"Mum!" Tonks said, hurrying into the house. "Mother! Father!"

"Dora?" Andromeda asked, frowning. "What is it?"

"Mum," Nymphadora began, then hexed the Daily Prophet out the window. "You need to stop reading that."

Andromeda raised an eyebrow at her daughter. "Nymphadora, what are you talking about? Stop joking around."

Nymphadora bit her lip. "I'm not joking about anything. Mum, something's happened up at Hogwarts, and I'm going to go see what's going on."

Ted frowned. "Like what?"

"Well, MadEye's in the Hospital Wing," Dora answered first. "A student died, and rumors are the Dark Lord is back."

"Oh." Andromeda stared at her daughter worriedly, then hurried forward and embraced her tightly. "Be careful," she told her sharply. "Come back and let us know what's happening."

"I will," Dora promised, hugging her mother and father before hurrying from the house.

Andromeda watched her leave out the window, then turned to her husband. "This isn't going to end well."

Ted glanced out the window, but Dora had already gone. He slipped over to his wife and put his arm around her, hugging her to his side. "We'll stick together as a family," he promised her. "I love you." He kissed her cheek, and she leaned her head against his shoulder.

"I love you too," she murmured. "I don't want to go through another war. I wonder what the paper said for Dora to tell me not to read it. It's probably controlled by all the wrong people now."

"Patience," Ted answered. "Dora will return and tell us all about it."

Dora returned after nightfall, stumbling into the house, and her mother immediately stepped to her daughter's side, embracing her firmly. "Dora," her mother murmured as the girl sniffled against her robes. The blonde witch had obviously been crying for a while, and now began to cry again in her mother's arms. "Dora, what happened?" Andromeda asked in concern.

Ted joined the two girls in the hug, Dora slipping an arm around him as well. "Dora?" he asked softly.

"Cedric was killed," Dora sniffed, not looking up. "He was only thirteen when I left—he's seventeen now, but—he's gone! He was everyone's friend: he was the best Hufflepuff there's been in a long time."

"How is everyone else?" Ted questioned.

"One of the old Death Eaters had been impersonating MadEye," Dora said in confusion, shaking her head as she looked up at her parents. "Barty Crouch Jr., who was supposed to be in Azkaban. His father helped him escape, and the boy killed his father. So both Crouches are dead."

"Wait, what?" Ted frowned. "Perhaps we should all sit down and talk about this."

Andromeda raised an eyebrow, leading the way to the kitchen. "Junior finally killed his father?" she chuckled. "He'd been threatening to do so before he was sent to Azkaban. What happened to Junior, though? You said they both died?"

Dora nodded, sitting down and taking the cup of tea her mother set before her. "He...was Kissed by a Dementor."

Her parents stared at her in horror, and Andromeda whispered, "He—did you see it?"

"No," Dora shook her head, "but Professor McGonagall did. I guess the Minister didn't feel safe without a Dementor guard, but he lost control of the Dementor and it went after the boy. He was so young—I saw his body taken out. I felt sorry for him, even after what he did to MadEye; he kept MadEye locked in his own trunk for most of the school year!"

Ted looked positively ill, and Andromeda bit her lip, looking away from her daughter. "Poor boy," she finally said. "Moody's okay, isn't he?"

"Of course," Dora said loyally. "He's tough."

"And the Dark Lord has returned?" Andromeda questioned.

"Yes," Nymphadora answered firmly. "Dumbledore made the declaration at Cedric's memorial service tonight—" she looked down, tears springing to her eyes again.

"He'll be calling the rebels back together," Andromeda nodded. "Right away to keep wizards from joining the Dark Lord. It won't help much, but they can try. Also, they'll be needed to protect Potter—if he lets them."

Ted slipped his arm around his daughter. "The Order will be getting back together," he said. "That should be interesting. I wonder if they'll do better this time around."

Andromeda snorted. "I was wondering the same thing."

The front door slammed, and Andromeda sighed, "Dora, there is no need to slam the door."

"Mum, Mum, I've joined the Order," Nymphadora said quietly, entering the kitchen and looking directly into her mother's face.

"No!" Andromeda dropped the dishpan she'd been holding, the item clattering to the floor. "Dora, you will get yourself killed!"

"Mum, there is no need to drop the dishpan," Dora said indignantly, waving her wand to put the handles back on the pan before setting it gently back onto the sink.

"Dora, you've got to think about this!" Andromeda said urgently, catching her daughter by the wrists and ignoring the girl's wand. "Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters will be escaping Azkaban! You will be facing most of my family alongside the Dark Lord! It's dangerous, Nymphadora: they're all killers—even Lucius!"

Nymphadora raised an eyebrow. "Even pretty boy Malfoy?"

Andromeda glared at her, shaking the girl slightly. "Yes!" she snapped. "You will get us killed, Dora! We'll be in even more danger from them if you become part of the Order! Everyone will be after you, not just the Dark. If the Ministry learns you've joined Dumbledore—" Andromeda groaned and turned away. "I will never live this down."

"You'll never live down most of your life," Nymphadora mused to her mother's turned back.

"How dare you?" shrieked Andromeda as she whirled around and attacked her daughter.

"Mum!" Dora shouted back in surprise, blocking several of her mother's spells. "What the hell?"

Andromeda didn't reply, finally succeeding in forcing her daughter up against the wall, wandless and white-haired. "You don't understand the severity of the situation, do you?" she breathed, a half-crazed look in her eyes. "Well. Let me give you a warning."

Nymphadora stared in horror as her mother conjured a thin, silver knife, pointing it at her throat. "Mother, you're not in your right mind," Dora breathed, staring wide-eyed at the knife approaching her face. "Mum, don't—" she gritted her teeth as the blade slid from her cheekbone to her jaw, leaving a small red line on her face.

"A warning," Andromeda hissed, stepping back. "There is a knife that looks exactly like this, and it belongs to Bella. If you are taken by any of the Death Eaters, you will meet that knife. This one will just leave a bruise. The real knife will not."

"Mum," Dora breathed, suddenly released from the spell holding her against the wall. She reached up and touched her face, wincing. "My wand?"

"Remember your warning." Andromeda reached out her hand and dropped the wand on the floor. "There it is."

Nymphadora glared at her mother, filled with rage as she retrieved her wand and ran upstairs. Andromeda heard a door open, and her husband's voice asked, "Are you all right, Dora? Your face…."

There was a hesitation, and then Dora answered, "Just hit my face in the office today. I fell."

"Dora, Dora," Ted sighed, chuckling. "As long as you're all right."

"'Hit my face,'" muttered Andromeda with a smirk. "I'm not the only one who doesn't tell Ted everything."

That evening, Dora walked quietly into the dining room and seated herself, not speaking. Andromeda turned to her daughter and raised an eyebrow. "Dinner isn't ready yet," she said plainly, turning back to the stove.

"I was just going to say that I didn't mean to surprise you earlier," Dora answered, talking to her mother's back again. "And I'm sorry I was so rude."

"Hmph," said Andromeda, turning to frown at her daughter for a moment. "You should know that I only want to protect you, but unfortunately, it's out of my hands now, and you only want to put yourself in danger."

"Mum," Dora said earnestly, turning to face her, "I've got to do my part! I owe it to Dad, and me, and to my other friends that will be endangered. The Weasleys are joining the Order too: Bill's coming back from Egypt."

Andromeda walked over to her daughter and sat down, facing her. "Please, Dora, be very careful," she pleaded with her daughter. "If the Dark Lord wins, we will all be killed. We may all die anyway, but please. Promise me you'll be careful."

Nymphadora nodded. "I promise, Mum," she said. "Now then: the Order needs people to volunteer their homes for safehouses—"

"Nymphadora," her mother hissed sharply, "I am not going to open our home to every shred of filth that Dumbledore picks up for his Order!"

"That's not what they need," Dora replied stubbornly. "They need houses that Order members can flee to if they're on missions and need a place to hide suddenly. The houses will get special wards and everything."

"Sure," Andromeda spat. "Your father and my wards have kept us safe for years!"

"But this is the Dark Lord we're talking about," Dora sighed, looking into her mother's black eyes. "If his followers come out in droves like you're talking about, then no wards will hold, especially if the Death Eaters infiltrate the Ministry!"

Andromeda sighed, reaching out and wandlessly healing the mark she'd made on her daughter's face. "I'll allow it," she said quietly, pushing her daughter's brown hair out of her face, "but I must go with you and hear about it."

Nymphadora leaned closer to her mother, hugging the older witch. "Thanks, Mum, I love you."

"Did you ask your father first?" Andromeda asked suddenly.

"No," Dora shook her head. "I know better now."

Andromeda smirked, holding her daughter close. After a moment, Dora muttered, "Mum, if Bella's any more crazy than you are, it's no wonder you're concerned about me meeting her."

The older woman froze, then pressed her face into her daughter's hair. "I don't want to lose you," she whispered. "But if I must, I don't want Bella to do it. Bella and I...we're both less mentally stable than is safe. And she's been in Azkaban for years now. She's probably much worse now than when I knew her. Just be careful." She kissed her daughter's hair, then got to her feet to finish their supper.

Feeling very foolish, Andromeda followed her daughter from their home, heading to the Order Headquarters. She'd told Ted what was going to happen, but he'd had to work, and Andromeda thought that was perfectly fine. Her husband was much too fond of Dumbledore anyway.

Nymphadora took a piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to her mother. "The location," she said simply.

Andromeda took the paper and opened it, silently reading, Number 12, Grimmauld Place. A gasp escaped her, and she looked up to see her cousins' old home, the wood and stone House of Black. "This is the Or—" she began in outrage, trembling at the indignation.

"Mum, it'll be okay," Nymphadora promised. "Let's just get inside, and then we can talk. Please. Don't lose your temper or curse anyone. There's a lot of strange people here, including Mudbloods. And do not call them Mudbloods while you're here."

"This was Sirius' idea, wasn't it," Andromeda spat. "I'll get him for this."

"Mum, don't," Dora said nervously. "Just be the silent, watchful Andromeda today."

Andromeda shook her head, then bit her lip as her daughter reached out to the door, seeking entrance from the wards. The many bolts and locks undid themselves, the door opening of its own accord as they entered the dark interior of the house. Staring down the hall, Andromeda was immediately drawn into a memory:

Andromeda entered Grimmauld, only to see seven year old Regulus run from the doorway of the kitchen, looking scared. "Regulus?" she said softly, and he ran directly into her, grabbing her around the waist and darting behind her. "What's going on?"

"It's Mum," Regulus breathed. "She's yelling at Sirius again. Dromeda, it's getting bad."

"It's going to be all right," she reassured him. "Just do everything she expects and be glad you aren't Sirius."

Regulus didn't look satisfied, but disentangled himself from his cousin and stood beside her in a more dignified manner as the door to the kitchen burst open again. Sirius stormed out of the room, his mother right after him. "Go to your room!" she shrieked, and Regulus looked as if he wanted to hide again.

Andromeda stepped forward quickly. "Aunt Walburga?" she said respectfully, waiting til the woman's angry black eyes had turned to her. "I was sent to go over some history and spells with Sirius. Shall I come back later?"

"No," Walburga snapped. "Both of you can go to his room."

"Okay," Andromeda said, her hand brushing Regulus' shoulder, reminding him not to laugh. "Come along, Sirius."

Sirius ran up the stairs ahead of her, determined never to listen to the women in the family.

"HA!" Andromeda said loudly. She knew how to make him mind, something his mother had never managed.

"Mum!" hissed Nymphadora in horror, but it was too late.

Andromeda jumped in shock as the curtains sprang open on a portrait and Walburga Black's voice echoed through the house. Fury rose in Andromeda as every word she'd ever used to describe filth was said against her. Wand out, Andromeda shrieked back at the portrait, swearing at the witch before cursing the curtains closed, furiously storming down the hall beyond the portrait.

Nymphadora was wide-eyed, hurrying after her mother. "Do you know what you just said?" she gulped, catching up to her mother. "What if they heard you?"

"That's one of my trademark insults," Andromeda smirked, tossing her brown hair. "Anyone who's ever known me should recognize that, especially if you or I said it."

"I'll remember that," Nymphadora sniggered as her mother opened the door to the stairwell.

"Well, don't stand around," Andromeda said to her, disappearing down the stairs. "Come along."

The instant they walked into the room, they found most of the Order staring at them, exactly what Andromeda hadn't wanted to happen. A dark-haired man smirked at the two of them. "'Suck my dick?'" he quoted. "Which one of you said that?"

Nymphadora's face turned pink, but she morphed it away quickly. Andromeda stared at him emotionlessly. "You know I did, Sirius."

Sirius shook his head. "I never would have thought—"

"Well, maybe you forgot who I am," Andromeda said dangerously.

"The Andromeda doesn't fall far from the tree," smirked Nymphadora, rolling her eyes at Sirius. "Think twice before taunting or teasing her. Better yet, just don't."

Sirius threw back his head and laughed at her words. "So I've noticed, Dora. Remind me to tell you about that."

Andromeda glared at him, and Dumbledore rose from the table, the sight infuriating the brown-haired witch into silence. She hated him. She wanted him gone from her family's old, sacred house. She wanted them all gone, but she had promised Dora that she wouldn't curse anyone, and that she would stay. Andromeda swore inwardly, refusing a seat, instead standing by the door. If she'd known, she definitely would not have set foot in the house.

Dumbledore greeted some of the newer members, then asked, "Nymphadora, you brought your mother?"

"Once does not simply bring her anywhere," Dora rolled her eyes at him, and Andromeda knew her daughter was annoyed at the use of her first name. "Why don't you ask her why she's here?"

"Very well. Madam Tonks, have you come to join us?"

Andromeda turned to look directly at the white-haired, twinkly-eyed wizard. "Not at all. I've come to suggest our home be made an Order safehouse. I have no desire to be involved in anything more."

Sirius scoffed at her. "Come on, Andy!"

"Shut it," she said to him warning, her eyes flashing as she glanced at him.

"We will have a team sent to your house to set it up," Dumbledore informed her. "We thank you for..."

Andromeda tuned him out as he thanked her. She did not want to hear that, although she gathered that Dora would be letting her know when the Order team would arrive. She moved to leave, and Sirius said, "Hey, Dromeda, hang around for a bit. I want a word with you."

Another Order member raised an eyebrow, looking between the two, and said, "Sirius, don't sound so threatening."

"I can handle him," Andromeda told the tall, shabby-looking stranger. "I taught him most everything he knows." She turned and headed up the stairs before they could say another word to her, leaving her daughter to her own folly.

Upstairs, she thought idly, her footsteps carrying her upstairs toward the first landing, pausing at the door of the room that she had usually stayed in when her parents stayed overnight at Grimmauld. She raised her hand and opened the door, stepping inside and freezing when she saw a young girl lying on her stomach, reading a book.

"Back so soon, Hermione?" the girl with the red hair asked.

"Well, I'm not Hermione, but I'm back," Andromeda smirked at the girl. Must be a Weasley, she thought to herself when the girl sat up, throwing the book aside.

"Who are you?" the girl asked sharply, reaching for her wand on the nightstand.

Andromeda didn't move. "I'm Sirius' cousin Andromeda," she said. "I was disowned for marrying a Mudblood. I came up here to see my old room, but I didn't realise there were others staying here."

The girl stared at her, seeming to be sizing her up. "I'm Ginny," she said finally. "Was this your old room? You didn't live here, right?"

"No," Andromeda answered, glancing around at the completely changed room. "I only stayed here when my parents were visiting. It's changed so much..."

"The drawing room hasn't," Ginny said eagerly. "Mum's told us not to go in there without an adult because she says it might be dangerous. I think you could, though, but it's very dirty. Sirius said no one has lived here in ten years."

"Who would want to?" Andromeda muttered to herself, turning and beginning to leave the room. "Well?" she asked the girl, looking back. "Did you want to see the drawing room? I'd imagine reading your school books is much less interesting than exploring an old house."

Ginny jumped down off the bed, hurrying after her as she strode down the hall to the drawing room door. Andromeda raised her left hand, opening the door and raising her wand as she walked in, immediately choking on the dust. She performed a spell to clear the air, then began to perform different cleaning spells in order to clear the room enough to walk into. She stepped into the room, seeing the old glass case on the side and cleaning it off enough to see through.

She murmured a few soft words, her hand over the glass, and it clicked open, Andromeda marveling that her overriding wards still worked. She reached in and withdrew the gold ring with the Black family crest. She held it in her hand silently, wondering when it had been laid in the case and if Regulus had ever worn it. It would be nothing to Sirius, obviously, but she could not take it from the house, especially with the Weasley girl watching.

Andromeda set the ring back into the case, resealing it. Undoubtedly most of the things would be thrown away as the Order settled into the house. She scowled angrily, whirling around to see the old desk that she and her father and uncle had used to write important letters together. It's all wrong, she thought to herself.

"If you want something for a memory, I won't tell," came the redhead's voice. "Just don't take anything that will hurt you or someone else."

Andromeda shook her head slightly, biting her tongue so she wouldn't snap at the girl. "Thank you, dear," she said finally, turning away from the desk. She saw the tapestry, and felt an urge to break down in tears on the spot. She crossed the room, barely breathing, raising her right hand and cleaning the dirt from the tapestry. Her heart ached at the sight of the room and tapestry so torn up, but then the whole house looked dreadful.

She saw her place on the tapestry, a dark burn mark, and laughed bitterly, the Weasley girl joining her before the wall. "You're not there," Ginny said. "They fired you?"

"Basically," Andromeda answered quietly. "It's the severing of every tie between you and your family. Even the ancient magical ties disappear. It's a horrible feeling."

"But you did it for love?" Ginny asked, looking up at her.

"No," Andromeda said, then sighed. "I did it for my daughter. Nymphadora is the only reason I'm not a Black still."

"You were very noble to do such a thing," Ginny decided. "Was it you that the witch's portrait was shouting at downstairs?"

Andromeda sighed bitterly. "Yes. She and I are a lot alike, but we used to get along much better than we do now. And she surprised me. The portrait has been put up since I left."

Ginny nodded thoughtfully, and Andromeda was grateful when the girl didn't speak again for quite a few minutes. When Andromeda was ready, she went back out into the hall, going up another flight of stairs before asking, "How many other people are staying here?"

"Hermione's rooming with me," Ginny answered, "and Harry will be staying with Ron later in the summer. Fred and George have another room on this floor. They're all my brothers, except Harry, of course. Hermione is Ron's friend. Sirius is staying in his own room, and there's a Hippogryff staying in the master bedroom."

"A what?" Andromeda said in horror, but almost laughing at the same time. "No! Sirius is the worst when it comes to completely disregarding everything sacred and traditional he was ever taught!"

"Mum and Dad are here too, but on the fourth floor, along with Bill, my oldest brother," Ginny answered, tactfully ignoring the older witch's slight against Sirius. "Where are you heading?"

"I'm not sure if that's your business or not," Andromeda mused, still climbing the stairs past the fourth floor.

"Sorry," Ginny said quickly, falling silent again as she followed the woman up the stairs.

It wasn't until they reached the top of the stairs that Andromeda stopped, taking a few deep breaths before turning right and walking down the hall to the only other room on that floor. "What was this room?" Ginny asked curiously, then bit her lip. "Or should I be asking questions?"

Andromeda couldn't help but smirk at the girl. "This was my youngest cousin's room. Regulus lived here, but he died very young. He died before Sirius went to Azkaban, and I've always blamed Sirius for that. Sirius had no reason to run away from his family. Childish disagreements are no reason to leave a situation."

She drew her wand, placing her left hand flat on the door as she drew a rune over her hand with her wand. The rune glowed a bright green, and the wards crackled to nothing, allowing Andromeda to open the door. "I'm going alone," she told Ginny. "Thanks. I'll be out in a few minutes." She entered the room without hesitation, making sure it closed behind her.

The room was strangely clean, organized, and Andromeda sniffled a little, walking over to the bed and sitting down. "Regulus?" she whispered to the room. "I'm sorry." There was nothing to be done, or said. She couldn't help but feel that she was the reason there was no answer to her pleadings. Andromeda fought back her tears, jumping up and looking around the room for something to distract herself.

A desk drawer caught her attention, and she walked over to it, pulling it open. To her shock, a framed photograph of her and her little cousin Regulus stared up at her. "Reg," she sniffled, a dry sob escaping her. She gently wiped the dust off of the photograph, tucking it into her pocket. Another picture caught her eye, one of her and her sisters, but she slid the drawer shut. She had more than enough memories to have to steal Regulus' memories.

Composing herself, Andromeda walked out of the room and headed downstairs with the Weasley. Two red-haired boys hurried past them on the stairwell, laughing as they thumped by. "Shhh," Ginny hissed at them.

"The portrait won't wake until I've left the house," Andromeda told her and the boys. "I put an enchantment on it."

"Oh," said one of them, grinning. "Cool! She's quite the bitch—"

"Fred!" Ginny gasped in horror, motioning him to shut up.

Andromeda smirked. "I'm sure she is," she said softly. "Good day."

Ginny gave a little wave, staying on the first landing. "Goodbye. Thanks for letting me join you."

The older witch nodded, then walked down the stairs and out the door. She did remember that her cousin wanted to speak with her, but she didn't live to please Sirius Black. She didn't live to please anyone anymore.