Chapter 3: Smart Andy

Andromeda's jaw dropped, as she stared at her sister bewildered. She stood up, looked around and sat back down. Her sister? Her all-very-right sister has a lover? Her head was spinning madly.

- Belle… You… kid… - she tried to say, but obviously couldn't.

- I know, I am sorry, Andy, I know, I am as stupid as I was, - whined Bellatrix looking guiltily at her sister.

Andy looked taken aback. Her own older sister Bellatrix was apologizing to her – Andromeda, the younger sister.

- It's okay, - she croaked, trying to hold her voice steady, - we'll make it out of this mess.

- We won't, - moaned Bella, - If Rudolphus finds out – I am dead. We're both dead.

Bellatrix clutched her belly, another tear slipping loosely down her cheek. Andromeda felt useless and stupid. Bella crying? Bellatrix, who always thought that crying is a weakness, sitting here and crying like a real woman?

- Come on, Belle, - she muttered finally rising from the sofa, - You need to sleep, I need to sleep. We're both tired, come on.

Andromeda took her sister gently by the hand and saw her to her bedroom. When she was absolutely sure that Bellatrix was asleep, Andy finally got time to be alone and think.

- To whom would I go to talk if I needed someone to calm down? – she wondered out loud stepping carefully down the staircase to her room, - Ted.

- Ted! Of course Ted! – She thought maniacally almost tripping the last footstep, - why have I been so stupid!?

Andromeda took off her clothes, put on her night gown and slipped into bed.

' But what do we do with Bella's child,' wondered Andromeda turning on the other side, 'Still if Voldemort gets it – its bad, but Bellatrix can't keep it… And that story… What if it repeats?'

And with these odd thought Andromeda fell asleep.

***

Andy woke up early the next day and at first peeked into her sister's room. For the first time in a couple of days Bella slept calmly, her chest rising up and down. Andromeda smiled a soft smile of relief and quietly closed the door.

The woman was so worried, that couldn't even eat anything.

- May, - she called the house elf quietly, - if your mistress wakes up without me, feed her (if she is not capable to do it herself), and tell her, that I will be back soon, okay?

- Yes mistress Tonks, - said May bowing to the ground.

- Good elf, - smiled Tonks, and walked out of the house.

She looked around and looked at her watch.

- 11 am, - she muttered to herself, - better hurry.

A minute later she popped in front of Malfoy Manor and knocked warily on the door. A small elf opened the door as warily as Andromeda knocked on it.

- Mrs. Tonks, - he said smiling and opening the door wider so that Tonks could come in, - Is there anything I could do for you.'

- I need to see your mistress, - sight Andromeda and gave the elf a warm look.

- Mistress Narcissa has gone shopping, - said the elf not looking at her.

Yes! – Thought Andy happily – Yes! I was right!

Making an upset face, she asked the elf gently: 'Then can I see your master?'

The elf nodded quickly and disappeared behind a door.

Andy waited for a couple of minutes, when the door opened and she realized how long she hadn't seen Lucius.

- Wow! – Muttered Andromeda under her breath, - I don't blame Bella. He is cute.

- What has brought you here, dear sister – in – law; - he asked glaring at the house elf, which greeted Andy.

Andromeda waited till it was gone, then walked to a chair and sat down.

- Bellatrix, - she answered sternly.

Lucius went pale.

- She told you? – He croaked, sitting down too, - How is she?

- Better, - sight Andromeda, - but not well. Why don't you visit her?!

- I can't, - scoffed Lucius, - with Cissy pregnant too…

This was too much for Meda. She rose, walked to him and slapped him in the face.

- Can you tell me who you really love? - She shrieked raising her hand again.

- I love Bellatrix, - roared Lucius grabbing Andromeda by the wrist, - We love each other since school.

They stood in silence for a minute.

- I… I'm sorry,' whispered Andy, - I just love Bella too.

- It's all right, - he muttered letting her go, - lets go to Bellatrix.

Meda just nodded and walked out of the house, Lucius behind her.

Poor Bella, she thought, if she finds out about Narcissa…

Andromeda didn't even notice how they got to Lestrange Manor…

Bellatrix sat in her room, in her armchair in her quiet glum mood, when she heard the door open.

- Better meet Andy, - she muttered under her breath and stood up.

But before she reached the door it opened itself…

- Lucius! – screamed Bellatrix and throow herself into his arms, - I missed you.

- So did I, - he muttered kissing her…