AU - Open Post
As we know, I love my AUs and PSLs! I love exploring worlds and discovering how little changes can tumble and create big changes. My characters are top-leveled but feel free to add your own and let me know if there's someone you'd like! ♥
Honestly, Andromeda was surprised to see Narcissa here of all places. She was sure her sister wouldn't dare step foot into the Muggle side of London, let alone visit a Muggle cafe.
A small graceful smile spreads across her lips when Narcissa feigns surprise at her appearance.
"Fancy meeting you here as well, Narcissa," she says and looks down at little Nymphadora who was thankfully sleeping for the moment. "Yes, her name is Nymphadora." But if she had to guess, from knowing her sister as well as she did, Andromeda would guess that she already knew that.
"Are you leaving so soon? Perhaps we can have tea?"
She was sure she knew the answer before Narcissa could say it but still, she had to ask.
She should absolutely say no. Without hesitation, manners be damned. She cannot afford the loss of social capital that would come with being seen consorting with a blood traitor and her Mudblood child, or even with spending more time in this of all places. If anyone found out... if Lucius found out...
She exhales, looking down at the baby. She hasn't seen Nymphadora so close before, only at a distance. Sleeping, the little girl looks so peaceful, and absolutely precious. Her niece. Blood is blood, even if it's muddied, and family is more important than anything. And, after all, it's only one afternoon, and she isn't expected home for a few hours yet.
"...If you insist." She manages to make it sound like a great imposition. It's a small salve to her pride, being able to pretend she's being forced into it, even if Andromeda was pretty mild. And, really, she is being forced into it, isn't she? It would be so undignified to flee. She's got good manners. She can't be uncultured in front of Muggles. Et cetera, et cetera - the point is, it's not her fault she has to sit back down.
The knot in her chest unravels when Narcissa relents and manages a small nod. She settles gracefully into a seat on the other side of her sister with the pram close. Regardless of why Cissa is here, she is and Andromeda was going to take what she can get.
"How are you, Cissa?"
Other questions like: How are our parents? (Even if she didn't want to know) and How's Bellatrix? all went unsaid because she knew their feelings quite well.
Cissa settles into her seat, clearing her throat. Now that she's here, she doesn't quite know how to feel about it. There's a wild relief at things coming to a head, at Andromeda actually being here, at her whole deception unravelling.
"I..." How to answer, under the current circumstances? She wants to bring up Bellatrix, bring up their mother and father, bring up the family... but it just doesn't seem fair, right now. Not to anyone.
She half-smiles, tucking a lock of white-blonde hair back behind her ear, and keeps her eyes fixed on Nymphadora. The baby, at least, is uncomplicatedly cute. "I'm all right, I suppose. I've been studying for my NEWTs, of course. All the usual things. Lucius Malfoy is intending to propose soon, I think."
Andi watches Cissa for a moment, taking a moment to simply enjoy the time she has with her sister before they go their separate ways again. No doubt, never to be spoken about outside of this cafe.
When the waitress comes around and asks what she can get them, she orders tea with a thank you.
She smiles as she watches Cissa watch Nymphadora. "You can hold her if you'd like," she offers, motioning to the sleeping baby. "You will no doubt do an great job on your NEWTs. And you're happy with the match with Lucius?"
Though, as she asks it, she knows that happiness isn't the motivating factor in marriages for her family. Nor is it for any pureblood family. All the same, she wants her sister to be happy.
Hold her! Hold the baby, the one she has... no, let's not say watched, that sounds bad. The one she has wondered about for months, since she found out about Andi's pregnancy. For a moment, the delight shows absolutely unfeigned on Narcissa's face, and Andromeda is almost forgotten as she reaches out, with great care, to lift the baby out of the pram.
"Merlin..." She looks down at the child, breathing in deep. "She takes after her mother, anyway."
At least, she hopes so. The idea of Andi being a blood traitor is terrible enough. The idea of Andi having a Muggle daughter... unbearable. Even a halfblood would be better - and it's difficult not to want better for such a sweet little baby. She smiles down at Nymphadora, touching the baby's cheek, and then looks up, still smiling.
"And Lucius, I mean... oh, he's head over heels for me, you know. Falling all over himself. And we make a very pretty pair."
Andromeda smiles as she watches Narcissa pick the baby up and hold her. She quietly thanks the waitress when she sets her tea down before her and takes a sip from her cup.
"She does," she agrees with a smile. She had no such worries that Nymphadora would be a witch. She'd already seen the signs and knew it would only get stronger as she grew older. Her not being a witch never even crossed her mind.
Andi watches her sister with Nymphadora and allows herself a smile. She wished she could take a photo of this moment and hold onto it. She was doubtful she would ever have this time with her sister again in the future.
"You do make a very pretty pair," she agrees. "I am happy for you, Cissa. I wish you a very pleasant match and future together."
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royal_musings2023-03-28 06:46 pm
no subject
A small graceful smile spreads across her lips when Narcissa feigns surprise at her appearance.
"Fancy meeting you here as well, Narcissa," she says and looks down at little Nymphadora who was thankfully sleeping for the moment. "Yes, her name is Nymphadora." But if she had to guess, from knowing her sister as well as she did, Andromeda would guess that she already knew that.
"Are you leaving so soon? Perhaps we can have tea?"
She was sure she knew the answer before Narcissa could say it but still, she had to ask.
no subject
She exhales, looking down at the baby. She hasn't seen Nymphadora so close before, only at a distance. Sleeping, the little girl looks so peaceful, and absolutely precious. Her niece. Blood is blood, even if it's muddied, and family is more important than anything. And, after all, it's only one afternoon, and she isn't expected home for a few hours yet.
"...If you insist." She manages to make it sound like a great imposition. It's a small salve to her pride, being able to pretend she's being forced into it, even if Andromeda was pretty mild. And, really, she is being forced into it, isn't she? It would be so undignified to flee. She's got good manners. She can't be uncultured in front of Muggles. Et cetera, et cetera - the point is, it's not her fault she has to sit back down.
no subject
"How are you, Cissa?"
Other questions like: How are our parents? (Even if she didn't want to know) and How's Bellatrix? all went unsaid because she knew their feelings quite well.
Especially her oldest sisters.
no subject
"I..." How to answer, under the current circumstances? She wants to bring up Bellatrix, bring up their mother and father, bring up the family... but it just doesn't seem fair, right now. Not to anyone.
She half-smiles, tucking a lock of white-blonde hair back behind her ear, and keeps her eyes fixed on Nymphadora. The baby, at least, is uncomplicatedly cute. "I'm all right, I suppose. I've been studying for my NEWTs, of course. All the usual things. Lucius Malfoy is intending to propose soon, I think."
no subject
When the waitress comes around and asks what she can get them, she orders tea with a thank you.
She smiles as she watches Cissa watch Nymphadora. "You can hold her if you'd like," she offers, motioning to the sleeping baby. "You will no doubt do an great job on your NEWTs. And you're happy with the match with Lucius?"
Though, as she asks it, she knows that happiness isn't the motivating factor in marriages for her family. Nor is it for any pureblood family. All the same, she wants her sister to be happy.
no subject
"Merlin..." She looks down at the child, breathing in deep. "She takes after her mother, anyway."
At least, she hopes so. The idea of Andi being a blood traitor is terrible enough. The idea of Andi having a Muggle daughter... unbearable. Even a halfblood would be better - and it's difficult not to want better for such a sweet little baby. She smiles down at Nymphadora, touching the baby's cheek, and then looks up, still smiling.
"And Lucius, I mean... oh, he's head over heels for me, you know. Falling all over himself. And we make a very pretty pair."
no subject
"She does," she agrees with a smile. She had no such worries that Nymphadora would be a witch. She'd already seen the signs and knew it would only get stronger as she grew older. Her not being a witch never even crossed her mind.
Andi watches her sister with Nymphadora and allows herself a smile. She wished she could take a photo of this moment and hold onto it. She was doubtful she would ever have this time with her sister again in the future.
"You do make a very pretty pair," she agrees. "I am happy for you, Cissa. I wish you a very pleasant match and future together."