TW// alcoholism, mentions of past child abuse, brief (like only catch if squinting) mention of homophobia

...

"Please don't make any sudden moves
You don't know half of the abuse"

The passage of time was cruel to those who yearned for it to quit. Days would come and go, and soon one would have no idea who looked back at them in the mirror. They'd only see their wrinkles and memories they could've made, yet didn't.

One particular woman in the Black household had let her life pass her by. The day she had woken up, her husband was dead, and she had three daughters she didn't know much about.

So, she drank.

Poison filled her mind with nothingness as to stop unwanted thoughts to creep in from the crevices instead.

To be honest, Druella once had a chance to live a life she wanted. In her last year of Hogwarts, she had friends she loved, a boyfriend she dreamed of marrying, and a name for herself. This all fell apart when she was forced to court Cygnus.

She lost her boyfriend first. It didn't take him long to figure out Druella wasn't going to go against her family's wishes, and as soon as he realized this, he left. It split her heart in two, but she ignored the pain by reminding herself of the duty she was obligated to fulfill for her family. Her friends were the next to go. Through the courting process, Cygnus had been unlikable to everyone in the vicinity. They couldn't put up with him for very long, which meant Druella was very alone.

The last thing she lost was the name she had made for herself. Marrying into a powerful family meant many things, including, losing your identity. She lost all sense of herself, and really, it was a miracle she hadn't drank before this.

But, she drank now. And, she knew she did it far too much. However, she wasn't sure what else she could do. Bellatrix was off living her life. Andromeda was practically a lost cause at this point. Narcissa was self-sufficient.

This is why she was found by Andromeda half passed-out on the couch in the parlor, again. It had been a frequent thing for her, remaining in the parlor, and nobody could see how this would end anytime soon. Most of the time the girls didn't bother to go into the parlor—they didn't want to risk waking her—but that morning, Andromeda felt particularly brave and bored.

Her plan was to enter swiftly, grab a book, and exit just as quietly as she entered. It was all going well, she tiptoed across the room, being careful of her surroundings. She scanned the bookcase until she found the book. Yet, as she was passing the couch to leave the room, her foot scuffed an empty bottle. The faintest noise was made.

Andromeda paused for a moment, but Druella didn't stir. She continued on, and falsely thought she was in the clear.

It turned out, the faintest noise caused Druella to open her glassy eyes. She saw her daughter, and lovingly grabbed her wrist. Andromeda very nearly flinched, but the touch was different. It didn't hold the normal malice or cruelty that a touch from Druella would.

She pulls slightly down on Andromeda's arm without a word. Meda inhaled sharply, but crouched down next to where Druella laid on the couch.

Wordlessly still, Druella let go of Meda's wrist, only to cradle her face in her hands. She didn't notice when her daughter's eyes filled with tears.

"My little baby," Druella spoke softly, brushing her knuckles against Meda's cheek before her hand fell.

Andromeda had leaned into the touch, and felt shockingly empty once Druella drew back. She stayed crouched there with the book in her lap, watching as Druella fell deeper into sleep.

She debated quietly to herself whether the worst part of that was if Druella wouldn't remember doing so, or if Andromeda couldn't remember a time before then that she had done that.

...

Late night confessions happened between Andromeda and Narcissa more often than not these days. They confessed to things that they didn't think they'd ever share with anyone, secrets that would lay themselves bare. They would talk to each other until not only their throats were raw, but their hearts were too.

They squeezed together onto Meda's bed, shoulder to shoulder. The only light in the room being from the moon and stars shining in through the window.

A topic that came up a lot in recent days was Davina. Meda had learned how Davina hated using quills and always kept pens on her, how Davina could play the violin flawlessly, and how she helped Narcissa put on her blush when they were together in the morning.

Narcissa had brought her favorite letters from Davina to Meda one night, and her heart eyes were burned into the back of Meda's brain until she had them memorized. She wanted to be able to protect that image of Narcissa for the rest of her life, but she wasn't sure that was possible. Not with their family.

Andromeda desperately tried not to think about what would happen if their family found out about Davina. Instead, she listened dutifully when Narcissa told her about Davina's best sundress, or how her smile shined brighter on Wednesdays.

"Sometimes," Narcissa began, swallowing thickly. "Sometimes I wonder if I deserve her because she's the best thing I've ever called mine."

As Andromeda stared at the ceiling, she thought briefly about how she had thought the same thing about Ted before.

"She's just so good, you know?" Narcissa whispered in the dark. Andromeda nodded even if she couldn't see her. "She spends her summers reading to children at orphanages, and what do I do? Have lunch with influential people."

Narcissa huffed, crossing her arms.

"It's how we've been raised, Cissy," Meda reminded her gently.

This did not seem to appease her.

"We were raised the same way and I'm not half as good as you," Narcissa said, like she was saying things that had been on her chest for a while.

Andromeda had never stopped to think about what kind of pressure Narcissa felt as the youngest. It probably wasn't easy following Bellatrix and Andromeda.

"Oh, don't say that," Meda said softly, hurt that Narcissa couldn't see the good inside her. "You have to know that's not true."

If they could see each other's faces, then they'd see the pain in their faces like it was a mirror. A cycle of hurt is what their childhood had given them, and it looked like sometimes they wouldn't be able to escape it.

"I mean it though, I do," Narcissa continued with less heat in her voice. "Sirius and Regulus look up to you with actual love and admiration. They look at me with respect."

A scoff left Narcissa's lips as she spoke.

"I want them to see me as they see you," Cissa paused, swallowing thickly. "But, I could never give them the things you do. I don't know how to comfort!"

Oh, Meda thought. Oh.

Growing up in a house with little amounts of love around didn't show you that love was a natural thing. Meda had to learn this from her time at Hogwarts. She had learned it through shared side glances with Henri, borrowing quills from Jack, or a quick side hug from Ted. Andromeda knew Narcissa couldn't get the same sense of security from her own friends.

She pulled Narcissa closer. Her heart broke for what Narcissa felt. Not knowing how to fix it, she did one of the things she was sure she knew of.

"I'm here to show you," Meda whispered into Narcissa's hair.

Her little sister ducked her head into her chest. They breathed together, trying to find a rhythm in the beat of their hearts.

"I love you, Meda," Narcissa said as they began to fall asleep next to each other.

"I love you too, Cissy."

...

Putting on muggle clothes released Andromeda from whatever chains her family still had around her. The feeling was untouchable, her mood soaring to new heights everytime she put on flare jeans.

After countless letters, she and Quinn had finally decided upon a date for lunch. They had gotten so excited to write to each other that they'd often get sidetracked, which was really why it took so long to schedule.

Their arrangement would take place in a muggle cafe that Andy had never been to. It had been the first place Quinn suggested, Andy readily agreeing to whatever.

As soon as she walked in, she recognized Quinn. Overall, her face remained unchanged, just appearing the few years older since they had known each other. Her blonde hair was much longer now, no longer cutting off at her ears and landing just past her shoulders. Andromeda could tell she added a few piercings, the most notable one being one that dangled between her nostrils. The same peculiar shaped glasses still sat upon her nose.

Quinn's face lit up once she saw Andy.

"Black!" Quinn said, jumping up from her seat near a window.

"McKinnon!" Andromeda smiled just as widely, practically running into Quinn's arms that she held open.

This was no unfamiliar scene. Over the course of the year that they knew each other, they had only called each other by their surnames—Andromeda wasn't really sure why, it had just happened like that. As a first-year, Andy wasn't particularly interested in hugs, but she had accepted one once, the day before Quinn graduated.

"Oh my goodness, you're so old!" Quinn said, her smile never leaving her face.

Andromeda just laughed in response.

They quickly sat down at the table and caught each other up with the last years of their lives. Small talk took place for about a minute before they ditched it and turned to more serious topics.

Quinn told her of how her parents divorced shortly after she graduated, her father leaving her jobless mother with three children. She spoke about how she had raised her little sister while her mother went through healer's training, and at the same time worked nights at muggle restaurants. Only recently had Quinn been able to move out, and that had been a whole new mess.

Her sister had become so attached that she begged Quinn to stay, but she needed to start her own life by herself. Their brother—who was younger than Quinn too—had already left the nest, choosing instead to travel away from the woes taking place at home. So, as much as it hurt to say goodbye to that chapter, she got a job writing for the smallest section of the Daily Prophet, the advocacy section.

In turn, Andromeda offered up how her first few years of Hogwarts had been very lonely, having been only talking to her sisters. She told stories of Henri, Ted, and Jack, all of which would have to meet Quinn at some point, they both decided.

Since Quinn told her both the good and bad, Andy skimmed over how she was forced into an engagement with Alexander Carrow. Quinn's face had shown with a scowl at that, which Andromeda appreciated.

She moved on quickly though, going over how she wished to become an astronomer after Hogwarts. Slughorn had promised her it would be easy for her to get connections in the field, especially if she started out as an intern.

"Good ole Hogwarts," Quinn mused, a bittersweet smile on her face. "Marlene goes for her first-year in the fall."

A newborn smile bloomed onto Andy's face. Her sister was the same age as Sirius.

"No way, my cousin, Sirius, is going too!" Andy spoke excitedly.

"That's brilliant!" Quinn replied, just as excited. "They must meet."

"Oh, Sirius will be so excited," Andy declared. "He doesn't know many people his age."

"I'm sure he and Marlene will get along great," Quinn said.

They had no idea what they had started that day, but, boy, Hogwarts would never be able to forget it.

...

It was hard when the cold crept in from the walls of their house. One did what they could to keep warm, but it was hard to start a fire when the frost felt permanent.

When it started to become too much, Andromeda tried to escape the confinement the walls seemed to hold. She especially found herself in the backyard at night, just her and the stars.

Something she had been telling the fireflies about recently was how gently Druella cradled her face the other day. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about it. The soft way in which "my little baby" was uttered haunted her thoughts.

It was a would've, could've, should've moment, and it didn't last long enough. Or, perhaps, it had lasted far too long. Andromeda hadn't decided whether or not she wanted to wish the fleeting moment away.

To remedy this, she told the fireflies and the stars how she felt. And then she went to Henri's house.

In fact, she had been there for two days. Of course, she told Narcissa before she went she needed a break, and her sister understood. They had come to an agreement that they would respect each other's wishes as long as the other took theirs into account.

While she was there, they talked, laughed, baked, and even cried a little about things. It was therapeutic for them both. Andromeda needed to talk about the shifting dynamics of her family, and the stresses of trying to fully mend her relationship with Narcissa. Henri needed to talk about how the house got lonely sometimes, and how her mum sent McGonagall over the other day with biscuits to keep her company—apparently McGonagall and her mum are friends, since when did that happen?

Right now though, they just exist with one another's presence. They both sat in the kitchen, Henri taking up space on the floor while Andy opted for a chair at the table. Soft music played on a vinyl in the background.

It was peaceful just to soak up the other's presence. Knowing that you didn't constantly need to fill the silence with conversation was comforting.

Of course, their serenity was interrupted by a phone call. Henri hopped up to answer with Andy's eyes flitting over to where she stood on the phone.

Andromeda still wasn't sure how telephones worked, even after Henri had spent long periods of time trying to explain. Andromeda summed it up to some sort of magic she didn't quite understand. She wasn't sure who was on the phone, but as Henri's face grew confused, Andy decided she needed the last biscuit from the box.

"Yeah, I'm here with Andy."

Andromeda's head perked up when she heard her name. The voice picked up excitedly and Andromeda recognized it as Jack's immediately.

Henri covered the receiver with her hand. She turned to Andy before speaking with serious features.

"He wishes to speak with you," Henri said, attempting to keep a straight face.

Andy nodded as she quickly swallowed the rest of the biscuit. She was going to have to write a letter to McGonagall to explain that she was going to have to send more biscuits because now, Andy was afraid she couldn't live without them. Who knew she made such great biscuits?

She took the phone.

"Hey, Jack," Andy greeted, her smile growing when he replied.

"Andy! How've ya been?"

"Oh, just lovely. How bout you?" She asked dutifully, trying to skip over his question as quick as possible.

"Same old, same old," He replied easily. "Do you wanna come over?"

Andy hummed into the receiver before placing her hand over the end like she had watched Henri do. She found her friend watching her just as she had been earlier at the table.

"Do we wanna come over?" Andy asked, assuming Henri would want to.

Henri shrugged in response, which basically meant yes. If Henri didn't want to go, then she would've said no.

"Do you have biscuits?" Andy asked Jack, at which Henri chuckled.

"Hmm, maybe. I might've eaten the last one, I dunno."

He paused for a moment, and she could practically hear the second he came up with a joke to tell.

"You want to know what I do have?"

"What?" She asked curiously.

"A boy named, Ted. You remember him?"

"Oh sod off," she rolled her eyes, even if he couldn't see her.

"I'll take that as a yes then." He paused again, thinking thoughtfully. "I can make more biscuits if that's really what's keeping you from coming over."

"No it's alright, we'll be over in a little," Andy said quickly, feeling bad for requesting biscuits earlier now.

"Of course you will."

"What was that?" She asked, arching a brow.

"Oh, nothing. See you in a little."

It didn't take long to collect themselves after she got off the phone. Andromeda brushed the residual crumbs off her faded band tee and redid the ponytail on top of her head. Pretty much right after that, Henri apparated them both over to Jack's front door.

Andromeda wasn't sure why she had had such a visceral reaction because she had been apparating her entire life, but when they landed, she folded in half and gagged. Her stomach rolled in on itself.

Henri patted her back and scrunched her nose.

"Told you eating all those biscuits wasn't a good idea," Henri remarked, earning a short look from Andy.

"But McGonagall sent them, and she makes the best biscuits," Andy replied, groaning to herself.

"Just try not to throw up in the Johnson's bushes," Henri said, giving her a pitying look. "You need to make a good first impression."

Henri turned her back to knock on the door, as she did so, Andy took the time to glare at her childishly. She stood up finally, her stomach recovering fully.

The door swung open with Davina standing at the other side. She didn't look surprised to see them, but she still appeared exasperated in general.

"Hey, Davina," Andy greeted her with a small smile.

This was the girl her sister had been talking about nonstop. It was difficult to keep a straight face.

"Andy, Henri," Davina replied, allowing a soft smile to appear on her features. "Jack's really excited you're coming over, so you probably won't be getting another moment of peace."

They walked inside laughing as Davina continued.

"I'll be making myself scarce. I don't really need to be apart of his chaos," she said, winking at them. "Good luck."

She disappeared down a hallway as they heard a cackle from another room. Henri rolled her eyes and smiled, gesturing to Andy to follow her.

Henri led her into the kitchen to a scene neither of them were expecting. Ted stood with a deadpan expression, while Jack laughed at him. It appeared like the latter had dumped quite a bit of flour over the other's head. Andy hid a laugh behind her hand. Henri just laughed at them openly, which alerted them to their presence.

"Moreau! Andy!" Jack nearly yelled, bounding towards them.

Both girls held out their hands so he couldn't cover them in flour during a hug. He pouted, but ultimately gave up when they continued to refuse. Jack dragged Henri away from the kitchen, citing the reason of showing off a cool new quidditch poster or something—Andy wondered if there were ulterior motives.

"Ted, it looks like you've got a little something," Andy said, laughing as she swiped some flour off his cheek.

He huffed out a deep breath, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You won't believe how happy I am that you're here, Dromeda," Ted said, going to the sink and sticking his entire head under the faucet.

Andromeda laughed as he spun so that he could get all the flour from his hair.

"Is that so?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.

He went to get a hand towel before he responded. Taking the towel, he vigorously rubbed his hair and face dry, but this still didn't fix the fact his shirt was covered in flour.

"Yeah, Jack has been a menace recently," Ted explained, gesturing to his shirt.

She noticed he looked extremely happy. His skin was tanned, which made his eyes and hair stand out more. Yet, his smile was what stuck out the most. She attempted not to stare, but he sure made it difficult.

"I'm sure you've been no different," Andy replied, once she recovered.

"You think so little of me," Ted said, holding a hand over his heart, and then he grimaced when it came back with flour.

"Oh, you poor poor guy," Andy mocked, laughing when he appeared more offended.

...

The environment of the Johnson home was one of carefree joy and chaos. Andromeda met the rest of Jack's family within minutes, each of them being as pleasant as the next.

Younger than Davina was Sawyer and Kennedy. They could pass for twins, both of them being small with similar facial features. Sawyer was younger than Davina by five years, and only two years older than Kennedy. Andromeda noted the main difference between the two girls was that Sawyer wore thick-framed purple glasses.

Jack's parents drew much envy from Andy, which she immediately felt guilty for. She found herself caught in a conversation with his mum, River, about her life story. She told her about how Jack's biological father had left the moment the words, "I'm pregnant," had left her mouth. There was a silver lining though as her childhood best friend stepped up and was there for River throughout the pregnancy.

His name is Ben, and he ended up being the love of her life. He's considered Jack's dad, even if technically he's not.

The warm conversation she had along the way in the home brought her to a place of peace. She felt calm with Kennedy sitting on her lap, answering the occasional question, but ultimately, just sitting in the presence of people who enjoyed her company.

She could feel Ted's eyes on her a few times, yet she hesitated to make eye contact. There were a few things they needed to talk about that weren't on the table tonight. Recently, she had found a new determination to work up to addressing the rising tension between them. It was nothing bad, but it was clear it wasn't just a friendship anymore, and the lines were blurring. She also needed to be sure he was clear on all the things that would happen if they began to date.

Of course, those things didn't kill the butterflies in her stomach everytime she looked at him. It just made things less complicated for her if she didn't return the stolen glances.

Sooner than she wished, it was time for her to leave. Everyone insisted on hugs, and Andromeda weathered the storm, even if she wasn't too keen on hugs still. Jack's sisters had become attached to Andromeda it seemed, and would only stop clinging to her leg when forced to by their mother.

Andromeda promised both Jack and Henri she'd write, now feeling guilty she hadn't been dedicating enough time to letters yet this summer. She was about to turn to say goodbye to Ted just as she had everyone else, but he spoke first.

"Let me walk you out," he said easily enough.

Andy agreed and waved to everyone else once more before turning and following Ted out.

They both paused after Ted shut the front door behind them. Each unsure of what to say, a side effect of everything being unsaid.

"Heard you almost didn't come 'cause we didn't have biscuits," Ted remarked, drawing a small smile from Andy.

"Yeah, well, having no biscuits is a serious offense," she offered back.

"I'll make sure everyone's stocked up next time then," Ted replied, a grin of his own forming.

They stayed quiet for a moment as the sky grew darker. Andy needed to get home to make sure Narcissa had been alright these past few days alone. She wrapped her arms around herself, giving herself a hug this time.

"Make sure to write, okay?" Ted broke the silence, looking at her with concern. "I get worried when you don't."

Andromeda sighed. She loved that her friends cared about her, but sometimes it was overwhelming since she hadn't grown up surrounded by people like them.

"I promise I'm fine there, Ted," Andy reiterated. "It's just sad now."

"Even so, please write," Ted asked again.

"Okay, I'll make an effort to," Andy replied, a grin popping up on her face. "But only because you want me to that much."

Ted just laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Since we'll be seeing each other soon, I don't really see the point in saying goodbye," Andy said, knowing she just didn't wish to say goodbye to any of them at all.

"You're sure?"

"Of course, I don't plan on becoming a recluse any time soon," Andy shot back playfully.

"What shall we say then?" Ted asked thoughtfully.

Three blaring words entered into Andy's head. She nearly stepped back into the bushes because of how startled she was by her own brain. Instead of running away rashly, she took a look at her hand and saw her family ring.

"Here, how 'bout I give you this ring, and we can trade it back and forth everytime we see each other," Andy said calmly, despite how her heart raced. "That way, we have to see each other because it's a prized ring."

Andromeda took the golden band off her thumb, confident it would fit at least his ring finger. She held it out to him, but he only stared in response. Because all she got was a stare, she took his hand in hers and started to slide the ring on his right ring finger.

"I- a prized ring, Dromeda," Ted stuttered out as she slid it on his finger. "Are you sure you want me to take this?"

She nodded. The way the Black family crest sat on his finger felt satisfying. Andy wasn't sure she'd go through with her plan and take it back the next time they saw each other.

"Alright then, that's that," Andy said in a tone of finality. "See you soon, Ted."

"See you soon, Dromeda."

The next moment Andromeda turned, and was gone, leaving Ted standing there trying to process their conversation for much longer than he actually needed to.

...

Song: Heathens
By: Twenty One Pilots

Life has been very hectic and unkind recently, so I thank you for your patience. 💛

I'm sorry but that first scene really got me, like how dare Druella be cruel in a completely subconscious, yearning for something that should've been type of way. That hurt so bad.

Narcissa and Andromeda's relationship is so complex and important. The push and pull, give and take is sort of like a love hate relationship, and I think that's important to think about because of what happens to them in the end in canon. Even with that in mind, Andy reassuring Cissy is something so special.

Henri and Andromeda. <3 They're my favorites. Just sitting with your best friend in the same room is so real, like I'll just exist with my friends for the longest time without actually saying anything because we're content.

Marlene and Sirius meet? 👀

But Andy giving Ted her ring?? Stop with the games and get together already smh.

Lmao anyways thanks for reading
-teddy xx