Chapter 2

"Are you sure about this?" Narcissa asked, peering into Harry's piercing green eyes. Harry unlatched the lock to the small wooden gate leading to Andromeda's modest cottage. He walked into the front yard and beckoned Narcissa to join him. She hesitated for a bit before entering.

Harry sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. Narcissa had intercepted him on his way out of the soirée. She tugged on his forearm, dragging him into a dark alcove behind a suit of armor. The dim light in the hallway bounced off the metal, highlighting her pretty face. He recalled staring at her dainty hands as she spoke to him. Her painted fingernails matched her turquoise dress. He noticed a miniscule chip on her pinky that made his lips curl into a smirk. She was not as perfect as he originally thought.

She squeezed his forearm to force him into a response. He brought his gaze back to her face. Harry noticed that she was close to tears. Alarmed, he quickly agreed to do whatever she requested. He agreed if only to prevent the waterworks. He did not deal well with crying women.

"Yes, absolutely. She wants this just as much as you do," he replied. He wanted to curse himself for agreeing to this. He had no intention on being the middleman. He stepped closer to Narcissa and grabbed her hand. He squeezed it lightly.

"You can do this. I'll be around if you two need me."

"How do you know?" Narcissa asked, cocking an eyebrow up at him.

"I just do. Now, come on. We don't have all night."

"What if she hexes me?" Narcissa asked, fingering the empty holster in the sleeve of her dark green wool traveling cloak. She took a step back toward the exit.

"She will not do that," Harry insisted, tugging on Narcissa's hand. "Quit being such a coward. Let's do this."

Narcissa sighed deeply before she took a step back to Harry. He offered his arm to her and she took it. They slowly made their way up the cobblestone path leading to the front door.

A long high-pitched cry pierced the cool night air. They listened as the cry turned to shrieks. Harry instantly sensed something was wrong. Teddy never cried like that. Narcissa sensed it too and her body tensed. Harry blasted the door down with his wand. They sprinted into the house, choking on the smell of burning chocolate chip cookies that filled the air. Harry ran into the kitchen and turned off the oven.

"Andi? Dromeda? Where are you?" Narcissa called as she sprinted up the stairs. She passed by the bathroom. No light shone underneath the door. She approached Teddy's room, her heart beating furiously.

"Andi?" she called out again. She pushed the door open and her heart dropped.

Andromeda was hanging from the wooden beam, a noose fashioned out of pastel bed sheets tied around her neck. Her curly brown hair obscured her face. She was clad in a brown house dress with a floral apron around her waist. Her feet were bare.

Narcissa let out a blood-curling scream. She rushed to her sister. The paper bag in her arms tumbled to the floor, littering it with various toys she'd purchased for Teddy. She attempted to pull the body down, hoping perhaps that her sister was still alive. Her fingers wrapped around Andromeda's legs. Her hand burned at the coolness of the pale skin.

The harsh reality of the situation hit her. Andromeda was gone. Narcissa would never see her sister again. She would never get a chance to apologize for her wrongdoings and repair their relationship. It was over before it started.

Tears flowed down Narcissa's face as she sank to her knees in front of the overturned stool. She buried her head in her hands, tugging on the strands of her hair, choking on her screams.

Narcissa's crying only caused Teddy to cry louder. Harry heard the noises and dashed up the stairs. His heart sank as he caught sight of Andromeda. He quickly raised his wand and lowered her to the ground. He gingerly removed the noose from her neck. Narcissa crawled over to her sister and pressed her fingertips on Andromeda's pulse, which was silent. Narcissa placed her head in the lifeless lap. She continued to cry as she embraced her sister.

Harry froze in place for a moment, at a complete loss of what to do. He wanted to comfort Narcissa. He wanted to try to bring Andromeda back despite knowing that it was a lost cause. He wished he had the Resurrection Stone at that moment. He would bring her back without second thought. The two sisters deserved happiness.

Teddy's cries grew louder, spurring Harry into action. The boy's tears soaked the front of his dark blue, footed pajamas. His face was bright red. He clutched a yellow blanket in one hand. A stuffed sheep was in the other. Harry rushed over to Teddy, picked him up and lifted him out of the crib.

He walked out of the room and cast a silencing charm over it. He'd let Narcissa let it all out. There was no way he would let little Teddy stay there any longer. He had seen and heard enough.

"Oh, Andi," Narcissa cried as she brushed back the hair off her sister's forehead. "You could not wait for me, could you?" she asked. The rolled up piece of parchment tumbled from the pocket of her cloak. It unraveled revealing the note she had written to her sister.

My dearest Andromeda,

Love, Narcissa

Narcissa wailed, realizing that it was too little, too late. It was over before it started.

Death claimed another.