Borrowed Time

An insistent rapping drew Andromeda Tonks from the fictional world in which she had been immersed. Glancing at the clock, she confirmed her suspicions that the hour had grown late - or early, more correctly, as it was now long past midnight. Her brows knitting together in puzzlement, Andromeda rose and moved toward the door. Who would come calling at this hour? She paused for only a moment, deciding that Death Eaters wouldn't bother knocking, and then she opened the door.

Two slender, cloaked figures stood on her stoop, the taller of the two searching this way and that in the darkness beyond the Tonks' garden. The smaller figure slid the hood of her cloak back just far enough to show her pale, frightened face.

"Narcissa," Andromeda said flatly. "What a surprise." Her gaze shifted to the other hooded figure as the cowl was pulled back, partially revealing the pale face beneath. "And you must be Draco," she added, noting the striking similarity between the boy and his father. Turning her attention back to her sister, her gaze and her voice hardened. "It's been over twenty years since I've seen or heard from you. What brings you to my doorstep now, and in the dead of night?"

"I need your help," Narcissa said. "I realize I have no right to ask you for anything, but please...for my son."

Andromeda watched as tears swelled in her sister's eyes, and then glanced again at the young man standing beside her. She doubted that Narcissa would come to her aid were their roles reversed. Still, she understood a mother's desire to keep her child safe.

"Come in," she said, and stepped aside to let Narcissa and Draco into the warmth and light of her home.

Seated at the table in her cheery kitchen, Andromeda listened as Narcissa spun her tale; how Draco had been coerced by the Dark Lord; how he'd failed in his mission; how, despite Snape's intervention, neither Narcissa nor Draco believed that they were safe from the Dark Lord's wrath.

When Narcissa had finished speaking, Andromeda looked Draco squarely in the eye. "You have blood on your hands," she said. "You are as culpable as Snape in Dumbledore's death. Why should I help you?"

Draco swallowed thickly. When he spoke, his voice was quiet but firm. "You shouldn't," he said. "You should turn me in to the Aurors. But I would like to know, before I go, that my mother is safe."

Silence reigned for many minutes as Andromeda debated. "We've a summer home where the two of you can stay. We don't use it often. You should be safe enough there, under the Fidelius charm."

"Oh, thank you!" Narcissa cried, flinging herself into her sister's arms. "Thank you!"

Gently extracting herself from the embrace, Andromeda rose. "We should go at once."

Within minutes, the three had Apparated to the remote home on the outskirts of a Muggle village in Northern Scotland. A short time later, the spell was cast with Andromeda as secret-keeper. Narcissa and Draco both expressed their thanks again, and then Draco moved further into the house, leaving the two sisters alone.

"It should be relatively safe for you to venture into the village now and again for food and any other necessities. If there is anything else that you need, I will try to get it to you."

"Thank you," Narcissa said, embracing her sister yet again. "You'll never know just how grateful I am to you for this."

Andromeda gave her a small smile and patted her cheek before turning to go.

"Andromeda," Narcissa called softly, just as she had stepped out the door.

Turning toward the voice, Andromeda found herself staring down the end of her sister's wand.

"Forgive me," Narcissa whispered. And then the spell was cast.