dance floor with ease and quickly swishing her up in a death lock of an arm grab and ‘guiding’ her outside.  Fury in her eyes for a moment, replaced by momentary pity before Andromeda wrapped her hand around the tip of Lily’s wand.  Pulling hers out with a soft flick of the wrist casting  Muffliato to ensure their conversation was private.  

 “Are you daft or have you gone mad.... The one man in all of ball who could recognize you on sight and you approach him as if the whole world doesn’t want you dead.” Andromeda scolded, she could understand the rage. she could understand the pain but in such a publicly attended event by death eaters.  Lily wasn’t just risking her life, she was risking the lives of every order member in attendance or in hiding amongst said guest.  

Was she foolish enough to think some of them would let her die or get arrested without a fight.   

**

Andromeda was a bit of an enigma. One of the Black daughters, part of a family with all the power in the world. And her code was below her own. Rita couldn’t help wondering if maybe it was a mistake. Or if Andromeda had said something out of place once and that ruined her chances at being the same code as her sisters. She would ask, but now was not the time or place. For she was still a Black and still held a sort of power that Rita would never get the chance to hold. 

Rita smiled when she called her ‘love’, taking the flute from her and taking a small sip. “Yes, I am,” she nodded. “Though I mostly was friends with your sister, Narcissa, it would be impossible to not know who you are.” She knew when it was time to say words of flattery and compliment, especially to the right audience. Rita laughed a little, loving the compliment Andromeda had just given her. Even if she hadn’t meant it as one, that’s how Rita took it. “Oh, I’m sure I’ll write about it, but I’m mostly here for pleasure, not work.” 

-

Andromeda may have kept her distance from Narcissa’s friend group while at school.  Her only wish at the time having been that Narcissa experience the world on her own, just like she had without the intervention of family.  She was still a Black and for that, she did at least vet them all and give her own personal stamp of approval silently.  “Ah yes, Narcissa did speak of you from time to time.” She added with a friendly smirk,  “Very few people can be quite as lucky to mix such, truly a gift.” She brought her drink back to her lips for a moment,