𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗜 ━━ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧
034. don't count yourself out

          "𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚?" 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘 𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗭𝗭𝗘𝗗, watching her daughter all dressed up, trying to sneak out in the pouring rain. "Are you..."

"No," Scarlet cut her off instantly. "I'm obviously not running away, I need to see a friend... that's all."

Andromeda Black has increased security for the children and teenagers in every single pureblood family after her departure. Scarlet had to give it to her—the young woman knew how to make an exit. The situation caused all these parents to walk on eggshells. 

      Just after her arrival at her manor, Scarlet received a letter from Narcissa expressing her dejection, mentioning she could not talk about the misery with anybody else and it was rather agonising.

Celeste squinted her eyes. "I'm curious now," she folded her arms. "Who is this friend?"

"Evan," she shrugged, blurting out quickly. "You know, a Slytherin pureblood, the son of the Rosiers—"

"Okay, all right, I know him!" Celeste cut her off this time, rolling her eyes. "You don't need to give me his government information, I'm not a monster."

"You might benefit from some friends, Mama," she grinned playfully. Celeste blinked at her, wondering what had gotten into the girl. "You know, ones that are not Walburga Black... she sounds like a piece of work."

"You have been spending an awful load of time with Sirius, haven't you, young lady?" she folded her arms, raising a brow. "Do not be disrespectful and ask Kaz to send me a signal if anything goes wrong."

Celeste was always too overprotective, ever since Scarlet was born. 

      The young blonde kissed her mother's cheek before opening up her umbrella and exiting.

      It was quite a long ride, and Muggles never failed to shoot her peculiar expressions whenever she would pass by in her expensive (and odd) clothes. Scarlet was never used to it because otherwise, in the wizarding world, people would stare in awe.

      Thankfully, her arrogance was enough to never let these odd looks get to her. Finally getting off the train she caught after the announcement that she had reached Brighton, she took a walk in the fresh air. It was not raining in Brighton and the air was refreshing.

      She could hear the waves crashing down on the sane, letting a sentimental of peacefulness settle into her. Before the designated house came into view, she saw a large courtyard of grass and looked down at the crumpled parchment paper in her hand, an address scribbled down on it in messy handwriting. 

      Scarlet would kill to live in such a neighborhood. She always preferred the quiet. 

      Knocking on the door, she swung herself on her feet as she waited for the door to open. Then it did open with a croaked sound.

"Hello," a voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Hi, Andromeda?" She inquired nervously, watching the woman with a pale complexion of skin furrow her brows.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Andromeda asked shakily, almost as though she had been hiding for the past few days.

"I'm a friend of your sister's," she introduced, but the girl chimed in quickly, cutting her off.

"Bella made it clear she wants nothing to do with me." If Bellatrix truly did find her, Andromeda probably would not be alive. This meeting alone was dangerous and the fear was written in the woman's expressions.

"I'm here on behalf of Narcissa," she corrected. She unclasped one of her hands from her purse and extended it for Andromeda to shake. "I'm Scarlet—"

"Ah, Scarlet Bridget." Andromeda recognised. "Given your position, you must know what is going on, Scarlet, I'm afraid anything can be undone—"

"I was hoping we could talk... just for a moment,"

Andromeda hesitated for a moment. However, in her mind, she was sure her family would not even think about getting her back—therefore, this was not going to be a persuasion away from her new life.

"TED! COME, WE HAVE A GUEST OVER!" Andromeda shouted and Scarlet winced at the tone of her voice, she chuckled lightly under her breath. The brunette looked joyful, relatively free, Scarlet presumed—there was the sort of glint in her eyes she never saw in the other two Black sisters.

"Really? No one ever comes here–oh, hello," Ted was putting away the apron he was wearing in the kitchen, extending his arms as the blonde shook it. "I'm Ted Tonks."

"Scarlet Bridget," she firmly shook his hand, then let it go. "Nice to meet you," It felt peaceful introducing herself knowing the person on the other hand had little to no idea about who she was—it gave her an opportunity to relax.

"The pleasure is mutual," he nodded.

"Take a seat, Scarlet," Andromeda offered, then glanced towards her boyfriend. "Ted, be useful and fetch her a cup of tea." she said playfully.

Ted rolled his eyes, grinning lightly. "At your command, your highness," he mocked.

"That won't be necessary, Andromeda," Scarlet cut in, glancing between the two with a smirk she couldn't help. "I won't be long."

Andromeda understood the urgent tone coming from her, the underlying meaning behind every gesture was quite familiar to the Blacks.

"I'll give you girls a moment alone," Ted nodded, moving out of sight.

Andromeda moved and sat opposite the couch Scarlet sat on. "What brings you here, I doubt Narcissa would send you without our parents' permission,"

"She didn't," Scarlet dismissed. "But she was heartbroken..."

"Is she doing better?" Andromeda asked kindly.

Scarlet shook her head. "She's been missing classes, locked herself up in her room... couldn't figure out why you chose that man over your family but..."

Andromeda stayed silent, waiting for the blonde to finish her sentence.

"I think I know why," Scarlet added.

"I mean this in the best way possible, Scarlet," Andromeda spoke gently. "Getting away was a blessing, and Ted... always has a reason to smile, to be happy and loving and at first it was draining... astonishing, I didn't think that level of purity ever existed."

Scarlet nodded. "I was going to convince you to come back," the blonde emphasised. "Not anymore... I think being born into a family like that is a curse that even time cannot mend,"

"But love can," Andromeda finished for her, trying to put a positive note. "I'd argue love can mend everything... Have you ever been in love, Scarlet?"

Scarlet's throat shut up, and when she spoke, her voice croaked a little. "No, I haven't."

Andromeda had this sinister smile on her face, as though she was so much older and wiser—she is, in fact. "In love or not, someday you'll find someone who will pull you out from the brink of drowning and show you that real, true love is worth it all... and nothing else will matter."

Scarlet nodded in understanding. No matter how much she claimed she knew everything, it was wise women like Andromeda who proved her wrong over and over again.

"I don't think I can find love like that unless I escape too, Andromeda," Scarlet said. "But I can't... ever escape."

Andromeda knew if she was the only child, she would have been dragged back to the Blacks the moment she left. She sadly nodded. "Well, Scarlet, love shows up at random times... and no matter how many obstacles there are, nothing can overpower love... not even the blood in your veins."

Although it was Scarlet who came to change Andromeda's mind, it turned out to be Andromeda who changed Scarlet's. "I'm not—I don't think I'd deserve it... pure and unconditional love, Andromeda, everybody already thinks I'm destined for the dark side, that I have no heart, as they put it very kindly."

"It doesn't matter what everybody else thinks," Andromeda scoffed, as though their opinions were a load of bullshit. "Don't count yourself out this early, Scarlet, you're all sorts of things you don't even know yet."

There was a knowing look in Andromeda's eyes, a twinkle of hope for the girl—as though she saw something nobody else did.

"And the fact that you're here on behalf of Cissy shows me you have a good heart," Andromeda continued. "I really hope you find someone who makes you forget about the cruelty of the world."

There is someone who makes me forget about the cruelty of the world, Scarlet thought. Scarlet was debating whether the words spoken could be applied to Sirius—whether there would ever be love between them if she tried hard enough. However, she was not going to tell the brunette woman that the 'real, true love' she referred to could literally be Andromeda's cousin.

"After all, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, I guess," the blonde smirked.

Andromeda laughed at that. "What's a pureblood like you doing learning muggle phrases?"

"Let's say I have found some inspirational acquaintances." Scarlet stood from her seat, knowing the mere reason she tracked her down did not exist anymore. 

Andromeda chuckled lightly. "Would you like to come to our wedding," she blurted out suddenly, she couldn't help it. "It's on the 31st, only Ted's family is coming... I don't have anyone from my side."

Getting married on New Year's Eve did sound exciting, however, Scarlet was convinced she would have an Autumn wedding. Perhaps it was all that talk from Everest about how all her brothers got married in Autumn and it was 'the best thing ever', as the girl put it.

Scarlet felt sorrowful all of a sudden. "Andromeda..."

"Call me Andy," she smiled sheepishly.

"I'm sorry, Andy... you know all the arrangements the Bridgets make around this time of the year," Scarlet shrugged guiltily. "But do send me an invite, I'd love to sneak out again and see you two unite,"

Andromeda was contemptuous of her kind words, not offended at all. "That is no worries, it was a long-stretched offer anyway."

She grabbed her purse, starting to make her way out after shooting Andromeda a kind smile. The two girls stood by the door as Scarlet put her coat back on.

"Tell Ted it was nice meeting him," Scarlet said.

Andromeda spoke loudly enough for Ted to hear, "Of course, Scarlet! I'll definitely tell Ted to get a haircut!"

"MY HAIR IS PERFECTLY FINE!" A loud, offended voice came from the kitchen. Scarlet chuckled, turning away.

However, something made her turn around again, watching Andromeda hold onto the door handle—ready to shut the door.

"Andromeda?"

"Yeah, love?"

"After all this is over..." she slowly started. "Even if Narcissa can't, I hope someday you can put all the hurt behind and reunite with her."

"I hope so too... someday," Andromeda answered. 

Truth be told: she had no intention of reuniting with any of her families—not after the lack of tears shed and love shown for her ever since the moment she escaped. However, Scarlet had that sort of magic to change people's minds at first encounter. To make others second-guess their lack of hope without even meaning to. It was ironic for a girl like her... tragic even, that she was born into a family where only darkness existed.

      Andromeda wished her the best. She started to understand what the big deal was about her. A part of her ached because she knew—no matter what she believed—that a girl like her was destined to never end up on the bright side. And for a moment, she thought that if any pureblood deserved to be an anomaly and escape the darkness, may it be her.

      Scarlet stared at her just for a moment. Then she whirled around, making her way out of the flowers and plants-filled house.

      It was the last time Scarlet ever saw Andromeda Black.

𝑪𝑨𝑹𝑨 𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑨𝑲𝑺

I messed up the timeline, dora should 
already be born by now. maybe I'll come back
and change it later on, please ignore that mistake
for now =(