The Dark Lord's Pet Princess

12. For Love

When Larissa returned home for Christmas, she was mostly ignored by her mother, who was too busy praising Regulus for behaving well during his first term at Hogwarts.
Since being ignored was better than being beaten, Larissa had quite an enjoyable Christmas.
On Boxing Day her and her family travelled to the Black manor to join her cousins.
Larissa's grandparents; Pollux and Irma were also there, as was Walburga and Cygnus's other brother Alphard, who had been the only sibling not to marry.
Bellatrix was also returning to the manor for dinner, along with her husband Rodolphus.

The family was gathered in the dining room, awaiting the arrival of Andromeda who had left earlier that morning, to deal with some unexplained business.
"Andromeda should be back any minute, Larissa why don't you go and wait for her by the front door" instructed Walburga.
Larissa had no choice but to do as her mother said and head towards the door.
After a few long minutes, Larissa saw Andromeda apparate outside, but she was not alone.

"What on earth is he doing here?" Demanded Larissa, as she looked at Ted Tonks, who was stood beside Andromeda.
"I want him to meet the family" revealed Andromeda.
"Are you perhaps short of a marble? If you take him in there, they'll kill him" replied Larissa.
"Even our parents wouldn't be foolish enough to murder someone in their own home, in front of witnesses"
"Say you're right, say they don't kill him, you can't expect them to be happy for you. They will demand that you break up with him"
"That is something I will never do".

"Andy, if you do this, our family will disown you. You will never be welcome back here, ever again" Larissa said quietly.
"I know. But I have to do this" admitted Andromeda.
"Why? Why can't you keep this a secret" Questioned Larissa.
Andromeda pulled out a necklace from under her clothes, and it didn't take Larissa long to realise that the pendant on the chain, was a ring.
"Ted asked me to marry him, and I said yes. Which is why we need to tell my parents" explained Andromeda.

"And are you prepared to accept the consequences that will come with marrying him?" Asked Larissa.
"I hope it will not come to that. But I will do whatever it takes to marry the man that I love" answered Andromeda.
"Is he really worth it? Is one man's love, really worth being thrown out of your family home? Do you really care for him, more than me, more than your parents, and more than your own sisters?" Questioned Larissa.
"Yes. I love him, and I always will. He means the world to me, and I don't want to ever live without him".

Larissa sighed, "Fine then. I won't stop you from telling everyone the truth".
"Can I count on you to back me up in there?" Asked Andromeda.
"No. I'm sorry, but I can't stand up for you in front of my parents or yours. My mother would kill me, if I took your side. It's alright for you, because you are an adult fighting for love. But I'm still a student. I can't risk getting thrown out of the family. I won't stand beside our parents, but I won't defend you either. I won't say a word in there" informed Larissa.

"You're going to let Dromeda stand alone?" Frowned Ted.
"I don't have a choice. This is not my fight. And I am not losing my family for you, I'm sorry" apologised Larissa.
"It's alright Rissa, I understand. This is my decision, and it was wrong of me to want to drag you down with me" admitted Andromeda.
"Let's just get this over with" mumbled Larissa, before turning back around and entering the house, with Ted and Andromeda following closely behind her.

"I have brought a guest to join us for dinner" announced Andromeda, as they stepped inside the dining room.
Larissa slipped away from Andromeda and headed back to the rest of the family.
"Who is this man?" Questioned Cygnus.
"I recognise him from school. He was a Mudblood in Andy's year" revealed Bellatrix.
"Are you telling me, that my pure-blood daughter has being seeing a Mudblood behind my back?" Asked Cygnus.
"Yes" said Andromeda bravely.

Cygnus rose from his chair and marched towards Andromeda.
"I don't know what kind of game you are playing, but I want this piece of vermin out of my house!" Ordered Cygnus.
"If he goes, then I go to" informed Andromeda.
"What are you talking about?" Frowned Cygnus.
Andromeda showed her family her engagement ring, causing many people at the table to gasp loudly.
"We are engaged" revealed Andromeda.

Larissa saw Cygnus face turn a dark red colour, like it often did when he was very angry.
"You are a member of the Black family. We do not associate with Mudbloods or Muggles, let alone marry them!" shouted Cygnus.
"I don't care. I love Ted, and nothing you say is going to change that" replied Andromeda defiantly.
Cygnus smacked Andromeda across the face, causing everyone to jump to their feet, and several people even withdrew their wands.
Larissa hadn't brought hers, since she couldn't use magic outside of Hogwarts, and now she was regretting not having it with her.

Bellatrix ran over to Andromeda, wanting to defend her sister.
"She doesn't know what she's saying. This Mudblood has clearly bewitched her" insisted Bellatrix.
"I have not been enchanted. I love Ted, and we've been dating for several years. And now we are going to get married" announced Andromeda.
"Don't be stupid Andy. You can't marry a Mudblood"
"I'm doing things my own way Bella. I'm not going to get married off like you. I want a life filled with love and happiness".

"You wish to bring disgrace and dishonor to this family?" Questioned Cygnus.
"How does marrying Ted do either of those things? It doesn't. He is a person, a good person. And I know that you would like him, if you got to know him" admitted Andromeda.
"We are members of the noble house of Black. Our blood is pure, and I will not have you tarnishing it" replied Cygnus as he raised his wand at Andromeda.
Ted lifted his own wand to protect Andromeda, as Druella made her way over to them.
"If this is what you want, then you will leave this house, and never return" informed Druella.
"That's fine with me" replied Andromeda.

"Andy, don't do this" begged Narcissa, as she too made her way over to them.
"I love Ted, and there is nothing you can do to change that" admitted Andromeda.
"Good on you. I think this family could do with some new decent people in it" announced Sirius.
Walburga slapped Sirius across the back of the head, causing him to fall to the floor.
"Hold your tongue boy" hissed Walburga.
Larissa dropped to the floor so that she was face to face with Sirius.
"Are you O.K?" She whispered.
Sirius spat blood onto the floor, before nodding his head.

"If you have truely made your choice, then leave. If you do this, you are to have no contact with anyone in this family, for the rest of your life" instructed Cygnus as he lowered his wand.
Andromeda nodded her head, "I guess this is goodbye then".
Andromeda took hold of Ted's hand, and the two of them walked out of the room, leaving the Black family behind.