Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

C/N: Chapter warning! Some disturbing scenes toward the end of the chapter…you have been warned.

A/N: Wow, I have had a great response to the story so far! I hope I don't scare too many off with this next chapter.

Chapter Two: Horrific Revelations

"What were you thinking Harry?!" Andromeda hissed accusingly as they walked out of the courtroom. "She's a Death Eater! Why would you bring her into our home and expose Teddy to that…that bigoted snake?!"

Harry stopped and took a deep breath and scratched the back of his head before speaking with the only person in his life at the moment whose opinion mattered most to him. "Andi…it's complicated. But the short of it is, is that she saved my life in the forest when I went to face Voldemort. Not just once Andi, but twice. I owe her my life, without her deceiving that bastard, I would be dead. That's all there is to it." He sighed, scratching at the facial hair on his jaw.

"But Harry one good act does not…"

"Two."

"Fine! Two good acts. But that does not redeem her from a lifetime of bigotry and her involvement with aiding Voldemort! She's just as responsible as Bellatrix for my…for my b-baby's murder!" Andromeda was shaking; her struggle to keep composed ebbing away.

Harry pulled her into a tight hug, and gently whispered into her ear. "I know that there is a lot of history between you and your family, especially your sisters. And I don't blame you for your feelings, and you have every right to rage against anyone who was connected with Nymphadora's death.

"And believe me, I thought long and hard about this decision, I looked through every Auror report on Narcissa I could find, her arrest report, her questioning under Veritus Serum, looking for anything that would condemn Narcissa, to find her guilty of some heinous act that would allow me to just ignore her.

"What I found was, that she had never taken a life herself, she had never participated in any raids, she never tortured another human being. And she was only at the Battle of Hogwarts to try and convince her son to flee from the battle." Harry told her softly.

"But that doesn't mean she's innocent!" Andromeda Tonks retorted.

Harry sighed. "No, no it doesn't." Harry shook his head sadly and released her; they continued to walk with her arm hooked within his arm.

"She gave comfort and aid to the enemy. She allowed torture and imprisonment to happen in her own home. It was also Malfoy money that financed a large part of Voldemort's operations. Her hands are not clean, Andi, but they are not as dirty as so many others."

Andromeda shook her head in frustration. "Harry, I don't think I can be under the same roof as her." She breathed. "Their deaths are still too fresh in my mind and heart. You should have spoken to me about this beforehand, Harry."

Harry did not need to ask to whom she was referring, because he was still missing them as well. Not one day went by without seeing Remus and Dora in the face of their orphaned little boy. Teddy had his mother's metamorphic abilities and her brilliant smile, he was constantly changing the color of his hair and eyes, and he had his father's caring nature and intelligence. He was the perfect mix of his two parents. And he was the apple of Harry's eye and Andromeda's little ray of sunshine.

"You're right, I should have spoken to you first, I'm sorry. But…I don't know, I just felt like I was somehow obligated to try and save her life. Besides, do you honestly think she would have survived the binding process? As weak as she looked in the courtroom, I doubt she would have lasted another day with the Dementors."

Andromeda remained silent, which Harry was never adept at interpreting. A woman's silence could mean many things he had come to realize. It could mean they were either happy or sad, thinking or fuming, you just never knew. He just held on and hoped for the best.

He felt her head slowly nod against his shoulder. "Alright Harry, she can stay, just don't expect me to be very social. I'll be cordial to her, but don't expect anything more." Harry tightened his arm around hers and then kissed her temple.

"Let's go see the bailiff and sign for her release." Harry stated with a half grin. She straightened up and smoothed out her robes before walking side by side with her young lover. She would not look weak in front of others, especially her bloody snob of a sister.

Harry and Andromeda were escorted to the Ministry holding cells, where Harry signed nearly a ream of parchment, much to his annoyance at all the bureaucratic nonsense. Once the final 'T' was crossed, he and Andromeda were taken to the cell where Narcissa had been placed.

When the magically reinforced metal door was opened, they saw a prone and unconscious Narcissa lying on a thread bear blanket on a very unstable looking cot. She had been dressed in clean prison robes but she had not been bathed.

Andromeda gasped reflexively at now seeing how truly emaciated her younger sister looked. She looked so frail and her skin was an ashen grey. It appeared she was only just a whisper away from passing on to the next great adventure.

"She doesn't look good Harry." Andromeda stated in a concerned tone, which surprised even her.

Harry turned toward the guard. "Has a healer been in to see her?"

"Death Eaters don't deserve to get medical attention!" The auror spat, looking at the unmoving form of the former Malfoy matriarch with disgust.

Harry's eyes narrowed angrily at the auror. "Every prisoner deserves medical attention! Now get someone down here this instance!" He bellowed in frustration.

"With all due respect SIR, the healer had already refused to see her. You'll find that there aren't too many in the auror medical corps willing to lift a fingernail to help anyone with the last name of Malfoy! She did however sign the medical release so you can take the bitch." The large auror spat, handing the release over to Harry.

"How dare you!" Andromeda yelled storming toward the larger man before being grabbed around the waist by Harry pulling her back.

"I see, well I will just have to have a word with your director about the obvious lack of professionalism I'm seeing down here." Harry growled angrily.

"That will be all auror; we'll find our own way out." Harry spat. The auror turned and left, but not before giving one final murderous look at the still form of Narcissa.

"Well, let's get her back to the farm." Harry stated.

"I don't think we should try and enervate her, Harry. I don't think her body can take any more magic being cast at her." Harry nodded, understanding her concern.

"I think the best way would be to apparate. I don't think that queuing up for the floo would be very wise, considering there are those out there that don't particularly like your sister. They have a designated apparition point here in the detention area for aurors; I'm still on the access list to use it, so I think that would be the better choice." Harry told her, looking down at the emaciated Malfoy matriarch.

"Will I be able to use it?" Andromeda asked worriedly.

"I'll speak to the desk officer, it shouldn't be a problem." Harry told her confidently.

Harry walked over to Narcissa and scooped her up into his arms. "My God!" Harry stuttered in surprise.

"What's wrong?" Andromeda asked worriedly.

"She weighs almost nothing. She's all skin and bones; there is almost no muscle to speak of." Harry shook his head disgustedly.

Andromeda placed a hand on her sister's arm and then nearly burst into tears. "She is so cold; her skin feels so cold and looks so waxy!"

"Let's get her home quickly." Harry stated moving as fast as he could to the apparition point.

"Shouldn't we get her to St. Mungos?" Andromeda asked, hurrying to catch up to him.

"I don't know if we can trust anyone there, they might as easily kill her as treat her." Harry said, remembering what the guard had said about helping a Malfoy.

Harry quickly cleared his and Andromeda's use of the apparition point with the desk officer and just as quickly Harry turned on the spot with Narcissa in his arms and disappeared with a small pop of displaced air with Andromeda following a second behind.

"WINKY!" Harry shouted as he appeared in the study of the farmhouse.

A small elf appeared half a second after her master had called. "Master Harrys sir, what seems to be the matter?" The female elf asked, sensing her master's anxiety.

"Quickly pop over to Madam Pomfrey's, tell her I have a medical emergency. Have her floo in immediately and tell her to come up to my room when she arrives." Harry told the now worried looking elf, as he made his way up to the second floor where the family bedrooms were. Only he and Andromeda could apparate into the farmhouse, and only a few others were keyed in to use the floo.

With a nearly silent pop Winky disappeared to complete her assignment. Harry took the stairs two at a time until he reached the second floor. He wandlessly opened the door to his bedroom and with just a flick of his finger the sheets and comforter had been magically pulled back on his bed.

Harry gently laid Narcissa down on the large bed and slowly lowered her head onto the large feather stuffed pillow. He then covered her up, pulling the blankets up to just under her chin. Andromeda had just been a few steps behind him and had conjured a basin with warm soapy water and a soft flannel.

"Harry you go down stairs and wait for Poppy, I'll just clean up Narcissa a bit." Andromeda told him, plunging the flannel into the warm soapy water. She then began to gently wipe the dirt and grime from Narcissa's face and neck.

Harry turned and left the room. "Kreacher!" Harry called.

"Yes master?" The ancient elf asked, appearing almost before Harry had called him. "Make up the guest room next to my room; I'll be sleeping in there tonight. We have a new houseguest for the foreseeable future." He told the Black family elf, who had become a most loyal servant to Harry, after he helped the old elf finally keep his promise to Regulus, and destroyed the pendant that housed a piece of Voldemort's soul.

"Of course master, whens would you and the mistress likes to be having dinner?" He asked.

"Not sure right now, but I'm thinking we will be having a late supper. Our guest is not in good health, I have a feeling it's going to be a very long night." Harry stated palming his face.

Harry heard the floo roar to life and then the sound of quickly moving feet coming toward the staircase. Harry smiled thinking of the elderly medi-witch who had treated him more times that he cared to think about.

Poppy Pomfrey, flew around the corner and suddenly yelped as she nearly collided with the dark haired young man. "Harry James Potter! You nearly gave me a coronary!" The old healer chastised.

"Sorry Poppy, I didn't mean to frighten you." Harry tried to stifle a chuckle but failed miserably as his baritone voice echoed amusedly.

"Well you look perfectly fine!" Poppy stated furiously after rushing over, and waving her wand around him checking for injuries or spell damage..

"You seem disappointed." Harry grinned. "Would you rather that I be missing a few bones?" He chuckled.

"Of course not!" She sputtered. "Its just that your elf said it was an emergency, so naturally I assumed it had to be you." She smirked playfully.

Poppy Pomfrey and Harry had developed a pseudo mother and child relationship, it was a relationship built on mutual respect and great affection for each other. She had been a part of his life since he was a first year student at Hogwarts, and though throughout his Hogwarts years, and the often times of chastising the boy for his constant visits to her hospital wing, she had developed a soft spot for the boy.

And she had become the first person that he could remember that showed him any real concern for his health and wellbeing. He had come to trust the healer implicitly and though she had recently retired from Hogwarts and from practicing the Healing Arts, she was the only healer that Harry Potter would see.

Oh, there were plenty of healers that would give anything to be the personal physician of The-Man-Who-Conquered, but Harry did not want a sycophantic healer, Poppy saw him just as Harry and he loved her for that, and would see no other but her when he was in need of a healer. And as an independent Hit Wizard for the Ministry, rounding up the remnants of Voldemort's regime, he often needed a little tending to afterward. And she was always ready and willing to help.

"Little Teddy isn't hurt is he?" She asked in concern.

"No, no, Teddy is just fine." Harry replied.

"Then its Andromeda then…she isn't pregnant again is she…I warned her that she needed extra protection, your magic is just too powerful and would weaken any standard contraceptive spell!"

"Poppy! Andromeda is not pregnant!" Harry sighed heavily, shaking his head.

Poppy was the only other person that was aware of Harry and Andromeda's special relationship, she had learned of it two years ago, she had been called by an extremely worried Harry and Andromeda, who was having severe abdominal pains.

A quick scan from Poppy revealed that Andromeda had been pregnant but that she was in the process of a miscarriage. It had been a shock to both Harry and Andromeda; she had not missed a cycle and was therefore unaware of her maternal state. Poppy had informed her that while rare, it was not totally uncommon for a woman to continue to have her monthlies while pregnant.

Sadly Poppy had also informed her that her scans also revealed that her body could not support a full term pregnancy, without severe if not a fatal outcome for both her and the child. Andromeda had explained that since beginning a sexual relationship with Harry she had been using a contraceptive potion to avoid a pregnancy. It was then that Poppy explained how powerful Harry's magic was and that any wild magic coming from Harry while in the throes of um…passion, could weaken any standard potion.

Since then, Andromeda had not only used the strongest contraceptive potion available but also a few contraceptive spells as well. She and Harry had both agreed that her health was too important to risk a dangerous pregnancy, though Andromeda could tell from a look in Harry's eyes that he liked the idea of one day becoming a father.

That incident was the catalyst for a serious discussion of their relationship, they had mutually decided that they loved each other and were physically attracted to each other, but they were not in love with each other at least not yet if ever. They had then tried to stop their sexual relationship for a more platonic one, but the pull to be intimate with each other was just too strong, and within two months they lay exhausted and panting heavily from a desperate night of love making.

So it was finally agreed upon to remain lovers but to not be exclusive. They were each free to date whoever they wanted and if the status of either changed, (i.e. engagement or marriage.) they would end their physical relationship. But neither had found another partner, nor had they searched really, each for their own reasons, but neither seemed to be in a hurry to do so.

Surprisingly Poppy had not been judgmental at the May-December relationship, and had just offered her advice on what Andromeda should take to avoid an accidental pregnancy. So it was with this thought in mind that had Poppy asking about Andromeda's state, knowing that a pregnancy would be life-threatening to her.

"If it's not you, or Teddy, or Andromeda, whose left? I am not a veterinarian Harry, so if any of your animals have medical needs I'm afraid I won't be of much help." She told him with a pointed look.

Harry took her hand and began to lead her upstairs. "Poppy, you know I trust you implicitly." Harry began, getting a raised eyebrow from the old healer.

He continued. "But you may find it difficult to help the person that I asked you here to see."

Poppy stopped at the ominous statement. "Who is it exactly that I'm here to see Harry?"

Harry hesitated for a moment as he reached his bedroom door. "Before you make a judgment, let me just tell you that this person saved my life…twice, although they were on the…other side of the war."

Poppy stiffened at that. She had been present at the battle of Hogwarts and had treated the injured and comforted the dying. She had seen so many young lives snuffed out before they had a chance to truly live, she had witnessed the death of colleagues and old friends as well.

Images of crushed bodies, flattened by giants and trolls still haunted her dreams; she could still see the vacant stairs of those struck by the killing curse, and the ripped apart bodies' courtesy of the werewolves and acromantula. Poppy Pomfrey was not a person who held grudges generally, but she found it difficult to have anything but contempt for those who fought for the Dark Lord.

"Harry James Potter, who is it you have in there?!" She demanded.

Harry sighed and opened the door to his bedroom. Poppy gasped as she beheld a withered emaciated body lying on the bed being attended to by Andromeda. At first she had not recognized the woman, and she could only tell it was a woman by the obvious feminine shape of her bony hips. As she neared the bed her eyes shone with recognition and then there was a brief flash of anger or hatred, but it was quickly replaced by a resolute gaze of professionalism.

Poppy's healer instinct quickly replaced any indignation she may have felt toward the woman before her. "Harry, I need you to leave the room, Andi you can stay." The healer ordered, pushing past Harry and making her way to the bed.

Harry knew better than to argue with the experienced healer, and so quickly left the room and quietly closed the door behind him. He made his way to his study where he sat heavily in a soft leather chair. He opened the large globe of the earth next to the chair, the top sliding back to expose a few small glasses and a crystal tumbler filled with a light amber colored liquid.

Harry filled one of the glasses to almost the brim and then in one quick motion downed the entire contents; he grimaced briefly as the Ogden's Finest burned its way down his throat before settling heavy in his stomach.

It had been a very long day and from the look of Narcissa Malfoy's condition it was going to be a very long night. Harry knew that Poppy would run every kind of test on the recently released Azkaban prisoner; it was just in her nature to be completely thorough, a characteristic that Harry greatly admired in her.

oooOOOooo

Andromeda felt lost in her own mind, mechanically she gently washed away the filth and grime that was layered over the flesh of her baby sister, the odor was like the smell of death and she struggled not to wretch at the foul stench. No matter how many time she wiped one spot it just never seemed to come clean and the skin was so paper thin that she was afraid it would tear under her ministrations.

"Andi…" she heard a voice from miles away whisper.

"Andi…its Poppy." A gentle hand touched her shoulder. She turned toward the touch and looked up, her eyes vacant looking except for the tears welling there.

"Poppy!" Andromeda's anguished reply came in a gut wrenching gasp. Andromeda grasped the cloak of the medi-witch and buried her face within its folds. Poppy placed gentle hands on top of Andromeda's head and pressed her lovingly to her chest.

"I'll do my best Andi…to set her right, but you must be strong dear, I'll need your help." Andromeda nodded her head and tried to force back the sobs and compose herself. She would not be of any help if she allowed herself to fall apart now.

"There's a girl." Poppy softly spoke as she help Andromeda stand.

"Now let's see what we have." Poppy muttered stealing herself for the task at hand.

Poppy drew back the blanket covering Narcissa and had to force down the bile that threatened to escape her lips. The thin prison gown did nothing to hide the skeletal frame of Narcissa Malfoy. There was no muscle to speak of on the woman, her face looked like just a skull with what closely resembled human skin stretched across it.

When Poppy vanished the prison robe from Narcissa, she heard Andromeda fall to her knees and cry out in horror. Before them lay a body that did not look human, the former socialite had open weeping sores from head to toe, misaligned bones in her legs and arms. There were spell burns over most of her body and recent trauma to her most sensitive areas.

Poppy mustered every ounce of strength and will power she had and raised her wand, and in a strained and broken voice whispered…"Let's begin."

oooOOOooo

Harry awoke suddenly as a warm hand gently shook his shoulder. Harry blinked hard trying to wake himself from his self-induced inebriated slumber. He looked up to see Andromeda sitting on the arm of his chair with pain and despair written on her face.

"W-what time is it?" Harry asked forcefully rubbing the sleep from his eyes and sitting up straight as he took in the countenance of his lover.

"It's near one in the morning." Andromeda replied in a hoarse voice sliding from the arm of the chair and into Harry's lap wrapping her arms around his neck and laying her head on his shoulder. Harry heard her sniffle and whimper softly. After three years he had come to know the woman in his arms quite well, especially those little emotive noises and some body language cues.

This particular cue was her, "I'm emotionally hurting" cue. Harry tightened his arms around her comfortingly. He was just about to ask her what the matter was when Poppy entered the room. Without saying a word she made her way to the globe and filled a glass with the burning alcoholic beverage and like Harry had done earlier drained the glass in one gulp.

"It's bad I take it." Harry stated groggily.

"It's bad." Poppy replied without emotion and threw back another glass of the amber liquid.

Poppy walked to the chair facing Harry's and bonelessly fell in to it. Taking a deep breath and then taking another, she sat forward and stared solemnly at her young friend.

"Will she live?" Harry asked pointedly.

Poppy gave an uncharacteristic non-committal shrug. "It is too soon to tell." She replied morosely.

"Azkaban can do horrible things to people, Harry." She began. "And why the ministry is still employing the use of Dementors is beyond my comprehension!" She began shaking her head disgustedly.

"Fucking bureaucratic assholes in the Wizengamot wanted to keep them! I wanted to toss the lot of them through the veil! But I was out voted." Harry spat as he refilled his glass and tossed it back.

"How many of those have you had Harry?" Andromeda asked in concern.

"Not nearly enough." Harry groused, receiving a glare from the woman on his lap.

"Apart from being emaciated, her kidneys were in near shut down, her other vital organs are all in a serious state of stress." Poppy paused and refilled her glass and like Harry had done tossed it back down her throat.

"There are lingering signs of spell damage to her nervous system, Harry." She stated angrily, using the back of her hand to catch a drop of the whiskey at the corner of her mouth. "Some damage caused by the Cruciatus spell to be exact, not three days old!"

Andromeda let out a sob, even knowing before they came downstairs what Poppy had discovered, it still upset her to hear it again. Harry looked like he was about to explode in an apoplectic surge of anger. It was forbidden not to mention illegal for prisoners to be tortured while in custody.

"But that's not the worst thing that they did to her, Harry." Poppy continued in a voice that was deathly calm but laced with quiet rage. Her lips were pressed so hard together that they appeared to disappear.

"There are signs of systematic torture and malnutrition, bones were broken, healed…poorly, and then broken again. She was beat, burned, poisoned and…" Suddenly Andromeda gave out a loud sob burying her face in Harry's shoulder.

"And what Poppy?" Harry asked, fearing the answer.

"She was…raped…repeatedly, judging by her injuries both old and new it was quite violent and had been going on probably since her incarceration. Harry…she was last raped not two days ago, there was still evidence of…well there was still evidence that remained from her last attacker." Poppy growled in disgust.

Harry did not know how to respond, his emotions battled each other for dominance. Anger, disgust, indignation, rage, his body tensed as if ready to strike out at something, only the sniffling form that sat across his lap and who's arms were tightly wrapped around his neck kept him in place.

"This is NOT how we treat those who are in our custody!" Harry roared, causing Andromeda to jump and squeak in his arms. "I will personally hold every guard responsible that had anything to do with this!" Harry growled through gritted teeth.

"I don't advocate violence Harry, but…but what they did to that poor woman, regardless of her crimes was barbaric! And they deserve to be put down!" The matronly healer stated, shaking her head disgustedly.

"I'll speak to the DMLE director about this, Kingsley is a close friend, I'm sure I can get him to begin an investigation." Harry sighed, Andromeda's warmth against his own body calming him from his previous ire, but not his resolution to find sense in all of this.

oooOOOooo

Soon after Poppy had left, Harry stood with a sleeping Andromeda in his arms. He gently carried her to her room and tucked her in. He turned to leave but was stopped as a feminine hand grabbed his wrist gently.

"Stay with me tonight Harry." She softly spoke. I need you tonight…please."

She didn't need to worry about whether he would decline or not. Harry had never denied her anything and tonight would not be any different. He undressed and slid between the sheets. She immediately cuddled into his side draping half her body across his and tucking her head beneath his stubbly chin and held him tightly.

He kissed her forehead tenderly and tightened his arms around her. She did not want sex and he knew it, she just needed him to be there, reassuring her and just holding her close and to drive the pain and worry away, even if it were just for tonight. Tomorrow would come and with it…Narcissa.

oooOOOooo

A/N: This was a disturbing chapter, and it was meant to be. There will be a few more revelations to come, but I will try to lessen the graphic imagery. This is important as we begin to see a certain mindset and psyche in some of the survivors and combatants from the war, and how this scene will motivate Harry in a particular direction. As always I would love feedback and comments.