Disclaimer: All of this is based upon the lovely J.K. Rowling's work. I own nothing except Salazar's wife, son, and various other original characters. This story is an AU of sixth year, but it will contain a few spoilers from Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows. However, it will still seriously diverge from canon. Also, this story is a sequel and will not make any sense without first reading How to Tell the Truth from the Lies. Finally, there is a paraphrased quote from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic that is not mine either.

"blah": dialogue

'blah': thoughts

"blah" : Parseltongue

"blah": Legilimency/Telepathy

Italics: excerpt from a book /newspaper or any other written form

Bold: a word or phrase that is emphasized

Italics, Underlined, and Bold: location/date of a scene in the story

Chapter One: November Reign

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Minerva's Rooms: November 8th, 1996 (Night)

Twenty-five years ago if someone had asked Bellatrix Black where she saw herself in two or three decades she might have said she would be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. It was an ironic thing considering her love of the Dark Arts, but she had always hated the myriad of teachers they had in the subject, especially since they could never manage to keep one more than a year. On the other hand, Bella might have said she pictured herself as an Unspeakable for the Ministry, which would be a rather interesting career, and they had in fact tried to recruit her several times before her loyalties became known. Besides, the Dark Lord had been merely on the rise then, still over a year away from becoming a massive and hulking threat.

She would have gone on to say that she envisioned herself happily married to a man of her choice. Maybe it would be to Sirius' friend Remus, who she had secretly fancied since fourth-year. Or perhaps even Kingsley Shacklebolt, the dreamy Keeper on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. She would have said that she had the wedding of her dreams, a small one with just her closest friends and family. She would have also mentioned children. Hopefully, there would be at least two of them, a girl and a boy.

What Bellatrix would not have stated was that she pictured herself hiding out in Minerva McGonagall's quarters, on the run from both the Ministry and the Dark Lord. She would have not mentioned that her own father, the ignorant and racist bastard that he was, had betrayed her, forcing her to bond before she was even legally an adult and to a man twice her age. She would not have said that she would be pregnant by someone other than her husband. Not that she really considered them married as she hadn't actually agreed to the union.

Lastly, she wouldn't have said that she would be having one of the most awkward conversations of her life with her own nephew of all people, attempting to make the last few weeks into some semblance of sense. Even now, she was speaking to him, though she wasn't quite sure how much she was helping. He was her nephew, but he had never met her before. Well, not that he remembered at any rate. Come to think of it, not that she really recalled either.

Damn Azkaban.

Regardless, they were still family, and she had to try. She just didn't know what to say.

'I mean,' Bellatrix thought to herself and glanced at him over her teacup, 'how exactly am I supposed to make this better? His own mother tortured him! She tried to give him to Tom, for Salazar's sake.' She inhaled slowly, still watching the boy closely, though he didn't really seem to notice.

He was far too wrapped up in his own thoughts to even realize what Auntie Bella was doing, not that she could really blame him. The teenager was forlornly staring into space, his finger occasionally tapping against the table. His tea was completely untouched, the magical cup patiently waiting for him to take a sip, and he hadn't yet sampled one of the house-elves' biscuits. He simply sat there, tired eyes glazed over. Occasionally, he would shift in his seat or fidget, rather uncharacteristic gestures for the normally in control Slytherin.

Still, it eased her conscience to know that he trusted her enough to drop his usual mask in her presence. Or perhaps he simply couldn't be bothered to care that she was there.

And for a moment, Bella actually wished that his friend Neville had come along, despite how much more awkward that would have undoubtedly made the situation. The Gryffindor at least would have been able to pull Draco out of his… whatever one would call this mixture of restless energy and complete apathy. On the other hand, she was grateful that he hadn't and that she was able to put off that confrontation for another day. Though Bella wasn't entirely sure how much longer she could.

"She does… did care for me, you know." Draco finally interrupted the lingering silence, though he stumbled over his word choice. "I know that you probably don't believe me when I say it, but she did. Narcissa kept me from the Dark Lord during the summer," he explained and blinked slowly as his foot tapped against the floor. "She made sure I didn't have to take the Dark Mark or have to do that task he wanted me for."

Bellatrix grimaced, remembering all too clearly. Narcissa had approached her, begging for her sister to help her only child. Apparently, their Lord had wanted Lucius to pay for his failure at the Ministry, and what better way to do it than to mark his only heir and then send the boy on a suicide mission? Truthfully, that was what Draco's quest amounted to, for who could hope to successfully outwit Albus Dumbledore in his own domain. Narcissa, though a conniving sycophant, had figured out the Dark Lord's plan and had come up with one of her own.

However, it hadn't been maternal instinct that drove her to such a thing. It had been the fact that she knew he would fail and that his failure would be reflected on her, which is why she had wanted her sister's assistance in roping in Severus in her little plot. She had wanted the Potions master to help Draco due to his position at Hogwarts, not caring at all that she was merely putting both him and her son in greater danger. That hadn't mattered to her in the slightest. She had only wanted to buoy Draco's chances of success and by proxy her own estimation in the Dark Lord's eyes.

Nevertheless, Bella had seen her younger sister's ploy for what it really was and had staunchly refused. Without the other witch to back her up, Lady Malfoy hadn't been able to persuade Severus by herself, so she had left her son to flounder on his own. Fortunately, however, Bellatrix had gone to her Lord afterwards, doing everything within her power to convince him not to punish the boy, to come up with a different plan. He had thankfully dropped the matter.

Still, her frown deepened. She ran a trembling hand across her now churning belly when she remembered exactly what she had done to sway him to her point of view.

It was a… difficult memory, and thinking about it only made her temples start to throb.

"But I suppose," her nephew went on, not privy to her internal ponderings, "that at the time, Narcissa just wanted me to wait until I was of age." He scowled and ran a faintly shaking hand through his blond hair. "Probably so I could actually use magic away from school without bringing the Aurors swarming down on top of us."

Bellatrix made a neutral sound, not really knowing how to respond to that. She oscillated between complete agreement and trying to cushion the truth. Her head pounded painfully, but she still managed to quickly decide that honesty was probably the best course.

"It's possible, but I don't suppose we will ever know the real reason." She paused and desperately wished that she had a Headache potion. Perhaps Minerva had one stashed somewhere. "In any event, have you thought more on your situation?" Bella inquired in a gentle tone.

Draco's scowl deepened. "Yes."

Her head throbbed a bit more. "And?"

The teenager sighed. "I haven't been able to think of anyone else. There's only Severus, but he won't work for obvious reasons." Draco snorted, grey eyes looking at her dully. "After all, Voldemort would simply order him to turn me in."

"I know, but you need a guardian," the witch insisted patiently, despite the persistent pounding behind her eyes. "And if we don't come up with one soon, the Ministry will appoint one for you."

"You think I don't know that!" he all but growled back, anger clearly evident in his voice, but it was short-lived. Soon enough, it was replaced by the same tired tone from before. "Forgive me, Aunt. I just--"

"I understand," she interrupted, buoyed by the fact that he had actually mentioned their familial connection. "We just need to step back and think about this logically. Let's take a minute to consider our options.

Draco nodded but didn't say anything. He merely titled his head to the side and steepled his fingers together in a very Dumbledore-esque gesture. In turn, the witch continued to look at him for a moment more, but Bellatrix soon followed her own advice. She exhaled, mentally cursing her fool of a sister and the woman's dratted husband the entire time.

The recent captures of Lucius at the Department of Mysteries and Narcissa at Hogwarts had left an unforeseen consequence, and she couldn't help but hate both of them for it. For once in their despicable lives, their son actually needed them, and they weren't even around. They were both rotting away in Azkaban instead. Nevertheless, he needed them, if only in a legal sense. Draco Malfoy, their son… their only child, was without a guardian.

Thankfully, he was old enough to choose his own, but he had to do so before the end of next week. The Ministry had already been delayed on obtaining one for him since it had still been reeling from the recent battle, but they refused to be put off any longer. Further, the Ministry had already outright refused to emancipate him due to his parents' affiliations, despite the fact that he had clearly shown he didn't agree.

Even the mighty Dumbledore wasn't much help with Draco's situation. True, he was attempting to reenact a provision from the first war that allowed the children of Death Eaters to be wards of the school, but he had been doing so since June when the Ministry had finally recognized that the Dark Lord's return. The blasted thing was still not approved, and there was no way it would be in enough time to help Draco. It was up to the professors along with a not-so-reluctant Bellatrix to come up with a different solution.

"Truthfully," Minerva had confessed to her a few days earlier, "we – the professors – should have realized beforehand that something like this could happen. No one did, and we only have ourselves to blame."

Bellatrix readily agreed. This was their mess. It was something they should have anticipated, but it fell to Draco to pay the consequences. Still, she couldn't entirely stifle the flare of guilt that it was partially her doing as well. If she hadn't been so foolish in her younger days, if she hadn't followed the Dark Lord, is she hadn't gone to Azkaban… none of this would be a problem.

It was her fault, too, which is why she was currently sitting in Minerva McGonagall's parlor, attempting to find someone to be her nephew's guardian for the next seven months. They could be certain that they would not like anyone the Ministry appointed to the position, especially not with the lingering Death Eater ties several key members still maintained.

Unfortunately, they hadn't been able to simply secret Narcissa away and pretend she wasn't at the battle like they had for many of the captured Death Eaters. Too many students had seen her for them to ever pull that one off. It wasn't that they didn't trust the children. But all it took was for one to say something indiscreet, and the Kneazel would be out among the pixies. Draco without a guardian was a problem; the Ministry knowing the Order took prisoners would be a catastrophe.

Under normal circumstances, Draco would simply be handed over to his parents' immediate family, but even more problems laid there. Lucius' next closest kin were very distant cousins since everyone else was long dead. Including his parents and his older brother, who had died in a freak accident at their manor a few years before Draco's birth. On Narcissa's side, there was only Bellatrix herself, Andromeda, the Tonks girl, and a few more distant relatives. The first wasn't an option for obvious reasons, and the middle two had been officially disowned. Technically speaking, the eldest Black sister and her daughter couldn't even be legally considered on those grounds alone unless Narcissa gave them formal permission. And the likelihood of that was roughly around the same as Argus Filch becoming the next Minister of Magic. Nobody even wanted to contemplate the last choice since most of the people in that group were Death Eaters themselves or sympathizers to their cause.

As a last resort, there were always the heads of the Malfoy and Black families, but there were even more problems with that. Lucius was the head of the Malfoy line with Draco as his sole heir, and the Ministry had already refused to leave the young man under his own care. On the other side, Sirius was dead, and his heir was still underage and under the guardianship of a non-family member to boot. Harry was actually younger than his prospective charge, and the Ministry definitely wouldn't emancipate him so that he could immediately turn around and do the same for someone else.

There were always others, mostly friends of the family, to consider. Severus was definitely the first one who came to mind, but with his role as a spy for the inner circle, he wasn't a viable option. Not only was the Dark Lord certain to order him to bring Draco in, but there was the possibility that the Potions master could be revealed as a traitor at any time. There were a few others, but with so much unknown about them, the Order wasn't willing to take the chance. For all they knew, they could be handing the Slytherin over to an enemy.

All told, this was just one big, legal mess that only succeeded in giving Bellatrix a migraine. And try as she might, she just couldn't think of anyone they could possibly choose that would actually have Draco's best interests at heart, at least not anyone in the position to really help him.

They simply didn't have any options left, and they were running out of time.

The sudden sound of the Proximity wards chased both of them from their thoughts. Draco's wand magically appeared in his hand, and he rose and stepped over to the corner where he would be hidden from view. Meanwhile, Bellatrix instantly jumped to her feet, casting a one-way Revealing charm on the door and walls. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was only Minerva, but she still followed her nephew's example and moved to the side, mostly due to the fact that her presence in the castle was only known to a select few. It wouldn't due for her to be seen by a passing student.

The door opened, and the Transfiguration professor strolled in like nothing was amiss, as if she wasn't hiding an escaped Death Eater. The woman raised an interested eyebrow when she noticed her company, eyes lingering on Draco for an instant before she exchanged a nod with her houseguest. This was the first Bella had seen of her all day, and while she had a sneaking suspicion where the other witch had gone after classes ended, she didn't dare say it out loud. Still, she couldn't help but allow a small twitch of her lips as Minerva took the place next to the reseated Draco.

The older woman studied both of her companions for a minute, taking in their frustrated faces. "I take it that you still haven't come up with anyone."

Draco shook his head, but it was Bella who replied.

"No, we haven't."

"And I don't think we ever will," the Slytherin said softly, though it was more to himself than to them.

"Perhaps… or perhaps not." Minerva paused, studying him intently. A few seconds went by before she ventured, "Are you sure that you considered everyone? Even Lucius' second cousin?" Her nose crinkled as she struggled to remember. "The one who attended Beauxbatons. What was his name again?"

"Gabriel, and yes, I considered him. But he'd never take me." He exhaled heavily. "Not after the way fa-Lucius insulted him and then challenged him to duel." Draco ran an agitated hand through his already disheveled hair. "A duel that my cousin lost rather badly, I might add. Though I do believe he has finally regained use of his hands and arms by now."

"Hm… what about on your mother's side," the deputy headmistress put in slowly. "I know that Andromeda would take you in an instant; we just have to find a legal loophole for it to work. Perhaps I can ask Arthur Weasley about it. I know that he…"

Their conversation went on, washing around Bella, but she didn't join in. Instead, she chose to remain silent, simply listening and observing them. Draco face was surprisingly animated now, despite the fact that they had already gone over this once before. The former Slytherin would have thought him to find it tedious, but he seemed to be at ease.

Now that she really watched them, there was something odd about the way they interacted, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what. Bella narrowed her eyes and looked at them closely. Perhaps it was the way Draco had eased after his professor arrived, the way his blank expression softened. Maybe it was how the normally strict teacher looked at him with something bordering on pride, an expression she usually reserved for her Gryffindors or favored students. Or it could be something else entirely.

Bellatrix all but stared at them now, considering just what she was seeing. However, her companions didn't seem to notice, or they attributed to something else. And she just watched as they interacted and noted how easily they talked.

This was entirely unexpected.

There was no way a Slytherin Prefect should be this close to the Gryffindor Head of House, especially not if she believed the stories Narcissa had told her about her son. He had only really started being amicable to his professor this fall, and a few weeks of pleasantries wouldn't be enough to erase five years of disrespect. She should be neutral to him, not looking at him like a proud parent.

Something strange was going on here, and though she didn't know what, Bellatrix intended to find out.

Order of the Phoenix Safe House: November 9th, 1996

Arthur Weasley wasn't what most people would normally consider a violent man. Sure, he was a loving husband and father, who would do anything to protect his family. He did become angry at them occasionally, but he never hurt them in any way, not physically nor with his magic. The same was true for anyone else he had ever met. He only used force when it was absolutely necessary, and even then, he was reluctant. He just didn't like fighting and generally avoided it, though he was willing to make an exception for Lucius Malfoy.

Regardless, there was something about the way Augustus Rookwood was currently looking at him that made Arthur want to throw open the cell door and throttle him within an inch of his life. The man was simply watching him through the lone clear wall of his cell, which was supposedly so laced with wards that he couldn't even sneeze without alerting someone, namely the house-elves assigned to watch him. Much like the other captured Death Eaters, he was isolated, trapped in a room within a room and without any sort of privacy.

His lips curled into a condescending sneer as he cast another glance at his visitor. His lank hair hung over his face, obscuring his normally vivid green eyes that would be eerily similar to Harry's if they weren't a lighter shade. However, Arthur could see enough of them to know that they didn't twinkle with mischievousness like those of the reborn Salazar. Instead, they gleamed with open disdain, fully mocking everything and everyone in the room. Even his pockmarked face was twisted, forming a superior expression, and he showed his complete disregard for his visitor by turning away and resolutely staring at the far wall.

And Arthur felt a fresh wave of annoyance. Not even remembering his mission or using Harry's words like a mantra in his head could calm him completely. While he wholeheartedly agreed with his younger colleague, that didn't mean he found his task any simpler.

As Harry had said, "What greater weapon is there than to turn an enemy to your cause – to use their own knowledge against them?"

But that was far easier said than done.

He was trying. Maker help him, he was trying, but Rookwood was just being contrary. He simply threw back Arthur's words right in his face. Maybe he should have just listened to Alastor.

Moody had proposed that they milk as much knowledge out of Rookwood as they could and then turn him over to the Ministry, where the Dementor's Kiss awaited him on his recapture. However, Arthur hadn't been so sure, and it had been on his word that they had agreed to keep the ex-Unspeakable around. The redhead had thought that maybe… just maybe they could use him for something more than information. They could really and genuinely reform Rookwood, turn an enemy into a true ally, just as their onetime comrade had once become an adversary.

If Bellatrix Black could repent and atone for her actions, then why couldn't his old friend.

And perhaps that was the crux of the whole problem. Augustus had been his friend. He had been a trusted confidant for years, and now, he was an enemy. But Arthur still recognized something of his former roommate when he looked at the man in the cell. Plus, if Arthur was really honest with himself, this was the best chance they had to gain valuable information about Voldemort. There was no way of ever knowing how much Rookwood actually knew, unless he had a vested interest in providing them with it.

Even Veritaserum would not give them everything. Sure, it would force him to tell the truth, but they had to know the right questions to ask first. The truth was often a matter of perspective. It depended on a person's point of view, so it was possible to skew results if the questions were vague, not worded correctly, or the person just viewed the situation differently than expected. Additionally, there were some types of magical oaths that prevented someone from unintentionally divulging information. In such a case, they had to be willing to tell, which meant truth serums were useless. The person had to want to talk. It wouldn't force them to say anything; it just guaranteed that they couldn't lie to anyone about it.

Voldemort was known for using such things since they required less effort and power to maintain. He banked on the fact that his followers were either too loyal or too cowed to ever willingly disclose his secrets. And they understood exactly what he would do if he ever found out they were treacherous to his cause.

Basically, this all translated to mean that they really needed to convince Augustus Rookwood to talk. They needed his help to end Voldemort's reign, and the bastard knew it. He was an inner circle member, a trusted one, too. That was something not even Severus or Lucius Malfoy could boast. As far as Arthur knew, Rookwood was one of the top lieutenants. He had been second only to Bellatrix after Malfoy's complete disgrace. Undoubtedly, his estimation would rise even higher if he ever returned to his master now that the witch was supposedly missing in action and Dolohov, the only other real competition, was dead.

If only they could convince him to talk, to change his mind. To have an epiphany like Bellatrix had. However, that would require his cooperation, which Arthur was sorely lacking.

He still should have given the git Veritaserum. He just knew it. That way they would have gotten some straight answers. Of course, those answers probably wouldn't be the ones they were looking for, but at least, they wouldn't be complete rubbish. Unlike what Rookwood was giving now.

"So what exactly are you looking for, Arthur?" the Death Eater asked casually, sitting on his makeshift bed and leaning up against the wall. "It can't possibly be information. Or is it?" He tapped his chin with his forefinger. "I had thought you smart enough to know better, and weren't we such great friends?"

"That was a long time ago," the redhead put in, somehow managing to keep his voice level. "And apparently, I never knew you as well as I thought. After all, I never saw your betrayal coming." He evenly gazed back at the other man, issuing a silent challenge.

The ex-Unspeakable was quiet for a moment. "So it seems." He turned his head to look through the clear wall separating them. "Though I do believe you are the traitor, not me."

Arthur did everything within his power not to stiffen. "That is a matter of perspective."

"No, I don't believe it is." The man idly pushed his dark hair from his face.

"Really?" Arthur tilted his head. "And why is that?"

"I know what you're doing, don't think that I do not." Rookwood sat up and chuckled mirthlessly. "Always the clever one, Arthur. An Eagle in Lion's clothing. Though with your hardworking spirit, perhaps a Badger in Lion fur would be more apt." He went on, inspecting one of his hands. "Either way, I still know. You're trying to start a dialogue, get me talking… seeing if I let anything slip. Then afterwards, you would use what I'd given as an inroad with Veritaserum." He nonchalantly buffed his fingernails against his prison robe. "It's standard Auror procedure. Standard for the Unspeakables, too. I'm surprised that you even know it."

The Order member allowed a little smile. "Oh, you would be surprised by what I know."

The pockmarked man actually seemed interested. "Like what?"

"Well…" Arthur stretched the word out, thinking carefully.

He had an opening here. Rookwood's interest was peeked. He had several possible lines of thought, but he didn't know which to follow. Still, the redhead knew that he needed a reaction, a strong one. He needed something to set the other man thinking, and he knew the surefire way to do that.

Arthur narrowed his eyes and took a calculated risk. "I know you," he added, "or at least, I used to. But you've changed, Augustus. You aren't the same person anymore."

The ex-Unspeakable's eyes flashed, and Arthur knew he had hit a sensitive spot.

"You don't know anything about me," Rookwood hissed back. "You never did. You were far too taken with your own concerns. You and Apollo both." The Death Eater glared, daring Arthur to contradict his words. But he instantly recalled their situation, his face transforming back to a disdainful mask.

And though there was a thick wall and multiple wards between them, the redhead couldn't help but notice how dangerous the other man looked in that moment. Even considering the fact that he was completely unarmed. He didn't even have proper clothes on, much less have a wand. Nevertheless, for all Arthur knew, Augustus could still be proficient at wandless magic. The wards would hopefully be able to stop anything Rookwood could possibly throw at him, but one never knew.

A minute passed, and the Weasley patriarch didn't respond. Honestly, he wasn't getting anywhere, and he knew it. He had gotten his reaction. But he had the sneaking suspicion that it wasn't quite the one he had wanted. Besides, Augustus wasn't in a very receptive mood now, not that he had been to begin with. Yet, maybe a few days without anyone to talk to would change that.

"I'll be back later," he finally said and took a step back. However, his gaze remained on the Death Eater.

Rookwood snorted and turned away. "Don't bother. You won't be getting anything from me anyway."

The redhead continued to linger for a moment more, but eventually, he just shook his head. He turned away and walked to the door, nodding to the Order member who had been standing there throughout the entire conversation. The dark-skinned and rather young woman nodded back, her eyes remaining fixed on the Death Eater in the cell, just like they should. Arthur vaguely recalled she was an Auror trainee and decided that she was probably a good one, but the thought was chased from his head a second later.

As Arthur stepped from the room, his mind drifted back to his former friend, and what had just been said. He couldn't help but wonder if he really should have listened to Moody.

AN: I know that neither Harry nor Luna made an appearance, but they will soon enough. This chapter was basically meant to provide a foundation for a few of the plotlines, which is why there also wasn't any action in it. And yes, I know this was rather short, but not all my chapters will be twenty pages long. I am trying to make them somewhere within the eleven page range, which roughly translates to around 4000 to 5000 words per chapter. Anything shorter or longer just doesn't sit very well with me. Besides, the first few chapters of HTTL were much shorter anyway.

Things to think about: Bellatrix doesn't know about the Founders; will she ever find out? Who will be Draco's new guardian? Will they ever get anything useful from Rookwood? What sort of things does he know? Does my explanation for Veritaserum make any sense?

To everyone who read or reviewed: Thank you so very much.

Chapter Two: Son of the Serpent

Ever Hopeful,

Azar

Updated and Edited:

06/27/08