It was fair to say that Druella was not pleased by the plans for Christmas. But she could do nothing, and dutifully added Orion and Walburga to the list of guests that was already populated by her own family, the Rosiers. Baby Sirius would be left at home with the house elves and the nurse, though the girls pleaded to have their cousin with them, especially Narcissa, who was known as the baby on the Rosier side. As December began, their mother spent her time striding about the house, muttering darkly about her in-laws, and barking orders at the house elves.

It was a cold Wednesday two weeks before Christmas Day. Cygnus was in his study, as usual, and Bellatrix was in her room. Andromeda was doing her work for Miss Travers the governess, listening to the rain that pelted the high windows of the dining room and wishing her mother had ordered a fire. Druella sat with a hand at her forehead, quill in hand, frowning at her list.

Narcissa tried to climb up on her lap, but she pushed her off, brushing down her skirt.

"Not now, Narcissa," she said, though as far as Andromeda could remember, she had never let any of her children sit on her lap. "You'll dirty my skirt. Andromeda, calculate this for me, please. If we have twenty six people, how many turkeys should we get in?"

Andromeda didn't really know, but obediently guessed, going for a low number because she knew her mother and the other ladies wouldn't eat much. "Perhaps three or four?"

Druella sucked on the end of her quill, then stopped, because that was a Common Habit. "Four may be too much, but then again, three may be too little, especially if Walburga's there. Too much is better than too little, and Papa always likes a good meal. We'll get six."

"Yes, six," she nodded to herself and wrote it down. "And you must be sure to eat properly, Andromeda. You ate far too much at dinner last night. You don't want to end up like Aunt Walburga, do you?"

Andromeda looked down at her schoolwork. "No, Mother."

"And keep your mouth closed. It's such a shame we can't fix that ugly tooth until you're fully grown," she sighed, looking at Andromeda's snaggle tooth like it was a personal insult.

Her daughter blushed and quickly shut her mouth.

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Christmas arrived with no snow. In the Black house, it was very subdued. Christmas was a muggle holiday after all, and the only reason they celebrated it was to bring the family together. There was no tree, no gifts, no Father Christmas, and no decorations. The children didn't mind. They had never known any of those things. Instead Andromeda and Narcissa snuck into the kitchens, where the house elves let them lick out the bowl for the pudding, and they got freshly baked cream buns. Unfortunately, this also meant they got into a bit of a mess. Their mother wiped cream off Andromeda's nose with slightly more force than necessary, and wrestled them into clean dresses with more than a little annoyance.

"I have told you countless times not to go into the kitchen. If you do it again, I shall have to tell Father. It's not a place for young girls."

"But why not, Mother?" Andromeda asked, her voice a little muffled by the dress that was being tugged over her head.

"It's not an appropriate place for you."

"But we like it there, Mother," Narcissa protested, wincing as her fair hair was attacked by a hairbrush. "They're nice."

"Don't be ridiculous, Narcissa. Our blood is pure, theirs is tainted. House elves aren't even human. They're animals, just as mudbloods and bloodtraitors are," the brush was yanked through a particularly vicious knot, and Narcissa let loose a hiss of pain.

"Is that why Father's sister is burned off the family tree?"

Their mother stepped back, the hairbrush continuing alone. "How do you know about that?"

"Bellatrix told me."

"Bellatrix should learn to keep her mouth shut," she blew perfect curls of blonde hair out of her eyes. "Goodness, it's hot in here."

"She said she ran away with a mudblood," Andromeda pressed. "Did she really, Mother?"

It was almost thrilling to think of somebody like that in their family.

"It was a blood traitor," she said, a little unwillingly. "She was lured away with lies, Andromeda. Blood traitors are foolish to trust in muggles. They only care about stealing our magic, stealing our wealth. They're stupid, slow creatures, going about their little lives. They're cattle," her voice held a sneer. "Worse than cattle. At least cattle have a use."

Andromeda frowned. "But why don't people do anything, Mother? Why are they allowed to go to Hogwarts and do magic?"

"Because there are very stupid people in control of it. You're too young, Andromeda. You won't understand. Not yet."

She yanked Narcissa's skirt into place, then held out her hand. "Narcissa, give me that damned rabbit or so help me."

Narcissa meekly took the rabbit out of where it had been hiding in her pocket and handed it her mother, who shoved it into her bag. "This is the end of it," she said. "You won't get this dirty thing back."

Narcissa's lip wobbled.

"But Mother-"

"Enough, Andromeda. Put on your shoes."

Andromeda shut her mouth and did as she was told, the two girls following their mother downstairs. She could hear the laughter from where the adults sat in the dining room, but the children were showed into the parlour, where Bellatrix sat with their Rosier cousins Evan and Rupert at a small table in the middle of the room. Their other cousin Aurelia had been allowed to sit with the adults, and Bellatrix was irritated.

"I hate sitting with the babies," she said, stabbing at her turkey.

Narcissa was only poking her food, and she nudged her. "What's up with you, mopey?"

"Mother took her rabbit," Andromeda only nibbled her own food. She remembered all too well her mother's warnings about turning out like Walburga.

"Well, you were getting too old for it, Cissy."

One of the house elves were polishing silverware on the other side of the room, and Rupert and Evan began to throw food at him, sniggering at every hit.

"Children," Bellatrix sighed in disdain, though they were actually both older than her.

Andromeda squirmed in her seat, deciding to abandon her food. "Here, Andromeda," Evan leaned over to her, grinning. "Ten points if you hit its head."

Andromeda swallowed. She looked to Bellatrix, who rolled her eyes, then back to Evan. Finally, she picked up her spoon, and flicked it at the house elf.

The house elf did nothing to defend himself, even as a large piece of turkey and gravy landed on his bald head and slid down to his shoulders, staining his toga-like outfit. Andromeda sat back, but as her cousins burst into laughter, all she could muster was a weak smile.

"Good shot, for a girl," Evan told her.

"Aren't you going to clean that up?" He called, as gravy splattered the floor. "Hey, you! I said, clean it up!"

The house elf turned around slowly. "Tonky will do as Mistress and Master ask, and Miss Bella, Andy and Cissy," it said slowly. "Nobody else, Sir."

Evan flushed red, and Rupert glared at Bellatrix. "I reckon you ought to teach your house elves some manners."

Bellatrix tossed her head. "Teach them yourself."

"Fine," Rupert said slowly. "I will then. You, Tonky, was it? You should know your betters. Evan! Andromeda!"

They threw even more food at him, mounds of potato, turkey, stuffing, until it was dripping off the house elf. He just wiped his eyes and carried on polishing. Andromeda threw food too, even Narcissa, with her little hands.

"Did you hear me?" Rupert roared. "Do something, damn you!"

He picked up his plate and threw it with force. Andromeda was sure the house elf could have protected himself - she had seen them use magic before. But the plate hit the house elf in the head, shattering into pieces. The elf fell to the floor, still as marble. The children froze, Rupert panting, the others staring in horror. Quickly, other house elves rushed into the room, gathered around the other, and dragged him away. At the back of the procession, a tiny house elf curtseyed to them. "Begging you pardons, misses and misters," it squeaked, before hurrying away.

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Most of the family left early, but several friends lingered. As the table was cleared, Druella and Cygnus disappeared into the drawing room with them, pulling the door shut.

"Now brush your teeth, Miss Andy and Miss Bella, and toilet, Miss Cissy, if you please," Yula the house elf said briskly, ferrying them up to bed. She had acted almost like a nanny since they had been babies. "Mistress wants Yula to put Misses to bed early."

They did what they were told, and then Yula put them to bed. Bellatrix had her own room, but Andromeda and Narcissa shared. Andromeda sleepily looked up at Yula from her bed and thought about the house elf who had crumpled to the floor.

"Yula?" She whispered. "Is Tonky all right?"

Yula busied herself with dusting the dresser. "Tonky is fine, Miss."

"But Rupert hit him."

Yula straightened the blankets. "Tonky is bad, Miss, not doing as he is told. Now, sleep for Miss Andy, and Miss Cissy."

"But Yula-"

"Sleep for Misses Andy and Cissy, and no more questions for Yula," she said firmly. She tucked them in tightly.

"I love you, Yula," Narcissa said sleepily. "You're a good house elf."

Yula's small wrinkled face cracked into a smile at the praise. "Yula loves Miss Bella, Miss Andy and Miss Cissy too. Sleep tight."

The lights went off and Yula left the room, but she didn't go to sleep. Neither did Narcissa, who kept shifting in her bed, obviously missing her rabbit. There were noises downstairs, bangs and shouts and laughter. Andromeda heard her little sister sniffing, and after a while her bed creaked as she climbed out. Then a heavy weight settled itself in her bed, fine hair tickling her cheek as Narcissa climbed in beside her.

"Don't kick me," she said crossly, as Narcissa was prone to do that, and much worse. "Or wet the bed."

"I don't wet the bed!" Narcissa protested. The bed creaked. "Andy?"

"Yes?"

"Is Tonky really all right?"

"He must be, if Yula said so," Andromeda remembered the plate cracking, the house elf falling, and suppressed a small feeling that threatened to grow.

"But he must hurt."

"Maybe. Go to sleep," she tried not to think about it.

Narcissa sniffed. "Can't. I miss Mr Flopsy."

Andromeda sighed and turned around, cuddling her little sister properly. "I mean, it, Cissy," she mumbled. "I'll tell Mother if you wet the bed."

It was a half hearted threat, and Narcissa didn't hear her anyway, head already lolling in sleep. Andromeda tried her best to sleep too, but her mind was full. She had just drifted into an uneasy sleep when the door creaked open. She hopped up, a scream building in her throat, terrified it was a monster in the dark, maybe Great Grandfather Black with his mauled face -

"Shut up, Andy!" a familiar voice hissed, and the light went on. "You'll send them all up!"

Andromeda clung to the familiar shape, her eyes half closed in the sudden brightness. It took her a moment to realise what was happening.

"Bella?" She whispered. "What are you doing here?"

"What do you think?" Her sister said, as Narcissa sat up too. Andromeda blinked in the dim light until her eyes adjusted, and she saw that she held a bedraggled toy rabbit in one hand.

"I got Mr Flopsy back."

"But I thought Mother was going to throw him out!"

She shook her head. "She was too busy today, and she always leaves things in her wardrobe. So I snuck in. Except Andromeda almost gave the game away by screaming."

"I'm sorry," she said miserably. "I thought it was - was - well-"

"Great Grandfather Black?" She mocked. "Oh yes, I'm sure he's waiting in the dark, ready to sneak in and grab you. His face has gotten even worse now he's dead, all rotten and peeling, and he stumbles around with his eyes half falling out -"

"Stop it! Stop, Bella!" Andromeda begged, and her older sister cackled. "You're such a baby," she said, pushing the rabbit to Narcissa.

"Oh Bella!" Narcissa sniffed, Belllatrix hugged her.

"There you go, you idiot," she said, and it was the real Bellatrix again, the old Bellatrix. "You can stop crying now."

Narcissa smoothed out his ears and his little bow tie, and whispered something in his ear.

Bellatrix shook her head. "You're such an odd child."

There was a sudden high laugh from downstairs, one that made her bones chill. Bellatrix chewed her lip. "Maybe I should stay here tonight," she whispered. "In case you get scared."

She put the light out and pulled the blankets down, climbing into bed beside her sisters. It was a tight fit, but Andromeda was glad of her being there. Bellatrix was practically grown up. She could protect them.

"Budge up," she hissed. "Move your leg, Cissy."

"You move your leg. Your feet are freezing," Narcissa mumbled, half asleep already.

"Be careful Cissy doesn't wet the bed," Andromeda murmured, and then, "Ow!" as her younger sister hit he.

"I do not!" Narcissa's voice was loud and clear.

"Shh!" Bellatrix snapped. "Do you want Father to cane you? Be quiet and go to sleep. And don't, Cissy. If you need a wee pinch me."

Narcissa mumbled something sulkily and turned away, jamming her thumb into her mouth. Andromeda burrowed her way into the blankets, closing her eyes.

It was hours later when the door opened again, a small and wrinkled face peering around it. Yula smiled to see them there, three little girls cuddled up together, fast asleep, protected by their own innocence and with no idea of the horror of what was happening downstairs.