Two weeks later, they had finished moving and they brought the little ones to their new home with Cedrella's help. Will ran around the first floor excitedly, seeing all of the old furniture in the new house.

"All of the cupboards are locked," Andromeda told her mother-in-law.

"Come here, Will, let's go upstairs and see your room," Arthur said to the boy.

Andromeda and Cedrella followed with the twins, the young mother now wondering how she would even carry them up the stairs by herself if she were alone. All three little ones were excited about their rooms, and their parents breathed a sigh of relief.

"Quiet and comfortable," Cedrella said, seeming at peace.

"I hope you don't mind the room that you've got," Arthur said to his mother.

"Children need more space," the woman smiled. "I'm hardly about to run around the house all the time. Don't worry about me, Arthur."

Andromeda slipped her arm around her husband, leaning into his side. "We'll make it a home," she said, "and the children won't even remember the family home."

The young man nodded, slipping his arm around her. "You've been great, Andromeda," he said with a sigh. "Thanks."

She merely hugged him, the two of them staying and playing with the children for a while longer.

It was quite an undertaking for Andromeda to get used to the tiny house. It was easier for her to manage the much smaller home, but the one thing that she struggled with was learning how to cook for her family.

Cedrella showed her some things, and Andromeda was convinced that she'd been transported back to potions class. Something that was even more strange to her was having to fix her own meal plan—and having to go out shopping for their family groceries.

Getting strange looks as she was out and about was not something she enjoyed, as those who recognised her quickly learned that her family was now living in a much more lowly state.

The most difficult situation she'd found herself in was running into both her brother-in-laws at the same time. Rodolphus had said nothing, merely raising an eyebrow at the young witch disdainfully, but of course Lucius had some disparaging comment to make.

She didn't justify his comment with a reply, turning to leave the area, but saw both of her sisters leaving a clothing shop, Bellatrix with a small child in her arms. Andromeda couldn't help staring at them, realising that it was a little boy. She didn't realise, however, that Bella had seen her too until the dark-haired woman approached her, in spite of Narcissa's protests.

"Where's your litter of brats, Andy?" Bellatrix taunted her as she approached, Rodolphus at her side within seconds.

"Home with their Nan," Andromeda answered, looking back to the child Bella was holding. "This is your son, Madame Lestrange?"

"The heir of our house," smirked Bellatrix proudly. "He's nearly two—he was born on New Year's Day."

Andromeda smiled slightly. "Handsome little thing," she said. "I missed the announcement—been kind of busy. What's his name?

"His name is Ronan Rodolphus," Bella said, smirking at her husband. "His father's pride and joy."

"I'm sure," Andromeda mused. "Well done." She turned and walked away from them, feeling an intense jealousy as she wished her own children were valued heirs of a strong pureblood house.

On the day of Will's third birthday, the Weasley family was surprised by an unexpected visitor, and Arthur went to see who it was. Andromeda was helping Will take one of his new toys out of the box with her husband returned with their guest.

"Hey, Andromeda."

Andromeda drew her wand so quickly that no one else had time to move as she straightened up and glared at the intruder. "What are you doing here?" she snapped at the boy.

Sixteen-year-old Sirius Black held up his hands innocently. "Hey, I'm not here to cause problems," he said. "I wanted to see you."

"Likely story," she spat. "What if your mother hears that you've been here?"

"Mum?" Dora asked, hurrying to her mother's side and grabbing her skirts as she peeked around her mother at the stranger.

"My dear mother," Sirius said darkly, "burned me off the family tapestry." He grinned at his own little joke. "Don't worry about her, Dromeda."

"What?" Andromeda gasped, then tightened her grip on her wand. "This just happened, didn't it?" and the boy nodded. "Get out of my house, Sirius."

He rolled his eyes at her. "Really, Andromeda? I thought you might even be happy to see me."

Andromeda glared at him, ignoring the alarmed look on her husband's face. "You are a bad influence," she said, "and I won't have you around the children."

He laughed in disbelief, and said, "Why would you think that? Kids love me."

"You had no reason to walk away from your family," Andromeda said sharply. "You abandoned your little brother."

"No, I didn't!" Sirius snapped at her.

"Oh, well, what do you call walking away from the poor child and leaving him to deal with your disaster of a mother?" Andromeda scoffed. "Leaving him to manage the family when that was never his task? Get out of my house, boy. I'll not have it said that the House of Weasley sheltered the runaway Sirius Black."

"I see what's happening," Sirius said darkly, not moving an inch. "You're corrupting the Weasley family, aren't you, Andy? Fine. I'll leave. My fucking pleasure." He turned to Arthur Weasley. "Beware of this one: she could easily betray you...in any way." Sirius turned and left the house proudly, disapparating as he crossed the ward boundaries.

Arthur watched his wife for a moment as both of his sons came to him nervously, also eyeing their mother. "I...didn't know you two don't get along."

Andromeda just shook her head, patting Dora's shoulder reassuringly and going back to helping Will get the toy out of the box. "We did until I left...he's a rebel, Arthur, but of a different kind. He sneaked to our wedding—his mother would have had a fit. He didn't get it even though I scolded him." She looked up at her husband and his mother. "I know it sounds harsh, but he's my cousin: I know him. It's better if he isn't here."

Arthur was frowning, and asked, "But he's on our side, isn't he?"

"Perhaps you want to correspond with him," Andromeda said quietly, "but I would rather he not set foot in the house. He's just as House of Black as the rest—he's as hot-tempered as Bellatrix and as crafty as my father. We've got to be careful with the children."

Arthur simply nodded, kneeling down to teach Will and the twins about the new toys. Dora seemed to know her mother was worried and stayed closed close to her, even as she played with her brothers.

Andromeda glanced over at Cedrella, but the woman seemed unbothered by the whole situation. The young woman sighed and hoped that she could be that undisturbed when she was older.

A couple months later one evening when Arthur arrived home, Andromeda met him at the door and said, "Your children tried to burn the house down."

"Oh dear," Arthur said. "What's happened?"

"Well," she said, leading the way inside and saying, "Charlie and Will were teasing Dora, and she set their entire room on fire. The Healer has been here to treat all of them for burns, and they're all right, but...if they do this again—" she shook her head threateningly.

"Where are they now?" asked Arthur, setting his case aside and hanging up his coat.

"The living room," Andromeda sighed. "They've got to be watched—and I've almost finished dinner—"

He kissed her quickly, then said, "All right; I'll watch them for a while, Andromeda."

She sighed tiredly. "Convince them to be good for me—oh, and happy birthday, Arthur."

"Thanks," he smiled, and turned toward the living room as he heard the pattering of little feet.

His little girl ran to him and Arthur lifted her into his arms, seeing that her hair was black. "Hi, beautiful," he said softly. "Did you set the house on fire?"

"She did," Will accused her from the doorway, but Charlie frowned at them both.

"Will's mean," Dora pouted. "Mum hurt me."

"Did Mum tell you fire is bad?" Arthur asked her, and Dora sniffed and nodded. "You could have hurt your brothers and yourself."

"Dora hurt me," Charlie said to his father, holding out his hands, where toddler-proof bandages had been applied.

"And me," Will added. "She took my toy."

Arthur nodded. "You weren't sharing?" he asked the three as Andromeda turned back to the kitchen.

"He didn't share," Dora huffed.

"I had it first," Will said sharply, and Charlie nervously moved away from his siblings.

"Well, we also have to take turns, Will, Dora," Arthur said, sitting down with Dora on his lap. "Come here, Charlie, it's okay."

Charlie hurried over and climbed up next to his father for a moment. Dora looked at him, then reached out and patted his bandages. "Sorry," she said to her twin, and he reached out and hugged her.

Arthur looked at Will, who had crossed his arms and was frowning at the twins. "Come on, Will," he said. "Dora didn't mean to do it: it was accidental magic."

"I'm playing over here," Will said stubbornly, sitting down and picking up one of his toys.

"All right," Arthur said leniently, realising why his wife seemed so stressed about the children. He took care of them until Andromeda announced that the meal was ready.

"Where's Mother?" he asked. "Is she okay?"

"She wasn't feeling well, so I think she went to bed," Andromeda answered. "Will, come sit down so you can eat."

Arthur managed to get the twins to the table, and he smiled at his wife after he took the first bite. "This is very good, Andromeda," he praised her, and she blushed.

"Dora, don't play with your food," Arthur chided her gently. "Food is to eat."

Charlie and Will looked at their sister, and Andromeda was barely quick enough to stop them from trying to take Dora's food. "Don't," she said to the boys, concerned as Dora's hair shot red. "It's okay, Dora, go ahead and eat."

Andromeda and Arthur were relieved when the children were fed, washed, and put to bed for the night. He led her from their rooms up to his room, the witch yawning as she began to get ready for bed. Arthur was dressed before she was and came over to her, pulling her nightgown down over her head before wrapping his arms around her.

"You seem really tired recently," he said, pressing his lips to her head. "Have the children been that problematic for the last few days?"

She sighed, a slight smile on her lips as she turned to him, slipping her arms around his neck as she looked into his eyes. "Arthur...I'm pregnant."

His face split into a grin. "Really?" he asked in delight. "Oh, Andromeda!" And he embraced her joyfully. "You're feeling all right?" he wanted to know in the next second.

"I'm not as ill as I was with the twins," Andromeda said. "I had the Healer check me today when she came by—I'm due late this summer."

"I'm sorry if this happened at the most difficult time—having three toddlers to manage while you're growing another baby," he chuckled softly.

"Well...I'll get through it somehow," Andromeda said with a rueful grin. "At least this baby doesn't seem to want to tear me to shreds like Dora did."

Arthur kissed her lips gently before lifting her into his arms and carrying her to the bed. "You've got your potions already, then?" he inquired of her, looking down at her with a boyish grin.

She nodded, rubbing her hand over her stomach. "So far, I've only had a little bit of nausea," she told him. "But I can keep my potions down, so that has helped a lot. I just wish I weren't so tired—and hearing the children fight makes my head hurt and then I just want to scream at them."

"I believe it," Arthur said, shaking his head. "They were in fine form today—did you swat Dora for what she did?"

"I...may have given her a little shock to scare her against flaming our house," Andromeda replied. "She didn't even cry."

"I don't want to ask," he sighed. "I know the traditions, and I don't like them much...please don't do that often, okay?"

She nodded, curling up on her side, and her husband lay down next to her, slipping his arms around her and holding her close, one of his hands resting on her stomach. "This is exciting," he murmured. "I can't wait to meet this little one too."

Andromeda yawned again, placing her hand over his. "Me either," she sighed. "Me either."

It was difficult for Andromeda to care for her three little ones while dealing with her sickness, for she didn't have Cedrella's help much at all. Arthur's mother was too ill to assist with the children, and many times, it was all Andromeda could do to take care of the woman and keep the children from causing too much havoc.

Arthur came home one day, and found Andromeda sitting at the table, Charlie playing nearby on the floor. "Hey," he said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "The Accidental Magic Squad came to me today and said that there were things happening here. Are you okay, Andromeda?"

Andromeda looked up wearily. "Dora discovered that she can explode things," she sighed, "and after she did it the first time, it wasn't an accident, but an experiment—and she taught Will how to do it, too."

"Where are they now?" Arthur asked, glancing around and only seeing Charlie.

"They wouldn't listen," Andromeda sighed, "so I put them to sleep. They're upstairs."

"All right," Arthur said. "Were you able to repair what they did?"

Andromeda nodded tiredly, then said, "Arthur, I'm worried about your mother. I haven't seen or heard from her at all today."

He frowned. "I'll check on her. How long have Will and Dora been asleep?"

"A couple hours," Andromeda sighed. "I need a nap more than they do."

"All right," he said again. "I'll get them and see what I can do."

The two troublemakers were glad to see their father, as Will said, "Dad?" and yawned. "Where's Mum?"

"Downstairs," Arthur answered, cuddling the sleepy child as he also woke Dora.

"Dora made Mum mad," Will sighed.

"No," mumbled Dora, blinking sleepily. "No sleep."

"Dora," Arthur said softly, "Dora's home. Wake up. It's okay."

Dora startled awake, giving a soft cry until she saw her father. "Dad," she said, reaching for him.

Arthur let Dora climb onto his lap as well, and Will said, "Mum didn't like us—we made Mum's drink go boom!" And the boy laughed.

Dora gave a small grin, but snuggled up to her father as he spoke. "Well, Dora, Will, we can't just make things explode," he said. "Your mother probably wanted to keep her drink, do you think?"

"Yeah," Will nodded with a grin. "It was funny."

"You two need to be nice to your mother," Arthur told them gently.

The little girl said nothing, and Arthur held back a sigh, just knowing that it was going to be very difficult to get the child to behave.

One of the following days, Andromeda felt really sick with a headache on top of it all. Most unfortunately, all three children took that day to scream and fight all day so that Andromeda had no energy to deal with it.

The young mother sat down on the couch and began to cry helplessly, at her wit's end. Her potions weren't helping her stomach, and she didn't know what to do about the children.

Andromeda didn't notice when her children went silent, all staring at her. She only looked up when she felt a little hand on her knee and heard a small voice ask, "Mum? You okay?"

Charlie was looking up at her in concern, and she smiled through her tears. "Mum's sick, Charlie," she said. "Mum doesn't feel well."

The other two children approached her, Dora asking, "Mum sick?"

"Mum needs a potion," Will said to her, and Andromeda smiled at him.

"Mum's potion didn't take all her sickness away," she sniffed, trying to compose herself for their sake. "Mum needs a nap."

"I don't want a nap," Charlie frowned, and Andromeda smiled again, lying down on the couch.

"Not you, love," Andromeda told him. "I need a nap. You and Dora and Will can play here quietly, okay?"

Charlie and Will nodded, and Andromeda could only hope that Dora would behave.

Later, when Andromeda woke, she found Nymphadora curled up on top of her, asleep. She took a deep breath and cradled Dora in her arms, sitting up slightly. The boys were still playing together as she looked over at them, Will grinning at her.

"Mum better?" he asked.

"A little," she answered softly. "Thank you, boys, for playing quietly."

The two just grinned, and after a few minutes, she got up and lay Dora down on the couch, then returned to what she'd been attempting to do earlier.