I do apologise for the extremely long wait on this chapter, though here it is now, and please enjoy!

Trixie Black Lestrange

Rigel was very quiet the entire time he and Rodolphus were out; in fact, Rodolphus had to keep looking around to make sure the boy was there. Rodolphus was almost amused at the situation that had happened, but he knew that the boy's parents had to give him some freedom eventually. As they were walking back toward the manor, however, Rodolphus felt it necessary to caution the boy.

"Rigel," he began simply, "I don't think your father is very happy with you."

"I don't care what he thinks," Rigel said sharply. "Well, I do, but the important thing is Mother. I didn't mean to hurt her. I'm going to talk to her as soon as I can."

Rodolphus nodded in agreement. "Well, if you've got it under control, I'll drop these things off for the house elves."

Rigel gave his uncle a grateful look. "Thank you, sir," he said, then turned and hurried to his parents' room. He nervously knocked on the door, seeking entrance, and stepped back quickly when his father opened the door, a look of accusation on his face. "Father," he said quickly, "may I speak to Mother?"

"I think you've had enough words with her for the day," Rabastan said cooly. "She's only just stopped crying."

"I need to apologise to her," Rigel said quietly. "I was wrong to speak to her as I did, and I need to make it right."

"You were pretty awful," Rabastan mused. "You must be my son." Rigel just stared at him. Rabastan shrugged. "She's waiting: go on in. And if you upset her again, you and I will be having some strong words, Rigel."

"Yes, Father," he said, then slipped past him into the room as the door shut between them once again. Nymphadora was sitting on the bed, watching him as he walked toward her. He stood before her for a moment, trying to think of how to begin without sounding like a complete idiot.

"I was wrong," he said finally, looking into his mother's eyes in spite of wanting to stare anywhere else around the room. "You and Father have done everything in your power to keep me, my sister, and Delphi safe and happy, and I must seem like a very ungrateful son after my outburst earlier."

The young man sighed, seeing his mother look away from him. "I can't imagine what those times were like, Mum," he said quietly, "all around that last battle. I've only heard stories of the danger, and I know you would only do something if you believed it was the best thing for our family. I know why I shouldn't risk being caught: I don't want to be the reason that my family is found and torn apart." Rigel drew a deep breath. "If I ever go out into the world, Mum, I think I would never see any of you again. I couldn't return: I know that."

Nymphadora watched him speak, her eyes filled with tears again. "Rigel," she whispered, "you don't want to leave us, do you?"

"No," Rigel winced at the hurt tone in her voice. "What I mean is that, if I were ever caught while I was out, I would not be able to come home. I don't know how long we'll all be staying here, but I doubt Delphi is planning to stick around for many more years. I guess...I'm questioning what the future will bring, Mum, and I have no answers."

"Sit," Nymphadora sniffed, patting the bed next to her. A few minutes went by of them sitting silently side by side before Dora said, "Eventually, you will be expected to go out there and find yourself a decent wife to continue our House. We might never see you again when that happens, so we've got to prepare you for what you might face. You've grown up so much, Rigel, from the scared little boy that used to run around this house."

Dora smiled weakly at his slight embarrassment. "We know it's not time for you to leave us yet, but I think only you will be able to tell us when you are ready," she continued, sniffing a little. "I'm not looking forward to growing old in this place, believe me."

Rigel frowned. "It's hardly fair to you," he said. "According to Rodolphus, you weren't all that bad."

Dora's mouth fell open. "I'll have you know I did just as much in the service of the Dark Lord as he did!" she said firmly.

"I'm not arguing with you about this, too," Rigel laughed. "I'll let you take that up with him. But Mother..." he took her hand in his, looking into her eyes again. "I want you to know that I'm sorry about my behaviour and that I will do better in the future."

"Forgiven," Dora murmured, reaching to wrap her arms around her almost grown son. "I love you, Rigel."

"I love you too, Mother," he answered, reaching out to hold her for a moment. He was relieved that their conversation had gone so well, as now he knew she was willing to let him go eventually.

He ignored her.

For the past half hour, Delphi had been trying to get him to talk about his disagreement with his parents, but Rigel refused to answer her questions. The boy just continued to scan the Prophet for any interesting news as Delphi huffed impatiently.

"Hey!" Rigel half yelled as Marvolo poked his head between the paper and the boy meaningfully. "Delphi, can't you just let it go for a little while?"

"Rigel," she pouted, though her eyes sparkled with mischief, "what could you have possibly said to Nymphie to make her allow you to go out with Rodolphus?"

He went to look back down at the paper and suddenly yelped in pain, finding himself on the floor as Delphi had hexed him. She stood over him, glaring at him with Marvolo around her shoulders. "How dare you," he snapped, reaching for his wand even as he rolled over to escape her next spell.

Delphi aimed carefully, forcing herself to use simple spells to try to keep the young man down. "I've been patient," she said, advancing on him as he had to back off. "But I'm tired of your ignoring me, Rigel." The boy tried to stop her, but he ended up flat against the wall, her wand pointed at his chest as she looked into his eyes commandingly.

"Fine," he grumbled. "What do you want?"

"Did your mother allow you to go running around with Rodolphus?" Delphi asked eagerly. "What did she say? I know you were out of the wards for a little while."

"I managed to convince Mother and Father that since I am not wanted by the Ministry, I should not be locked up in this house against my will," Rigel answered with a scowl. "I will be going out with Rodolphus every so often from now on."

"And Nymphie's okay with that?" Delphi raised an eyebrow.

Rigel rolled his eyes at her. "She told me that I will eventually be expected to go find myself a wife and all," he said. "And she said that she didn't think you would stick around for much longer."

Delphi burst into giggles, stepping back from him. "Does she really? And perhaps you should go find yourself a wife, Rigel. She might teach you how to be a better listener."

"I listen to those who have important things to say," Rigel retorted, wrenching away from her and summoning his wand and the paper. "Talk to your serpent, Delphi. I'm finished."

The door had barely shut behind him when he heard a hex splatter against the other side of it and heard Delphi's muffled yell of annoyance. Delphini Riddle was entirely too much sometimes.

Delphi approached Rodolphus in the library a few days later, the man also ignoring her as he continued to peruse his chosen book. "Roddy!" she sing-songed, sidling up to him and looking over his shoulder. "What so interests you that nothing can distract you?"

He looked up from the book, glancing at the young woman. "Don't call me Roddy," he said distantly. "I've told you that before, Delphini. As for this..." he indicated the book in his hand "I was merely attempting to enjoy a small portion of this story Nymphadora recommended before you find me and drag me away for some unearthly reason."

Delphi laughed. "Rodolphus, we have all the time in the world for such things-well, at least, you do." She seated herself next to him and he sighed, setting the book down to listen to her. "Rigel told me that Dora thinks I'm not going to stay here much longer," she mused. "Apparently she wasn't too distressed at the idea?"

"Nymphadora knows there is little she can do to restrain you once you are of age," Rodolphus agreed. "She is still fearful, of course, but I have confidence in you."

"You wouldn't be concerned if...I saw fit to leave us and go on my own?" Delphi questioned.

"You can leave either after I die, or if you take me with you," Rodolphus answered simply.

Delphi stared at him. "Rodolphus Lestrange, I will not—"

Rodolphus shook his head. "I don't want to know where or when you go," he told her quietly. "But I expect you to make your parents proud. I expect great things of you, Delphini. I am already proud of you—though your mother once told me that I'm much too easy to please."

"I don't believe you," Delphi said softly, taking his hand in hers. "You're a much more strict teacher than Andromeda."

The man glanced over at his book again, then said, "You have a lot to live up to, girl."

Delphi nodded, her head bowed slightly. "Are you sure you don't want to keep contact?" she asked.

"I might miss you," Rodolphus said, getting to his feet and looking down at her. "It depends on whether you decide to honour my wishes." He picked up the book, then turned and left the room.

Delphi sat there a moment longer, wondering where she was going to go. As she too left the room, she knew she would miss her mother's husband when she left. Good thing she didn't have to obey his request...

Rabastan smiled at his daughter as the girl sat beside him, chattering away about something her brother had taught her. Nymphadora leant into him, a smile of contentment on her face as she rested quietly, her eyes closed. Dora only looked up when she heard little Bella say, "Hi, Uncle Rod."

"Rodolphus," the younger brother said to him. "Something on your mind?"

"When you and Dora are free, I would like a word with you both," Rodolphus answered, leaning down to hug his niece. "Hi, Belle."

"I'm not Belle," the little girl pouted. "I'm Bella."

"But you're not my Bella," Rodolphus answered clearly. "It's special that I call you Belle because I'm the only one that does."

Bella pouted up at him. "Okayyy," she sighed, reaching up to him.

Rodolphus lifted the girl into his arms, hugging her close as he kissed her dark curls. The little girl pulled away from him a little, though she lifted her hand to ruffle his hair as she'd seen her mother do to her brother. "You're old," Bella said, noting more than a sprinkling of grey in the man's dark hair.

The toddler looked into the man's face, grinning at his teasing look. Rodolphus reached out and pulled a lock of her own hair before her eyes, laughing slightly as her eyes widened at the sight of her black hair turning grey. "Nooo," she groaned, giggling at Rodolphus' mischief.

"Grey is beautiful," Rodolphus told the child with a small smirk. He set her down and Bella left the room in search of Andromeda, tugging at her grey locks.

"What is it, Rod?" asked Nymphadora, watching the man glance after the child. "You seemed concerned."

The man approached the couple and said, "It's just Delphi."

Rabastan just shook his head. "She's nearly seventeen: you won't have to concern yourself with her for long."

"Of course you don't care," Rodolphus shrugged. "That's okay; she knows, Rabastan."

Rabastan's eyes narrowed at his brother, but Dora placed a hand on his knee to keep him calm. "What is Delphi up to now?" Dora asked Rod.

"She was asking me about leaving," Rodolphus answered quietly. "She will be leaving within the next couple years, I'm sure. We need to prepare for her leaving."

"Can we not think about that yet?" Dora sighed, shaking her head.

"Well, we should think about Delphi-proofing the wards when she leaves," Rabastan mused. "I mean, she can't just walk in and visit if she's going out to attempt fulfilling your damn prophecy, Rod."

"You're an idiot if you want to hold that prophecy against me," Rodolphus said coldly. "It was not something I could prevent, nor something I would have tried to prevent."

"Boys," Nymphadora sighed, looking between the brothers as she sensed her husband's irritation, "please don't. We will discuss security measures to put in place when it is necessary."

Rodolphus looked down at his sister-in-law, forcing himself to just look at her and breathe. It wasn't until he walked out of the room that he tried to reason through his anger at his foolish brother. Dora would listen: she usually listened, even if she constantly sided with her husband. The man strode along the hall, Delphi looking out of her room at him.

Without a word, she joined his walk to the practise room and the two faced each other for mere seconds across the room before they fell into a fierce duel. It was calming to just attack someone, Rodolphus thought to himself as he faced Delphini. To face a worthy opponent was a great relief. He genuinely didn't know what he would do or what would happen when she was gone.

Rigel and his uncle walked into the Manor from one of their supply runs, both laughing uproariously. "We're late," Rodolphus chuckled. "Go to the dining room: it's lunch time. I'll be right there."

The boy nodded and hurried off. Rodolphus dropped off the groceries and things to the house elves, then made his way to the dining room. Rabastan looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Nice of you two to join us," he said.

Rodolphus seated himself, a smirk on his face. "Do you and Dora remember the Granger Mudblood?" he asked them without ceremony.

"Not personally," Rabastan frowned. "But I know her face."

"Well, Mum and I questioned her together when she'd been captured one time," Dora laughed. "So I suppose I remember her. Why?"

Andromeda frowned at these words as Bella looked up at her mother curiously. Rodolphus didn't acknowledge anyone else's reaction. "Well, it seems she has some high goals," Rodolphus mused. "She's just announced that she's going to run for Minister."

Dora raised an eyebrow. "Wonderful," she said briskly, and Rabastan shook his head at the idea.

"Oh, that's not the best part," Rigel told them with a grin. "Guess who's become Head of the Auror Office?"

"Potter," Delphi said immediately, her expression darkening.

Rigel nodded at the girl. "You're right," he told her.

Rabastan just shook his head. "Everything is so different now...it's just not like it used to be."

"I mean, if that's the kind of people they want looking for us," Rodolphus shrugged. "Potter should have stuck to Quidditch: at least he was good at finding the Snitch."

"Well, we're not causing trouble," Dora grinned, "so we're probably not top priority anymore."

"We should do something," Delphi said, sitting up straighter and grinning too. "Just to congratulate Potter on his promotion."

Rodolphus laughed. "Let's remind him we exist," he said in amusement. "Rattle his confidence a little."

Rabastan raised an eyebrow. "You can't actually mean to go out and do something," he said to his brother.

"I do," Rodolphus grinned. "And you should help, Rab. The two of us and Delphi can cause a small uproar, I'm sure."

"What if you're caught?" Dora protested. "This is not a good idea."

"We won't do too much damage," Rabastan reassured her, his eyes beginning to sparkle with delight. "We'll just...make a point and come straight back home."

Dora looked at the brothers, then over at Delphi, who looked delighted as well. She turned to Andromeda, who just shook her head with a smile. Nymphadora bit her lip slightly. "Just be careful," she told the three, and they nodded, all exchanging looks of anticipation.

A few days later, Nymphadora was relieved to welcome the three back home, Rabastan immediately wrapping his arm around her and kissing her cheek. "Told you we'd be fine," he grinned.

"You're welcome," Rodolphus growled before shaking his head.

Delphi giggled delightedly. "Rab almost didn't make it out," she smirked. "He was too distracted by the smoke."

"I was not," Rabastan said, rolling his eyes at the two. "We decided to make it seem like they were being attacked from all sides at the ceremony, so we split up."

"You didn't," Nymphadora sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Rabastan, one of these days, that's not going to work out so well."

"Well, it did today," Rabastan reasoned. "Don't worry about it too much. Anyway, we made a lot of noise, and lots of smoke. There was enough screaming without us doing practically anything."

"It was like they thought they were safe," Rodolphus chuckled.

Bella looked up at her uncle and said in confusion, "But if you were there, wouldn't it be safe?"

Rabastan turned to speak to his little girl, but Rodolphus had already knelt down to Bella's level to look into her dark eyes. "The people I'm talking about don't like us, Belle," he told her simply. "And I don't like them. I could have hurt them, but I didn't."

The little girl nodded in understanding, surprised at the sudden look of anger and sorrow in the man's eyes. "It's okay," she said, reaching out and hugging him around the neck. "Dad says they'll suffer for what they've done."

Rodolphus hugged his niece silently, then let her go and walked away from his brother's family. It was moments like these when he missed Bellatrix the most, when he wanted her back no matter how strained a relationship they had had. No, he doubted that Potter and his friends would ever be sufficiently punished for taking away his Bella.