So this is about a day late being uploaded but it was my birthday yesterday so that would be why, sorry! The next chapter is either gonna be a little early or on the Monday too as I have friends visiting.
Anywho, thanks as always for all of the lovely follows, favourites, reviews and people that have gone over to my Tumblr to ask stuff etc.
Please do read, enjoy and review!
The Purple Black
Nymphadora's gaze flickered to her fellow Death Eaters, unable to help but wonder what each of them had been up to in the time since she had last seen them; when "the great Albus Dumbledore" had fallen to his early demise. Hers was a look in contrary to that of her Aunt. She only had eyes for her master, even as he acknowledged Severus Snape's entrance to the room her eyes barely left him long enough to give a slight flinch of distaste at his appearance. Lord Voldemort addressed his loyal subjects, beginning to discuss the events already in motion and plans to come and although Nymphadora paid closer attention now she still couldn't help but let her gaze flicker to Draco Malfoy on the odd occasion. She wanted to kick him, she would have if she could have reached him. For though he apparently believed himself to be invisible in that room he most definitely was not. He was staring at the woman suspended above the table, tears trickling down her cheeks though she seemed quite motionless and silent. Nymphadora knew why, she recognised the woman herself and would have even if she hadn't had already been aware that she was going to be there tonight (she had brought the woman in herself, after all). Charity Burbage was a Hogwarts Professor, or at least she had been until The Dark Lord had decided she was better suited to serve as an example for his cause. She could understand why Draco would be a little perturbed, seeing a teacher at his school hanging over a group of Death Eaters, though victims of war were not necessarily an uncommon thing and it was simply something he would have to get used to.
A scream echoed throughout the room, causing many of the Death Eaters to startle slightly, though Voldemort did not flinch at the noise. In his quiet and thoughtful tone he merely instructed Wormtail to silence the screams of the damned prisoner within the depths of the Manor.
"As I was saying," Voldemort's voice carried down the room, "I understand better now. I shall need, for instance, to borrow a wand from one of you before I go to kill Potter."
The room shifted slightly, each person in the room now actively avoiding the gaze of their master. Even Bellatrix sat back in her seat again slightly, though Nymphadora was sure she would do anything to please her master and would give over her wand as quickly as she would anything else, Bellatrix was a warrior and hesitant to part with her weapon unless directly asked.
"Lucius . . ." Voldemort stopped by the man, "I see no reason for you to have a wand."
It was painful to watch, as Lucius handed his wand over to his master Nymphadora couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. She watched silently, trying not to show any emotion on her features though she couldn't help but feel sorry for the Malfoys. Perhaps not Lucius (she still partially blamed him for the capture of so many at the Ministry) though Narcissa and Draco had been clearly suffering for the man's downfall from the Dark Lords graces. As the Dark Lord settled back in his seat Dora couldn't help but let a small shiver run up her spine at the arrival of Nagini, watching her master stroke her scaley head with his long thin fingers.
"Why do the Malfoys look so unhappy with their lot? Is my return, my rise to power, not the very thing they professed to desire for so many years?"
"Of course, My Lord," Lucius said, wiping the sweat from his upper lip, "We did desire it—we do."
"My Lord," the voice of Bellatrix Lestrange piped up from beside Nymphadora, constricted with emotion Nymphadora could not help but wonder if the treatment of her sister and her family unsettled her slightly, perhaps even worried her, "it is an honour to have you here, in our family's house. There can be no higher pleasure."
Voldemort looked at the woman, his head tilting to the side slightly as he silently considered her for a few moments. When he spoke again his voice was eerily calm, though the shadow of a small smirk passed his features for merely a moment, "Family . . . it is important, isn't it?"
The man had Nymphadora's full attention now, as though his head remained turned to Bellatrix his eyes settled on her, it was a look that made her stomach churn. She had done nothing to displease him. She had been nothing but loyal, showed nothing but the utmost competence and skill in his service. Surely she was not about to be berated in front of her peers in the same way the Malfoys had been?
"Though," Voldemort mused, "it seems that even the best of families can become . . . infected, impure and . . . traitorous."
It was as if she had forgotten to breathe, a lump caught in her throat and she was sure even the slightest flicker of fear was clearly visible on her features as she heard a snicker from somewhere along the table. She knew who he meant, though she feared what would come next.
"Your sister, Bellatrix—and yours, Narcissa and your mother I believe, Nymphadora," Voldemort said, "I believe she is a blood traitor, no?"
"She is no sister of ours! And no mother to Nymphadora!" Bellatrix quickly hissed, though Nymphadora was surprised as Bellatrix took her sudden movement and yell of protest to hide her hand discreetly moving under the table to rest on her knee. She was unsure if it was to stop Nymphadora protesting (though she knew far better than to do that, not that she would ever want to) or if it was meant to calm and ease her, perhaps it was both. But the unspoken message was clear; let me deal with this.
"Is that true, Nymphadora?" Voldemort asked.
Nymphadora didn't hesitate, she nodded her head stiffly and found her voice surprised that it sounded far stronger than she would expect "Yes, My Lord."
"Good . . ." Voldemort said, "Then I believe you will find no difficulty in carrying out a task for me—with your Aunt Bella of course."
"Yes, My Lord," Nymphadora said automatically, though her palms were sweaty and her heart was beating ever more quickly in her chest.
"Though the pure members of our community dwindle ever thinner, I believe that the temptation is best removed, especially for those who have fallen." Voldemort carried on, Nymphadora barely realising as her Aunts grip became ever tighter on her leg and the younger woman moved her hand numbly to cover it, "An example must be made. The filth removed from play and thrown away as they deserve to be. Do you understand?"
"Tell me when, My Lord." Bellatrix said, though the usual excitement and enjoyment that she usually oozed when set a task by her master was decidedly missing, she sounded more like Snape than herself.
"As soon as possible, Bella," Voldemort smirked, looking at the metamorphmagus for a moment before turning back to the rest of the room, "do you not agree, Nymphadora?"
"I—" Nymphadora swallowed, her Aunt's nails gave a sharp dig into her thigh. She nodded. "I do, My Lord."
"Good," Voldemort gave a small nod, then addressed the room at large again as he directed his attentions to the woman above them.
Nymphadora didn't pay much more attention, her head was spinning and her heart was still racing. She merely focused on her Aunt's hand, almost grateful for the still present sting from where her nails had dug into flesh through the fabric of her dress as it gave her something to ground her back into reality. She didn't speak, didn't utter a word and when the meeting ended she was one of the first to stand up to leave, walking as quickly as possible without running. She hissed in pain however when she made it to her bedroom door only to have her wrist tightly grabbed as she was pulled to come face to face with her Aunt Bellatrix.
The two women stared at each other in silence, as if each witch was testing the other to see who would break first. Nymphadora had never seen her Aunt give her her cold and emotionless masked stare when they were alone before, though she was sure she was returning the look herself.
"If we get it over with quickly," Bellatrix said, her voice stiff, "it will be easier—for you."
"Okay," it was all Nymphadora could think to say.
"We . . ." Bellatrix looked down for a moment, releasing her grip on the girl, "we do not have to kill your mother."
Nymphadora nodded, "Just my father," she was sure there was a hint of bitterness in her voice, but she couldn't help it. She had not called Andromeda and Ted Tonks Mother or Father since she had left the Tonks home so many years ago now. She was almost surprised that Bellatrix didn't make comment or even make a face at the reminder of Dora's mudblood relation as she used to so often so many years ago.
"Just him," Bellatrix eventually said.
She nodded, reaching for her bedroom door again, "Tell me when, Aunt Bella,"
". . . I'll see you tomorrow," Bellatrix said, though as Nymphadora turned back to look at her Aunt the woman was entering her own bedroom, quickly shutting the door behind her.
Nymphadora was laying on her bed, the sixteen year old staring at the ceiling as she blinked back tears. She swatted them away angrily, not quite understanding why she was crying. Perhaps it was just the exhaustion of the day's events, crucio'ing a schoolmate in the middle of Hogwarts and being dragged home by your parents wasn't necessarily an all together a calming experience . . . but she refused to believe that getting slapped in the face by her own mother had anything to do with her being upset.
She yelled in annoyance, grabbing her pillow from beside her and throwing it at the wall as hard as she could, though it was a pointless task and something that did nothing to help her relieve any stress or emotion of any sort. A knock came at the door, it was gentle knock though Nymphadora merely glared at her door.
"Go away!" she hissed, "I'm not accepting any bullshit apology from you and I am not apologising for anything!"
"Dora . . ." the sound was not that of her mother's voice, but the gentle hesitant tone of her father, "it's only me . . ."
Nymphadora sat up in her bed, staring at the door. She wasn't angry at her father, he hadn't done anything to upset her. He had never done anything to upset her or direct any rage such as she felt for her mother towards him. She considered if she should respond.
"Dora?" Ted hesitated for a moment "Can I come in?"
"I—" Nymphadora sighed, "I suppose so . . ."
The door slowly opened, Ted Tonks hesitantly poking his head around the corner after a few moments before he slid into the room and quickly closed the door behind him. "You've been crying," Ted frowned, walking over to his daughter though she merely shuffled up to sit against her headboard wrapping her arms around her legs.
"No I haven't," she said.
Ted merely sighed, looking down at his lap "Dora . . . Your Mum—"
"Don't try and defend her," Dora glared, "she hit me!"
Ted nodded, "I know, she shouldn't have done that, she's quite upset—she is." Ted sighed as the girl scoffed.
"So what?" Dora grumbled, "What do you want me to do? Go find her and hug her and kiss her? Tell her how I'm so sorry that she wants to think the worst of me, drag me from school, scream at me and then slap me in the face?" she raised her eyebrow at her father.
"Dora she cares about you—I know you don't think she does," Ted sighed at the face his daughter had made, "but she really does . . . and I do too."
"I know you do . . ." Dora smiled slightly despite herself.
Ted sighed, noting the purposeful wording of his daughter's sentence and wondering where on earth Dora's and Andromeda's relationship had gone so wrong. "I'll leave you to sleep, shall I?" Ted smiled when Dora nodded slightly, reaching over to her and hugging her he pressed his lips to her hair, "Love you Dora,"
"Love you Dad . . ."
"Dora . . ." the voice sounded distant, almost muffled. "Dora," the voice was louder this time and Nymphadora groaned as she realised she had been cruelly awoken from her dreams. "Wake up," Bellatrix said.
Nymphadora let out a small huff of annoyance, slowly pulling the sheets off of her head and wincing at the sudden light as she turned to the direction of her Aunt's voice. "What?"
Bellatrix hesitated for a moment, waiting for Dora to squint her eyes open as she got the reaction she was expecting. Nymphadora frowned slightly, looking at her Aunt properly now as she took in her attire. "Why are you dressed to go out? Where did Barty go?" she frowned as she looked around at her now empty bed, the man had been there when she had fallen asleep.
"I kicked him out," Bellatrix shrugged, "he's not as heavy a sleeper as you are."
"Right . . ." Dora forrowed her brow in confusion at her Aunt's behaviour, pulling herself up to sit against her headrest, "Why are you dressed to go out?"
"I didn't sleep much last night, Dora," Bellatrix sat down on the girls bed, picking at the bedsheets as she didn't meet her niece's gaze.
"Delphi keeping you up again?" Dora asked.
"Yes and no . . ." Bellatrix gathered herself slightly, sitting up straight and looking her niece straight in the eyes, "We need to do what the Dark Lord asked of us . . . today."
"Today . . ." Dora repeated, a lump had settled in her throat and her insides began to squirm. She felt sick.
"The quicker we do it the quicker it will be over with for you," Bellatrix said, standing up and summoning Dora's clothes from her wardrobe.
"I—" Dora stared at her bed, "I have to kill . . . ?"
"Yes," Bellatrix said, acting as if she had asked if she had to do something simple such as go eat her breakfast.
"I—"
"Get dressed, I'll be back in half an hour, I need to feed Delphi." Bellatrix said simply, dropping some clothes onto Dora's bed and walking out of the room without another word.
Nymphadora stood on the edge of the street that she had once grown up on. She had not been back to the place in many years, though little had changed Dora couldn't help the overwhelming feeling that she was no longer welcome here. It was the middle of a particularly dreary Sunday, rain fell down hard and fast onto the two witches yet both seemed completely unfazed by it all. Bellatrix looked to her niece, waiting for her to return her gaze before she nodded towards the house. They walked quickly, wary to get out of the middle of the street and Nymphadora was just about to draw her wand to help bring down the wards she knew would be around the house when Bellatrix grabbed hold of her wrist.
"Try getting in without that," Bellatrix muttered.
"She would have changed the wards since I was a kid. Remember when I left she said—"
"I know what she said," Bellatrix said, "try it. You can alter the wards to let me in easily if you are inside of them."
"I—"
"Act quickly!" Bellatrix hissed.
Dora took a deep breath, "Okay."
Without hesitating any further, she took a few steps forward. Her hand reached out to the old wooden gate of the garden and, feeling as though her heart had stuck in her throat, she snatched her hand out and grabbed it. There was no rejection, no pain, no being flung away or the feel of alarms ringing through the property. Andromeda had never changed the wards. Her mother had sworn if Nymphadora left her home she would change the wards to keep her out and disown her for good. But she hadn't.
"Dora!" Bellatrix hissed, growing impatient.
The voice snapped her back to reality and with a small nod, Nymphadora pointed her wand at the wards, biting her lip as she could hear the movement within the house behind her. Though within seconds Bellatrix Lestrange was in the Tonks' garden. She grinned with delight, a strange sense of crazy excitement suddenly washing over her as she ran for the door.
"Oh, Andy!" Bellatrix called out, laughing as with a sudden and swift motion she blew the front door off of its hinges.
Nymphadora was quick to follow, immediately busying herself with making sure the door was put to rights so as not to raise suspicion to the outside world and adding a new silencing ward over the home—this was not going to be a quiet family reunion. She went to turn, though as she did so she immediately bumped into her Aunt's back. She winced slightly then looked up to see what her Aunt was staring at with her wand drawn, a crooked smirk on her lips.
Andromeda Tonks stood at the top of the stairs, her wand was already gripped tightly in her hand and her jaw was set in a hard emotionless stare. "Still as clumsy as ever?" she asked casually as if she had only seen her daughter yesterday.
"We're not here for small talk, sister dear," Bellatrix said, "quite the opposite."
"I would expect nothing less," Andromeda replied, though she didn't have time to say much else.
Without a seconds warning, Bellatrix threw a hex at her once sister, the younger witch putting up a shield just in time as Nymphadora had to duck to miss the rebounding spell. She gripped tighter on to her wand, though as she raised it to her mother she found herself entranced as the two sisters threw spells back and forth. Bellatrix clearly had the upper hand, she didn't need Dora's help, Andromeda was slowly retreating further to the wall as Bellatrix made her way slowly but surely towards her.
"I told you to go!" Andromeda yelled as her husband ran up beside her, the man throwing a spell at Bellatrix though she deflected it with ease.
"Aww," Bellatrix pouted, "did you tell the ickle mudblood to run scared? Think you can take us on all by yourself?"
"You seem rather alone in your pursuit," Andromeda hissed, her eyes flashing to her daughter.
Nymphadora gritted her teeth, bounding the few stairs between herself and her Aunt as she threw a spell at her mother, the woman looking slightly taken aback as she narrowly missed it.
"She seemed more than capable," Dora said.
"Dora, what are you doing?" Ted asked, a hurt look on his features, "Stop this nonsense, we are your parents."
"You are not," Bellatrix hissed, then without warning, she continued her barrage of spells.
It was a mess. Curses, jinxes and hexes flew around the small upstairs corridor as Andromeda and Ted Tonks were pushed further and further back into their home. Dora knew the game they were playing (and by the slight disguised look of concern on Andromeda's features she knew too), there was no space to play in the cramped corridor, they needed to get them into a room. Nymphadora shot a glance behind her parents, firing a curse over their heads as she blasted yet another door off of its hinges.
"Good work," Bellatrix laughed, then with a silent understanding between them they both screamed "Depulso!"
Ted and Andromeda went flying backwards with a yell of shock from the pair of them. Bellatrix and Nymphadora were close behind them. Bellatrix instantly running to the man now trying to aim his wand again she quickly disarmed him, "Incarcerous!"
She let out a laugh of delight as she bent down and snatched the man's wand into her own hands, turning to look at her niece with a smirk on her features. Nymphadora had her mother's wand in one hand, the other hand now carefully trained on the woman's neck as she was forced to look up slightly.
"Now really," Bellatrix sighed, flicking her wand and smirking as her sister became bound like her husband, "you used to put up a much better fight than that, Andy."
"Fuck you," Andromeda growled through gritted teeth, tearing her gaze from her daughter to glare at her sister who looked nothing but delighted at the whole situation.
"No, thank you," Bellatrix laughed, "I'm not into scum."
"I'm your sister," Andromeda wrinkled her nose.
"You are no relation of mine," Bellatrix hissed.
"Dora . . ." Ted Tonks called, "this isn't you. You've let her get into your head, you—"
"Shut your mouth, mudblood," Bellatrix growled, pointing her wand at the man, "Crucio!"
Ted Tonks gritted down on his teeth furiously, his whole face turning red as a tomato with the effort of trying to hold in his screams of pain before the task was useless. He let out a guttural yell like a dying animal.
"Stop it!" Andromeda yelled, kicking out as she tried to free herself to get to her husband, causing her daughter to have to jump out of her reach.
"Aww," Bellatrix lifted the spell, smirking at her sister, "but why?"
"Why are you here, Bellatrix?" Andromeda demanded, "The both of you?"
Bellatrix cocked her head slightly, looking to her niece for a moment before she stared at her sister curiously. She slowly walked over to the bound woman on the floor, hesitating for a moment before she dropped to her knees in front of her. She smirked as her sister flinched at the sudden motion.
"You know," Bellatrix practically whispered, reaching her hand out and gently moving some of the stray hairs from her sisters face, "you've known for a long time. Since you first abandoned your family. Since I vowed it would happen, way back then. Since you watched your daughter leave you for the life you denied—for a better life." Bellatrix snickered as Andromeda tried to pull her head out of her reach only for her to let out a hiss of pain as Bella grabbed her hair to force her to stay now inches from her face. Bella could feel the emotions radiating off of her, the pain, the anger, the fear. A single tear fell from Andromeda's eyes despite herself. "Don't cry," Bellatrix cooed, "you may live yet . . . do it, Nymphadora."
Dora pulled herself to her senses, tearing her eyes away from her Mother and Aunt just as the younger witch moved her gaze to her. She could feel her wand shaking in her hand, feel herself losing her will to do it. But she had to. She couldn't walk away from this. What would Aunt Bella say? What would he say?
"Dora," Ted said, his voice surprisingly steady as he looked down the tip of his daughter's wand which was now pointed directly at him, "you don't have to do this."
"I do," Dora said firmly.
"We can protect you, Dora," Ted shook his head, "It's not too late to turn back—"
Bellatrix laughed, not moving from her sister as she watched the woman intently, "Are you both insane? What did you think she did at the Ministry? Who do you think helped with Dumbledore's downfall? Who do you think has been murdering people and changing their hair purple? Dora doesn't want to 'turn back', she enjoys what she does—you should see her torturing people, it's beautiful."
A silence hung in the room for a moment and Nymphadora couldn't help but avert her gaze from her father. She had no remorse for her crimes, she willingly served The Dark Lord, though there was something about her parents knowing this. She did not want to see their opinions on such matters, even after all of these years of not talking to them—of disowning them as much as they had her if not more.
"He'll kill her, Ted," to everyone's surprise, it was Andromeda who breathed those words to break the silence, looking to her husband as best she could, "If she's been tasked with killing us and she doesn't . . . At least hurt her . . ."
"Fifty points to Slytherin for the smart bitch in the ropes," Bellatrix rolled her eyes as her voice dripped with sarcasm, almost instantly hissing in annoyance as Andromeda spat at her, "Manners!" Bella growled, hitting the woman's head back onto the wall with a sickening thud, "Do it now, Nymphadora!"
Father and daughter locked eyes again. Her hand was still trembling and she couldn't stop it no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't even get the two deadly words that she had uttered with ease so many times before out of her mouth.
"Do it, Dora," Ted said, holding his head high as he gathered himself as much as he could whilst bound, "I don't want you hurt or worse . . . so do it."
"I—" Dora took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment as she tried to ignore the sounds around her; Andromeda had begun to struggle against Bellatrix to no avail.
"Do it!" Bellatrix hissed, "Do it now so we can get out of this merlin forsaken hovel!"
She refocused her aim, looking to her father's eyes as he smiled sadly at her, "Love you, Dora,"
She couldn't help herself as her lips moved, mouthing 'love you Dad' safe in the knowledge that she knew her Aunt could not see her, before she gritted her teeth, "Avada Kedavra!"
Andromeda's screams were mingled with Bellatrix's victorious cackle of delight. Dora didn't even realise as Bellatrix moved away from Andromeda, undoing her binds so that she could scramble to her fallen husband. She tore the ropes off of him, clutching onto his lifeless form as she cried freely now. Dora felt her Aunt's hand on her shoulder and heard her snicker in her ear.
"Go on then," Andromeda growled as she turned to look at the two Death Eaters, "finish the job."
"So you and the mudblood can be reunited?" Bellatrix taunted, waiting a breath before she shook her head and turned from the room.
Nymphadora stared at her parents, her eyes locking with Andromeda's as she struggled to keep the emotion from her face. She felt the tug on her arm as her Aunt pulled her from the room, making herself put one foot in front of the other almost mechanically, she barely even flinched as her Aunt cried out with glee when they got into the garden "Morsmordre!"
Nymphadora felt numb, she felt sick, she felt fucking awful. Though her Aunt was giggling, ducking down instinctively and turning as she heard her sister behind her. Andromeda was stood in front of the house, her chest heaving and her usually kind light brown eyes alight with fury.
"You get back here, you bitch!" Andromeda hissed and as Dora turned to look at her she was surprised to see that her wand was trained on Bellatrix and not her.
"No thank you," Bellatrix smiled disturbingly sweetly, "I have prior engagements, lovely little catch up though! We must do it again sometime."
"You do not get to walk away from this!" Andromeda yelled.
"Yet, here I am, walking away," Bellatrix shrugged, "Come, Dora."
Andromeda yelled out as Bellatrix tried to walk away with Dora, throwing a spell that was parried by Bellatrix with ease.
"This is your fault!" Andromeda screamed.
"I think you'll find your daughter killed your husband," Bellatrix laughed, sending a quick lazy hex that was dodged by her sister.
"Because of you!" Andromeda cried, ignoring the young witch beside her sister, "You took my daughter! Was that not enough? You didn't need Ted!"
"No," Bellatrix said, "I didn't need him," she accented every word with a spell, making her sister dance to get out of their way, "hence . . . we . . . got . . . rid . . . of . . . him!" Bellatrix grinned as on the last word she managed to hit her sister square in the chest, shaking her head as she went skidding backwards and collided with the wall, "It doesn't do to let duels be fuelled purely by petty anger and revenge dear, you are clearly out of practice," Bella mused, "Until next time."
Bellatrix grabbed Dora's wrist more firmly this time, only briefly noting the tears clearly threatening to spill from her dark eyes, the limpness of her now mousey brown hair and the glazed look on her features. She dragged her to pass through the wards, ignoring the sound of her sister running for her as she disapparated just in time to miss a well-aimed hex.
Nymphadora immediately vomited, filled with such a mixture of emotions from disgust at herself for killing her own father (no matter his blood) to relief that she had actually done it. It was all too much for her body and mind as she grabbed out to lean against one of the stone pillars marking the gates of Malfoy Manor. Tears escaped her freely now, though she blamed her being sick. She winced as she felt the hand of her Aunt on the small of her back.
"The excitement gets a little much for all of us at times," Bellatrix said coolly, the playful teasing now gone from her demeanour, "go to your room. I'll report to The Dark Lord and send Barty to check on you."
Nymphadora nodded, but she knew her Aunt had already walked away from her. She was being pathetic, though she couldn't help it as she let herself stand watching the rain hit the path around her as if entranced by the dancing water drops.
Thank you for reading! Please do leave a review if you have a chance, I love hearing them all no matter how short or long haha
The Purple Black