The Marauders Begin (I)

Return to Diagon Alley

December 25, 1971

The streets of Diagon Alley are empty, as it continues to snow into the evening of Christmas Day. ANDROMEDA suddenly appears after Apparating there, and walks calmly through the streets, staying completely dry. She wears a hood over her head and her travelling cloak billows in the wind. She makes her way down Knockturn Alley and quietly enters Borgin and Burke's shop.

BELLATRIX: (distantly, from the back of the store) -have yet to inform me if this is capable of being mended or if it is not.

BORGIN: These things take time, Madame Lestrange. Especially after decades of idle use.

BURKE: But we believe we can restore the connection from this end.

BELLATRIX: And how will we be able to tell if it works?

ANDROMEDA: (entering the back room and removing her hood) Me.

BELLATRIX: (turning around) What are you doing here?

ANDROMEDA: I'll use the cabinet. To go back to school.

BORGIN: It might not be safe for human entry just yet, Miss Black-

ANDROMEDA: I don't care. Let me try.

BELLATRIX: (stopping her) Hold on. (To BORGIN and BURKE) Give us a moment alone, will you?

BURKE: Very well. (They exit the back room, leaving the Black sisters alone).

BELLATRIX: You're serious about this, are you? What makes you want to leave home so desperately?

ANDROMEDA: I'd rather be anywhere than that place. Sirius had the right idea, staying there over the holidays. I should have followed him.

BELLATRIX: You seem discontent lately, Andromeda. Why is that so?

ANDROMEDA: Maybe it's because my parents are adherent racists and my sister is taking orders from a serial killer. 

BELLATRIX: (stepping towards ANDROMEDA) Word on the street is you're snogging some Muggle-born behind closed doors.

ANDROMEDA opens her mouth to respond, but BELLATRIX quickly strikes her across the face, causing ANDROMEDA to let out a small shriek.

BELLATRIX: (crudely) Never. See him. Again. Do I make myself clear?

ANDROMEDA: (standing up) You don't tell me what to do.

BELLATRIX: Is that so?

ANDROMEDA: I'm not a little girl anymore! You can't control me!

BELLATRIX: But the Black family will dictate part of your future, Andromeda! You might as well accept that fact, right now.

ANDROMEDA: I won't. I'm seventeen years old, and I will make my own choices in this world. (She steps forward to the cabinet and opens the door).

ANDROMEDA: Give Mother my absolute best when you see her. And be sure she knows that I will never return to that house.

BELLATRIX: What exactly do you think you're going to do? Where will you go?

ANDROMEDA: (turning to face her sister) I'll go my own way.

ANDROMEDA steps forward into the cabinet, and closes the door. She pulls out her wand from her robes.

ANDROMEDA: (whispering) Harmonia Nectere Passus!

Immediately, the cabinet begins to come alive with energy, but after a few seconds, it goes still once more. ANDROMEDA opens the door and steps into the Room of Requirement, successfully returning to Hogwarts. She exits the cabinet, covers it back up, and makes her way out of the room. Slowly, she begins to walk through the empty corridors as she has so many times before, but she has never been more alone. She leans against one of the stone walls, crosses her arms over her chest, and begins to cry.

REBECCA: (distantly, from down the corridor) -can't believe Dumbledore is so cool!

PANDORA: (laughing) He's the best.

REBECCA: The whole school feels so empty.

PANDORA: I know. I rather enjoy the quiet and solitude.

REBECCA: I think I hear someone, is- is there someone crying down there?

PANDORA gazes down the hallway, sees ANDROMEDA, and then turns back to REBECCA.

PANDORA: Why don't you go back to your common room? I'll catch up with you tomorrow.

REBECCA: You sure?

PANDORA: (smiling) Yes. Go on, now. Hope you had a fun Christmas!

REBECCA turns around and walks away. PANDORA makes her way towards ANDROMEDA.

PANDORA: Hello, Andromeda. I didn't expect to see you back so soon.

ANDROMEDA: (wiping her eyes) Hey, 'Dora. I'm fine, I just-

PANDORA: You don't have to pretend with me, Andromeda. Why are you upset?

ANDROMEDA: My family is driving me up the wall, I- I just feel as if they don't understand me, and- and all this pure-blood mania they have-

PANDORA: Have you tried telling them how you feel?

ANDROMEDA: Of course I did! But my parents, my sisters, none of them understand! I just feel like if I make the wrong decision, then- then I'll lose all of them. I can't lose them, 'Dora, I just can't.

PANDORA steps forward and hugs ANDROMEDA, who eventually returns the embrace and gently smiles.

PANDORA: You know, Andromeda, sometimes the things we lose- they have a way of coming back to us, in the end. If not always in the way we expect.