Cygnus

Cygnus looks down on his new daughter – no, his only daughter; his only child - with disgust. Dear God, how has he managed to produce a female? Yes, she is even beautiful as a baby, and it is clear she has inherited the Black looks, but he was supposed to have a male heir.

An emotion stronger than anger – or fury – or rage – overpowers him as he lifts his gaze into Druella's sharp grey-blue eyes, ones that hold feelings he can not identify.

"You have failed me."

"Or, perhaps, you have failed yourself," she says. "After all, I had no control over what sex the child growing inside my womb would be. I do not understand how you can say I am the problem here, when there is still no spell that could have ensured I produce a boy, Cygnus."

"It is not just I," he retorts, livid, "Lord V- the Dark Lord himself! He is expecting us to give him a male so he has a powerful follower in the future! And now a girl!"

"He may still be interested," hisses Druella, despite having accepted sexism in the past, "there is still the chance Bellatrix will live up to her name! Female warrior, Cygnus! She could go far!"

"I truly doubt it, Druella, as his only recruits are men."

"You may refuse to open your mind and see other possibilities, but the fact is that the Dark Lord himself stated there is change coming, along with his war. It is painful enough to be aware that my first born will not grow into the same world I have, but one where–"

She is cut off as Bellatrix begins to wriggle in her arms, tugging on a strand of blonde hair. Cygnus leaves the room, muttering inaudibly to himself.