those dizzy stargazers

'cause it's hard to believe that it's wrong to want more andromeda black tonks mama to one, healer to some

[unchainedandromeda]

blackleonis‌:

A puppet of the Dark Arts.

Was that what he had become?

Dark magic had surrounded him ever since he was a young child, artifacts and spells decorating the corridors of Grimmauld Place in such a way that couldn’t have been safe for children to be near. It was all he had known, even if Mother hadn’t deigned teaching him any of those spells and curses worth her time, and he’d found himself drawn to the artifacts that were stored away in boxes in the attic or hung on the wall to get at any unfortunate passersby. It was what Regulus knew, even after he’d gone to Hogwarts and saw that his family’s views weren’t the norm. He took comfort in the dark arts, even if he was bad at it, and had submitted himself wholeheartedly to Bellatrix’s training back when he had failed his first mission as a Death Eater.

But did that make him a puppet? To find comfort in what he’d always known?

Andromeda’s words hurt more than he had expected, and hit that every-lingering doubt in his mind hard enough to dislodge it at least partially. Enough to make him think what am I doing? but not enough to get past his pride. He was a Black, proudly so, and he couldn’t let his family down. Being disowned might very well kill his parents, and he couldn’t begin to imagine what Bellatrix or Narcissa would think. Narcissa might understand, but Bellatrix… he’d likely face his death at the end of her wand personally.

And here Andromeda was, unknowingly testing him in the middle of Diagon Alley.

Her laughter was strained, perhaps a bit manic, and Regulus fought the instinct to take her hand and go talk like they did as children. He couldn’t afford to do that, not when people were staring and he had a reputation to uphold–even if he wasn’t doing a very good job of upholding it in the first place. “He taught you how to be human? That’s rich. You’re nothing more than a blood traitor who followed her infatuation far enough and can’t admit that you’d made a mistake. Just admit you were wrong, Andromeda, and move on.” 

Maybe if she did, he could move on too.

A part of Andromeda regrets the words the instant that they spill from her lips. They were words meant to hurt, and that was something she had always strived not to do. 

She had been on the other side of such scathing remarks before and she knew how much they stung. 

Much like Regulus, her childhood had been one tinged by dark magic. The books in her father’s study, the ones not meant for children’s eyes, had landed in her hands, in Bellatrix’s hands regardless, and had taught Andromeda a world she since wanted no part of.

She had often struggled to hide her disdain, had perfected the blank expression to give her parents no inkling of how much she despised everything they held dear. 

Andi often felt that if Ted had not given her an out, she would have found one herself, had grabbed for it, kicking and clawing, no matter if it took her life to do so. 

But she was unsure if Regulus had that drive, not if he wanted to. He had the bravery, she knew that, the same bravado that all the Black children had thrumming through their veins, but she doubted that he would leave the harsh comfort of home as she and Sirius had done.

Andromeda’s heart pounds painfully in her chest, a tightness she had not felt since the night she had left. She fights the urge to look at Regulus’ face, knowing that doing so would only lead to one of two things; she would burst into tears or pull him into what she was sure would be a very unwitting hug.

“Do not,” she hisses, her voice low and her eyes flashing. Andromeda had been taught to never be seen and never be heard, and she knows she is running the risk of both, but her stomach only twists further. “I may be a blood traitor, but don’t you ever, ever, assume that I made a mistake. I know what choice I made Regulus. And I will not regret it.” 

The words burn their way through her, and in an action that she may come to regret later, Andromeda reaches out, gripping her cousin’s wrist tightly before spinning on the spot.

It would be very un-Black of them to bicker like this in public.

[unchainedandromeda]

frankcjlongbottom‌:

There was a fine line between maintaining professionalism and setting witnesses at ease and Frank, curling his hands around the tea mug with a grateful, “Thank you,” and considering, as it warmed through his fingers and stopped their jittery urge to drum against the table, whether stern professionalism was going to get his best results. Discomfort could be an asset sometimes, but he doubted that was the case here.

“Ali tells me I have a compulsive need for people to like me,” he replied with an amused twitch of his nose, “But then she bakes for the entire department on the regular so I suspect she’s just trying to psych me out and tip the scales in her favour for Longbottom of the month. I can’t compete with pumpkin muffins and lemon cakes, Mrs. Tonks, so I suppose we’ll just have to live with a little bit of discomfort.”

His quill was gently flicked upright, standing at attention and starting to take notes as Andromeda began to recount her morning and Frank focused intently, the gentle domestic details mingling with the macabre. He could only imagine the trauma of knowing your child had stumbled upon such a scene, of the lingering fear that had she let herself out that gate earlier she might have interrupted the monster who left Benjy to die there. 

“You have a very brave little girl on your hands,” he offered after a moment, still trying to reconcile the sick feeling that crawled through him at the reminder of that detail. He hated the thought of anyone being confronted with such a sight, but for a close friend and a child to be haunted by it made his chest tight with a frustrated sense of anger. “Have you noticed any strange activity around your home lately? Any activity on your wards or people you’ve never seen before hanging around the area? It seems to have been a deliberate choice, to leave him outside of your property, instead of his brother’s or another of his friends. I hate to ask this, but has anyone made any threats against you or your family?”

Nodding her head as she sets the mug down, Andromeda sits back down heavily in her own chair. Tapping her wand against the rim of her own mug, steam begins to rise as the liquid heats up once again, and she wraps her hands around it instinctively, letting the warmth soak into her. There was nothing that would make this situation feel less like the interview it was, but she appreciated the gentle comfort regardless.

“That sounds like my husband,” Andromeda says, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth at the mention of Ted. “We’ve both always been of the belief that if people dislike who we are, then there’s no changing that, and yet he still tries his hardest to make people warm up to him.” It had, after all, worked remarkably well on Andromeda herself. 

Andi swallows harshly against the dryness of her mouth, taking a sip of the tea less out of thirst, and more out of a need to be doing something with her hands. She had known this experience would be difficult and had been prepared for such. She had, after all, faced far more difficult things in her life. And yet. 

There was still the swell of guilt that welled inside her at the memory of what her daughter had uncovered. If Andromeda had paid more attention, if Dora had not gone outside without asking, who knew what would have happened to Benjy. Had Dora gone outside even moments earlier, would Andromeda be mourning the injuries of both her best friend and her daughter? 

“She’s remarkable,” Andromeda says clearly, merely repeating a truth she had known since the moment Nymphadora had been placed into her arms. Her thoughts from so long ago were only reiterated again in the aftermath of this incident, with the little girl barely impacted by a thing, simply her natural concern for why her Uncle Benjy was ill. “Nothing out of the ordinary,” Andromeda said. They, by which she meant she, were so cautious regarding the security wards around the house that barely a mouse could bump against them without Ted or herself being alerted. 

The derisive laugh bursts out of Andromeda before she can stop it, but she keeps her gaze steely toward Frank regardless. “I truly mean no offence, Auror Longbottom, but you seem to forget the reasons for which I was removed from the Black family tree,” she says, “My family would quite like to see my husband and child dead, and myself as well if it came to that. I can think of only one relative who has not made a threat against me, and that is because the same threats are out against him as well. I do believe you have heard of my sister? Bellatrix? She, in fact, made a threat herself barely months ago. So I do apologise for whatever trouble this may cause for you, but there is a significant list of people who would like to harm me, but none I can think of who would harm Benjy.”

[unchainedandromeda]

benjyfvnwick‌:

Benjy knew. He knew how much Andromeda loved him, how much she cared and worried - and in that moment, all the guilt he might feel over how Dora and Andi had found him melted away. He knew Andromeda wouldn’t hold it against him, and he could only hope that Andi and Ted had found a suitable explanation. That hug meant everything to him, and it provided comfort he desperately needed as strangers bustled around them.

“Thank you,” Benjy breathed out a sigh of relief. “I hadn’t left the flat since being discharged, but I can’t wait any longer to get a new wand. I trust Daisy, but I know my own magic is stronger - and I want to reinforce the wards, and have that level of protection in case someone comes,” Benjy’s brows furrowed, his hands scrunching back up into fists as he stuffed them into his pocket to hide his trembling. He started towards Ollivanders, meandering slowly through the crowds. “How have you and the family been? I meant to owl….there’s so many people I need to owl it’s a bit overwhelming really. I was bored as hell towards the end of my hospital stay, but at least it was familiar. Now I’m at home and the whole place feels different, and I have a lot of things I need to do and it’s all….a bit much.”

Letting go of Benjy with some reluctance, Andromeda takes a step back to silently survey him a moment. She was not going to badger him with questions about how he was healing just yet, but her inner Healer could not help the way she maps his face and the healing bruises, the way he holds himself. The Healers would not have discharged him if they were unsure he was ready, she knew that, but Andromeda Tonks had always been a worrier, and that didn’t seem as though it was likely to change. 

“That’s perfectly understandable,” Andi says gently, knowing that he had been out of St. Mungo’s for several days now, but having not wanted to overwhelm him with guests so soon. Andi doesn’t verbally acknowledge Benjy’s worries, but she reaches out one hand to touch the back of his gently before he shoves his hands away. “Ted and I have spellbooks, the different wards that surround our place. You can have them,” she says, knowing that Benjy was unlikely to truly feel safe for quite some time yet. “We’ve been well. Dora lost her first tooth. Did you know about this ‘tooth fairy’? Ted had to explain it to me...” Andi says, hoping that some of her rambling would be enough to distract Benjy even a little. “You’re always welcome at ours,” she says finally, meeting his eyes, “I know it might be difficult...given. But you know that Ted and I don’t hold anything against you. We’re...we’re incredibly glad that you’re okay. Dora is too.” 

[unchainedandromeda]

polyglotdubois‌:

Honestly it was just plain nice to actually see a little girl being cute, adorable and happy; given the state of the world at present and all the bad things that seemed splashed across the front page of the Prophet seeing a mother and daughter that went together so well was just… warming for the soul. Made all the more so with Dora’s special gift and her mother’s easy acceptance of it.

“Really?” Elizabeth asked with a grin, “Well you’re going to have to show me all of them later on, I want to see your best.” she told Dora, it was so sweet, hard to imagine her with a crocodile mouth or the like but it would be treat to see her try anything else. “I bet you keep your mommy and daddy on their toes all the time hmm?” she asked Dora with another little laugh.

She looked at Andromeda for a moment then smiled slightly, “You know, I‘ve never heard it put like that before, thank you.”  

As they were shown to their table after handing over their coats Gerry left them with menus (not needed but the gesture always mattered) and headed off promising their waiter would be there soon. “Oh I love it. My mother’s been bringing me here since I was a baby, I think my Christening party was here.” she laughed, it was a place where she felt at home, the staff here were like family.

“Of course, it took my father a little bit to get used to but he managed.” she smiled, “I think Dora would be happy with a juice?” she asked, “They can freshly squeeze any fruit you want with or without pulp.” she told Andromeda, figuring she could best decide or ask Dora what she wanted. “And anyway, my Momma had to adapt too, she knew nothing about magic until she met my father, it was love at first accident.” she chuckled.    

Nodding her head, Andromeda shoots Elizabeth a gentle smile. She had no doubt at all that Dora would be more than happy to show off her menagerie of animal faces. It was her favourite party trick whenever they had guests, no matter how many times they had seen them before. “I’m sure she would be delighted,” Andi says, her hand still firmly resting atop her daughter’s head, “She’s certainly lively.” 

Blinking somewhat in surprise, it takes Andromeda a moment to respond, before she smiles sweetly at Elizabeth, “Oh, that’s no trouble. I just think it’s a truly amazing thing that you’ve done.” 

Setting Dora into her chair, Andromeda pushes it in carefully, not wanting to squish her daughter, but also needing to make sure that she was close enough to the table to hopefully not spill anything. Quite often when she and Ted had taken Dora out with them, it was always to family-friendly cafes. Never something as well-to-do as this. 

“I have to admit, I haven’t been anywhere like this since I was living with my parents, and even then, only ever wizarding places,” Andi says, brushing lightly over the exact nature of why she had not been. 

“Juice would be lovely,” Andi responds, glancing at Dora’s eager nod. The little girl’s eyes were wide with wonder as she glanced around the room, and Andromeda had a feeling they would soon be making a return to her princess games. “Just apple would be lovely.” Listening to Elizabeth’s story, Andi cannot help the gentle smile on her face, appreciating the soft sweetness to the tale. “Accident? I feel as though that needs more explanation there.”

[unchainedandromeda]

kirkstanbulstrode‌:

He chuckled at the image of Dora running around the Tonks family garden, likely making as much of a mess as Elijah sometimes could when they went to the park. It was a wonder he wasn’t more of a mess now, really, but Stan wasn’t about to jinx their good fortune in the event his son went and found some mud to splash into a minute later. “It’s obvious you love her. I’m glad it worked out for the two of you.” Stan snorted and smiled at her. “Well, thanks. Glad to know I look better than I think I do half the time. Guess I’m doing something right.”

He met Andromeda’s concern with an exasperated look of his own, wrapping an arm around Elijah to keep him close as the angry man approached them. He didn’t doubt that, knowing his son, this could have definitely been on purpose, but Stan wasn’t about to worry about that now. He was first and foremost on his son’s side and, by association, Dora’s as well. The mud covered a pretty large portion of the man’s outfit, which was unfortunate, and Stan sighed. “Look, mate, they’re kids. Accidents happen. If you want, I’ll pay for your dry cleaning.”

“It was no accident!” the man insisted, glaring at Elijah and Dora. Stan pulled Elijah closer. “Those two brats of yours were giggling, and next thing I know I’m tripping into a mud pile!”

“And do you have proof that this was done on purpose?”

The man scowled. “They were giggling, one of them pulled something, or made the motion of it, and then I’m tripping. How isn’t that on purpose?”

Stan frowned and looked at Elijah, who shook his head. Had one of them brought something from Zonko’s with them? Or, for all he knew, Elijah had more control over his magic than he’d thought–and if that was the case, Hogwarts won’t know what hit it.

Dora settles into Andi’s lap, hiding her face in her mother’s side, which is almost all the proof Andromeda needs to know that her daughter was likely less than innocent in all the goings-on. That being said, however, she would always defend her daughter when it came down to it, particularly given just how rude and aggressive the gentleman was being. 

“They are in fact children, giggling is a habit of theirs,” Andi says smoothly, trying to lay on as much of the Black family charm as she can, although she had a feeling it would have no impact on this particular gentleman. 

“One of them? Is it all possible that you could identify which of the two? They are in fact, quite different,” she continues, brushing a hand across the top of Dora’s head. “Regardless of who did or didn’t do anything, the children aren’t in possession of anything that looks trip-worthy, and we are willing to pay for your dry-cleaning. It’s unfortunate, but accidents do happen.”

The only things their children did have, after all, was accidental magic, and with one look at Dora’s guilty-looking face, Andromeda knew exactly who had caused this.

[unchainedandromeda]

benjyfvnwick‌:

Life since being discharged from St Mungos had changed dramatically. Alex had moved into the flat with him, and Benjy had not yet made it beyond the flat door. He was putting his faith in the wards that Daisy had put up, because he was still yet to go and get another wand from Ollivanders. That was a step he hadn’t been willing to take alone - Diagon Alley was full of hustle and bustle, full of strangers and he feared that someone might grab at him again.

Now, a few days after being discharged, Benjy knew that he couldn’t wait any longer to get his wand. He didn’t want to rely on his muggle fighting - evidently, it wasn’t helpful when one was tied up and wandless and the other opponent very clearly has the high ground and a lack of morality. He’d decided to go early afternoon, in the hopes of avoiding the lunch rush but missing the evening crowds. His hands were balled into fists as he wandered slowly up Diagon Alley, careful to avoid pockets of people. 

He was just a few feet away from Ollivanders when he spotted a familiar figure. “Andi,” he called out before he could stop himself. She was still his dearest friend, but his stomach churned as he thought of Dora and the way she had found him. He returned her hug firmly, brows furrowed as he breathed out a sigh of relief that he had found someone. “Are you busy? I’m headed to Ollivanders, and I’d appreciate company if you can spare the time.”

Keeping her arms wrapped firmly around Benjy for a long moment, Andromeda tries to convey the weeks of worry and sorrow she had been feeling into one single hug. She had visited Benjy as often as he could whilst he was waylaid up in St. Mungo’s, but Andromeda would freely admit that she had timed many of her visits for when she knew Benjy would be sleeping, terrified of seeing her friend awake in his state. She had not brought Nymphadora to visit, despite the little girl’s requests. Benjy was too fragile to have such a boisterous child bouncing all over him, and Andromeda hadn’t wanted her daughter to see him like that, didn’t want the visual of Dora’s favourite uncle to be tainted anymore than it was. 

“No, no, I’m not busy at all,” Andi says, trying to keep her voice as cheerful as she can, letting go of Benjy slowly, “I’d be more than glad to accompany you.” 

[unchainedandromeda]

blackleonis‌:

He knew immediately that the smile was fake.

Regulus had always hated when Andromeda covered her emotions up, and it seemed the years hadn’t changed that part of him. It was something he’d always admired about her, that she was a freer spirit than most of their family, so to hear the carefully neutral tone as she addressed him stung. Then again, why should it sting? She was the blood traitor here, the one who abandoned their family for love, so why was he hurt? It shouldn’t matter, none of it should matter except–

Except. 

He had to be careful with that word.

Regulus couldn’t afford to slip, not when his mind tried to lead him that way for weeks now, ever since Kreacher returned from the Dark Lord’s service petrified and muttering about something very, very bad that was going to happen. That was probably what had tipped his mind over the edge, from what if they’re wrong to this isn’t right. He’d never seen the house elf that scared before, and it sent him into a spiral for weeks that was only exemplified by Death Eater meetings and missions and the general tension of wizarding England–a coil about to be sprung.

And Andromeda accused him of belittling her? 

His hands clenched into fists, and Regulus frowned at her. They were in public, so he had to keep his cool. No need to create a scene unless she started it, after all. He first and foremost had to protect his image, for his family’s sake if no one else. “Funny how you accuse me of belittling you, Andromeda, considering the amount of judgment you were passing yourself. Is this what that mudblood of yours has been teaching you all these years, or have you always been this way?”

And maybe that was a bit excessive, but Regulus was wound up from weeks of tension and, unfortunately, Andromeda was the perfect target to let out his steam on (or, at the very least, the most convenient).

Given the way their last interaction had ended, Andromeda makes sure to keep her guard up as high as she can, turning to face Regulus. She could not allow herself to get over-emotional regarding her cousin, her former cousin, unsure if she could take any more rejection from the family. It had been hard enough the first time, let alone repeating it over and over again.

Every time she thought she had nothing left to lose, she was reminded. 

It was supposed to have been a clean break, abet a little jagged.

It was anything but clean.

It was harder, however, to keep her emotions in check. Once again, just like last time, Andromeda was overcome with the urge to embrace Regulus, to take him into her arms and hold him, to sit him down and ask him to tell her everything he was feeling, everything he was thinking, just as he had when he was small.

Sneaking off to hide amongst the guest-rooms of both their houses, Sirius and Narcissa in tow, Bellatrix leading the way, imaginary games playing off their tongues had been the highlight amongst the patch of darkness that was Andromeda’s childhood. And in a split-second decision, no matter the weeks of thinking that had led to it, she had lost it all.

Her eyes narrowing at the sight of Regulus’ fists and his dark frown, Andromeda cannot help but notice how much he resembles his father, and also hers, that same disappointed and angry look being the last expression she had ever seen from Cygnus.

The derisive laugh bursts from her before she can stop it and Andromeda shakes her head. It seemed as though the weeks of badly dealing with her emotions, as well as confrontations she never wanted to have, were getting the best of her after all. Add in everything with Benjy, and she felt as though she were mere moments from some form of unbecoming breakdown.

“My husband has taught me far more things about being an actual human being than I ever would have learnt being a puppet of the dark arts,” she says finally. The words are harsh, but she has long grown sick of allowing everyone to walk all over her, even if it is Regulus.

[unchainedandromeda]

frankcjlongbottom‌:

“Tea,” Frank sighed in relief, settling carefully into a dining room chair and smiling wryly across the table at her, “Would be lovely.” And he’d drunk enough coffee throughout the morning to power a small armada, so anything to occupy his jittery hands and keep them from fidgeting would be a godsend. Nobody needed to see him looking anything less than perfectly steady when he was holding the ball, particularly one as fragile as this. 

He settled in carefully to listen, head tilted at an inquisitive angle, his quill hovering absently over the page, not yet writing. Andromeda was hesitant about this, about him, that much he could tell, and Frank could hardly blame her, to most people Aurors only ever appeared in the aftermath of tragedies, like carrion birds to scavenge over the remains. It was a difficult reputation to overcome when compassion was what was most needed. “That must have been difficult,” he offered after a moment, thumb dragging along the edge of his notebook absently as he considered what it must have been like, to be one of the Black’s and to be cast out with such finality. The scandal had been everywhere. 

And there was a lot there to unravel, about her family’s highly suspected associations and the choice that had been made to dump Benjy Fenwick outside her door. It was a tangled and painful lead to be following. “You aren’t going to like me very much,” he conceded after a moment, expression wry and honest as he continued, “The questions that I need to ask aren’t going to be comfortable and they aren’t going to be easy to answer, some of them are probably going to hurt to think about and I wish there was a kinder way to do this, if you need to take a break or you want to move on at any time, just say the word.”

He breathed in, forcibly setting his fingers upon the table to still them. “But for the record, I am very grateful for what you did for Benjy, Mrs. Tonks. He means a great deal to a lot of people and we’ve all lost far too much to this war already.” Clearing his throat, Frank sat up a little straighter, flicking at his quill to get it’s attention, when he spoke next it began scratching along with his voice, “Can you take me through that day?”

Moving to her feet, glad for something to keep her hands and mind occupied, even if it was only for a few moments, Andromeda begins the slow process of brewing the tea. She used tea-bags often, for convenience, particularly when she was at work and there was always a risk of being called away before one could finish, but she couldn’t deny she enjoyed the subtle process of brewing from scratch. Spooning out the tea leaves into a mug, Andi begins to pour the hot water, letting the leaves steep.

Her bright and sunny kitchen feels utterly dark, and Andromeda knows that none of it is Auror Longbottom’s fault. He cannot help the circumstances of his job, much like she cannot help the circumstances of her own, and she is already so appreciative of all the concessions he has made for her. Organising the interview around her own working hours, around Ted’s, allowing them to be at home, to having something familiar around for when Nymphadora was inevitably questioned. It meant more to Andromeda than the man could possibly know. 

“Difficult is only one of the words I would use to describe it,” Andromeda says finally, in a matter-of-fact tone. There was no denying that that had been one of the darkest and yet happiest periods of her life.

A low sigh breaks from Andromeda’s chest as she sets the mug of tea in front of Frank, returning to her seat in front of him. “You’re just doing your job,” she says finally, “I won’t hold that against you. And I’ve had quite a few uncomfortable moments in my time, this is simply one more.” Andromeda knew that perhaps her attitude might be odd, but she could not pretend as if she had not suffered worse. Cygnus and Druella Black, after all, had a far less organised way of questioning someone.

Andi doesn’t make to comment on Frank’s thanks, knowing that she had simply done what most genuine, human people would have done, but also that there were many others who would not have done the same. “I woke up at 7am, as I usually do. My husband had to work, so I get up when he does, even when I don’t have to work. It allows me to tidy while Nymphadora sleeps in. Ted left at around 8:30, Dora woke at 9.” Andi begins, unsure if Frank really wants to hear the rather bland domestic details, “She ate breakfast and went to play in the garden while I did the laundry. There’s a creek behind the house, she often goes to play there but she knows she isn’t allowed in the water or near the bank without Ted or myself. I was...I was inside, and she let herself out the back gate and I suppose...found him. She noticed he was bleeding and came inside for bandages, which is when she told me what she found,” Andi pauses, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat, “I healed him as best I could. Tried to stop the bleeding, close some of the wounds...you know the state he was in.” 

[unchainedandromeda]

polyglotdubois‌:

Elizabeth wasn’t sure what she expected from talking with Dora but seeing the young girl’s nose turn into a duck bill and a half-quack come out wasn’t it. She was honestly stunned for a few moments while Andromeda explained before she couldn’t help herself and burst into loud laughter, her body bending forward slightly from the force of it while she clutched her handbag close to as not to drop it. The whole thing was just so unexpected and utterly delightful, her father would love it.

“T-that,” she stood straight and tried to control her breathing, “That may be the best trick I’ve seen in months. Oh Dora, please never change and keep changing.” Her words lightly didn’t make much sense to the little one but she couldn’t think of a better way to explain it to her. “Don’t be sorry,” she told Andromeda, with a happy sigh, “I wish my father had been here with me to see that.”

“Oh we aren’t that smart. Just tenacious.” she responded with a shrug, “Anyone could learn if they have the time and a good tutor.”

Elizabeth watched with a little smile as the mother talked to her daughter and just before they apparated she caught Dora’s eye and ‘quacked’ quietly with a wink. As they appeared by Green Park she led them just up the road and into the grand hotel, a suited and top-hat wearing concierge nodded and smiled, ‘Ms du Bois, welcome back.’ She smiled and answered, “Thank you Freddy, lovely to see you again.”  

Inside the hotel the head concierge darted over with a friendly grin of his own, ‘Ms du Bois! But where’s your mother?’

“Oh she couldn’t make it Gerry, the, halloween soiree,” they both spoke the party’s name in unison, “Yes. So I’ve brought some new friends, this is Mrs Andromeda Tonks and Miss Dora Tonks.” she introduced the two and Gerry bowed, ‘Welcome to The Ritz Hotel ladies, if you’ll please follow me I will seat you immediately.’ With another grin Elizabeth nodded and followed behind him, handing her coat off to another member of staff on the way and encouraging Andi to do the same.    

Her own proud smile spreading across her face at Elizabeth’s reaction, Andromeda reaches forward to stroke the top of her daughter’s hair gently with one hand. She and Ted had gotten so used to Dora’s abilities that she often forgot just how special and miraculous they actually were, her little talented girl. It was such a rare condition and Andromeda had been the one to give birth to her.

Beside her, Dora grins underneath the bill, always taking a great deal of delight in making other’s laugh with her abilities, and Andromeda thanks Merlin that Dora was so willing to behave herself when at kindergarten. The last thing Andi wanted was a phone call home because Dora had been showing off her ‘tricks’ again. “She has a whole menagerie that she can do. Quite literally at that,” Andi explains, still smiling softly. 

“Anyone can, but not everyone will. That’s what makes it special.”

Settling Dora against her hip as they apparate to their destination, Andromeda smooths back a loose curl at her forehead, checking to make sure that she had not accidentally splinched her child in any shape or form, a small fear that was constantly present in the back of her mind. Satisfied that Dora was perfectly fine, Andromeda lets her down with ease, linking their hands together as they follow closely behind Elizabeth. 

The hotel is a level of luxurious that Andromeda had not experienced in a long time, and that her daughter had not experienced ever. Andromeda did not miss the lavishness and extravagance of her previous life, but she could not deny that it had its perks. Handing her jacket over carefully, Andi kneels down to help Dora with hers, the little girl’s chubby fingers not quite managing the fiddly buttons. “This is lovely,” Andi says gently.

[unchainedandromeda]

who: @benjyfvnwick​

location: diagon alley

Smoothing down the front of her work robes, Andromeda glances down at them for what must be the eight time in the last ten minutes, yet again checking that they were not stained or flecked with blood. Her shift had not involved any births that morning, simply check-ups on a newborns and two sickly children, but she couldn’t deny the paranoia that throbbed in her veins.

She had not seen Benjy since his release from St. Mungo’s, wanting to give the boy space and the opportunity to settle back into his own flat, back into his life after what had happened. Andromeda knew the guilt he felt about what he had imposed on her, had imposed on Nymphadora, and she hadn’t wanted to push the issue. She felt no ill will toward Benjy for what had happened, was in fact quite glad that it was her doorstep he had landed on, and not that of someone who could not have helped.

That was the thought that haunted her the most.

Glancing up at the sound of a familiar voice, Andromeda opens her mouth to speak, before finding her voice stuck in her throat. Instead, without a word, she steps forward and envelopes the boy into her arms instead.

[blackleonis]

Where: Diagon Alley / Andromeda’s home Who: @unchainedandromeda​

Regulus would be lying if he said he hadn’t been looking for Andromeda since their discussion a few weeks ago.

He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. Not only was it a shock to his system to see his cousin for the first time in years, but having an argument over the table at the Leaky Cauldron had been rattling to say in the least. As much as he hated it, some of what Andromeda had said made sense, and it terrified him. Regulus couldn’t afford to let his thoughts stray from anything other than loyalty to his family and to the Dark Lord, and he absently rubbed at the sleeve that covered his left forearm as that thought crossed his mind. It was too late to back out even if he had second thoughts; with Andromeda and Sirius gone, it wasn’t like he’d had a choice in the matter.

Not that choice ever mattered.

Past Gringotts he went, and it was there that he saw her walking the street–sans daughter or husband, he noted idly. He wondered if he’d ever get to see either of them one day, but no that wasn’t possible, not anymore. Still, seeing her was a surprise so soon after their lunch, and Regulus found himself saying, “Andi,” without realizing it when she got close. He cleared his throat and clenched his jaw, shoving away that little boy who still wanted his cousin back. He couldn’t be that boy anymore, and he sighed, knowing he’d already grabbed her attention. Time to face the music. “Andromeda.”

[unchainedandromeda]

Sometimes Andromeda cannot help but wonder if it would have been easier had she and Ted had chosen to live solely in the Muggle world, or had left the UK entirely.

It had been an option at first, whispered discussions in their bedroom at night, the lamp-posts outside the only light in the room, before they had decided that they wouldn’t allow her former family to drive her away any more than they already had. 

And so they had remained in Britain, splitting their time between both the Muggle and Wizarding Worlds and making a life, a family, for themselves. Andromeda did not reach out to her former family past the first year, and they made no inclination toward her at all. She could have peace, she thought.

Until these last few months.

Her interaction with Regulus had rattled her. 

She had already been on edge after Bellatrix, after Narcissa, after Rosier, and then for Regulus to be there, to be so different and yet the same, it had broken something inside Andromeda that she had long thought already broken, and she struggled to fight the urge to flee once again.

It was, after all, what she was apparently good at.

And then the incident with Benjy had happened and Andromeda had thought once and for all that every ounce of courage inside her was gone. She had thought herself overprotective previously, and yet now it physically pained her for Nymphadora to be out of her sight. She was taking Dreamless Sleep Potions nightly to allow herself any semblance of rest, and if her husband had not forced her to go do something outside of the house, for herself, Andromeda was certain that she would only ever step foot in her home and her workplace from now on.

It seemed only apt, then, given the universe was clearly out to punish her, that her heart lurches into her throat at the sound of a familiar voice, a familiar nickname. A wave of nausea floods her body as she turns, catching Regulus’ dark eyes in her own, and Andromeda cannot help the way her smile tightens. 

“Regulus,” she says coolly, trying not to let any emotion bleed into her voice, despite her breath catching, “If you mean to belittle my actions again, I would rather you didn’t.”

[unchainedandromeda]

frankcjlongbottom‌:

Benjy Fenwick’s case was a deeply troubling one, brutal and sad and unsettling in a way that stood out even amidst the many horrifying crimes that fell upon his desk on a daily basis lately. The kind of case that, despite Frank’s best efforts to leave it at the office when he turned out his lights, had consistently gone home with him. But of all the many troubling aspects of the case there was one that Frank kept coming back to as he slowly worked on building up the casefile. He had been found by a child.

Following politely as he was welcomed inside, Frank shook Andromeda’s hand, broadcasting his best and gentlest version of his professional smile her way. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” he offered finally as he stepped through the front door after her, scrubbing his hand absently at the back of his neck as he eased through the doorframe and followed her through to the kitchen, “I’ll try to keep this quick and get out of your hair. Usually we would ask you to come into the Aurors office for statements but I thought it might be easier — with your daughter, to be somewhere familiar. And it’s more than a little chaotic in there at the moment.”

Always, lately. It seemed like the Death Eaters had only grown bolder since Puddletown.

Rummaging absently into his pocket he withdrew his notebook, flipping swiftly to where a quill had bookmarked clean pages in the centre of it. “I know this can’t be easy, but every bit of information you can remember could help in the long run with tracking down whoever is responsible. We don’t know what details might be important yet,” he added, flicking the feathered end of his quill until it stood upright, quivering irritably as if the mistreatment of being crushed between the pages had offended it. Sometimes it was better to just .. ease into these things. “You and Benjy are close, aren’t you? He speaks very highly of you and your family.”

Shaking her head, Andromeda takes a tentative step into the kitchen, feeling far too much like she was a stranger in her own home. Frank Longbottom was a perfectly amiable and polite individual and Andromeda knew that he meant her no harm, nor discomfort, and yet she could feel each of her defensives slowly building themselves up. “You’re not interrupting,” she says, her voice soft, “I appreciate you not asking us to come in. It should be easier here...at home.” she says, a small catch in her voice. 

“Would you like some tea?” she asks, unsure of whether she should be playing dutiful host, but needing something to do with her hands. She was not yet ready for him to speak to Nymphadora, who had been asked to play quietly in her bedroom whilst her mother got things organised. It was a mark of how anxious Andromeda had appeared that her daughter had immediately done what she had been told, and was yet to emerge.

Sighing, a low noise that made her sound far older than her twenty-five years, Andromeda sinks into a dining chair, hands cupping around her own cup of tea. The liquid is cold, made hours when she had needed something to keep herself occupied, but she appreciates it giving her something to do with her hands. “That is understandable,” she says softly, glancing up at the Auror in front of her. “He is one of my closest friends, and of my husband. We named him godfather to our daughter,” and she had had to see her favourite person like that. “What you must understand, Auror Longbottom, is that my former family made things remarkably difficult when Edward and I were...courting. Nothing could be public, as you can imagine. Benjy was an incredible support for us both at that time.”

[unchainedandromeda]

polyglotdubois‌:

Many of her muggle friends had already settled down and had kids of their own by this point, she rather enjoyed dealing with them since kid gossip was often hilarious. “Ahh, see? Your Mummy and Daddy go and see them too. They’re nothing to be afraid of, but it’s super important to polite. But I bet you can do that real good right?” she told Dora with a smile and a little wink.

Taking the girl’s hand she shook it gently, “You are quite the beautiful young lady, I bet everyone who see’s you just wants to keep you all to themselves.” she said lightly, her smile wide, standing up and being sure to look at Dora in-between talking to Andromeda, she didn’t want the little one to think she was only here for her mother.

“Oh there’s about six of us in the UK at the moment, not including giants.” she added lightly. “We can’t all be in the same building at once least the world explode with our combined power.” she joked.

Elizabeth grinned, knowing she had them at Dora’s request, “Not at all. I was going to have to eat by myself but now I can have great company. The head concierge is a dear family friend so he’ll have no problem adding an extra to my table.” she said lightly, “Shall we go then? If Dora’s able we can apparate to a hidden little alley close to Green Park?”  

Andromeda can’t help but smile at the solemn look on Nymphadora’s face as she nods in response to Elizabeth’s question. Dora did, in fact, have quite a lot of trouble when it came to being polite; her age and her natural bluntness making that difficult, but Andi knew that she would one day work it out. Andromeda and Ted did not want their daughter to be the perfect child that her maternal grandparents had expected Andromeda to have been, but they liked to think that just general manners would be enough.

As if in response to Elizabeth’s words, Dora automatically changes her nose to a duck’s bill, making a gargled noise that Andi assumes is meant to be a ‘quack’ in the process. She looks to Elizabeth in apology, one hand resting atop the soft curls of Dora’s head. “I’m sorry. She’s a Metamorphagus, I’m not sure if you were aware,” she explains, “This is her favourite trick.” 

“I can imagine so!” Andi says with a smile, appreciating Elizabeth’s gentle joy at the prospect, “A remarkably intelligent group like you all...it would be too much.” 

Nodding her head, Andromeda ducks slightly, scooping her daughter up into her arms. Dora hated side-along Apparition, as most young children did, but it was often the most convenient way to travel. “Sweetheart, we need our regular face , please,” Andromeda says softly, catching Dora’s eyes firmly, smiling as her daughter screws up her ‘bill’ and her face goes back to normal. “Thank you.” 

Glancing at Elizabeth with a last smile, the pair vanish with a pop.

[frankcjlongbottom]

WHO: @unchainedandromeda WHERE: Outside the wards, The Tonks Family Home.

A drawn out game of owl tag had gotten them this far, arranging a suitable time and date and location to meet in order to muck through the grim details of Benjy Fenwick’s case. Andromeda Tonks, Frank had already begun to determine, was understandably a very cautious woman. With a family like hers, Frank could understand the compulsion.

And so he waited, patiently, badge in hand and shoulders relaxed on a quiet, empty road, glancing occasionally up into the cloudy skies and considering when the last time he’d stopped, for a moment, for breathing room or a cup of coffee or even a sandwich that wasn’t left half-eaten on a napkin on his desk. Between Puddletown and the sorry business of Benjy Fenwick, the cases had been piling higher and higher. It was quiet here, the trickle of water nearby and the murmur of wind in the trees.

He hated to think of Benjy Fenwick bleeding into the soil.

A soft pop of displaced air heralded the emergence of a head through the wards and Frank turned, an easy, professional smile in place as he lifted his badge carefully so she could study it. Merlin she looked like her sister. “Frank Longbottom,” he greeted her, offering a hand to shake and wondering if she’d remember him from school, “From the Auror’s department. We’ve been owling each other? I hope now is still a good time for you.”

[unchainedandromeda]

Tapping her wand to the edge of the kettle, Andromeda sets it to boiling, her free hand wiping away the imaginary crumbs from the bench with a damp cloth. She knew that she was being overzealous, that the Aurors were visiting to question her about the incident with Benjy, not to judge the state of her house, but she couldn’t halt the thrum of anxiety that prickled inside her. She felt as though she was back in her parents’ house, despite to keep things clean and orderly and tidy, lest someone realise there was something wrong.

She had barely slept since they had found Benjy beside the creek, her dreams stained with his blood, the feeling of his weakened pulse throbbing under her fingertips and the desperate, desperate fear that she was about to lose yet another of the most important people in her life.

And it had been her daughter who had found him.

Nymphadora had seemed fine in the days following the attack. She hadn’t seemed to have realised how injured her godfather was, and was merely confused as to why he was sleeping in the creek. Ted and Andromeda were still keeping a close eye on her, but they couldn’t help but worry.

Startled from her thoughts by the ringing of the wards, Andi shakes her head to clear her mind, shifting the charms enough that she can see who is outside. She recognises the man in front of her briefly from Hogwarts, although he was several years below her and she glances at his badge long enough to confirm he was who he said he was. Nodding in response to his question, Andi alters the wards once more, allowing the whole house to come into view.  Opening the front door to allow him inside, Andi shoots Frank a tight smile. “Now is fine,” she says, holding out a hand, “Andromeda Tonks.”

[unchainedandromeda]

kirkstanbulstrode‌:

Stan snorted and shook his head. “Maybe Dora, sure, but Elijah knows better–or he should at least. He’s seven years old. Plenty of time to understand he shouldn’t be dragging dirt through the home.” Maybe he felt bad for yelling sometimes, but he’d learned with Mercy that if he gave in too much it would be harder to get him to listen when he was older. Thankfully, his teenager seemed to mellow out rather than get worse over the past year, but she was still a teenager. Who knew? “Thanks, I appreciate it. I was about that age when Mercy was born. It’s definitely hard work, but you’re doing alright from what I’ve seen. Take your time before another.” He glanced back at Elijah. “… but maybe not eight years, and then seven after that. Merlin, I’m getting too old for this.”

“Hey, rebellion is rebellion. You don’t need to get arrested for it to count,” he said with a shrug. It helped Andromeda find her way to where she was today, and wasn’t that what mattered in the end? He was about to open his mouth to speak again when an excited yell came from the distance, and before Stan could fully process what was going on Elijah barreled into his chest, sending him onto his back with an oof. Stan frowned and sat himself back up, not liking the panicked look on his son’s face. “What happened?”

Elijah picked at the hem of his shirt and looked at Dora as if she’d give him some confidence. “We, um… we tripped someone accidentally on purpose? And he fell in mud and now he’s really mad but how were we supposed to know there’s mud! Everywhere else is fine!”

Stan stared for a second and glanced up at the angry, mud-covered man coming their way. “Lord help me,” he murmured, glancing over at Andromeda.

“One would think Dora would know by now, but she gets so excited, and we have a fairly big vegetable garden plus a creek that she plays in. It’s just asking for mud,” Andi says, a tinge of amusement threaded through her voice. Her daughter would always go outside and wipe her boots on the mat and would gladly wash her hands, but never of her own accord. She always seemed to require a reminder from one or both of her parents before such a thing would occur.  “I won’t lie and say that she was planned, but we’re fairly besotted with her anyway. She’s rounded us out quite nicely,” Andi says wistfully, before laughing gently, “Well, you certainly don’t look as though you’re a father of three, so they haven’t worn you out too much.”

Watching as Elijah comes barrelling into his father’s chest, Andi raises an eyebrow for a moment, her own daughter trailing behind, her eyes blinking almost too innocently. Dora tucks herself onto her mother’s lap with ease and Andi wraps her arms around the little figure, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. 

“Nymphadora...” she says firmly, having heard Elijah’s burbled explanation. “Did you trip someone?” Dora’s response is a simple nod, and Andi sighs, shaking her head and glancing at Stan in concern. “We should have known.” 

The mud-covered man only looks angrier as he approaches, and Andi pastes the most neutral expression she can on her face, hoping this will be less of a confrontation than it looks. “Those your kids?” the man asks gruffly, brow furrowed as Andi nods.  “Yes. There was some sort of accident, they’ve said.”

“Accident? Accident, my arse! They did that on purpose!”

[unchainedandromeda]

polyglotdubois‌:

Elizabeth’s heart melted at the sight of the little girl with her juice box, it reminded her asking her father such questions when he brought her to Diagon. Smiling down at the little girl she bent at the knee to get closer to her height and followed up her mother’s explanation, “Goblins are very smart. So smart they look after all our money.” she said emphatically, “So when we need some money we go to them and get to go on rides in a kart under the ground where they keep it.”

Still smiling she held her gloved hand out to the little girl to shake, “You must be Dora, right? I’m Elizabeth, a friend of your Mommy’s. But you can just call me Lizzie.” she added with a little wink before rising up.

“I mastered Gobbledegook in my third year at Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore was so good at finding me tutors.” And then they came to her out of term as well. “Much harder finding a tutor for Giant-tongue, let me tell you.” she shook her head lightly.

“I’m surprised seeing you out and about though, oh but this is perfect! I have a slot free for afternoon tea at the Ritz and my Mama had to cancel since she’s up the hilt planning her Halloween Soiree.” she smiled, “Would you two like to join me?”  

Smiling as Elizabeth carefully explains about the goblins to Dora, Andi keeps her hand firmly wrapped around her daughter’s, knowing all to well that the little girl may, in fact, take off to see the goblins in person once more. “The goblins are who Mummy and Daddy go and see when we visit the bank,” she adds quietly. She and Ted had yet to take Dora to their shared vault, given how young she was, but Andi knew it would only be a matter of time before she started to request ‘rides’.

Letting go of Dora’s fingers so that she can shake Elizabeth’s hand, not wanting the little girl to accidentally spill juice all over the woman, particularly with how well she was dressed. “This certainly is Dora,” Andi says warmly, nudging Dora forward and smiling as the little girl so solemnly takes Elizabeth’s hand in her own. 

“I don’t suppose there are many who speak Giant-Tongue out there, are there?” Andi asks, her curiosity peaked. She had always had a small interest in languages in the past, but nothing quite as complex as those that Elizabeth knew.

“Afternoon tea?” Dora says, some juice dripping out the corner of her mouth as she tugs on the hem of her mother’s shirt. “Can we, can we, can we?” Glancing between her daughter’s pleading pout and Elizabeth’s smile, Andi can’t help but wonder if she ever even had a choice. “We wouldn’t be imposing, would we?”

[unchainedandromeda]

blackleonis‌:

There’s no such thing as a happy ending, Reg.

But wasn’t that what it seemed like? Andromeda had gotten out. Sirius had gotten out. What could be happier than that? That train of thought, though, was delusional, and Regulus knew that, because nothing was ever as easy as simply getting away from the family. They’d all suffered years of trauma at the hands of their parents and, for Regulus, neglect in favor of his brother–it was foolish to believe Andromeda got away from his aunt and uncle unscathed. Her voice was cracking, obviously upset, but Regulus wasn’t sure what he was feeling more: anger, empathy, or envy. 

Maybe all three at once. Was that allowed?

“It sounds to me,” he said quietly. “That you are preaching. Preaching that everything our family does is wrong, that what we do is without merit?” No matter that the family did, in fact, recover despite the scandal, and no matter the suffering far too many people outside of the Blacks suffered at their hands, let alone those within the Blacks as well. He couldn’t stand seeing Andromeda, or seeing Sirius (whenever that might be), and seeing that there was life beyond what he knew–the admission of maybe they’re right and we’re not unfathomable, uncomfortable. If he were to admit that… he wasn’t sure what he’d do. 

Andromeda was trying so hard not to fight, and Regulus once again was torn: did he want to fight, or make amends? No matter that she’d sent letters, that their parents had intercepted them before Regulus could hear from his cousin and know that she was alright, wherever she was. It didn’t matter because the reality was his cousin being a blood traitor and Regulus being a Death Eater. Nothing mattered in the light of that, not even his wavering loyalties.

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” he said quietly, leaving some galleons on the table to pay for his meal and standing up. “None of it matters, Andi. I… I have to go. Enjoy your lunch.”

With that, Regulus turned heel and left quickly before he could do something stupid, like shout at Andromeda or pull her into a much-needed hug.

Andromeda can feel, not for the first time in her life, nor for what she imagines is the last, her heart breaking in her chest. She wants to call out to Regulus, to grasp his wrist and pull him back, but she fights the urge. She has suffered enough rejection at the hands of her former family to open herself up for anymore. 

Instead, she watches as he leaves, a head of dark hair that she feels she could recognise anywhere, as one more connection to her old life walks away.

Andi sits there for a long moment, not speaking. Her throat and eyes feel raw, despite no tears having fallen, and her stomach is in knots. 

She shouldn’t be surprised that it ended this way, and yet...

When she finally stands, Andromeda is slightly unsteady on her feet, and it takes her another minute to muster the strength to walk away, her head still high. 

She has a husband to get home to, and their daughter, and yet for the first time, her home doesn’t feel as safe as it once had.

fin