The Marauders Begin (I)

Andromeda's Dilemma

December 2, 1971

The door to the Room of Requirement opens once more, and the Slytherins enter quietly before closing the door behind them. The Room continues to take the form of the Hiding Place, filled with lost and forgotten artifacts.

ANDREW: (astounded) Good God.

NARCISSA: It's something, isn't it?

ANDREW: What is all this stuff?

LUCIUS: We're not sure. We think someone found out that Bella was using this room for the Dark Arts, and then they trashed it. Anyway, this is where we found the cabinet.

ANDREW: Where is it?

LUCIUS: Back here.

ANDREW follows LUCIUS and NARCISSA to where the cabinet stands near the rear of the room. ANDROMEDA walks with them as well, but remains silent.

ANDREW: (running his hand along the door and looking inside) Have you gotten it to work?

LUCIUS: Not exactly. We've put everything we could think of inside, but it all remains.

NARCISSA: At first, we thought it was just deteriorating after all these years.

LUCIUS: Yeah, but we're starting to think that the damage done here isn't just physical.

ANDREW: What do you mean? You think it's cursed?

LUCIUS: Probably not cursed, but whatever got this cabinet working in the beginning must have been really complex magic. And to have something as powerful as this go untouched for decades in here, it might be beyond repair at this point.

ANDREW: Why are people so interested in these things anyway?

LUCIUS: Borgin and Burke said they used these ones to sneak in Dark artifacts to the school.

NARCISSA: But we think the Death Eaters might make other uses. You know, keep a spare one in their house or somewhere, and if someone unwanted came looking for you, you could just... disappear for an hour or two.

ANDREW: And you don't know why Bella wants this specific one fixed?

NARCISSA: No. Apparently we're not worthy enough to know the reason why.

ANDROMEDA: (quietly) Can't be anything good, though.

NARCISSA: (turning to her sister) What did you say?

ANDROMEDA: (speaking up) Come on, Cissy. You know that for whatever reason Bella wants this cabinet fixed, nothing good can come of it.

NARCISSA: And if it doesn't get fixed, a lot of bad can come of it as well. What's your problem?

ANDROMEDA: My problem is that we're taking orders from Death Eaters, for God's sake! And you two are underage!

NARCISSA: This is the life we choose, 'Dromeda! This is the world we live in. I'm not saying it's ideal, but if following the Death Eaters ensures the protection of my family, then the choice is very clear for me.

ANDROMEDA: I don't feel the same way. Some things are more important than family.

NARCISSA: Whatever. I'm not having this argument with you again. Lucius, come on. (She and LUCIUS make their way out of the Room of Requirement).

ANDROMEDA: (glancing over at ANDREW) You think I'm wrong as well, don't you?

ANDREW: Of course not. But Narcissa isn't wrong, either. She's just worried about you.

ANDROMEDA: No one has to be worried about me all the time, you know! I'm fine on my own, anyway.

ANDREW: You know she looks up to you.

ANDROMEDA: You just don't understand. Your family isn't with the Death Eaters. You-Know-Who didn't show up to your sister's wedding, did he?

ANDREW: (smiling) No, he didn't. Not yet, anyway.

ANDREW walks over to ANDROMEDA and hugs her. He tries to kiss her as well, but she pushes him away.

ANDROMEDA: I'm sorry.

ANDREW shakes his head and turns away from her, facing the cabinet.

ANDROMEDA: I told you that I'm not ready to be in a relationship with you right now!

ANDREW: I know you did. And I told you that I am ready.

ANDROMEDA: I don't know what you want from me, Andrew. I really don't.

ANDREW: What I want is for you to be yourself, Andromeda. I want you to be free. You're not the same person as before. You've locked yourself away, you're not open, and you're cold. It hurts me to see you this way.

ANDROMEDA: I'm cold, am I? What the hell are you even saying?

ANDREW: You know what I'm saying.

ANDROMEDA: (laughing mockingly) Yeah, okay. Well, in case you haven't noticed, I'm going through a lot of rubbish with my family right now, so if you could maybe at least act like you understand what I'm putting up with!

ANDREW: Yeah, everything is your family's fault, and you're completely innocent in all this, aren't you?

ANDROMEDA: What the hell have I done wrong? My sister is the one who's taking orders from Voldemort, and I'm just supposed to go along with it?

ANDREW: Maybe you should, Andromeda. Maybe you should. Because if you don't, you're going to be turning your back on everything. Your family, your career, and me.

ANDROMEDA: (beginning to cry) And what if I can't? What if I just can't do that?

ANDREW: (hesitates) I don't know, Andromeda. But you need to understand the magnitude of your decisions. What you choose to do now- it could dictate your entire future.

ANDROMEDA: (strongly) I will control my future. Me alone.

ANDREW considers her for a moment, then turns away and walks out of the room, leaving her alone.