[Andrea Travers]

Lugging not one, not two, but three heavy books up from the library, it is all Andie can do to haul herself into the Ravenclaw common room with the heavyset books, and her own girth. Huffing and puffing, she drops them on the table and throws herself into the nearest comfortable piece of furniture; a corner of the couch near her classmate Vanita. The room is filled with fella Ravenclaws, noses stuck in various books. Some of them are fiction novels for pleasure reading while the others are actual texts for school. “This summer, my folks informed me that now I’ve become a woman, it’s time to consider my options for marriage! I thought it was seventeen I had to worry about these things, not upon my flowering and closing in on my sixteenth birthday!” She complains easily to the ‘claw beside her. “However, they were sure thrilled to find out I’d finally blossomed out of girlhood and let me taste my first bit of champagne. It was all bubbly and delicious. Have you had any?” The point of these conversation is that she’s been forced to take out some books considered ‘proper’ reading in order to prepare for those pending nuptials her parents are seeking to rid her of their responsibility by marrying her off to the highest bidder when she comes of age. tagged; Vanitas Burke

[Vanitas Burke]

V cleaned their glasses with a simple cleaning charm before trying to focus on their book again. Not very successfully as their eyes landed on the bruises on their arm peeking through the slid off robe sleeve. A stark reminder that the world wasn’t ready for people like them yet. The safe option would mean abandoning all sense of individuality. Trying to fit into the mould again would slowly eat away at them. There seemed no winning.

When books dropped on the table, Vanitas quickly pulled their sleeve further over their wrist and looked up to see Andrea. She looked like she desperately needed to get something off her chest. The heavy pressure on marriage was something all pureblood students could relate to. For Vanitas the expectations were less high being a lower class pureblood. As long as they found someone with more money than their family, their parents would be happy.

“Sixteen? That’s so soon! I don’t envy you at all…” Especially not considering her options. The decent guys knew what they had to offer and weren’t going to settle for a marriage until they made a career and lived a little. So it’d either be some tosser or an older man. “Do you have any guy friends you think might work?” Vanitas tried to find a way to make it work. It didn’t feel right suggesting to go with the system. But for now it seemed like the smartest move.

“Champagne? I’m afraid not, it does sound amazing.” The Brando family had no money for drinks like that. “My dad made me drink a beer, though. It tasted horrible. I don’t know how people drink that for their own enjoyment,” they said while making a face. They had a theory nobody actually liked it but they pretended they did to get social acceptance.
Andrea Travers

[Andrea Travers]

"Sixteen!" Andie exclaims, repeating V's words with vigor. "They don't even give me a chance to have a first kiss with anyone, anyone!" She emphasizes that because in all honesty, anyone would do since no one is interested in someone like her. "I know I am a late bloomer in that department, but still...I wouldn't mine one boy showing a little bit of interest in me and asking me to Madame Puddifoot's for tea." Relationship woes are not something many of the girls in her dorm have to worry about. None of them look like Andie. V got it though. At least, Andie felt they got it and felt more comfortable around them than other people to speak her mind. The trouble with boarding school is simply that one is forced into socialization with the people they room with whether they like those people or not. The alternative is to feel completely isolated from them. For Andie, the forced socialization and having to pretend she likes the other girls is her only tactic for survival. She has to constantly pretend it doesn't bother her that the other girls look amazing in their school uniforms and can hike their skirts up just a smidge to catch someone's attention. The only attention Andie catches when her skirt rides up is a Professor ready to scold her for showing too much thigh. And she has too much thigh. She sighs. "You know I don't...the only boy who doesn't look at me like I'm an elephant blocking their view of the more adorable zoo animals is you." To her parents' dismay. V is a pureblood but V is not the most notable of purebloods Andie could spend her time with. Frowning a little, she replies. "I'll be sure to steal you some next time it's available. You'll love it!" Especially since the beer thing didn't pan out. She snorted at the comment. tagged; Vanitas Burke

[/quote]

[Vanitas Burke]

“The chance is high that they’re doing it on purpose,” they spoke calmly, rubbing the spine of their book with their index finger. Parents often try to mould their daughters into the perfect bride by taking away a young girl’s chance to develop into her own person. That way the husband could shape her into the person he wanted her to be. Which was utterly disgusting in V’s opinion. “Is there even a boy you’re interested in? Anyone you’d like to share your first kiss with?” V asked in curiosity, hoping her first kiss would be a lot better than theirs.

Vanitas bit their tongue from spilling out that they weren’t actually a boy. Causing their hair and eyes to turn pale blue momentarily. For both of their sakes. V wasn’t sure how to put how they felt into words, no matter how well educated they were. Not to mention it might ruin Andie’s confidence further. With a forced smile and feeling the distance between them and their soul growing. Wearing nail polish and their morphing body was already pushing it. They might have grown up in Knockturn but they weren’t tough enough to survive total social outcast yet.

“I think your bubbly personality and bright eyes are quite adorable actually. I am fairly certain there are boys who would agree with me. However I can also tell you that most of them are more concerned about what their friends think of them than wanting to pursue what they actually want. Quite pathetic really. You deserve better than a guy like that.” Guys tended to make fun of each other easily for being and liking things that deviated from the norm. V experienced this first hand, sleeping amongst them. Unfortunately they didn’t expect guys to be honest with themselves until they were way into their adulthood. “A little more than a century ago, you would have been the beauty standard. Not that that will change anything for you now but… Please don’t be so harsh on yourself.”

Their face lit up in a genuine smile as she offered to snatch them some champagne. “That sounds utterly delightful.”
Andrea Travers

[Andrea Travers]

“Ugh!” She makes the noise. Disgusted by V’s words however truthful they are. Her parents don’t want her to become her own person or experience love. They wish for her to only know the love of her future husband. Except the joke is on them. There will be no future husband for Andrea Travers! Men are pigs and want for the prettiest girl in the room. That was not the plus size, splotchy faced, bookworm who didn’t know how to keep her tongue in check. She shyly replies to the next question. “Sirius Black is very handsome...” Also arrogant, a complete fool, a scoundrel and her parents would NEVER approve of that blood traitor! Still...he’s amusing. She always finds his antics make her laugh. James as well. “Are you quite all right?” Andrea notices the slight change in V’s physical appearance. She can’t help if the change is because of what she has said, and knows nothing of V’s true nature. She can only assume that in saying they are the only boy even close, it has made them feel uncomfortable because they, like most boys, share the same dislike for someone who looks like Andrea Travers does. She lets out a small sigh. “I don’t need to be harsh on myself. Society does quite a fine job of doing it for me.” Truer words were never spoken and V had said just that moments ago. “It shall and we will get giddy and foolish on it together, my friend.” Her truest friend, if she had to pick one out of the crowd. tagged; Vanitas Burke

[Vanitas Burke]

“Sorry,” they shot their fellow Ravenclaw an apologetic look. Perhaps they should have been more subtle about it. Even if being subtle wouldn’t change the way things were. Even if they couldn’t relate to the role assigned to them by their parents, it felt a lot less restrictive than being born a girl.

An eyebrow raised up. “Black? Seriously? That womanizer?” Vanitas felt like they were the only one who didn’t see the appeal. And they definitely weren’t exclusively attracted to women. “I don’t know, Andy. He isn’t the type to date anyone but himself. He has never been in a relationship but has been seen snogging many girls,” they sighed and thought about it for a moment. “But I suppose he could be a good one to practice with. Do you think you’d kiss him if he offered?” They paused. “Just… Don’t sell yourself short, you’ve got the most amazing hair and eyes. Everyone can see that. Boys are just stupid because they care more about what others think than going after what makes them happy.”

V quickly cleared their throat and nodded quickly. “Yes, prefect duties just kept me up late last night. I probably should head to bed early tonight,” they smoothly lied. Lying was the second thing you learned growing up in Knockturn. The first thing being violence and the third theft.

“If everything goes south we could always spend eternity reading books and sipping wine to escape society.” Actually that didn’t sound half bad.
Andrea Travers ,

[Andrea Travers]

“I know it is not your fault, V,” Andie assures her friend. Vanitas is simply being honest. She could not ask for a more honest friend if there ever were one. V never let her down there. “This is simply my lot in life. I must learn to grin and bear it, right?” She did not know how she could change it. “Perhaps I will meet a man who does not care what his wife does or who is too busy with his own travels and studies he is never even home leaving me to my reading...” She can dream, right? “I wouldn’t need to date him but it might just be fun to be one of those girls he is snogging...just for the experience...” She knows all about Sirius Black’s reputation. He’s a menace among the girls at this school. Andrea can’t help but be hypnotized by his charms and good hair. “I suppose if a Black is in my future, my parents would appreciate my liking Regulus over Sirius but there’s something about a rambunctious bad boy...” She watches her friend curiously but Andrea is naive enough to fall for the lies. “You shouldn’t work yourself so much. It’s not good for you,” she warns. V needs some down time. And when they suggest sipping on wine and reading books, Andrea can’t help but sigh. “It sounds heavenly. Perhaps we ought to invite Rhiannon to join us...” tagged; Vanitas Burke

[Vanitas Burke]

“We’ll have to live with what we’re given, huh?” A sigh escaped their lips. What were they given actually? V barely had a sense of identity. Because their body and face were ever changing, Vanitas didn’t even know what they really looked like. How were they meant to play a role when they weren’t even a static being? Thing was; they actually quite liked being like this. They wanted to feel beautiful, handsome and cute all at the same time. Yet everything in their life told them that this was something shameful and to be hidden.

They thought of Drea’s possibility as they held their chin between their thumb and index finger. “That actually doesn't sound too bad if you have plenty of friends around. I am quite lucky being the youngest. There is no real pressure to get married. My sister already is but my older brother still isn’t. I think until he does, I’m safe.” V was their mother’s only child however and she might think differently. Perhaps she wanted her child to be the one to give their dad the first grandchildren. Vanitas wondered if they’d even be capable of that.

“If it is just for fun… Then I suppose it can’t hurt,” they eventually concluded with a smile. If she knew what she was in for, why not? Vanitas’ hair turned a slight green from jealousy, which they hated. They wanted to be a supportive friend but they couldn’t help but want some fun too. It just wasn’t safe, what if their body started shifting? That would be social death for sure.

“I think I’d rather date Regulus than Sirius to be honest… If he weren’t such a mommy’s boy- I mean IF I were a girl of course,” they realized halfway through and quickly corrected themselves. They sighed. V didn’t want to be a shadow on the wall but it was what was needed to survive. Sirius probably was the hotter of the two but V would never go after someone their friends fancied. Not the type of drama they wanted. “Either way you’re getting a mother in law from hell. I heard stuff about her, even the women in Knockturn whisper about her.”

V chuckled and scratched their cheek. “I’ll try not to. Wouldn’t want to miss hanging out with you because I’m overworked.” They smiled. “We should!”
Andrea Travers ,

[Andrea Travers]

The reality of V’s words is true. Andrea sighs. She shouldn’t complain. Aside from being forced into things she doesn’t want and being put down by her family for not being desirable, Andrea has a good life. Her family is reputable and wealthy. However, when it comes to finding a husband, Andrea is not what men are looking for. At least not the men who would be deemed suitable. She laughs. “It doesn’t, does it?” Then she sighed. “I sometimes wish my eldest sibling was a boy.” Instead, she has a sister who is in the same boat, except Tamsin is more beautiful than Andrea will ever be. She has all sorts of offers. Their parents are just being picky and wanting to ensure they select the right husband for her older sister. Andrea will get her seconds. Or worse. Andrea doesn’t miss what V says and lifts a brow. She doesn’t want to say anything or draw attention to what V has said but there’s curiousity in her gaze that can’t be missed. Instead she replies with. “Regulus is the safe one. A girl needs a bad boy in her life before she settles down.” Both of the Black boys are handsome in their own regard. She’s known them for years. Andrea shivers at the mention of Lady Black. “She’s a terror and their house is so gloomy. Have you ever been there? Mother had us invited for tea once back when she hoped to marry off Tam to Sirius before he...well, you know.” She lowered her voice when speaking of Sirius running away to live with the Potters. It’s strange to think Andrea can so freely talk to Vanitas in comparison to other boys in their house or school or anything. He’s just so different in some regards, but in others, he is no different than the other boys. They all treat Andrea as a friend and nothing to be desired, ever. Vanitas Burke ,

[Vanitas Burke]

Both V’s half sister and brother were older. Eustace only by a few years. “I think I prefer my older sister over my older brother, if I’m honest. Perhaps it is different for.” Sylvia often gave them her hand me downs as Eustace wasn’t interested in them (obviously), she said to give them to Alex but V ended up keeping those that Alex didn’t want. “I’m almost glad we’re too poor for you to get married to my brother. He’d be the worst husband. If I see how he treats his girlfriends I have little hope for his future wife.” Eustance often blamed growing up without his biological mother as the reason he had no interest in forming a bond with women besides a sexual one. Which was just a bad excuse for being an ass in V’s eyes.

Girls needed a bad boy? Was that why Alex and Sirius were messing around? Though V would argue that Alex fit the bad boy image more than Black did. “I suppose if you go for a bad boy he is one of the less offensive ones.” Vanitas didn’t fit the image of a ‘bad boy’ despite growing up in the streets that were known for molding those. But while they had committed some actual crimes, V doubted Sirius had.

“We’ve never actually been there but my father did business with them. From what he told me about them, I suppose we should be glad to have never gotten the invite.” Their mother on the other hand was keen on getting back into higher society. Sometimes V wondered why she even married their father.

They nodded slowly as Drea brought up the current situation of Sirius. It was not their business but the guy seemed happier now. So good for him, V wished they had the guts to choose for themself like he did.
Andrea Travers ,

[Andrea Travers]

Andrea frowns. “Oh, but V, being your sister-in-law would make it all the better even if he were horrible!” Andrea expects whomever she weds will be horrible regardless. She has little expectation in whom she ends up wed to. There is no love story in her future. “We could drink wine when he is not home and no one would think otherwise because we are family!” It would not look so bad if she were drinking wine with V while married to someone unrelated to her friend. The society might talk. Bad boy is subjective. Sirius is a bad boy because he is not aligned with the beliefs of those Andrea is supposed to surround herself with. He is a rebel. “Perhaps it’s a poor choice of words, rebel is more fitting.” The sentiment still lingers. Every girls needs a boy their Mama would hate before she settles down with someone their Mama approves of. “Oh yes. Count yourself lucky.” Andrea nods her head vigourously. She recalls how depressing it had felt to walk those halls. Not even a joyous bit of laughter with Regulus had helped to brighten the place up. And their laughter had been stifled almost immediately by a warning glance from his horrible mother. “I thought my mother was awful...” Norah Travers has nothing on Walburga Black. Andie understands why Sirius ran away. Vanitas Burke ,

[Vanitas Burke]

In terms of looks their brother could match her type. He had those Italian genes, dark hair and broody complexion. Too bad he was an insufferable jerk. “Syl will be your sister in law too I’m afraid, which is not a fate I’d wish upon anyone.” Sylvia saw everyone as competition. Whichever women Eustace and Vanitas were going to marry would constantly be judged and envied. V wished they could say Andrea should just marry them to make things easier. That would just be unfair to her. V would be happy with her. She was very pretty even if V preferred less feminine girls. At least the two of them would have tons of fun. Andrea deserved a proper husband and V wondered if they would ever qualify as that role for anyone. Considering sometimes…

“A rebel?” V pondered and nodded. It was indeed a more fitting word. “I guess if his ego mellows out with age, he isn’t too bad.” There were definitely worse guys in the school to crush on.

“It almost seems to be a competition amongst parents to win the worst adult of the year award and she is winning.” Vanitas wasn’t too sure where their own parents ranked. The Burkes were just your average dark wizards with no loyalty to anyone but themselves and the highest bidder.
Andrea Travers,