On a dark, starless night, Albus Dumbledore found himself overlooking a hill, for the second time in a month. The last time, it had been Severus Snape, begging him to protect Lily Evans.
This time, the person requesting his presence was far more surprising.
It was Bellatrix Lestrange, Riddle's most loyal servant.
"What do you want with me, Bellatrix?" Dumbledore asked.
Bellatrix stepped forward, and revealed the tiny bundle cuddled against her chest. A tiny baby with wisps of dark hair.
"He-" Bellatrix shrieked, "He's switched targets! He wants her! He wants my Delphi!"
It was quite obvious that with the obvious maternal care Bellatrix was showing that she was the child's mother. But who was its father? Dumbledore had heard rumours that Tom was using Bellatrix as more than just a simple servant, but had never taken such things seriously.
"Who is her father?" Albus asked.
"She's his."
It came as no surprise that Tom would be willing to murder his own daughter if she was an obstacle to him. Bellatrix Lestrange was powerful and dangerous, but Albus Dumbledore was not going to let a mother and child be killed for a madman's objectives.
Although there was no love lost between Bellatrix and her cousin Sirius, it seemed obvious that he would be the person trusted with her location, and would be the first person Voldemort would go after to find her. Therefore a suggestion was made that Peter Pettigrew would be made Secret Keeper, for there was nobody Voldemort would suspect less.
Unfortunately, Peter ran straight to the Dark Lord, telling him of the Chosen One's location in exchange for his own safety.
Bellatrix had just finished putting the baby to sleep and was heading to bed herself. As she padded through the room in bare feet and a silk dressing gown, she suddenly heard a loud crashing noise, and felt a cold gust.
The door had been blown off its hinges, and Bellatrix knew at once who had entered.
"Bellatrix," hissed Lord Voldemort, Bellatrix's former master and the father of the child sleeping in the cot, "You need not die. Hand me the child, and I promise Lord Voldemort shall be merciful."
"Never," Bellatrix sneered. She knew to carry her wand at all times and pointed it at him. Curses flew. Both wizards were powerful practitioners of dark magic, and Bellatrix would not allow any harm to come to her child.
But as powerful as Bellatrix was, she was no match for her master in terms of skill. She put up a fight, lasting several minutes, but in the end, her wonderful walnut wand was blasted out of her hand. Delphi was awake, and was shrieking loudly at the sounds of the battle.
"I am giving you another opportunity, Bella," Voldemort said, "You have been a good servant. Stand aside and I shall allow you to join me again."
Bellatrix did not move. Voldemort pointed his wand at her again.
"This is your final warning," Voldemort said. Still, she did not move, "Very well."
Bellatrix stared into the crimson eyes of her child's father and remained defiant. She could not and would not abandon her child.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort shouted. A burst of green light erupted from the tip of his wand. It hit Bellatrix firmly in the chest, and she flopped to the ground.
At last, the child prophesied to destroy him was in his grasp. Voldemort pointed his wand at the baby's tiny head and looked at her curiously. The child's cries irritated him. He could never stomach the small ones whining in the orphanage.
He said the words, only to find himself blasted out of his body. Disembodied and powerless, the Dark Lord fled.
The first on the scene was Albus Dumbledore. He picked up the infant, and knew where she needed to go.
He sat down with Ted and Andromeda Tonks and explained what had happened that night. Neither of them knew that Bellatrix had a child. In fact, almost nobody knew this at all. Even Narcissa and Lucius were not aware, nor were any of the other Death Eaters. Voldemort had kept the secret of his offspring, intended to preserve the bloodline of Salazar Slytherin, under close protection. Only himself and Bellatrix knew.
Ted and Andromeda agreed to take the child and raise her as her own, and they were happy to give their daughter, Nymphadora a little sister to play with. The wider Wizarding World, who were already starting to become aware of the Girl-Who-Lived, were to be told that she was their biological daughter. The child was to be raised thinking that she had been attacked by a dark wizard in her parents home. Of course, some close friends grew suspicious. Nobody had ever heard of Andromeda being pregnant, nor met the child who was obviously not a newborn.
Ted and Andromeda did their best to give Delphi a happy childhood. They gave her as much love and attention as she needed, but made sure to teach her the values of kindness and decency.
She was a beautiful girl, with the wild, curly hair of her mother and the sharp, aristocratic features of her father. She bore a strong enough resemblance to her mother that Andromeda, who very much resembled Bellatrix, could easily pass her off as her own daughter.
Delphi grew to be fierce and powerful. From an early age, she learned to control her magic. From levitating objects to making things disappear. She knew that when she grew up, she wanted to be the most powerful witch of them all. Her adoptive parents found this ambition worrying, but for the moment, Delphi never seemed to use her magic for bad reasons.
The Tonks girls were sent to a Muggle Primary School, where Delphi was top of all her classes. She had a habit of befriending the children that others disliked. Those who were mocked, laughed at and bullied. She defended them and used her magic to frighten those who might do them harm. One incident in the cloak room, Delphi lifted a boy, who had tried to pick on her friend Mark, high above the ground and then dropped him. The bully sobbed to their teacher and was not believed. In years to come, both the bully and his victim would describe Delphi's show of strength as "like the Force from Star Wars".
Years later, the Hogwarts letter came, and Ted, Andromeda, Dora and Delphi walked through Diagon Alley with delight on their faces. She bought a copy of every book she could, bought her school robes, before heading to Mr Ollivander's for a wand.
After a session in which it seemed no wand wanted her, Delphi was finally chosen by a wand of walnut and unicorn hair. Ollivander, perhaps to frighten her, said it was "great for casting curses", making the little girl whimper and her parents look at each other uneasily.
At Kings Cross Station, Delphi hugged her parents goodbye, before boarding the express. She found herself sitting in a compartment with a girl, who introduced herself as Hannah Abbott.
"You're Delphi Tonks!" Hannah said after noticing her lighting-shaped scar. Delphi smiled.
The two began to talk, discussing what house they'd be in and what they thought Hogwarts would be like. Deep into their conversation, a boy with an amusing, posh accent stepped inside.
"How do you do?" he asked, "Justin Finch-Fletchley. I don't suppose you two have space? Everywhere else is full."
"Sit down!" Delphi encouraged, patting the seat next to her.
The three children laughed and speculated about their future. Justin was muggleborn, so had no idea where he'd be sorted. Hannah was hoping for Hufflepuff, and so was Delphi, as Dora had been one and had told her many wonderful stories.
The Sorting Ceremony was in session. Hannah and Justin both got into Hufflepuff. A "Malfoy, Draco", went to Slytherin and a "Potter, Harry," went to Gryffindor.
Soon, the surnames arrived at the letter T.
"Delphini Tonks!" Several gasps were heard. Everyone in the Great Hall had heard that name.
Delphi stepped forward, and the Sorting Hat was placed on her head.
"Oh, Miss Tonks!" the Hat said inside her mind, "A brilliant mind, and ambitions more vast than any I've seen in years. And more than that, you will do anything to achieve your goals. I know just the place for you. You'll be right at home in S-"
"STOP!" Delphi shouted in her head, realising what the Hat was going to say, "I want to be in Hufflepuff."
"Hufflepuff House will not suit you," the Hat dismissed, "You will thrive in Slytherin."
"But I want to be in Hufflepuff," Delphi argued. It wasn't that she had anything against Slytherin House. Her mother was one after all. But Hufflepuff had just sounded so lovely.
"Alternatively," the Hat said, "I can offer you a place in Ravenclaw. It would be a stimulating environment for your incredible mind. But I must stress that only Slytherin House will allow you to become the best version of yourself."
"I don't want to be the best!" Delphi argued.
"But that's a lie, isn't it Miss Tonks?" the Hat questioned.
Delphi knew it was right. It was what she had always wanted. She had always known she didn't want to be an average witch. She wanted to be someone whose name was known all over the world. She wanted people coming from everywhere to witness her incredible magic. She wanted to make history, and become the greatest sorcerer who ever lived.
"You've never wanted to be ordinary," the Hat reminded her, "You've always wanted to be different, to be special, just like your father."
The Hat's tone was distinctly smug when it said this. Ted Tonks had never struck Delphi as someone who wanted to be special. He'd always seemed to like his average life. Maybe he'd been different when he was younger.
"You want to be the greatest witch in the world," the Hat said, "And I assure you, Slytherin will help you on the path to greatness."
It was a tempting offer. More than that, it was everything Delphi had ever wanted. Delphi could become the witch she'd always dreamed of being if she joined Slytherin. But at the same time, the yellow table still called to her. Dora had told her tales, of how it was so warm and friendly and kind, and how everyone was made to feel welcome and special.
By now, her Sorting had been the longest. Every eye in the Hall was on her. Even Neville Longbottom's Sorting a few minutes earlier hadn't taken this long.
"Hufflepuff," Delphi insisted, "Or I go home."
"Hufflepuff will not nurture your strengths," the Hat responded, "You are not a Hufflepuff, Miss Tonks."
Delphi considered this, before making her decision, "Maybe not, but I can become one. I've got seven years to try, right?"
"Very well," the Hat said, obviously exasperated, "It was a pleasure talking to you, Miss Tonks, and I hope I do not regret placing you in HUFFLEPUFF!"
The Hufflepuff Table erupted in cheers. Delphi grinned and threw the hat off and ran to her table.
Delphi very much enjoyed the huge feast and chatting to Hannah, Justin and the Hufflepuff Prefect, Cedric. But once tucked up in bed in the dormitory, Delphi began to sob quietly. She did not belong here. She wasn't a true Hufflepuff and had only been placed there because she'd argued.
So this is the first chapter. This story won't be a thorough retelling of HP. It will just be snapshots of Delphi's time at Hogwarts. The next chapter will be set during COS, where Delphi will confront Tom Riddle and learn the truth about her parentage. I hope you guys liked the Sorting. Delphi being unsure whether she's a true Hufflepuff will be a major part of her character arc.
Please leave a review and say what you think.