Disclaimer: Except for OCs, the characters here and the world they inhabit are the creation and property of JK Rowling and her assigns.
"NARCISSA!"
Severus Snape's voice boomed throughout Malfoy Manner in a way the inhabitants were not accustomed to hearing. "DON'T HIDE FROM ME, NARCISSA!"
Lucius came yawning out of the breakfast room, Narcissa following him. "You needn't carry on so, Severus. We're right here. What could possibly have you bellowing on such a delightful day?"
Severus pointed his wand at Narcissa, "Where is my wife?"
Lucius turned to Narcissa, "Have you any idea what he's talking about?" Narcissa, a bit transfixed by the way Severus's wand emitted a spark or two, shook her head. Lucius reached out and pushed the wand to a different direction. "Why would you expect Narcissa to know?"
"I was finishing my coffee and watching Andromeda put up the washing. Suddenly Stanley Roberts shows up at her side. They argued for a minute, and then she was stunned. Before I could get out there, he'd carried her off the property and Disapparated."
Knowing Narcissa's plans for her sister, Lucius turned to tell her that it did sound suspicious, but then he saw the beatific look on his mother-in-law's face. "Druella, do you have something to add?"
She spoke as if she was thinking aloud. "I swore to Mary Alice that I'd find a way to fix it if I could. First Bellatrix had to do her part, and now Andromeda will do hers."
"Mother, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that we waited far too long to get rid of that blight on the family tree. No one was willing to do it until Bellatrix and Rodolphus came home. Now Rabastan will finally get his bride."
Lucius spoke quietly so as not to break her train of thought. "Are you saying that this Stanley Roberts is Rabastan Lestrange?" Narcissa's eyes went wide in shock as her mother nodded.
A hole appeared in the breakfast room door as Severus roared, "Where is he taking my wife? What did you do, Druella?"
She backed into the breakfast room in the face of his rage. "There was a contract! Cygnus and Reichard signed it years ago. It's as valid as it ever was."
Severus moved to follow her. "I am her husband now!"
"We have a contract with the Lestranges!"
Lucius put an arm out, keeping Severus out of the room. He shrugged, as if to say, What good will come of this argument now, anyway? Severus looked toward the ceiling and sighed loudly. Lucius called a house elf. "Krobby, do not let Mistress Druella out of this room. If she leaves, I expect you to bring her back immediately." The house elf nodded seriously. Lucius shut the breakfast room door and whispered a command to seal it. He turned to Severus and quietly said, "He will have taken her to the Lestrange estate. Do you remember the old stories about the party there? He always swore that he'd bring her back to the terrace and punish her for leaving him. He said he would impel her to do the things she wouldn't do before..." He looked at his wife and stopped talking.
"He was talking about Andromeda?" Severus's heart sank. He'd heard Rabastan say what he would do to the witch who had betrayed him.
"Surely you know they were engaged before she ran off with the Mudblood."
"It always sounded like a completely different witch. Merlin." Severus swore under his breath. "Lucius, I need to get there as soon as I can."
"I'm coming with you."
"I'm coming, too." Draco stood next to his father, his wand ready.
"You can't!" said Narcissa. "You can't imagine what it could be like."
"I have to, Mother. I owe her and Severus too many things for this past year. And I'm not a child anymore. I took the Dark Mark; I've seen... things. I've seen Rabastan with-I know the sorts of things he will do with her. Whatever you feel about her, Mother, it can't be allowed, not to someone from our family. Black blood means something."
Narcissa was almost nodding, but then caught herself. "She got herself into this! She hasn't been a Black since she was blasted from the family twenty-five years ago! It's her own fault if it's come back on her now."
Severus's wand came around to Narcissa again. "She's been living at peace, and she's done most of the things you've asked of her this year. You brought that bastard into her home, Narcissa. That house had been safeguarded since your Uncle lived there since before there were Death Eaters of any sort, and you brought him right through the magical protections that had stood for two generations. Protections your own father helped set and guard."
Lucius put his hand out to deflect Severus's wand but nodded. "It's right, Cissa. The family caused this, and the family should try to fix it. If Draco is willing to come, he should come."
Narcissa now pointed her wand at Severus, "You swore an unbreakable vow!"
That vow was complete and had nothing to do with now, but he nodded, "I remember. He will not be harmed if it is within my power to prevent it."
Hermione sent Ron and Harry to the Ministry. If it was as Tim thought, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement should be notified, although no doubt traceable spells would be used soon. She and Tim would see if they could find Andromeda. There was something on Tim's page that looked like it could be traced to an exact place.
"What exactly did you do here?" she asked.
"I think this is showing my mother leaving her house with that man."
"Where is Severus?"
"That's what I want to know. How could Lestrange get so close to her without Snape's protection? I've never trusted him."
It did sound a little strange, but Hermione waved that off for now. "He wasn't part of it, of that I'm sure." She traced down the page further. "And is this next symbol the place they went?"
"That's what the runes show."
"I've seen something like it, before. One of the books in Walberga's library has symbols for all sorts of people and places in Wizarding England..." She guided Tim down the hallway.
Severus heard the pops of Apparition behind him as Lucius and Draco arrived. He turned to Lucius who was much more familiar with this estate. "Where is the terrace she left from all those years ago?"
"Around that way." Lucius pointed across a still-manicured lawn to a gravel walkway. "We'll go through the house. Hopefully the House-elves will remember me."
Not wanting his boots to make noise on the stone, Severus walked on the grass as he followed the walkway.
As he moved around an overgrown hedge they heard voices. "That's my mother! She doesn't want you, and you can't hurt her!"
How did Tim get there? Severus moved more quickly to where the branches seemed to part.
"Expelliaramus!"
Severus hissed, "Hermione!" That explained how Tim got there, but what what she doing there?
He pushed the last branches away just as Rabastan shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!" Hermione was rendered motionless. Rabastan turned his wand on Tim. Andromeda pulled on Rabastan's arm, trying to get him to stop. He backhanded her in the face, causing her to fall backwards. With his other hand, he held her wrist tightly. Andromeda was yanked back and forth like a rag doll.
"Crucio!"
Tim fell to the ground, writhing in pain. Severus pointed his wand, but Andromeda was in the way, trying to move between Rabastan and Tim while screaming, "No! Don't do it! I said I'd be good, Rabastan, please."
He turned and stood over her. "You haven't been good, yet, but you will, Andromeda. I'm going to be your whole world soon, and you will give me everything I want."
"Yes, Rabastan, I'll do better." Rabastan smiled and whispered in her ear. Andromeda blanched, but looked as if she would ultimately agree. Some part of her must have rebelled, as unintentional magic sparked all around her, causing Rabastan to let go and yell. He grabbed her again, standing over her.
"Yes, you will do what I demand. IMPER-"
"I will NOT!" Rabastan flew backwards. Andromeda looked a little surprised and ashamed, but then moved toward her son. Rabastan got back up warily and took a couple of quiet steps toward her before lifting his wand and pointing it at her back.
Severus had seen enough and pointed his own wand, using as much power as he ever had in his spell. "Sectumsempra!" As everyone watched, a red line formed across Rabastan's middle. He seemed to fold in on himself, struggling to catch his breath as he fell. Behind his back, Severus heard the crunching of the gravel as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Kingsley Shacklebolt arrived. Lucius and Draco were standing at the French doors that led into the house.
"What happened here?" It was a fair question, and Severus suddenly realized the implications of his own actions. He wordlessly handed his wand to the Minister of Magic and ran across the terrace to his wife and her son. Let Lucius explain what had happened; it was the sort of thing he was good for. Severus was going to look after his family.
A/N: This looked pretty abandoned, I know. It's been what, 3 years? I never abandoned it in my mind, and often played with it in my head. If you've read this far, thank you for coming back to it. Part of the absence was due to the illness and death of Kyria of Delphi, who beta read a significant portion of this, and I just haven't felt like I knew exactly what I was doing. I think I have it now, and although the way it's presented might have changed a little, the overall events of the plot will be the same as when I first started this.