Fic post

[tree_and_leaf]

Engaging the Enemy

Quadruple drabble/ ficlet: PG, Andromeda/Ted, various Blacks, a declaration of intent, and a really lousy party. No copyright infringement intended, characters belong to JK Rowling, who kindly allows us to play.



It took Andromeda some time to understand why Ted thought it was a bad idea for him to get her pregnant and present the Black family with a fait accompli. In the end, she elected to inform the family that she was determined to marry a Muggleborn at her mother’s birthday party, reasoning that since her mother was big on a united family – even inviting Sirius, in the vain hope he’d patch things up with, or even speak to, his parents – certain other relations might avoid making a fuss there and then, for Mum’s sake.

She should have known better. Aunt Walburga went off into hysterics; Uncle Orion asked her if she was pregnant and said they’d ‘deal with it’, if she was – there was no need to do something stupid. And Bella – Bella was fingering her wand in a way that made Andromeda wonder if she really knew her.

At that point, Sirus tried to provide covering fire in his own uniquely creative fashion. “Yeah, and I’m gay. And shacked up with a werewolf in the school holidays. And we’re trying to find a way for him to get me PREGNANT.” This final piece of idiocy so enraged Bella that she did, in fact, draw her wand on him. She did nothing worse than Petrify him, but this was considered poor form even by Black family standards, at least at a birthday party. Uncle Orion even went so far as to Unpetrify Sirius, though he probably wouldn’t have dared if his wife hadn’t still been having hysterics. Andromeda’s father, several steps behind everyone else, was still protesting that “The Potter boy can’t possibly be a werewolf, they’re one of the oldest families in England,” when her mother suddenly noticed that Andromeda had vanished.

*

“I hate to say you were right, but you were right” admitted Andromeda. She had gone straight to Ted’s flat, where he had fed her vodka and listened to the whole sorry tale.

“I often am” he said calmly. “What do you want to do now? You could be married from my parents' house, if you liked. Perhaps your parents will come round.”

“No, I’m sick of families. Anyway, both my plans were duds - let’s try your first idea instead.”

“Gretna Green it is, then.”

“Good.” She stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“Come on – there’s no time like the present.”

Comments

[aervir.livejournal.com]

As a non-fan, I must admit that it took me a while to recall who Andromeda and Ted Black actually are, but this drabble had me in hysterics nonetheless, especially Sirius's attempt to bail poor Andromeda out. For some reason, Wizard family reunions don't seem that different from Muggle ones...

[tree_and_leaf]

Well, the Tonkses are hardly major characters, given that they haven't appeared in canon...

I'm glad you enjoyed - I think family reunions that go wrong are a fairly universal phenomenon!

[snorkackcatcher]

Heh, very nice, very smoothly told, and nice little one-line pictures of the various Blacks. But gay!Sirius trying to get pregnant by a werewolf? How could anyone be expected to take that seriously? :)

[tree_and_leaf]

Thank you!

But gay!Sirius trying to get pregnant by a werewolf? How could anyone be expected to take that seriously? :)

I know - I can't imagine how he thought of that !

[a-t-rain.livejournal.com]

Heh, I love that line :)

[tree_and_leaf]

The whole ficlet is really just an excuse for that line, you know.

[harriet-wimsey.livejournal.com]

And well worth it!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Oh, the Blacks like to thing they’re different, but really they’re just like every other family who, as Terry Pratchett put it, are still fighting about what our Nev said about our Sal at Sharon’s wedding. I like the resourceful and perceptive Ted, Bella’s ‘inappropriate’ response, and Andromeda’s familial inability to see that sometimes doing things by halves is a good idea.
Andromeda’s father, several steps behind everyone else, was still protesting that “The Potter boy can’t possibly be a werewolf, they’re one of the oldest families in England,”
A perceptive man - I’ve always thought James was the true object of Sirius’s affection. Interesting that he doesn’t refute the other claims…

[tree_and_leaf]

Andromeda’s familial inability to see that sometimes doing things by halves is a good idea.

I don't think any Black is even capapble of understanding the 'sometimes less is more principle', at least when it comes to emotional or family matters.

I’ve always thought James was the true object of Sirius’s affection. Interesting that he doesn’t refute the other claims…

That's my main problem with R/S - I have no opinion at all as to Sirius' sexuality, and Remus could be bi for anything we've seen of him in canon - but I do doubt that Remus and Sirius would even have been particular friends without James, and Snape's Worst Memory, does pretty well show that Sirius is focussed on James, rather than Remus (come to that, his confusion of Harry and James points the same way.)

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks for the link to this! I really like. Especially Sirius going off about m-preg and the bit that "the Potter boy" can't be a werewolf because they're an old family. Nice logic there, pure-bloods. ;)

[tree_and_leaf]

It is a very pure-blooded approach to thing's yes!