Remember, remember! The fifth of November; the gunpowder, treason, and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot!
Well, okay, so it hadn’t been the fifth of November. And she had no way of knowing if gunpowder was involved in any way. Actually, she didn’t know what gunpowder was at all, but that didn’t matter.
These words, famous for centuries, had long resonated with Andromeda, from the first time she’d ever encountered them. That moment itself seemed centuries ago, but no matter. Andromeda had heard them, and learned their meaning, and somehow, a year later, it seemed perfectly fitting. The treason, the plot.... the lasting resonance.. it all fit.
She knew now that it had been the beginning of the end. She knew now, that truly, everything had changed.
She hadn’t known it then, but she knew it now.
23 December, 1976...... Her sister’s sixteenth birthday. When Andromeda had woken up that morning, she’d had no idea that everything was about to change, with the destruction of Hogwarts being the catalyst. No, no indeed. She’d woken up that morning, focused on making her sister’s birthday every bit as magical as she could. It wasn’t Cissy’s fault, after all, that she was born two days before Christmas. So why should her sweet, perfect sister who meant more to Andromeda than her own life, have to suffer through people lumping her special day into Christmas, or forgetting it all together? She shouldn’t.
Of course, all of Andromeda’s planning and wishing meant nothing. She’d only been halfway through with decorating the dining room when the fireplace in the parlor just across the hallway had lit up green, the face of Rosmerta popping through.
"How..?” she’d mused, moving instantly towards the parlor just as Rosmerta began to call for her. “Andromeda Black! Narcissa Black!” she was calling, and Andromeda had quickened her pace, bolting to the fireplace. “I’m here, Rosmerta! What do you need?”
In moments, she had her answer, Rosmerta speaking quickly and desperately. Hogwarts had been attacked and evacuated, and the surviving students were on their way to King’s Cross. The prefects were being called to help, they were being asked to meet the train if they were available. Before the green fire in the fireplace had even faded, she was shouting for her baby sister as she ran up the stairs, pulling her wand from her hair (she’d used it to twist up a bun) as she hit the landing at the top of the stairs.
“Cissy!-” she called, her voice filled with near desperation as she hurried towards her sister’s room. Ted had been at Hogwarts. What if he wasn’t among the survivors? No, no, she couldn’t think about that now. “Cissy!,” she called again, this time, throwing open her sister’s door without knocking. Rude, she knew, but... well, this was an exception.
“There’s been an attack. Hogwarts-” she realized that she was throwing words at her sister, not giving Narcissa time to register what she was saying at all. She had to slow down. Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she began again. “I’ve just had a floo call from Rosmerta. There’s been an attack. Hogwarts has been destroyed and evacuated,” she said, trying to keep her voice even as she relayed the news she’d just received, trying to repeat what Rosmerta herself had said. “They need the prefects, any prefects available, to meet the survivors’ train at King’s Cross. I know it’s your birthday, Cissy, but... we have to go. They need our help.”
Fifteen minutes, and a disappointing conversation (Andie didn’t have many answers, after all) later, they’d apparated to the station, hand in hand.
That wasn’t fair and she’d known it, even as she’d said it, she’d known it wasn’t fair to put her sister in a position like that, where if she didn’t meet the train with Andie and the others that she was being selfish. It hadn’t been fair at all. Like other things, Andie knew that now.
Among other things she knew now, the moment she’d arrived changed everything. The absolute rush of relief she’d felt the very second she spotted Ted following the other students off the train, students she had just learned that Ted himself had evacuated (well, with McGonagall), had been nearly overwhelming. He was alive. He was safe.
He had feelings for her.
That whole... experience had been.... chaotic, to say the least. Ted had needed caring for, and as the odd prefect out, she’d been “assigned” to help him. She knew what that had meant. It had meant to look out for him, keep him from falling apart, make sure he didn’t do anything crazy. To Ted, though, it had meant writing letter after letter to the families of the professors who hadn’t made it and telling their families about the professors’ sacrifices, and feeling like he’d failed them. To Andie, it meant doing whatever he could to help him accomplish this task, because she knew it was important to him, while also making sure he wasn’t crippled beneath his grief and unnecessary guilt.
It wasn’t until much later that he’d told her, not until after they’d left the Ministry (she’d gone with him, attached by the hands, and she hadn’t complained or refused, because he needed a friend, and they were friends) and were nearly alone on the darkening streets. The sun was going down, and while Andie hated to feel like she was abandoning Ted, she needed to do what she could to turn her sister’s day around, and salvage what was left of her birthday.
“I like you,” he’d said, standing in front of her, looking down.
She hadn’t said anything, looking back up at him, afraid to speak, and even more afraid that he’d kiss her.
She’d wanted him to, though. She’d wanted to feel his lips on hers, and his arms around her.
“I like you,” he’d said again, as though maybe she hadn’t heard him. “Be my-,” he’d been looking at her so earnestly that she’d felt the tears prick her eyes in the exact moment that her heart broke before he’d even finished his sentence, “girlfriend.”
She’d shaken her head. She couldn’t do that. She had a fiance, and now she had no school, and no doubt she’d be married sooner rather than later, and she couldn’t do it. She’d made a choice.
She left.
She’d gone straight home, and had thrown herself into celebrating Cissa. It wasn’t until much later, when she was alone in bed, that she had any time to process all that had happened that day, from Hogwarts to Ted.
But she’d made a choice, and she was going to stick to it. She was going to stay away from Ted, and she was going to be the best Andromeda she could be. She didn’t need Hogwarts, her life was already planned. She would follow the tradition of the ladies of the House of Black before her: marry, bear heirs, and be perfect.
But she hadn’t wanted any of that. Not really.
She’d wanted to finish school. She had wanted to become a Healer. She had wanted to keep Ted in her life, as a friend. She had wanted more. She always had.
Lying in bed in the early hours of Christmas Eve, after the longest day of her life, Andromeda realized she wanted more.
But she’d made her choice.
Now, a year later, a week out from her wedding day, she sat snuggled up between Ted and Amos on the sofa. Her choices a year ago had led her here, and though she missed her sisters terribly, there was no place she’d rather be. Later, she’d write another draft of a letter she’d been working on for weeks. Later, she’d send that ten page letter, and numerous parcels and packages, along to her sister, in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, Narcissa would believe that Andie hadn’t stopped loving her.
She was a Healer in training, she still mourned the lives of those lost, but beyond all that..
Andromeda Cassiopeia Black, soon to be Tonks, had grown. The attack on Hogwarts had changed everything, not just in her life, but in many others’. She was not the same person she was a year ago, and she never would be again.
Later, she’d be shopping for Christmas Dinner, her first with Ted, with Amos, and her last as a Black. All of that would come later though, because right now, she had a toast to make.
“To Hogwarts,” she said, “and the day everything changed.” Raising her glass, she waited a beat and then drank.
The holidays were difficult for Amos. While he wanted to spend them with his younger sister, he also never wanted to be home. He could get off during the summer. She was preoccupied with her tutors and tended to be feeling better during the summer, so could play with friends now and then. During the winter, however, she was often stuck inside, her health diminishing. Her body always took a toll from it, and so while she was often bedridden, Amos wanted to stay with her. He never knew how much longer she had.
Abigail was lonely, and he tried to help with that, but it was hard. It was so hard for him to be here, at home. It hadn’t gotten better over the years, but it had become easier to bite down. None of them had gone into his brother’s room in years. His mother’s painting studio was a place that they couldn’t even walk past. So while he sat with Abigail, talked with her, watched as she fell asleep, he slowly maneuvered his way down to the sitting room. The fireplace was crackling, casting a comforting glow on the room, and Amos watched it. The large Christmas tree sat in the corner, twinkling from the fire’s light, presents upon presents stacked on each other. Andromeda and Ted would make their round to the manor tomorrow, but for now, Amos was left to his thoughts.
It was a year ago, now. A year ago when everything changed. A second home destroyed and relationships transformed into something... more.
- - -
Abbie was running about the house with a friend. She had a friend over. It was enough to make Amos break down and cry if he wasn’t so good at holding that back. She was well, right now. She was happy. It made him happy.
His good mood was only going to be spurred on as Mary Macdonald accepted his invitation to come over for the holiday. Amos was honestly a bit surprised - his invitation had been tentative, making it clear that she didn’t have to and understanding how important it was to be with family... but she hadn’t even hesitated. It had made his heart soar, much to his chagrin. Mary had always been a constant friend since Hogwarts. Someone wonderful and honest and good. Good for him. He had never wanted to ruin that with his more... flirtatious tendencies. Yet over the years, they had grown close. He had an overwhelming instinct to protect her - when she was attacked, he was ready to go to war for her. He felt a desperate urge to keep her safe. To keep her with him. To keep her close. Why had he invited her? Because he was lonely and wouldn’t have friends over for a bit? His friends were all either at home or school for the holidays, perhaps it was just for company... but her’s in particular. He just... wanted her close to him. There was no reason to analyze that, right?
But then she was there and it was like she belonged - like he belonged. Abbie grinned when she saw them sitting together by the fire, ultimately conspiring with her friend (he could only assume) and running and giggling into the other rooms. He didn’t focus too much on that, though... he was focused on her. Their conversations were natural, their silences comfortable, and then... well. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her and she was watching him and he wasn’t sure how or who, but they were kissing and his heart felt like fireworks. His hand was caressing her cheek, their mouths moving together for the first time in the most gentle of explorations. She was soft, warm, comforting and when they finally pulled away, her face flushed and nervous, a laugh like he had never heard from her, she was more beautiful than ever.
His heart was racing, as was his mind. Her forehead pressed to his, and he welcomed it with everything in him... but there was a striking fear inside, as well. Amos told himself... he swore to himself... he couldn’t let this happen with Mary. She needed someone better - she needed someone capable. Someone who could give her everything. He was so... so broken. But she was there, and he could for now let her presence assuage his fears. She began to spoke, but then he heard his sister’s voice.
Amos looked up at her and there was worry on her face. She wouldn’t interrupt if it wasn’t important. She handed them both letters and he opened it with furrowed eyebrows. He glanced at Mary before beginning reading and watched as her eyes widened. “Mary?” He prodded, quickly scanning his own letter, a similar reaction on his own face. He looked back up to see her moving around the room, picking up her things, and he got up to follow her as she started to walk outside of the house. “Mary, what are you-?” He paused as she walked out, turning to look at him again. His mind was whirring. Who was there? What was left? Who had done this? And now... Where was she going? It shut down briefly as she kissed him again, as brief as it was. He could only imagine that the expression on her face mirrored his own - confusion, worry, a certain determination. He had to get in contact with others, but he didn’t want her to leave.
“I’m sorry.” She had said. And as he watched her disappear, he realized that so was he. What had he done? What was he thinking? Shaking his head, he quickly turned to go to his sister. Ted was at the school... He had to leave. He had to find him, make sure he was okay, make sure everyone was okay... he had to make sure Mary would be okay... and he had to take his mind off of what had just happened. He had to forget.
