From noble parents,
A magnificent Lady shall arise,
Taught to deceive and fight,
This life shall be shrouded in lies,
While aiding her mate who is a thorn to the Light,
In her time of great distress,
Her many wounds shall he address
Nine months shall pass,
From her womb she shall bear,
The childe from the affair,
He shall be a changeling,
Aware of the truth yet living in dispair,
His newfound parents shall neglect,
For what they perceive is incorrect
No mortal shall be able to contain,
The man thought dour,
Whose vast amounts of power,
Makes the efforts of the Light in vain.
-Morgan Le Fae
Bellatrix Black Lestrange had been getting rather sick of late. She couldn't stand certain smells and her period was late. Could it be the stress of the war? Cissy continually had that smug look on her face as if she knew something that Bella did not. The only other possibility was...But, no. That couldn't be.
The pregnancy test depleted any remaining doubts Bella had left. She supposed it was only natural. They had always gotten along, perhaps a bit too well. Bellatrix had been in love with the man, formerly known as Tom Marvolo Riddle, from the moment she laid eyes on him. Yet, she married Rodolphus Lestrange on her mother's recommendations and regretted it instantly. Many a night did she and her husband argue and they became infamous for it. On the eve of one of these arguments, Bella came to her lord for comfort which was freely given. That night produced the creature that was now growing within her womb.
Lately, dinner had become a mute affair at Lestrange House. Tonight night was not any different. Husband and wife were in the middle of eating lentil soup when Rodolphus spoke.
"You're with child." he stated.
Bellatrix was so surprised that she dropped her spoon. "Yes." She dare not deny it, especially since she would be starting to show soon.
"Good." A quizzical look appeared on his wife's face. "Your ears do not deceive you, Bella. I know whomever you've decided to soil yourself with must have been a pureblood. Tell me, Bella. Who is the father of the child you carry. Hmm? I've had my suspicions." He leaned closer and whispered, "Is it Snape?"
A cackle burst through her lips at the suggestion.
"Severus? Truly?! Who do you take me for Rodolphus?" His face betrayed the look of utter relief.
"No! Of course, not! It is someone far more superior to that loathsome bookworm."
"You mean... Surely, you aren't referring to the Dark Lord."
"Why, who else did you think I meant?" She let out a giggle.
"This changes everything, Bella. Does he know?"
"Yes, he is aware. I would never deny our Lord this information." She unconsciously sat up straighter. "You know, he isn't even angry. I have given him an heir to ensure our side's victory." Bellatrix took another sip of soup. "Besides, this alliance could only benefit us, Rodolphus. Just imagine the possibilities." Her eyes glittered at the notion.
"You're right, naturally. This child shall need to be properly cared for. Along with being the Dark Lord's heir, he shall be my heir as well. He's not just anyone's child, I suppose." he said thoughtfully. His last statement seemed to upset her.
"You suppose?! My child is destined for greatness." She sniffed. "Remember that, Rodolphus." Bellatrix held a proud look before she drained her goblet of the elven wine. "You just wait."
The Potters arrived at St. Mungo's on July 31st, 1980 at 9 pm. Lily Potter was in great pain and it showed. Unfortunately, a certain James Potter was bearing the brunt of her unhappiness. His hands had already gone numb and he was currently the victim of verbal abuse. Three excruciatingly long hours later, two healthy boys were born. The first had dark auburn hair and hazel eyes. The secondborn had jet black hair and deep green eyes. He was tiny and frail, unlike his elder brother. The boys were named Benjamin James Potter and Harrison Tristan Potter, respectively. No sooner had they taken the newborns home, a certain old headmaster of theirs came around to tell them of a prophecy thought to concern them.
Dumbledore's knowledge of the prophecy was purely accidental. He was interviewing a young woman named Sybill Trelawney for the position as a divination professor at Hogwarts in a room at the Leaky Cauldron. The room was rather drafty though the windows were securely closed behind two heavy black drapes. It was going terribly until her eyes rolled up and she began to speak in a raspy voice,
"As one of the Light is born ... a Dark child shall take his first breath ... born by the close of July ... the Light one shall be a beacon to the people ... the child in darkness shall know the truth ... he shall live in resentment ... one shall have true power while the other is a weakling ... choose wrong and the Light shall fail ... forever in the favor of the stronger one."
The room instantly became brighter a few minutes after the departure of the two other occupants. Where one of the drapes had been stood a young, sullen man in his early twenties wearing black robes. Soon, the other drape was charmed back to its original cream colour. Silently and quickly the spy left to inform his master about the conversation he had eavesdropped on.
Well into her pregnancy, Bellatrix was called before the Dark Lord. She had been barred from serving him on missions because of her condition.
"My lord, it does me great honor for you to call upon me during this ... period of waiting."
"Ah, yes, your pregnancy. Bella, you will agree with me that this child needs to be protected?"
"Of course, my lord."
"Then you will not balk at me when I say that I wish for the child to be taken to a place of safety." A worried look etched itself on Bellatrix' face.
"Whatever do you mean, my lord."
"I mean to switch our child with the Potter's second child. I have heard from a reliable source that there is a prophecy attached to one of the Potter children. Since the second child would be more similar my heir, we shall switch the two. Presently, the youngest Potter is being held at an orphanage. In two years' time, we shall attack the orphanage and make the exchange." Seeing the look upon her face, he added, "I do not believe the child shall encounter any harm. If anything, his experience shall strengthen him, not weaken him. When the time comes, we shall take him back. That shall be the time when our side has the upper hand."
Since hearing the prophecy from Dumbledore, James and Lily were worried about their sons. It was assumed because of Ben's more easy going nature that he was the Light one. Dumbledore suggested taking Harry to an orphanage.
"It's for Harry's own good." Dumbledore assured the Potters.
"He's my son, not yours!" yelled Lily.
"I know you're resistant to the idea, Lily, but maybe Dumbledore has point." her husband reasoned.
"What point? That we play favourites and abandon our child?! I won't have it! Not in my house!"
"What if he kills Ben? Do you want him to kill Harry too?"
"I don't want either of them to die!"
"Neither do I, Lils. Something has to be done though. We can't leave this all to chance. I promise we'll visit him."
"You do?"
"Definitely."
It was seven in the evening on a Halloween two years later when the door was blasted of its hinges. A man in black robes stood on the other side of the now nonexistent door with a malicious grin on his face.
"So nice to see you again, Potter. Though I'm sure, the pleasure is all my mine."
However much James would have liked to fight the Dark Lord, he knew his family's safety came first.
"Quick! He's here! Take Ben and run!" Lily ran with all of her might upstairs. It was too late. Voldemort hit her with a stunner. Ben cowered in fear.
"Ah, Benjamin Potter. What a displeasure to meet such a spoiled brat. No matter, let us get this over with, shall we?"
The Dark Lord conjured a dagger with a dark spell. This was so that Dumbledore could detect dark magic. He knew the old codger would search for any reason to proclaim this boy to be the the Light's savior. It would be enough to convince him that Ben was hit with the killing spell. He stunned the child before carving a lightning line on the boy's hand. When he was done, he obliviated the Benjamin and returned him to his crib. Tom Marvolo Riddle smirking to himself, disapparated. He reappeared seconds later at St. Mark's to wreak more havoc. Countless people were murdered. Making sure that no one was in sight, Bella began to search for the Potter boy.
"Ah, there he is." She had walked into the kitchens where a few children had run to for safety.
"Don't hurt us!" cried one little girl.
"I have no intention do so, you little mudblood. I am here for you little companion." Bella grabbed the scrawny little boy who was whimpering in the corner. "Stupefy!" The boy's body slumped to the ground, all trace of fear gone.
"Mummy!" cried Blair.
"Shh...It's all right, darling. Mummy will come back for you when you're older. Be a devilish child to the Potters, you hear?" she said as her voice cracked and her eyes watered up.
"Mummy?"
"Mummy and Daddie love you and only you!" Blair smiled at this but then frowned.
"Where Daddie?"
"Daddie is taking care of a few things, sweetheart. No matter what you think, this is so the bad people won't kill you."
"Kill me?"
"Yes, kill you."
"Why?"
"Because you're Mummy and Daddie's angel. That's why." Bella kneeled down to embrace and kiss her child one last time.
"Goodbye, angel. Remember that you are Blair Marvolo Riddle."
"Yes, Mummy." She picked up the Potter boy and with a crack, was gone.
Author's note: I thought the story was a little dry, so I've changed parts of the plot and some background facts. If you see some inconsistencies, it's because I haven't gotten to change a certain portion yet. Rest assured, I will eventually get to fix everything. Rodolphus is no longer going to be sterile in this story.