And Then There Were Two (Andy)

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In the days after the kidnapping, Susan had kept mainly to herself, only interacting with her siblings. Her best friend Braelynn had been kidnapped along with her boyfriend, and Susan herself had been injured in the attacks. She realized she had been neglecting her other best friend, Andromeda Lestrange, although Andy had seemingly gotten quite close to Phil Longbottom recently. Still, friends needed to stick together in these dark times, so Susan had sent a message to Andy that morning, asking her to meet her for a picnic by the pond for lunch. It was a Saturday and they didn’t have class, so she felt it was perfect timing.

Susan had gotten her friends in the kitchens to put together some bread, fruit, cheese and meats with a bottle of bubbly cider; something she felt Andy could agree was a posh type of luncheon. The house elves had even packed a special dessert for them.  She headed out towards the pond, squinting in the sunlight. Luckily the day had dawned bright and beautiful and warm, perfect day to be outside. She spread the checkered blanket out by the shores of the pond and flopped down onto it. She inhaled deeply and tilted her head up to the sun. For a moment, she just forgot everything that had happened over the past few days and she was just happy. She looked up, shielding her eyes from the sunlight as she heard footsteps coming towards her.

@lestrange

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Andy started crying when she got the invitation to lunch from her dear friend Susan.

She had been doing a lot of crying lately, ever since she had lost it with Albus that day and her emotions had suddenly decided that they weren't going to remain restrained anymore. She was so happy to hear from Susan, even though she often saw her, that she had started crying. She quickly regained her composure, though, and got all dress up for their picnic, knowing that it was bound to be a sweet and classic occasion as it often was when she got together with Susan and Bay.

She bit her lip at the thought of Bay while pinning a piece of hair back that afternoon while getting ready to meet Susan at the Pond. Bay was gone, and they hadn't found her yet. It had been two days.

She bit back the tears again, because she didn't want to ruin her make up. She took in a deep breath and finally left, toward the pond.

When she saw Susan there, picnic in tow, she picked up the pace, waving ahead. "Hi, Susan!" she said as she approached.

@susanvictoria

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Susan beamed and picked herself up the blanket to envelop Andy in a big hug. Her friend had been quite emotional the past few days as did they all. Their third member of the trio, Bay was no longer there, so they had to band together. “I’m glad you were able to come! I’ve picked out some of our favorites,” she said, leading her and sitting back down. She began to unpack the basket; several varieties of cheeses and crackers, different types of jams including her personal favorite fig spread, a small carton of mixed berries and a few apples. She popped the cork off the cider and poured them glasses. “Now I know this seems over the top, and even like something a certain male Gryffindor should be doing for you,” she began teasingly. “But we deserve the best after the last few days, so by Merlin we will have it,” she said, saluting her friend with her glass.

She took a sip, and set her glass down, grabbing a knife and slicing off a piece of the gouda cheese she had set out. She plopped it on a cracker and stuck it in her mouth, letting the delicious taste of it savor in her mouth. After she swallowed, she looked at Andy expectantly. “So tell me, where do you stand on your boy drama right now?” she asked her, raising a brow.

@lestrange

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Susan had quite the spread set up, and that made Andy's smile grow even wider. This really was just what she needed right now, even if it was a bit 'over the top'. "Susan, this is perfect," she said, sitting beside the girl and helping her pull out the food from the basket. As Susan poured her a glass of cider, Andy reached over and took it happily. As Susan made that little crack about Phil, Andy chuckled slightly, shaking her head and looking down into her glass. As Susan said they deserved this and raised a glass, Andy raised her own, "to fancy picnics and girl friends," she agreed before taking a sip of her own.

Andy took a grape and some cheese and plopped them both into her mouth as Susan ate her own treat. She took another treat as Susan asked her next question, and Andy was grateful she had the chewing time to think of an answer. She swallowed, "there isn't any drama, actually, which is the best part," she started, "It was bad for a while, being so foolish and indecisive but... I'm happy now. I just need one," that was a weird thing to admit out loud, but it felt good at the same time. She looked down in her drink again before speaking. "We're just friends now, which is perfect. What about you?" she said, looking back up and smirking, "I don't think I've seen any boys on your arm?"

@susanvictoria

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Susan gave her friend a half shrug when she lamented about being indecisive. “Isn’t that what being sixteen is all about? We’re not supposed to be able to make up our minds about something as serious as love,” she said with a giggle. She took another sip of cider before continuing. “I’m glad though, Phil seems like a stand-up guy. As long as he treats you well and I get to really meet him someday, he’s good in my book,” she said, smiling. She had met Phil a few times; he was the son of the Headmaster and was in their year, but she never had gotten to know him very well. If he was serious about Andy though, that would clearly have to change.

She hastily popped a strawberry in her mouth when Andy asked about any boys on her arm. One boy in particular flashed in front of her eyes, but it was gone as soon as it showed. “Oh you know me, a terrible flirt but nothing serious,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “You know if it was up to my Mum I’d be in an arranged marriage to some Muggle noble, but luckily it’s the twenty first century and my magical powers revealed themselves before she could sink her claws into the idea.” There had been that rather attractive son of the Swedish diplomat that she had flirted with at a state dinner, but he had been a bit too full of himself for her taste.

Taking another bite of cheese with a cracker, she steered the conversation elsewhere. “So, your summer plans do still include coming to stay with my family for a bit?” she asked her. They had made these plans together with Braelynn months ago, and with her gone the idea hung over them like a cloud. She hoped though that at least spending time with Andy would do both of them some good.

@lestrange

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Andy couldn't help but feel a jolt in her stomach as Susan said they weren't supposed to make up their minds about something as serious as love. In all reality, Andy was pretty sure her mind was made up, but she didn't want to admit to that out loud, especially not to anyone else right now. "He does and he'd love to meet you. He wants to meet all my friends," she chuckled. It was weird to think that she even had friends, really. She had always considered Susan someone worth her time, even if she was a muggleborn, but she hadn't really been a friend to anyone until this year, and that was an amazing feeling. Especially the fact that Susan cared so much about her well being. That was kind of amazing, actually.

Andy laughed, "I can't imagine if you had been betrothed to a muggle prior to you abilities showing. That would have been an awkward conversation for her and his parents," she laughed, wondering how muggle royalty handled that sort of thing. At Susans next question, she nodded. "Of course, I'd love to. Hannah is all right with it so we should be all set to go," she didn't bring up Bay. She didn't have to. Bay was looming in the air above them, in their every thought.

Andy shook of thoughts of her, her eyes watering slightly as she blinked and reached for more food.

@susanvictoria

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Susan nodded approvingly. "Don't worry I won't make him sweat..too much," she teased. She could tell that Phil made Andy happy, even if they were just friends for now. That would change of course, most likely once Andy didn't live with Phil's family. That could certainly prove to put them in awkward situations. She reached down and pointed her wand at the small wheel of brie and muttered a few incantations. The cheese softened and she spread some on a cracker, then added a little bit of fig jam on top. She popped it into her mouth and closed her eyes, savoring the sweet and savory flavors. She opened her eyes once she had swallowed and grinned sheepishly. "Sorry Ands, I can't help myself," she said with a laugh. She made up another cracker and held it out to her. "You must try!" she exclaimed.

She scoffed as Andy laughed at the idea of her being engaged to a Muggle royal. "That's my sentiment exactly. I'd prefer to choose who I will marry, and it will be for love, as we all know I am a romantic at heart," she said with a giggle. She took a sip of her cider and smiled when Andy confirmed she would be coming to visit. "I'm so glad you can come, you will be my saving grace from my mother and elder brother. They're telling me I shouldn't come back to Hogwarts next year, but I've put my foot down," she told her.

@lestrange

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Andy found a chuckle as Susan claimed she wouldn't make Phil sweat too much. "Oh, I'm sure it would take a lot. Our relationship has been through plenty, I think he can deal with you... maybe," she chuckled, again, then froze when she realized she had just used the word 'relationship'. But that's what it was, right? She didn't say romantic relationship. It was a relationship, a long and complicated one that was finally becoming less complicated and more blissful. It was a great thing, and she needed to be okay with that. So, she smiled, mentally reminding herself of how good she had it right now. Even if she was dealing with her newly found anger issues...

As Susan enchanted a cracker and then ate it, Andy smiled again. As soon as one was being reached out to her she took it, gladly. After she swallowed she raised an eyebrow at Susan. "Well, I'm sure Hannah would love to show you a few food tricks this summer," she chuckled. "And maybe you could show her yours!"

Andy nodded, "oh, I'm sure you'll find love and it will be a great thing. Just don't be too picky," she suggested. At the idea of Susan not coming back next year Andy's heart stopped in her throat for a moment. She wasn't sure if she could handle losing Braelynn and Susan. Andy shook her head, "good. Don't let them make you... I can try talking some sense into them. Maybe," Andy was sure that wasn't her place but... desperate times call for desperate measures.

@susanvictoria

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Susan couldn't help but laugh when Andy told her not to be too picky. “You know me Andy, I'm always looking for my Prince Charming. Just got to find him in the Wizarding World,” she said. Still smiling, she popped a grape into her mouth and chewed, musing quietly. Once she swallowed, she spoke again. “My brother was very angry when I told him I wasn't coming home after the attacks,” she told her, then hesitated. “I might have told him that if he couldn't accept that I was an adult in the eyes of the wizarding world that I didn't have to come home for summer break,” she rushed out the rest. It finally had hit her that she may not even go home this summer; she figured her mother might relent eventually but as of right now there had been no letters or any form of communication.

She felt the tears pinprick her eyes and she brushed them away impatiently. Now was not the time to cry about her predicament; there were more important things at stake. She busied herself by making up another brie, fig and cracker combination and popping it into her mouth. She sat in silence for a few moments, then after taking a swallow of the cider she spoke again. “I just...I don't know what I'm going to do if I don't go home, it's all I've ever known,” she whispered.

@lestrange

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Andy smiled and nodded, popping a grape into her own mouth. "You deserve a Prince Charming, Susan," sadly, the only wizarding people that really considered themselves like 'princes' were old fashioned pureblood families who would never be okay with a muggle born. She knew it was just a figure of speech, though, but that thought still crossed her mind and made her stomach clench a little.

As she spoke of her brother Andy's mind drifted to her own for one moment. She hadn't told anyone but Phil and Neville about that whole encounter... then Andy nodded, "good. You shouldn't have to adhere to the muggle verses magical age differences. Your part of this community too and... well, it sounds like you want to be part of this one moreso?" she questioned. As royalty, it was probably hard to choose between the two worlds, or even balance both.

Andy stayed silence as it became clear that Susan was feeling emotional. She frowned at her friend busiest herself with food and waited. If Susan wanted to go into it more, she would. Then she said she didn't know what to do if she didn't go home. Her whisper, though soft, was loud with emotion. Andy leaned forward. "Maybe you can still go home, but you don't have to stay there all the time..." she contemplated for a moment and then the idea hit her, "you could come work at the cauldron! Hannah would love to have you I'm sure, I could ask her!"

@susanvictoria

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Susan pondered the thought of working in the Leaky Cauldron all summer – she had never worked a job before, and most likely would be rubbish at it. Hannah was a kind woman from the limited interaction she'd had with her though, and then she'd get to spend a good portion of her summer with Andy. Slowly, a smile spread across her face. “I think that if Hannah is alright with it, then I'm good to try my hand at waitressing, or hosting or...whatever it is she'd have me do,” she said with a laugh. She picked up her cloth napkin and tossed it over her shoulder. “Who knows, maybe I will meet my Prince Charming while waiting tables,” she teased.

She polished off the last of the brie and took a final swig of the cider. “We should probably get back to the castle, bell is about to ring,” she said, a little wistfully. She had enjoyed their lunch and didn't want to get back to reality just yet. “Do you think you can help me compose a letter to Hannah over free period later? I want to be able to get what I'm saying just right,” she asked her friend. She'd know what to say.

@lestrange

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”And if you have to stay late some nights or work early or whatever you can just sleep in my room with me. I’m sure we could fit another bed in there,” she suggested, nodding happily as she did so. Then she mentioned possibly meeting Prince Charming and Andy chuckled a little, ”I have to be honest, I haven’t seen too many of those milling around the Cauldron. Except your brother but, you know, not everyone can date their brother,” she gave an awkward smile at that moment, realizing her horrible joke about her and Phils half lovers half siblings relationship wasn’t that funny.

Andy nodded as she suggested getting back to the castle, glad for the escape. ”Yeah, we could do that,” she agreed, nodding about the writing to Hannah idea, ”don’t worry too much, Hannah respects honesty and straightforwardness which you don't have a problem with. I wouldn't stress," she smiled, helping Susan gather the things so they could head back to the castle.

@susanvictoria
(le end)