Andromeda stared at the place where Grimmauld Place had been, holding onto Bellatrix with one hand fisted into her fur. Dumbledore leaned close and whispered, "The headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve Grimmauld Place."

Andromeda knew about Findulus Charms but she had never seen one in action. Seeing a home she had been to many times as a child simply gone as if it had never been was disorienting - as was seeing it pop back into existence. A black door with chipped and scratched paint and a silver serpent door knocker appeared first, followed by dirty and worn walls and grimy windows. Just looking at it, Andromeda could tell that no one had lived in the house for years. She remembered reading about Aunt Walburga's passing in the obituaries of The Daily Prophet. Ted had jumped and shouted in shock when the newspaper burst into flames, scorching the table. Andromeda had not cared. Seeing Aunt Walburga's picture sent hot pulsing rage seering through her veins. As bad as their parents had been, Aunt Walburga had always been worse, her pureblood mania sending her into frothing rages at a moment's notice.

Dumbledore crouched down and whispered into Bellatrix's ear. She jumped, and Andromeda tightened her hold on Bellatrix's fur. No doubt she was even more startled and confused than Andromeda was. For a moment, she wondered if Bellatrix recognized the house as one they had visited often as children, but she suspected that Bellatrix would not.

Andromeda smiled slightly. It had to be a first that she was more confident than Bellatrix. Her smile faded. "It's alright, Bella," she whispered. "Don't be frightened."

Bellatrix looked up at her and whined, ears back and tail lowered. The sights and smells and sounds of London must have been overwhelming for her. Andromeda was thankful the square was largely deserted, and that few cars and people traveled down this road.

Sirius, disguised as a dog, nuzzled Bellatrix's cheek. He play bowed, tail wagging. Bellatrix perked up slightly. She seemed to draw confidence from him though she pressed against the side of Andromeda's legs, leaning against her so heavily that Andromeda nearly stumbled.

"We should move quickly," Dumbledore said. "Bellatrix is not exactly inconspicuous."

Andromeda frowned at the house. "No. No one could ever accuse her of that."

It took some work to get Bellatrix to cross the road. She tried to dive into some bushes, perhaps to hide while she adjusted, but Sirius blocked her path and shouldered her across the road. Up close the door appeared in even worse shape than it had from a distance. The last time she had stood on these steps, the stairs had not been quite so worn - still old and worn with age, but better cared for than now - and the door had been a shiny black with a beautiful paint job. The serpent knocker had gleamed in the light.

The whole neighborhood seemed to have gone downhill, she thought. Grimmauld Place had always been the handsomest home in the neighborhood by far, but now bags of trash lay dropped carelessly on steps. Bellatrix sniffed at a trashbag on the sidewalk next to the steps of number eleven. Andromeda held her still by the fist full of fur that remained in her grip.

Dumbledore tapped his wand against the battered wood of the door. Andromeda heard the long series of locks and tumblers disengage, and the door creaked open revealing a dark hallway illuminated only by the dim sunlight pouring through the open door. Andromeda saw a pair of moth-eaten velvet curtains sway gently in the breeze that blew inside. Sirius entered first, though his footsteps were heavy. Andromeda felt a weight pressing down against her chest as she crossed the threshold with Bellatrix glued to her side. Dumbledore came last and closed the door behind him. The old gas lamps flickered to life, though the feeble light was barely enough to see by.

Bellatrix moved away from Andromeda. She looked down to see Bellatrix sniffing at a darkened corner of the room. She nearly disappeared in shadows the same shade as her fur. She looked up at Andromeda who felt a sickening sensation in the pit of her stomach. Bellatrix's eyes and teeth gleamed in the dark, catching the dim light, looking nearly disembodied. Dangerous and wild. Then she moved further into the light of the lamps and the effect was gone, her lolling tongue and curious eyes replacing the near supernatural image of glowing eyes and fangs.

Dumbledore held a finger to his lips as they entered the narrow hallway. The pair of velvet curtains that Andromeda didn't recognize were drawn over something on the wall, and Andromeda swore she heard gentle breathing coming from behind it. A portrait, most likely. But of who? A horrible thought struck her: Aunt Walburga. The curtains to keep her calm and quiet, assuming her portrait was as prone to ranting and raving at the slightest provocation as the real woman had been.

Sirius transformed and whispered "my mother", confirming her suspicions. Bellatrix sniffed at the curtains. Andromeda gently pulled her away. She whined in protest. Sirius winced and shushed her softly. Bellatrix went completely still. The curtains did not move.

Sirius let out a sigh of relief and waved them up the stairs. Once they were safely on the second floor landing, Sirius said, "I'm guessing you remember the bedrooms are up here and the next floor. My mother's room is being used, but you can pick any one of the other rooms. You'll need to clean it up first."

"I'm sure it won't be a problem." She eyed the door handles, trying to remember if any of them were not shaped like snake heads, but she couldn't. She wasn't ashamed to be a Slytherin, but here in Grimmauld Place Slytherin had been synonymous with superiority and pureblood ideology.

Bellatrix sniffed at the threadbare carpet and sneezed from all the dust, sending it flying into the air. Andromeda smiled.

Then she hesitated. "I need to tell Ted what's happened. I should...I should get my things, and - can Ted come live here as well?"

Dumbledore regarded her thoughtfully. "I would like to keep as much attention away from this location as possible. The more people who come in and out on a daily basis, the more suspicious. Perhaps, at some point, Ted can join you here, but for now I am afraid I must say no."

Not an unexpected answer, but still a disappointing one.

Hiding her thoughts, she looked down at Bellatrix. "What room do you want?"

Bellatrix tilted her head. Her whole body was tense. Ears flicking back and forth, sniffing the air. The house smelled sickeningly sweet and rotten, dank and molding. Andromeda wondered what it smelled like to Bellatrix, whose sense of smell was far more powerful than her own.

"Maybe we should give Bellatrix some time to explore," Dumbledore suggested. "She will have a few days to settle before I call a meeting with the Order. For now only a select few know she is still alive."

Andromeda forced herself to remain outwardly unmoved. "Narcissa was right about the Order not being happy to find out Bellatrix is alive. How can you be sure she will be safe here?"

"Because I trust the members of the Order," Dumbledore said. "They will not be invited to Headquarters if I don't. As such, I also trust that they will be able to put aside personal feelings to do what needs to be done." That last bit was spoken more to Sirius, she suspected, as Dumbledore pinned him with bright blue eyes.

Sirius crossed his arms. "If Snape does the same, there won't be a problem."

"Bellatrix is rather different than a school boy grudge," Andromeda reminded them.

"My life rests on trusting that those who know of Bellatrix's continued existence won't use her vulnerability to take revenge," Dumbledore said. "Therefore, you may have every confidence that I am doing everything within my power to ensure her safety."

"I still can't believe you agreed to an Unbreakable Vow," Sirius said. "And to protect Draco Malfoy? He's just like Lucius, I've seen him."

"Draco's decisions and the consequences for them are not within my ability to control," Dumbledore said. "I can, however, give him choices."

Andromeda was not certain that Dumbledore's confidence was warranted. She wished she had more time to consider her wording.

"If you'll excuse me, I have other business to attend to," Dumbledore said. Then he was gone, and it was just Andromeda and Sirius in a too empty house with the weight of the day baring down on her.

Tears slid down Andromeda's face. She covered her mouth with her hands, shoulders shaking. Bellatrix paused her exploration of the hallway and twisted to look at her with concern.

"It's alright, Bella, I'm alright," Andromeda said through her tears. "You don't need to - go back to exploring, it's fine."

Sirius placed a hand on Andromeda's back, and she cried harder. Spinning to face him, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. He was far too thin and boney, his shoulders and collar bones poking her uncomfortably as she held him close. Azkaban had taken a terrible toll on him.

"And you! You're innocent! I couldn't believe it when I heard what they were saying - you a Death Eater all this time, but the rest of our family... I worried maybe... I wondered if... But you were found in the middle of all those people laughing and you never even defended yourself - "

"I never had a trial," Sirius said. He patted her awkwardly on the back. "And I knew I could never prove my innocence anyway - I wasn't... Part of me didn't want to. I knew it was my fault what happened to Lily and James. It was my idea to make Peter their Secret Keeper, I thought no one would ever suspect it was him and it would keep them all safer but..."

Andromeda tightened her grip on him. "You did your best. I may not have known Lily and James well, but if they were half the people they seemed to be then I'm sure they wouldn't want you to blame yourself. I'm sorry I didn't believe in you. I should never have doubted you."

Sirius didn't say anything more for a moment. "I won't say it didn't hurt. But I never thought Peter would betray us until he did. They were dark times. I don't blame you. Not one bit."

Andromeda pulled back, blinking away her tears. "You're back. And so is Bellatrix! I can't believe..."

Sirius shifted uneasily. "I don't want to... I know you're happy to have Bellatrix back, I know I would give anything for Regulus to - " He cleared his throat. "But don't get your hopes up. If she gets her mind back, she'll still be Bellatrix. A Death Eater. Dumbledore thinks he can change her somehow, but I'm not so sure."

Andromeda looked down at Bellatrix. "I have to try. She's my sister."

Sirius nodded. "I can watch her for a while if you want to go talk to Ted. Tell him I said hi, by the way."

Andromeda smiled, her vision blurry from tears. "Thank you, Sirius." She knelt down, held Bellatrix's face in her hands, squishing her cheeks, and kissed the top of her head. "I'll be right back this time. I promise."

Ted listened speechless when Andromeda told him everything that had happened that day. When she told him of her decision to remain at the Order of the Phoenix headquarters, he nodded and helped her pack a bag.

"'Dromeda?" He held her bag tight in his hand when she went to take it. His normal light-heartedness was gone. "Please be careful. I know she's your sister...but she's still Bellatrix."

Andromeda swallowed. Her fingers twitched. "I know. But I have to try, Ted. She's - "

"Your sister, I know," he said, smiling slightly. "I wouldn't dream of trying to stop you. Just promise you'll be careful. Even if she doesn't remember anything, at best it sounds like you're dealing with a wild animal. She'll be unpredictable."

"I promise I'll be careful. I'll come see you as soon as everything settles down - I'll write everyday."

"I'll hold you to that." Ted kissed her, long and lingering, one hand cupping the side of her neck.

It was two hours later that Andromeda Apparated back to the overgrown and shaggy park with her suitcase in hand. She opened the door with a flick of her wand and stepped inside.

"Sirius?" she whispered, eyeing the closed curtains. Heavy footsteps overhead drew her attention.

Sirius sat in the hallway on the third floor, leaning sideways against a wall. He absently scratched at the peeling wallpaper. Bellatrix stood on her back paws, her front paws laying on a rickety table that creaked threateningly under her weight, and sniffed at a candelabra, one of many in the house, shaped like a serpent as was everything in the Merlin forsaken house.

Andromeda was not ashamed of being Slytherin. Quite the opposite. She was proud of her House, of its qualities. However, she could not honestly say that she had ever met anyone she liked who shoved their House affiliation in everyone's face. It was the same for all the Houses. Those of the most fanatical Slytherin pride, unfortunately, tended to be pureblood supremacists in addition to being insufferably obnoxious.

"Bellatrix, be careful, you're going to break that table," Andromeda said, smiling. Bellatrix growled softly and shot her a glare. Andromeda's brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"

Sirius looked up at her with a bored expression. "She was very cross with you for leaving. She set off Mother's portrait. I thought she'd unearth Kreacher with all her commotion, but he's still off hiding in some hole."

Andromeda made a face. "Kreacher is still here?"

Sirius grinned humorlessly. "But of course. I couldn't be that lucky."

Bellatrix whined and dropped down from the table. It swayed but remained standing. Bellatrix's whole body was tense with anxious energy, and after a moment, it was like something inside her broke and she rushed at Andromeda, whining and jumping up and licking at her face.

Andromeda laughed, and then, struck by the absurd reality of the situation, wrapped her arms around Bellatrix's body. Bellatrix scrambled to get her paws hooked over Andromeda's shoulders to steady her and rested her head on Andromeda's shoulder. Andromeda clung to her, not ready to let go.

Trying to ground herself, she spoke to Sirius. "She wasn't this upset when Narcissa left."

Sirius wore a thoughtful look. "Maybe because her last memory of Narcissa wasn't her leaving and never coming back," he suggested carefully.

Andromeda glared at him. "I had to leave," she snapped. Bellatrix shifted and licked at her cheek. "You know I had to. I had just found out I was pregnant with Dora, and my parents would have made me terminate the pregnancy, and they would have kept me from Ted, and I couldn't - "

Bellatrix whined and licked at her face. Andromeda shut her eyes and pursed her lips against Bellatrix's wet tongue, trying to turn her face away. "Bella, no, stop - "

Sirius laughed. "Not a sight I ever thought I'd see." Then he turned grim as Andromeda pushed Bellatrix off of her and back down onto four paws. "I know you had to leave. You had to get away even more than I did. But Bellatrix..." He shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know what she thinks. I don't know what's going on in her head. I can't tell how much she remembers. Maybe she doesn't even know why she got angry you left. Maybe it has nothing to do with memory at all, and she was upset because she's some place new and strange. I can't tell you. I wish I could. I've been with her for nearly two years, and I still haven't figured it out." He sighed, letting his head fall back against the wall.

Andromeda glanced from him to Bellatrix who now sniffed at her trunk. "It's alright, Sirius. We're all flying blind here. We'll figure it out."

Sirius didn't say anything for a moment. Then he stood, brushing off his robes. "I should let you get settled. Unfortunately, you'll need to pick a room and decontaminate it first. I didn't have time to do more than my room and my mothers - for Buckbeak, that is."

"Buckbeak?"

"Hippogriff. A fellow fugitive, actually. We escaped execution together last summer."

"You'll have to tell me the story later."

Sirius headed toward his mother's old room while Andromeda inspected each guest room, searching for one that was hopefully in better shape than the others. On the third floor, she passed by Regulus's room. It was only door that appeared have been somewhat taken care of, and she stroked the bronze nameplate fondly. Sirius might be bitter that Regulus joined the Death Eaters, but Andromeda could only feel sadness and regret. Regulus had been so young when Voldemort had begun to recruit, and she could not deny that at that time, he had a certain charm, an ability to excite. Her parents had been enthralled by his words, Bellatrix had been honored and humbled to be taken under his wing and taught the Dark Arts, and Regulus - well, Regulus had been young. He had looked up to his parents, to Sirius, to his cousins. Sirius had never quite hidden his disdain for Regulus, who had followed the family tradition of being sorted into Slytherin. So eager to distance himself from his family, Sirius had not reached out to Regulus as much as he could have - did not provide Regulus the same opportunities to free himself and expand that Sirius himself had been provided.

Andromeda would never tell Sirius she thought he had not done enough for Regulus. Likely he already knew. But not for the first time, she regretted that they had not been closer in age. Perhaps if they had gone to Hogwarts together, she could have guided him, could have provided him with better support. Maybe he would have had a better chance. Maybe he would have still been alive.

But she had been forced to run to save her baby, and Sirius had left. Regulus, sweet Regulus, left alone. Regulus who had undoubtedly been taken under Bellatrix's wing in Sirius's absence, if she knew Bellatrix well enough. She would have been determined to prevent another loss. Perhaps would have felt it reflected badly on her as the eldest, as if she had not set a proper example.

As Bellatrix fell to Voldemort, so too did Regulus. So too did Narcissa.

She wondered, not for the first time, if it was not hypocritical to feel such great regret and sorrow for Regulus but only anger and bitter betrayal from Bellatrix. But Bellatrix had always been the strongest of them all. If Bellatrix had not chosen to leave, it was because she did not want to, not because she did not have any other options. Bellatrix knew how to stand on her own two feet. Bellatrix would not have let anything stop her. She could have come after Andromeda, she could have left, and if Bellatrix had left, Narcissa would have too. If Bellatrix left, Regulus would likely have followed. Or maybe he wouldn't have, but Narcissa would have been saved from the Death Eaters.

Glancing down at Bellatrix, she thought, But that's not fair to pin the fate of the family on Bellatrix alone, and you know that. And she did. Feeling a flood of guilt, she could not meet Bellatrix's bright, curious eyes.

Something big shuffling in the room drew her attention, but before she could investigate, the door opened an old house elf in a dirty loincloth slunk out of the room, glaring at her as he closed the door behind him.

"Kreacher," Andromeda said. Bellatrix sniffed at him. Kreacher scowled at her and pushed her muzzle away irritably. Sirius didn't tell him, she realized.

Kreacher grumbled and muttered loudly, "The blood traitor speaks to Kreacher, the one who upset Mistress so, she deserved to be removed from the tapestry, not even her own family wanted anything to with her. Oh, how Miss Bella laughed when she burned the traitor's name off the tapestry - "

Andromeda's throat constricted. The years had not been kind to Kreacher, that much was certain. Not that she had expected a warm welcome in the first place. Still, it made her uneasy that he knew just the right things to say to hurt her.

Bellatrix had burned her name from the tapestry? Andromeda had always assumed it had been Aunt Walburga, as the tapestry was kept here, somewhere in Grimmauld Place. Had Bellatrix asked to do it? Was she forced to? Had she really laughed when she had blasted Andromeda's name off the family tree?

"Bella?" she whispered.

Bellatrix met her gaze and whined slightly. Licked at Andromeda's fingers. Don't be sad, the gesture seemed to say. She wouldn't be getting any answers from Bellatrix. Not for some time, it seemed, if ever.

"Bella?" Kreacher repeated. He peered at Bellatrix. "Miss Bella? Oh, poor Miss Bella, what have these blood traitors done to you?"

"Nothing," Andromeda snapped, resisting the urge to slap his tiny hand away from Bellatrix when he reached out to touch the top of her head.

Kreacher acted as though he did not hear her. "What a shame the house will be filled with such traitors and mudbloods, and Miss Bellatrix brought so low to be at their mercy! What would Mistress say, oh what shame..."

At that, Andromeda seized his arm and yanked him away from Bellatrix. Bellatrix yelped in surprise. Kreacher went silent, glaring at her. Andromeda pushed him, nearly sending him sprawling to the ground.

"Stay away from Bellatrix," she growled.

"I am not your servant," Kreacher said, "I do not take orders from you. If Mistress Bellatrix wishes - "

"Bellatrix," she snarled, "is not in her right mind, and I won't have you taking advantage of that to - "

"Take advantage?" Kreacher shouted, outraged. "Kreacher is a loyal servant! Kreacher wishes only to serve the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black! Kreacher would never take advantage of his masters - could never do such a thing!"

Bile burned in the back of Andromeda's throat. Shame flooded her. Bellatrix whined softly and nuzzled her hand.

She physically struck Kreacher. Someone who could not fight back. What was wrong with her? Less than half an hour in this damn house and already she was becoming someone she did not like.

"Just go, Kreacher," Andromeda said, not quite able to look at him. "Stay away from Bellatrix." She knew Kreacher could - probably would - ignore the order. She had been burned off the tapestry, which meant he would no longer have to take orders from her. Sirius's orders were obeyed only because Sirius owned the house because he was the last Black left.

Kreacher grumbled but shuffled down the hallway, keeping his thoughts quiet enough that she could not hear - for which she was grateful.