Andromeda Cassiopeia Black

All the shine of a thousand spotlights All the stars we steal from the nightsky Will never be enough Never be enough Towers of gold are still too little These hands could hold the world but it'll Never be enough Slytherin alumni. Neutral. Black only in name.

[apollothepark]

friendship interrupted

[andromedaxblck]

stalwart-shacklebolt:

“I am very pleased to hear you and everyone else have managed to escape one of those bloody parties unscathed.” He said with a chuckle, gladly walking over to her friend to embrace her. Holidays always meant party upon party for Sacred 28 kid. Kingsley had simply lucked out in having two parents that hated parties as much as he did and he’d never been required to go to one, it was always up to choice. 

“Hopefully the rest of your holiday was better than the party. If I can steal you again later, I’ll have to drag you into London to go see Star Wars.” 

“I can't make the same assurance for anyone who crossed Bella’s path, but it seemed relatively nonviolent where I wandered - in spite of my parents’ feelings about our more unexpected guests.” She managed to hold in a shudder when she thought of her parent’s anger the following morning, and the rage that had fortunately not been directed at their daughters. Their distraction had enabled Andromeda to slip away more often at least, and in the last couple days her apartment had gained (courtesy of the less visited rooms of the estate) chairs, shelves, and a rather horrifying vase that she intended to transfigure at the next possible chance.

As the waiter passed, she went ahead and ordered a rather extensive number of pastries and breakfast items from the menu without paying much attention to what they were. She was sure they would find something in them to eat, and the rest could be left at her flat. It would be her family’s money that paid for it anyways.

“It was decent enough,” she offered diplomatically, returning to her tea. “I’m sure your holiday has been far more exciting than mine.” Christmas day was quiet as the house recuperated from the guests, but the tension from her conversation with Narcissa still hung thick in the air.

 “I still have no idea what Star wars is, but I’ll trust your judgement and come along. Is it one of those Muggle pictures Ted told me about?” Saying Ted’s name aloud to someone still felt strange on her tongue, but it felt good that Kingsley knew these things at least. “He talked about something called popcorn?”

[andromedaxblck]

princissa:

The party had been an…interesting one. Even before the party began with James sneaking into her room to give her his Christmas gift she should have guessed how the rest of the night would go. All the strange guests she encountered followed by the countless drinks, Lucius being uncharacteristically nice and her conversation with Rodolphus, Narcissa just needed to rest.

Narcissa had already changed out of her elegant party dress and into her nightgown, thankful that the night was now over. As badly as she wanted to sleep, she had been tossing and turning, her eyes unable to stay shut for an extended period of time. Though they had both been pretty drunk, Rod’s words were still ringing in her head and she needed to see Andromeda. 

She creeped across the hall from her room to her sisters, standing in front of the closed door for a moment still feeling a little bit dizzy from all the champagne. Narcissa finally reached out and pushed the door open, giving her sister a smile as she slowly stepped into the room.

❝Merry Christmas. Can I…stay here with you tonight? I feel like I didn’t get to see you at all during the party.❞

Feeling slightly less anxious at her sister’s more calm demeanor, she let the curtain fall closed behind her. Crossing the room to the couch where the two had spent so many days reading, she picked up the blanket she had discarded and wrapped it around herself. Opening up one side to her sister, she gave her an apologetic smile. “Of course, Cissy, I’m sad I didn’t get to see you during the party. This one was certainly ... busier than they usually have been. Did you have a good time at least?”

Curling her feet up onto the couch in a manner that would have horrified her mother, she settled in. Pressing a kiss onto the top of Narcissa’s head, it felt like so many other days together in the library. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to see you as much this break. I wanted to spend more time with you and Bella. Has it been good so far without me?”

They hadn’t been home for that long really, but somehow it felt like it had been so much longer than it was. It was strange to think that this was probably one of the last times she would ever come home - ever see this place. When she breathed in, it felt shaky with the thought. Whether it was the wine or the memories that made her dizzy in that moment, Andromeda couldn’t quite be sure. But the mix of both was heady enough that she wasn’t sure she needed to 

[vcnityemma-blog]

Andromeda ( @ofallherstars )

Where have you been? I’ve scarcely seen you all break and I’m worried. Respond or I’ll show up (partially) unannounced. 

[andromedaxblck]

Emma,

I’m afraid I have been all over the place this break, much to the chagrin of my family as well. Fortunately now that our party is out of the way, home might be a little less chaotic. I’ve missed you as well, reading between the lines. I wouldn’t worry about me, but you’re welcome to show up - announced or otherwise. I hope your Christmas was well? 

[andromedaxblck]

Andromeda: a playlist

1. Moondust by Jaymes Young

I'm a cast away, and men reap what they sow And I say what I know, to be true Yeah I'm living far away, on the face of the moon I've buried my love to give the world to you

2. Alcatraz by Oliver Riot

Moving out west, things got lonely Trying my best, nobody showed me Which way to go, I didn’t know Hating my past, I found the old me Bullet proof vest, my only clothing Hiding alone, a prison is home

3. Berlin by Ry X

Come down love Berlin in the cold All that fighting, all that snow

Sober nights And byron on my mind Tell me I'm not going home And I'll stop waiting by the phone

Bedroom floor And silence in my blood Sorry love I'm running home I'm a child of sun and the stars I love

4. Drown by Seafret

What doesn't destroy you Leaves you broken instead Got a hole in my soul growing deeper and deeper And I can't take One more moment of this silence The loneliness is haunting me And the weight of the world's getting harder to hold up Hold up, hold up

5. I’ll Be Good by Jaymes Young

My past has tasted bitter For years now So I wield an iron fist Grace is just weakness Or so I've been told I've been cold, I've been merciless But the blood on my hands scares me to death Maybe I'm waking up today

6. The Other by Lauv

Who wrote the book on goodbye? There's never been a way to make this easy When there’s nothing quite wrong but it don't feel right Either your head or your heart, you set the other on fire Back and forth now I'm feelin' guilty Cause I just can’t stop this pendulum in my head Though I know that our time is ending I’d rather lay forever right in this bed

7. I Found by Amber Run

And I'll use you as a makeshift gauge Of how much to give and how much to take Oh I'll use you as a warning sign That if you talk enough sense, then you'll lose your mind

And I found love where it wasn't supposed to be Right in front of me, talk some sense to me

8. Change by RIVVRS

We all need to take a minute To stop and listen to the words that are slipping out of our mouths There should never be a limit to love Whether you give it, you live without it, or you've given up Just love yourself and everybody else 'Cause every soul is made the same

9. Tethered by Rationale

Round and round in my mind There's a truth I can't ignore I spent so many years Wandering from myself Until you came along

10. My Lover by Birdtalker

You came like a resolution Under a starry sky You are my one solution To the mystery of why 

11. All of the Stars by Ed Sheeran

It's just another night And I'm staring at the moon I saw a shooting star And thought of you I sang a lullaby By the waterside and knew If you were here, I'd sing to you

[apollothepark]

friendship interrupted

[andromedaxblck]

stalwart-shacklebolt:

Dear Andy,

Breakfast at that little cafe it is. I’ve been meaning to get back there for ages, but it seems wrong somehow to try and go without you. It’s like dragging someone to Star Wars without Benjy. Just doesn’t feel right.

I forgot about that party. Now I feel a bit bad for not going. At least I’ll see you the day of the party and that’s practically like going to the actual thing anyways. Merlin knows I’d just follow you or Dorcas around all evening.

See you soon.

Dear Kingsley,

I’m honored to have such an exclusive role in your life. Though I must admit I’m confused. I keep hearing everyone talking about Star Wars and other than sounding like a family dinner at my place, I have absolutely no idea what anyone is saying.

A Black family gala is naturally the social engagement no one would want to miss. I’d rank it one step above a Binns lecture and one step below detention with McGonagall. 

See you then,

The door to the cafe would swing open periodically, inviting another blast of cold air into the warm shelter of her table. A warming charm and her house scarf wrapped tightly around her was the only thing that kept her from shivering. She might have been unreasonably bitter about the foot traffic, had she not been waiting for Kingsley - something that always put her in a better mood.

She’d ordered warm drinks for them both, but had held off on actually getting anything to eat until he could join her - though she was considering just ordering everything and ending the discussion as it was. Regardless, when the door finally opened and Kingsley entered she happily stood to receive him with a hug. 

“Merry belated Christmas, Kingsley. I hope you had a good one, and you’ll be pleased to know that I made it through the gala unscathed and without cursing anyone.”

[andromedaxblck]

She wasn’t entirely sure how late it was, but the sky outside was certainly not as dark as it had been when the party had been at its peak. Her stomach was in a strange and fluttery knot between her exhaustion, the overwhelming conversations she’d had, and the several too many glasses of champagne that she had had that evening. Her thoughts were sluggish but even so she felt wide awake as she stood in the library and looked out at the curtains over the grounds that she was slowly starting to be able to see through the darkness. 

The guests had been slow to leave - particularly the ones without an invitation - and so the party had lasted far longer than she could remember it having done before. She was fairly sure it had been 2 or 3 before the last of their expected and unexpected guests and finally been departed - or a few choice ones allowed guest rooms in which to sleep off the night. 

She wanted to process everything - her conversation with Rodolphus, the people she’d seen, that this was all but certain to be her last Christmas party. Last Christmas, she realized, as it occurred to her that it was no longer Christmas Eve. Her exhaustion was a good excuse for why she couldn’t quite process it all, and allowed her  to avoid the thought that it wasn’t as if she had been able to process any of this when she was more awake and had drunk far less wine. 

Her exhaustion was highlighted when she jumped at the sound of the door opening, feeling silly that she possibly expected it to be anyone but Narcissa. Smile tight, she examined  her sister’s face as she stepped into the room, feeling the alarm bells in her head. “Merry Christmas, Cissa,” she greeted, sounding far more together than she felt herself to be. 

@princissa

[andromedaxblck]

For Andromeda, there were two noticeable differences between this gala and previous ones. The first was Andromeda’s acute awareness that this would likely be her last - a thought that elicited both relief and bittersweet feelings. The second, however, was that there were many more of her peers that she was fairly confident were not on the guest list. She was sure her family would be furious come morning, but she couldn’t help but enjoy the more relaxed atmosphere than any gala she’d yet been forced to attend.

The increased size of the party also made it much easier for her to slip away after she made the appropriate rounds and shook the right hands alongside Rabastan. She had seen Dahlia around somewhere - unable to remember whether she had been invited or not, Andromeda was nonetheless delighted and only hoped the dartboard wouldn’t be brought up too often. 

Spotting her friend escaping to the side of the room, she grabbed a couple flutes of champagne from a passing waiter and followed. Holding out one to Dahlia, she shook out the skirt of her robes for show. “You know, if I’m going to go through all this effort to be pretty, you should at least be asking me for a dance,” she teased. 

Gesturing to slip slightly farther away in the hopes of avoiding being drawn back into some other social performance, she smiled at her. “Enjoying your Christmas Eve?”

@dwoodisgood

[apollothepark]

friendship interrupted

Dear Andy,   @ofallherstars

It seems that these days all of our conversations get cut short. I’m meeting Emmeline for lunch in Diagon Alley later. Can I convince you to meet me for breakfast? It’s been ages since we’ve really gotten to speak and I must confess I miss you.

[andromedaxblck]

Dear Kingsley,

It is incredibly unfortunate that we seem to have this terrible string of luck, I agree,  but at least it gives us an excuse to keep meeting up - after all, we have to make the time when we keep getting cut short. It just so happens that today is the calm before the storm. All of the gala preparations are finished, the last of our mother’s robe fittings have been done, and I am in desperate need to escape. Breakfast sounds absolutely wonderful. I could meet you in an hour at the little cafe we stopped at last summer?

I’ve missed you terribly too. Coming home just reminds me of all the reasons you’re so important to me. Now lets stuff our faces with pastries before I start getting emotional.

Love,

[siriusly-bright]

( @ofallherstars )

Dear Andy,

I hope this letter finds you well. I’m relieved I don’t have to worry about my owl being seen by your parents here. Do you have Christmas decorations up at the flat, too? Or have you not bothered yet? How often do you actually manage to be here? Certainly I snuck out a lot, but the difference was no one really noticed when I was gone. You’re surely missed. Do be careful, Andy. You know how I feel about all of this, but I above anyone also know what risky business it is. 

As always, I love you dearly and I am only an owl away should you need anything at all. Perhaps I could see you this break? Maybe even come round to see the flat? If not I understand, but let me know either way. 

Love,

[andromedaxblck]

Dear Sirius,

The letter finds me well as one can be while their family is preparing for a Black Gala. Honestly, I think missing it must be the best part of leaving. I swear my parents make these robes more restricting each year as a method of keeping us in place. 

In truth, so far all I’ve gotten for the flat is a bed, an arm chair, and some things for the kitchen. I’m planning on seeing how many things I can shrink down and sneak out of the manor after Christmas - there are plenty of rooms no one even goes into and are more for show than anything else. I don’t have any Christmas decorations, and I was thinking about visiting some shops in the next few days to try and make the place look a little more cheerful. Perhaps you could come by the flat in a few days to help? 

I only get away with it by making sure I don’t come by for long. Today I was visiting Dorcas and so I told my parents to expect me this evening, so that I could spend a couple hours on cleaning charms. A couple days ago, I went to shop for Christmas gifts and was able to drop off a few things for the kitchen. It feels silly now when I don’t really get to use it, but it is such a relief to know that this place exists and that it is mine. Whatever happens, I know there’s now some place that I could go. 

The day after Christmas is always quiet at home and I believe I’ll be staying the night with Dahlia, so I should have the day to myself. I’m afraid I don’t actually have any silverware yet, but I can pick up lunch from the Leaky Cauldron and maybe transfigure a couple of chairs. I promise I’ll get around to getting actual furniture eventually, but for now I can offer free food and good intentions.

Much love from your favorite cousin, 

[andromedaxblck]

twistedmeadowes:

Seeing Andi was such a relief, and she let out a harsh sigh, dropping all forms of pretense and slipping her arms around the girls neck in a tight hug. “Dad nearly flipped when he saw how short my dress is, Damocles keeps glaring at me whenever he sees me because I brought someone else, who I lost track of, and I’m drunk enough to set this place if I blew on a lit match.” 

Letting out a harsh sigh, she looked Andi over, and offered a grin. “You look great, though. No expense spared for a princess, right?” A little nudge with her shoulder, a teasing tone. “Did you want to get some air with me? Not sure how much more of this stuffy air I can handle before my head explodes.”

She hadn’t realized how tense she was until she relaxed into Doe’s hug. Wrapping her arms around her friend, she let out a deep breath. “I can’t help with your dad, but if you’re uncomfortable it shouldn’t be too complicated of a charm to add an inch or two. I can have a house elf find your date, if you’re worried, and I will be sure to keep you away from any matches.” She pulled away, smiling.

Laughing, she twirled her hips to let the skirt of her dress fan out. “I think these dress robes cost more than seven years of Hogwarts school supplies. I think the families who host these things compete over who can spend the most on their children’s robes.” She grimaced slightly, tugging at the skirt. It wasn’t that it wasn’t lovely, but wearing gowns like these didn’t make her feel beautiful anymore - she just felt like a commodity for her family to use.

Taking Dorcas’ arm to escort her, Andromeda smiled with a teasing light in her eyes. “You’ve come to the right girl. Want to go to the balcony outside my rooms? If we go there, we can take one of the servant’s hallways instead of having to go back out.”

[rodolphuslestranges-deactivated]

the Black gala;

date : 24th of december; location : the black manor.

As much as the words gala and party imply entertainment, Rodolphus is rather disillusioned come to aspects of his personal freedoms: this, make no mistake, is a networking opportunity he’s obliged to take. Before he allows himself to drink someone under the table or gets inebriated enough to partake in whatever activities on top of it, Rodolphus needs to work the damn room.

   He meanders through the crowd in a manner blatantly indolent, though still comfortable. The vacant expression takes on contagiously joyful, courteously polite, subtly flirty, and plain out serious undertones depending on what the old fucks in front of him need to see.

   Having tabled his personal troubles and worries for a more appropriate setting, Rodolphus makes sure to stay sober and clean long enough to fulfil the debt he owes Edmund for, well, allowing him to exist after he temporarily, but rather unexpectedly, fled the Lestrange Manor. Yet his tolerance for disturbing implications and breaching disgusting topics with inappropriate levity seems to be running out, so after one sickening conversation too many, the boy excuses himself.

   He just needs some goddamn air.

   “Might come as a shock, but doorways are for passing through, not setting up a permanent residence in.” By now too familiar with the act, Rodolphus hides his mood behind an expression of bohemian dissatisfaction. Recognizing a fellow student in what he initially thought was someone’s useless offspring, he sighs, softening just so. “Come with, if you’d like. Just stop blocking the damn exit."  

[andromedaxblck]

Andromeda wondered how many parties like this one she had attended. 16 years of them led one gala to blur into another, and she could hardly tell whether her memories of different events were the same night or even different years. The champagne, the heavy dress robes, the droning of voices she didn’t want to listen to, and her mother’s hand clamped on her shoulder as she paraded Andromeda before their peers were steady themes regardless of year or reason for celebration. Pureblood families never lost a chance to flash their wealth and bloodlines before society.

Like many of these events before, she did not make it halfway through before desperately wishing for fresh air and a chance to renew the cushioning charms she’d placed on her shoes. Slipping out of the party in the lull between songs, she grabbed a champagne bottle from the kitchens and left without really thinking about where her feet were taking her.

It was no surprise when she found her way to the balcony outside the music room. It had always been her haven, holding no particular interest to the rest of her family and feeling more like a safe space than anywhere else in the manor. The doors to the balcony were open and the curtains that framed them were billowing softly in the breeze. She knew who was on the balcony before she even saw him, and she felt her stomach lurch.

If any one detail blurred together, it was the galas she had escaped with Rodolphus. As she stood in the doorway, the rush of memories almost made her dizzy and for a moment she saw Rodolphus from the Christmases before. Were she to look down, she imagined she could have seen any of the ridiculous costumes her mother had put her in and always with a champagne bottle in hand.

The moment passed, and after a few seconds she felt like she could move again. Walking out to lean against the railing, she looked out onto the grounds to a few of the straggling guests making their way back into the party. “Merry Christmas to you too, Dolphus.” She smiled.

[twistedmeadowes-blog]

Dorcas was definitely not good at this party thing. She couldn’t fake it, she couldn’t pretend to be good at any of it. Her feet carried her around, a drink in her hand in an attempt to calm her nerves, but she was worried. How the hell had she already lost Benjy? She wasn’t even really that drunk yet.

A small sip of her drink as she passed people, offered a nod and a smile, tugged at the edge of her dress. Perhaps the whole teenage rebellion thing shouldn’t have included a dress that was shorter than she would have normally worn. It was fine. This was fine. She was having fun. She was pretending to have fun, anyway.

She had found a corner, a place to stand away from the clusters of people, and found herself a bit more comfortable out of the bustle. Eyes caught sight of someone else and she offered a small smile, a nod of her head. “Hullo. Having fun?”

[andromedaxblck]

Andromeda never enjoyed these galas. Generally disinterested in doing the schmoozing her parents wished her to or being paraded like a prize horse like she often was, she generally found a time to escape before the evening had stretched on too long. Thinking of finding the balcony she often escaped to with a flute of champagne in her hand, she redirected her course as she saw Dorcas slip around the corner.

“You know, if you wanted to escape, I could have given you much better suggestions,” she teased, but the tightness around her eyes revealed that she carried at least as much discomfort as her friend. “I’m not drunk,  haven’t spilled wine on any important ministry members, and Rabastan and I have so far managed not to dance, so I’m counting my evening as a success so far. How are you doing?”

[ineffableellie-archive]

Dear Andromeda, @ofallherstars

Thanks again for not giving me detention. It may have only been because you didn’t want to get in trouble either, but I still appreciate it.

I know I’m just a little fifth year …and stuff… but I think we might have a lot in common. You can tell me if I’m totally off base. Or don’t. I’ll get the hint.

I hope your holida–wait, what does the Black family do for the holidays anyway?

[andromedaxblck]

Dear Ellie,

It was no trouble - both in letting you off and for me, I suppose. I enjoyed the evening as well. While perhaps wandering the grounds late at night in the hopes of running into each other isn’t the wisest, you would be more than welcome to join me on my rounds - there’s generally tea and fudge brought along. 

The Black family is not particularly festive, but the sacred 28 families rotate on hosting a gala for the holidays and this year is my family’s turn. While dress robes, expensive wine, and decadent food sounds like a lovely evening in theory, it mostly is used as networking and parading of your status. I tend to make my rounds with the crowd and escape somewhere with less of an audience.

Mostly I spend the holidays with my sisters, though I get to see Rodolphus and Dorcas occasionally. I know that my sisters and I share a common room, but during the terms it seems like we live seperate lives so I always look forward to the time spent with them.

I hope you are enjoying your holiday as well. Will you be doing anything with your family?

Sincerely,

[hp-moods]

Harry Potter A-Z Character Challenge: @hp-moods​ vs. @ibuzoo

A - Andromeda Tonks (née Black)

[art-weasley-blog]

Honestly, Arthur still wasn’t sure how he’d managed to keep his stash hidden from the professors and staff at Hogwarts. Sure he’d done his best to hide it, buried and charmed out of view, but surely someone would’ve seen him sneak down there late at night, by the edge of the forbidden forest to spend far too long tinkering away. Yet after two years of hiding most of what he considered his ‘muggle treasure’, no one had ever followed him or come upon the hidden chest. Though, maybe someone did and left it because to most wizards and witches it would just be a pile of junk. To Arthur, it was utterly fascinating. 

That afternoon he was toying with a cassette deck, the tape having gotten caught in the spindles of the machine, winding the film into a terrible knot. He’d yet to find muggle music he liked, but he still enjoyed playing it sometimes to see if anything would grow on him. He was about to cut the tape altogether, saying goodbye to the A and B side of the Mamas and the Papas, before a rustling in a nearby bush caused him to jump, tossing the cassette deck into his trunk and sitting down quickly on top of the storage container, hoping no one would ask questions if they emerged from the bush. 

“Oh… Hello…” Arthur greeted the person, his voice a bit tense. 

[andromedaxblck]

Andromeda had never been in the particular habit of skipping class. Over achiever through and through, before this year there had been very few occasions when she had actually missed a lesson. Her record had been shot to hell that term, however, and in an effort to salvage it she had solemnly gone to History of Magic in spite of her restlessness and longing to escape the castle walls. As soon as the bell rang,she made a quick duck into the kitchen for some hot chocolate to go with the fudge stashed in her bag. Appropriately armed, she escaped through the castle doors and onto the grounds - no firm destination in mind.

Focused on her thoughts and the warmth from her cup, she hadn’t realized how far she had wandered until she came across Arthur on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. She watched him curiously for a moment, wondering what it was that he was fiddling with - it was certainly nothing she recognized.

“Hello,” she greeted, smiling. “Should I assume I’m not supposed to have seen whatever that was, considering how you just chucked it?”

[andromedaxblck]

twistedmeadowes:

“Gambling your child’s happiness is kind of rule number one of our society, isn’t it?” She shot back, not afraid to let the sarcasm lace through her tone, despite the fact that she really shouldn’t. She had to be careful what she said and who she said it to, lest she go incurring someone’s wrath (most likely her dad’s), but the way it welled up inside her and made her want to scream. It was frustrating and it didn’t make things easier to choke down. “But maybe I just need to give the guy a chance. I mean… Rod and Lucius and that whole group don’t seem to mind him. He can’t be a total nightmare, right?” 

God, she sure hoped that was the case.

She offered another chuckle. “Fair, you would make me Sacred 28, but that whole, we can’t continue the family line thing might make a few heads turn. Though, honestly, I’d take you or Rabastan over Damocles any day of the week.” She offered a bit of a sigh, eyes lifting to the ceiling. “I guess it’s just a matter of convincing him that I’m not the right choice for him.”

She made little effort to hold back her own grimace. It was no secret between Andromeda and her parents what exactly their decision about Andromeda’s happiness had been. Happiness, after all, would have made her soft. Rodolphus, Rabastan, herself - soft would not have been acceptable for any of them. “For some, I think they’re willing to gamble. Others I think would view happiness or love as detrimental to what they are actually hoping to accomplish.”

She bit her lip. “I suppose there is nothing wrong with giving him a chance. Its completely possible he could surprise you, and you know I would be thrilled and entirely on board if I thought you could really be happy. I’m just worried that taking the time to give him a chance might put you in deep enough that it would become difficult to turn around.”

She giggled into her friend’s hair. “We’re magic, I imagine there must be a spell or two out there. We could even take turns if we wanted more than one - less pregnancy for the both of us.” Her earlier grimace resurfaced at the mention of her own fiance, however. “I suppose I’m lucky that I knew Rabastan at least. I know what I’m getting into, even if it wasn’t what I would have picked.”

She considered her words for a moment. “What if perhaps your father could be persuaded that there are better options?” She asked. “Maybe if you could get your father’s sights set somewhere else, it could give you time to work out a better plan.” She nudged Dorcas and her expression returned to a little more lightness. “And in the meantime you can stop bathing and speak only in the absolute worst grammar and see if you can’t get Damocles to walk out first.”

[andromedaxblck]

Stars and Irresponsibility pt. 2

[andromedaxblck]

ineffableellie:

As she was talking, she saw Andromeda fix her a cup of tea – and with such elegance. When offered, Ellie wrapped her hands around the warm cup and blew off some of the steam out of habit. 

Tea, conversation and no detention? How lucky am I that this is the prefect who found me. 

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she listened to Andromeda speak about her family and the stars. She had always wondered about the Black family being named after constellations. She found it very creative, provocative and curious all at the same time. However, those three words seemed to encompass the Black family in Ellie’s mind, period. She didn’t know how Andromeda did it, living with that family when they were so…”interesting” was the nice word for it. Andromeda just didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of her family. Then again, neither did Sirius and everyone knew he renounced his family name.

“I’m sorry for talking so much. You’re truly a saint for listening to me for this long.” She looked at Andromeda, wondering if she would listen to her anymore, but unsure if she wanted to push it. But of course she did. It was in her nature. This time, however, she made it short and sweet.

“You have the stars as your family and I have plants. Maybe that’s not too weird. It helps us from feeling,” she took a beat, “…lonely.” 

Her hands cupped her own mug, feeling the warmth seep into her hands and the steam warm her face. It hadn’t been the most sensible of plans, but more and more those seemed to be the only ones she was making. But among the plans she had in the works, late nights on the castle steps and drinking tea when it could start snowing any minute was hardly the most unreasonable.

She shrugged one shoulder, appreciating that in this company at least she could make the unladylike gesture. “I have tea and it is a lovely night,” she almost smiled. “You’re welcome to talk as much as you’d like. You talking about your plants are better than some things I could be listening to elsewhere,” she said, thinking about some of the things she could be overhearing in her own common room.

She nodded, conceding to Eleanor’s use of the word if not verbally. “My sisters and I - and cousins as well, I suppose - were expected to memorize our family tree,” she explained, smiling wryly at her family’s expense. Memorizing the family tree was easier when it didn’t exactly branch out as much as it probably should have. “It made astronomy in first year much more interesting - since I could go back generations when we worked on star charts. Its why I joined the Astronomy Club initially. I imagine you know your plants as well as I know the stars, I guess,” she observed, taking another sip of her tea. “Have you always loved herbology?”