Andromeda Black was born the middle daughter of Cygnus and Druella Black. Andromeda’s childhood may not have been considered what was normal for some wizarding families. From a young age Andromeda and her sisters were taught the proper etiquette and expectations of being from such a strong family line. They were taught that as Black women they would grow up to have the world at their feet, and their parents expected great things from them. Her relationship with her sisters wasn’t always the easiest, all three of them so different and unique. But at the end of the day Andromeda loved her sisters, and would have done anything for them.
When Andromeda entered school at Hogwarts she was sorted into Slytherin house, just as the rest of her family. Her time at Hogwarts were the years that began to shape who she would become. Andromeda excelled in her classes, doing particularly well in both Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms. She began to find her own way, her own passions and friends that pulled her further from her sisters and let her begin to flourish into her own person. She met people who made her question the beliefs she was raised on, people who made her question the things that had been ingrained in her since birth. Hogwarts is also where Andromeda met Edwards Tonks for the first time. A muggle born wizard who by all accounts, she knew she was to have nothing to do with. She tried to put space between them, she knew what she risked by spending time with Ted. However there was no helping the way he ended up charming her and eventually she could not deny that she had fallen for him. They kept things secret, Andromeda sneaking around to meet with him whenever she could. Summers were far more difficult, sending letters wasn’t an option. She began lying to her family. Faking outings with her friends, volunteering at St Mungos. She didn’t want to lie to her family, but she also knew that if they were to find out the truth it would destroy everything. While things weren’t always easy with her family, she loved them and did not want to ruin it.
After school was over, Andromeda transitioned into work at St. Mungo’s, though her parents didn’t quite approve. Still she found the work rewarding, and in her free time she continued to see Ted as often as possible. Still it became inevitable that her family would find out about Ted Tonks. He refused to keep their relationship a secret forever, nor did she want it to be. There was a secret hope that maybe her family could accept this relationship, surely they wanted her to be happy? It all came to a head when Ted asked her to marry him, and there was no more hiding.
Telling her family went far worse than even Andromeda could have imagined. The looks of horror and disgust on not only her parent’s, but her sister's faces was more than she could bear. Their cruelty knew no bounds as they told her what a disgrace she had become to the family, that if she were to marry Ted she would no longer be part of the Black family. Nor would she ever be welcome back. Heartbroken, she left her family and returned to Ted. She married him in a small ceremony, surrounded by their closest friends and the Tonks family. While her heart ached for the family she had lost, she never knew such happiness as the day she married him. A few short years later, their daughter Nymphadora was born and Andromeda couldn’t be happier. She had a family she loved, as well as a job she enjoyed. It was enough to fill the hole left by a family that had cut her off, even if she thought of them often.
When the first whispers of a Wizarding War began to go around she refused to believe it. Or rather hoped that it wasn’t true. She had never done well with confrontation, and she feared the worst of what could come from a war like this. As things got worse, she chose no side, she stayed as far away from the politics and chaos brewing as best she could. Her only concern was for her family, and keeping them safe and whole. She continued to work at the hospital, the work more important now than ever before. She saw the horrors that came from the war and went home exhausted each day, wishing for peace and the end of a war that seemed never ending.
"Am I?" Bellatrix said, her eyes daunting but indecisive as she looked at her sister who was being kind, which was so like her! Bellatrix didn't understand Andromeda's kindness, and she didn't want to, mostly, because she didn't have a kind bone in her body. She looked to Andromeda, narrowing her eyes, before she pursed her lips. "I think I'd like it better if you stayed in front of me, sister. Thanks though." She said, a snide comment coming out of her mouth as she turned up her nose.
Andromeda's shoulders stiffened ever so slightly at that familiar voice. It made her heart ache to think where things stood with her sisters, and she hated to admit she missed them desperately every day. Not that she would change a thing, she would never regret the choices that had given her Ted and Nymphadora. Finally she turned to look at Bellatrix, her expression neutral. She arched a brow. "Sister? One would think you're in a positively delightful mood today to recognize me as still being family Bella." More often than not she knew she'd prefer to pretend she didn't exist at all. She couldn't help the nickname, or the sarcasm in her voice, she still held that Black fire in her veins after all.
Sirius was just taking a stroll when he spotted the familiar face and decided to get in. Honestly, she was the only member of the Black family that he liked. Well, and Uncle Alphard, he actually cried when he heard the news. He was a good man. A good man that left him a small fortune. He grabbed some candy on his way to his cousin and grinned at her before looking at the cashier. "We are taking four of each" one for her, one for Ted, one for Dora and one for him. "And I am paying" he then added.
Andromeda turned the moment she heard that familiar voice, a smile brightening her features. She didn't hesitate as she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him in greeting. "Sirius." Her voice warm. She pulled back, looking him over as if checking to make sure he was still in one piece. She always worried about him, worried that he was being safe and taking care of himself. She fought the motherly urge to ask if he had been eating, he always looked so thin. Finally she let go of him. "I would insist on paying but I already know how that conversation would go." She gave him a knowing smile. "So instead I'll have to insist you visit soon for dinner. Dora misses her Uncle."
Gilderoy had a bit of a sweet tooth. Perhaps it was because he really couldn't and shouldn't cook anything for himself. Most of his meals were purchased from a shop or a restaurant. And everyone deserved a good snack. A little sweet treat.
"Don't worry, I'm also a bit indecisive. That's the problem isn't it? All of it is delicious, it is quite hard to go wrong."
Andromeda turned to look at the one beside her, turning to look away once more before doing a double take. It took a moment for her to recall why he looked familiar before it hit her where she'd seen his smiling face before. "You're Gilderoy Lockhart, yea?" A moments pause before an awkward laugh left her. "Forgive me, that was a little rude. I just, I thought I recognized you from a photo in your work." She explained. She did after all spend as much free time she could with books, not that it amounted to much these days.
Andromeda stood in front of the counter, nibbling at her lower lip as she surveyed the items in the case. She'd always had a weakness for sweets, one she encouraged in both Ted and Nymphadora as well. Which was how she'd found herself here, debating what pastries she wanted to take home to the two of them. It was then she realized someone was waiting behind her and she stepped to the side. "Sorry, a little indecisive." She laughed softly. "You're welcome to go ahead of me if you know what you're getting."
Fenrir sighed softly, a wisp of cigarette smoke escaping. He doesn't remember when he started this habit. Currently leaning against the front of an apothecary in a side street of Diagon he's waiting for his order to be completed. It's a small shop that he trusts not to lace the potions with silver; mostly anyway.
The day is looking as dreary as this time of year usually was. His gaze scans the street, pulling his jacket tighter around his large frame.
Andromeda eyed the list in hand as she made her way down the cobblestone path of Diagon Alley, making sure she hadn't missed anything that she needed to pick up. Some items were those she wanted to have on hand at the hospital, the others were potions she'd run out of at home. It was delicate balance of doing her best to keep both Ted and Nymphadora from getting sick, an impossible task when she was pretty sure their daughter had no qualms picking up anything she could get her hands on. She turned the corner, nearly running into Fenrir, too distracted by studying the list. She looked up, stumbling to a halt just in time. "Apologies, I should watch where I'm going."
Andromeda had debated stopping by the pub for James' birthday, though it had nothing to do with not wanting to celebrate him. It had been a long day at St. Mungos and she's been tempted to go home to both Ted and Andromeda. Still, she'd promised that she'd stop and celebrate and she didn't break her promises. She'd promised herself instead that she'd stop just long enough to wish James a happy birthday and say hello to everyone before she returned home. Stepping into the pub she was unsurprised to find it brimming with people here to celebrate the wizard. She slipped between people, smiling as she spotted the birthday boy. "Of course I came, I'm pretty sure Sirius threatened to drag me from the house if I didn't show." She joked as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "Happy Birthday!" She pulled back enough to survey him, a teasing smile on her lips. "Do you feel wiser?"
Andromeda was my favourite cousin. No, Andromeda's not on here either, look. Andromeda's sisters are still here because they made lovely, respectable pure-blood marriages, but Andromeda married a Muggle-born, Ted Tonks.
