Oh my god, this was so powerful. I absolutely love your Andromeda - she's strong enough to stand up to the whole of the Black family, yet isn't hardened, and bitterness has not taken her over for the wrongs she's suffered. She retains her compassion and above all, humanity, and it is easy to see just how she could have stepped out of the suffocating strictures of being a Black. I almost want to say that she has a touch of ruthlessness in her to give her that strength, being of that lineage, but she wields it far better than the screeching Mrs. Black, who is quite the most appalling caricature of herself.
I also admired how it was so much more than just Andromeda paying her last respects - to me, it seemed that she was not only giving them a last chance to unbend toward her, but already knowing that was not going to be the case, she was giving herself closure, for her own peace of mind/sanity. She is well aware of being a Black, and one of those qualities is duty; just not quite the same insane duty that the majority uphold.
And let Andromeda be the eldest sister, that didn't bother me a particle even after the fact. I am glad you kept her as such, because it works well, here, with all the sisters placed where they were. Narcissa remains a cipher, and so she should be. She seemed like a dressed-up doll with unfortunately real, easily-hurt feelings, which is how I tend to think of her. (Bella seemed like a vicious red-lipped vampire.)
I like the way Ted calls Andromeda "Rom;" it speaks volumes for the tenderness in which he views her, and how even if her family is a horror, he sees no such taint in her.
I found the "Kinslaying is not...recommended" to be quite an evil bit of foreshadowing, too. As well, I rather liked Regulus hanging onto Sirius, for it seemed as if he still cared about his brother enough to try to keep him out of trouble - or was it just that Regulus hated all scenes impartially?
I have to quote this part as well: "The last time she had seen him was nearly two years before, on that day in February when the icy wind whistled shrilly between the gables of Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, and chilled the metal encircling the fourth finger of her left hand." I felt that icy wind, in truth. Amazing imagery.
So, yes: extremely well-written and I'd say a necessary part of Black family lore - regardless of the age order - and yes, do post on FA.
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from the Fic-Exchange on FA!!
Date: 2005-10-21 04:00 pm (UTC)I also admired how it was so much more than just Andromeda paying her last respects - to me, it seemed that she was not only giving them a last chance to unbend toward her, but already knowing that was not going to be the case, she was giving herself closure, for her own peace of mind/sanity. She is well aware of being a Black, and one of those qualities is duty; just not quite the same insane duty that the majority uphold.
And let Andromeda be the eldest sister, that didn't bother me a particle even after the fact. I am glad you kept her as such, because it works well, here, with all the sisters placed where they were. Narcissa remains a cipher, and so she should be. She seemed like a dressed-up doll with unfortunately real, easily-hurt feelings, which is how I tend to think of her.
(Bella seemed like a vicious red-lipped vampire.)
I like the way Ted calls Andromeda "Rom;" it speaks volumes for the tenderness in which he views her, and how even if her family is a horror, he sees no such taint in her.
I found the "Kinslaying is not...recommended" to be quite an evil bit of foreshadowing, too.
As well, I rather liked Regulus hanging onto Sirius, for it seemed as if he still cared about his brother enough to try to keep him out of trouble - or was it just that Regulus hated all scenes impartially?
I have to quote this part as well: "The last time she had seen him was nearly two years before, on that day in February when the icy wind whistled shrilly between the gables of Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, and chilled the metal encircling the fourth finger of her left hand." I felt that icy wind, in truth. Amazing imagery.
So, yes: extremely well-written and I'd say a necessary part of Black family lore - regardless of the age order - and yes, do post on FA.