Oh hey! Yep, I been gone for a minute. :) My apologies for the delay.
Dora
Peace and quiet. She intended to enjoy the few of those moments that she was given, though she knew they would all be short-lived. Andromeda Black Tonks looked up with a frown, hearing a knock at her door. She sighed a little, straightening up in her chair before calling, "Enter!" To her small relief, she watched as Narcissa entered the room. "Cissa," said Andromeda quietly.
"Andromeda—" Narcissa sighed and sat down across from her sister on her bed. "Nymphadora told me your plans." She held up her hand to keep Andromeda from commenting. "I hope you know what you're doing, Dromeda. I know you...I'm worried."
"I have to protect Dora," the brown-haired woman said resolutely. "I will do whatever I must."
Narcissa reached out and took her sister's hands in hers. "I know," she murmured. "That's what worries me. I don't want you to lose yourself to the Dark...not like Bella."
Andromeda frowned, touched by Narcissa's concern. "Oh, Cissa," she sighed, squeezing her sister's hands carefully. "I'm not going to abandon you—not again."
"You'll change," Narcissa breathed. "I don't want to see you go that way."
"Narcissa," Andromeda said, shaking her head, "if you know me, as you claim, you will understand my need to assist my daughter." She got to her feet as her sister stood, stopping her from leaving the room.
"Let me go!" the blonde woman hissed, and Andromeda stepped back in shock. "I don't agree with your actions. I can't help both you and Dora, Andromeda."
"Cissa," Andromeda said pleadingly, "then help Dora. I can take care of myself." The woman refused to look at her, and the older witch sighed. "I'll be okay, I promise. It's just putting on another kind of mask and doing a different kind of duty. I can do this, Narcissa."
Narcissa wrapped her arms around her sister, whispering, "Then do it. Do not falter. And always come home, and bring Dora with you."
Andromeda gave a small laugh. "I'll wear the Death Eater mask like Black pride," she promised.
"Yes," Narcissa agreed with a little smile as she pulled away and looked into her sister's eyes. "If you can get it that perfect, I'll have nothing to worry about."
Both of them jumped suddenly, feeling someone enter the prisoners' ward. "It's Rodolphus," Andromeda scowled. "I swear to Merlin, one day, I will have my revenge on him. With Dora safe."
The sisters listened for his footsteps, glancing at each other in alarm as they realised both Lestrange brothers were there. "Andromeda!" came Rabastan's laughing voice. "We have plans for you!"
Andromeda quickly embraced her sister again before striding to the door and leaving the room. Both men smirked at her, but she didn't say a word.
"Go see your brat," Rabastan said to his brother, rolling his eyes at the man. "You have five minutes. I will not lose half my day to your obsession when we have a job to do. Especially because you won't share."
"Even if I allowed it," Rodolphus retorted, "Bella would never let you get away with that." He walked away laughing and Rabastan rolled his eyes, turning to Andromeda.
"Ready for a bit of fun?" Rabastan asked her, toying with his wand thoughtfully. "We thought a trip to the dungeons and then a night out would show us more of your full potential."
Andromeda looked at him for a moment, full of rage as she heard Nymphadora cry out from another part of the ward. She decided not to speak, not trusting herself to be able to speak calmly.
Moments later, Rodolphus joined them, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Andromeda," he said with a smirk, motioning her to walk ahead of him and his brother. "I heard that you wanted to join the Dark Lord in order to protect Nymphie. Well, you should know that there is nothing you can do to save her from me."
"I am aware of this," Andromeda hissed as he took her arm, shoving her against the wall as he sneered directly in her face.
"Oh, well," Rodolphus shrugged as he pulled her after him, dragging her through the wards as he jabbed his wand into her side.
"Let go of me," she demanded, yanking her arm away from him. "I can walk on my own, Lestrange."
Rodolphus and Rabastan shared a look, then both pointed their wands at her. "The dungeon," Rodolphus said coldly. "Walk."
Andromeda walked before them without a word, glad that at least while they were with her, Dora would be safe. It did not take her long to find her way to the dungeons, the witch stepping aside as Rabastan unlocked the doors before them. She descended the steps, Rabastan going first, then Andromeda, and Rodolphus following to lock the doors behind them.
The brothers stopped at the foot of the stairs, both looking around with nearly identical frowns. "He was supposed to meet us here," Rodolphus growled. "If he's forgotten..."
"Patience," came a voice from a dark corner of the room. "He wouldn't forget something so important." The man stepped into the light, and Andromeda watched as he grinned at her delightedly. "It has been a while since there has been a live one—"
"Oh, we're not finished with her yet," Rabastan smirked, reaching out and tucking a lock of the witch's hair behind her ear. "We have our own experiments, you know."
"Enough," Rodolphus said, swatting Rabastan's hand away from Andromeda. "She is here to help you sort out that new one you've been working on."
"Her?" the man said in disbelief. "No prisoner would do such a thing. Especially one of this calibre...too fine."
Andromeda sneered at him as Rodolphus snapped, "She will do it, or suffer the consequences!"
Rabastan looked at the man, then said, "You don't want to contradict us, Harper. This was Bellatrix's idea."
The man instantly gave a slight bow, though Andromeda immediately wondered what on earth Bella wanted her to do. The man now seemed to be delighted to have them and motioned them further into the shadows, close to where Andromeda had killed her first victim.
"Hope you don't have an aversion to bodies," the man laughed at her, sending light into the lamp overhead as he motioned her closer.
"Oh—" Andromeda almost choked at the stench as she seemed to have stepped through some sort of containment ward. She could see plain as day that she had walked into the smallest chop shop she had ever seen—the morbid assortment oddly discoloured and disfigured in strange ways. On the small table before them was something covered by a sheet, and Andromeda realised it was a body, seeing the hand hanging lifeless from beneath the sheet.
The brothers were smirking to themselves, but Harper seemed to find her shock amusing and was openly laughing at her. "Horrified?" he sneered. "Well." He yanked back the sheet, and Andromeda forced herself not to move although her heart lurched in horror. It was Bill's body.
Andromeda jumped in shock, a small yelp escaping her as she felt a hand on her hip. Rabastan chuckled, his wand in her side as he said into her ear, "He's going to be dismembered and disfigured for another use. And you will be doing the dirty work."
She closed her eyes tightly, her heart racing as Rabastan's breath tickled her neck and the man chuckled knowingly. She felt sick at the thought of what they had described and didn't want to do it at all. "Get off her." Andromeda barely registered Rabastan letting go and Rodolphus grabbing her until she yelled out in pain, a violent Curse rushing through her. She gritted her teeth, hissing in pain as she writhed against her captor.
"You are weak," Rodolphus hissed in her ear, holding her firmly. "How do you expect to be able to make Nymphie do things she doesn't want to do if you don't obey your own orders?"
"I—I thought controlling Nymphie was your speciality," Andromeda growled at him, trying to catch her breath as he let up the Curse, amused at her answer. "I can do it; I will do it." Rodolphus pushed her away from himself, the witch barely catching her balance before she fell into the table. "But I will need my wand," she said, looking to the brothers expectantly.
"Aw, did you lose it?" Rabastan sneered at her. "Poor Andy. Though, you want to know something? I don't understand how Dolohov managed to subdue you to bring you here, but can't seem to control you now that you're here." He shook his head slightly. "What is it, Andy? What makes here different?"
Andromeda glared at him in all her Black fury. "I do not have to be good here," she hissed. "Wandless magic, Dark Arts—it doesn't matter anymore." She forced herself to take a calming breath, then said, "My wand, please."
Rodolphus drew her wand from his pocket and reached out, placing it into her hand. "Harper, explain to her what you intend for this one to be."
"Ah," the man grinned, reaching out to the body, and Andromeda wondered if spending time with bodies was a hobby of his. "This lovely specimen is going to become part of the undead army. He just needs a little...improvement."
"An Inferius," Andromeda said with a small nod.
"Familiar with them at all?" the man asked her before setting a tray of tools next to the body. "Most aren't."
"I'm not most," Andromeda muttered, then answered, "Father showed me how to create one once."
Rabastan gawked at her. "Where did he get the body?"
Andromeda smirked. "Do not question the workings of the House of Black, Rabastan. The thing was soon destroyed anyway."
Harper gave her a careful look. "You've created an Inferius before?"
"No," she said. "I saw it done. I know the spell, but I've never done it. We only used it as a target, anyway."
"Hmm," the man said thoughtfully, then selected a tool from the tray. "Now, Andy—"
"I am Andromeda," she said conversationally.
"Andromeda, then," he smirked, motioning her to join him on the other side of the body. "We like the undead army to look...undead. And even though the Weasley here—" he grandly gestured to the dead man before them "is a little battered, he seems to have died without much trouble."
The witch smirked. "He died easily," she agreed, the brothers once again glancing at each other knowingly. "So we disfigure him a little, as you said?"
Harper nodded, looking amazed. "You listen so well!"
Rabastan sniggered, and Andromeda smiled at the questionable praise. "I've always been intrigued by Inferi," she said. "After all, Regulus was killed by Inferi, according to news the Order uncovered."
"Regulus Black?" Rodolphus rolled his eyes. "That's not violent enough a death for a Black."
"He was drowned after drinking Living Death," Andromeda described for the man's benefit before picking up a tool from the tray and thoughtfully beginning to mar the skin of the dead man. She raised her wand, carefully making the wound look more fresh than it did since the victim had obviously been dead for a few days. She grinned to herself, proud of her work as she continued.
"He needs something else," Harper said thoughtfully, and Andromeda ignored him for a moment, considering what she could do to make the undead version of Bill Weasley much more terrifying than he looked.
Andromeda looked down at her own hand, trying to remember how it felt to have someone grip her arm, and wondering which finger missing would make such a grip more of a nightmare. Making her choice, she pointed her wand at Bill's hand, and with a simple incantation, she easily cut the ring finger off of his right hand. She picked up the finger thoughtfully, poking Harper in the arm with it and giggling as he turned to scowl at her and realised what she was doing. "What should I do with it?" she laughed, seeing his expression.
Harper waved his wand at it, encasing it in a labelled jar before placing it away on a shelf. She looked over to see what he had done and nodded appreciatively at the skin peeling from the man's shoulder to expose the bones. She couldn't help reaching out to touch it, curious to know what it would feel like and how Harper had done it. When Andromeda realised the intricate magic at work to keep the wound looking brand new without blood, she looked up at Harper and said, "That's amazing."
He smiled slightly. "The hands need to be skeletal," he decided. "But the rest of him is fine...well, maybe do something to one of the legs." He pointed his wand at the hand, turning away from Andromeda.
Andromeda thought about it, then shook her head. "No, he needs to look somewhat normal...wait, I've got it." She pointed her wand at the body once again, flames shooting out and making Harper jump back in shock, yelling her name in annoyance. "Burns," she said as if he were stupid. "It's perfect."
"Resourceful," Rabastan nodded. "I'll give you that. No wonder Dolohov begged me to take his place today."
"He—" Andromeda rolled her eyes. "Bastard."
"Now is the best part," Harper interrupted them. "You said you know how to do the creation spell?"
"I know the idea," Andromeda corrected him. "But it has been a very long time for me."
Harper frowned. "I want you to do this. Memory?" he said, motioning from himself to her.
Andromeda knew how dangerous it could be to allow such things, but found herself nodding, almost happy to see it done again. It was done quickly, and Andromeda saw the flash, heard the spell and watched the Inferius rise from its crumpled state. "I—I can do it," she said firmly, gripping her wand purposefully as she looked down at the man with a small sigh, brushing his hair back from his face. "Rise and shine," she muttered, Harper stepping back as she began the incantation.
Within a few minutes, the spell was complete, and Andromeda drew a deep breath, stepping back as she watched the Inferius stir. She barely saw the brothers raise their wands in caution as the man sat up, his eyes opening and focusing on her. "Bill?"
The creature looked at her emotionlessly. "You killed me, only to revive me."
"You...you are undead," Andromeda told him. "You feel nothing, as you can see."
"You were the one that killed him?!" Harper said in shock.
"Yes," Andromeda answered coldly. "I thought I told you that."
"It was merciful," the Inferius said distantly. "But this isn't. Why am I here? What if I wanted to rest?"
Harper looked absolutely beside himself with delight. "It makes the Inferius stronger if the creator is the killer as well!" he said, thrilled.
Andromeda glanced at him, returning her gaze to her creation. "I assume you will join the ranks of the rest of your undead family," she told him. "I do not know what the plans are, but I expect you to obey the Dark Lord, and his followers that look after the undead."
"Of course," the Inferius intoned, getting to his feet and looking into Andromeda's eyes.
"He will go out with us," Rodolphus said, motioning to them to join him and his brother. "Harper, you know where we're supposed to go?"
"Yes," the man answered. "But as to the woman leaving the manor..."
"Bellatrix," Rodolphus sighed. "She'll probably be in her room. She'll have to help us with that because the wards have changed."
He led them all down the hall, though Rabastan stopped suddenly. "I think she's in her playroom," he said to Rodolphus. "I'm sure that's where she is. Let's go there."
Rodolphus frowned. "You go check, and let us know," he told his brother.
Rabastan hurried off immediately, and was back soon. "She's there," he said, Rodolphus motioning Andromeda and her creation to go before them.
They knocked on the door, admitted almost immediately, and Andromeda's breath hitched in her throat when she realised that Nymphadora was there, held at wandpoint by her deranged aunt, the woman looking up with a sigh. "What do you want now?" she pouted at them. "I told you—now what is this?" Bellatrix sat up, her curiosity peaked as she saw the Inferius enter the room. "Ooooh, well done, Andy! Look, Nymphie!"
Nymphadora struggled against Bella's grip as she tried to hush her cry of pain when the witch pulled her up to look at the newcomers. "Mum?" Dora breathed in pain, shivering in terror when she saw Rodolphus. She barely registered the two other men, though she glared at the Inferius. "I hate those things," she muttered. "They...they were difficult to deal with, even as an Auror."
"Isn't it beautiful?" Andromeda rolled her eyes, though her heart was pounding in concern.
"See?" Bella giggled, her cheek against the girl's hair. "I told you he'd be put to good use."
Nymphadora's eyes opened wide as she realised what the black-haired witch meant. "No!" she screeched in horror. "Not Bill!"
The Inferius looked at her. "Was that my name?" he said thoughtfully.
Nymphadora sobbed heartbrokenly, struggling against her aunt's grip as Bellatrix sighed, "Such useless tears, Nymphie. You can't help him."
"Bella!" Rodolphus called over the sound of Nymphadora's hysterics. "We need to take the Inferius from the manor, and Andromeda has to go with us."
"Fiiine," Bella pouted, pulling her away from her victim and walking forward to slip her arm around her husband. "Let's go, then."
"Mother?" Dora whispered, looking up from the floor as Andromeda turned to leave, though she looked back for a moment. "Is that really Bill?"
"Yes," Andromeda answered. "But he feels no pain, Dora. And though he was tortured before, he had a painless death."
Nymphadora's mind connected the dots, and she whispered, "You killed him. You killed one of my best friends."
Andromeda did not answer, not complaining as Rabastan grabbed her by the arm and forcefully led her from the room. She heard Bellatrix shout at Nymphie to behave while she was away, then felt her older sister hurry up behind her, pushing Rabastan out of the way.
Bellatrix wrapped her arm around her once sister's waist and rested her head on her shoulder. "Was it fun?" she cooed, grinning. "I remembered how much you enjoyed the one you had as a girl. But I thought this way, we could test your loyalty. After all, he will only obey as much as you do."
"I knew that girl?" the Inferius asked, seeming to have a one track mind and ignoring the others.
"She is my daughter," Andromeda told him, turning her head to look at him. "You went to school with her, but were two years ahead of her."
"Nymphie tried to protect your family from us," Bellatrix sighed, shaking her head slightly as she straightened up, though she didn't let go of Andromeda. "But we're tracking them as we speak. Perhaps we should have them join you as undead. Wouldn't that be romantic." She rolled her eyes as a huff of laughter escaped her.
The group stopped at the entrance to the manor, and Bellatrix motioned them to stay close. She easily took Andromeda's wand and threw it at Rodolphus. "You should know better than to let her keep that," Bellatrix hissed at him.
Rodolphus smirked. "Ma Belle, she has to keep control of the Inferius. If you feel like battling a rogue Inferius, then be my guest."
"I am not doing anything wrong," Bill said uncomfortably, and Andromeda sighed.
"Of course not," she told him. "It's just that they don't trust me. I'm a prisoner here."
"Oh." The Inferius seemed to understand this, though his expression didn't change.
Bellatrix pointed at Harper and the brothers with her wand. "One of you, take that thing, and you all go on ahead. I will follow with our trainee." Once the boys were gone, Bella turned to Andromeda. "Nymphie isn't going to be happy with you, Andy."
Andromeda looked at the witch, unconcerned. "I don't expect her to accept the idea of my willingly joining the Dark Lord anytime soon," she replied. "But I knew it would be that way, and I am prepared to deal with it."
"It's sad," Bella pouted. "She tried to protect her poor mother, and her werewolf husband, and her filthy little cub, but it wasn't enough. He died, and now you want to be one of us."
"Everyone disagrees with my decision," Andromeda told Bellatrix, not sure why she was even saying it. "Even Narcissa thinks I'm insane for wanting to do this."
"Well, I think you are a little insane," Bellatrix nodded, then grinned evilly. "Nothing like me, of course. But you can learn. Nymphie knows I'm a good teacher."
Andromeda let out a scoff of laughter, taken by surprise as Bellatrix disapparated with her. The moment they appeared, Rabastan rolled his eyes at them. "Take long enough?"
Bellatrix shot him a reproachful look. "It was tea time."
Rodolphus shook his head to clear it and said, "Harper, tell Andy what to do, now that we're here."
Harper turned to Andromeda, who was being held at wandpoint, Bellatrix having decided not to return to the manor immediately. "You are to tell him to join the others..."
His voice seemed to fade away as Andromeda took in the sight of hundreds, perhaps thousands of Inferi that seemed to fill the canyon below. "These—these are your undead family," she said to Bill, shock still apparent on her face. None of the Death Eaters were laughing, though Bellatrix still wore her crazed grin. "Bill...go to them. You will be safe here. Always be ready to serve the Dark Lord should any of his followers come to seek assistance for any task. I did not create you to be a failure."
The Inferius nodded, but didn't seem to want to go. Andromeda sighed, carefully stepping away from Bellatrix and walking over to Bill. "Look: this is where you belong now," she told him.
"She said I have a real family," Bill muttered, looking at Andromeda.
"They will be all right," Andromeda answered softly. "As long as they do not go against the regime now in control of our world. Now come on." She reached out and took his bony hand, leading him to the path going down into the canyon. "Go. Go to them, pet," Andromeda whispered.
It hurt her heart to push him away, toward the path, but as the others welcomed him, it cheered her slightly. She turned and went back to the others, a slight frown on her face. "Shall we go back now?" she asked finally, looking at each of them.
Harper was gone almost immediately, but the boys and Bella seemed to look at each other for a moment before Bellatrix walked over to take hold of Andromeda's arm. "I have decided against her going out tonight," she said firmly, and disapparated before Rodolphus or Rabastan could say anything.
The two appeared in the entrance hall of Malfoy Manor, the boys arriving soon after. "Take her back to the prisoners' ward," Bellatrix commanded the boys. "I have Nymphie to finish playing with, and then she'll be returning." She glared at Rodolphus, striding over to poke her finger into his chest. "You and I are going to have a little talk after Nymphie goes back to the ward," she said firmly. "And if you behave, you won't need my toy."
Rodolphus smirked at the idea, though warily pulled away and motioned Andromeda to walk before him as they left the hall. The boys did not speak on the way back to the ward, Rodolphus quickly taking Andromeda through the wards before he was gone, hurrying toward Bella's playroom. Andromeda gave a small groan and rushed off to her room to gather her things for a shower. She smelled like Death, and knew that Narcissa would have a fit if she didn't clean up immediately.
One thing that plagued Andromeda as she washed up, was how badly Nymphadora would take the entire situation. Nymphadora could be very confusing at times, and Andromeda was not looking forward to her daughter's unguarded, unfiltered reaction.
The next evening, just as the house elves arrived with dinner, Rodolphus arrived to take Andromeda from the house. She rose from the table and immediately went to the man, ready to leave the room.
Andromeda couldn't help wanting to get away from the prisoners' ward, Nymphadora's rage and subsequent silent treatment unbearable. She was glad that Rodolphus took her from the room quickly, and didn't say a word as he led her through the wards.
"What are we doing today?" Andromeda asked curiously as they walked down the hall.
"You'll find out," the man smirked, steering her down another hall.
Andromeda sighed as she walked toward the doors of the entrance hall, trying to keep her worries at bay as she lifted her face solemnly. The doors opened before them, Andromeda entering the room slowly, Rodolphus walking behind her.
She saw the Dark Lord at the far end of the room and noticed Bellatrix standing close by, Delphi at her side. Andromeda walked forward, lowering her gaze as she approached the man and knelt before him with a murmur of, "My Lord..."
She heard him step forward and felt the cold silence in the room until she heard him speak. "Andromeda...my loyal Death Eaters tell me you have done well," he said in his cold, high voice. "It amuses me, however, that Rodolphus is the one that doubts you. Bellatrix does not share these thoughts."
"He is not likely to trust any woman, My Lord," Andromeda answered. "We can be...difficult." Her heart beat quickened as he touched her face with a long, cold finger, and she looked up at him cautiously, unsure of what she should do.
"I do not think you will be as difficult as Nymphadora has proven herself to be," the Dark Lord smirked.
Andromeda was not sure if he meant her to reply, but she finally said, "My Lord, I have come willingly with no terms. I cannot answer for my daughter, but I will do your bidding, whatever it entails."
He glanced toward Bellatrix and the child. He hissed softly in Parseltongue, and Andromeda watched as the child smiled slightly, crossing the room to join her father before her. "What do you think of her?" he asked the four-year-old girl. "Will she do as she is told? Or will she misbehave, like Nymphadora?"
Delphini looked into the woman's eyes, and Andromeda could not help seeing the Black in the young girl. "She is different, Father," the child said with a slight frown. "She is good, and yet...well, she's like Mum." Delphi shook her head, lacking for words, and spoke in Parseltongue, to which the Dark Lord laughed delightedly.
"Well said, Delphini," he praised her, then motioned Delphi to step back as he raised Andromeda to her feet. "My daughter believes you will be a little wild sometimes, but that you will carry out your assignments well."
Andromeda chanced a glance at Bellatrix, who was looking on with a pout, then replied, "Time will tell."
The Dark Lord reached out to her once again, gently touching her face as Bella shot her sister a jealous look. "Oh, I will know, Andromeda. Open your mind to me."
The witch closed her eyes, swallowing hard as she allowed her Occlumency Shields to lower, feeling his icy touch on her mind. Thoughts of her childhood flashed before her eyes, the witch shivering in sudden fear, then anger, then intense love and sorrow. She saw herself and her sisters, all happy together before she had left them for the man she had loved. Nymphadora—Andromeda bit down on her tongue to keep herself from crying out against the sorrow she felt when she thought of her once happy daughter. Dora becoming an Auror, the war returning—Andromeda couldn't help but look down at the floor, emotional agony spreading through her as she thought of how much she and her family had lost so quickly.
Andromeda clenched her fists tightly, more than anything wanting to shut the Dark Lord out of her mind. She couldn't stand reliving her most hurtful memories, all the different things that had effected her so deeply in her life. The witch bit her lip, glad of the pain to keep her from speaking, and struggled not to allow herself to become emotional.
She could hear Nymphadora screaming at her as she had the previous night, felt her own rage as she yelled back at her daughter. She could not keep the Dark Lord from hearing what Dora had screamed against him in her horror. Andromeda winced, knowing that Dora could very well be punished because of what she was so easily giving up. She remembered her own tears after Nymphadora had finished screaming at her and left her in her room.
The woman fought her desperate need to shut her would-be master out of her mind and pleaded with him, inside her mind, My Lord...I will be faithful. No matter the cost.
Moments later, he released her from the intense Legilimency, and she staggered backward, gasping for breath. Delphi was watching in rapt attention, Bellatrix now at her daughter's side, her hand protectively on the girl's head. Andromeda did not look up for several minutes, and no one spoke until the Dark Lord said, "Andromeda."
The witch looked up at him, barely able to keep her expression blank as she whispered, "My Lord…?"
"You are ready," he said. "You will take the Mark tonight. Would you like your Nymphadora to join us for such a delightful event?"
Rodolphus and Bellatrix both let out a huff of laughter at the same time, Delphi giggling too. Andromeda's eyes narrowed as she thought of Nymphadora's rage, and looked straight at the Dark Lord. "Yes, My Lord," she said firmly. "She needs to be here."
"Shall I retrieve her?" Rodolphus asked, a small smirk on his lips.
"No," the Dark Lord ordered. "Bella..." he smiled at her as she approached him, going to bow before he stopped her. "Come here," he chuckled, reaching out to her. "We will call the girl—and the boy. Let this be the beginning of new learning for both of them."
"Boy?" Bellatrix said in confusion as he pulled up her left sleeve, stroking her Mark for a moment and making her giggle slightly.
"Draco, Mum," came Delphi's voice, but Bellatrix didn't look at her.
Andromeda watched as the Dark Lord pressed his hand over her Mark, Bellatrix laughing as she leaned her head on the man's shoulder, feeling his magic surge through her Mark as he called Nymphadora and Draco. The brown-haired witch did not move from where she stood as she watched Bella and the Dark Lord stand there together. She did not miss the happy smile on Delphi's face, nor the look of suppressed rage on Rodolphus' face. Andromeda could not understand how the man still managed to be jealous over Bellatrix after all he had been through with her, Delphi, and now Elara.
Only a few moments had passed before the doors opened to admit Draco Malfoy, the boy looking small and frightened in spite of what seemed to be attempts to appear strong and unconcerned. "Where's Nymphie?" Bella pouted from her master's side as she straightened up, looking suspicious.
"She—she'll be here," Draco said, his voice higher than usual. "She...she wouldn't listen when I told her it was useless to ignore the Summons."
Andromeda's heart sank. She couldn't be the reason that the Dark Lord finally allowed Nymphadora to be killed. She didn't dare speak, though she looked away from everyone, not trusting herself to stay emotionless. She could feel tears starting to her eyes even as she struggled to keep her emotions controlled.
Bellatrix hissed in fury at the boy's news. "My Lord, let me find her and teach her a lesson so that she will scream for mercy as I drag her back here!" Bellatrix said eagerly.
The Dark Lord looked around the room, his eyes resting on Andromeda for a few seconds before he began to speak. Andromeda couldn't stand it as Bellatrix skipped toward the door, intent on causing some damage. To everyone's shock, however, the doors opened once again to reveal Nymphadora standing there, obviously in pain as she clutched her arm, her hair white. She hurried right past her shocked aunt and on into the room, kneeling before the Dark Lord as tears of pain trickled down her face. She did not even attempt to speak.
"Foolish girl," he said with a long-suffering sigh. "The call will become stronger in those that resist it, Nymphadora. You cannot say no to me; you know this." She did not speak, and he waved his hand at her carelessly. "Crucio."
Andromeda found that her emotions calmed as she watched her daughter shriek in pain, the girl's hair pure white yet again. Her daughter needed to learn, needed to understand it. The young witch lay curled in pain on the floor when the spell was released.
The Dark Lord walked forward, motioning to Rodolphus. "Andromeda's wand." The Lestrange drew the woman's wand from his pocket and handed it to the Dark Lord without hesitation. "Now, Nymphadora," he said thoughtfully, "shall we simply give you a warning, as I'm sure you weren't aware of this...security concerning my Mark, or shall we have your mother give you a taste of her willing obedience?" He turned to Andromeda and gave her the wand, looking back at the girl on the floor. "Hmm?"
"I hate you," Nymphadora hissed, her hair shooting red as she pressed her face into the floor, refusing to even try to get up.
"You needn't say such things," Andromeda snapped at the girl. "It's written all over you. It's in every time you botch your assignments."
The girl looked up at her mother in horror. "Mum," she said, "you—you don't mean that. You're just saying it because they're here."
Andromeda looked down at her daughter, shaking her head. "No, Dora. You wouldn't let me get a word in last night, but you will listen now. If you were not my daughter, I would not have the patience to try to help you."
"Go on, Andy," Bellatrix giggled. "Tell her how weak and stupid she is, and how much better it is to be a good girl."
"Don't say anything," Andromeda said sharply as Nymphadora was about to snap at Bellatrix. "We can all see how you feel about that. You are worthless like this, a helpless, careless blubbering child. You do not understand what you are doing to yourself, to your family when you act so rebellious."
"Runs in the family, doesn't it?" Bellatrix giggled as Nymphadora spat the very same words, the two glaring at each other immediately.
"Mother!" Dora cried, tears spilling down her cheeks as the witch raised her wand to point it at the girl. "Mother—"
Andromeda did not need to speak the incantation, the Curse bursting from her wand easily, Dora's screams piercing the air almost immediately. She did not listen to her daughter's cries, instead trying to think of ways she could explain to the young witch why she had to do the things she detested so deeply.
"Enough," the Dark Lord ordered after a few moments, motioning Rodolphus to look after the still shrieking witch as he turned to Andromeda. "I see Bellatrix is right. You are more than ready. Your arm, Andromeda."
"Shh, Nymphie," Rodolphus shushed her with a grin as he pulled her toward him on the floor, his wand in her side as he rested his cheek against her head. "Watch the show. Aren't you proud? Your mother's going to become something that you could never dream of being."
Nymphadora merely went limp in the man's arms, sobbing against his chest as he stroked her hair gently, amused at her brokenness. He shifted her in his arms to make it more comfortable, then looked up as Andromeda held out her left arm to the man, pulling her sleeve up with a thought that her arm would soon not be so bare.
The Dark Lord laughed softly, and Andromeda realised that her mind must still have been open somewhat from his earlier probing. "It's always disconcerting," he said to her in amusement as he traced his fingers over the pale skin of her forearm. "But I am sure you will recover. Morsmordre!"
Andromeda did not flinch as the Dark magic surged through her arm, though the pain made her cringe inwardly. She was shocked by the feeling of the spell entwining itself with her magic, and she felt herself rebel at the feeling for a split second before realising how intricately it linked her to the Dark Lord through her Mark. Taking a deep breath, she lifted her face and allowed the spell to rush straight to her core to bind her to her new master.
"You are mine," the Dark Lord pronounced, and Delphi grinned, clapping her hands as her mother laughed triumphantly.
Rodolphus merely grinned at them all from the floor, Nymphadora held in his arms as she cried hopelessly. Draco had not moved since he had stepped aside to let Bellatrix pass on her way to attempt retrieving Nymphadora. Andromeda withdrew her arm from the Dark Lord's grip slowly, carefully pulling the sleeve of her dress back down as she looked to the man for any further instruction.
"You will, of course, return to the prisoners' ward," the Dark Lord told her. "Such a shame, really. Take Nymphadora with you. I have other purposes for my faithful Death Eaters tonight, and we needn't waste them on carting her back and forth."
"Of course, My Lord," Andromeda said with a slight nod. She turned and walked over to Rod and Dora, who looked up at her, one with a saucy grin, and the other with a tear-streaked angry and fearful face. "Come along, Dora," she murmured, pulling her daughter up from the man's lap. Dora did not protest as her mother half carried her out of the hall and back along the corridors toward the prisoners' ward, Draco following them at a safe distance.
"Dora," Andromeda whispered once they were back in the ward. "Dora, why?"
The girl turned her head away from her mother, tears streaming down her face once again. "You shouldn't have done it," she sobbed. "Now you're trapped too!"
Andromeda hugged her daughter close, supporting the girl into her room and onto her bed. "It's all how you treat your situation," she said to the younger witch. "I wanted to join them on good terms, Dora."
"You—you Cursed me," Dora choked, turning away from the woman trying to help her. "You're my mother! You aren't supposed to do things like that!"
"They are sick," Andromeda told her daughter, the girl stilling in shock for a moment. "They would have anyone do anything to anyone, if they so wished. You...you were disobedient, Dora. I would never have volunteered, but believe me, it could have been so much worse. The Dark Lord was about to send Bellatrix after you."
Dora just shook her head, crying into the pillow. "What is the use?" she wept. "Mum? Why am I still here?"
Andromeda sat down on the bed, touching her wand to the girl's back as she began to heal the girl of her own Curses. "Because I love you, and because I would do anything I could to protect you," she said quietly. "Don't ignore a Summons, Dora. It can be deadly."
"I'm not sure that would be a bad thing," Dora sniffed. "You and Cissa could take care of Teddy..."
"Do not talk like that!" Andromeda snapped at her in horror. "Nymphadora Lupin!"
"I don't want to be here," Dora whimpered, her hands clenching into fists. "I can't stand it anymore."
"I can help now," Andromeda said, gently brushing her daughter's hair out of her eyes. "We will get through this, I promise."
Nymphadora sniffed, her body shuddering as her mind replayed all the awful things that had been happening to her. "Mum, I don't think I—"
Andromeda reached out and turned the girl to face her. "Yes, you can," she said quietly, but confidently. "You're not alone as a Death Eater anymore. We can practise here together, and I can show you things...things that I never dreamed I would show you."
"Dark things," Nymphadora muttered.
"Considered normal, now," Andromeda sighed, lying down next to the girl. "Dora, as much as I seem to have gone off the deep end, I really do not believe Dark magic is the answer to everything. But it is a show of power, and I intend to show my abilities."
"Abilities?" Dora frowned as she sniffed back tears and turned to her mother in concern. "What abilities?"
"Oh," Andromeda shrugged. "The load of Dark Arts that I know from Bella's earliest obsessions with it. The things Father taught me, as well as my aptitude for wandless magic. I have been practising that more, you know, but I need to work on it. It used to be frowned upon, you know."
Nymphadora watched her for a moment before she reached out, touching her mother's face. "Mum," she asked softly, her eyes suddenly strange and dark, "are you even in there? Do you know me?"
Andromeda couldn't help gasping in sudden pain. "Dora," she breathed, her eyes filling with tears. "You're my daughter. Of course I know—" she reached out and pulled the younger witch into her arms, burying her face in the girl's still white hair. "I love you," Andromeda whispered as tears trickled down her cheeks. "No matter how different I become, Dora, I will always love you." Tears of relief joined her tears of sorrow as Dora's arms wrapped around her, the girl returning her embrace slightly.
"Mum," Dora whimpered, burying her face in her mother's dress. "Always help me. Please."
"I will," Andromeda promised fiercely, very concerned about how much her daughter's mind seemed to have suffered from the trauma she had experienced. "I love you."
Dora didn't respond, but clung to her mother desperately, her grip not relaxing until she'd fallen asleep over an hour later.
