Lord Voldemort stared down at Bellatrix, who did not dare rise from the floor. She kept her eyes on the ground, submissive, feeling his eyes boring into her skull. Her Lord was not happy. But why?

"Your sister and her husband have joined the Order."

Her head snapped up in shock. "Narcissa and Lucius, my Lord? Surely there must be some mistake - !"

"No." His voice was cold, and Bellatrix felt her blood turn to ice even before he continued, "Your other sister, Andromeda."

"I - I'm sure we can still reach her, my Lord," Bellatrix pleaded. "It's that fool, Dumbledore, he's poisoning her mind - "

"I cannot allow Order members to roam free, Bellatrix, you know this. If she wishes to die for Albus Dumbledore and her mudblood husband, she shall."

Horror and desperation clawed at her throat. "My Lord, please - "

"I wished to inform you as a courtesy for your faithful service, and to offer you the opportunity to take on this mission yourself should you choose to - she is your sister after all - "

"You promised! "

Bellatrix tensed. The room was silent in the wake of her outburst. She had not meant to shout. Lowering her head closer to the floor, she whispered, "You promised..."

Silence stretched between them. When Lord Voldemort spoke, dread filled her.

"You dare to question me?"

"I - I'm sorry, my Lord, I didn't mean to question - "

"Do not lie to me."

Bellatrix pressed her forehead to the floor, bowing as deeply as she could in the hopes of appeasing his anger. "Please, my Lord, you promised my sister would be forgiven at the end of the war - "

"Should she ask our forgiveness. I said nothing about should she fight against us - "

"You said even those who fought against you would - "

"Enough," Voldemort commanded.

Bellatrix shivered.

"You need a reminder it seems," he mused almost to himself. But then he spoke again more firmly, "It is time for you to prune your family tree, Bellatrix. Kill your sister, her mudblood husband, and your half blood niece."

Tears stung the back of Bellatrix's eyes. "Please, my Lord, spare them - kill the mudblood, my Lord, but spare my sister and her daughter, please my Lord - "

"Silence," Voldemort said. "It seems you need some motivation."

"Bella!"

Bellatrix's head snapped up. Cissy lay on the ground between them, struggling against the ropes that bound her.

"Cissy!" she gasped. "My Lord, what - "

"It is up to you, Bella, whether Narcissa lives or dies," Voldemort said. His eyes were cold, completely devoid of empathy.

"My Lord, please - "

"I'm tired of your begging. Do as I command or Narcissa dies."

Bellatrix couldn't breath.

"Unless, of course, you wish to kill Narcissa instead?"

Cissy went very still.

"What?" Bella gasped.

"If you kill Narcissa, I will grant you your wish. I'll kill the mudblood but spare Andromeda and her daughter."

A tear rolled down Bella's cheek. She barely noticed it. "My Lord...please..."

"Bella?" Cissy said, her voice barely more than a terrified whisper.

"It'll be okay, Cissy," Bella said, meeting Cissy's wide eyes, trying her best to sound reassuring. "It'll be okay, I promise."

"You'll do it then? You will kill the blood traitor?"

"Yes," she whispered brokenly.

"Good. Do it."

Bella stood over Andromeda, wand in her hand. Andy glared up at her, hatred burning in her eyes. She cradled a small pink haired girl in her arms.

"Do it," Andy spat. "My husband is dead, you already murdered my daughter, you bitch - what are you waiting for? Kill me! "

"I...no, I didn't, I wouldn't have - "

Lord Voldemort stalked behind them. "I am losing patience, Bellatrix."

"Don't want to disappoint your master," Andy spat.

Bellatrix swallowed hard. Her wand shook. "I'm so sorry, Andy..."

But Andy toppled over dead, Nymphadora's body slipping from limp arms. Bella wasn't sure she had heard her at all.

"Well done, Bella," Voldemort said softly. "But I think the lesson could sink in deeper..."

Somewhere a baby cried - Draco .

Voldemort spun, pointing his wand at Narcissa.

Bellatrix lunged forward, screaming, "No! "

There was a blinding flash of green light -

Andromeda woke slowly. Was it morning already? She cracked open her eyes, staring at the ceiling. The house was dark and silent. It had to be the middle of the night or very early morning at best. So what had woken her?

The sound of leaves rustling whispered through the room. A new addition she had added since Molly had helped her remodel the room, and one which she had grown used to and which did not disturb her sleep any longer. She rubbed her eyes.

Beside her, Bellatrix whimpered. She had transformed sometime in the night, and she lay on her side, curled up with her hands tucked under her chin. She twitched, whimpered, and started tossing and turning. Andy sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes with one hand and gently shaking Bellatrix's shoulder with the other.

"Wake up, Bella," she murmured. "You're having a nightmare."

A tear rolled down Bella's cheek. Alarmed, Andy shook Bella harder.

"Bella, wake up. Come on, Bella, wake up - "

Bellatrix jolted awake, eyes snapping open to meet Andy's gaze with wild eyes. To Andy's alarm, Bellatrix latched onto her, shaking and sobbing into her shoulder.

Andy held her close. Shushing her and rubbing at her back, she tried to calm Bella down.

"I'm sorry," Bellatrix choked out.

Andy's brow furrowed. "What for?"

Shaking her head, Bella leaned further into her, practically climbing into her lap.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Bellatrix was quiet for so long that Andy was sure she wouldn't respond. Then, barely a whisper,

"You died." A pause. "I...killed you."

Andy stayed quiet. She didn't know what to say. What could she say?

But Bellatrix wasn't finished. "Was ordered. Fought him. He promised." She loosened her grip on Andy and shifted, resting her cheek against Andy's shoulder. Her voice was strained, and Andy could tell she was having difficulty forming words. "He...didn't listen. Threatened Cissy... Her or you - and Dora. Wanted me...to kill...you. Ted dead... Dora dead... Said...I killed her - but I wouldn't!"

Bellatrix got upset again. Andy stopped stroking her shoulders, feeling cold inside. Ted dead. Dora murdered by Bellatrix. It was her worst nightmare. The thought alone made her numb - but then Bellatrix sniffed, tightening her grip on Andy, and it struck her then how much the mere thought was tearing Bellatrix apart. It shocked her to realize that Bellatrix cared at all. Then she felt guilty, thinking of how much Bellatrix adored Dora, although if she were honest, she had expected Bellatrix to distance herself from Dora as she began to recover.

Bellatrix sniffed. "I killed you... He killed...Cissy anyway... I couldn't...protect..."

Andy resumed rubbing Bella's shoulders again.

"Failed...you... Couldn't...protect... Sorry...so...sorry..."

Andy shushed her, tears welling in her eyes. "It was just a nightmare, Bella. I'm safe. Cissy's safe. Dora and Ted are both at home. They're either fast asleep or getting drunk and wrecking everything in the house together. Some nice father-daughter bonding time for them, you know."

Bellatrix laughed weakly.

Sensing that Bellatrix was calming down, Andy laid them both back down on the bed. Bella rested her head on Andy's shoulder. Andy stared up at the ceiling, watching the painted stars twinkling: an addition she had made earlier that day. There were still things she wanted to do, improvements to make, enchantments to lay down. But it was coming along nicely.

"Bella?" Andy asked quietly.

Bellatrix hummed sleepily in reply.

"What did you mean when you said 'he promised'? What did You-Know-Who promise you?"

Bellatrix shook her head.

Andy stroked her hair. "I won't be angry. I just want to understand."

Bella shook her head again.

"Okay. That's fine. You can tell me when you're ready." She kissed Bella's forehead. Bellatrix relaxed.

What could Voldemort have promised Bellatrix regarding her that Bellatrix didn't want to tell her?

Narcissa watched Andromeda absently sip her tea while staring at the tapestry on the drawing room wall. She had been trying to get Andy's attention for a while but to no avail. From time to time, Andy would look at her, focusing for a minute or two, before her attention slipped and she stared at the wall, her thoughts elsewhere once more.

Narcissa turned the conversation to irrelevant topics: the shopping trip with Miss Zabini, the trivial and petty gossip gathered at balls that likely had little basis in reality, Lucius's plan to breed more peacocks in the spring. That last point she expected to draw a sarcastic remark but Andromeda appeared not to have heard her.

Narcissa lowered her cup and watched Andromeda. Andromeda gazed unseeingly at the tapestry.

"I killed Lucius and fed him to the peacocks."

"Uh huh," Andromeda said absently.

"They've developed a taste for flesh."

"Right."

"Every day and night I'm at war with them."

"Weird," Andromeda said, staring at the wall and took a sip of her tea.

Narcissa sighed. "What's wrong, Drommie?"

That got Andromeda's attention. Narcissa had not called her 'Drommie' since she was about five. She had switched to 'Andy' because it was what Bellatrix called her, and Narcissa had wanted to be more like her eldest sister.

"Why do you think something's wrong?" Andromeda asked.

"You haven't been listening to a word I say. Bellatrix isn't here either. Did you have a fight?"

Andromeda scoffed. "As if Bellatrix is coherent enough to fight with."

"You've proven lately that Bellatrix doesn't even have to understand a word you say for the two of you to be at odds."

Andromeda ignored her. "We didn't fight. Bellatrix likes to be in the room when she's stressed. She finds it very relaxing now." She smiled at Narcissa proudly. "We did a great job. I want to add some enchantments to make the breeze carry a forest scent. Maybe have some birds fly past. Just a few touches to add a bit more immersion for her. I think she'd like that, don't you?"

Narcissa refused to let Andromeda distract her. "And why is Bellatrix stressed?"

Andromeda sighed. "Fine. Fine. Alright, I'll tell you."

Narcissa listened closely as Andromeda recounted Bellatrix's dream and her refusal to tell Andromeda what she thought the Dark Lord had promised her.

"It seems like Bellatrix made You-Know-Who promise her something about me - "

"Bellatrix could not make the Dark Lord promise her anything, first of all. Secondly, do you know if this is a real promise or something she dreamed?"

Andromeda paused. "A real promise. Has to be. Why else wouldn't she tell me? She told me everything else about the dream."

"Precisely. We both know that Bellatrix was never an open person. It's entirely possible that she merely calmed down enough to become self conscious again. It doesn't mean she's withholding real information from you."

Andromeda didn't look convinced. "I suppose..."

Narcissa took a sip of her tea and watched Andromeda become lost in thought once more.

When Andromeda showed no sign of pulling herself from her own thoughts, Narcissa cleared her throat and prompted, "So Bellatrix is enjoying the remodeling?"

Andromeda blinked, her attention returning. She smiled. "Very much so. I think she's making progress. She's stopped retreating to Kreacher's den when she wants to hide at least."

"Good. A house elf den is no place for her."

"No, we all know that respectable witches and wizards live in forests."

Narcissa resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "It means that she is beginning to remember what she is and how to behave."

Andromeda eyed her critically. "How is Pinky these days?"

Narcissa didn't like the way that Andromeda asked the question. "Well. Healthy. An excellent servant as always."

Andromeda hummed thoughtfully, raising her eyebrows and taking a sip of her tea. "Of course. She was always very loyal. A much better listener than Mother and Father too."

"That's quite the low bar."

Andromeda flashed her a smile. "You should talk to Hermione Granger sometime about Pinky. As a muggleborn, she finds the concept of house elves fascinating."

Narcissa couldn't fathom the idea of being fascinated by house elves of all things but she supposed she could see how a muggleborn might be - they wouldn't have house elves, after all. Still she couldn't shake the feeling that Andromeda was setting her up somehow. She was distracted from pursuing that thought by the sound of footsteps thundering down the hall, down the stairs and tearing toward the drawing room like two massive beasts let loose, shaking the whole house.

Bellatrix burst into the drawing room, a blur of black fur, with a black dog on her heels. The dog nipped at her haunches, and Bellatrix dropped to the floor, rolling onto her back, front paws splaying in the air. Sirius sprinted away from her. Bellatrix leapt to her feet and chased him out of the room.

"Sirius seems to be in a better mood," Narcissa remarked. She had never seen Sirius play around like that before - and Bellatrix clearly enjoyed it which made Narcissa feel a twinge of guilt, wondering if she could have - should have - made even more of an effort at keeping Bellatrix entertained and exercised within these walls.

"The room has been good for him too. He refuses to admit it, but I know he spends time in there when I'm elsewhere in the house. Sometimes he sneaks in when I'm sleeping too. He thinks if he stays as a dog, I'll mistake him for Bellatrix, but I tripped over him last night on my way to the bathroom."

Narcissa giggled. Then, more seriously, she said, "It's good to see Bellatrix playing. She's always...for a long time it felt like she was always holding something back. It's so good to see her happy."

"Yeah," Andromeda said, almost to herself, raising her cup with an affectionate expression. "It really is..."

Christmas was just around the corner. Dora and Andy were excited, though their enthusiasm was tempered by Sirius's increasingly dour mood.

"We could put up a few lights, some decorations..." Andy prompted Sirius at breakfast one morning.

Sirius grunted, pushing his scrambled eggs around on his plate. "Do whatever you want."

"This is our first Christmas together in ages, Sirius," she said, hurt.

Sirius sighed. "I'm sorry, Andy. It's hard to be cheerful here." He took a deep breath. "But I'll try."

"It'll be your first Christmas with Harry too, won't it?"

"Harry stays at Hogwarts for the holidays."

"You've never had a home where he could stay with you before. I'm sure he'll want to visit you over the holidays this year."

That thought seemed to cheer Sirius up slightly, but his mood remained volatile as the holidays approached. Dora helped her mother keep her spirits up in the face of Sirius's mood swings by helping her to decorate. She brought over a box of string lights.

Andy pulled a coiled string of lights from the box. "They're enchanted so they don't need electricity. You can put them anywhere."

Remus helped her and Dora hang them up along the walls. Bellatrix looked up at the twinkling red and green lights. They made the house feel warmer somehow, but it did little to alleviate the growing cold inside her.

Christmas had never been a particularly cheerful holiday when they had been children. Mother and Father tried their best, especially when they were younger, to make the holidays at least a time of warmth - but it became harder as they grew older not to see how fragile the facade. A grimace here, a tightening of fingers there, a smile that did not reach the eyes, the slight strain of an expression. They learned over the years how to dance around each other's faults, to live with each other, to avoid most eruptions of anger. No longer were they enemies, but never did they become friends. Allies, at best, in Bellatrix's opinion.

Much like she and Rodolphus had become after their marriage.

That had changed the first Christmas after Andromeda ran away. It would have been miserable enough even without them going at each other's throats in private, blaming each other, wondering where one or both of them had gone wrong. Narcissa had spent the whole day with a far off look in her eyes, her face pale and strained. Bellatrix had done her best to help Narcissa feel better to no avail, and it had been the first time that Bellatrix had been thankful they had a ball to attend that evening.

Lord Voldemort had greeted her shortly after they arrived at the Parkinson's, kissing her hand and sweeping her onto the dance floor, away from her parents with their dignified expressions, away from Narcissa who made a beeline to the nearest table for a glass of wine.

He alone had seen the stress in the lines that etched her face, the weight she carried on her shoulders. Mother and Father and Narcissa had been lost in their own pain, blinded to Bellatrix's own broken heart. Even as Bellatrix was grateful that Narcissa had not noticed, unwilling to put more weight on her sister's shoulders, a part of her resented that Narcissa had not even asked how she felt.

But that was she had wanted, wasn't it, for Narcissa keep quiet about Andromeda for her own safety? What right did Bellatrix have to be angry that Narcissa did not ask how she was handling Andromeda's absence over the holidays? But then, she thought, Narcissa did not have to say a word to convey that she had noticed something was wrong.

Voldemort had led her in a waltz around the dance floor and pulled her from those thoughts. "I would wish you a Merry Christmas, but I can see it is anything but. Tell me what troubles you, Miss Black."

And Bellatrix had told him - about Mother and Father's fighting, about Narcissa's distance, about the rumblings that Lucius's parents no longer considered Narcissa a suitable match and were encouraging him to court other women.

"If I could find a suitable match for myself," she said, "it might settle the Malfoys' fears. If I can repair the damage Andromeda has done..."

"But you've scared off all of the eligible men," Voldemort said with a smirk and amusement shining in his red eyes.

Bellatrix did not blush this time, more confident in his high regard for her. "Yes. I have not found a man who can stand at my level."

"I would imagine my favor will help to ease the Malfoys' concerns," Voldemort said as the dance ended. "However, that does not help you find a partner who is suitable for you..." He led her off the dance floor, looking thoughtful, and once they were among the tables, he stopped and turned back to her.

"I have known the Lestranges for years. Their eldest son, Rodolphus, is only a few years younger than you. About Narcissa's age, I believe. Marriage will have to wait until he graduates Hogwarts, but I see no reason you could not sow the seeds of an arrangement now."

Voldemort turned his eyes to stare across the dance floor, and Bellatrix followed his gaze to where the Lestrange family stood. She knew the Lestrange boys largely in passing, having seen them in the halls of Hogwarts and in the Slytherin Common Room. She had spoken little to them as they had been several years below her.

The Lestrange boys were tall. Rodolphus, the eldest, had broad shoulders and a sullen look on his face. He did not appear to be enjoying the ball much more than Bellatrix usually did. His younger brother, Rabastan, was thin and nervous looking, but his eyes were sharp and his smile polite, and he handled the pleasantries while Rodolphus glowered. They reminded Bellatrix of herself and Narcissa.

"You believe he will be interested?" Bellatrix asked.

Voldemort chuckled. "You are a beautiful woman, Bellatrix. Of course he will be interested. And what is more, he shows promise. I believe you will help each other to reach your full potential."

Bellatrix had bowed her head and thanked him, and she had made her way around the dance floor to where the brothers stood. Rodolphus had spoken little, which frustrated her, as each question or observation had been met with a grunt or a curt answer. Eventually, however, she had dropped the facade, taking a different approach.

"Pleasantries are so tiring, don't you think?" Bellatrix had said, and Rodolphus looked at her, his gaze curious.

"Yeah," he grunted, arms crossed tightly.

"And balls are so dreadfully boring, don't you agree?"

"Yeah."

Bellatrix had glanced around, looking for their parents. The Lestranges were speaking with the Malfoys and her parents were conversing with the Parkinsons.

"Why don't we slip outside and get some fresh air?" she asked.

Rodolphus uncrossed his arms, his posture opening up and relaxing. "Let's."

"Rod, if Mother and Father see you're gone - " Rabastan had hissed, fear flashing in his eyes.

"Stuff it, Rab," he said, "and cover for me."

"And what am I supposed to say, hm?"

"I don't know, you're smart, you'll figure something out."

Rabastan groaned, rubbing at his eyes, but did nothing to stop them when Bellatrix started toward the garden doors, Rodolphus close behind.

Bellatrix and Rodolphus had quickly become friends, and with Voldemort's favor, the Lestranges had seen no reason to object to their engagement. With their engagement, the Malfoys had settled, and Narcissa and Lucius had breathed easier, the threat to their own relationship gone. Bellatrix was happy for Narcissa, but it did not help the resentment that sometimes flared inside her when she saw how Lucius and Narcissa looked at each other: blissfully happy and in love. She would never have that, could never pursue that, thanks to Andromeda, and her resentment grew when her and Rodolphus's friendship fell apart under the stresses of the expectations of marriage.

The twinkling Christmas lights hung along the walls of Grimmauld Place did little to raise her spirits, stop her mind from drifting to unpleasant memories.

Like Sirius, she found her mood volatile as Christmas approached. She could not shake the thoughts of previous holidays, of a loveless marriage, of a master who had cared for and provided for her whom she was kept from now - could not escape the caged feeling of the house, even within her enchanted room, keenly aware it was only an illusion of freedom.

Still, she hoped - as Sirius had hoped for Harry - that Hermione and Crookshank would come to visit. Would the house be filled, for the first time in her memory, with her sisters and friends, spirits unfettered by the expectations of her mother and father, aunts and uncles?

The one truly happy Christmas Bellatrix could remember was the year Draco was born. Narcissa and Lucius had beamed and laughed and snapped dozens of photographs of Draco, who had been fascinated by the lights and ornaments. Even the wrapping paper, Bellatrix remembered, warmth glowing in her chest. She had helped him remove the wrapping paper from her present to him. He had been as interested in playing with the wrapping paper as with the stuffed animal she had gotten him.

She remembered his eyes wide with wonder at the snow falling passed the windows. His giggling when she removed her necklace to stop him pulling at it and dangling it above him, just out of reach. Narcissa had watched them with a warm smile.

"What?" Bellatrix had asked.

"Nothing. I'm just happy."

Draco had turned his head, seen Narcissa and fussed, reaching out chubby little arms toward her. Bellatrix carefully shifted him into Narcissa's arms and rejoined Lucius by the fireplace while Narcissa had sat down to feed Draco.

The only thing that could have made that Christmas better was if Andromeda had been there too.

This year, Andromeda would be there - her daughter too. Draco would be missing, but Bellatrix hoped that Crookshanks, Hermione and the other children would distract from that in some small way.

It was the only thing, she thought, that would make her feel better that holiday.

Narcissa had just finished putting the final touches on the manor in preparation for Christmas. She was looking forward to seeing Draco again. The house seemed so empty without him, and she didn't even want to consider what it would be like once he moved out. But that wouldn't be for a while yet.

She stood in her storage room, holding a thin box - one the Aurors had given to her a little over ten years ago. Opening it, she stared down at Bellatrix's wand. It gleamed dully in the dim lighting. There had been no discussion with Dumbledore yet of when Bellatrix would receive her wand back. She suspected Dumbledore would not approve such a measure until after he had secured her loyalty, but Bellatrix's progress had been remarkable, and Narcissa worried a day would quickly come when an Order member would turn on Bellatrix. Worse yet, the thought of Bellatrix having no recourse should she choose not to join the Order filled Narcissa with a sense of dread. Bellatrix would likely not be a match for Dumbledore in a straight duel, but she would not have to be in order to create a distraction to escape.

The return of her wand would be the best Christmas present that Narcissa could give her by far. She was confident that Bellatrix was well enough to understand that she would need to keep her wand hidden from even Andromeda - not that Narcissa did not trust Andromeda, but it was too likely that Andromeda would disagree about Bellatrix's stability and current ability to use a wand responsibly. But Narcissa could not bring herself to wait any longer to return Bellatrix's wand to her.

Narcissa placed the wand box in a bag to conceal its shape and placed it on the desk. After a moment of consideration, she decided she would bring over the mobile Bellatrix had bought for Draco as a baby. That would require more thought to transport discreetly and safely. She wasn't sure how much it would help Bellatrix, but she could not think of anything else she could give her. The only other objects that came to mind were the raven skull necklace and the leather jacket - two objects that Narcissa feared would be too notable in their absence and for which she would be unable to weave a satisfactory excuse for being missing. Lucius did not come into this room, however, and so the absence of the mobile and the wandbox would not be noticed.

Satisfied with her decisions and with the only issue left being a way to sneak out during the holidays to see her sisters, she went to the drawing room where Lucius sat with a glass of wine and a book. He looked up and smiled at her.

"You've done a wonderful job with the decorations, my love - as always."

Narcissa sat next to him on the couch and leaned into his side. "Thank you, dear. I try my best."

"You succeed. None of the other families ever have such nicely decorated homes - none of them possess the talent that you do - "

Playfully, Narcissa pushed his shoulder. "I'm not going to tell you what I got you for Christmas just because you tell me what I already know."

Lucius smiled. "I have to try, my dear. It's part of my charm."

Narcissa scoffed, slapping at his arm. "You know I married you for your looks, not your supposed charms."

"I suppose it's a good thing I'm pretty then."

Narcissa grinned - and then shrieked, jumping in shock and horror as a filthy house elf appeared in front of them. Lucius cursed, spilling wine down his front.

"Kreacher!" Narcissa gasped horrified.

"Kreacher?" Lucius said sharply. "You know this house elf?"

Kreacher bowed low. "Kreacher lives to serve, Miss Cissy."

Heart pounding, Narcissa stared at Kreacher with horror. "What are you doing here, Kreacher? You're bound to my aunt and uncle's house."

"Master told Kreacher to 'get out'," Kreacher said with a shrewd gleam in his eyes. "Kreacher did as Master ordered."

Narcissa was certain that was not what Sirius meant at all, but with Lucius sitting right next to her, she could say nothing.

Lucius sat up straighter, leaning forward intently. He seemed to forget for a moment the wine still staining his robes. "Who is your master, elf?"

No, no, no, please, Sirius, please have forbidden him - but even as she prayed for a miracle, she knew it would not come. Kreacher was never meant to leave Grimmauld Place. Sirius would not have thought to forbid Kreacher from answering this question.

Kreacher turned his gaze to Lucius. When he spoke, it was with an obvious sense of relish at his rebellion.

"Kreacher is bound to Sirius Black, Master Lucius."

Narcissa closed her eyes in defeat.