Delphi took a deep breath and turned to her sister. "What on earth just happened between you and Mum?"

"Well, you're not the same, obviously," Dora sighed, glancing at the door that Bellatrix had slammed shut. "And I'm sure it was upsetting to hear that you came from a world where she was dead and you were raised by her husband and disowned sister."

"I can't believe Rodolphus is gone," Delphi breathed, shaking her head. "He was so strong..."

"He took a spell meant for me," Dora said, her mouth dry.

Delphi turned toward her sister, seeing the older witch brush away a tear impatiently. "He did?"

Dora nodded. "I was pregnant with our second child, and got into a bit of a mess with a rebel. Rodolphus defended me, Delphi, and I watched him fall before Rabastan was able to reach us and save me."

"He was a good man," Delphi said quietly, looking into her sister's face.

"Was he?" Dora scoffed, then bit her lip at the younger witch's expression. "Well, I suppose you did live with him your whole life, didn't you?"

"From the age of seven," Delphi replied with a sigh. "He taught me to duel because no one else wanted to...including you. But Rodolphus...he had a good heart, in spite of the mistakes he made in the past."

Nymphadora shook her head, laughing a little. "That's...I don't know."

Delphini gave the older witch a knowing look. "He learned his lesson from the time he refused to accept you, and he took on the responsibility of helping raise and teach me and the other Rigel when he escaped Azkaban."

"That's so strange," Dora sighed. "Knowing that he's still alive in your time."

"No more unusual than Mother and Father being alive here in yours," Delphi said in a hushed voice, and Dora bit her lip.

"I can't imagine Mum being gone," she mused, "though perhaps it would be easier in some ways..."

"It was," Delphi told her. "You didn't fight with Rabastan very much at all, and Andromeda was always the voice of reason and understanding for all of us. And Rodolphus just kind of let things happen." She laughed, Dora laughing hesitantly as well. "We sort of irritated Rabastan, but he deserved it," Delphini shrugged. "He hated me my whole life because I made Rigel look bad all the time. I was mean to Rigel, but I mean, he was a weakling until Rodolphus stepped in and made Rabastan do something about it." She giggled, but Dora just looked at her in concern.

"Our children have always been strong," Dora frowned. "And Rigel has turned out very well."

"He wasn't raised with me," Delphi laughed. "And the one I know is fine now too, but it was just amusing growing up. He was a slow learner."

"Well, that's true," Dora sighed, shaking her head as she recalled struggling to help him with a Summoning Charm, "but he got it all together."

Delphi agreed. "So," she said, placing her hand on the doorknob, "I need to go change my dress, and then I'm going out for a little while."

Nymphadora seemed to think this was a great idea. "Good," she said. "I've got to check on Rabastan and Renee, so that'll work out fine."

Delphi was glad when Nymphadora had left her at the door to her own room, quickly passing the Parselmouth and the blood ward to gain entrance. She did not waste time finding a dress from her counterpart wardrobe, though she was highly amused to see that the selection was definitely more daring than most pieces she'd ever worn at Black Manor.

She decided quickly, laughing to herself as she thought of what the Dora and Andromeda she knew would say if they could see her. She made sure she was more than presentable, then walked from the room straight toward the gates. Delphi had realised only too late that she shouldn't have mentioned Andromeda in front of her mother and sister, but she was amused to know that Nymphadora still saw Andromeda in this timeline, also.

The blood between them was strong, Delphi thought as she stepped through the gates of the manor. She wondered for a few moments what had become of Narcissa, but brushed it off-she'd never really known the witch anyway.

Delphini disapparated. She only faintly knew the place where she was going, having been taken there by Dora on one otherwise boring day a few years back. Delphi approached the house eagerly, yet nervously. She was fully aware that the occupant of the home knew she was there as she passed the outer wards, then the next layer, then walked straight toward the door.

Lifting her hands, Delphi felt the ward over the door and broke it in seconds. Andromeda's blood wards had never been able to stop her, anyway. The young woman walked into the sitting room and looked around, realising Andromeda was upstairs.

"Andromeda?" Delphi called, wondering at the cold, dead silence in the dark place. She was amazed to see the same old picture of Rigel as a newborn that Andromeda had always had sitting on her mantle. She could only assume that the other two baby pictures were of Rodolphus—how strange to call one of her nephews that—and the other little Bellatrix.

Delphi turned to the stairs with a sigh and started climbing. "Dromeda, quit playing around!" she called. "You've never been one to hide like this!" There was no reply, and she huffed in annoyance reaching the top of the stairs and casting a spell to reveal where the other witch was.

To her surprise, the spell revealed two persons. "I'm here to warn you about Mother. And who's here with you?" Realisation came to her and she laughed, "Dora? Dora, did you lie? Did you lie to me like you always do?"

A door opened and Delphi was immediately on her guard, though she couldn't help seeing her aunt and smirking. The witch stared at her coldly, obviously having suffered down through the years. She had definitely thrived better at Black Manor.

"What do you want?" Andromeda asked coldly. "I have nothing to do with you, or with anyone."

"Which is why Nymphie is hiding in the closet," Delphini scoffed. "Nymphie, come out here like a good witch!"

Andromeda frowned at the Heir of the Dark Lord cautiously. "What is your warning, Delphini? And why would you come here to give it?"

"Well, it's a very long story," Delphi sighed, "but I mentioned something about you to Mum, and she wasn't pleased...I think she's going to try to kill you once and for all."

"That's nothing new," Andromeda scoffed. "She's hated me for years-what are you playing at?"

Delphi scowled at the woman. "I'm not the same Delphi that this world knows," she said, seeing the witch raise an eyebrow in doubt. "I'm from an alternate timeline where-where the Battle of Hogwarts went very badly." She shook her head, unable to speak of all the situations that were changed as she remembered seeing her mother alive for the first time.

The door opened and Dora stepped out into the hall, looking at her sister. "I was trying to tell her about it, but I didn't have time before you arrived, Delphi."

Andromeda Tonks looked between the two younger witches. "What are you going on about, Dora?" she said severely. "This is serious!"

"Indeed," Delphi smirked. "Nymphie found to be clinging to her second 'Mum.' Wouldn't Bellatrix love that?"

"Delphi," Dora said nervously, "don't. She doesn't know your past." The witch turned to Andromeda. "I know this is really strange, but this Delphi isn't from our time. She's come to us, trying to fix her timeline."

"What do you mean?" Andromeda demanded sharply.

"In her timeline," Dora said quickly, "her parents died. In the Battle of Hogwarts."

Andromeda turned to look at Delphi, who was watching her earnestly before speaking. "Dora took me and Rigel and dragged her husband here to your home right after the battle," Delphi explained with a smirk, seeing Andromeda's expression. "I mean, you had promised to help if anything happened. Anyway, after a couple days here, you two persuaded Rabastan to behave himself and, after fending off an Auror attack, left here to live at Black Manor."

Andromeda stared at Delphi incredulously. "I would never have agreed to live there," she said with a frown.

"For your family, you'd do most anything, Andy," Delphi grinned. "I've seen that. But Rab and Dora made sure the manor got 'decontaminated' for us children. And once Rigel and I grew up, you taught us the Black grimoires."

Nymphadora raised an eyebrow at Andromeda but was suddenly faced with a predatory expression from Delphi. "Did Mother ever teach you the Black grimoires?"

Dora just stared at Delphi's knowing smirk and didn't reply. "I teased you about it once; I guess I'll let it go this timeline," Delphi laughed.

"We raised you and Rigel?" Andromeda shook her head in disbelief. "I mean, I did plan things just in case we had to, but it was just us?"

"And her husband," Delphi rolled her eyes, indicating Dora. "Though we weren't really a full family until Rodolphus escaped Azkaban a few years later and came home to us."

The silver-haired witch shook her head. "He trained me-taught me to duel when everyone else said I wasn't ready. He always believed in me." The girl scowled for a moment, but the memory passed quickly. "Look," she said, "I've got to warn you, Andromeda. I accidentally mentioned your part in my alternate upbringing to my mother, and she was displeased. I think—I'm sure I've put you in danger."

Nymphadora nodded fervently in agreement. "Mother was furious," she sighed. "I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to drop by soon."

"So," Andromeda said slowly, looking at Delphi carefully, "you came here, instead of staying with your mother whom you never knew, just to warn me?"

"That's the influence of a loving family," Delphi huffed impatiently, then smiled ever-so-slightly. "Or maybe Rod's inability to abandon a bitch rubbed off on me."

"Well, thank you, dear," Andromeda told her with a small smirk of amusement. "I've often wondered if I'd have to move on from here. Apparently, it's time."

Dora looked between them, and Delphi rolled her eyes. "Of course you'll stay in contact," she said. "How will Dora protect Andy if she doesn't know where she is?"

"Don't call me Andy," the woman snapped. "And I don't need protecting."

"Perhaps you didn't, but you do now," Delphi replied firmly. "I'm so much nicer than the Delphi that this Nymphadora is afraid of. You know that today was the first day I've ever had my own sister treat me as something other than a child? It was lovely. I know how to act around the other Dora now, don't I?"

Nymphadora looked away from her sister's gaze for a moment, ignoring the small laugh of her sister "You're . . . a mixture of your parents."

"You always said I was like Mum," Delphi said.

"You are but . . . you're like your father too," Dora said, shaking her head, "we don't have time to talk about this, we need to get Andromeda out of here."

"I am perfectly capable of getting myself out of here, thank you very much." Andromeda huffed, rolled her eyes, stepping forward and taking Dora's arm, "You two need to get out of here."

"I am not leaving you until I know you're safe," Nymphadora spoke firmly, narrowing her eyes at the woman as her dark hair began to tinge red.

Delphi walked over to the window, ignoring the two witches to give them their moment as she stared out into the small front garden.

"Dora," Andromeda sighed, raising her hand to her cheek and gently stroking the hair out of her face, smiling slightly as the red seeped away from her hair "I'll be fine. I always am. You need to think about yourself now, I'll always love you and I will miss you but these little visits are getting too dangerous—for both of us."

"I'm not in danger here," Dora shook her head, "Mum is just being a—" she glanced to Delphi for a moment before she looked back to Andromeda, lowering her voice slightly, "she's being a jealous fucking hypocrite. If she didn't want me to care about you she shouldn't have left me with you for so long!"

"Shh," Andromeda took the girl in her arms, rubbing her back as she let the woman rest her head on her shoulder, "she cares about you, you can't blame her for leaving you with me and you can't blame her addled mind for her jealousy. She wants you all to herself; I can hardly blame her."

Dora let out a huff of laughter, as she wrapped her arms around the woman, shaking her head, "She didn't have to get rid of me, you wouldn't have. If that was you, you would have left the family rather than give up your child."

"She isn't me," Andromeda sighed, pulling back from the woman she once called her daughter. She placed her hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes, "you know why she did it and you can't blame her for that. I think you'll find we've talked about this before, you've seen my memory of the day you came to me . . ."

"I—" Dora swallowed hard as her voice cracked, "I just don't think you should have to go into hiding. I—How will I find you?"

"You won't," Andromeda said quietly. "Not this time."

Dora hesitated for a moment as if letting the truth sink in slightly before with a solemn nod she spoke again "Let's gather what you need and then you can go—It's not up for discussion, I'm at least helping you get your stuff together."

Andromeda looked as if she was going to protest before she nodded, "Fine, I know better than to try and reason with your stubbornness."

"Too right," Dora laughed slightly, blinking back tears as Andromeda drew her wand ready to pack her life away.

"Pack fast," Delphini said quickly.

Dora frowned, though before she could ask her sister why the sudden rush, she felt it. The whole house shook, a roar of power surging the wards. Andromeda ran to the window, pushing Delphi out of sight of those outside. Her face froze in what seemed to be fear for the briefest of moments before she drew a steadying breath, acceptance washing over her features. Bellatrix Lestrange stood just beyond her wards, a look of fury on her features as she attacked her sister's wards to gain entry. She was not alone.

"Rab..." Dora breathed, grunting slightly as Andromeda pushed her out of sight of the window.

"She can't get in? I got in easily…." Delphi frowned, confused.

"You think I wouldn't ward my home against my sister specifically?" Andromeda scoffed.

"There's a blood ward," Dora said quickly. "I—I helped put it up—which she's smart enough to figure out when she realises what it is."

"It won't take long," Andromeda said, turning to the two girls. "Get out of here, both of you."

"No!" Dora cried. "She'll kill you!"

"Not without a fight she won't," Andromeda said, determination in her voice.

"It's too late to leave," Delphi said, glancing toward the window. "Why has she brought Rab?"

"She's not stupid," Dora murmured, looking down at the floor. "She realised I was gone and probably went and told Rabastan: she doesn't want to be the only one to blame for this..."

"He doesn't know?" Delphi raised an eyebrow at the witch.

"Yes, because my husband would be so pleased if he knew I liked to sneak off to see Andromeda on occasion." Dora rolled her eyes.

"We need a plan," Andromeda said, "and it's too late to reinforce the wards or get you out of here."

"She'd bring more people if she couldn't get in," Dora sighed, "I—"

They all ducked on instinct as with a tremendous roar the building shook more fiercely than it had before, all of them knowing from experience that the wards had fallen. The three witches stared at each other in silence as the mad laughter of Bellatrix rang out from outside. To the other witches'surprise, it was Nymphadora who stood first.

"Stay here," Dora said.

"Nymphadora!" Andromeda snapped. "No!"

"Trust me!" Dora hissed. "Delphi cannot be seen here! Mum's wary of her enough as it is at the moment: what do you think the Dark Lord would do if he heard that she was involved in this on top of everything else? Andromeda...you just can't be seen. She won't hurt me." Dora forced a smile, unsure of how much she believed in her last statement as she looked to Andromeda. "Trust me."

As the sound of the front door ripping off its hinges and crashing into the house sounded from downstairs, Nymphadora did not give the others a chance to protest, nearly running from the room. She stopped only when she reached the top of the stairs.

"Dora," Rab breathed, though not in the shocked way his wife had spoken his name upon seeing him. He sounded...disappointed in her.

But Dora ignored her husband, looking straight into the face of her furious mother, unsure what to say though instinctively she put one foot in front of the other, approaching the witch. She ignored the fact that her mother had her wand pointed directly at her (even her own husband had his wand slightly raised by his side). Dora stopped only when she was halfway down the stairs, her mother narrowing her eyes at her.

"What are you doing here?" Bellatrix hissed.

"I could ask the same thing." Dora let out a huff of laughter despite herself.

"This is not funny!" Bellatrix screeched, causing her daughter to wince slightly. "Where is she?"

"I came here to tell her I wouldn't be seeing her anymore," Dora lied.

"How long have you been sneaking off here?" Rabastan spoke up this time, anger beginning to seep into his tone.

"I only see her once, maybe twice a year," Nymphadora said, purposely ignoring her husband's question.

"She's been doing it since she left here," Bellatrix spat. "Haven't you?"

"Why did you drag my husband into this, mother?" Dora asked, looking to the woman.

"He deserves to know that you've been sneaking off to see a blood traitor just as much as your own mother—your real mother—does," Bellatrix glared.

"She's not my mother," Dora winced, uncomfortable under her mother's gaze. She had never seen her so angry at her. "I know that, but…she raised me."

"Raised you to think you were a half-blood," Rabastan growled. "You're better than her."

"I know," Dora swallowed. "Let's go home. Come on: we don't have to be here. I won't come back—I swear it. I'll make an unbreakable vow if I have to—let's just go home, now...please, Mum?"

Bellatrix's grip on her wand wavered slightly, a hint of sorrow crossing her features, but it was a moment that was short lived. She soon had her wand raised again, her features set in a stony stare. She shook her head."No, this ends now."

"Step aside, Nymphadora," Rabastan commanded.

"N—no," Dora said, struggling to keep the emotion from her voice as she stood her ground. A few moments passed of their silent standoff, but it was Rabastan that made the first move, starting toward his wife as she drew her wand in retaliation. It was at that moment that the three of them froze as the familiar crack of apparition came from downstairs.

"Come and get me, Bellatrix!" Andromeda yelled.

Nymphadora's face fell, her eyes widened, and it all happened too quickly. Bellatrix ran towards the living room.

"No!" Nymphadora cried, running down the stairs and rushing after the woman. She barely made it to the entrance of the living room before she felt her husband's arms closing around her. "GET OFF OF ME!"

"Stop this!" Rabastan yelled in her ear, his grip tightening as she struggled frantically against him. "We are leaving!"

"No..." Bellatrix breathed, the woman now standing in the middle of the Tonks' living room, her voice sounding distant as she stared at her once-sister, "she needs to know this can't happen again."

"Dora, don't," Andromeda said, though she kept both her gaze and her wand still trained strictly on her sister, "you need to—"

"Don't talk to her!" Bellatrix screeched.

"Why does she have those?" Rabastan spoke up, staring toward the fireplace. "Those are our children, Nymphadora. Why are there photographs of our children in a blood traitor's house?"

Nymphadora shook her head. She was failing in her fight against her emotions, tears now rolling down her cheek as she feebly pulled on the arms of her husband. "Stop it," Dora cried. "She raised me. You made her raise me!" she yelled, now glaring at her mother. "You can't expect to throw away the emotions I have for the woman who raised me! You took Remus, you took Ted, that's enough."

"...you sound like a blood traitor," Bellatrix said flatly.

"Hardly," Andromeda scoffed, "she's your daughter; she knows that. She's married a pureblood and raised three pureblood children whilst fighting for The Dark Lord. She's no more of a blood traitor than you are. In fact, she's the only one who has managed to carry out her 'duty' and carry on her husband's name, isn't that right? Is that what you're upset about, Bella? That I taught her to be better than you?"

"Enjoy running your filthy mouth while you can," Bellatrix laughed, "it won't be for much longer."

Without warning, Bellatrix threw a curse at the woman, and though it was easily deflected, they were soon locked in a flurry of hexes and curses, each trying to best the other. Nymphadora yelled out, trying to get them to stop, trying to struggle against her husband's ever-tightening grip, but it was useless. Soon he had pulled her to the side of the room in spite of her protests, ignoring her as she lifted her feet to try and slow him. He hooked his leg around her own as he leant against the wall, pinning her arms to her side. He ignored her sobs as he pressed his lips to her ear.

"This is the best thing that could happen right now," he hissed. "You let her kill her and then after today we can forget this ever happened, do you understand me?"

"No," Dora cried, flinching as her husband pulled her back harshly, knowing she now had a clear view of the battle. "I'll never forget this," she choked, trying not to see even though she could not turn away.

"Give up and I will make it painless!" Bellatrix cheered, grinning as the younger witch narrowly missed a spell aimed for her head.

"Never!" Andromeda hissed, trying and failing to push her sister further back into the room. "You'll lose her for this! She'll hate you!"

"Sometimes a mother must do what is best for her child, in spite of their feelings toward the situation!" Bellatrix said informatively, pouting slightly as she continued, "though you wouldn't know anything about being a real mother, would you, Andy?"

"More than you ever would!" Andromeda hissed.

But she was outmatched. They had barely been battling for five minutes when, witha yell of pain, Andromeda was thrown back into the wall, groaning as she landed in the broken shards of her windows. Bellatrix tutted as she summoned the witch's wand, slowly making her way over to the woman now on the floor.

"Oh dear," Bellatrix sighed sarcastically, "it looks like you're finished here. Ready to join your Mudblood scum?"

"Mum, please!" Dora cried in desperation, letting out a small sob as the woman paused for a moment.

With a quick flick of Bella's wand, Andromeda Tonks was bound on the floor, her captor staring down at her for a brief moment before she finally turned to look at her daughter. Bellatrix stared at the young witch, the girl's hair a curled mess of white and mousey brown, her eyes red from her tears, her arms still pinned to her side by her husband. She walked to her slowly, looking to Rabastan for a split second as he loosened his grip ever so slightly. She stopped when she reached the girl, her hand slowly rising to wipe some of the tears from her face as she ignored her daughter's flinching at her touch.

"This is what is best, Dora," Bellatrix practically whispered. "You can't keep doing this; you can't run away to this woman. You are my daughter...you have a husband, children—your half-sister is the Dark Lord's daughter. What we do reflects directly on them. The Dark Lord would not take kindly to you if he found out. We need to stop this, to clear the evidence. I'm doing this for you."

"Mum, I'll go," Dora sniffed. "—I'll never come back. I'll remove the pictures—we can wipe her memory. We don't have to talk about this ever again, we—we can walk away. Please...I know it's my fault—"

"It is not your fault, Dora," Andromeda said sharply. "She was the one—" her words were cut off with a single movement from Bella's wand.

"I'll do anything," Dora cried, knowing all was lost. "Please, Mum."

Bellatrix closed her eyes for a moment, the sight of her daughter crying as she begged for the life of the woman who had once been her sister becoming too much to watch. She shook her head and took a deep breath before she forced herself to look at the girl again. "I'm sorry, Dora..."

"No!" Dora cried as she watched her mother walk over to the woman. She breathed a sob as she tried to get her arms free from her husband, but to no avail.

Andromeda stared resolutely up at her sister, Black defiance and composure settled over her features as she accepted her fate. "This isn't her fault," Andromeda breathed, staring straight into the black eyes of her older sister, eyes that Nymphadora shared.

"No..." Bellatrix shook her head, all the usual joy of a kill absent from her as she regarded the witch with an emotionless stare, "it's my fault—Avada Kedavra!"

"No!" Dora let out an unearthly scream, struggling harder than ever against her husband as she tried to get to Andromeda. She did not pay attention as Bellatrix went to the fireplace, taking the pictures of her grandchildren and daughter. No one noticed that she also took the pictures of her now dead sister. "Let me go!" Dora cried, hysterical now as she slumped against her husband, barely intelligible, "L—let me g—go to her...you've g-gotten your way...y—you've destroyed her...st—stop!"

Bellatrix took one last look at the body of Andromeda Tonks before she turned her gaze to her daughter, then shook her head and glanced at her son-in-law. "Take her home," Bellatrix murmured, and without another word, she was gone with a crack of apparition.

"Rab..." Dora cried, her storm of emotions threatening to take over, "Rab, please...she was all I had when there was no one else…"

"You have your mother—who you are always with—you have me, our children—there is no reason that you should have come back here," Rabastan hissed. "Andromeda should have been killed long ago—I knew you'd been lying, but I'd hoped I was wrong."

"She understood," Dora sobbed, shaking from head to toe. "She loved me. Rabastan, I've got to tell her goodbye—"

"...you heard your mother," Rabastan said stiffly, and there was another crack of apparition.

The Tonks house was silent, the horrors of what had just happened only apparent from the wreckage left behind. After a minute, the sound of soft footsteps could be heard, a pair of feet slowly making their way down the stairs and into the living room. The sound stopped. Delphini Riddle's breath caught in her throat for a moment as she looked at the carnage around her. The smashed windows, broken furniture, and scorched walls were the least of her concerns.

Delphi hesitated for a moment before she walked toward the body on the floor. Andromeda had always been such a strong figure—even though she would never have admitted it to the woman herself, the girl held a small sense of respect for her. But now the middle Black sister lay motionless on the floor, her brown hair no longer kept neat and tidy as it lay in wisps on the floor around her. Her robes were no longer pristine but littered with tears and the odd scorch mark, ropes still constricting her. The familiar strong, yet kind expression was lost forever from her features as the woman now stared into nothingness. Delphini lowered herself to the floor beside Andromeda, drawing her wand as she removed the ropes and watched as they dissolved from her.

"I'm sorry, Andy," Delphi whispered, reaching out to carefully close the woman's eyes, "I didn't mean for this to happen. I'll look after Dora. I—"

Her eyes widened slightly: something was wrong. She could feel a pull, feel the world around her beginning to pull away from her. She had failed. The boys were changing the timeline again—everything was changing.

"No..." Delphi breathed.

But it was too late.

Rigel entered the library, glancing around quickly before his eyes fell on his uncle. Rodolphus Lestrange did not seem to notice him, but kept writing in a book, a look of concentration on his face.

"Rodolphus?" the young man asked him. "Have you been here all day?"

The older Lestrange looked up and focused on Rigel for a moment before asking, "What time is it?"

"A few minutes past three," Rigel answered. "We missed you at lunch...may I ask what is distracting you this time?" He smiled at his uncle.

"Rigel," the man sighed, then let his gaze fall back to the book he'd been writing in. "I'm putting together some thoughts and memories about your grandmother. I want her to be remembered."

"Writing her biography?" Rigel said quietly. "You know, I'm sure Mum would love to help, if you asked her."

Rodolphus frowned and didn't look up. "I'm not ready to share these thoughts," he said. "And your mother doesn't remember anything about Bellatrix before Azkaban, so she can't really help at all yet."

"I see," Rigel agreed. "Though you should eat something before Mum comes to check on you and finds out what you're doing."

"I'll go to the kitchens in a little while," Rodolphus muttered. "And your mother doesn't worry me. I can handle her."

Rigel raised an eyebrow. "All right," he agreed, then left his uncle alone in the room.

Rodolphus took a deep breath, then closed his eyes, trying to remember what memory he'd been trying to think of and isolate for removal. The man sighed after a few moments of useless thought. Maybe his nephew was right: maybe he did need to take a break from his constant thoughts of Bellatrix. The man got to his feet, putting the book in his pocket as he went to leave the room. He saw his niece walking toward her room and watched her for a second, noting how much Nymphadora, Delphi, and Belle all took after his Bellatrix.

Rodolphus turned away quickly. He might need a walk in the grounds as well as dinner in order to clear his mind this time.

Rabastan Lestrange sat in the study of Black Manor, the Daily Prophet in front of him as he looked at it yet again, his head resting on his fist. His wife had left the room moments before, and he was thinking once again about what the Ministry had said concerning there being a child of the Dark Lord out there. They knew something now, even if they hadn't before.

The man rubbed his forehead wearily, wondering whether it would be worth the risk. He had no way of knowing if he'd ever come back to his family, or if it would even work out the way he wanted. He was a Lestrange: a highly wanted criminal, and he honestly wondered if they would try to kill him on sight.

He could see no other alternative and he knew that no one else would want to do such a thing. Getting to his feet, he left the study, walking through the halls. He was about to leave the manor and go out into the grounds when he heard his daughter call out, "Dad? Where are you going?"

Rabastan turned to look at little Bellatrix in all her relative innocence and gave her a small smile, holding out his hand to her. Drawing her into his side, he said, "I'm going out for a little while, but I'll be back soon." He kissed the top of her head. "Love you, Bella," he said, then let her go and walked away before he could do anything else that would weaken his resolve.

It did not take him long to reach the ward boundaries, though he allowed himself only a short glance back at the place where his family safely hid-he hoped. He left the grounds, walking for a little while before finally disapparating.

The man drew a deep breath, looking up and around at his destination. He hadn't been to the Ministry since he'd been arrested the last time, and he was not prepared when he was finally spotted and someone yelled out, "Look out, it's one of the Lestranges!"

It was over before Rabastan had barely moved, ropes confining him as he gritted his teeth from the pain of another curse that had struck him. He was taken to one of the holding cells, keeping absolutely silent though the three Aurors that were quickly around him were asking if his brother and wife were around as well.

Feeling the cold chains connecting his wrists to the table and with the old, familiar fear creeping up in him, he wondered if he had made the correct choice. Everything could go wrong. They would probably just question him and send him straight to Azkaban without keeping any sort of deal that he wanted them to make with him.

Rabastan did not respond except to say, "I will only speak to Harry Potter." He was actually surprised when Potter hurried into the room a few minutes later, his ginger friend at his heels.

"Rabastan Lestrange," said the black-haired man with the scar on his forehead.

"Potter." Rabastan spoke tonelessly, watching the Boy-Who-Lived. "I have information."

"I'm listening," Potter said, pausing right in front of the table.

Rabastan took a breath, then said, "It's about the Dark Lord's daughter."

Potter's and the Weasley's eyes widened, and Rabastan couldn't help but laugh. "Got your attention now, have I?"

Ronald Weasley frowned. "What do you know?"

"Not so fast," Rabastan tutted.

"Harry, no, we're not bargaining with a Death Eater," the Weasley said sharply.

"Or you could never know what I was going to say," Rabastan shrugged. "You do want to stop Delphi, don't you?" He raised an eyebrow at them.

"We aren't sure what she's doing," Potter admitted. "But she's playing around with time."

Rabastan looked directly into Potter's eyes. "If this works out, I want my wife and children to go free."

The Boy-Who-Lived frowned. "I can't promise, but your cooperation will give at least your wife a greater chance of freedom. Your children have nothing to do with your crimes, Lestrange."

He looked down at his chains once again, an ache in his chest as he thought of the possibility of his wife being taken to Azkaban. He couldn't bear the thought of her being locked away all alone, even though the dementors were gone. This idea of his was becoming more and more of an apparent disaster. There was nothing he could do to save himself. He could either tell what he knew, or they would probably force it out of him by extracting memories. He knew what it was to be forced to talk: he'd seen it happen to his brother.

Rabastan barely breathed for a few moments, trying to decide what to do with his poor life choices. He had to tell them what he knew about Delphini Riddle in exchange for the freedom of his family, unable to even ask for his own freedom.

"Delphini is trying to bring back her father."

Weasley stepped back in shock, but Potter didn't waver. "How do you know this?"

"We raised her in our home," Rabastan answered resentfully. "I didn't want her, but Dora had promised her mother that she would take care of Delphi if anything happened to her."

"Delphi is Bellatrix's daughter?" Harry Potter said in shock.

"Why am I not surprised?" Ron groaned.

"Delphini left our home with the intention of returning the Dark Lord to power," Rabastan continued, frowning at Potter, "fulfilling Rod's prophecy."

Harry nodded. "So Rodolphus does live with you. What's this about a prophecy?"

Weasley looked apprehensive. "Prophecies...can't be trusted."

"It said something about children killing their fathers and spares being spared before the Dark Lord would return," Rabastan answered. "I don't exactly see eye to eye with Rodolphus, Andromeda, and Nymphadora when it comes to Delphini," the man admitted. "I only care about my family, not the agenda of a dead man." Rabastan shivered at his own words.

"I want to know everything you can tell me about Delphini Riddle," Harry Potter said quietly. "She's endangering us all, and she's got to be stopped. I'm willing to take risks, but I need knowledge."

Rabastan looked back down at the cold metal links binding him to the table and agreed.

Curse you, Rabastan.

Dora