Magical Origins
Author Notes:
Year 7: The Next Move
Ron Weasley struts around proudly around Hogwarts. Finally, there is no Potter to hinder his greatness. First, he spoke to Professor McGonagall about 'correcting' Potter's grades. Something she stood against.
Snape said they wouldn't do so as it was against the school's policy.
But Ron managed to have his own grades changed for the better. He was now sitting as an Exceeds Exceptions Student. Much better than receiving his usual Dreadful status.
He walks around with his Prefect's badge proudly.
Things were changing at Hogwarts, and it was how Ron liked it, with him at the top.
Already the Ministry will be giving Ron Harry's property and gold. Though there is a problem with that, a minor setback, but it was to be expected.
Potter's had his vault keys changed, and his gold moved to another vault. Which vault remains unknown, but Ron knew it would be only a matter of time before he finally had everything he dreamed of; wealth, fame, and witches.
Despite Snape proving himself to the Dark Lord, Horvath still didn't trust Snape.
Snape had been honored to be the Head Death Eater, the voice of the Dark Lord himself. Horvath had been livid. Even now, he seeks to undermine Snape and return as the right hand of the Dark Lord.
Ron Weasley smiles darkly.
If Potter does return, he would be the first to hand him over to the Dark Lord.
Perhaps he'll take Lily as his slave, assuming Bellatrix doesn't get to her first.
Already, the future looks bright.
The Burrow
Harry, Hermione, and Lily were all upstairs resting after their trip to Godric's Hollow.
With Ginny Dead, Hermione ended up taking her room. Harry and Lily took Percy's old room, which was kept tidy
Mrs. Weasley had been left alone and living off the pension from the Ministry after her husband, Arthur Weasley, died. Her three oldest children, Bill, Charlie, and Percy, had already moved out and on with their lives. Fred and George were living in Diagon Alley, running their joke shop.
Harry and Lily needed to relocate somewhere Voldemort,and the Death Eaters wouldn't look for them. A place the Ministry of Magic would never think to look for them.
Hermione suggested the Weasley family home, the Burrow.
Harry had been repulsed at the idea but, in the end, agreed, knowing that he had never been seen or set foot in the household. His rivalry with Ron Weasley is well known, and his hatred for Ginny is no secret despite her open crush on him.
When they arrive, Harry immediately places Molly Weasley on the Imperius Curse.
Harry nearly gagged when he first stepped foot in the household. Not because it was hideous compared to the Wynter household. No, it was because with Ginny dead, Molly Weasley suddenly realized that Harry was into her and was here to propose to her.
Harry is more than aware of his reputation for being into older witches. Artemis, Cho Chang, and Fleur Delacour are witches older than him. Still, a porky witch like Molly Weasley with no talent and intelligence lived in a delusion world.
Hermoine protests Harry's method, but Harry is realistic. He understood his situation and the world's reality better than Hermione, an idealist.
Molly Weasley could not be trusted. Not keeping secrets nor keeping silent about his whereabouts. He was sure it would be only a matter of time before she blabbed her mouth about having the Chosen One living in her home.
Lily never said anything about Harry's method.
Harry knew she didn't approve, but she understood. Harry is somewhat paranoid and lacks trust in others.
The one benefit of living with Molly Weasley is that they heard much of what was happening within the Ministry and the Wizarding World.
They also had access to a reliquary. Meaning they could make potions. The Weasley family reliquary wasn't the best and was in poor condition, but it was better than nothing.
Lily spent most of her time in the reliquary making potions and finding every means and method for the fight to come.
Harry sits in the attic, watching the outside, knowing he couldn't risk being seen.
Since taking over the Ministry, Voldemort hasn't been seen or heard as his activities are illusive. The only thing noteworthy is the Ministry of Magic hunting muggleborns who are 'pretending' to be witches and wizards and stealing wands and magic from noble wizarding families.
Harry wonders why Voldemort would be targeting muggleborns and half-bloods. It doesn't make much sense since the Wizarding World is in a state of decline.
Harry thinks carefully and realizes Voldemort may be planning to wage war against the muggles. He is, after all, a homicidal maniac. Voldemort is the type who would destroy the world.
As Dumbledore said, he's no different from any tyrant in fear of someone rising up to challenge him. Taking away his powers.
The other problem is the Black Wizard. The first Dark Lord, who has lived for nearly three thousand years, is considered immortal. Harry knew almost nothing next to him, and the Kirin Tor had been destroyed.
Harry feels his bracelet burn and looks at it, seeing it's a message from Cho Chang.
She is sending him a message telling him they miss him and wish to see him soon.
Harry smiles as Cho sends an image of herself with their son.
Harry smiles and decides to rest for the winter and wait for Voldemort's next move.
Harry looks down at the message from Draco. It includes a location and a possible rescue of Draco's cousin. Draco mentions he has a cousin from his aunt Bellatrix who needs rescuing.
Unknown Location
A scream echoes in the dungeons.
"Pathetic! How do you hope to stand by the Dark Lord if you're so weak and pathetic!" shouts Rodolphus Lestrange.
"Leave her alone!" shouts Bellatrix.
"'Cruicio!'" snarls Rodolphus upon his wife.
Bellatrix screams as her husband places her under the Crucitiaus Curse.
"I didn't marry you because you were worthless and a faithless whore! You came from the Noble House of Black, but now look at you, carry a half-blood whore!"
Bellatrix pants as the curses lift, as she tries to protect her daughter Delphini from her mad husband.
She did cheat on her husband during the first war with her master and ended up having a daughter. She gave her daughter to Euphemia Rowle to look after in case she doesn't return.
She killed Euphemia Rowle upon learning she raised Delphini to be a slave than a proper lady of Black.
Only her husband learned of her infidelity and started torturing her constantly.
Bellatrix feels her maternal instincts and tries to protect her daughter, but with a missing arm, she is nearly powerless against her abusive husband.
Even though he knew Delphini is the daughter of the Dark Lord, that didn't stop his cruelty. Voldemort did nothing to help his daughter.
Delphini tries hard not to sniff and cry at her stepfather's cruelty. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction he broke her.
Draco stands there, trying not to show emotions on his face or his disgust. Upon learning about his cousin, he felt disgusted as his mother should have stepped in and raised her. Why Bellatrix never told his mother isn't clear, but Delphini deserves a better life. Draco could only hope that his message would reach Potter. Hopeful he can save her from this nightmare.
"You should stop," said Draco.
"Silence, boy! You have no authority here!" snarls Rodolphus Lestrange.
"Perhaps, but the Dark Lord doesn't want them permanently damaged, and you've had fun. If you damage them further, I'm not so sure the Dark Lord would forgive you," Draco said calmly, trying to hide his fear.
Rodolphus stares at Draco bitterly.
"Fine! You have the whore!" Rololphus shouts as he storms off.
Bellatrix sits upright, looking down, trying hard not to cry.
She lost favor with the Dark Lord, and her husband's abuse has only worsened since they escaped Azkaban.
Her situation is only getting worse.
Delphi stares at the floor, trying to hide her weakness. The shackle on her ankles and wrist are the reminder of her position and her worthlessness.
"Here, drink…" said Draco.
Delphi takes the goblet from her cousin, unsure if he is being nice or trying to mask the poison in the goblet. She drinks the goblet never less.
Bellatrix sobs on the ground. She was losing the ability to protect her daughter. Since entering the service of the Dark Lord, she has dreamt of serving him to the better end and providing him with sons. Now he no longer looks at her, and her position is over. Bellatrix began to think about where it all went wrong? Was it because she gave him a daughter instead of a son? Was it because the mudblood bested her, and she embarrassed him? Or has he never felt anything towards her.
His new powers made him all inspiring and terrifying. Too often, she felt death was sucking the life out of her whenever she stood before his presence.
Bellatrix accepts the goblet from Draco and drinks, feeling the numbness and pain from the Crucitous Curse fading.
Draco turns and walks away, allowing his aunt and cousin to fall asleep in their cell. Bellatrix had lost her favor with the Dark Lord, and she and her daughter had been given to Draco as a reward… to be his slaves. Rodolphus Lestrange took his anger and frustration on the stepdaughter and wife, and he proudly declared he was going to divorce for being no better than a muggle whore.
Draco thinks carefully, knowing Rodolphus Lestrange would head to the local bar to drink and get drunk.
Bloody Rose Tavern
A cloaked figure wearing a black facemask and cloak enters the bar and spots Rodolphus.
He approaches with a goblet full of fire whiskey and presents it to Rodolphus Lestrange.
"Who are you?" Rodolphus demands as he hiccups.
"Who I am doesn't matter. Who I serve does."
The Tavern, already with few customers, began to clear out as they knew Rodolphus was a high-ranking Death Eater.
Rodolphus looks at him before he grabs the goblet and drains the fire whiskey in one gulp.
"What do you want?"
"I've been ordered to retrieve Bellatrix Lestrange."
"Why do you want that worthless whore?"
The figure says nothing as he stares at Rodolphus with glowing red eyes.
"Does it matter why I want her? I've been ordered to retrieve her, that's all."
Rodolphus looks at him before his mind goes blank.
'Imperio!'
"Take me to Bellatrix Lestrange."
Rodolphus nods, leading the strange man to his estranged wife.
Rodolphus leads the strange man to an abandoned castle and into the dungeon.
Rodolphus opens the door and stands aside as the figure enters.
Bellatrix Lestrange lies there sleeping with a sixteen-year-old girl. Bound and shackled to the wall.
"Release them," the figure orders.
Rodolphus complies at once. Releasing their bounds. They didn't have a wand.
"Who else is here?"
"Only a couple of people," Rodolphus replies emotionless.
"Take me to them!" said the figure in a high cold voice.
Rodolphus complies at once, showing him Luna Lovegood and Garrick Ollivander. Once again, they were ordered to be released.
Rodolphus suddenly grabs his left forearm.
"He is summoning you."
"Yes."
"Go to him."
Rodolphus nods and disapparates.
The figure returns to Bellatrix and her daughter and picks up the girl and Bellatrix.
He turns and returns to Ollivander and Luna.
"Hello, Harry Potter."
The figure turns to look at Luna in surprise.
"How is it that you always know?" Harry said in surprise as his hood and mask disappears.
Luna smiles.
"Grab my cloak, both of you. You're getting out of here."
Luna and Ollivander comply at once, disapparating at once.