Chapter 4
A/N: Here's the Sunday update, I've been able to write pretty steadily so I think I'll stick to the weekend updates. I hope you guys like it. Read review and enjoy!
Voldemort was once again seated on his makeshift throne, Lilith was bowing before him, her sapphire hair spilling over her shoulders in thick waves. "Rise and tell me what you wish to share." Lilith stood, and spoke, "I was called into the office yesterday, and was greeted by Potter's mudblood and...Auror Tonks." The Dark Lord's eyes narrowed, and silently performed legilimens, Lilith's walls were down, as she had been expecting the intrusion. She cringed as she felt him search for the memory in question. Once he watched it to completion she had expected him to retreat. She was wrong, she grit her teeth as she felt him force himself deeper into her mind, he was not gentle. She fought against the urges to throw up random memories because that would just get her into trouble. She felt him slow and eventually stop at one memory.
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It was storming, but she paid the rain, thunder, or lightning any mind. She watched as the last light went out inside the cottage she was looking at. She waited several minutes before making her move. The wards were strong but she easily cut through them without alerting the occupants inside. She walked up to the door and unlocked it just as easily. Gray eyes scanned the lower floor for any signs of life, finding none she made her way up the stairs. As she walked down the hall she paused at the door to the left, she placed her forehead against the wood and focused on the deep breathing she could hear from beyond the door. It took more willpower than she expected to take a step back. Turning she looked at the door across the hall, she took a deep breath to quell the nervousness that fluttered around in her stomach and opened the door. The nursery was nice, she bet it looked better when the sun was shining. She walked over to the crib and looked at the child that lay in it. The infant looked so much like her mother that Lilith felt a muted ache in her chest. The child wriggled around a bit before opening her eyes. Gray met gray and the ache in her chest increased. Lilith reached into her robes and brandished a dagger. She hissed as the blade sliced open her finger, she waited for the blood to surface before drawing runes on the baby's face, hands, and feet. The runes glowed a bright purple before sinking into the child's skin. She moved to pull her hand away but a smaller hand reached out and grasped her finger the child gurgling happily. She just barely registered a sound coming from the door. She had successfully escaped and was now back outside, standing inches from the wards, she watched as Andromeda came to the window looking for any sign of an intruder; she would find none, save for a puddle by her daughter's crib. Lilith knew she could never come back to the cottage. She modified the wards and left, they were safe, and that's how it would remain.
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Lilith's nose was bleeding by the time the memory had played out, but that was the least of her worries. She hadn't told anyone, not even Bellatrix or Narcissa, what had happened that night. It was no secret that she had been behind Ted Tonks' kidnapping, torture, and eventual murder; this however was something else entirely. The Dark Lord surprised her by laughing. "So, Auror Tonks is really Auror Bolton." Gasps resounded in the room, everyone was on the edge of their seat waiting to see what their Lord would do next. "This is exactly what we needed. Knowledge of her true parentage will have them questioning every move they've ever made in The Ministry." He paused for a moment, trying to decide on the best plan of action to expose the young Auror. He smiled slowly, "Bellatrix, you and Lilith will be paying a visit to... an old friend tonight. I'm sure you recall Florence Herdon, she's retired but still has plenty of credibility. Have a chat with her, and make sure you let this little bit of information slip." "Of course My Lord." the women chorused. "Lilith, you may be one of my best Death Eaters, but if you keep another secret from me, Bella will have to find a new playmate." Lilith hastily bowed, "You are too kind My Lord." "Am I?" he questioned as he twirled his wand around his fingers, "Yes, I suppose I am. Crucio!"
The library in Malfoy Manor was full of tension. No one had spoken since they entered. Bellatrix was leaning against a bookshelf, Narcissa was on the loveseat glaring at the fireplace, Lucius was seated next to his wife looking disappointed, and Lilith was sitting in an arm chair that was turned to face the others. Seconds ticked by on the grandfather clock, the tension intensifying with every stroke. "Enough, out with it already." Lilith spat. Bellatrix glared at her, but her sister spoke first, "I honestly don't even know where to begin. The fact that you have a child you neglected to mention, that she's my niece, or that you were idiotic enough to try to keep it from The Dark Lord. What were you thinking? He could have killed you!" Lilith opened her mouth to speak but was quickly cut off by Bellatrix, "No, you have had plenty of chances to speak. We are your family. Maybe now in blood as well but we have been family for longer than that. Cissa is right, The Dark Lord could have wanted you dead after finding out, and he could have ordered me to do it!" Lilith flinched at the anger in the sable haired woman's voice, looking at her she noticed that Bellatrix's hands were shaking and her breaths were becoming quick and shallow, her eyes glazing over with dark memories. She wanted to say something, but one more person needed to speak, she looked to Lucius who looked the most composed. He sighed heavily, "I won't act as if I'm surprised that it happened, you were head over heels for her. Maybe you still are, even now. I wish you would have come to me...to any of us. Bella's right, we've been family since we were in school. I can only speak for myself, but what hurt's the most is that you chose to keep this a secret. Even from us." Lilith sighed and stood, and slowly made her way over to Bellatrix, realizing her intent Bellatrix lashed out landing several heavy punches ans scratches before Lilith's arms wrapped around her. "You need to calm down. You'll pass out soon if you don't get a hold on your breathing." Lucius and Narcissa stood and the three of them surrounded Bellatrix, slowly breathing together. Bella's breaths began to match theirs and the whispers in her mind quieted. The grandfather clock chimed. It was time.
Florence Herdon was enjoying a pleasant cup of tea when she heard a scratching sound at her back door, grabbing her wand she cracked open the door. She was shocked not to see anything, but a short whine directed her attention downwards. Soulful blue eyes stared up at her. The woman was shocked, and lowered her wand. "Why hello there, aren't you a pretty thing." She opened up her door further, and that was her mistake. The canine barked, and the door was forced open. Two hooded figures stood before her, the dog between them growling deeply. Florence nearly passed out when she saw the silver shine of Death Eater masks. "W-what do you want?" The hooded figure on the right took a quick step forward and kicked her in the stomach. Not expecting the move she doubled over in pain and dropped her wand. It rolled along the floor and was picked up by the gray furred companion. "We'll be the ones asking the questions. Don't speak unless spoken to. You speak out of turn and you'll regret it." She wasn't sure which one spoke, she watched as the one on the left summoned a chair. "Sit." She hesitated, but sat down, she wasn't surprised when she was hit with a body bind. She was surprised when the Death Eater on the left pulled out some strange contraption. "What is that?" She asked before she could stop herself. Both figures chuckled. "You owe me 10 galleons. She asked about it." "Oh whatever, that's because I haven't taken out my toy." Her heart was racing as she listened to them, but she mentally breathed a sigh of relief that they hadn't caught her slip. "Don't think we didn't notice you broke the rules. Faye...break." The large canine bit down on the wand held in its maw, the wood shattering. Florence felt as if she'd been kicked in the chest as her connection with her wand was severed. "Oh and to answer your question what I'm holding is a muggle creation, they're called pliers. We've got a whole bag of tricks and a few questions. If you cooperate we could be inclined to lessen your suffering. But don't forget to follow the rule." "Or don't, either way we get to have fun." The other figure spoke as they shrugged. And pulled out another foreign looking gadget. Florence prayed to every deity she knew for someone to come save her, but her prayers went unanswered. Her screams and cries filled the home through the night, and into the morning.