"Happy, Nymphie?" Rodolphus sneered at her.

Dora looked down at the letter he had given her and held back a sigh. It had obviously been ripped open and resealed by whoever had checked the note before he'd brought it to her. "It's fine," she muttered, slipping the letter into her pocket as she wasn't about to read it. She knew it didn't matter because he was quite possibly the one that had checked it, but she didn't care.

"Run along," he told her. "I don't need you to go with me to see my son."

"Fine," Dora said coolly. "Run along, Roddy." He glared at her before turning and walking away. She hurried to the sitting room, finding her mother and Narcissa together. "Teddy wrote," she said breathlessly, sitting down beside her mother and producing the parchment.

"How is he?" Andromeda asked, glancing at the note.

"Well," Dora murmured, beginning to read, "just a minute."

Dear Mum,

I hope you're doing okay. It's very different here, not like the stories you've told about being at Hogwarts. I'm a Hufflepuff like you, but it's strange. They're not as friendly as I thought they would be. I know times have changed, but you'd think they'd still be a little friendly, right?

I'll be okay, though, even though I wish I could be there with you. Take care of Elara and Roo, and I'll see you at Christmas, probably.

Love,

Teddy

Dora looked up at her mother in concern. "He's going to struggle, isn't he? I mean, I told him of the fun times, but I didn't tell him how much I was made fun of even before the war."

"It's not going to be easy," Andromeda agreed. "But I believe he can do it."

"Yes," Dora sighed. "But it's going to be even more difficult for him now."

Andromeda placed her hand over her daughter's, squeezing the girl's hand. "He's going to make it, Dora; he's strong like you and Remus."

Dora nodded, looking away quickly. "I'm so worried," she whispered. "For Teddy to be by himself, and then Elara to go year after next...I don't want anything to happen to them."

"Nymphadora," Narcissa said quietly, "you do understand that while the children may get hurt sometimes, they aren't really in danger while they're being trained for the Dark Lord's service. They are preserved for his purposes."

"So am I," Dora huffed. "Didn't get me anywhere, did it?"

"Teddy will be fine," Andromeda said firmly. "You'll see, Dora."


Teddy Lupin sat in his Charms class, shaking slightly as he tried to listen to the lecture and not think about the things he'd already witnessed in the first week of being at Hogwarts. He'd seen a girl the same age as him dragged off by someone he was sure was a Death Eater, just because the girl was a Muggle-born. He felt terrible that he hadn't been able to help her, and kept remembering how she'd screamed until she'd been knocked out.

He'd seen multiple students tortured for the smallest things, and even heard screams coming from different rooms. He couldn't imagine what was going on behind closed doors and had no desire to know. Nothing his mother, grandmother, and cousin had told him could have prepared him for the terrors of a Death Eater-run school.

He knew if he stayed quiet and minded his own business he had a better chance of being safe. But Teddy was fully aware of the stares and sneers he received from many students, including his own house members. He supposed it was because he was the child of two Order members, and a prisoner from the Death Eater headquarters. He turned a page of his book and held back a sigh; he'd have to do a lot of practise on his own to be able to keep up in his classes.

Teddy shivered again. He was almost like that girl: he'd practically been raised without magic as well, having never been allowed a wand or taught any magic at all. Even the adults around him didn't use much magic, except Rodolphus and the other Death Eaters. He kept silent, wanting the class to be over so he could seek shelter down in his dormitory.

It seemed far too long before the class was dismissed and he was free to leave. Teddy quietly gathered his things and left the room, hurrying along toward the Great Hall for lunch. He was thinking so much about what he was going to do after lunch that he didn't look around carefully like normal to avoid those who usually scowled at him.

"Hey, cub!"

Teddy gasped, his bag flying out of his hand as he was forcefully pinned to the wall by a spell. "What do you want?" he said in alarm, looking at the two older boys facing him.

"Look at that," one of the boys sneered. "The cub's hair turned white. I heard his mum does that when she's scared."

"I'm not scared," Teddy lied, his hair shooting red as he looked between the two boys. He was slightly surprised to see a Ravenclaw crest on one of the two, though the other was pure Slytherin.

"Oh, I don't believe that," the Ravenclaw said in amusement. "Your eyes were so wide when he got you." And he laughed.

"Leave me alone," Teddy said, scowling at them.

The Slytherin boy smirked. "I don't think I can do that," he said. "Cubs like you don't deserve to breathe the same air as we purebloods do."

Teddy glared at him. "I'm not a cub," he snapped.

"It growls," the Ravenclaw said in delight. "Do you bite, too?"

"It doesn't matter what you are," the other boy shrugged. "You're filth and shouldn't be allowed here with us."

"If I shouldn't be here, I wouldn't be," Teddy scowled at them. "If I'm not special, why was I chosen to go to Hogwarts? Why are you here?"

The Slytherin boy glared at the first year and twisted his wand, Teddy yelling out in shock and pain. "But you can't even defend yourself," the boy mocked him. "What's so special about you that you feel entitled to be here."

Teddy struggled uselessly against the binding spell, and the Ravenclaw cursed him as well. "Stop!" Teddy cried out, pain coursing through his body. "Don't!"

Another Slytherin approached, this time a girl with a gleam in her eyes. "You don't seem to be hurting him much," she smirked, raising her wand. "You boys need more practise: Crucio!"

Teddy screamed.


A groan escaped the boy's lips as he barely stirred, keeping his eyes shut as he sensed the bright lights in the room. "You may leave," he heard someone say, and his heart jumped.

He forced his eyes open, startling in shock when he saw Delphini standing close by the bed. He grinned painfully, starting to feel the ache in all of his bones. "Um, hi," he said, blushing slightly.

"Poor Teddy Bear," Delphi sighed, shaking her head slightly at him. "Too weak to defend himself from a girl, I hear."

"It was two older boys and a girl!" Teddy protested immediately, his face bright red with embarrassment. "I-"

"And you didn't even try to protect yourself," the witch said mockingly. "Do you think you'll survive in this world like that? Being a victim like your mother?"

Teddy sat up and glared at her instinctively. "I'm not a victim," he snapped, lowering his voice at the last moment.

Delphi smirked at him, her eyes flashing dangerously and making Teddy's stomach churn nervously. "If you weren't," she said quietly, "you would fight to belong with us. You would strive to find and guard your place among the most powerful of young wizards. Only then will you truly belong here, Teddy Lupin."

"I-" Teddy began, but Delphi held up her hand.

"Learn some curses," she told him. "Make a name for yourself. Only you can ensure your protection."

"Okay," Teddy said, swallowing hard.

"Very good," Delphi said. "I'm sure you know my father does not keep weaklings around. I cannot and will not protect a weakling."

The boy nodded wordlessly, his heart pounding in fright.

Delphi considered him for a moment, then said, "Your hair is white; you need to control your morphing as well. Your mother can do it most of the time, so I know you can. Show us what you can do, pup."

"I'm not a pup," Teddy sighed, his voice trailing off as he watched her walk away.


Andromeda was leaving the Prisoners' Wing one afternoon to go talk to Elara when she saw a man in black walking toward her. After frowning at him for a moment, she said, "Draco?"

He looked up at her quickly, then shook his head slightly. "I don't want to talk about it," he said. "I don't want Mum to worry."

"But you're okay?" Andromeda asked him in concern.

"I'm fine," Draco snapped at her, storming past her down the hall and hurrying to his room just as his mother looked out of the sitting room, having heard all the noise.

"What happened?" Narcissa asked, looking at the door her son had slammed.

"He was out," Andromeda said with a frown. "Death Eater robes. Perhaps you should talk to him. I'll be back soon."

Narcissa drew a steadying breath and walked to her son's door, knocking softly as she murmured, "Draco, let me in."

She waited longer than usual at his door before he finally opened the door and allowed her into the room. He had changed into normal robes, she noticed as he shut the door behind them. She faced her only child and saw a shadowed determination in his eyes. "Draco?" she said quietly, "What is going on?"

He held out his hand to her and led her to a seat on his bed. "I didn't want you to have to worry," Draco told his mother. "I'm working at the Ministry, Mother. They've had me take up an office similar to what Dad used to do."

"Oh," Narcissa murmured, looking down as he squeezed her hand carefully. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Mother," he answered. "I'm doing what I must for our family."

She looked up into his eyes reassuringly. "I know you never wanted to be stuck in an office," she said to him, "but I understand. We will always do what benefits the House of Malfoy."

Draco gave her a small smirk. "Well, they said either I could work up at the Ministry or be an active Death Eater again. The Dark Lord seemed to think I needed to stop taking up space and be useful. I can build us back up, Mother."

"Oh dear," Narcissa sighed. "We'll be right back in danger, as we were years ago."

"Hiding away here is danger as well," Draco replied with a frown. "I got bored with it all. And Bellatrix was right: we are useless just sitting around here."

"If she thinks that, she should have killed us all," Narcissa hissed with a sudden venom, and was surprised when Draco wrapped his arms around her for a hug.

The young man sighed, but murmured, "It did make sense, Mum. You're her sister, and she still cared, I guess. Bellatrix didn't choose for me to die because I'm your son."

Narcissa clung to her son for a few moments, then whispered, "Your father...he had lost his usefulness. But it was still awful, and I'll never forgive Bellatrix for killing him. I was relieved when we were shut away here: we were out of the way of all the fighting. I don't want anything to happen to you, or any of the others."

"It's all right for now," Draco told her. "It's going well, but again, I don't want you to ask questions."

"Okay," Narcissa agreed, drawing back to look at the boy's face. "Just be careful."

"I am," Draco answered. "I didn't want any of the others to know in case they jeopardise what I'm trying to make of myself."

"Of course," Narcissa said. "Though Andromeda will ask me about it later, I'm sure."

"Nosy bitch," Draco said in annoyance. "Tell her, if you must. I suppose everyone will know eventually."

Narcissa smiled at him, ignoring the first couple words. "I'll tell her just enough," she promised him. "Thank you for talking to me, Draco."

Draco nodded, getting to his feet just as she stood up. "Love you, Mum."

She looked back at him in surprise, rarely hearing that from him since he'd grown up. "I love you too," she said, then turned and left the room.


Teddy Lupin crept into the library, doing his best not to draw any attention to himself. He had morphed into a plain-looking boy as much as he could. He slipped down an aisle of books and began to look through the shelves for things that would help him in his quest to learn protective spells and curses.

He frowned as he selected a book called, Defeating the Enemy. He wasn't sure what he was really looking for, though he knew he needed some protection and a potentially dangerous curse to earn him some respect. Teddy decided to find a couple more books before he moved to one of the tables and sat down to begin to read.

He soon decided that the petty hexes and jinxes were not what he was looking for and tossed the book aside, going on to the next. Teddy figured that the element of surprise would not always be on his side, but if he had to fight to prove he belonged, he would. He often wondered how his mother dealt with conflict at school. Everyone always told him that she used to be a strong witch, even if she was a prisoner now.

Does being powerful even matter? Teddy wondered with a frown as he jotted down a couple of spells to practise. His curiousity led him to search offensive versus defensive spells, and he soon found a book whose cover depicted a serpent devouring a phoenix. It was titled What Works?: Dueling Techniques for Aspiring Duelists.

Teddy grinned to himself, taking the book and going back to his table. He flipped through several pages, reading some of the Death Eaters' dueling styles and shaking his head in disapproval upon seeing that more than Death Eater had been killed by a colleague because of their carelessness.

That's not what I want, Teddy thought firmly, flipping past a few more pages. He ignored the pages about Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters he knew until the chapter changed and the book began to talk about styles the author believed to be faulty.

"Defensive and/or shield spells," the author wrote, "can only protect you for so long, as is evident in the case of most members of the rebel group 'Order of the Phoenix.' They preferred to defend instead of attack, and this (in part) led to their downfall. Prime examples of this include James and Lily Potter, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Remus Lupin, and—"

But Teddy Lupin had stopped reading and was focused on that name that his mother held so dear. Remus Lupin. Teddy closed this book, keeping it with him as he walked back to the shelves, searching for a text that had pictures and more of his family's story. He located two more books called End of the Line and Order of the Phoenix: the Futile Struggle.

The young boy signed all three of these books out of the library and took them back to his dormitory to give them a thorough study. He wanted to understand where he had come from and why his parents had taken Dumbledore's side when the idea of resisting led to certain torture and even death. Why had they done it?

Teddy determined to find out.


"Come on, Roddy," Bellatrix sing-songed, practically skipping as she held out her left hand toward him.

She and her husband stood in the Entrance Hall of Malfoy Manor, both of them supposed to be at King's Cross Station almost at that very moment. "I'm not playing your games," Rodolphus snapped at her, glaring in annoyance. "I'll apparate on my own."

Bellatrix rolled her eyes at him and lifted her hands, opening the gates with a flourish. "Suit yourself," she grinned, striding out of the mansion ahead of him.

Rodolphus scowled to himself, walking out after her and pausing while she shut the gates. "Bellatrix, you're the most infuriating—"

"—captivating, wonderful wife there ever was," Bellatrix agreed, pausing beside him.

"—frustrating," Rodolphus huffed. "Can't manage your own daughter and Nymphie's cub on your own?"

"Well, you seem to have inherited the task of looking after her brats," Bellatrix shrugged, pausing as she was about to disapparate. "Though I don't blame you...a half-blood werewolf freak is the last thing I want to be responsible for."

Rodolphus began to reply, but her faint pop! of apparition was the only thing that answered him. Grumbling to himself, he disapparated after her. The moment he appeared on the train platform, he looked around for Bellatrix and only saw people shuffling aside, making a path for someone. Sighing inwardly, he turned and hurried after her, wanting to catch up quickly as he heard the train and spotted it down the tracks.

He caught up with his wife just as she reached the edge of the platform, the train slowing down until the first compartment door stopped just where they were standing. The two stood there together until the door opened and Delphi appeared in the doorway, a smirk on her face. Bellatrix's face lit up with a smirk, but Rodolphus had no expression as Delphi walked down the steps, followed by Teddy.

Delphi hugged her mother slightly, but Teddy stood back from them all, glancing around once before he decided that they were there to take him back too. Bellatrix looked happier than she had as she asked, "Trunks, dear?"

"In our pockets," Delphi answered. "Teddy?"

The boy looked surprised that she was speaking to him, then asked, "What?"

Bellatrix smirked cruelly. "Pay attention, boy," she told him.

"Ready to go?" Delphi asked him, ignoring her mother.

"Yes," the boy answered, looking from Delphi to her mother and Rodolphus. "Whenever you are."

Bellatrix and Rodolphus raised an eyebrow at this, but each held out a hand to their respective charge. Delphi and Bellatrix were gone almost immediately, but Teddy hesitated for a moment before taking Rodolphus' hand. "What's the matter, boy?" Rodolphus grinned. "Don't want to go back to being a prisoner?"

"Well, you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?" Teddy replied, gasping slightly as the man shocked him with magic. "I mean, you were caught by the Ministry how many times before your side actually won and managed to keep you free? Five? Six?"

Rodolphus shocked him again, silencing the boy as he went to yell, and disapparated with him. He dropped Teddy to the ground the instant they appeared at Malfoy Manor, and both Delphi and her mother stared at them.

"What have you done?" Delphi demanded of him, shocked that in a few seconds Rodolphus would have Cursed the boy. "What happened?"

"He spoke against our cause," Rodolphus said simply as the boy scrambled to his feet, his eyes shooting sparks as he glared at his mother's abuser.

Teddy did not speak, though he looked directly at Delphi and shook his head "no."

Bellatrix rolled her eyes and took the Silencing Charm off of the boy. "What did you do, little cub?" she asked him.

"I asked him about being a prisoner," Teddy answered with the slightest hint of a grin before he tilted his head (so like his mother) and looked at Rodolphus. "I just wanted to know what it was like for him."

The two witches hesitated to answer, and Bellatrix looked between her husband and the boy before saying, "Let's just go inside. Watch what you say, cub. You are being watched."

Delphi frowned at Teddy, but the boy just shook his head, barely hiding a grin as he followed them inside. Rodolphus moved to grab the boy by the shoulder, but Teddy moved out of the way. Delphi looked between them and said, "Why don't I escort Teddy to his family. I think there are things you and Rodolphus need to see to, Mother?"

Bellatrix seemed slightly confused, but Rodolphus merely gave the girl a curt nod. "And you'll be back for me to help you unpack?" Bellatrix said quickly.

"Of course, Mother," Delphi replied, turning and walking away. Teddy scrambled to follow, and the moment they were alone, Delphi said, "What did you really say to him?"

"He taunted me about not wanting to be a prisoner and I told him he'd know all about that," Teddy answered truthfully. "He wasn't pleased."

"No," Delphi smirked. "Be careful around him. I'm sure you've seen the evidence on your mother: he will hurt you and he doesn't care."

"I don't care either," Teddy answered. "He's an awful man."

Delphi raised an eyebrow at this, silent for a few moments before she said, "If you make him angry, he may take it out on your mother."

Teddy frowned at this, then nodded. "He would," Teddy agreed. "I'll be careful."

She stopped them at the edge of the wards. "Practise dueling with your mother or Andromeda. They'll help you get better. And don't irritate Rodolphus unless you're willing to suffer. A lot. There will be no sympathy if he injures you."

Teddy nodded as Delphi took his hand and led him into the ward. Down the hall, a door open and slammed shut almost immediately. "Teddy!" Elara yelled, racing down the hall, though she stopped almost immediately and looked scared.

"What's wrong?" Teddy asked her. "It's just me and Delphi."

"Just me and Delphi?" Delphi repeated, raising an eyebrow.

Elara blushed, looking around worriedly as another door opened. "Oh no," she breathed. "Look: Roo's been very sick, and Father and everyone's been telling me to be quiet, and I keep forgetting—" She looked down as Andromeda came up behind them and smiled slightly at Teddy.

Teddy reached out and hugged his grandmother, asking, "Is Roo really sick, Nan?"

"Well, he's been staying about the same," Andromeda answered. "We're trying to let him sleep."

Elara looked down at her shoes, unsure if she was in trouble or not, and her grandmother placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sorry," Elara whispered.

"It's not your fault, dear," Andromeda said. "I just sound warded his room. We should have done that earlier."

"Elara, why don't you come help me unpack," Delphi said to her. "I'm surprised you weren't waiting for us in the Entrance Hall."

"I couldn't," Elara whispered. "Roo's sick, and Mum needs me here."

Teddy looked at Elara, then said, "Elara, you've been helping her for a while, so why don't you have a break and go with Delphi. I'll stay with Mum and Roo for a while."

Elara hesitated, looking between them all, and Teddy added, "We haven't been gone for so long that you've forgotten your manners, have you?"

The girl's mouth fell open, and she shook her head vehemently. "No," she said firmly.

Delphi laughed softly. "Come on, Elara. Though I will warn you that Mum is waiting on me and will be helping me unpack."

"Oh," Elara said worriedly. "Well, I don't know what's worse."

Teddy reached out and hugged his sister. "It'll be all right," he said. "Run along."

She wrinkled her nose at him. "You're not old enough to boss me around," she told him. "Delphi only gets to because she's the Dark Lord's daughter."

Teddy chuckled at this, and watched the two girls leave before turning to his grandmother once more. "Hi, Nan," he said with a small sigh. "Things not going well?"

Andromeda smiled and embraced him firmly. "Well," she said as she turned to walk down the hall with him, "nothing has really changed."


Bring on the Teddy and Rodolphus fights XD

Dora