Thank you for the lovely follows, favourites, and reviews so far! It means a lot to us!

I had lots of fun writing this chapter, ahahaha Do enjoy and leave a review!

Dora

Bellatrix cradled her tiny daughter close, glaring at the wall as she remembered the furious argument she'd had with her father over keeping baby Nymphadora in her own room. She did not want him to come anywhere near her baby girl without her being there. The two-week-old child was too precious to be kept in the Black nursery: Bella wouldn't hear of it.

Shifting her position, she sighed and looked down at the child, smiling as she watched her nurse eagerly. Bella was very thankful Dora slept in her room, as it was currently the middle of the night and Dora had awoken her mother with hungry cries. It was better than having to patrol the corridors of Black Manor in her nightdress—Bellatrix smiled bitterly at the thought.

"Mummy loves you, Dora," Bella whispered to the little girl as Dora grasped onto her mother's nightdress with her tiny fingers. "And I'll protect you, okay? Aunt Cissa and I will protect you...no one will use you for your powers: I'll see to it. No matter what I have to do."

The child opened her eyes, looking up into her mother's face. Nymphadora looked straight into her mother's eyes, and Bellatrix found herself fighting back tears again. Her baby was so innocent, so pure—she had no idea what danger she'd been born into. The child's trusting look didn't waver, even when Dora went back to her meal, her hand finding Bella's finger and clinging to it firmly.

"Dora," she sniffed, still overwhelmed that she had been blessed by such a child. "I love you," Bella whispered, as if afraid to say the words aloud. She'd never put much stock in love, but she couldn't help adoring her baby girl. There was something to be said for motherhood, Bellatrix decided with a small smile as her daughter yawned.

"Are you done?" Bellatrix grinned at the girl, giggling a little. "Milk makes you sleepy, doesn't it?" Dora merely reached out her arms, Bella lifting the baby up to cuddle her on her shoulder. "You're the best of us all," she sighed, her cheek against Dora's. "I love you." She pressed a kiss to the child's dark locks before getting up off her bed to walk the floor with her daughter.

Narcissa grinned over her sister's shoulder at her pink-haired niece. "Bella, it's a thing," she declared. "Dora morphs her hair pink when she's happy."

Bella pouted. "Doesn't she know it's supposed to be purple?"

"She's your daughter," Narcissa teased. "You tell her how it is."

"I would never—" Bellatrix frowned at her sister before grinning at her six-week-old child. "She's such a joy...I won't die of her pink hair, Cissa."

Narcissa laughed, then bit her lip, serious once more. "When are you going to take her out with you?" she asked her sister. "You can't leave her with the house elves all the time—well, you could, but don't. We've got to take her out of here eventually: we can't avoid everyone forever."

Bellatrix frowned at her sister. "Who was talking to you about it?"

"Regulus and Sirius," Narcissa sighed, reaching over to smooth Dora's bright pink locks. "They want to see their new baby cousin. And Aunt Walburga wants to see her new niece."

"Bitch," Bellatrix pronounced, then sighed. "Well, okay. As long as you go with me."

"Of course," Narcissa promised. "I want to see the boys' reaction anyway, and I wouldn't leave you to her: she's far too much like Father for the baby's good."

"That's more than true," Bellatrix agreed, frowning darkly. "There are those all around that would use the child's powers, aren't there? I really am all the protection she has—besides you, anyway, but no one listens to you."

Narcissa gave a small sound of annoyance, then agreed. "There was no protection for Andy, either," she said softly, reaching over and touching her sister's hand. "There was nothing she could do for herself, either, Bella. That's why Father has been so horrible to you since she's gone: he misses abusing her."

Bellatrix made a gagging sound, and Dora looked up at her mother in surprise. "If he ever—I will kill him," she resolved. "I'm already going to join the Death Eaters."

"Bellatrix Black, you are not," Narcissa said sternly, glaring at her sister.

"I am," she answered earnestly. "Don't you think Father and the others would think twice about hurting my daughter if I became a Death Eater? Cissa—"

"No, Bella, it will take you away from Nymphadora!" Narcissa pleaded. "You've got to think of her!"

"I am thinking of her," Bellatrix snapped, and Dora's hair suddenly turned brown, the girl giving a slight cry. "I'm not shouting at you, sweet," she said, kissing the child's face. "I'm shouting some sense into your aunt."

Narcissa rolled her eyes at her older sister's words. "So what will you do with her after you've joined the Dark?"

Bellatrix smiled at her baby, distracted from her sister. "Dora," she murmured, tickling the child's stomach and laughing when Dora giggled, squirming on her mother's lap.

"Bella," sighed Narcissa after laughing too. "Are you expecting me to watch her whenever you're gone? I won't always be available."

"We have house elves," Bellatrix said haughtily. "And one of them is explicitly loyal to me. She will care for Dora when there is no one else. Dora will be fine."

"But Bella—"

"Aren't you promised to Lucius now?" Bellatrix raised an eyebrow, changing the subject quite obviously. "When are you two going to be married?"

Narcissa paused for a moment, blushing, then said, "Well, in a little over a year, I think."

Bellatrix smirked. "Still? I thought it was sooner." Her sister's hesitation provoked a shocked response. "Narcissa Black. You did not put off your wedding because you wanted to stay here with Dora and me. Don't be stupid!"

The blonde witch glared at her sister. "I know it's stupid to want to protect my sister and my niece from our father instead of marrying the man I love, but that's what I did! So there!" She stuck her tongue out at Bellatrix, who sniggered. "Lucius understood."

"You told him!?" shrieked Bellatrix, filled with shame and horror, then cuddled her baby reassuringly when Dora cried out in protest of the loud noise. "Cissy!"

"Well, I—I thought he should know why I wanted to put off our marriage for another year or two," Narcissa answered firmly. "I'm only eighteen, anyway. I want to marry him, but I want you and Dora to be safe first. And weren't you talking to Rodolphus about marriage? Seems that should be moving along as well."

"I—I—I've told him that I'll be visiting Lestrange Manor in a few weeks," Bella bit her lip. "Here, you hold Dora for a few minutes." Bellatrix gave the child to her sister and got up, walking across the room. "Cissa, I've got to get out of here. I can't raise Dora in this house. She's in too much danger here. I will marry Rodolphus if it means I can take Dora away from here, but I don't want to leave you here alone. You need to get married."

"Whatever," scoffed Narcissa. "I'm not that special, Bella. I'm not in danger."

"I think you mean 'I'm not Father's type'.'" Bella said, pretending to be sick. "But you never know. I never realised that Andromeda was my buffer until she was gone and Father began to come after me more often."

"Bella..." Narcissa sighed, then cooed at the baby, giggling as Dora reached up toward her face, her eyes turning blue. "Dora, darling, your hair and eyes don't match."

Bellatrix grinned at her brown-haired and blue-eyed daughter. "She looks fine," she declared firmly, leaning down and kissing Dora's head. "Don't be rude, Cissa."

Narcissa smiled, then handed the child back to her mother. "She's just perfect, Bellatrix."

Biting her lip slightly, Bella murmured, "I just want Dora to be herself. Perfection is overrated and doesn't stay perfect: look at Andromeda."

"You know that Father drove her to that," Narcissa said sharply. "All of us did."

"Shut up," Bellatrix said coldly, and Narcissa frowned in confusion as Bellatrix turned away from her, cuddling the baby. "It was her choice to leave, but I choose to stay, Narcissa. I will do my duty as a pureblood and a Black, and I will carefully teach Dora the same thing."

The blonde witch merely nodded in agreement, knowing better than to anger her sister further.

Druella was glaring at her eldest daughter across the table, and Bellatrix glared back without hesitation. Nymphadora was crying in her mother's arms, Bella unable to get her to quiet down, even though there wasn't anything wrong with the little one.

"Bellatrix, for Merlin's sake, girl, put a Sleeping Spell on her." Cygnus said finally in annoyance.

"Can't we have a peaceful meal, ever?" Druella sighed.

"Shut up." said Cygnus and Bellatrix at the same time. Bellatrix then glared at her father as well.

"We're the House of Black," Bellatrix smirked. "We don't do 'peaceful.'"

Narcissa sat next to her sister, eating silently as the baby cried forlornly. She glanced up as her father glared at Bellatrix, cursing her for her slur on their family. Bellatrix shrugged, shifting her daughter in her arms. "I'm amazed we all haven't run off and left you," she smirked at her parents. "Don't tempt me."

Narcissa set down her fork and took Nymphadora from Bellatrix, gently rocking the child in her arms and murmuring reassuring words to her. "It's okay, Dora," Bella heard Narcissa whisper. "It's okay."

"I don't care if you just had a baby," Cygnus said coldly. "If you speak to me like that again, I will Curse you, Bellatrix."

"Stop," Narcissa said softly. "You're all upsetting Dora."

The child's hair was white and red together, and Bellatrix regarded her curiously. "Angry little thing," Bella mused. "But the white…."

"I think she's scared," Cissa answered, looking up at her sister. "You've scared her."

"I didn't do it," Bellatrix said, glaring at her parents. Narcissa sighed, looking down at the poor child. Her introduction to her family wasn't going so well.

Bellatrix left Nymphadora with Narcissa one afternoon and went straight to Lestrange Manor, seeking entrance. To her secret gratefulness, it wasn't Rodolphus that answered the gatecall, but his barely eleven year old brother Rabastan. "Oooh!" Rabastan said when he saw her. "Rod, you should have been here!"

"Where is he?" Bellatrix asked him, looking down her nose at the boy.

"In his chambers," Rabastan shrugged. "I can let you in, if you want. He wouldn't mind."

"I'm sure," Bellatrix said drily, following the boy into the Mansion.

Rabastan stopped at a very ornate door and spoke a bunch of French words before drawing a rune over the door. It opened, and he motioned Bellatrix to go ahead of him as they walked into the room.

A black-haired man looked up from a desk and jumped to his feet, staring. "Bellatrix," he breathed, then seemed to recover himself. "Rabastan, leave us."

The young boy rolled his eyes at the command but obeyed, leaving Bellatrix standing before Rodolphus alone. "You are visiting," Rodolphus said softly, his accent more pronounced, and Bella assumed he was nervous. "I almost began to think you wouldn't."

"My father wished to handle some situations in our family before giving us away to another great House," Bellatrix answered just as softly. "And no, I have not really been ill. My father has tried to keep me away."

"I am somewhat pleased he has not succeeded," Rodolphus answered, and Bellatrix laughed, making him smile. "Bellatrix, surely you must know my intentions toward you…."

He crossed the room and took her hands in his, looking into her eyes. "I want to make you my wife, Bella, if your father will allow it."

Bellatrix drew a soft breath, replying, "I will give myself to you, Rodolphus Lestrange. Consider it done."

"Bella," he murmured, drawing her in closer. She bit her lip, pulling back, and he sighed. "I apologise for being so forward."

"No," Bella said, then sighed. "It's just me, sorry." The man drew her into his embrace and kissed her passionately, Bella almost shoving him away in fear and disgust. She wasn't ready for anyone to kiss her that way, or to hold her like he was...Bellatrix held still a moment before slipping her arms around his neck, returning his kisses as she'd been well taught.

"You're so beautiful," Rodolphus sighed desperately. "Oh, Bella, when shall my father and I speak to yours about this?"

"I'm of age," Bellatrix ignored his words. "Let me sign the papers."

Rodolphus frowned. "Is that wise?"

She barely kept from glaring at him. "Yes, Rodolphus. Take me to your father and let's get it done. I want a copy of the proposal and acceptance before tonight is over."

The Lestrange heir smirked at her. "I'd marry you tonight if you wanted."

"I'm busy tonight," Bella shrugged apologetically. "But it'll be soon enough, believe me."

"Good," Rodolphus said firmly, then whispered in her ear, "I love you, ma belle."

Two months later, when Nymphadora was six months old, Bellatrix took her to Grimmauld Place to meet her older cousins, Sirius and Regulus. Narcissa led the way up the stairs toward the boys' rooms, quiet as she could be. "I told them to be here," she whispered to Bellatrix. "They were going to Floo home from school, so I hope they're here by now."

A door opened, and a small boy motioned them toward his room, Bellatrix biting her lip as she walked toward the boy. "Hello, Regulus," she greeted him softly once she and Narcissa were safely in the room. "Meet Nymphadora: she's a Metamorphagus, as I'm sure you've heard."

Regulus seemed less than excited, and Bellatrix rolled her eyes at him. "Don't be so thrilled, Reg."

"She's in danger," Regulus said, then caught his breath sharply. "Bella, you know—your father and my mother are going to try to get rid of Sirius?"

"I'm sure they'll succeed," Bellatrix shrugged. "He's not exactly that wanted around here."

"Bellatrix, that's cruel," Narcissa said, frowning. "By the way, Regulus, congratulations on Slytherin."

"Oh." The eleven year old boy ducked his head, avoiding the praise. "I guess your dad was really angry when he found out your baby was a girl, but it's okay because she's powerful," he muttered as if he wasn't supposed to be saying such things. "If Dora was a boy, Sirius and I wouldn't have to worry about who is going to lead the House of Black in the future: it should have been in your dad's line."

Bellatrix seemed to expand in fury, and Narcissa placed a hand on her arm warningly. "It is well that he has no heir, and never will," Bellatrix hissed. "As much as I apologise for the inconvenience."

Regulus looked up at his oldest cousin pleadingly. "I didn't mean—"

"Hey, Bellabitch!" came Sirius' voice from outside the door. "Where's the brat?"

"Come in," Regulus called, waving the door open with his hand. "Dora's right here."

Sirius walked in grandly, walking straight up to Bellatrix and looking down at the pink-haired baby. "Almost expected her to have purple hair," he said, shaking his head. "But then I remember she's your daughter."

Bellatrix smirked. "I thought the same thing," she replied. "But we don't want her to be too much like our third. She's got to be herself."

Sirius looked at his cousin thoughtfully, then nodded, seeming a little confused. "Well, she's beautiful," he said. "Congratulations, Bella."

"Thanks," she smiled down at the child. "Do you two want to hold her?"

"Yeah!" Sirius said, grinning, and Bella allowed the boys to take turns holding their baby cousin. None of them missed Narcissa warding the room just before Dora left her mother's hands: they all knew the child was in danger.

After nearly an hour, all of them went downstairs so that the boys' parents could meet the newest Black. Bellatrix smirked proudly as her aunt inspected her youngest niece carefully. "She's the purest Black," the girl sneered, tossing back her black hair as she lifted her daughter to her shoulder.

"Most inbred," Walburga sneered back at her niece.

"As if this isn't a common occurrence elsewhere in the House of Black," Sirius rolled his eyes at the two. "We're not that much less inbred, actually." Everyone ignored him.

Bellatrix was very glad to get back home: the only one who hadn't seemed to have much of a reaction was Orion. She smirked, wondering what the other Black heir had thought of his wife's brother's actions toward his own daughter. She felt almost proud that she'd borne such a powerful child, but Bella was afraid at the same time. She'd never admit it, of course, but she was now afraid that her father might want her to have another child.

Bellatrix threw open the door to her father's study and walked inside, the man nearly cursing her before he realised who it was. A sickening smile on his face, he rose to greet her, and she burnt his hand with the tip of her wand. He was beginning to shout at her when she said, "Don't shout, Father. Rodolphus and his father are coming over to discuss certain plans for our future. Rodolphus and I are betrothed.

She watched the fury grow in her father for mere seconds before he nearly exploded with anger. "BETROTHED?" he roared at her, and she felt untamed magic crackle against her skin. "When did this happen, Bellatrix? Why do not I know of it?"

"Because you would have stopped it," Bellatrix answered. "Well, you can't stop it now. Rodolphus and I are in love, and Rodolphus is coming to talk over the terms with you and me and his father. They'll be here in a half hour."

"Crucio!" her father snarled, but Bellatrix avoided the spell, getting out of the way in time.

"I suggest you not leave your signature on me now that I am promised to another man," Bellatrix said coldly. "Thanks."

"How dare you?!" her father yelled at her. "You are mine until I give you away!"

"Well, I took the liberty of giving myself away," Bellatrix answered stubbornly. "Just be thankful I didn't sell myself to some filthy Mudblood."

Regarding her in fury, her father did not speak to her at all as they waited for the Lestranges to arrive. Rodolphus smiled at her when he arrived with his father, and she returned the smile somewhat shyly. The four set to making plans, although Bella was fairly silent. Rodolphus kept glancing at her with a slight smile on his lips, and Bella bit her lip, hoping she had made the right decision.

After a few minutes, Rodolphus and Bellatrix were excused, their fathers to finish the plans. Bellatrix glanced at her fiance's father, and the man nodded to her slightly: he remembered what she'd told him. She left the room quickly, Rodolphus by her side, the two leaving the house to walk together in the garden. He took her hand as they walked along, but she barely listened to him, worrying about what her father would tell Lestrange while she and Rodolphus were away.

"Ma belle," he murmured, squeezing her hand. "Your mind is very far away today. Did you have something to say? I have much to say, I'm afraid."

"So I hear," Bellatrix smirked slightly. "I'm just concerned Father will try to put off our marriage for quite some time."

"You warned my father," Rodolphus said with a nod. "He'll take care of it."

"My father is...unpredictable and untrustworthy," Bellatrix told him. "At best."

Rodolphus laughed, and squeezed her hand. "But you will be mine, Bellatrix," he said firmly. "And he won't be able to stop it."

Bellatrix smirked. "No, he won't. But he will try."

The man turned her toward him as they reached a tall oak that Bella used to climb when she was younger. "You've promised yourself to me, Bellatrix Black," he murmured, "and it will happen, or our families will have problems. Your father cannot reverse what we've set in motion; he can only put it off, and that only for a short while. He knows that. You will be my wife, Bellatrix."

"Yes," she began, but he pulled her into his arms and kissed her softly, making her reluctantly melt into his embrace. Bellatrix wasn't sure if it was safe to trade one man for another, but as Rodolphus held her close, she felt a slight happiness followed by an intense fear. She held to her fiance more tightly, wanting protection and real love, but she couldn't shake the fear that had settled over her heart.

"Come," she said, drawing back from him and tugging him toward the house. "Come with me."

"Where are we going?" he raised an eyebrow, allowing her to lead him.

"My room," she answered with a smirk, laughing as he quickly caught up to her, wrapping his arm around her securely.

She led him quickly to her chambers, unlocking the door as he squeezed her to his side meaningfully. She forced herself not to speak or react, knowing that he would soon be distracted from her. As they entered the room, Narcissa rose from the bed and said, "Oh, um, I'll be leaving, then." She glanced at Bella nervously, then gave her a small nod. The child was sleeping.

Rodolphus pressed Bella up against the wall right after Narcissa had gone, holding her hands firmly on either side of her. "Bellatrix," he moaned softly, kissing her neck.

Bellatrix swallowed hard, disentangling her right hand and awakening her little girl with a spell. Rodolphus kissed her strongly, and she clung to him, knowing there were only a few moments before they would be interrupted. Sure enough, as Rodolphus ran his hands over her hips, a small voice cried, "Mumma!"

Rodolphus froze for an instant, then looked up. "What the hell was that?" he said sharply.

She swallowed hard, crossing the room and lifting her daughter from the crib next to her bed. "This is Nymphadora," she said softly, kissing the child's head. "Hi, baby. She's almost a year old," she added, turning back to Rodolphus.

"Who is she?" he demanded, glaring at her.

"She—she's—"

"Mum," Dora said firmly, her arms wrapped around Bellatrix's neck as she looked to Rodolphus.

"Your daughter," Rodolphus said coldly. "By whom, may I ask?"

Bellatrix felt strangled as she whispered, "My father. I swear it wasn't my fault, Rodolphus. I tried to stop him…."

Rodolphus shook his head, stunned. "That's your and your father's child, Bellatrix?"

She nodded, cuddling her child close. "That's why he's tried to keep us apart. He doesn't want me to leave...you knew I wasn't sick: I was pregnant with Dora. I wanted to see you, but I couldn't. Please—" Bellatrix stopped just short of begging the man to understand. She was a Black, and refused to beg, even of her fiance.

Nymphadora pointed at the man, looking at her mother questioningly, and Bellatrix bit her lip. "This is Rodolphus Lestrange, darling," she told the child. "He and Mum are going to be married."

"Bellatrix, that child is a shame and I refuse to allow it into my home," Rodolphus said firmly.

"I have been learning that my shame and my joy are the same thing," Bellatrix answered, glaring at him. "She is my daughter, Lestrange, and I will not abandon her."

"Mumma," the black-haired child said, putting her fingers in her mouth meaningfully.

"Leave her with your family," Rodolphus said, ignoring the child. "They will take care of her."

Bellatrix glared at him with all the fury she could muster. "I cannot leave her to Father!" she hissed at him, struggling to keep calm enough not to upset her daughter. "He will hurt her—he will use her, Rodolphus! Like he used Andromeda! You can't possibly understand—!"

Rodolphus stepped toward the door. "I don't have to, Bellatrix. The brat will not be joining us at Lestrange Manor. Do with her what you will. Good day."

The man left the room, and Bella's wards went up on the room. She sank to the bed with Dora on her lap, a sob escaping her. Moments later, Narcissa entered the room, hurrying to her sister's side. "Bella," she murmured, putting her arm around the oldest Black sister. Bella leant her head against her sister's shoulder and wept softly. "I'm sorry," Narcissa told her, but Bellatrix didn't answer.