The small bundle of blankets stirred. The hooded man adjusted a small hole in them, revealing the glint of pale skin. He opened the bundle slightly more as the newborn baby stretched, her tiny hand falling out of the fold.
"Finally," breathed a chilling voice. "I have waited nine months for my heir to be born." He looked over to an emaciated, chained man kneeling at his feet inches from him while a woman's voice stirred.
"Hand me my baby," the soft voice whispered. She lay panting and fatigued on the bed tucked in the corner, the sheets lined dark with crimson in the low lighting.
Voldemort turned his head toward her and took in her sight, while stroking the cheek of the newborn baby as he often did his snake, Nagini. "Your job is done now. I have no further use for you. I have favor in you, for carrying this child for me and for that I will allow you to continue with your life."
She whimpered a soft "No" as she held her hand out towards him in a pleading manor. Voldemort took no notice of this and turned back to the man, his finger still caressing the child's cheek as if she were Nagini herself. He walked forward, the man shifted a bit. He lay the baby in a small basket on the floor, returned to a stand and withdrew his wand.
The Death Eaters shifted, small whispers heard here and there. Voldemort pointed his wand at the chained man as the man looked into the Dark Lord's eyes with courage. His gaze did not falter as Voldemort raised his wand. "I assumed the Dark Lord who seeks to become invincible, wouldn't need a heir." Voldemort's eyes flashed against the moonlight billowing through the window as he flicked his wand. "Avada Kedavra!"
The room filled with a bright green glow as the chained man flew backwards, into the wall, falling lifeless upon his landing. The basket began to move as the baby awoke, whimpers turning to cries. The weakened Lily Potter began to get to her feet, moving slowly as her knees nearly buckled. A hooded man pointed his wand towards her as she fell backwards onto the bed, unable to move from the Body-Binding curse.
The blankets flailed everywhere and the baby's cries grew louder, more distressed. Voldemort aimed his wand towards the tiny baby as her eyes opened. A darkness ensued upon the room, blacker than the blackest nights. Ringing sounded in the Death Eaters ears, getting louder and more pronounced before finally exploding into a loud sonic wave. They fell to their knees, grasping their ears, screaming at the ungodly, agonizing sound. The baby's cries were silent, muffled by an unnoticed shadow that seeped into her mouth. Voldemort fell to his knees, light suddenly returning to room.
Lucius Malfoy hurried forward, kneeling next to him, "My Lord! Are you alright?"
Voldemort raised his hand to stop Malfoy from placing his hand upon his back. "I am fine, Lucius." Lucius fell back and stared at the Dark Lord for a moment, unsure of weather his words were true. He then shifted his gaze towards the tiny baby, who lay there, seemingly lifeless. Bellatrix Lestrange stood over the basket, kneeling down to gaze inside. "My Lord... The baby does not move!"
Voldemort returned to his feet before picking the tiny bundle up, her hand still exposed from the blanket as she tightened it into a fist. He turned from the crowd and moved toward a lone figure standing in the doorway. He placed the calm infant in her arms and turned from Narcissa Malfoy and the crowd, exiting the room. Narcissa's gaze followed him. She then felt the kicking of the baby and looked down at her pale flesh.
Lucius stepped towards his wife and gazed at her, waiting for her to speak, unknowing of what to do next.
"Silence," Narcissa spoke after what seemed like hours.
"What?"
"I name her Silence. We shall raise her as if she were our own, along side our child. She will not know of who she really is till her 11th birthday."
"Our own... child?" Lucius looked shocked.
Narcissa looked at her husband and nodded slightly, a smile on her face. Lucius looked to the floor, taking in this new information. He shut his eyes tightly thinking on it for a moment and then remembered the situation at hand.
"But the Dark Lord pronounced her birth," he said, pointing towards the infant, now sucking on Narcissa's finger "The whole of the wizarding world knows of her. How are we to keep it a secret from her?"
She looked back at Silence and shook her head. "I do not know. I stated this to the Dark Lord last night, but he simply looked at me and continued in his request for us to look after her. It was as if he hadn't heard a single word I had said."
Narcissa proceeded toward the stair case, taking the baby to their bed, Lucius' gaze following her wake. The Death Eaters moved towards him and he jeered his head back at them. "Out." They walked past him, some glancing at his face, hoping for more understanding of the situation.
Lucius stepped back and then spotted Lily, eyes still staring. "Someone, take her back to where she came from."
Severus Snape stepped forward and gazed down upon the weak woman for a moment, trying to hold back his grief for her. He then placed his arms beneath her, trying to hide his gentleness from Lucius' eyes. He exited ahead of Lucius, following the other Death Eaters out into the estate.
Lucius walked slowly towards the staircase and stopped to contemplate for a moment what kind of child he now parented. 'Not a peep she had made', he thought to himself as he proceeded up the staircase. 'Not a single peep.' She looked completely content, silent as a mouse. He then considered her name. He turned the corner as he reached the top of the staircase and muttered her name under his breath.
"Silence..."
A/N: This is my first Harry Potter fanfic. After finishing Deathly Hallows, I became incredibly depressed. In fact, the day after I'd finished reading it, I woke up with extreme anxiety about it being over. I had had this idea in my head for quite some time prior to finishing the book and decided to help cope with the anxiety & depression I would write my story out. I plan to stick with this story till the end, so please send me a review, even if it's just an "I love it".