This is the chapter with most angst you have ever seen in this story. Go and prepare yourself hot chocolate before you read.

Rodolphus came home and saw Bellatrix waiting for him, wearing the dress she wore only on special occasions. She was beaming with happiness.

'You look wonderful' Rodolphus said, kissing his wife. 'What are we celebrating today? Has anything special happened?'

Bellatrix purred with delight.

'Veeeeery special' she said. 'And veeeery worth celebrating…'

Rodolphus stroked her.

'Is that a secret?' he asked jokingly. Bellatrix giggled.

'It can't be kept a secret for a long time… it will be clearly visible soon…'

'So you can as well tell me now' Rodolphus tilted his head. 'What is the very special news?'

Bellatrix threw her arms around her husband's neck.

'Roddy, I'm going to have a baby' she whispered to his ear. And she laughed at his expression.

'Oh, Bella, this is so wonderful – hope it's a girl!' Rodolphus exclaimed. 'We must tell my mum – and your mum – and…'

'No…' Bellatrix whined jokingly. 'Let's keep it a surprise for them… we'll go and show them the baby when she's born…'

'Okay, as you wish… but if we see any of them when it will be noticeable, we'll mention it, right?'

'Of course…'

'How far are you along?'

'About five, maybe six weeks. I wanted to be sure and…'

'Enough…' Rodolphus whispered tenderly and kissed his wife on the lips. Then he stroked her abdomen, humming something like a lullaby.

For following weeks, Rodolphus was doing his best to completely spoil his wife. She deserves it, he thought, she is carrying our baby daughter, so no caress would be too much…

However, Bellatrix kept repeating him that she hadn't turned into some fragile china only because she was expecting a baby. She was slightly annoyed by her husband not letting her do anything. Of course she wasn't going to run marathon, but she was perfectly capable of washing herself or feeding Rigel! It took her two weeks to make Rodolphus surrender, and only because she offered to make risalamande, like every time they had a good reason to celebrate. The Danish dessert of chopped almonds, rice, milk and whipped cream, generously poured with cherry sauce, was not only a fulfillment of one of Bellatrix's cravings, but also something that Rodolphus always loved. He could never resist it, and as their house elf couldn't make it as delicious as Bellatrix, he agreed for her to occupy herself with something else than embroidering clothes for the baby.

'What will we name her?' Bellatrix asked, helping herself to risalamande. Rodolphus smiled.

'My mum would be grateful for Margaret, but I don't really like this name… maybe as the middle name, but well, it should be your idea with the first name… you know, to make her remember she carries the blood of Black… should I bring you the sky map?'

Bellatrix chuckled. Rodolphus would always joke about the Black tradition of naming the kids, and after a few years it started amusing her as well. But she didn't need the sky map to know the name she would love to give to her daughter.

'Lacerta' she said. 'What do you think about this name?'

'Very nice' Rodolphus nodded. 'Lacerta Margaret Lestrange… beautiful.'

'And what if it's a boy?' Bellatrix asked teasingly. Of course she hoped for a girl, but both her and Rodolphus' parents wished for a male heir.

'It must be a girl, my beloved. It must be our Lacerta Margaret. But if it's a boy… are you sure you don't need the sky map?'

'I am. But the boy would have the star name as the middle, so you pick the first name.'

'Oh, maybe something simple, like… like Tom? My father's best friend at school was named Tom…'

'Tom is nice' Bellatrix agreed. 'Tom Auriga, or maybe Tom Capricorn? Or… or Tom Eridanus…'

'Tom Capricorn. So, how do you like it, Lacerta Margaret or Tom Capricorn?' Rodolphus stroked Bellatrix's abdomen.

Days passed and Bellatrix's cravings got annoying even for her. She could usually kill for a bowl of green peas with spicy mayonnaise – or at least Crucio for it. And as no one could make the mayonnaise spicy enough for her, she made it by herself. When she was on a walk with Rodolphus, suddenly they both felt their Marks burn. They of course had expected it, as there was a long break lately, so they knew that the Dark Lord could call them in anytime. They glanced at each other and Disapparated to the Dark Lord. Bellatrix felt a little uneasy. They didn't share the news with anyone, so she was quite glad that there was no outside sign of Lacerta Margaret or Tom Capricorn, as she didn't know how the rest of the Death Eaters would react for her pregnancy. Not to mention the Dark Lord himself…

This meeting went quite predictably, the only thing unexpected by the Death Eaters was that Bellatrix did not volunteer for any action. But they would always complain when she got the most fun tasks, so they were quite happy about it.

On the next meeting, Voldemort called the three Lestranges personally.

'I have a special task for the three of you' he said.

'My Lord, but…' Bellatrix started, but the Dark Lord interrupted her.

'No buts. You three are excellent duelists, so you will definitely do it. Your task is…'

'I can't do this!' Bellatrix yelled.

'Oh, I'm sure you can. Capture Caradoc Dearborn, he is probably guarded by two aurors, but he should have very useful knowledge. Capture him alive and bring to me…'

'But my Lord, I'm…' Bellatrix tried again.

'Don't you want to serve me, Bellatrix?'

'Oh of course I do, but…'

'My wife just CAN'T do this now!' Rodolphus cried loudly. Voldemort pointed his wand at him.

'Are you defying my orders?' he hissed. Rodolphus stepped back.

'No, I'm not' he sighed. He spent the rest of time before their planned ambush by placing protective charms over Lacerta Margaret or Tom Capricorn. Soon everything was ready.

Dearborn was indeed guarded by two aurors: the Longbottoms. The plan was simple: the Lestrange brothers were to attack the guards and Bellatrix was to grab the captive. At first, it went smoothly. The aurors were more than pleased to see the Death Eater brothers, but two skilled duelists did their best to make them less happy. They distracted them enough for Bellatrix to grab Dearborn.

'STUPEFY!' Frank Longbottom yelled, pointing his wand at Bellatrix. She couldn't dodge, and she fell motionless on the ground for a while, before her husband used Enervate on her. Then the plan went again as it was supposed to go. The Lestrange brothers played a little with the aurors, but they let them live – Rodolphus wanted to join his wife, and Rabastan decided to have a good sleep after a non-killing day. Plus, they knew already that the Longbottoms were no threat for them, and they had no orders about killing them.

Rodolphus came back home and heard his wife crying. He came to the room where she was, but the door was locked.

'Bella?' he asked. Bellatrix didn't answer.

'Can I come in?' he tried again. Still no reply.

'I'll come in anyway!' he said louder. The only answer was more sobbing. Rodolphus sighed and pointed his wand at the lock.

'Alohomora' he whispered and opened the door. Bellatrix was sitting right on the floor, looking at her right hand, which was covered with blood, and stroking purring Rigel with her left hand.

'Bella' he said softly. 'What happened?'

Bellatrix closed her hand and faced her husband. Her eyes were red and puffy with tears and her face was an expression of pure despair. Rodolphus hugged her gently.

'What's wrong with you?' he asked. He was always caring, and Bellatrix could count on him whenever she needed a shoulder to cry on.

'No-nothing' Bellatrix choked on the word. 'There's no-nothing wrong with me…'

'Then what happened?' Rodolphus insisted. Bellatrix shook her head. Rodolphus held her right wrist and opened her hand.

And gasped in shock.

He hugged Bellatrix even tighter. He cried together with her.

There, on Bellatrix's hand, lay a tiny corpse, just about two inches long. Corpse of Lacerta Margaret or Tom Capricorn.

'He ki-killed hiiiim!' Bellatrix cried. Rodolphus didn't know what to say. That everything would be okay after some time? No, he knew that nothing would be okay. That they could try again? No, it wouldn't help; Bellatrix would fear that this nightmare would just repeat. That Longbottom would pay for this? Maybe…

But for now, nothing would help. Rodolphus decided to keep hugging his wife and let her cry it out.

And wait for the first opportunity to avenge the baby.

And so, the tale of Bella's memories ends here. Review please!