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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Aug 26, 2008 16:16:50 GMT -5
Andi needed one last chance to talk to Narcissa alone. She was careful not to get her hopes up, but she couldn't just give up on both of her sisters. Bella was lost to her, she knew that now. But there was a chance, however slim, that maybe she could convince Cissa to see her side of things. Maybe Narcissa would never really approve of her choice, but maybe she could at least be happy for her.
So she sent an owl to Narcissa, asking her to meet her in the room of requirement. The privacy of the hidden room would, hopefully, give them both the freedom to say what they needed to say, without Bella to interfere. Now if only Cissa would show up.
Andi paced the floor of the Room of Requirement, hoping that Narcissa still loved her enough to consider meeting with her. A part of her doubted it. But Ted was right, she couldn't just give up on family. Not without a fight. And fighting was one thing Andi was good at.
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 26, 2008 16:31:28 GMT -5
Narcissa just arrived back in her room after she finished up with one of her classes. However, she didn't have time to rest. An owl was sitting on her window seal and she opened it to let it in.
Once she read the note, Cissa sighed. Now she would be able to talk to Andi. Around Bella, she wasn't able to talk to her. Slipping out of her room and out of the common room, Cissa made her way to the hidden room.
She didn't hate her sister at all. Cissa was just torn in between her sisters and didn't know which way to go. She cared about them both no matter what happened.
Arriving at the Room of Requirement, Narcissa smiled as she saw Andi. She wasn't sure if a smile was appropriate as she noticed that Andi was pacing, but she was unable to hide it. "Andi!"
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Aug 26, 2008 18:49:18 GMT -5
At the sound of Cissa's voice, Andi turned around to face her sister. Though she was braced for a fight, she was beyond relieved to see her sister's smile. She immediately stopped pacing and hurried over to her sister, wrapping her in a quick hug.
"Cissa," she said, releasing a breath. "I'm so glad you came. I was afraid you wouldn't... after what happened the other night."
Just the fact that she had come at all was encouraging. But the smile.... the smile gave her hope. And even though she knew that hope was a dangerous thing, she couldn't quite bring it to herself to squash it down. If she could salvage her relationship with just one sister, maybe it wouldn't hurt so much.
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 26, 2008 21:17:58 GMT -5
Narcissa hugged her sister in return. "Of course I came! I couldn't turn it down." Her smile slowly slipped away as she mentioned the other night. "Andi, you should know that I'd still do just about anything for you." Cissa felt like she didn't have to add as along as Bella wasn't there, because she knew that Andi already knew it.
"Andi, I'm sorry about the other night. Bella just, well, she was just Bella, and I didn't know what to do."
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Aug 26, 2008 21:56:37 GMT -5
Andi slowly began to relax. This was Cissa... the only sister she'd ever really gotten along with. And she wasn't lost to her, as she'd feared. Maybe the situation wasn't so dire as she had feared the other night.
"I'm sorry, too, Cissy," she said, smiling. "It was an ugly situation, and I hate that you were put in the middle of it. You don't deserve that. Even now, I'm putting you in the middle and I'm really sorry about that. But I was just hoping that maybe you might understand why I did what I did."
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 26, 2008 22:09:40 GMT -5
Narcissa was used to be put in the middle of things between her sisters, but this time it was different. She cared for both of her sisters dearly, but just didn't know where to fall.
"No, no. It's better that I be put in the middle. It could stop Bella from doing something she might regret," said Cissa. "Look, Andi. I don't know what to say about what happened the other night. I don't even know how to think of it. I've been told so much and then I see that."
She gave a sigh and looked to her sister. There was something different about her. Something she noticed on the day that she came for her first visit. "Wait. He's the one that you told me about when you came to visit at first." Cissa tilted her head to the side a little. "I do understand Andi. I do, just between us. I would do the same for Lucius."
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Aug 26, 2008 23:05:18 GMT -5
Andi was so happy to hear Narcissa say these things, she almost started crying all over again. She'd been prepared for a fight, or at least a little convincing. But Narcissa understood. Maybe the split didn't have to be permanent. She felt elated.
Taking her sister's hands, she nodded her head. "Yes," she said. "That's exactly it. He's the one I was talking about, Cissy. The one who made me happier than I've ever been. I swear... I didn't plan to fall for a muggleborn. I wasn't against the idea... but the truth is, you can't choose who you fall in love with. The heart chooses, and my heart chose him. He's so amazing, Cissy... so kind and gentle and loving... I can't imagine my life without him."
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 27, 2008 11:15:42 GMT -5
Narcissa bit the inside of her lip. She could understand Andi's point of view, unlike her other sister. Andi seemed happy and that of course made Narcissa happy. A smile crept its way back across her face. "I'm happy for you Andi," she said in a girlish giggle.
She couldn't be this way around Bella. Cissa felt like she had to put on a show around Bella, instead of being this way. She remembered once she acted that way, and Bella scolded her for it. Ever since, she tried her best not to act that way in front of her other sister.
"I know that mum and dad, as well as Bella have talked bad about muggleborns. I just don't know what to do Andi. I'm happy for you because you've found someone that makes you happy, but at the same time there's all this stuff I've been told."
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Aug 27, 2008 13:29:16 GMT -5
Andi felt immensely better hearing her sister say that. She almost felt ashamed of her hysterical tears from the other night, and her original resolve to have nothing to do with either sister ever again.
"Oh, Cissy, I'm so happy to hear you say that!" she said. "I truly don't want you to feel like you're caught in between us, but just knowing that you're happy that I'm happy... it means the world to me. I know my choices aren't exactly the most popular ones in the family, and I know that not everyone is going to support them, but I really am happy. I love him, Cissy. More than I ever thought it was possible to love another person."
She listened to Narcissa's comments about muggleborns--the same stuff her parents had tried to drill into her head from the day she was born. She was proud to admit that she had never been very good at listening to what she was told; she preferred to make up her own mind about things.
Sighing, she sat down on a squashy arm chair and looked worriedly at her sister. "I know what Mum and Dad say. But they don't really know any muggleborns and they never tried to. So how can they know? Muggleborns aren't any different from you or me. They're wizards just the same. I don't understand why everyone makes such a big deal about it."
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 27, 2008 14:34:32 GMT -5
"It's because they are different," replied Narcissa. "They are different because they have muggle parents, and we do not. We have two magical parents." Sure, Cissa usually stayed quiet, but she was knowledgeable. Usually more so than anyone believed.
"Like I said, I don't know what to think of him, but he must be wonderful to see you like this. Andi. You know we can't let Bella know about this. If she finds out I know that she'd hex me so fast it would make my head spin. You know that I love you and always will, no matter what happens. It doesn't matter what I say when I'm around Bella, because you know the truth. I'll try to not say anything, but if I do, you know that I don't mean it. I can't risk having Bella mad with me. I don't want to lose all that I have. I know that I have you, but I don't want to lose Lucius."
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Aug 27, 2008 15:00:27 GMT -5
Andi wished she could make Narcissa see that muggleborns were not that different. Children were, by necessity, different from their parents. And even if they were born and raised as muggles, if they could do magic, they were still wizards, as far as Andi could see. "I wish you could get to know him," she said. "I know it's not like we can all go out for tea and crumpets or anything, but if you knew him, Cissa... you'd understand that he's not so different."
But at least Cissa could be happy for her. It was the closest she would get to having anyone in her family give her their blessing. And she would have to settle for that. Hugging her sister, she smiled tremulously. "But I understand you can't tell Bella or Mum and Dad. It's OK. I don't want to ruin your relationship with them. But maybe we could meet once in a while, just to talk as sisters. No pressure. Just us. And I'll never tell Bella anything about it. In fact, I highly doubt I'll ever speak to Bella again."
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 27, 2008 15:10:30 GMT -5
"I mean, that's how Bella and the rest of them see muggleborns. They look at their parents first, then they look at the person," said Cissa. "He can't be all that bad if he was finally able to make you find some one!" She smiled at her sister.
"Of course we can continue to meet! I wouldn't have it any other way." She frowned as Andi said that she wasn't going to be talking to Bella. Narcissa understood why. She felt that if she were in Andi's shoes, she would probably do the same thing, but of course it would be hard. "I would actually like to meet him one day. Of course not right now because Bella's at the school, but sometime soon would be nice."
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Aug 27, 2008 15:34:49 GMT -5
It was as if a giant weight was being lifted from her shoulders. How could she have doubted Cissa, her Cissa? It was going to be OK, she was sure of it now. Having Narcissa on her side made it all worth it.
"Yeah, I know what they say," she answered. "It's only because they haven't tried to get to know anyone who was muggleborn. And I understand if you feel that way, too... because you haven't been allowed to know any muggleborns. But as soon as it's a safe time, I'll introduce you to Ted, and you'll see. And Bella doesn't have to know about it."
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 27, 2008 15:47:06 GMT -5
Narcissa beamed. "Great! She gives me a hard enough time as it is. I would say something to her about leaving me alone sometimes, but honestly I'm scared of what she'd do." She knew that Bella could be a bit on edge at times, and that was when she didn't want to mess with her.
"Oh, and Andi? I thought I would let you know that I'm getting married in June! I would want you to be there, but I don't know how things are going to go. I don't want to cause any trouble. Maybe one day while Lucius is away with work, we could meet together and celebrate? After the wedding I mean. And of course we can meet just about anytime here."
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Aug 27, 2008 15:59:43 GMT -5
Andi shook her head as Narcissa talked about Bella and her infamous temper. Andi and Bella both had that in common, and as a result, there had been a number of extremely vicious and hateful battles between them growing up. back then, Andi had not been afraid of Bella, but with her current suspicions about Bella's loyalties, she had to admit, she was a little uneasy about an all out battle between them now. She could only imagine how hard it was for Narcissa, who had always been more passive and uncertain.
But as Narcissa mentioned her wedding, Andi broke into a joyful smile. "Oh, Cissa! That's wonderful... a June bride! I truly am happy for you... and if it's possible, I really would love to be there. I could hide in the back in disguise or something." Still, the thought made her sad. She had always thought she would be able to be a bridesmaid at her sister's wedding. Now she never would. And worse, neither of her sisters would be at her wedding... not that this was even an issue yet. "Congratulations, really... I'm so happy for you. And I'd love to get together some time to celebrate."
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 27, 2008 21:13:04 GMT -5
"We could find you a disguise. I don't think that it would be that hard to do if you really wanted to come." Narcissa wanted Andi to be at her wedding. She wouldn't really care that Bella was there, however Cissa did worry about Andi's safety. The way Bella was going, there was something bound to happen but of course Narcissa was always shut out. She never knew what was happening. In a way, she was still treated like a baby.
"We'll find sometime to celebrate. What about you and this Ted? Has he said anything?" Cissa raised one of her eyebrows with a smile spreading across her face.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Aug 27, 2008 21:34:29 GMT -5
Andi nodded firmly. "Cissa, I would love to be at your wedding. It wouldn't feel right to have to miss it. But if it turns out I can't go, I at least want to see the wedding pictures after. I bet you will be the most beautiful bride that ever was." She smiled sincerely, thinking about the times when they were younger, when they would dream about their weddings. It hurt to think that she wouldn't be able to be part of that. "Remember, when you were about 6, you said you wanted to wear your hair flowing down your back in long curls with flowers woven into them?" She laughed. Some of their ideas had been silly and outlandish. "Of course, mine was even worse... I wanted to ride on the back of a unicorn..."
At the mention of Ted, Andi let out a little giggle. "Well, no... no mention of marriage yet. We've only been together 3 months, and he was away for one of them. But he did say he loved me. No one's ever said that to me before."
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 27, 2008 21:49:39 GMT -5
"Of course I'll let you see pictures. I'll even make you a set and decorate the book and everything. It'll be perfect! You need to send me pictures of you! I haven't gotten any." Narcissa looked to her sister and smiled.
"Well, that's actually a good start," she said with a girlish giggle. "That counts as something. I couldn't be any prouder of you." Narcissa didn't really care who Andi dated or whatever. It was Bella who did. The more Cissa thought about it, the more she didn't want to become a deatheater. She couldn't kill a human being, no matter who they were. Her decision had become final, and she was going to let Lucius know.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Aug 28, 2008 12:05:07 GMT -5
Andi smiled and gave her sister another hug. "That sounds wonderful!" she said, imagining them sitting together, looking at wedding pictures in a fancy decorated book. It was the kind of thing she had always hoped to be able to experience one day with her sisters, and she was glad she wouldn't have to miss out on it. "I'll be sure to send you some pictures of me as soon as I find some I like." Andi had never been fond of having her picture taken; she felt they didn't quite do her justice.
"It's definitely a good start," Andi agreed. "I've honestly never felt like this before... I trust him completely." With a small laugh, she added. "Oh, Cissa, I'm so glad we had this talk. And to think, I was afraid you wouldn't want to talk to me at all, after the other night!" She was deeply ashamed of herself for even thinking about giving up on Narcissa. Look at what she had almost missed out on! Andi couldn't wait to tell Ted--she knew he'd be so happy for her.
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 29, 2008 13:52:56 GMT -5
"Andi! You know that I couldn't be like Bella. I've always forgiven you for everything, and you know that most of the things I say I don't mean! Like the other night, I didn't mean it. I didn't know what to say, and I knew I had to say something before Bella would get mad with me. She scares me sometimes."
She gave Andi a smile. "Plus, you know that I'm always here for you no matter what happens! I promise!"
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