Andromeda Black, 28, Slytherin Alum, Poppy Drayton, CLOSED.
Birthday: October 14
Blood Status: Pureblood
Gender & Pronouns: cis female, she/her
Occupation: Potion Maker and Healer at St. Mungo’s
Sided with: Neutral
Positive Traits: Compassionate, Fair, Intelligent
Negative Traits: Tentative, Worrisome, Aloof
Summary: Known for being diplomatic, fair, idealistic while also being unreliable, non- confrontational and indecisive; Dromeda flickers between many of Libra’s traits as she pieces together parts of herself daily, casting shade only on what others wish to see from her rather than her whole self. Idealistic to live in a world of equals despite growing up like a splintered rose in the noble house of black, Dromeda flickers like a dimming candle in the star cast night. Longing for a chance but cursed with a suffocating inability to grasp it. While she’s diplomatic, when it comes to cries of social justice it is something she was unable to let slip her lips from fear of reputation for so long; despite what those might need from her that still she fears for speaking too loud for the sake of her family and the repercussions that it may cause. A gentle hearted woman, the witch has a soft demeanor and warm touch. Built on quiet rebellion, Andromeda grew within a room of mirrors. Reflecting parts of herself to those that merely wished to see fractions. Keeping her head above water when it felt like she was drowning; her strength is found not in outspoken bravery but in resilient self preservation. Finding beauty even in the saddest of moments, despite living with a broken heart, there is a softness in misery and gratitude in the simpleness of existence. While the war and her family’s torment has tarnished her, Dromeda lives in a continuous state of anxiety and paranoia. While content in the knowledge she’s free from her family’s home, the clutches of their web extend further than cut ties. Protection charms ease fear, but how simple could their lives ever truly be with skeletons floating like shadows and the hunger of powerful men ruling the society they belong in.
Born among vipers, Andromeda Black was once a girl known by everyone yet no one. Hidden in darkness with a golden heart and touch as gentle as starlight, the witch found herself a perfect statuette of a silent daughter to a notorious family. Fiddle to the whims of others, Dromeda conformed with tight lips, sad eyes and a mind that sought tender hope in that of the written word. Second born, while her eldest sister Bellatrix followed sted at her father’s side learning every power play in the book, and Narcissa became the glimmer in their mother’s eye longing to find the perfect match for her to wed, Andromeda fell into the shadows. Content with her own company, she held herself with dignity, an elegant grace and intellect beyond bounds. Silent in her solitude, there was a lonesome look cast in eyes that spent hours gazing at stars wishing for something. Anything, really that could bless her with merely a moment of bliss outside of the constraints she was forged under. Gentle smiles, graceful curtsies, pleasantries that were expected from a daughter that had been raised highly like she, and one that Dromeda had learned how to present without fault. Praised as obedient, she fell in line and barely raised a fuss for it was a simpler life she led than to advocate her displeasure at presenting herself as something she wasn’t. While it appeased those who’d grown accustomed to seeing her as such, it above all, saved her from being left for ruin.
Sorted into Slytherin, a house known for its displeasurable people, with Bellatrix setting a threatening reputation for the Black name; many feared Andromeda for her sister’s atrocities. Barely giving her the time of day without fear riddled behind their eyes, Dromeda’s place was fickle. While she held the traits commonly associated with Slytherin, ambition, determination, intellect, resourcefulness; what she lacked was a cruel heart which set her apart from her peers. Few saw Andromeda, merely seeing a reflection of the noble and ancient house of black in her place. None, but one; Edward Tonks. For once, what she’d seen reflected in the mirror of erised reflected back in her eyes. A person looking at her wishing nothing, but offering a kind word. They didn’t demand, command or try to tame; didn’t shy away but welcomed her openly. For the first time, she could simply be and be content in it. Because the hope in his eyes reflected everything her heart truly desired; to be truly and simply free in another’s company.
Many deemed it Merlin’s gift to be apart of such a true pureblooded line, but to the young witch it felt like her curse. Caught between her heart, duty and family, no amount of will could mold her into what they claimed her to be. Instead, she was merely a melody of a performative shell. A disgrace if ever her family were to know of the truth hiding in the pools of her eyes. However, the nightmares lurking in the shadows outweighed her heart. Holding her dream of freedom and growing affection for a Muggle-Born tightly to her chest for safe keeping, Andromeda knew she was in a losing game of chess. Whichever hand she played, she lost. Torn in heartbreak, while the rumors of war echoed dark halls; Andromeda accepted a job within the Ministry of Magic hoping to wager knowledge during the turbulent times ahead. Working within the potions association, hopeful to make a positive change when all her family had ever brought in her eyes was wealth and ruin. With the Ministry a facade for their friendship, it enabled stolen moments away from prying eyes between her and Edward. Hidden in chambers and offices, with the excuse of colleagues, friendship turned to love. By day she played an actress, nodding curtly as her family boasted of their glory and contempt for those that in their eye made a mockery of Merlin’s name. But by night? She shined. Free from shadows, slowly she unpicked the tales of purity fed like lies as she loved unconditionally and valued the same in return. Though having witnessed her family’s abandonment and torment of Sirius, the courage he possessed to leave was one she struggled to claim as her own; especially as it meant leaving her sisters behind.
Turbulent hearts clashed with turbulent households as the innocent fell. Pleading Edward to go into hiding as the body count rose daily, Andromeda grew fearful of losing the one thing in her life that ever brought her hope; him. Excusing herself from London on a ‘work investigation’, Andromeda fled London to meet with him hidden from the politics of the wizarding world and as safe from the war as they could muster. They made a life hidden by protective charms and the silence of the sea. Secluded from the world, they blossomed and welcomed a daughter, Nymphadora. As fire raged and darkness fell, one fateful night ruined their sanctum of happiness once and for all. Caught by Narcissa herself in a stolen kiss on the street as they dared venture back to London, fury ignited burning joy to the ground. Furious with Andromeda’s pending engagement to a high profile wizard, an arrangement that had been matched since birth; Cissa scorned her sister for her disgrace and labeled her a blood traitor. While pleas came from Dromeda lips as she stood defiantly in front of Ted, nothing she could say could spare her from the wrath her family raged as a man hunt insued for Edward’s head. Captured and tormented before her eyes, despite her cries Bellatrix didn’t falter. That was until she raised a knife to her own neck; everyone froze. While she longed to disown them all for their hatred, with Bella’s wand at Ted’s neck it wasn’t wise; not with Dora to think of now. Knowing it was she that they wanted, Dromeda agreed to marry her betrothed - a Yaxley - if Ted was set free and left unharmed. Unbreakable vow intact, wedding preparations went underway as Andromeda fell into despair. Safe in the knowledge that her daughter and Ted were safe from her family’s grasp and with word from Sirius they were well, Dromeda grew with quiet rebellion. Cunning, she plotted her escape like a well played chess match, waiting till every prawn fell in order to take the king and crown for her own. Leaking information to Sirius from her new ‘husband’ and using the Black wealth to make healing potions for any that required it; while perceptions deceived those around her as simply as before despite being under the hawk eye of her mother and sisters. As much as she despised it, the name kept her safe and the vow kept her true family safe until she could rejoin them. Despite her heartache in having to watch Dora grew from a fair, the sacrifice was worth her safety and to keep her as far away from the Black’s webs as she could possibly muster.
No time like the present:
War dying to embers, Andromeda longed for the company of her daughter and to see the face of the very person she’d been missing for three years. Wishing for a simple night with her family while her husband was fawning with blood purists, the hopeful evening of simplicity was hindered when Venetia found them stolen in a tearful kiss with a sleeping child curled in the corner; a child who’s features reflected her mothers. While pleas for her silence were lost on Venetia, with Edward and Dora fleeing, Dromeda faced the wrath of the Blacks. Banished and disowned with her portrait blasted off the family tree, while she’d longed to be rid of her family since that tortuous night; fleeing from her sisters was the final dagger to her heart. Days later, death saw her late husband in one of the final battles, leaving Dromeda free from her vow and Bella upholding her end of the bargain. While banished from the Yaxley line as she was the Black’s, the inheritage she gained from her husband’s passing Dromeda anonymously donated to St Mungos, specifically in aid to help those who had been discriminated against during the war to be able to rebuild their lives. A payment that could never be enough to undo the harm caused by both the Black’s and Yaxley’s.
Relieved in her freedom and the knowledge the Blacks could cause Edward no harm, with peace falling back over the wizarding world, Andromeda is trying to find some happiness after years of heartache. While cherishing the simple moments with her daughter are welcomed, however she can’t help but keep a paranoid eye over her shoulder; especially with the words of Fenrir Greyback echoing in her ears. Taunting words of changing the light of her life into a child of the moon, one she dared not tell Edward. Living quaintly, the three are finally trying to be a family that they had always wanted. Different people to who they were before, Andromeda and Ted are slowly trying to rekindle a relationship amidst the aftermath of war. Tentative, quiet and if anything a little cautious, while Dromeda still holds love for Ted; she’s paranoid what she longs to rekindle is blissful nostalgia. Captured in their freedom, simplicity and youth. While she knows a love like she felt for him is a cherished rarity, the last thing she would ever wish is to cause them more pain; one that they had all faced too much of. Desperate for nothing but to keep her family safe, Andromeda is keeping a low profile and simply trying to find peace in the simplicity of living rather than the scars of sorrowful war. Having left the Ministry of Magic after fleeing from her family, Andromeda now uses her talents for herbology and potions and has joined St Mungos as a healer in hopes to ease some of the pain caused by those she once knew. Though, few wish to be treated by the sister of those involved in blood purity. Especially when at a glance her features resemble none other than Bellatrix herself. With her family’s notorious reputation for prolific politics, the rumors of the Black’s undying loyalty to none other than Voldemort himself and Bellatrix arrested at Azhaban, few wish to be cared for by a face that resembled that of their nightmares. While she may have fled the Black manor, there are only so many ties that can be cut when one’s family comes cast with skeletons. Trying to hold compassion for those that merely see her as her family’s mistakes, her efforts seem in vain as the weight of the Black name follows her like a harbored shadow. Instead, she brews potions in the peace of her own greenhouse within St Mungos. Healing from behind closed doors in order not to alarm those still struggling, wishing with a gentle heart to make peace and ease heartaches.
With Dora turned four, hand in hand among the stars, for once there is nothing they have to fight or hide from in order to share each other’s company. A foreign feeling, while she is trying to cherish their happiness like starlight for as long as they are able; whispers down darkened alleyways makes her fearful for what the future holds. While some speak that Dumbledore is of course greater, Andromeda can’t help but feel skeptical. Though their values are different in many ways, what good was graced by men hungry for power? Virtues holding conviction merely when truth followed. If disruption and deceit are words already following Dumbledore’s legacy, Dromeda fears that the fickleness of politics and the unease in the community after facing war has left tenderness and weakness in a society that could easily turn again to flames. For while there is darkness in light, there is light in darkness. And with those she once loved lurking for vengeance against the very person that stole her away from them and a werewolf sneering to steal her daughter; Andromeda fears the worst is yet to come.
Bellatrix Lestrange - The estranged sibling made several threats in regards to pruning the family tree of the abomination Andromeda caused that weren’t appreciated. Threats against Ted were one thing but bringing their child into the more graphic descriptions was the final straw. Andromeda was keeping Bellatrix at a distance and is relieved the entirety of the Lestrange line is currently in Azkaban.
Alice Longbottom - Although unaware of it, Alice was a role model for Andromeda while at school. The Black family upbringing meant being required to stick up one’s nose at anyone that was considered lesser than them. Seeing someone navigate Hogwarts without constantly belittling everyone was eye opening for Andromeda.
Venetia Zabini - Ex-friend. The two had been close as can be until shortly before Andromeda was disowned. Venetia found Ted and Andromeda in a particularly compromising position and vowed not to say a word about it. Three days later and Andromeda was banished from the family. The Tonks never confirmed if Venetia’s discover was what led to being ousted before Androemda was ready but have plenty of reason to believe the then friend couldn’t keep their mouth shut.
Bios and posts that reference Andromeda can be found by clicking this sentence.
Olivia Cooke, Allison Scagliotti, Caitlin Stasey
Please note that Narcissa’s fc is tbd and Bellatrix’ fc is tbd. Some resemblance between family members would be appreciated.