Chapter Six

I'm not going to go into any detail about the birth, let's just say I'm never doing that ever, ever again. And if the Dark Lord gets it in his sunken head that he wants another, I'll throw myself off a bridge. I don't remember ever feeling such a pain as my fucking cunt being ripped apart by this massive little body. I wasn't sure if Rodolphus was crying cause he was so happy or because his sacred alter was being demolished. He held my hand, until his turned blue. I gnawed on a leather strap, until it split in two. It ended, thank merlin. And the baby was in almost perfect condition. I say almost perfect because you can't expect something to come out of me and be completely normal. The baby is a girl, and I named her Cassandra. It was always a name I favored. If you're wondering about me pushing her into the Dark Arts and making her become a Death Eater, I won't. Hah, you think I'm stupid now, don't ya? Well listen to this one, if I kept pushing her and pushing her, she wouldn't want to do it. However, if she were exposed to it gradually just by how Rodolphus and I raise her, she may take an interest in it all on her own. That way I wouldn't feel as exhausted if she didn't want to fall into that magic like I did, if I had pushed her.

We stayed at Narcissa's for a week or two, I was finally learning how to breast feed without assuming the child could just hold on by herself. And Rodolphus was learning how to change diapers without puking. We weren't the best parents at first, but no one is.. at least I hope. Cassandra, by the way, had dark hair and deep blue eyes. Her grip was strong. And she was very smart.. Obviously she couldn't talk, but if you spoke to her, she would stop squirming and waving her little arms and focus her eyes on you. She'd listen. There was something about her though, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't good. There was just something..

I was to take her to Voldemort a while after getting home. I wouldn't dare give him the title of father. Sperm doner was more like it. If he wanted this child so bad he would have taken more care of it that Rodolphus, Cissa and I would have combined. After all, it was supposed to be his next reign into the new generation. Cissa gave me some of Draco's baby suits, they were unisex designed, and were a little big on her, but she looked adorable nonetheless.

I entered his chambers once Cassandra and I were ready. It was well past midnight, and I tried desperately to get her to sleep, but she was alert and her little eyes scanned every crack in the wall it seemed. Once I stepped in, Voldemort rose from his desk, stroking Nagini who laid on his desk, his own baby. It must have made her terribly jealous that he wanted another baby besides her. He came towards me, ushering me to my chair, and before I could sit he snatched Cassandra from my arms and held her little body over his head. His tongue flickered out as he hissed, bringing her back down and grinning widely.

"Bellatrix, what a precious little evil you've brought to me this evening.. " He cooed and stroked her plump, rosy cheek. She whimpered and grabbed his finger, squeezing it until he had to pry away. "Hmph. She's got quite the grip, I hope that can be used for strangling.. "

His heir changed suddenly. His brow furrowed, and he stroked the girl once more, narrowing his eyes and turning towards me. I immediately took her from his arms, stroking her brow and pressing her close to my breast. I couldn't tell what was wrong, but I didn't like it. He sat down and pressed his palms on the table, looking as though he had to calm himself. Nagini slithered around his arms and took her normal spot around his shoulders. " What's its name?"

"Her name is Cassandra. And I'm keeping Lestrange as her last name." He hissed.

"Fine. Let it be seen that she is sorted into Slytherin eleven years from now and .."

"If there even is a Hogwarts for her to be sorted into."

He glared slightly. "Fine. Be sure that she is treated like a pureblood then." I rose from my chair, nuzzling Cassandra's little mop of hair on her head. He moved the door open for me. I was going to leave until I heard him clear his throat, and Nagini let out a low hiss, I turned. The baby whimpered and closed her eyes. "Also.. tell Rodolphus he should be proud and fortunate to help raise her.. " I left, the door closed. "...For now."

The next few weeks were some of the most difficult in the world. Rodolphus had to work to bring in money for our little girl, and Narcissa and I fought over our different methods in child raising. She wanted to smother and smother little, "Cassie", it's what she called her. And I wanted to let Cassandra to grow up not to be such a spoiled little git like her cousin. I'm all for giving a child affection when they're crying, but Cissa on the other hand was a total wreck, and would pick her up if the little girl's pacifier fell out. I couldn't take missions because every second was about the baby. Cissa would complain about there not being enough stuffed animals, so she summoned a house elf to come over with a massive bag that crashed into a wave of plush and bunnies across my floor. Cassandra laughed when they all fell, and when Cissa gave her one, she gnawed on the ears and tried to pull out the eyes. My little terror.

As she grew, her magical capabilities grew. When her bottle of milk hovered from the kitchen and to her playpen, and when she grabbed hold of my wand and knocked over a few pictures and plants, I knew she was strong. It almost worried me, she was the daughter of the Dark Lord. At least I thought she was, his reaction towards her was something I hadn't expected. She didn't respond very well to him either.

Nights fell. It was Rodolphus' time to wake up to a familiar call. Cassandra slept soundly, but when she heard him stirring to get up, she began to fuss. He went over and picked her up, kissing her cheek. "Aw, what's wrong little Cassandra? I'll be right back." I woke up and looked over, looking at our clock and going back to him. He nuzzled Cassandra and brought her over to bed. "She's fussy, Bella." I rolled my eyes and sat up.

"So's our boss. Do you have to go? It's your first night of sleep in days.." I tried taking the baby but she wouldn't budge, and just kept a firm grasp on Rodolphus.

He frowned and nodded, kissing Cassandra's head and finally prying her tiny hands off his shirt. "Don't worry Cassie, I'll be back soon." She burst into tears, it would take me hours for her to get settled again. He kissed me good-bye and apparated from the bedroom. Cassandra's cries grew louder and almost shriek-like. I paced the room to help her calm.

Rodolphus wasn't home when I woke. I assumed he went to work already and so went about my business throughout the day, Narcissa came over again. I was a wreck over Cassandra today. She refused to eat, and looked drained and miserable. She wouldn't cry and she wasn't alert.. Cissa suggested lack of sleep.. It made sense, she was up all night crying, felt like I was too. Hours passed, Rodolphus wasn't home. But I felt my arm burning, and I couldn't stay around any longer. Cissa agreed to stay behind and watch my girl, and I vanished.

We were crowded around the usual table, everyone was there, except for Rodolphus. The Dark Lord presented himself, not even waiting for Pettigrew to introduce him, not waiting for us to stand and bow our heads. He sighed and leaned against his table, looking at his followers, then towards me, and back towards everyone else. "My Death Eaters.. There has been a loss in our splendid little family..."

My heart sank..

"Rodolphus Lestrange, the other half of a great team and companionship with his wife.. Has been killed. He went to perform his duty, but he didn't know that an auror lived in that home. He will be missed greatly. Let it be that our power grow stronger against their own, we cannot lose any more associates before that child arrives. You are dismissed. That is all." He swooped from his table.

As stubborn as I am, I was not going to take that as an answer. I rose from my seat and followed him into his chambers. I tried to keep my voice at it's normal tone, I couldn't lose control. Not infront of him. "What happened?"

"I told you, Bellatrix.. " He stroked Nagini as she slithered past, turning around towards me.

"Fuck you, told me. That was bullshit. Rodolphus is wiser than to break into the house of an auror! Tell me what happened!"

"That's all, Bella."

"I'll tell you when it's all. God damnit!" I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him around. " TELL ME! " He glared, back-handing my once more. I fell against a wall and stared at him.

"You want to know Bellatrix? Fine. I warned you. I told you that if you did anything to fuck up my plans, you'd regret it."

"Fuck up your plans...but... "

"Your daughter is not my child you stupid servant. WHAT DID YOU DO? DID YOU TAKE SOME KIND OF MUGGLE MEDICINE TO GET RID OF MY SEED? You ruined it. He's the father, damn you! You ruined my plans you unworthy servant!" He hit me again. Tears fell from my cheeks this time.

"So you kill my husband? You kill my partner and lover! HOW COULD YOU!" I wouldn't stand for it. It was one thing to be struck but never do you take the thing that matters to me most in my life. I leapt forward, taking him down onto his back and removing my wand, he pulled it from his face and grabbed my neck, throwing me to the floor and holding tightly.

"Don't you dare talk to me that way you bitch. I'll kill you as I killed your husband. You ruined my plans. I wanted a child of my own to carry on my name, to carry on my power and my dreams! " I gasped and choked for air, reaching at him and pushing him off. He climbed from the floor and fixed his robe. "You better watch yourself now, Bellatrix. This isn't over. Get out of my sight you disgrace." He slammed the door of his chamber.

I rose from what would have been my grave and had to fall against a wall to catch my breath. "You're the disgrace! You claim everything to be pure when you're a filthy muggle-born yourself! How could you? ...How.. could ..you.. " I grabbed my robes and wrapped them around myself, walking until it was clear to apparate. When I returned home, I fell out on my bed and sobbed just as Cassandra did for her father the night before..