Ugh. Rabastan, why are you stupid?

I have officially written myself out of love with Rabastan. What an idiot.

Dora

He couldn't have imagined this. Even knowing the dangers their family had always been, he would never have thought that he would be imprisoned with his father and uncle in a holding cell at the Ministry. Too much had transpired in the last couple of hours for him to understand and accept his present condition.

They'd all been so concerned that Rabastan had been captured that they'd nearly forgotten to make sure it was him when he'd returned. It had been slightly worrying when Rodolphus had grabbed Rabastan away from Nymphadora and demanded the answer to a safe question. It had been Rabastan, all right, with a pack of Aurors after him.

Rigel Lestrange looked over at his father, sitting in another corner of their cell with an annoyed expression on his face. His father had betrayed them, had tried to cut a deal with the Ministry. And where were they now?

He looked around the cell, seeing only bare floor and a little cup of water. What had his father been thinking to put his entire family in this situation? Had the man lost his mind? Rigel wasn't sure what to think; he only knew he strongly disapproved.

"Come on, Rod, say something," Rabastan sighed.

Rigel glanced between the two older men, seeing Rodolphus' stoic gaze not waver at all. Rabastan had been trying to get his brother to talk for nearly an hour, and Rigel wondered if his father should just leave Rodolphus alone. After all, the man had put the entire family in harm's way—especially his wife.

It made Rigel very angry to see what the entire encounter had done to his mother. He had never seen his mother break down like that, no matter what she'd been going through. Obviously no one had known that she was pregnant again—he had also never seen her so terrified before. He did not like seeing her reduced to tears and begging in front of careless Ministry workers.

He had caught her when they knocked her out, and shot his father a look of condemnation when they took his mother from his hands. He had never felt so helpless in his life as he watched the Aurors round up his family before inviting him and Bella to stay with their family. He could only hope that his mother, sister, and Andromeda were okay.

"Rod—"

"You know, Father, perhaps he doesn't want to talk to you," Rigel said irritably.

Rabastan turned to look at his son. "Well, he should. It's the only way he's getting out of here."

Rigel scoffed at this. "It isn't you that's doing the questioning, now, is it?" he said evenly. "What have we got to do? Tell the Ministry how disloyal we are and what Delphi's up to? Such a noble thing to do."

"Do not speak to me that way," Rabastan said to the younger man sternly. "I am your father."

"Yes, and look what you did to mother," Rigel said coldly. "Look what a spectacle you made of her—of all of us."

"I didn't know—I would never—you know I love your mother, Rigel," Rabastan sighed. "I didn't mean to hurt her. I want us to be free: I found a way. We just have to be careful."

A snort of derision from Rodolphus made both Rabastan and Rigel look toward him. "There you are," Rabastan scowled at his brother, getting to his feet and walking over to stand in front of him. "Can you speak to us now?"

Rodolphus looked up at his brother, then turned to Rigel. "Tell your father that I do not want to talk to him."

Rabastan laughed in disbelief as Rigel looked between the two hesitantly. "Don't be a child, Rodolphus," Rabastan berated him. "This was the best way to do things."

Rodolphus was still regarding Rigel thoughtfully. "Even you disagree with this madness, don't you? Your dear father's lost his mind."

"Please don't talk through me," Rigel said, fidgeting slightly. "I understand, but—please don't."

"See?" Rabastan said to Rodolphus with a shrug.

Rodolphus turned to his brother slowly, a deadly look in his eyes that took Rabastan aback. "You," Rodolphus hissed venomously, "have gone against everything that our family has stood for the last forty years!"

Rabastan's expression did not change. "Our family will be free thanks to me," he said sharply. "It continues, thanks to me."

Rigel rested his head in his hands, wishing that Rodolphus hadn't started talking at all. The two Lestrange men were back to the age-old argument of lineage, and Rigel did not want to hear it.

Rodolphus moved so fast that Rigel barely looked up in time to see Rodolphus catch Rabastan by the collar and slam him against the cell door. "YOU DISGRACE OUR FAMILY BY YOUR ACTIONS!" he yelled in the man's face. "You left us and came crawling to Potter like filth! You brought the Aurors down on us—on Nymphadora, when you KNOW what happened last time! We do not make deals and hide our past, Rabastan."

Rabastan winced slightly when Rodolphus shook him, hitting him against the door as if he were nothing. A vein was standing out on Rodolphus' temple, his face red with rage as he yelled at his little brother. "We are not ashamed. WE ARE NOT SORRY. We are not weak-minded fools like those that turned their backs on our Dark Lord!"

The older man paused to draw breath, and Rabastan opened his mouth, but Rodolphus tightened his grip on Rab's collar, making it more difficult for him to breath or speak. "Save your breath, traitor. I don't want to hear it." Rodolphus shook his head in disbelief and was going to continue, but Rabastan jumped in quickly.

"Wouldn't you have done it, if it was your wife and children?" Rabastan demanded.

"Mine?" Rodolphus said, his eyes seeming to see things far away for a few moments before he refocused on his brother, his eyes once again burning with fury. "I would have done anything Bellatrix asked of me. But no one asked you to do this—I SAID DON'T TALK!" as Rabastan went to say something else.

"This sort of stupidity is why I came back from Azkaban," Rodolphus growled. "I know you, Rabastan. This is why I insisted on giving Rigel the proper training to be the Lestrange heir—something you missed out on. I also knew that you would be opposed to Delphi, and I came back to make sure you did right by her. You never were good to her."

"She wasn't your concern!" Rabastan snapped. "She would have been fine without you!"

Rodolphus' grip tightened so that Rabastan choked slightly. "You could never have trained her properly. Not even Nymphadora could handle her, and that was AFTER you tried making her 'behave.'"

"None of you could see clearly about her!" Rabastan shouted, struggling to push his brother off him. "She was a danger to all of us! She was always more of a hindrance than anything! We would have been better off without her and—you know, Rodolphus, if you hadn't come back to us, we wouldn't have to be bothered with your fucking prophecy!"

Rabastan let out a yelp as, after a moment, Rodolphus pushed him away so forcefully that he landed against the opposite wall, gasping for breath. "Rodolphus, what—"

"I really want to kill you," Rodolphus said coldly, making Rigel gasp in shock. "But then I thought about poor little Nymphie and her baby. What would she do without her careless, stubborn, misguided husband?"

Rabastan jumped up and was going to rush at his brother when Rigel jumped in between them. "Stop," he told them. "This isn't going to help anything. What's done is done. Can we go back to not speaking to each other?"

The two brothers scowled at each other, settling in opposite corners, each still infuriated. "This isn't over," Rabastan warned.

"It is," Rodolphus answered darkly. "I'm not bargaining with them: I won't talk."

"Suit yourself," snapped Rabastan. "There's a cell waiting with your name on it."

Rigel buried his face in his hands. What was happening to their family?

Andromeda sat on the floor of her and Dora's holding cell, the younger woman's head resting on her lap. Dora hadn't yet awaken from the sleeping spell the Aurors had done to her, and her own pain from the curse she'd received was mostly gone. She was furious that Rabastan had been so careless as to put Nymphadora and her unborn child in danger—even if he hadn't known.

She sighed, stroking Dora's stark white hair back from her face. Poor Nymphadora. Andromeda couldn't remember the last time she'd seen the witch look that terrified. Dora standing in front of them all begging them not to hurt her or her child-it made her furious to see Dora in such a state. She had a few things to say to the man if she ever saw him free again.

Dora jumped in her sleep, startling Andromeda, who frowned. Dora only ever jumped like that when she had nightmares as a child.

"Dora?" Andromeda said softly. "Dora, you need to wake up."

It took a few moments, but Dora startled awake with a frightened cry, Andromeda jumping back from her as her magic crackled. "Dora, you were having a bad dream," the woman said, but as Dora twisted to look at her, her eyes filled with tears.

"No," Dora sniffed. "It's real."

"Oh, Dora," Andromeda said, scooting closer to the young woman and wrapping her arms around her. "I'm so sorry."

"What was he thinking?" Nymphadora cried angrily, tears trickling down her cheeks. "He led Aurors to our home!"

"So...you're pregnant again?" Andromeda said quietly.

"Yes," Dora whispered, reaching out and clinging to the woman. "I've only known a short time—I found out the day Rab disappeared. He KNOWS what happened last time." And she was back to crying again.

"Well, I don't like that he didn't consult the rest of us first," Andromeda frowned. "Deciding to tell tales to the Ministry in exchange for freedom. I'm not convinced they won't throw us in Azkaban anyway. I hope Rodolphus gives Rabastan a good lecture about his foolishness."

"I—I can't go to Azkaban," Dora panicked. "What will happen to my baby?"

"I shouldn't have said that to you," Andromeda groaned. "I'm sure they'll take precautions—"

"No!" Dora cried. "No!"

"Shh," Andromeda said gently, hugging the younger woman carefully as she dissolved into hysterical tears.

"Rab will never see the child, and I won't have him there to help me," she wept. "And what will happen to Bella since Rigel's with his father and Rodolphus?"

"A young woman is taking care of her for now," Andromeda answered. "She assured me that Bella would be fine."

"She's probably so confused and upset," Dora breathed. "Dromeda—"

"Shh," Andromeda said. "Let's not worry—"

"Stop shushing me and don't tell me not to worry," Dora snapped, her roots shooting red. "This is my family!"

"And mine," Andromeda answered evenly. "You're not alone in this mess, Dora. Rabastan has dragged us all into this."

Dora's eyes narrowed. "I want to scream at him."

"I'm sure you'll have enough of a chance later," came a voice, and the two witches looked up to see Aurors before their cell. "We're taking you to another room for questioning, and the others will be there."

"What about my daughter?" Nymphadora demanded, getting to her feet and facing them.

"She'll be there at first, but I don't think she should be," another answered, unlocking the door. "Come along, ladies."

This address made Andromeda laugh, though two Aurors took her away before she could even comment.

Rigel was still keeping watch between his father and uncle when the Aurors arrived to take them for questioning. Rodolphus glared malevolently at them when they approached the cell, though when they announced their intentions, Rabastan bounded up like a happy puppy waiting to be let outside.

Rigel got to his feet and walked to meet the Aurors with his father, leaving Rodolphus sitting in the far corner of the cell. Two of the Aurors entered the cell as Rabastan was taken from the room and Rigel watched as they marched Rodolphus from the cell.

"Go on," Potter waved the others on. "I'll be right there." He turned to Rigel, who stood straight, looking him in the eye. "We're going to collect your sister so that you all can be together at the questioning. Let's be quick."

"All right." Rigel followed Potter down the dark corridor and took the lift up another floor or two.

"Here," Potter said, opening the door to a room. "Lyra?"

Rigel's heart nearly stopped as he walked into the room and saw the girl that he'd been seeing for the last few weeks. He couldn't say a word when he saw her, knowing that she had never seen his real morph. He looked at his little sister, who looked worried.

"Rigel!" Bella cried, hurrying toward him and jumping into his arms. "What's happening?!"

"Bella," the young man murmured, hugging her for a moment before holding her away. "Dad's trying to get freedom for all of us, but he, Mum, Rod, and Andromeda are going for questioning right now. We've got to go join them."

She was going to say something else, but Rigel gave her a gentle but stern look, and she became quiet, leaning into his side. Lyra stepped forward. "What room are they going to?" she asked Potter. "I'll take them there so you can go on quickly."

Potter told her and left them there, Rigel extremely uncomfortable with Lyra. The young witch turned to him and smiled. "Rigel," she said gently. "I know you: I've known for a little while."

"Oh." Rigel blushed, and Bella looked up at him, then giggled.

"She told me she likes you," Bella tattled, a mischievous grin on her face. "I know you like her, and I approve."

"Bella!" Rigel sputtered in embarrassment.

Lyra laughed softly. "Well, thank you, Bella," she said, walking over to them. "It took a few weeks, but I finally realised why certain topics made you uncomfortable and why you didn't go to Hogwarts and all sorts of things like that."

Rigel nodded, looking away from her for a moment. "I'm sorry I lied to you."

"I understand," Lyra told him. "But I expect the truth now. And we should get moving."

"Okay," Rigel answered, and he and his sister hurried after the young witch.

She stopped right outside the door, and turned to Bella. "You know that your parents and the others are being held prisoner, so don't be surprised."

Bella nodded mutely, glancing at Rigel for reassurance. Lyra reached out and opened the door, leading the way into the room. "Bella," Dora breathed. "Rigel."

Rigel nodded to his mother firmly, Lyra gently placing her hand on his arm and guiding him and Bella to some chairs on the side.

"We were just about to start," Potter said to them.

"Don't mind us," Lyra said to him, the three taking their seats together.

Bella was looking around at her family, worried about what was happening to them. Rigel glanced at her, then murmured, "Please stay calm or they'll send us away.

The girl seemed to agree, and Rigel turned his attention back to the family. He could see his father's determination, his mother's concern, and Andromeda's apprehension. Rodolphus just glared at them all, silent even though he seemed very angry: he was also the only one still in chains.

Nymphadora looked up at her children while her husband was talking and said, "Bella should not be here."

"Asking your pardon, Mother," Rigel answered before Bella could protest, "but this is family history and she should be here."

Dora bit her lip, but nodded to Rigel since Rabastan had missed the entire exchange. Rodolphus looked directly at Rigel, and the young man seemed to get the idea that Rod was telling him not to be like his father.

They were questioning Andromeda now, wanting to know why she was with them. The witch looked straight at them and answered, "I have protected Nymphadora since Bellatrix left her to me, and Dora's family since she brought them to me. Why would I-how could I stand by and let her family be destroyed?"

"You're our family too," Dora scolded her. "I couldn't have raised Rigel and Delphi without you."

"Speaking of Delphini," Potter interrupted, and Rodolphus tensed, scowling at him, "I was told that you were the one who taught her magic?"

"Delphi is magic," Andromeda answered coldly. "I taught her nothing that she should not have learned at Hogwarts."

"You did not teach her to duel?"

Andromeda raised an eyebrow at the other Aurors. "I merely provided the tools," she began, but was interrupted.

"I taught her to duel." Everyone turned to Rodolphus, who glared right back at them all. "I practised with her endlessly and trained her to fight when everyone else told her that she was too young, that she wasn't ready." His eyes settled on his brother and Nymphadora. "They did not want her to grow into her place, and they did not remain faithful because they were afraid."

"I was not afraid," Rabastan snapped at his brother. "Delphi has always been a danger to us: you just refuse to see it!"

"You turned your back on us the instant the Battle of Hogwarts was over," Rodolphus sneered at him.

Rabastan growled back, "There was nothing left, Rodolphus! We had to try to rebuild our family!"

Rodolphus' face was lit with anger and accusation. "Nothing remains except to be faithful!" he shouted, making several of their captors jump. "You would be killed for this, Rabastan: you know that!"

"No Dark Lord," Rabastan shrugged, and Dora felt a chill go down her spine.

"And you fully intend to keep it that way," Rodolphus sneered. "Yes, I seem to remember you not wanting Delphi in the first place and hating her ever since. You have to work against them because your life is forfeit."

"Stop!" Dora cried pleadingly, tears on her cheeks once again. "He's done it for me and the children!"

Andromeda looked over at her with a blank expression on her face, and Rodolphus turned to Nymphadora also. "He did it for himself," Rodolphus growled. "He brought you to this place—shamed himself and you—and forced you to say things you never would have said. Your mother would be ashamed of you."

"That's not fair!" Dora cried out, obviously hurt by this comment. "This wasn't my choice!"

Andromeda shot a glare at the man. "Leave Nymphadora alone: this is Rabastan's folly."

Rabastan laughed in disbelief, but Rodolphus nodded. "Dora has always done what her husband asked of her," he said. "But she is better than this, Andromeda, and so are you."

"I'm staying with them," Andromeda told Rodolphus. "I'll be there to help them no matter what."

"Rodolphus," Dora breathed, "stay with us. I know you disapprove of how this has happened, and I can't say I'm happy about it either, but—"

"Do not ask it of me," Rodolphus answered, his tone softening slightly as he addressed her. "Perhaps you can justify such things—it isn't your fault, after all. But I can't do that. I do not regret my past, and given the chance, I would return to the Dark Lord."

Several of the others hissed and frowned at his words. "Straight back to Azkaban, eh?" said the Weasley.

"Yes." Rodolphus crossed his arms in a rattle of chains.

"Take him," Harry said, motioning two Aurors to him.

"No!" Dora cried in anguish.

"Don't cry," Rodolphus said sharply. "Get angry."

Nymphadora whirled on her husband as Rodolphus was led toward the door. "Look what you've done!" she shrieked at him. "Tried to save your family and split them up instead!"

Rabastan tried to answer her, but Andromeda shut him down with a sharp word. The three noticed a small commotion near the children, and saw Bella run out of the row and down to her uncle to throw her arms around him.

Rodolphus sighed and hugged the girl. "Must you go?" she whispered, ignoring the cold metal on his wrists.

"I cannot stay," he answered her softly, subtly kissing the top of her head. "Make us proud: earn your name, Bellatrix."

She hugged him tightly, but the second she let him go, the Aurors took him away. Bella turned around and looked at her father accusingly, though she had no time to speak because Rigel joined her quickly, the other girl at his side.

"We'll be going now," Rigel said. "I've seen enough." He looked at his father, a cold expression on his face. "In the words of Rodolphus, 'Behave, boy.'" Rigel turned and led the way out of the room, leaving his parents and Andromeda at the mercy of the Aurors and his father's stupidity.