The image of way Narcissa looked at her would haunt her for years to come. She'd seen Narcissa look at Sirius, at Lily Evans, and at that way before. It was the look of pure loathing, and knowing that Narcissa loathed her broke Andromeda it ways she didn't know she'd been broken. She had given up on reconciliation with Bella a long time ago, but she hadn't realized she still held hope for her and Narcissa until it had been shattered.

At least her sister was safe. From becoming a Death Eater herself at least. Word of her failure had traveled fast, and more than one student was speculating that she was actually a squib who had faked her way through to her OWLs year. That was obviously false, especially since she'd performed magic once Regulus' potion had worn off. Still, she doubted Lord Voldemort wanted a suspected squib as a Death Eater. Narcissa was still dating and would most likely marry a Death Eater, but Andromeda could only hope Lucius would find a way to shield Narcissa and keep her from being drug down with him.

At least, she hoped her sister was safe. She'd sent Rabastan a coded letter asking as much, but as it had only been a day she hadn't heard anything. She was driving herself crazy with waiting.

At least this particular tragedy had brought her and Ted back together. She knew he still had questions, but he hadn't pressed. Maybe he preferred not to know. Even if she could tell him, she wouldn't. She needed one part of her that wasn't tainted by this Lord Voldemort's darkness.

Though of course, she and Ted still had their own problem to deal with, and Andromeda was no closer to making her decision than she had been before. She knew she couldn't wait forever, but she also knew she couldn't make her decision now, not until she'd sorted through one more concerning matter.

She approached Barty after another one of Lily's and Gideon's muggleborn defenders meetings. If she hadn't had to speak to Barty so bad, she wouldn't have come. Her attack on Narcissa had galvanized the muggleborns, and now they were going on the offensive. Striking down the snakes before they had a chance to try anything. James and Sirius were in their element. Everyone praised Meda and Ted for their bravery and ingenuity in attacking Narcissa, and every word made Andromeda shrivel up like a rotted weed.

Ted did his best to move the conversation away from Narcissa, and his hand gave hers a comforting squeeze every time she failed. That was perhaps the only reason she made it through the meeting at all.

But now that the meeting was over she detangled herself from Ted. She had other business to attend too. "Barty, may I speak with you privately?" she said through pursed lips.

Barty raised an eyebrow, but merely nodded. She saw a few curious stares follow them out the room. Some even looked suspicious. She'd expected, but she still thought it preferable to one of her own house seeing her and wondering what two notorious blood traitors could have to say to each other.

Ted looked particularly disgruntled. She shot him a reassuring smile, but he didn't return it. She was sure he would ask her about this later, but she had no idea what she'd tell him. She'd just have to hope she came up with something.

"Well you have me alone," Barty said, a small smile playing on his lips. "Care to tell me why?"

She took a deep breath, then said, "I know, that you know about Rabastan and I."

Barty raised an eyebrow. "Does that mean there's a Rabastan and you to know about?"

She blushed, then said, "I didn't mean like that. I just meant. I know that you that we've been… conversing."

Barty smirked. "And?"

She had grown to like Barty recently, but she had the sudden urge to strangle him. "It's just… you know can't tell anyone about this."

His smirk didn't leave, but his eyes grew colder. "Why, because of what would happen to you? Or what would happen to Rabastan?"

Andromeda felt her heart stutter. He could have just been talking about Rabastan's reputation, but what if it was more than that? What if he knew her Rabastan's new master was.

"Both," she breathed.

Barty was silent for a moment, studying her, then he asked. "Why are you meeting with him? Do you still have feelings for him?"

Andromeda shook her head. "No, it's not like that… it's just…" she didn't want to tell him, but like Regulus she knew Barty's curiosity was too insationable for his own good. He wouldn't stop probing until he got the truth.

"I'm just worried about him," she said finally. She didn't dare say anything. She couldn't.

"Does Ted share your concerns?" he asked darkly.

Her heart pounded again for a very different reason. "Please, Barty, you can't tell anyone." When she stayed silent, she added, "I'll give you anything you want, just promise me."

She wasn't sure why she said that. Barty hadn't indicated he wanted anything. But Regulus said he was ambitious, and ambitious people usually didn't give something for nothing.

"Really?" he said, the smirk returning to his lips. "You would give anything to save your ex-fiance? Makes me wonder what you'd be willing to give up for the man you actually loved." Seeming out of nowhere he lifted a hand and gently stroked her cheek.

She flinched. She couldn't help it. The unwanted touch of a man sent painful tremors through her body.

Barty dropped his hand, and the smirk faded from his lips. "I don't need anything from you, Andromeda. And I promise I'll keep your secret." He brushed passed her to return to the meeting, then paused.

"You need to be careful though. If I found out, then it won't be long before someone else does too. And that won't spell a pretty fate for either your or Lestrange."

Hos words sent a chill down her back, but before she could question them, he'd disappeared.

Her heart continued to pound. What had just happened. Why had Barty touched her like that? Had he meant it as a comforting gesture, and she'd merely reacted poorly? Or had it been more than that? And then there was his warning. It was funny, because everyone used to say the same things about her and Ted. That had ended with Ted being tortured and almost killed by her sister.

But it wouldn't just be Bellatrix and Rodolphus to deal with this time. What would happen to Rabastan if Lord Voldemort found out he was speaking with a blood traitor? She didn't know much about this elusive Lord Voldemort still, but if he could bring her proud sister and the monstrous Rodolphus under his control, she had to imagine he was far worse than the both of them.

But if she stopped talking to Rabastan and left him alone to these monsters, she would lose him forever. No matter what she did, she risked losing him to the darkness.