Our Story

The Polished Lady


The rest of the night was blurred as they found themselves entwined most of the time right up until curfew. He even risked getting caught to sneak down with her to her common room door. She stood in front of the picture entrance and gave him one last passionate kiss goodnight and watched him disappear around the corner. She sighed and turned around towards the portrait. She began to open her mouth to give the password but was cut off before she could say anything.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here? A lovebird?” a voice said.

Andromeda looked up and scowled at the Polished Lady sitting on her chaise in the portrait. “What? You were watching us?”

The Polished Lady looked at Andromeda with a haughty look on her face. “You were standing right in front of me. Where was I to go? This is my portrait.” She pointed to the plaque below reading her name, Althea Brindle. She began to brush out her long dark grey hair. “Besides you remind me of my younger years, and my beloved. Such love and passion between you both and that spark.” Althea clutched her brush to her heart and sighed before resuming brushing her hair. “From the look in your eyes you undoubtedly felt it tonight.”

Andromeda looked at Althea and wondered if what she felt earlier in the night was that ‘spark’ that the lady was talking about.

As if the lady could hear Andromeda’s thoughts she began to speak, “Yes Dearie. You did. First there is the flutter in your stomach as he leans in towards you. Muggles have come to call that ‘butterflies in your stomach.’ You though, being a witch and wizard will not only feel that but more as well. Then when you lips met his you felt something pull between you both. Almost a pulse of sorts or as if it was a feeling of energies flowing throughout your body and into his and back to you in a circle. Next your skin gets warm and begins to tingle in a way. If you were to have opened you eyes or have seen yourselves from afar you would have noticed that the two of you were engulfed in a golden light.”

Andromeda looked at the lady sitting in the portrait and gave a small nod to her, acknowledging that she had felt those things. She was in awe that Althea knew these things. It was as if she was right there in the moment with Andromeda.

Althea began to continue, “Yes and that pulse you felt was your souls recognizing each other. Also that warmth you’ll feel emanating from within you when you think about him also has a reason. Your soul left a piece of it within him and his within you. When your thoughts wander to him you’ll be able to feel its warmth. That is how you know that he is your beloved.” Althea said, clasping her hands at the last sentence, bringing them to her chest with a sigh. It was obvious that she was now thinking of her beloved.

Andromeda’s thought had again turned to Ted and she began to feel a heat emanating from the middle of her chest. She closed her eyes and began to feel the warmth begin to spread throughout her entire body. She couldn’t help but to smile as she became engulfed in this feeling.

Andromeda’s eyes open at the sound of Althea’s voice. “Well Dearie, we’d best get you inside before you are late. You know how Professor Slughorn can get.” Andromeda nodded and turned towards the painting’s frame. “Promise me though you’ll visit with me again and tell me more of your beloved. I do miss someone to have a ‘girl talk’ with.” She asked of Andromeda before opening.

“Of course, I may need some of you advice.” Andromeda could she the lady’s eyes light up with joy. “Although maybe it would be better if you visited me in one of the portraits in my quarters than in the corridors.”

Althea began to grin from ear to ear. “Oh of course, that would make it much better for us to talk wouldn’t it? Till then Dearie.” She said as she swung open to let Andromeda in.

“Goodnight Althea.” Andromeda said as she walked through the open portrait and through the common room with her head down, making her way quickly to her rooms. Once inside her room she closed and locked the door behind her. She turned away from the door and glided over to her bed and flung herself backwards on the bed and began to stare at the ceiling. All she could think about was that night, his kiss, his lips on hers, his arms around her waist drawing her close to him and holding her tightly, his eyes staring longingly into her, and she couldn’t help swoon inside. She drifted off to sleep and to dream of Ted, Her Beloved.

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Meanwhile outside the portal to the Slytherin dorms, Althea sat up in her portrait and looked out towards the wall on the left hand side of the corridor. “Well being that this is my post I know what I am doing here, so that leaves you. What are you reason for being in the dungeon corridors at this hour. Are you keeping a close eye on the love birds as well?” Althea smiled. It seemed that she was speaking to no one at the moment but with in seconds the figure of Albus Dumbledore shimmered into view as he disillusioned himself.

“That was some very good advice you gave our young Miss Black. She needs to hear some motherly advice from someone. I have a proposition to make.” Albus said to Althea.

“Oh. Go on Headmaster. I am listening.” Althea said intrigued. She thought something was odd when she realized she was not the only one looking down on the couple saying good night.

“Miss Black needs some guidance and I feel that it would best come from a witch such as yourself. I would take you off your post of the Slytherin House portrait and place a special portrait for you to visit in Andromeda’s dorm room. You would also have free reign of all the paintings in Hogwarts.” Albus could see the curiosity in her eyes. He had known that when the witch was alive she and her husband had tried for a child but never had one survive. He thought this could be therapeutic for both witches.

“I would be happy to oblige Headmaster.” She said as she slightly nodded her head towards him. “When would you have me start?” Althea said with a little anxiousness.

Albus took his wand out and touch Althea’s painting. “You are free to move through all the painting as of now but I would ask you to wait until tomorrow when we can get another portrait to act in your absence. Would that be suitable?” Albus asked.

“Yes that will be fine.” Althea said. Albus nodded and began to walk away. “Oh Albus?” he turned as she called him. “Thank you.” She knew his other motives for having her do this. She was aware that he had known about the fact she could not have children of her own. As she watched the Headmaster took his leave and walked over to her vanity in her portrait, next to her chaise. She sat down at the mirror with a sigh and looked at herself. After a long moment she looked over at one of the two small photos she had arranged to be painted into her portrait. She ran her fingers over the frame that held the picture of an infant, who looked to be no more than eight months old. The child was in an antiqued lace dressing gown with a matching cap and her cheeks appeared rosy. Althea felt her breath hitch and she clasped the painting to her chest as the memories came flooding back to her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Althea had looked out the window of the carriage just as they were rounding up the driveway towards the Manor. She took the baby she had clutched in her arms and angled her towards the window facing the manor. “We’re here Rosalin, home sweet home. You are going to love the gardens.” She leaned over her shoulder to look at the dark haired man sitting next to her. He sat smiling, dressed in dark blue dress robes, that matched his striking dark blue eyes, and his arm was around the waist of his wife and a hand on the feet of their brand new child. Althea looked down at her Rosalin and cooed at her. “Your father had a small section of the garden replanted with all rose bushed just for you.”

“Your mother is right, my darling. Roses for my precious Rosalin, and they are all for you.” He leaned over his wife’s shoulders to look into her daughter’s face. “She is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, next to you, my love.”

“Oh Edmund, after so many times of trying and our losses, she is here, she is finally here.” Althea said with a tear running down her cheek. Edmund leaned over and kissed the tear from her face. Their family was now whole was the thought that ran through both their minds.

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Althea woke up in the early morning knowing that her daughter was likely to be waking up for a very early breakfast before going back to sleep for a couple hours before the sun would rise and big the day. She crossed their room and through the door that adjoined Edmund and Althea’s room to Rosalin’s. She tried to step quietly though the room. She knew her daughter would already be awake, waiting patiently, as she did every morning. As Althea got closer to the crib she realized that Rosalin was still asleep. She was surprised that she was still sleeping but bent over the crib and placed her hand on her daughters back to gently nudge her awake.

Althea could feel the coldness coming off of Rosalin through the baby’s sleeper. A wave of panic coursed through her body as her shaking hands turned the child over. Rosalin lips were a shade of blue, her face was void of color, and her body was limp. “EDMUND!!!!!” she screamed noting as well that the child had no reaction to the noise.

Edmund charged into the room, swung his wand around the room lighting all of the lights, he found his wife on the floor by the crib cradling their daughter. He walked over to them and saw that Rosalin face was pale and her lips blue. His wife’s face was streaked with tears. He feared the worst as he looked at the scene in the middle of his daughter’s room. “I am going to get the doctor.” He managed to croak out and turned on the spot and was gone.

Althea sat there on the floor sobbing and cradling Rosalin for what seemed like forever. She was in shock as to how cold her daughter’s body was. “No, no, no. This can’t be happening. Please tell me this is not happening” She said, thinking out loud. “I have waited so long and been so patient for her and your just going to take her away? No you can’t do this. She is mine! Please don’t!” she was now yelling at the ceiling and had not heard the pops in the air as Edmund return with a doctor and a nurse. She continued to sob while looking upwards toward the ceiling.

Edmund went to his wife and held both her and their daughter tightly for a moment and let his own tears fall down his face. They stayed like that for a long moment and then Edmund spoke. “Althea the doctor is hear you must let them see Rosalin and if they can help. Lay her down for a moment.” He knew there was going to be nothing they could do but he still had to try. Another moment later he was able to have Althea lay Rosalin’s body on the floor and move her away so the doctors could see her.

The doctor knelt down next to the infant and took out his wand and ran it over Rosalin several times. He then reached into his pocket for a small flashlight and checked the infant’s eyes to see for any reaction. There was none. He looked at his accompanying nurse and cast a dread look. He stood up and turned to face the parents. He looked at the parents with sadness in his eyes and shook his head. “I am sorry. There is nothing I can do. It appears that her heart had just stopped beating. There is nothing anyone could have done.” He looked back to the nurse who already had taken one of the receiving blankets from the changing table and laid it over the infant.

“NO!!!!” Althea’s knees gave out from underneath her and began to fall to the ground. She still had Edmund's arms around her holding her back from running to Rosalin's body and guiding her to the floor. They both stayed huddled on the floor for a while staring at the covered little mound of their daughter’s body only ten feet from them.

“We will take her body to the morgue for right now and return her for burial. IT is only customary.” The doctor finally said to Edmund. “We should get your wife to bed for now.” Both men brought Althea to bed and the doctor had given her some very strong potions to sedate her. “Please let me know when you will be having the service and I personally will bring your daughter to you.” The doctor said as his nurse came up behind him with the small bundle wrapped in a rose printed blanket.

Edmund nodded to the doctor as he walked towards the nurse. She handed him the bundle. Edmund unwrap the top of the bundle and looked upon his daughter’s face. Tear began to fall as his kissed her cool forehead and whispered, “Goodbye my precious little rose. You mother and I love you.” After a long moment he handed his daughter over to the nurse again and then both of them turn on the spot and disappeared. He turned to his wife, now asleep from the calming and sleeping potions, on the bed. He knew that they next few days and weeks and moths would be tough for them both, but especially for Althea. He would try to be strong. He left his wife to her momentary peace and walked into Rosalin’s room. He looked around at the crème color of the walls and all the stenciled rose borders that framed the room. He walked over to her crème colored crib with its sheer rose colored canopy draping over it sat on one side of the room near the window. He looked down into the crib at the rose colored sheets and a wave of sorrow and nausea washed over him know that she would never use it again. He looked out the window and saw the sun just starting to rise and casting a ray of light on to the ground in the section of the garden he had replanted with roses just for her. ‘That’s wear you should rest my precious little Rosalin, among your roses.’ He said as he cheeks began to burn with all his tears.

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Althea and Edmund were clad in all black outfits, with their eyes red and puffy, but dry. There were no tears left from their constant grieving. They both stood over a small mound of earth that lay before the tallest, fullest rose bush in that section of the garden, and a small stone at the head of the mound. It read: ‘Rosalin Eve Brindle, Our Precious Little Rose. November 18th- June 20th.’ The rest of the mourners had left the parents alone to grieve for their loss. They both stood there, not wanting to leave, until the sun had gone down over the hills and there was very little light left. Neither of them knew how they would go on.

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Althea sat in her portrait looking over the picture of her Rosalin. She placed the picture down and went over to her chaise and laid down to rest. Before she fell into a slumber she thought to herself that she might be able to have a second chance at a mother daughter relationship with Andromeda and would embrace this mission with all that she was capable of.



A/N: Hello readers. Thank you to those who have already been reading this. I am trying to post as fast as I can. Please let me know what you think.
I know that this flash back was a really sad one but it was needed to understand her later in the story.