Yes, Nymphadora has to exist in every parallel universe.

Trixie Black Lestrange

Rabastan hurried into the room to see Andromeda sitting on the bed and staring at the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees. "Dromeda?" he asked softly. "Is everything all right? Did he find anything?"

"It depends on what you mean by all right," Andromeda muttered, looking down at her hands, then motioning him not to sit by her. "Stay," she said, her eyes darting between him and the door as she took a deep breath.

"Andromeda?" he asked in concern. "Please tell me."

"I...I am healthy," Andromeda bit her lip as she spoke, then sighed as she reached out for the potion vial on her bedside table. The label clearly read "Morning Sickness Potion." Andromeda clasped it in her hands as she looked down. "Rab..." she breathed, "I...I'm pregnant."

He was silent, just watching her, and she finally looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Don't just look at me!" she cried. "Say something!"

Rabastan couldn't move, too shocked and confused. "Pregnant?" he questioned. "But—" And then it hit him. His eyes narrowed, and Andromeda cringed, shuffling against the headboard of their bed as he walked toward her.

"Please!" she cried, her tears beginning to fall. "Please, I didn't know! Rabastan—don't hurt the child; she's innocent!"

"She?" Rabastan whispered, stopping at the edge of the bed. "Andromeda..."

Andromeda wrapped one arm around herself protectively, looking up at him with tears streaming from her eyes. "My baby," she whimpered as he sat down beside her. "Please. Don't hurt her."

Rabastan reached out, placing his hand over the material covering his wife's stomach, then withdrew it quickly. "I—I need time to think about this," he muttered, getting to his feet.

"Rab," Andromeda wept desperately. "Rabastan, please! Don't tell anyone about her yet. Please! Bellatrix will know—she'll come after me!"

"I won't say anything," Rabastan promised, his eyes shadowed with sorrow. "You needn't come to lunch today."

"I'm sorry," Andromeda sobbed, curling up as he walked away. "I'm sorry, Rab!" But he was gone, and all she could do was cry for fear of what would happen when he returned.

Rabastan did not return until that evening, and Andromeda was sitting in a chair in an evening gown. He sighed, and she looked up at him nervously without speaking. He finally reached out and took her by the hands, pulling her to sit beside him on the bed. "This is going to be difficult for both of us," he said, and sighed once again at the look of fright in her eyes. "First of all, Andromeda, I do not hurt unborn babies, nor do I make a practise of abusing children. The child is safe."

Andromeda nodded, whispering, "Thank you."

He nodded in return, then said, "Second, we will have to pass this child off as mine. Those who know the truth will stay silent; I will see to that."

The young witch took a sobbing breath, and Rabastan reached out, pulling her close. "You know," he murmured, "it's almost poetic justice: I killed your lover and stole you away, and now I have to help you raise his child. As a pureblood, no less." Rabastan shook his head slightly. "It's also sad and messed up."

"Yes," Andromeda half laughed through her tears. "Rabastan, I didn't mean for this to happen..."

"Well, at least the pressure will be off of us," Rabastan shrugged. "But Bella and Rod will not believe that the child is mine."

"I know," Andromeda sniffed. "But...at least the rest of the world won't know."

"Shh," he shushed her, a smile coming to his lips. "Just don't be angry with me if I get carried away pretending."

Andromeda nodded, then looked down. "I...Rabastan—"

He looked at her, then lifted her face to his. "Dromeda," he said softly, "like I said, this will be difficult for both of us. I don't want to be taunted any more than you do, but—we're in this together, I suppose. Come to me if you need protection: you are my wife, and I will keep you from harm."

She sniffed, then threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "Thank you," she cried. "Thank you for being so kind."

He merely hugged her tightly, worried about how they were going to break the news to the rest of their family.

A few days later, Andromeda walked into the dining room a few days later, Meira greeting her with a smile. "Rabastan says you have news for me?" she said with a knowing smile.

Andromeda blushed furiously. "Um, I'm going to have a baby," she said, her ears turning red as she looked down, though she was soon wrapped in a firm, motherly hug.

"Congratulations," Meira whispered in her ear. "I knew the instant he told me you had news what he probably meant." She pulled back and looked at the girl. "Dare I ask you when you are due?"

"I—" Andromeda took a deep breath. "January," she breathed, rubbing her hand over her stomach.

"It's not Rab's, then." Meira released the girl and frowned at her slightly.

Andromeda bit her lip. "For all protective purposes, it is," she said firmly. "It is only a girl, anyway."

Meira nodded, still frowning. "You still refuse your place as his wife, then, Andromeda?"

"I told you," Andromeda said defensively, "those wounds will not heal quickly." She stepped back from the witch, frowning deeply before jumping in surprise as the door opened.

"Andromeda, are you making a scene?" Bellatrix sighed, shaking her head at her younger sister.

"I—I'm pregnant," Andromeda said quietly before biting her lip slightly.

"Of course you are," Bellatrix muttered after staring at her for a moment. "You are the perfect daughter, perfect little pureblood, perfect little bitch."

Andromeda didn't answer, her hand resting on her stomach as she took her seat, sighing a little. She looked up as the brothers and their father entered the room, Rabastan giving her a look of pride, and she couldn't help feeling guilty that he had to pretend, and sad that he wasn't actually Ted. He sat beside her, reaching over and grasping her hand for a moment.

"I hear congratulations are in order?" Desmond said to Andromeda, and she blushed furiously, Bellatrix staring at her with a blank expression. "You and Rabastan may indeed prove to be the continuing line, if Rod and Bella don't keep up." He smirked at the two, but they were both watching the younger couple intently.

"Well, not this time," Andromeda answered, with a small smile. "The child is a girl."

Rodolphus and Bellatrix frowned at her, but didn't speak, preferring to feign interest in the table runner. Desmond seemed to sense that there was something wrong between the two couples and changed the subject, allowing the food to the table so they could begin eating.

Rabastan glanced at Andromeda, and she looked back at him, a slight blush still on her cheeks. He gave her a small smile, then turned back to the meal, glad when Rodolphus and their mother began talking about some dinner he and Bella would be attending later in the week.

Bellatrix frowned at Rabastan. "You and Andy were invited, though you were rude to turn it down," she scolded him.

"I have other things with which to concern myself," Rabastan told her particularly. "For instance: I still didn't know why Andromeda seemed so ill at the time. And I had to make sure that you wouldn't tear her to shreds if I was gone from the manor."

"If you want to go," Andromeda said softly, "I'll go with you. I need to get out for a little while." Rabastan turned to her in surprise, and she hissed, "Do not look at me that way! I will not embarrass you. I have been taught better than that!"

"Sorry," he sighed, shaking his head as a grin broke over his face. "I know you have. Of course we'll go. I didn't even think to ask you…." Rodolphus laughed at him, and Andromeda forced herself not to glare at her brother-in-law.

Andromeda felt happier knowing that she would be able to go out and once again feel like she belonged in pureblood society. Living at Lestrange Manor with a blood-traitor banner over her head was beginning to drive her mad. She would make sure that Rabastan knew he need not turn down any social opportunity on her behalf, for she felt a need to use her pureblood upbringing in other ways than merely behaving at family meals.

Rabastan carefully opened the door to his and Andromeda's room, stepping inside and giving a low whistle at her appearance. "Dromeda," he breathed, walking toward her, "you're so beautiful!" He stroked her soft curls, then touched her cheek gently, tipping her face up toward his. "May I?" he asked, his thumb caressing her lower lip.

Andromeda closed her eyes as he pressed his lips to hers, feeling his hand on her cheek, passion in his kiss, though she could feel his restraint. She slid into his arms, returning his kiss shyly as he held her closer, firming his kiss. She clung to him as he embraced her, wishing she could know if he actually loved her. Andromeda questioned his motive, his resolve, and was beginning to long for something more than their horrible, awkward, silent evenings.

"I love you," he breathed against her neck, and she shivered in delight, though kept her face averted so he wouldn't know. "Dromeda..." He kissed her neck gently several times, and she couldn't help but moan softly, forcing herself to finally pull away, her eyes shadowed. Rabastan was watching her, different emotions racing through him. "I want so much more than this for us," he whispered, and she stepped back, grasping the dresser to steady herself.

"I—I can't yet," Andromeda whispered. "Rabastan—I know it's difficult. I—I just need time."

"That's what Bella says," Rabastan sighed, then looked alarmed at his wife's expression. "But I'm not Rodolphus," he added hurriedly. "I am patient."

Andromeda couldn't help cracking a smile at his nervousness, then stepped forward and tucked her hand into his. "Shall we go?" she asked him.

He squeezed her hand. "Ready if you are," he answered, then led her from the room toward the front doors. He disapparated with her, explaining that they would be arriving before Bellatrix and Rodolphus and would probably have to answer questions about them. "Averys," Rabastan nodded. "They ask too many questions."

She smirked. "I can handle them," she said. "Just think: I received a marriage proposal from the man, and you'll always be on your guard around him."

Rabastan stared at her, then shook his head. "Thank Merlin that you're not his," he told her.

She squeezed his hand, looking up the walk toward the doors of the house and sighing. "I would hate to live here."

Shaking his head slightly, he led her forward, the two soon admitted to the house and joining the other young people who were talking in the main hall. Andromeda was thrilled to find that her parents had brought Narcissa, and that the blonde witch grinned at her immediately upon seeing her. Both girls hugged each other tightly, ignoring the rest of the other young women for a moment.

"Andromeda," Narcissa breathed, blushing furiously, "Lucius and I are betrothed."

"I knew it wouldn't take long," Andromeda said proudly, kissing her sister's head. She didn't care if the whole world knew she was proud of Narcissa: the girl would have a very happy marriage to Lucius Malfoy.

"And Bella told me that you have news?" Narcissa said eagerly.

Andromeda smiled, taking her sister's hands in hers. "I...am expecting a child," she said softly.

Narcissa's mouth dropped open and she stifled a squeal. "Oh, Andromeda, that's wonderful!" she breathed, hugging her sister again. "Maybe...maybe we can talk about it after the feast?"

Andromeda agreed, turning toward the other young witches. One of them stared at her, eyes narrowed. "You are already pregnant?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "Your husband certainly didn't waste any time."

"He must be more insistent than his brother," laughed one of the others. "What did Bellatrix say when she found out?"

"She wasn't surprised that Andy had turned from the perfect daughter into the perfect wife," came a voice from behind them, and they all looked around to see Bellatrix standing just behind her two sisters. "Though I find it tiresome to do such things, Andromeda thrives on it."

Andromeda's ears burned in embarrassment, the witch slightly worried at what Bellatrix would say, though one of the Parkinson cousins asked, "When is the child due?"

Andromeda smiled slightly, then said, "January."

"January..." said the witch, then smirked teasingly. "Why, Andromeda, you weren't even married then! He must really have wanted to get a jump on things."

"Why do you think they married so quickly?" Narcissa laughed, slipping her arm around the brown-haired witch. "Don't tell tales now, Penelope. We know how young people can be."

"Oh, Cissy," Bellatrix smirked, "kiss and tell now."

Narcissa merely turned her head away from her oldest sister, making some of the other girls laugh. Andromeda subtly hugged the younger witch, grateful that she had spoken for her, but also worried that it probably meant Narcissa was aware that her baby was not Rabastan's. Andromeda forced her thoughts away from such things, trying to keep from gossiping with some of the younger pureblood girls that had been invited. She was glad when Rabastan retrieved her from the group, wrapping his arm around her and guiding her to her seat next to him at the table. To her surprise, she was seated next to Lucius Malfoy, who looked at her as if he didn't know whether to be honoured or horrified.

Andromeda understood. Narcissa had probably cried all of her worries out on Lucius' shoulder, though when she had done that, Andromeda wasn't sure. She kept her face neutral, nodding to him politely, though she checked herself sharply when she began to worry about whether Lucius would guess the truth. She jumped in shock when Rabastan patted her leg under the table, making Lucius frown at her.

She forced herself not to glare at either of the young men, concentrating on eating and not making a bigger fool out of herself. She would do what she had to, and couldn't worry about whether people would guess the truth. Andromeda took a deep breath to calm herself, then shut everything else out of her mind except that she was at her husband's side at a pureblood gathering, and had to be calm.

Andromeda was alone in the sitting room of her home when Bella walked into the room, glaring at her. "What do you want?" Andromeda sighed as Bellatrix perched on the chair across from her.

"Want?" Bellatrix hissed. "I wish you wouldn't be so perfect!"

"But I'm not!" Andromeda sighed. "I can't help that it seems I do everything right. The world doesn't know what has really happened here." She hesitated, then asked, "Is Rodolphus pressuring you now?"

"More than usual," Bellatrix growled at her sister. "I wonder what the world would think if they knew you had slept with a Mudblood, and are now going to pass off his child as a pureblood, hmm?"

Andromeda didn't reply, rubbing a hand across her now visible baby bump with a small smile. Bellatrix jumped up, and Andromeda looked up carefully. "I wonder," Bella said thoughtfully as she approached her sister, a crazed look in her eyes, "what our families—and the world—would think if you miscarried this child."

She gasped, "Bella, that's awful!"

"Awful?!" Bellatrix yelled down at her. "That child in your womb is filth, Andromeda! It is no better than that Mudblood of yours, and I won't stand for any more of this nonsense!"

"What are you doing?" Andromeda cried, reaching for her wand as Bellatrix pointed her own wand at the girl.

"Shh," Bella whispered. "It'll only take a minute. Then you won't have to bring shame to your husband. You will truly be redeemed in your family's eyes..."

"Stop!" screamed Andromeda as the witch disarmed her. "Rabastan, help me!" She shrank back in her chair as Bellatrix approached, her wand pointed at her sister's stomach.

Bellatrix sighed. "Stop, Andromeda. It's your own fault, you know," she told her. "And Rabastan should have done this as soon as you told him about the child, but he's too weak."

Andromeda began to cry, her arms wrapped around her stomach. "No!" she sobbed, kicking out at Bellatrix. "Go away!"

"Little bitch!" Bellatrix hissed at her, Cursing her in fury.

Andromeda screeched in pain, clenching her fists as she slipped from the chair to the floor. "Stop!" she yelled out, her body writhing in agony. "Bellatrix, stop it!"

The door burst open and a yell of rage came from the man, a spell striking Bellatrix right between the shoulder blades. Bellatrix cried out as she stumbled against the wall, narrowly missing stepping on her own victim as she gasped for breath, Rabastan's curse keeping her occupied as he rushed across the room to his wife.

"Andromeda," he breathed in concern, dropping to his knees beside her as he gathered her into his arms. "What did she do?"

"C—cruciatus," Andromeda gasped, tears streaming down her face. "Rab, she was going to kill the child."

Rabastan looked to Bellatrix in shock and anger before drawing his wand and carefully running it down his wife's back to alleviate her pain. Finally, he helped her get up and sit down in the chair before he turned to Bellatrix. "You will not harm my wife, or my daughter, Bellatrix," he said coldly. "I don't care how unclean you think they are, but I love Andromeda, and I will not let you kill her baby."

The door slammed open again, and the three turned to see Rodolphus, Bellatrix immediately breathing his name as if she had been victimized and needed help. Rodolphus hurried across the room to her, taking her into his arms before he glared at his brother in fury. "How dare you hurt my wife?" he growled.

"Well, you hurt her enough yourself. I thought I'd have a go," Rabastan retorted, then blocked his brother's angry curse. "She hurt Andromeda," he answered, ready to return any of his brother's spells. "She wanted to kill our daughter—"

"That bastard child is not your daughter!" Bellatrix screamed, ready to curse him.

"I have accepted her as such!" Rabastan yelled back, standing between his wife and the other couple. "She couldn't be the heir, obviously, but then who's to argue when you two aren't about to have any offspring?"

Rodolphus and Bellatrix attacked Rabastan at the same time, Andromeda jumping to her feet and summoning her wand from the floor to her hand. She joined her husband in the furious duel only to have him yell, "No, Andromeda! Stay back!"

Bellatrix shrieked with laughter. "Yes, Andy, hide behind him! He'll protect you!"

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?"

All four young Lestranges turned to see Desmond Lestrange standing in the doorway, outraged. "Well?" he demanded. "Rodolphus? Rabastan?" He frowned, seeing Andromeda's tearstreaked face, and walked across the room to her, soon looking at Bellatrix accusingly.

"She—she deserved it!" Bellatrix hissed. "That child she carries is not a Lestrange! It is the daughter of that Mudblood that she loved so well. I was only going to rid us of that shame!"

"It's an innocent child!" Rabastan growled at Bellatrix, moving to wrap his left arm around Andromeda protectively. "I will not have it destroyed merely because it is an inconvenience to you, Bellatrix. I have claimed Andromeda's baby as my own, and you are under strict orders not to harm either one of them!"

Bellatrix was about to reply when Desmond turned to Andromeda, stunned. "A Mudblood's child?"

Bellatrix's smirk made Andromeda cringe, and she breathed, "Yes, sir—I didn't know when I arrived here—I have only known for a little while. She—she wasn't conceived on purpose."

"But it is that Mudblood's child?" Desmond persisted, reaching out to grasp the girl's shoulder.

A sob escaped Andromeda as she dodged his hand and curled into her husband's side, desperate to escape them all. "Yes," she wept. "It's Ted's. I loved him!" She felt Rabastan's arm wrap around her and cried bitterly.

Bellatrix glared at her, turning back to her father-in-law. "See?" she snapped. "It's got to be destroyed! Let me kill it!"

Desmond looked from Bellatrix to the younger couple. "It must be Rabastan's decision as to what is done," he said. "Though you will not be performing any kind of spells on Andromeda in the future or I will restrict your privileges in this house, Bellatrix."

Andromeda shook with silent sobs, feeling everyone's gaze on her and Rabastan, the man's grip loosening on her for a moment. No, she thought in terror. He was going to change his mind, and she would lose her last tie to her beloved Ted. Her hand reached up to grasp his shirt pleadingly, though she couldn't say a word as tears streamed down her face, her entire body shaking.

Rabastan finally pulled Andromeda into his arms, cradling her lovingly as he kissed her head. "The child is mine."

Bellatrix hissed in disapproval, but Rabastan ignored her, continuing to hold his wife close. Rodolphus shook his head. "Rabastan, you're making the wrong choice."

"I'm making my own choice," Rabastan answered before lifting Andromeda into his arms and carrying her from the room.

"Rab—Rabastan," Andromeda cried, "I—"

"Shh," he said softly, taking her into their room and laying her on the bed. He checked once again to make sure there were no other curses on her, then lay down beside her and took her into his arms again. "I will always protect you, Andromeda," he murmured as he stroked her hair. "You—and our baby girl."

Several weeks later, Andromeda sat in the window seat of the nursery Rabastan had been helping her prepare, looking out into the grounds of Lestrange Manor. She caressed the soft bump of her stomach, smiling bemusedly as she thought of what joy having a little one would bring to her. At sixteen weeks pregnant, she found herself looking forward to her daughter, more and more grateful to Rabastan for protecting her from his family.

She leaned her head back against the pillows that were on the windowsill, sighing as she closed her eyes, her hand resting on her stomach. Andromeda couldn't help feeling content even though she knew she was in constant danger from Bellatrix. Desmond had made it clear to Bellatrix that her access to any of their grimoires depended on her leaving Andromeda alone, and it seemed to be working well enough.

After a moment, she turned her head and opened her eyes to study the room again, going over every detail they'd added so far. The nursery was pink, as would be perfect for the baby girl when she was born. Andromeda had tried to make the nursery as warm and cozy as she could, comfortable enough for her to be able to sleep there if she had to stay with her baby sometimes.

Rabastan had helped her pick out the crib, though he had told her there were other things that she would be required to use. She fingered a small blanket embroidered with the Lestrange crest and sighed, tracing it quietly. It saddened her that her baby was not truly a Lestrange, though she still wasn't sure if she was more disappointed that her child wasn't a Lestrange, or that Ted wasn't with her to call the little one his own.

Andromeda determined that, whatever happened, she would make sure that Rabastan fast fell in love with the baby girl once she was born, and that no one would harm Ted's little girl.