A.N. Hello, again :) I know last chapter was short, so here is the next as speedily as I could. I just want to address a question that Haley Renee asked in her review. Technically yes, Calliope is not really a "mudblood" as she has a wizarding mother. But the chapter was from her point of view, and you can see how she might've gotten carried away vilifying her non-magical blood. To her Black side of the family, the thought of Bellatrix mixing with a muggle was too disgusting to contemplate, so to them half blood is probably just as bad as mudblood anyways.

Anyways, without further ado, here is the next chapter!

Chapter 11: The Meeting

It was one of those silent, bitter winter evenings. Cold, but starless; light emanating from but a sliver of the moon. The snow lay in millions of brilliant crystals, all sharp edges glinting in the meagre moonlight. A long gravel path was interrupted by an ornately crafted iron gate. Behind the gate the path curved and widened, ending before an old and venerable looking manor house. A flickering sliver of light from beyond a curtain suggested a fire in the hearth in perhaps what was a sitting room.

A cloaked figure appeared into the picture, his swirling robes disrupting the snow crystals in its wake. No peacocks this time, thought Harry to himself with a grim sort of amusement. He pulled his hood against the cold and set off down the path, trying to suppress memories of the last time he had walked up the way to a Malfoy manor house. The gates swung open unbidden at his approach and closed behind him as he made his way to the house. A pair of heavy silver knockers in the shape of a coiled serpent guarded the set of doors. Harry raised his hand to knock, but before he could get anything out, the doors burst open to reveal a very old and bored looking butler accompanied by a buffet of pleasantly warm air.

"Mr. Harry Potter" the butler intoned as Harry lowered his hood. "Mr. Draco Malfoy and the Lady Black will see you in the drawing room. He turned and began mounting a curving staircase. Harry followed, feeling oddly lonely. It had been tough, to say the least, for him to shake Ron, Hermione and Ginny off. Ever since the letter arrived, inked in violet ink on the finest heavy vellum, the issue of who was to accompany Harry had been the source of several rows, mostly between him and Ron. Ron fully supported the decision to leave the girls behind, but Harry was only able to convince him to stay by suggesting the possibility that perhaps this shadow of Bellatrix was hoping they would both go, leaving the Burrow and the girls unprotected. Harry had thrust all this on Ron in a low and dangerous voice, quiet enough for Hermione and Ginny - who had retreated upstairs in disgust - not to hear. He had no such fears of anyone attacking the Burrow. Even if it were a possibility, he knew Hermione and Ginny were certainly not a pair of damsels in distress, and he certainly didn't fancy them hearing him refer to them as such. There was not much Ron could say to this, and so Harry set off, leaving behind a rather grim and irate household.

"Mr. Harry Potter" the butler announced as he opened the mahogany doors of the drawing room. It was an odd moment for Harry. There was much left unsaid between him and Draco; he knew too much about Draco's reluctance to follow and inability to please his master. If the tables were turned, it was not something he would ever want any of his sworn enemies to know – and yet his mother had saved them all. The love she had for her only son, for what was left of the tatters of her family spared Harry on the night of the last stand, and spared them all. Harry could not pretend that all had been forgiven; their past was too complicated and riddled with darkness. Nevertheless, a moments awkwardness was only made worse as Harry extended his hand. After a very pregnant pause, Draco accepted and reciprocated with a brusque and firm handshake. Self loathing, anger and a glimmer of fear flitted across his face for a fraction of a second before he schooled himself into impassive. "Potter." He drawled, though with considerably less venom than was his custom.

The violet eyed girl was sitting against the back of an armchair, watching with suspicion the exchange before her.

"My cousin, " Draco gestured, "Calliope Black."

The girl moved to the edge of her armchair, her arms wrapped around herself.

"Draco, thank you very much for your courtesy. If it's not too much, could you please allow Harry and I to talk privately?" she asked, her voice much smaller than her mother's ruthless command.

Draco rolled his eyes, looking questioningly at Harry, who shrugged non-committally. "Fine." He said sharply, rising from his chair. "Try not to kill each other, will you? These rugs have been in the family for years and I'd rather not have either of your blood spilled on them." He drawled as he shut the door behind him.

"Alright." Harry said crossing his arms. "What is it that you want from me." He could not manage to keep the bitterness out of his voice; this girl had caused enough damage already.

Calliope had closed her eyes at Draco's words, a slightly pained expression playing across her face. She opened her eyes slowly.

"Wouldn't you rather know who I am, first?"

"You're Bellatrix's daughter; Draco called you 'cousin'." Said Harry, slightly contemptuously. "I'm sure you get this quite often, but you do have the same face as her."

The girl had closed her eyes again, as if wishing she wasn't here. "I am aware, Mr. Potter. And you are correct; I am Bellatrix's daughter, but her husband is not my father."

Harry retreated back against the cushy armchair, re-crossing his arms again. "Who's your father, then?" he asked, a slight edge to his voice. Harry was quiet sure he knew what the answer was, and if it were true, he was not sure what the course of action should be.

The girl stood and crossed the room to face the window. From there she turned and regarded Harry.

"We're not so different, Harry."

In a soft, almost quivering voice, she began to recount her history to Harry. Harry did not interrupt her the entire time, forcing himself to swallow his comments and keep his face unreadable. The only disturbance was a soft knock at the door, partway through. The girl's train of thought faltered as she called for the person to enter. A small and grey house-elf, carrying a gleaming silver tray of tea came through the door. Harry noted the girl's murmured thanks, as she accepted the tea. The house-elf made him a low bow as he accepted his, the reflection of his scar in the orb like eyes of the elf as he rose.

She waited till the elf had left before continuing with her story. Finally she came to the part where, in Denmark, she had taken a risk and written to the most powerful surviving member of the Black Family - the only one that might hold some sympathy for her.

Finally speaking after what seemed an eternity, Harry asked "So... I understand it was a risk for you to reach out to Malfoy, but I still don't understand why you are here."

"Some of my reasons are more selfish than anything else."

"Lets hear them, then." Replied Harry, slightly wearily.

"Can you swear to me that my mother is dead?"

It had not been what Harry was expecting. In fact this whole story of her parentage was rather the opposite of what he had been expecting. Then again, Harry could see no traces of a Tom Riddle on her face, nor any snakelike features.

"Yes. I will swear to you that Bellatrix is dead."

The girl expelled the air in her lungs, for the first time, there was a sparkle of hope in her eyes.

"You are quite sure? You saw it happen."

Harry paused. "Miss Black, I have seen a great many people die for my 20 years, some of them at the hand of your mother. I am quite sure she died. She took a curse to the chest in a duel with a very formidable witch."

Harry was intrigued to see the relief wash over her features. She quelled though, remembering herself.

"Harry," she started slowly. "You might be the only person who understands. You were born into your fate as I was to mine. We cannot choose our parents, nor the legacy they leave us. Whether right or wrong, we have to live with it. I am truly sorry for the losses you sustained at the hand of Bellatrix Black."

Harry did not say anything. Her apology wouldn't bring back Sirius or Tonks; but it something.

"I came here to convince you that we are on the same side of Bellatrix's evil. We have both suffered, and I don't intend to forget it. I came to convince you that you are no enemy of mine, and I would never seek to destroy the peace you have brought."

There was a glint of hope in her eyes at the mention of this newfound peace, but her jaw was set and her face determined. "I cannot live with the guilt of her actions laying upon me any longer. You have my wand; whatever justice you see fit, I hope you serve. It will not settle the score of my mother's evil deeds, but I must at least try or else I could never be at peace."

So that was what she had come for, Harry thought. To hear him condemn her, and receive whatever punishment he dealt – her way of making amends. Harry did not see much wisdom in this. Bellatrix's deeds were her own and no one else's. She alone pays for them.

He reached into his robes and withdrew her wand, holding it with both hands. Calliope closed her eyes, and braced herself for whatever would follow.

Harry threw the wand at her. "Take your wand. I do not require atonement from you. Bellatrix pays for her sins, I am sure of it. Please take your wand, and go. I am sorry for the life you have had, but all the same, I would rather not see your face again. Please go from here, and make your life in Denmark."

The Burrow - a welcome and beautiful sight. The hour was creeping late into the night, and there was no movement around the house. Harry smiled as he made his way up the path, pushing open the little gate. As soon as he set foot within the perimeter of protective enchantments, the stone door was flung open and a small figure with a mane of red hair streaked out at him.

Harry opened his arms to catch Ginny as she threw herself at him. Harry pressed her close to him, rubbing her back soothingly, murmuring words of comfort. She was not crying, but he could feel her body trembling against his.

"Don't go again, Harry, please... and.. and.. I had to go and argue with you just before you left. Oh.. the waiting, it was awful." She whispered, her cheek pressed against his chest.

Harry could count on one hand the times he had seen Ginny so distressed. Again, an unexpected and inexplicably strong surge of protectiveness rose within him. He waited until her shaking had subsided before disengaging himself from her. Putting an arm around her shoulders he guided her into warm, inviting house.

The others ushered in Harry. Their white faces and shaky, relieved smiles sent a pang though Harry's chest. He had asked a lot from them, when he insisted he go to this meeting alone. It was the cost though - Harry wasn't prepared to let anyone else get hurt because of his judgement, ever again. Any anger that Ron harboured was put aside and they listened to Harry's story with wide eyes until the small hours of the morning.

Ron had stood up, about an hour earlier, with a lion of a yawn, stretching his arms in the air and declaring that he was going to bed. Hermione, who was looking rather bleary eyed said goodnight too and followed him up the rickety staircase, leaving Harry and Ginny alone in the Weasley's sitting room. Harry was stretched out on the sofa, with Ginny curled up next to him. Absentmindedly running his fingers through her fiery locks, Harry was lost in thought. He felt like he had little control over the events of the night. He could not forgive Bellatrix and would never. But at the same time, how could he blame her daughter for being who she is? It was true, Harry had had a miserable and neglectful youth, but he had a family, no matter how misguided. And since his eleventh birthday, though married with some of his worst memories, the best years of his life had followed. Calliope had known nothing but misery. Things would've been different if she had meant a threat, but Harry saw in her that bone-weary look of having lived too much of too miserable a life. It was that same look he saw in Draco Malfoy, in glimpses of himself sometimes. That was all he needed to know to be sure that neither of them was interested in breaking the peace that they all so tentatively savoured.

Harry looked down at Ginny to see her brown eyes closed. This was his little bit of peace. Who would've thought such a fiery, temperamental and spirited being could've brought such a sense of calm to his life. She looked every picture of calm now, though. Dark, thick eyelashes, and a smattering of freckles across her cheekbones. Harry shifted his weight beneath him, freeing his legs and carefully, so carefully, slid his arms under her knees and back. Ginny shifted in her sleep to allow Harry to carry her, her generous lips slightly parted in the oblivion of sleep. Harry turned sideways to fit the both of them up the stairs. Harry reached her landing and opened the door to her room noiselessly. Creeping as quietly as he could across her sometimes creaky floorboards, Harry lowered her gently into her bed. She seemed to awaken slightly as a little smile spread across her lips. Harry kissed her softly and gently, marvelling at how magnificent the feel of her lips on his were. He was tempted to get in beside her, but Ron's parents would be returning from their holiday in the morning and he would rather not risk having to test this particular rule.

Closing the door behind him, Harry could not help but wonder at how lucky he was to have her. Mounting the shaky stairs once again, Harry stumbled into his own bedroom, sleep beginning to take hold of him. He stripped down and got under the cozy covers of his bed. Harry slept another blissful, dreamless night.

A.N. Well there it is. I hope this chapter was satisfying :) As things stand right now, I have plans to bring Calliope back, to some capacity, though not anytime soon. I would appreciate any feedback you have on her as a character. And of course on the story in general. The story is about to get a little more lighthearted again, so stay tuned, if that's your thing :)