The day of the trial, Narcissa met Andromeda at her home, hurrying in to find Dora waiting with her. "Dromeda," she hissed, "you can't seriously be thinking about letting Dora go with us!"
"Dora is going with us, Cissa," Andromeda said quietly. "You will not dissuade me: she needs to see this through to the end."
Narcissa bit her lip. "I don't know, Dromeda," she sighed. "But if you're sure, I am ready to go."
Andromeda nodded and Nymphadora stepped forward, saying, "I want to go, Auntie. I want to see what happens."
"Dora, these people are mean," the blonde woman said softly. "They hate your family."
The child looked up at her aunt thoughtfully. "I have to go because I want to see Dad again. I have to stay with Mum so she's okay. I don't care about the people."
Andromeda placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "I am ready," she said. "Let us go now."
The three left the house, Andromeda disapparating with them to the Ministry. The moment they arrived, Narcissa led them toward the lifts, Dora staying very close to her mother.
More than one Ministry worker greeted Narcissa politely, even as some glared at Andromeda. One young woman, upon seeing the Lestranges, whispered something to her friend with a look of fear and hurried away.
Dora's hair had shifted black as she glared back at some of their haters. Andromeda pulled her daughter closer, a blank expression on her face. She held her head high as she walked beside her sister, feeling distant from it all.
Narcissa led them onto the lift, standing near the back so they wouldn't interrupt anyone getting on the lift. Dora was confused as they continued, however, because the Ministry workers would look at them and wave them on, saying they'd take the next one.
"Shh," Andromeda murmured as her daughter looked up at her questioningly. "They don't trust us, Dora."
The girl was about to reply when the door of the lift opened and a pair of redheads looked at them. Dora almost glared at the two, ready for them to leave, but after a moment of surprise, the man led his son onto the lift.
Dora stared at the young boy, wondering why they weren't afraid of her and her mother. "Who are you?" she asked them, thinking that (of course) she'd never seen them at any pureblood functions.
The man looked at her carefully, then said, "I am Arthur Weasley, and this is my son Bill."
"Hello," the boy said simply. "Who are you?"
"I am Nymphadora Lestrange," she said haughtily.
Bill gave a low whistle, and Dora was scandalised at his rudeness. "I've heard of you," he said to her. "You must be here for the trial—Merlin, it must be awful to have your father taken away like that."
Arthur gave his son a careful look, and Dora answered evenly, "Father fights for what he believes." She tossed her hair and glared at the two Weasleys. "We all do."
Andromeda placed a protective hand on her daughter's shoulder, and no one spoke as they continued the ride together. Andromeda only relaxed a little when the two left, the witch pulling Dora into her side. "Dora," she murmured, "don't speak to anyone else unless I nod to you. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Dora answered, leaning into her mother's side with a shiver.
Andromeda's heart pounded in fright as they reached the courtroom level, and she walked shakily, trying to make it unnoticeable. The halls were crowded with those waiting to enter, and she could feel many pairs of eyes watching her.
"Madame Lestrange," said a quiet, almost kind voice. "Are you sure it was wise to bring your daughter? This is no place for children."
"I assure you, Dumbledore," Andromeda said, with a little toss of her head as she smirked proudly, "your concern is unnecessary." She could see her daughter grinning at her out of the corner of her eye and resisted the urge to laugh.
The three witches turned to walk on, and Dora gasped, suddenly leaning into her mother's side as if she wanted to disappear. Standing before them was MadEye Moody, the Auror that had led the attack against their home, and had taken their family.
She wanted to scream, she wanted to hide—but she felt her mother's arm wrap around her and managed to stay quiet. Andromeda did not even acknowledge the Auror, but walked straight past him, Narcissa following her and Dora. They did not say anything more until they were seated in the courtroom, Dora's hand creeping into her mother's hand. "I hate them," she whispered, and Andromeda nodded.
"Shh, Dora," her mother said gently. "We are not alone here."
Dora was shivering as all the different wizards and witches filed into their seats, Andromeda finally placing a Warming Charm on the girl. A hush fell over the crowd after a few minutes, and Dora squeezed her mother's hand firmly as a door opened on the courtroom floor, Aurors leading in their chained prisoners.
Andromeda's eyes were immediately drawn to her husband, who looked as if he'd had no sleep the last few nights. She barely kept herself from breathing his name, knowing she'd reacted visibly as Narcissa placed a hand on her arm, whispering, "Bellatrix looks as defiant as ever."
"Yeah," Andromeda muttered, far too weakly for her liking. She was wounded deeply to see her husband chained in front of the entire assembly, put on display like some sort of animal.
Dora couldn't even speak as she stared at the four prisoners, especially her father and Bellatrix. She could tell how terrified the youngest prisoner was, and scowled as she remembered him speaking to her back home.
The trial was brought to order, and Andromeda forced herself to look at the man speaking, though she felt dazed, and soon found herself watching her husband again. Her heart ached, her mind clouded as she could faintly hear Bellatrix screaming in defiance. Some things never change, she thought sadly, glancing at her daughter to find her watching Bellatrix with rapt attention.
Andromeda turned to see what Narcissa thought and drew a quick breath. Narcissa had gone without her noticing. She closed her eyes for a moment, holding back her panic, and continued to watch the prisoners. It did not surprise her a bit that they were all condemned to spend the rest of their lives in Azkaban, though Rabastan looked up at her for the slightest of moments as the sentence was read, and her heart broke for them both.
She couldn't bear it, couldn't move, couldn't talk, and couldn't even hear what Nymphadora was trying to say to her. "Mother," Nymphadora murmured, and the woman felt the girl's arms around her neck as the girl's voice finally got through to her. "Take me home."
Finally, Andromeda got to her feet, her heart aching, a dizzy feeling overtaking her, and felt two strong arms wrapped around her as her daughter cried out softly. Her eyes flickered open perhaps seconds later as she looked up to see her sister and Regulus looking down at her. "Andromeda," he murmured. "We're in a room adjacent to the courtroom. You fainted."
"I didn't," she groaned, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks as it all came rushing back to her.
"Mum," Dora sniffed. "Mum, you've got to go and see Dad before they take him. Regulus says they'll give you a minute or two, but you have to go now. Tell them we will wait, too."
"I'll take Dora home," Narcissa told Andromeda as the witch sat up, a half wild expression on her face. "You need to go. Regulus will take you to their holding room."
Andromeda drew several deep breaths, took Regulus' hand and got to her feet. "Merlin help me, Narcissa, if anything happens to Nymphadora, it's on your head."
Narcissa nodded and grasped Dora by the hand, hurrying from the room with her.
Regulus offered Andromeda his hand, but she shook her head, her eyes lit with anger. "Why are you here?" she asked him as they left the room, the young man leading her quickly along the corridor.
"The trial was false," Regulus said. "They wanted to make an example of your family, and of Junior. It was over before it had begun. I was able to arrange for you to see them for a few minutes before they are taken, and I came to retrieve you, arriving just in time to catch you."
She growled slightly under her breath, and Regulus stopped outside a door that was guarded by several uneasy-looking Aurors. "We've been expecting you," one of them said accusingly, and turned to the two at the door. "Let her in."
Regulus motioned her to go ahead. "I cannot go with you," he said, "but I'll be waiting out here for you."
Andromeda didn't acknowledge his words as she walked forward, half expecting them to stop her, though she was allowed to open the door and walk inside with no resistance. She found four Aurors inside, keeping watch over Rabastan, Rodolphus and Bellatrix, who were chained to opposite walls. The guards filed out silently as she approached her husband.
Rabastan's face paled. "Andromeda!" Her ability to speak was gone again, but she walked forward, standing before her husband as she struggled not to give way to her emotion. "You shouldn't be here," he muttered, turning away from her. "Go home, Andromeda."
He didn't move as she wrapped her arms around him in spite of the chains, leaning her head on his shoulder. Rabastan closed his eyes for a moment, then wrapped his arms around her as well as he could. She could feel his heart pounding, both in fear and in sorrow. "Rabastan," she sniffed, looking up at him, though she knew she must hold herself together in this moment. "The children and I are all right. Your parents have been helping me care for them."
"I shouldn't be leaving you." He looked into her eyes, only one hand able to reach her face, gently tracing the line of her jaw.
"Just come back," Andromeda whispered, gripping onto his robe as she stared into his eyes. "Come back to us, Rabastan Lestrange, when the Dark Lord returns for his faithful ones. You will be counted as one of them: you have not denied him."
He pulled her closer, his fear apparent to her in his stronger than usual grip. "Dromeda," he breathed against her neck, closing his eyes and inhaling her scent. "Please..."
Andromeda leaned into him, lifting her face to his. "Anything," she whispered. "What is it?"
"Tell me...you hate me," Rabastan said quietly, holding her face still with his right hand.
"What?!" Andromeda said in surprise. He gave her a stern look, and she sniffed, "Why—why do I hate you?"
The man glared at her. "Haven't I given you enough reason, Andromeda?" he said coldly. "What can you do now that I have brought shame to our family by my actions, abandoning you to the life you tried so desperately to escape?"
"Rab," Andromeda said, pained, and Rabastan gave her a cruel smirk.
"I remember your words of hatred," he sneered. "I remember your pain, your anger. Can you have so easily have forgotten how I made you mine?"
"Rabastan!" Andromeda cried, wounded at his callous attitude. "Please!"
"Don't!" he yelled, and she jumped in shock, wondering why he was acting so awful. "Don't you cry about that now," he snapped at her, his eyes narrowing at the tears in her eyes.
She stared at him, trying to make sense of his actions, and then she drew herself up. "Let me tell you something," she hissed at him, getting in his face as he wrapped one arm around her, pulling her to himself roughly. "You are the most awful husband, Rabastan Lestrange."
Behind Andromeda, Bellatrix let out a scornful laugh. Andromeda ignored this and continued as Rabastan sneered at her. "You ruined my life, to begin with, and just when I thought I could tolerate waking up to you every morning, you abandon me. What is it with you? Are you through with me now that you have an heir? Oh, you do remind me of my father, dear husband—do you remember me telling you that?"
He laughed darkly, kissing her harshly, and she cried out as he gripped her, the sound muffled as he kissed her deeply. She pretended to struggle against him, glad that he was able to hold her fast even though he was chained. Andromeda stilled after a moment, real tears running down her cheeks as she passively allowed him to kiss her. "You see?" he murmured as he embraced her, her body shaking against his. "It is easier to cooperate, isn't it?"
"I—I hate you," Andromeda wept against his chest, and he hugged her almost lovingly, a sob escaping her.
She was shocked as his lips touched her ear, the man whispering, "I'll be a different man when I return, Andromeda. It'll be like we started all over again, I think."
Andromeda hugged him as tears ran freely down her cheeks. "We will wait," she choked. "I will wait." Another sob escaped her, and she choked, "I will be faithful."
Rabastan embraced her firmly, kissing her hair, her face, her cheeks, her lips. He held her close until the Aurors came back into the room, telling her it was time for her to leave. She disentangled herself from her husband, though she whispered one more time, "We will wait," and kissed him softly before she left the room.
The moment she walked out the door, Regulus turned to her and she looked at him in confusion, having forgotten he was there. "I can see you safely home, if you would like," he said to her quietly, and when she gave a small nod, he led her up the corridor and out of sight of the Aurors. "Did you want to clear your face?" he asked quietly.
"Oh," she muttered, and stopped in her tracks. "Could you do it? I don't have a mirror." He raised his wand and cleared her face quickly, turning and leading her on silently. "Thanks," she murmured, and he nodded.
Neither of them spoke as they got on the lift together, Andromeda glad for silence as she leant her head against the wall of the lift. They walked out into the Atrium together and Regulus held out his hand to her as they approached one of the apparition points.
She took his hand, and he disapparated. The Ministry disappeared from view, and Andromeda was relieved to be standing in front of her own home. A stab of pain went through her, and she couldn't move for a moment, Regulus frowning slightly. "You're not going to faint again?" he asked her. "You will be able to get into the house by yourself?"
"Yes," Andromeda said, a weak smile on her lips. "Thank you for bringing me home, Regulus."
"Of course," he answered, then stepped back and disapparated.
She walked through the gates, her heart heavy as she longed for her family to all be home together. There was a moment of silence as she walked through the front doors, and then a child's voice called, "Mum!"
Andromeda lifted Athena into her arms, hugging her tightly and kissing her head. "Hi, Athena," she murmured. "I love you."
"Cissa's here," Athena said seriously. "She brought Dora back. Dora said that you were talking to Dad."
"I told your father that we would wait for him to come home as long as it takes," Andromeda replied, looking into her daughter's blue eyes. "He loves you, baby."
Athena hugged her mother again. "Come see Dora. She said that Bella was really angry and yelled at all the Ministry people. She's been laughing about that ever since she stopped talking about Dad. I think she's trying not to be sad."
Andromeda smiled, kissing her daughter's black curls as she carried her down the hall. "Well, we have to not be sad somehow, baby. If talking about Bella makes her happy, I suppose she can be allowed to do that."
"They're in the sitting room," Athena volunteered. "Grandfather has Laverne: he's been taking care of him almost all day. Laverne didn't like being taken away from Grandmum, though. I thought he was going to yell at them like he does you sometimes."
"Athena," Andromeda smiled, "I love you so much."
"I love you too, Mum," Athena said brightly, then wriggled to be put down as they approached the sitting room. "Let me walk—Cissa can't see you holding me."
"She won't care: we're at home," Andromeda laughed, though she set Athena down anyway before opening the door.
Nymphadora and Narcissa looked up as Andromeda entered the room with her second daughter. "Mum," Dora said, jumping up and running to her mother, hugging her tightly. "You talked to Dad?" she murmured. "You smell like him."
"Oh," said Andromeda, surprised. "Yes. He said to tell you he loves you and to behave for your mother."
"Poor Dad," Dora sighed. "He's too nice for prison, Mum. He's not like Rodolphus."
Andromeda hugged Dora tightly. She considered it an accomplishment that her daughter thought so highly of Rabastan when she knew just how awful her husband could be. He does deserve it. Tears sprang to her eyes yet again, and Athena reached up to take her hand.
"Mum, hold me," Athena pleaded, and Andromeda took up the little girl without question.
"Oh, girls," Andromeda sighed, unable to say more.
"Mum's sad," Dora said.
Andromeda nodded, tears in her eyes, sniffing a little. "Today is a very sad day," she whispered finally. "But we will wait patiently for the Dark Lord to return our family to us."
"Like Bella said," Dora said solemnly. "We will wait."
"If you'll excuse me," Narcissa murmured, getting to her feet. "I must be returning...my husband will be wondering where I am."
"Of course," Andromeda said, and was going to get to her feet when Narcissa waved for her to stay seated.
"I'll see myself out," she said, and hurried away.
Andromeda gathered her daughters close, both girls beginning to look worried. "Mum?" Athena asked. "Are we going to be okay?"
The mother's heart ached for her little family. "Yes, beautiful," Andromeda said gently. "We will be fine." She could only hope that she was telling them the truth.
Andromeda was horrified to find out that Lucius and Regulus (along with several other Death Eaters) had arrested weeks later. She could not deny her sister's request for her to be at the trial for them.
She found herself with Narcissa and Tempest at the Ministry, waiting for the two women to be allowed to see their husbands. They hadn't waited for long when the door to the holding room had opened and Lucius and Regulus walked out to meet them. Andromeda watched the two couples look at each other for a moment, and Lucius gave his wife a slight nod, the two turning and walking away from the rest of them.
"Regulus?" Tempest murmured, and he shook his head slightly, the two of them walking away as well.
Andromeda drew a deep breath, hurrying to catch the lift with them. She stood in the farthest corner from them, wondering what had happened that Lucius and Regulus had been set free. She did not say a word to them, and the only one who spared her a glance was Narcissa.
As soon as the lift opened and Andromeda was able to leave, she hurried away and disapparated home. It wasn't fair. This pounded through her mind as she stormed through the halls of her home and took refuge in her room, falling onto her bed.
She couldn't even be too emotional about it, even though she was angry and jealous that Narcissa and Tempest had not had their husbands taken from them. Andromeda squeezed her eyes shut, trying to accept it all.
"It's not fair," she whispered. "They're just as guilty. They were just as cruel—their hands are just as bloody." She was sure she needed her husband more than the other women needed theirs.
"He abandoned me," Andromeda whimpered. "He abandoned me to this awful life I wanted to escape. He murdered Ted…." She was amazed at how painful this thought was to her because she had been sure she no longer cared about her old lover.
A knock came on the door and she rolled over and sat up. "Come in," she called.
To her surprise, it was Meira who stood there in the doorway. "Andromeda?" she said at last. "What has happened? I've never seen you like this before."
Andromeda got to her feet. "I don't know what you mean—" She gave a shocked cry when she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. "I—" she gasped. "No!"
"Andromeda, sit down," Meira ordered her, walking forward as the door shut behind her.
"No, no," Andromeda panicked, clutching at her now grey hair. "Mother, I can't be—I can't!"
"Sit," Meira said firmly, taking the witch's hand and leading her back to the bed. "It's only been a few weeks, Andromeda. It is possible."
Andromeda sank down on her bed. "I can't go through this without my husband," she breathed. "No—" Fear flooded through her as she began to realise that everything pointed to the same conclusion.
Meira stood before her for a moment, then asked, "Do you want me to do the test spell, Dromeda?"
She nodded mutely, squeezing her eyes shut, and felt the magic of the spell run over and through her stomach. She stayed still as the witch sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her. "Well?" Andromeda whispered, her hands locked together in her lap.
"It's a girl," Meira murmured, hugging the witch comfortingly.
"Oh no," Andromeda sniffed, and burst into tears.
A couple days later, Andromeda lay back on her pillows, Meira at her side as the Healer had just left them. "Already twelve weeks," Meira shook her head. "I'm surprised you didn't know."
"I didn't want it to be true," Andromeda whispered, rubbing her hand over her stomach. She automatically reached out for the potions the Healer had left her, taking them obediently. "I don't know what I'll do without Rabastan here to help me now."
"We'll help you," Meira began soothingly, but Andromeda interrupted, her mind far away.
"He can't even help me name her," Andromeda whispered, tears coming to her eyes again. She dashed them away angrily and wrapped her arms around one of her pillows, hugging it to herself tightly. "He said he wanted us to be happy together, and then he went and joined the Death Eaters. I told him not to! I told him that he needed to stay with me for the children's sake, but he never listened to me! Mum, I don't know what to do."
Tears trickled down her cheeks as she looked up to her husband's mother. "What do I do?" Andromeda wept. "I need him!"
Meira sat down next to the witch after a moment, stroking her hair back from her face. "We do our duty," she said softly. "If the Dark Lord returns as your sister believes, then Rabastan will be returning to you as well. We need to make sure the children are raised properly and are proud of their father's loyalty. Laverne's three: we haven't had a baby here for a couple years, especially a little girl, so I'll be more than delighted to take care of the new little one. It's going to be all right, Andromeda."
"I—I don't know," the witch sniffed, one hand on her stomach as she curled into her pillows.
"I just have one request," Meira said with a small smile. Andromeda forced herself to raise an eyebrow at the woman, and she gave a small laugh. "Well," the witch said, "Desmond was slightly disappointed that no one asked his opinion of what your other children should be named. Do you think I could ask him for suggestions for this little one? At least, when you've decided to tell the rest of the family?"
"Of course," Andromeda said with a weak smile. "You can tell him...it won't be a secret for much longer, anyway. I'm too far along—I'll be showing soon, I'm sure."
Meira nodded. "It's something to be excited about, Dromeda," she murmured. "You'll have three daughters now."
Andromeda bit her lip, saying, "Would you come with me to tell Desmond now?"
"Of course, dear," Meira said softly. "In fact, I'll have him meet us in the sitting room: I know you hate talking in the study."
"Thank you," Andromeda whispered as she forced herself to sit up and get to her feet. Meira hugged her again quickly, then left to retrieve her husband. Andromeda hurried to the adjoining bathroom, quickly washing her face and wincing at the sight of her still grey hair.
The older Lestrange couple was already there waiting on her when she walked in. "Sorry to keep you waiting," she murmured as she approached them.
Desmond was watching her curiously, and finally asked, "What can we do for you, Andromeda?"
"Well—" Andromeda blushed slightly. "It's just...I just found out that Rabastan and I have another child on the way."
"Really," he mused, shaking his head a little, a small grin breaking across his face before he became serious. "Though I consider this good news, I believe you have some reservations?"
"Nothing that will not pass," Andromeda answered firmly, looking up at him, surprised at herself for being so calm. "Once I get things figured out, I'll be fine. I'm still trying to get used to the idea of another child...we hadn't really planned for another one." She blushed furiously, Meira giggling at her.
The man reached out his hand to his daughter-in-law and said quietly, "You are as much my daughter as your husband is my son. Anything you need, we will make sure you have, Andromeda."
Andromeda placed her hand in his gratefully. "Thank you, sir," she said. She was surprised that both Meira and Desmond embraced her before the two walked away together. She sat down on the couch, picking up a book that was sitting nearby. It was with surprise that she learned that it was part of the Lestrange grimoires, and wondered why it had been left out.
The moment she sat down to read it, however, Dora walked in with Athena. "Mum?" Dora asked, walking to her and sitting down beside her. "Why is your hair grey?"
"Well, Mum just found out something important," Andromeda murmured, giving her oldest daughter a gentle smile.
"Can you tell me?" Dora asked curiously.
Andromeda took a deep breath as both her daughters watched her curiously. "Well," she said simply, "I'm going to give you two and your brother a baby sister."
Dora's eyes widened as Athena looked up at her mother silently. "Really?" Dora said in surprise. "Ooh!"
"Yes," Andromeda blushed. "I'm very excited for your little sister to be born."
"Is Dad happy?" Dora asked thoughtfully.
Andromeda looked at Dora and sighed, "He doesn't know, sweetling. I didn't find out until a little while ago. He doesn't know he's getting another daughter."
Dora paused, then nodded thoughtfully. "Would he be happy?" she asked again.
"I think so," Andromeda murmured as Athena reached over and squeezed her hand.
"I'm glad," Athena said simply. "I get a little sister, too."
Andromeda smiled at the girls, glad that the two accepted the idea of another sibling. She dearly hoped the rest of her family would accept it, and that her husband would be okay never knowing his second daughter.
Aw, poor Rabastan. He'll never know his second daughter-yeah right. We all know differently. Poor Andromeda: she doesn't know yet. XD
Trixie Black Lestrange