He's back! :D I love Rodolphus.

Dora

Rodolphus Lestrange sat on the steps of an old Muggle house, shivering with cold. His robe was ragged and filthy from his extended stay in prison, his hair long and matted. He startled at every single bird, every blade of grass that dared to wave in the breeze. He just wanted to be safe, to be back where he belonged, though he didn't know where that was, if he had anymore belonging.

He looked down to his Dark Mark, almost completely faded from his arm. Bellatrix would have been hysterical, would have screamed at him that they had to find their master, had to be faithful. But what could one do when there was no master to be faithful to? Rodolphus gave a bitter laugh, spitting in distaste at a passing Muggle who stared too readily at him.

The man wrapped his arms around his knees, turning his face away from the sun as it hurt his eyes too much to bear. He missed Bella, and his brother, and dear Merlin he even missed Nymphadora. A little bit. Slightly. Rodolphus sighed. He would never understand Bellatrix, or either of the witch's daughters. His blood ran cold for a second as he thought of Delphini. He knew that the little girl had to be quite a few years older and was in hiding with Rab and Dora, the papers had said that much.

Rodolphus clenched his teeth to keep them from chattering, wishing he'd thought to grab a cloak or something on his escape. He had to find his brother and his family: it was only then that he would feel right, that he would feel he was doing his duty again. He looked up sharply, remembering something. He had promised to meet his brother somewhere...an old family home? No...Rodolphus buried his face in his hands and tried to think, his memories too clouded even though there had been no Dementors this time.

"I must...remember," Rodolphus breathed. "I must. What did he say? Meet him...where?"

The man couldn't help yelling out in rage, though muffling his yell as soon as he realised that he would draw far too much attention to himself if he made a scene like Bella always did. He wasn't weaponless, but he didn't have a wand, and he was weak from his imprisonment. "There," he said, his eyes widening as he remembered. An island their father had taken them to once, that no one else had been to. "Yes," Rodolphus nodded. "I will go." He got to his feet, walking down the road until he reached the apparition point and disapparated once he was beyond the wards of the homes.

Rabastan arrived on the island, looking around eagerly as he half expected his brother to be standing there with a sign for pick up. He shook his head slightly, hurrying forward and blasting away some of the overgrown path to be able to head further into the island. He would find his brother: he was sure that Rodolphus would remember.

It was a while later that Rabastan began to wonder if his brother had forgotten, worriedly sending a searching spell through the area. Nothing. Rabastan shook his head. It couldn't be...he had to find Rodolphus and take him home. He couldn't let his brother be on the run all alone, especially after what the man had done for him and Dora.

"Rodolphus?" Rabastan called softly, looking around. "Where are you? I know you should be here."

There was no answer, and Rabastan finally sighed, continuing to walk down the path as the weeds and all scratched him, tearing his robes. "Look: I know I've been a bit of a bighead, but I'd really like you to come home with me. I'm even grateful that you saved me and Nymphadora from our fate, protected us from everyone at a terrible cost to yourself. Come on, Rod. I know you've got to be here, or I'm just walking in circles, talking to myself. Now that's probably more likely."

A scoff of laughter made him jump in shock, and Rabastan whirled around, not seeing anyone. "Rodolphus?"

"Who else?" came the man's hoarse voice, though he did not show himself. "I don't know how you managed to avoid the Aurors for so long."

"Well..." Rabastan said sheepishly, scratching his head as he tried to see where his brother was, "it was Andromeda."

"Ha!" Rodolphus gave a mad laugh. "Let me guess. Nymphie ran back to her first Mummy?"

"Don't talk about her that way," Rabastan growled. "Dora loves Andromeda, and the woman has been useful in taking care of the children and disciplining Delphi."

"Delphi...Rabastan, is she okay?" Rodolphus breathed.

Rabastan rolled his eyes in annoyance. "She is more than fine," he said flatly. "She drives me mad, and she is mean to Rigel. Not only that, but she is just so...she acts better than us."

"Didn't Bella always?" Rodolphus said, sounding slightly dreamy.

"Rod, come out from wherever you are," Rabastan sighed. "Let's go home, and I'll make sure you get taken care of. We'll get some good food in you, and—"

"Dora..." Rodolphus said uncomfortably. "She doesn't mind?"

"She only commanded me to return in one piece," Rabastan answered as his brother stepped out of the shadows. "Rod, you look no less handsome than the last time you returned."

Rodolphus merely glared at him and Rabastan shrugged. "Come on," he said, holding out his hand to his brother. Rodolphus stared at the hand for a moment, and Rabastan almost held his breath. "Let's go home," he said softly. "They're waiting."

The older wizard finally reached out and grasped his brother's hand, Rabastan disapparating back to Black Manor.

Nymphadora sat next to Andromeda in her room, biting her lip nervously. "He should be back by now!" Dora said worriedly.

"He'll be fine," Andromeda told her, distracted by the book of pictures of her old family.

"You're not even listening," Dora pouted, turning away from the witch.

"Nymphadora," Andromeda began sternly, then sighed, cracking a smile at the girl. "You've been worried about him since the moment he left. I'm sure he and Rodolphus will be fine. They will arrive soon, or make some contact. There is no way Rabastan will not come home now that he knows you're pregnant again."

Dora sniffed slightly, and Andromeda wrapped an arm around her. "Shh," she said to the younger witch. "Come on. Let's go find the children and make sure they're not getting into mischief."

Nymphadora shook her head. "They're fine. I checked on them before I came to you. I'm worried."

"Dora," Andromeda sighed, "what is it now?"

"I'm just worried about how Rodolphus will react to the children," Dora muttered. "I mean, I'm sure he wouldn't hurt Rigel because he's the heir, but...what about Delphi?"

"He will not harm her," Andromeda said, sitting up straight. "I will not allow that. I would give him straight back to the authorities without mercy."

"Oh, Dromeda," Dora half laughed. "You can't. Rab wouldn't let you."

"Then I certainly hope the man behaves," Andromeda said flatly. "I will not let any harm come to you or the children."

Dora looked up at the witch, smirking. "Or Rab?"

Andromeda smirked back at the girl. "He can protect himself, Nymphadora. He would not be pleased if I tried to protect him, anyway."

The witch giggled, then jumped to her feet in surprise as she felt a disturbance in the wards. "They're here! Come on!"

Rodolphus couldn't help giving a small groan when he realised where he brother had taken him. "This place is not safe," he told his brother. "Surely the Ministry would check it..."

"They haven't," Rabastan shrugged. "In the seven or so years we've been here. And Dora is the Head of the House of Black, so we have access to everything here."

"Well aren't you privileged," Rodolphus sneered, before turning to look around at the grounds. "It's changed so much since the last time...since Bella and I visited years ago..."

"Yes, well it's a great deal safer, too," the younger wizard agreed. "Dora and I cleaned out the place with Andromeda's help—you know, she really is a Dark witch, though she hides it well. She knew about everything that was here and helped us not to be murdered by the house."

"Because Nymphie doesn't know her own family history," Rodolphus smirked, shaking his head.

Rabastan rolled his eyes. "I can't blame her for that," he said. "But she's gotten so much better at being...the perfect pureblood wife." He hesitated somewhat, wondering whether he should tell his brother that Dora was pregnant again. When he heard Rodolphus scoff at his words, he decided against it. There was no telling what the newly escaped prisoner would do if taunted.

As they entered the house, Rabastan grinned at Dora joyfully, presenting his brother to her and Andromeda with a flourish. Nymphadora looked at the man, then gave him a small smile. "Welcome," she said softly. "We are glad to have you back."

Two children were standing by Andromeda, Rodolphus' attention drawn to the small boy who was watching him curiously. "You—you're my uncle?" the black-haired boy asked, sounding unsure of himself.

Rodolphus nodded slightly, staring down at the bright-eyed child. "Rigel," he murmured. "You were about a year old last time I saw you."

"Mum says you protected her and dad from being captured," the boy said with a slight frown. "That you were taken instead of them." Rodolphus didn't answer, merely watching the boy as he wondered what else Nymphadora might have told the two children about him. "Thank you," Rigel said quietly.

The older man merely nodded in reply to the boy, though he was soon distracted by Rabastan leading the way down the hall. "Come on," he said. "Let's get you cleaned up and looking good."

Rodolphus didn't respond, though he followed his brother down the hall in spite of everyone staring at the two of them. He just wanted to rest instead of running anymore. He didn't even want to clean up, but Rabastan led him into the bathroom and pointed out to him fresh clothes and all. "Don't take too long or I'll have to check up on you," Rabastan warned him. "I'll be alerted to come show you your room when you open the door."

The man nodded, glad to see his brother go. He was home, though it did not feel natural at all.

Andromeda returned to the sitting room, Delphi trailing after her, the girl curling up beside her after a moment. "What is it, Delphi?" Andromeda asked her, glancing down at the black-haired girl.

"He...he hates me," Delphi whispered. "I—I didn't do anything to him and he hates me."

"Why would you say that, dear?" Andromeda frowned. "You hardly know him."

"He ignored me," Delphi bit her lip. "He didn't even look at me once. And...I'm Bella's daughter."

Andromeda sighed deeply, then turned to face the seven year old child. "Delphi, he does not hate you," she said to her niece. "You are a source of pain to him, a reminder of something that he should have had. You are not his daughter, even though he was your mother's husband."

"I'm the Dark Lord's daughter," Delphi said promptly, a proud smirk on her lips.

"Yes," Andromeda murmured gently, "you are. And this haunts Rodolphus, for Bellatrix should have given him children, an heir, but she did not. You and Dora have different fathers."

"Dora isn't his daughter either?" Delphi said in shock, looking up at Andromeda. "Whose is she?"

"That isn't important right now," Andromeda said firmly. "Bellatrix hurt Rodolphus a lot, Delphi, with her actions and different things she's done and said to him. He always wanted a child more than anything, but she would not give him one. It haunts him, Delphi, that Bella had two children by different fathers, but refused him an heir."

Delphi scowled. "He was mean to Mum."

Andromeda nodded thoughtfully. "And she was just as awful to him. He loved Bella, Delphi. He loved her to death, but with everything that happened between them, especially with Dora and all, she despised him even before they were married." Andromeda drew a deep breath before continuing. "Even though you remind Rodolphus of all the hurt of his past, you also remind him of Bella, and how much he cared for her, no matter what terrible things she did to him."

"Do I need to stay away from him?" Delphi asked, slightly confused.

"I don't think so..." Andromeda said slowly. "Though I'd be very gentle with him if I were you. His mind isn't stable—he's even worse than Rabastan. Just be careful. In fact—" Andromeda drew two sickles from her pocket, quickly performing a couple spells on them. "Here," she said, giving one of them to the girl. "Keep this in your pocket, and if you happen to talk to Rodolphus and find you need help, squeeze it tightly in your hand and I will know to come find you."

"Thanks," Delphi smiled slightly, wrapping her arms around the witch's neck and kissing her cheek. The girl soon jumped up from the couch and hurried from the room.

Andromeda looked after her with a sigh, shaking her head. She would have to stay on alert to make sure Delphi was not harmed.

A couple days later, Rodolphus sat alone in his room, having refused to join the rest of the family for meals. Rabastan often pestered him to join in the rest of the family, but Rodolphus couldn't handle being around them all at the same time, seeing them all so happy. He also never knew what to say to Andromeda, who almost always had Delphi at her side.

With a sigh, he looked to the lamp beside his bed, about to turn it off when there came a soft knock at the door. He stared at the door for a few moments, then finally called out, "Enter!"

Rodolphus could not help drawing a quick breath at the sight of the child at his door. "What do you want?" he asked her sharply.

The girl let the door swing shut, then said, "Could we talk?"

"Talk?" Rodolphus glared at her for a moment, sensing her hesitation. "Why would I want to talk to you?"

"Because," answered the girl, "I am the last thing you have left from Mum."

Rodolphus scoffed at her, moving away from her as she seated herself on the bed, watching him. She had a curious look in her black eyes, her hair black as well, and Rodolphus wondered if she was trying to look like her mother, or if it just happened.

The girl bit her lip slightly, then spoke quickly. "I know that you probably hate me because I'm not yours, but...well, you knew Mum." Delphini Riddle drew a deep breath as she looked up at the man, not sure exactly what to say. "You...you have a stronger connection to her—Dora didn't really know her. Rabastan did more, but he makes fun of her and—" Delphi looked down at her hands. "He hates me. He always has."

"He does?" Rodolphus asked, his voice less harsh than before.

Delphi nodded with a small sigh, and Rodolphus was surprised to realise how much that knowledge affected the small girl. "Only Andromeda really cares," she said. "I mean, Dora does too, but her husband—" Delphi wrinkled her nose at the thought of the man "he is awful."

Rodolphus laughed slightly. "He's too much like me," he muttered, shaking his head.

"No," Delphi said firmly. "You...you didn't turn away when I first walked in. He does. You're not cold toward me like Rabastan is."

"Child," Rodolphus sighed, looking away for her for a moment before turning right back to her. "I could not turn away Bellatrix's daughter again."

"Again?" Delphi asked with a frown.

The man closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly in deepest regret. "I—I was the reason that Nymphadora was raised by Andromeda, and not her real mother," he said quietly. "When I found out that Bella had a little girl before we were married, I refused to let her bring the child into my home. I made Bellatrix get rid of Nymphadora—I broke Bella's heart, Delphi. She hated me so much for that that she swore she would never give me children because I had forced her to give up Dora. In all my life, I have never done something so despicable."

Rodolphus jumped in shock as something touched his hand, looking down to see Delphi holding out her hand tentatively before taking one of his large, rough hands in her small hands. "Why didn't you want Dora?" Delphi asked, her finger tracing callouses in the man's hand.

He couldn't help loving the child that was convincing him to confess every thought that had plagued him for a long time, every memory that had driven him mad, every action that Bellatrix had hated him for. He reached out with his other hand, stroking her hair back from her face. "Your mother's father," Rodolphus began with a sigh, "—your grandfather—is Dora's father also. The man abused Bellatrix, and Nymphadora was an accidental result of that."

"Oh." Delphi's eyes widened in surprise. "Why would he do that?"

"He was an evil man," Rodolphus answered. "Anyway, when I found out that Bella had a child by her own father, I was so disgusted and horrified by the idea that I refused to listen to Bella's pleas and forced her to get rid of her little daughter." He shook his head, silent for a few moments until Delphi squeezed his hand. He looked back to her with a sigh. "I was afraid Dora would be a shame to my family," he admitted. "I didn't want to let her into my home, but it was the wrong decision. I've suffered for it ever since."

"You were mean to Mum," Delphi said accusingly, looking into his dark eyes.

Rodolphus watched her for a moment, then agreed. "And I would hurt her again, Delphi," he said softly. "She liked being hurt, and she taunted me to make me want to hurt her. I loved her, and I always will, but I destroyed any love she may have had for me when I forced her to give Dora away."

Delphi frowned at him for a few more moments before nodding slightly. "But you won't try to get rid of me?"

He stared at her, offended at her daring. "Delphini," he said, looking down at his dead wife's young daughter, "I would never again push away one of Bella's daughters. I know better now." He looked away from her, painful memories washing over him as she watched him nervously. "Delphi..."

Rodolphus was shocked when the girl slipped up closer to him, wrapping her arms around him and giving him a small hug. "I...I think you're okay," she whispered, then let go of him, sliding off of the bed. "Thank you for talking to me."

He watched her leave, feeling torn apart emotionally as he watched the door close on the heir of the Dark Lord: his Bella's little girl.