A/N:

Madea's making me do this, despite the fact that I'm really very tired. Isn't she mean? And she's making me apologise for her, as well, because last chapter she forgot to mention that some fellow called Villon was the one who came up with the bit about the snows of the past.

According to Madea, he 'wouldn't have minded I forgot to mention him, but he would've wanted to know why I didn't write this drunk and singing a bawdy song.' When I said 'You didn't?' she got very stroppy with me. At least Father will tick her off for stealing from other people again. Perhaps there is justice in the world.

Languishing desperately,

Draco

Antigone Goyle watched her brother in law out of the corner of one eye to make sure he was engrossed in his kippers. Certain the fish had Greg's attention, she kicked off a slipper and gave her husband a poke in the shin with her toe.

Galten snorted on his coffee and kicked off his loafer to retaliate when Nipsy the elf popped in, holding a scrap of paper importantly in his withered hand. He gave it to Galten, bowed, and left. Antigone felt her stomach clinch and made herself keep sipping her tea. Galten read it once and tucked the scrap into his trouser pockets.

"Wonder how Hermione is."

Greg finished his kipper and set down his fork. "Vince told me she's tolerable. Needs to eat more, though. Will you make her some fairy cakes, Tiggy?"

A long look passed between Galten and his wife. "That's an idea, Greg. I'll make a basket and we'll take it over."

Greg beamed. "Thanks, Tiggy!" He went back to his kippers, and though Galten could've poked his wife under the table, neither of them was in the mood anymore.

Flanked by Narcissa and Andromeda, Hermione stood at the side of Bellatrix's bed. The woman herself had been awake when the little party entered. "Come for a visit, have we? Going to let Auntie see the wife and the little one?"

Hermione stared at the woman blankly for a moment, as though she didn't know whom Bellatrix was. Then she stepped closer and said, very softly "Mundungus Fletcher."

Bellatrix grinned. "I expect you should like to know what became of him."

"Do you mean to tell us?"

"Perhaps. One can only tease so long. It ought to be axiomatic with Snape, there. I taught him that myself."

Hermione said, still in that soft, even voice "Your usefulness is very much dependant on how you choose to handle this, Bellatrix. We figured out the spell you used with very little help from you, and we can figure this out as well. But a word from me could save you from Azkaban."

Bellatrix listened thoughtfully. "Clever. Was it her brains you were fucking that night, Draco, when Greyback smelt her on you?"

"Shut up."

Andromeda sat down on the bed beside her sister. "Trixie, this baby has Black blood, just like Teddy. It's our baby too, Mother and Daddy's, and Grandmother and Grandfather, and Grandmama and Grandpapa's. Would you deny them an ancestor to clean their tombs and give them offerings?"

"Draco can father more with another woman."

The portraits, woken by the screaming, decided to chime in. "Lucius, remove me at once from this creature's presence." Io wished she had hands so she could slap the woman. "Well done, girl, you've got her at a disadvantage. I forbid Narcissa to punish you for it."

Tertullius nodded enthusiastically. "Indeed. You aren't a very nice woman, Trixie.' He turned to Hermione and smiled comforting. "There there, my owl, we all love your baby. Even Io thinks it's wonderful."

Io sniffed. "Well, we can't complain the girl lacks spirit. Maybe she'll work out, with guidance. And why are all of you standing that way? Call those fool elves for chairs, you aren't labourers. Especially the owl girl, sit down."

"The gentlemen will be leaving, Io. The ladies need a private word."

"Cissy, are you sure?"

"Completely." Her voice was steel, and faced by the phalanx of female rage, the men acquiesced in short order, staying close, waiting for the screams to start.

"Bellatrix, I've always loved you. Always. Even when you went to prison, even when you did that awful, awful thing to those poor aurors, I loved you. But this is too far. Don't make me choose between my sister and the world, because you will not win."

"You'd ask me to choose between you and my principles. Is that better?"

"A child's life is not at stake, Bellatrix. Hermione's baby is."

Bellatrix huffed. "An unnatural child! An abomination! Are you both blind to what you've become?"

"If they're blind, what are you?"

Bellatrix studied the girl a moment. "Io is right, you are brave." She suddenly looked speculative, almost friendly. "How old are you, girl?"

"Nineteen."

"I'm forty seven. I could have been your mother, you know that?" She reached out and Hermione tensed, freezing when Bellatrix's fingers glided slowly down the length of her hair. She didn't flinch.

"A shame you're a freak, mudblood. Perhaps in another world, you'd have called me 'Mother'." Bellatrix smiled with terrible tenderness and moved as though to cup Hermione's stomach. Andromeda bent forward and snatched Bellatrix's hand away. "Don't, Trixie. "

Bellatrix laughed and slapped back at Andromeda's hand. "Haven't you heard, Meddie? This baby is part of us all. That makes it mine as well."

Lucius was not disappointed. In short order, the sounds of conflict could be heard. Beside him, Draco's eyes widened. "Are they killing one another?"

"Not at all."

"Should we go down there?"

"I wouldn't miss it for anything." They rose and made their way back down the corridor, trailed by Snape. The door opened with a flick of Lucius' wand and they found the three former Black sisters, with a shell shocked looking Hermione, arguing about some point one of them had just made.

Narcissa smiled at her husband brightly. "Something the matter, Lucius?"

"I just wanted to see what all the commotion was."

"Everything's fine. Meddie and Trixie were just arguing."

"We were not, we were having a discussion. Why don't you take the mudblood and run along, Cissy? You look peaked."

Andromeda tilted her head and studied Narcissa. "Trixie is quite right. You and Hermione could both do with a rest, Cissy, darling."

"I feel fine, truly. Pray, let's go on." Narcissa sat beside Hermione and took her hand almost absently, rolling it to check her fingers, which were pink and smooth and tiny. Also unmarked, to Narcissa's pleasure."

"Narcissa Euphemia, go this second. You're not looking well."

"If Cissy wants to stay, Trixie, then she can stay. She's an adult."

"Shut it, blood traitor, I'm the oldest and I know best."

"Really, both of you, I'm ashamed to see you behaving this way. Daddy must be be appalled."

"Daddy appalled? I hardly think so, given the activities the two of you have been up to lately, with the mudblood and all."

"Bellatrix Druella Black, if Daddy were here right now, you wouldn't sit for a month with the way you've comported yourself."

"Why yes, the fact you've let your son sire an abomination with this freak is doubtlessly behavior befitting of a pureblood lady."

"More fitting than all the awful things you've ever done."

Lucius bit the inside of his cheek and thanked the ancestors that he was an only child. He couldn't help it; a tiny chuckle escaped as three of the most pureblooded ladies in Britain, the youngest being forty years old, argued like teenagers.

"Lucius? Are you quite all right?"

"He's laughing at us. See, I've always told you he's a pillock."

"My husband is not a pillock."

"Is."

"I shan't dignify that with an answer."

"Because you know I'm correct."

"You aren't either, now stop it."

"Or what?"

Lucius bowed slightly and backed from the room, closing the door. Draco raised an eyebrow. "Father?"

"Yes, Draco?"

"Are all women mad?"

Lucius considered carefully. "On balance, Draco, yes, yes they are."

Narcissa excused herself and went to her rooms. Closing the door behind herself, she kicked off her shoes and put on soft slippers instead, and went to her chaise longue to lie down. "Tibby' she called, and the elf appeared. 'Rub my head."

Tibby obeyed. "Madam is being sad. Tibby should be getting Madam oil of violets?"

"Not right now. I just want to rest." Narcissa's eyes opened as the door creaked on its hinges and a cloud of frizzy hair poked through, followed by the rest of Hermione. "Mother? Are you all right?"

"Fine, darling, fine. Come in, come in." Hermione came in, holding her stomach gently. "She's kicking quite a lot today." Hermione looked a little bloated, to Narcissa, and her robe was straining slightly at the front. But she was smiling, and her step was sure.

"Means she's healthy. Come and put your head in my lap, Hermione." Hermione obeyed and Narcissa carded her fingers through her hair. "When Draco was small, he hated naps. Sometimes the only way to get him to sleep was to do this and then levitate him into bed."

Hermione giggled. "I can imagine he was quite a stubborn toddler."

"Stubborn! You've no idea.' Narcissa motions for the elf to bring them some rose hips steeped in white violet oil. "I was very sorry, love, that this morning did not go as planned."

"But it did. Better, actually, than I'd dared hope."

Narcissa wondered whether Hermione was ill. "Darling, all Bellatrix did was taunt you."

"But we've established that I'm of interest to her. And that she thinks she knows something."

Narcissa was surprised enough to be quiet for almost a minute. "That's…very canny of you. Well done."

"Thank you, Mother."

"What led you to this line of reason? Speak freely, darling."

"It seems to me she likes to amuse herself with other people. If I keep coming back, she can sharpen her claws on me. But she knows Father and yourself won't wait forever, so she'll have to let something slip."

"I daresay. How in the world did you persuade Draco, though? I thought we'd have to take his demitasse cup away, he was so tense at supper."

"We talked about what we could learn versus the damage she could do."

Narcissa made a mental note to reward both children and stroked the girl's neck lightly. "Will you mind very much if we don't shop today?"

"Not at all." Hermione sat labouriously and steadied herself a second. Her back hurt. Her feet ached, and her ankles were feeling puffy. But Mother had enough to deal with, and Hermione wouldn't add to it. She resolved to handle it herself and call for something to take the edge off as quietly as possible.

The door opened and Andromeda came in, looking pale and sad and older. Hermione made as though to rise and Andromeda shook her head. "No, love, stay sitting down." She came and took Narcissa's hands in her own. "Cissy, are you all right?"

"Fine, Meddie. You're looking poorly, though. I'll call for something to strengthen you at once."

"No, it's not bodily. Trixie just drains me sometimes, is all."

"I can't blame you." Narcissa gently dropped her head to her sister's shoulder a second. "Bellatrix can be hateful, can't she?"

"Always could. You just never got any of it because of your age." Andromeda held her sister's hand tighter. "She was mocking, mocking me about Dora. I couldn't believe she would hurt me that way."

Hermione could, but she'd never wound Andromeda by saying it. She put a hand on the woman's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"Would it bother anyone if we talked about her? Dora?"

"Of course not, Meddie. Tell us whatever you'd like."

"Have I ever told you about the time she built a house for our garden gnomes? They'd eaten all Ted's tomatoes, and Dora thought if they had a place to live, they'd stop being such pests. So she found some smooth stones and she…" Andromeda stopped. Gulping, she buried her head in her sleeves. "That was Dora. Always helping. Even those who didn't deserve it."

Hermione crept into the nursery, surprised to find Teddy awake, cooing gently. Tibby appeared to change his nappy, and after he was clean Hermione took him in her arms. "Shall we go and find Uncle, Teddy?"

Teddy crowed. He quite liked Uncle, who had a variety of fascinating things for Teddy to play with, and could give a very exciting hippogriff ride when the mood took him. Riding on Girl Cousin's shoulder, they made their way down to the study and then out the French doors and into the garden.

Lucius was bent over one of his prize peacocks, feeding it a bit of bread crust. Hermione cleared her throat and he straightened at once. "Hello, love. Loves, I should say. How are you?"

"Well, Father. Teddy and I thought to come and find you."

"And I'm very glad you did. It's lonely out here, with just these birds for company." Teddy wondered whether the waddling thing would hold still long enough for him to taste it. He thought not. He nestled against Girl Cousin and resolved to catch her necklace instead.

"Where are Mother and Andromeda?"

"Andromeda's very upset. She had a run in with…"

"Ah. Anything in particular?"

"Tonks."

Lucius' jaw tightened. "Despicable. Sometimes I'm thankful Cygnus isn't alive to see this. It would have killed him twenty times over."

"That was one of the things the three of them were arguing about. Mother said she'd got worse after…the thing with the Longbottoms."

"Mother was very much the pet of her family. Bellatrix was always very good at hiding the ugly part of herself from those she didn't wish to see it."

"Mother wouldn't have known."

"Nor the others. For as long as I've known Trixie, she's been like this, at least a little. I can't imagine those inclinations simply appear over night. On the other hand, Azkaban does that to one. The dross tends to be burnt away."

Hermione hugged the baby tighter. "And that's what she really was?"

"I realised I cared more about the famil than about the Dark Lord, and she…perhaps cruelty sustained her."

Hermione held the baby out and stood, hands braced at the small of her back. Her vertebrae crackled in succession and she smiled with relief and sat again. "I almost prefer not to know, in some ways."

Lucius nodded. "It's wiser, sometimes. We can go only so far and stay sane." He seemed to remember something. "I got an owl from Galten an hour or so ago. They'd like to come over after supper. Are Mother and Andromeda up to it?"

"I don't know. Should I ask them?"

He shook his head. "I'll ask. Are you, for that matter?"

Hermione considered the pain in her back and the aching of her other body parts and smiled. "I'll be quite all right."

She rose and they made for the house. Lucius gave her his arm and she took it, leaning on him, cursing her legs for almost buckling a few times. Lucius sent her a knowing look. "Darling, one would almost think you weren't being truthful when you said you feel well."

Hermione begged her knees to stiffen. "With everything going on, this would be a bad time to be unwell, Father. If Mother isn't well, and Andromeda, and myself, there wouldn't be anyone to help entertain the Goyles."

Lucius squeezed his daughter in law's shoulder. "That was an excellent answer. All the same, I'm sending you for a rest. Draco will shortly join you, I'm sure."

Draco, was, in fact, sitting with Professor Snape. There was an untouched pot of tea between them, as Draco tried to screw up his courage. "Godfather?"

"Draco?"

"I appreciated that you were there this morning."

Snape would never admit that he felt touched by that. "I'd a duty. I did it."

"What did Bellatrix mean? About teasing being axiomatic."

Snape smiled slightly. It had been, to say the least, a memorable night. "I have some errands to take care of, Draco. I should be back at Spinner's End by nightfall, if I'm needed.' He rose and made for the fireplace. 'Oh, and Draco?"

"Yes, Godfather?"

"Your aunt has a scar on her knee from where she fell off a bye-cycle."

"A what?"

And with that, Snape stepped through the Floo and was gone.

When Draco went to check on Hermione, he found her lying in bed, relaxing, the pain relief coursing through her veins. He bent to kiss her and she put her arms around his neck.

"Everything all right, Draco?"

"I'm not sure anything will ever be all right again."

"What?"

"Snape's sense of humour." And more than that, he would not say.

Antigone Goyle put down the rag she'd been using to wipe the counters, wiped her forehead and called for Nipsy to pack up the hampers. The idea of going to the Malfoys filled Antigone with exhaustion. Much as she liked them, much as she owed Lucius Malfoy her happiness, she hated to socialise on nights like these.

Well, needs must is needs must. She walked up the winding stairs, mindful of the loose stones and the way her legs were throbbing. The muscles in her legs groaned protests but she ignored them and went into the chamber she and Galten shared.

Galten was sitting on the bed, the only furniture in the room. "Done, pet?"

"Yes. Five fruit tarts, two sorts of biscuits, some currant pudding, bread, ham and devilled eggs, along with some of that hippocras I made last week. Will that be enough?"

He smiled, showing the perfect, even Goyle teeth. "'Course, Tigs. You work like a house elf, you know that?"

Tiggy kissed her husband's cheek. "I like it. Something to do."

"Someday it'll be better, I promise." Galten gave his wife's hand a squeeze as she stood and briskly doffed her robes. "Hide your eyes?"

Galten did, not wishing to embarrass his wife by seeing her in the nude. Tiggy stepped behind the tatty screen in her corner of the room, gave herself a quick scrub with a flannel, and redressed in clean linens.

The decrepit Nipsy appeared to dress her in her robes and dress her hair. "Madam will be wanting the food ready at the usual time?" The elf's voice was papery and soft, but he knew to whisper in Madam's ear.

"Yes. And the bag of things, last time you'd forgot."

"We is being sorry, Madam."

"'S'fine." The elf finished the rather shaky bun and Antigone rose rapidly. "Ready, Galten?"

"Have Nipsy call Greg and we'll go." And so they did, and it was a fine night. Hermione looked better than she had in a long time; hope had caused the roses in her cheeks to bloom again. Draco, too, looked almost like himself again. Seeing his wife this way had eased his mind, and if he was afraid he'd shoved it away for the nonce.

After supper, Hermione found herself cornered and scolded again, this time by both of the elder Goyles once they'd discovered that she'd risked a trip to see Bellatrix. "That woman is dangerous."

"Yes, I know, but she might know something."

"And she might mean you harm. Can't believe any of you thought that a good idea."

"Nothing terrible happened, Galten, really."

"This time. We promised to watch you in your parents' stead, pet, and so we have to keep an eye on you." Antigone was nodding firmly. "And you eat your food, too. I'll know if you don't."

After making sure her husband and their charge were talking safely, Antigone made her way into the tower. Bellatrix was resting on the bed, and it was, unusually, a genuine surprise when Antigone stalked in.

"You'd do well to leave Hermione be."

Bellatrix laughed despite her predicament. "You're Polybus Mallow's girl, aren't you? I was one of the ones who dispatched him, you know."

"Go on and give me another reason to hurt you." She reached out and got a firm hold of Bellatrix's nightgown front.

"He died cursing your ancestors, how was that?" Antigone dropped her voice. "The past is dead and so is my Da, but if you do anything to her, I'll kill you. Slow."

"You're as mad as your mother."

"Yes, but I'm free and you're here. There's mad and then there's bloody stupid like you." With that, the woman went downstairs and fixed Hermione with a jaundiced eye. "You don't go up there alone."

"I won't, Antigone."

" Never ever. Promise?"

"Yes." Antigone gave Hermione one of her awkward pats and went to go with her husband and brother in law, who'd had a similar reaction when he discovered what Draco had let Hermione do.

"She's bad, mate. Really bad. Bellatrix."

"I'm aware, Greg, but if Hermione's parents are to be found, she's the best way."

"I still don't like it." Goyle frowned for a moment.

Draco suddenly found himself too tired to argue. This whole thing with Bellatrix…and the baby…and Hermione's health…and Mother's unhappiness…and Aunt Andromeda…

Greg put a hand to his friend's shoulder. "You well, Draco?"

"I'm fine, Greg. I've come to the conclusion that my Grandpapa was some sort of hero, incidentally."

"Why?"

"If they're this bad as adults, what must they have been like as girls?" Draco shuddered slightly and Greg laughed helplessly.

"Vince said. He says your Grandpapa is right proud of how well your Mam and Aunt are baring up through this. It makes him sad that Andromeda cries so much at night. Why don't you give her some flowers? She might like that."

Draco tried to think of something to say. "Greg, does Vince…tell you these things?"

"'Course he does. He keeps telling me to tell you…something. Dunno, mate. It'll come to me."

"It rather worries me that Vince keeps talking to you, you know. This isn't usual."

"Neither is anything that's happened lately. Besides which, Vince is our friend. Dead or not, that hasn't changed."

Greg looked so fierce that Draco gave in. "Quite. Wine?"

And so when Tiggy found them, they were finishing. Greg made his goodbyes and Floo'd home with his family. They went to bed, at least until 1.45, when Tiggy and Galten rose in silence, dressed and donned heavy cloaks, and walked down the ancient, winding stone steps and onto the moor.

The moon was a hangnail. Still silent, they watched the approach of the cloaked figures with trepidation, wands drawn. The taller threw back the hood and it was Galvin. Galten stepped forward and embraced his father with relief.

"How are you, lad?"

"Fine, Da. Greg's fine too."

"How are you for money?"

"Getting along. You?"

Galvin wasn't about to tell them what his life was like now. The smaller cloaked figure came forward. "Aunt Alecto?"

Alecto wrapped both arms around her niece and smiled a little. "You look tired, Tiggy. Not worrying too much?"

"Not at all." She snapped her fingers and Nipsy staggered forth with the extra hampers in one hand and a small bag in another. "Here's some clothes." She didn't mention the small velvet bag she'd tucked in the nightdress she'd sent Alecto, with some of her dwindling supply of jewellery to sell.

"How's our Pansy?"

Antigone made a face. "Too good for the likes of us, anyway. Xanthippe cut me dead on the street yesterday."

"I'm sorry, darling heart. Ever since Hecuba…"

Galten stepped in. "I wonder if either of you know anything about Mundugus Fletcher?"

Galten shot his son a look, jerking his chin at Antigone to show he didn't wish to upset her. "Wouldn't have wanted to be that bloke, to be sure."

"He's dead, then?"

"I should hope so. For his sake, if nothing else.' He gave his son another look. 'Enough of that, lad. Take care of Greg and Tiggy."

"I will, Da." They all embraced and the Death Eaters left, continuing the endless journey to save their lives. Antigone and Greg walked back in silence, until they were safely in their bed, huddled under the furs. The stone walls did little to keep the rapidly cooling wind out, and they snuggled close.

"Antigone?"

"Hmmm?"

"I think we did well tonight. With Hermione."

She nodded against his shoulder. "She's a good girl."

"She's got a damned fine woman to help her, you know."

Antigone kissed his cheek and, very slowly, poked his shin with her toe.