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Post by Bellatrix Black on Sept 29, 2016 0:35:59 GMT -5
Andromeda Tonks Bellatrix had recently developed a little ploy to have some fun with a Hogwarts student. She no longer worked at the school, thus her opportunities to observe the girl were limited and would require some more planning and thought. Which is why she asked her cousin Regulus when the next Hogsmeade trip for students would be. She had observed Alyx with her friends, but nothing of note was observed, with no mention on any progress on her case to find her parents. This was of no matter, as Bella had already spoken to her own investigator and was promised to have the information before the Chevaier team had found anything. But after an uneventful day of spying, Bella found herself hungry and stopped into the nearby bistro for a late lunch.
She'd already finished her meal and was waiting on the check when she heard a voice that set her spine on fire. She turned slightly in her seat to see her sister, Andromeda. Bellatrix sneered.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Oct 7, 2016 17:37:39 GMT -5
Pregnancy was the worst. She had always thought it was supposed to be this magical, perfect time, when life was growing inside you and everything seemed possible. But now Andromeda was beginning to understand just why her mother was so bloody unpleasant all the time. The cravings and even a little of the morning sickness, had, in the beginning seemed cute. But now, nearly 9 months pregnant, she was learning about all the side effects of pregnancy that were not so cute—the back aches, the swollen ankles, the heartburn, the baby pressing on her bladder and causing her to need to spend half the day on the toilet… why did no one ever talk about these things? Oh, sure, it was cute when the baby kicked, except when it happened in the middle of the night and she couldn’t sleep.
She just wanted to have this baby now and get it over with!
For the last few weeks, she had been all but shut up in the apartment, trying to relax and get ready for the baby. She felt like a hippo, with her round stomach, and her back and ankles were making it hard to get around much at all.
But today she had a craving for a sandwich from the Hot Panini, and since they didn’t deliver, she had decided to take the chance to go out for a little takeout.
She placed her order at the front counter and then looked around for a place to sit. It was rather crowded for a week day, she noted, and the only place to sit was…
She froze, recognizing Bellatrix. She hadn’t seen her sister since the last school term ended. She had heard that Bella was no longer working at Hogwarts, but then, neither was she, thanks to the future little Tonks who was currently kicking once again.
She knew she should turn away; pretend she had never seen Bellatrix. She knew that addressing her sister was the last thing she should do at that moment. But there was still that small part of her that kept hoping for a reconciliation. It was naïve, perhaps, but she really wanted to believe that blood was thicker than the controversies that separated them.
“Bella,” she said, walking up to her sister. “You look well.”
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Post by Bellatrix Black on Oct 7, 2016 23:08:07 GMT -5
Naturally, Bella's eyes went initially to Andromeda's face, but as her blood-traitor of a sister stepped nearer Bella's eyes moved to Andi's swollen stomach. Although Bellatrix had heard that Andromeda had further betrayed the family by becoming pregnant with her mudblood husband's wretched child, she had yet to see it with her own eyes. In Bella's mind this meant of course that it wasn't really happening and if it was then it certainly wasn't worth caring about. But now Andromeda was strutting about shoving her overgrown midsection in everyone's face.
"Andromeda, you're looking very...large," she snarled. "I suppose you're keeping it, then?" If only she had managed to kill that Tonks during the attack on Hogsmeade last year. Then her sister might have been saved her status, her place in family, and her figure.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Oct 9, 2016 18:45:47 GMT -5
Andi rolled her eyes. It was obvious by Bella’s tone that she was not going to put the differences aside. She had been a fool to even come over to her… she should have just waited for her sandwich in silence.
“Of course I’m keeping it,” she said. “Bella… Bellatrix,” she corrected. “I wish you could understand. I love him. And I hate that our family is broken over this. He really is such a good man…”
This was stupid. She knew perfectly well that Bellatrix didn’t really care about things like love or goodness. It just hurt, because she so desperately wished it could be different.
“Never mind. I’ll just go wait over there…”
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Post by Bellatrix Black on Oct 10, 2016 0:10:53 GMT -5
Bellatrix sighed exaggeratedly as Andromeda nattered on about her woes over the Black family's refusal to accept her and her disgusting, unworthy husband. She rolled her eyes and made an audible sound of disgust as Andromeda praised her husband for being a "good man."
The waiter came and handed Bella her check. Andromeda tried to excused herself, but Bella wasn't about to let her traitorous sister have the last word. She flung ten sickles on the table for her lunch and stood to face her sister.
"If he was such a good man, he would have spared you the embarrassment of raising that...thing." Bellatrix gestured to Andi's pregnant belly. Bella was not fond of children in general, and certainly wouldn't be buying her sister any baby gifts for her half-blood mongrel.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Oct 24, 2016 22:33:31 GMT -5
Andromeda and Bellatrix had never been close. They used to get along, at least, but there had always been some distance between them. They each had been closer to Narcissa, who often ended up being sort of stuck in the middle of them. But Andi had always thought--or maybe more like hoped--that Bella would support her in some way. But the truth was, she and Bellatrix had very different values, and they would never agree. It made her sad to think that her family--except maybe Narcissa--would be forever lost to her, just because she didn't want the same things that they did.
"She's not a thing, she's my daughter," Andi said. She already knew from the tests that she was having a girl, although she hadn't yet told Ted. She wanted to surprise him with the news. "I really hope, for your sake, that one day you find someone to love the way I love Ted, and then maybe you'll understand. There are bigger things than your pureblood agenda."
She started to walk away, proud of herself for not getting angry. Anger, after all, was her sister's game and she played it better than Andi ever could. She had no desire to fight her, she just wanted to get her sandwich so that maybe her stomach would stop hurting.
A pain shot through her stomach, and she doubled over in pain. It was only then that she realized that she'd been having pains all day.
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Post by Bellatrix Black on Oct 25, 2016 0:51:09 GMT -5
Andromeda's attempt at hurting Bellatrix had been a pathetic one. Not only did Bella have someone who loved her as much as Andi claimed Tonks loved her, she had two men in her life that were over the moon for her. Andromeda knew very well that Bellatrix was betrothed to Rodolphus Lestrange. Bella even sometimes considered that she loved him in return. But her true love was Lord Voldemort. She loved him more than the sun and the stars and he loved her equally in return. No one, Andromeda included, was aware of their adoration for each other. Her Lord had appearances to keep up, and having an attractive young lover could diminish his influence. But it didn't take away from the passion.
"What's the matter, sister?" She snarled the last word. It was bitter in her mouth. "Is that parasite upsetting your delicate stomach? Maybe we should just get rid of it and do you a favor!"
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Oct 26, 2016 21:47:09 GMT -5
Andromeda knew about Rodolphus, of course, but she did not for one second believe that Bellatrix actually loved him. If she did, they would have been married already, or at least have had their wedding date set, as Lucius and Narcissa had done. She had heard that Bella had a habit of sleeping around; a habit that Andi was certain Rodolphus couldn't approve of. And maybe that was just a rumor, but still, it was rather telling that they were not yet married.
Of course she did not know that her sister's admiration for Lord Voldemort went beyond just that of a loyal follower, but if she had she would undoubtedly have been disgusted and horrified. But it also would have confirmed for her what she really didn't want to admit--that her sister Bellatrix was lost to her forever. Maybe she always had been.
But none of this was on Andromeda's mind at that moment. In fact, she was not quite able to think of much of anything at that moment, as the pain ripped through her abdomen. Bella's words barely even penetrated her consciousness as she held onto her stomach.
"How can you be so hateful about a child?" she cried. "Your own niece... and it looks like you might be about to meet her soon!"
There was no doubt now that she was in labor, and probably had been for most of the day. And if there had been any questions left, they were erased the moment her water broke on the restaurant floor.
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Post by Bellatrix Black on Oct 27, 2016 23:45:32 GMT -5
Bellatrix found it quite easy to be hateful towards children; they were disgusting little creatures that ruined everything they came in contact with, evident by Andromeda's bulbous stomach. Unbearably loud, dirty, constantly sticky, and unable to survive without constant support. Really, what was the point in children? If Bellatrix was ever so unlucky as to have her own child it would be raised by a professional until it came of an age that was more tolerable to be around (fifteen sounded reasonable).
Bella sneered. "That thing is not my niece! And you can tell-" She was silenced suddenly by the gush of fluid that fell from between Andromeda's legs. Bellatrix stepped back to avoid contact with it, and turned her nose up. "Not even born and it's already making a filthy mess," she snarled.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Nov 17, 2016 23:07:52 GMT -5
Andromeda was actually just as horrified and embarrassed about her water breaking in the middle of the restaurant as her sister was. Obviously, this was not how she would have wanted it to happen. But it had happened, and there wasn't anything she could do to change that. All that mattered now was that she get out of here and get to the hospital as soon as possible. And of course, for someone to contact Ted.
Unfortunately, she was with Bellatrix, and, as much as she hated the thought, she knew that she could not rely on her sister to help her. But even knowing this, Andromeda couldn't just let it her go without trying.
"Well, don't just stand there," she said to her sister. "I need to get to the hospital, unless the Hot Panini's owners don't mind me giving birth in the middle of the restaurant! Can't you call St. Mungo's on the floo network?"
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Post by Bellatrix Black on Nov 18, 2016 0:40:24 GMT -5
Bella gave an indignant look at Andromeda's attempt to tell her what to do. "If you wanted someone to order about, you had ought to think of that before you embarrassed our family! I am neither your servant nor your friend. Where is your mudblood husband you claim loves you so much? Surely if he cared for you he wouldn't have left you alone like some beached whale about to burst."
Bellatrix was sneering the entire time as her denounced sister doubled over in pain and wailed like a sick dog. She hated her sister for the shame she had put their family through and for rejecting everything they had been taught since childhood. Seeing Andromeda in such pain gave her a depraved sense of joy.
But the other patrons were beginning to stare. Bella scowled further at her sister who continued to besmirch the Black name with her hysterics, then looked to a nearby wizard with a name tag showing he worked at the sandwich shop. "Well?" she scolded him loudly, gesturing at the pathetic excuse for a witch standing in a puddle of her own making. The young man looked wide-eyed at her then turned to ring for the hospital.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Dec 1, 2016 23:30:09 GMT -5
Despite their many differences, if the situation had been reversed and Bella was the one in labor, Andi knew that she would have stood by her sister, helped her in any way possible, and been excited to greet her newborn niece or nephew. She had hoped, deep down, that Bella would feel the same way. But she clearly did not, and it seemed that there were some differences that were just completely insurmountable.
"He cares very much, and you would know that if you ever bothered to get to know him," Andromeda snapped, blinking against the tears that were filling her eyes and biting back another wave of pain that threatened to knock her down to her knees. "Whatever, Bellatrix. Just go. I can take care of myself, and the last thing I need right now is more venom and bitterness from you. I don't want your face to be the first thing my daughter sees when she comes into this world."
It hurt, realizing that nothing was ever going to change between her and her family. She might have Narcissa on her side, her last bridge to her childhood, but her parents and sister were never going to change. They'd never welcome her back--not unless she broke up with Ted. And she would rather be with a man who never judged her and even loved her when she looked like a beached whale, then to face the contempt of a family that had never understood her.
"Get out, Bella. Go find your nasty little Death Eater friends and pretend you never even saw me. Pretend you never even knew me."
She waved at the door, disgusted with everything. She wanted to send a message to Ted, but she couldn't do it while Bella was here, sucking up all the air like a dementor.
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Post by Bellatrix Black on Dec 2, 2016 0:28:56 GMT -5
The man who had called the hospital came back just as Bella was about to say something very nasty to her sister. She scowled as she was not able to let loose on her traitorous sibling in front of the onlooker.
"An ambulance will be here shortly," he told Andromeda, too nervous to come too close to Andi, the soon to be born baby, or the mess on the floor.
"Gladly," she said coldly. It would be all too easy to pretend they had not met in the sandwich shop today. But as Bellatrix moved toward the door she bent down and whispered near her sister's chubby face. "You ought to be careful, Andromeda. It would simply be dreadful if anything were to happen to your new little family. Its such a shame how many babies die every day in this country. We wouldn't want anything to happen to the filthy mudblood, now would we."
She stood and walked arrogantly out of the sandwich shop, her nose in the air as she stepped out into the sunlight and left her sister and unborn niece in the hands of the nervous shop staff.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Dec 3, 2016 19:18:16 GMT -5
It was the last straw for Andi. It felt like the final nail was being driven into the coffin in her relationship with her family. In spite of everything, she had always hoped that, when it came down to it, her family would come through for her. How naive she had been. Blood might be thicker than water, but apparently the toxic sludge of hate was thicker than blood.
If the situation had been reversed and Bellatrix was the one in pain, Andi wouldn't have given a second thought to helping her. That was what family was supposed to do, wasn't it? Stand up for each other when they were in trouble, no matter what their differences were? But Andi had committed the ultimate sin in her family's eyes--she loved the wrong man. A muggleborn. Yes, she was well aware that she would have been accepted back into the fold if only she would reject Ted and their child together. But the price was not one she was willing to pay.
Her family had approved of her relationship with Rabastan, even though he was a miserable cheater who would never have made her happy. He would never have been able to love her the way Ted did. Ted loved her without judgement, with not a thought of any other woman. He treated her as an equal, rather than a prize to be won. Had things worked out with Rabastan, Andi would probably have become just like Bella. Cold and empty and devoid of compassion. She only hoped that Narcissa would not end up that way as well. Right now, Cissy was her only link to her family, and it would hurt beyond anything to lose her.
When Bella left the restaurant, Andi broke down and began to sob heavily. She really needed to summon Ted, but for the moment, she was too upset and freaked out to summon a Patronus.
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Post by Rabastan Lestrange on Dec 19, 2016 0:34:00 GMT -5
Rabastan really wasn't in the habit of frequenting The Hot Panini... it just wasn't really his style. All bright sunshine and kids barely out of Hogwarts looking for a part time job because they had nothing else to offer the world. At least, that's how he saw it.
But he was in a hurry, and it was the first sign he'd seen on his way through town, and he was hungry, so... it would have to do, and he'd try not to act disdainful when he went inside.
He opened the door just in time to see his brother's fiance make her exit, a delightful little storm cloud on her best day, but she didn't stop when he offered a greeting. He hardly let it bother him, however, and moved inside.
Everyone seemed to have formed a circle in the middle of the place, and his first thought was to question who Bellatrix had just Crucio'd, and he almost turned back, but for the voice the distress seemed to come from, and he hesitated. He could have been wrong.
"Someone needs to get her to St. Mungo's!"
If Bellatrix had done anything to her sister, and Rabastan was only half sure that's who was in the center of that ring of people, it would be best of him to stay out of it. But then, Rabastan was capable of completely surprising people, too.
"She's in labor."
Those words struck him, and he hadn't been expecting that. His hand fell from the door as he made his decision. "Let me through," he demanded in a clear voice, leaving no room for argument. "Andromeda," he said, resting a hand on her back. She was crying, and was very pregnant, so he wouldn't have been surprised if she was going into labor. Locking eyes with a woman close to them, he told her to call for mediwizards. They couldn't risk any other form of magical travel, and the weren't going to walk it.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Dec 20, 2016 22:54:44 GMT -5
Andi was seriously concerned that she might end up giving birth right here in the middle of the restaurant, and she almost didn't care. She was too upset at that moment--humiliated and hurt and lost in knowing that, no matter what optimistic hopes she might have had, her family was never going to forgive her or even speak a civil word to her again. Maybe once the pregnancy hormones had subsided, she would go back to laughing about the prospect of being scorched off the family tree like so much dead wood, but right now, it hurt almost as much as the contractions ripping through her abdomen. Your family was supposed to love and support you, and it just didn't seem fair that she had been born into a family of prestige but no love.
At least her daughter would know love. She swore to the baby whose entrance into the world was surely imminent, that she would never know what it was like to be rejected by her own family.
She was crying very hard as she thought about all of these things, and when the figure first spoke to her, she thought for a moment that it was Ted, coming to rescue her and take her to the hospital, so that she wouldn't have to name her newborn daughter Panini.
She wanted to lean against him and cry into his chest, but then she realized that the man with his hand on her back was not Ted.
"You?" she cried out. "What the bloody hell are you doing here? Are you also coming to mock and humiliate me? Did Bella sell tickets to rob me of the last of my dignity?"
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Post by Rabastan Lestrange on Apr 30, 2017 15:08:52 GMT -5
Rabastan let her yell at him. He wasn't going to pretend to know what she was going through, as birth was not something he ever intended on witnessing, let alone going through thanks to his own sex. She could be as upset as she wanted to be, and when she left space for him to respond, he put an arm around her back to support her.
"I hear you. But I'm all you've got right now, so it might be worth it to just relax and let me help. Unless you want their new sandwich to be named after your kid, hm?"
Someone had finally called St Mungo's, at least, and mediwizards pushed their way into the crowd before more than ten more minutes had passed.
Outcast or not, the woman needed help, and he still had a history with her. He'd see her safely to the hospital and find a way to get a message to her disgrace of a husband... and then he'd done his good deed. "Come on, up we go."
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Mar 10, 2018 17:28:04 GMT -5
She hated that they thought alike. She hated how his eyes were almost the same shade of blue as Ted's. She hated this situation. But most of all, she hated him. She felt his arm curl around her and she wanted to kick and fight him... but a heavy contraction ripped through her at that moment, and all she could do was scream.
She wasn't even aware of the Mediwizards when they arrived, so she was surprised when she was lifted upwards and onto a stretcher. Even more surprising was the fact that she was not levitated up, or lifted by the mediwizards, but that Rabastan himself had picked her up and lain her gently on the stretcher.
The contraction faded, and she took a deep breath before opening her eyes to look at him. She knew she should thank him for staying with her. But instead all she said was, "Why are you still here?"
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Post by Rabastan Lestrange on Mar 11, 2018 21:31:00 GMT -5
It was a good question. He should leave and let the mediwizards do their job. Someone would eventually get word to her husband, and he didn’t need to feel at all responsible for it. He shouldn’t feel responsible for her.
And yet, he didn’t answer her question right away, and the mediwizards had let him stay close, and he was still there. “You can’t really want to be alone right now, can you?” He knew the quick response was to tell him to bugger off, that she’d rather be alone than with him, so he kept talking. “That mudblood husband of yours at work today? I can have the Ministry called to summon him.”
Until then, he intended to remain a familiar face by her side.
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Post by Andromeda Tonks on Mar 30, 2018 20:54:45 GMT -5
She wanted to yell at him, to tell him that she didn't need him and that she was fine on her own. But she wasn't, not really. She was tired and drained, weakened by the effects of the contractions. She was in no shape to summon for Ted, and since he wasn't here, and Rabastan was... well, it did help to have someone with her besides the mediwizards. A part of her still wished it could have been her sister, but she knew at last that that ship had long since sailed. There would never be a sisterly reunion between her and Bellatrix. And she was fine with that.
"Yes... he's working. Don't call him that... but please, can you send him a message?" Her voice softened, and she looked at him pleadingly. Clearly, he still cared for her in some way, or else he wouldn't have stayed. Later, she would think about this surprising fact, but now she had more important things on her mind. Like the next round of contractions, which were already starting to build. Her contractions were getting closer together, but she didn't have the wherewithal to measure them.
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