Chapter Two: Fall of the Dark Lord

"Are you absolutely certain Severus?" Voldemort asked, looking at his servant. Severus Snape nodded most importantly. Luscious Malfoy looked at him, as if he did not fully trust him. Finally Voldemort stood up, his baby girl in his arms.

"Then I must act at once. This prophecy is indeed speaking of Lily and James Potter. Do they have a son?" He asked.

Severus bowed deeply. "They have one son. A boy, the same age as Cygnus. His name is Harry."

Voldemort allowed a smile to play across his hollow and evil face.

"Summon to me Bellatrix. I have some orders for her before I leave," He said. Bellatrix was in the room in moments. She bowed low, and did not rise again.

"Bellatrix. You are to take care of my daughter until I return. Is that absolutely clear?" He asked. Bellatrix nodded.

"Of course my lord. She will be treated as a princess should be," She said. She finally stood up and accepted Cygnus into her arms, not even pretending to show love for her, as all the Death Eaters had been forbidden to do. Voldemort had not cared to explain these reasons to any of them, and those who had dared ask, had been promptly tortured, or killed.

Voldemort smirked. He leaned over his daughter and gave her a gentle kiss on the head.

"I will be back this evening my daughter," He said caressing her head. His eyes lingered on hers for a moment, before drifting down to her left arm. He had not enjoyed hearing his little one scream when he burned the dark mark on her arm, but she had not complained since. Voldemort smiled as she cooed and giggled.

"Da!" She squealed in delight holding her arms out so that he would hold her. He smiled and then walked away, sweeping out of the room. She watched Voldemort.

"Da Da?" She said in a rather upset tone. Bellatrix was sure she was about to burst into tears; but she did not. She merely looked at the door. She wiggled a little bit, so Bellatrix set her on the dusty floor. Cygnus merely sat there on the floor, not twitching. Almost as a faithful dog, awaiting her masters return. Bellatrix was rather intrigued by this little ones behavior. It wasn't long, till Narcissa was in the room with her son Draco. Narcissa set Draco on the floor with Cygnus. Draco tried to entice her into playing, but could not, as Cygnus merely pushed him away.

"She is the strangest little girl," Narcissa said, picking Draco up. "I just don't understand why the Dark Lord would want her," She said confusedly.

"Be quiet Narcissa, or it will sound like you are speaking of treachery," Bellatrix hissed. Narcissa did not speak again, but merely turned on her heals and left the room with Draco.

Bellatrix looked down at Cygnus.

"I hate you," She whispered coldly, and she sat down in the arm chair.

Bellatrix was jerked out of a light sleep, at the sound of Cygnus crying. The baby never cried. She looked around, and saw her sitting, exactly where she had left her, except that she was now crying, tears streaming down the little ones face.

"What's wrong?" She asked, most uncaringly as she picked the child up from the floor. Cygnus did not want to be picked up.

"Da!" She screamed.

"Shut up," Bellatrix demanded. "The Dark Lord will return soon."

Just as she had let the words escape from her mouth, the mark on her arm burned viciously. She screamed in horror, and dropped Cygnus to the ground. Cygnus screamed louder than ever.

Bellatrix was dumbfounded for several moments, but then the dark mark almost completely faded away. There was barely a trace of it left. She suddenly understood. Her master… The Dark Lord… He was…

The whole house erupted with howls from Death Eaters. Barty Crouch burst into the room. "He's DEAD!" He howled cowering on the ground. "The Dark Lord is GONE!" He screeched.

"Don't just sit there Barty RUN!" Bellatrix screamed. He ran as fast as he could. Bellatrix ran after him, leaving the sobbing Cygnus on the floor.

Narcissa walked into the room. Surely the child could not have survived this long. Surely not. It had been 2 weeks. Cygnus would be dead. She crept through the whole house looking every corner. Where would she be? Where would Bellatrix have left her? Bellatrix, of course, was in no position to be asked. She was caught, and to be put on trial.

That Potter boy had survived! He had somehow survived the Dark Lord's attack. How was that even possible? Narcissa was shivering at the thought that a baby, a mere child had defeated the Dark Lord.

She heard something rustling in the Dark Lords chambers. Surely not? She rushed up the creaking stairs, and into the room. There, on the floor, was a shivering baby. She rushed to Cygnus' side and picked her up. She was covered in bite marks, and she was suffering from severely malnutrition, and a broken arm.

She held Cygnus close in her arms and took out of the decrepit house.

"She's alive?" Luscious asked alarmed.

"Yes, but barely," Narcissa said. "She needs some serious help. I'm going to Saint Mungos. Don't follow me Luscious. Take Draco home."

"Mrs. Malfoy? Are you the one who brought in the baby?" A nurse asked walking over to her. Narcissa looked up and nodded. "Well, she's doing fine now. We were able to set her arm, though I'm afraid, she will never have full use of that arm. In fact, I'm almost sure it will be extremely awkward for her to use. I'm sure you understand," The witch said kindly.

"Oh yes of course," Narcissa nodded.

"We can release her later today, and she can go home with you," She said.

"Oh no, I can't take her. Please, find her a good home," Narcissa said, and before the witch would say anything to persuade her otherwise, Narcissa left the hospital.

The witch walked back into the room with the baby, her sleeping soundly.

"Hello Cygnus," The nurse said stroking her arm gently. "We'll find you a decent home," She smiled.

"The Malfoy's didn't want her?" The doctor said overhearing the nurse. She shook her head sadly.

"Well, I'll contact the orphanage," He said curtly, and he swept from the room. This deeply saddened her. She knew the procedure. But Cygnus was barely a year old… maybe a little older than a year.

It was less than an hour later, and the Doctor swept back into the room, a frail wispy looking woman on his heels.

"Mrs. Cole? This is the baby here," The doctor said, pointing at Cygnus, who was still sleeping. The nurse was still looking at the baby, contemplating… maybe… maybe she should take the baby.

"Oh, Mrs. Cole, this is Nurse Pomphrey… She works at Hogwarts during the school year," He said curtly. Poppy shook hands with Mrs. Cole.

"We'll no doubt find her a good home," She said scooping her up. "Have a good day!" She said, and she left the hospital before she could say another word.