"This town don't got much to do
You and I haven't much to lose
So do you wanna rot in our rooms like we always do?"

TW// child abuse
Dreams fade, and they die. This is common knowledge to people who live with reality infiltrating their minds. Others still get surprised when they find that their past selves gave up on something that they once wished for. It's human nature to get distracted by things that lead one to different paths; paths that don't include dreams.

Sometimes Hogwarts felt like a dream to Andromeda. Every year she was whisked away from her family on a train and was taught that not everyone in the world were horrible people. However, the dream couldn't last forever, and quite quickly she was traveling back to the place where her dreams didn't matter.

The train ride from Hogwarts into London passed faster than Andy wanted it to, but she wasn't surprised because that's how it had been for the past five years she had been attending Hogwarts. Henri tried to distract her with various card games. They both knew it wasn't working though, Andy nearly chewed through her lip from anxiety.

When it came time to leave, Andy and Henri might've been the last two on the train. For a moment, they stared at each other awkwardly, but then Henri launched herself into a hug with Andy. Not being used to physical contact, Andy stood there frigidly, and before she knew it the hug was over.

"We'll have to work on that," Henri said, causing the two to laugh nervously. "Bye Andy."

"Bye," Andy said quietly, stepping off the train towards two house elves and Narcissa.

The two primly dressed girls next to the house elves in tattered clothing was quite the sight. Andromeda had always hated how the house elves were treated, and she wondered if they wished for a better life like she had as they apparated her back to her family.

Her childhood home was not too pretty on the outside, something that clearly was a reflection of most of the inhabitants of the home. Druella used to have the house elves garden frequently, but as the girls grew older their mother stopped caring for whatever reason. It was an odd thing to think about though, due to the fact that the Black family was always trying to uphold their outer image.

Feet meeting each front step, Meda followed Narcissa into the home. Awaiting their arrival was their mother, the same grim look greeting them that they had left in the fall. Narcissa received a head nod and pleasant smile before Druella's attention turned towards Meda.

"Don't think I didn't forget about the stunt you pulled on Halloween, girl," Druella said brashly.

Andromeda thought about how she had been on Halloween and winced. There was no possible way she could've made it into Hogsmeade without fainting, but her mother wouldn't care. She would call that an excuse.

"I was ill in the hospital-"

A swift slap to the face shut Andromeda up. Her eyes welled with tears that she blinked back quickly. Instead of crying, she maintained eye contact with her mother, and tried her very best to appear unbothered by the action.

"I've already been told your story by that stupid letter," Druella dismissed her. "Your priorities need to be straightened out. So help me Merlin if you don't figure out how to behave."

Druella was going to need a lot of help from Merlin.

...

Narcissa's room had always held an air of significance. Andromeda wasn't sure how her younger sister had achieved this, but it fit her character well.

The flower wallpaper curled at the top, something Narcissa had just asked the house elves to fix. Her brown wardrobe held dress after dress, and her closet held even more. Secrets could be held under the primly made bed's covers. Narcissa's room was the picture of neatness, which made Andromeda constantly want to go in there and mess it up.

However, with whatever self-control she had, Narcissa's room had stayed in contact for the many number of years they've lived there. It wouldn't be called much of an achievement for anyone except Meda, but she liked to give herself the little things.

Sunshine made its way through the window, lighting the room fully with natural light. Andromeda sat looking through Narcissa's book shelf while her sister occupied the space on her bed, reading some sort of gossip magazine.

"What're you wearing to the banquet, Meda?" Narcissa asked, still fully engrossed in the magazine she held.

If it had been up to her, Andromeda wouldn't even be going to the banquet. Yet, ever since she got home, her every move had been meticulously thought out, and going to the banquet was apparently the most important thing that would happen for Meda until she got married. She didn't understand why this one was any more important than the last twenty-five, but she didn't argue because she didn't want to take another slap to the face.

So, any other year, and Meda would not have been able to answer Narcissa's question. Since Druella had ripped through Andromeda's closet—thank Merlin she left her muggle clothes at school—and chosen her outfit for the banquet, there was a clear answer.

"That one royal blue dress I have," Meda answered, running her hand along the spines of the books. "I haven't worn it yet, so you might not know wha-"

"Is it that one with the tight waist, flowy bottom and sleeves?" Narcissa interrupted.

"Yes, that's exactly the one," Andromeda answered flabbergasted. "How did you-"

"Know?" Narcissa looked up to see Meda nod. "I might've hinted to Mother it would be the right choice. I was afraid she'd choose something absolutely horrid."

Andromeda could've taken this as an insult shot at what her closet held, but she snorted instead because Narcissa had always complained about their mother's taste in fashion. It was about the one thing Cissy openly disagreed with her about.

Not much longer after that, Meda returned to her own room to see Henri's owl perched on her window. Hurriedly, she shut her door and pulled the owl inside to read the letter.

Dear Andy,

I know you told me not to be, but I am still super worried about you. I don't want this to make you feel guilty or anything, I just want to make sure you're truly doing okay.

Hopefully, your Christmas wasn't too bad. I spent mine on the couch blissfully napping the day away. My mother got called into Mungo's, so I spent the day mostly alone. It's alright though, I got some pretty cool new combat boots.

We don't have much longer until second term starts back up again, and I'll never be prepared enough for the OWLs. That's another thing I'm worried about. What if I don't pass?

Well wishes sent with warm hugs,
Henri xx

Andromeda rooted through her room for a quill to scrawl out a quick note back to her. She felt bad for being brief, but she knew Henri would understand. They would just properly have to share what happened over their holiday on the train.

Dear Henri,

I'm pretty okay at the moment. There's been a little conflict here and there, but nothing I can't handle. I hate to say this, but I'm kinda worried about this banquet tonight, so you can't write to me anymore (for now at least!)

Christmas was quiet, which is a good thing. Narcissa gave me a new book on some constellations and I got some family jewelry from my parents. I'm not sure I'm going to wear it though, at least not while I'm at Hogwarts.

I'm sorry your mum got called into work. It sounded pretty lonely. And I can't wait to see these combat boots you're talking about! I'm sure they're very cool.

Henri, I know I'm about to sound like a hypocrite, but frankly, I don't really care. You worry entirely too much. I am 100% positive that we will both do fine on the OWLs. We will revise and revise and revise until you feel confident enough to go into the tests with a clear mind! And I mean this completely.

I can't wait to talk again soon!
Andy xx

She sent Henri's owl off in the nick of time. As her clock struck three in the afternoon, her mother walked in the door.

"Get in your dress, so I can do your hair," Druella spoke with finality in her tone. "Call me back into your room when you're ready for me."

"Yes, Mother," Meda responded obediently.

As she undressed and dressed her self, her stomach sank. This house made her feel like a dog on a leash, trying to run faster than their owner will allow them, only ending with the dog choking itself with its own collar.

Earlier, she was told to wear the new necklace she had received for Christmas with the dress. Of course, the black jewel had their family crest engraved into the stone. She wasn't really sure if black jewelry was the best matching thing to go with the dress, but Andromeda feared what would happen if she didn't wear the necklace.

Before she knew it, Druella was back in the room paying full attention to her curls. Ever since she was little, her hair had been quite difficult to tame, and this was the first time her mother had cared enough to style it since she was little. If Meda hadn't known she was going to be watched tonight, then her mother's actions certainly would've told her this.

Druella took her time to get every hair into place. Andromeda's hair ended up pinned into some sort of updo. She couldn't tell what the back looked like because she couldn't see the back of her hair, but she decided her mother wouldn't let it look bad if it was that important.

Now, Andromeda sat alone at the vanity in her room. The guests arrived in a little less than ten minutes, and usually, she would be able to feel her nerves kick in. Yet, all she could think about was the stupid ring that sat on her left ring finger.

The way it hugged her finger as if it were meant to be there felt all wrong. She almost felt like the ring would poison her free of independence. In a way, it had already done that. Ever since the ring made its way to her finger, she had been deprived of the way she lived her life before.

Andromeda looked at the ring and scowled. She didn't want to end up like the constellation she was named after; The Chained Woman. Chained to a life she didn't want, to people she couldn't care less about, to the duty her family expected her to complete.

One second the ring was sitting on her finger, and the next it sat on the vanity in front of her.

One could've told her that taking off the engagement ring that tied her to everything her family wanted her apart of right before a big event was stupid, but she, of course, was smart enough to know this already.

She just didn't care.

...

Nothing had gone downhill so far, although, Andromeda had been occupying a fair corner with Sirius for most of the time. She would get in trouble for this if she didn't get in trouble for taking off the ring, but yet again, Meda just couldn't get herself to care.

Sirius was all for this new exciting rebellion. He noticed nearly right away that the ring wasn't on her finger anymore, perhaps this was due to how much he hated the fact she was engaged in the first place. He thought this meant she didn't have to marry Carrow anymore, however, she cleared this up with some shushing of his celebration.

"Does Carrow know you despise his guts?" Sirius asked curiously.

As she prepared herself to answer, she laughed at Regulus, who was currently arguing with Severus Snape. She had no idea how Eileen was able to worm herself back into their ranks, but she had to applaud the woman. Everyone seemed to have forgotten who Severus's father was.

"Oh, he knows alright," Meda responded while thinking about their patrol argument.

Sirius looked up at her with dangerous admiration. She knew that the path she was heading down wasn't the easiest, but Andromeda would never be able to stop Sirius from going down it himself. He deserved better than what this family was going to give him.

"You're so cool," Sirius replied.

They fist bumped, which was something Sirius had taught her around five minutes ago when he realized she wasn't wearing the ring. Andromeda was intrigued by this method of acknowledgment, and she decided she would bring it up to Henri, and maybe Ted and Jack too.

"I'm glad somebody thinks so," Andromeda said as Narcissa nearly bowled her over.

"MrsCarrowandmumjustarguedaboutyouandnowshescoming-"

"Narcissa! Speak English please!" Andromeda requested as Cissy was speaking a hundred miles an hour.

"Aunt Druella looks pissed and she's heading our way," Sirius translated. "Well, your way, I'm going to save Reggie."

Andromeda saw the look on Druella's face and her heart nearly stopped. She shared a scared look with Narcissa as Druella yanked her out of the room by the arm. Narcissa looked petrified as she watched them leave, and Andromeda didn't want to imagine what happened next.

Druella Black was a woman that would haunt a number of people's nightmares for a long time. Andromeda didn't need this concept explained to her ever because she lived it. Her head filled with nightmares about her mother and father every night, and she feared this moment right now would be added to the playlist.

She was right unfortunately.

Druella didn't speak right away, which somehow made this confrontation worse. She paced a few steps back and forth as the house elves skirted around them. Andromeda wished desperately that she could have left her mother standing there too. Merlin himself could feel her distress from his grave.

Still, would Meda go back in time and put the ring on her finger to change what was about to happen? She couldn't find it in herself to say yes.

"They called us liars!" Druella whisper-shouted with harsh eyes.

Andromeda would've winced if she hadn't told herself not to react a few minutes before.

"The Carrows said you were not as noble as we had said! They said it was embarrassing to have Alexander court you!" Druella said, probably only stopping herself from yelling because of the people in the room next door.

So, Andromeda thought it would be correct to assume the Carrows had noticed she refused to wear the ring.

"Maybe, you shouldn't have called me noble to begin with," Meda responded defiantly.

Druella stopped herself briefly to survey Andromeda. She narrowed her eyes at the girl in front of her, and any sane person would've cowered before her. But, growing up in this household had taken Andromeda's sanity, along with her innocence.

"You'll learn what cheek gets you in this family very quickly," Druella said, stepping forward so she was about a foot away from her. "If I had half a brain, then I'd disown you right now."

The word disown should've triggered something in Andromeda's brain, but it didn't. As if all self-control had been flooded out of her system, Meda snorted at her mother's comment. Technically, Druella had just said she didn't have half a brain, which, therefore, made her stupid.

Of course, this wasn't a good reaction in any means.

"You dare disrespect me further after what you've done to this family," Druella said disgusted.

A few heartbeats passed before Druella took Andromeda by the arm with a death grip. She led her daughter down the stairs into their unused basement. Andromeda didn't have anytime to try to get away. If she had, then maybe she would've gone to Henri's house.

Their basement was covered in so much dust it was hard to breathe. Druella didn't stop walking when they reached the bottom of the stairs though. She kept going, dragging poor Andromeda behind her to the very back of the basement to a closet.

Very harshly, Druella let go of Meda's arm for a moment to yank open the door of the closet. Andromeda's brain was so fuzzy from the past ten minutes of events that she couldn't even think to run. One moment, she was standing next to her mother, and the next she was shoved into the closet with the door shut and locked behind her.

She was left alone in a dark, dusty closet, shivering in her thin blue dress. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she sat down in the small space, curling herself into a ball on the stone floor. If Andromeda didn't have claustrophobia now, then she had definitely acquired a new fear.

Andromeda couldn't even see the stars to ask them if she would be okay.

...

Song: Generation Why
By: Conan Gray

I already posted this on my message board, but I figured I'd post it here too in case anyone didn't see it and wanted to. I made a playlist for this fic based upon the songs used to introduce the acts.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6FJZXMWKiJ8Np8igthAjL3?si=kSNfoOgbSIGpRmJd1Icvgw

Also, if you're interested, my spotify is linked in my bio, so if you want to follow me you're welcome to.

We're about a third of the way through Act II!! Can you believe it? I sure can't.

This was a harder chapter to write because it made me sad, which is why the update took longer than usual.

Lmao anyways thanks for reading
-teddy xx