The fire cast a sickly glow across the inhabitants of the room as they stood in a half circle. The blonde man closest to the fire stared into the flames unblinking, his fingers fiddling with the hem of his inky black robes. A woman with pale skin and even paler hair sat straight in an armchair eyes closed and lips moving as if she was speaking to herself. The last occupant stood furthest from the fire's light, his face cast in shadow. He didn't twitch as a scream echoed down the hall. He stared into nothingness, still as death. The woman flinched at the shrill sound and the blonde man's gaze shot to the door as a young nurse came through, looking ashen.
"A girl. Madame Lestrange has had a baby girl," she spoke, her voice shaking.
"A girl?" the shadowed figure shifted, moving for the first time in hours. The nurse avoided looking at the man's eyes and instead nodded to his feet.
"A niece. I have a niece," the woman half smiled as she stood walking swiftly to the door to see her sister. The nurse jumped out of her way before following after her, leaving the men behind.
"Congratulations, Brother," the blonde nodded in the broad man's direction.
"Not a son. . ." the shadow muttered, his eyes reflected the fire showing that he was unhappy.
"No. . . not a son, but a child to serve the Dark Lord nonetheless."
"He would have more use of a son. Bellatrix will be furious."
Not a moment later a yell of fury ricocheted down the stone corridor.
"I refuse to care for that pathetic little creature! Let her die for all I care!"
"But, Bella! She is still your flesh and blood! She can still serve the master!
Bella stormed into the room, spinning to face the blonde woman on her heels. Bella's stone cold eyes glinted in the light of the fire, dark as obsidian. Her unkempt hair hung around her pale face in raven colored thunder clouds.
"I don't want any part of that thing's life, Narcissa!" Bellatrix screeched.
"Bella, you could teach her everything you know. She will grow up to follow in her mother's footsteps," the blonde man put in. Narcissa nodded in agreement with him, shooting a glance at her sister's husband who still stood in shadow.
"Rodolphus? What is your stance on the matter?" Narcissa asked her brother-in-law.
"It's not a man's job to raise the children, Narcissa. It is Bella's choice," his deep baritone voice sounded clear above the cries of the baby from down the hall.
"I simply refuse to-"
Before Bellatrix could finish her sentence, the doors flew open once more to reveal a tall man with skin as white as bone and scarlet eyes that shone with a malice that made grown men cower. His nose was flat, his nostrils slits above a thin lipped mouth. His slender body was draped in robes of blackest cloth. Around his shoulders hung a snake, a python. She raised her head to look at the people in the room as her master stroked his long thin fingers against her head. The occupants of the room immediately fell to their knees, eyes down cast. The man glided further into the room. His eyes fell to Bellatrix who knelt closest to him.
"Bella, my dearest Bella," the man whispered, his voice no more then a faint wisp of wind but the whole room heard. Bellatrix turned up her head to look at him, her eyes shining with a love like a lost puppy would show to a person who had patted it's head. The man's lips turned up in what could be called a smile had it been on a less grotesque face.
"Yes, my Lord?" Bellatrix answered in a reverent voice.
"Where is the child?" The Dark Lord asked not removing his eyes from Bella's face.
"With the nurse, Master."
"Bring the child to me," he snapped at Narcissa who stumbled over her feet to do as he ordered.
No one moved or made a sound as they waited for the aunt to return with her niece. As Narcissa re-entered the room, the gurgling noises made by the child accompanied her.
"A girl," Narcissa muttered, her head bowed as she presented the newborn to her lord.
"A daughter?" the Dark Lord murmured, a curious expression on his wax like features. "What is her name, Bella?"
"She doesn't have one, my Lord," Bellatrix answered, ignoring the child as she began to fuss.
"Because you wanted a son," he stated, not even looking for clarification from the new mother. He knew he was correct. "Did you think that I would have no use for a girl? Quite the contrary, my dear Bella. If she is anything like her mother, she will serve me well."
"Yes, my Lord," Bella apologized.
"A name then?"
"Yes, Master. . . Lyra. . . Lyra Eris Lestrange, my Lord," Bellatrix grinned at the Dark Lord as his scarlet eyes glinted with approval.
"Lyra. . . You will serve me well."