hogwartsexpressed | Owls from Last Night

…

Indeed.

How are you, Meda

I've been okay, Cissy.

And you?

[Although she loved her husband dearly, Andromeda missed her family... okay no, she missed her sisters. Really, she missed one sister more than the other.]

I'm
glad.

Truly.

[She'd meant it to be otherwise. But everyone turning away from Andromeda had hurt. The hole never really filled. That was when Cissa had decided, when she had her own, that other missions and values must be important, but the only unassailable monolith above all was family.]

These are complicated times.

But when aren't they, really

Edited 2021-02-01 05:02 (UTC)

Thank you.

They are truly complicated and I feel they're only becoming more complicated by the day, month and year.

[Andromeda had released a silent breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding as she anticipated the responses. For the most part, she didn't regret marrying Ted. She simply wished that it didn't have to be an either-or situation. Family or Love. She also wished that she could freely talk to her sister without it being frowned upon by everyone else in their family.]

I've missed you, sister.

[A delay in response while Narcissa turns sharply away, goes to look out a window, and stifles tears into a kerchief.

At last, she's able to write again.]

I miss you too.

There are issues to which I hold but

~~I regret~~

I've grown more assured in my thinking

that even to values, ideologies, there are hierarchies

and that family should be sacrosanct.

I thought so then, too, but wasn't prepared for the notion that
the division between "Family" and family
if that makes any…

I wonder
if I'd been so confident at the time
if I'd have

said or done differently

Edited 2021-02-02 04:25 (UTC)

[Despite everything she now felt toward her family, they were something Andromeda had always known and relied on. It hadn't been an easy decision to jump and marry Ted, she'd gone through an extensive list of pros and cons. In the end, she'd held on hope that her family would understand, although she realized just how fruitless that hope would be.

To be able to write to her sister after what felt like decades was more than she had hoped for but was thankful for nonetheless. Reading her writing again brought a smile to Andromeda's face, bringing her own kerchief up to her eyes to dab away the happy tears.]

I truly agree. No matter what, family must be sacrosanct. I never expected there to be a difference or division between "Family" and family as you put it.

I had hoped...

I suppose we may never know what might have been had we known what we do now. What matters now is this. I know the family must not get word of this, I would never want you to receive the brunt of that trouble. I truly wish we could go have tea together and spend an afternoon shopping like we used to when we were much younger.

But if all we have are communications like this, then I am content.

[…

Oh…

She should say yes. She should suggest Meda take Cissa around muggle stores and cafes, both to avoid relatives and to contribute to peacemaking. Cissa feels uncomfortable around muggles—such alien beings, never knowing how at any moment they might behave—but it was ridiculous to feel threatened by them when they were literally powerless next to her… And because of that powerlessness, she's never seen them as such an active problem, as some others do. The idea of… intimacy with one… it repels her, but Meda isn't her, and never was… And Meda's not asking Cissa to understand or attempt any such thing. Just spend time as they used to, with each other.

At the same time: it would draw attention. It didn't matter that they wouldn't encounter any of their kind—or if they did, it would be equally damning to them. There were still those who would know. Who might be monitoring. And many of them—including Cissa—were under no illusion that the Dark Lord was gone for good. Making peace with her sister out of context was one thing. To go among muggles… the possible repercussions for Draco…

Even above her sister—above her husband or parents—far, far above Cissa herself—Draco was that sole, highest inviolable.

…But Andromeda… Yes, perhaps Meda could be so generous and forgiving (it was still Meda, after all) as to truly be 'content' with only letters. It still felt… This was the moment in any polite acquaintance to offer/accept more; let alone a close relation…

Oh, you know what… I am a Malfoy and a Black. That gives me power, doesn't detract from it.]

Then we should.

[She couldn't further entertain the wildly extreme idea of entering the muggle realm—so the lesser infraction was more imaginable.]

Do you have time tomorrow? We could—

[The shopping area Cissa suggested was not as central to all eyes and gossip as Diagon or Knockturn, but still a part of their community. She hoped it was a sensible compromise, not an insult.

She needed to protect Draco. But she truly missed her sister.]

Edited 2021-02-07 03:31 (UTC)

[After being disowned from the family and, no doubt being burned off the tapestry, Andromeda had to stop expecting anything from her family. Although she understood why they were the way they are, because of course she did, she loathed it all the same. Maybe especially when it came to Cissa, who she'd always been closer to of her two sisters.

She had no desire at all to attempt to change Cissa's mind on anything. She knew as well as anyone the stubbornness that the Black family had in spades. Especially when they felt they were right about something.

And in the Black family, they were always right.

It was that stubbornness, though she'd call it something else surely, that Meda still fell back on often, much to Ted's amusement.

At the end of the day, she'd let Cissa call the shots and decide if she wanted to meet. Meda didn't have nearly as much to lose as her sister did, especially for her young son (Meda's nephew that she wished she could meet). She knew, although she hoped dearly she was wrong, that Voldemort was still out there. Someone (or something) that evil didn't disappear because of a baby, or a mother's love for said child.

So, when Cissa said they should meet and suggested a place, it took Meda a moment to recover from the shock. Of the olive branch, her sister was offering. It was in their world still but not a central hub of activity like other known locals. It was perfect.]

I do, in fact.

They have a lovely tea place we can visit, with private rooms if we're so inclined.

Private rooms aren't necessary

[Discretion, yes, but doesn't want to emphasise possible shame]

though can certainly be cozy. I leave that to you.

I'm so glad you reached out, Meda. I look forward to our overdue meeting.

I'm really glad I reached out too, Cissa. I'm looking forward to seeing you.

[So it would be that instead of a completely private room, Meda arranged for a table that would grant them some privacy and discretion. And while she was no longer a Black, Andromeda still had a few of the habits and style of one. Though, these days, she had to be a little more choosy.]

[OOC: For you!]

Owls from Last Night

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I imagining this takes place before Voldemort's first fall... or after? IDK!

I should have thought about that… ;) Can it be after since her opinion evolves from having Draco?

That's perfect!

YAY! Thank you and sorry for delay!

No worries! Sorry for the delay on this end too!

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