Oh dear, what shenanigans are we getting up to this time, hmm? If only the prisoners would behave xD But where's the fun in that?
Dora
(who should be known as Andromeda but isn't because she didn't figure out soon enough that she's more like Andromeda than she is sweet little Nymphie)
Narcissa Malfoy sighed as her son left her room, going back to his own quarters. She had just learned exactly what the young man thought of what was happening around him. She knew that it couldn't be easy for the son of her husband to be locked away with those he had always been taught were filth.
She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before she began to brush out her long greyish blonde hair. The war had hurt both her and Draco, but she seemed to have adapted much easier. Narcissa winced as she remembered Draco's sullen words to her: "Anyone but a Weasley."
The witch just buried her face in her hands. She knew that out of anyone in the world, it was the most difficult to have a Weasley realise the lowly, awful state of the Malfoy family. Narcissa knew what Draco was going through, for she had had those moments many times as the Lady of the Manor, and even reuniting with Andromeda in her own dungeons. It truly was embarrassing.
Narcissa was sure that Draco had only accepted Dora, Remus, and Andromeda so easily because she had been in such bad shape at the time that he was willing for anyone to heal her. She remembered her own embarrassment at Andromeda's offer to help her and remembered her sister yelling at her for her stubbornness.
The woman looked up with a little laugh, swatting away her few tears. Draco wasn't all his father's son, after all. She just hoped that he could take her advice and make the most of it.
Dora and Ginny sat curled into each other on Ginny's bed, both girls silent. They had finally had a long talk together, and Ginny knew far more about each of the Lestranges than she had ever wanted to know. She was beginning to realise that Dora had meant it when she said she was going insane. Dora was unfiltered, and not in an amusing way.
"So is it just your family and the Malfoys that are here?" Ginny asked Dora after a moment.
"Yes," Dora muttered, scowling as she thought of Andromeda.
"We heard that Lucius is dead," Ginny said softly. "What happened?"
"His usefulness was complete," Dora said dully.
Ginny squeezed her friend gently and waited until Dora finally continued to explain. "Because Narcissa lied to the Dark Lord about Harry being dead, he decided that one of the Malfoys was to die. He told Bella to choose, and Bellatrix murdered Lucius right in the middle of the Great Hall. Then Narcissa was severely tortured, and she and Draco were sent to the dungeons, where we found Narcissa to be in terrible condition when we were brought here a couple weeks later."
"She risked and lost everything," Ginny murmured with a small sigh.
"She wanted to save her family, but she lost her husband," Dora whispered. "The same thing happened to me...Remus wanted us to be free...Teddy was just a baby. He doesn't remember his real father, and he's already confused about Rodolphus and Elara. It's just awful, Ginny. You can't stay here. We've got to figure something out."
Ginny was about to reply when there was a knock on the door and the two glanced at each other before Ginny called, "Come in!"
Both witches sat up in surprise when the door opened to reveal Draco Malfoy in the doorway, the boy walking into the room and shutting the door quietly behind him. Ginny didn't know what to say, and Draco seemed to be at a loss for words now that he was faced with two witches with whom he never knew how to deal. Dora finally asked, "What is it, Draco?"
"I would like to speak to Ginevra alone," he said, looking up at the red-haired witch, his face a blank mask.
"You can't just walk in here and kick me out," Dora scowled at the young man.
"He asked politely," Ginny pointed out, hugging Tonks firmly before she let her go. "Go check on the children, and whatever, and then come back if you want to. I'm sure it shouldn't take too long. What could we have to say to each other, anyway?"
Tonks looked between the two for a moment, then huffed in annoyance. "Fine," she said. "Behave, because I won't pick up the pieces."
Draco nodded and didn't speak until his cousin was gone. He then looked up at the red-haired teen and said, "Welcome to Malfoy Manor." Ginny almost laughed in disbelief, but the young man wasn't finished, stepping forward, his eyes shadowed. "I know that we really do have nothing to say, but...you are not safe here. You must leave."
"And how do you suggest I go about that?" Ginny rolled her eyes at him. "Going to lead me out on your arm, Malfoy?"
"Ha!" Draco scoffed. "Sneaking out has been tried before and resulted in the death of the werewolf. It can't be done the same way. I do know of another way...though it will be just as dangerous and may result in a small skirmish breaking out here in the Ward..."
"Are you rambling?" Ginny grinned. "Stop that and tell me what you mean."
Draco looked around the room, cursing softly as he quickly threw a Silencing Ward over the room. "I know the wards because I'm supposed to inherit this house," he said quickly as if he didn't want to talk about it, approaching the girl sitting on the bed. "You can't get through the wards on this wing unless you have the Mark. But those that have the Mark can't take anyone through the ward unless they are specifically Summoned and cleared for such things...it gets very complicated."
Ginny looked directly into the young man's eyes. "But there is another way?"
"Yes," Draco answered. "Are you willing to risk everything, though?"
"I have nothing to lose," Ginny answered, and he nodded once.
"I need to make sure of the details before I can tell you anything. You can ask Dora to help: we'll need every bit of help we can get, and she'll be incriminated anyway," Draco muttered. "She gets blamed for everything, you see."
"Naturally," Ginny agreed. "Thank you." Draco turned and left the room immediately, his ward disintegrating behind him. She shook her head in wonder at the young man and tried to think of what she would tell Dora when she came back.
Andromeda sat at the table with the rest of her family, a very awkward silence only punctuated by a few words from Teddy or Elara. Ginny wasn't there yet, as usual: the girl seemed to like to be late to every single meal. Andromeda shook her head slightly, seeing her daughter glare at her through her black fringe. She didn't say anything, wishing that Nymphadora could only see that she'd been trying to help her. Nothing would help the girl, it seemed.
She saw the girl's refusal to talk to her, and even Dora's reluctance to trust her with the children. Andromeda scowled down at her plate: it wasn't as if she would hurt her own grandchildren. She could not understand why Nymphadora was so paranoid about her, and it was beginning to make her angry as well.
Andromeda got to her feet and was about to walk out when she felt someone enter the wards. Draco shook his head when they looked at him, none of them recognising the magic. Andromeda turned and left the room, walking down to the entrance of the Prisoners' Ward.
It was with great shock that Andromeda found a small child standing just inside the ward, looking around curiously. "Delphi," she murmured, wondering what could possibly have brought the heir of the Dark Lord down to their quarters. "What are you doing here, child?"
The child looked up at her, a look of shock and guilt on her face before she frowned in confusion. "Mother?"
"No, Delphi," Andromeda sighed. "I'm Andromeda. You're not supposed to be here, are you?"
"Your hair," Delphi frowned, walking forward as she stared at the woman. "You're one of those, like Nymphie."
Andromeda held back a laugh at the sound of Delphi saying her daughter's derogatory nickname. "Yes, though perhaps it is Dora that has powers like me. Why have you come here, Delphi?" She reached up and pulled a lock of hair before her eyes, sighing as she realised her hair must have turned black while she was at the table. She morphed it back to her natural brown, raising an eyebrow at the young girl.
Delphi looked up into Andromeda's face. "I want to see Elara."
Alarm shot through Andromeda, the witch suddenly worried about whether Delphi would even tell her the truth about why she was there. The girl could have been sent by her mother to hurt Elara, or even Nymphadora!
Andromeda jumped in shock, feeling the little girl's hand grasp her wrist. "Mother and Rodolphus are always fighting about her and me," Delphi said, "but I've never seen her. Mother won't allow me to see Elara if Rodolphus is there...she hates him."
"I can't let you be here without your mother's permission, Delphi," Andromeda sighed. "She would be furious if she knew—"
"She won't know," hissed the little girl. "If you do as I say!" Andromeda merely smiled at the child until Delphi slid her small hand up the woman's arm to her Dark Mark. "I can hurt you," Delphi whispered, a grin breaking over her face before she giggled with glee.
"Delphini—" Andromeda growled before hissing in pain and gritting her teeth so she wouldn't cry out. "Stop," she breathed. "I—I'll let you meet Elara."
"Come on," Delphi said with a slight pout. "Mother said she'd only be gone a few minutes."
Andromeda held back a wince at the thought of running on a Bellatrix time clock. "Let me tell Dora you want to see Elara, all right?" she said quietly. "Dora is very protective of her daughter."
Delphi stared at Andromeda. "Elara is Dora's?" she said in shock.
"Yes," Andromeda sighed. "Whose did you think she was?"
Delphi just shook her head as they walked back to the dining room. The moment the two stepped inside, Narcissa's eyes widened and she said, "Delphini!"
The child glared at her for a moment before she looked up at Andromeda sharply. The brown-haired woman looked at Nymphadora for a moment before saying, "Delphi would like to meet Elara. She's heard a lot of talk about her, apparently, but Bella wouldn't let her anywhere near the girl."
The youngest child in the room looked up at the sound of her name, pointing at Delphi and saying a few curious syllables. Dora pulled Elara onto her lap protectively, her hair turning white at the roots as she stared between her own mother and Delphi. Elara yelled in protest, her hair shooting red, and Teddy said, "Mum, she doesn't want to be held."
Dora didn't seem to hear him, though Delphi looked at the little boy, who was immediately in awe of the girl. "Who are you?" Teddy asked her.
"I am Delphini Riddle, the heir of the Dark Lord," she said scornfully. "Who are you?"
"I'm Teddy," the boy answered, and Narcissa shushed him gently, one hand on his shoulder as she placed the other on Dora's shoulder reassuringly.
"This is Elara," Andromeda said, motioning Delphi to the child on Dora's lap.
Delphi stepped up to Elara, ignoring the child's mother as she reached out and touched the baby's arm. Elara ceased her struggles against her mother and looked at Delphi curiously. "She's just a normal baby," Delphi rolled her eyes. "No need for such a fuss over her."
Dora didn't say anything as Delphi turned and walked to the doorway, motioning Andromeda to follow her. The brown-haired witch did not miss the tears trickling down Dora's face as she walked out of the room with Delphi.
"Come with me," the child said to Andromeda, reaching up and taking her hand.
"Must I?" sighed the older witch. "You know Bellatrix will blame me for your being here if I go."
Delphi smirked. "Mum told me you can take care of yourself. Is that not true?"
Andromeda couldn't help but laugh at the child's statement. "Fine," she said, taking a deep breath before leaving the ward. If Bellatrix was to be angry with her, so be it.
The brown-haired woman held back a groan as they turned the corner to the corridor where Delphi said her room was. Bellatrix was striding down the hall, her wand out, looking both fearful and furious. Andromeda was about to speak when Delphi rushed forward, calling out, "I'm here, Mother" and throwing herself into the woman's arms.
"Where have you been?" Bellatrix breathed, burying her face in her daughter's hair in an attempt to hide the panic clearly etched across her face. "What if you'd been hurt? Delphi, your father—"
"I'm fine, Mum," Delphi promised, reaching up toward her mother, who immediately embraced her tightly. She was going to say something more when her mother spotted Andromeda.
"What were you doing with her?" she hissed in fury, straightening up as her grip tightening on her wand. "You may have proven yourself in some areas, but you do not have clearance to care for my daughter!"
Delphi wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and whispered something in her ear before leaning her head against Bella's own. The black-haired witch started in shock and stared at her sister. "She went to see—Nymphie's brat? And you let her?"
Andromeda gave a small smile. "She can be very persuasive, Bella. She is very much your daughter."
"Nymphie was okay with that?" Bellatrix raised an eyebrow at Andromeda, ignoring her words.
"Of course not," Andromeda rolled her eyes. "She doesn't trust anyone, and she—she hates me right now. In fact, I wish had something to do other than avoid her all the time. The ward is too small for the two of us."
"Nymphie cried just because I was there," Delphi frowned. "She's not very strong."
Bellatrix laughed. "No, darling, Rodolphus has broken her."
Delphi nodded after a moment, even though Andromeda was sure she did not understand what her mother meant. "Mum, Andromeda is like Nymphie."
The confused look of amusement on Bellatrix's face made Andromeda laugh outright. "Not like that," she said, reaching up to tug on a lock of her hair. "Like this." She shifted her hair to a dark purple. "I accidentally morphed today and Delphi pointed it out. I hadn't noticed."
Bellatrix eyed her sister suspiciously. "You never morph accidentally, Andromeda. What is wrong with you?"
"I'm locked up with Nymphadora, watching her go insane because I can't get through to her because of what has happened to her," Andromeda snapped, glaring at the woman before she looked away. "I'd rather be anywhere, do anything rather than that. Isn't there something I could help with instead of going back there so soon?"
"Ha!" Bellatrix smirked. "Don't like keeping poor Nymphie company?"
"She has Ginny," Andromeda muttered. "She doesn't need, nor want my company."
"Aw, is Andy lonely?" Bella pouted, walking toward her, but Andromeda didn't move, the two witches standing face to face. "I could find you some company..."
"I don't want that," Andromeda said almost in a whisper. "I need to be busy. I don't want to think about things. I just want to do my duty...don't you understand?"
Bellatrix watched the younger woman's face for a few moments. "I thought that when I left Cissa to be tortured for her folly after the battle." Andromeda looked down, shock running through her as her older sister's hand touched hers. "I saved her life...not that it helped anything. I killed her husband..."
Andromeda couldn't speak, her emotions too strong for her to trust her voice, but almost as soon as Bella had reached out to her, she drew back. "I will have something for you to do tomorrow," Bellatrix shrugged. "Misery owns today, though. Unless you want to sit with Delphi for the next four hours. I'm going out and I can't leave her with the elf anymore, the stupid, incompetent things."
"Of course," Andromeda said with a small smile. "Mother couldn't trust you to a house elf by the time you were three. I'm not surprised Delphi is the same way."
"And I don't want to drag Narcissa away from Draco right now," Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "He's probably hysterical that there's a Weasley in his house."
"He wasn't happy," Andromeda laughed, following Bellatrix at her command. She could not believe her good fortune as she sat down across from Delphi and her mother, listening to her instructions for what Delphi was to do while Bella was gone. It was going to be a much better evening than she could have hoped for.
Narcissa was waiting for her sister when she returned hours later, sitting on the woman's bed. The moment Andromeda walked into the ward, Narcissa hurried out to meet her, a look of concern on her face. "Are you all right?" she asked. "You were gone for a long time if it was merely to take Delphi back to her mother."
Andromeda smiled slightly, leading the way to her sister's room and sitting down on the bed for a moment as she loosened her corset and sighed in relief. "Bella had me stay with the girl for a few hours since I was already there," she explained. "And also, I may have told Bellatrix that Dora hates me and we aren't speaking to each other at the moment. I might not be around here very much in the next few days, as I have asked to be kept busy and away from Nymphadora."
"Is that wise?" Narcissa asked softly, sitting down by the witch. "Dromeda, she's your daughter..."
"I can't help her," Andromeda whispered. "She won't accept the truth, she won't listen to me—I can't stand to be around her like that. That is not the girl I raised as my daughter."
"You can't give up on her," Narcissa said worriedly. "She needs you, even though she doesn't want to admit it."
Andromeda closed her eyes and shook her head. "It's been four years, Cissa—four years of trying to encourage Dora and make it easier for her to be here. I don't know why I ever thought I could help her adjust. All I've done is highlight our differences, and how she can never measure up."
Narcissa wrapped her arms around her sister tightly, letting Andromeda lean her head on her shoulder. "Dromeda," she whispered pleadingly, "I know it hurts to feel as if you're losing your daughter, but that's no excuse to throw yourself mindlessly into the Dark. You're stronger than that: don't be like Bella."
"I—" Andromeda began, but Narcissa squeezed her and interrupted.
"Because you feel you can't speak to Dora, I've been trying to help her," Narcissa murmured, "but I can't save her and you, Andromeda. You've always been strong: please don't become someone I hardly know. We've barely been reunited and...I can't bear the thought of losing you again."
"I can't save her," Andromeda said angrily. "She thinks I'm a Dark witch, and that I don't care anymore. I do care!" Andromeda sniffed, trying to keep back her emotion as she whispered, "I'm not trying to become Bella: I wouldn't ever want to live like that. I don't aspire to be the Dark Lord's most favourite, but I want to do my duty, do it well, and survive! Dora can't understand that!"
"Because she doesn't think like you do about these things," Narcissa said, rubbing the older witch's back gently. "She's only half of you, Andromeda, and half your gentle husband."
Andromeda looked down at the floor, her tears drying immediately as she thought of her daughter's father. "She's not all kind and perfect like that," Andromeda muttered. "It's because we raised her too gently that she refuses to act in accordance with her situation now. If I had taught her differently—"
Narcissa sighed, leaning her head against her sister's. "She has your defiance, that much is certain," she told Andromeda. "The Black pride, and features as well, except I believe her eyes are softer than the traditional black eyes we usually have."
"But she has no ability to rise above this situation," Andromeda said in frustration. "I can excel, but Dora...there is nothing I can do, Cissa."
"Just be here for her," Narcissa said gently. "Even if she seems to not want to speak to you, allow her to if she gives the slightest hint. She cares as much as you do: you're both just too proud to see it."
Andromeda frowned, but didn't continue that thought. "I brought you something," she sighed. "I didn't know if I should turn it in or not, but I don't think I will." She reached into her pocket, then placed the object into her sister's hand.
Narcissa drew a sharp breath as she felt the wood in her hand and looked up quickly. "Whose wand is this?" she asked quietly.
"It used to be the Weasley girl's," Andromeda answered. "I don't want them to remember I have it and take it from me when I thought you might be able to use it. That is, if you don't mind it was Ginevra's."
"Well, it's a wand," Narcissa said briskly. "If it accepts me, I will use it—discretely, of course. Thank you, Andromeda."
The brown-haired witch nodded, then said, "Well, I've got to get some sleep. I don't know how soon I'll be needed tomorrow. Good night, Cissa."
Narcissa smiled. "Goodnight," she answered, hugging the woman before she allowed her to leave.
Andromeda made a strange sound as she went to leave, stepping out of the way for someone else to enter as she muttered something under her breath. Narcissa frowned at her sister's reaction as Draco entered the room, a blank look on his face. "Draco," she said softly. "What is it?"
"I've taken your advice," he murmured after placing a ward on the room. "You might not like what I'm doing, but I have to, Mother."
"Draco," Narcissa sighed, getting to her feet and walking toward her son. "Dare I ask?"
"The girl...cannot stay here," Draco said finally, unable to look straight at his mother. "Dora and I are planning to get her out."
Narcissa drew a steadying breath and said, "They tried, Draco...it won't work."
Draco reached out and took his mother's hand in his. "She is one person: she will be less noticeable than an entire family. I have a better plan, and with my knowledge of the wards, it should be easier."
"Draco, if you are discovered or if she is caught..." Narcissa closed her eyes, not daring to imagine what they would do to her only child.
"I know it's not safe, but I've got to do it, Mother," he told her as she hugged him to herself tightly. "And we haven't worked everything out, but I think we're going to have to involve Andromeda without her knowledge."
"Draco!" a look of fear crossed Narcissa Malfoy's face "No! You cannot risk that she'll turn you in!"
"Do you believe she would?" Draco seemed surprised. "Dora said the same thing, but then she seems to hate her mother right now. It's not like that, though. We just want her to distract Bellatrix from the rest of us while it happens. We've got to do a lot more planning before we decide what we need to do. But you are right: Andromeda might prove to be a problem."
Narcissa pulled away from the young man, stepping back as she looked at him in concern. "You might end up having to fight her—all of you might have to. Draco, you and Dora and the Weasley will suffer terribly if this goes wrong."
Draco drew a deep breath. "Mother, we can deal with whatever Andromeda throws at us: she's sane."
"You can't do this," Narcissa whispered, reaching out for the bed behind her so she could sit down. "Draco..."
"Mum," the boy sighed, sitting down beside her and taking her hand in his. "I can't sit by and watch them kill the girl, because we both know that she will die before she tells them anything. And if it came down to it, I don't think Andromeda would turn in all her family to be tortured for banding together to save someone. As much as she acts like Bella sometimes, she's not the kind to turn her back on those she loves."
"I...I don't know," Narcissa breathed, thinking of the conversation she'd just had with her sister. She looked down at the wand in her right hand. "Draco..." She reached over and placed the wand in her nightstand. "This is Ginevra's wand: Andromeda just gave it to me because no one took it from her after she brought the girl in. This wand will stay here until its owner has need of it."
"Thanks, Mum," Draco breathed, wrapping his arm around her and kissing her head before he got to his feet. "I promise I'll be careful."
The instant he walked out the door, Narcissa dissolved into tears. The boy was going to get himself killed, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
