#andromeda;4

Putting Nymphadora on a literal leash would've been a step too far, but frankly Ted was inclined to do it. As it happened, he'd charmed her with a boundary spell, so she'd be physically unable to wander more than ten feet from either of her parents at any given time. It'd taken a while, but he was finally letting go of his high-wired anxiety to actually laugh at the way the little girl kept trying to escape only to come gently bouncing back into the charm's protective boarder. Maybe it was mean of him. He didn't care. He was taking no risks after what happened at the last outdoor gathering, and god help Bellatrix and Rodolphus Fucking Lestrange if he caught sight of them anywhere near.

Currently stuffing a large helping of novelty Bertie Botts produced candyfloss into his mouth, he handed Andromeda a bag of marshmallows, then offloaded a jug of pumpkin juice to their thirsty daughter. Arching an eyebrow, he let the sugar melt on his tongue then swallowed thoughtfully.

"Tastes like grass."

Weeks had passed since Rabastan had met Andromeda and given her the coins that would allow them to communicate. He had been glad not to use them, so far. Their relationship was strained and he loathed her choices, but he did not want her to be harmed. It was a desire that he stifled savagely, unwilling to acknowledge or understand it. Their previous meeting had given him food for thought, yet he refused do precisely that - he did not want to think about her apology, so he didn't.

In any case, he had been severely preoccupied by other matters. The war still raged and he still fought. He was busier than ever at Gringotts, balancing his numerous tasks while attempting to navigate a marriage. Avenging Frank Longbottom was not going very far, either. He could hardly ambush the man while he was protected at home. It was a personal vengeance which should not have taken so much of his attention away from the cause. But he could not stop thinking about it, constantly devising ways in which he could make him suffer, each method growing in sadistic creativity.

But at last, he could no longer disregard Andromeda Tonks. There was a plot against St Mungo's. Death Eaters would attack while it was busy, aiming for the Healers. Each chip at the government's armour was a stab worthwhile, and removing the Wizarding World's medical assets was a strong move - if they succeeded. Most would assume St Mungo's to be exempt from the war, as though it were neutral ground, concerned only with saving lives, irrespective of the side on which they fought. But that was a foolish belief. St Mungo's was Ministry aligned - or at the least, it was Ministry infiltrated. The government was corrupt. St Mungo's was not exempt from its polluting touch.

So he used the coin some twenty minutes before the attack, hoping she would see it and not stubbornly ignore the warning.

"Leave St Mungo's."