When Andromeda woke up, it was morning again, and she turned to find Arthur at her side, sleeping sitting up in a chair, the babies in their cribs nearby. She stretched and yawned, wincing at her soreness and realising that she felt disgusting.

"Ugh," she groaned, looking over at her two newborns. "You all let me sleep all night?" she said. "He must have been very busy last night."

Arthur stirred, hearing her talking and sitting up. "Hey," he said sleepily. "Are you okay? How are you doing?"

"I need a shower," she sighed. "And then we should have your parents meet the twins. And Will too, of course."

"What if we had my mother meet the twins first in case I have to help you in the shower?" Arthur asked.

Andromeda bit her lip. "I want to at least rinse off and change clothes...and I would love to wash my hair."

"All right," Arthur said, getting to his feet. He helped her up from the bed, and she grinned.

"I feel so much lighter!" she said, summoning fresh clothes. "I can't wait to be clean."

They hurried as quickly as they could, Arthur leaving her alone when they heard Dora cry out. Andromeda joined them just in time to pick up Charlie and offer him a feed. The tiny child was thrilled and calmed down immediately.

She looked over at Arthur to see him giving Dora a bottle, the baby girl with bright pink hair. "She's going to be powerful," she murmured to him, sitting down on the bed beside him.

"Yeah," Arthur nodded. "We'll have to be even more careful with her."

"She'll be wanted for her powers," Andromeda sighed. "A Metamorphagus, Arthur. Perhaps for undercover work and—what are you doing?"

For he was frowning at her. "You shouldn't be thinking that way," he said quietly. "Don't borrow trouble."

"I suppose," Andromeda sighed. "So are we taking the twins out to the grandparents, or are they coming to see the babies?"

"I think they should come to us," Arthur answered. "Or did you want to go to them?"

"No," she answered. "That's fine."

After a few minutes, Arthur set Dora down on her mother's lap, then hurried off to retrieve his mother and father. He came back quickly, taking Charlie in his arms as Andromeda had switched babies.

A soft knock came on the door, and Andromeda merely waved the door open, holding Dora close and looking up at her husband's parents. "Oh—!" Cedrella gasped, seeing the two newborn babies. "Dear Merlin—she's gone and had twins. No wonder you had such an awful time with it all!"

Cedrella hurried over to the recovering mother and embraced her carefully. "Wait—are they girls?" she breathed, looking down at the baby Andromeda was holding.

"One girl," Andromeda indicated the little one in her arms, "and one boy." She nodded toward Arthur and the other baby.

Septimus stepped forward, his first grandson in his arms as he asked, "Who's older and what have you named them?"

"Charlie's older," Arthur said with a smile, "by a couple of minutes...Dromeda, would you like to tell them what we've named our daughter?"

"Her name is Nymphadora," Andromeda murmured. "Bellatrix Nymphadora."

"Oh," said Cedrella in surprise. "Oh dear—may I ask why?"

"Because I thought she was going to kill me," Andromeda murmured, looking up. "We'll call her Dora."

"Fair enough," Septimus chuckled, moving forward as Will realised his mother was there and reached out for her.

Cedrella took Dora into her arms and said, "Aw, she's very sweet, Andromeda—and she's a Metamorphagus?"

"Full-powered," Andromeda sighed, taking her firstborn into her arms. "Hi, Will, I missed you," she said to the one-year-old as he grunted and wrapped his arms around her neck. "Oh, it's naptime, isn't it? You're a big brother now, Will."

"Ma," Will sighed, and she hugged him, rubbing his small back.

"I love you," she murmured, kissing his short red curls.

"So how are you doing?" Cedrella asked Andromeda.

"I'm traumatised for life," Andromeda sighed. "Sore, uncomfortable, but I'm glad that's all done."

"Maybe try to wait a little longer if you're going to have anymore," Cedrella advised ruefully.

"Yeah, I am not ready for that," Andromeda sighed, shaking her head.

Arthur glanced over at her, then said, "Well, we haven't talked about it, but I think it would be best for the twins to be at least two years old before we have any more bright ideas."

Andromeda eyed her husband teasingly, then rolled her eyes. "Stay away from me," she said, making the other three laugh. "I never thought I'd have twins," she murmured.

"Andromeda."

She jumped in shock, hearing Bellatrix's voice calling her name. "Are you okay?" Arthur asked her, frowning slightly.

"Yeah," she whispered, hearing her other sister call her name. "I need a moment." Cedrella lay Dora beside her mother on the bed and she and Septimus left the room.

"Don't say a word or lean too close," Andromeda breathed to her husband, summoning her mirror and saying, "my sisters are calling me."

He stared at her as she looked into the mirror. "Bellatrix." Andromeda placed wards on the room as her sisters' faces came into view. She smiled. "Hi," she said.

"Dromeda," Narcissa breathed, "we have news…."

"Is Father dead?" Andromeda asked casually, and Bellatrix cackled with laughter, Cissa quickly taking her sister's arm and attempting to quiet her, but her laughter had scared Will and made him look up from his mother's arms.

Bellatrix's lip curled at the sight of the young child. "You can't leave the brat for five minutes, Andy?" she sighed.

"How are you?" Narcissa interrupted the two nervously.

Andromeda smiled slightly. "Charlie and Nymphadora were born yesterday morning," she answered.

Bellatrix stared at her sister. "He already had his heir, Andy," she said sternly. "There was no need for this."

Andromeda opened her mouth to speak, but Bellatrix shrugged. "Roddy had better hope that this child is a boy, because it's the only one he's getting, you see."

"What?!" Andromeda gasped in shock, unable to believe her sister's statement. "Bella, you're pregnant?"

"It was an accident," Bellatrix growled, glaring at her sister as she wrapped her arms around herself. "And thank Merlin it's almost over. I think Rodolphus drugged me...but he won't be doing that again—I'll sterilise him first."

She smirked to herself, then continued, "Anyway, that's not important. You gave the Weasley an heir accidentally; how many more times are you going to let this happen? Do you need help with some spells, Andromeda?"

"I wanted a daughter," Andromeda murmured, glancing at her beautiful baby girl. "You couldn't understand, Bella. I've always dreamed of having a family...I've always wanted babies."

"And now Cissa's going to do the same thing," Bellatrix huffed, rolling her eyes.

"Dromeda, I—I'm engaged to Lucius," Narcissa whispered, blushing furiously. "We're to be married in May."

"Oh," Andromeda said, forcing herself to be happy for her sister. "Congratulations!" She realised that this was the rest of the news that they had wanted to tell her. "Anything else?"

"I—I'm going to tell him about the mirrors," Narcissa blurted out. "I can't be keeping secrets like that—I know he and your husband don't get along...I don't know, Andromeda. Wives don't interfere in things like that."

"I don't expect you to," Andromeda said in a motherly tone that she always used when advising her little sister. "I expect you to take care of and protect your family, and I'll do the same with mine."

Narcissa nodded, still looking worried, and Bellatrix turned the mirror back to herself. "Andy, close your legs," Bellatrix said sternly. "You've done way more than you should have, though Merlin knows if he cares—"

Andromeda stared right into her older sister's eyes. "He's kind to me," she said sharply. "He cares, and he's gentle; he hasn't hurt me, not once. He doesn't yell, or scold—he's not mean." She held her firstborn closer as the child sighed sleepily against her shoulder. Her baby girl was awake, and Andromeda lay Will down on the bed and took Dora into her arms.

"So cute!" Narcissa breathed as Bellatrix made a face at the newborn. "What's her name?"

"Bellatrix Nymphadora," Andromeda said, unable to keep from laughing at her sisters' reactions. Narcissa was surprised, but Auntie Bellatrix had shrieked in fury.

"You did not name that brat after me!" the black-haired witch snapped.

Little Dora began to cry at the harsh sounds, and Andromeda shushed her gently, rocking her in her arms as she said, "She'll go by 'Dora.' I believe she deserves your name because she almost killed me, herself, and her twin—before she was born."

Bellatrix stared, seeing the girl's hair turn pink. "She's a Metamorphagus, like you," Bellatrix breathed. "But more powerful, isn't she?"

"She has full powers," Andromeda answered, ignoring Arthur's motioning her to stop talking about their daughter.

"You'd better teach her to behave," Bella smirked, getting to her feet. "Or better yet, bring her here, Andy."

"I don't think Roddy would like that, now would he?" Andromeda laughed. "Bloodtraitor brat growing up with his precious heir?"

Bellatrix groaned in annoyance. "That's exactly what he would say—but I can change his mind."

"Wow," Andromeda said, seeing how large her sister's baby bump was. "When are you due, Bella?"

"Around Christmas," Bellatrix sighed. "I can't wait to get it out of me and be back to doing...things."

"I can imagine," Andromeda smirked.

Bellatrix huffed at her sister. "Behave, Andromeda. No more brats—unless they're like baby girl there." She cackled with laughter, leaving the frame.

Narcissa bit her lip, looking back at Andromeda, and said, "She's been a mess this whole time, Andy. I wish you could have been here to help her—but I know you've had problems of your own. I'm worried to see what's going to happen with that child."

Andromeda raised an eyebrow. "I doubt Roddy will let anything happen to the child," she said. "And once Bellatrix sees that it's her very own flesh and blood, she will love that child like nothing else in the world and Merlin help anyone that tries to hurt it."

"I hope," Cissa sighed. "Sometimes I thought it was for the best that she didn't have children."

"You'd better be careful what you say," Andromeda giggled in surprise. "I should go, Cissa. I've got to wake up the other twin for a feed. Congratulations, and enjoy Lucius."

She smirked, giggling as Narcissa blushed furiously and cut off the call. Andromeda lay back, laughing to herself as Arthur took Dora and gave her Charlie, looking at her in concern. "Andromeda, why do you still talk to them? And are you and Bellatrix fighting, or what?" He frowned, remembering something. "She's joined You-Know-Who, hasn't she?"

"I expect nothing less from her," Andromeda answered stubbornly, looking down at Charlie as she woke him gently for his meal. "Most pureblood families are at least allied with the Dark Lord."

"We will never join him," Arthur said sternly, reaching out and touching her arm.

"I—I know," she whispered, holding Charlie even closer. "But it would be the safest thing to do."

Arthur shook his head. "I don't know a thing about what it's like to join the Dark Lord," he said, "but I'm sure that nothing about it is safe. Besides, Andromeda, they're wrong, and I know you know that."

"We've got to protect the babies," Andromeda whispered, watching Charlie suckle. "We have to…."

"We'll do our best," Arthur promised her, and her heart sank.

Any other pureblood man would have said that they would do what they had to, she thought. Andromeda closed her eyes, trying to keep back tears as she remembered Bellatrix's warning before her father had sent her away: "Teach your brats right and it might save them."

Andromeda sniffed, looking around at her three children. That was all she could do, and she would do whatever she could to protect her children.

To Andromeda's surprise, Narcissa sent her a wedding picture. Though the parcel had no name on it and no signature, Andromeda was sure that it was a Malfoy owl.

When she showed it to Arthur, he merely shrugged. "They go together," he said in amusement. "Hopefully they'll get along. She seemed excited to get married, anyway."

"She's adored him since she was four years old," the witch said, smiling at the picture of Lucius Malfoy with his arms wrapped around his new bride. "And that's as close to a real smile as I've ever seen on his face. This is a special picture."

"She's pretty," Arthur said, slipping his arm around Andromeda. "But she's got nothing on you." And he leaned over, kissing her cheek.

Andromeda looked at him for a moment, then smiled and leaned into his side, accepting his embrace. "Love you," he murmured, pressing his lips to her neck.

She sighed softly and turned, seeking his affection. He did not deny her his kisses, embracing her carefully as she held Dora in her arms. Their moment was soon interrupted by a young voice calling, "Mumma? Dadda?"

Will toddled into the room, Cedrella following with Charlie in her arms, and the little one immediately grinned and shuffled over to his parents. "Da," he said, grinning as he gripped onto his dad's robe.

"Hi, Will," Arthur smiled at his son. "Being good for Grandmum?"

Cedrella smiled proudly, holding Charlie on her hip. "Go on, Will."

The young boy looked around, then leaned closer to his parents. "Magic," he whispered.

"Oh?" Andromeda said questioningly, her eyes lighting up immediately afterward. "Will, did you do first magic?"

"Yeah," he giggled, laughing as his father picked him up and hugged him.

"Oh, very good!" Arthur praised the boy happily. "What did you do?"

Cedrella stepped forward and answered, "He opened a door that he couldn't reach—he got out of the nursery."

Andromeda smiled at her firstborn. "Good job, Will," she said to him, reaching over to ruffle his hair lovingly. "I'm proud of you, baby."

Will rolled over onto his back and grinned up at them, reaching out and patting his baby brother thoughtfully. The baby made a sound of surprise and kicked out, making Will laugh. The two continued to play together as the adults watched them carefully.

Andromeda had been relieved to see that Charlie had, with good feedings and extra care, soon gotten stronger and was just as healthy as Dora. She'd been worried about him for a couple months, but she knew he was much better and all three of her children seemed happy.

A few months later, Arthur came home and hugged his wife, kissing her lips firmly. "Got a few minutes before dinner?" he asked her as he leaned down to kiss the child in her arms. "Hi, Dora."

She cooed, reaching out with her fists as her hair shot pink. Andromeda looked at him questioningly. "Is something wrong, Arthur?" she asked in concern.

"Are the other children with Mother?" Arthur asked.

"She's got Charlie and Will's napping still," Andromeda replied.

"All right," Arthur nodded, and slipped his arm around her waist. "I just have a couple things to tell you."

Andromeda walked with her husband to their room and he set down his case, taking off his coat. "What is it?" she asked, worried.

He sighed and said, "You aren't going to like this, Andromeda. I...I've joined the Order."

"The...what?" Andromeda questioned warily.

"Dumbledore's group of resistance," Arthur said in almost the same tone as his wife. "They call themselves the Order of the Phoenix."

Andromeda's mouth opened, horror consuming her as she did not know what to say to her husband. She wanted to scream at him, to scold him for making them targets, but she knew perfectly well that he was just that way. The Weasley family preferred to do what was right over what was safe. They by no means understood survival.

"Oh," she whispered, feeling like she'd been punched. She turned away, cradling Dora to herself as she blinked back tears, sitting down on their bed.

He walked over and looked down at her before getting down on her level and looking into her eyes. "I know you don't want me to do this," he said quietly, "but I have to, Dromeda. It's right."

She couldn't bear to look at his earnest expression, closing her eyes tightly. "They are killers, Arthur," she breathed. "We are not warriors: our children will not be safe."

"We will do everything we can to protect the children," Arthur said gently. "We're not guaranteed safety even if I weren't involved with the Order."

Andromeda brushed away a tear that escaped her eyes and tensed as he got up and sat next to her, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Don't," she said, pulling away slightly, but he stayed right where he was.

"I don't expect you to approve of this," Arthur sighed. "Or even to accept it. But I've got to do something."

She pulled away from him and placed Dora on the cot nearby. "Don't you dare get yourself hurt," she said to her husband as he got to his feet. "Please be careful."

He tentatively took her hand in his, and she clung to him tightly, fearfully. He held her close for as long as she stood there, shivering as she knew that she would have felt much more safe with any other pureblood man as her husband.

"I'll be careful, I promise," he murmured to her, hugging her firmly. "We'll be all right."

"You don't know that, Arthur," she whispered, looking up at him pleadingly. "They have spies everywhere: they will find out."

He pressed his lips to her forehead. "I love you," he said. "I'm sorry." He let her go and walked over to his closet to change clothes.

Andromeda curled up on the bed next to her daughter. "What are we going to do, Dora?" Arthur heard her whisper to the child. "What are we going to do?"