Andromeda stood alone in the dressing room, her hair and makeup perfected as she turned to see herself from every angle in the mirror. She knew she looked stunning, but for what? There were a few people there for the ceremony, but none of them she knew very well, and for a Weasley wedding? No one cared about Weasley weddings in her old circle.

Her thoughts turned to how Arthur would act and react, especially after the wedding when they were alone. A chill of fear ran through her: no man could tell her anything that she'd naively believe. She would have to see how he treated her.

Minutes later, Cedrella came to her and said, "It's nearly time. Do you need anything?"

"Wings," Andromeda muttered. "And a harp."

The woman laughed, but immediately apologised. "Let's go," she said. "By the way, your little cousin is here."

"Wait...who?" Andromeda said in confusion.

"Came with the Potters," the woman continued. "I'm assuming his parents have no idea he's here."

"Sirius?" Andromeda breathed, and the woman nodded. "Idiot boy."

"They're waiting," Cedrella said, and led the way toward the hall.

Andromeda was extremely grateful that there were very few people there, but she immediately recognised Sirius Black sitting next to James Potter, a slight frown on his face.

Diverting her attention to the front of the room, she saw her future husband waiting for her. She walked to him, her mind imploding on itself as she placed her hand in his.

She was relieved that the ceremony did not take very long, and they were soon announcing the feast. She had a few guests greet her, but most of them spoke to Arthur instead—but Sirius came straight to her.

"Dromeda—"

"What are you doing here, Sirius?" Andromeda interrupted with a sigh. "You should not be here."

"I'm going to do what I want," Sirius replied. "I'm here for you."

"Well, I hope that works out for you," Andromeda said coolly before glancing at the other boy with her cousin. "Young Potter."

"You're not that much older than us," James said, rolling his eyes at her. "Congratulations, Mrs Weasley."

It was all Andromeda could do not to show disgust at these words, and she was relieved when the boy's mother called the two away to the table.

Soon enough, the guests were gone and Arthur led her to their new room so she could get her things arranged. She did her best to organise quickly so she could get out of the room, but he did not even embrace her.

"What are we doing for the rest of the evening?" she asked him, closing the drawer by her side of the bed. "I'm not sure what you would want to do," he said. "I thought of going somewhere and having a quiet evening, but I'm not sure if you want to be seen with me yet." Arthur smiled at his own joke. "I don't mind staying in the sitting room, but my brothers might tease us."

She nodded. "I don't mind," she said, then grinned mischievously. "Want to take a picture of us to also send to my beloved father?"

The young man also grinned. "Fine with me," he answered.

Andromeda crossed the room to him and let him put his arm around her and moved closer to him, placing her hand on his chest. After a couple photos, Andromeda took a deep breath and said, "I think that's good."

Arthur looked into her eyes for a moment, and nodded, then asked seriously, "May I kiss you?"

Andromeda frowned slightly, but figured that since they'd left that out of the ceremony, she could do it now. Arthur spoke again. "I don't want to scare you, Andromeda."

She couldn't help laughing slightly. "It's fine." She leaned in, accepting his physical touch for a few seconds before he let her go.

"I will not hurt you, Andromeda," he said quietly, squeezing her hand slightly. "I swear it on my magic."

"Thank you," she murmured. "Shall we go be with the rest of the family?"

He smiled at her. "All right," he agreed, holding out his hand to her.

She took it and he led her forward to go sit with his family until it was time for sleep.

To her amazement, he stayed true to his word and respected her space and privacy. That isn't to say that she didn't cuddle with him once in a while when she wanted affection, but he never pressured her to give him anything. She was amazed at his self-control because let her go whenever she pulled away, without a protest, in spite of how much he wanted her to stay.

This was why when Cedrella mentioned Arthur's birthday coming up, Andromeda had decided to make it special for him. It was the first time she'd ever given herself to him, and in her concern to make it special for her husband, she forgot something very important.

It was a few weeks later when Andromeda noticed signs and symptoms and did the test spell on herself. Arthur was gone to work and she was alone in their room.

The young witch took a breath and opened her eyes to see the results. A cry escaped her and she immediately closed her eyes again. It was one day, she thought in despair. One moment of wanting to share herself, one moment of weakness, of needing a loving touch—and she was now carrying her bloodtraitor husband's child.

A dry sob escaped the witch. She did not want his children: she never wanted to give her own offspring a terrible name and reputation.

Andromeda curled up on the bed where she had conceived her unborn child. She did not want this baby, did not want to be "Mumma" to a little red-haired brat. But what was she to do?

She Summoned the two-way mirror that she and her younger sister both had and wiped away her tears before calling, "Cissa," and warding the room. It was a couple of minutes before her blonde sister appeared, and Andromeda knew she was in her dorm room at school.

"Andromeda, what's wrong?" Narcissa breathed. "Has he hurt you?"

Andromeda teared up again. "No," she sniffed. "I'm pregnant—and I don't want it."

Narcissa's eyes widened in horror, but she did not accuse. "Did he force you?" she asked

"No," Andromeda sniffed. "I shouldn't have let him—I was stupid!"

Narcissa bit her lip. "Babies are really sweet, Dromeda," she said. "It'll help keep you busy."

Andromeda dashed away her tears angrily. "I don't want his children!"

"Then why didn't you use protection?" the seventeen-year-old witch frowned.

"Because I forgot," Andromeda groaned. "Tell Bella to come over and rip it out of me."

"I will not," Narcissa replied indignantly. "Because you know she would."

Andromeda closed her eyes, tears trickling down her cheeks. "It took one time," she whispered. "One time."

Narcissa nodded sympathetically. "Well, at least you might have done your duty to his family so that they won't bother you about it."

"His mother warned me to always use a spell, but I didn't," Andromeda whispered. "I never knew that there was an actual reason that Weasleys have so many children."

"Well," Narcissa began, "remember that it will be a pureblood. It'll be your little person to raise and love. You've always wanted a family, Andromeda."

"Not like this," Andromeda whispered.

"Do they know?" Narcissa asked, and her sister shook her head.

"I don't know what to do," Andromeda said again.

Narcissa took a deep breath. "Is he kind to you? How does he treat you?"

Andromeda's face twisted in agony. "He's quiet, and kind, and gentle," she wept. "But I don't want any of it!"

"Keep the child and raise it for his family," Narcissa advised. "It's not the best situation, but I'm sure it'll work out. Take care of yourself."

"I'll try," Andromeda sniffed. "Behave out there, Cissa."

"I will," the girl promised, and broke the connection.

Andromeda took a deep breath, trying to compose herself as she needed to form a plan of action even though she was still somewhat in shock. She needed to begin brewing potions for herself and figure out how to tell Arthur. Another dry sob escaped her as she headed for the door. She would talk to Cedrella to see if the woman had any advice for her now that she'd ignored her first bit of advice.

The moment Cedrella laid eyes on her, she said, "Sit down, dear. You're pregnant, aren't you?" The brown-haired witch nodded miserably, blinking back tears. "Just found out?" she asked sympathetically.

Andromeda nodded again. "It wasn't supposed to happen," she whispered, sitting down and covering her face with her hands. "I didn't want—I mean—"

"I know, dear," Cedrella sighed. "I didn't really want children when I came here either, but I had my first almost immediately as well."

The younger witch sniffed back her tears. "I don't know how to tell him because I know he'll be excited, but I'm not," she admitted, shivering slightly.

"I think he'll understand."

Andromeda jumped, giving a cry of surprise as she hadn't realised that Septimus was in the room. She nearly had a panic attack, not having wanted him to know that she did not want the child she was carrying.

"My husband was very understanding when I told him," Cedrella said, glancing at the man with a small smile of affection. "He tolerated my tantrums and my screaming and all of it."

"The only time I've ever seen her fully break down," Septimus said. "I understand that it's not the easiest thing to come here and have things happen that you never wanted or even considered."

The man considered his son's wife for a moment. "Being a Mrs Weasley isn't fun, I've been told," he added. "Multiple times. But we'll do our best to help you, Andromeda."

"Thank you," she whispered wearily, her shoulders slumped. "I'll try to tell him tonight."

"I'll prepare some things that should help you," Cedrella told her. "And we ought to get a Healer to see you—but we'll do that after tonight. I'll get some potions made in case you get sick soon. How far along do you think you are?"

"I don't know," Andromeda murmured. "I conceived on his birthday."

"Six weeks?" Cedrella wondered. "Almost seven? I wonder if it's a girl or a boy?"

Andromeda's heart sank. "My mother had only girls," she said in dread.

Cedrella raised an eyebrow. "So did my mother, but I had only boys."

The pregnant girl smiled weakly at this. "Thanks."

"Of course, dear," answered Cedrella with a smile. "Each child is special no matter the order or whether it's a boy or girl. I wouldn't mind a beautiful little granddaughter."

This thought worried Andromeda, but she knew that she had always wanted a daughter—but she couldn't just have one daughter. She took a deep breath and hoped her unborn child was a boy.

That evening, when Arthur arrived home, Andromeda greeted him with a hug, walking with him to their room. She lay across the bed as he changed into informal clothes, then got up and slipped into his arms, kissing his lips.

He was chuckling at her antics when she whispered, "So...do you think it'll be a boy or a girl?"

Hie reaction was delayed, but he stepped back and looked at her. "What?!" he breathed. "Do you mean it?"

Andromeda nodded, blinking back tears before gasping when he grabbed her in a hug and lifted her off her feet. "You're pregnant," he laughed.

"Put me down," she gasped, and he did.

Arthur held her away for a moment, then said, "We'll have to take you to St Mungo's to—"

"I'm not going to St Mungo's," Andromeda interrupted. "I've never gone there."

"Never?" Arthur said in astonishment.

"We always had a Healer come to the house," Andromeda said stubbornly. "There's no way I'm going to St Mungo's."

He was frowning, but answered, "We'll work it out." He reached for her again, but she backed away.

"Don't touch me," she whispered.

Arthur hesitated, but stood still and lowered his hands. "You didn't mean for this to happen, did you?"

Andromeda wrapped her arms around herself and shook her head. "I don't want children." The moment she said this, she saw his expression darken and fear gripped her. She knew she could get to her wand before he could get to her, but the man simply murmured, "I'll see you later, okay?" and left her alone in the room.

Minutes later, she felt him leave the house, and curled up on their bed. Andromeda knew she'd upset him, but she wasn't about to lie. She did not want his children.

She was infuriated when someone knocked on the door of the room and called her name, but she waved the door open because it was Cedrella. "What?"

Cedrella ignored the girl's rudeness and said, "Your husband has gone to retrieve a Healer: they should be back soon."

"Is he angry?" Andromeda asked before she could stop herself.

"I'm not sure," Cedrella answered. "He wishes you were happy or that the two of you had waited, at least."

Andromeda turned her head and looked out the window. "I don't want to be here," she whispered. "I don't want to do this."

"I'll help you as much as I can," Cedrella told her. "It's going to be okay, Andromeda."

When Arthur returned with the Healer, Andromeda greeted the woman gratefully and the examination began immediately. He stayed by her side as the pregnancy was confirmed, and Andromeda discussed what to do for herself and the baby with the Healer.

Andromeda was relieved when the Healer left, but nervous because her husband stayed right with her. He took her hand and squeezed it, looking down into her face. "I'm sorry," he told her. "I should have been more careful...it's our tradition to have the woman be in charge of contraception. I should have explained things to you."

The girl looked straight ahead at the wall and said, "I'll have it, but I don't want it—or any more."

"It's your decision," Arthur murmured, and she knew he was even more upset.

"I hope it's a boy for you," Andromeda sniffed, tears escaping down her cheeks as guilt for hurting him joined her fear of the future.

"I'll be happy with whatever," Arthur replied quietly. "There hasn't been a girl born to the Weasleys for generations. I just wish you could be happy, Dromeda."

Andromeda pulled her hand away from him and curled up on her side. "It's my problem, not yours," she said. "If you're happy, that's fine."

Arthur sighed, kneeling beside the bed so he was down on her level. "But I care," he said. "I want to do my best to understand and help you." He lifted his hand, about to place it on her stomach as he asked, "May I?"

"Fine," she sighed. "It's way too small to feel, anyway."

"I hope, as the child grows, you will bond with and grow to love it," he told her. "I'm not important, Andromeda, but children must be loved."

"I only just found out," Andromeda whispered. "And—I'm scared."

Arthur nodded. "Parenting is a chore, Mum says," he said. "But she told me that it's also rewarding."

Andromeda continued to lie there limply as he looked into her face. "Maybe," she whispered, "but I need time, Arthur. Time to think about things."

He got to his feet, then leaned down and kissed her head. "Let me know what I can do to help."