Centuries of Lost Childhood

Lestrange Château
Friday 4 December 1998

Adhara turned on the spot and was greeted by her brother's annoyed expression. His face was ragged and his eyes clouded, as if distracted.

"Where have you been? You were supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago?" Arcturus glared at her.

She rolled her eyes; mentally preparing for his impending outburst. "I had to talk to Antonin before I left," Her gaze shifted over to her sister who was looking over at the two teasingly. "Hermione," she walked past Arcturus to embrace the younger girl.

"Adhara," Hermione fell into her pregnant sister's affectionate hug. "I feel like it's been forever since I've seen you."

Adhara nestled her face into the crook of Hermione's jungle of curls. "I know. Antonin doesn't like me apparating while I'm pregnant at all. You have no idea how difficult it was for him to agree to this."

Hermione nodded knowingly.

"Hullo!" Arcturus waved a hand before speaking again. "I'm here too."

Adhara turned to face her brother once more and then pulled him into the hug as well. Quaint kisses on cheeks and tight hugs were shared at that point. It almost brought tears to her eyes.

Arcturus pulled away. "Where's that bloody snake you put in your Gorgon hair?"

The girls pulled away as well. Adhara rolled her eyes. "Tanith is back at home lying on my egg, probably watching Pierre put the bassinet together." She looked at her little sister. "He refuses to let the house-elves do anything thanks to you."

Hermione stifled a laugh before turning towards the looming building behind them. Arcturus and Adhara turned to look as well. Adhara was momentarily taken aback. Vines climbed along the white stone of the château but were careful of the many windows. The vines wound their way around the dome-shaped, black rooftops. Adhara then turned to look around at the many gardens of the Lestrange Château. The grounds were immaculate and pristine. The hedges and grass had been freshly cut and the statues polished.

"Hey guys?" Adhara mumbled.

"Hmm?" They mumbled back.

"Don't you think it's a bit wonky that the gardens are clean? Much too clean?"

"Like it's been groomed?" Hermione asked.

"Uh-huh," Adhara nodded.

At that moment the dark wooden double doors opened. The creaking sound made it seem like the doors hadn't been open in nearly a decade and a half – which was probably correct.

Adhara took a step back as the other two took a step forward. A small figure slowly walked from the darkness of the house. There was a slow shuffle to the creature's steps. It stepped outside and the light shone down upon it. A small, thin house-elf with pale, gray skin shuffled out towards them. Hair grew from its ears in thick ropes that fell to his mid-waist; it showed its age.

"The Master and Mistresses has returned," it squeaked. The elf, who was most definitely male after realizing it was naked, beaconed them with his hand. "Please come into your home." He turned around to step back into the house.

The three siblings tentatively looked at each other before following him.

"Do you think Uncle Lucius left the house-elves here after taking us?" Arcturus asked.

"Of course he would," Hermione said in annoyance. "Why would he bring them or better yet, set them free?"

"Enough bickering," Adhara commented. The three stepped into the house and jumped suddenly when the doors slammed shut behind them. "We need to be able to think clearly. Father says to trust no one; we must be careful."

"Easier said than done," Arcturus stated blatantly.

The elf led them into the darkened parlour; in fact the whole house was dark. Adhara wondered how the elf knew they were there and how he could see. There was a small snap and the lights in the house turned on. Everything shone with clear crystal and black marble. Fresh milky white candles were lit in silver and black candelabras.

"My name's Temral; head house-elf of the Lestrange's estate. I were your grandfather Master Romain's youngest elf at the time, handed to Master Rodolphus when he was old enough."

"You're our father's house-elf?" Asked Arcturus, curiously.

The house-elf nodded. "I'll leave you to it. You must want to explore it."

Before any of them could reply back, Temral disappeared into thin air. The sisters slowly turned to look at each other in a bit of surprise. After a while of wandering around the inside of the home, the siblings found their way to their old bedrooms, preserved in the way they were before they had left. Hermione's in particular was strange; her crib made of dark oak still stood in the middle of the room. Seeing it made all three of them uncomfortable.

"You both head to the library," Arcturus said after they shut the door to the baby's room. "I'm going to find Father's study."

Adhara and Hermione nodded tightly before heading towards the library. They were led by another house-elf named Pippy.

"What do you think this is all about?" Adhara asked her sister as they headed off.

Hermione bit her lip before looking at her older sister. "I don't know exactly. I'm not sure what I make of all of this." She waved her hands at the walls around them. "I don't like this though."

Pippy opened the doors to the library and disappeared, leaving Hermione and Adhara to their own devices. Hermione stopped short when entering it. Adhara bumped into her.

"Addie?" Hermione whispered her sister's nickname. Her gaze was focused on the sight in front of her.

Adhara looked at what her sister was watching. Shelves upon shelves crowded the huge ballroom-sized room. The room had to be the size of the libraries in the Malfoy Manor and her husband's home – combined. Books dusty with age were squeezed into every crevice.

"Whoa," Adhara whispered out loud.

"My thoughts exactly," Hermione recovered.

The eldest witch's nose twitched. The old, musty smell of books laced throughout the air but there was another smell; darker than anything she had ever smelled before. She could feel it hang heavy in the air around them. Hermione was the first to move into the room, but she was stopped as Adhara's arm shot out and pulled her back towards her.

"This room isn't safe," Adhara said blatantly. "For you at least."

"What are you talking about?" Hermione looked bemused. Her brown curls frizzing around her head like their mother's did.

"Don't you feel that? It's dark magic," she whispered, walking back steadily.

"Well, of course there's dark magic in this room. This is Mum and Dad we're talking about here. We'd be kidding ourselves…"

Adhara cut her sister short with a sharp look. "I'm talking about the books. Can't you feel that?"

Adhara watched as Hermione closed her eyes tightly and inhaled deeply. Her nostrils flared and her lips parted as if to get in every piece of whatever was floating in the air. Hermione shuddered, leaning back against Adhara. Her hand reached back to grip her niece or nephew in her sister's belly. Her fingers dug into the fabric of Adhara's dress. Hermione's eyes fluttered open.

She gulped. "What is that?"

"Dark magic," Adhara said pointedly.

Adhara knew her sister's thirst for knowledge was deadly. She would touch ever book, regardless of what it was about. It was clear to the older witch that her sister had gotten this trait from her. The only person in their family who was this obsessed with reading was their Aunt Narcissa. She, herself, couldn't contain herself. They probably attained it from her. Regardless, Adhara knew that she'd have to pull back Hermione eventually. Despite the fact that the room probably contained ancient texts filled with Dark magic – that wouldn't stop Hermione and Adhara if left unattended in this room.

Hermione moved away from Adhara. She walked back towards the door instead, desperate for some fresh air.

"Are you coming?" Hermione asked, her voice scratching and her throat thick with emotion.

Adhara turned her head to look at Hermione; she gave her sister a tight nod and then followed her out of the library and down the hall.

They walked around the halls in silence, absorbing what they had just felt.

Hermione broke the silence. "Why do you think Arcturus wanted us to come here?"

"Perhaps he has become desperate to feel like a child again," Adhara said sarcastically.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm being serious."

Adhara chuckled softly. "And so am I. You know how much he reminisces the olden days. He may be a sadistic oaf, but he's still our brother – through thick and thin."

"We're not a family anymore," Hermione said quietly after some time. "We're like strangers in that house, Addie." She grabbed her sister's hand like a child.

Adhara rubbed soothing circles around the young girl's hand with her thumb. "That's not true, Hermione. You have Aunt Cissy and Cousin Draco."

Hermione shrugged. "It's not the same. Everyone in the house is just in their own world… no one talks, except when it's yelling and such." The younger witch looked at the other. "All I'm saying is that it would be nice if you came over for Christmas." She smirked, "Even bring my in-laws."

Adhara rolled her eyes. She abruptly stopped walking when Hermione tugged on her hand. She looked straight up and saw Arcturus walking towards them. He looked …upset.

"It's a good thing we met up here. I was just in Father's study," Arcturus called before speeding up his furious walk. He then stopped next to them and slammed the door open to their left. He walked into the bedroom, his sisters following him. "Welcome to their room," Arcturus waved with one hand at the room.

Adhara looked at everything. The furniture in Bellatrix's and Rodolphus' room was made out of a dark wood with a tinge of deep red to it. Their large bed was an antique and obviously looked as if no one had used it in a while.

"Mother gave birth to all three of us in this bed," Adhara said as she stepped over and swept her hands across the silk bedding.

Hermione looked at her oddly and exchanged a curious glance with Arcturus. "Really?" Hermione asked, knowing full well that this had been so.

Adhara didn't pay attention. "I wish to give birth on this bed," she looked at Arcturus with a serious look. "It needs to be here." She looked up at the cathedral ceiling of the bedroom. A viper of a deep green colour was painted on the ceiling. It was coiled and looked as if it was about the strike. Every so often it moved – uncoiling and fixing its position. This was similar to how the wolf in her room was painted on the ceiling. Yet with that animal, it silently howled every so often or paced across the ceiling, as if begging to hunt.

"Are you sure? You don't want to give birth in your own bed?" Arcturus asked quizzically.

Adhara turned around to face her siblings. A grin was stretched across her face. "No it will be here."

Hermione seemed to have had enough of the distractions. Ignoring Adhara, she turned to Arcturus. "What's going on? Why did you want us here?"

Arcturus took a step closer to Hermione as Adhara sat on the bed, a hand resting on her swollen belly. "It's important that I speak to the two of you. As much as we argue, I care for you both. But I'm tried and weary of these games. We're getting nowhere." He was met with the confused faces of his sisters. He looked at Hermione. "You and Draco were given task upon task – all of which you have failed."

Hermione sputtered. "And how is that our fault?"

"Let me finish," Arcturus raised his hands to silence her. "I have a plan to get back in the good graces of…" Hermione opened her mouth to say something but again Arcturus raised his hands. "Be silent or I'll charm you quiet." He raised an eyebrow. "I don't know what you're planning, Addie, with those potions of yours." He ran a palm over his face and inhaled sharply. "I'm planning to revolt. I have a few followers and we are gaining more. I… we've been getting the short end of the stick for so long, along with those who I've gathered."

Adhara raised an eyebrow, while Hermione looked completely in shock.

"We can do this. We can get what rightly belongs to us," Arcturus pleaded.

"I don't like this idea," Adhara said simply. "I have a child to think about, Arcturus." She pursed her lips the way Aunt Narcissa did when she didn't like one of Uncle Lucius' brainless ideas.

Hermione clenched her fists before speaking. "I don't think you should do this." It seemed like she was trying to remain calm when she really wanted to shout and hit her big brother. "As much as I want to blast you with a hex right now, Arcturus, I worry about your mental health." After a pause, she launched verbally. "Are you crazy?"

"Are you done yet, 'Mione?" Arcturus asked, using her childhood nickname.

"Don't 'Mione me. I think you should just wait. I feel like something will happen to our situation soon that will be in our benefit," Hermione said with a quiet anger.

Adhara looked at her sister curiously,

"You feel like something is going to happen for our benefit? You'd rather sit and twiddle your thumbs. Don't you understand, Hermione? The Dark Lord could execute our family at any given time and not even have to flick his wand."

Adhara shivered, she stood abruptly. "I've heard enough."

"No!" Arcturus shouted. "Stop pouring pumpkin juice in her bloody bottle, Adhara. She needs to know what is in store for all of us. She's not a child."

"Yes, she is. She shouldn't have had to do this in the first place. No child deserves to have to be forced in to a war," Adhara argued back.

"She's a Lestrange!" Arcturus countered angrily. "Or have you forgotten your roots as well? It was our birthright to go into battle for our blood"

Adhara pointed viciously at Hermione, who looked afraid at the argument. "That girl right there is your youngest sister, she should be studying to become a Healer or an Ancient Ruins Translator in her last year instead of being withdrawn from school permanently." She walked over to Hermione and grabbed the young witch's hand. "The day you act like a responsible wizard is the day I allow you to talk about the blood flowing through our veins."

And with a flourish the two witches turned on the spot, leaving the wizard to stew in his own sour thoughts.

Malfoy Manor
Saturday 12 December 1998

"They've been talking about it again," Hermione said without enthusiasm. She flopped down in to the sofa across from Harry. Since he had arrived at the Malfoy Manor, he had taken a liking to sitting in the third floor study. Soon Hermione had started joining him. She would read while he gazed out the window. Today it was snowing heavily. White blurs passed by the window at a rapid pace due to the wind.

Harry looked away and at Hermione. She slouched against the sofa, her head flopped against the back of the couch.

Harry shook his head. "The marriage?" His voice was plain.

She nodded and huffed. "I don't understand why they just can't wait."

"Wait for what?"

Hermione paused. Wait for what? That was a good question. What exactly was she waiting for? "I think that I didn't believe it was possible for us to lose."

It was Harry's turn to huff. "Hermione…"

"I know, I know. You don't want to talk about it."

"Exactly, I…"

"But I want to." She locked eyes with Harry. "I know you've been through so much lately." She leaned over the coffee table to grab a book she left there. "But between everything with my parents, and brother and sister – I'm just not at a good place right now." She opened the book to a dog-eared page.

She didn't see Harry get out of his seat by the window. She didn't feel him sit next to her on the sofa. But she was aware when he pulled her to him. And she did cry.

Nott Estate
Wednesday 16 December 1998

Lights of bright green, red, and blue blasted across the land of Nott Estate. Snow had drenched and froze walkways that led to the front of the house and cobblestone pathways in the gardens. Although many people slipped and fell, spells propelled people on to the ice had unhealthy speeds. Blood marred the ground around Arcturus as he fired another spell at a group of eighteen year olds who clearly were trying to sack the Nott Estate.

"They're falling back, Lestrange." Arcturus heard Scabior's redheaded brother shout over the battle. The man ran over to Arcturus to help push back the teenagers. "Scabior says they've caught one of the ringleaders."

"Bombarda!" Arcturus casted. The group of teenagers flew backwards – some limbs flew in every direction. "Filthy traitors," Arcturus cursed under his breath. He straightened out his Death Eater uniform before looking around them. Most of the Light warriors were running into the forest behind the Estate – desperate to get out of there and apparated to their safe houses. "Where's Scabior?"

"On the other side of the estate," the redheaded werewolf said.

"Take a team and find out where those traitors are going," Arcturus ordered before he flourished into a body of smoke and apparated away – flying towards the other part of the estate. He materialized to the location to see Scabior and few other Snatchers circled around one figure. Pushing through the crowd he saw him: Ronald Weasley. A friend of his youngest sister. Yet he was most identifiable with his red hair.

"A Weasley," Arcturus mocked. "It seems that your kind is a dying breed." The men around him chuckled.

The young man looked like he had been bloodied up badly. One of his eyes was closed shut, his bottom lip was split open and a goose egg of a bruise had lit up half his head. The edges of his clothing were singed as was his hair.

"You're under arrest, Weasley," Arcturus stated simply. He motioned for two Snatchers to grab him. "You infiltrated the Greengrass Estate yesterday, but we got you before your filth got any farther."

Ron struggled. "We're taking what's ours."

Arcturus' nostrils flared angrily. His right fist reeled back before crashing into the redhead's nose. The cartilage crunched underneath the force. "It's mine now."

Malfoy Manor
Thursday 24 December 1998

"I need to talk to you," Draco said after throwing open the door to Harry's room and shutting it quickly.

Harry, who was lounging on the bed wrapping a gift, looked up at the blond. He raised an eyebrow at the other boy's entrance and then returned to folding the wrapping paper. "About?"

Draco started pacing around the room. He repetitively pushed back his hair from falling in his eyes. "It's about Weasley."

Harry looked up, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose and scrunching his face up in curiosity. "Ron? What about him?" He set aside the gift.

"You mustn't tell Hermione," Draco turned around to face Harry. "If you do…"

"Malfoy, just tell me. What happened?" Harry said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Draco studied Harry for a moment. The boy had gained more weight in the recent weeks and seemed slightly more alive than what he was. Yet it seemed he had withdrawn permanently and was much more detached. Draco had to tell him though. Drawing out the conversation would only hurt more.

"He's been captured… by the Snatchers. It happened last week," Draco watched Harry's vacant expression, yet the green eyes had grown a tad bit bright with tears. "He's been arrested," Draco said, trying to provoke a response from the Gryffindor. "Don't you understand?"

"What was he doing?" Harry said quietly.

"He was leading a small group to create more Light Outposts," Draco muttered. "Except they were trying to take over Pureblood homes to do it."

Harry shook his head in distaste. "He should have known better." A frown appeared on Harry's face as he got off the bed and walked over to Draco. "Before we got separated at the Battle, I told him not to do anything stupid – to just keep his family safe." He threw up his hands in exasperation. "What does he do? Get himself arrested."

Draco stared at Harry.

"Where did you hear this from anyway?" Harry asked, running a hand through his messy hair.

Draco cleared his throat. "I heard my Uncle Rodolphus mention it to my Father in my Father's study."

Harry nodded his head. "It's probably true then. And I'm helpless to do anything about it. Why don't you want to…" But before Harry could finish his question, Draco reached out to grab him and pull the Gryffindor into a bruising kiss that was oddly innocent. Draco did not understand why he did it. When he pulled away, Harry looked at him with the same old vacant expression. Draco Malfoy did the only thing he could do; Draco Malfoy ran.

Malfoy Manor
Friday 25 December 1998

The journey to Malfoy Manor seemed long and drawn out but Adhara knew that it only lasted a few moments. Her husband, brother-in-law, and she travelled by floo-ing. Antonin deemed it the only safe mode of transportation while she was pregnant. They had arrived around noon to have luncheon with Adhara's family. Her cousin, siblings, and Harry had opened up the few extravagant presents that they had gotten already – including the ones that she had mailed to them.

The dining hall's table at the Manor was almost crowded, or perhaps it was her distended belly that made her feel cramped. Despite that, the conversation at the table was light-hearted. Harry had not really said anything but only glared at her mother occasionally. Her aunt kept smiling endlessly about Adhara's pregnancy and she could only smile back. Draco seemed to be refusing to look at Harry. Hermione, Arcturus, and Pierre laughed at jokes that Uncle Rabastan was making. Uncle Lucius, Antonin, and her father were conversing about old family traditions that they could recreate. Despite all the madness that the Dark Lord was creating, Adhara enjoyed that this family – for once – was getting along.

Adhara Dolohov continued to smile.

Author's Notes: I apologize for this chapter taking so long to come out. I've been super busy with my university and job, as well as some personal issues with the wonderful world of money. But as of right now, I'll be trying to get back on a schedule of writing and releasing chapters on time.

Please review. I would love feedback.

-Rosie