Awwww I just love Rodolphus in spite of himself. XD He's so wicked I can't help but adore him.
Dora
Nymphadora sat quietly on the couch next to Narcissa, watching Teddy laugh, looking through the picture books his aunt had brought him. She was grateful that Narcissa didn't seem to judge her for her current situation: she felt awful enough without added ridicule. Teddy grinned up at his mother. "Mum," he said, patting the floor beside him. "Come plaaaaay."
"No, Teddy," Dora sighed. "Mum doesn't feel good."
"But why?" Teddy pouted, his brown eyes pleading with her.
"Have you been taking your potion?" Narcissa asked her with a frown.
Nymphadora scowled, and Teddy pulled himself to his feet, going to his mother's side and asking to be taken up into her arms. "Oh, Teddy," his mother sighed, pulling him onto her lap.
Narcissa sighed softly. "Dora, you need to take care of yourself," she said gently. "It'll be better for you if you do it on your own."
The younger witch shuddered and held her son closer. Teddy wriggled in protest. "Mum," he sighed. "Come play!"
"Teddy," Narcissa said to the child, "your mother is sick."
"Will you play?" Teddy demanded of her, and Narcissa hesitated before nodding, sliding down to the floor with her nephew.
Dora gently rubbed her stomach, sighing as she thought of the baby she carried and worried about what was going to happen to her and the child. She finally Summoned her potions from her room and took them, unable to keep from making faces at the awful taste. Stupid Healer would have given them the worst possible taste.
She leant back and closed her eyes with a tired yawn. She was nearing sixteen weeks and was already showing ever so slightly. She was sure that it was visible, though as self-conscious as she felt, it could have been her imagination. Dora swallowed hard as the wards seemed to shiver ever so slightly. "I-I'm sorry, Cissa," she sighed, getting to her feet and walking from the room.
"I don't mind," Narcissa said firmly. "Be careful, Dora."
Nymphadora nodded, wincing as she left the room, feeling an arm wrap around her torso immediately. "Nymphie," came a soft whisper and a chuckle as the man took her down the hall to her own room.
"What do you want?" she asked, feeling his hand slide down to rest on her stomach. "Rodolphus—"
"You are already showing," he breathed, and she shivered at his tone of wonder. His hand slid under her shirt as he pulled her to sit on his lap on her bed. "Hi, little one," he murmured, almost as if Dora didn't exist.
"Rod, you're insane," Dora groaned, trying to shuffle away from him. "Surely you didn't come here merely to talk to my stomach."
He pulled her back to himself quickly, smirking into her eyes. "Of course not, Nymphie," he said before kissing her roughly, the girl gasping for breath when he finally drew back. "I think," he said thoughtfully, "that you could be useful even while you're pregnant, hmm? We both know how pleasing you can be when you choose to be, Nymphie."
She glared at him. "No," she snapped. "I won't do anything for you, no matter what it is, until this child is born. I will not be blamed for anything that happens to it."
Rodolphus glared back at her, his hand suddenly grasping a handful of her hair and making her eyes water as he pulled her head back. "Going to fight me, Nymphadora?" he hissed. "You know what that gets you."
"Does it?" Nymphadora spat. "Would you torture me, when I carry your child? The only reason I would protect this child is because of Teddy. There is no other reason. Now, if you still want to hurt me, or force me into p—pleasing you, the only thing you will do is stress the baby."
He hissed in anger, releasing her hair and making her sigh slightly. She rubbed her hand over her stomach again. "We should be able to find out the gender of the child soon," she said to him. "Three or four weeks more."
Rodolphus smirked. "Good," he said. "I've waited a long time, Nymphadora. Do not mess this up." He wandlessly turned out the lights in the room, and she was shocked to feel him pull her to lie down, her head pillowed on his chest as his hand rested on her stomach. "Soon," he murmured, and she got the distinct feeling that he was not speaking to her.
Nymphadora woke the next morning to find herself curled comfortably on her side, alone in her room. She yawned and stretched slightly, sighing before she reached out and took her prescribed potions with a shudder. She lay there for a long while, her hand resting on her stomach as she tried to think of something interesting to do with herself. She was just getting out of bed when she heard a soft knock on the door and looked up nervously. "Who's there?"
There was a moment of silence, and then a voice called quietly, "It's just Draco."
She bit her lip, then said, "Come in." She watched him walk in, glancing to her wand on her bedside table before she sighed. "What is it, Draco?"
"Well, I'm tired of sitting in my room," he said, an uncomfortable look on his face. "And I thought you might be too...and since we're the only two that can leave the ward...you know."
"House tour?" Dora said, finally cracking a grin.
"Sort of," he said. "Though I don't really want to see anyone...we'll have to stay away from most places, but the grounds should be all right."
Dora nodded. "Let me get dressed and I'll be ready to go out," she said.
Draco quickly backed out of the room, and Dora smiled slightly to herself, walking to her wardrobe to select a dress. Moments later, she sighed deeply as she looked into the mirror, placing a charm on her dress to make sure her child, whether noticeable or not, was concealed. She left the room quietly, joining Draco on the way to the front of the ward.
"I haven't been out but once since we were brought here," Draco muttered. "I was harassed by the others, though I think with two of us it'll be safer."
"I can claim safety because...because of this child," Dora scowled. "They wouldn't dare hurt me."
"You think," Draco said mirthlessly. "Come along then."
Dora decided not to judge the boy for his scepticism and followed him without question. He led her quickly along the halls, the two darting into this doorway and that doorway in order to avoid anyone that was passing by. It was with a shudder that Nymphadora watched Rodolphus walk by with another Death Eater. She unconsciously rubbed her hand over her stomach as she glared at the father of her child, seeing his now almost permanent smirk.
Draco hissed for her to move, and the two hurried down the hall, darting across the entrance hall and through the doors out into the grounds. "So where are we going, exactly?" Dora asked finally as they headed for a group of trees, out of sight of the house.
"Over here, first," he said. "To make sure we weren't followed."
"Yeah," Dora muttered, looking around nervously. The moment the two were past the tree line, her eyes widened at the sight of a broom shed. "Quidditch?" she said in surprise. "I haven't flown for at least a year!"
"Me either," Draco answered. "But I just meant a walk...we could fly if you feel up to it, though." He looked at her cautiously, and she almost laughed.
"Flying is no challenge for me, pregnant or not," she told him haughtily. "I was pregnant with Teddy when the Order lifted Harry from Privet Drive."
Draco merely walked toward the structure, opening the door to reveal several brooms. Nymphadora grinned and said, "Ooooh! May I fly that one?" and pointed to a newer looking racing broom.
The boy nodded, selecting another as Nymphadora happily took hers, looking it over before glancing back at Draco. "Coming, Draco?"
He seemed to startle slightly, selecting an older but well-kept broom and quickly catching up to his cousin. "Come on," he said. "This place used to be warded against being seen from the house, but I think the wards are down. At least we can't be seen from the rest of the grounds. We can fly safely here in these trees."
He mounted his broom and took off, waiting for her before he quickly led her to cover beneath the trees. "There's good cover here," he said. "But be careful: these trees are enchanted to set up obstacles for us. They'll do anything from wave their branches to throw acorns at us."
Laughing, Dora nodded. "An obstacle course?"
"Not really," Draco said. "Just something that Dad set up for me a long time ago. It helped me learn to fly after a lot of practise. Follow me for a bit and you'll understand."
"Okay," she grinned and laughed as he zoomed off without waiting for her. She followed him quickly, keeping up with him almost too easily, though he yelled for her to back off as he began to weave around trees.
"You'll be too close!" he warned her. "Stay back!"
She backed off, her mouth opening in shock as the trees began to sway, the branches shifting and leaves blowing as they darted around the trunks. She was thinking that she was beginning to get the hang of the course when a spell zipped past her ear. "Draco!" she said in annoyance. "Don't do that!"
"Do wha—" Draco swore loudly as he avoided a spell, both him and Dora looking back to see where the spells were coming from.
"Rabastan," Nymphadora growled, reaching for her own wand.
"Don't you dare!" the man on the ground yelled up at her. "Come down here this instant, Nymphadora. You too, boy."
Draco immediately began to obey, though Dora hung back defiantly. "I'm tired of being cooped up," she called back to him. "I wanted to get some fresh air!"
Rabastan shot another hex at her, and she hissed in anger. "If you hit me, idiot, your brother—"
"—will only be angry until I tell him that you are endangering his child," Rabastan retorted. "And I will go get him, Nymphie. He will make you come down from there, and you will like it even less."
"No!" Dora yelled, unable to keep herself from glaring at him, even as Draco landed a little way from the man. "I have always been a good flier, and I am not being reckless at all!"
"I will give you exactly ten seconds to get down here," Rabastan said sternly, "or I will be forced to get Rodolphus to retrieve you."
"What? Can't you manage a broom and me at the same time?" Nymphadora smirked. "Come chase me!"
Rabastan rolled his eyes. "Nymphadora. Five."
With a pout, Nymphadora directed her broom toward the ground and landed next to Draco, hissing as Rabastan stalked up to her and grasped her by the arm. "You should know better!" he snapped. "You can be seen from the house, and Rod would have a fit if he saw you out there like you just were! Malfoy!"
Draco jumped even though he had been looking right at the Lestrange. Rabastan laughed at the boy, then said, "Are you even supposed to be out here? At all?"
"I was bored," Dora glared at him, pulling away from him. "And I don't know my way around, but Draco does. He was the perfect one to go for a walk with me."
"I wasn't talking to you," Rabastan sneered. "Both of you: walk. You're going straight back to your wing, and I will have a word with Rodolphus about this."
Nymphadora glared at the man, but turned and walked before him with Draco, the two not looking at each other. She swore to herself that whatever Rodolphus said, she would get permission to at least go out into the grounds once in a while, as she did need some exercise to keep herself and the baby healthy.
Nymphadora hid in her room almost as soon as she arrived back, angry and upset, though she was well aware that Rodolphus would soon be coming to check on her. She turned toward him as he walked into the room and wrapped her arm around her stomach protectively.
"Nothing happened while you were out?" he asked sharply, quickly approaching her and pushing her back onto the bed.
"No," Dora growled. "I'm fine: there was nothing wrong. Your idiot brother thought that I couldn't handle a broom well enough to keep from hurting myself. I just wanted to go for a walk, to get a bit of fresh air...I thought it would be good for the baby."
She closed her eyes tightly as he sat down next to her with a sigh, reaching out and sliding her top up to reveal the small bump of their child. "Nymphie," he said softly, "remember that the safety of your brat depends on the safety of this child. No matter what you think you are capable of, I wouldn't want any...accidents to render you childless. I can't imagine how angry I'd be, Nymphie."
She sniffed slightly, turning her face away from him. "I needed a walk," she whispered. "I needed to get some fresh air for me and the baby."
"Don't cry," Rodolphus said in annoyance. "Your hormones—"
"That's your fault!" Nymphadora yelled at him suddenly, her eyes flying open as she glared at him.
"Of course," he chuckled. "Now, I won't say that you can't go for a walk, Nymphie, as I know it's good for my child, but no flying. And no activities like flying. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Dora said sullenly.
Rodolphus smirked slightly. "Good," he whispered, leaning down to press his lips to her stomach. "Very good, Nymphie. Now behave yourself: I'll be back tonight to stay with you."
Nymphadora clutched the sheets beneath her as she felt him kiss her stomach. She couldn't stand how obsessed the man was with the child she carried. His worshipful attitude disturbed her, as she knew that he didn't care a thing for her, only the son or daughter that she was forced to give him.
As he left, she curled on her side, screwing her eyes shut as she forced herself not to cry. He would return, and she didn't want to be a hysterical mess.
Almost ten days later, Rodolphus returned to Nymphadora's room, this time with the Healer that had seen her before. Nymphadora cringed, glaring at both of them, knowing exactly what Rodolphus wanted to know this time. She momentarily wondered why Rabastan wasn't there before she was forced to lie back on her bed, swallowing hard as she tried to ignore the cold hand holding her shirt up, the wand touched to her stomach.
Rodolphus bit his lip, Dora finding it almost laughable that the man was nervous. "So what is it?" he demanded finally. "What is the gender of the child?"
"Mrs Lupin," the Healer smirked as he ignored Rodolphus. "Have you been taking the potions I gave you?"
"Yes," Dora answered without taking her eyes off Rodolphus. "I have still been feeling sick, so I'm still taking the Morning Sickness one."
She could sense Rodolphus' impatience and reached out, grasping the Healer's left hand, gripping it so he could not easily pull away. "Is it a boy or a girl?" she demanded, narrowing her eyes at him.
Greer looked down at the witch holding onto him and spat, "Get off!"
She refused. "Tell me," she demanding, purposely letting her hair morph black as she watched him coldly.
Rodolphus drew closer to them as the man glared down at the witch. "It's a girl," he said finally, glowering at her when she finally let go of him. "You have a daughter, Lestrange. They're both healthy. Good day." He gathered his things and was gone very quickly.
Nymphadora looked up into Rodolphus' face, completely unsure of what he would do. She didn't care either way, as she didn't even want the child, though...she supposed that he would have wanted a son... "Rodolphus?" she said, unable to bear his silent stare.
He walked over to her and placed his hand on her stomach, his face an emotionless mask. The girl sniffed a little, whispering, "Rod? Say something—anything, please."
He didn't speak for a while until Dora brushed some of her tears away, the girl struggling to hold herself together. "Better than nothing," he muttered, almost to himself, and Dora shivered, tears trickling down her face. He caressed her smooth skin gently, seeming to be lost in his own thoughts as the witch cried quietly, trying not to draw his attention.
She turned her head toward the door as it opened, Andromeda looking in, her face stony. "Is the child all right?" she asked, walking toward the bed, and Nymphadora stared at her mother in disbelief, a sob escaping her.
"Fine," Rodolphus answered softly, seeming to snap out of his daydreaming. "It's a girl...I suppose it's better than a half-blood boy. Nonetheless, she is my daughter."
"Our daughter," Dora sniffed through her tears, cringing as he whirled to glare at her.
"She is mine," he said coldly. "You understand, Nymphadora, that you will have no control over her. I will have the full say in how she is raised, and how I want her to be. You are just the way of arrival."
Nymphadora glared at him through her tears, Andromeda reaching out to stop her from sitting up. "I hate you!" Dora cried, her body shaking as she yelled at the man, her hair bright red. "I hate you more than anyone I've met in my entire life!"
Rodolphus merely looked back to his hand on the bump of their child. "Hate doesn't get you anywhere, Nymphie," he said, a smirk coming to his lips. "I have found that pain brings better results."
She turned her head away from him, helpless to do anything to make him go away. Andromeda merely sat down next to her on the other side of the bed and took her daughter's hand. Dora didn't move her hand, leaving it limp in her mother's hand as she cried. She was shocked that he didn't kiss her stomach in adoration this time, though her hair shot white as he added the strength of his magic to the wards already over the child.
"She will know me," he said, looking into Nymphadora's eyes. "She will know me by my magic from the day she is born. The child—my daughter—belongs to me, Nymphadora."
The white-haired witch choked back a sob and turned her face from him, unwilling to fight with the man in front of her mother. She burst into hysterical tears the instant Rodolphus left the room, Andromeda immediately cradling her close. "Mum!" Dora sobbed, burying her face in the woman's dress. "Mum, he's so awful!"
Andromeda held her daughter firmly, pressing a kiss into her pure white hair. "Oh, Dora," she murmured. "I'm sorry." Dora's body shuddered as she sobbed, and Andromeda finally said, "Dora, you need to breathe, dear." She sat her up a little and grasped her by the shoulders. "Look at me, Dora," she said firmly. "I know you don't want to, but you need to calm yourself. Being hysterical will only hurt you and the child, and consequently the rest of us."
"I hate him!" Dora sobbed as her mother forced her to sit there. "If I ever have the chance, I will murder him just the way I've been taught since I got here!"
"I believe you are completely entitled to that," Andromeda agreed, a small smile on her face. "Now, shh, Dora. Come here." She wrapped her arms around the girl, laying both of them down in the bed. "Let's rest together for a while," she murmured. "Teddy is asleep, and the rest of the wing is quiet."
Dora shivered in her mother's arms, crying on and off until she finally fell asleep, her mother stroking her hair gently as she wondered if carrying the Lestrange heir would be the destruction of her daughter.
