Morning…

Aquila's POV

It was a little scary when I woke up. I forgot that I was at auntie's house, but I suddenly remembered when I saw that I was under green sheets instead of pink sheets. It was a good morning. I was finally four and my sheets were dry. I hoped that the rest of the day would go just as well!

End POV

"Auntie!" called Aquila from her bed.

There was no answer.

"Auntie!" called Aquila a bit louder.

There was still no answer.

Aquila called her aunt a few more times and then finally gave up. She left the bedroom and walked down the long hallway to her auntie and uncle's bedroom. Aquila's small hands opened the double doors.

"Auntie!" she called. "Are you in here?"

Auntie wasn't in there.

Aquila checked Draco's room, but the only person in there was baby Draco who was sound asleep.

The four-year-old finally came to the conclusion that not a sole other than her baby cousin was on the second floor of the house. She decided to check downstairs.

As the little girl reached the end of the staircase she heard a familiar voice. The voice was her father's and it sounded like it was coming from the sitting room.

"Daddy?" shouted Aquila. "Is that you?"

There was no answer, but the voice continued talking. Maybe he didn't hear her.

The voice became louder as Aquila drew closer to the sitting room. When she arrived the doors to the sitting room were closed, but she heard her daddy's voice behind it. It was a quiet voice and she couldn't make out what he was saying.

She snuck through one of the doors to find her daddy sitting in an armchair talking to her auntie who was lying on the couch across from him.

"Daddy!" she squealed.

Rodolphus gasped and turned to look at his daughter.

Before Aquila could do her usual routine of running over to her father, he ran over to her. Rod picked up his daughter, squeezed her tight and said: "My Aquila, sweet Aquila!"

A minute passed and Rod was still hugging his daughter.

"Daddy," giggled Aquila. "We can stop hugging now."

Rod slowly stopped squeezing his daughter but didn't put her down. He carried her over to the couch.

As she was seated on her father's lap, Aquila finally got a good look at his face. His eyes were tired, red and blotchy. He looked dreadful. He was still wearing his black robes, and his hair was windswept in ten different directions.

"Are you going to say good morning to your godmother?" asked Rod quietly.

"Good Morning Auntie," said Aquila sweetly.

Narcissa stretched out, sat up, and turned towards Aquila. She had tears on her cheeks.

Aquila gasped, ran to her aunt, and hugged her. "Auntie, are you alright?"

Narcissa didn't speak but squeezed the little girl tightly, similar to the way Rod did except Narcissa began to cry.

Aquila broke the hug and looked at her daddy and auntie. "Something is wrong," she said.

The room was silent until Rod finally spoke. "It's your mother," he whispered.

Narcissa wept louder.

Aquila, now shaking, sat back on the father's lap. "Is she ok?" she asked.

"Well," replied Rod who was also on the verge of tears. "No."

Aquila began to cry and wrapped her arms around her daddy's neck. "Where's mummy?" she whispered.

"Excuse me," said Narcissa as she ran out of the room.

"Where's mummy?" asked Aquila again. "Is she d-dead?"

"She's not dead, but she's gone," said Rod's shaken voice.

"Where did she go?" asked Aquila.

Rod let a breath of air out and said: "Aquila, honey, do you remember when we told you about our cause and how there are people who disagree with our beliefs?"

Aquila nodded.

Rod went on. "Do you remember when mummy and Ally came to tell you that our master was gone?"

Aquila nodded again.

"Well," said Rod. "Your mother, Uncle Bastan, Bart, and I knew who was behind our master's absence. We wanted revenge, Aquila. We tortured the people behind it, but your mummy and Bart were caught by the ministry, and they were sent to prison."

Aquila's cry became ten times louder. She jumped of her daddy's lap, ran out of the sitting room, ran up the stairs, ran down the hall into her room, and lay down on her bed on her stomach. She cried loudly into her pillow.

Downstairs…

Rod ran into the kitchen to find Narcissa who was still crying.

"Did you tell her?" asked Cissa.

"Yes," replied Rod sadly. "She's a wreck; she ran up to her room screaming and crying as soon as I told her."

Narcissa sighed. "I'm not surprised; you, Bella, and Aquila were always so close. You three were the perfect family.

"And now we're torn apart," said Rod as she sunk down into one of the chairs.

"And now you need to raise her," said Cissa.

"I know," said Rod. "I'll take care of her, but I'm going to need your help."

Narcissa nodded. "I'll help you; she's my goddaughter and I love her."

There was a silence until Rod spoke again. "Cissa…what was it like to live without a mother?"

Narcissa looked down at her hands. "Well...my mother died when I was a year old so I never really got the chance to miss her. Bella and- "

Rod looked up at Narcissa and said: "Yes, Bella and the blood traitor…go on…"

Narcissa did. "Having older sisters was almost like having a mother. It became more important as I got older."

Rod slowly nodded.

Narcissa went on: "There comes a time when a girl really does need a mother. I'll help you raise her, especially when that time comes."

"Perhaps we should check on Aquila now?" asked Rod.

"Yeah," replied Narcissa.

The pair proceeded upstairs to Aquila's room.