PROLOGUE

It was a day that would forever go down in history. A time for joy, family and of course celebrating the lives of James and Lily Potter. The parents that had so bravely stood in front of Voldemort to save their son had not died in vain. The baby miraculously survived the powerful wizards attack, deflecting the evil man's own curse back at him and had by extension saved the fate of the entire Wizarding World. The streets were filled with cheers and fireworks danced across the sky well into the late evening. Not even the steady downpour of rain in the black night sky could deter the elation of the Witches and Wizards crowding the streets: each with the name Harry Potter falling from their upturned lips

Andromeda Tonks could honestly say that she had never felt so content in her life. The knowledge that her husband and child could now live safe and happy once more amongst the Wizarding society of Britain was an exhilarating feeling. It was, however also for this exact reason that she found herself unable to sleep. Her thoughts were filled with such excitement for the future and what it may bring her small family that she found herself uselessly tossing and turning for the majority of the night. Not even the soft sound of her husband, Teddy's snoring- which usually managed to lull her to sleep-was able to do the trick. Giving up, she quietly exited her bedroom tip toeing across the creaky old floor as carefully as she could so as not to wake up Teddy or the sleeping eight-year-old across the hall and softly padded down the stairs and into the kitchen. She'd only just finished putting the kettle on when there was a frantic rattling on the front door. The knocks echoed eerily throughout the quiet house lingering for a few moments before drifting away into the still air, the silence left behind, stifling.

Andromeda hesitated.

If the war had taught her one thing, it was that knocks on the door late at night were usually accompanied by dark marks above the house the next morning. If it was a death eater on the other side of that door, then Andromeda knew they were in grave trouble. Letting out a shaky breath she crept silently down the hall until she stood in front of the closed door. She could vaguely make out the figure of a woman through the fogged glass and before she could stop to think about what she was doing, she'd already taken her wand out and was pointing it in front of her before softly but firmly asking "Who's there?"

There was an agonizing moment of silence during which Andromeda mentally prepared herself for the fight that was sure to come, when a voice she recognized all too well responded from the other side.

"It's me, Narcissa! Andy please open the door before someone catches me out here" came the uncharacteristically frightened voice of her sister from the figure standing behind the glass.

Andromeda was torn. As much as she loved her younger sister she knew very well that her husband Lucius Malfoy was involved with the Dark Arts and was a known supporter of Voldemort. If she did let her sister in, she could be inviting a Death Eater into her home. She couldn't do that. Not with her family upstairs finally safe from the horrors of war.

"I'm sorry Narcissa but you and I both know I can't do that" She replied grimly turning from the door to walk back to the kitchen where the hot water for her tea was slowly growing cold.

"Please! Please, I'm begging you Andromeda open the door. This is a matter of urgency" Narcissa's desperate plea had Andromeda turning back to the door immediately. Narcissa never begged. NEVER. She was a Black now Malfoy and if there was one thing that Blacks and Malfoys absolutely lived by, it was their pride. Begging was simply beneath them. Andromeda herself—though she despised her family and everything they stood for—had never begged for anything her entire life. It was the one personality trait she had actually inherited from her parents. Hearing Narcissa beg so desperately, Andromeda felt compelled into opening the door and after taking a fleeting look around to make sure that Narcissa hadn't been followed Andromeda promptly ushered her sister down the dimly lit hallway and into the living room. It wasn't until she had closed the door and turned to fully look at her sister that she noticed the small dark haired child cradled to Narcissa's chest.

Andromeda could only stare at her incapable of hiding the shock and confusion etched across her face. She hadn't seen her younger sister since she'd run away with Teddy and their mother had blasted her face off the family tree. Narcissa had always been the perfect daughter: never a hair out of place and always impeccably dressed. She had been a protégé of sorts and had mastered the pureblood art of deception long before her first year of Hogwarts. Naturally, as every member of the most noble and Ancient house of Black before her she had been placed in Slytherin where ambition and cunning lead the way. Not long after graduating from Hogwarts, she had gone on to marry the very respectable pureblooded Lucius Malfoy and had recently provided the Malfoy line with a male heir, successfully completing her goal of becoming a perfect member of pureblooded society.

Now though, Andromeda could hardly believe she was staring at the same person. She had never seen her sister in such an unraveled state. Not even when they were children! Narcissa had always prided herself on maintaining her image but was now standing before her sister in a black over coat the buttons askew as she had missed the first few in her haste leave. Her hair, usually slicked back to perfection, was falling around her shoulders in messy waves haphazardly framing her pale face and drawing attention to the panic-stricken look in her icy gray eyes. Altogether, Andromeda rather thought she resembled a scared animal during hunting season. A look she was sure even her fellow disowned cousin Sirius, could admit was rather unbecoming of a Black.

"What in the name of Merlin is going on?" Andromeda questioned loudly completely forgetting, in her befuddled state that her family was asleep upstairs, "And-And who is that!?" she questioned now pointing to the toddler sleeping soundly in Narcissa's arms. "I thought The Daily Prophet said you had a son!"

Narcissa was shaking now, unable to keep her growing anxiety at bay any longer. She slowly sank into the soft cushions of the sofa in the living room and began talking in a hushed whisper.

"Andy I know you want answers but I really don't have much time. I've left Draco with the house elf for now but I'll need to get back as soon as possible." She paused with a pained look on her face before continuing. "As you know the Dark Lord has fallen. The Ministry of Magic has been restored and the aurors have been rounding up Death Eaters all day, they were just at Malfoy Manner." Narcissa's voice had begun to shake, "Lucius. . .Lucius has been arrested." The statement fell from her lips at such a rapid pace it took Andromeda a few moments for the words to fully sink in.

Lucius Malfoy.

Lucius Malfoy, her little sister's husband had been arrested.

As a Death Eater.

Andromeda couldn't breathe.

It wasn't that she was stunned, she'd had her suspicions for months now that the man her little sister had become entangled with was fighting for the dark side of the war. Still, having suspicions were one thing. Andromeda could deal with her suspicions but knowing, really knowing that her sister had married someone who literally wished the Order and the life she believed in dead and having suspicions were two very different things.

"What-" she wheezed out stopping to take a deep breath when she realized just how small and weak her voice sounded, "What about Bella?" she choked out the question somewhat reluctantly, already knowing the answer before it had left her lips but needing the confirmation none the less. At the mention of their older sister Narcissa's face took on a cold façade before answering sharply, "Both Bellatrix and her husband Rodolphus were seized from their homes right before the aurors came for Lucius" she looked at Andromeda reproachfully before cautiously continuing, "They were arrested for . . . torturing the Longbottom couple with prolonged use of the cruciatus curse . . . apparently they drove them to insanity". Narcissa looked guiltily away from Andromeda instead choosing to look down at the sleeping toddler.

Oh sweet Merlin, she thought, suddenly growing nauseous she could feel the acidic burn of bile rising in the back of her throat. Her older sister had been involved in the torture of Alice and Frank Longbottom. Her family were the ones responsible for doing this despicable thing to two very dear friends and irreplaceable Order members. Andromeda had forgiven her family for a lot of things; disowning her and Sirius, burning them off the family tapestry even calling her a blood-traitor and her daughter an abomination –they were after all very small minded and firmly set in their prejudiced beliefs—but this, this was unforgiveable.

Unforgiveable.

"Is that all, Narcissa?" Andromeda really didn't think she could take much more of this tonight. She wasn't supposed to be this upset. Voldemort was gone, defeated, the bad news was supposed to be over and done with.

"Actually" Narcissa began, her features growing pale and anxious once more, "There is one other matter that needs to be resolved. You see as both Bellatrix and Rodolphus have been arrested, and as the ministry has informed me that they won't be coming out of Azkaban—their daughter is in need of a stable home." Narcissa swiftly shifted the sleeping child in her arms, careful not to wake her so Andromeda could see her features clearly. She was small for her age and Andromeda shockingly realized clearly malnourished. She had all the obvious signs of a Black heiress. Sharp cheekbones, silky pale skin and of course a head full of thick, wild, dark curls. Andromeda was positive that if her dark eyelashes were to flutter open she would have eyes a steely gray color, the exact same color that all members of the Black family were famous for. Yes, there was absolutely no denying that this was the child of Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black. Andromeda was entranced. This was her niece, her 3-year-old niece that up until a few minutes ago she didn't even know existed. There was also no denying the fact that Narcissa was subtly asking Andromeda to take the child in and raise her alongside Nymphadora, she just couldn't figure out why. She highly doubted that Bella wanted her daughter to be raised by her blood traitor sister and her mudblood husband.

"Narcissa what is this really about? You and I both know that the last thing Bella would want is for her daughter to be raised by filth like me. So why don't we just cut to the chase?" She asked, raising a dark eyebrow as though to further emphasize her point. Andromeda was getting agitated with all the surprises her sister was throwing her way, she'd been under the impression that she wouldn't see her sisters ever again after her mother had so lovingly disowned her and now here she was being asked to take in her insane, estranged, older sisters recently orphaned daughter. It was almost comical really that Bella, the sister who hated Andromeda the most for her decision to elope with a mudblood would end up leaving her daughter no choice but to be raised by the very people Bella despised. Andromeda could almost hear the shrieks of infuriated anger that were sure to ricochet off the walls of Azkaban once Bella became aware of what had happened.

"Alright then" Narcissa began, "Under normal circumstances Lucius and I would gain guardianship over her but because both her parents are Death Eaters and Lucius has been arrested the Ministry of Magic have deemed the Malfoy house hold . . . unsuitable for a child with her history. The only reason they didn't take Draco from us is because I have never participated in any Death Eater activity and don't bare the Dark Mark. They simply won't allow me to keep her as well" Narcissa stopped and took a deep, calming breath before continuing "This is the best option for her, at least with you she stays within the family. With you, she can live a life of happiness, and love and compassion. If I were to fight to keep her then she would only know a life of cold, meaningless, pureblood traditions and prejudices." Narcissa suddenly seemed to hold the weight of the world on her shoulders, her decision weighing down the very essence of her soul and causing a softness and vulnerability to emerge from her that Andromeda hadn't see since they were teenagers at Hogwarts. "I'm giving you the opportunity to save her from growing up in the same volatile environment that we did Andromeda. She's had a hard enough start to life as it is. . . I may not agree with the life you've chosen but I'd have to be blind not to see the love you have for your family. All I'm asking is that you give her the love I can't afford to show her." Narcissa looked down at the still quiet child in her arms with tears dancing just along her lash line. She knew she was doing the right thing. She had never felt so sure of anything in her entire life and as much as she loved her niece, she knew that in the long run Andromeda would provide the safest, most loving environment for her to grow up in. Narcissa could only provide a house, Andromeda could give her a home.

Andromeda was left speechless at her sister's earnest explanation and uncharacteristic show of emotion. She'd never realized that Narcissa had felt just as stifled and trapped in their home as she had and was surprised with the amount of gentleness and care in which she seemed to handle their niece. It was obvious to anyone who looked at the way she was cradling the child in her arms with a tenderness that seemed foreign on her that she loved the girl very much and was finding it difficult to let her go.

"Of course we'll take her!" A deep voice suddenly echoed through the quiet room startling both women and causing Andromeda to turn her head to the doorway of the living room. Leaning lazily against the door in his checked, fleecy pajamas, hair sticking up in every direction, shirt wrinkled from sleep and a tired, handsome smile tugging at the corners of his lips stood Teddy Tonks. He had his arms crossed casually across his chest and a nonchalant look on his face, as though he hadn't just agreed to take in the daughter of one of the most insane and volatile Death Eaters in Great Britain. Looking into his forest green eyes, Andromeda could tell he'd heard everything Narcissa had said about the kind of life the girl would have if she were to keep her. Andromeda could see the steely determination that'd set itself in his eyes. It was the same determination he'd set upon her in their Hogwarts days, the kind he used when he decided he wanted to keep Andromeda despite the danger from her family. Teddy wanted to keep his niece; he wanted her to grow up in a stable home with loving parents and an older sister who'd take care of her. And Andromeda would be lying if she said she didn't want that too.

"Alright then" Andromeda said looking hesitantly between her sister and her husband, "But if we're going to do this, then we're going to do it properly" she said crossing the room to stand in front of her sister only inches away from the sleeping girl nestled in Narcissa's arms. She made sure to look her directly in the eyes before continuing with the conditions. In a situation like this one, it was important to remain specific. "Contact between you and the girl is strictly forbidden Narcissa. No money, no visitation, nothing. As far as she is concerned she's our daughter. Nymphadoras little sister". Narcissa's brow furrowed in despair as she realized that if she were to accept the terms, this would be the last time she would be able to properly see her niece. She would become nothing more than a distant memory to the girl she had all but raised the last three years and for the first time that night, Narcissa hesitated. "At least allow me to give her access to the Lestrange vaults, its hers by right and-"

"That won't be necessary," Teddy cut across Narcissa's desperate plea. "If we give her access to those Gringotts Vaults then we're giving her access to her parents, and all of this will have been for nothing. Narcissa, I promise you we'll love her with all our hearts. She'll never want for anything, but you have to let her go". Teddy crossed the room to stand next to his wife, just inches away from Narcissa and the child, he let a loving grin slip passed his lips as he looked longingly down at the child. Narcissa watched in fascination as Andromeda leaned back and Teddy casually slipped his arm around her waist as they both gazed intently at their niece. They looked, in Narcissa's opinion, exactly how a young couple in love should look. Relaxed, happy and peaceful. This was, as much as it pained her to admit, the best place for her niece to grow up.

"Alright, you have a deal. I wont contact her or give her money, I won't even tell Draco about her" Narcissa said, as she allowed her eyes to drift down to the sleeping child once more for her final goodbye. She took her time, allowing her gaze to drift from her perfect nose to her dark lashes and curly midnight hair to her small hands softly gripping the hem of Narcissa's coat. She gave her one last loving kiss on the forehead, before painstakingly handing her over and into Andromeda's waiting arms. She only took a moment to make sure that she hadn't woken the child, before swiftly turning from the newly made family and heading back down the dimly lit hallway. She'd only just opened the glass paneled door at the front of the house when she heard Teddy's voice drifting down the hall.

"Wait!" he called.

Narcissa stopped at the end of the hallway, her hand hovering over the door handle.

"You forgot to mention her name"

"It's Lyra" Narcissa replied without turning around, "Lyra Cassiopeia Lestrange"

Without another word Narcissa strolled out of the house and back into the rain soaked streets where she disapparated. The loud CRACK echoing throughout the sleeping neighborhood.

"Well, this has been an eventful night" Teddy declared with toothy grin as he turned to look at his wife who was still gently holding the newest member of the family. The tiny girl was just beginning to stir, blinking her steely grey eyes open glancing curiously around the room until they settled on the two smiling faces staring down at her.

"Welcome to the family Lyra Tonks!

That's the beginning!

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I plan on updating next Wednesday but if this chapter can get 15 reviews then i'll update it Tuesday evening instead!