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Dora

Both Andromeda and Rabastan kept an eye on Nymphadora the next few days, seeing her struggle with her realisation of the loss of her mother. Delphi sensed Nymphadora's distress, though seemed complacent enough in Andromeda's arms. One day as they were caring for the children together, the older witch sighed, setting Delphi in her cot before slipping silently over to Nymphadora, her arm stealing around the girl gently.

"Don't be like her," Dora said numbly. "Stay sane, and safe."

"I'll do my best," Andromeda reassured her with a small surprised laugh. "I just want to be here in case you need me."

"Thanks," Dora sighed as she leaned into the woman's side. "I'm glad Rab allowed you to stay."

Andromeda nodded. "You know your duty to him includes obedience?" she asked quietly.

Nymphadora sighed. "I can't lose you too, Dromeda. I just can't."

"I'm not going anywhere now," Andromeda said softly, hugging her once-daughter. "But if Rabastan gets it into his mind that I have to leave, then I must. And you would have to let go."

"What are you trying to tell me?" Nymphadora frowned at the witch.

"Bellatrix," Andromeda said softly. "You need to let go of her, Dora. Holding on will only hurt you worse, will make everything worse."

"I—I can't," Dora sniffed. "I want her back."

The older witch sighed. "I know. But think of it, Dora. She's at peace now, her mind at ease. Bellatrix deserves a good long rest."

Dora's face fell, even as she nodded. "Yes, but she left me. And Delphi! I know she wouldn't do it on purpose, but...she's still gone!" Tears came to her eyes, but she dashed them away angrily. "She's my mother! Her death shouldn't be a celebration!"

Andromeda nodded, hugging the girl into her side as she sniffed forlornly, forcing herself not to break down again. "I'm sorry," Andromeda murmured. "I can't pretend I understand how it hurts you, but I love you, Nymphadora, and I'm sorry."

"Thanks," Dora whispered, then pulled away from the woman, looking down at her son for a moment before turning and leaving the two babies with Andromeda.

Dora found her husband in the hall near the front doors, staring at a design on the wall and seeming to be thinking of far, far away things. He looked up as she approached, though, and immediately asked, "Dora, what's wrong?"

She went straight to him, relieved as he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her head. "I love you," he said softly. "What's wrong?"

"Just...Mum," Dora sniffed, pressing her face against the man's shirt.

"I hope you mean Bella," Rabastan said. "Though if Andromeda upset you, I might need to have a word with her."

Dora made a small sound of amusement. "No, Rab. I just...I miss my real mother."

Rabastan sighed, kissing the top of her head, and Dora closed her eyes, cringing as she realised something. "No one cares but me," she whispered.

"And I care that you care," Rabastan answered. "Bellatrix loved you, I know that. You're one of the luckiest people in the world, you know."

"Yes," Dora sniffed, half laughing through her few tears."It's just so wrong that they, who are supposed to be Light and good, are celebrating Mum's death! I hate them!"

"Dora..." Rabastan's arms tightened around her slightly "I know. It's always been that way."

"It isn't right!" Dora cried, feeling Rabastan's hand rub her back as he tried to calm her. "Rab..." She clung to him as her tears began to fall, the witch glad for her husband's strong arms around her.

"It isn't right," Rabastan agreed as he held her. "Though nothing will ever be fair for us, Dora. Our families are Death Eaters and so are we, Andromeda no better." He seemed to sigh, then said, "Rodolphus was caught, Dora, to help us escape. And if you think you're the only one that misses Bellatrix...you're not. Rodolphus is suffering right now just as much, probably more, than you are."

Nymphadora's first reaction was to be offended, to refuse to believe Rab, yet she knew it was true. "He... was sent back?" she sniffed. "I'm sorry, Rab."

"I know you feel abandoned," Rabastan sighed, "but think of it: your mother is free now. Her mind is clear. If she were still here, we'd be trying to keep her from plotting against the Ministry how to bring back her Master, and trying to keep her from drawing attention to us."

"Yes," Dora smiled through her tears. "She'd be furious at all of us for not helping her. It's good she didn't know he...he fell."

"She would be heartbroken," Rabastan nodded. "She'd fall to pieces just like she did last time, though—she was slightly less awful to Rodolphus for that little while until she cracked and got us thrown in Azkaban."

"But she was my mother," Nymphadora breathed. "I loved her, though I didn't really even know her for very long."

Rabastan gave her a thoughtful look, then nodded, kissing the girl's forehead. "Perhaps," he said softly, "we could get pictures of Bella...make a memory book. Especially for Delphi, as she won't remember most of this, probably."

Nymphadora nodded, her eyes lighting up slightly. "Rabastan, I love you," she said before wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him firmly. "We'll have to do that."

"We'll have to see if Andromeda knows where the Pensieves might be kept," Rabastan said. "Maybe she would have young memories of Bella?"

"Rab," Dora said breathlessly, hugging him tightly. "Thank you."

"Yes, well—" Rabastan shrugged. "I've got to keep you happy. I still want Rigel to have a playmate."

She sputtered, but giggled, leaning up to kiss him again. "We'll see," she said. "Just let everything calm down for a little while first."

Rabastan hugged her close, then said, "Well, just let me know. I'm always willing, you know."

Nymphadora couldn't help giggling more as he placed a hand on her hip, squeezing her meaningfully. "But it's almost lunch," she grinned as he guided her to lean back against the wall.

"Shhh," he mumbled, leaning in to kiss her. "This is the prelude." Dora clung to her husband, the two losing themselves for a few passionate moments.

Later that evening, they were all in the sitting room together, Nymphadora lying on her back on the floor beside the children. Andromeda had tried to convince the younger witch not to sprawl out on the floor, but to no avail. Dora grinned as Delphi tired of playing by herself and crawled over to her sister, pulling herself to sit next to the witch. "Hi," Dora greeted her with a smile. "What do you want?"

"Mum?" Delphi asked doubtfully, and Dora flinched.

"Baby," Dora bit her lip, "Mumma's gone away."

Delphi looked at her older sister, almost seeming to understand. "No Mum?"

Dora shook her head slightly. "No Mum, Delphi."

The child sighed, then curled into her sister's side on the floor. "Dowa."

"Yes, just Dora," the witch said softly, wrapping an arm around the little girl. "Dora and Rab and Rigel and Andromeda. We're your family."

"And Narcissa," Rabastan added, shrugging. "Though I wouldn't claim the boys..."

Nymphadora giggled in spite of herself, and Delphi looked up curiously. Andromeda looked disapproving, and Dora said, "Come on, M—Andromeda, you've got to understand that."

Andromeda just shook her head, not replying, and Rabastan smirked, about to speak when the older witch jumped to her feet in alarm. Nymphadora was about to ask what was wrong when she felt the disturbance in their wards and Andromeda breathed, "It's Narcissa. I—I'll be somewhere else."

"Wait," Nymphadora began, but Andromeda was already gone from the room. "Take one of the babies," Dora sighed to herself.

"Come on," Rabastan said, helping the witch up from the floor. "Let's go see if it is indeed Lady Malfoy."

"What about Rigel and Delphi?" Dora said softly, glancing at the two children seated on the floor.

"We'll be right back," Rabastan shrugged. "Or you could have a house-elf look after them."

"A house-elf," scoffed Nymphadora. "Look after my son?"

Rabastan rolled his eyes at her. "Nymphadora, let's go."

Nymphadora walked forward to join him, drawing her wand as they went straight to the entrance hall. They stepped out of the hall, watching the hooded figure near the door. "It's me, Narcissa," the witch began, pulling her hood down. "A couple weeks ago, you came to my home after the Battle of Hogwarts, took Rigel and Delphini and went on the run."

"Aunt Cissa," Dora sighed, darting forward before Rabastan could stop her. She hugged the witch fiercely, Narcissa taking a step backward as her niece collided into her. "How did you know we were here?"

"I wasn't sure," Narcissa answered, drawing back to look at the younger witch. "Though I knew you'd been chased from Andromeda's home, and that you owned this house. Are you all well?"

"Yes," Dora replied. "The children are sleeping better at night now, though Delphi still cries for Mum..."

Narcissa hesitated, then asked, "Andromeda is here, isn't she?"

Nymphadora nodded after a moment's hesitation. "She's around somewhere."

"It wasn't my idea to bring her along," Rabastan said, and Narcissa held back a smirk.

"I'm sure," the blonde witch said, sighing as she regarded her niece once again. "Don't plan to stay here," she warned the girl. "It might be safe for a while, but this area has sometimes been scanned by the Ministry in the past for various reasons, though it is supposed to be abandoned right now."

"Oh," Dora said in surprise.

"Will you join us in the sitting room?" Rabastan asked the blonde witch. "The children are in there."

Narcissa smiled politely. "I would, but I can't stay. I don't want to draw attention to you," she told the couple. "I might stop by again, though I'm not sure how watched our family will be either. Probably best not for us to contact each other in the meantime. Take care of yourselves."

"You too," Dora murmured as she hugged the witch again.

"Of course," Narcissa said quietly, then added in a barely audible whisper, "Tell Andromeda she doesn't have to avoid me."

"Oh—okay," Nymphadora whispered back, hugging the witch once more gratefully. "Thank you, Narcissa."

The witch gave her a small smile as she drew back, then said goodbye to Rabastan, leaving the manor. Rabastan frowned slightly. "What did she say to you?"

Dora bit her lip. "To tell Andromeda not to avoid her."

"You're joking," Rabastan groaned. "Everyone's gone mad."

"We're all mad here in this house," Nymphadora said, tossing her black hair and smirking at him. "The difference is to what degree."

Rabastan laughed. "Go on. Go find Andromeda, I don't care."

Dora kissed his cheek, then hurried off to grab Delphi and find Andromeda. She found the older witch locked away in her room, staring at the portraits blankly.

"Dromeda," Dora said half teasingly, "I told you to stay sane and not be like Mum."

The witch gave a sad smile, not turning from the wall. "I'm fine."

"Sure you are," Dora sighed. "You didn't have to leave because of Cissa."

"It was for the best," Andromeda said quietly. "I don't want to bring reproach upon her, Dora. And she probably wouldn't be happy to see me with you."

"She told me to tell you that you don't have to avoid her," Dora said softly. "And if she was angry that I wanted you to be here, then I would have a problem with that. But she wants you to stop running."

Andromeda shook her head, and Dora put her arm around the woman. "You're the only sister she has now," she reminded the brown-haired woman. "She doesn't want to lose you again, especially since you're helping keep me and Rab and the children safe."

"I..." Andromeda sighed. "I just seem to always be picking up the pieces of someone's broken heart."

"And no one to pick up your pieces?" Dora frowned at the witch.

"Nymphadora Lestrange, my heart is not broken!" Andromeda said in a huff, crossing her arms and looking away from the young witch. "I hate having to help others deal with their sorrows, and I...don't want to face Narcissa, knowing that she knows what happened to Bella after I left—I know that it was partially my fault—"

"You fell in love," Dora said softly. "I don't blame you."

Andromeda sighed deeply. "I blame myself, though I wouldn't have done anything different."

"I love you," Nymphadora told the witch. "You can't really blame yourself for Bella's problems."

Andromeda smiled weakly. "I know. I just wish it could have been better for her. For all of us."

Delphi looked up at the two, then reached out to Andromeda, who took her, sighing slightly. "She hated me because you got too attached to me," Andromeda told Nymphadora, smoothing back Delphi's silver curls. "And here I go again, with her second child."

"Oh, stop," Dora sighed, hugging the witch as she leant her head against her shoulder. "No one will hate you if Delphi adores you. Rabastan would be grateful, and I...well, it would be good if you were able to influence her. She has so much against her."

"We'll be all right, Dora," Andromeda promised her seriously, straightening up and looking into her eyes. "I will not let anything bad happen to you or your family."

"And I won't let anything bad happen to you," Dora replied, watching Delphi giggle and tug on Andromeda's hair.

Andromeda rolled her eyes. "What do you know? She's just like you."

Nymphadora giggled. "That's why she needs your influence."

The older witch smirked, getting to her feet and saying, "Let's go back to the sitting room. I'm sure Rabastan wouldn't like us to stay closeted away."

Nymphadora smiled, linking her arm with Andromeda's as they left the room together.