So I thought there were a lot of stories on here where children of death eaters see the light and turn their backs on their families. what I thought would be more interesting to read would be if a child of a death eater caused the entire family to turn their back on the dark arts in favour of the views of the child. I'm also including a bit of romance because, lets face it, that's what makes a story.
Finally I wanted to assure you that I am a Med student at Oxford University and so grammar mistakes should be a minimum in this story, I know how annoying it is when someone uses the wrong "your" or the wrong "their" .
Please enjoy~
On the night of the Dark Lord's tragic demise, everything changed for the Lestrange family. After Potter's triumph, aurors were immediately dispatched to collect his followers for indefinite imprisonment in Azkaban. Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange were guilty of many accounts of murder and the torture of Frank and Alice Longbottom, and they had escaped imprisonment for far too long. It was time that they were brought to justice in the eyes of the ministry, and so on the same night as Potter's victory, ministry officials could be found making their way through the corridor of willow trees that framed the path down to Lestrange Manor. The corridor consisted of fifty trees evenly spaced apart, lining a beige gravel pathway which extended to an ornate white sandstone palace. Lestrange manner was five stories high, with the stone walls leading up to a shale roof that tapered to a point in the middle so rain and snow could easily roll down the sides. There were no turrets, but stone statues of gargoyles anointed each corner of the palace. As the ministry officials approached the chestnut double doors nestled in an ornate stone archway, they knocked loudly, the echoes reverberating around the colossal pureblood estate. It was Rodolphus who answered the gate, interrupted from pacing the entrance hall only moments before. His elf Boris was preparing their dinner and so had temporarily relinquished the task of doorman to the head of house.
Bellatrix was in the lounge playing with her three year old daughter Arya. The girl's large brown eyes stood out startlingly against her pale skin and her dark curls already fell almost to her waist. Despite strongly resembling her mother, the determined way in which she held her jaw as she concentrated on the game of wizard's chess, reminded Bellatrix of her husband's unwavering determination. She could hear him now in the hall, conversing with a group of men at the door. The discussion seemed to be becoming heated, and Bellatrix decided her husband might require assistance, although she had complete confidence in his abilities. Slinging her young daughter onto her hip, Bellatrix picked up her wand and went to join Rodolphus in the entrance hall. Before her stood four large men in dark robes, all with their hoods up and displaying the shining gold of the ministry crest on their right forearms. Bellatrix calmly sauntered over and raised her eyebrows at the men, giving then an inquisitive yet intimidating glare.
Before she had a chance to speak, the man closest to her flicked his wand and wordlessly caused her own to fly from her hand into his waiting grip. Glancing over, she saw that another had done the same to her husband and they both stood there in a state of shock, at a loss to understand how their unmatched speed and agility had been overcome so easily by three incompetent fools. The shortest of the group produced a scroll and read in a droning monotone:
" By order of Cornelius fudge, minister for magic, Rodolfus Fabian Lestrange and Bellatrix Selena Lestrange formerly Black are hereby sentenced to a lifetime in the wizard prison Azkaban. They have been found guilty of the torture of Frank and Alice Longbottom and a trial will not be held due to irrefutable evidence against the couple. Their wands will be confiscated before they are taken to the waiting transportation beyond the gates of their estate."
"do you have any questions?" spat the man, glaring at the Lestrange family "I trust it is all quite clear"
Bellatrix was shocked. How dare this filthy ministry worker enter the gates of Lestrange Manner uninvited, he had no right to inflict his presence upon her family or drag her off to Askaban when her beautiful daughter was warmly draped across her chest, tightly pressed to her mother as though anxious she might lose her. Bellatrix's hand itched to seize her wand, these men deserved to be cursed. To feel some fraction of the pain she would shortly feel when her family was ripped apart. Anger rolled off her in waves as she glared at the men, and she couldn't help but spit insults at their hidden faces.
Paying her no notice, the men waved their wands, causing thick cords to wrap around Bella and Rodolphus. The two thrashed wildly and Arya fell to the floor, staring up at her parents with dark scared eyes. The death eaters were levitated out of the building above the heads of the dark group of ministry officials. The powerful couple had been rendered completely helpless without the use of their wands and they were unable to fight the curse that bound their bodies. Rodolphus began to shout at the dark figures, yelling that they had no right to destroy his life and his family. His eyes reflected his fear, not for himself, but for Bella and little Arya. Bellatrix was a mess, her wild hair flew in mangled tendrils around her face and she thrashed against her bonds. Her piercing screams cut through the night as the estate reverberated with her sorrow. She called to her daughter, but they were nearly at the end of the tree corridor and Bellatrix had lost sight of Arya's beautiful curls and dark eyes. She begged to the ministry officials to take care of her daughter, her frantic screams causing the nearest one to turn and address her:
"We don't give a rat's about some demon spawn Lestrange. I'm sure she'll be fine by herself. And if she's not…. well, the world's bad enough without more murderers on the loose"
The couple were at the point of being shoved unceremoniously into their waiting transport carriages when a loud "crack" broke through Bellatrix's anguished screams. Surprised, she momentarily fell silent, turning to see the honey blonde head of her sister, Narcissa. Eyes wide with fear, Narcissa approached cautiously, wary of the ministry officials.
"Please excuse me sir" she said, addressing the tallest of the hooded figures, "I understand the necessity of your actions, but I heard the noise and I wondered if I could have a moment with my sister before she goes."
"Piss off blondie, these are Fudge's orders" Grunted the man, shoving Narcissa hard in the shoulder. She didn't back down, but calmly retorted "Clause three paragraph one hundred and thirty four of the procedure for magical law enforcement states that any prisoners have the right to make contact with up to three family members before imprisonment in order to ensure their personal affairs are in order. I am sorry, but you don't have a choice in the matter, and you are required to give my sister and brother in law time to converse with me before their removal."
The man looked momentarily shocked before stepping back and allowing the slender blonde to approach the captured death eaters.
Narcissa was shocked by Bella's tear streaked face. Her sister rarely cried and never in front of strangers. Bella's face was red and blotchy and her hair was in a wild disarray from her previous struggles. Rodolphus was similarly distressed, and although he had not been crying, his eyes were dark with anger and his fists were clenched in the bindings by his sides.
"We don't have long" Narcissa whispered to the couple "I promise I will help you two through this. Lucious and I will not let you rot in that place. But until we can deliver you, let me know how to ease the struggle. Name anything and it will be yours. I will miss you sister." she finished, wrapping her arms around Bellatrix's muscled yet lithe form.
"Take care of my baby" croaked Bellatrix, her voice now hoarse from screaming "take care of my little one, please, she is all I have. Don't let anything happen to her"
Narcissa nodded, rubbing her hand up and down Bella's shaking spine. "Of course. I will treat her like the beautiful princess she is. Lucious has always craved a daughter and Arya can grow up with Draco, I believe she is only one year his senior. Don't worry about her, just focus on getting through this so you can see her again."
Bella sniffed and pulled away, gazing into Narcissa's cobalt blue eyes. Gratitude welled in her expression and she managed a feeble smile. Narcissa turned to Rodolphus, who looked equally relieved, and he leaned forward to plant a kiss on her cheek. "Look after my girl" he whispered, before taking Bellatrix's hand as the two were bound once again and levitated into a black panelled carriage. Narcissa blew them a kiss as she watched her sister and brother in all but blood disappear into the night to their waiting hell. As the carriage rounded the corner, Narcissa was left standing alone in the blackness of the empty estate, the silence serving as a reminder of the Lestrange s' fate and Narcissa's new responsibilities.
Walking back up the gravel path between the willow trees, Narcissa began to plan how best to care for her sister's child. She was sure Lucious would agree to the adoption. Arya was a beautiful pureblood girl and Lucious' favourite niece. Narcissa approached the open front doors and saw the child curled up on a thick crimson rug in the entrance hall. She was silently crying and Boris the house elf seemed unable to stem the flow of tears rolling down her face. She looked up when Narcissa entered, her eyes lighting up when she recognised her aunt.
"Aunty Cissy where's mummy and dada?" questioned the child as she picked herself up and walked unsteadily to her aunt, wrapping her arms around Narcissa's slender legs.
"They had to go away for a bit but you're coming for a sleepover with me and uncle Lucious and your cousin Draco. You'll love it I promise, we'll have great fun together" assured Narcissa, pulling Arya onto her hip and closing the front door to block the cold night air. The little girl seemed unsure how to react to this news, but she was soon overcome by tiredness and nestled her head into Narcissa's travelling cloak while her aunt hurried to collect her possessions and prepare the flu for their journey to Malfoy Manor. Of course Malfoy Manor was not far away, which was how come Narcissa had been able to hear Bellatrix's screams, but she preferred to travel by flu with Arya rather than walking the country trail at night.
An hour later, Narcissa emerged from the fire at Malfoy Manor with Arya asleep in her arms. Lucious looked up from the game of gobstones he was trying to teach a chubby white-blonde toddler and raised his eyebrows at Narcissa.
"You know I'm always happy to see my favourite little niece" he cooed, smiling at the sleeping Arya, "But what is she doing here in the evening at such short notice, were Bella and Rodolphus called away?" questioned Lucious, at a loss to understand the unexpected appearance. Not wanting to distress the children, Narcissa gave Lucious a warning look before replying in a falsely happy voice "The children are having a sleepover together for a few days. They'll have a wonderful time, won't they Lucious" Lucious caught on quickly, knowing he would receive the full story later that evening, and hastened to assure the children that they were going to have a fun filled weekend together.
Several hours later, Narcissa reclined by the fire while her husband massaged her shoulders. The children were asleep upstairs and she was recounting the day's events to Lucious.
"And they just took them away Lucious. There was nothing I could do. And you should have seen how they cried, they were so scared. It was all I could do to assure them I would take care of Arya. Bella was falling apart and Rodolfus was barely hanging on. I know it's our house darling but I couldn't leave my little niece without a home and we are her legal guardians…" Lucious silenced her with a kiss and smiled into her scared eyes.
"Of course we will care for her my love. What did you think I would do, kick her out? You know we've always wanted a daughter but after Draco it has been difficult. Arya will be a wonderful temporary addition to our family until we are able to free Bellatrix and Rodolfus. Now come dear, it is getting late and we have a bedroom to prepare for Arya tomorrow, she can't bunk in with Draco forever, it wouldn't be proper."
A wave of relief swept over Narcissa as her husband led them to their shared quarters in the right wing of the house. She wasn't certain what his reaction was going to be and she was overwhelmed with happiness at how he had responded to the situation. Changing into a green silk night gown bordered with black lace she slid between the sheets of their king sized four poster bed and snuggled in next to Lucious. He rolled over and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her in to him so they were spooning. As her body was pushed flush against his she could feel something growing between them and pressing hard against her back. She smiled and rolled over to kiss Lucious, casually flicking her wand to cast a silencing charm before wrapping her legs around his waist. It had been a tough evening, and they deserved a reward.
Well that's the prologue to set the scene, the next chapter will feature Arya at Hogwarts, shortly before starting her sixth year while Draco and the golden trio are in their fifth year. Those of you who have read the books will know that there is a mass Azkaban breakout in the fifth year, but that doesn't happen until later, school is important too! and so are relationships...
