Wow! A double-wammy. Enjoy!

Song: Gotye, Heart's A Mess

Disclaimers: I do not own the characters I've been using.

Chapter Twenty-One: White Streak
Lestrange Manor, April 1997

'What do you want to call her?' Rodolphus watched his wife making circles on his arm with her fingers. She spared him a glance and then looked back to what she was doing.

'Do you like the name Demetrius?' Bellatrix asked after a slight pause.

'Yeah. Is it a star?'

'No... it was my harmless act of rebellion against Druella. Not naming him in the traditional Black way' she sighed and dropped her hand, closing her eyes and cuddling up against him. 'Do you have a name?'

'I hadn't really thought about it. Guess I thought you'd have a good idea'

'I like Amelie' she commented.

'Me too' he agreed.

'Amelie Isador Lestrange it is then'

'Isador?' Rodolphus asked with a frown.

'Well, I wasn't going to name her after my mother. And it'll piss her off if she finds out'

'Do you want to go see her yet?'

'Druella?'

'Amelie' he answered quietly. Bellatrix pulled out of his arms and sat back against the headboard. She still hadn't held her daughter yet. Rodolphus couldn't make her hold the baby when they escaped the tower, she was still too shaken by the whole birth. Bellatrix nodded to herself, Rodolphus was lieing on his side, looking up at her. It hurt him to see her looking so heart-broken. But at the least she wasn't being violent. Yet. Without a word, she climbed out of the bed and retrieved her dressing gown, concealing her naked body beneath the thin fabric.

'Where have you put her?'

'The box room downstairs. I moved the crib. Didn't seem you needed more reminders in here'

He rolled out of the bed and dressed in his shirt and trousers. He padded around the bed barefoot and stood before Bella. Two fingers under her chin, he tilted her face up and pressed a faint kiss on her parted, red lips. He slipped his great hand around her much smaller one, inter-locking their fingers. They left the room and descended the stairs together in silence. Night had begun to set in, the hall was dark and the shadows were creeping out again. The moon was a cresent in the night sky, glimmering against the stars. Rodolphus approached the door, it was sitting ajar and what looked like a foot seemed to be what kept it open. He backed up and outstretched his arm to cover Bella., suddenly alerted to possible danger.

'What is it?'

'There's someone in there' he whispered, turning around. 'Did you bring your wand? I left mine upstairs'

'Does it look like I have my wand?' Bellatrix replied with a sarcastic gesture to her only garment.

'Well...' he quirked an eyebrow with a smirk. She gave him a shove and walked over to the door, she slipped her hand inside the room and found the cord. Just as the light came on, Bellatrix kicked the door open and was met with her son, looking tangled up on the floor. She sighed and put her hands on her hips.

'Who is it?' Rodolphus asked, edging into the doorway and getting a good look at Demetrius. 'How the hell did he end up there?'

'Don't ask me' she muttered, kneeling down next to him and rolling him onto his back. She gave his face a few little slaps and he began to shift.

'Nughher' he mumbled. Bellatrix shook his shoulders roughly. Demetrius frowned and then blinked, everything slowly working it's way back into focus. 'Mum? What am I in here for?'

'We were hoping you might tell us' she answered a little more harshly than she'd meant to. It still made her heart melt just a little when he called her 'mum'. Bellatrix got herself up and dusted down her knees.

'I can't remember anything' he frowned, trying to concentrate on his last memories. 'I only remember coming home, talking to Dad and going to bed.'

'Maybe you were sleep-walking?' Rodolphus suggested. Demetrius shrugged, rubbing his face and grumbling in complaint. Bellatrix approached the crib, holding her breath and preparing to see her child for the first time. She looked into the cradle and let go of her breath. Sheets, blankets, pillow. No child.

'What?' her voice was hoarse and dry. 'Where, did you-?' she looked to Rodolphus but he only looked confused. She looked back at the cot where the baby should have been lieing under the wicked illusion of sleep. It was still absent. Bella could feel her hands beginning to tremble. With anger or fear or upset, she didn't know. Rodolphus was by her side in seconds, his own expression matching confused horror.

'Demetrius, did you move her?'

'What? No. I... Well, I don't remember' he replied honestly, rubbing his head.

Rodolphus turned on his son, hoisiting him to his feet by the collar of his shirt. His fists clenching the material as he shoved him back into the wall.

'Hey! Dad, really I-'

'You better start remembering. What did you do with her?' he shouted. Bellatrix was statue-like, staring at the crib with hollow, expressionless eyes. The shaking had stopped, she was reverting back to feeling nothing. Sensitivity was a thing of the past, her inner-wickedness was forming a hard shell around her and shutting out all emotion.

'Get your fucking hands off me' Demetrius squirmed under his father's fuming stare.

'Let him go' Bella's voice was not much more than a whisper but it held a distinct tone Rodolphus knew well to obey. He dropped his hold on Demetrius and turned around to look at Bellatrix.

'Someone took my child' she stated. 'People don't do things like this without reason. If they want something from us, let them come. If not, all they have gained is a dead body'

It was cool, hard reasoning and utter calm. Bellatrix now seemed unmoved by the absence of the corpse but Rodolphus was thoroughly disturbed, he went over to her, his arms wrapped around her waist from behind, holding her close to his body. She was unresponsive, her arms hanging at her sides as though waiting for him to let go and leave her be. Demetrius was still flustered by Rodolphus's near-violence and his quickness to call off his rage at Bellatrix's first call. Demetrius hurried out of the room, tripping over himself as he made his way upstairs to his bedroom. When he reached his room, he began packing up the essentials - clothes, photos, wand, money. This was not the side he wanted to be on if there was a war. He was insufficiently trained with too much expectation sitting solely on his shoulders. A part of him had grown to love Bellatrix and Rodolphus and leaving was something he'd feel guilty about later. But right now, all he wanted was to be by Hermione's side. There was a sudden knock on the door, waking him from what he was doing and washing him with panic as he realised what might happen if he were found out.

'Demetrius?'

It was Rodolphus. Hurriedly, he threw his suitcase beneath the bed but just as he was concealing his plans, Rodolphus entered the room and caught him red-handed.

'What are you doing?'

'I'm... Nothing. What's it to you?' Demetrius grew quickly defensive, abandonning his case on the floor and standing up to face his father.

'I'm sorry about before, ok? I know I was out of line. I haven't accepted everything yet and I shouldn't have taken it out on you' he paused and looked from the suitcase back to him. 'Going somewhere?'

Demetrius shook his head, letting his folded arms drop to his sides, he took a seat on the bed. Dropping his quick anger with Rodolphus and deciding to work with being honest.

'I get that there's a great expectation of me, I do. But I can't live up to it. I'm unaccomplished as a wizard - I don't want to be here anymore if it's going to harm anyone. I nearly got myself killed at Hogwarts. If things are kicking off round here, I'm inadequate to protect myself or anyone else for that matter. I know you won't like this, Dad' he sighed and looked out of the window. 'But I want to be with Hermione'

'Hermione's your adoptive sister, right?' Rodolphus wandered across the room and took a seat beside him, he couldn't help feelign a little sympathy for the lad. Demetrius nodded. 'Got other feelings there?'

'I know it's weird...'

'Not really. I kind of get it. Just too bad she's on Potter's side. I want to protect you, Demetrius. You're the last in the Lestrange bloodline. Bella's too old for another child, I know that. But you're more than just your heritage, understand? I have to have you get through this war. The expectations of you are far excelling you current capability. I can't train you up in time, Bellatrix could but she's not in a good place right now.'

'What are you getting at, Dad?' Demetrius asked slightly suspicious of where this might lead.

'If I allow you to leave this house until after the war, will you swear to me you won't fight for the other side?'

'I swear' Demetrius replied instantly. 'I swear' he repeated more sincerely, not quite believing Rodolphus was granting him permission to leave.

'I have conditions though' Rodolphus warned, levelling his gaze at him. 'You're to stay off potential battlefields, not fight or provide information to that side, stay in the Granger household or in muggle places at all times and return once the end of this war is determined.'

'I can keep to those'

'And we're not telling your mother'

'... Fair enough. Up to you' Demetrius agreed, Rodolphus slapped his shoulder.

'Can you apparate yet?'

'I can try'

'You'll have to walk out into the forest, past the ward zone and far enough that Bellatrix won't see you'

Demetrius nodded, suddenly quite apprehensive of returning to his home. To her.

'You ready to go now?' Rodolphus asked, worry starting to set in but he knew he had to let him go while htere was stilla chance he could be kept safe. If either of them were found out for this they'd be tried for treason to the Dark Lord, Rod knew that. Sending someone onto the other side - especially a high calibre pure-blood marked out specifically to lead battlements, it was a bad offence.

'Yeah'

The two men stood and the sudden realisation that it might well be the last time they'd ever see eachother sunk in. There was no telling what the war might do and where Rodolphus would be instructed. Demetrius knelt down and organised his case, arranging it so that everything fit, he fastened the latches and rose.

'Good luck' Rodolphus told him, offering him in hand. Demetrius took it, shaking it firmly. His lips drew up into a grin, new respect for Rodolphus had built and he vowed to do well by the set conditions.

'To you too'

Rodolphus wrapped his other arm around him and gave him a fatherly hug. Squeezing him tightly and slapping his back, releasing him to go. Demetrius walked out of the room, with a last glance as he headed out the door. Too soon, Rodolphus was left alone in the room, he leant against the window ledge and waited until he saw Demetrius exiting the front of the house. He'd put on a coat and scarf to keep out the chilly night air. He watched the disappearing figure as he walked towards the woods. A few minutes later, Demetrius apparated away. Not in black, curling smoke but as a pure white streak across the dark night sky.

Ok, so I know both kids have gone but it's all gonna sort out - believe me. It's not long to go til it all kicks off. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has followed the story with me up til now and especially cheers to everyone who's reviewed, the support means a lot. This being my first published story, the positive feedback is really awesome so thanks to everyone who's provided that. We're definitly past the half-way mark on Bella and Rod's journey, in the end I reckon it'll total approx. 40 chapters. So, thank you lovely readers. I'll be seeing yous,

T x