At this point it is fairly obvious we are coming to a close, so I do have something I would like to tell you all. So for now please read, review and enjoy as always and once you have read this chapter, have a little look at the authors note at the end. Thank you


Nymphadora wasn't sure if she was happy that 'her side' had succeeded and would seemingly win the war or if she was sad, terrified, worried about what would happen now to Remus. She had saved him from a quick death at the hands of Antonin Dolohov but with Death Eaters running the world would it have been a kindness? She couldn't think like that. Before she knew it they were marching back towards the castle. Hagrid had the boys body in his arms.

Narcissa had fell into line next to her on their walk back. She thought she had perfected her mask of emotionless though she was unsure if she truly had, or if her Aunt just had a talent for seeing through such things as she felt the blondes reassuring hand slip into hers. She looked to her Aunt, who was staring blankly ahead at the school building. She squeezed her Aunts hand before letting go. She was grateful for her reassurance but knew this was not the time to show any signs of being unsure or weak.

The sound of Hagrid sobbing over the dead boy he was being forced to carry was starting to get to Dora. She couldn't decide if it was annoying or if she felt sorry for him, she just wanted him to stop it. She knew why he was aloud to carry on with such a display; it portrayed weakness in the other side. Defeat.

As the crowd of the Death Eaters rivals stood in front of the castle started to come into view Nymphadora yet again found herself looking for Remus. She was stood right on the front line, in between her family and could only assume that Remus Lupin would be near the front of their ranks as well; being a member of The Order.

She soon caught sight of him. He was stood near the front, behind the young couple that she recognised from having been unwilling visitors of the manor with Harry Potter. She barely realised that Voldemort had commanded the Death Eaters to stop until she bumped straight into Bellatrixs back. Bella was clearly in too good of a mood to reprimand her for her clumsiness though as she simply giggled. She turned around for a split second to kiss the girls cheek as she righted her daughter before turning back to her lord.

"Harry Potter, is dead!" The Dark Lords voice echoed.

There were cries from the 'light' side, screams of sorrow and people openly bursting into tears whilst the Death Eaters and their army simply laughed, there were some cheers, some out right maniacal laughter (though that was just Bellatrix.).

The Malfoys, along with Nymphadora, were the only ones who had kept a neutral expression. They were all subconsciously careful to neither portray joy nor anything to show anything to the contrary. Though Nymphadora felt herself forcing a grin as her Uncle Rabastan playfully gave her a nudge in the ribs. It was at that point that she looked to see Remus Lupins reaction. She could hear her Lord talking, could hear people protesting now, but none of that mattered to her. Remus looked broken. He had once told her that Harry was almost like a son to him, she couldn't imagine what was going through his mind right now. Though from the looks of things he was soon turning that anguish and sorrow into rage and determination. Good Dora thought, you need to be strong now . . .

"Draco . . ." Narcissa called out, reaching out to her son "Come."

Dora couldn't blame the boy for wanting to stay as far away from them as he possibly could right now. Hell if she could get away from the Death Eaters she'd have ran for the hills with Remus and their son a long time ago. But Dora knew better. Draco could not hide within the vast crowd of Hogwarts students, merlin knows what he thought his plan would be if he stayed there. Bellatrix looked pleased with the boy as he walked back-that was if you called the look of crazed amusement that had been plastered on her face for the most part of the last 24 hours looking pleased.

Draco slid between Dora and his mother as he re-joined their group. Dora felt herself giving him the reassuring squeeze of his shoulder that far too many people had been giving him recently. He's just a boy . . . they're all just children in this messed up war . . .

It was at that exact moment that Harry Potter sprung back into action. Nymphadora couldn't believe her eyes, nobody could. Death Eaters immediately abandoned their fight, a vast amount of them simply disapparating as she could hear her mother screaming at them. Voldemort had rushed after Harry, it was all becoming a blur of spells and screams.

"Aunt Cissa," Nymphadora quickly turned, shocked, to her aunt "Hide."

The two witches locked eyes for a few moments, a slight understanding between them. Nymphadora could understand why she had done it, her family were far better off with Harry Potter winning this war . . . She just hoped that her deception hadn't been in vein.

A curse whizzed past her head as Nymphadora was forced back into battle mode. Everyone seemed to be seeping into the castle, though battles still raged everywhere as they had before. Nymphadora saw the opportunity and ran as closely to the front as she could, following her mothers lead straight into the thick of it. She was soon fighting curse after curse being thrown at her.

She noted how her mother had somehow gotten into a duel with students and tried to decide if she could somehow join her to benefit the children rather than let Bellatrix kill them in cold blood. It was then that she noticed Rodolphus had gone straight for Remus, of course he had. She ran over, firing a hex that split itself to try to attack two Weasley boys at once, quickly engaging them in battle. She could hear her father laughing as he tried to egg on Remus mockingly.

"Come on!" Nymphadora fought harder, the two boys being a good match for her-easy to duel at near full capacity and still look like she was trying her hardest against them.

It was at that point that she witnessed Rodolphus being knocked down by Remus. She reflected a quick hex from Charlie Weasley as she looked in horror at her father hitting the ground. She knew Remus wouldn't have killed him . . . would he? She ran over to him, dropping to the floor. She was thankful as she watched his chest rise and fall.

The hex hitting her shoulder soon reminded her she was in the middle of a battle, sending a jolt of pain through her body as she looked to see the new cut on her shoulder. A minor hex. It was Remus. He had remembered that the benefits of their shared parentage of Teddy, and the fabricated circumstances of his conception, being out in the open was that they could make it believable to the preying eye that they would want to duel each other. It was a way to keep each other safe that had worked in the past, why wouldn't it now?

She rose from her father, quickly parrying more hexes from the werewolf. It was at that point that she heard the yell of Molly Weasley filling the room.

"Not my daughter you bitch!"

It was at that point Dora was glad that her current opponent was only Remus, for she turned to watch Molly pushing aside her only daughter, walking up to instead fight Bellatrix herself. Dora didn't notice as her knuckles turned white from the tight grip she had on her wand, forcing herself not to go and join her in her fight . . . Bellatrix could handle herself . . . but Bellatrix was being cocky.

Dora was sure she wasn't the only one watching the duel with such great attention as she swore the hall had become quieter than it had only seconds before. It was all happening so quickly, the two women seemed a perfect match for each other. Though Bellatrix wasn't giving Molly the attention she needed to be defeated, her own ignorance was about to get her killed. Nymphadora made the decision to go help, let the Weasley bitch die, she was not losing her mother twice in one lifetime.

Though as Nymphadora made her mind up to go help . . . that was when it was too late. With a flash of light and a look of rage on the ginger womans face Bellatrix Lestrange fell for the last time.

Nymphadora barely heard the yell of her master as her scream of horror filled the room. No-one was quite sure where to look as both the womans master and her only child yelled out at her death. Though as Nymphadora was the first to move, running over to her fallen mother, determined to get to her though stopped short as she felt a strong pair of arms engulf her. Remus Lupin held her back, clearly unsure if she was going to avenge her mother or mourn her, Nymphadora wasn't entirely sure herself but by god did she struggle. Tears streamed down her face, she clawed at Remus, she couldn't accept what had just happened. Though as only one single duel resumed, the only duel that really mattered in this war, Nymphadora felt herself slumping back into the werewolf, defeated.

She couldn't stop crying. She didn't care about her 'pureblood façade', she didn't care that she looked weak, she wanted her mummy. No matter what that crazed woman had done, no matter how she had gained the title of mum, she had loved her, she knew that she would do anything for her. She didn't want her dead. She wanted her to hold her close and sing her a lullaby and have everything be better again. She didn't realise she was on the floor until she heard Remus' soft whispers in her ear.

The pair had slid to the ground as Dora had gone limp in the mans arms, he was currently embracing her as he stroked her hair, trying to calm her.

"Sshhh . . . it's over Dora . . . It's over . . ." Remus' voice was so soothing, so calm.

Dora looked to where The Dark Lord had been, so powerful, so awe inspiring . . . dead. They had lost. It was over. She didn't care anymore.

She felt Remus' grip relinquish slightly on her as she scrambled to her feet, running over to the cold dead body of her guardian. She fell down beside her, taking her hand in her own. She had seen so many dead bodies in her lifetime, a large amount of them because of the woman now laying in front of her, but she couldn't cope seeing this one. She fell forward onto the lifeless form of the woman she had called mother as she quietly sobbed. She didn't care about the war. She didn't care about the glances she was getting right now. She didn't care that she was openly mourning possibly the most talented dark witch of her lifetime. She couldn't give two glorified shits as to how this made her look as a Death Eater, as a supposed Pureblood, as a Lestrange, as a human being. She didn't care who she was or what she had done . . . she wanted her mother back.


If I made one person cry I'm happy. haha

Okay. So I hope you enjoyed that. There are more chapters of this story still left to come but I thought I would take this opportunity to make a little announcement. I have enjoyed writing this story sooooo much, I have loved reading each and every one of your reviews and replying to all of you. I have been amazed at all of the support, questions and love I have received for this story. As a wise man once said 'I don't want to go.' more ideas keep on irking in my mind and people have expressed their wish for this story not to end just yet . . . so I'm going to be writing a sequel. I thought long and hard as to if I would pin it to the end of this story or not but I believe I already have planned out the natural end to this part of Nymphadoras life and how I would end it. So once this story has been completed I will be starting to work on the sequel for this story. I will also continue to try to update the previous chapters of this story but to get any notification as to when this sequel starts please either follow me as an author or pm me requesting to be notified, or both, I don't mind. I am also very much struggling to think of a name for this sequel so feel free to put any ideas my way.

Anyway, like i said, this particular story isn't over just yet, don't threat. I have a guest over for the next few days but I will try and get the next chapter up by the end of the week. Thank you thank you thank you again for your continued love and support.

The Purple Black

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