Part II


"Alright, dinner is ready!" Andromeda hollered over the noise in her living room. "James, you can finish your tale while we eat; some of us are hungry." The men rose at different intervals, making their way towards the dining room.

"What tales? These are anecdotes, Andromeda, not some tall tales. They're our own true Hogwarts adventures!" James argued in mock indignation.

"Yes, yes, and I am the discoverer of the Chamber of Secrets. And where do you all think you are going? Go to the bathroom and wash. Sirius, put down that roll – no, not back in the basket, on your plate, you already touched it - don't give me that look, go scrub! You can act like animals at your house but in here you would do well to act like proper gentlemen."

Andromeda stood with her hands on her hips, a spatula in one and her wand in the other, barring the way into the dining room. It was as if she was guarding the food from masculine uncleanliness. The table, normally big enough to sit four comfortably, had been enlarged to fit eight. Remus was the first one to return, damp hands a sign that they had been properly washed.

"Thanks for having me over, Mrs. Tonks." He muttered humbly. "Do you want me to help you with anything?"

Remus Lupin was still a ragged-looking young man, but he looked happier and more put-together since she had seen him during their time at Hogwarts. He was taller, too; taller already than she was, and she could see young stubble shadowing his cheeks. His appearance and attitude was still one of a polite, pleasant boy who lacked wealth, and while she had initially been overly cautious of the boy, she had quickly warmed up to him.

"No need, Remus, I've got it. Oh no, dear, not there!" She cried, stopping him from sitting in the seat directly beside Nymphadora's kiddy seat. "Nymphadora's at a difficult age right now, won't eat if she's not next to Ted - you understand. Here, why don't you sit over here and start on some salad and bread." She indicated to the chair farthest away from the kiddy chair in question. She liked the boy well enough because Sirius thought so warmly of him and Ted assured her he was safe but she would be lying if she said that the knowledge of him being a werewolf did not unnerved her. She had not yet overcome the lingering prejudice of her old life and never allowed him nearer to her daughter than necessary. If he noticed her unease and predicted her motives, he said nothing.

"Everything smells delicious, Dromeda." Benjy said with a smile. "Thanks for dinner. I'll be out of your hair before you have to put the little one down."

"It's alright, Benjy, you are always welcomed here. Stay as long as you like." Andromeda strode back into the kitchen, flicking her wand at pots, pans, and trays. Immediately, the bowl of mashed potatoes, the tray of rosemary beef (organized with medium-rare to the left, medium-well to the right), and a dish of corn rose into the air and sped towards the table. The rest of the pans and cutlery lined up at the sink, where the scrub, sponge, and towel had sprung up to begin the cleaning assembly.

"Food's on the table." Andromeda declared as the last of her guests sank into their seats. "Feel free to serve yourselves as much as you want. I have to take care of our young lady." She smiled at her daughter, listening attentively to her story as she cut up the meat into tiny pieces.

The party soon lapsed into momentary silence as everyone occupied their mouths with the first few morsels. The dining room was filled only with the clanking of fork onto plate, the occasional muttered "pass the bread, please", and soft thud of drinking glasses being set down. Well, and Nymphadora, who was chattering away to her mother, who was only half listening to a not-yet-four-year-old's fantastical tale about a unicorn, flying monkeys, and her elfin friend Miana.

Ted sat at the head, dressed comfortably in Muggle clothes. He looked tired, an effect Andromeda knew to be from the silent worry he had for his family. With the recent escalation in the political tensions, declared war seemed to be inevitable and he now worried about the safety of his wife and child as well as his Muggle relatives. To his left sat Benjamin Fenwick, Ted's long-time friend whose presence seemed to calm Ted. Between Ted and Dromeda sat Nymphadora, too young to be anything but oblivious to the political struggles that would have so much impact on her life. Across from Andromeda, sandwiched between Benjy and Remus, sat Peter Pettigrew. He had only been over to her home once before, and she was not sure if she liked the boy. He was plump and short, with beady eyes. Sirius liked him well enough but he reminded Andromeda of Narcissa, running after those who were older, far cleverer. Of course, the cases were completely different: Narcissa had been a small child trying to keep up with her sisters while this was an almost-grown man lolling after fellow classmates. Whatever the case, he was a far cry from intelligent and Andromeda held little patience for sort like him. Then, of course, were Sirius Black and James Potter. Thick as thieves and inseparable, it was always with a pang that Andromeda thought of her old relationship Bellatrix. They seemed to be able to read each others' minds and, although they were always getting into trouble, they were turning into respectable adults.

After the initial pangs of hunger had been satisfied, conversation began to waft back in.

"Oh, Ted, there's going to be a meeting in about a week, on the second night of the new moon. My place this time; Eithne is going a bit crazy cleaning it up - you'd think we were hosting the Minister of Magic or something." Benjy rolled his eyes as he bit into his corn, juice spraying everywhere so that Peter had to lean away to avoid most of it. Andromeda, whose attention had snapped onto Benjy, did not miss a beat as she handed the squat boy a napkin and asked, "What sort of meeting?"

"Just the usual meeting, Dromeda. We won't be attacking anyone this week, don't worry. Dumbledore just wants to go over security checks. Things are getting worse; Marlene's brother was found dead yesterday and Caradoc's still missing. Dumbledore's getting worried; Alastor reckons the Death Eaters got him, and frankly, I agree with him."

"He's worse than dead, Benjy, if that's the case." Ted commented gravely.

Andromeda said nothing. She knew Sebastian McKinnon; he had been a student at Hogwarts with her, though he had been in Ravenclaw and four years ahead of her. Intelligent and easy-going, he had tutored her in Transfigurations during her third year, even when he had to juggle studying for his N.E.W.T.s. His death - murder - came as a bit of a shock.

"And his family?" She demanded finally. Ted and Benjy paused to exchange glances, and Dromeda felt her stomach drop.

"His wife and the baby were taken into hiding. They had been visiting a friend when the Death Eaters came knocking. But the other one," Benjy gestured helplessly with his hands, "we weren't able to find the first born. Sheila said the child had stayed at the house with her dad but there wasn't a body."

"Merlin's beard," Andromeda whispered. Sebastian had had a half-blood Irish wife, Sheila, and two children: three-year-old Maureen and fourteen-month-old Sean. Andromeda glanced at Nymphadora, who was singing happily with her mouth full of food. It was suddenly very hard to breathe, as if a hand was clenching tightly around her heart; she could not imagine the state Sheila must be in.

"Bloody hell! What do they want with Maureen? She's just a baby!" James cried, outraged.

"Watch your language, James." Andromeda scolded half-heartedly. "Nymphadora can talk quite well now; she repeats everything." And sure enough, the little girl was now chanting "Boy-dee elle! Boy-dee elle!" around her mashed potatoes.

"It doesn't make any sense." Remus said, brows furrowing in a horrified frown.

"It never makes sense." Benjamin told him bitterly.

"It doesn't have to make sense. You-Know-Who has been after Marlene for a while now but she's good at giving them all the slip. I reckon he's tired of chasing around in the fog. Marlene may not be married but she's got parents and a brother that is. He's hitting those who can bring Marlene rushing back and who can give him valuable information while he's at it." He glanced briefly at his wife and daughter beside him before clarifying: "Family."

The table lapsed back into silence again. Andromeda felt sick. She nibbled on some meat but found that she had lost her appetite. To lose one's husband and child, all in one night? The thought alone chilled her blood. She wondered what it must have been like to come home to a deathly silent house… open the door to the life-shattering news… you would never kiss your husband again… would never hold your baby again. And all for what? To what purpose? To continue the age-old dispute on whether Muggles and wizards could live, survive, in peaceful coexistence? She feared for herself, for her husband, for their daughter. She hated that Ted wanted to be a part of the Order of the Phoenix. She wanted to take on a politically neutral profile but Ted had refused. In the end, they agreed that he should join the Order to assist if not to actively fight. She understood that Ted had everything to gain in winning this soon-to-be war; she also saw that he had everything to lose in fighting in it.

"Speaking of the Order," James began casually. "And seeing as we are of age already…"

"When do we get to join?" Sirius finished.

"You don't." Andromeda answered shortly. Her answer was not taken well; immediately, Sirius and James began to argue indignantly, their voices steadily growing louder over each other and Peter's attempts to plea his case. Benjy and Ted were loudly trying to assure the boys that Andromeda's answer was not the final answer. Only Remus remained quiet, though his expression told her he would not for very long. Nymphadora, who had been startled by the outburst, was looking around with big brown eyes, hair now a bright orange due to the suddenness of the commotion.

"Boys, quiet! Sit down, James, this isn't a football game." James made a noise of confusion at Ted's Muggle phrase but he was ignored. "Dromeda, honey, you can't stop them from joining if they want to." He reached out a hand to place it reassuringly over hers. "They are of age now, all of them. It's their lives and they have to decide what they are going to do."

"This is our war, Dromeda! We can't just sit back and do nothing! I want to fight!" Sirius cried the moment he could speak.

"The Order needs numbers and we want to help." James added. "We know our stuff, we know we can do this!"

"What the other side is doing is wrong, and it's our future the Dark Lord is messing with. If he takes power, our lives will be hell! Sorry," he added, catching his cousin's look.

"If he takes control, we won't be free. Society will be all about those old conservative principles Sirius's mom preaches about. My parents chucked them ages ago, all that 'pureblood' and 'dirty blood' nonsense."

"And you're a blood-traitor now, Dromeda! You're on our side. They won't welcome-"

"Yes, thank you, Sirius." Andromeda interrupted icily. James and Sirius quieted at once. "I think I know quite well what society thinks I am. I know what I am and I know the life I chose. It's been difficult but I do not regret it. And I don't need or appreciate you stereotyping me or stamping labels onto my person because of it."

"Sorry," Sirius mumbled. Beside him, James seemed to suddenly be very interested in his steak. "I didn't mean-"

"It's done."

There was a thick and awkward silence until Remus finally spoke up, calm and even but laced with fierce determination.

"I was discriminated against when I was growing up. I still am. I thought I would never be accepted anywhere or by anyone. But I was wrong. People gave me a chance. I met my three best friends at Hogwarts. They have gotten me into more trouble than I care to admit," at this James and Sirius grinned widely, "but I know that when I am in real trouble they will stick out their necks for me. They gave me a chance; Dumbledore gave me a chance. Even though I am a werewolf," Andromeda shifted uneasily; she liked it better when she forgot about what James liked to call his "furry little problem" and saw him only as a well-mannered sweet normal wizard who was just crazy enough to run around with her cousin, "I would not be the same man I am today if along the way I did not meet those good wizards, like Dumbledore, who gave me a chance. I have no interest in joining You-Know-Who. As long as we trust Dumbledore and stick together, we have a chance. I want to fight and if Dumbledore can use us, then I want to fight for my freedom. We owe it to Dumbledore; we owe it to ourselves."

Remus fell silent to cheering and applause. Ted and Benjy were smiling warmly at him and Peter was eagerly clapping him on the back. Andromeda sighed; she knew when she had been out-voted.

"Well, you are not going to do anything now. You need to finish your education. All of you." She shot Sirius and James a pointed look. "Once you finish at Hogwarts and read more into what you are getting yourselves into then you can decide."

"I don't need to read more into it." James muttered but his tone was light. Conversation after that remained on safer, lighter subjects for the rest of the evening.

Her thoughts did not return to the war that was looming over them until she was cleaning up the dining table and kitchen. James, Peter, and Remus had all Floo'd back to their respective homes; Sirius went with James back to the Potters', who had taken him in as a second son after his row with Aunt Walburga during the Easter holiday the year before. Benjy had Disapparated about an hour afterwards to allow the Tonks couple some quiet; Andromeda had settled on cleaning up after their guests when Ted offered to put Nymphadora to bed. She had been hauled up the stairs with screams of "No! I not sleepy, I not sleepy!" But as Andromeda placed the last of the dishes into the cupboard, the hosue was quiet and she could hear the crickets singing outside. It was peaceful and allowed her mind to wander.

Sirius wanted to be in the Order. She knew he would want to be with the same certainty she knew that, come June, he would already be a proud member. James, Remus, and Peter would of course join him (she was skeptical regarding how much help Peter would be but they said people could surprise you). That would add one more family member out fighting, one more family member she could lose.

Didn't she worry enough fretting over how late Ted arrived sometimes? Didn't she work herself into enough of a state wondering when the Death Eaters would come knocking for her loyalty? Wasn't it heartache enough to sit with Nymphadora at night, reading to her, and hope and wish upon every star in the sky that this would not be the last night she would read her daughter a bedtime story? Wasn't it sickening enough to know that Bellatrix was a branded Death Eater, tossed into a cruel world of kill or be killed? And what of Narcissa, married to a monster, a fanged snake just biding his time until opportune moment to strike at its prey? Now Sirius wanted to join the game; he wanted to run out into danger, too. Just one more person who could be snatched from her, never to be heard from again.

She didn't realize she had been crying until two large hands gripped her shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug. The coarse material of his shirt rubbed against her face, her tears pooling at her nose and lips. She gripped him back, hands fisting in his shirt, terrified of what would happen if she ever let him go.

She let his scent calm her, let his voice soother her. She let him maneuver her head so that she was staring up at him, chin resting on his chest. She let him kiss away her tears. She let him rock her back and forth for what felt like hours.

But she did not let him hear the fear, the one question, screaming through her mind: How much more was she willing to pay?


**edited**