The Marauders Begin (I)

A Black Christmas

December 25, 1971

WALBURGA: All right, dinner time! Regulus, tuck in your shirt. Kreacher! Where is that God-forsaken elf?

In Grimmauld Place, the Black family gathers for Christmas dinner. ORION, WALBURGA, CYGNUS, and DRUELLA are gathered at the head of the table, along with ALPHARD, LUCRETIA, and IGNATIUS PREWETT. At the end of the table, ANDROMEDA and NARCISSA sit with REGULUS.

KREACHER: (entering the room slowly) Mistress has called for Kreacher?

WALBURGA: Fetch the elf-made wine from the cellar, Kreacher. And the glasses as well.

KREACHER: Certainly, Mistress Black.

WALBURGA: All right, let's dig in while the shepard's pie is still hot.

NARCISSA: (sitting down) Mother, where's Bella?

DRUELLA: She and Rodolphus wanted to spend their first holiday together alone, Narcissa.

ANDROMEDA: (murmuring) Wonder why.

LUCRETIA: Dinner looks splendid, Walburga, dear.

WALBURGA: Thank you, Lu. I could've used with an entire army of house-elves earlier today, but no matter.

LUCRETIA: So, Andromeda, darling. What are you planning after you graduate this spring?

ANDROMEDA: (beginning to eat her food) Haven't the faintest.

DRUELLA: Andromeda! Mind your tongue.

ANDROMEDA: What? It's true! I haven't got any idea what I want to get into in the wizarding world.

DRUELLA: Well, maybe these are things that you should start thinking about.

LUCRETIA: I'm sure a beautiful, young, Slytherin Prefect has got loads of options! Why, you could work for the Ministry. Tell her, darling.

IGNATIUS: Indeed. Always spots opening left and right. Ministry continues to grow like wildfire.

NARCISSA: I think it would be fascinating to work for the Ministry.

ANDROMEDA: (sarcastically) Do you?

DRUELLA: If I hear one more smart remark from you, young lady, you're going straight upstairs!

ANDROMEDA: You know what, Aunt Lu? I think I would like to work for the Ministry. Specifically Muggle relations.

LUCRETIA: Really?

ANDROMEDA: Oh yes. I think It's the way of the future. It's highly important that we as wizards are fluent with our Muggle neighbors, in order to promote Muggle-awareness to wizards.

NARCISSA: 'Dromeda-

ANDROMEDA: I also think that we should promote the idea of more Muggles attending Hogwarts. Higher diversity leads to a more advantageous education.

DRUELLA: That is enough.

ANDROMEDA: (angrily) Why? What is it that makes Muggles so different from us?

DRUELLA: You really want to know?

ANDROMEDA: (crossing her arms) Yeah, why don't you tell me?

DRUELLA: Because we are a unique race, you ungrateful girl! We have been granted an invaluable gift that must be perfected in our own way, apart from those who have not!

ANDROMEDA: How does that make Muggles any less decent human beings than us?

DRUELLA: You study history, don't you? Have you ever learned what always happens when wizards try to co-exist peacefully with Muggles? War. That is what happens. Is that what you want?

ANDROMEDA: No.

DRUELLA: Then watch your mouth and stop talking about what you don't understand. Good Lord, first it's you, then it's Sirius getting Sorted into Gryffindor. What in God's name has gotten into this family?

ANDROMEDA: Maybe it's for the best that Sirius is in Gryffindor.

DRUELLA: And why is that, dare I ask?

ANDROMEDA: Because maybe he'll learn something worthwhile there, instead of the racist ideals that have been shoved down my throat since the day I was born!

NARCISSA: (under her breath) Stop it!

ANDROMEDA: Why do you think he chose to stay at school? I think being Sorted into Gryffindor was the best thing that ever happened to Sirius, and that includes being born into this family!

ANDROMEDA throws her napkin on the table and storms out of the room. NARCISSA quickly follows her as she sprints up the stairs.

NARCISSA: (calling after her) Congratulations, you just ruined another family function.

ANDROMEDA: That's all I'm good for around here, isn't it? (She enters her room, throws open her trunk, and begins piling her possessions inside).

NARCISSA: Would you stop for one minute-

ANDROMEDA: No. I won't. Tell Bella to meet me at Borgin and Burke's. Tonight.

NARCISSA: What?

ANDROMEDA: We're gonna fix that cabinet. And then I'm going to use it to go back to school.

NARCISSA: You're going back to Hogwarts? Now?

ANDROMEDA: That's right.

NARCISSA: Why?

ANDROMEDA: Because I cannot stand to stay in this house one day longer. I'm going back to school, and after I graduate, I will never come back here.

NARCISSA: Really. What are you gonna do?

ANDROMEDA: (magically sealing up her trunk) Whatever it takes.

NARCISSA: And you think Mum will just step aside?

ANDROMEDA: She had better.

NARCISSA: (hesitates) You're really going, then?

ANDROMEDA: (nods) Be sure to tell Bella. I'll see you back at the castle.

NARCISSA watches as ANDROMEDA picks up her trunk and promptly vanishes from sight as she DisApparates from the house. Left alone, NARCISSA stands still for a moment before she returns to her family downstairs.