Characters: Bellatrix Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange, Nymphadora Tonks
Idea: In order to punish her blood traitor little sister Andromeda, Bellatrix kidnaps (baby or toddler) Nymphadora in order to kill her. Only when Bella finds out that the kid is a metamorphmagus, she changes her mind... decides to raise the girl as her own instead.
Fun with Nym ensues...
This can be either a dark Tonks or gray Bella - depends on the relationship with the kid and how the story plays out - because a good Bella just does not work for me.
Story starts in May 1978, Nym's 5th bday Bellatrix is 27, Narcissa is 23, Andromeda is 25. Rodolphus is 32. Rabastan is 30. Lucius is 25. Voldy is 52. Sirius is 18. Regulus is 17
Little Nym: Born 1973
Kidnapped, blood adopted?
Bellatrix Lestrange née Black: Born 1951
Parents: Cygnus Black III and Druella Black née Rosier
Siblings: Andromeda and Narcissa
Rodolphus Lestrange: Born (1946)
Dark Lord: After having created 5 horcruxes, Voldy's features were waxy and his skin was pale as snow. Red eyes and black wavy hair.
The Birthday Party
The birthday girl was held in her mother's embrace where she felt safe and treasured. There was a party going on around them with cake, presents, balloons and music and, best off all, her father would be back in time to dance with her at least once before she had to go to bed. He promised her and birthday promises must be kept. Mother said so.
She was five years old now. Nymphadora was an adorable little witch and already strongly in tune with her magic. Not only was the girl a metamorphmagus, she was learning wandless magic. Nymphadora had dark innocent eyes that matched her dark curly black hair - much like her mother's - a button nose, and a cupid's bow mouth.
With her little arms stretched outwards and her hair flying around her, the girl laughed as they twirled faster and faster. Her mother's laugh mingled with hers, both sounds tinkling around the ballroom. Her mother was a beautiful young witch, everyone thought so, even if they called her a number of other things as well. Some called the woman evil, others called her insane, everyone knew her as Bellatrix Lestrange née Black. Little Nymphadora simply knew her as Mother.
Bellatrix was a tall young woman of twenty-seven years of age with long, thick shiny dark hair, thin lips, heavily-lidded eyes with long eyelashes and a strong jaw. She had the classic good looks and arrogant bearing common for a pureblood witch. The music played merrily in the background, but neither of them paid any attention to it. They were too busy listening to their own tune, dancing to their own beat, to pay the victrola any mind.
There were no other children at the party as Nymphadora was the first grandchild of her generation. Yet the entire family was in attendance or had a very good excuse not to be. The only acceptable absence was being called away for a 'meeting' by the Dark Lord, at school, disowned or dead. The current guests were her great-grandfather: Pollux, grandparents: Cygnus and Druella, the aunts: Walburga, Lucretia, Narcissa and Cassiopeia, and uncles: Arcturus, Orion, and Alphard. She didn't mind though, she had Mother to dance with.
With a commotion from the front of the house, the dancing stopped abruptly. Every head turned to the double doors as five men in black hooded robes strode into the ballroom. Four of the men wore silver masks and flanked the one who stood before them.
Lord Voldemort was the only man to not wear a mask - showing his red eyes and black wavy hair with skin as pale as snow. The man was feared by many. He was called the Dark Lord by his followers, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named by his enemies, but he would always be Uncle Lord to the child. Those red eyes locked on the girl and a smile curved his thin lips, "Nymphadora, I have a present for you."
Using her own big eyes to silently plead with her mother, Nymphadora asked politely, "Will you please put me down so I can greet Uncle Lord properly, Mother?"
"Of course," How could she be denied? Well, Nymphadora wasn't denied... ever. Her mother laughed and set her on her feet, "Hurry, Little Nym. Before my Lord changes his mind and goes back out to play!"
Nymphadora giggled at her mother's words because she knew her Uncle Lord wasn't a child. Once she gained her feet, Nymphadora obediently went to the Dark Lord. She curtsied - as was expected from any child of a pureblood - and looked up at him with a beaming smile. In her youthful excitement she rambled, "You came to my party! I knew you would. Mother said you might be ever too busy to come, but I just knew she couldn't be right this time. You said you'd be here, so I knew you'd keep your promise!"
No other living soul would dare speak to Voldemort with such familiarity, such ease and openness. But he wasn't angry. Quite the opposite, Voldemort was amused with her antics and innocence. The Dark Lord crouched in order to be at a closer eye level to the young witch, "A birthday promise is meant to be kept." He pulled a package from a hidden pocket within his black robe. With a flick of his hand, his bone white wand was in his palm and he tapped the tip once on the wrapping to enlarge the gift. "What sort of uncle would I be if I didn't bring you your gift?"
Nymphadora's eyes danced with happiness as they looked into the red eyes of her parent's Lord. The girl reverently took the package in one little arm and before he could rise again, she threw her free arm around his neck whispering, "You're the best uncle," She chanced a glance at the masked men before adding, "But please don't tell Uncle Rab, Uncle Evan or Uncle Luce. They'd be sad."
Chuckling, the Dark Lord patted the child's back before sweeping her into his arms. He walked them over to the large gilded chair that awaited his arrival and set Nymphadora on his knee. Voldemort tapped the package with a slender finger stating, "This is priceless to me. I'm entrusting it to your care."
She looked upon Voldemort with trusting eyes - that had shifted to the same red as his were whenever they spoke - holding the package to her heart with both arms. Nymphadora understood much more than anyone her tender age should; and with all the sincerity she could muster she told him, "Thank you, Uncle Lord."
Knowing manners were important, Nymphadora was careful while opening her gift from Voldemort rather than tearing recklessly at the paper. When she opened the wooden box and saw what was lying within on dark blue padding she let out a girlish squeal of delight. "It's so pretty!"
"A fitting gift for a princess," Voldemort stated.
Nymphadora plucked the tiara from the silk lining and reverently placed it on her head. It was slightly too big for her small form. Voldemort chuckled when it slipped askew and pulled the lining from the wooden box. With a swish of his wand, the dark blue silk wrapped itself around the back to affix it safely to the metal before the Dark Lord set the tiara back on Nymphadora's head. The tiara fit snuggly and she beamed at her Uncle Lord, "Thank you."
Voldemort gave her a nod of approval - when she gave him a questioning glance - and set her back on her feet. The tiara reflected the light of the chandelier as she skipped back to her mother. The circlet was silver with diamond chips and an oval sapphire in the center.
The four masked men had stood quietly at the door as they awaited a sign from the Dark Lord. The man waved his hand imperiously in silent dismissal giving them leave to enjoy the festivities. At once they unmasked and dropped their hoods. Nymphadora smiled beautifully at the sight of not only her father Rodolphus Lestrange, but her three uncles: Rabastan Lestrange, Evan Rosier and Lucius Malfoy.
Rodolphus swept his daughter up in his arms, twirling her around causing the girl to laugh with delight. One small arm wrapped around his neck, the other held her new headdress in place. Nymphadora was a beloved child and knew she was the luckiest girl alive.
AN: I thought to have the story start here and go on ... but, really, to what end? So here it sits in the bunny pen, for someone to adopt and carry on.
At first, I thought DL was going to give her a toy tiara and then the real one later... but 1. He goes kablooey before he can give it to her and 2. This way the tiara has a way of affecting her as she grows up.
Oh and Chapter 10 was originally supposed to be a Bella / Nym story, but it turned out to be about Rabastan, so I renamed it and tweaked it a tad.