Chapter 3-A Bad Friend!

Chapter 3

ANDROMEDA BLACK

The middle child of Cygnus Black found herself in the bustling hall of the infamous Leaky Cauldron, waiting for a very angry, and rightfully so, Alden Potter.

Both she and Alden had been friends for years. As Andromeda found it difficult to mingle with the usual Slytherin crowd, she had to look elsewhere for friends, and in her search, she had stumbled upon Alden Potter.

She had met him previously of course, once or twice and from a single meeting in the first year had blossomed a bond that she often felt was even stronger than the one she had one enjoyed with her sisters.

But Merlin! Was that bond being tested now? It was all because of Narcissa, but what could she do? She was her sister.

As she watched the doors to the diner open, the familiar form of Alden stepped into the bust diner, his amethyst eyes scanning the crowd, landing on her. And he was angry. Very angry, though she should have realized that from the howler he had sent to her in the morning.

He rushed towards her as she sighed. As he reached the table, she stood up and spoke up, cutting him off.

"What the hell And…."

"I can explain!" she cut in, making him stop as she motioned for him to sit. He groaned and emptied his pockets on the table, as per his habit, and a pair of keys and a pack of muggle cigarettes appeared on the table.

"Have you had breakfast?" she questioned, and he nodded as he motioned towards her.

"Have you?" and she shook her head.

He nodded as he called a server and ordered for her before he leaned forward, and she knew that it was time to give the explanations he had prepared herself to give for the whole night.

"What happened, Black? You told me that this would not happen, and in the morning, I found a letter from Arcturus nearly asking for a goddamn betrothal," he said, and she could see why he was so angry.

"I know, but there was little choice," she began, and over the years, she had come to confide him in quite a bit. He was amongst the few people who knew of her relationship with a certain Hufflepuff and also had an inkling about her plans to run away.

"Father was distraught and created a scene at the family dinner, and he was angry. Very angry," and she saw his face lose much of his anger, replaced by concern at her retelling.

"He was shouting at Cissa and forcing her to talk to Lucius about the match. She didn't know what to do and continued with the lie," she finished and saw him lean back as he lit up a cigarette and began to smoke.

"I had expected as much," he replied after seconds of silence as the server brought for her a plate of toast and sausage without beans. She hated them, much like him. Their hate for them was one thing that had brought them together.

"But still, Andy, you have to resolve this. My mother chewed me out quite a bit because of that letter. She began to accuse me of getting you pregnant," and she nearly choked on the bite of food and began to cough as she pushed it down with water.

And if that damn smile on his face was anything to go by, this had been intentional.

"WHAT!" she nearly shrieked as he shrugged.

"She seemed to have the opinion that the letter was about you and me rather than me and Narcissa," he replied, and she could see why she would imagine that, for unlike him and Cissa, he and she were much closer.

"Well, unfortunately for you, I am already taken," she replied as she wiggled her brows, and he rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, and such a blessing that is. We should all thank Ted for the sacrifice he is making for our sake," he joked in response, and had they not been in a packed diner, she would have cursed him then and there.

"And about what I said earlier, Andy. You have to resolve this, please," he said, and she wet her lips as she leaned forward and opened her mouth.

"Very funny, but about earlier, I am afraid that won't be possible," she said with a wince and watched as his eyes widened at her words.

"What do you mean it isn't possible? Just have Cissa go to Arcturus or your mother and explain everything and clear up this whole mess," he said. She knew that it was too much, but if the scenes from last night were anything to go by, that was not an option.

"I am sorry, but doing so would be like handing the reigns back to our father. The only reason Father couldn't force her back into Malfoy's clutches was because Arcturus favors you over him if he learns that we lied to him. She will be at our father's mercy again," she said and saw his lips thin.

"But I told the mother that this was all a misunderstanding and it would be cleared up by tonight. What the hell am I supposed to tell her and Father," he groaned, and she pushed the plate to the side.

"Please, for our friendship's sake, you have to play along for a year," she continued.

"A year!" he said, shocked, and she nodded.

"Yes, a year. You already know that I plan to vanish at the end of the year. I will take her with me, but please, I beg you, just play along for a year," she pleaded to him and saw him shake his head.

"You ask too much of me. Already Victoria broke up with me because of this," he said, and she rolled her eyes.

"You should call that a blessing. You can do much better than that Parkinson bitch!" she said, and he could. That blonde bitch had been after him since day one because of his looks and status.

"Not this again," he groaned, and she pushed on.

"What this! All the girls of Hogwarts whisper that" she conveyed the popular, and though it loathed her to agree with the school's female population, they were right this time. Yet their reasons may be different.

Victoria Parkinson could be described in one word as a 'snooty bitch' while Alden may appear as a rude, rich, bast… bachelor. Bachelor. He was much more gentle and caring than people thought, and that is why the match between him and that bitch didn't make sense.

"It doesn't matter, I cannot do this for a year. I can no…." he said as he shook his head, as she pleaded once more. She didn't let him continue and cut in.

"Please, Alden. You, of all people, know just whom Malfoy is associated with and what marriage with someone like him could mean for Cissa," she said and saw him still at her words.

"I have already lost one sister. I don't want to lose another," she replied and saw his mind race as his lips thinned, and she could see his mind race as he bit his lip and shook his head before finally cutting through the damning silence.

"Has your sister agreed to this?" he asked with a sigh, and she felt her sorrow vanish as she gave him a smile and nodded.

"Yes, she has," she replied. And what was there to object? She would be dating perhaps the most eligible bachelor of their generation.

"What the hell am I supposed to tell Mother," He groaned as he rubbed his forehead, and she cut in.

"I will talk to her and explain everything; if anyone can understand and sympathize with this, it is her," she said, and she knew the woman would help them.

Yet he shook his head.

"No, let me talk to her by myself first because I can assure you, she won't like this."

0000

BELLATRIX LESTRANGE

The eldest of Cygnus's children found herself standing in front of the savior of their kind. Her eyes lowered apologetically as she told him about her family's latest blunder, while in her heart, she raged at Narcissa for her choices.

How could she not see the sense of greater purpose and delude herself? Their society was on the precipice of change, a change led by the man standing opposite her. His magical prowess was unimaginable and unmatched, and even Dumbledore feared facing him.

"I must say, I was rather surprised by the news that the match between Lucius and your sister failed to materialize," the man began. A hint of disappointment laced his tone as she felt those red orbs turn towards her, looking through her.

"I had thought the Blacks wished to join me in this great purpose?"

Bellatrix nodded quickly as she looked up.

"Of course, my lord. You have our allegiance. My family shall lend you our complete support in your great ventures," she said, assuring him of her family's support. The man turned to face her, and she saw those eyes shimmer as he retorted in an angry tone.

"Yet your Head of Family refuses to swear as such, and now he has even denied the match between your sister and Lucius. A match, I heavily endorsed," he said, his words causing her to look down in embarrassment.

And she cursed Narcissa for putting her on the spot like this, for refusing to look at the big picture as she bowed her head.

"I apologize, my lord, but my sister has found herself besotted with someone else, yet there is no need to worry. I have admonished her and ordered her to end whatever farce she had begun…."

But the Dark Lord cut in.

"There will be little need of that, despite Lucius's and mine assurance Abraxus was highly disappointed in your sister's behavior and wished to annul this whole arrangement," he replied, and she stilled at those words, though she had expected as much.

"Tell me, who is it that your sister finds more suitable for herself than Lucius, one of the future leaders of this generation," he questioned, and she gulped nervously as she spoke up.

"It is a nobody, my lord. It is just temporary infatua…." She tried to walk around the issue, yet the man's presence around the room heightened, making her stop mid-sentence as his voice cut in.

"Who is it? Answer me!" he said in a chilling tone as a shiver ran down her spine.

"Alden…my lord. Alden Potter," she replied, feeling enraged and embarrassed about Narcissa's choice.

She was a lieutenant to the man in front of him, a leader, yet her own sister was infatuated with a blood traitor.

"Potter," he said in an intrigued tone before continuing.

"Have the Blacks lowered themselves such that they must now join hands with Blood traitors," he spoke disappointedly, and she grits her teeth.

"Though I have heard things about this one. Interesting things," the Dark Lord began, surprising her with those words.

"They say he is quite powerful, someone who could potentially be a valuable ally," and she was surprised by those words because, indeed, Alden was strong; he was the only person who could go toe to toe with her with a wand in hand, even as a junior.

Yet an ally. That was highly likely.

"You share blood with him?" the Dark Lord's question broke her of her reverie, and she nodded.

"Distantly, my lord," she replied, though given the state of the pureblood families, all the families shared some blood.

"Then why hasn't he joined us in our cause, Bella," he questioned, and she gulped as she continued.

"My lord, he does not share our beliefs; he and his family are blood traitors," she replied scathingly.

"Bella, my dear Bella. It is not for people to see the reality of the world, not everyone is as clear-minded and focused as you and your family. Sometimes people need to be shown the truth, the reality," he began as he walked up to her, his hand caressing her face, lifting it up as he stared straight into her eyes.

"Your family has disappointed me quite a bit, yet perhaps you can make it up to me," he offered, and she nodded, grasping at the offer.

"You are very magnanimous, my lord. Tell us how we may make amends."

"Let me tell you…"

Back on the hill near Godric's Hallow, Alden Potter found himself seated across his two parents as the night fell, and then the interrogation of the young man began.

0000

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