Sorry, this chapter took a little longer than I expected to load. I've had lots and lots of family crisis style scenarios of late, I won't go into detail but please accept my sincere apologies.

I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Trixie Black Lestrange whose own stories are keeping me slightly sane right now and always helps me with my own fictions. Seriously, go read her stuff, it's worth it! I'm sure you can find her in the reviews for this somewhere haha

Anyway, please read, enjoy and please do review!

The Purple Black

Nymphadora was sat on the floor of her parent's bedroom. The eight-year-old was sat on the floor, giggling to herself as she riffled through the contents of the large chest at the bottom of her parents bed. A smile was playing on her lips as she stifled a giggle to herself, pulling at the white lace garment she had managed to find in the magically enhanced storage. Her mother had been gone for at least an hour now and after her sorry attempt at getting her father to play with her she had resided herself to exploring the manor on her own.

She had approached him in his study, best puppy dog eyes and innocent French speaking voice as her weapons she was sure she could break down her fathers' resolve. Though as he examined the many news papers on his desk all she could get was a pathetic grunt from the man as she asked for his attention. She decided she much preferred her mothers' erratic behaviour of late to her father's intense focus on anything but her – at least with her mother she had moments where she decided she could act like a child along with her daughter and play games of chase around the manor. She missed her father's bedtime stories, his hugs and his kisses, but she knew that he was doing everything he could to 'make mummy happy' and bring back their lord. It was what was for the best. That's what she was told at least.

Though she was quite happy to entertain herself in her parent's belongings, she knew she was probably not aloud to rummage around in such private things but it served her parents right for not paying attention to her. Besides, she knew anything dangerous to her in this manor was warded. She pulled the white garment out of the box, grinning at the glittered stones within the lace, in awe of what on earth this must be for.

"Dora." The sharp voice came from behind her and Nymphadora jumped as she heard it, grabbing the chest so she didn't fall flat out. "What are you doing?"

With a sheepish grin Nymphadora looked to Bellatrix. Though the older woman had an eyebrow raised in disapproval at the young girl she could tell from the hint of a smirk on her lips that she was merely amused with her antics.

"Well . . ." Dora took a deep breath as she thought of her excuse "Daddy was busy . . . You were gone . . . I was bored . . . I'm only eight mum, really. I can't help myself."

It was an excuse she'd heard her mother give to her father when she had gotten bored and her antics had resulted in small breakages in the house, it was well used. This time Bellatrix really couldn't help herself as a small laugh escaped her lips. She surveyed the girl with her candyfloss pink hair in curls past her shoulders, her dress all skew-whiff from her rummaging in the box. She looked down to the dress in the little girl's hands, something she gently placed down when she realised her mother had caught sight of it.

Dora let out a bout of nervous laughter as she bit her lip as a result of her nerves "It's pretty."

With an amused roll of her eyes Bellatrix walked over to the bed. She sat down on the edge as she took of her heeled black boots before laying back and turning her head to face her daughter with a small smile.

"I suppose it is, Dora." Bellatrix sighed as she watched the girl walk over to her.

After a moments hesitation the girl mimicked her mother. She sat on the edge of the bed, took off her shoes and unlike her mothers gentle relax back onto the bed she flopped backwards, causing Bellatrix to laugh as the movement shook her. Dora grinned as she raised herself onto one elbow, looking down at her mother.

"What is it?" Dora asked, one of her small hands reaching down to move a strand of hair from Bellatrix's' face.

Bellatrix smiled up at the girl, taking her hand in her own and kissing it before she answered "It's my wedding dress."

"From when you married Daddy?" Dora grinned, her hair turning a more vivid shade of pink in her excitement at the topic.

"No, from when I married the house elf." Bellatrix smirked as Dora laughed at her obvious sarcastic remark "Yes, from when I married Daddy."

"Can I have a dress like that? I like it. It's sparkly." Dora nodded as if to put more meaning into her words, though her mother simply smiled as she reached out and tucked her daughters pink locks behind her ears.

"One day." Bella whispered before she slowly sat up. She looked down at Dora to notice the small pout on the girl's lip, apparently 'one day' was not the answer she wanted. Bella laughed "When you get married you can have your own, or wear that one if you'd like. You can most certainly wear my veil, that's tradition."

Dora frowned "What's a veil?"

Bellatrix drew her wand, smirking at the little girl, in truth she could easily summon such things wandlessly but she found it far more entertaining to do things this way with Dora "Accio Veil."

Dora watched in wonder as a piece of lace that easily could have been wrapped around her multiple times flew into her mother's hand. Without another word Bellatrix placed the veil on her lap, she then placed both of her hands on her daughter's shoulders as she made her stand in front of her. She moved the mirror wandlessly so that that the ornate floor length frame was in front of the pair. After a few moments of trying to find the headpiece of the veil Bellatrix gracefully draped it over her daughter's head. Dora giggled as her face was covered in lace, she concentrated for a few moments as she decided the veil didn't go very well with pink, she morphed her hair to the colour of her mothers as she grinned at her in the mirror.

Bellatrix wrapped her arms around the little girl's waist as she rested her head on her shoulder, looking at her reflection as she spoke to her. "When you're older-much older-you'll be married. When you get married you wear this, along with a very pretty dress. Daddy will take your hand," Bellatrix slipped her left hand into the little girls as she grinned at her giggles "then he'll walk you to the man you marry. Once you've said all of these boring old words your husband will take the veil from your face-" with her spare hand she pulled the veil back from her heart shaped face, "Then he'll kiss you."

Dora erupted into giggles as Bellatrix kissed her cheek "And what do you do?"

"Well," Bella took a deep breath as she played with Dora's hair "Mummy will be sat with Auntie Cissy, giving her a mountain of tissues to stop her crying at how beautiful you look. Then you and I can drink adult drinks, I'll even dance with you if you like."

Dora grinned broadly, she liked the idea of having a wedding. She liked the idea of wearing pretty dresses, dancing and drinking adult drinks, though more than anything she liked the idea of dancing with her mother, spending time with her as it felt like she hadn't done so in a long time. Before she knew it her mother had pulled her back onto the bed, she laid back down with her and wrapped her arms around her. The two grinned at each other as their faces were so close their noses were almost touching. Dora couldn't stop giggling. It was possibly the last moment she had alone with her mother like that before she was arrested weeks later.

Dora woke alone. Her face was wet with tears. It wasn't the first time she'd had such dreams of her 'old life' and she doubted it would be the last. With a small sigh she sat up from the silk sheets of her bed, she pulled them off of herself as she manoeuvred herself out of the bed and over to the mirror. She was hardly surprised to see her hair had turned into a tamer version of Bellatrix's own, it was a habit she had never really been able to break. When she was a child she would do it to remind people of her heritage, to rebel, for a security blanket if you will. Though now it was far more often that her she would find herself with this hair when she missed her parents. She contemplated herself in the mirror for a few moments before she decided against morphing it.

She looked to the clock on the side. December 12th 1999 06:03am.

"Well, there's no point trying to get back to bed at least." Dora sighed as she summoned her dressing gown. She was barely surprised as she heard the gentle knock on her door a few minutes later. "Come in, Aunt Cissy."

A blonde head poked around the corner, a small smile on Narcissa's lips as she walked into the room, gently closing the door behind her. The witch was still in her nightgown and slippers.

"You know; you really should have told me if you were placing a charm to alert you when I woke up. I'm not eight years old anymore." Dora rolled her eyes as she returned the smile.

"Oh Dora, you could easily sense that I had done that." Narcissa Malfoy gently placed herself on the bed to sit next to her niece who was currently staring at the picture of her parents on her bedside table. It had been a long time since she had stayed at Malfoy Manor, though her own room was barely touched of its decorations from her teenage years. "They would be happy for you."

Dora couldn't help but laugh "Dad . . . maybe, he did sort of give Remus his blessing before he- . . . you know. Mum . . . I'm trying to decide which curse she would use on Remus first."

"She would want you to be happy, that's all that matters." Narcissa wrapped an arm around her niece's waist, kissing her cheek.

"Hmm . . ." Dora sighed as she rested her head on her Aunts shoulder, smiling slightly as Narcissa rested her head on hers.

"They'll be with you in spirit Dora . . ." Narcissa whispered.

"I know . . ." Dora moved her gaze to the lace veil currently draped over the chair of her dressing table.

She couldn't help but smile slightly as she closed her eyes. Narcissa had been there for her as she could never have wished for her to be, given the circumstances. When she could have called her a blood traitor and washed her hands of her instead she had stayed, supported her and loved her just as much as she had ever done. She had even had a heated discussion, much to her husband's displeasure, with the minister to insist that Nymphadora stay at Malfoy Manor the night prior to her wedding – away from Remus who was still currently at Lestrange Manor with Teddy whilst Andromeda stayed in Teddy's old nursery at Malfoy Manor.

Nymphadora was hardly surprised as Narcissa managed to ease her back to sleep so she could rest better for the day's events. She would soon be Nymphadora Lupin.

Hope you enjoyed that little chapter, you can pretty much guess what's coming up next. ;) Please do review and let me know how you found this chapter!