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The Purple Black


Rodolphus moaned as a delicate hand reached to rest on his bare stomach, feeling his wife's wild hair tickling the back of his neck he tried to keep his eyes shut for just a moment's more sleep. He felt the soft breath of a giggle on the back of his neck and moved his hand to rest on Bella's own.

"What time is it?" Rodolphus murmured.

"Around half past six." Bella purred, kissing his shoulder gently.

"Then why are you awake?" Rodolphus asked, still refusing to bring himself to fully wake up.

"I haven't slept much." Bella sighed dramatically, pulling away from her husband as she turned to lay back in the bedsheets. She smirked as she heard the heavy sigh of her husband, the man turning to face her. She knew the poor bastard cared enough for her to get his attention if he thought something was wrong.

"Why?" Rodolphus furrowed his brow slightly, reaching out and brushing some of the curls from her face as he propped himself up on his elbow.

"I've been out," Bella said.

"Oh?" Rodolphus asked, frowning after a moment. "You went to bed the same time I did . . ."

"I got summoned." Bellatrix shrugged, looking to her husband, "The Dark Lord wanted to discuss things."

Rodolphus stared at her for a moment before with a grunt he lay flat back on the pillows, staring at the ceiling, "How nice for you."

From the tone of his voice, Bellatrix could tell he was not pleased and she couldn't help but find it pitiful, though a small part deep down inside of her felt sorry for him. She rolled her eyes and moved to snuggle into the man's side, resting her head on his chest as she brought his arm around her and stared innocently up at him. "Rodolphus, you know I—"

"Don't." Rodolphus hissed, though he didn't move his arm from his wife—if anything his embrace grew tighter, almost possessively so.

"Okay." Bellatrix said simply, ". . . You have to take Dora to the Ministry today."

Rodolphus curled his upper lip in distaste, "Parade a half-blood around the ministry openly claiming her as my niece?"

"You've done it before." Bellatrix hit his chest playfully, "She's been to a few balls now, it's not like this is her first time out in the open."

"She usually only bothers you." Rodolphus grunted, "I get to stand to the side whilst you two prance around together."

"We do not prance around together." Bellatrix laughed. "Besides, you get along well enough with her."

"In the privacy of my own home . . . I tolerate her." Rodolphus said.

Bellatrix shook her head, deciding not to bring up the fact that she was well aware that he and Nymphadora got along, more than Rodolphus did with his Pureblooded Nephew Draco in fact, or that she was sure he had a small soft spot for her. "Well," Bellatrix mused, "Dark Lord's orders . . ."

"I would never deny his orders, you know that." Rodolphus said warningly.

"I wouldn't accuse you of such a thing." Bellatrix grinned as she moved herself to instead lay on top of her husband, propping herself up slightly as he reached out to stroke her hair. "I would leave around eight if I were you, will be easier to have a look around before people start work."

"You act as if I don't spend half of my spare time at the place." Rodolphus raised an eyebrow, "I know what I'm doing."

"I trust you."

"Why thank you," Rodolphus said sarcastically.

"Just . . . Make sure Dora does well." Bellatrix said, "I mean, of course, you can look after yourself, but keep an eye out for Dora."

Rodolphus watched the woman curiously for a moment, wondering to himself when his wife had come to care so much for a half-blood. He knew that if he were to ask her she would deny the extent that she cared for her, though he couldn't help but wonder. He had lost track of how long he had been thinking to himself, quietly stroking his wife's hair as he looked into her deep dark eyes when Bellatrix raised an eyebrow at him. He rarely bothered keeping her out of his thoughts on purpose, he neither knew nor cared if his wife had heard his thoughts (he knew she wouldn't say anything on the matter anyway). Bellatrix screeched in shock as the man decided to catch her off guard, twisting them both so that he managed to roll himself on top of her to smirk at her flushed features.

"Make it worth my while?" Rodolphus whispered, the slow smirk on his wife's features more than enough to permit him to go ahead as he leant down to press his lips firmly against her own.


Nymphadora frowned in the mirror, ensuring that her sleeves were pulled down as much as they could be (in truth they were halfway down her hands at this point) as she silently wondered how the entirety of her wardrobe had turned so . . . posh, over the years. The woman decided to morph her hair a deep purple colour, to match her dark purple dress. She turned her head as she heard the footsteps of her Uncle walking towards her room, calling for him to enter when the subtle knock came at her door.

"I see your Aunt has already told you we're to go to the Ministry today?" Rodolphus asked, watching his niece as she nodded and took her small handbag from her bed.

"Yep," Dora nodded to the note on her bed, "woke up to that on my bedside table telling me—Not sure if she snuck in here when I was sleeping or got the elf to put it there."

"Neither would surprise me," Rodolphus said.

"And neither is less worrying than the other," The girl grinned at him, a nervous look about her. "So, ready to go?"

Rodolphus nodded slightly, looking the girl over before with a sigh he walked over to her. "You know," he said as he reached out to her arms, pulling her sleeves up ever so slightly so they stopped at her wrists as they should do, "you need to wear your clothes correctly."

"I—"

"Was nervous about walking into the Ministry with a Dark Mark?" Rodolphus smirked. "You look more suspicious if you're wearing your dress like a teenager—though no-one has reason to suspect you. Besides—" Rodolphus frowned slightly as he considered the girl "—would you not be able to cover it through morphing if you truly needed to?"

"I don't know." Dora frowned "I haven't tried. It doesn't really feel like a spot or a scar that I could just morph away."

"Maybe you should try," Rodolphus mused. "Though not right now. Come."

Nymphadora didn't hesitate to follow her Uncle, closing her bedroom door behind her and hurrying alongside him to the fireplace. She watched him leave first before quickly grabbing a small handful of the glistening green powder and stepping into the fireplace. She called out her destination, trying not to feel sick at the sensation of transporting by floo powder. She righted herself quickly as she reached her destination, looking to see Rodolphus patiently waiting for her. She could not help but notice that Rodolphus seemed—like most purebloods she knew—to change his demeanour entirely when faced with public appearance. In Rodolphus it was only subtle differences, his head was held a little higher, his features slightly harsher, though to her it was still noticeable.

Nymphadora had only been in the Ministry of Magic once or twice before, though the grand scale of the place never ceased to amaze her. From the witches and wizards hurrying along their daily business to the gleaming fountain of magical brethren, it was all rather impressive to the young witch. Though Rodolphus glided through the crowd as if he were the only one there, witches and wizards alike parted out of his way and Nymphadora had to keep close behind him just to avoid bumping into anyone herself. He only stopped when they reached the lift, pressing the button for level two "Department of Magical Law Enforcements" and waiting for the doors to clatter shut behind them both.

"You want me to work in Magical Law?" Dora asked under her breath, an incredulous look on her face, "Bit ironic, no?"

"You don't have to work there—you don't have to get a job at all. We're just looking," Rodolphus couldn't help but smirk slightly.

"Right." Dora nodded slightly as the lift halted, the gates opening as the disembodied voice reeled off the offices held on that floor. She followed him blindly, briefly glimpsing at the windows along the corridor, she knew they were far underground at this point and that they must have been magically displayed though could not help but appreciate the quality of them. She peered at the set of heavy oak doors around the corner from the lift.

"Auror office," Rodolphus said "no need to go near there."

"No . . ." Dora murmured "Where are we going then?"

"To see a friend," Rodolphus said simply.

"Who—" Dora went to ask, though her question was soon answered as a portly little man wearing a pinstriped cloak walked towards them.

"Ah, Rodolphus." Cornelius Fudge held out his hand to Rodolphus, shaking it firmly before looking at the purple haired witch with what Dora assumed was his attempt of a fatherly smile. "And this must be young Nymphadora? Thinking of joining the Ministry, eh?"

"Potentially." Dora nodded politely.

"Well I'm sure we can find a place at the Ministry for a young woman such as yourself," Cornelius said "Rodolphus has been telling me about how intelligent you are; Outstanding N.E. , fantastic duelist and a Metamorphmagus to boot. Have you ever considered applying to the Auror Office?"

Dora almost choked, grateful as her Uncle stepped in with a small laugh "Now now, Cornelius," Rodolphus said, "I don't think her Aunt would be too happy if she took up such a dangerous career path."

The witch had to bite her tongue not to outright laugh at the irony of that statement as the Minister nodded. "Of course," he said, "well I hate to leave you but I have been called away to a meeting—" he leant in slightly and lowered his voice "—we've been looking into Dumbledore and his cohorts, highly suspicious man I tell you. He's been removed as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot."

"Yes well I would expect as much," Rodolphus said, "what with the idiocy the man has been coming out with recently I am surprised he is still allowed such a position of power as Headmaster."

"Yes, well," a slow grin appeared on the Ministers face as he bounced on the balls of his feet "we shall see about that." He winked "I shall have to see you soon, dinner, perhaps?"

"We would be delighted," Rodolphus said, "I shall send an owl."

"Brilliant." Cornelius said, nodding as he began to walk away "It was lovely seeing you both, speak soon."

Nymphadora waited until the man had closed the lift doors behind himself and the clattering din of its movement had faded away until she looked at her Uncle. "Is that wise?" Dora whispered "Having the Minister at Lestrange Manor, given current circumstances?"

"Of course," Rodolphus said, "he has been over before, many times."

Nymphadora didn't question her Uncle further, following him around the Ministry obediently as he introduced her to various people he knew around the place. She was surprised at quite how many people greeted Rodolphus fondly, silently wondering what they would do if only they knew where his true loyalties lay. The woman was growing tired of playing the part of obedient, proper, polite niece by the time Rodolphus said his fairwells to the last of his acquaintances and made his way back to the lift.

"Are we going home now?" Nymphadora asked as the doors closed behind them.

"Not quite yet." Rodolphus pressed the button on the lift marked 'Department of Mysteries'.

"More people for me to meet?" Dora asked with a bored sigh.

"We will see." Rodolphus shrugged "I hope so."

"Then why—?" Dora closed her mouth as Rodolphus raised a hand to silence her, stepping out of the lift as it halted at their destination.

He walked with purpose, looking around once or twice to ensure that they were alone. It was only as they reached the end of a long corridor that Rodolphus stopped suddenly, causing Nymphadora to apologise as she collided straight into his back. It was then that she realised why they were here. She knew of The Dark Lord's plan, she knew there was a prophecy within this department that he needed. She had only spoken with Bellatrix about it the day before, discussing how they were supposed to get to it without raising suspicions. Did he seriously mean for them to attempt to get it now? To break into the Department of Mysteries in the middle of the day? It was a ridiculous idea, surely?

"Uncle—"

"Shh." Rodolphus hissed as he drew his wand. He stared at the door for a moment, muttering a spell under his breath before smirking to himself. In the next moment Nymphadora jumped back, drawing her own wand as without warning Rodolphus had summoned what must have been an invisibility cloak as a square-jawed man was revealed scrambling for his wand. Without thinking Nymphadora accio'ed it, grabbing it out of the air as Rodolphus strode forward and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. He looked around yet again before dragging the man a little further down the corridor and kicked open a door to throw him inside.

Nymphadora followed, slamming the door shut behind them before turning to see her Uncle throw down the man in the middle of the small empty courtroom.

"Dumbledore send you, did he?" Rodolphus sneered, though the man on the floor simply glared up at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He said.

"Not one to talk?" Rodolphus asked "That's fine. Nymphadora? Come here."

"What?" Nymphadora asked as she walked over to her Uncle "You know if you were going to be grabbing people and throwing them into empty courtrooms to yell at them today you should have warned me—Though I can't help but appreciate the irony."

"It's good to be kept on your toes with these things," Rodolphus said "Besides, I didn't think we'd get as lucky to find some Order rat hiding out down here. Get the word that I had planned a visit to the Ministry, did you? Dumbledore always did have his suspicions."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Sturgis Podmore narrowed his eyes at the pair of them.

"You sound like a broken record." Nymphadora rolled her eyes "You do know what we're talking about."

"Don't worry Nymphadora, we don't need him to talk." Rodolphus rolled his eyes "There's no need to talk for what I have planned."

"Oh?" Dora raised an eyebrow, the man was now glaring furiously at the pair.

"I believe it is time to put your skills into action, Dora." Rodolphus said plainly "Use the imperious, the next time this man is put on 'guard duty' for that department he will go in and get the prophecy for us."

"I won't!" Sturgis yelled, going to get to his feet before with a hiss of the curse he was yelling in pain as Rodolphus performed the Cruciatus—Nymphadora quickly cast a Silencio on him.

"Now," Rodolphus sighed as he lifted the curse "you are already going to have two of the unforgivable curses performed on you today—don't make it three. Go on, Dora."

Nymphadora took a deep breath, looking down at the form of the man still shaking from the after effects of Rod's curse on a crumpled heap on the floor. She lifted the silencing charm, clearing her mind for a moment before she spoke with purpose "Imperio."

He struggled against it to start with, though she soon found that it was far easier to place the curse on Sturgis Podmore than it had been when practising on her Aunt and Uncle. She soon felt the man abide to her whim, standing from the floor as she willed it. He looked at her with a glazed over stare, his mouth dropped open slightly.

"Do you believe you have control?" Rodolphus asked.

Dora smirked, watching the man jump and hop on one foot as a small demonstration. "Yes."

"Good," Rodolphus smirked, going to speak again before the man let out a groan of anguish and fell to the floor.

"What happened?" Dora asked, frowning in confusion.

"You didn't have control," Rodolphus sighed, walking over to his niece "Let me do it—"

"No," Dora shook her head, raising her arm again "I can do it."

"If you're sure . . ." Rodolphus looked to the girl "this isn't child's play Nymphadora, we need to ensure this is done correctly."

Nymphadora nodded, taking a deep breath as she tried the curse again. A few moments later she looked to her Uncle, willing Podmore to do a few jumps on the spot in demonstration before she smirked. "I know that this isn't child's play, Uncle."

"Good," Rodolphus smirked.

They stayed in the room for a few more moments, wanting to make sure that the man was well and truly under her control until they instructed him to leave again, following themselves soon after. It was a fascinating feeling, Nymphadora thought, knowing that you had a person under your control so deeply that they would bend to your every whim should you so desire it. She could feel the connection to the man no matter how far she went, like a fine invisible string linking them together as if he were her puppet and she the puppeteer. It was a feeling she could get used to. She couldn't help but grin as Bellatrix greeted them at Lestrange Manor.

"Well?" Bellatrix kissed her husband in greeting, allowing him to place a hand on her hip as she looked briefly to her niece then back to him "How did it go?"

"Nymphadora did wonderfully," Rodolphus said plainly as his wife giggled in delight. Nymphadora couldn't help the small well of pride at such a compliment.

"Well done, Nymphadora." Bellatrix stepped away from her husband, giving her niece a brief embrace, stepping back to brush the now pink hair out of her face "Why don't you go and rest for a while before dinner? I have things to attend to with Rodolphus."

"Of course," Nymphadora nodded, squeezing her Aunt briefly before practically running up the stairs to her room. She stopped as she saw Barty Crouch Jr standing at the end of the corridor, almost smug in appearance as he slowly walked towards her.

"I take it you had a fun day out?" Barty mused.

"I suppose so," Nymphadora shrugged, unable to help her slight smirk.

"Good," Barty said, "At least one of us is making themselves useful, whereas I get the pleasure of being locked up in this place day and night."

"You're exaggerating," Nymphadora sighed, not paying much mind to the man as he followed her on her path to her bedroom "You only went out a little while ago, didn't Rodolphus take you to that muggle village?" Barty grunted in response "Honestly, you'd think this place was Azkaban the way you go on."

"Don't remind me of that hell hole," Barty wrinkled his nose at the mere thought of the place.

"Hmm," Nymphadora opened the door to her room, considering the man for a moment as he simply stared at her before she stood aside to let him go in before her "What do you want this time?" Nymphadora asked casually, taking her bag from her shoulder and slinging it onto the vacant armchair in the corner of the room.

"I didn't realise my visits were such an inconvenience to you," Barty said, walking closer to the witch until he stopped mere inches in front of her.

"It's fine," Dora murmured, starting to feel her heart beat in her chest yet again as he reached out and inspected one of her bright pink locks.

"I like this colour on you . . ." Barty mused, staring into her eyes as they looked at each other in silence.

Nymphadora didn't know what took over her in that moment. Perhaps it was the thrill of successfully using an illegal curse on a man in the middle of the Ministry? The deep need to take control of a situation and do what she wanted as her Aunt had always taught her? Or perhaps it was the mere idea that she knew her Aunt wouldn't approve that added that extra sense of being wrong that made it just that little more appealing. But before she knew it she had grabbed Barty by his collar, pulling him roughly towards herself as she crashed her lips into his own. He groaned against her lips as his hands found their way to the woman's hips, gripping onto her with a desperate need. They struggled against each other in their passion, moving backwards until Nymphadora fell back onto the bed bringing the man down with her as he buried his hands in her hair.

"Barty," Dora gasped as he moved to feather kisses on her neck, sighing deeply as he brought up his hand to her mouth though reality started to unfog her mind again "m-my Aunt—"

"Shh," Barty moaned, stopping momentarily and moving to look into the girl's lust filled eyes "this can be just between us. We deserve this release, this little secret."

Nymphadora's mind swam with thought, unable to decide on the best thing to do. Though as she stared into his eyes, one of his hands now back on her hip, she knew what she wanted. She drew her wand, the man looking slightly alarmed before she pointed it at the door. The room was locked and she ensured that no-one could hear them. Barty Crouch Jr smirked as Nymphadora hooked a leg around him to pull him closer, the pair getting lost in their passions.

Bellatrix didn't ask why Nymphadora looked so content over the dinner table later that evening, nor did she realise the smirk Barty kept on flashing at her niece from across the table. Though at that moment in time Bellatrix Lestrange finding out about what had happened under her own roof was the least of her worries, Nymphadora was content and she was sure she would continue to be so as long as Barty was around.


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The Purple Black