Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Harry Potter.
A Great Many Thanks to My Beta Isabellatrixxx. Any mistakes you find are entirely mine.
The child sleeps soundly in his arms as he walks up the long path to Lestrange Manor. It's getting dark, he notes, as the gravel crunches rhythmically under his feet. Severus has always loved the dark. However, he doesn't imagine the girl would react well to waking up in pitch blackness in the arms of a stranger.
He juggles Hermione in his arms and as gets to the door, he knocks as gently as possible, his knuckles tapping lightly on the old wooden door. A hideous groaning sound rings out into the silent night and he cringes as the door swings open. Before his eyes crouches one of the ugliest House Elves he has ever had the misfortune to see.
He has only been here a handful of times before, but he knows his way around. He makes his way down the poorly lit hallway to the living room. He can just about see generations of Lestrange portraits on the grey walls and the dark green marble floor.
It's Bellatrix shadow he sees first before his eyes spot her real could see Bellatrix pacing back and forwards, something she did when she was under stress and with Dark Lord gone he can imagine that she is feeling very stressed.
Only the back of Rodolphus' head was visible to Severus from where he was standing.
He clears his throat to alert them to his presence. Rodolphus turns slightly to look him with anger burning in his eyes and Bellatrix does what comes most naturally to her in strange situations- she raises her wand.
What the hell are you doing here?" Bellatrix snapped, her eyes fixed on the girl in his arms.
"Always a pleasure to see you too, Bellatrix," Severus drawled, ignoring her glare. "We need to talk."
"Who's the kid?" Rodolphus questioned, his tone of voice abrupt but still softer than his wife's.
"This," Severus answered, entering the large living room and crossing it in long strides, "Is Hermione Walburga Black." He places her gently down in the armchair next to Rudolphus.
"Regulus is her father. He was sending money to her mother, but that money has now stopped." Severus explained, his tone giving no indication that he was lying.
"The last orders the Dark Lord gave me were to retrieve Hermione Black and bring her to Bellatrix."
Severus could see Bellatrix mulling this information over. If she believed him everything would be fine, but if she didn't he was a dead man. He can feel his heart beating faster and he hoped that Bellatrix or Rodolphus could see that he felt nervous.
"Why would the Dark Lord send you and not me?" Bellatrix quizzed, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "I'm her blood."
Severus tries to keep his voice neutral as his palms begin to sweat. "That is a question only the Dark Lord can answer for you. When he returns- which I am sure he will- you can ask him yourself. However, until that time, your efforts are best directed into raising Hermione."
"Rodolphus, go and fetch me Narcissa," Bellatrix ordered, the harshness of her tone indicating it was better he just do as he was asked.
It amazed Severus how quickly Rodolphus left the room. Always the faithful dog willing to do his mistress bidding.
Severus watched intently as Bellatrix tilted her head and looked at Hermione.
Like she was searching for something. For what, Severus didn't know.
"She looks a little like Aunt Walburga did at that age in the photos I've seen." Bellatrix remarked, lifting her head to look at Severus.
And it was in that moment that Severus knew that she knew he was lying. His deception had failed. But as he watched Bellatrix caress the child's face he realised the game wasn't up yet.
Bellatrix had wanted a child so desperately and for so long, she was willing to go along with the pretence. Bellatrix looks up at him again and he can see that mistrust in her eyes. While she's willing to raise the girl he knows that she will never trust him ever.
Rodolphus comes back in and mutters something in her ear, she smiles at him and takes his hands. They look at each other then at Hermione.
He felt the tension that had been strung out in every muscle of his body since he'd thought of this insane plan finally leave him. The small tremor in his hands ceased and he allowed himself to relax. If he could get Bellatrix to care for Hermione, then the Longbottoms would be okay.
They would all be one step further away from the most disastrous war the wizarding world had ever seen.
