Twenty-three-year-old Arielle Lestrange clutched her brand new baby girl to her chest and cried, both in her relief from the pain of childbirth and from the horror of what she would now face alone. Her mother was nearby, having helped her to stay mostly calm and focused.

"She's beautiful," Andromeda smiled kindly, motioning her daughter to support the newborn better. "What are you going to call her?"

"Aislinn," Arielle sniffed, a small sob escaping her. "Islie..." That was the name her baby's father had wanted.

"Perfect," Andromeda murmured. "Little Islie. The family will be excited to meet her, I'm sure."

Arielle wasn't so sure about that.

"Arielle!"

The girl froze in shock, then moved quickly, but not quick enough. "Ah—!" she gasped as someone slammed her into the passageway wall.

"You were with Potter and his friends—" The young man cursed her as she fought him.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Arielle yelled, fighting the pain of his curse as she readied her own.

"I ought to turn you in," he murmured, the light of his wand casting shadows on their faces. "Arielle Lestrange, a traitor."

Arielle hissed angrily. "I am no traitor!"

"The question is, would that upset the balance between our families?" the young man wondered.

"They would never believe you," she snapped.

He pressed her more firmly against the wall, the girl squirming as she still tried to escape. "I have another solution...you give me something—for my silence."

She was about to ask what he wanted when she felt his hand slip around her and firmly squeeze her bum. "Ah, no!" she gasped, but couldn't stop him.

"For my silence," he reminded her. "Don't fight me."

As he lowered her to the floor, lifting her skirts, Arielle gripped onto his shoulders, telling herself over and over that it would be okay.

Pain shot through her and she woke up with a cry, hyperventilating. Her mother entered the room a moment later, and Arielle let out a shriek of fright. "Arielle, it's okay," Andromeda said softly. "You're in pain?"

"Cramps," Arielle sniffed, hearing her baby girl cry and cringing at the sound.

"I'll get you a potion," Andromeda said, summoning one of the vials on the girl's desk. She made sure Arielle was drinking it before she went to the baby and took the little one into her arms.

"I don't want her," Arielle whispered, shaking her head as Andromeda moved to hand her the crying baby.

Andromeda frowned. "Aria, this is your daughter—"

"I don't want her!" Arielle cried, wrapping her arms around herself.

Andromeda picked up a bottle and took the baby out of the room, leaving Arielle to cry on the bed. The new mother curled up, staring at the crib and other baby things in despair.

The young witch had never wanted any of this, and it was her own foolishness after the war that had led to her and the man who had blackmailed her conceiving that baby girl. She could never be a proper mother to the child, she felt, and wished that she'd never gone to the meetings to be able to be blackmailed.

Arielle hated when her brother visited her, because he scolded her for pushing away her own child. She screamed at him, but he was unmoved, crossing his arms as he watched her.

"Mother didn't plan on Dora either, or you, but she loved us and raised us because we were hers," Laverne answered. "You should do the same."

"Easy for you to say," Arielle snapped. "You and Athena—you're both so perfect. It's not as easy as you think."

Laverne glared at her. "There's nothing perfect about me," he said. "Mother never wanted to have my father's children—any of us. And I turned out to be a rebel as well."

Arielle glared at him. "Go away," she growled.

He shrugged. "Athena and her family are coming over in an hour to meet the newest little Lestrange," he informed her, smirking at her look of fury. "Try not to make an even worse impression."

He turned and left her room, the witch's hands trembling, not out of anger, but out of nervousness. She didn't want to speak to any of the House of Nott.

Arielle was grateful that her sister wasn't horrible about it, taking the baby girl into her arms and cooing over her. "She's so sweet," Athena breathed. "Congratulations, Aria."

"Thanks," the younger witch said with a sigh.

Alvin made no comment, but the children exclaimed over the baby as Theo looked on with a blank expression. Arielle was shaking slightly as she took back her daughter to mask her nervousness. She sat down, Lauren coming to her side and sitting with her.

Theo met her gaze, and Arielle's heart pounded in fright. No one could know, and yet, she wanted to scream the truth just so she didn't have to hold it in—but it wouldn't help either of them. She did not want to marry her baby's father; plus, the man was engaged to another young witch.

She remembered his hands on her, his breath on her neck as he whispered naughty things in her ear. Arielle looked down at the product of his desire for her and closed her eyes, her heart breaking. He—Theodore Nott—had ruined her life.

Nymphadora visited Lestrange Manor a couple weeks later, and Arielle was very nervous for her oldest sister to meet the new baby. "She's beautiful," Dora smiled. "Think she'll be like you, or her dad?"

"Me, I hope," Arielle said, crossing her arms. "I'm not telling who the father is."

"I still think he's threatened you and that you're scared to reveal him to us so we can make him pay," Dora told her sister with a shrug.

"Yes," Laverne agreed, "but if he's too cowardly to come forward himself and own up to it, then he doesn't deserve to be acknowledged in any way."

Arielle frowned. "He will want to take her eventually," she scowled. "But I won't let him."

Dora raised an eyebrow. "Is he pureblood?"

"...yes," Arielle muttered, holding her baby girl protectively.

"Well, at least it's not a boy," Laverne said. "You'd have an easier court case since Islie's not technically the heir."

"He cannot have her," Arielle said angrily. "The things he's done..." she shook her head. "But I don't know what I can do…."

"We'll figure out something," Laverne promised. "Islie is safe here."

Arielle nodded, concerned about her baby girl.

It was a couple of months later when Laverne went to find Lauren that he discovered her trying to calm their crying niece. "Where's Arielle?" Laverne said in annoyance. "She should be caring for this baby—not you."

"Arielle went out with a friend," answered Lauren, trying to comfort little Islie. "She's been going out a lot more recently."

"She ought to be home with her daughter," Laverne said severely, and his wife sighed.

"Laverne, Islie knows you're upset," she said. "Please try to be calm for her."

Laverne moved closer and looked down at the baby girl. "Hey, beautiful," he said quietly. "What's wrong?"

"I think she's missing a familiar face and voice," Lauren answered. "Your mother usually cares for her, but she's gone to see Cissa."

"I don't want you taking on this responsibility, Lauren," Laverne said firmly. "Arielle needs to step up and do her duty for the child."

"It's not about Arielle," Lauren huffed. "This little girl needs love." She saw her husband's expression and sighed. "Please don't be angry, Laverne. I can't bear to see Aislinn so upset and not do anything about it myself."

The young man leaned down and kissed Lauren's cheek, brushing her hair back from her face. "You have a mother's heart," he said softly. "That's one of the reasons I love you. I don't mean to be angry with you."

She lifted her face and they kissed, Laverne pouring affection into the gesture. "Perhaps tonight you'll be free?" he murmured.

Lauren smirked. "Most likely," she murmured, kissing him again before settling back to comfort baby Islie. "Laverne?"

"Yes, Lauren," he asked, looking into her face with a smile.

"What do you think...about us having another child?"

His instant reaction was to stare at her, and her heart sank. "Another?" he said after a moment. "We have three, Lauren—we don't need to keep up with anyone."

She bit her lip, then said firmly, "I want another baby."

"No—I've already almost lost you twice," the man replied, distraught. "Having babies is very difficult for you—we have both a boy and a girl—we don't need any more. It's too dangerous."

"I don't care," Lauren said urgently. "I'll take the risk."

"I don't want to lose you," Laverne breathed. "We can't—I won't say yes to something that is unecessary and could hurt you."

Lauren placed a hand over her stomach and looked up at him. "I want to be pregnant and feel the baby kicking," she whispered. "I want another child, Laverne."

He gently placed a hand on her shoulder as he leaned down to look into her brown eyes. "I can't say yes," he told her quietly. "I won't be responsible for your death. I need you, and our other children need you."

She realised that he wasn't going to agree and held Islie closer, bowing her head as tears welled up in her eyes. "Lauren," he murmured, feeling her sorrow and wincing at the pain it gave him. "I'm so sorry...why do you suddenly want a baby? Is it because of Aislinn?"

"I don't know," she sniffed, cringing away as he reached to brush her hair out of her face.

"Perhaps you should discuss these feelings with my mother," he said. "Perhaps she—"

"No," Lauren said firmly. "She wouldn't understand: she's not weak."

"Lauren," he said in shock, but she looked away again.

"You should go," she whispered. "See if one of the children needs something."

Laverne looked at her sorrowfully. "Lauren, I—"

"Go," she snapped, then cringed and refused to look back at him, tears trickling down her cheeks.

"I love you," he murmured, then left her alone with their niece.

They did not talk about her desire for another child anymore, though he noticed that she tried to interact with her children even more. Laverne was grateful that she didn't ask him again, and he did his best to be more loving and caring toward his wife. It was difficult to spare the time, but he tried to do special things for her, and make time for them to just be together.

Arielle had just informed Laverne that she was moving in with her boyfriend and that she wanted to leave Aislinn at Lestrange Manor for a while yet. Neither Laverne nor his mother liked the idea much, but they both decided it was the best plan for Aislinn.

When Lauren found out, she stared at Arielle in horror and hissed, "You're a terrible mother!" Her sons agreed, and the witch continued, "How dare you abandon your little baby?!"

"Lauren," Laverne said sharply, but she pointed a finger at him. "I will not shut up," she said sternly to her husband before turning back to Arielle. "You should not be leaving your daughter, and if this is what your man requires, then he is trash."

"Islie is safer here," Arielle said, her hair shooting red in anger. "Besides, our house is too small and not safe for a little baby about to crawl."

"You're a disgrace," Lauren said, and all of her children stared as their father stepped in between the two women, Arielle's wand pointed at his chest.

"Aislinn is safe here," Laverne said quietly to his sister. "Visit us when you can—let us know in advance."

Arielle nodded, then left the manor—and everyone turned to Lauren. "We'll be in the study," Laverne told his mother and the children.

When the door shut on the husband and wife, Lauren crossed her arms and turned away from him, hunched over protectively. He watched her for a moment, then said, "You are right about this, Lauren."

She didn't move, and he approached her without touching her. "The children don't need to see these things—and I know you know that," he said quietly. "Both of our sons already don't care for Arielle much—but she's part of my family and I'm trying not to ostracise her."

"She's a bad example to our children," Lauren muttered. "She's a horrible mother—I don't understand why your mother doesn't tell her off."

"She has," answered Laverne. "In private. Arielle tends to make her mistakes publicly, but she is an adult. I, however, intend to make sure that my niece has the most loving home and the best care possible, but I need your help, Lauren."

Lauren didn't move, and Laverne was unsure of how to deal with her. "Don't hate the child for what the parent has done," he said finally.

"I don't," the woman said woodenly. "I wish she were mine."

"Uh—" Laverne closed his mouth as Lauren's arms wrapped more tightly around herself.

"She had no complications," Lauren burst out angrily, "but yet she doesn't want this perfect baby girl that's an inconvenience to her." Lauren stomped her foot and glared at her husband. "Why doesn't she just give it away? The poor baby's not going to have a very good life!"

Laverne drew a calming breath. "Do you want to adopt Aislinn?"

Lauren wrapped her arms around herself again. "Arielle would never agree to it."

"She asked me if we would," the man said quietly to his wife, and she looked up skeptically. "See, love, Arielle told me that the child's father will probably try to take Islie away eventually. We talked it over and Arielle believes that it would be better if we were her legal parents."

"Who is her father?" Lauren frowned. "Did she tell you?"

"No," Laverne answered with a sigh. "I just know he's a pureblood...and that he chose her name. Aislinn has to stay here for her own safety, Lauren."

"Oh." Lauren looked down at the floor, hearing her husband approach and feeling his arms slip around her gently.

Laverne rubbed her back gently as he murmured, "Shall I begin the adoption papers?"

The blonde witch nodded slowly, finally melting in her husband's arms. "We need to talk about this more," she mumbled into his shirt, once again grateful that he was so understanding and kind.

"Not right now," he said, kissing her head. "But soon, and then we introduce Aislinn to our children as their sister."

"Two and two," Lauren said with a tearful smile.

"Yes," Laverne smiled. "And she'll still be a Lestrange."

Lauren nodded. "Okay. Let me go back to her."

Laverne let her go, following her to the nursery where Andromeda was just taking care of the baby, Lorien looking on. "Mum," Laverne said as Andromeda lifted the baby up and gave it to Lauren. "Thank you, Mother."

"Of course," Andromeda answered. "Come, Lori." The child obeyed, looking curiously at her parents and the baby.

"Islie," Lauren murmured, rocking the little one in her arms. "How long will the papers take, Laverne?"

"A few weeks to go through the Ministry after we've written them up," Laverne answered.

Lauren kissed the baby's head gently. "Mine," she claimed the child.

Laverne smiled, hoping this was the beginning of better things for all of them.