"They will be joining us presently." The Dark Lord told them of two of their fellow Death Eaters. "They are bringing us one of the Order…."
The Death Eaters smirked at each other, some of them laughing in anticipation. Rodolphus looked around, but no one seemed to know who Dolohov and Crabbe had been sent after.
Chimes sounded from the entrance hall, the gates being opened a moment later. Seconds later, the door to the dining hall opened and someone walked into the room quickly, though hesitantly, a Death Eater's wand in her back. The men immediately began to hiss at her, leering at the young witch, but Rodolphus frowned. He was sure that was Nymphadora, his niece—and as Bellatrix turned from her Dark Lord to the girl and began to cackle with laughter, he knew he was right.
"What is this?" the Dark Lord mused, seeming almost amused. "A relation of yours, Bella? Narcissa?"
Bellatrix opened her mouth furiously, her eyes burning madly as her magic crackled, and Rodolphus sighed, wishing he was beside her to keep her calm. Not that he was able to do that much anymore. "Never, my Lord!" she hissed. "She is no relation to Cissy and me!"
Lord Voldemort looked to the young captive, and the girl drew a deep breath, suddenly turning to Narcissa. "I'm not here of my own will and I apologize for my intrusion." She smirked at the Dark Lord. "No relation."
What? Rodolphus was shocked. She didn't just...apologize to the Malfoys for being here? Why would she want to do that? He watched the beautiful young witch, wondering if her fear had turned to defiance. She was right to be afraid, but defiance was the wrong act—at least, outright defiance.
Nymphadora, as he vaguely remembered her name was, stood there, her white and red hair suddenly black with red ends. He didn't doubt that she was the defiant sort, but almost hoped that she would be given the chance to join up. Rodolphus could see the girl being an excellent Death Eater—if Bellatrix let her live long enough.
"You were not alone," the Dark Lord said to Nymphadora's captor.
"She...did something to him," the man said uncomfortably.
To Rodolphus' surprise, the witch started giggling, and Rabastan glanced sideways at his brother. Rodolphus smirked slightly, knowing just what his brother was thinking: She's like Bellatrix.
As Nymphadora strode down past the Death Eaters seated at the table, Rodolphus couldn't help agreeing. The witch was powerful: he could feel it, and he wondered if she knew just how gifted she was. Rodolphus was suddenly very curious about the girl, wondering what it would be like to feel her magic, to feel her sharing a spell with him and Bellatrix, to feel her passion for the Dark burn through his Mark as the sign of the Dark Lord lit up the night sky. He willed for her to join the Dark: he wanted it, possibly more than he'd wanted most things recently.
"Unless he got help," Nymphadora smirked, pride on her features as she thought of what she had done, "Dolohov is lying out on the walk caterwauling because I put the Curse of the Bogeys on him. So he's here, just not with us."
"Her wand?"
"Yes—" began the Death Eater, but Nymphadora rolled her eyes at the man.
"No," she said, glaring at him, "Dolohov has my wand. He snitched it off you before he disapparated, so it's out on the walk somewhere."
Lord Voldemort chuckled, then said, "Bellatrix...take her to the dungeons—Selwyn, fetch Dolohov and make sure to bring us Nymphadora's wand."
Bellatrix immediately leaped to her feet and yanked the red- and black-haired girl to her feet. As Nymphadora was hurried from the room, she looked back at them all, and Rodolphus sensed her fear and worry, but also her curiousity and desire to prove herself.
Her eyes met his for a moment, but she did not know him, Rodolphus' expression not changing. Bellatrix jabbed her wand into the girl's side, and Nymphadora turned away from the others, hurrying away before she could be dragged.
Rodolphus stared down at the table as Selwyn returned with Dolohov, the older wizard reporting on Nymphadora. "Wandless curse," the man rasped, his eyes haunted from the horrors of the curse. "Best be cautious of her."
Of course, Rodolphus thought to himself. She's only Bella's niece and Andromeda's daughter. He listened idly, barely registering when Bellatrix returned and stood in the doorway.
After they were dismissed, Rodolphus went straight toward his room, but Rabastan followed him. "What?" Rodolphus said in annoyance.
"The girl," Rabastan muttered in French, "she is—she is much like Bella! Could you have not noticed?"
"It means nothing to me," Rodolphus said indifferently. "She is a prisoner, the enemy, and the half-blood daughter of a blood-traitor Black."
"But we could play with her!" Rabastan suggested, a broad grin spreading across his face. "When she's warded in and all—we're allowed to take our pleasure with them! Rod—"
"Well, do with her what you will," Rodolphus said, a shrug in his voice. "But if she really is like Bella, especially the way you want her, then you would be wise to stay away from her."
"You're so selfish," Rabastan sighed. "And a terrible manager of women."
Rodolphus smirked at the younger wizard. "By all means, do with Nymphadora as you please, though you will remember that she is not to be tortured."
Rabastan nodded. "I can convince her." And he was off in the direction of his room.
Later that evening, Rodolphus found himself wondering if his brother really would try to harm the girl in the dungeon, and finally threw his blankets from him, rising from his bed and dressing. He silently left the room and hurried down the corridors to the dungeon.
Rodolphus found Nymphadora lying, still unconscious, on the floor of a small cell. "Nymphadora," he murmured, her name sounding beautiful to his ears. He watched her breathe softly for a few moments before carefully letting himself into her cell.
After watching her a moment longer, he stepped closer, then knelt at her side in the dim light of his wand. Brushing her black hair out of her face, he realised that her face was still stained with her blood, and that there was blood in her hair. Rodolphus sighed, lighting two nearby lanterns as he set to work cleaning up the blood and siphoning the dried blood from the girl's face.
Rodolphus sat back, watching the girl rest, then reached out, stroking her hair gently. She looks like a twenty-one year old Bellatrix, he thought to himself, aching in his heart. Nymphadora Tonks.
The girl stirred slightly, and Rodolphus reassured her with a steady hand, the girl settling back into sleep easily. "You're so good at that," hissed a voice, and Rodolphus looked up to see Rabastan standing outside the cell. "Come to share in the fun?"
The man didn't reply for a moment, then smirked and nodded. It wasn't until Rabastan had entered the cell that Rodolphus hit him with a Stunning Spell, then summoned a house-elf. "Take him to his room," Rodolphus said. "Allow him to sleep until morning."
The house-elf took Rabastan away immediately, and Rodolphus sighed in relief, looking back to the unconscious witch. "No one will hurt you," he murmured to the girl who looked so much like his own wife. "Not unless you choose the pain, Dora. Please: don't choose it." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, immediately feeling guilt sweep over him.
The instant he reached the entrance to the dungeons, he was slammed against the wall, facing a very angry-looking Bellatrix. "What the hell were you doing with her?!" she demanded.
"Rabastan—" Rodolphus breathed. "He was going to harm her! I couldn't let him—she's so much like you!"
"How dare you?" Bella snarled at him, and he felt a Crucio surge through his bones.
"Bella," he moaned, sliding down the wall as he clung onto her. "Bella, I mean in all good ways, obviously."
Bellatrix lifted his face and looked straight into his eyes, Rodolphus feeling her questions in his mind. "Bella," he groaned as he felt her searching through his thoughts, though he didn't try to stop her.
She finally stopped, half pushing him away before she spat, "Weakling."
"You are my weakness, Bellatrix Black," he said with a sigh.
"She is not me!" Bellatrix half-screamed at him before he motioned her to be quiet.
"She could be," Rodolphus replied simply. "She has potential, Bella; you cannot deny it."
Bellatrix glared at him. "So she does. What of it? She will never be as powerful as I, or even as her filthy blood-traitor mother! I will have my chance to torture her, and you will not stop me, Rodolphus Lestrange!"
Rodolphus nodded, his heart pounding fiercely in his chest. "Never, Bella. I would not try to stand between you and a victim."
"Are you sure you didn't share Rabastan's idea?" Bellatrix glared at him, her wand burning into his side.
"Bella," he gasped, feeling pain creep into his ribs, "you've seen my thoughts. You know me. I only want you. Nymphadora means nothing—a worthless half-blood dedicated to the Light. I merely did not want her ruined by my brother's fantasies."
"You remain faithful?"
"Always, Bella," Rodolphus breathed, closing his eyes as he kissed her firmly, the two falling back against the wall. She slid onto his lap, fisting his hair as she pulled him closer, and Rodolphus moaned softly against her mouth. "I want you," he whispered, and she kissed him in reply, guiding his hand to the hem of her dress.
Bellatrix allowed him to make love to her there on the floor before the dungeon entrance, and Rodolphus was thrilled that she had given him permission so easily. He held her close afterward for as long as she stayed, until she said, "Let's sleep. We'll deal with the prisoner in the morning."
Rodolphus obeyed, following her immediately, and he forgot about Nymphadora as he fell asleep with Bellatrix in his arms.
The next morning, Bellatrix shook him awake gently, dodging an angry curse from the man as he sat up. "Bella!" he sputtered. "What is wrong with you?"
Bella merely looked down at him for a few seconds, then answered, "We are to take Nymphadora to the Great Hall after breakfast: we are gathering to deal with her."
"Oh." Rodolphus rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up slowly, swinging his legs off the bed.
"Mmm," Bella murmured, slipping her arms around him from behind and nuzzling his neck playfully. "You get to see what the brat will choose today...you won't be disappointed if she is killed, will you?"
"She will be one of those who serve no further purpose in the world," Rodolphus replied, shivering slightly as he felt Bellatrix's mouth twist into a smirk against his shoulder. "Bella, stop it."
She sighed, then moved to sit beside him, leaning into his side. "Andromeda should have been our fourth," she whispered to her husband. "But the brat cannot replace her. No one could. I don't want her here. She is a vile reminder of everything the blood-traitor has done to my family and me."
Rodolphus agreed, slipping his arm around Bellatrix tentatively. "Are you going to breakfast?"
Bellatrix shook her head, and Rodolphus held her for a moment before suggesting, "How about we go down to the prisoner and observe her a bit before moving her?"
To his satisfaction, Bellatrix agreed, and the two set off quickly, both darting down the hall and scaring Bella's nephew into jumping into a nearby room and slamming the door behind him. Bellatrix's laughter echoed down the hall as they continued toward the dungeon.
Finally, Rodolphus murmured, "Let's go quietly. She might be unconscious still."
"From her fall down the stairs?" Bella rolled her eyes. "I thought you healed her."
"Just removed the blood," Rodolphus retorted quickly. "I wouldn't heal her! I left it as a reminder that you're here: she'll probably have a concussion."
"Hard-headed half-blood," Bellatrix giggled before opening the door and lighting her wand to be able to see her way down the stairs. "Come on!" she hissed at her husband.
The two stood outside the girl's cell, watching for a moment until their eyes became used to the dark enough to see Nymphadora's still form on the floor. They were not there long before the prisoner stirred, groaning softly and struggling to sit up after a moment. "Oh," breathed the girl, pressing a hand to her head and side.
She waited a moment, then looked around and muttered, "How fitting. But how does one get thrown down stairs and land in a locked and warded cell?"
Without warning, Bellatrix let out a cackle of laughter, and Nymphadora jumped, shielding her eyes at the light from the witch's wand.
"Well, Nymphadora," Rodolphus said, smirking at the girl's look of shock, "Dolohov tells us you cursed him wandlessly. The Dark Lord didn't want to take any chances with you, especially with your mother's history."
"You're a high security prisoner!" Bellatrix shrieked with laughter. "How fitting!"
"Who are you?" Nymphadora asked him, and the two Death Eaters laughed.
"Oh, didn't I introduce you?" giggled Bellatrix. "How rude of me! This is my husband, Rodolphus. His brother wouldn't come down to see you, but you'll meet him soon enough. We're supposed to take you to the Dark Lord."
Rodolphus stepped closer to the girl and said, "Seems he's decided against letting Bella play with you for the time being." He shrugged, then grabbed the girl by the arm, digging his wand into her side and he forced her to stand. "She's not pleased about it, but she'll be more than happy to straighten you out if you misbehave—Nymphie."
The young witch swayed dizzily, half falling against him and grabbing at his robe to stay upright. Rodolphus pushed her off him instantly, slapping her across the face as his first reaction. It wasn't until she'd closed her eyes, bowing her head, that Rodolphus realised that the girl actually hadn't tried to attack him, and was actually hurting from whatever had already been done to her. Rodolphus squelched a feeling of guilt, Dora raising her head and glaring at Bellatrix. "Bitch!"
Rodolphus was confused. What did Bella do?
Bellatrix grinned at her niece. "Shall we go?" she said brightly. "Let's not keep the Dark Lord waiting!"
They marched Nymphadora from her cell, and up the stairs, heading toward the main hall of Malfoy Manor. The girl was stumbling, and couldn't seem to walk very well, the two dragging her after a few moments. Finally, the girl gave a soft gasp, and Rodolphus realised that Bellatrix had cast a spell over her.
"Bella!" he hissed, halting and pulling Nymphadora into his side so she wouldn't fall. "Reverse that spell! Do you want the Dark Lord angry with you?"
"I didn't torture her," Bellatrix complained. "It isn't fair that he changed his mind—"
"Tell your master that," he snapped at her. "I doubt he'd change his mind again if you disobeyed him."
"He'd punish me," Bellatrix nodded with a giggle, then scowled and hissed an incantation, Nymphadora gasping again.
Rodolphus felt the girl shudder against him slightly, and Bella grabbed the girl by the elbow, her wand in the girl's other side. "I will take care of you later," she promised her niece. "After the Dark Lord has what he wants from you."
Smirking, Rodolphus squeezed Nymphadora meaningfully. "The Dark Lord might find a new toy in this one—" He felt the girl shudder once again.
Bellatrix glared at him, hissing, "Then I will torture you!"
Nymphadora shook her head slightly. "You two need counseling."
The two Lestrange laughed uproariously, and Rodolphus answered, "Happy families have no need of that, Nymphie. We're perfectly happy with our lives."
They led her into the hall, straight to the Dark Lord, and Bellatrix released the girl, Rodolphus giving her a shove forward so that she fell to her knees before the Dark Lord. He and Bella returned to their place in the circle, watching Nymphadora struggle to her feet.
"What do you want from me?" she said, looking up into the face of Lord Voldemort.
"Nymphadora Tonks," the Dark Lord said thoughtfully, and Rodolphus felt Bellatrix bristle at the sound of the girl's name. "You could call me Master, as Bella does," he suggested, reaching out and touching her face gently.
"I call no man Master," she said, looking down.
Rodolphus was sure that the Dark Lord was seeing into the girl's mind, and wondered what it would be like to know how Nymphadora's life had been as a half Black. The Dark Lord withdrew his hand from the girl and asked, "No man? Not even Albus Dumbledore?"
Nymphadora laughed, surprising the Death Eaters somewhat. "I call him many things, but 'Master' isn't one of them."
"I see, my little Auror," the Dark Lord chuckled.
"I am not yours," Nymphadora told him sharply, and Bellatrix hissed in disapproval.
"But there is so much more you could be if you were," the Dark Lord mused. "You do not know the extent of yours powers, or you could have escaped the dungeons last night."
"I was unconscious all night because dear Aunt Bella cursed me down the stairs," Nymphadora replied indignantly. "And I couldn't get out of the wards anyway. Why would I try to run?"
The Dark Lord leaned closer to her and spoke softly enough so that none could hear him. Rodolphus saw Nymphadora shake her head slightly, a look of pain on her face.
A few moments later, the Dark Lord laughed coldly and said, "Do you believe your mother's choices have ruined your chance to make something of yourself? Do you feel...insufficient because of your blood, Nymphadora?"
Rodolphus saw the girl pale, and knew that the Dark Lord's words were cutting her deeply. The girl closed her eyes as Lord Voldemort continued, "Do you hate your mother for her treacherous deeds? She has caused you to be scorned your entire life, Nymphadora, and now I give you the chance to prove your power."
"I—I—" breathed Dora, and Rodolphus stared, hoping she would agree. Bellatrix stood at his side, glaring at the girl and willing the opposite. "I don't know," Dora whispered finally.
"A duel," the Dark Lord said with a cold smile. "Who shall we have Nymphadora duel?" He turned to his Death Eaters thoughtfully. Most of them were still laughing at their master's words to the girl, and Nymphadora's face was turning red in spite of her attempts to morph the colour away.
"Avery," said the Dark lord, seeming to be amused at his choice. "Why don't you and Nymphadora have a go at each other?"
Bellatrix started giggling madly, bouncing up and down on her toes in excitement as she watched the two take their places in the circle, the Dark Lord moving out of the way. "No Killing Curses," the Dark Lord said. "That will be all."
Nymphadora caught her wand as he tossed it back to her. "I don't want to."
"The choice isn't yours," smirked Marshall Avery, and Bella froze in her celebration a moment as the man added, "little bitch."
"Dammit," said Nymphadora, moving from the spot as his spells barely missed those behind her.
The two fell into dueling fairly quickly, and Rodolphus smirked to see the girl laughing at the other Death Death because he'd missed her, her hair turning black in her amusement. Rodolphus was shocked to see Nymphadora morph to Bellatrix right before his eyes before the girl darted away, losing herself from their view. It wasn't until she came back, breathless standing right next to the real Bellatrix that Rodolphus realised what Nymphadora was going to do.
"How dare you!" the second Bellatrix shrieked, throwing a curse at the real Bellatrix.
Bellatrix shrieked in surprise, jumping into the circle as her grin disappeared from her face. Avery turned his wand on her, curses flying in Bella's direction, and she shrieked in fury, returning the curses.
"Stop." The Dark Lord frowned at the two dueling Death Eaters. "Nymphadora, come here."
"Don't call me Nymphadora," pouted the second Bellatrix as she skipped over to the Dark Lord, grinning at Avery and the real Bellatrix.
"Bella, returned to the circle," the Dark Lord commanded, and turned back to the second Bellatrix. "Nice try, Nymphadora."
"Thank you," she smirked, attacking Avery immediately.
Rodolphus shook his head as he watched Nymphadora furiously battle the now-incensed Death Eater, Bellatrix shaking with rage and slight embarrassment beside him. Nymphadora was laughing like an idiot as she flitted lightly around the circle, teasing her opponent, then attacking him in all fury before laughing again.
Bellatrix drew a sharp breath, and Rodolphus stared as Nymphadora morphed to look exactly like her mother at nineteen. A soft sound came from Bellatrix, and Rodolphus could have sworn he heard her say, "Kill him, Dromeda."
Avery stared at the young version of Andromeda, then hissed, "Very funny, Nymphadora" when she started laughing maniacally.
She continued laughing, darting behind a pillar before winging a curse at him from behind. "Ha, ha, ha!" she giggled, throwing more curses at him carelessly. "Pay attention, Marshall!"
Rodolphus saw Bellatrix frowned slightly and wondered what was going on in his wife's head. No doubt it was something unusual, because he had thought she would be cheering Avery on, even though she didn't like him. The girl did not return to her normal brown-haired form until she had succeeded in cursing Avery. Rodolphus didn't recognize the spell, and wondered if the girl had even known what it was, for she was frowning at the man who lay shouting on the floor.
"How do you know that spell?" Bellatrix shrieked angrily, storming forward. Apparently she knew what it was, and it wasn't meant for Nymphie's use?
"Answer her," the Dark Lord prompted the girl.
Nymphadora rolled her eyes. "I saw Mum use it."
Realisation swept over Rodolphus as Bellatrix screamed, "That's from the Black grimoires and you should not know that, you filthy half-blood! Did she show you any of the other spells?"
"N—no," Nymphadora shook her head, looking shocked at Bella's reaction. "I watched her do it to Sirius when I was four, but Mum never taught me any magic of that sort."
Bellatrix was shaking with rage, glaring at the girl, and Nymphadora added, "I don't know what it did: I just did it."
The Dark Lord was laughing at her, then said to Bellatrix, "You can't deny she has potential, Bellatrix." He silenced Avery, then turned to the younger woman. "Join me, Nymphadora. Take my Mark, and I will teach you to be as effective as Bella."
Rodolphus' hopes were dashed as the young witch said, "I can't...I'm a Metamorphagus. I can't allow any major change to my magic or I will lose my powers and weaken my magic."
The Death Eaters hissed at her, jeering at her for her excuses, but the Dark Lord lifted her face with a long pointed finger. "Is that your final answer? Join me, Nymphadora."
"I cannot," she said firmly, looking straight into his red eyes. "I would rather be a filthy half-blood than a false pureblood bootlicker."
Rodolphus shouted in indignation along with the others who were now clamoring for the chance to punish the girl for her words. They would have her blood—but the Dark Lord held up his hand for silence. "Bellatrix, you will have your fun, after all." He disarmed the prisoner, pocketing her wand and smiling. "Crucio!"
Nymphadora clenched her fists as she gasped for breath, curling in on herself until she collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony. She didn't scream, though, and after nearly half a minute, the Dark Lord released the Curse and said carelessly, "Take her back to the dungeon, Bella, and don't be too nice."
"Thank you, My Lord!" Bellatrix said excitedly, scurrying over to Nymphadora and levitating her out of the room.
Rodolphus watched them go and sighed, knowing that the girl would always have scars from the coming torture—if she survived. When they were all dismissed, Rodolphus made his way toward his room, avoiding his brother. Rabastan seemed upset for some reason, and Rodolphus wondered if he should have finished off his brother's Stunning Spell with a memory charm...
After several minutes, Rodolphus sighed and left his room, heading to the dungeons. He prepared himself for anything, then opened the door and hurried down the steps to the sound of Nymphadora's cries of agony.
"Nymphadora needs to learn how to behave," Bellatrix hissed, pointing her wand at the girl's body lying at her feet.
"Don't call me Nymphadora!" shrieked the girl, and Bella paused.
"What would we call you then, brat?" Bellatrix said curiously. "You're not a Tonks. As if I'd ever call you that filth name anyway. You're Nymphie, sweet little Nymphie."
"I am Nymphadora Tonks," the young witch breathed in agony. "You will not take that away from me, Bellatrix."
"No?" Bellatrix dropped to her knees at the girl's side, Rodolphus staying in the shadows as he walked closer. "Well. Let me send a message to your mother. She'll know what I mean."
Nymphadora screamed as Bellatrix flipped her over onto her stomach, the woman half sitting on her as she ripped open the back of the girl's dress, drawing her knife. Rodolphus cringed as his wife began to carve words into the delicate flesh of the girl's back and shoulder—he would always hate watching it, no matter how many times he already had.
The girl's agonized screams continued, her entire body shuddering under the strain of having her flesh torn, until she passed out, going limp. "Well, I was nearly finished," she complained to her victim. Bellatrix smirked, her hair hiding her work as she continued. A few moments later, she sat back, looking at her handiwork. "It'll do," she decided, and Rodolphus saw what she had done just seconds before Bella mended the girl's robe.
Carved into the girl's back were three words: Not Your Father.
"What the hell does that mean?" Rodolphus said without thinking, and Bellatrix jumped in shock, turning to him.
"What does what mean?" she said in a huff. "I'm sending a message to Andromeda through her brat. But now that you're here, if you want to help me send her on her way...I don't think Nymphie likes me much."
"I'm sure you've given her good reason," Rodolphus said, looking down at the girl. Blood was seeping through the back of the girl's dress, and he was shocked to see that it spelled Toujours Pur.
The man didn't ask, merely saying, "What do you want me to do?"
Bellatrix sighed, brushing her hair out of her face. "Take the girl to the Entrance Hall. I will enervate her, then take her home."
Rodolphus obeyed, carefully taking the girl from the floor and levitating her up the stairs into the Entrance Hall, waiting for Bellatrix to catch up. "Are you tired from your fun?" he raised an eyebrow at her.
"Shut it," Bellatrix said warningly, then hissed, "Enervate" and took Rodolphus' place holding the girl.
"Oh!" cried the girl, gasping in pain as her senses returned to her. "Please—Bella—"
"Don't beg, Nymphie," Bellatrix said softly, her arm tightening around the girl's ribs. "I'm sending you home to Mum, just like you wanted."
Dora screamed out as her broken ribs were disturbed, Bella smirking a little. "Shh," she murmured, her cheek against Dora's. "It's okay, Nymphie."
The girl was gasping with sobs as she tried to keep from breaking down completely, and Rodolphus frowned. It was her fault for not agreeing to join the Dark Lord: the brat deserved it. The gates opened and the wards were relaxed for Bellatrix to leave with her niece, the girl sensing it as she began to cry afresh. Bellatrix turned and slipped her arm around the girl, wrenching a cry from her.
"Shh," Bella shushed her gently, her forehead against Nymphadora's. "Let's go home." She disapparated with the white-haired young witch, and Rodolphus was left standing alone in the Entrance Hall.
