Be a Good Girl

Andromeda threw herself to the bed and cried. How could Bellatrix do this? Andromeda knew that she was the black sheep of the family, and had not spoken to Bella since marrying Ted, but had hoped that Bella’s actions were a result of an Imperius curse. With He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named gone, however, Andromeda was forced to realize that Bella’s actions against the Longbottoms were her own choice. It was the final, horrifying truth. Bella truly believed in the pure-blood supremacy and would go to Azkaban for it. They would never be true sisters again.

Nymphadora wandered in. “Mommy, are you sad? Please don’t cry Mommy, I don’t want you to be sad!” The little girl crawled up onto the bed and into her mother’s arms. Andromeda wiped her tears away, but did not stop crying entirely.

“I am sad, baby girl, but it’s not your fault. I’m sad because your Auntie Bella was naughty and she hurt someone. Do you remember Auntie Bella?” Even though Bella had disowned Andromeda and refused to admit she had a niece, Andromeda resolutely sent pictures and kept pictures of both her sisters about the house.

“She’s the lady with lots of black hair. I wish my hair was pretty like Auntie Bella’s.” Nymphadora’s own hair was magically dyed blond, as her natural color was the most unnatural shade of green. Andromeda had asked the Healers, but apparently none of them knew what had happened. They suggested that perhaps the problem would solve itself once the child reached magical age.

“We can change your hair color to black, baby, but I thought you liked looking like Auntie Cissy.” Nymphadora shook her head and tugged on the locks in question. Andromeda sighed and sat up on the bed, pulling her only child into her lap. “Will you promise me that when you grow up, you will be a good girl and never judge a person until you’ve spoken to them yourself?” The little girl said she would and climbed down from the bed.

“I will always be a good girl, Mommy. I’ll be your very good girl and then you’ll never be sad about me.” Nymphadora turned to run from the room, but tripped and landed on her hands and knees. The girl had been born clumsier than an ox. She looked back at her mother, eyes showing worry that she was being bad. Andromeda leaned over and tapped her daughter on the nose. Sometimes the love in her heart swelled so that she felt it would burst through her body. It certainly helped cut through the grief of losing a sister who had chosen a life worse than death.