Chapter 13: Soon
Narcissa Malfoy pulled her black hood closer to the delicate skin on her face. She shivered; those European winds were harsh on even the toughest of bodies. The sun had long since hidden under the horizon and a darkness had now engulfed the tiny little seaside village Narcissa was at. Her pace quickened the closer she got the run-down little house at the end of the lane. The brass dragon door knocker was nearly falling off the wooden door, which itself was weather-worn and barely standing.
Carefully, Narcissa rapped on the door. She heard the rustle of movement inside the tiny house and the dark curtains swayed after an unknown person had brushed up against them. The door opened slowly, and from the darkness inside came a cloaked figure.
"Cissa?" the voice asked. The hooded figure revealed Bellatrix, her face pale and gaunt.
"We need to talk," Narcissa said simply, and pushed her way inside.
The living room was empty and dark; a sofa with a white sheet was up against the far wall. There was little light entering the room. Narcissa could make out the flint of candlelight coming in from the kitchen, but other than that, her eyes took several minutes to adjust to the lack of light.
"You can't be here," Bellatrix said softly. Her eyes glanced nervously up the dark stairwell. Despite Bellatrix's cold demeanor, Narcissa knew her sister was glad to see her even if the circumstances were less than favorable.
"Is Rudolphus here?" Narcissa asked quietly. Bellatrix shook her head no. A small look of triumph gleaned across Narcissa's face. Even if Rudolphus was here, his presence would not be a problem. His escape from Azkaban with his wife was glorious—even poetic—but his life outside the prison was nothing more than a field mouse. The years inside the prison had driven him insane.
"Please, what are you up to?" Bellatrix asked, her hand growing closer to the wand she hid in her back pocket.
"We're going to Hogwarts. Tonight."
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It wasn't the fact that students would barely look Lyra in the eye, or the fact that teachers would constantly go out of their way to keep Lyra in their line of sight at all times, to show Lyra that something in the air was amiss. It began in Transfiguration on Tuesday when the Patil twin Lyra always sat next to attempted to switch seats with a Slytherin, who promptly told her no. She had just barely sat in her seat, edged interestingly as far away as possible from Lyra, when Professor McGonagall walked into class, looking flushed as though she had just been in a small scuffle.
Her eyes peered at Lyra on her way by and remained as such throughout the entire class. This constant watch continued throughout the rest of the day: Professor Snape barely touched his soup during lunch, as he was so transfixed on Lyra's ability to write on parchment.
"Draco, really, what is going on?" Lyra finally managed to whisper during lunch. Her cousin stole a glance up at the High Table before answering.
"It appears to me like they're watching you. What have you done?" he asked snidely.
"Absolutely nothing, except for being the daughter of Bellatrix Lestrange," Lyra replied.
Draco shrugged and went back to laughing with Crabbe and Goyle. Sighing, Lyra finally slammed shut her Potions book and stomped off to the library, hoping to find a quiet corner.
In the very back left corner she found an old green armchair with no sign of human life within several hundred feet. Propping open her Potions book against her legs, she began to read. It took a grand total of five minutes until Lyra could hear three distinct voices carrying on her way. The voices settled on the other side of the book shelf, where Lyra could hear their every word without being seen.
"Really, Ron, do you think You-Know-Who would come to Hogwarts? Haven't you ever read Hogwarts, A History?"
"I don't need to read that bloody book to know that he's going to come here! It's all starting to make sense," Ron replied, his voice shivering on the last syllable. Papers rustled and Lyra could barely make out the whispers that took the place of the voices.
"There's no other reason Mafalda Hopkirk would have gone missing. Voldemort has control over the Ministry. We're sitting in the last stronghold! It's only a matter of time before the Death Eaters take over Hogwarts, too." There was a hint of significant sacredness in Hermione's voice; Lyra could feel it from across the room.
For a second, time seemed to stand still as Lyra held her breath, waiting for the next person to speak. It was a very pregnant minute before Harry finally broke the silence. His words were slow and carefully chosen.
"Then we fight. All of us. We will fight."
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The light in Bellatrix Lestrange's room was dim despite her glowing wand on her bedside. Tonight's movements would have to be quick and precise as to minimize the intrusion of any unwanted visitors on the reunion of a mother and daughter. Narcissa had taken the necessary precautions in regards to Hogwarts: Severus had been contacted and had been instructed to keep his eye on Lyra all day. Narcissa was sure he had instructed other staff members to do the same without informing them as to why they need do so. They happily obliged, however, allowing Snape to breathe easier.
A tiny knock once more at Bella's door and Narcissa walked in, this time a little more briskly. The expression on her face was now distorted to create an unfamiliar mix of frustration and joy. Bella's hands shook as pulled the cloak closer to her body.
"Are you ready?" Narcissa asked.
Bella nodded. It was now or never. Taking one last glance at a person she had come to not recognize in the mirror, Bella took Narcissa's outstretched hand and the two Disapparated into the black abyss of night. They came swirling down nearly a quarter-mile from Hogsmeade. The two witches landed gracefully on compact snow beneath their feet.
The lights of the shops had long since been turned down and the haunting footsteps of Narcissa and Bellatrix were all that echoed off the stone walls of the buildings. Even in the winter darkness, the ominous looming shadow of Hogwarts was a constant reminder to the battle Bellatrix faced in finding her daughter. So much separated their flesh; so little bonded it. Even now Bellatrix was unsure if Lyra wanted to see her. Lyra had been aware of her heritage for a while now, and she had done nothing to seek out her parents.
Get a grip on yourself, Bellatrix warned herself. She had no time to waste on worrying. That was not in her nature. Smirking, Bellatrix took the lead and the sisters walked solemnly up the castle. It wasn't a very long walk, but the darkness seemed to shroud their every step in a thick blanket. As they met the stone gargoyles at the front entrance, Bellatrix and Narcissa were met by one Severus Snape. His face was more lined than Narcissa had remembered at their last meeting; his eyes were full in sadness and despair. A simple flick of Snape's wand and the gates were beginning to open for their unwanted visitors.
For Bellatrix, this was her first step inside the castle since she had graduated so many years ago. It didn't seem as daunting as it did her first night sleeping in the wondrous castle… she remembered her experience like it was yesterday.
Professor McGonagall greeted the first years at the entrance; they were all sopping wet and had the distinct smell of wild dogs. There was a rowdy group of boys in the back of the group Professor McGonagall had to scold before leading the larger-than-usual group of first years into the Great Hall. There were four large tables, each filled with eagle-eyed students wondering which of the tiny runts would have the luck of being able to call themselves a part of that house. The Slytherins smirked as Bellatrix walked by, her eye catching a pair of sharp brown eyes seated next to an empty seat. He had a rough look to him, as if he had just won a fight with a centaur. His dirt brown hair was in a large pile on top his head. He just looked… rough.
Professor McGonagall sat an old hat on top of a three-legged stool. Half-expecting McGonagall to be joking, Bellatrix was surprised when she was told to put the hat on top her head. The first student, a small young red-head named Tempest Ackles, walked slowly up to the chair and with a look of horror on her face, put the hat on her head. It began to speak through a rip in the brim, causing the poor girl to nearly fall off the chair in fright. Professor McGonagall swept forward, making sure Tempest Ackles never fell off the stool. When the hat finally cried, "HUFFLEPUFF!", there was a loud round of applause from the Hufflepuff table where Tempest Ackles took her seat.
Looking less afraid, the next student ("BALE, FREDERICK!") walked up to the stool and jammed the hat on his head. Within seconds, he was walking to the Gryffindor table in all smiles.
"BLACK, BELLATRIX!"
Smiling, Bellatrix walked up to the stool. Her eyes caught the headmaster's, whose twinkle had suddenly left his eyes the second they made contact. Bellatrix wasn't sure of the exact expression she saw on his face, but to her, it seemed like fear.
Narcissa had barely picked up the hat when it cried, "SLYTHERIN!" causing her to drop the hat in shock. The Great Hall burst into laughter as Bellatrix fumbled to pick up the hat and place it back on the stool. She ran over to the Slytherin table, her face white-hot in embarrassment, and took a seat next to the boy she had seen on her way in.
"I'm Rudolphus Lestrange," he said, sticking out his hand for Bellatrix to shake. "Second year."
"Bellatrix Black," she had replied.
He smiled. "I already know who you are." Bellatrix and Rudolphus didn't talk again until "MALFOY, LUCIUS!" had joined their table. The Malfoys and the Blacks had a long history together, and it wasn't until Bellatrix introduced Lucius to Rudolphus did she realize that her future was finally forming.
"Does the Dark Lord know you are here?" Severus asked, pausing to open the front doors.
"What the Dark Lord does not know will not hurt him," Bellatrix replied, raising her head. Her task tonight was dangerous, and she knew if the Dark Lord found out her plan, she would surely pay in pain.
"No one put I know you are in this building tonight. It might be wise to disguise yourself, Bellatrix," Severus said snidely, opening the large oak doors.
Without opening her mouth to protest, Narcissa tapped her wand on top of sister's head, and an unfamiliar cold shiver ran through Bellatrix's body. Bellatrix immediately knew what happened. Lifting up her hand, she saw nothing. A Disillusionment Charm was performed.
Without saying a word, Severus led Narcissa and an invisible Bellatrix down to the dungeons and into his office. His office was quite large, and actually quite large due to the formidable fire Severus had in the fireplace. Two black plush armchairs were conjured up which fell neatly behind Bellatrix and Narcissa; all they had to do was sit down.
"Stay here," Severus growled, causing a frown to sprout from Bellatrix's mouth. She was not used to taking orders.
"I want to go with you." Bellatrix stood up.
Snape, who was nearly halfway to the door, turned on his heel. He raised his eyebrow, his left hand moving down slightly towards the wand in his belt. "And I suppose having a convicted Death Eater walking the halls of Hogwarts, which is regularly patrolled by members of the Order of the Phoenix and Albus Dumbledore himself, will not arise some sense of panic and chaos within the boundaries of the last safe hold the wizarding world has?"
"She is my daughter," Bellatrix growled.
Narcissa tugged on the hand of her oldest sister, pleading for her to sit down. Narcissa tugged harder, taking a handful of Bellatrix's black robe and pulling it downward once more. Severus and Bellatrix had nearly burned holes in each other's eyes when Bellatrix unwillingly sat down. Severus left his office, the door locking with a soft click.
"What is he going to do?" Bellatrix asked, her eyes surveying the room. Large books with faded gold lettering on the spines filled the bookshelf to the left. The fire was crackling to her right. Severus's desk was simple: two stacks of books were at the ends of his desk, a large pile of papers—all neatly stacked—right in the middle. For such a greasy slimeball, Severus sure was clean.
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It had been hours since Lyra overheard Harry, Ron, and Hermione's conversation in the library, but still she was tossing and turning in bed, thinking about the words she had heard. Lyra knew it was coming—Harry knew it was coming—even Voldemort knew it was coming. It was only a matter time before Voldemort would come to Hogwarts, destroying everything in his path to Harry Potter. There was no doubt in Lyra's mind that her mother would be there. From everything she had heard, Bellatrix Lestrange was Voldemort's number one accomplice, his most loyal servant.
Her mind was racing as she went through her options: wait at Hogwarts for Harry Potter to be picked off like the defected item on an assembly line or take control of her situation and find her mother. Either way, their meeting would not be in the best of circumstances… but now that Lyra knew who her mother was, nothing would stand in her way. Not Lucius Malfoy, not Minerva McGonagall, and definitely not Severus Snape. Kicking off her blanket, Lyra silently got out of bed. Opening her trunk, she took out a faded leather pouch. It's emptiness was soon filled with money, both Muggle and wizard, a few key spellbooks, and a change of clothes.
Lyra wrote a quick note of goodbye to the Slytherin house (she would send someone from the Malfoy Manor to collect the rest of her things) and not to worry (she would be okay… and if she wasn't, it was a pleasure), but things had to be done. Placing the note upon her freshly made bed, Lyra tiptoed out of the girls dormitory.
"Going somewhere?" Professor Snape's silky voice came from the shadows. He emerged from the entrance to the Common Room.
"I'm going to find my mother," Lyra replied.
A significant look of pleasure spread across Snape's face. "She's here."
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In the time since Snape had left the room, Bellatrix had gotten up and was pacing the room, muttering to herself.
"Bella, please!" Narcissa cried. "It's going to be fine. Your daughter is strong. She's resourceful. I've been taking care of her."
In a flash of black, Bellatrix pulled her wand out of her robe and held it against the pale flesh of her sister. "Only since I've gotten out of Azkaban! Your lunatic husband sent her away!"
The vein in Bellatrix's head was now throbbing, her breath quick and shallow. Anger surged through her Black blood--- the family's temper was now arising.
"You know I would've done anything to keep her," Narcissa breathed. Her pulse was racing. Her sister was irrational and erratic, but she had never turned her wand against her own sister.
"But you didn't. She knew nothing of her heritage! She thought she was a Malfoy. Of all the pureblood families!" Bellatrix cried, pointing her wand up in the air, away from her sister. Suddenly, as if struck by a magical bullet, she dropped her wand. It rattled on the wooden desk and rolled to the stone floor beneath it.
"Bella?"
Bellatrix raised her left arm to show her sister the moving snake. The Dark Mark was moving.
"He knows."