I felt awkward writing the last scene, leaving Rigel standing in the hallway, but I did love writing. Thank you so much for all your continued support! It is very much appreciated.

Dora

"Ahhhh!" the now-common frustrated yell of Delphini Riddle echoed through Andromeda's room as the young witch threw herself onto her aunt's bed.

Andromeda glanced at the girl in the mirror, giving her a sympathetic look. "We'll figure it out, Delphi," she told her, turning from the mirror when she was satisfied with her appearance. "Now, how do I look?"

Delphi sighed, rolling over to look up at the older witch. The woman was completely unrecognisable, her hair and face changed to make her look much younger. She had pulled back her red hair from her face, her eyes a light brown. "I have to go to a different place this time," she sighed, straightening her skirt and shirt. "And I am not excited that I have to wear Muggle clothes."

"You look hideous," Delphi said truthfully, sitting up. "It's too bad Rabastan won't let Dora go out. She finds it a lot easier than you do."

"Well, she needs to stay here with the children," Andromeda said sensibly. "But I should be back soon. I hate going out during the day."

Delphi gave a small nod, and the witch sighed. "Stay out of trouble while I'm gone," Andromeda said quietly. "I'll work on it again when I return."

The younger witch smirked and gave no reply, though she accompanied her aunt to the doors of the mansion. Andromeda left quickly without looking back, striding far out into the grounds before she crossed the wards and disapparated. She did not like going out now that they had to keep switching between markets and shops since Nymphadora had been recognised a few weeks back. Andromeda smirked. That had been something no one would volunteer to tell Rabastan, though it was a miracle that the incident hadn't ended up in the paper.

It didn't take Andromeda very long to gather and pay for the things that her family needed, though she felt slightly nervous when she saw her nephew Draco and his son Scorpius. She couldn't remember how old the boy would have been, though she thought he looked about five or six. Forcing herself to turn away from them in case Draco became suspicious of her, Andromeda walked down the street in the opposite direction, soon entering the Knockturn equivalent of the area.

Now feeling endangered, Andromeda pulled her hood up over her face and hurried toward the apparition point at the other end of the street. She was nearly there when something caught her eye and she slipped quietly through the doors of a shop, a soft chime going off the moment she entered. She answered the greeting of the shopkeeper who shot her a suspicious look but didn't walk toward her.

Something hanging on the wall adjacent to the display window had caught her eye, and she wanted to investigate it. Andromeda looked around for a few moments until she spotted it, dangling from a silver chain. She studied it a bit before she decided that Delphi needed to know before anyone did anything. Andromeda pretended to carefully look around at a few other things in the shop before she left and began to walk toward the nearest apparition point.

Andromeda was relieved to get back to the house and set her packages down so she could go find Delphini. She was glad to locate Delphi and Rodolphus together in their practise room. "Delphi," she said immediately, interrupting their fierce duel without a thought. "I discovered something I'll think you'll want to know."

Delphi did not pause in her duel until she managed to get a hex in on Rodolphus, making him hiss slightly as his wand went flying across the room. Rodolphus flexed his right wrist and winced. "That was good," he admitted, holding out his hand for his wand.

"Let me guess," Andromeda smirked. "Dora and Rab don't know you can best Rodolphus."

"For two reasons," Delphi laughed. "They wouldn't like it and Rodolphus would never live it down."

"Enough, enough," Rodolphus said, turning to Andromeda. "What was it that you were going to say?"

Andromeda looked straight at her niece. "I found a Time Turner: they have not all been destroyed."

Delphi stared for a moment, then asked, "Where is it?"

"In one of the shops by the market I just came from," Andromeda replied breathlessly. "It was hanging on the wall...it seems to be in perfect condition. If you want, we can go back for it tonight."

"Nymphadora will want to go," Rodolphus said simply. "We'll probably have to wait until Rabastan is asleep."

"Unless we go during the day," Delphi replied. "Rigel would distract his father for us, I'm sure."

"You're sure?" Andromeda raised an eyebrow. "Rabastan hasn't told him off for bowing to your every whim?"

"Well, he didn't listen if so," Rodolphus chuckled. "Rigel's grown up quite a lot in the last few years: he isn't as compliant to anyone's orders anymore."

Andromeda smirked. "Then it's settled. If Rigel can be persuaded to distract Rab, then we can go after the Time Turner tomorrow. I'm sure Dora will come with us, and we can leave Belle with the house elves for a little while."

Delphi frowned. "Do you think Dora will agree to it?"

"She won't want to miss it," Rodolphus answered with a smirk. "Trust me. In fact, let's see if she will join us, and we can make some plans."

"I'll get her," Andromeda said. "I can make it seem more normal than sending an elf after her would." She turned and left the room as the other two grinned at each other.

Andromeda shook her head at the grins the other three were sharing as they looked both ways down the hall before hurrying out of the house into the grounds. Nymphadora, Delphi, and Rodolphus were entirely too happy about going out and stealing a Time Turner from some unsuspecting shop owner. Andromeda hoped going with them would keep the three from doing any unnecessary damage.

She had already let them know where the shop was, and Rodolphus had surprised them all by telling them he knew the shop owner. Dora had informed Rodolphus that they had no time to reminisce or bargain with old friends, and he just rolled his eyes at her. Delphi did not comment on all their chatter as they left the wards one by one, walking a little way away before disapparating.

The three appeared close to the shop, Andromeda and Rodolphus hurrying ahead. Delphi walked after them, Dora following quickly. "Just be quick," Delphi told them.

"Stay together," Rodolphus ordered them. "I'll be back." He strode into the shop and disappeared into the back aisles.

"Well, come on," Delphi said impatiently, grasping Andromeda's arm. "Where was it?"

Andromeda swatted the girl's hand away from her. "Behave," she hissed at Delphi. "Come along." She walked away toward one of the wall displays, expecting the two to follow.

Nymphadora spotted the Time Turner first and pointed excitedly. "There!"

Andromeda pulled Dora's hand down. "Have you both gone mad?" she demanded in a hushed tone. "We are in a public place! For Merlin's sake, be proper!"

Delphini smirked. "Yeah, Nymphie."

The witch's hair shot red, and Andromeda glared at both of them, placing a hand on Dora's shoulder to keep her quiet. All of them straightened up as Rodolphus approached them with the shopkeeper, Dora morphing her hair back to black.

The shopkeeper went straight to the wall and took down the Time Turner, turning to the three females. "I was told one of you is very interested in this?"

Delphi glanced at Rodolphus, whose expression did not change. She finally said, "I have been on the lookout for a Time Turner."

The man held out the object to her and said, "Take it, as a gift."

One look at the man's face and Andromeda knew that Rodolphus had told him something about Delphi. Nymphadora moved to her sister's side protectively, a cold expression on her face. Rodolphus nodded to the man, excusing the four of them and leading them toward the door. Nymphadora chilled in horror when as soon as they walked out the door, there was a yell of "Lestrange!" and spells began to fly.

"I'm really getting tired of that," Andromeda commented as Rod, Dora, and Delphi all dueled fiercely. She joined the fight quickly, hearing Rodolphus order them to fight to flee.

Dora was standing by her sister, always wanting to protect her. Andromeda dueled carefully, but Rodolphus dueled purposefully, edging away from the building so they could disapparate. He scowled when he realised Delphi wasn't even trying to leave the place. Catching Dora's gaze as well, Rodolphus hurried back to the young girl, grabbing her and pulling her away as he attempted to duel her adversaries.

Andromeda and Dora covered Rodolphus and Delphi as he half dragged her from the fight. The moment he was clear of the fight, he disapparated with her. The two other witches quickly followed.

They arrived on the grounds almost at the same time, Nymphadora sighing in exasperation. "She's too much like Mother," Dora groaned.

Andromeda nodded ruefully. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," Dora answered, biting her lip as a door slammed down the hall. "Oh dear."

They both winced at Rabastan's yell of "I will not calm down, Rigel! How could you agree to this after I told you—" He stopped as he saw his wife standing awkwardly in the middle of the hall. "Dora," he said, unable to find more to say.

Dora saw her son walk up behind Rabastan and felt a little guilty about letting him distract his father. She hurried to her husband, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm fine," she murmured, hugging him.

Rabastan embraced her wordlessly until he was sure she was all right. "It's not worth it," he whispered, holding her close. "Freedom isn't worth the risk of losing you or the children."

Andromeda awkwardly looked away from the two, and Rigel questioned, "Where's Delphi? And Rodolphus?"

Nymphadora bit her lip, looking up. "They left before we did..." she began as Rabastan loosened his grip on her, realising how panicked he must seem.

"Well, if we've lost either of them," Andromeda said, looking around at the others, "we might be compromised."

"Fortify the wards," Rabastan said without hesitation.

"You can't leave them out there!" Dora cried.

"We can't leave Rodolphus without shelter," Rigel protested.

Rabastan whirled on his son. "I don't want to hear another word out of you, boy," he said sternly.

Dora bit her lip as Rabastan turned to her. "The wards," he said quietly.

She could see the pain in his eyes: he did not want to abandon his brother either, but Rab cared far more for his own family. Dora winced as his grip tightened again. She would never forgive herself if she abandoned her sister. She looked up to deny her husband's request and jumped in shock as a tremendous crack and a scream rang throughout the hall.

Rodolphus and Delphi had come straight through the wards and it looked like Rodolphus was attempting to restrain the witch. "Let me go!" she screamed in rage, her hair bright red. Her magic crackled and Rodolphus slammed her against the wall, his wand in her stomach.

"Don't you dare," he growled at her. "You are not here to fight a war on your own, Delphini. You cannot defeat them all alone—don't kick me."

"Let me go!" she yelled again, ignoring his wand stabbing her in the ribs. "I won't forget this, Rodolphus!"

"Delphi, calm, please," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll let you go if you'll talk quietly.

Her glared did not cool, though she hissed through her teeth, "We were betrayed!"

Rodolphus sighed. "Well, it was four of us in broad daylight, but the shopkeeper was not the one," he said to the young witch. "I bound him not to speak of what I told him."

"We could have defeated them!" Delphi snapped, glaring past Rodolphus at Nymphadora and Andromeda.

"It is more important that we focus on the prophecy," Rodolphus told her firmly, drawing her attention again. "You need to be alive and free for this to happen, Delphi. You will get your revenge and defeat your enemies in time. We cannot afford to lose you over so small a mission!"

"I would have been fine," Delphini snapped at him, her hair returning to silver. "You should have helped me."

Rodolphus looked at her for a moment, then gave her a begrudging look of amusement. "You sound just like your mother," he muttered for her ears only.

She snorted in derision, pushing his hand and wand away from her. "I'm still angry with you," she said haughtily before striding off down the hall.

Rodolphus watched her go, sighing before he smiled to himself and shook his head.

The silence was only broken when Rabastan demanded, "Whose idea was this little excursion?"

"It was mine," Rodolphus and Andromeda spoke at the same time, both frowning at each other.

Rabastan looked uncertainly between the two, then glanced at his wife. "What was the purpose?" he asked, taking a deep breath.

Nymphadora sighed. "A Time Turner," she admitted. "We spotted one getting supplies a day or two ago. Delphi now has it."

"The plan was foolproof," Rodolphus sighed.

"Except Delphi didn't stick to it," Andromeda frowned.

Rodolphus smirked. "Her mother never did. You shouldn't expect it of Delphi."

Rabastan scowled. "All four of you went out to retrieve a Time Turner?"

Andromeda drew herself up and glared at the man. "We wish to do what we can to help Delphi in her cause," she said sharply. "If you are so opposed to it, you can explain that at the Dark Lord's feet should we succeed!"

"Andromeda!" Nymphadora said in horror. "Do not say such things!"

"You cannot ignore how obvious your own husband is about his reluctance to bring back the Dark Lord, regardless of any benefit it would bring," Andromeda told the younger woman firmly. "Delphi knows this, Dora. None of us should risk opposing this prophecy."

"I do not oppose it!" Rabastan hissed at the brown-haired witch.

"Whether you hinder any possible progress, or merely stand by," Andromeda began.

"As Lucius likes to do," Rodolphus mused, grinning when Rigel's mouth fell open in shock.

"—it is fairly obvious that you do not care enough about it," Andromeda told Rabastan, whose face was lit with anger. "It is not enough to just let it happen. You have the opportunity to help, to be very useful in returning the Dark Lord to power. Is it not important to you that your family remain in high standing with the Dark Lord and his followers? Let it not be said—"

A quiet voice broke through Andromeda's accusing tone. "Any more and you will have gone too far."

Everyone turned to look at Rigel, but the young man did not flinch, looking straight at his aunt. Andromeda gave him a small nod, then turned and quickly slipped off down the hall. Rodolphus clapped the boy on the shoulder, then walked off in the direction of his own room, leaving the boy with his parents.

Nymphadora had one arm wrapped around her husband, looking into his face cautiously as he still looked furious. He turned to her and muttered, "Do you agree with her?"

"Well, you would never hear the end of it if by bringing the Dark Lord back, we managed to get Mother back as well," Dora sighed. "You've said yourself that she would want us to find him, to bring him back. Especially now that we have a prophecy, we have a chance that something will happen."

"Mother wouldn't say the things that Aunt Andromeda said," Rigel said hesitantly, not sure if he was allowed to speak to his father quite yet. "But if Bellatrix was here—at least from what I've heard—there would have been some screaming and Cursing instead of mere words."

"I know you want to help Delphi," Rabastan said to Dora, shuddering slightly, "but I don't want you to be in danger. I want us to be free again, but...I can't risk you. And I can't raise Rigel and little Bella alone."

"Then help us," Dora whispered, her other hand sliding up to grip the front of his shirt entreatingly. "Stand by me as I stand by you."

Rabastan seemed to shiver slightly, then pulled his wife close, burying his face in her hair. She embraced him tightly, wondering at how much he seemed to be struggling mentally. "It's okay," she whispered, her hand carefully stroking his back. "Andromeda and Rod and I all look out for each other when we're out. We'll be fine, Rab. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

Rigel shifted awkwardly, watching his father and mother embrace, the witch trying to keep her husband in his right mind. He didn't know if he should stay, never having seen his father in such a state before.

Dora felt her husband's arms tighten around her and hugged him in return. "Please," the man whispered. "Don't sneak out anymore. I can't be here alone not knowing what's going on. I need to make sure you're safe."

"Okay," Dora murmured to him. "I promise, Rabastan. Come: let's go find a bit of quiet."

Rabastan did not protest, allowing himself to be led away down the hall.