Andromeda checked every day for the next six months, but was forced to accept that there was absolutely no growth in the chest area. She kept a close eye on Narcissa too, and was relieved when her little sister didn't suddenly start maturing before her.

In early June they went shopping for outfits, and Andromeda blushed red when her mother told the assistant she was eleven. She was embarrassed about her dress size too. It was bigger than Bellatrix had been at her age, and Druella didn't waste time telling her she was too chubby and she would be bullied at school if she didn't lose weight.

Andromeda was already nervous enough about Hogwarts in September, and she decided just before the wedding that she wasn't going to go at all. She didn't want to leave Narcissa behind, and she certainly didn't want to sleep in a whole dormitory full of girls like Bellatrix. When she told her father this in his study, he laughed.

"Don't be silly, Andromeda, you must go to Hogwarts. It's your birthright."

"But I don't need to," she said helplessly. "Father, can't you teach me all the subjects?"

He shook his head. "I can only teach you so much."

As she watched, he put some of his manuscript into a drawer and locked it. He spent most of his time in his study now, ostensibly working on his book. He spoke about it like it was a masterpiece that would change wizardkind forever, but Druella treated it with derision, saying it was just nonsense. He wouldn't show Andromeda his work, but she was excited to read it.

"Run along now, Andromeda," he said dismissively, and she did as she was told, closing the door behind her.

Druella took a different approach. "Don't start with this nonsense, Andromeda," she groaned, two days before the wedding. She had a headache and was lying in the darkened parlour with a cool cloth on her forehead.

"It's not nonsense, Mother. I don't need to go, I know a lot of stuff from Miss Travers and Father already, and anyway Narcissa needs me to take care of her."

"Narcissa is old enough to take care of herself, and it's only a year until she goes too. Now leave me alone, Andromeda."

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵　　‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

The day of the wedding dawned bright and beautiful. They were staying with their grandparents in Yorkshire, and everyone gathered in the manor hall. Cygnus wore black dress robes, and Bellatrix wore blood red, while Narcissa wore pink and looked adorable. Andromeda wore blue. They all waited for Druella, and when she finally came out, they blinked. She was wearing a white dress, which set off her golden tan nicely. Her golden curls spilled over her shoulders, she wore high shoes, and her blue eyes were perfectly outlined.

Cygnus, who never seemed to notice how attractive his wife was, just sniffed. Narcissa skipped around happily, probably the only one who was properly excited. "I feel like a princess," she told Andromeda, swirling her petticoats. "Don't you?"

"Not really," she was uncomfortable in her dress, especially with how tall and slim Bellatrix was. She felt like a squat little goblin in comparison, especially when her grandmother kept tutting at her and telling her to suck in her stomach.

When Aurelia came down the stairs, she was blushing pink. Stylists had twisted her brown hair back into her veil, and done her makeup.

"She looks very pretty," Andromeda said, trying to be nice, even though it wasn't really true.

"No she doesn't," Narcissa hissed, sounding puzzled. "Her nose is all beaky and her lips are weird and – ow!"

Bellatrix had just stamped on her foot and glared at her, so she lapsed into sulky silence.

The wedding party encountered a problem when they went to catch the portkey. There a minute late, so it had left without them.

Aurelia's lip trembled.

"Don't cry, darling!" Persephone said anxiously. "You'll spoil your makeup."

"I – don't – care! It was supposed to be my perfect day, and now it's ruined!"

Bellatrix sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose with her forefinger and thumb whilst Persephone tried to explain to her daughter that they would get a portkey as quick as a wink.

They got the portkey sorted easily. Andromeda had half hoped that Augustus wouldn't turn up, but he was there waiting at the top of the aisle, and he gave a nervous smile when he saw the family filing in. They sat down together, and Druella was holding her hands together so tightly that when she moved them Andromeda saw that her perfectly manicured nails had left little half moons in her palms.

Andromeda wished something would happen to interrupt the service. She kept glancing at her mother, hoping that she'd leap up and yell that she was the one Augustus should really be marrying, and then he'd realise his mistake and they'd all be happy. She imagined Augustus as her stepfather, teaching her to paint and training her to be a proper artist....

She frowned as she saw Cygnus. She had forgotten about him. Where would he fit in in this fantasy world?

She didn't have to contemplate the answer because nothing happened. The service ran smoothly, and when Aurelia tossed her bouquet of flowers, it was a pink cheeked Bellatrix who caught them.

"Perhaps we'll be at your wedding this time next year," their grandmother told her.

Bellatrix laughed, but she looked rather hopeful. She sat beside her sisters as they ate, looking at their newly married cousin.

"That girl's so soppy," she said in disdain, putting down her knife and fork. "All of this is such a waste of time. When I get married, it will be so much simpler. I won't bother with all this fuss. I don't think I'll even invite most of the family."

"Mother won't like that," Andromeda said absently. She was biting her nails, anxious about the piano piece she was supposed to play after the food. She went to reach for more potatoes, but caught her mother's eye and instead pushed her plate away.

"Can I be your bridesmaid?" Narcissa asked hopefully. She had looked wistfully at the line of young ladies in yellow who were seated around Aurelia.

"You'll both be my bridesmaids. You can wear black."

Narcissa's face fell. "You know I don't look nice in black, Bella. Mother says I'm too fair."

She laughed. "All right, you vain little creature. You can wear the prettiest pink, with a long white train and a whole team of house elves to carry it, your hair all in ringlets and your own entrance music."

Narcissa had been half taking her seriously, but then slapped her arm. "Don't tease, Bella! But can I wear pink?"

"You can wear whatever colour you want," Bellatrix said, in a good mood for once. "Watch out, Andy. You're next."

Andromeda's stomach squeezed horribly as she saw them setting up the piano for her. Just before she got up, she felt Narcissa squeeze her hand gently. "Good luck," she said.

"Thanks," Andromeda's mouth was as dry as if it had been full of cotton. She could feel everyone's eyes on her as she went to the piano, silently cursing her mother for putting her forward for this. Aurelia looked a little bored already, and Augustus nervous, but he gave her a small smile of encouragement as she sat on the stool.

She played slowly at first, her fingers clumsy, then picked up speed and confidence, keeping her eyes trained on the sheet music. She could feel people's eyes on her, and burned. The faster she played, the quicker it would be over.

She was reaching the end when it happened. She tripped up, forgot her place, and hit the wrong notes.

She could feel the sweat on her face as she looked at her parents, Cygnus stone faced, Druella impossible to read. Everyone was staring at her. Everyone knew that she had made a mistake.

She could feel tears threatening, but then she heard applause. Augustus was clapping for her, and then, hesitantly, others joined in. Weak with relief, Andromeda went back to her seat, but she could feel her mother's eyes on her.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵　　‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

When the dancing began, she did her best to avoid her mother. Cygnus spoke to some other gentlemen, sitting at the refreshments table, and Andromeda, feeling awkward, just lurked around beside him. He had just risen to dance with a woman in green as Narcissa came over, looking rather depressed.

"Bellatrix went off with some girls," she said. "She told me to bugger off."

"Oh well," Andromeda sighed.

They slipped away from the ballroom and sat on the stairs, where they could only hear distant music and the steady groan of the ghoul upstairs.

"I wish Bellatrix wasn't so mean," Narcissa said, poking the loose carpet on the steps.

"I suppose she's got her own friends now."

"I wish we could have friends," she said glumly. "I bet when you got to Hogwarts you'll make heaps."

She had a lump in her throat. "I don't think I will. They'll probably all laugh at me."

"No they won't. You're so clever all the teachers will like you too."

She tugged at the loose carpet. It was a rather ugly green, and she stared at it determinedly as she mumbled, "I'm going to miss you, Andy."

"Oh Cissy, I'll miss you too. But Mother and Father say I have to go."

Narcissa wiped her eyes, abandoning the loose carpet. "You better write me letters."

"Of course I will. And you too."

"Miss Travers will check mine though."

"The best thing about Hogwarts will be not having to look at her anymore. And then when you start Hogwarts, Cissy, the best thing ever will happen!"

"What?" She sniffed.

"She'll have no job anymore!" Andromeda said triumphantly. "So we won't ever have to see her again."

Narcissa laughed, and then she suddenly hugged her sister.

"You'll ruin your hair," Andromeda murmured.

"I don't care," she said in a muffled voice. "I wish I could cut it all off. I will, too."

"You will never!"

"I will."