On Saturday, Nymphadora went to the Burrow, worried about the conversation. She well knew that Molly expected her and Rodolphus to have a child fairly soon into their marriage, but Tonks worried that Molly would still react in disappointment. Hopefully she keeps that Weasley excitement about babies, she thought to herself, rolling her eyes as she knocked on the door.

Molly opened the door slightly. "What happened when Nymphadora went with us to see the girls off to Hogwarts this year?"

"The Lestrange twins shoved Ron off the train," Tonks replied, sighing inwardly at the security question. "And don't call me Nymphadora. I told you that the only way that they could have killed him by pushing him off the train was if the train ran him over. And it didn't."

"Good," Molly said, and opened the door wider, allowing Tonks in.

"Why the security all of a sudden?" she asked her friend.

"You've got black hair, and your face is different," Molly said. "Just making sure it's really your morph doing that."

Nymphadora grinned. "I think this is the closest to my natural form I've ever showed you," she said. "I usually don't go around in my natural form, but, well, it's better for me right now."

Molly frowned at Tonks suspiciously. "Kitchen. Now."

Tonks sighed, but kept grinning. "I surrender. I'm guilty," she said, standing beside the table. "I'm pregnant." She was not prepared for Molly's reaction of a big hug.

"Oh, Tonks!" squealed Molly. "I was wondering when you would be coming to tell us!"

"Um, okay?" Tonks said awkwardly, trying to disentangle herself from the Weasley's grasp. "Why? When did you find out?"

"Oh, Tonks, you're just so young and—"

"Don't you dare finish that," Nymphadora warned her. "You didn't know, but you figured that it wouldn't take us long?"

A wicked grin appeared on Molly's face. "Something like that. How'd you know?"

Tonks snorted. "Because you're Molly Weasley and I know you."

"You'll raise the child right?" Molly asked, eyebrow raised.

"I'm not sure that your 'right' and my 'right' are the same," Tonks replied. "But the child should at least be well behaved. Or at least able to hide his wickedness."

"Nymphadora!"

"Don't call me Nymphadora," Tonks groaned, rolling her eyes and giggling at Molly's horrified expression. "It'll be okay, Molly. I'm not raising a Muggle killer or Auror torturer."

Molly shook her head. "Why do you say such things?"

Tonks rolled her eyes again. "Because you worry about such things," she answered. "And I want to make sure that you don't worry about me: Mum will be keeping my family in line, I have no doubt."

"Ha!" said Molly. "As if!"

"As if what?" Tonks asked.

"As if anyone could keep you in line!"

Tonks grinned. "Rodolphus can."

Molly glared at her playfully and motioned to the table. "Sit down. Tea will be ready shortly." Laughing, Tonks obeyed.

During the first week of May, Shaul and Mordor showed up at Rodolphus and Nymphadora's apartment. Nymphadora welcomed them, giving both boys a hug, although she had to move quickly to catch Mordor before he got away. Shaul hugged his father half shyly, and Mordor merely shook his father's hand before Nymphadora led them upstairs to their room.

Shaul sat down on one of the twin beds and gave her a small smile. "This is nice, Mum," he told her, making Mordor look quite uncomfortable.

"Today is the first anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts," Mordor mused. "Is Father okay?"

"Ye—yes, I think so," she replied, biting her lip. "Anyway, welcome, you two. And by the way, we're also expecting Ginny to drop by, and maybe Draco, so you two might have to share this room with him."

Mordor nodded. "Shaul told me. They're running away this week."

Nymphadora took a deep breath. "Molly's going to kill me!" she sighed, then shrugged. "Oh well. Had to help Ginny." She turned to leave the room. "Get settled in. I'll be downstairs in the living room if you need something."

In the living room, she picked up her son from his playpen and took him into the kitchen with her. "Well, they're settling in," she told Rodolphus, who barely glanced up from making lunch.

"I am settled in," came a voice from behind her. Tonks turned to see Shaul there, his eyes twinkling. "You said you were going to be in the living room."

"Picky, picky," she retorted, putting one hand on his shoulder and looking him over. "You're in one piece."

Shaul rolled his eyes. "Dora—Mum—I'm fine."

Nymphadora raised an eyebrow. "You weren't fine last time I saw you."

"That was last time," Shaul explained patiently. "I'm fine this time. Madam Pomphrey is a miracle worker."

"I thought she was a medi-witch," came Mordor's voice from behind his twin.

Rodolphus chuckled. "Truly," he said. "Sit at the table. Lunch is ready." With a flick of his wand, Rodolphus sent the food over to the table, making sure it didn't hit anyone on its way.

Nymphadora grinned and walked over to the table, sitting down on one side of it with Teddy on her lap. The twins sat across from her and Rodolphus sat beside her, his arm pressing against hers in affection before he withdrew to his own space. Tonks morphed her blush away before it could be noticed, looking down at Teddy for a moment.

The little boy seemed to prefer electric blue hair to any other colour, his mother knew. He almost never wore it brown or black unless her hair was black or brown, or Rodolphus was holding the child.

"So your reason for being here—" Shaul began, looking at Nymphadora, "you are succeeding?"

"It's better," she replied with a slight shrug and tilt of her head. "The first mission was a disaster, but I think we've got it now. At least, we're more informed than we used to be. Although Detah doesn't know how to be decent or leave well enough alone." Tonks rolled her eyes.

"Is he still giving you trouble?" Rodolphus asked with a frown.

Nymphadora snorted. "I wanted to curse him a couple days ago—and I should have, but I don't want to annoy Andrews. Andrews really is nice. Anyway, Detah acts like such a big head, and sometimes I wonder if he just has a grudge against me for some reason. He's just plain weird."

Rodolphus didn't look at his wife, but said, "Just don't trust him."

She rolled her eyes. "The Fairmont girls keep asking me why I don't ever want to tell Detah what we're planning. The one won't believe that it was suspicious that our quarry seemed to know exactly where and when we would strike—and our prey was guarded, too." Tonks sighed. "I don't know what to do with them. Those girls infuriate me, and they're hard to keep at bay."

"You believe that someone within the Office is telling the American Death Eaters what you are planning?" Mordor asked, raising an eyebrow. "And you suspect this...Detah?"

"I don't know," Tonks sighed. "That's why I'm so perplexed. I think there's a lot more going on than I know."

"There is," Rodolphus said quietly. His wife and sons turned to watch him closely. "Detah is not at all who he seems, and there are at least two others there with him who are not what they seem. They're out for blood—your blood, Dora, in revenge of Matthews' death."

"But he—you said his brother wanted me dead," Nymphadora said quizzically. "Who is his brother?"

Rodolphus shifted uncomfortably, looking at his wife. "His brother was a Death Eater as well, and now, he hides that fact. He hides within the American Auror Office to protect other Death Eaters from detection, and to deter Aurors like you from capturing them."

Nymphadora frowned sharply. "Who is he?" she demanded.

"I cannot tell you."

Tonks groaned and slapped herself in the face with her hand, keeping her hand over her eyes. "Cannot tell," she growled to herself. "Cannot tell me who wants me dead and is interfering with justice—"

Mordor snorted. "You don't really believe in strict justice either, Nymphadora, or you would not be living the pregnant life here with our father."

Her ears turned very red, Rodolphus eyeing his older son in slight surprise and concern. Shaul added, "He did tell you. You just have to understand what he said."

Nymphadora sputtered, "But I'm not betraying my colleagues and causing their deaths!"

"It was only one," Rodolphus reminded her.

"It was one too many," she snapped at him, then froze and said quietly, "please excuse me." Tonks rose from the table, Teddy in her arms, and left the room.

Rodolphus scowled down at his plate and Shaul said, "Detah is the one, isn't he?" Rodolphus nodded silently, and Shaul rose from the table, hurrying after Nymphadora. He found her in the upstairs hallway, sitting with her back against the wall as she looked up at the ceiling, tears shining in her eyes. "Dora?" he asked softly, kneeling beside her. "Father meant that Detah is the one, but he could not say it." A tear ran down Nymphadora's cheek, and she closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the wall. "Dora, what's wrong?"

"I did cause his death," she choked. "I let him become a werewolf again, and then he bit me, and I killed him." Nymphadora clenched both of her fists, and Shaul realized that she must have left her son in the nursery. "I killed him," she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself tightly. "And a year ago today, the human part of him died."

"Who?" Shaul asked in slight confusion.

"Remus," she wept, putting her head down on her knees. "I killed him."

Shaul took her hand in his and was surprised to find that it was cold. He silently squeezed her hand, not sure what to say, so he said nothing. He was going to put his arm around her, but heard footsteps coming up the stairs and refrained.

Rodolphus came into view along the hall, and Nymphadora looked up to see him looking down at her, a mixture of sorrow and pity on his face. She bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears, but they wouldn't stop. "Sorry," she wept, then closed her eyes and put her head back down on her knees, a sob escaping her.

"You may leave, Shaul," Rodolphus said to the boy.

Nymphadora looked up in alarm, grasping the boy's hand even tighter. She was about to protest when Shaul gave her hand a slight squeeze, promising her that he'd be close by. Letting go of his hand, she sank back against the wall, staring from Shaul, who seemed torn as to what he should do, to Rodolphus, who looked stern and cold. "I'm sorry," she wept again as Rodolphus leaned down to her. Biting her lip, she cut off the rest of her own sentence: she would not beg.

Rodolphus drew her to her feet, and Nymphadora clung to him by the front of his robe, crying softly even though she felt like sobbing loudly. Magic crackled, and her Extension Charm disappeared, Nymphadora rubbing her hand over her stomach before stumbling along as Rodolphus led her to their room. Once inside, Nymphadora trembled violently as she tried to keep her sobs from escaping.

"Dora, what is it?" he asked softly, although his voice held a note of sternness.

"P—please," she choked. "Rod, no—" He held her silently until she continued, "I'm sorry!" and hid her face in his robe although she was taller than him, a sob escaping her.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "You just got up and left. And it's not like you at all."

"Oh!" she sobbed. "Oh, I killed him! I did cause his death!"

Rodolphus frowned. "Matthews?" he asked, wondering why she would mourn doing her Aurors' duty.

Nymphadora shook with a series of sobs. "Remus!" she finally moaned, and half-screamed with the anguish and weight of her guilt. "And today, a year ago—oh, Remus!"

His heart turned to stone when he heard her words, and he was certain his embrace had not grown gentler. Bellatrix had died a year ago, today. Nymphadora slipped out of his limp embrace, stepping backward away from him, her chest heaving with suppressed emotions. "I'm sorry," she whispered, finally finding the bed and sinking down onto it. "I know that you—that we—oh!" Nymphadora wrapped her arms around herself again and rocked back and forth. "I'm sorry!" she cried. "I don't mean to—"

He was coming toward her, and she cringed. "Rod, please," she whispered. "Please don't be upset. I—I need Mum. I need her really bad."

He stopped, watching her closely. "I'll get her," he said, his hands and voice trembling, then turned and left the room. Nymphadora buried her face in her hands.

She was perfectly white-faced when Rodolphus came back into the room, Andromeda hurrying after him in concern. Her mother gasped in horror upon seeing her daughter and hurried over, sitting down and putting her arms around her. "Dora," she said softly, "I forgot that this day was going to be hard for you."

"It's all my fault," choked Nymphadora. "Mum, I killed him!"

"No, dear child," Andromeda soothed her, smoothing her daughter's wild black hair. "You did not kill him. It was not you who did the curse. You had nothing to do with his death, but you stopped him from having a miserable existence as a werewolf for the rest of its days."

"Remus," wept Nymphadora softly, struggling to keep calm so her mother could understand her. "He didn't get a chance to have a real family with me, and now—" she drew her arm across her stomach. "Did I do the right thing?" Tonks looked up at her mother, her expression worried and full of pain.

Andromeda didn't even glance at Rodolphus on purpose, but she saw the pain in his eyes grow stronger. He backed away from them, looking like he was going to be sick, then turned and left the room. Andromeda groaned inwardly, knowing that Nymphadora must be hurting so badly that she didn't even think of her husband being in the room at the moment. The brown-haired woman hugged her daughter close.

"Yes," Andromeda said softly. "You love him, and he loves you."

"Even though it was sudden, it was okay?" Nymphadora sniffled. "Really, Mum?"

"Yes," she reassured the distraught girl again. "You are not the first to remarry and have a child before the first year is up."

Tonks sighed, tears dripping down her cheeks as she cried silently. "I wish I could talk to Remus," she whispered. "I need to talk to him. I have to explain why—"

"He would know, Dora," Andromeda said quietly. "He will be watching over you, from where he is."

"Does he know that I still love him?" Tonks asked in a small voice. "I feel like I betrayed him, Mum." She shifted uncomfortably, shame washing over her as her hand brushed her stomach gently. "I feel like I killed him and then ran off with Rodolphus." She cringed at her own words, shuddering as she struggled against her emotions.

"Never say such things to Rodolphus," Andromeda told her daughter firmly. "Those words and thoughts would kill him, Nymphadora. Yes, Remus knows you love him, and he trusts you. He knows that you love deeply, and that your capacity to love should not be wasted because he was taken from you."

Nymphadora breathed a soft sob of relief, leaning against her mother's shoulder. "Thank you," she wept, and Andromeda hugged her daughter wordlessly.

Rodolphus walked out of his and Nymphadora's bedroom, numb with disbelief. Nymphadora regretted their marriage—and her pregnancy. He passed Shaul on the staircase without saying a word, aching from her betrayal, and stumbled out of the apartment, disapparating. He appeared on the edge of the cliff where he had asked Nymphadora to marry him: it seemed a very long time ago.

Peering over the edge, Rodolphus shivered at the thoughts running through his mind. He sank to his knees near the edge of the cliffs and cried, "Dora! Dora, I love you!" Numb still, he shook his head to try to clear his mind, but the pain dulled his senses, and he couldn't think straight.

"Nymphadora!" he cried in agony of mind. "I'm sorry! Please—!" He knew she wasn't there, and he wanted to scream out all his horror and betrayal, but he bit his lip sharply, causing his mouth to bleed. He fell completely silent, numbness taking over and making him unwilling to respond to anything he might have felt.

Dora, he thought faintly as he heard an apparition. I love her. But she regrets choosing me. Oh, Nymphadora! A tear slid down his cheek, and he felt someone wipe it away. He didn't even open his eyes, not caring what happened to himself. He slid deeper into unconsciousness as he felt himself being lifted, and then apparated away...

"He was nearly unconscious when I found him, and he was unconscious by the time I brought him back," Rabastan told Andromeda. "I don't know what happened."

"He overheard Nymphadora's hysterical questioning of whether their marriage had been the right thing or not," Andromeda said. "He probably just wanted to die. I told her it would kill him to hear something like that."

Rabastan shook his head. "How is Nymphadora?"

Andromeda sighed. "She blames herself for Rodolphus' condition now," she replied. "I was trying to get her to understand that Remus' death was not her fault, and that she doesn't have to feel guilty for remarrying and having another family, but now it's more complicated."

The man nodded. "She just cares too much," he shrugged. "I feel sorry for her: no one should have to bear that much emotion."

At that moment, Nymphadora walked out of her room, pale and unsteady. "I'm going to go see Rodolphus," she told her mother. Andromeda nodded, then moved to help, assisting her daughter down the hall into another room.

Rodolphus was lying in the bed, awake, but staring at the ceiling with a vacant expression on his face. "Rod," she whispered coming over to him and taking his hand. He didn't move, and she tried several things, but not even a soft kiss on his cheek changed his expression in the slightest. Finally, she gave up trying to get his attention and just crawled into the bed beside him. Wrapping her arms around him gently, she said, "I love you, my husband." She pressed her face into his robe, and yawned, tired out from her sudden emotional turmoil.

She was almost asleep when she felt his arms slide around her and his lips press against her cheek. "I love you," she whispered, opening her tired eyes and looking at him. "I don't regret any of it, Love." He closed his eyes and buried his face in her hair, and she hugged him carefully. "You're mine," she murmured. "Mine, and it's okay. It's okay for me to love."

He hugged her again, full of unspeakable emotion and almost afraid to move for fear he was dreaming. "Love," he finally whispered to her, and she smiled slightly. "Love you." Rodolphus pressed the softest kiss he could to her lips, so that she barely felt it. "So much," he murmured. "Oh, Dora."

She yawned again, trying to stifle it, but failing. "Mmm," she sighed, closing her eyes and burrowing beneath his blanket. "You're warm."

Rodolphus didn't speak again, but held her close, not releasing from his embrace even when he finally fell asleep.

"We barely arrive and the two of them go crazy," Mordor said, rolling his eyes. "I do not understand them."

Shaul looked away from his twin. "Today being the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, she's mourning the loss of her first husband, the werewolf."

Andromeda frowned, watching Teddy point toward one of his cousins. "His name is Remus Lupin," she corrected Shaul.

"And Father doesn't mourn our mother's death at all," Mordor said bitterly.

"He does in his own way," Andromeda said quietly, letting Teddy slide to the floor off her lap. "But you boys know that she hurt him deeply, and he almost feels a relief that she isn't around anymore."

"You are speaking of our mother," Mordor said coldly to her.

"I am speaking of the girl I grew up with," Andromeda replied, her voice dangerously quiet. "One who was once my sister."

Teddy, who had been watching the twins, toddled across the floor, tripping and falling at their feet, hitting his cheek against Shaul's knee. The child cried out in surprise, then looked up at the twins.

Shaul leaned down, a slight smile creasing his lips, and lifted the little boy onto his lap. "Did you get a surprise?" he asked the child with a quiet laugh. Teddy looked up at him and flashed his hair and eyes black without warning. Shaul nearly dropped the child, his eyes widening in surprise.

Mordor leaned forward slightly, looking at Andromeda. "Will Nymphadora's second child be a Metamorphagus as well?"

"I do not know, but I would not be surprised," Andromeda replied.

"A Lestrange Metamorphagus," sighed Mordor, leaning against the back of the couch.

"Tonks, and Black, and Lestrange," Andromeda corrected.

Mordor scowled at her. "That's all your fault, you know."

Andromeda almost smiled, but stopped herself. "I chose my husband just as Nymphadora chose hers," she said calmly. "And you should show more respect to your elders, Mordor."

"Mother would not have given you the time of day," Mordor responded coldly.

"Bellatrix would not have been caught dead under her niece's roof," Andromeda replied.

Teddy reached up, smacking his little hand against the side of Shaul's face. "Goodness," Shaul said, catching the child's hand in his and bringing it away from his face. Teddy seemed to frown slightly, then noticed Mordor and looked between the boys, seeming confused. Shaul grinned. "He doesn't understand that we're the same and yet different," he laughed.

"Neither would I," Mordor answered Andromeda, drawing her attention away from Shaul and Teddy, "but Nymphadora convinced me otherwise, and here I am."

Shaul turned to his twin. "When did she manage that?"

Mordor didn't reply for a moment, then answered, "When we were both in the Hospital Wing. She came to see us, and she talked to me after she saw you. Of course, all you did was scream—"

"And whose fault was that?" Shaul asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, you shouldn't have screamed that loud," Mordor told his twin, rolling his eyes. "I bet everyone heard the Head Boy howling."

"Oh, shut up," growled Shaul. "If you'd taken that many Curses, you wouldn't have been quiet either." Andromeda glanced from Shaul to Mordor, curious, but neither of them offered to enlighten her. "Anyway, I didn't just scream. I asked her to keep quiet about what she'd seen—for your sake, Mor."

Mordor rolled his eyes. "I don't need you to protect me from her."

Shaul frowned at his brother. "I wasn't protecting you from her," he said quietly.

Andromeda looked directly at Mordor, and he met her gaze without breaking eye contact. "Be careful, Mordor," she said softly. "Life is a long time, you know."

"I know," Mordor answered, looking over at Teddy. "Nymphadora and I talked about it."

"During her visit?" Shaul asked.

Mordor nodded, watching Teddy play with the collar of Shaul's robe. "She warned me, and I've taken it to heart."

The woman nodded carefully. "Good," she said. "None of us want to see you hurt yourself."

Teddy finally caught Mordor's eye, and crawled across the couch to him, grasping his sleeve to pull himself up. Mordor jerked upright, yanking his sleeve back into place and frightening Teddy into tumbling back down onto the couch cushion. Teddy looked up at Mordor, a tearful pout on his face. Mordor watched the child until he couldn't stand it anymore and reached over, lifting Teddy to his feet and helping the boy stand on the couch.

The child made a soft noise and stepped onto Mordor's lap, his hands on his cousin's shoulders. Mordor finally gave the little boy a hug, awkwardly because he wasn't used to small children being around him. "Teddy," he murmured softly, and was surprised to feel the child lay his head on his shoulder, a happy sigh escaping him. Mordor held Teddy close, feeling even more awkward because he wasn't even supposed to be near the child or his family.

Shaul stared at the two, completely shocked that Teddy would trust his twin. "I guess he really likes you," he said, almost jealous.

"I didn't do it on purpose," Mordor retorted, barely holding back a happy grin. Teddy's small hand grasped his robe firmly, the child not shifting very much. After a while, Teddy fell asleep against Mordor's shoulder, and Mordor moved the child so that Teddy could lie down comfortably.

Andromeda watched for a moment, then said, "If you want me to take him and put him to bed, just let me know." Mordor just sort of shrugged off her comment and continued holding his little cousin until Andromeda announced that she was going to go back to her home.

"Where does Teddy sleep?" Mordor asked her quickly.

"I believe there's a nursery," Andromeda replied. "I think he sleeps there, unless they keep him in the playpen." She glanced toward the object standing in the middle of the living room and rose to her feet.

"Thanks," he said, and Andromeda nodded, walking toward the front door.

Shaul called goodbye to her, and she replied the same before adding, "If I am needed, do not hesitate to fire-call me, or to come get me. Or Nymphadora can send a Patronus if she needs to."

Shaul frowned. "What is your Floo password?"

"Mudblood," Andromeda replied immediately.

Both Lestrange twins stared at her, shocked. "Really?" said Shaul, trying not to gape at his aunt.

Andromeda suddenly grinned mischievously. "Yes," she answered. "And it wasn't my idea." Turning quickly, she left the house, making the wards crackle back into place as she shut the door behind her.

"Do you think she was telling the truth?" Mordor asked, his eyes still wide.

"I wouldn't doubt that she would do something like that," Shaul said. "But as for her saying that it wasn't her idea—do you really think Ted Tonks would come up with something like that?"

"How should I know?" Mordor growled, rolling his eyes. "I didn't even know the man, thank goodness."

Shaul shook his head. "Anyway," he said distractedly. "Are you going to put Teddy to sleep and go to bed?"

Mordor glanced down at the sleeping toddler and shrugged slightly. "I don't mind holding him," he said. "It's weird, but it's—it's all right."

"Yes," agreed Shaul with a smirk. "The first time we meet our cousin's son and he decides that you make a very nice pillow." Mordor glared at his twin, and they both laughed, trying to keep quiet so they wouldn't wake Teddy.

"I think I'll just stay out here," Mordor said, stifling a yawn. "I think it'll be easier than taking Teddy upstairs and trying to put him in bed without waking him. Help me get my outer robe off." The order he added at the last moment, and Shaul stepped forward, carefully helping his brother slip his arms out of the sleeves while he managed to hold Teddy carefully.

"Goodnight," Shaul said, then turned back to his twin. "Do you need a blanket?"

Mordor waved the other boy away. "I can get one if I need it," he said. "Just go on." Shaul left after laying his brother's robe over a chair in the room, and Mordor shifted to lie down on his back on the couch. He lay perfectly still as Teddy stirred, turned his head to the other side, and laid it down again.

Reaching his wand, Mordor conjured a blanket and slid it over himself, but underneath Teddy. He conjured a smaller blanket and gently slipped it over Teddy's small form. Resting one hand on the child's back, Mordor took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to go to sleep.

Nymphadora was awakened by someone touching her back, and opened her eyes to find herself lying in her husband's arms. "Rod?" she whispered tiredly, then yawned, stretching beside him.

He looked embarrassed to be caught caressing her in her sleep, and began, "Nymphadora, I'm sorry—"

"It's okay," she interrupted softly, slipping her hand up to his neck and pulling him down to her.

"No, Dora—" he protested, drawing back from her.

She pouted. "Why do you hug me in my sleep if you won't let me kiss you when I'm awake?" she asked him, giving him her best wide, innocent brown eyes.

"Dora—" he breathed, then closed his eyes when he saw her expression. "Please: you won't understand."

"Try me," Nymphadora told him, putting her arm across him and squeezing gently.

"Because I love you," Rodolphus said, his eyes guarded, but still showing worry and hurt. "Do—do you regret what we've done?" He slid his hand over the swell of her stomach gently.

Nymphadora squeezed him again. "Never, Master Lestrange. No regrets about us."

Rodolphus didn't know what to say, but he wanted to make sure that she meant it, so he asked her, "Do you mean that?"

Her soft sigh and drooped shoulders spoke volumes to him as she raised her head to look into his eyes. "Yes, Rodolphus," she said quietly. "I love you." He merely continued to watch her, and she sat up, looking at him with a hurt expression. "Why can't you understand?" she whispered. "Why? I love you so much, Rodolphus, and I won't stop, either."

He looked at her for a moment longer, then said, "You know that nothing is keeping you here, Dora."

"How could you say something like that?" she whispered in shock, sitting up and looking down at him. "I'm a Hufflepuff, and I won't leave you!" She closed her eyes, trying to keep back the tears that seemed so close nowadays. "Why are you encouraging me to leave? Do you want me to leave?" She looked at him, her eyes speaking of her pain.

"No, Dora, never," he answered softly. "I just want to be sure—" He gave her a pleading look, hoping she would understand.

"Then look," she told him, scooting closer to him and pulling him into a sitting position. Nymphadora moved onto his lap and put her hands on the side of his face, looking right into his eyes. "Then look," she said again. "Look and see that I love you, Rodolphus."

Rodolphus' eyes grew wide when he realized what she was asking. "Dora, I can't—"

Nymphadora clapped her hand over his mouth. "You can," she interrupted. "I'd do in a heartbeat if someone wanted me to know the truth. I'm inviting you to see it, Rodolphus. Come on."

He stared at her for a moment, then drew her closer on his lap and reached over to the nightstand for his wand. Rodolphus paused for a moment, hugging his wife close. "I love you," she whispered as he put his wand tip to the side of her forehead.

"Legilimens," he said softly, and suddenly, he was seeing Nymphadora defend him to her mother, and then to the Weasleys, and to some of her other friends. Rodolphus wanted to follow one of the scenes further, but he came upon Nymphadora's Occlumency Shields and did not try to get past them. The walls of her mind were very strong, he realized, and he would see only what she wanted him to see.

Nymphadora shifted on his lap and he held her closer unknowingly, still concentrating on Nymphadora's memories. Rodolphus probed further into her mind, and she let him, taking a deep breath as she let down her guard for some of the memories. He saw her on the cliff edge, hurt after the duel in Knockturn and afraid that Rodolphus wouldn't believe her story and that the two brothers would get hurt. He saw himself apparate in and go to her, healing her cuts and modifying the storm so that it wasn't so wild.

He saw them dancing together in the rain, sharing magic to create the storm, and then caught his breath when he felt the strong emotion running through Nymphadora in her memory. When she stumbled and he caught her, she shivered in excitement, and a thrill shot through her when he kissed her. Her mind went almost blank at that point, Nymphadora being in heaven over the kiss—their first kiss.

Rodolphus was then treated to seeing Nymphadora come home to him several times at the Tonks house, always happy to see him and greet him with a kiss. She always viewed him as her future husband, never thinking of him as a hated torturer, but as the man she had chosen to love and marry. Rodolphus bit his lip, not quite sure he was convinced of her feelings yet.

He looked deeper into her mind, searching for the times he had hurt her. Nymphadora shifted on his lap as she too witnessed his questioning her about why she was late coming back from work. His bitter response to her cry of pain made her sad, and she gave a little whimper as her memory self struggled to convince Rodolphus that he was worth her love.

His arms tightened around her as he felt her sorrow over his denial, feeling the heaviness that she felt. "Rod," Nymphadora whispered, clutching the front of his robes in her fists.

He rubbed her back slightly, continuing to look and see into her mind. He felt his wife tremble as he saw Rabastan attack her in the nursery. Horror filled him when he recalled his momentary rejection of her and realized that she was hurt, although most of her heartache was caused by the strong emotions she had toward him. Biting his lip, he looked for the night of their Love's Week in which he'd tortured her.

Nymphadora convulsed involuntarily when she felt Rodolphus trying to pry into that memory. "No!" she gasped, suddenly fighting to keep Rodolphus from it. Pain throbbed through her head, and she put her hands to her head, struggling to keep Rodolphus out of that memory.

"Rod," she moaned, "please stop—don't—"

"Just let me see," Rodolphus begged her, speaking directly to her mind. "I want to know." He stopped trying to see it, and her pain lessened.

She closed her eyes, burying her face in his shoulder and feeling his gentle embrace. Tonks dropped the wall guarding the memory Rodolphus wanted to see and whispered, "Okay. Look now—ow!"

In his earnestness to see it, Rodolphus delved into her memory a little more roughly than he wanted, and Nymphadora cried out in pain, jerking away from him.

"I'm sorry," Rodolphus murmured, catching her arms and keeping her on his lap. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Nymphadora lifted her head and looked into his eyes. "Look," she said again. "I want you to know."

Rodolphus gently placed his hands on the sides of her face and kissed her forehead. He carefully redid the Legilimency spell, probing cautiously into her memory of their Love's Week. He saw the twins arrive at the vacation house and realized that Nymphadora felt caught between her love for him and her desire for the twins to get along with him. She wanted them to become a family, but she was afraid that it would never be, especially after he became angry when Mordor laughed at Shaul's teasing her.

She worried about them after her conversation with them while they were walking through Diagon Alley. Nymphadora heard Rodolphus tell her that he was already angry, and felt horrible for him, but didn't know what to do. She told him she loved him, and squeezed his hand, wanting to be able to heal his hurts, but she knew that it would not be that easy.

She felt his anger when he glared at her when she wanted to take the boys back to the house with them. He consented, but as soon as they arrived at the house, he grabbed her arm and hissed in her ear to meet him in the living room. Excusing herself and wondering what he wanted, she followed him.

Rodolphus ached in remorse as he watched himself through his wife's eyes, seeing himself grab her and berate her angrily. He knew by the look in his own eyes what he had planned for her, and groaned softly when Tonks cried out in a slight panic that she wasn't Bellatrix. She was afraid: afraid of him. He saw himself looking at her, his eyes dark and flashing with rage. "Dora," he whispered in horror as he watched her fight panic and tears, trying to tell him that she wasn't Bellatrix and that she loved him.

The memory Tonks began to cry when he kissed her harshly, a thought that he looked deranged running through her mind. She cried out at his touch, but he silenced her fiercely, hot magic crackling against her skin.

The real Nymphadora gave a small dry sob and clung to Rodolphus tightly. "Roddy," she wept. "My husband." He held her even closer, trying to reassure her

"Rodolphus!" cried the memory Tonks in fear, and he released the magic into her.

He felt her shock and fear through all her pain, and as she screamed, tears of anguish streamed down her face. He silenced her once more, and she writhed beneath him, unable to get free. Rodolphus enjoyed his Curse for a moment, then gave her something else to scream about, which she did. "Rodolphus, think about what you're doing!" she screamed, throwing her head back so that her hair all streamed across the couch.

Rodolphus, watching the memory, was horror struck and took a deep breath at the sight of her lying there beneath him, clearly in agony. She's so beautiful, he thought to himself, then felt her core magic activate to protect itself and her as she used "accidental" magic to throw him off of her.

She screamed in fear of the pain when he came toward her again, and Rodolphus stopped inches from her, Nymphadora sobbing in a heap on the couch, staring at him. "Rodolphus, I love you," she sobbed.

A shadow crossed his face and he gasped out her name, making her sob and beg him not to Curse her again. He groaned and sank to the floor, ordering her to get out. Nymphadora sat up, sobbing as sharp pains ripped through her over and over. "Rod," she choked, rising and heading for him. The magic crackling in his hands stopped, and he cried out for her to leave him. She obeyed, holding her torn robe to herself and stumbling from the room.

The real Rodolphus froze there for a moment. The first thing his new bride had thought about after he had Cursed her was how she could comfort him and relieve his guilt. Shocked, he sat there for a moment, realizing that she had thought something like that might happen, and that she regretted the fact that the twins had been there to hear it.

He saw her run into the kitchen and collapse on the floor after seeing one twin holding the other at wand point. One twin came over and began to help her as she sobbed helplessly. She finally laid her head on his shoulder and sobbed, "Oh, I love him!"

Rodolphus shook his head. He had just tortured his brand new wife, not even been married to her a week, and the first thing she managed to say afterward was that she loved him? She was crazy.

Suddenly, he stopped, feeling the very same emotion he'd been feeling through the other memories, only deeper and stronger. Nymphadora was crying not only because of the stress the Curse had put on her body, but because she was in agony for Rodolphus, who she knew must be feeling horrible. She defended him against Mordor's words, but sobbed when the boy denied being the "unfeeling one in the house." Nymphadora didn't believe him, but the boy's words make her ache for Rodolphus even more, because she knew that his son didn't understand why he had done what he did.

Rodolphus skipped ahead to where Shaul talked to Nymphadora briefly before leaving. She stood there for a moment, taking deep breaths, then turned and headed into the living room. Her husband was not there, and so, she breathed deeply, closing her eyes tightly and opening them again. She went upstairs and found their door shut. A sob nearly escaped her, but she drew on all the loyalty, love, and courage that she had, and knocked on the door.

A moment later, the quietest voice she'd ever heard from him told her to come in. Nymphadora struggled to talk to him, but it was difficult because he felt so guilty for what he'd done. Her love absolutely overflowed when she realized that he'd been crying over her, and she tried to hug him, but he pointed out the spot on her robe where Shaul had cried into it. Nymphadora didn't pay much attention to that, but crawled onto her husband's lap instead and snuggled up close to him, murmuring reassuring words as she looked out the window at the stars.

Rodolphus ended the Legilimens spell and held Nymphadora tightly in his arms. "Nymphadora, I love you," he whispered, and her body shook slightly before she responded tearfully and yet steadily, "I love you so much than you've even seen, Rodolphus Lestrange. I just can't express it." He held her for quite a while before either of them said another word.

Finally, Nymphadora told Rodolphus that she was going to get a shower before breakfast, and kissed him passionately before hurrying off to get her clothes and things together. She showered quickly, then came back to their room, where Rodolphus had told her he would be. He kissed her when she came into the room and she sighed happily against his lips, before leaning back and running her fingers through his hair, making him smile and pull her closer for another kiss. "No," she protested, holding him away playfully. "You're unclean. Go get a shower." Rodolphus snorted with laughter, then released her and left the room after picking up his clothes off the bed.

Picking up her wand off the nightstand, Nymphadora walked over to the nursery to see if Teddy was there or if her mother had taken the child home. She was disappointed to find that her son was not in his crib, and went dejectedly down the stairs. She was crossing the living room into the dining room when she heard Teddy call, "Mum! Mum-mum-mum!"

Turning quickly, she saw one of the Lestrange twins lying on the couch, Teddy lying on top of him on his stomach. Teddy watched her closely as she smiled at them, surprised that Teddy would get along with one of the twins so well. She walked over to her son as he propped himself up on his arms, still watching his mother. Nymphadora bent down and was about to pick up her son when the twin suddenly sat up, pulling the child out of her reach. She jumped in surprise, then said, "It's just me, Shaul."

"I'm not Shaul," the boy yawned sleepily, realizing that he and Teddy weren't in danger. He allowed his little cousin to go to his mother, and Nymphadora hugged the little one gently.

"Well, good morning," she told Mordor. "Sorry. Not seeing you together—and I never imagined you to sleep in an open living room with a toddler."

The boy laughed. "Neither did I," he told her, lying back down slightly, the blanket still over him. "But the brat fell asleep on top of me last night, and your mother told me that he was supposed to sleep either in the nursery or the playpen, but I just stayed in here so he wouldn't be disturbed."

Nymphadora smiled a little. "Thank you for taking care of him for me," she said to him. "I'm sorry I ran off like I did last night."

"Father ran off too," Mordor replied with another yawn. "Rabastan tracked him down and brought him back."

"I know," sighed Nymphadora. "He heard something that I said during my hysterics last night, and it really upset him. I didn't even realize that he had been in the room until Mum told me what I'd said in front of him. That's when Mum sent Raben out to look for your father, and Raben brought Rodolphus back unconscious." She shook her head at herself. "Both of us went a little crazy yesterday."

"It wasn't exactly smart to have the two of us over to your house beginning on the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts," Mordor pointed out. "But at least, if both you and Father are insane, you make the perfect pair."

She grinned and rubbed her palm over her stomach. "Our poor child doesn't stand a chance," she giggled, and Mordor smirked. "And I do feel a bit mixed up in my head."

Footsteps came down the stairs and Rodolphus walked across the living room to put his arms around his wife. "You know it's because of that spell," he told her, a twinkle in his eyes, hugging her, but refraining from kissing her.

Tonks giggled again and hugged him tightly. He loosened his grip on her, then leaned down and kissed Teddy good morning. "Dora," he murmured softly, rubbing his hand over her stomach, "your Extension Charm..."

"Roddy," she protested as he drew her toward the dining room and gave him a pleading look. He squeezed her gently, but gave her a firm look, and she pouted. "Please?" she asked. "At least for today?"

"Just for today," he granted reluctantly, unable to resist her adorable pout. "But you cannot leave the apartment without the Charm."

She squealed in delight, surprising Teddy, and threw her free arm around his neck, kissing him fiercely. He pulled her fully against him and kissed her thoroughly, Nymphadora not realizing that he'd taken Teddy from her and set him on the floor until she felt the little boy grasp her robe to get up and cling to her leg. "Rod," she protested softly, pushing back from him. "You can't just put Teddy aside like that.

Rodolphus allowed her to pick up her son, and said quietly, "Later, then, Dora?"

"Later," she murmured, and he leaned forward, kissing her cheek. Nymphadora squeezed his hand, then turned toward the kitchen and headed for the fridge, going to make breakfast. As she began to make pancakes, Rodolphus smirked to himself and walked out of the kitchen before he decided to kiss her again. His wife was, either fortunately or unfortunately, very distracting.

About half an hour later, Nymphadora came out of the kitchen and said to Mordor, "Would you go get Shaul? Breakfast is ready."

Mordor nodded and hurried on upstairs. Rodolphus was looking at her from his seat on the couch, and she blushed at his intense stare. "Rod, stop it," she hissed, a whirlwind rising in her. He smirked knowingly, and when he stood, she whirled around and hurried back into the kitchen, Teddy on her hip. Rodolphus sat at the table, and when she turned back to him, he smirked again, then winked. "Stop," she moaned. "Rodolphus, your sons are in the house. I don't want them to see any more of our private lives than they need to!"

Rodolphus nodded, then said, "Come over here and give me a kiss while they're not here, then."

She walked over, leaning down to him, and he placed both hands on the sides of her face, kissing her fiercely. Nymphadora sat down beside her husband, and he turned sideways, continuing to kiss her. Finally, she drew back, keeping him at bay by shifting Teddy on her lap. "I love you," she whispered huskily, then stood and sat on the other side of the table.

The twins entered the room, and Mordor sat down by Nymphadora quietly. Shaul grinned at his father and at his cousin before sitting beside Rodolphus. "Do either of you have to work today?" Mordor asked them.

"Not I," Rodolphus said. "I took the day off because I knew this was going to be the first full day that you were here and because Draco and Ginevra are coming in tonight. I wanted to be here in case the Weasleys or Lucius and Narcissa show up."

"Do you think they will?" asked Nymphadora in concern. "Do they know where we are?"

"Draco is leaving a memory behind so that his parents will be able to come," Rodolphus replied. "He wrote to tell me. I do not think the Weasley girl will be telling her family, however."

Shaul snorted. "They will not be happy, I guarantee. After all she has told me about her family—she had better hope that Weasel King doesn't curse her into oblivion before she gets away."