Chapter 1

Bellatrix knew that this pregnancy would be just like the rest, even before the fetus was little more than morning nausea. She kept up the charade of an expecting mother but inside she was certain that she'd lose this one too. The first child, a boy, miscarried after just four months. The second was a still birth. She could tell Rudolphus was losing hope in her. He wanted an heir, girl or boy, and while divorce was not unheard of amongst purebloods, it would be enough of a faux pas for her to lose her standing with the Dark Lord. That would kill her without question. She wouldn't stand for it and she shuddered to think of Crouch or Snape taking her place.

So she stayed with Mr. Lestrange even though their genes seemed to hate one another. Miraculously, she got pregnant a third time. Every day she expected to see blood in her sheets; expected a pain in her abdomen every time she stood up. Narcissa's son was already over a year old and a model pureblood specimen. Though Andromeda had been disowned, Bellatrix knew that her estranged sister's daughter was already at Hogwarts (a Hufflepuff, of all things) with some sort of special ability or other. To Mrs. Lestrange, all of the evidence added up to the fact that she was not to blame, Rudolphus was. Bellatrix often voiced this opinion and joked that she should find a "real man" with whose seed she could impregnate herself with.

Of course, she had never cheated on her husband, let alone with the Dark Lord himself (maybe if he asked). But nevertheless, eavesdroppers had spread rumors, assumptions were made, and pretty soon, the talk around the Death Eaters was that this third child was not Rudolphus's but the Dark Lord's. No one would ever go and ask Bellatrix Lestrange if she had been unfaithful, of course, and she was tickled at the thought of carrying the offspring of the greatest wizard who ever lived. So, the rumor continued to spread all the way through her due date, which came and went without so much as a single contraction. Everyone told her that a late birth was better that a premature one, all the while casting worried glances behind her back.

Finally, at two weeks past due, Bellatrix Leatrange went into labor. She had planned to have the child at home with just her husband and sister, Narcissa, in attendance. She fought hard through the labor, if only to ensure that the child was out of her before it died. After twelve hours, a baby girl entered the world at last.

Narcissa wouldn't let Bellatrix see her daughter until she had properly cleaned and wrapped up the newborn. The new mother waited impatiently collapsed against her pillows as her sister handed the little bundle to Rudolphus. He took one look at his daughter and his face darkened. Passing the baby to his wife, he mumbled something about spreading the news and hurried from the room. Bellatrix found this behavior odd until she saw the infant for herself.

The baby was so small. Too small. She was so pale as to look almost as the stillborn child had. Her lips were lined blue and Bellatrix could hear her wheezing heavily with every breath. Whaen she unwrapped the girl to allow her more air, she what Narcissa had tried to hide. There was no round tummy, no healthy layer of fat, no sign that this was fully developed, two weeks overdue child. The baby was so skinny; her ribs could be seen, even counted her joints looked huge compared to the frailness of her bones. Anyone could see that the child was not long for this world. She already looked like death.

"It's going to be alright," Narcissa was saying. She had just finished cleaning up from the birth to find her sister glaring in horror at her offspring. "I know some elixirs and serums we can give her. Keep her covered and warm and I'll be right back."

Bellatrix rewrapped the shivering child. She didn't understand why she couldn't have a normal child. She wanted a strong child, like Draco had been. Rudlofus was ashamed of the girl and he should be. It made Bellatrix nauseas even to look at. And more than that, it made her angry. Angry that blood traitors and mudbloods, like the Potters, can be successful in creating offspring but not her. If a Mudblood's son could be strong enough as to be a threat to the Dark Lord, then logic would dictate that her pureblood lineage should give way to, at the very least, a healthy child.

But, no. She's left cradling a weak and sickly girl that she's just going to have to bury later.

Bellatrix got out of bed, tired though she was, and carried the creature to the basinet by the fireplace. Her daughter stirred a little as she was laid gently in her baby's cradle. Bellatrix reluctantly took this as a good sign, since it was the first non-wheezing sound the infant had made aside from the feeble attempt at a scream when first entering the world. It quickly went back to slightly wheezing and kept its eyes closed.

Exhausted from the birthing and the stress of having such an unfortunate child, Bellatrix plopped herself into the nearby rocking chair. She was still sitting there in her nightgown when her sister returned with the various ingredients she needed to attempt to save the baby.

"Where is she?" Narcissa rushed to the basinet and let out a sigh of relief.

"What?" Bellatrix narrowed her eyes at her sister. "Think I'd toss it in the fire, did you? Give me a little credit." She rolled her eyes and continued to stare into the flames.

"Did you try nursing her?" The older witch checked her niece's pulse, temperature, and reflexes.

"You weren't gone that long."

"So that's a no then?" she unstopped a bottle, dipped a finger in, rubbed the ointment on the tiny girl's chest and under her nose.

"Well, there isn't much point, is there?" Bellatrix mumbled into the flames. "Why should I waste…"

Narcissa darted a hand across her sister's cheek. Bellatrix hesitated a moment, not believing that she'd just been slapped, before whipping her gaze back to the woman responsible for the welt on her face.

"This is your child," Narcissa pointed at the basinet, emphasizing every word. "You damn well better try your hardest to help her survive. Or are you just that accustomed to killing?"

That last bit stung a little, Bellatrix had to admit. Not that she didn't like making the unworthy suffer, because she did. But for Narcissa to imply that her less than savory activities were the reason that the baby wasn't going to make it was just mean.

Narcissa took a deep breath and crossed to the cauldron by the fire, where she started to mix and measure other ingredients. "You better get dressed. The Dark Lord will be here shortly. He's interested in how it turned out."

Bellatrix jumped out of her chair at the news. He was coming to her room. To see her child. She was sickened and excited all at the same time. She raced to get on her customary long sleeve, floor length black dress and Narcissa helped her into her corset. Bellatrix didn't bother to brush her hair, just stuck it on top of her head with some chopstick. She had just finished when a knock came at the door.

"Just a moment!" Bellatrix called, rushing back across the room to the basinet. Once she was in a flattering position, she motioned for Narcissa to let the Dark Lord in.

He crossed the room in one long flowing motion. Bellatrix was immediately hypnotized by His power and His grace and everything else about Him. She even found him handsome in a way. Following behind him was her husband, Rudolphus, and her brother-in-law, Lucius Malfoy. She glanced self-consciously down at her runt of a child, hating it more the closer the three men got.

"Hmm,"Voldemort was leaning over the basinet. Bellatrix held her breath for his next syllable. "It's a girl you said, Rudolphus?"

"Yes, my Lord," Mr. Lestrange replied, keeping his head down.

"Mmm," was all their fearless leader said. He walked around the crib to stand next to Bellatrix who quivered in awe as well as fear. "Leave us."

Though he wasn't specific, Narcissa, Rudolfus, and Lucius left promptly, leaving Bellatrix and the still unnamed baby girl alone with Lord Voledmort.

"You're not happy with it, are you?" He said after a few minutes of silence. She thought of how devoted Narcissa was to Draco and began to spin some yarn about how she felt blessed or proud, hoping that he wouldn't see through her. "You say that and yet the thing hasn't been alive a whole hour and you're not even holding it.

Bellatrix winced. But he stopped her before she could pick it up. "You shouldn't pretend to love a child that you obviously do not."

"What should I do, my Lord? I wish she was stronger and healthier, but she isn't. and after losing the first two, I don't know if I'll get another chance." Bellatrix felt herself choke on her own tears. She'd never cried in front of His grace and she wasn't going to start now.

"My dear Bella, while I am an expert on a great many things, saving sick babies was not high on my list of priorities of things to learn." He chuckled slightly, thinking his humor appropriately funny. "Besides, I fear any strong magic inflicted on it might stop its tiny heart altogether."

Bellatrix nodded agreement as he continued.

"Anyways, I was already on my way here to see you when Rudolphus gave me the news. Congrats by the way. But I was going to inform you that I plan to rid myself of that pesky Potter situation tonight."

"You know where they are?" Her voice gave away how eager she was for good news.

"I've just been told by their Secret Keeper, actually. Pettigrew of all people. I'd have thought it'd be Dumbledore."

"Oh, please," Bellatrix's eyes were wide and her stomach fluttered with excitement. "Might I go with you my Lord. You won't even know I'm there."

"I don't need any back-up, Bellatrix."

"And you never do. I was just thinking that I wanted to see it happen with my own two eyes."

"What about that?" Voldemort gestured to the infant still breathing heavily. "Shouldn't you stay here and care for it?"

"Narcissa is working on some tonics for it," Bellatrix waved a dismissive hand toward the child. "This is much more important."

Voldemort considered that a moment before replying. "Alright, but don't tell a soul what we're up to." He didn't wait for an answer before exiting the Lestrange bedchamber. Bellatrix hurried after him, snatching her traveling cloak and stomping her boots on as she went.

"What are you doing?" Narcissa had come back.

"The Dark Lord is taking me on an errand with him." She explained as she staggered by. "Look after…what's-her-name and I'll be back in no time."

Bellatrix fled the room before her sister could argue. Rushing down the hall and flights of stairs, she made it to Voldemort just as he left the grounds and Disapperated.

… … … … … … … … … … … …

"We make such terrific kids." James preened.

He, of course, was referring to their son, Harry, downstairs playing and the newest edition to the family, Ella Lillian Potter, who was looking up at her parents with bright green eyes.

"Terrific." Lily sighed, too tires and happy to add much else to the conversation. She laid the day-old baby girl in her crib. "She's going to look so much like Harry."

"Your eyes. My hair." James said. "Only longer, you know. 'Cuz she's a girl."

"So observant." Lily laughed. "We should probably write Albus and let him know that I had her."

"It can wait." James said. "Let's have another day to ourselves." He looked at his wife and furrowed his brow.

"What?"

"Well, don't take this the wrong way dear," James started, phrasing and rephrasing the words in his head but finding no right way to say it, "are you quite sure there isn't another one in there?" James glanced down at her still quite swollen belly.

"Wow," Lily rolled her eyes and stalked out of the room.

"I'm just saying!" James called by way of an apology. He chuckled as he turned back to his daughter. "How could you be so small, and yet require so much extra padding?"

"I heard that!" Lily yelled down the hall.

"Love you too, darling!" James shouted back. Ella cooed in her crib, grabbing back her father's attention. "Yes, my love. What's that? Your name isn't on your crib?" James feigned shock when he checked the front of her crib. "Great goblins, it isn't! Well let's change that, shall we?"

James brandished his wand and with it began to carve "Ella" into the headboard, her green eyes tracking every wand motion. He loved that he got to keep his family to himself because of times like this. It was practically the only benefit of being in hiding form You-Know-Who. He wondered how many people knew Lily had gotten pregnant again. He knew no one knew that Ella was born. James was glad that now one knew yet, especially Dumbledore. That old coot would just fuss over them all like an old mother hen. As far as James was concerned, Albus could wait another night.

"There," James stood up straight from his work. "What do you think?"

Though his daughter didn't react, he took her critique very seriously.

"Okay, it is a bit rough. Your mother will fix it later." Setting his wand down on the changing table, James picked Ella up again. "Don't tell Sirius when he gets here that I'm being such a woman"

Father and daughter stared at each other for a while, at least until the latter yawned. James continued to pace the room until the little Ella surrendered to her heavy lids and drifted off to sleep for the fifth time that day. "Sleep tight, dearie. See you at whatever wee hour of the morning you feel like screaming."

James left Ella asleep in her crib and walked downstairs to find the family room in chaos.

"James!" Lily shouted from behind the armchair, cradling the cat. But all James could do was collapse to the ground in a fit of laughter.

Harry was on his toy broomstick, zooming around the room with Lily's wand, screaming and giggling whenever a cloud of sparks shot out of the end. He'd managed to overturn the coffee table, char the sofa, shatter a decorative vase, and put a hole through an old Evans' family photo.

"Quit laughing and stop him." Lily ducked as more sparks came her way.

Pulling himself together, James crouched behind the smoking sofa and waited for his son to zoom by. The ex-Seeker soon had the writhing toddler in one arm and the weapon of destruction in the other. Lily dropped the cat and came out of hiding.

"Scared of a fifteen month old, Lily?" chortled James, re-adjusting his glasses, harry having knocked them askew.

"Hey," Lily smiled. "He scorched the end of my hair." She showed her husband the blackened lock of hair before retrieving her wand and fixing the family room. "I took my eyes off him for one second, and all of a sudden, he had my wand and kept attacking the cat."

"Looks like he's gonna turn out just like his old man." James beamed at Lily. She looked up from the reassembled vase and burst out laughing.

Harry had wormed his way out of his father's arms and onto his shoulders where he stole the older man's glasses and placed them on his own face. Lily was surprised to see that little Harry actually figured out how to prop the far too large specs on his own tiny head so that they managed to stay crookedly on their own.

"Could you help me out dear?" James chuckled, holding Harry's hands. "I can't see a thing."

Lily tossed her wand on the newly upholstered sofa and replaced the round glasses on their rightful owner's face. Such a lovely face it was, too. So lovely that she couldn't help but to reach up and kiss it.

She pulled away when Harry's tiny fists started pulling her hair. In spite of the annoyance, she smiled, "You are being a tyrant. James?"

Her husband's eyes were wide, focused on something over her head. As she watched, his face lost all color and he slowly reached up and lifted harry from his shoulders. "Lily, take Harry upstairs."

"Why? I don't…"

A loud BANG went off through the house, the warning that someone had crossed the protective barrier of the garden gate unannounced. Lily put that ward up herself and knew what it meant. "James!"

"Take Harry and go! NOW!"

... … … … … … … … … … …

Bellatrix Apparated just down the road from an empty lot that she could only assume was the Potters' residence. Her mood was now greatly improved over the near depression it had been just moments before. The anticipation of the death of the only threat to the Dark Lord's reign, was as painful as it was stimulating. Voldemort headed off toward the lot and Bellatrix followed suit, mimicking his determined gate but leaving her hood down.

"Stay behind me once I take down the protective enchantments." Voldemort instructed as they approach the gate. "Don't even bother drawing your wand. I'll kill them all myself."

"Yes, m'Lord." His eminence raised both hands and brought them slashing down, making the hairs on the back of Bellatrix's neck standup as the wasted charms rushed past. She could see the house now, into the family room window in fact. The Boy was tugging on his mother's hair from atop the man's shoulders. The blood traitor had seen them at the gate and was slowly handing the Boy down to the Mudblood. Bellatrix wiggled her fingers at him as Lord Voldermort walked through the gate into the yard. She saw the windows shudder and the red-head take her son out of the room.

It's too late. The Dark Lord was already through the door, with her following at a respectful distance. Although she couldn't see him, she still heard James Potter's last words.

"Tom, you don't have to do this."

"I am Lord Voldemort. You would do well to remember it."

"He's just a boy! Do you question your own power so much that you would murder a—"

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

James crashed against the wall at the foot of the staircase he had been attempting to block with his body. The poor fool didn't even have his wand with him to defend himself. Voldemort stepped over the body and continued up the stairs. Bellatrix kicked his leg as she went by. The Dark Lord came upon the Boy, with one last crying obstacle in the way.

"Please, not Harry! Please, don't!"

"Step aside."

"Please! Kill me instead! Just not Harry!"

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Lily's scream cut off as she twisted and crumpled to the ground. Bellatrix let out a nervous giggle as a baby's crying sounded through the house.

"Stupid Mudblood." Bellatrix said as she spat on the ground.

"Bella, do you notice anything amiss?"

"Not really. The Potters are dead. The Boy's right here. All's well."

"Is he crying?"

"Ye—no," Bellatrix noticed that the Boy was staring at them wide-eyed behind the bars of his crib. And yet a very loud wailing could still be heard. "It's coming from the next room."

"Take care of it."

"Consider it done." Bellatrix left the room filled with the fire that an order to kill always sparked in her. She followed the screaming to the room just down the hall and opened the door to find a room filled with so many pink ribbons and bows and streamers that it wanted to make her puke.

So the Potters had another. Perfect. Bellatrix rolled her eyes as she stepped up to peer over into the crib. Inside was a red faced but otherwise beautiful baby girl with black hair just starting to grow on the back of her head. The child reminded Bellatrix of how Draco looked when he was born. The girl was a healthy weight and moved with vibrant energy. She also had fairly strong lungs as she proved through her banshee worthy shrieking. But orders were orders.

Bellatrix pointed her wand at the darling baby's heart. The movement surprised the girl to cease crying and stare with her beautifully round baby face and her gorgeously glowing green eyes. The witch hesitated and in that moment the child reached over and grabbed the wand that would be her doom. Purple sparks shot out of the tip and floated up to dance above that child's face before flickering out.

This was a strong magical specimen. She was a strong specimen in every category. Bellatrix was reminded of her own daughter at home and how pathetically weak she was. That wasn't the sort of child worthy of a pureblood lineage. She, Bellatrix Lestrange, deserved a strong, healthy, gifted daughter to call her own. Blood traitors and Mudbloods don't deserve the girl with green eyes.

"So what did they call you?" she found the name "Ella" crudely carved into the headboard just as a deafening clap thundered through the house. Looking up, Bellatrix saw cracks staggering across the ceiling as plaster rained down around her. Something must have happened but she was too afraid to go back into the other room and discover the unthinkable. She could only think of one thing to do.

"Accio Pheonix wand!" Her answer came as Lord Voldemort's wand came zooming into the room. She froze in the shock and horror of what this meant. Ella started to cry as the beams in the ceiling began to groan and splinter. Bellatrix picked up the baby girl; and disapparated, just before the roof caved in.

… … … … … … … … … … … ... …

Narcissa gave up trying to resuscitate her niece after her heart stopped the third time. Bellatrix had only been gone two minutes when it stopped the first time and Narcissa brought her back by giving her a light shock with her wand. She forced fed her tonics and kept rubbing easy-breathing balm on her chest to no avail. It took nearly ten wand shocks the second time before the child regained a pulse, weak though it was. Narcissa attacked the potion making with a new fervor, trying everything simple and complex, subtle and strong. The girl was so lethargic that she didn't even fight when the serums were poured down her throat. So when her heart stopped a third time, Narcissa Malfoy allowed her niece to pass quietly to the other side.

She couldn't believe how the Lestrange's had acted towards their only potentially successful birth. Rudolphus came in to check on Narcissa's progress some time after she brought his daughter back from death the first time. She had lied and said that the potions were having a positive effect, so he left her to it and she hadn't seen him since. But even that's not as bad as her sister's behavior. Abandoning her child to go run around with the Dark Lord, doing Merlin knows what, while her child is sick and needs its mother was inexcusable. And the ease with which Bellatrix wrote off the malnourished babe was sickening. Sometimes Narcissa feared that all of this Death Eater business was making Bellatrix inhuman. Sometimes she felt like the only one with her priorities straight.

"Cissy," came a harsh whisper from the door. Narcissa turned to see a wide-eyed Bellatrix, with her head stuck in the door. "Is Rudolphus in here?"

"No, it's just me," Narcissa sighed as she glanced at the basinet near the dimming hearth. Though she knew her sister was fully to blame for the baby dying, Narcissa still hesitated to tell her.

"Good," Bellatrix squeezed through the doors and locked it behind her. While her back was turned Narcissa could see white dust covering the traveling cloak that Bellatrix still wore. She looked panicked and disheveled and when she rushed to look Narcissa in the eye, she was near the brink of tears. "Oh, Cissy! Something awful has happened!"

"What? Who told you?"

"What? You know already?!"

"Wait. What are you talking about?"

"The Dark Lord. What did you think I was talking about?"

"Nothing. I'm sorry, continue."

So Bellatrix recalled her outing with Voldemort in great detail. "Then while I was in the other room, there was this huge bang and the ceiling started to crack. So I summoned his wand and Disapparated before the house fell down completely." She placed the wand on the table, alongside the used potion vials and ingredients.

"What? Why were you in the other room?"

"That's what you're focusing on?! I had to get rid of a baby!"

"I thought the Dark Lord had to kill the child."

"Yes, the boy. But there was a girl in the next room."

"And you silenced her?"

Silence.

"Bella?"

Sigh. Bellatrix drew out from beneath her cloak a small child, hastily tangled in a blanket and struggling for freedom. The witch cradled the baby to her chest and started to pace the room. "I was going to do it, I was. But then the house started to cave in and I panicked. So I took her with me."

Narcissa could only stare. It was too much to process. Voldemort was gone. The Potters were gone. Bellatrix not only failed to kill someone, but brought it back and was holding it, as if she cared. Narcissa pulled up the sleeve of her right arm. The Dark Mark was still there but the snake no longer undulated. The outlines seemed less black, the scarring less raised. She didn't know what this meant or what to do about it. So she started with what she did know.

"I'll tell Lucius and Severus," She rolled down her sleeve and scurried towards the door. "They probably already know but—"

"Wait." Bellatrix stepped into her path. "What do I do about her?" She gestured toward the girl in her arms. Now that Narcissa could see her close up, she guessed the child no older than a couple days. "What do we do?"

"You left me here with your child while you went out, only to bring more trouble back!" Narcissa hissed, finally losing her patience. "Take care of this part yourself." With that she stomped from the room, slamming the door as she left.

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

Bellatrix chewed on her lip as her knees started to shake. She didn't know what to do. Yes, she was supposed to kill the girl, Ella, but it's not like that matters anymore, right? The Potter that counts is dead, her parents are gone, and the man who gave the order—well, he won't know that she disobeyed. She was an orphan now, up for grabs.

Bellatrix cursed her stupidity. Rudolphus would never allow a Potter to live under his (well, the Malfoys') roof. Even if she didn't tell him where Ella came from, baby girls don't just pop out of thin air, not without having come from somewhere else first. How was she going to explain the girl's sudden appearance? It's not like the Mudblood's second pregnancy was a total surprise. Rumors had started circulating a couple months ago that she might be but obviously the timing was a bit sooner than the rumors gave away. Bellatrix wondered who the Potters had told about the birth. Would they search for the girl, or just assume she was lost in the rubble of her room.

Mrs. Lestrange stopped pacing and placed Ella on her own king sized bed, gently so as not to wake her. Another basinet would have to be made so Ella wouldn't be too close to Bellatrix's actual daughter and catch her weakness.

Speaking of which, Bellatrix couldn't hear the atrophied infant wheezing at all. Maybe Narcissa had actually managed to help out the pitiful thing. She crossed the room to the basinet by the dim hearth. The child inside lay still, even grayer than last the mother had seen her, especially in the dying embers of the hearth. Bellatrix put a hand on the little's girl's mouth. Nothing. No breath. No pulse. The corpse was even cold, having slipped under some time ago, possibly even before she got home. Narcissa hadn't even said anything. She felt herself deflate at the disappointment of losing another offspring. It was just another problem to add to her day of stress.

Suddenly, a plan formed in the witch's mind. Carefully, she removes the dead newborn's coverings, throwing the contaminated linens in the hamper. Bellatrix took out her wand. She was never very good at transfiguration but managed something that roughly resembled a short, twisted branch. After stoking the fire, she conjured up new linens and rewrapped Ella with the decidedly more Slytherin sheets. With the basinet now empty, Bellatrix sat with the sleeping Ella cradled in her arms, trying to think of a suitable name Rudolphus would be agreeable to.

… … … … … … … … … … … …. …

Narcissa led Lucius, Severus, and Rudolpus into the Lestrange bed chamber. For a second, she thought Bellatrix was rocking her own child. But then she remembered that that wasn't possible.

"Is it true?" Severus had gone paler than usual. "He went after them? Are they all…?"

"The Mudblood and her husband for sure," Bellatrix stated as though she was bored. "I saw that with my own eyes. The Dark Lord wanted to finish the boy off alone, so I waited in the next room. There was a bang and I just got out as the roof caved in." She turned her attention back tot eh bundle in her arms.

"Someone should go and make sure," Lucius said.

"I'll go," Severus leapt towards the door, "Godric's Hollow, was it?"

"Yes," Bellatrix didn't look up. Narcissa shifted her weight as the door shut once again, anxious for the moment when the men realized that there was mare then one baby in the room. But the wizards seemed single minded as Lucius reached across her and snatched up Lord Voldemort's wand.

"If it's true," Lucius scratched his neck, loosening his cravat, "if he has been destroyed, however temporarily, we should prepare our stories as to alleviate the punishments to our actions."

"Of course you would look for an easy way out," scoffed Rudolphus. "You've always been a coward! You should be proud of what you've done in the name of the Dark Lord and blood purity. He will rise again, and when he does, doyou want to be found as one of the Muggle-loving-Ministry's lackies?!"

"Do not doubt my loyalty, Lestrange." Lucius's voice echoed through the bed chamber. "It will do Purebloods no good if we're all locked up in Azkaban. So excuse me if I've installed some safeguards to keep me and my family in the free and clear. Seeing as how you have a daughter now, you would be wise to do the same."

"Don't talk to me about that sickly brat!" Rudolphus rolled his eyes. "Everyone here knows that it's not long for death!"

"Hush, Rudolpus!" hissed Bellatrix. The bundle in her arms squirmed and started to wail. "Too late! You've woken her up!"

Mr. Lestrange did I double take. When last he had checked in with Narcissa less than an hour again, the child was wheezing and very near death. Now, she was fussing about and even gained quite a bit of weight. She was actually quite a beautiful little girl.

"Narcissa, did you do this?" Rudolphus moved to kneel by his wife. Narcissa opened her mouth to deny everything, but froze as she finally glimpsed into the basinet to find it short one young Lestrange corpse.

"Uh, I just got lucky, I guess." Narcissa shrugged but she kept an eye on her sister.

"You did wonderfully, Cissy," gushed Bellatrix. "Rudolphus? What do you think of Ursella?"

"We could call her Ella for short."

"My thoughts exactly."

"My precautions don't seem so ridiculous now, do they?" Lucius chimed in. "If you'll come with me, I can see what I can do for you and yours."

"Thank you, Lucius. Please, anything." Rudolphus followed Mr. Malfoy out of the room. Narcissa waited for the doors to close before rounding on her sister.

"Are you insane? Have you quite lost your mind?!"

"To what are you referring?" asked Bellatrix, calmly rocking Ursella back to sleep.

"Oh, I don't know. Perhaps that you're prepared to raise the daughter of a Mudblood in place of your own! Do you really think no one will notice?!"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb with me, Bellatrix! You know full well what I'm talking about." Narcissa took a deep breath and leaned in to meet her sister eye to eye. "Where did you put her body?"

"I think her middle name will be Narcissa, seeing as how you saved her life."

Frustrated, the new aunt stomped out of the room for the second time that night. Bellatrix continued to rock Ursella, all the while smiling into the roaring flames.