Intended

[thirty two]

The entrance hall is before him; he can feel the smooth wood of the banisters under his hand as he slides down it and hops off. His feet hit the ground inaudibly; the din of chattering students in his ears drowns out his own noise. James laughs at a story Peter is regaling them all with while Lupin adds a pleasant, but cynical, commentary to it. Sirius is just about to jump in when an odd cry rings out. The shout rises above the chatter so that it sounds suspended in air, silencing everyone who hears it. People keep quiet and turn, abandoning conversation; for a second Sirius swears that time has frozen because no one moves; they all stare as one towards the speaker.

'What the hell are you trying to do?'

Sirius feels something tighten in his stomach as he recognizes Andromeda's voice. He balls his hands into fists out of instinct. He can see the crowds of people gathering at a point in front of the entrance to the Slytherin dungeon and he follows the students. It is not curiosity, but rather, anger, that makes him push forward; he has heard a rough voice giving an answer to Andromeda's question and it makes him panic.

'Just trying to take my dues, love, just taking my dues.'

Maybe he should pay attention to Lupin calling after him, but it is at times like these that no one can stand in Sirius's way; his temper has firmly taken a hold of his mind. He roughly pushes Peter aside and glares at him when the boy tries to speak. James tugs at his elbow, hanging back because he has always been wary where Andromeda is concerned and for a second, Sirius is tempted to lash out at him; but he settles for firmly removing the boy's grip on his arm and then rushing away. He takes a deep breath as he runs, pushing his way through the people and heading towards the space in the middle of the semi-circle that has formed around three figures.

Most of the crowd is actually slinking back, so Sirius finds himself forced to the front. He looks on in a sort of mute shock as Andromeda pushes away a boy who has his arms wrapped around her. She struggles against his embrace, pushing herself away with such force that she actually stumbles to the floor. Another boy steps out from the crowd, darting forward, but he pauses before reaching Andromeda, a split-second that allows her to fall.

The other boy shakes his head at the first, but his smile is evident, as is the odd glint in his flashing gray eyes.

'My, my, Rabastan, you should never treat a lady so roughly! Where are your manners?' Lucius Malfoy drawls, then looks down at Andromeda. Sirius burns with hate as Rabastan laughs and he is ready to launch himself into the circle but there is someone pulling him back.

'Why, Lucius,' Rabastan says, mimicking the drawl, 'I didn't know you cared so much for the girl.'

'She is family... almost,' he replies and glances down at his hands, at the thin band that encircles his ring finger; it is a ring that many have seen on Narcissa's finger as well. She may not be here now, but it does not matter; Sirius knows that she would not care and side with her own Intended over her shameful sister.

Sirius fingers his wand under his robes. He is seething by now, and again, he makes to move forward but there is a hand clutching his robes and he glances back to see that Regulus is stopping him. He narrows his eyes at his brother, but Regulus does not let go; he has a look on his face that is absolutely pathetic and helpless. There is something in his expression that Sirius has never seen before, something that is mildly upset by everything that is happening.

'What...'

Bellatrix appears from behind Regulus and claps a hand on his shoulder. Regulus immediately lets go of Sirius's robes, moving back almost as if the very cloth was on fire, obeying the unspoken command in Bellatrix's touch. She does not say anything, only glares at Sirius as if daring him to do something, her dark eyes burning bright and her arms wrapping around Regulus's shoulders, coaxing him away.

Sirius watches them go, torn between following and telling Bellatrix to leave his brother alone and staying here to make sure nothing happens to Andromeda. He takes a step forward but is immediately blocked by the rest of the crowd; they are already too far away, right at the other end where all the Slytherins are gathered to watch the show, their morbid eagerness reflected on Regulus's changing features. Bellatrix grins triumphantly at Sirius from the safety of the group, and he turns away, not wanting to watch what is happening but also not willing to look at Bellatrix and admit that he cannot do anything.

Malfoy is kneeling now, his hand offered to Andromeda; Sirius wants to shout to her, to tell her not to take it because he has already seen the devious look on the boy's pale, pointed face.

Lucius Malfoy is not someone to be trusted, in any circumstance, family or none.

But Sirius can only watch helplessly as Andromeda looks at him uncertainly, and then places her hand in Malfoy's.

'Do you know how a lady of the House of Black is supposed to be treated, Andromeda?'

Andromeda flinches as Malfoy brings his face close to hers, impossibly close, and Sirius growls softly. His hand closes around his wand tightly, and even the hissed warnings in his ear are not going to hold him back for much longer.

No one, no one is allowed to get that close to his Andromeda.

At the sound of Sirius growling, Malfoy shoots him a glance, almost idly, smirking, before returning his gaze to Andromeda.

'Dear me, I forgot about your... other half. Gryffindor, isn't it? Perfectly suitable, I still say... considering your affinity with those Mudblood friends of yours,' he says slowly, drawing his head back. Before anyone can move, he clears his throat and spits loudly in Andromeda's face. She cringes as the spittle splashes her skin. At the same time, Malfoy drops her hand and sneers as he gets to his feet, wiping his hands on his robes and hissing between his teeth.

'Blood traitors, you are, the both of you.'

It is in that moment that Sirius feels the flames again, driving through him; he fights his way through the crowd and hurls himself into the space. His wand is drawn, but even though he holds onto it tightly it is useless in his uncontrollable rage. He launches himself at Malfoy, drawing his fist back and punching the other boy in the face, hearing the satisfying crack as his knuckles connect with his nose. But there is someone pulling him off the older boy, there is someone tugging at his robes and he finds himself dangling off the floor, laughter in his ears.

'Let me go!' he sputters, swinging out wildly at whoever is holding him up, but the laughter just increases. An arm grabs him around his middle, pinioning his arms to his sides. Malfoy looks at him oddly; despite the blood that is streaming from his nose he smirks at Sirius, then roughly grabs Andromeda's wrist and drags her up from the floor.

'Come to her defense, have you, Black?' he sneers as he draws her closer. 'How touching.' Malfoy pauses for a minute and touches his upper lip, glancing at the blood that stains his fingertip before letting out a short laugh.

'Rabastan! Let him go!'

Almost at once, Sirius crashes to the stones beneath him as the arms fall away. He is seething with fury; he would like nothing more than to take another swipe at Lucius but he checks himself this time.

He is aware that he has fought the Slytherins so many times that they almost expect him to attack them the moment he is free to do so, and it is because of this expectation that he doesn't. Even through his anger, he knows that there is a curse with his name on it waiting at the end of someone's wand. And while he is burning with righteous Gryffindor rage, he knows that he must be careful when amongst the snakes.

Still, there is only so much he can stand, and when he sees Rabastan Lestrange laughing as he grabs Andromeda around the waist, when he sees the hand on her cheek, he does not particularly care who he lashes out at. He cannot see anything except Andromeda fighting against the boy who holds her with a leering look on his face and a possessiveness bubbles up inside him that is almost impossible to control.

'Don't you... get your hands off her!' he shouts, squaring his shoulders as he points his wand at Rabastan.

'And what will you do if I don't?' is the sneering reply. Sirius opens his mouth to shout out a curse, the words sliding over his tongue.

'In-'

'Expelliarmus!'

He feels his wand sliding from his grasp, being tugged away with such force that it goes flying straight into Malfoy's hand. The older boy tuts at Sirius, tossing the wand in the air once and catching it again, almost lazily.

'What will you do now, little traitor?' he asks, his voice muffled because he is wiping at his bleeding nose with his sleeve. He glares at Sirius, gray eyes narrowed in disdain, before whirling on his heel and stalking away. There is an uneasiness that he leaves behind, there is a tension that Sirius is not sure of, because Lucius Malfoy never walks away from anyone in a fight, but...

It is only now that Sirius realizes that the students are drifting away, that there is a visibly furious teacher whom Malfoy is handing his wand over to, that Rabastan has slipped off and is nowhere to be seen.

'Black! What is the meaning of all this?' Professor Vector demands grimly, striding towards him. 'Don't you think that your penchant for violence has taken you a little too far this time?'

Sirius scowls up at him. 'Sir, I-' he starts, but is interrupted by Malfoy's infernal drawl coming from behind the teacher. Apparently, his broken nose does not affect his ability to silkily twist a situation, any situation, to his advantage.

'Sir, I do think that a week's detention would hardly be appropriate... after all, we must dissuade him from further acts of violence against his fellow students. For such a... serious... matter, I think a harsher punishment would be in order.'

Professor Vector glances at Malfoy witheringly for a moment before turning back to Sirius. 'Malfoy, what manner of punishment Black should get is a matter best left to teachers, and not seventh-year students,' he says, his voice tight, a tone of slight irritation seeping through. 'I will discuss this with your Head of House and then decide what course of action to take. I want to see you in my office tomorrow, first thing in the morning.'

He makes to step away, pausing, and then adds, 'Both of you,' before handing Sirius back his wand and walking off.

Malfoy narrows his eyes at the teacher's back, then turns to face Sirius, the glare on his face almost murderous. He grabs him by the front of his robe, bringing their faces together, so close that when Malfoy speaks, Sirius can feel the minute drops of spit spattering his skin.

'This isn't over, blood traitor. Just you wait,' he snarls before shoving Sirius away roughly and walking off towards the dungeons. There is laughter from a few people standing around, laughter that quickly dissolves into the usual mutters of students rushing into the Great Hall to eat. Sirius wipes at his face, disgusted, before glancing around, refusing to meet anyone's gaze.

Andromeda is standing alone, hugging herself, and Sirius approaches her slowly.

'Andromeda?'

She turns to face him, fast, maybe a little too fast. Her eyes flash angrily.

'Go away, Sirius. You've already caused enough trouble here.'

'Huh?'

He starts, confused. He did not expect her anger, especially not now... if anything, he is the one who should be angry, he is the one who has the right to shout, considering that he has just been humiliated... and all for her sake.

'Didn't you hear me? Just... go away.' she spits.

'But Andie...'

'What is it, huh? What part of that didn't you understand?' Her voice is rising, almost hysterical as her face contorts in rage.

Sirius clenches his fists. It is hard to think clearly when one is still smarting from a blow, and it is even harder when that blow has been to one's ego. It is hardest to think, though, when one has rising feelings of ill-use, and Sirius certainly feels that she is being ungrateful to him. He stubbornly stands in front of her, eyes level, and crosses his arms across his chest.

'What I don't understand is why you even hang around with gits like Malfoy and his goons!' he says, his voice hard.

'Malfoy just happens to be in my house, so I can't exactly avoid him! Besides, what I do, and who I go around with is my business, Sirius, not yours!'

'It is my business! I'm your Intended, doesn't that mean anything to you?'

'Just because you wear that stupid ring doesn't mean you need to keep following me like some overgrown puppy! I can take care of myself!'

'Well, you weren't doing a very good job of it!' Sirius shoots back.

'If you didn't keep rushing in like a stupid Gryffindor, waving your wand and hexing anyone who even talks to me-'

'Talking? That was not talking! He was bloody groping-'

'I could have handled him if you hadn't just decided to jump in and make things worse!'

'Bloody hell, Andromeda!' Sirius shouts. He is aware that people are staring at him, but right now he is too incensed to care. 'What did you expect me to do? Just stand there and watch him? Or did you want him to...' he trails off, suddenly realizing he has said too much.

Andromeda gapes at him. For a second, Sirius sees the hurt she cannot hide easily, flashing over her features, but then it is gone, replaced by a cold fury he has never seen before. She slaps him hard across the face, the back of her hand connecting with his cheek, the knuckles sweeping across his mouth with such force that he stumbles for a moment.

He snaps his head back to stare at her. For the briefest of moments, he is truly sorry for what he had said, but as the sting of the slap settles over his skin and his face begins to heat up, anger replaces his shame. He gingerly raises a hand to his cheek, still shocked that she had actually hit him, something that she has never done before. Right now he would like nothing more than to hit back, but he cannot bring himself to do so. Nothing registers in his mind. He can only watch numbly as she turns, as others rush in to fill the space between them, as she moves farther and farther away.

*