Thanks to: Hoosier Cullen, Senpen Banka, Jslee102, Sakuri Lisel, Penny is Wise, Swit-cuppycakes, dullLogic (don't worry things will start to get better for Bella and Harry), Shao4361,

HoosierCullen- Thanks for the feedback I am not going to have Harry reunited with the Potters right away because Dumbledore and Bellatrix will co-decide that due to the traumatic interactions Harry has had with James (Ministry attempts at arresting Bellatrix) he is not mature enough to understand or want James or Lily to be his parents. Thanks for the great review, and I hope you continue to follow my story!

Sakura Lisel- I realize that there were a couple things that weren't really clear in my last chapter, and I'm glad you asked your questions because I'm sure others will be confused later on too.

1.) In the next chapter the 'seek asylum at Hogwarts' piece of the description is going to come into play, I needed a couple of chapters showing how horrendous of a situation Bellatrix and Harry were in to emphasize how desperate they were to have to go to dumbledore for help.

2.) What I think is going to happen with Lily knowing about Harry is James is going to be blinded by his hate for Bellatrix and refuse to believe that Harry 'Lestrange' is his son, and it will be hard to explain without giving the next few chapters away, but Harry will stay with Bellatrix, because he decides he's not ready to accept James and Lily as his parents(for now!)

3.)The Portkey was not created by Bellatrix it was what brought Moody and the other aurors there b/c the ministry had been watching Bellatrix and Harry waiting for the right time to make the arrest for the past couple of days( hence placing the anti-apparation wards so they couldn't escape.)

4.) She wasn't splinched she was hit with Diffindo (courtesy of James Potter) which is a severing hex, causing whatever is hit with it to sever in two, and in this case it was Bellatrix's arm.

I hopes this clears things up, and I realize that chapter 2 isn't my best chapter. I was writing it at like 2:00 am and I didn't edit it as carefully as I usually do. PROMISE things will be clearer in my next chapter. And thanks for reading my story!

Chapter 3: You're All I Have Left

Public Bus- traveling to suburbs outside of London

~3 years later~

Harry stared out the window trying not to think about his grumbling stomach. He had learned a lot since the attack by the Aurors on him and his mum. He knew he was much more mature and other boys his age, but he guessed that's what came from always being on the run. Harry knew his mother worried about him, because he had almost become as paranoid as she is. Danger though, seemed to really be lurking around every corner, and if he could avoid a near death experience he gladly would.

The only friend Harry seemed to have in the world was his mum, he knew that she could never betray him to anyone because she didn't have anyone to really betray him to. She was the best, no matter how alone, or cold, or hungry he was feeling all he needed was a hug from his mother and he knew everything was going to be okay.

Harry knew a couple of the Aurors, but the one that seemed to always be around was James Potter, it seemed that when ever he showed up the next day they were being uprooted and having to trek to some other far corner of England.

Harry looked up at his mum and took her hand in his, she smiled down at him but then went back to nervously looking ahead. He knew his mum had been awfully worried lately because not just the Aurors, but the death eaters had really started to catch up to them. The woman his mother used to be kind of freaked him out sometimes, but he knew that she had changed, and she seemed to deserve forgiveness more than anyone. She had given everything up for him, and would die to protect him. She was the only one that could make him feel safe and warm anymore, and the least he could do to give something back to her was offer her his forgiveness.

FLASHBACK:

" Harry we need have to have a little talk," His mother said gently stroking his face, "you see there are two types of people in this world bad ones and good ones. But sometimes it's hard to tell whether what they're doing is for good or if it's for bad."

"But Mummy I don't understand what does this have to do with Harry Potter"

"Shhh, Don't say his name, and I'm getting to that part, Now there was a very bad wizard who wanted to do very bad things, and he tricked many people into doing bad things for him. They were called death eaters. And years ago I used to be a death eater" Harry couldn't hide the shock on his face. "I was said to be the worst death eater of them all. I did many bad things I killed and tortured many innocent people all because the dark lord told me too. And one night the dark lord wanted me to accompany him the night he planned to murder a newborn baby named Harry Potter"

"Di..did you ki..kill Harry Potter? Is that why those men wanted to..to take you away?" Little Harry asked, his voice shaking.

"Yes Harry I killed him, but it was too much for me and I went home and got you and ran away without a second thought." Bellatrix reached down trying to stroke Harry's head, but he batted her hand away.

"Please Harry, I'm not the woman I used to be. I left that life behind, you know in your heart that I love you, and you love me too. There are too many people out there in this world trying to get us, for us not to trust each other completely."

"Is that why they wanted to arrest you back there, they still think there bad."

"That's right Harry" Bellatrix said smiling " They think I'm still a death eater and they want to take you away from me." All Harry could say was 'oh' as he nestled his little face back into his mother's dress.

END FLASHBACK

Harry Looked back out the bus window waving the memory away. They were apparently going to visit his aunt in which he had never heard of, and that's why they were taking the bus so there was no risk of being magically traced.

Bellatrix looked anxiously ahead, she hadn't seen her sister in over 15 years, she wouldn't be surprised if Andromeda didn't want anything to do with her. This had to work through, this lifestyle was getting too dangerous for Harry and she knew if she didn't do something Harry was going to get seriously injured. She had found her sister's name in a muggle telephone book, and Bellatrix wasn't surprised they lived in a muggle neighborhood. The bus finally reached their stop and she grabbed Harry and their small bag of stuff and jumped off the the muggle transportation. As they walked up the walkway Bellatrix started to get cold feet. By the time they reached the door Bellatrix was seriously considering just taking Harry and getting the hell out of there. She took a deep breath now standing on the welcome mat, and looked around, her sister's house was cute and cozy. The perfect place she would have wanted to raise Harry; if things had been different.

Harry looked up at his mother who was clearly nervous, and hesitating to ring the doorbell. He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze like she did when he was scared, and he reached forward and rang the doorbell.

Bellatrix held her breath as she heard rustling footsteps from within the house. She hadn't seen her sister in so long, her sister hadn't seen her in so long! Bellatrix shut her eyes saying silent prayers that maybe there was an off-chance Andromeda hadn't seen a newspaper in 15 years.

Andromeda looked up from reading a book to her daughter in the playroom, she hadn't been expecting anybody and it made her nervous knowing she was alone with Nymphadora. She told her daughter to wait there, and hurried out of the room. Andromeda quickened her step not wanting to keep this mysterious caller waiting, when she reached the door she put on a fake smile and opened it. Not seeing what she could have expected in her wildest dreams.

"Andi!" The voice of her deranged ex-sister exclaimed.
"Be..Bella, Wh..What are you doing here?" She said unable to control her stuttering. As she looked at her sister and the little boy standing next to her (who must be the son Narcissa had told her about). Andromeda's sister didn't look like the once glamorous and feared death eater, but someone who looked tired, starving, and scared. Looking closer she realized her sister didn't just look thin, but emaciated, and the little boy she seemed to have a death grip on was shaking even though it was July. Normally Andromeda would have been scared to death, and sent her sister away immediately. However, she couldn't tell if it was her sister genuine excitement that she had even answered the door, or the rags they were dressed in that made her realize how much her sister must really needed her help.

Taking a deep breath she finally said, "Bella why don't you come in," slightly nervously.

Bellatrix couldn't describe the weight that was lifted of her shoulders when her sister had invited her in. They were 50 percent there, now all she needed was to get Andromeda to listen to her. She led Harry into the house behind her trying to never let him out of her sight. Bellatrix couldn't help but admit how nice her sisters house was it wasn't cheesy, but still gave a friendly, old-school atmosphere. When they reached the living room Bellatrix let Harry sit on the couch while she went to the kitchen to help her sister get tea. When she couldn't stand the stony silence anymore she finally decided to discuss the elephant in the room. "You're probably wondering why I'm here." She was more than hurt when she got no response from her sister,

"Andi please," Bellatrix continued to beg. " I need your help, we need your help." she said gesturing to Harry in the next room.

"How Bella, how can I trust you. After what you did, I needed help too once. When I wanted to marry Ted, you just stood there and let Mum and Dad humiliate me like that" Andromeda said almost yelling, tears forming in her eyes.

"I know, and there's not a day that goes by where I don't think about it, but I've changed I'm a different woman now. I haven't had a thought about going back to the dark Lord, or has an unforgivable curse left my wand in 5 years. I swear I'll do anything to prove it, a pensieve, veritaserum, an unbreakable vow, a.."

"Bella, I believe you" Andromeda said quietly.

"What?" Bella couldn't help but say in amazement.

"What I mean is, I believe you've changed I've seen the way you look at Leo, you obviously c.."

"Wait, how do you know about Leo?" Bellatrix asked harsher than she had intended

"Cissy sent me an owl after he was born."

" Well Leo is dead." Bellatrix said a familiar eerie and distanced look entering her eyes. " That out there is Harry."

"You don't mean Harry as in Harry Po..."

" No I don't mean Harry Potter." Bellatrix said once again becoming defensive. " They just happen to have the same name." She said this time less vehemently.

"I don't know what I was thinking." Andromeda chuckled uneasily, "It's just I wanted to believe so badly it wasn't you who did it..." Bellatrix made the executive decision that her sister was not ready to hear the truth, and as much as it pained she told Andromeda that she had killed Harry Potter.

"But that's what did it for me I came home and got my little Harry and ran away, that's why I need your help the death eaters are after us, and I don't who to turn to,

"The ministry?" Andromeda suggested weakly.

" Pfft, fat chance at that they still think I'm the conniving Bellatrix Lestrange; lunatic death eater. They have orders to kill me and Harry on sight."

"Okay so the ministry is out, and all the death eaters basically want your heart on a silver platter." Andromeda said looking up at her sister for confirmation.

"We should bring the tea out for Harry" Bellatrix said changing subject at being reminded of her hopeless situation.

When they came out Harry had fallen asleep on the couch, "Sorry about that" Bella said turning to her sister, "the last few days have been kinda hectic." After she had finished speaking Bellatrix reached down and gently stroked Harry's hair. As his eyes slowly opened and fear entered them, clearly from not recognising his surroundings and jumped in the air about a 6 inches. Bellatrix turned back to her sister a little embarrassed " Like I said it's been hectic." The two women looked back down at Harry as a huge grumble left his stomach. Harry clutched his stomach and looked up at his mother tears forming in his eyes. Bellatrix took her son's hand in hers and tried to tell him with her eyes that everything was going to be okay.

"Tea and cookies isn't gonna be enough, is it?" Andromeda said smiling as she looked on her nephew's starving face. Bellatrix looked at her sister surprisingly grateful, and nodded her head.

" How about I boil some porridge and bring it out here for you." Harry weakly nodded his head, but Bellatrix seemed to object.

"I can guarantee you're gonna want to have him eat in the kitchen. Table manners haven't exactly been a priority these past few years." Andromeda's sister said looking uneasy. When they got to the kitchen Andromeda put some water for porridge on to boil, they sat there for a while in complete silence. Andromeda was racking her brain for any possible solution to this situation, she couldn't send them back out on the streets, but Ted would never let them stay here, and if the death eaters were really on their tail it wouldn't be safe for Nymphadora... Nymphadora! she had almost forgotten when she looked up there was her little daughter standing in the doorway her hair dark orange the color it turned when she was confused. She immediately ran up to her daughter taking her in her arms. " Oh Nymphadora, I'm so sorry I completely forgot you were upstairs." Andromeda said cuddling her 5 year old.

Bellatrix stepped forward, admittedly hurt that her sister had kept her daughter hidden from her for so long. She loved Harry to pieces, but had always wanted a little girl to spoil absolutely rotten with dresses and dolls.

Bellatrix wanted to get a closer look at her secret niece. As the little girl looked up to see the mysterious women suddenly getting closer to her in fear she buried her face in her mother's shirt. Subconsciously turning her hair snow white. Bellatrix pulled her hand back abruptly,

"She's a Metamorphmagus !" Bella said in shock. Andromeda looked up and seeing her sister's of-guard face became nervous, back in the day her sister had been a real stickler about blood status. And a child like Nymphadora were the types that used to set Bellatrix really on edge, but she had changed now; right? Andromeda still gently slid her daughter behind her as she stood returning to eye level with her sister. Bellatrix however, bent down so she was now kneeling and looking directly into the eyes of Nymphadora.

" I'm your Auntie Bella." she said trying to sound as friendly as possible, but other than Harry, she had never really done very well with kids. But her niece sadly backed away looking more terrified than ever.

"Bella I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I just thought.. you with her father being..."

" She's perfect" Bellatrix said cutting her sister off. " I want you to know that, I.. I want her to know that." She reached forward taking Nymphadora in her arms, "I've changed Andi, I want to be a good auntie." Andromeda felt tears threatening her eyes at her sister's words. She surprisingly felt terribly guilty for even ever doubting her sister in the first place. They all looked up as the kettle for the porridge whistled, Andromeda quickly poured Harry's steaming hot bowl of it and set down in front of him. Andromeda realized that Bella hadn't been kidding when she said Harry's table manners needed some work, he didn't just chew with his mouth open or hold is fork wrong. Harry full on shoved his face in the bowl shoveling the food in like he would never get to eat again, (even though that was probably an honest concern for her nephew and his mother.) When he had finished the rather large portion in no more than 5 minutes flat, he just stared at the bowl. Then it ALL came back up, however, unlike most 5 year olds that would panic and cry. Harry just let it happen somehow managing to get it all to land neatly in the bowl, and when he was finished just wiped his face on his sleeve. He then seemingly harmlessly just stared at his now once again full bowl. Bellatrix though seemed to, from experience, see beyond the harmless act. " Don't you dare eat that!" She commanded.

As Andromeda was trying not to be completely horrified by her sister and her nephew's behavior suddenly it came to her, the solution to their problem! Who was the one person that didn't answer to the Ministry or You Know Who?, Dumbledore. He had been able to help her and Ted when she was on the run from her family, and he had to be willing to help her now; he just had too! Bellatrix would also be able to go under veritaserum and testify as proof she had changed. And he had the squib Argus Filch working at the school so he couldn't object to letting her sister and nephew stay at Hogwarts and work.

"Bella, may I have a word with you in the other room?" Andromeda asked,

" I guess," Bellatrix answered, but not without looking uneasily at Harry. " Will he be okay?" She asked with genuine concern. Andromeda looked sadly at her sister taking Bella's and in hers,

"He'll be fine." And with that she led her sister into the living room.

"Hey, What's your name." Nymphadora asked rather confused, but still confidently. The woman and the boy seemed nice, and they were apparently related to each other and she wanted to figure out who they were. She moved so she was sitting right next to him, "ehem I'm still waiting." she said crossing her little arms over her chest. He sat up a bit like he had been off in another world.

"Oh sorry, My name's Harry."

"Harry who?" Nymphadora pressed. "I'm Nymphadora Rose Tonks, at your service," She said giving a little salute. Harry was about to answer when he remembered how people generally didn't react well when they heard his last name. And he liked this girl and didn't want her to be scared of him. So he decided to stick with,

"Just Harry"

Nymphadora however, not taking a hint, continued on with her interrogation. " How old are you?"

"5" Harry answered.

"Really" She said shocked. That meant Harry was the same age as her, but he was so small? "That means you're the same age as me." Nymphadora continued, " I've never had a relative the same age as me before." At these words Harry seemed to visibly perk up, other than his mom he had never had any other family let alone one that was his same age. Harry had never felt this feeling with another person before, it was a sort of connection not like the one he had with his mum, but similar. He suddenly wanted more than anything to be able to trust this girl, to share secrets with her, play hide and seek, board games, and above all just see her again. Harry leaned in real close to his new cousin and whispered, " Do you know about, you know,...magic."

"Of course I know about magic, both mum and dad are wizards." Nymphadora said giggling.

" Well I didn't know." Harry said defensively giggling. Nymphadora looked up and right at Harry's eyes just like his mother had done moments before to her.

"Harry do you want to be best friends forever"

"Yes, Yes!" Harry said excited.

"Then we have to do a spit shake." Nymphadora siad with a smug grin, because she knew what this was and Harry obviously didn't. Harry however uneasily looked at his cousin.

"Is it gonna hurt?"

"No it's not gonna hurt," She said laughing. " All you gotta do is this." She said spitting in her palm. " and then we shake." Harry was a little unsure it seemed a little gross, but yet again he was just about to eat his own vomit. So he spit right in his little palm and then shook his cousins hand.

"Best freinds." Nymphadora said

"Forever," Harry finished.

Bellatrix nervously followed her sister into the other room, did her sister no longer trust her? Was she going to throw her out? What would she do then?

When they were a good distance from the kitchen so the kids wouldn't be able to hear them Andromeda proposed her plan.

"Are you insane!" Bellatrix said distressed, " I don't know if you remember our school days, but I was never really one of Dumbledore's favorites."

"That not the point though," Andromeda tried to say as comforting as possible. "The point is that you have changed. I can see that you care about Harry deeply, and if I can see it Dumbledore will definitely see it. Bella look at me, we can get through this, and hopefully by this time tomorrow you and Harry will have a home in the safest place on earth."

" I know, but the ministry, what if this doesn't work? I..I can't leave Harry, or..or go to Azkaban!" Andromeda's sister almost wailed. Andromeda took her sister frail body in her arms stroking her hair trying to get her to calm down like Bella used to do when she was little.

They both looked up suddenly in shock seeing the frame of none other than Ted Tonks in the doorway. Andromeda nervously got to her feet from where she had sat with her sister on the couch. "Ted, you're home early" She said anxiously.

"What on earth is she doing here," He demanded with pure hatred in his voice. Looking not too pleased to see his crazed, supremacist, sister-in-law sitting in his living room. Bellatrix tried to become very interested in a tear in her dress, but when she looked up she found her sister and brother-in-law to still be staring at her awkwardly. She had never been very good in these types of situations, and always seemed to say the wrong thing.

"Hey Ted, Long time no see?" She said weakly, damnit Bella! definitely the wrong thing to say.

Ted however, looked distracted, as he rapidly searched the room for something. He suddenly grabbed his wife by the shoulders and shook her slightly the panic clear on his face, "Where is she, where's Nymphadora!" Andromeda was about to answer, but Ted didn't give her time as he sprinted from the room.

Ted raced through the halls anxiety pulsing through his veins, he couldn't explain it but something had seemed of about his sister-in-law. He still was plagued with the dread of what he might find in the next room. Ted had heard enough stories and read enough papers to know that Bellatrix was not above killing a 5 year old. When he finally reached the kitchen he felt as though someone had just let all the air out of a balloon. There his daughter was sitting smiling her big toothless smile, and another little boy was sitting next to her. "Oh thank god Dora, you're safe! he exclaimed rushing forward and picking his daughter up in his arms. "Now who's your little friend?" he asked his daughter playfully. When he looked back down at the chair. However, the scrawny kid wasn't there anymore, somehow he had managed to get down and crawl under the table, and was now at the other side of the kitchen. Holding out a little knife, looking more scared than Ted had ever seen a kid before.

"I know you... y..you're an Auror. Y..you're gonna try and throw me and mum in a cold Azkaban cell" Harry said his little hand shaking as he held out his little pocket knife. Ted tried to move forward to calm the kid down but all he did was yell louder. He looked up relieved to see his wife and her sister standing in the doorway, but he never could be prepared for what happened next.

"Oh Harry are you okay I never should have left you that long." Bellatrix exclaimed pulling her son into a tight hug. A million thoughts were swirling around in Ted's mind now, Bellatrix had a kid? She never struck him as even remotely close to the motherly type, yet she seemed to really care about this Harry boy. None of the less he was still pretty annoyed that Andromeda had her sister over without even consulting him first. Ted gave his wife a look that meant they needed to talk now, and they both exited the room.

"How could you have not told me she was coming!" Ted said more hurt than angry.

" I didn't know she was coming, she kind of just appeared on our doorstep. Please Ted, they really need our help, she doesn't have anywhere else to go." Andromeda begged taking her husband's hand in her own. "It will only be tonight."

"Oh hell no!" when his wife looked upon him like he was being inappropriately cruel he added in "Do you remember her threatening to chop my balls off, before I could taint your 'pureblood' with them when we were dating! So excuse me and my genitalia if we don't feel super comfortable with that woman sleeping under the same roof as our 5 year old daughter." At the end of Ted's rant Andromeda still wasn't about to back down.

"Please... Teddy please, it's only going to be for one night, and kicking her out would just be stooping down to their level." Ted thought for a long time, and finally gave in and surrendered.

"She can stay, but what are you gonna do with her tomorrow morning?"

"I've found a place where she might be able to stay."

"Really if you found somewhere that would willingly house the known murderer of Harry Potter I would really love to hear it." A smile appeared on Andromeda's face as she let one word leave her lips,

"Hogwarts."

A.N.:

- SORRY, about the really long wait! It was the end of the trimester this week so I had a TON of stuff to do.

- FINAL PAIRING DECISION: Tonks/Harry. (as you can see from this chapter)

- ATTENTION: in this story Harry and Tonks are the same age, so they will be going to Hogwarts together and both be sorted into to Gryffindor. SO... I am taking votes on who is going to be in the golden trio. Obviously Tonks and Harry but the other candidates are,

~Neville,

~Ron,

~Hermione.

*As always I love to hear what you guys think about my story so PLEASE comment!*