So, inevitably, I have been a tad distracted by the whole Christmas/New Year milarky so there's been a little bit of a delay in this update. Sorry! But I hope you guys all had a lovely Christmas and New Year, happy 2018 blah blah blah.
Anyway! Please read, enjoy and please do leave a review if you have a moment, mainly as I love hearing your thoughts :)
The Purple Black
Nymphadora was laid in the garden, hidden within the shadows of the trees as she silently begged for some sort of breeze to alleviate some of the hot summers day heat. It was true that she could stay in the manor, with cooling charms active throughout the home she knew she would be cooler inside. Though as she pulled at her light cotton summers dress (a pale blue with intricate stitching of flowers around the skirt), cursing the fact that her uncle had told her it was in no way appropriate to go and 'sunbathe in her knickers in the garden', she didn't regret staying outside. What with four people now living at the manor, along with meetings taking place and the seemingly constant flow of people discreetly visiting she was starting to feel rather claustrophobic in the large home.
"Nymphie." Barty smiled at the girl as he walked into her eye line, raising an eyebrow at her appearance whilst towering over her. "You know you can't catch a tan in the shadows . . . though I suppose you could morph yourself one if you wanted." He shrugged, ignoring the girl rolling her eyes at him as he lowered himself to the ground to lay beside her.
"What are you doing out here?" Dora asked, shuffling away from him slightly as she propped herself up on her elbow to look down at him. "Shouldn't you be hidden away in the shadows somewhere? What if someone comes to visit?"
Barty laughed at this. "Who will come to visit? The only people your Aunt and Uncle are allowing into this manor at the moment are Death Eaters or people that needn't care about my being here . . . or they won't live to tale to tale."
"The Ministry could come knocking." Dora shrugged. "Imagine explaining that away—'Why hello Minister, please do come in—Oh, no that is not an escaped supposed dead convict in our back garden, you must be seeing things.'"
"Well, your Uncle does have a talent for explaining things away." Barty smirked.
"That hardly surprises me, though I'm not sure his talent stretches quite that far." Dora sighed, "What are you doing out here, anyway?"
"I wanted to see you." Barty pouted at the girl, sitting up to meet the young woman's gaze, "I tried to find you last night but apparently your Aunt instructed your elf not to tell me where your bedroom was."
"Really?" Dora couldn't help but blush a little, both at the idea of Barty wanting to find her bedroom and that her Aunt thought it was necessary to give their elf such an instruction. "Well, it's hardly right for you to be looking for me in my bedroom in the middle of the night. I can't blame Aunt Bella for stopping that—I'm thankful in fact. If you turned up in my room in the middle of the night you'd get a curse thrown right at you."
"I never said it was the middle of the night," Barty said, "it was your mind that went to the gutter, tut tut Nymphie—Ugh!" Barty grunted as the young witch shoved his shoulder, causing him to fall backwards.
"Don't call me Nymphie." Dora huffed, going to get up from the floor before she shrieked in surprise, the man had grabbed her arm and pulled her down so quickly that she had fallen flat on her back.
Barty quickly moved himself, grabbing the girl's wrists and pinning her to the grass as he leant over her with a devilish grin on his features "Or what, Nymphie?"
Nymphadora stared up at the older man, her heart beginning to pound faster in her chest he pressed himself against her. She opened and closed her mouth, trying and failing to get her words out whilst she couldn't help but fall into the mischievous gaze of Barty Crouch Jr. She gasped in shock as the man jolted and swore, rolling off of the girl in an instant.
"Was that really necessary?" Barty hissed, rubbing his shoulder.
"I—" Dora frowned in confusion, though as she watched the man glare behind her she quickly sat up and turned to follow his gaze.
Bellatrix Lestrange did not look amused. Her wand still pointed at the man from the stinging hex she had flung at him as she carried on walking towards them, her eyes narrowed at the man. "You tell me, Crouch." Bellatrix narrowed her eyes at the man, her gaze temporarily flickering to her niece who looked down to hide her blush. "I said you could tell Nymphadora about the meeting. I did not give you permission to roll around in the grass like a dog on heat."
"I can't remember you specifically saying not to." Barty muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" Bellatrix raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing Bella." Barty smiled innocently up at the woman, though Nymphadora didn't miss the man flinch as Bellatrix raised her wand slightly again. "I'll see you inside, shall I?" Barty didn't wait for an answer, not daring to look at Bellatrix as he got to his feet though he spared a quick glance at the witch still on the floor before he practically ran back into the manor.
Bellatrix sighed audibly, pocketing her wand before she walked over to her niece and took her hand to pull her to her feet. Nymphadora didn't dare look at her Aunt, worried she was about to be told off or hexed as well, not to mention the fact that her heart was still pounding from having Barty so close to her in such a way. She bit her lip as her Aunt hooked a finger under her chin, bringing her head up to look at the witch. It was in that moment that Nymphadora Tonks realised that her Aunt could be just as intimidating as The Dark Lord himself, with her heavy-lidded gaze boring into her own. She realised a little too late that her Aunt was probably trying to read her thoughts as the older witch couldn't help the twitch of a smirk on her lips before she returned to her serious gaze.
"What were you doing with Barty?" Bellatrix asked, removing her hand from the girl.
"Nothing." Dora said instinctively. "I mean, I shoved him because he called me Nymphie a-and he was just trying to get back at me I suppose."
"Hmm . . ." Bellatrix paused for a moment before she shook her head, "Be careful around him. He—" Bellatrix chewed her words for a moment before she rolled her eyes "He may not have the best of intentions. You're young, a metamorphmagus . . . I can see how you may even be seen as desirable in a way. Though Barty is . . . a character."
"Right." Dora nodded, unsure of what else to say as she searched desperately for a change of topic. "You said there was a meeting?"
"Dining room. Top of the hour." Bellatrix confirmed, looking the girl up and down with a wrinkle of her nose, "Though change out of that bloody dress. I knew I shouldn't have let Narcissa take you clothes shopping after she brought you that pink monstrosity the first time." Nymphadora couldn't help but laugh a little as her Aunt turned and began to walk back towards the manor, calling behind her "Wear something black!"
Her palms were sweating as the skirts of her long black corseted dress swept along the floor. She decided that the moment this meeting was done with she would change back into her summers dress—as much as her Aunt had let her distaste of it be known she couldn't help but want to be in anything else than one her of black pieces in the middle of the summer heat. She took a deep breath as she saw the door to the dining room was slightly ajar. It was true that she had been to 'meetings' with the Dark Lord before, but this was the first time since she had been marked and it was nothing like her and one or two others huddled in a dark room at the old Riddle home. She paused for a moment at the door, slightly taken back as multiple faces looked at her from their seats.
"Come sit here, Dora." Bellatrix called out from her seat beside what was clearly to be Lord Voldemort's at the head of the table, gesturing to an empty seat between herself and Rodolphus.
She quickly obeyed, trying to ignore the others in the room. As she slipped into her seat however she couldn't help but notice the faces surrounding her. Severus Snape sat opposite her Aunt, a look of boredom on his features as his gaze only flickered to her for a moment, Lucius Malfoy sat opposite her Uncle looking decidedly more pale than usual, the others in the room she mainly recognised from the night of The Dark Lords return though she did not know all of their names. It was Barty that caught her attention, a smug look on his features as he stared at her. She couldn't help the twinge of a smile on her lips before the man caught her Aunt's gaze, rolling his eyes at her warning glare before he looked away.
The moment The Dark Lord entered the room the whole atmosphere changed. The quiet chatter of the men towards the other end of the table immediately ceased, each witch and wizard within the room rising to stand as he approached the head of the table. He paused for a moment, looking at each and every person in the room before with a curt nod he sat down, the rest of the room quickly following his lead.
"I will not dilly dally," Lord Voldemort announced, "we have important matters to discuss . . . Before I start, does anyone have anything to present to me?"
"My Lord," Lucius looked to his master with confidence, Dora noted the usual arrogance in his demeanour was near enough non-existent as he addressed the man, "I was at the Ministry today, I happened to pass the Improper Use of Magic Office . . . They have attempted to expel Potter from Hogwarts."
Bellatrix let out a cackle of laughter, others around the room chuckling or grinning in amusement at this information. Though Voldemort did not even crack a smile, looking to his blonde servant as he raised a hand to silence the room. "Attempted to expel him?" he asked, "Tell me what you heard, Lucius."
"Dumbledore interfered." Lucius wrinkled his nose in distaste for a moment before he carried on, "The boy was attacked by dementors in his muggle neighbourhood. He cast a Patronus in front of his Muggle cousin. The boy now has a hearing booked for the 12th of August, where it is to be decided if the boy should return to Hogwarts or have his wand snapped in two."
"Dementors?" Voldemort raised a hairless eyebrow, "What were Dementors doing there?"
"I do not know, My Lord." Lucius shook his head.
"Poor Dumbledore will probably think it was us." Bellatrix giggled.
"Let him." Voldemort said simply, "Let him fear that we have control of the Dementors . . . well, we will have them soon. Lucius, keep an eye on the boy's trial."
"Yes, My Lord." Lucius said obediently.
"Now, the matter at hand." Voldemort said, looking again to the room at large. "Severus, you say that Dumbledore has his suspicions of what we are trying to obtain?"
"Yes, My Lord." Snape said.
"Then we must go about this in ways that he may not suspect . . . Rodolphus?" the man looked to his master immediately, giving him his full attention, "I will need yourself and Nymphadora to carry out a task for me." The Dark Lord smirked slightly as Nymphadora immediately straightened in her seat and looked to her master, "I need all of the eyes and ears that I can get within the ministry. Now, I understand that the women of the Lestrange—nor the Black family for that matter—tend to work. Though I believe Nymphadora can at least seem to be an exception to this rule, given her circumstances. You are to take the girl to the Ministry, under the guise of her looking to work there. She has lived with you since she was a girl, she has no family inheritance to truly gain, it would not be seen as suspicious for you to encourage her to get a job of her own rather than have her drain you for gold for the entirety of her life." Nymphadora bit her lip slightly, suddenly wondering if Rodolphus had ever actually thought of her as a drain or a burden in such a way. "You have connections in the Ministry, take her there. Though whilst doing so I wish for you—for both of you—to see if you can gather any information, anything that may help us."
"Yes, My Lord." Rodolphus said without question.
"Will you be able to do this, Nymphadora?" Voldemort asked the girl, the sound of her own name sending chills down her spine.
"Yes, My Lord." Nymphadora nodded.
"Good . . . Now, I need reports. Snape?"
Nymphadora zoned out slightly after that, barely listening as the rest of the group gave updates on whatever small quest the Dark Lord had given them as all she could think of was her upcoming task and the possibility of having to get a job at the ministry. She was almost grateful when the meeting ended. Her Aunt did not stay behind this time, instead seeming quite intent on taking her with her from the dining room as quickly as possible (Nymphadora had a small suspicion it was something to do with the fact that Barty had gone to approach her).
"You're not a drain." Bellatrix said quite unexpectedly as they entered the training room.
"What?" Dora asked, slightly perplexed.
"The money, Nymphadora." Bellatrix rolled her eyes, "You don't live off of Rod's money anyway. I brought enough Black gold into this marriage to support four of you for a lifetime."
"Oh . . ." Nymphadora said. She had no longer been worrying about her potential drain on the Lestrange fortune, now more focused on the upcoming trip to the Ministry. Neither witch spoke after that, Bellatrix falling into a duelling stance as they carried on their routine of training. It was hours later that she made her way to her own bedroom. Ready to take off her dress and collapse in exhaustion. She closed the door behind her, sighing as she pressed her head to the cool wood for a slight moment.
"Hello, Nymphie."
Nymphadora screeched as she quickly turned, drawing her wand despite the fact that she managed to trip and have to grab onto her cabinet to stay standing. "How did you get in here?!" Dora demanded, pressing a hand to her heart as she tried to steady herself. "I thought the elf wouldn't tell you where my room was?"
"It wouldn't." Barty shrugged, moving out from the shadows of Dora's room so that she could see him more clearly, "Rodolphus told me."
"Rodolphus?" Nymphadora demanded, confused as the man nodded with an innocent smile, "He told you to go hide in the shadows in here? Why would—? Bellatrix said—"
"You forget I've known Rodolphus for a long time— probably since before you were born, Nymphie. I can convince him to tell me things sometimes." Barty shrugged. "I merely pointed out that you could do with some words of encouragement, something probably best coming from someone nearer your own age."
"You're older than me by about fifteen years." Nymphadora rolled her eyes.
"Ouch." Barty mocked offence, "Eleven, actually."
"Why are you here, Barty?" Dora asked, straightening herself up and looking at him with feigned indifference.
"Don't say you're not pleased to see me." Barty grinned, laughing as the girl rolled her eyes at him, "I see that shadow of a smirk on your face."
"Hmm." Dora walked over to her bed, sitting down and kicking her heels off, ignoring the man as he sat next to her. "You know Aunt Bella will kill you if she finds you in here."
"No, she wouldn't."
"Well, she'd curse you at the least." Dora said, "She told me to 'be careful' around you, you know."
"Oh?" Barty raised an eyebrow, "And why is that?"
"I don't think she liked you pinning me to the grass like that." Dora laughed in her sudden nerves.
"Well, it doesn't matter what your Aunt likes, does it?" Nymphadora didn't realise that the man was moving his hand until she felt his gentle touch on her knee. She turned her head to look at him.
"You know . . ." Dora swallowed hard, "I never thanked you for taking the brunt of the blame for the whole Potter thing . . . You said the blame would be on me."
"Well," Barty sighed dramatically, "I decided that you looked so lost and scared that I had to be the bigger person and be your protector."
"My hero." Dora laughed.
Barty couldn't help but smile as he watched the girl, taking his chances as he reached up and touched her face, "You don't need protecting. You're a capable and powerful witch even if you don't quite realise that yourself yet."
"Thanks . . ." Dora breathed. The man was slowly getting closer, she could feel his breath on her face as they stared deeply into each other's eyes. A contented smirk was on his features, Dora's breath catching in her throat as he pressed her lips to hers, his hand now tangled in her pink locks as she closed her eyes. She snaked her hand to his shoulder, returning his kiss with a heated passion. Though before she knew it he pulled away, leaving her to flutter her eyelids open again as he looked to her with a coy smile.
"I better leave, lest your Aunt come and kill me." Barty breathed.
Nymphadora watched dumbly as he stood up and left the room, the door slowly clicking shut behind him. With a groan she fell back onto the bed, lifting her hand to touch her lips as she couldn't help but wonder if she would be foolish not to heed her Aunt's warning about Barty Crouch Jr.
I hope you enjoyed that chapter! Please leave a review if you have a minute :)
The Purple Black