Woop! Here we go with the sequel to Purest Black! Happy New Year and all that jazz! *fireworks*

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Dora


Nymphadora Lestrange raised her head, holding her baby sister closer as she raised her wand, taking in her surroundings. The sitting room of the Tonks house appeared to be as it had last time, perfectly clean, though seeming to be missing the warmth of past company.

"Dora?" Rabastan frowned, looking around. "Whose house is this?"

"Shhh," Dora whispered, walking forward toward the stairs. She could hear someone stirring in the master bedroom, and knew it would only be a few moments before he knew.

In a matter of seconds, she heard hurried footsteps down the upstairs hall, then saw someone descending the stairs wearing a nightgown. Nymphadora almost cried all over again when she saw the brown-haired witch, though she gasped when the woman hurried up to her and threw her arms around her, jumping back almost immediately. "Oh," she said. "I didn't know you brought—who is this?"

Nymphadora shifted the little girl in her arms and said, "It's Delphi, my sister. Rab has Rigel..."

She felt the witch's attitude change immediately as they both turned to Rabastan, who hissed, "Andromeda!"

"Rabastan," Andromeda said coldly, though her look softened as she saw Dora's son in the man's arms.

"This—" Rabastan said harshly to his wife "this filthy blood-traitor was your plan?! I will not allow my family to associate—!"

"This filthy bloodtraitor raised your lovely wife," Andromeda shrugged. "Protected her from those who would have abused her. Taught her what it meant to be a decent, proper wife."

"I won't let my son be influenced by you!" Rabastan yelled, backing away from them. "Nymphadora, you should know better! I'm ashamed of you!"

"Then be ashamed," Dora breathed. "I need her; I need someone who can help me with the children. Rab, where are you going?"

Rabastan was shocked when the door rejected him, glowing red as the ward would not let him through. Andromeda crossed her arms over her chest, her wand visible as she glared at him. "You will not be able to leave the house while holding that child," she told him.

The man nearly choked on his anger, dropping the bag and drawing his wand, and though Dora stepped forward, Andromeda pushed her out of the way. "Dare to challenge me in my own home, Lestrange?" she hissed. "I don't recommend fighting with a child in your arms. It's a good way to lose everything."

"Please, Rab," Dora pleaded. "Give it a chance. It won't be that bad, I promise."

"Shut it, Nymphadora," Rab hissed at her, and her eyes filled with tears as she clutched her sister close, staring between the witch she loved as a mother, and the man she had married.

"So you came from the battle?" Andromeda questioned. "I knew there was one going on, though I wasn't sure..." she seemed to realise something, then said, "Bella...oh, Dora!"

The girl couldn't help but sob, burying her face in her sister's hair as she shook. Andromeda slipped her arm around the younger witch and drew her into her side, hugging her gently. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "Here, let me take Delphi."

Nymphadora allowed the witch to take the girl from her arms as she clung to her once-mother, crying her heart out. "I promised Mother I would take care of her—I don't know if I can!" she cried into Andromeda's nightdress. "But I've got to! I promised!"

"Dora, it's going to work out," Andromeda said softly, her right arm slipping around the younger witch. "She'll be fine; you'll be okay."

"Not when I'm through with her," Rabastan threatened, and Dora looked up to see her husband's face lit with anger.

"Rabastan," Dora sniffed, shocked at the man's words. "I'm sorry—"

"I will not hear your excuses." He stalked across the room and gave their son to her, his eyes boring straight into hers as he allowed a painful hex to course through her.

"Oh!" Dora cried as she clutched Rigel to her breast and struggled against the pain of her husband's spell. "Rab—"

Andromeda threw a shield between them, knocking the man backward onto the floor. "You will not harm her on my behalf, Rabastan," she snapped. "It is not her fault that she was stuck with me. I cared for her when there was no one else, and it looks like there is no one else once again, not even her own husband. I find it pathetic that you do not care enough for her to respect her decision to seek shelter here. Perhaps you do not trust her?"

Nymphadora stared down at her husband on the floor as tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision. "Mum, please don't hurt him," she breathed. "Please."

"You can leave," Andromeda said to him coldly. "You can leave and be hunted like Mudblood filth, or you can stay and behave yourself. The choice is yours."

"Rabastan," Dora sobbed, rushing to his side and throwing herself into his arms as she had placed their sleeping child on the couch. "I'll do anything. Just don't leave me now. Stay, for Rigel's sake."

"You planned this," Rabastan hissed at her, refusing to embrace her. "You came here and planned this with her—"

The witch choked back her tears and nodded, her entire body trembling against his. "I had to make sure there was a safe place if I lost Mum—it was the only way. Andromeda would fight for us, as her family, her flesh and blood. She would protect our son, would do anything, I'm sure."

His hand slid to rest on her back, but Dora knew it wasn't over. "Until I can find another place," he warned her darkly. "I will not let you and Rigel stay here."

"Okay," Dora sniffed, though couldn't stop the tears running down her cheeks.

"I'll keep Delphi in my room," Andromeda said, turning toward the stairs.

"Wait," Dora said, then took the bag that she'd got from the nursery, using her wand to separate her sister's things. "Take her things."

Andromeda disappeared up the stairs, and Dora turned back to her husband, who still looked angry as he got to his feet. "I assume you know this place?" he said coldly.

Dora took her son up from the couch, choking back her emotion as she led her husband up the stairs and down the hall into her old room. She sniffed back her tears, setting up their things with a flick of her wand. "Rigel," she whispered, taking the charm off the child. "Wake up now. You must be hungry...you've been asleep for hours."

She kissed his head as he stirred, crying out softly as he reached up to her. "I love you," she murmured before preparing to feed him. The boy ate eagerly, sitting on her lap as she watched Rabastan dress for bed. A few moments later, Rigel was finished with his meal and looked to his father, calling out in childish syllables.

Rabastan didn't look at the child, walking around the bed and crawling beneath the sheets on the other side. The child cried out in distress, and Dora kissed the child's black curls. "Shhh, baby," she breathed. "Not now." Rigel began to cry, and Dora rose from the bed, beginning to walk the floor with him.

Nymphadora was exhausted by the time Rigel had cried himself to sleep, and laid the child in his cot, ready to crawl into bed herself. She quickly prepared for bed, sliding beneath the sheets, biting her lip as Rabastan turned away from her. "Rabastan?" she whispered. "Hold me?" She desperately wanted him to comfort her in her sorrow, though she soon realised he was not about to do anything to help her.

"I will hurt you if you bother me," came his too calm voice.

Shocked, Dora curled up with her back to him, trembling with her emotion as she tried to stay silent. It took her only a minute or two to realise she couldn't stay there, and got up, taking Rigel with her as she hurried from the room and down the hall, a sob escaping her, though she paused at the top of the stairs to make sure she could see before walking down them.

Nymphadora placed the child safely in a crib she conjured next to the couch and Silence warded it before she collapsed onto the couch, bursting into hysterical tears. She couldn't contain her sorrow and pain any longer, almost shrieking in her distress as she wept. No one came to soothe her; no one was there to help her keep her sanity in the midst of it all. She couldn't help writhing in the mental pain of losing her mother, of Rabastan rejecting her: she felt torn apart, and didn't know what to do to unite what few family members she had left. She had had no choice but to run to her old home.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the master bedroom, Andromeda walked the floor with Bellatrix's youngest daughter, murmuring soft words to her as she bounced her gently. "Dora's hurting, isn't she?" she sighed as Delphi seemed to cry out, hearing the witch crying downstairs. "Well, I can't help her, at least not yet. I'm sure her husband sent her away—he's a nasty piece of work, isn't he?"

Delphi giggled, and Andromeda smirked at her proudly. "Yes, petal," she said, kissing the child's face. "You are an intelligent one. I'm sure Mumma Bella is very proud of you."

"Mumma," Delphi said, reaching up and touching Andromeda's face. "Mumma!"

"Dear Merlin, no," Andromeda said sharply. "Not Mumma. Andromeda. I'm Andromeda."

Delphi pouted, laying her head on the woman's shoulder, and Andromeda sighed, unable to resist the girl's expression. "You player," she muttered.


The next morning, Andromeda woke to sound of a child calling out, "Mumma! Mumma!"

She half sat up, saying, "Dora?" sure it was another dream about the girl she'd loved and raised as her own.

To her surprise, when she turned over to check her clock for the time, she saw a little black-haired girl holding onto the bars of her cot, watching her. "Wha—oh, Delphi," Andromeda sighed.

She slid out of her bed and took the girl into her arms, holding her close. "You're so quiet," Andromeda marveled. "Much more than Nymphadora was. Are you an early riser, too, like me?"

Delphi wrapped one small arm around the witch's neck, giving a small sigh. "Mum..."

"Shhh, baby," Andromeda said softly. "Mumma's gone, given herself for the Dark Lord and his cause."

Andromeda fell silent for a moment, suddenly sorely missing her older sister. "And you lost both parents at once," she murmured against the girl's now silver hair. "Don't worry, though. Dora and I will protect you."

The girl looked up again, reaching out to touch the brown-haired woman's face. "Mum?" she sniffed, her lower lip beginning to tremble.

Andromeda carried the child to the window so she could look out into the morning sky. "Look, love," she whispered as the girl cried softly. "I know she's gone from us, from you and Dora, but she's never really far away." She pointed toward a star that shone brightly even as the sun was beginning to rise. "Bellatrix will always be watching over you and your sister, Delphi. You'll never be without her."

Andromeda watched the one year old child stare mesmerized up at the sky. She left her sitting in the windowseat, warding it so the child couldn't fall out. Andromeda hurried to get dressed for the day, then went back to her second niece, taking her up and leaving the room, going downstairs.

Delphi pointed to the witch curled on the couch, saying, "Dora?"

"Yes, Dora's sleeping," Andromeda said. "Shh. She's tired from what happened yesterday. Come on: we'll start breakfast for Dora and her family, hmm?"

She took the child into the kitchen, her wand in her hand as she began to gather things for their meal. Andromeda shook her head slightly, thinking that Rabastan would most likely refuse to show up for breakfast, and decided that she wasn't about to waste food on him.

Moments later, she set a ward around Delphi, letting her play on the floor as she went back to the sitting room to wake Nymphadora. After watching the sleeping witch for a moment, Andromeda reached out and placed her hand gently on Dora's back. "Dora," she said softly, "it's morning...time to wake up."

"No," groaned the witch, turning to hide her face in the couch cushion.

"Well, your sleeping habits haven't changed," Andromeda smirked. "Do you feel like you could eat some breakfast? You'll need your strength, dear."

"Mum," Dora sighed, then yawned. "I—I'm fine."

Andromeda nodded, then motioned to her still-sleeping son. "He'll need your attention, and breakfast will be ready in five minutes or less."

Nymphadora agreed, then sat up, swinging her legs off the couch. "I'll go see if—if Rab wants anything," she said. "I'll be right back." Dora got to her feet, walking back up the stairs to her old room.

She found Rabastan lying on his back on the bed, awake and staring at the ceiling. "Rabastan?" she asked hesitantly. "Are you hungry?"

"No," he said shortly, not turning to look at her. "You didn't leave Rigel with that woman?"

"He is still sleeping," Dora said, biting her lip. "I—I was about to wake him so I could feed him, but I wanted to know if you would join us for breakfast..."

"Nymphadora, the influence that woman has had on you—that she will have on Rigel if we stay here—" Rabastan clenched his fist. "I left to protect him and you, not to have you run to a blood-traitor. I cannot let her put all the wrong ideas into his head!"

"Andromeda taught me the Unforgivable Curses," Nymphadora replied, coming closer to the bed and looking down at her husband's face. "She prepared me as well as she could for what I was to become later in life. She taught me pureblood supremacy, though her husband always confused me. I understand now that she loved only him, and she doesn't give two shits about any other Mudblood."

Dora bit her lip as she reached down and touched Rabastan's hand hesitantly. "She taught me how to use my powers as a Metamorphmagus," Dora said, remembering the night she and Andromeda had giggled together and morphed each other into different people they knew. "She knows so much more about it than I do—that's one reason Bella left me with her. She knew Andromeda would understand me."

Rabastan drew his hand away from hers, then asked thoughtfully, "Andromeda could take care of Delphi so we don't have to bother with her, couldn't she?"

"She has offered to keep Delphi in her room," Nymphadora agreed, her breath catching in her throat slightly. "Though I cannot leave her here all alone: Mother would be furious if her second daughter was left to Andromeda."

"Then why would you bring us all here?" Rabastan growled. "If you wanted to follow your mother's dying wish, but you still brought that brat here and you've returned to Andromeda as Bellatrix always feared? It doesn't seem that you actually care what your real mother wanted."

Nymphadora clenched her own fists to keep her temper under control, then said, "You don't have to accept this, Rabastan, but don't mock my mother and don't undermine my love for her. And don't hate me for wanting back the only witch that acted the part of a true mother. Bellatrix tried, bless her, but she didn't know love and kindness like Andromeda does."

Rabastan shook his head. "Just go away."

Dora left the room, going back down to the dining room and picking Rigel up on the way. She shook her head at the brown-haired witch when Andromeda looked up at her. "He's not coming."

"Well, I didn't make him any, either," Andromeda shrugged.

"Mum!" Dora said reproachfully.

"Are you sure you should call me 'Mum'?" Andromeda asked her, turning to send their breakfast flying to the table.

"I—well, you earned it," Dora said stubbornly. "I never stopped thinking of you as my mother, even when I learned the truth."

The witch nodded, then motioned her to the table. "Ah," Andromeda smiled when Delphi pointed at the steaming hot food and looked up at the witch who held her. "Hungry, little one?" Andromeda made sure to cool the food before allowing Delphi to have it, then looked at the brown-haired witch curiously. "Has she always been a quiet child?"

Nymphadora looked from her son to her sister, frowning slightly. "She doesn't cry for what she wants, at least not often," she said. "She's become more quiet as she's grown, but only Bella—Mother—would know her normal."

"I just wondered," Andromeda said. "She's done so well, for a strange place and a new face."

"Not so new," Dora bit her lip. "You and Bella do look a lot alike."

"Well," the older witch said quietly, "sisters tend to do that."

"I—I miss her," Dora whispered, looking to her plate as she couldn't look at Andromeda anymore. "I wish she were still here, but she'd be just as upset as Rab—do you think she would understand?"

Andromeda was silent for a few minutes, then answered, "She would never understand in her madness, but deep down she would have understood. But she'd still try to tear me to shreds."

Dora smiled wryly, then said, "You do know that you would not have defeated her in your duel in Diagon? She was too powerful for you—I couldn't let her kill you."

"I know," Andromeda said. "But I couldn't help taunting her; it's just natural. I left the Alley as soon as you left with Bella. There were other Death Eaters there, and I didn't want to risk attracting their attention."

"Well, you should have left when I told you to," Dora said.

"Dora, I do not answer to Bellatrix," Andromeda answered sharply. "I never have. I do not fear her, and I've never let her dictate my actions."

"I only wanted to keep you safe," muttered the girl. "But you wouldn't heed my warning."

Andromeda smirked. "You drew attention to me by just standing there," she said. "I wouldn't have drawn attention if—"

Nymphadora rolled her eyes. "Yes, you would. You and Mother and Aunt Cissa all stand out."

"Ha!" laughed Andromeda. "Speaking of Narcissa, I have a portrait of her that is connected to a frame in Malfoy Manor. If you want, you could let Narcissa know that you're safe, though you shouldn't tell her anything else."

"Really?" Dora said earnestly. "I did want to make sure she didn't worry too much."

"Oh, she'll worry," Andromeda said knowingly. "She worries too much, about everything. It will help her to know, though, until she realizes where your message came from."

"We won't be staying here?" Dora asked.

"It's too obvious," Andromeda answered. "This was your home at one time, so the Ministry will check here, naturally." Dora continued to look worried, and Andromeda got to her feet, clearing the empty dishes from the table with a sweep of her wand. "Come along, Dora. The portrait is in the attic."

Nymphadora followed the older witch, both with a child in their arms as they walked up to the attic. Andromeda smirked at the girl, then said, "Don't let Rigel touch anything up here. You do remember that I have things here from my old home."

Dora nodded, then asked curiously, "Would I be able to open the things that you cannot, then?"

"Yes," Andromeda said simply, lighting her wand and leading the way inside the room. "Though I would not suggest doing it without Rabastan or Narcissa present. Some of these things can get out of control quickly, and I would not be able to help you."

"That's why you locked Dad—Ted—out of here?" Dora grinned.

"Well, any of those artifacts would have seriously hurt him if he had touched them, or fiddled with them," Andromeda said. "So I warded the door against him. Ah, here it is, Dora." She raised her wand, illuminating something wrapped in a cloth.

Nymphadora picked up it, the cloth slipping off to reveal an empty frame, and Andromeda nodded to her to go ahead. "Uh, Narcissa?" Nymphadora said awkwardly, and Rigel's eyes widened in the wandlight as Narcissa's blond head first faded into the frame. "I just need you to let your living counterpart know that Rab and I and the babies are safe. And that I love her."

The portrait of Narcissa smirked slightly. "No emergency to report this time?"

"This time?" Dora said in confusion. "No..."

"Good," said the portrait, fading from the frame once more.

Andromeda gave a small laugh. "I contacted Narcissa with that portrait when Cygnus kidnapped you," she explained. "That's what it means."

Nymphadora was about to speak when there was a sudden crash, and a pile of boxes behind Andromeda fell over. Andromeda turned, then realised what had happened. "Delphi!" she scolded. "Don't touch!"

The grin didn't leave the child's face even as she was scolded, Delphi twisting in the witch's arms to see what she'd done. Andromeda sighed, waving her wand to right everything, then walked forward, out of the attic. She stopped short, seeing the dark-haired man leaning against the wall a few feet away as she stepped out of the room.

"Rab?" Dora said softly, slipping past Andromeda to see him clearly. "What is it?"

"Come with me," Rabastan told her, holding out his hand. She took his hand without question, leaning into his side as they walked back toward her old room. She set Rigel down on his cot, the child sitting up and watching them curiously.

"There's a portrait Andromeda has that's connected to Malfoy Manor," Nymphadora told her husband. "I just let Narcissa know that we're all safe."

"Safe? No," Rabastan said. "Nymphadora, you and Rigel and I are leaving here tomorrow." Nymphadora frowned, and he grabbed her by the wrist, staring her straight in the eyes. "No, we are not taking Delphi with us, and no, the blood-traitor will not go with us. You've tried my patience long enough, Nymphadora."

Nymphadora felt the roots of her hair turn bright red, then snapped, "I will not leave Delphi here! I—" She reeled slightly as Rabastan struck her across the mouth. "Rab!" she yelled in anger and pain. "Stop it! You're being unreasonable!"

Rabastan glared at her. "Unreasonable?" he growled. "You said I don't have to accept this, and by Merlin, I'm not going to. We are leaving, Nymphadora."

The second she opened her mouth to speak, he grabbed her by both wrists and drew her much too close for comfort. "Rab, please," she said, raising her head to look into his dark, angry eyes. "Give her a chance—"

A spell crackled from the man's hands into her body, and Dora screeched in pain for a moment before groaning, writhing in her husband's grasp. "Rabastan!" she shrieked, clenching her fists to keep herself from crying out again.

He slammed her against the wall, her head hitting the hard surface and making her groan. "You will not question my decisions!" he shouted at her even as she continued to struggle. "You will obey me, Nymphadora, and leave the brat here with that blood-traitor filth!"

A scream escaped Nymphadora as the Curse intensified. "You will be an obedient wife and mother," Rabastan yelled at her, madness raging in his eyes as he shook her violently. "You will not show me the stubborn attitude I have been seeing recently!"

"You sound like your brother!" Nymphadora shrieked, tears running down her face as she fought him. "Stop it!"

Rabastan stared at her for a moment, the magic dying out of his touch. Her body trembled in his grasp, Dora staring at her husband with tears streaming from her eyes. She didn't speak, afraid that he would continue the torture.

"Well?" Rabastan said, staring at her coldly.

"I—I—" Dora breathed, shuddering with pain.

"Perhaps you need tonight to think about it?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Or are you just being stubborn?"

A sob escaped the witch as she watched the man, unable to answer. She felt magic crackle in his hands again and cried, "No, Rab, please! Don't do it again! I'll—"

Both adults turned, hearing their son cry, "Mum! Mumma!"

Nymphadora stared at the child, who stood holding onto the bars of his cot, tears in his beautiful brown eyes. "Rab," she whispered, but he ignored her, pushing her from himself and walking across the room toward the little boy.

The witch slid down the wall, trying to control her breathing as she watched Rabastan take Rigel from the cot. She wrapped her arms around her knees, tears still running down her face. Now, more than ever, she need Narcissa's wise counsel.

Rabastan held his son close, murmuring to him softly before sitting on the floor with him to play. Rigel seemed to be happier now that his mother wasn't shrieking and crying, the boy glad to play with his father.

Dora waited a moment, then painfully got to her feet, walking to the door. It was only when the ward rejected her that she realised Rabastan had locked her in the room.

Rabastan glanced at her when she turned to him, hurt and angry. "You will not go crying to Andromeda," he said. "You are not leaving this room until I think you're ready."

Nymphadora just stared at him, shocked at his behaviour. She crept to the bed and curled up on it, clenching her fists as she struggled to calm herself. She distracted herself by thinking of what Bellatrix would do to Rabastan if she'd known what he had done. It was almost laughable, though her heart hurt.

Dora sniffed, rubbing her faded Mark as she thought of her mother. She didn't know what would happen now.