There were lots of shouts, Bella lowered the wards so the Aurors could apparate out of the grounds. They were going to Tonks' former house with Lupin and Andromeda's home. Birch-Lock arrived with three investigators to search the woods by the cottage when the Aurors returned ten minutes later having no sign of Teddy at either location.

Tonks was awake now having no memory of what had occurred, her last memory was of taking Teddy to Diagon Alley with the new nanny.

Tonks began to panic, a trained medi-wizard was trying to undo the memory charm to no avail, Tonks could not remember past that morning. She was crying, Andy held her tightly telling it was going to be ok that Teddy was ok. Perhaps the nanny had him and was waiting somewhere for Tonks to return and would take Teddy to Magical Law Enforcement when she didn't come back to meet them.

Bella was explaining to the Auror what had happened when Tonks had arrived, how the barriers kept out any witch or wizard intending harm. The duel and ensued and what Tonks had been screaming at her beyond the barrier out of Hermione and Andy's hearing.

Hermione was talking to Birch-Lock explaining there were no wards on the one side of the island and Teddy could be over there with the Nanny. It was a scene of pandemonium as wizards and witches moved in and out getting instructions and coming back to report. All the same report came back, nothing, nobody had seen them since the early afternoon in Diagon Alley, though reports came back that Tonks had not been seen since that morning in Diagon Alley.

The family was told to stay on the island and wait for news. It was possible that the nanny would return with Teddy or if it was the worst case scenario, contact them with a demand for Teddy's safe return.

Bella sat holding Andy and Tonks, she would whisper to Tonks and tell her it was ok, Teddy would be back soon. Tonks cried, she apologized and said she didn't know what was going on, what had happened. All she could remember was the morning with the nanny. Teddy had liked her, they had had so much fun and the nanny was excited to go to Sweden and France.

Hermione approached the group huddled on the stone bench, her eyes met with Bella's and she swallowed. "Why don't we go into the kitchen and have some tea." It took a few minutes to coax Tonks up, Bella knew that this was standard in Hermione's job, if bad news was expected, to keep the parent out of the sight of the investigators and law enforcement lest they see when the news came in. It had been three hours and nothing had turned up.

They sat in silence around the table, Tinkie busying herself making tea and biscuits. Running in and out giving food to the slew of wizards and witches outside. Kretcher arrived from Hogwarts to help the elf with the onslaught of so many people all at once.

Around one in the morning Birch-Lock called Hermione outside, Tonks wanted to come but Hermione told her it was better for her to stay for the time being. Bella and Andy hugged Tonks close watching through the window as Hermione was nodding at a grim-faced Birch-Lock.

"They've searched the whole of the island, there is no sign of him. They have looked in every possible open space in Diagon Alley, they have to wait until morning for access to some of the sealed areas." Hermione said when she came back to them. "Tonks-" She said taking Tonks' hand in hers, "Why did you say he was with Remus had you left him before with Remus when he was little?"

"I don't know. I might have. I don't think so." Tonks said, "Teddy was always with me or with mum. Remus was, well he wasn't the most attentive father." She said kind to her late husband's memory.

Hermione nodded, she remembered Lupin's all to ready ways of wanting to leave the confines of fatherhood and join them on their quest for the horcruxes. "Thank you." Hermione said going back out to Birch-Lock.


Her body ached as she laid down in the bed. The Aurors would continue throughout the rest of the night and would begin again in a few hours when the shops began to open. Magical kidnappings were rare but they did happen. Bella lay behind her rubbing Hermione's back.

"Are you alright Pet?" Bella asked as Hermione winced slightly when Bella hit a tender spot.

"Long day." She said closing her eyes, the memory of Bella hexing Tonks, she shivered. Bella pulled her in and held her tightly.

"I'm sorry." Bella whispered, "I'm sorry you had to see that."

Hermione nodded, little tears dotted Bella's arm.

"Oh Pet." Bella said rolling Hermione over and kissing her. "Pet. Don't cry." She said, kissing Hermione's neck. "Please."

"I can't help it." Hermione trembled slightly, the adrenaline of the evening catching up to her as she shook harder.

"Dearest." Bella whispered pressing Hermione's fingers to her lips.

Hermione buried herself into Bella's neck and pulled the dark witches black curls over her face. Bella let her hide there, her hand rubbing over Hermione's stomach feeling her trembling. Bella could feel their sweet little bump flutter slightly under the touches and smiled.

"Why would she say that?" Hermione asked finally several minutes later.

"Say what Pet?"

"About our baby being a freak. That-" Hermione took a shuddering breath, "That you made her a freak."

"She didn't know what she was saying Pet. She was bewitched."

"Bella-" Hermione said looking at Bella now, her face serious. "What did she mean?"

Bella hesitated, she stared at Hermione for an eternity before she spoke. "She thinks I'm responsible for her being a metamorphmagus. That-"

"Why would she think you're responsible. Metamorphs are born not made. Tonks told me that. How could you make-" Hermione's head spun, she closed her eyes. "She's not your niece is she?" Hermione said after a moment sitting up in the bed. "What did you have her and give her to Andromeda to raise?" Hermione asked bewildered.

Andy knocked on the door and opened it when Bella called, she looked at Hermione on the bed and Bella staring at her.

"Is that what happened?" Hermione asked again taking no notice of Andromeda's entrance to the room.

Bella breathed, "Not tonight Pet. It's not the time for it." She said carefully. Andromeda was torn between staying or leaving.

"Oh I think it's the perfect time for it." Hermione said, her head still trying to wrap around what was implied by Bella's words. She felt her voice raise slightly, she pulled away from Bella's touch.

"Dora thinks that Bella is her mother, that we are her mothers." Andromeda said evenly. Bella's closed her eyes at Andy's words.

It fell together now, the pieces, the whispers, the looks, the closeness. Hermione moved back further from Bella. She looked from Bella to Andromeda, her ears ringing. Were they together now?

Bella watched the emotions play over Hermione's face. "Pet-" she said trying to pull Hermione away from her thoughts and into the present. She watched them play across Hermione's mind like a photographs, each thing she had noticed, each little hug she had dismissed. They were there playing over and over again until Bella pulled herself away from Hermione's thoughts.

"Are you?" Hermione asked now looking at Andromeda, hurt in her voice. She felt like her throat was closing in on her.

"No." Andy said gently, tears pricked at her eyes. "She's not Bella's child." There was regret in Andy's voice. "Dora is my child." Andy said, her eyes looking at Bella for a moment, "With Ted."

Bella's jaw tightened, her fingers wrapped slightly into the duvet cover. Hermione looked at Bella, she met her eyes, the depth of hurt was apparent, all the rage, all the hatred that Hermione had seen earlier wasn't directed at Tonks, it had been directed at Andy.

Andy explained or tried to, tried to convey to Hermione what had been there for the two of them. What had happened to them so long ago. Why Dora believed that Bella was her mother even though Andy had told her numerous times that she wasn't.

Bella took a breath; it was nearly three. "Pet." She said unsure of what she wanted to say now. "I would never lie to you." She began, "I hated Andy for years for what she did- for what I thought she had done to me. For falling in love with someone who wasn't me." Bella looked down at her hands. "I was- wrong." Bella said finally, Andromeda looked at her, her eyes sad but warm towards her sister. "I understood, when we met, when we fell in love what it must have been for Andy and Ted. It was- so different. It was-" She could find the word, Hermione looked at her, "It was us. Only us."

Hermione nodded, she knew of course what the Pure Blood line of thought was on siblings and cousins engaging in relationships. The ideas and rituals of it were as old as magic themselves, back to Arthur's time even on the night of Beltane.

"And now?" Hermione asked, her heart felt squeezed waiting for the answer. Bella leaned over the kissed her, Hermione melted into the kiss slightly "It's us." Bella whispered.


Tonks was sleeping having been given a very strong sleeping draught by the medi-wizard. She was still sleeping the next morning when Hermione sat at the dining room table working with Birch-Lock on the information they had gathered in the night over Teddy's whereabouts.

Andromeda came into the dining room looking at what was tacked up on the walls, Hermione was mumbling and flicking through pages in a directory.

"What's being done?" Andy asked, her voice hoarse from the previous night's talking. The three women had only fallen asleep around five. Three hours later Hermione was up with Birch-Lock and Andromeda had woken and joined them. Bella was in the shower overhead.

"We're clearing Diagon Alley right now- We've managed to clear out these three areas, we've sent a team into Hogsmeade as well just in case. There was a possible sighting there this morning."

Andy touched Teddy's photo, "Can I do anything?"

Hermione looked at Andromeda sadly and shook her head. "There nothing to be done except wait I'm afraid. We've given out a description of the nanny to go with Teddy's picture but nobody has seen them since around four yesterday afternoon."

"Location spells?"

"Teddy's too young." Hermione said regretfully, "If he were older we could check his tracer."

The Ministry only began tracing children magically at the age of five when most magic begins to make an appearance.

"If he were a muggle-born he would have a trace on him from birth but- well you know, it's already known he's a metamorph."

Andromeda nodded and walked away from the photograph, a smiling Teddy walked in and out of the frame.

Narcissa appeared with a pop, "Oh Andy." She said immediately hugging her older sister. "Is there any news? Draco is out searching in Diagon Alley, he said the whole department is out looking."

Bella walked in the room, "Any news Pet?" She said briefly hugging her sister before walking to Hermione. Hermione had to sadly say there were no new developments.

They waited watching the clock. Draco sent messages to Cissy, still nothing to report.

"Hermione!" Tonks called suddenly and came running down the stairs half falling. "Remus. Remus." She said, trying to catch her breath.

Everyone in the room stood. 'Teddy's with Remus." Tonks said shaking.

"Remus is gone Tonks." Hermione said gently. "Remember? We talked about this last night. Remember?"

Tonks shook her head, "No- no listen." She said fighting off the sleeping draught. "The nanny, she- she said she was taking him to Remus. She took Teddy to Remus. She- she took him." Tonks eyes were heavy still. "She took him."

Hermione nodded, "We're trying to find him Tonks."

Tonks grabbed Hermione's arms and shook her. "NO LISTEN TO ME!" Bella pulled Tonks away from Hermione.

"Calm down." She warned, she did not let Tonks go. "Calm down."

Hermione and Birch-Lock looked at each other, she was taking him to Remus…the gateway.


Birch-Lock and Hermione apparated to the Ministry. They had messaged Vance to meet them there. He had instructed the others to stay searching and the sisters to all stay with Tonks at the cottage. Bella refused and had joined them a few moments later.

It was a Saturday, only essential staff was in the Ministry cleaning and such. Their footsteps echoed off the walls as they went through the atrium. Vance met them at the lifts, their wands out unsure of what to expect.

The lift felt as though it were taking forever until it finally arrived at the Department of Mysteries. They crept quietly along the corridor that led to the hall of prophecy. Bella glanced around, it had changed a lot since her first meeting with Hermione.

"Stay close." Vance said leading the group, their wand tips lit as they proceeded to the room. They entered the outer chamber and froze. Teddy was there, sitting on the dias happily babbling to a man with shoulder length black hair. The nanny from the previous day lay motionless on the dias, dead. He seemed to sense their presence as he stopped talking to Teddy and looked up in their direction. His eyes were black like Bella's, a smile played on his lips.

"Mordred." Hermione whispered.