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Bella

Elara waited patiently, stood at the top of the stairs leading down to the main entrance of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on the Sunday evening she knew that her brother was to return. She was careful to stand slightly out of view of the main footfall of students and staff, though she knew no-one would bother her due to her public close alliance with Delphini Riddle she was more concerned as to who would be taking her brother back to the castle. After waiting for almost an hour she was about to give up on her mission, deciding to catch her brother at breakfast the next day, when the large doors slowly opened. Elara's breath caught in her throat for a moment as she saw her brown-haired brother, waiting to see who had accompanied him, she almost smiled at the sight of Bellatrix Lestrange. She quickly walked down the steps, calming herself as she saw Bellatrix smirk at her appearance.

"Elara," Bellatrix mused, "waiting for the cub, are we?"

"I wanted to see my brother," Elara said simply, ignoring the cub comment, "are you here to see Delphi? She's in her room, common room password is mudblood."

Bellatrix considered the girl for a moment, looking to Teddy for a moment before she sighed, "Get yourself back to your common room, cub."

Elara and Teddy did not move nor speak a word as Bellatrix walked away from the pair, waiting until she had disappeared in the direction of the dungeon before they looked at eachother.

"Teddy . . ." Elara sighed, unsure of what to say now she was stood in front of the boy, "Mum—"

"I'm tired, Elara," Teddy shook his head, "can we talk tomorrow?"

"If I wanted to speak to you tomorrow I wouldn't have stood on the stairs for the last hour waiting for you," Elara said firmly, sighing after a moment as she saw the expression on her brothers face, "I'm worried about her . . ."

Teddy looked at his little sister, thinking for a moment before he took pity on her "She'll be okay, Elara,"

"You don't have to lie to me," Elara said, "I'm not a little girl anymore."

"You don't have to tell me that," Teddy scoffed.

"So tell me it how it is," Elara near enough demanded, "Delphi said . . . she told me what she tried to do to Roo . . ."

"It wasn't her fault," Teddy insisted, "she's not in her right mind, she's not thinking straight, she—"

"I know," Elara interrupted, "that's why I'm worried Teddy."

Teddy closed his eyes for a moment, looking around the hall to check that they were alone before he walked forward and placed a hand on his sisters shoulder reassuringly, "Mum . . . she's not well, Elara. But she still has her moments of clarity, I don't think she's a lost case just yet. She still knows what's going on to some extent—if she didn't she would never have gone to Rodolphus for help when this all happened."

"Father helped her?" Elara asked quietly.

Teddy bit his lip as he couldn't help but nod slightly "Yeah, well she asked for Roo to be taken out of the prisoner's wing and he helped her do it—along with Bellatrix and Delphi. She's been a bit better the last few days, she is seeing Roo . . . she just isn't allowed to be alone with him."

". . . How is Roo?" Elara asked, forcing the emotion out of her voice, "Is he okay?"

"He's well," Teddy said, "hasn't been sick in a while . . . He was surprisingly mature about the whole Mum situation, he's sad he can't sleep in the wing anymore but I've told him that you're really excited to have him in the room next to you now. He likes that."

"Thanks," Elara laughed slightly.

"You're welcome," Teddy winked, giving the girl a one armed hug, "now come on, I really do need to go to bed."

Elara begrudgingly agreed with the boy, nodding as they made their way towards their respective common rooms.

The end of the school year was quickly upon them all and yet again Delphi, Teddy and Elara found themselves sat in the same carriage of the Hogwarts express bounding their way back to platform 9 3/4. Elara sat in silence, holding her hands together tightly in her lap as she stared out of the window she could feel Delphi's gaze resting on her every few moments in concern.

"So . . ." Teddy said awkwardly, clearly trying to break the silence, "any plans for the summer, Delphi?"

"Really?" Delphi raised an eyebrow.

"Really," Teddy shrugged ". . . unless it's just the usual, you know learning torture, murder and despair from Mummy and Daddy."

"How did you guess," Delphini scoffed, "torture and despair is precisely what is on my schedule for after dinner tonight, would you like to join? I'm sure you could help us in the demonstration."

"No," Teddy shrugged with a smirk, "I'm sure you've got plenty of adoring idiots to jump at your feet for that honour already, I wouldn't want to deprive them."

Delphi couldn't help but laugh, "Are you getting the last of your mischief out before we get back to the manor, Teddy bear?"

"No," Teddy scoffed, "I could never run out of that."

"Which is why you end up in trouble so often," Delphi rolled her eyes in amusement.

"I do try," Teddy said, "it runs in the family, right sis? . . . Elara?"

Elara looked away from the window, her gaze blank for a moment before she shook herself back to reality "Sorry . . . What?"

"Are you okay?" Teddy frowned.

Elara nodded "Yes . . . I need a drink, I'll be off to find the trolley witch. Want anything?" Elara waited a moment for them both to shake their heads before she got up and quickly left.

"What's wrong with her?" Teddy asked Delphi.

"What do you think is wrong with her?" Delphi raised an eyebrow at the boy, sitting back in her seat.

"She's worried about Mum," Teddy frowned "though your look makes me think there's more to it than that." He rolled his eyes as the girl simply gave him a shrug "Well, I'm worried about Mum. She needs defending . . . properly . . ."

"Going to be her knight in shining armour, are we Teddy bear?" Delphi teased.

"Yes . . ." Teddy hesitated for a moment before he sat forward, lowering his voice "but I need your help."

"Are you mad?" Delphi laughed, "I have no desire to get between the mess of Rodolphus and Nymphadora, no thank you."

"But you can help me," Teddy said, "I need to learn how to defeat him."

"I already agreed to teach you some spells, Teddy," Delphi rolled her eyes.

"I need more than just spells, I need to learn how to duel, properly," Teddy said, "I need to be able to fight."

"Why would I want to teach you how to fight Rodolphus?" Delphi asked, a hint of curious amusement in her voice.

"Because you're like your mother; you love to help cause a little drama," Teddy smirked as the girl huffed at the notion, "besides, as far as anyone knows the reason you need to train me is due to my wish to become a useful Death Eater. It's not an entirely unbelievable notion that I may want to serve in order to protect my mother . . . if I serve then she isn't needed for her metamorphmagus abilities. Besides, you can pass me off as another of your next generation of followers like Elara."

Delphi shook her head, "The difference being that Elara is an entirely loyal follower . . . let me think on it, Teddy Lupin. I must admit, the thought does intrigue me."

"I—"

"I said, let me think," Delphi interrupted, "no more of your words to try and influence my choices here, cub."

Teddy bit his tongue, stopping himself from speaking further as he nodded and sat back in his seat, determined not to encourage Delphi not to help him.

Elara was the first to raise from her seat the moment the train arrived at Kings Cross station, pulling her case down from its shelf and quickly shrinking it to fit within her pocket before she near enough ran from the room. Teddy could barely keep up with the witch, Elara hearing his calls for her to wait up as she made her way to the trains exit. She didn't stop, knowing what she had to do and being determined not to become distracted. She could see her father and Bellatrix on the platform already, the wizard seeming extremely serious next to his grinning wife. The young girl took a deep breath as the door opened and she stepped down onto the platform, her father made eye contact with her only for a moment before he looked away ready to be rejected to escort her home yet again.

"Slow down, Elara," Teddy shook his head, "I'm not going to run for Bella, I'll take the hit as per usual, go on with Delphi."

"No," Elara shook her head, leaving her brother frowning in confusion as she strode across the quickly filling platform. She didn't look away from her father, even though he had long given up on looking at her, the man staring towards the train behind her right up until the moment she stopped directly in front of him.

Rodolphus hesitated for a moment, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion for a moment as he looked towards the daughter that had ignored him so bluntly for such a long time. It was almost as if he was scared to talk to her, like she would suddenly realise where she was stood and run away. To his surprise it was his daughter that broke the silence, reaching out for his hand.

"Father . . ." Elara said, "shall we leave?"

"I—" Rodolphus nodded, taking the girls hand and disapparating without a further thought. He looked down at his daughter the moment they appeared within the manor, suddenly finding his words again "Elara, I—"

"No," Elara let go of his hand, closing her eyes for a moment before she looked up at him with all seriousness "I don't want to talk just yet—I will, later . . . but I want to talk to mother first."

"She's not well, Elara . . ." Rodolphus murmured.

"I know," Elara nodded, "but she's my mother. I love her and want to see her . . . I'll come see you later."

Rodolphus hesitated for a moment, though ultimately decided not to argue with the girl seeing as this was the most they had talked amicably in some time. He gave the girl a nod, "I'll be in the library . . ."

Elara nodded, watching her father walk away from her before she walked on up to the prisoner's wing.

"Elara," Andromeda Tonks greeted the girl as she walked through the wards of the prisoner's wing, smiling as her granddaughter gave her a hug in greeting.

"Hi Nan," Elara smiled.

"How was school?" Andromeda asked, "Get up to much trouble?"

"As always," Elara smirked, pulling away from the older witch as her gaze flickered to her mother's room "is she in there?"

" . . . Yes," Andromeda eventually said hesitantly.

"How has she been?" Elara asked, "Teddy said . . . I heard about everything—and she hasn't written, I usually get at least one letter from Mum a month."

"She's been better," Andromeda said, "though perhaps it's best if you don't go straight to see her. I know Reuben has missed you, he's very excited for your return—I was just about to check on him, would you like to come with me?"

"No," Elara said, "I want to see Mum."

Andromeda took the girls arm as she went to walk by her, "Elara, stop."

"Why?" Elara narrowed her eyes at her grandmother "I want to see my mother, what's so wrong with that? . . . Has father been here? Is that why you don't want me to see her? Is she hurt?"

"No," Andromeda shook her head, "he's not been in here in days. Elara, your mother . . . she's not always in her right mind anymore . . . I don't think it's wise for you to go in there, she's been doing better the last few days."

"And you think seeing me will make her relapse?" Elara raised an eyebrow, "I'm her daughter."

"I know . . ." Andromeda sighed, nodding towards Nymphadora's room, "just . . . be gentle, she's had a calming draught so she shouldn't— . . . I'll be right out here if you need me."

"I won't," Elara said, ignoring her grandmother as the older witch rolled her eyes at her, walking over to the room and knocking gently on the door. "Mother? . . . Mum?" Elara tried to calm her emotions as she waited for her mother's voice, painfully aware of the fact that her grandmother was watching her. She knocked again, "Mum? It's just me . . ."

"Maybe you should leave her a while," Andromeda suggested.

"No," Elara said firmly, "I want to see my Mother. I—" she paused as the door opened a crack, raising her eyebrows in an "I-told-you-so" fashion before entering the room and quickly shutting the door behind her.

A lump caught in Elara's throat as she saw her mother for the first time since the holidays. It was painfully apparent that the woman had suffered in the time she was away, at the very least mentally if not also physically. Nymphadora Lupin was sat on the edge of her bed, her wand firmly gripped between her fingers as she rested the piece of wood on her lap, her hair was a limp mousey brown and she looked far paler and skinnier than Elara could remember.

"Mum?" Elara spoke, her voice almost unsure.

"Wotcher . . ." Dora's voice cracked slightly before she coughed and forced a smile at the girl, "How was school?"

"The usual . . ." Elara spoke quietly, slowly walking over to her mother as if frightened to make any sudden movements, "learning things, having fun, causing mischief with Delphi."

"Good," Dora reached out, taking one of her daughters hands, "you've grown up . . ."

"Well I am getting older," Elara smiled sadly at her mother, "how are you? How are . . . things?"

Dora let out a deep sigh, a forced slight smile still on her lips "I'm okay," she rolled her eyes as her daughter scoffed, "I'll be okay . . . I missed you . . . You know I love you, right?"

"I know," Elara nodded, "I missed you too—and I love you too. You're my Mum, obviously I love you."

"Good," Dora sighed, almost in relief.

"Has—" Elara tried to think of how to get her words out, taking a seat next to her mother and staring down at the floor "How's father been?"

"Good," Dora said, though the forced smile immediately faded from her lips.

"He hasn't hurt you? You wouldn't lie to me?" Elara asked, looking up at the woman even though her mother did not look back at her.

Dora shook her head, "You're my daughter . . ."

Elara hesitated for a moment, looking at the sudden change of expression on her mothers face as she was unsure if she was being lied to or not.

"You should check on your brother," Dora said, "he misses you. He has a room next to yours now, he's very excited for you to be back. I think he feels a bit lonely out there—which is nonsense because he's not alone. He has us still. He's just, not in here anymore . . ."

Elara gave a small nod, feeling the lump in her throat return as she tried to contain her emotions at her mothers state.

"I love you Elara," Dora said, her voice nearly void of emotion as she stared at the floor, "I want you to be safe and happy and loved . . . You are loved . . . By me a-and your father."

"Did he tell you to say that?" Elara snapped.

"No," Dora shook her head, "regardless of anything he loves you . . . You and Roo . . . You used to love him too, you were such a little Daddy's girl . . ."

"That was before," Elara said.

"You still love him," Dora scoffed, "he's your father, you only get one father. Some of us don't have father's anymore, I don't and Teddy . . . Teddy doesn't." Dora looked down at her daughter, though neither said anything for a few minutes as the younger witch rested her head on her shoulder.

"I'll talk to him," Elara said after some time, squeezing her mother's hand.

"Good . . ." Dora sighed, kissing her daughter's head, "go on . . . I need a nap."

Elara nodded, kissing her mothers cheek before she stood up, "Love you . . ." Elara smiled as Dora repeated her words, leaving the room and gently closing the door behind her.

"Well?" Andromeda asked, making the girl jump slightly as she didn't expect her to still be stood in the hallway.

"Well what?" Elara shrugged, "She's fine. Perfectly happy to see me. Now, if you'll excuse me I have places to be."

"Oh, do you now?" Andromeda raised her eyebrows at the girl, "Well, I wouldn't wish to delay you Miss Lestrange."

Elara rolled her eyes at the older witch, quickly walking past her and out of the wing and stopping abruptly the moment she knew she was out of sight of the woman. She screwed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath to calm her emotions before she eventually walked towards the library to find her father.

Rodolphus Lestrange was stood by the fire of the library, looking to the old ornate mirror above the mantel as he waited for his daughter to arrive. When the door eventually opened he could feel his breath catch in his throat, closing his fists for a moment as he tried to remind himself not to scare off his daughter as she had finally decided to speak to him after such a long time of silence. Elara Lestrange had undoubtedly grown up of late, whether that be naturally or down to the clear fact that she was trying to act mature around Delphini, she wore her hair dark in loose curls, her eyes dark to match.

"Elara," Rodolphus spoke carefully, turning around to face her rather than stare at the girl in the mirror as she turned to close the door behind her.

Elara stared at her father for a moment before she looked towards the empty fireplace, taking a few moments before she slowly walked over to sit in the armchair beside the fire.

"Mum's not doing well . . ." Elara murmured.

Rodolphus hesitated, eventually giving a small nod as he looked down at his daughter. "She's . . ." Rodolphus tried to choose his words carefully as the girl looked up to him, ". . . she's been doing better the last couple of days. I think she was excited to see you—and Teddy."

Elara smiled sadly for a moment before she looked away from the man again. "I still don't forgive you." Elara spoke quietly.

"No," Rod sighed, sitting in the chair opposite the girl, "but you know . . . you know I love you, that I would never intentionally do anything that I thought would hurt you."

"You're saying you wouldn't have hurt Mum if you knew I'd be upset by it?" Elara raised an eyebrow, "Pretty sure the outcome of that was pretty obvious."

"I'm sorry that you are hurt by it," Rodolphus said, "though your mother has been through a lot—not just by my hand. It wasn't me that ordered her to be brought here, who made her take the Dark Mark, who killed her husband. I think you'll find there's other people in this world who have put her through just as much—if not more."

"Your wife is a pleasure, isn't she?" Elara scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Yet you talk to her just fine," Rodolphus said, "and I assure you she doesn't hold even a small fraction of the love for you that I do—the opposite probably."

Elara stared at her hands within her lap, twisting one of her rings around her finger as she tried to get rid of the lump in her throat. "I—" Elara bit her lip, fighting the tears that were beginning to sting at her eyes, "I'm scared . . . Mum isn't herself anymore, she needs help. I can't help her." Elara could help herself no longer as tears began to spill from her dark eyes, "It's not her fault . . ."

"Elara," Rodolphus sighed, getting up from his seat as the girl began to cry freely, "Elara shush, it's okay. I've been getting her potions, she's much better than she was."

"She's not Mum anymore," Elara cried, "I don't know my Mum anymore—Get off!"

Elara protested as her father took her into his arms, stroking her hair and as she cried almost hysterically. To his relief, but not his surprise, she soon gave up in her fight. She wrapped her arms around him, resting her head as she tried to stop her tears to no avail.

"It's okay, Elara," Rodolphus murmured, stroking her hair, "it's okay to cry . . ."

"I—I just want everyone to be safe," Elara sniffed, slowly beginning to calm her tears, "I don't want her to be ill. I want my Mum . . . I want normal parents."

Rodolphus closed his eyes, nodding slightly as he could not find the words to make any of this better for his daughter. He merely stroked her hair as she calmed down, his arms wrapped around her as he tried to silently reassure her and calm her. His hurt ached for the girl, though he felt nothing for Nymphadora he would do nearly anything to stop his daughters heart ache. But deep down he could not help but feel a spark of happiness that he dared not show, with Nymphadora out of the picture mentally it seemed his daughter was forced to go to her only sane parent. Rodolphus Lestrange could not help himself as he held his crying daughter, thinking of how he would ensure he got his little girl back to how they used to be.