Four
Chapter 4 of 6
JackieJLH"Whatever you do, they will love you; even if they don't love you, they are connected to you 'til you die." ~Deborah Moggach
ReviewedAuthor’s Notes: Many thanks to Christev for her amazing beta work!
Bellatrix'd nodded fervently, her hair brushing against Andromeda's cheek with the movement. "You have to come with me next time. Please—I can't even describe him properly. Say you'll come with me?"
Certain that she'd find the entire thing dreadfully boring, Andromeda'd declined. For nearly two years, Bella had snuck away from home or Hogwarts with Rodolphus and his friends and come back literally trembling with excitement. Finally, unable to deny her sister any longer (and feeling more than a little curious), Andromeda'd found herself slipping out of the window one night and climbing onto the back of Rabastan Lestrange's broom.
~
The first thing Andromeda had noticed when they landed was that there were so many people there. It’d seemed like half of the Slytherins in her year and above were in the clearing in the middle of the woods, along with most of their parents.
“Ms Black,” a tall—and admittedly, quite handsome—man had said in greeting, taking Bella’s hand briefly in his, and Bellatrix’s eyes had lit up at the touch. “I see you’ve brought a guest.”
Turning to Andromeda, he'd continued, “You must be Bella’s sister. Andromeda, is it?” She’d nodded, suddenly breathless. “I’m glad you could join us.”
~
During the first two meetings, Andromeda had nodded along with the other attendees as Lord Voldemort, his eyes ablaze with power and determination and confidence, spoke of a world without Mudblood influence, safe from contamination by filthy outside blood. His passion had been contagious, seeping into Andromeda's very soul.
"To ensure the continued survival of our people," he'd said one night, seeming to stare directly at her, "we must take action. We cannot allow our world to be destroyed by those unworthy of magic. It's our duty to defend it!"
Andromeda had wholeheartedly agreed, hanging on every word he'd said.
~
"He's not so great as all that," Rodolphus had grumbled one night as the four of them lingered on the roof of the Black home, all still energetic and alert after the meeting. There was just a hint of jealousy in his voice, as Bellatrix had (once again) been talking about Lord Voldemort in an awed tone. "He wears glamours—his face is all… melted. Must've had some accident or something."
Bellatrix had just rolled her eyes, her disbelief obvious.
"No, really—we've seen it. Back when he first came around looking for Dad a couple years ago," Rabastan had added quickly.
~
Rabastan had shifted closer to Andromeda as he talked. She’d glared at him.
“I don’t care,” Bella’d insisted. “He’s still amazing.”
Rodolphus had sighed, obviously very much regretting his suggestion that Bellatrix accompany him to the meetings in the first place.
“Dad thinks Lord Voldemort will end up the next Minister,” Rabastan had said, trying to change the subject. Then he’d attempted to lay his hand over Andromeda’s, and she’d pulled away, disgusted.
“You can’t possibly be serious?” she’d sniffed. Bellatrix dissolved into cruel laughter, and Rabastan turned red. The topic of Lord Voldemort had been dropped for a time.
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Latest 25 Reviews for The Ties That Bind
16 Reviews | 5.5/10 Average
Wow, that was amazing, the way she remembered him at the height of his power and now looked at him in his death.
Response from JackieJLH (Author of The Ties That Bind)
Thank you! The difference between the Voldemort of 1967 and 1998 would have to come as a sort of shock, I think. Or at least, I think so, anyway. I can't imagine him having always been the Voldie we see during Harry's lifetime, all those years ago. He never would have been so popular or have had so many followers, I think.
Anonymous
Another great chapter. :)
Author's Response: Thank you!! :D
Ooh, this is great. The temptation of Andromeda- sounds like a Greek myth. Maybe it is! The three girls, inflamed with Voldemort's fervor, are so... precisely how they should be. Bella especially, alive and believing before she twisted, is wonderful to behold.
Response from JackieJLH (Author of The Ties That Bind)
Thank you!! I love writing this family; they're so interesting, so complex, and the possibilities for them are nearly endless. Andromeda, especially, is really, really fascinating to me. It takes more than just courage to not only leave your family entirely, but to embrace ideals that your family spent your entire childhood telling you were wrong.
Anonymous
Totally looking forward to how Andromeda turns away from this craziness and then ends up with someone like Tonks.
Author's Response: It'll happen, I promise! :D The next set of drabbles should be up in a few days--I have family in town starting tomorrow, but only until Friday, so I should be able to get back to posting then if not sooner.
I've been working on an Andromeda/Ted story and it's eerie how similar some of my ideas are to yours, here. Of course, certain things are really the only way it makes sense, even if it's not there in the canon.
Response from JackieJLH (Author of The Ties That Bind)
Right, exactly--there are only cerrtain ways that some things even work in canon. I'm looking forward to seeing your story when you post it!! (Or is it already up?)
Response from Rose of the West (Reviewer)
My story is a challenge fic on another archive and I'll start posting it here in the new year.My Andromeda does make an appearance in this week's Mars chapter, if you haven't seen it.
I had always pictured that the Tedious One was quite attractive and let his victims think he could do something for them. I don't think Bellatrix would have realized what he was really like until she was too far gone to care.
Response from JackieJLH (Author of The Ties That Bind)
Right, exactly. That's actually part of the reason I have there be a two year gap between Bella's first meetings and Andromeda's. Bella has spent two years being taught to believe that certain atrocities are perfectly normal and accceptable, just the next logical step. He's really messed with her head by then. :(
What an awful day for her. Her husband already gone and now her daughter and son-in-law. She lost so much within just a few weeks.
Response from JackieJLH (Author of The Ties That Bind)
She really has. When I read that both Dora and Remus had died, my heart just ached for her. :(
Wow, this is well described, even if it's in drabbles. Wonderful.
Response from JackieJLH (Author of The Ties That Bind)
Thank you!! :D
Anonymous
I had a friend once whose parents visited German on holiday in 1937. He said while they were there, the friends they were visiting said, "We're going to go to a rally. Would you like to come?" And they thought, we're not doing anything else, why not? So they went. They said they didn't even speak German, and they were all-for whatever That Guy was saying.
I suspect it was the same for all the DE's.
Treat story, can't wait for the rest.5
Author's Response: I know that this is probably very wrong because we're talking about Nazis here, but your comment made me so happy that I can't stop grinning, because that was exactly the sort of feeling I was going for: that at first, all of these people were being drawn in to something that seemed not threatening or murderous at all, that it didn't start with some guy walking up random purebloods and saying, "Hey, want to help me kill people?" It took Voldemort years in canon to recruit his army--well over a decade, by Dumbledore's timeline--and I imagine large portions of that were spent charming and flattering and winning loyalties with charasmatic speeches and ideology that the purebloods could agree with, and the excitement of a group of like-minded people being passionate about something. And then little by little, it growing into putting those thoughts into action, and it not even occuring to half of them that what they were doing was necessarily wrong. It was just... the next logical step, to them. *shudders*
Kreacher Komfort's response: Exactly. I think he was very charming and wooed them based on what each person needed. For Severus, he needed a place to belong and to be told he was worth something, and power over other people. For Lucius, he needed to be told that one day the riff raff wouldn't be an issue. For McNair - plenty of people to beat the crap out of, and no one will bother you about it, as the people you're beating the crap out of are worthless anyway. He was the answer to all of their inner wants and needs, even when they didn't know they were looking for something.
Author's Response: Right! They say in canon that he had this army of people, a large group of devoted and loyal followers, and you don't get that by issuing death threats left and right. Later he may have ruled by fear--certainly he seemed to during the second war, when he and half of his minions seemed to have gone a bit barmy anyway--but at the beginning the image I have of him is... sort of the 'stereotypical cult leader' type.
Kreacher Komfort's response: Yeah I actually think he had a lot in common with Jim Jones. Definitely had the waxy complexion. :P
Anonymous
It's hard to remember that those three were sisters. I would find myself remembering that while reading and being startled by it.
Author's Response: It was always one of the bits of canon I wish Jo had done more with. The dynamics of that family must have been so interesting, and I found it very interesting that Ted Tonks had to leave home to try to stay safe--was Andromeda not afraid of an attack on her personally? If the house had been safe, Ted wouldn't have had to leave, so it really makes me wonder why Andromeda, despite her blood-traitor status and being an obvious embarrassment to the Black family, wasn't targetted at all. Her husband and daughter were, but not her... *shrugs* It made me think. Lol. End result: 70+ drabbles. Yay! 
Kreacher Komfort's response: There's a series of books I read by Lois McMaster Bujold. In the first book. one of the main characters is explaining to an enemy (who will later become his wife) about being presesnt when his mother was assassinated. He said, for some reason, he wasn't on the list, nor was his father. It had to do with blood lines, though, and he kind of trails off at the end, "How on earth the mad emperor thought he could come and kill my mother and think he could not kill my father, and then live to tell about it, was beyond me..." But it sounds like it was something like that. Even in her disgraced state, she was still a Black. And Bella might have begged the Dark Lord for her favor as well. And maybe Ted was just trying to keep her safe. He thought, if he left, then at least Andromeda would be safe from the pure-blood mania. Taking a chance that he could stay on the run and dodge the snatchers until it was all over.
Author's Response: I think that's exactly it--the Dark Lord doesn't really seem too interested in spilling pure blood without a good reason to begin with because really, you have to have someone to rule over when you take over the world, lol, and Bella would have protected her as much as she could, I think. Andromeda's still a Black, still Bella's sister. I think that certainly had to be a sort of protection all on its own--especially during the first war, before being bodiless or in Azkaban made Voldie and half the DEs more crazy than they already were, but even during the second, more than likely.
Sorry, I know, I'm rambling. Lol. I could really analyze the background of canon all day long if let to do so. 
It fascinates me to think about the stuff that could have played out behind the scenes.
Kreacher Komfort's response: What I really wish Jo would do is franchise the background stories. like with Dragonlance. Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hicks wrote the core novels. But then the stuff going on behind the scenes, other authors could put their storylines forward as options, and Tracy and Margaret would say yes or no.
Anonymous
Great intro, can't wait to see where you're taking this story.
Author's Response: Thank you!! I hope you enjoy it!! :D
Anonymous
Fascinating story. You make all these in between pieces very interesting.
Author's Response: Thank you!! :D This one will be longish--about 14 or 15 chapters--so I hope it keeps your interest! :D
Anonymous
*goes to read next chapter*
Author's Response: *hopes you enjoy it!*
Anonymous
seriously? someone gave this 4 stars? that's f-ing idiotic. this is brilliant. yeesh.
Author's Response: *grins* Thank you!! :D
I give you kudos on using a quote in your summary that lulled me into your fic. Then I commend you for what I see so far. This sounds like a promising fic, and I do hope you continue it. (Oh, and I love wicked_visions manips! Have you seen her next gen manips? Lovely.)
Response from JackieJLH (Author of The Ties That Bind)
I'm glad this fic caught your interest!! And yes, I've seen her next gen manips--I adore all of her stuff, really. Lol. She's so awesome. I'm always in awe of how perfect her manips are.
I'm so glad to see a little more of this around! I like this mode of storytelling, showing what's happening now in the light of certain specific moments in her memories. Who can help but feel a little satisfaction at the thought of the sister who had everything finaly being brought a bit low. Not too low. I'm sure Andromeda would trade having her husband and child alive.