Thank you so much for all of your lovely reviews, follows and favourites so far. I do love reading your comments and seeing people enjoying this story. :D
So please do read, enjoy and please do leave a review if you have a moment as I would love to hear them.
The Purple Black
Nymphadora walked carefully down the corridors of Lestrange Manor, determined not to make an idiot of herself as she tried to walk 'like a lady' the way her mother had tried to teach her. She followed the elf leading her to her Aunt, trying not to get distracted by the portraits on the wall watching her suspiciously. They whispered amongst themselves, shooting her the odd distasteful glance before they continued to whisper beyond themselves.
"Sorry!" Dora said instinctively as she bumped into the elf who had stopped in front of her.
"Miss does not need to apologise!" the elf gasped "It was Tilly's fault, Tilly should have warned Miss Dora we were here before she stopped so suddenly—and with Miss Dora's clumsiness."
"I'm not that clumsy." Dora frowned.
"Sorry, Miss Dora!" The elf whimpered, bowing her head deeply, "Tilly spoke out of term, Tilly apologises. I—"
"Tilly." Bellatrix hissed as she opened the door in front of them. "I told you to bring my niece to me, not stand out here making conversation."
"Tilly is sorry, Tilly will iron her hands."
"Whatever, I don't care. Get in here—both of you." Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "Stupid elf . . . You don't have an elf, do you?"
"No . . ." Dora replied, watching the elf murmur in obedience as she shuffled into the room beside her.
"I suppose procuring a house elf is a little out of her budget nowadays." Bella smirked.
"Well she says she doesn't like them, the house we live in isn't that big anyway—you saw it—she doesn't reckon we need a house elf." Dora shrugged, watching her Aunt close the door behind her, "Though that's probably the real reason, money."
"Well, she got away with enough heirlooms to afford something better than that hovel if you ask me." Bellatrix scoffed.
"She stole from her family?" Dora frowned.
"Now is not the time for such discussions, Nymphadora." Bellatrix sighed, "Now is the time to learn."
"Right." Dora nodded. She looked around the room for the first time. It was unlike the other rooms she had seen in the manor, there were few furnishings in the room, the walls and floor both covered in dark oak, Dora couldn't help but notice the odd scorch mark here and there though her gaze soon snapped back to her Aunt as she waved her wand to place wards on the room.
"Wouldn't want Rodolphus to have unexpected visitors hearing us." Bella smiled all too sweetly at the girl before she nodded to Tilly, who immediately moved to the centre of the room. "This is my training room, Dora."
Nymphadora held back her questions as to why her Aunt had a training room, though she didn't dare think what a Death Eater training room could be used for. She simply nodded to her Aunt, to her surprise she simply giggled at her. "What?" Dora asked.
"You need to learn Occlumency." Bellatrix laughed.
"Y—You know legilimency?" Dora asked, now blushing furiously.
"A little." Bellatrix smirked, "Though that's not today's lesson—though perhaps a good lesson to at least touch on before you leave here. I wouldn't want certain nosey Professors of yours poking around in that mind of yours." Bellatrix shrugged, though carried on before her niece tried to ask the question of what Professors knew legilimency, "Have you heard of the unforgivable curses, Nymphadora?"
"Yes." Dora swallowed, her eyes flickering to the ever nervous looking house elf.
"Tell me what you know."
"They're illegal."
"Obviously." Bellatrix sniggered, "What else?"
"Well, there's three of them." Dora said carefully, thinking back to the text books she had read in the library, "There's the Imperius curse, that forces people to do what you want them to, then there's the Cruciatus," she looked down, feigning concentration as her Aunt gave an excited smirk, "th—that causes intense pain—the torture curse . . . and then there's the killing curse—that's self-explanatory I suppose."
"It is." Bellatrix agreed, drawing her wand. "Though we won't be learning that last one today. As useless as Tilly can be Rodolphus may get upset if he has to source another elf. Again." Dora bit her lip as Tilly whimpered on the spot, clearly wanting to be anywhere but there in that moment. "Let's start with the Imperius shall we? I take it you have not seen it used before?" Dora shook her head, "Well, it can be rather amusing—and useful. Though not my favourite, Rodolphus does seem to have a particular aptitude for it though . . ." Bellatrix pondered for a moment before she pointed her wand at the elf. "Imperio."
Nymphadora watched with fascination, the elf suddenly calming as it looked to her Aunt with a glassed over gaze. Without a word the elf began to dance, something that after a few moments Dora' couldn't help but laugh at once it started doing back flips. Bellatrix looked to the girl with amusement for a moment before she lifted the spell. Tilly immediately fell to the floor, panting for breath.
"You can fight the imperius," Bellatrix said matter of factly, "It has no ill side-affects apart from controlling you, I don't use it too often though it is very handy to know how to do . . . and how to fight it off."
"How do you fight it off?" Dora asked, wrenching her eyes from the elf on the floor.
"It's in your mind, Dora." Bellatrix mused, twirling her wand in her fingers for a moment before she pointed her wand at the girl, Dora's eyes widening in sudden fright. "I'll show you—don't be scared, I'm not going to make you do anything do silly. Imperio."
Instant calm flooded over Nymphadora, her whole body relaxing as she watched her Aunt walk slowly towards her. Tel me your family vault number . . . Her Aunt's voice sounded in her head, such a soothing sound she couldn't help but immediately respond "709." Her voice sounded distant in her mind, though she gladly spoke for her Aunt. Go sit down . . . On the seat in the corner . . . Dora walked over immediately, not beginning to question the command as she sat in the rigid chair in the corner. She gasped as suddenly the calm feeling left her. She knew her Aunt had left her mind, her entire face blushing bright pink as her Aunt laughed.
"You didn't even try to fight it." Bellatrix stated.
"I—I didn't know you wanted me to . . . It was . . . it surprised me." Dora stuttered.
"Yes, though you can see why the Ministry wouldn't want us performing such spells?" Bella sighed, "Violation of free will and what not. I'll teach you how to break free of it one day—perhaps have Rodolphus demonstrate, he doesn't manage to be held under for very long. Shame really." Dora didn't dare ask why she had attempted to put her husband under the imperius curse, simply standing from her chair again as her Aunt turned back to her elf. "I take it you've experienced the Cruciatus or a light version of it?"
"No." Dora frowned, "Why would someone do that to me?"
"Well . . ." Bellatrix frowned back at the girl for a moment before she shook her head, pointing her wand at the elf again, "your mother was raised with it, our parents would use it for discipline at times."
"That's awful." Dora spluttered.
"That's life—though it isn't an uncommon form of discipline in Pureblood households, even if it is lightly done." Bellatrix said, "It's my speciality. Watch. Crucio!" The poor elf screamed instantly, writhing on the floor as it immediately began to claw at its skin. Bellatrix let out a small giggle before she eventually released the curse.
Dora stared at the elf, her heart beating fast in her chest as she let go the breath she didn't know she was holding. "I-Is she okay?" she breathed.
"She's an elf." Bellatrix spat, raising an eyebrow at her niece before with a sigh she looked to the elf slowly getting to her feet. "You're fine, aren't you Tilly?"
"T-Tilly is fine, Misstress." Tilly nodded, though she did not look fine as she stood shaking on the spot.
"See?" Bellatrix said, walking over to her niece and stroking the white strands of hair out of her face. "You wanted to know these things, did you not, Dora? Wanted me to teach you? Though if you cannot handle it just tell me and I'll stop, of course. You are still young . . ."
"No!" Dora shook her head, forcing her hair to black. "I'm not too young, I want to learn."
"Good, then I'll teach you." Bellatrix smirked. "The Cruciatus. Though to truly understand the curse . . . I believe you have to experience it for yourself." Bellatrix feigned concern, "I don't want to hurt you though, I'm not sure you could handle that quite yet."
"I-I'm capable." Dora said though she regretted her insistent need to prove herself to her Aunt.
"Well . . . If you're sure." Bellatrix sighed, "Do you trust me, Nymphadora?" Dora swallowed hard, biting hard on her lip as her Aunt placed a reassuring hand on her arm as she slyly pointed her wand at the girl's stomach. "Good . . . Crucio."
Dora tried to hold in her scream, though as the feeling of razor blades running under her skin intensified she couldn't hold it in. Her blood-curdling scream echoed throughout the room, she fell to the floor, her Aunt dropping in front of her as she pulled her into herself mercifully releasing the spell.
"Shhh, pet." Bellatrix cooed, stroking the girl's hair as she held her close. Dora panted for breath, instantly gripping onto her Aunt as she buried her head in her hair. "It's okay. Here . . ." Bella ran her wand down the girl's spine, a slight relief flowing through the girl as she relaxed into her Aunt slightly. They sat on the floor for a few moments before Bellatrix pulled back, wiping away the tears that had fallen down Dora's cheeks as she gave her a look of concern. "Do you want to stop for the day?"
Dora hesitated for a moment before she shook her head, "Y-You said you would teach me. I have to learn, right? I can handle it."
"Of course you can, Dora." Bellatrix held back her smirk, squeezing the fourteen-year-olds hand, "I have every hope in you."
Nymphadora was in the grounds of the Manor, diving to the floor as she couldn't reflect her Aunts hex fast enough.
"Come on, Nymphadora." Bellatrix called, "You can do better than that; I know you can do better than that."
"Sorry." Dora mumbled as she rose from the floor, groaning as she realised she now had a great dirt stain on her dress.
"Don't apologise." Bellatrix said, "Just do better."
"I will." Dora nodded, getting ready to duel her Aunt again. She knew her Aunt was barely trying with her, she highly doubted that she could last more than her usual five minutes against a Death Eater if they were truly trying. Though she appreciated the gesture nonetheless.
"Bellatrix." Rodolphus called out as he approached the pair from the manor. "Your father is here." His eyes barely passed the young metamorphmagus before he gave his wife a look Dora couldn't quite see.
"Ergh," Bellatrix made a face, "Why?"
"How should I know? He said he wanted to see you, I told him you were in the grounds—" his gaze wandered over Nymphadora for a moment, the girl now stood awkwardly holding her wand at her side, "—tending to things."
"And he believed you?" Bellatrix scoffed, "I'm not going to see him, tell him to go away—Oh for merlin's sake."
Bellatrix strode forward, gently pushing Nymphadora towards Rodolphus as she saw her father walking down from the manor. The teenager blushed as she bumped into the man, decidedly ignoring him wrinkling his nose at her as she mumbled an apology.
"Bellatrix." Cygnus Black stopped as his daughter reached him, smirking as she couldn't contain her glare at his arrival.
"Father, dearest." Bellatrix curled her lip, narrowing her eyes at her father, "What are you doing here?"
"Entertaining children for guests?" Cygnus raised an eyebrow, looking at the young girl next to Rodolphus curiously for a moment. "Who's child is that . . . ? And why does she have pink hair . . .?"
"Did you come here for something?" Bellatrix asked, "Or did you simply come here to annoy me with your presence?"
"Now now, Bellatrix." Cygnus ignored the woman trying to stop him from passing her as he walked over to the girl. "And what's your name?"
Dora looked to the man now staring down at her, she could instantly tell that she was related to him. His dark eyes were identical to her Aunts and her own, his dark hair flecked with grey pulled back into a ribbon, even his nose looked exactly like her mothers. Her Aunt walked up behind him, glaring at his back.
"Dora . . ." Dora said hesitantly.
"Dora?" Cygnus repeated.
"Nymphadora." Rodolphus added.
"Nymphadora . . ." Cygnus pondered for a moment "You have . . . interesting hair, Nymphadora."
Bellatrix looked at the girl, her gaze softening slightly, "Change it."
Dora didn't hesitate, screwing her eyes shut as she felt her short pink curls turn longer and into a dark brown. As she opened her eyes again she noted the look of surprise on her Grandfather's features.
"Well," Cygnus marvelled, "don't you look like your mother."
"A little, I suppose." Bellatrix sighed, "More Black in her."
"Better than the alternative." Cygnus spat. "Having a catch up with your niece, Bellatrix?"
"Yes." Bellatrix said shortly, "Did you want something, Father?"
"Yes . . ." Cygnus tore his gaze away from his granddaughter, "Come, Bellatrix. This is a conversation I would prefer to have in private."
The man walked back towards the manor, not looking back as his daughter poked her tongue out at him. Dora bit back a giggle, her Aunt gave her a wink before following the man in. It was only as they closed the doors to the manor behind them that Dora realised that she was alone with her Uncle for the first time.
"So . . ." Dora said, crossing her arms as she bounced on her feet awkwardly, "That's my Grandfather?"
"Yes." Rodolphus said, looking at the girl for a moment before he rolled his eyes, "Duel?"
"W-What?" Dora stuttered.
"Do you want to duel?" Rodolphus repeated more slowly, "That was what your Aunt was doing, wasn't it?"
"I-Yeah." Dora nodded.
"Well, it seems like a good idea to remain out here until Cygnus has gone." Rodolphus took a few steps away from the girl before he assumed a duelling stance, "Don't worry, I won't try very hard."
"What is she doing here?" Cygnus demanded as they entered the day room.
"I invited her here." Bellatrix said, walking over to sit on one of the armchairs.
"You invited a half-blood into your home?" Cygnus spluttered as his daughter nodded, "And Rodolphus is okay with this?" Bellatrix nodded again, ". . . Does Andromeda know she is here?"
"No," Bellatrix scoffed, "like she would ever approve of me being around the girl."
Cygnus gave his daughter a careful look as he approached her, "I should disown you."
"Oh really, father." Bellatrix laughed, "You could I suppose, but you won't. Think of the shame of having two disowned children. Oh, you would be a laughing stock." She pouted at her father's glare, "I'm not a Black anymore, am I? I'm a Lestrange, is it really worth explaining to the Lestrange family?"
The man glared at the woman, furious at her as he tried to stop himself from simply cursing her. To his greater annoyance, she simply got to her feet, smirking at him as they were barely arm's length apart. "What are you planning, Bellatrix?"
"You saw her power." Bellatrix smiled coyly, "Her blood can be overlooked if you see the power that girl can bring—it's not just her hair she can morph—she can change anything she wants, be anyone she wants. Think of the advantages that could bring to our family."
"To our family?" Cygnus asked, "Do not lie to me, woman. If you wish to harness her power and use her for your advantages it is not for our family. You forget yourself. I know what you were, what you still are. This is some plan for your Dark Lord, isn't it?"
Bellatrix grinned mischievously for a moment before she huffed in laughter, "She has her benefits for multiple causes, I suppose."
"She cannot be associated with us," Cygnus spat, "not whilst she still associates with her bitch of a mother and that scum of an excuse of a man, not whilst she lives under their roof."
"Well, she's under my roof at the moment, isn't she?" Bellatrix smirks. "Give it time, I'm not about to parade her out to some mundane high society event, am I? Merlin knows they bore me enough, it would hardly be appealing to her—though she does seem far more fascinated by the grandeur of it all than I ever was."
"Well, you were always a petulant little bitch." Cygnus snorted.
"Why thank you for your kind words." Bellatrix rolled her eyes, "Now did you come here for something or did you simply come here to grace my manor with your delightful presence?"
"Your mother is sick." Cygnus said, "I do not expect you to care, nor do I expect you to visit her, though she will likely not survive the year."
"Oh, what a shame." Bellatrix's voice dripped with sarcasm, "Do let me know when the bitch finally stops breathing so I can come check she's actually gone. I'll even help arrange the party—sorry, the wake. So sad."
"I rue the day your mother gave birth to you." Cygnus growled.
"No, you don't." Bellatrix hissed, "You would have gotten bored with no-one else to hurt."
"You had sisters."
"Like you would have touched them," Bellatrix sneered, "as much as you threatened it they were far too 'perfect' in your eyes. Well, look at where sweet little Dromeda is now." She stormed across the room, holding open the door for her father "Get out and let me know when I have a grave to dance on."
He rolled his eyes, walking over to his daughter as he paused mere inches from her. "I will be having words with your husband, he shall expect my owl." He reached out, placing a hand on his daughters hip as she froze under his touch, leaning in and pressing a kiss to her cheek, "Keep the girl hidden, Bellatrix . . ."
Bellatrix didn't say a word, waiting for the sound of her father's footsteps to disappear down the corridor until she looked up from the floor. She caught her reflection in the mirror, her dark eyes seething with hatred and disgust at Cygnus Black. Of course, she would keep the girl hidden, now was not the right time to let anyone know of her connection to her. Not whilst the girl remained in her parents home, that was.
So I hope you enjoyed this update, please do drop me a review if you have a moment!
The Purple Black