A/N: I've been waiting for a while for this chapter.
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November 1981
Andromeda was jerked awake by a loud knock on the door. At first she thought she must have dreamt it. She was surprised she heard it over the din of the storm outside, but there it was again, loud and urgent. Andromeda shot up in the bed.
"Is that the door?" Ted asked sleepily beside her.
"Someone is knocking," she breathed out. The rain pelted outside the window and Andromeda felt an uneasiness fall over her.
Ted sat up, his eyes dark in the low light. "Stay here." He stood up and grabbed his wand.
Andromeda jumped up after him. "I'm going to get Dora," she said, her voice tight.
"Don't wake her," Ted warned in a low voice. "Let me see who it is first."
"Mummy?" Dora called out.
"Too late," Andromeda said and brushed past Ted, heading into their daughter's room.
Ted had his wand in his hand as he neared the door and the knocking came again. It had only been two days ago that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had fallen and the Potters had been killed. The Ministry was rounding up his supporters quickly, but some were still out there, trying to finish the work he started.
But Death Eaters didn't knock, did they?
Ted pulled open the front door of the cottage and could hardly believe what he saw standing there.
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.
"It's okay, Nymphadora," Andromeda said softly, tucking her back into bed. "No, please don't—" she started but Dora had already turned her hair a glowing orange and her face began to twist into a long snout. "You don't need to be a tiger right now," Andromeda said wearily.
Her head spun around as she heard Ted's voice, loud and full of anger coming from the front of the cottage. Andromeda gripped her wand.
"Nymphadora, stay here."
Dora nodded and turned her hair a light shade of purple to match the duvet she had ducked all but her eyes under. Andromeda kissed her head and walked quietly to the door of Dora's room, sticking her head out.
She could see Ted at the door. It was dark and he was blocking the little view she might have had to see who he was talking to.
"Get off of my property," Ted growled in a low voice.
"You're not the one I came to see," he hissed.
Andromeda stopped breathing. She'd know that voice anywhere.
"You're not seeing her. You're not getting near my family. This is your last chance, Lucius." Ted's voice was rising.
"Oh I think she will want to see me," Lucius snapped back. "Go fetch her like a good little pet."
Andromeda glanced back at Dora, almost invisible in her bed before she closed the door behind her. She quickly crossed the room and stopped behind the door, hidden from the doorway.
"Ted—" Andromeda said softly and his head turned towards her.
"I told you," Lucius said snidely.
"Dromeda." Ted looked concerned that she was there. "Go back to Dora's room. Please." His voice wasn't firm or harsh at all; in fact it was almost pleading.
"Ted, I can handle this."
"I'm not letting him within ten feet of you."
"Technically, I already am within ten feet of her." Lucius drawled. "Andromeda, are you back there?"
Andromeda's heart raced in her chest. She took a step forward, but was still behind the door.
"Dromeda, no," Ted said in a serious tone.
"Because ordering her to do something always works so well."
Andromeda bristled at his indolent tone.
Ted glared back at him. "Yeah, you would know, wouldn't you?"
"I'm not here to argue with you," Lucius spat. "I came to see her."
"You're not seeing—"
"Ted, go check on Nymphadora," Andromeda said in a clear voice.
"You can't be serious." Ted shook his head.
"Ted—"
"No."
"I want to hear what he has to say."
"I'm not leaving you alone with a Death Eater," Ted growled. "Least of all him!"
"Please." She knew she was the only chance of getting him to leave without sparks being shot across the threshold. Their house was protected and no one should have been able to find it without an invitation. The fact that Lucius had meant something was wrong and Andromeda knew she was more likely of the two of them to send him back where he belonged. "Let me do this."
"Yeah, Teddy," Lucius teased. "Let her talk to me. I promise not to steal her away in the middle of the night like you did." His voice was cold.
Ted turned his head back towards Lucius, glaring darkly at him. "It was morning when she left you." There was a dangerous undertone to Ted's voice Andromeda hadn't heard in years and knew if she didn't do something fast, one of them would.
Lightning cracked in the sky as Andromeda moved to stand at Ted's side. For a brief moment everything was lit up as clear as it would have been in the middle of the day. Andromeda could see Lucius's blond hair under a dark hood, his tall frame taking up the doorway.
She realized maybe she should have grabbed a blanket or robe to wrap around herself instead of standing here in Ted's old Hufflepuff Quidditch shirt that she slept in. Andromeda pulled it up where it had slipped off her shoulder and wrapped her arms around herself, partly to cover herself up, partly against the cold air that was blowing in from the door.
Ted must have thought the same thing because he peeled his robe off, leaving him in just a pair of sweatpants and pulled it around her shoulders.
Lucius' eyes moved over her eagerly, drinking in her bare legs until they reached her thick socks that were slipping down her ankles.
"Andromeda," he purred her name and Andromeda felt an old cold sense of hatred stir in her like a scaly beast that had been in hibernation, deep underground. Lucius was leaning one arm against the doorframe, hunkered against the cold wind and rain, but still towering over her.
"Lucius," Andromeda answered him blandly, not giving him the satisfaction of knowing what he caused her to feel.
Ted breathed out so heavily it was almost a growl.
"Ted, it's okay," she said under her breath and placed a hand on his arm. "Go make sure Nymphadora is alright."
Ted hesitated for a moment, glaring at Lucius before stalking away. Andromeda silently thanked the heavens that he hadn't put up a fight. As soon as he disappeared into their daughter's room, Andromeda donned her retired Slytherin snarl and turned back to the unwelcome memory standing on her stoop.
"It's good to see you again," Lucius said as smoothly as if they had run into each other casually on the street and he was not standing at her door in the middle of night during a storm.
"Is it?" she asked coldly. "I think not."
Andromeda pulled Ted's robe tighter around her, trying to draw the warmth from his body from it as another cold wind blew inside.
Lucius tutted and shook his head. "You aren't glad to see your brother-in-law?"
She knew he was saying this to get a rise out of her. She hated the fact that Narcissa had been shoved in her place after she had run away with Ted. She knew nothing of their relationship or how Lucius treated her. Was he cruel? Did he love her?
"I assume you want something?" she drawled, Pureblooded coolness slipping easily back into her tone.
"I see your manners have… devolved since falling from grace." His own tone matched hers now. "Tell me, did he fuck the sophistication right out of you?"
Andromeda's amber eyes hardened. "We both know I didn't have much to begin with. Wouldn't have run around behind your back for months if I had, would I?"
Lucius' lip curled. They could throw insults back and forth to each other all night, but Andromeda had no desire to keep Lucius there any longer than was necessary.
"If your reason for being here is to annoy me then job well done, you can go home now." She said and began to close the door.
Lucius stuck out his arm and held it open. Andromeda's eyes flashed at him.
"They're coming for me," he said in a low voice. "The Ministry."
Andromeda eyed him warily, glancing at his outstretched forearm in front of her. Although his traveling cloak covered it, she knew what lay on his skin under it. She needed no explanation as to why the Ministry was looking for him. The reason was obvious to both of them.
"We need a place to stay."
That one word made the world of a difference and Andromeda felt her mask slip.
Lucius stepped aside gracefully and Andromeda was face to face with Narcissa—who had a small, blond bundle in her arms.
"Mummy!" Dora called out and ran into the room.
"DORA!" Ted chased after her, but she reached Andromeda and grabbed onto her waist tightly, peering around her hip.
Ted was there in a second and pulled her Dora back wrapping a protective arm around her.
Andromeda was still staring at her sister, wrapped up in a white fur cloak with a matching blanket around her child. The white blond hair sticking up as the wind blew over them and she tried to shield her baby with her thin frame.
"You'd turn your own sister away?" Lucius asked.
"No," Ted said firmly. "No way are you staying in my house." His earthy eyes were trained on Lucius. He leaned forward, hissing at Andromeda, "He's a Death Eater!" as he placed his hands over Dora's ears.
Lucius sneered nastily at him.
"Mummy, who's that?" Dora asked.
Narcissa looked down at Dora with an expression of shock. After blinking a few times her blue eyes turned soft, never leaving Dora's face.
"This is Draco," Narcissa said as she knelt down and the blond baby stirred a bit in her arms. "He's your…" But the words seemed to die in her throat. Lucius cleared his throat pointedly and she stood back up.
"Looks like I was right, Cissy," Lucius muttered under his breath.
"Andromeda," Narcissa interrupted. It sounded like she was in pain. This couldn't have been easy for her to come here, after all this time, and ask for a place to stay in the middle of the night. Andromeda was too stunned to do anything but meet her sister's ocean tinted eyes. "You said your door would never be closed to me."
Andromeda let out a sharp breath. Ted shifted uncomfortably behind her. The tension hung in the cold air. That was how they had found them—Andromeda's invitation. All these years, Narcissa knew where she was, how to get to her and her family and yet… she had never sold them out. Narcissa, in her own way, had protected them.
Andromeda's heart ached in her chest with the bruised bond they shared. There was so much history between them, all of them, not to mention they would be hiding a fugitive and a dangerous one at that. Narcissa had kept her safe all this time, Andromeda couldn't send her away now.
"I understand," Narcissa said softly, casting her deep blue eyes down at the sleeping form in her arms. She sighed. "It was a long time ago. In a different life." Narcissa began to turn away.
"Wait—" Andromeda called out.
"Dromeda…" Ted's voice was full of warning.
"I'm not sending them back out into this storm. It could kill them," she whispered over her shoulder. Ted ground his teeth together. Andromeda's honey eyes shone as she silently pleaded with him.
"Fine," he said heavily. "But just Narcissa and the baby. He's not stepping foot in here." Ted glared at Lucius who returned it with venom.
Narcissa made to take a step forward but Lucius' hand caught her arm. "They are my family. She goes," his cold grey eyes landed back on Andromeda, "where I go."
Lucius gave her a cruel sneer and Andromeda knew he would take his wife and child back out to weather the storm if they refused him as well. Andromeda looked from her sister to the bundle wrapped in the thick white fur. Her… family. Even if they belonged to Lucius, they belonged to her too.
"Ted—" Andromeda turned her head towards him.
"You're out of your fuc—" he paused and pursed his lips, glancing down at Dora who was looking up at him with big eyes. "You're out of your mind if you think I am going to let him in here with you and Dora. Did you forget what he's done?!"
Dora made a small whining noise and reached out for Andromeda again, clutching onto the robe. Andromeda placed her hand on Dora's head in comfort, pressing her close.
Thunder rolled loudly and the wind blew cold rain in through the open door. Narcissa began to shiver, holding tightly to the baby in her arms.
"Dromeda, no," Ted said softly, but this time in an effort to convince her, not arguing. "The Ministry is after him! Let alone what he's tried to do to you!"
"That's enough," Andromeda said firmly and glanced down at Dora who was clinging to her, looking up at her with large eyes, turning the same shade of deep honey Andromeda knew so well before glancing at the baby who had started to fuss a little in his wrappings.
Andromeda turned back around to Narcissa who was looking at Lucius with a controlled wariness. Lucius wore a scowl and leaned on the doorframe, eyes sizing up Ted.
Narcissa broke the silence. "W-we'll go," she said, her teeth beginning to chatter. "I'm s-s-sorry to have bothered you."
"Narcissa, no." Andromeda reached out for her and her hand found her sister's, locking onto it. Narcissa gave it a slight squeeze back and Andromeda felt how cold her sister's skin was. If Lucius kept them out in this storm neither her nor her baby would last the night even with warming charms.
"You're still my family," Andromeda said softly and Narcissa stifled a sob as Andromeda pulled her over the threshold and embraced her sister. She was careful not to press too tightly since Narcissa was still holding the baby to her chest, but held her there for a moment. She couldn't remember when the last time she had hugged her sister was.
"Draco, is it?" Andromeda said, through tears as she pulled back and looked down at the sleeping form in Narcissa's arms.
"Yes, Baby Draco," Narcissa said, her voice shaking with emotion and relief.
"Come in, sit down," Andromeda guided her into the cottage and to a chair as Dora followed closely behind, interested in their new guests.
Lucius took a step towards the door but Ted placed himself firmly in his way.
"Looks like you've been overruled, Mudblood," Lucius said in a low voice.
"If I even see your hand twitch in a way I don't like," Ted growled. "I will kill you. Do you understand? No second chances. I will do whatever it takes to protect my wife and daughter. They might be family, but we're not."
Lucius sneered and shoved past him into the cottage.
Andromeda lit some candles with a wave of her wand to give them all some light to move around by. There wasn't that much room to move around though, with four adults, a child, and a baby all packed into the small cottage.
Lucius came to stand behind Narcissa and Draco, but it was clear he was doing his best not to touch anything. Andromeda ignored him completely, a fact that Lucius certainly picked up on as his eyes slid around the cottage. When he pulled his gaze away from the darkened doorway of a far bedroom, he met fire in Ted's stare which hadn't left him since he crossed the threshold.
Narcissa began to rearrange the fur blanket around her son as Dora curiously watched.
"I like his hair," Dora said brightly. "It's just like yours." She looked up at Narcissa who seemed pleased at the compliment.
"And yours looks like your Mother's too," Narcissa said gently. Dora had abandoned her lilac hair for her natural shade.
Dora screwed up her face and her hair turned a bright, white blonde. Narcissa gasped and pulled back in surprise.
Andromeda smiled, brushing her hand over Dora's new hair proudly. "This is Nymphadora. She likes to be the center of attention."
"Sweet Salazar, what did you make?" Lucius muttered and Andromeda shot him a warning look. The first one she had granted him since he had let her see her sister. Something hot boiled inside him.
Ted placed his hands on Dora's shoulders, glaring at Lucius. "Dora, sweetie, it's late. We need to get you back to bed, okay?"
"I don't want to go to bed!" she whined. "Not when we're having a party!"
"What if I promise to make muffins in the morning. Will you go to bed then?"
Dora considered this for a moment and then looked back at Narcissa. "Does he like muffins? Mummy is making muffins."
Narcissa smiled at her… niece. "I think that's something he'd like to try. But right now he needs some rest," she said kindly. "That way he can say hello to you tomorrow morning."
"He can play with my toys, I don't mind. I don't have anyone else to share them with."
"That's very kind of you," Andromeda cooed. "Now let's let them get some rest. It's late."
"Dromeda, you want to take her?" Ted asked with a pointed look.
"Teddy," Andromeda answered him back in the same tone and raised her eyebrows. They stared at each other for a moment in an unspoken argument before Ted sighed and guided Dora back to her room. He heard Lucius chuckle as he passed by him.
"Thank you, Andromeda," Narcissa said, reaching out and grabbing her sister's hand again. "For letting us stay. I hope we aren't causing any problems." She glanced over her shoulder to where Ted and Dora had disappeared.
"Oh I'm sure they already have their fair share of problems," Lucius smirked down at Andromeda.
"We used to have one very big problem," Andromeda retorted. "But it disappeared years ago," she added coldly.
Baby Draco yawned and Narcissa muttered softly to him until he tucked his face into the snow white fur blanket and settled back down. Andromeda had thought she lost Narcissa, but here she was. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was gone and maybe that meant that things could be different now. She couldn't help but smile a little at her sister, and her… nephew.
Feeling an old sensation creep down her neck, Andromeda looked up to see Lucius staring at her curiously.
It was so strange, having him here, in her home. Seeing Lucius in the small cottage made him seem small as well. "Where are your elves?"
"At the Manor. Looking after the horses."
"Ah," Andromeda commented. "While you led your wife and child out into a storm."
"Andromeda."
Ted had returned, his arms tight across his chest and his wand in his hand. "She's asking for you, babe."
Andromeda broke her gaze with Lucius. She stood up and tightened the robe around her before smiling down at her sister, moving past Narcissa and skirting widely around Lucius. She placed a soft hand on Ted's chest, which seemed to calm him for a moment, before disappearing into the darkened room.
Ted felt strangely out of place in his own home with Narcissa and Lucius in his living room. In a matter of minutes this room changed from his relaxing living room to a place where they were storing a fugitive Death Eater.
It was odd to think that these people were actually part of his family now. They had been, for years, but it had always been an abstract idea. Now they were sitting in the cottage that he had built. Did they know Andromeda had dreamed this place up? Ted had done everything in his power to keep Lucius out, but he had found a way to slither in, just like he always had.
But Ted wasn't the same kid he had been in school and he wasn't going to let Lucius get his way this time.
"Dromeda will sleep in there with Dora," he finally said. "Narcissa, you take our room. There's an extra blanket in the top of the wardrobe if you need it."
"Thank you," she said a little stiffly, but sincerely.
Ted's tone changed to an abrasively harsh one as he addressed Lucius. "You're out here."
"I'm not sleeping on a couch!" Lucius looked affronted at the idea. "And I told you, where she goes—"
Ted moved closer to Lucius, their faces only inches apart. "I don't care if it is next to your wife or not, you are not sleeping in our bed." He couldn't stand the thought of Lucius on the same sheets he slept on with Andromeda.
Lucius scoffed and rolled his eyes, but Ted caught the smoky simmer of anger underneath.
Narcissa shifted uncomfortably, casting her eyes towards Dora's closed door. Ted expected her to snap either at him or Lucius, but instead Narcissa merely pursed her lips and looked down at the baby in her arms and gave a deep sigh. Exhaustion must have won out because all she said was, "Thank you, Ted."
"You're welcome," Ted said without the difficulty he thought he would have talking with her.
She turned and headed towards their bedroom, whispering softly into the thick white fur in a gentle voice.
"Narcissa," Lucius called and she turned briefly. "I want to say goodnight to my son."
He crossed the room and gently touched the pale blond head. Narcissa stiffened. "Keep him wrapped up in this, I don't want him to… catch something," Lucius said with disgust as he looked around.
"Give her your wand." Ted nodded towards Narcissa.
"Excuse me?! I am not sitting here unarmed!"
The baby let out a sleepy cry.
"Lucius, just… do what he says." Lucius' pale eyes swiveled over to Narcissa, narrowing and Ted was surprised to find Narcissa gazing back up at him with an expression he knew well. It was Andromeda's 'your argument is hopeless' expression.
Lucius seemed less familiar with it. "You'd have me defenseless in a Mud—"
"Lucius." Narcissa's voice sharpened and she glanced at Ted, as if he would throw them out if Lucius finished that word. Her baby gave another cry and Narcissa hushed him softly. "Please."
Lucius sneered at Ted, but seemed to realize he was fighting a losing battle and was in no position to negotiate terms. He pulled the silver snake head of his cane out and handed his wand over to his wife.
Ted glared at Lucius as he turned back around and Narcissa closed the door of their bedroom. As tired as Ted was, he was going to sit in the chair across from the couch all night and make sure Lucius didn't try to get up to any of his old tricks. He knew Dora would be okay with Andromeda in there with her, but Ted wasn't taking any chances.
"This is all really very unnecessary, Tonks," Lucius said with a sigh. "You think I am still upset over a little crush back in school?" he chuckled.
Ted took a step towards him. "You don't fool me, Lucius." Ted's dark eyes were bright. "I know exactly what kind of man you are. The only reason you are here is because your wife and my wife are sisters. Don't think for one second her hospitality has anything to do with you."
Lucius smirked. "She came to the door before she knew Narcissa was here."
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Andromeda was awoken for the second time that night as thunder rolled deeply outside. The storm had worsened and Dora had a hard time falling back asleep, but she now lay deep in dreams and blissfully unaware of the tension that filled the small cottage with as much force as the gale outside.
Andromeda got out of the bed as gently as she could and glanced back at Dora who did not notice her absence. She cracked the door open, planning to get a glass of water but stopped short as Lucius' smirking face filled the small gap outside Dora's bedroom door.
Andromeda's amber eyes turned cold and hard. "What are you doing?!" she hissed.
Lucius' eyes moved off her face to her body. Ted's shirt had slipped off her shoulder again, hanging low on her arm. Andromeda pulled it roughly back up.
"Same thing you are, love." Lucius smirked, some of his hair falling forward to land on his angled cheek.
"I doubt that," Andromeda whispered harshly.
She tried to see past Lucius to see if Ted was awake, but thought of course he must be sleeping. If he was awake, he would be smashing his fist into Lucius' face for even coming near Nymphadora's door.
"Go away," Andromeda said quietly, but firmly.
Lucius tilted his head to the side, smiling smugly. "Is that what you really want?"
"What I want," she hissed, sticking out her chin and Lucius leaned forward a little. "Is your head on a spike. But getting out of my way would suffice."
Lucius' smile sank into a sneer. "How then should I express my thanks for your generosity?"
"I think you've expressed enough." She folded her arms across her chest. His eyes followed her moment and then started back up to her face. They paused however, on her neck and Andromeda tensed under his gaze. He lifted his hand and Andromeda jerked back, the door opening a little farther with a loud creak.
Lucius quickly glanced behind him and Andromeda saw that Ted's chair was empty. Where was he? She looked back at Lucius who was wearing a strange expression while he watched Dora sleeping; still sporting her wavy blonde hair from before.
"She looks like—"
Andromeda felt like she could grow fangs in that moment and rip out Lucius' throat. She stepped forward and closed the door behind her, cutting him off. "Don't finish that sentence."
She didn't really want to be in the dark hall, alone, with Lucius, but she didn't want him anywhere near Nymphadora.
His grey eyes grew cold when they met hers again.
"Tell me one thing, love." All the smoothness in his voice was gone. "Did you ever intend to marry me or was it all just a joke to you?"
Andromeda was used to the cruel way Lucius spoke, but was surprised when she heard the deep undercurrent of pain there.
She took a moment before answering. "Things changed, Lucius. Between us."
His lip curled. "Yes. They did. You said you loved me and that you'd marry me. Then you fucked that Mudblood and ran off with him."
"You're leaving out a few key details, but yes, that is what I did." Andromeda shook her head, making her hair fall back over her shoulders. She made peace with her decisions long ago, but clearly Lucius was still looking for some closure.
"And you saw nothing wrong with that," he scoffed, face twisting. "Lying to me and cheating on me?"
Andromeda blinked in surprise as it dawned on her and she gave a disbelieving laugh. After everything he had done to her, done to Ted… Lucius wanted her to say sorry for cheating on him? It was almost unthinkable. Her amber eyes hardened. "You want me to apologize?"
A sly smile slid over his features. "Or you can open your legs for me. Let me pay Tonks back in kind. You might have chosen me over him, if you'd let me have a go at you too." Andromeda felt cold and sick at his suggestion.
Lucius leaned forward again. "Admit it, the whole incestuous triangle thing we have going on is a turn on, is it not?"
"And you wonder why I chose him over you." Andromeda bared her teeth in a snarl. "I have all the proof I need that Ted's twice the man you'll ever be."
Lucius' pale eyes narrowed, glancing down her again to the way Ted's shirt clung to certain areas of her body. The faded yellow and black matching the way her honey eyes shone in the darkness.
She reached behind her for the doorknob and opened the door, stepping back into her daughter's room.
"As soon as Narcissa is ready tomorrow—you're gone," Andromeda ordered. "And don't come back, Lucius."
She started to close the door, but Lucius slammed his hand on it, keeping it open as he had done the front door earlier tonight.
Andromeda's honey eyes sparked at him and his lit up with a lightning strike before he glared darkly at her. The back of her neck prickled in an all too familiar way.
"Get your hand off the door." Ted's voice was low and dangerous.
Lucius threw her a cold smirk before he turned around slowly to face Ted.
Ted's wand was inches from his face, trained right between his eyes.
"Dromeda, seal it." Ted stated, his dark earthy eyes not leaving Lucius.
"Yeah, because she always takes orders so well," Lucius drawled, but a slam and a squelching noise behind him surprised him.
"I told you to stay away from her," Ted said darkly.
"Oh, how the roles have reserved," Lucius chuckled slowly. "Maybe instead of worrying about me, you should be more concerned about her. She does have a tendency to… wander."
"She never wandered from me," Ted said nastily. "Not really. Not when she slipped into my dorm room, not when she pretended to be your fiancée, and certainly not now that she is my wife and the mother of my child. Andromeda has always been, and always will be, mine."
Lucius' pale eyes burned with a cold fire.
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.
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Two quick knocks. "Narcissa?" Andromeda cracked the door open as quietly as she could.
"Yes, come in," Narcissa answered and Andromeda awkwardly walked into the bedroom, closing the door softly behind her.
Narcissa was fumbling with her son's clothes, the white fur spread out underneath him as she tied little black shoes onto his feet. She looked up and gave Andromeda a tight, uncomfortable smile. Their reunion last night had been filled with lost emotions, but the morning sun had cast their long separation into sharp relief.
Andromeda breathed in slowly as she made her way to the dresser and pulled out some clothes, ducking into the small bathroom to change and freshen up. Ted had picked some clothes out of the clean laundry and had been pulling on a shirt when Andromeda ventured out of Dora's room this morning. Andromeda ran her hands through her hair, trying to calm it, but eventually gave up and tied it loosely behind her head.
When she walked back into the room, Narcissa was sitting on the side of the bed, waiting as Draco pulled at the shoe she had just fastened onto him.
Andromeda took a seat a few feet down from her sister.
"Were you able to get some sleep?" she asked, not really knowing what else to say.
"Yes, actually. I slept better than I have in…" Narcissa trailed off. "I think that is the first time Draco has made it through the night without crying."
Andromeda's heart went out to her sister. What was her life like… with Lucius? Andromeda couldn't imagine being married to him, but Narcissa… Narcissa had dreamed of that. Was it all she had wanted it to be? She didn't look unhappy, but Andromeda knew how easily smiles could be faked.
"No!" Draco pulled off the shoe and threw it.
Narcissa summoned it back and started wrestled it back onto his foot again.
"How old is he?" Andromeda asked, choosing an easy topic.
"He turned one in June." Narcissa gave a small, real smile this time and looked down at her son.
Andromeda could remember so clearly when her daughter had been that small. It seemed like only yesterday. "Nymphadora is eight."
"She reminds me of you." Narcissa's voice was soft and Andromeda looked over to see her sister's deep blue eyes locked onto her face.
"Me? No, she's her Father's daughter," Andromeda said with a shake of her head. She thought of Dora's silly smile, her deep brown eyes, always so full of hope. Just like Ted's always had. Her lights, her stars. "Something I am forever grateful for."
"Why do you hate us so much?" Narcissa asked harshly. "Were we really that terrible to you?"
Andromeda was stunned for a moment at the intensity of the question and the hurt in Narcissa's eyes.
"It wasn't…" Andromeda started and stopped. "It just wasn't the life I wanted, Cissy."
"Was it Lucius?" Narcissa asked, barely above a whisper. Andromeda tried to swallow, but her throat had tightened. She looked away, fearing that her eyes would betray her. "Would you have still left if it wasn't for him?" Narcissa pushed softly.
Andromeda considered her response before answering. It was a strange situation; she had no idea how Narcissa felt about her and Lucius' history or if they had ever spoken about it amongst themselves. "Lucius didn't drive me away. I wasn't running away from him; I was running towards Ted."
Narcissa's expression tightened, frost in her stare.
Draco called out, "Mum-my!" and Narcissa bent her head down, calming him as he stuck a pale, fat arm out from the blanket she had wrapped around him again, waving it in a clear sign of wanting to be held.
Narcissa obliged him, scooping him up and cradling him against her. Draco rested his head on his mother's shoulder, his face sliding into a happy smile. Andromeda was struck by his eyes, so similar to Lucius', but as she looked deeper at her nephew, she saw they were a darker shade of grey.
Andromeda smiled at him and Draco turned his face, burying it in his mother's neck.
She was just about to reach out and tickle his arm when Narcissa said, "I heard you last night."
Andromeda's lips parted, her honey eyes widening in alarm. Narcissa was staring at the window. Her beautiful face blank, but the tendons in her neck straining against her pale skin.
"I… Narcissa…"
They had whispered in the hall and the storm had been loud, but… it was a small cottage. Andromeda wished she had just closed the door as soon as she had seen Lucius' face on the other side of it. What must have Narcissa thought? Hearing that?
"I convinced him to come here. At least, I thought I did." She took a breath before going on. "We were out there for hours and he said he didn't know where we were going. Draco was so cold…" She rubbed his blond head affectionately. "I… I told him that we could try coming here. I thought it was my idea until…"
Andromeda listened, unable to do anything else but sit there.
"When we got here, as soon as we reached the boundary line and I showed him your home—" Narcissa looked over at her. "He made me think it was my idea."
"That wasn't your fault," Andromeda cut in. "You would have frozen out there on your own. And what he said to me… That wasn't… He didn't mean it. You know that right? He only said that to get under my skin."
Narcissa smiled wanly. "I think I know my husband a little better than you do, Andromeda."
Andromeda sat quietly, letting Narcissa decide if she wanted to discuss this more or not. It couldn't have been easy for her, deciding to come here and then deciding to stay once she heard them last night.
"He's a complicated man," Narcissa went on, "and under a tremendous amount of pressure from work and… life. And life has changed," she said softly, stroking Draco's back as he stuck a thumb in his mouth. "So much. So quickly."
"Are you happy?" Andromeda ventured.
"I am," Narcissa kissed her son's head. "Things were good for us, for a while. We had our troubles at times, but…" She sighed. "I wanted to be a mother. And I thought he wanted to be a father too. Instead, Lucius just wanted an heir and a wife. He… Well, you remember, Lucius lost his family very young. I think he forgot what it was like to have one."
Andromeda could hardly breathe. She didn't want to hear this, not really, but Narcissa seemed to feel the need to tell her. And so she listened.
Narcissa wasn't entirely sure why she was telling her sister all of this. Maybe because it didn't matter. She could never say any of this to her so-called friends. To them she had the perfect marriage, perfect life and Narcissa aimed to keep it that way. Or maybe it was because even though years had passed there was still a part of Narcissa that missed Andromeda. But probably it was because Andromeda already knew who Lucius was and was probably the only other person on the face of the earth that could understand what being in a relationship with Lucius was really like.
Narcissa's focus had shifted when she became pregnant and once Draco was born everything changed. Lucius blamed her for never moving back into their rooms, but when she had tried, he had gotten frustrated with her for having to get up to attend to Draco in the night. Narcissa blamed him for being distant and not spending enough time at home. Lucius said everything he was doing was to give their son a future he could thrive in, but when Narcissa asked why his robes would be torn or singed, Lucius said it was better for her not to know.
Now, it had all been for nothing. She wasn't sure how Lucius would take this latest failure or what it would mean for their son. When he told her they needed to go, Narcissa hadn't wanted to, but was terrified that if she didn't, she would never see her husband again. Even if things were strained between them, she had made a Vow, one she could not break.
Not if she wanted her son to have a mother.
"You know how he is…" she said softly. "And I'm busy, most of the time. Draco, he… needs me. And I need him. It's not unheard of for someone like Lucius to go to others for his needs. It doesn't make him any less of Draco's Father or my husband," she said with a pointed look at Andromeda.
"Cissy…" Andromeda felt tears prick at her eyes, but fought them back. This was almost too much to bear. Maybe that's why Narcissa was telling her.
"Please, I didn't tell you that for you to be sorry for me," she said a little coldly. "I wouldn't change it for the world. Not now that I have my son. And… I love Lucius. I do. He's given me everything I ever asked for. I appreciate you letting us stay the night, but I did not come here for your pity."
Andromeda was speechless. Whatever she had expected of this morning, this was not it. Narcissa had changed over the years, but there was still a part of her that was the same as it always had been. "I don't pity you, Narcissa. If you're happy then I am happy for you."
"Thank you."
"And I am glad you came here, even if…" She glanced at the door. "You can stay if you want. For… however long you want." It was an option, not an order. Andromeda knew Purebloods weren't given many choices in their life, despite their privileged positions and she didn't like the idea of Lucius dragging Narcissa and their son back out into the wild.
"Thank you, but our place is with Lucius." Narcissa's emotions were carefully tucked back into place and she pulled the fur up around Draco again.
"Cissy," Andromeda said her name softly.
"You know he'd never let us stay," she murmured.
"I don't give a fig about what he wants," Andromeda snapped. "He's a wretched—"
Narcissa's eyes flashed dangerously. "That's my husband you're talking about."
"Your husband who would have let you and your son die in a storm last night so he could have one more day of freedom!" She knew they would be able to hear her, but right now she didn't care.
"At least he didn't leave me," Narcissa hissed quietly, her eyes cold as glaciers as she glared at her sister. Her expression was as smooth as ice and just as unyielding.
Andromeda stood up, her chest burning and threatening to burst. "I didn't want to leave you, but I had—"
Draco started to fight. "Mummy, Mummy down!" He pushed, shoving little pink fists against her so hard that Andromeda worried it might bruise. "DOWN!"
Narcissa stood up, gathered herself, and held him closer. "Thank you for your hospitality, but I think it's time we carried on." Formal, bland, and blank; the perfect picture of a Pureblood wife. Which was what Narcissa always wanted to be.
Andromeda turned on her heel and strode out of the bedroom, leaving Narcissa behind her.
Nothing had changed.
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She walked into the small living room to see Dora changing her face into a number of ugly features at Lucius from across the room. Ted sat with his arm around her and a proud look upon his face.
Lucius was leaning against the hearth and doing his best to ignore Dora but kept glancing back at her as she changed her features rapidly.
Andromeda stifled a laugh and straightened her face. "Nymphadora!" she said sternly and Dora turned quickly with a four inch long crooked nose, bushy eyebrows, and a wart on her chin. "That is enough," Andromeda raised an eyebrow and Dora fixed her face into it's normal features.
Andromeda glanced at Ted who just shrugged with an innocent look on his face.
She walked past him, dipping down quickly to place a kiss on his cheek, muttering, "You're as childish as she is."
Ted grinned back at her and grabbed her hand, kissing it softly and looking up at her with warm chocolate eyes.
Across the room, Lucius scowled and waited until she was walking into the kitchen before he lifted himself up from the fireplace and took a step after her. "Andromeda," he started.
Ted stood up quickly, pulling Dora behind him, his dark eyes bright with hate.
Andromeda spun around to face him. "I swear on Salazar's watery grave if you come near me, the Ministry will be the LEAST of your problems!" She turned back around and walked over to the small kitchen. Lucius seemed to shrink back against the hearth.
"Ohh, Mum said a swear!" Dora whispered with wide eyes. "Dad! Dad, did you hear her?"
"Yeah, Dora," Ted said, eyes still trained on Lucius as he sat back down beside Dora. "I heard her, the question is did he?"
Lucius grey eyes cut over to Ted, glowering at him. Ted merely raised his eyebrows in response.
"Nymphadora," Andromeda called from the kitchen, "Do you want blueberry or banana nut muffins?"
"Chocolate chip!" Dora yelled and ran off towards the kitchen.
Lucius looked on in surprise. "She bakes?" he asked as if he didn't believe it.
"Dromeda does a lot of things you've never experienced," Ted said in a light growl and Lucius's eyes turned cold. He went back to his sullen brooding by the fire. Ted rolled his eyes and parted the curtains, looking outside.
"Do you want milk or juice?" Andromeda asked as the batter mixed itself and she lit the stove with a tap from her wand. Dora was playing with her favorite pink and black dragon toy, making it swoop and roar.
"Darling?" Andromeda called louder.
"What?" Lucius asked, turning his head in towards the kitchen.
Ted turned from the window and his shoulders tightened. He hadn't heard it much, but the few times Andromeda had called Lucius that while pretending to be his fianceé had been enough.
Andromeda was poised in the kitchen. At first Ted thought she may be frozen with fear, but he saw an old gleam in her eyes, assessing. Andromeda tilted her head—and laughed. An insulting sound, meant to cut to the quick of Lucius. Her shoulders lifted, throat dipped, and full lips parted to let the cruel sound fill the cottage.
Ted watched Lucius' cheeks darken. Andromeda had always known how to hurt him best.
Narcissa walked out of Ted and Andromeda's bedroom and gave Ted a quick nod as she moved past him. She hefted Draco into one arm and glanced at Andromeda in the kitchen with Dora as she reached Lucius' side.
Nymphadora jumped up, nearly falling over her own feet and holding out the clearly worn dragon toy. "For Draino."
"Draco," Narcissa corrected as Ted snorted.
"Dwag-on!" Draco shouted and grabbed the toy, laughing as he shook it and gave a small roar.
"Dora," Ted called, waving for her to come over to him as Lucius started towards his wife.
"Time to go." Lucius grabbed Narcissa's arm, pulling her to the front door. Lucius didn't utter a single word of thanks before yanking open the door and stepping outside.
Narcissa paused in the doorway, then pulled her arm out of Lucius' grip. "Dromeda," she started, but at that same moment Lucius was knocked back into the side of the cottage, hard enough to make the window pane shake in its frame.
Narcissa screamed, clutching Draco to her as roped twisted around Lucius' body tightly.
Andromeda ran to her sister and pulled her back inside.
Two Aurors were standing in the front yard and quickly but carefully made their way to the bound form of Lucius Malfoy, struggling against his ties on the front stoop.
Draco started wailing loudly in Narcissa's arms. He dropped the dragon on the floor.
"Cissy, get back," Andromeda pulled her sister further into the house. She twisted her head around. "Nyphmadora, go to your room!"
"But I didn't do anything!"
"Nymphadora!" Andromeda said firmly.
Dora's hair turned a bright red and she stopped her foot on the floor before storming off to her room.
The Aurors reached Lucius and hauled him to his feet. He twisted in their grip, but the ropes held tightly. One Auror tapped his wand to the side of Lucius' head and he fell limp, his head lolling forward.
"What have you done to him?! Where are you taking him?!" Narcissa said in a shaking voice, trying to bounce and calm her screaming son.
"You're Mrs. Malfoy?" One of the Aurors eyed her and must have recognized her from the papers.
"Yes, of course I am," Narcissa snapped nastily. "I demand to know where you are taking my husband!"
"He will be held in the Ministry for questioning."
"We can owl when you're allowed to see him," the other said in a gruff voice.
"I am coming with you," Narcissa stated.
"Ma'am—" the first Auror said in an exasperated voice.
"I am coming with you," Narcissa snarled. "I want to make sure he is being treated humanely! He is not some common criminal; he is Lucius Malfoy!"
One Auror sighed while other grumbled under his breath and Andromeda only caught the word, "Purebloods" as he rolled his eyes.
"Narcissa, you should stay here," Andromeda said quietly. "At least until they say you can see him."
Draco's face was turning red from his screaming. One of the Aurors was standing on the dragon, making thick tears stream over his cheeks.
Narcissa pulled away from her sister and walked out the door. "You chose your life, Andromeda. And I chose mine," she said with icy blue eyes and stepped out into the cold morning without another word.
"The Ministry thanks you," the first Auror said with a nod and Andromeda turned around to see Ted return it.
"It was my pleasure," Ted said smugly.
She stood in the doorway for a moment until they reached the boundary and disapperated with a crack.
"They were so cool!" Dora's voice came from behind her. "Who were those guys?"
"Nymphadora! I told you to go to your room!"
"I did," she said simply. "You didn't say to stay there." Dora picked up the dragon, frowned at it, and then dusted it off.
Andromeda stared wide-eyed at her daughter who plopped herself down at the table and grabbed a muffin, taking a large bite.
Ted laughed loudly, "You birthed her," was his only excuse as he shrugged with a playful smile on his face. His mood had vastly improved in the last ten minutes.
She walked quickly over to Ted, asking urgently, "You owled the Ministry this morning?"
Ted ran his hands down her arms. "I owled the Ministry as soon as I saw Lucius get up last night. I had planned to even before I heard everything he said."
Andromeda felt nerves shoot up her spine. Ted glanced over her shoulder to where Dora was helping herself to a second muffin, swinging her legs back and forth happily. He pulled Andromeda a little ways away and lowered his voice.
"I knew that piece of shit was going to try something like that so I made him think I fell asleep. He waited all of two minutes before going to try and find you." Ted's brow sank over his eyes. "Son of a bitch could never keep his hands to himself," he added darkly.
"Ted, you have to know I didn't want him here any more than you." She reached up and touched his face. "But I couldn't turn her away."
"I know," Ted's voice softened. "And I don't blame you. I might not be fond of Narcissa, but I certainly don't hate her. Lucius would have dragged her and the baby across Europe to avoid getting arrested. Now he won't be able to. She can at least go home and be safe and Lucius gets what he deserves."
Andromeda had to admit, she was a little impressed by Ted's plan. "So you aren't mad at me? For letting them stay?" she asked carefully.
"No, baby." Ted said gently. "I mean I wasn't thrilled, but… he put you in that position; unable to turn him away. He knew what he was doing, bringing them here. Lucius is a right sneaky bastard," he added bitterly.
"If I remember correctly, you are pretty sneaky yourself," Andromeda pushed herself close to him, resting her hands on his strong chest. "Especially back in the day, pulling me into broom closets and empty classrooms…" she smirked.
Ted cracked a smile, wrapping his arms around her. "I kind of got a kick out of seeing you shut him down again though," he admitted. "Still such a Slytherin, after all these years." Ted gave her the crooked grin she loved so much.
Andromeda laughed, throwing her head back, a few loose waves falling back over her shoulder. It wasn't the cold one from before, this was her real laugh, warm and bubbly.
Ted pulled her close and buried his face in her neck, breathing deeply. She giggled as his hands moved over her body to lightly grip her ass and a low growl came from his throat.
"You know how I feel about bad girls," he whispered into her ear, sending a shiver through her.
Andromeda relaxed, settling against him as the tension and anxiety started to fade out of her. "Thank you, though, for letting them stay. I know it couldn't have been easy for you."
"That was one of the hardest nights of my life," Ted said seriously. "Knowing that he was here and you and Dora were in the next room… I could barely stand it."
"I know," Andromeda wrapped her arms around him. "I wanted to crawl out of my skin every time he looked at me."
"Are you okay?" Ted asked seriously, pulling back far enough to look down at her.
"Yes," she said with a smile as she looked up at him. "More than okay."
Ted leaned down and captured her lips with his, moving them with a gentle pressure on hers and he pulled her close to him.
"Ugh! Gross!" Dora called, throwing a muffin that hit her father on the side of his head. "Seriously, you guys have to stop doing that."
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December 1981
Hot whips of rage tore into Bellatrix, cutting deep and leaving searing welts along whatever it was that made up the core of who she was. She didn't know. Not anymore. Not without him.
Her vision was shaking or maybe that was just her. She couldn't tell. Nothing made sense. He couldn't be gone, he couldn't be gone, he couldn't be gone. He couldn't be gone.
He had taken precautions—he told her. But where was he? Weeks and not a whisper of his whereabouts. Rodolphus had to drag her kicking and screaming back to France and locked all the doors of his family's estate so no one could get in. Or out.
Bellatrix pressed her wand into her mark, trying to call him, to reach him. The skin there was raw from her efforts, yet the mark remained unmoving. Silent and still.
"Stop that," Dolf rasped, biting into a hunk of cheese and gnashing it between his teeth.
"He needs to know where we are," she seethed, glaring at her husband with dark eyes.
Dolf smacked his lips. "If he wanted to find you, he would. Leave it."
Bellatrix straightened a little. "Leave it? Is that you plan to serve our Lord? By leaving it?"
He bristled, leaning forward and waving the hunk of stinking cheese in her face. "And how do you serve him, Bella?"
She lifted her nose into the air. "In every way he commands."
Dolf sneered at her. Then bit into the cheese again.
Bellatrix stood up. "I'm going back."
"No, you're not. You'll be arrested on sight."
"He's right," Rabastan rolled over on the sofa he had been sleeping on and brushed his hand over his unshaved face. "Everyone is in hiding. You know they got Lucius."
"Lucius is a cowardly worm," Bellatrix spat and turned her dark eyes back on Rodolphus. "I thought my husband would measure himself to be greater than a bloody bureaucrat."
"What would you have me do?" Rodolphus shouted. "Get myself sent to Azkaban for what? It's over, Bella."
The fury burned in her again, hot streaks tearing into her back. "It is not. He… he was too powerful. He can't be—"
"Then where the fuck is he?" Rab snapped, grabbing a bottle of wine and sucking the dregs from it before tossing it back on the floor. "If he was so powerful, what happened? You were closest to him, tell us! Tell us why he disappeared when he went to kill a child!"
The rage was making it hard to think, as if it was burning into the very matter of her brain. "I… I don't know!"
Rodolphus snorted. Bella had ran it all over in her mind again and again until she felt nauseous. Until nothing made sense. And if nothing made sense then nothing made sense. So she abandoned it, flinging herself, her whole self, into what she knew to be true, to be right.
"Dumbledore," she forced out. "Severus said Dumbledore knew about the prophecy. He sent the Potters into hiding." The two men paused, looking up at her. At some point she must have stood up. "It was that rat Pettigrew who gave them up. He must have known…"
Dumbledore had known, had done something. Must have. She tried to focus her racing mind, pushing into the black empty nothingness that was consuming her ever since her Lord disappeared.
She ran her hand over her throat in thought. "He sent the Longbottoms into hiding too, according to Rookwood. If there is a way to undo it, to bring him back…"
The nothing started to make sense.
"They have it. They must know or have whatever it was that banished him." She looked from Dolf to Rab and back, nails digging into her palm around her wand. Once she made it right, he would make her right again. Her head would stop feeling like the gravity was being sucked out of it. She was his most loyal, most trusted. She could fix this and then, he could fix her. "We can get him back. We can bring him back."
"And how do you propose that?" Dolf said, tossing the rind onto the table.
"We get the Longbottoms to tell us."
"They might still be in hiding," Rab said.
"The Crouch kid," she said before she even fully thought the words. It was like he was guiding her, showing her the way back to him from… wherever he was. "He still has access to the Ministry. He can find them for us."
"He's barely eighteen, Bella," Rodolphus sat back. "He only took the mark a few weeks ago."
"He is loyal. I know he is." She had seen the same spark of devotion when he looked upon their Lord that she treasured herself.
Dolf sucked his teeth.
"I'm going, whether you are or not."
"You won't if I order you to stay," he growled. "You forget that without him, you're nothing more than my wife."
That fury and rage whipped into a firestorm inside Bellatrix and she could see the nervous flicker in Rodolphus' eyes as her eyes burned down into his. Three thick drops of blood fell from the tip of her wand, running down the dark wood from where her nails had cut into her skin.
"And you would hide here," she whispered, a dangerous, dark tone to her voice, "like vermin. I may just be your wife, Rodolphus, but I am willing to die to get him back. What does that say about the kind of man you are? That you would sit here, eating fucking cheese—" She kicked over the table, spilling the rest of their food onto the dirty floor. "While a mere woman goes where you dare not?"
Rodolphus stood slowly. Bellatrix did not back away. If he struck her she was going to kill him. Lord Voldemort had given her freedom, purpose, as his confidant and soldier. She was not going to return to being crushed under a man's weight again. She was not going to be nothing. She was going to be great.
She was going to get him back.
"You were more his wife than you were ever mine." The words were hushed, heavy anger rolling through Rodolphus' thick body.
Bellatrix squared her shoulders and marched right into his face, the fire burning so strong in her, she could almost see it reflected in his eyes as she stared up at him with not even a hint of fear on her face. She reached up, placing her hand on his cheek in a comforting gesture.
Then dented her nails into his skin.
"I am more everything than you will ever be. The only reason I haven't slit your throat while you slept is that you were a good servant to him. Without him, I don't need you. I don't want you. And I will end you."
Rodolphus paled and after a moment flicked his wand. The wards came down. Bellatrix patted his cheek.
"Good boy."
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A/N: Might skip next week for an update because I probably will be traveling, but hopefully you enjoyed this one! Thank you so much everyone who reviewed! I am so happy you're enjoying this story!