Written for Assignment #8 on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry forum: Ghost Hunting, Task #4 – Write about terminating or losing a pregnancy. Word count: 555.

Warnings: Miscarriage mentioned, as per the prompt.

Helpless

Helpless. Rarely did Andromeda feel so helpless as now, when she kneeled in front of the fireplace to floo the obstetrics unit at Saint Mungo's. Being a healer herself she suspected – knew – what was happening, but an independent opinion was needed to make it official. She tried to collect herself enough to say her destination clearly. Still, she sounded slightly shaky as she called "Healer Oaks!" and put her head into the green flames.

"Persephone?" The healer was nowhere to see, so Andromeda raised her voice a bit. Instead of her colleague – friend – this new intern appeared. Dorothy, was it? The girl was barely out of school and reminded Andy of her younger sister. Blond hair, pretty face, clear blue eyes. And yet, she was entirely different to Narcissa.

"Healer Tonks!" exclaimed the girl. They had met before and it was customary to address healers by their title even outside work. "What can I do for you?"

"Is healer Oaks available? I need to talk to her, urgently" she informed.

"She's gone to check up on a patient. I'll go get her if you can wait for a moment," proposed Dorothy.

"Please do so," agreed Andromeda. She hoped it wouldn't take long; her knees started to hurt. The girl left immediately.

She didn't come back. Instead, only Persephone entered the room, giving them some privacy.

"Andy? What happened?" They knew each other long enough to read some information without words; and Andromeda's tense expression was a clear sign that something was wrong.

"The same," answered Andromeda. Tears appeared in her eyes; she was no longer able to control her emotions. "The same." She had been through this three times before, and every time she had been accompanied by Persephone.

"Back off, I'm coming through," decided the older witch. Andromeda obliged, pulling her head out of the fireplace and moving away. She stood up from the floor and sat on the sofa, rubbing her knees. Moments later, healer Oaks arrived.

"When did it start?" She asked, healer mode fully on.

"I started bleeding about an hour ago," answered Andy, trying to be precise. "Called Ted to take Dora out," she added. She didn't want her seven-year-old daughter to be here… And Ted didn't want to leave her alone, so he probably took Dora to his parents and would come back soon.

"Lay down," ordered Persephone. She held out her wand, ready to run necessary diagnostics spells.

She casted them non-verbally, moving her wand in intricate patterns above Andromeda's abdomen.

"You can sit up," she announced several minutes later. "I'm sorry… You were right," she informed, squeezing Andromeda's hand. "The baby's heart is not working. Must have stopped a few days ago."

Andromeda didn't feel like she needed this explanation, but it was a part of being professional. She nodded her head.

"I will give you a potion to speed everything up," said Persephone. "And I want to see you for a check-up in two days."

"Understood, healer Oaks," answered Andy formally.

"Next time…"

"There won't be a next time," she said. They discussed it with Ted after the third loss, agreeing to try one last time. And this last chance was now gone. They had dreamed about having a bigger family in the beginning… But they would not bury another child; four was four too many.