With Love, || N.B.

𝑻𝒆𝒏

"If it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of love as there are hearts."

-Leo Tolstoy

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'This is a mistake,' Narcissa thought, her head falling into her hands. 'They're going to find out. I'm going to get disowned. My own sister is going to torture me. But maybe...just maybe...Andromeda will take me in.'

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One year ago-Summer 1971
Black Manor

Narcissa's ear pressed against the panels of the large sage door. Murmurs of her sister and a mystery person could be heard on the other side.

"Ted, what are you doing here?" Andromeda's voice was muffled, but still heard as Narcissa pressed closer. Ted? Who's Ted?

"I had to see you," the boy called Ted responded.

"If my family finds you here, who knows what they'll-" Andromeda was suddenly cut off. Narcissa tried to listen closer, getting down on her knees to look through the keyhole.

What she found was her sister, her eyes closed as a tall boy with dusty brown hair kissed her. The window to the back garden was open and Narcissa assumed he climbed up from a ladder.

"Ted," Andromeda breathed. "I'm serious. You can't be here."

"Then come with me," Ted insisted. "You said it yourself. You despise your family. And their beliefs."

"Well, I don't despise them," Andromeda reasoned, her hand coming to Ted's cheek. "Narcissa has no one else. I worry about her sometimes. She's the only one left who can break the chain, Tonks. If I go now, she'll fall prey to their propaganda. She'll become our mother, and it'll start all over again."

Tonks. Narcissa's heart stopped. The words from Andromeda slipped her mind when she realized there was a muggleborn in their house-and Andromeda was in love with him. Narcissa stood up. As she moved to turn and go back to her room, she halted. The heavily lidded eyes of her older sister met hers.

"Bella!" Narcissa's breath caught in her throat.

"What are you doing?" Bellatrix asked, her eyebrow arching quizzically.

"I'm-I'm just going to my room." Narcissa faked a yawn, her arms stretching out. "Yep! Going back to my room! Goodness! I'm so tired!"

"I'm not an idiot, Cissy." Bellatrix snapped. "What were you doing by Andy's door?"

"Nothing!" Narcissa insisted. "Really, Bella! No!" Narcissa grabbed Bellatrix's hand, pulled her back. "You can't go in there!"

But Bellatrix had jerked her hand back, pushing past Narcissa and knocking on Andromeda's door. "Andy? What's going on?"

Behind the door, Andromeda's heart stopped, her worst fears coming to play. "Ted, you have to go!" she hissed. "Please!"

"No!" he whispered, his hands grasping her shoulders firmly. "Tell them you're coming to live with me. Tell them you're leaving the family, that you wish to no longer be a part of this mess!"

"Ted, please!" Andromeda became frantic as Bellatrix's incessant knocking became louder. "If she sees you here, she'll torture you, or worse!"

"Unlock the door, Andromeda!" Bellatrix demanded.

"Bella, please!" Narcissa grabbed onto her sleeve, attempting to pull her away. "Leave her alone!"

"Get off, Narcissa!" Bellatrix hissed, her eyes aflame with craze.