Man... I'm suddenly scared you won't like this...

The summer holidays had started a little more than a week ago and already Andromeda was facing the last day before Bellatrix's departure to Albania. Every second leading to this moment she had thought about what she would tell Bellatrix. Every second she had worried at the thought of losing her for good to Rodolphus Lestrange and whoever he was working for. In the end, she would probably not have the opportunity to say anything: Bellatrix had invited Sophie over and would not let her out of sight.

Andromeda exchanged a glance with Narcissa who, like her, was lying flat on Bellatrix's bed. Her little sister was just as unhappy with Sophie's intrusion as Andromeda. It felt as though Sophie was stealing their precious and ever-shortening time with Bellatrix. Granted, they were used to having her around. The Gamp heir had, after all, been Bellatrix's best friend since they were five, and thus the person they had known for the longest outside of the Black family. Yet, the empty-eyed young woman absently nodding at Bellatrix's every word seemed worlds away from the Sophie they had once known.

Narcissa crossed her arms under her chin and glared at Bellatrix who was sitting on the carpet.

'I still don't understand why you have to leave so soon,' she grumbled.

Bellatrix smiled. 'That's just how it is.'

Narcissa groaned. 'You're so lucky to be able to travel like that.'

Bellatrix chuckled.

This is all a very bad idea, thought Andromeda. I should not let her go. But stopping Bellatrix was as unconceivable as it was impossible. All Andromeda could do was let her head fall on her sister's pillow and brood. Narcissa – who had become a little too perceptive for Andromeda's liking – noticed and snorted.

'Why are you being like this?' she said. 'She's not going for ever, you know? Seriously, are you even seventeen years old?'

Andromeda only shrugged. Bellatrix threw her an odd look.

'I would have taken you with me, Andy,' she said. With a sigh she added: 'It's a shame you're not really my twin…'

'Hmm…' mumbled Andromeda, when inside she thought "Thank Merlin, I'm not". These days, being Bella's twin was the last thing she wanted. Going to Albania with her and her friends was second to last.

But you should want to go, Andromeda, whispered a voice in her head, to keep an eye on Bellatrix. Make sure she doesn't turn completely bad.

No…, replied another voice. Remember what Ted said: you have to stop feeling responsible for how Bellatrix turns out. Liantris will be there to keep an eye on her.

Andromeda released a long sigh. Now that she thought about it, Ted Tonks was so wonderfully unproblematic. She missed him and his soothing voice, and his dimpled smile, and his warm gazes... Narcissa gave her a soft punch on the shoulder, smiling.

'Seriously, stop looking so miserable!'

Next to her, Bella laughed, and Sophie chuckled, and for a second, Andromeda was reminded of the old times when the four of them would gather in this room without having to worry about lies, secrets, or one of them turning bad. She smiled also.

'Young Mistress Bellatrix?' The girls turned to see Retch on Bellatrix's doorstep. 'There is a young man at the gates wishing to speak with you.'

Bellatrix perked up. 'Who?' she asked.

'Retch believes it is Rodolphus Lestrange.'

Narcissa groaned. 'You invited your boyfriend too? If mom and dad weren't at the Mulcibers's…'

Face severe, Bellatrix let go of the book she was holding and stood up. She grabbed her wand and exited the room, kicking Retch out of her way in doing so.

'Let him in, Retch. You come with me,' she said to Sophie. 'And you two, stay here and do not move,' she added for her sisters, both of whom replied with a blank look.

Bellatrix closed the door behind her. Andromeda and Narcissa waited for her footsteps to fade before looking at each other. Narcissa smirked.

'Does she seriously think we'll do as she says?' she asked, amused.

Andromeda shrugged. 'Must be old age,' she joked.

Narcissa chuckled and both rose from the bed and sneaked into the corridor. Retch had disappeared, and they could hear voices coming from downstairs. They tip-toed their way to the staircase and stopped on the top stairs to hide behind the railing.

'What happened?' they heard Bellatrix ask.

'The mudblood,' replied Rodolphus in his deep voice. 'She's awaken.'

Andromeda's eyes widened. She smacked a hand over Narcissa's mouth when her sister threatened to speak, gave her a warning look and put a finger over her lips. Narcissa nodded, her big blue gaze shining with a thousand questions.

A tense silence fell upon the mansion.

'How do you know this?' asked Bellatrix, sounding extremely calm considering the implications of what she had just heard.

'My father. He was with the Dark Lord when he received the news.'

There were a few seconds of silence and Andromeda could perfectly envision her sister, eyes squinted, eyebrows frowned, looking straight ahead the way she always did when she was thinking intensely.

'So what? Did you receive orders from the Death Eaters?'

'No', said Rodolphus. 'According to my father, the Dark Lord has it all under control. The mudblood may have woken up but she won't be of any help to the Aurors for a few days still. He's arranged for our spy among the healers to have her killed while she is still coming to.'

There was another silence, this time broken by Rodolphus.

'What about her? Is she still under the Imperius?'

'I didn't cast the spell today but she's still under the influence,' replied Bellatrix matter-of-factly.

Andromeda had to bit her lip to stop herself from gasping as memories hit her with the violence of a tsunami.

"Bellatrix! What does she do to me!" Sophie had said. "Why can't I remember!"

Was she, Sophie, the one Bellatrix and Rodolphus were talking about? Had she been under the Imperius Curse all this time?

Ignoring Narcissa's vain attempts to stop her, Andromeda went down a few steps and craned her neck to get a look at her sister and her friends above the railing. She had to be sure.

She saw Rodolphus standing there, staring at Bellatrix as though the answers to all his questions were written on her face. Bellatrix, however, was pacing uneasily. As for Sophie, she looked as dead inside as ever, yet Andromeda noticed a nearly imperceptible trickle of sweat pearling on her brow. The mansion was too cool for it to be blamed on the summer heat.

'I need to go to the loo,' Sophie said suddenly.

Bellatrix stopped pacing to glare at her. For a few seconds she stared straight into her eyes, as though trying to discern a lie in the depth of her irises. She must have found nothing because reluctantly, she looked away and humph-ed.

'You can go,' she said, and went back to pacing.

Andromeda raced back up the stairs, pulling Narcissa with her, as Sophie's slow footsteps headed their way. She pushed a trembling Narcissa inside Bellatrix's room and told her to stay put before closing the door and stepping back into the corridor. She was just in time to see Sophie lose her cool completely and throw herself inside the bathroom. Andromeda jumped forwards to catch the door. The two exchanged a glance. Sophie spun around and vomited in the toilet.

Andromeda closed the door behind them. She pressed her ear against the wood, listening for Bellatrix or Rodolphus, but it seemed the two of them were still talking downstairs. She turned towards Sophie, bent over the toilet, and sighed. She knelt down to hold her hair up and pat her gently on the back.

'There,' she said softly. 'It's gonna be okay, Sophie…'

Sophie raised her head and gazed at her with tearful eyes. 'It's not gonna be okay,' she moaned.

Andromeda opened her mouth to answer but there was a knot in her throat. She said nothing, opting instead to get Sophie some toilet paper to wipe herself off. Insisting that everything was going to be alright would have been a crude and unhelpful lie anyway.

Once Sophie had nothing left in her belly, she rose and washed her mouth, and washed her face under Andromeda's watchful gaze. She took the towel Andromeda offered and paused to stare at her reflection in the mirror. Andromeda said nothing. Sophie frowned. Something changed in her eyes. The distant look disappeared, replaced by a blazing intensity.

'Andromeda,' Sophie whispered, 'you know the truth, don't you?'

Andromeda raised an eyebrow, surprised by how alert Sophie suddenly appeared. It had been months since she had seen her that way.

'Are you still under the Imperius?' she whispered back.

Sophie's eyes widened by half and she grabbed Andromeda by the shoulders.

'You were listening to us, weren't you?' She started murmuring precipitately. 'You heard about the Imperius Curse?'

'Well, yes. That's wh–'

'Listen to me. Bella has had me under the curse since before I attacked Leeswood. They made me. It wasn't me. I wanted to say the truth, but they threatened to have my father killed. I'm going to the Aurors right now. I'm going to tell them just this. If I can't, you have to go in my stead. But before that, you have to get my father some place safe. As soon as I'm gone, you have to. Please, Andy, we've known each other since forever. You're the only one I can trust. Get my father some place hidden, and then go tell the Au–'

Andromeda stopped her by smacking a hand on her mouth. 'Shush' she said and turned towards the door. She could hear footsteps going up the stairs. 'Don't move until you hear me knock on the door,' she said and rushed to exit the room.

She barely had time to close the door behind her and lay inconspicuously against the passage wall that Bellatrix showed up, Rodolphus on her heels.

'Where's Sophie?'

'In there,' said Andromeda, sounding bored. 'I'm waiting for my turn.'

Bellatrix believed her immediately but Rodolphus threw her a suspicious look. Putting on her mask, Andromeda nodded and uttered a brief 'Hello'. He replied with a lofty bow. On her end, Bellatrix approached the bathroom door.

'Sophie, open up,' she ordered.

There was no reply from the other side. Even when Bella repeated herself Sophie appeared to ignore her. Andromeda frowned and went to knock on the door.

'Sophie?' she called.

Still there was no answer.

Her head whipped around to meet Bellatrix's dark eyes. In them she saw reflected her own apprehension.

'Shit,' cursed Bellatrix.

She grabbed the handle to try and force the door off its hinges. Andromeda took out her wand, pushed her aside, and cast an Alohomora. The lock clicked, and Bellatrix swung the door open. The bathroom was empty. The window was open.

Bella's eyes widened with anger. 'SOPHIE!' she yelled and ran to the window.

Behind her, Andromeda breathed: 'She couldn't have jumped…'

But it seemed she had.

'That bitch,' whispered Bellatrix when she spotted her childhood friend, limping from the fall, running as fast as she could towards the forest that marked the end of the mansion's domain.

Bellatrix raised her wand and Andromeda's first reflex was to grab her arm and pull. The curse flew and luckily landed far from Sophie.

'Bella, wait!'

Bellatrix groaned and snapped her arm free. She turned towards Andromeda, grinding her teeth, and thrusted her sister away. Andromeda stumbled backwards and fell on her bottom, hitting the hard-tiled floor with a thud and a groan.

Bella's pupils shivered slightly. For a second, it was as if she regretted her action…

'BELLATRIX!' Roared Rodolphus. 'STOP SOPHIE!'

The vague doubt in Bellatrix's eyes disappeared as quickly as it had come, and she spun back towards the window.

She threw another silent curse on the girl who used to be her best friend. It seemed to miss by a few inches. Bellatrix roared in anger and shouted 'Accio flying broom!'. She waited a few seconds, craning her neck outside the window, before climbing up and out.

Andromeda's heart skipped a beat. She jumped to her feet and threw herself after Bellatrix, extending a hand as though she could have caught her. But there was no need. Bellatrix landed on her flying broom and flew straight towards Sophie, now a few steps only from the border of the domain beyond which she would finally be able to disapparate.

Andromeda grabbed the windowsill so hard her knuckles turned white, and watched her sister get closer and closer to Sophie. In her mind she started chanting 'Please don't catch her, please don't catch her, please don't catch her…' like a litany.

Sophie was so close, only a few more steps… But she looked back, and her eyes widened in terror as she saw Bellatrix's hawk-like figure batting the wind, right on her toes. She tripped and staggered, losing precious seconds. Andromeda gasped in horror. From where she stood, she could hear Bellatrix cackle madly. Sophie used the last of her strength to jump beyond the border. She screamed hopelessly as she took her last step to disapparate. Bellatrix screamed too. There was a crack.

Andromeda's shoulders fell. She let go of the windowsill. Sophie had done it. She had disapparated.

But Bellatrix had gone with her.

oooOOOooo

Andromeda felt a heavy hand on her shoulder. She barely had time to face its owner that Rodolphus squeezed painfully and, nearly lifting her entire body, threw her backwards. She landed on the ground once more, this time falling on her shoulder. He leaned outside the window.

The pain spread through Andromeda's entire upper body, awakening the pain in her hip-bone from the previous fall. She let out a low groan.

'Andy!' gasped Narcissa.

Andromeda looked up and watched Narcissa pass the bathroom's doorstep and fall to her knees next to her before embracing her protectively.

'Are you okay?' Cissy asked, but did not wait for an answer. Instead, she threw Rodolphus one of her best Black glare. 'Do that again and I will have you assassinated!' she hissed.

Andromeda's every fibre filled with worry. Though it hurt, she hurried to sit up and place herself between Narcissa and Rodolphus's massive frame. Rodolphus only groaned.

'Where did they go?' he asked.

Narcissa was about to snap back a retort but Andromeda cut her short. 'They disapparated together. Bellatrix caught up with Sophie at the last second.'

Rodolphus threw them a furious look before slamming the window close – almost breaking it in the process – and stomping out of the room.

'Hey!' Narcissa called after him. 'Come back here and apologise!'

Andromeda took hold of her hand and started caressing it softly. 'Cissy, don't,' she said.

Narcissa frowned, confused, and the confidence she had displayed only seconds earlier quickly melted away, replaced by a look of profound worry.

'I was watching from my window… Why did Sophie run?' she asked. 'Was she the one under the Imperius Curse? Why did Bellatrix attack her? Is the mudblood that woke up Deborah Leeswood? Does it mean Bella is going to Azkaban?'

Andromeda bit her lip. She let go of her sister's hand to get on her feet.

'Andy?' Narcissa asked weakly while helping her up.

'I don't know,' Andromeda replied sternly. 'I'm not sure. You stay here in case they come back.'

She grabbed her wand that had fell on the floor and limped out of the bathroom and down the stairs. Naturally, Narcissa followed her.

'What are you going to do?' she asked.

'Where's Rodolphus?' Andromeda asked instead.

Narcissa looked around before clicking her tongue, annoyed. 'Retch,' she called. The house-elf appeared before her faster than it would have for anybody else. 'Where's Rodolphus?'

'Rodolphus Lestrange left,' Retch replied.

Good, thought Andromeda.

'Jerk,' spat Narcissa.

Andromeda opened the front door.

"You have to get my father some place safe. As soon as I'm gone, you have to. Please, Andy, we've known each other since forever. You're the only one I can trust."

Andromeda snorted despite herself.

Andy, Sophie had said. Only Andromeda's family called her Andy.

A hand locked around her wrist and she was spun around.

'Where are you going?' exclaimed her little sister, hands trembling.

'To see if I can prevent this mess from getting worse…'

Narcissa did not release her arm. 'Andy, tell me something that makes sense!'

'It's better if you don't know. I'll tell you everything when this is all over.'

'Why not now?'

Andromeda sighed and started pulling on Narcissa's fingers one by one to free herself. 'Because if Deborah Leeswood truly has woken up, how long do you think it will take before Aurors start swarming the house of the primary suspect in her accident?' she said. Narcissa froze. Andromeda frowned. 'For now Cissy, it's important that you know as little as possible, and that you do not open the door for anyone that isn't Bellatrix, mom or dad. Understood?'

Narcissa nodded.

'Good,' said Andromeda. She ran to the front gate that was on the opposite side to the forest from which Sophie had attempted to flee.

She disapparated.

oooOOOooo

She landed before the front gate of the Gamp family's estate.

Andromeda was familiar with the estate. A big, ancient, shining mansion, recently renovated, richly decorated, and primly accessorized. An exaggerated display of wealth. A desperate attempt to save face for a dying, ruined House.

She pushed the front gate open and headed towards the building. No house elf came to meet her on the way. The Gamps had had to sell their elf a long time ago.

The front door was closed. Andromeda cursed under her breath.

'Mister Gamp!' she called as her knocking turned into pounding. 'Mister Gamp, open the door! It's Andromeda Black!'

The door finally opened to a nonplussed-looking Fergus Gamp.

'Andromeda? What's going on?'

"You're in danger,' said Andromeda, grabbing the man's wrist. 'We need to go, right now.'

But Mister Gamp, a big man, would not budge.

'In danger?' he exclaimed. 'Why? From whom? What are you –'

'Mister Gamp,' snapped Andromeda. 'Has your daughter been acting strange lately?'

'Sophie?' Gamp opened wide eyes. 'Yes but –'

'Something's happened, Mister Gamp,' Andromeda repeated. 'People who want you dead could be here any second. I'll tell you everything when we're in a safe place. Now, follow me!'

Gamp gaped, stunned, and let himself be dragged out of the house in his slippers.

Andromeda passed the front gate and only just realised that she had no idea where to hide this man. Suddenly, her hair stood on edge. She had an odd feeling. Like somebody was apparating. She focused on the first image of a safe place she could find and took a step forward.

As she disapparated, for a brief second, she caught a glimpse of cloaked figures landing before the Gamp House.

oooOOOooo

She tripped on her landing and accidentally dragged Mister Gamp with her. Both groaned gracelessly while trying to get themselves off the muddy soil that surrounded the Greengrass mansion.

Standing up was a pain for Andromeda who was not used to falling thrice and so violently in such a short time spam.

'Meda?' called a voice Andromeda immediately recognised.

She looked up and saw Maggie standing on the mansion's doorway.

'Come in!' called the Ravenclaw without bothering to step out. In fact, after uttering those two words, she dived back inside the house.

Andromeda bent down to help a stunned Mister Gamp on his feet. She could hear Maggie calling her brother inside the mansion.

When finally Andromeda and Mister Gamp reached the house, Maggie and Liantris both rushed to their side. Liantris took Mister Gamp from Andromeda while Maggie guided her towards the nearest sofa.

'I'm fine,' Andromeda insisted, rejecting the sofa and any other form of chair. 'Listen to me. There's a spy amongst Deborah Leeswood's healers in St Mungoes. He was ordered to kill her.'

Maggie gasped. Mister Gamp chocked on his saliva. Liantris shouted 'Dippy!'

A house elf appeared out of thin air.

'Tell them one of the Healers is an assassin. He's probably on the move already. Hurry!'

Dippy was gone in a blink.

'Andromeda,' said Liantris, looking very focused and on edge. 'What else do you know?'

'Where is my daughter? Where's Sophie?' asked Mister Gamp.

'Why did you bring him here?' asked Maggie, pointing at the old man.

'I just need you to hide him for… I don't know how long...'

'Hide him?' breathed Maggie.

'What happened?' asked Liantris.

Andromeda hesitated. She had saved Sophie's father but…

"I'm going to the Aurors right now. I'm going to tell them just this. If I can't, you have to."

No. Andromeda could not do that. If she told Sophie's version of event to the Aurors, not only would Bellatrix end up in Azkaban, but so would Cygnus, Druella, and Walburga – because Andromeda did not doubt for a second that the three of them had helped Bellatrix hide every evidence of her crime. With Sophie certainly in Bellatrix's hands, Andromeda would not be the one to betray her family. Assuming she lived long enough to testify, Deborah Leeswood was the only person left who could incriminate them.

A wispy, bird-shaped, silvery cloud of smoke glided from the open French-window and towards Liantris. While the hair stood on Andromeda's arm and her mouth fell agape, neither Maggie nor Liantris appeared put-off by its sudden apparition. Nor did they jump like she did when it started talking.

'Emmeline has stopped the murderer,' the wispy bird said in a low voice that felt somewhat familiar to Andromeda. 'The Aurors are moving Deborah to a secret place. I was not informed where. The enemy might have a spy. No Aurors were sent to the Black family's manor or the Gamp estate, the higher-ups cannot be trusted. Find the location before another attempt is made on the girl's life…'

'Yes,' said Liantris. Immediately, he turned to Andromeda. 'You wouldn't happen to know if there is a spy amongst the Aurors?'

Andromeda shook her head.

She was not lying. Technically. Although, thinking about it, she had… a hunch. However, on one hand, if Bellatrix had indeed caught Sophie, with Debbie dead, the Black family would be safe from Azkaban. On the other, Ted would never forgive her if he learned that she had let one of his best friends get murdered… And would she forgive herself?

Andromeda grabbed her hair and shut her eyes tight.

What are you doing, Andromeda? Are you seriously going to let an innocent girl die to protect the sister who has been mind-controlling her best friend for half a year?

'Meda?' called Maggie. 'Meda, what is it?'

'I don't know,' groaned Andromeda. 'I don't know what to do…'

Liantris grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to look him in the eyes.

'Andromeda listen to me. Do you know anything more? We need to keep Debbie safe!'

'And my Sophie!' intervened Mister Gamp. 'Will somebody tell me what is going on?'

Andromeda bit her lip. What can I do? she wondered. I can't stop Debbie's murderers, I can't stop Debbie from talking, I can't –

Or couldn't she? If she got to Debbie before everyone else, maybe she could convince her to keep quiet. Then Bellatrix would not be sent to Azkaban and Debbie would not have to die!

She had a hunch about the Auror spy after all… She exchanged a look with Liantris and saw his eyes widen expectantly.

She spun on her heels and ran out the door.

Liantris and the others were caught so unaware they could only gape as she passed the front door and continued her race to the front gate.

'Meda!' Maggie yelled after her.

'Tell Mister Gamp I'll tell him everything when I'm back!' Andromeda shouted.

She disapparated.

oooOOOooo

Black Manor looked as grim as ever. The front gate was closed; Narcissa's doing no doubt.

'Retch,' she called.

The elf manifested in front of her and immediately, the gate opened. She ran towards the house.

Narcissa met her at the door.

'You're back,' she said. 'Where did you go? I was expecting Aurors to show up but nobody came –'

'I'll tell you everything later,' said Andromeda while rushing up the stairs to the second floor. 'I'm looking for something and when I get it, I'm leaving again.'

She jumped into the passageway and stopped in front of a large wooden door that was always closed. Her father's study.

'Andy…' whispered Narcissa, past habits making her voice tremble. 'We are not allowed in there…'

The last time the two of them had entered this room, in a foolish burst of rebellion, Cygnus had hit them for the first time in their lives.

Andromeda shook herself out of her childhood worries. 'No time for that,' she said, and grabbed the handle.

Naturally, the door was closed.

'Alohomora!' shouted Andromeda.

The door remained closed.

'Aberto!'

The door remained closed.

'Reducto!'

'Andromeda –'

The door remained closed. Andromeda groaned.

'BOMBARDA!'

The door exploded.

'Andy!'

Andromeda stepped over the debris and hurried inside her father's office. She ignored the broken wardrobes and crumbling shelving units and headed straight for the central desk that wobbled threateningly. She started rummaging through her father's files, looking for one specific book. She heard Narcissa groan exasperatedly but ignored her.

'Andy… Don't you think it would be easier if you told me what you were looking for?'

Andromeda hesitated.

It would be easier. She had to get to Deborah before anyone else but was already losing precious time, looking for something she was not sure existed. She sighed and turned towards her little sister.

'Father writes down every single one of his monetary transactions, right?'

Narcissa nodded.

'Including his bribes, right?'

Narcissa cocked her head. 'Yes… As far as I know.'

'Well, you know when the Leeswood incident happened, Aurors came to Hogwarts.'

'Yes.'

'But they did not interrogate Bellatrix or anyone. They only looked around for a few days and then left.'

'You think dad bribed them?'

'I am a hundred percent sure. Because it was not the first time we got out of a difficult situation involving Aurors, now was it?'

'No, indeed… So what? You're looking for that one specific corrupted Auror? What if he bribes a different one every time?'

'That would be too dangerous. Aurors are still Aurors, and the Blacks don't have the best reputation when it comes to the law. No. There is only one. Two at most. He must spend a lot of money on them.'

Narcissa sighed. 'Alright,' she said, and took out her wand.

'Accio ledger book!' she said.

A half a dozen books came rushing at her head. Narcissa ducked just in time to avoid most of them.

'There,' she said proudly. 'That narrows it, doesn't it?'

'Good job,' said Andromeda, already looking through the ledger books.

She was afraid of turning pages too fast and missing crucial information. She had trouble concentrating when her hands were shaking, her heart was beating madly and a voice in the back of her mind kept repeating that if she got there too late…

No! she thought. She would not think about it.

For now she had to focus on…

'Isn't that it?' Narcissa asked, pointing at a line inside one of the books.

'(A) Holland Brooks,' she read. '7000 Galleons – November 16, 1968. That's a few days only after the Leeswood incident!'

Andromeda leaned over Narcissa's shoulder.

'Looks like he pays him regularly. Debbie's accident was just a special transfer. Damn… That's a lot of money…'

'Andy. Is that the one?'

Andromeda frowned, picking the book from Narcissa's hands. 'I think so...'

'Then go!' exclaimed Narcissa, shutting the book close. 'Weren't you in a hurry?'

Andromeda nodded, stood up, and started running down the stairs, Narcissa on her heels. She stopped by her room to grab a cloak and carried on to the ground floor where she stopped in front of the living-room's massive fireplace.

'You'll have some explaining to do when you come back!' Narcissa told her right before Andromeda stepped into the chimney.

'Promise.'

She grabbed a handful of floo powder, shouted "the Ministry of Magic, London!", and let herself be eaten by the blaze of green flames.

oooOOOooo

She arrived through one of the Ministry's numerous fireplaces and did not waste a second to run to the nearest secretary. She was, after all, quite familiar with the Ministry's grandiosity.

'Yes?' asked the secretary in a voice so bored Andromeda felt her own lids threaten to fall.

'I want to make an urgent request to the Auror Department,' she said.

'What kind of request?'

Andromeda tried hard not to roll her eyes. 'Urgent,' she repeated, praying that somehow, Debbie was still alive, and Sophie was safe, and Bellatrix was not doing anything illegal or reprimandable.

'Is it theft? Failed enchantment?'

'Uhm…' Andromeda bit her lip. 'Does the name Holland Brooks ring any bell?'

The secretary stared at Andromeda above her red spectacles. 'Yes. Why? Why are you here?' she repeated.

Andromeda sighed.

What are you gonna do, Andy? She thought. You keep whishing Bellatrix would not do illegal things, but here you are, thinking about doing illegal things… Not to mention profoundly immoral…

On the other hand, I learned this skill already… Might as well put it into practice now that there are lives at stake.

She threw another glance towards the secretary. She was an old woman, visibly slow and tired… The chances that she noticed Andromeda's intrusion were slim.

'Well,' Andromeda said. 'It's a little embarrassing…'

That seemed to catch the secretary's curiosity. Andromeda concentrated. The old woman had unwittingly opened her mind significantly. Andromeda pointed her wand, thought "Legilimens!" and took a dive.

Images zoomed inside her mind and Andromeda had to display an awe-inspiring agility of mind to not disturb any. She could not afford to be detected. She could not afford to waste too much time either. Navigating through the mind was a disorientating experience but Andromeda had learned when she was a child. Soon she found what she wanted.

Holland Brooks. A young fellow. Pointy chin, and hair in a bun. Worked for the Bureau of Accidental Curses. Relatively average in the hierarchy. Checked in this morning and appeared to not have left since.

Perfect.

She slipped out and hid her wand back inside the sleeve of her cloak.

'… My little sister might have accidentally cursed her… elf…' she said. 'I would have gone to St Mungoes, but I was told the Aurors should be alerted first.'

The secretary raised an eyebrow, apparently disappointed by the story.

'Name.'

'Uhm… Sophie… Green…Morr…'

'Huh?'

'Sophie Greenmorr. It's my name.'

'Wand.'

Andromeda obliged, holding her breath.

'Auror Headquarters are situated on level two. Take this elevator and you will find it on your right. Show this,' she said, handing over a piece of paper with her name, purpose and wand information written on it, 'and follow the instructions given to you. Thank you and have a good day.'

'Thanks,' said Andromeda.

She grabbed the piece of paper and rushed to the elevator. The trip to the second floor felt painfully slow and as soon as the doors opened, Andromeda had to elbow her way through the crowd in order to get out. She turned right and came to a brief stop when her eyes landed on a cluttered open area divided into cubicles, which was buzzing with talk but not much laughter*. Everyone seemed tense and agitated. A lopsided sign on the nearest cubicle read: Auror Headquarters**.

Trying to ignore the lack of refinement of the place, she hurried towards the nearest Auror and practically shoved her piece of paper in his face.

'I need to see Holland Brooks!' she said.

The Auror, a young man with black skin and a gold earring, caught her arm with commendable calm, lowered his eyes onto the piece of paper, and after having familiarized himself with its content, pointed at a nearby cubicle.

'Over there,' he said in a deep, somehow reassuring voice.

'Thank you,' she said,

The Auror left and Andromeda was about to go as well when out of the corner of her eye she noticed a familiar face at the end of the open area, where cubicles were replaced by small closed offices probably reserved for the highest-ranking officers. It was Achilles Wilkes. He was a medium-sized man with thick sideburns and round spectacles whom she had often seen with her father. There were a couple of Aurors around him, as well as another man whom Andromeda did not know. They were talking in low voices while other Aurors sent them dark looks and stood around as though ready to leave any second. Andromeda assumed Wilkes and the other man were the reason why no Aurors had been sent to Black Manor and the Gamp house. She turned around quickly, not wanting Wilkes to recognise her and headed towards the cubicle that the young Auror with the deep voice had pointed towards.

She recognised Brooks's face from the secretary's thoughts. Pointy chin, and hair in a bun. He had his feet on the table and was lazily throwing darts on a board. There was another Auror next to him, scrambling notes on a piece of parchment.

Andromeda took a deep breath before walking in. She had to be calm to put her mask on.

'Holland Brooks?'

The young man spun around and smirked after having looked her up and down. 'Yeah?'

'I'd like a word in private.'

Brooks sniggered. 'All girls do…' He said, looking at his co-worker who did not look amused. Andromeda struggled not to roll her eyes. 'Unfortunately I can't right now, sweetheart. So bugger off, will ya?'

He returned to throwing darts.

'You might know my father,' Andromeda insisted.

'Okay,' Brooks replied.

'Cygnus Black.'

Brooks froze. He cast a glance at his co-worker, who had raised his head, and slowly, rose from his seat.

'You're hindering our work,' he said to Andromeda. 'So I'm going to have to escort you out.' He turned back towards the other Auror. 'Don't worry, Williamson. I've got this.'

Williamson nodded absent-mindedly while Brooks grabbed Andromeda's shoulders and escorted her away from the Headquarters. They stopped in the corridor, relatively out of earshot, where Brooks just glared at her.

'And who are you, huh?'

'Andromeda Black,' she said, crossing her arms.

Brooks grimaced. 'Ah… I knew you looked familiar! Did he send you? What does he want?'

Andromeda had to contain a bitter laugh as she realised that her father must have used this man more often that she had wanted to believe. Just how much of a criminal was Cygnus Black?

'A girl was escorted by Aurors out of St Mungoes and to a secret location,' she said. 'I need to know where that is.'

The Auror raised an eyebrow. 'That's not like the usual job…'

'You won't be paid like the usual job.'

That made him snigger. 'Why does your daddy need the info?'

Andromeda frowned. 'None of your business,' she said. 'Also, I'm short on time.'

'Ha! Don't worry I've got it. You wait here…'

So Andromeda waited. She wondered whether she was not doing all of this in vain. Whether she was not too late. Maybe Debbie was dead already. Maybe Aurors had already gone to Black Manor and were arresting her entire family. Merlin, what had she gotten herself into?

Brooks came back a few minutes later.

'I think I know where the girl is being taken.'

'Where is it?' exclaimed Andromeda, before reminding herself to stay calm.

'Want me to take you there?'

Andromeda hesitated. The man was shady and apparating with strangers was usually on her list of things not to do… But sadly, she was that desperate.

'Okay,' she said.

oooOOOooo

They landed in a meadow surrounded by trees, with no roads in sight and nothing but a small hut guarded by two Aurors, and a pair of muggle cars as proof of civilisation.

Brooks and Andromeda hid behind the trees surrounding the meadow.

'Where are we?' she whispered.

'Not too far from London,' replied the Auror. 'They couldn't apparate with a sick person, so they used Ministry enchanted cars. The girl is in the hut.'

'Okay,' said Andromeda. 'I need you to distract those Aurors while I go inside.'

Brooks raised an eyebrow. 'Err… What? I thought you were going to report to your dad.'

'Yeah, after I go inside.'

'Hey, I won't be paid if you get arrested,' he said.

'Well you won't be paid either if you don't get me inside!' she groaned between her teeth.

Brooks raised his hands in front of him.

'Sheesh, you Blacks…' he said.

He plunged a hand in one of the many pockets of his Auror robes and got a piece of fabric out of it.

'Invisibility cloak,' he explained. 'Put it on.'

Andromeda obliged.

'Follow me and try to be sneaky.'

She was careful to walk on his steps as they approached the hut. So careful, in fact, that she collided with Brooks's back when the man came to a brutal stop.

'Hey!' she muttered under her breath.

'Wards,' he whispered back.

Andromeda froze.

'Oy! You blokes!' Brooks called out to the Aurors guarding the hut.

They perked up at the sight of him and exchanged glances.

'Yeah, yeah, I'm talking to you two! Your wards are shite!'

The youngest Auror, a skinny dark-skinned man with a broken nose walked towards them while the other one shook his head.

'What are you talking about?' asked the skinny one.

Brooks crossed his arms over his chest. 'I'm talking about your ward, Fenwick,' he said. 'It's shite.'

Fenwick clenched his jaws. 'You said that already, Brooks. I'm asking what you mean by that.'

Brooks snickered. 'Well, can't you hear? It's so noisy even a deaf troll would think something is odd.'

Fenwick craned his neck forward. 'I don't hear anything.'

'Seriously?'

'There's nothing to hear.'

And for a good five minutes, Andromeda looked on with profound contempt as the two men argued over whether or not the wards made any sound. She was evaluating her chances of making it to the hut without being caught if she made a run for it despite the wards – very low chances, obviously – when Brooks's chatter finally seemed to hint at being part of a plan.

'Well if you're so sure, then annul the wards for a second and we'll hear.'

Fenwick paused mid-protest.

'What? No. That'd be dangerous. It takes time.'

'Only a few seconds.'

'It takes time to cast the wards again, idiot.'

'Barely a minute, if I help you.'

'Come on, don't be ridiculous. Why are you even here?'

'They sent me as back up.'

'You? Why?'

'I guess they could not trust you and Pacha to do so well on your own. Can't say I blame them…'

Fenwick clenched his jaws. 'You better shut it, Brooks.'

Back in front of the hut, the older Auror, whom Andromeda assumed was Pacha, raised his voice.

'What are you boys doing?' he asked.

Brooks turned back to Fenwick.

'Remember how your wards were always the weakest back during our training days, Fenwick?'

It barely took more convincing than that for Fenwick to finally flinch and give in to his pride. Brooks and he started taking the wards down, and indeed, it barely took a few seconds. As soon as they were down, Brooks exclaimed "Done!" and Andromeda scurried through and towards the hut, careful not to let her feet show under the Invisibility Cloak while she ran.

As she got closer, she realised that she would not be able to enter the hut with Pacha so close to the door. Thankfully, the Auror lost patience and decided to go see what the younger men were doing. Andromeda seized the opportunity and hurried inside the unlocked hut. She closed the door behind her, exhaling loudly as she finally she dared take a breath.

'What the -?'

Andromeda spun around... She stopped dead. There was someone there she had not anticipated. A Healer.

The woman stood up from the bedside stool on which she had been sitting when the door opened, and Andromeda panicked.

'Stupefy!' she shrieked, pointing her wand while still under the Invisibility cloak.

The Healer hit the floor.

Andromeda froze, her wand still pointing up. Slowly, she glanced down. The Healer was immobile on the ground. She was young too. Feeling her heartbeat quicken Andromeda could only hope that she had not hurt herself too bad when falling. She felt terrible. That was not supposed to happen, she thought. Her heart was racing, and her hands were shaking, and her eyes started wandering away from the unconscious body. She looked around. The hut was small, rustic, and furnished only with what was necessary. A desk, a wardrobe, and in a corner of the room, an ensemble of cauldrons filled with odd potions and metalic instruments which Andromeda was unfamiliar with. Against the wall, besides the door, there was a bed.

And on the bed, Deborah Leeswood.

*[…] a cluttered open area divided into cubicles, which was buzzing with talk and laughter _ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 7, the Ministry of Magic.

** A lopsided sign on the nearest cubicle read: Auror Headquarters _ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 7, the Ministry of Magic.