Bella and I are excited because we are approaching writing the end of this story! I just finished writing chapter 41? I think it was. I'm so excited for these last chapters! Do review, because it gets you chapters faster, and we have a goal to be done writing this story by Christmas. :)
That being said, I really love this chapter, and I hope you all enjoy!
Bellatrix cradled her brand new daughter in her arms, looking up to her master as he slowly walked toward her. "My Lord," she breathed, moving to sit up more, but he held up his hand to stop her. "Master," she whispered before looking back down at their daughter, "your daughter."
The man stood at her bedside, looking down at her and the child. Bellatrix was barely breathing as she waited for him to speak, to say anything. Little Delphi gave a small yawn, her tiny cheek against her mother's breast as she blinked sleepily. Bellatrix couldn't help smiling at the child in adoration before looking up to her master once more, hoping desperately that he would accept his daughter—their daughter.
"She's a Metamorphmagus," Bellatrix said to break the silence a few moments later. It was worrying her that the Dark Lord wasn't saying anything at all to her, or to the child. "She'll be a powerful Death Eater, My Lord."
"Hush, Bella," the man said as she went to continue speaking. He was staring at the small silver-haired baby girl that Bellatrix was cradling close to her heart.
The black-haired witch watched with baited breath as the Dark Lord reached down, touching his daughter's small fist with a long, cold finger. Delphi made a tiny sound, startling as she looked up toward the man. Bellatrix couldn't help but tear up slightly as her master spoke softly in Parseltongue, touching the tiny baby's face. Delphi watched her father's face a moment, her fist bumping against the man's much larger hand.
The Dark Lord drew his hand away from the child, and Bellatrix gasped as Delphi screwed up her face and began to cry. "Delphi, shhh," Bellatrix breathed, pressing her lips to the child's bright red curls as she tried to shush her baby girl.
Her master's expression did not change, though he withdrew slightly from mother and baby. "You have named her, Bellatrix?"
"Only with your consent, My Lord," Bellatrix hurried to explain, mentally kicking herself for not asking the man before saying her proposed name for the child. Delphi continued to shriek as Bellatrix said hesitantly, "I was thinking of naming her Delphini, Delphi for short—only if you approve, of course."
He waved his hand, and Delphi fell silent, Bellatrix crying out in fear as she felt the magic crackle around her and the child. "Fine. When she is old enough, Bellatrix, I myself will train her in the Dark Arts. I expect you to prepare her for my teaching, do you understand?"
"Yes, My Lord," Bellatrix whispered, tears trickling down her face as she realised he had merely put a Sleeping Spell on the baby. "Of course, My Lord. Thank you."
"Get some rest," he ordered her, then left the room.
Bellatrix burst into tears immediately, cradling her tiny daughter close as she removed the spell. Delphi opened her eyes almost right away and began to cry, Bellatrix helpless to console the child.
Minutes later, Narcissa stepped into the room, then said, "Oh," and hurried over to them, taking Delphi into her arms. "Bella," she murmured, "what happened? What did he say? Shhh, Delphi." Narcissa rocked the distraught child in her arms, sitting next to her sister on the bed.
Bellatrix trembled as tears streamed down her face. "Cissa," she gulped, "I—I—" The witch completely broke down, sobbing as her body shook, her head on her sister's shoulder.
Narcissa waited for a moment before slipping her arm around Bellatrix's shoulders. "You named her Delphini?" she said after a moment, glancing to the birth certificate on the nightstand.
"Yes, yes, the Dark Lord said it was fine," Bella sniffed. "He spoke Parseltongue to her. I don't know what he said, but she cried when he pulled away."
"Oh, Bella," sighed Narcissa. "Look: calm down a bit so you can hold Delphi. She's almost asleep again, I think."
Bellatrix sniffed for a few moments more, then took her baby girl back into her arms. "Mumma loves you, Delphi," she murmured, kissing the child's head. Once her baby girl had fallen asleep, Bella allowed her to be placed in a cradle next to her bed.
"You've done well, Bellatrix," Narcissa said softly. "Let me get you comfortable and all and then I'll let you rest."
The black-haired witch leaned back on her pillows, waiting for her sister to be finished taking care of her. Bella requested a bit of pain-numbing potion, and in spite of Narcissa's protests that she'd already had some, she gave in, pouring the potion into a glass and giving it to her sister. Bellatrix curled up as best as she could, watching her sister leave the room. She fell asleep, her mind racing with concern for her youngest daughter.
Nymphadora woke in the morning with a tired groan, and Rabastan turned to look at her from his seat at the desk. "Finally awake?" he teased softly. She rolled her eyes at him, not making a single move to get off the bed. "You were out late with your mother and all, I suppose," he sighed. "The Dark Lord has his heir, and Bella is alright."
"Yes," Nymphadora nodded with a huge yawn. "I think maybe when I get up that I should go check on Mum...if you don't have something else planned."
"Nothing, really," Rabastan sighed. "Though I do know there's supposed to be a raid today, and I'm assigned to it."
"Oh." Nymphadora frowned, then held out her hand to him, pouting. "Come here, husband."
Rabastan moved to her side immediately, leaning down to kiss her. "What is it, Dora?"
She leaned into his embrace for a few moments, feeling his hand rub over the still growing bump of their child. "I just wanted to make sure I said good morning in case you got called away," Dora smiled before leaning up to kiss him again. "Good morning, Rab."
Rabastan shook his head slightly, grinning as he hugged her carefully. "Good morning, Dora," he chuckled, drawing back to look at her. "I love you."
"I love you too," she murmured, and he drew back suddenly, hissing as he Summoned his cloak.
"How did you know?" he complained, frowning at her. "That isn't fair!"
"At least I said good morning," Dora smirked.
"It's noon, Love," Rabastan retorted before hastily kissing her and rushing from the room.
Nymphadora shook her head slightly before swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and sighing as she felt pain in her hand. Her mother must have accidentally bruised her hand the night before. With a small groan, Dora stood for a moment before walking over to her wardrobe to pick out a dress for the evening.
When she was fully dressed, she left her room, walking down the hall a short distance to her mother's room. Nymphadora bit her lip slightly, then knocked on the door softly. "Come in," came Bellatrix's voice, and Dora opened the door, entering her mother's room.
Bellatrix was sitting up in bed, Delphi in her arms. "Finally up?" she smirked, and Dora rolled her eyes at her mother. "You should be glad you're not me," Bella told her sharply. "Cissa won't even let me get out of bed unless she's here. Thinks I'll hurt myself or something. I simply cannot wait to get back to going on raids. I miss the blood, the violence…."
"The screams, the terror in the eyes of mostly innocent people," Dora droned. "I know." She grinned. "You'll be back to it soon enough, and then I'll be upset that I can't go out with you."
"Ha!" Bellatrix giggled, then looked down at her baby girl, whose eyes were widening as she readied to cry. "Shhh, darling," Bella said softly, kissing the child's now black hair. "I'm glad you're here," she added to her older daughter. "I was afraid Rodolphus would be looking in, and I...I don't want to face him alone. Not at first, anyway."
"I don't think he'd be pleased to find me here, though," Dora sighed before sitting next to her mother on the bed.
Bellatrix smirked. "He'll be a great deal nicer if there's two of us," she told Dora. "He's supposed to be coming in any time."
Nymphadora bit her lip. "Wonderful. He'll just be a great start to my day."
Her mother smiled slightly. "Here," she said firmly. "Hold your sister."
The younger woman took the child delicately into her arms, staring down at the dark-haired child of her mother and the Dark Lord. "She's beautiful," Dora sighed, staring down into the child's Black eyes. "Little Delphi."
They were absorbed in giggling over the child when there was a knock on the door, and the door simply opened. Bellatrix's eyes darkened in fury when she saw her husband enter the room, but the sight of Delphi cradled in her big sister's arms silenced her. "Rodolphus," she said coldly.
"Bellatrix," he said formally, then glanced to the child in Nymphadora's arms. "This is the brat?"
"My daughter!" Bellatrix snarled at him as quietly as she could. "She is perfect!"
Rodolphus reached down and touched the child, Dora freezing in place as Delphi gripped the man's finger, cooing softly. Bellatrix reached for her wand, and Nymphadora hissed, "Mother, no!"
Bellatrix shot her daughter a glare, but Nymphadora pretended not to notice as Rodolphus drew a sharp breath, attempting to pull his finger away from the tiny baby. Finally, Rodolphus glanced at Nymphadora, who gently pried Delphi's tiny fingers off the man's hand, giving the child her own finger to hold.
"Do you like her, Rod?" Bellatrix giggled. "You aren't allowed to accept this one, and you wouldn't accept Dora." Rodolphus didn't even look at her.
"Nymphadora, do you know where Rabastan's got to?" Rodolphus said.
"Out on a raid," Dora answered. "Got called a few minutes ago."
Rodolphus nodded, his gaze lingering on Bellatrix's second child that wasn't his before he turned and left the room, hearing his wife giggling behind him.
Nymphadora sighed slightly, looking down at Delphi before handing her back over to her mother. "Mother," she began, then shook her head as Bellatrix raised an eyebrow. There wasn't a thing she could do that would fix how she'd managed to accidentally ruin Rodolphus Lestrange's life more than once. She just hoped that he understood she hadn't meant to do it all, though he was a horrible person to her mother...Dora sighed, reaching out and hugging the woman. "Congratulations, Mum."
The black-haired witch beamed with pride and returned her daughter's embrace, finally deciding to leave her wand sitting on the nightstand now that Rodolphus had gone.
When Rabastan returned from the raid, Nymphadora met him in the hall before their room. Rabastan embraced her tightly, laughing as he brushed his fingers through his hair, his magic still crackling fiercely around him. "That was great," he grinned before kissing her strongly, pulling her through the doorway into their room. "Bloody Order of the Phoenix showed up, and we captured two of them. Killed two or three, don't remember exactly."
Nymphadora grinned back at him, thrilled by the idea of new prisoners and the diminishing Order. Laughing, Rabastan whirled her around the room, Dora clinging to him as she shrieked with laughter. "Rab, stop it. You'll make me dizzy," she protested between giggles.
Her husband pulled her close and kissed her again. "I can keep you on your feet, don't worry."
"You need to go wash up," she told him with a smirk, her hand on his chest. "You smell like fire. Blood and Fire."
"Don't you like it?" Rabastan pouted, and Dora raised an eyebrow.
"Rabastan," she smirked, shaking her head, "you look like you fell down a chimney."
"Well, thanks," he laughed before Summoning fresh robes and heading toward the door. "I'll be back."
Nymphadora rolled her eyes. "Of course, Rab. You live here. And the showers are down the hall to the left."
"I knew that!" Rabastan called over his shoulder to her before the door swung shut.
"I love him," Dora giggled to herself a second later. She was always amused at how her husband acted after a good raid. Dora placed her hand over the bump of their child and smiled contentedly, beginning to talk to her child to amuse herself until Rabastan returned.
A few nights later, Nymphadora found herself wandering the halls alone, bored. She didn't want to sit and do nothing, but she couldn't go outside, and didn't know what to do with herself. She walked past her mother's door, heading down the corridor to the entrance hall when she saw a light on, a door slightly open.
Slipping over to the door curiously, Dora looked into the room and was surprised to see her mother there, walking the floor of the room with her baby girl. "Shhh, baby," Bellatrix crooned to the little girl, rocking her gently in her arms. "It's all right, Dephi. It isn't your fault he scared you, the stupid man." She scowled for a moment before kissing her daughter's head. "I'll protect you from everything, just like I protected Nymphadora. I promise."
The witch at the door held back a scoff of laughter at that. Just don't give her to Andromeda, Dora thought bemusedly.
"No one will take you away from me," Bellatrix promised the baby in a whisper, sitting down in the rocking chair in the room. "No one. I swear it. I'll always keep you with me."
Delphi cooed softly, reaching up to tug on her mother's black locks, and Bellatrix smiled at her proudly. "You're perfect," Bella whispered, adjusting her hold on the child. "I love you."
Dora stared at the two, stepping away from the door and realising that there were tears splashing down her face. It wasn't fair that she'd never known her real mother until it was too late to have a proper mother-daughter connection. It wasn't fair that she'd been misled her whole life, and it certainly wasn't fair that she'd been replaced by the Dark Lord's brat.
Tears streamed down her face as she hurried down the hall as fast as she could, running back toward her room. To her horror, she bumped into a small table, sending a vase smashing to the floor. Dora balanced herself against the wall, barely able to fix the vase as she almost couldn't see through her tears. Cursing under her breath, she turned to her and Bella's special room and drew her blood to open the door. Darting inside, Dora fell onto the couch and curled up in a miserable ball, sobbing.
Dora had no idea how long she was there before the door opened, her mother standing in the doorway. The younger witch gasped, shuffling away from her on the couch, and Bellatrix looked hurt. "Dora, what's wrong?" she whispered. "Don't run away from me, please."
"Leave me alone!" Dora cried. "Just go away. Go back to your perfect daughter. Leave me alone!"
"Oh." Bellatrix stopped a few feet from the couch and sighed. "Dora, you shouldn't take to heart anything I say to Delphi. Babies are very...enchanting. You'll find that out soon enough. And you need to stop listening at doors, especially if you're going to run off and break something and give yourself away."
"Go away," Dora commanded her mother with a glare, but Bellatrix stepped closer to her oldest daughter.
"I can't hear you," Bella shrugged. "What was that?"
Dora sobbed and turned away from the woman, wishing she would leave her alone. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to snap, "Don't touch me!" I hate you.
Bellatrix's eyes widened as she looked down at her daughter. "You too?" she said softly. "Though I hope that's your hormones talking. Or I have a problem with that."
Nymphadora curled up against the arm of the sofa, tears streaming down her face. "Mum, leave me alone," she sobbed. "Please!"
"I'm not leaving you like this," Bella sighed. "I don't care what you say. You don't need to be by yourself to think: that's the worst." She sat down next to her daughter and wrapped her arm around the witch, pulling Dora against her as the girl cried desperately.
Bellatrix stroked her daughter's hair and murmured, "You're my oldest, my firstborn. I would never replace you, Dora. I couldn't. You're the child I risked everything for, the one I went back to my blood-traitor sister for. I know it doesn't make sense in your mind right now, but I really do love you, Nymphadora. I'm proud of you, and your accomplishments. I might even be hoping that you give your husband a son."
Dora choked, half-laughing, half-crying. "Rab's been worried about your...reaction," she sniffed, hiccuping slightly.
Bellatrix smirked, giggling slightly. "Of course he is," she said firmly. "But your child is my grandchild, and will be my family."
"Ah," Dora sniffed. "I expect you to spoil my son or daughter like a proper grandmother, do you understand?"
"Fine," Bellatrix pouted, then grinned and shook her head. "I can't believe I'm going to be a grandmother already."
"Believe it," Dora told her, sitting up and leaning against the back of the couch, still sniffing back tears. "You will be at the birth, won't you?"
Bellatrix nodded after a moment. "If you want me to."
Dora sighed in relief. "Thanks," she sniffed, and her mother brushed her hair out of her face, kissing her head.
"Of course, Dora," Bella said softly. "I want to be there for you, too."
"Thanks," Dora whispered, finally reaching out to embrace her mother as best as she could. "I—I love you, Mum."
"That's better," Bellatrix grinned at her. "Now. You should be getting rest. Won't dear husband be worried about you?"
"Dear husband has probably fallen asleep and doesn't know where I am," Dora rolled her eyes. "I was keeping him awake. That's why I'm out here."
"Ah," said Bella knowingly. "Why don't I walk you to your room, and you go to sleep. You'll need it, because after your brat is born, you'll be up at night a lot with said brat."
Dora pouted for a second before a yawn ruined it. "Okay," she said, and Bellatrix drew her daughter to her feet, leading her toward the door. Bellatrix dropped her off at her room, and Nymphadora hugged her mother tightly. "Thanks," she whispered, then disappeared into her room.
Nymphadora glanced toward the bed and sighed, shaking her head with a small smile. Rabastan was indeed asleep, sprawled across the bed in a very relaxed manner. "Move over," Dora grinned before pushing him over slightly, crawling up beside him. "I love you," she told him, kissing his cheek before curling against him. "I'll tell you what Bella said later. Goodnight, sleepyhead."
A few weeks later, Dora could not get to sleep, turning from side to side until Rabastan finally sighed, "Dora, do you need something to make you more comfortable?"
"I—I just can't sleep," Dora sighed. "I'm sorry, Rab. I'll just go take a walk in the halls." She got up from the bed and left the room, heading down the hall to the nursery. With any luck, her mother would be awake and taking care of Delphi.
Nymphadora was glad to see the figure leaning over Delphi's cradle, stroking the child's face gently. "Good," Dora sighed. "I'm glad you're here."
A small scoff of laughter came from the figure, and Nymphadora nearly gaped in shock as she was greeted by the man turning toward her. "Hardly," Rodolphus Lestrange hissed, and Delphi gave a small cry, reaching up toward him. "Wonderful," he spat at Nymphadora. "You woke her!"
"What are you doing here?" Dora frowned, moving closer to the cradle. "And she was already awake when I walked in."
"If anyone asks, I was never here," the man told her, his eyes boring into hers. "No one can know."
"What were you doing?" the witch asked him again, confused.
Rodolphus glared at her for a few moments before the two started in shock. "Bella's coming," he muttered. "Dear Merlin…."
Nymphadora looked straight into his eyes. "You wouldn't hurt Delphi, would you?"
"Hell no," spat the man. "I don't kill children as a rule, Nymphadora. I merely wished to see her without Bellatrix getting in the way. And now...if she finds me here...there is no way out of here except the one corridor."
"Then hold still," Nymphadora said, hurrying toward him and reaching out her hand. The man backed away from her, and she breathed, "Stop, Rodolphus. Trust me: I wouldn't want Mum to catch me either, if I were you. I can make sure you aren't you."
Rodolphus started in shock, staring at her as she placed her hand on his arm and reached for his magic. In an instant, Rodolphus changed appearance, and the man hissed, "What have you done?"
Dora bit her lip. "You...are your brother at the moment. Play along." She shuffled over to the cradle and picked up the now crying baby, gently rocking the child in her arms. "Shhh, little one," she murmured. "Mumma will be here soon...Mumma will take care of you."
She made sure to stay between Rodolphus, the door, and the cradle as she cuddled her baby sister. The door opened a second later, Bellatrix striding in only to stop short at the sight of Nymphadora and Rabastan with Delphi. "Family get together?" Bellatrix smirked at them. "It's the middle of the night."
"Couldn't sleep," Dora shrugged. "And I was keeping him awake." She motioned to the man next to her. "So I decided to see if you were here, and I found Delphi crying. Here." She strode forward and gave the child into her mother's arms. "Have a very disgruntled and unhappy child."
"Why thank you," Bellatrix scoffed, then gave her baby girl a small smirk. "Really, darling? Well. That can't happen with Dora and Rabastan in here. Out, both of you."
"Fine," Dora rolled her eyes before catching hold of the man's arm and all but dragging him from the room.
It was only when they were a safe distance away that Dora morphed him back to his natural appearance and stepped away. "Go," she hissed at him. "Get going before someone sees us and wonders what the hell is going on."
He hesitated for a moment, then said hurriedly, "If it worked...thank you, Dora." Rodolphus turned and rushed away without another word.
Dora sighed, walking back into her room and crawling up onto the bed next to her husband. Rabastan stirred and groaned softly, but she slipped her arm around him and shushed him. "It's fine," she whispered. "Just found your brother watching Delphi in the middle of the night...just rescued him from mother. One of those normal happenings, you know."
She sighed slightly, still feeling wide awake, then drew a soft breath as she felt a small twinge of discomfort in her body. "Oh dear," she sighed, lying back and hoping she was imagining things. A moment later, she gave a small gasp, realising that it couldn't be her imagination.
"Rabastan," she breathed. "Rab, wake up. Wake up!"
"Shhh," he complained.
"Rabastan Lestrange, wake up this instant," she commanded him. "Or do you want to miss your becoming a father?"
"What?!" the man, no longer sleeping, attempted to sit up and get out of bed, but tangled himself in the sheets and promptly fell onto the floor. "Dora, what—?!"
Nymphadora rubbed her hands over her swollen stomach. "The baby is coming," she breathed, sweat beginning to gather on her brow.
Rabastan managed to get himself untangled from the sheets and got to his feet. "Sure?"
She glared at him fiercely, biting back a gasp of pain. "Go get Mother, and Narcissa," she commanded. "I think I would know the time." The man darted from the room, and Nymphadora lay back on the pillows, clutching her stomach and attempting to think of anything else but what was happening and what would be happening. She couldn't help but be frightened after what she'd seen her mother go through.
Moments later, the door burst open, and Dora gave a small cry of pain, Bellatrix immediately at her side, taking her hand in hers. "Your turn," Bellatrix smirked.
"Oh shut up," Nymphadora glared at her. "I can do worse than merely bruise your hand, Mother."
"Already threatening," Narcissa shook her head. "Don't encourage her so, Bella. You'll distract her from what she needs to do."
"Remind me what that is?" Dora glared at them both as her husband silently took her other hand in his.
Bellatrix patted the girl's hand, her smirk securely in place. "Take deep breaths, darling."
Nymphadora screamed out, grasping her husband's and mother's hands tightly as she struggled to bring her baby into the world, tears of pain streaming down her face. She was glad that her mother and Rab weren't taunting each other anymore: her threats had finally silenced them, or so she hoped.
"Once more," Bellatrix encouraged her. "One more push, Dora, you can do it."
"Twice," Narcissa corrected.
"Oh shut it, both of you!" Dora screeched at them. She felt Rabastan squeeze her hand and closed her eyes, offering up all her strength into concentrating on giving her child life.
Moments later, she collapsed back onto the bed, Bellatrix smiling at her as Narcissa lifted the screaming newborn up, quickly cleaning and wrapping the child. "Well done, Dora," Narcissa said softly. "Very good. You've got a son."
Nymphadora looked up slightly, her eyes still filled with tears, and Rabastan leaned down to press a kiss to her sweaty forward. "Good," Dora groaned. "Took long enough."
Bellatrix took the baby from Narcissa, who quickly cleaned up the mess that had been created and made Dora more comfortable. "Here," Bellatrix grinned, handing the squalling newborn to her daughter. "Have a slightly disgruntled and unhappy newborn."
"Oh, Mother, he's...perfect," Dora breathed, feeling her husband's arm slip around her shoulders. "Rigel Rabastan Lestrange."
"I told you babies are enchanting," Bellatrix rolled her eyes at her daughter. "Well now. I shall leave you two to coo over your baby like new parents."
Nymphadora gave a small laugh as her mother got to her feet before staring in shock at baby Rigel's blue hair. "Wait, Mum! Look!"
"Undoubtedly a Metamorphmagus, just like his mother," Bellatrix smirked. "Well, how nice. I'll have to mention this to Rodolphus…." Nymphadora was about to reply, but Rabastan squeezed her shoulders gently, and she didn't speak. Without another word, Bellatrix left the room, and Narcissa told the couple congratulations before quickly following.
"Rabastan," Dora murmured, looking down at the tiny infant she was cradling in her arms. "He's beautiful...truly so perfect."
"Little Rigel," the man smirked proudly. "Our son."
"Oh," Dora sniffed, tears beginning to run down her face again as she rocked the child gently. "Oh, Rab—"
The man chuckled, kissing her head a couple times. "It's okay now, Dora," he told her softly. "It's all over, and now we get to enjoy parenthood."
Nymphadora drew her baby closer, adjusting her dress to let her baby boy feed. "Yes," she whispered, watching the child get his first meal. "I'm so glad, Rabastan."
He nodded, staring down into his tiny son's face. "All my dreams come true," he said quietly. "It means a lot to me, Dora."
"To both of us," she said firmly, then leaned up to kiss him. "I love you, Rabastan."
"I love you too, Nymphadora," he replied, never taking his eyes off of his new heir.