As always thanks for all of your follows, favourites and reviews so far! And for those of you that have visited my Tumblr and asked me questions and stuff. Side note, if you head over there you can see a couple of fanarts that have been drawn from this fic (it's the same username as here).

Anyway, please do read, enjoy and review if you have a moment!

The Purple Black

"Well . . ." Narcissa considered her words carefully, looking straight ahead into the grounds of Malfoy Manor as if she had become particularly interested in something in the distance, "congratulations, Nymphadora,"

"Thanks," Dora couldn't help but laugh slightly at the look Bellatrix gave her sister.

It had been a few weeks since Nymphadora had found out she was pregnant and so much had changed. The Ministry had fallen, causing Potter and the Order to fall into hiding, which in turn made Nymphadora, Bellatrix, Barty and indeed any Death Eater, no longer wanted criminals. It was something that they had made the most out of. Bellatrix had gone to Diagon Alley the very next day, Nymphadora close at hand making excuses that she wanted to join her to look at baby things.

On the baby front, things had seemed to be looking up. Although Barty didn't exactly seem excited (which she couldn't blame him for, her primary thought was to be outright terrified herself), he had stuck by her, letting her know that he would be there for her, even helping her some mornings when she had been stuck in the bathroom being sick. If she could have seen herself now weeks ago sat out in the gardens of Malfoy Manor with her Aunts, mark on display and hand on her belly, she would have laughed and thought it ridiculous.

"So, Dora?" Narcissa smiled sweetly at the girl, it was a look Nymphadora had seen far too many times; she knew her Aunt was prying, "How are you feeling?"

"Good," Dora said automatically, smiling back at the woman, "apart from being sick and a bit tired, I'm good."

"Wait until your feet are swelling, your back hurts and you're begging for the agony of childbirth just to get it over with," Bellatrix murmured.

"Bella!" Narcissa hissed, "You'll scare the poor girl. Dora, pregnancy can be a beautiful thing if you let it be."

"I'm fine," Dora breathed, though she was sure her hair had gone a shade paler, "she's said worse."

"Well," Bellatrix shrugged, "I only speak the truth."

"You must be excited to be a mother, no?" Narcissa asked, "It really is a wonderful thing, Dora."

"Yes," Dora smiled, "it is exciting . . ."

Bellatrix sighed, flinching as a spell she had put on her daughter's cot alerted her that she had woken up, "Delphi's due a feed, I'll leave you two ladies to it,"

With that Bellatrix raised from her seat, barely giving the two witches a second glance as she walked back into the manor. Narcissa looked at her niece carefully, staring at her face until the girl turned to face her, a forced smile on her lips.

"What?" Dora asked.

"Are you excited?" Narcissa asked again.

"Yes," Dora nodded.

"It would be okay if you weren't," Narcissa said gently, "you're young, well not much younger than I was with Draco but still . . . you're unmarried, we're in the middle of a war and with both you and Barty being Death Eaters . . ."

"I'm terrified," Dora said simply, the smile disappearing from her face as she raised her eyebrows at her Aunt, "Is that what you wanted to hear? I'm terrified, overwhelmed and a million other emotions all at once that have me crying one minute, laughing the next and then making me want to go on a little killing spree straight after. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"Well," Narcissa sighed, moving to sit closer to her niece as she put a reassuring hand on her own, "not exactly, but I didn't want you to lie . . . You can talk to me, Dora. You can talk to Bella too you know."

Dora shook her head, "She has enough on her plate right now . . . Besides . . . I—" Dora shook her head, "I'm an idiot. This is all my fault, I'm useless as a Death Eater for the foreseeable future, I just—"

"You're scared you've disappointed her?" Narcissa asked, sighing when Dora gave a small nod, "You know, you don't have to work to please her all of the time."

"I don't!" Dora snapped, flinching slightly as her Aunt jumped ever so slightly, "Sorry . . ."

"Don't be," Narcissa said, "hormones are a terrible thing to play on one's emotions."

"Tell me about it," Dora mumbled.

"How is Barty taking all of this?" Narcissa asked.

"He . . ." Dora thought for a moment before she shrugged, "he's good . . . I think he's terrified too. I was worried he wasn't going to stick around to be perfectly honest but he seems to have come around to the idea. He's even started talking about names."

"Oh?" Narcissa smiled, "Any good ones?"

"Not really," Dora sighed, "I told him he could pick if it was a boy, I'd pick if it was a girl . . . but I haven't had a chance to think about that yet."

"Well, you should," Narcissa squeezed the girls hands, "get some inspiration, I think you'll feel a little better once you can put a name to the child."

"Maybe . . ."

"There's old star charts and the likes in the library . . ."

"Isn't that the Black tradition?" Dora frowned slightly, "Star names? Like Andromeda, Bellatrix, Cygnus . . ."

"Alphard, Orion, Sirius . . . Yes, but there are some exceptions to the rule. Narcissa, for example, though I think my mother decided I looked more Rosier than Black when I was born." Narcissa let out a small laugh before she looked back to the girl, "You don't have to. The child will be a Crouch . . . but you have Black blood . . . it's just a place to start. Get your mind off of the more daunting things and look towards the more pretty things, such as names, furniture, clothes—"

"Is this you angling for a trip to Diagon?" Dora smirked.

"Well, I could do with some new dresses, I suppose," Narcissa shrugged, smiling as the girl laughed, "You'll be a brilliant mother, Dora, I know it. Just have faith in yourself."

"Thanks . . ." Dora smiled despite herself, looking down to her stomach for a moment before she gave a deep sigh and got up from her seat, "I'm going to go lay down for a bit, I didn't sleep much last night."

"Okay," Narcissa nodded, "I'll see you later."

Nymphadora agreed and then with another smile to her Aunt she walked back in the manor. Though as soon as she got in out of the summer's heat she decided she did not want to go back to her room, instead she headed for the library. The Malfoy library was just as elegant as the rest of the Manor, with hardwood floors, portraits of many an ancestor or powerful witch or wizard in history, plush armchairs alongside a delicate emerald green chaise longue, all accompanied by row upon row of books. She hesitated for a moment before she went to sit at the small table in the middle of the room, taking a seat and drawing her wand as she summoned the scrolls of star charts from the corner of the room.

Nymphadora was laid on her bed hours later, sighing as she drew her wand and cast a cooling spell on the room as she cursed the summer's heat. She was sure she was bound to miss it in a few days' time when the heat was replaced by rain again, as was the way with British weather, but right now she was content to let herself get thoroughly annoyed at it. She was just considering going and having a freezing cold shower to try and cool down further when her door opened.

"Hello, Barty," Dora smiled, sitting up to meet him as he walked over and kissed her, "you smell like fire," she frowned.

"I've been out," Barty shrugged, sliding onto the bed to sit beside Nymphadora.

"Where was my invite?" Dora pouted.

"Boys only," Barty smirked, "we went to blow off some steam."

"Right," Dora sighed.

". . . I found you that drink you've been craving though," Barty said, going into his robes and pulling out a bottle of diet coke.

"Oh god," Dora groaned, taking the bottle and quickly opening it, Barty couldn't help but laugh as she took a moment to savour the taste, "I don't know why, this is amazing though. I love you right now."

"You're welcome . . ." Barty considered the woman for a moment before he spoke again, "Should we be married?"

Nymphadora choked immediately as she tried to swallow her drink, coughing viciously for a moment before she eventually managed to calm herself. "What?" she squeaked.

"Should we be married?" Barty repeated, more slowly now, a small smirk on his lips at the shocked reaction of the woman.

"Is that you proposing?" Dora asked uncertainly.

"No!" Barty shook his head, taking a deep breath before he carried on, "I mean . . . no."

"Good."

"Wouldn't want to marry this handsome man, hmm?" Barty joked.

Dora bit her lip, thinking for a moment. It was true she wouldn't be adverse to the idea, perhaps even a month ago she would have gladly accepted a proposal, but something didn't feel quite right. With a deep breath, she shook her head. "Not for the sake of a baby," she smiled sadly.

There was an awkward silence. Barty merely nodded his head, turning his wand over in his hands as he stared at the floor. Dora took another sip of her drink, for a gap in the silence if anything. She looked to the man for a moment and then stood from her bed, putting her drink on the bedside table.

"I was thinking of Cassiopeia for a name, if it's a girl," Dora said, looking back down at Barty, watching his face intently for a reaction.

"Cassiopeia?" Barty asked, Dora nodding in confirmation, "Like the star? Attempting to carry on the Black tradition?"

"We could call her Cassie for short." Dora shrugged.

"I like it . . ." Barty grinned, "But I still get to pick the name if it's a boy?"

"As long as it isn't utterly ridiculous," Dora smirked.

"Well, there goes Digbert."

Nymphadora laughed, "I'm considering revoking your child naming rights, Barty."

"Fine, fine," Barty smirked, taking the witches hands in his own and pulling her down to sit on her lap, "we better brainstorm together then," he murmured as he leant forward and kissed the woman's neck. She giggled, wrapping her arms around him as they spent the rest of their day in her room, doing a little more than just thinking of baby names.

It was nearing the Christmas holidays and Nymphadora now found it near impossible to hide the fact that she was pregnant. It wasn't as though she was in the same situation as her Aunt had been, it did no harm for fellow Death Eaters or anyone for that matter to know that she was pregnant. Though the odd snide comment she heard when around others, the odd look of terror she received when recognised in public followed by the shock if someone realised her bump, the mere inability to wear some of her old robes . . . it was all driving her mad, she soon realised that her Aunt had been right when she said disguising the child with magic was uncomfortable or she would have given in to doing just that. But still it bothered her.

She was sat in a small meeting, an unusually small one in fact, with merely herself, Rodolphus, Rabastan and Snape in attendance. She shuffled awkwardly in her seat, wishing more than anything that she had remembered to go to the toilet before she went to the meeting as she cursed the baby for making her need the toilet all of the time now. Rodolphus shot her a look as if to silently tell her to stop her movements, she blushed slightly but was about to snap that she could not help herself when the door opened and each of them quickly stood to attention.

"Morning all," the sickly sweet voice of Bellatrix Lestrange echoed throughout the room, followed by a short giggle as she walked to the front of the group to address them.

"Where's The Dark Lord?" Rabastan frowned.

"Far too busy to give you the time of day, Rab," Bellatrix smirked, letting her gaze linger on Snape for a moment as he rolled his eyes before she took a deep breath and continued, "he's told me to pass along his instruction to you though. Snape, I really don't know why you're here,"

"I was summoned," Snape drawled, "Are you questioning The Dark Lord, Bellatrix?"

Bellatrix snarled, glaring at him as her hand twitched to her wand for a moment, though after a slight pause she merely shook her head and carried on, apparently deciding to ignore the man, "The Hogwarts Express has just left Hogsmeade, ready to take all the ickle students back home for Christmas. Ready to celebrate with their families, safe and sound . . . except for one. Rabastan, Rodolphus, Nymphadora, you three are to intercept the train and retrieve one, bring her back here."

"Who?" Dora asked, returning her Aunt's smirk.

"Luna Lovegood," Bellatrix shrugged, "her father has been spreading nasty lies and false hopes for the rebels. He needs to be taught a lesson. Snape, make sure she is on that train, then go to meet her father, let him know that such disobedience will not be tolerated."

"How are we supposed to stop the train?" Rabastan frowned.

"You're a wizard, are you not?" Bellatrix asked, a look of amazement at his stupidity, "I don't care how you do it, just do it."

"I know a way," Rodolphus sighed.

"Good," Bellatrix chimed, "now, any more idiotic questions? Snape?"

"Are you coming with us?" Nymphadora asked, sure she had not asked a stupid question but she realised the flinch her Aunt gave as she tried to stop herself rolling her eyes.

"No," Bellatrix said calmly, smirking at the girl, "you can lead this one."

"Me?" Dora asked.

"Yes . . ." Bellatrix mused, "now go. Dora, come and find me when the girl is safely locked away in the cellar."

Bellatrix did not wait for a response, not glancing at any of them as she near enough skipped from the room. Snape was no better, looking to the three remaining Death Eaters for a moment before he went from the room.

"Well then, Nymphie," Rabastan huffed, "You're in charge."

"Don't sound so jealous," Dora smirked, "come on."

After Nymphadora had made sure to use the toilet (cursing her seemingly shrinking bladder all the while), they quickly left the manor. Nymphadora instructed them to disaparate to a point in the tracks that the Hogwarts Express was to arrive in shortly, a flat area in the countryside with not a single building or living creature to be seen. She instructed Rabastan to go to the other side of the track, Rodolphus would stop the train and then come to cover the other side of the tracks. With the pair of them on watch she was sure no student could escape The Hogwarts Express. Though she had more plans in place for this if needed. Rodolphus did briefly wonder aloud as to if it was wise to enter the train alone, but Nymphadora laughed. The mere sight of a Death Eater such as herself should soon strike fear into the students and they would not be likely to retaliate, but she agreed she would signal for help if needed merely to shut Rodolphus up.

As the distant puffs of white smoke from the scarlet steam train made an appearance in the distance Nymphadora smirked, nodding to Rodolphus as he fell into position. The train soon came speeding into view and Nymphadora could not help but look from the train to the man on the tracks in anticipation, biting her lip as she was sure the train would get to him before he could even attempt to slow it. But he raised his hand, concentrating intensely as the train seemed to lose its speed.

The train stopped, Rodolphus looking to Nymphadora for a moment before with a silent nod she made her way to the train. She could see the children at the windows, their eyes widening in fright as some scrambled away. She ignored it, reaching a door to a compartment and with a quick flick of her wand she tore it open.

There were three children in the carriage she had chosen, none looked older than thirteen and one of the Gryffindor's seemed to be sporting a fresh scar on their cheek as he glared up at her defiantly. She shook her head at the notion and carried on in her pursuit walking into the main walkway of the train. There was an older Hufflepuff girl stood at the window of the next compartment, quickly pulled back by her companion. It seemed to be more of the same as she walked down the train, some students staring, others cowering further back into their compartments, though a few older students smirked or cheered as they noticed her and she recognised them to be children of Death Eaters. She was starting to wonder where on earth this Lovegood girl was hiding when a familiar blonde head emerged into the walkway.

"Draco," Dora smiled, "how are you?"

"Fine," the boy said, though his voice was strained and he quickly glanced at her drawn wand, "why are you here?"

"Orders," Dora shrugged, a slow smirk falling onto her lips, "care to help?"

Draco hesitated for a moment before he gave a small nod, "What are you doing?"

"Fetching," Dora said simply, aware that the playful nature of her Aunt Bellatrix had somehow rubbed off on her as she grinned, "looking for Lovegood, Luna Lovegood. Know where she is?"

"Why do you want her?" Draco frowned.

"Questions are for after." Dora said, "If I take too long Rab and Rod may get a little worried and come looking for me."

"Right," Draco said, paling slightly, "she's down the end I think. With Weasley, come on."

"Ronald Weasley?" Dora frowned, following the boy to the back of the train.

"No, his equally annoying sister," Draco murmured, stopping short of the last carriage door.

Dora peered around the boy, smirking as she recognised the two faces within, the red-haired girl glaring furiously at her as Luna merely stared at her with a questioning look. She stepped forward, passing Draco as she pulled open the door to the compartment.

"Well, looky who we have here," Dora raised an eyebrow, leaning on the frame of the door as she pointed her wand in their general direction, "I believe we've met before. Briefly though, shame, we must catch up."

Ginny continued her furious glare, her hand discreetly going to the depths of her robes for her wand though she wasn't quick enough as Nymphadora quickly accio'd the wood and dropped it at her feet.

"Now now, play nice." Dora rolled her eyes, "It's not you I've come for Weasel. Not today."

"I won't let you hurt Luna!" Ginny said, standing up in front of her friend.

"It's okay, Ginny," Luna said, an airy tone about her voice as she looked to Draco and then Nymphadora.

"It's not okay," Ginny near enough growled.

"Well, it's going to happen either way so I suggest you step aside little girl and let me get on with my business here," Dora sighed.

"Step aside, Weasley," Draco said from behind Dora, his own wand now drawn but not pointed at anyone.

"Is this about The Quibbler?" Luna asked, looking up to Dora with an eerie calmness.

"I'd say it was safe to assume so," Dora took a step forward, smirking as Ginny didn't move an inch. She reached out her free hand, letting out a huff of laughter as she grabbed her chin and leant in so that their noses were practically touching, "You know, your family are skating on thin ice little lady, just one more toe out of line and . . ." she grinned Ginny flinched, "best to keep in line, isn't it?"

She let go of the girl, pushing her slightly as she went to pass her. The sudden sharp sting and echo of a slap was almost enough to throw the older witch off guard, gasping in shock that the girl had the nerve to do it more than the pain of it as she watched the girl scramble to get to her wand. She kicked out her foot to connect with her stomach, watching the girl fly backwards as her friend jumped out of the way just in time in order to stop herself being flattened.

"Naughty!" Nymphadora growled, "Crucio!"

Screams rebounded off of the walls, the cries of the red-haired girl combining with the yells of fright in the distance from students who feared what they could only imagine was happening. She watched as the little girl twisted and turned on the floor, clawing at her robes for some sense of relief. She let the girl struggle for a few moments longer before she released her spell, closing the small gap between them and snarling as she leant over her exhausted form.

"I'll let you have one," Dora hissed, "you've got guts."

Ginny glared up at her despite her pain as she panted for breath, knowing that it was useless to fight her she merely watched as Nymphadora grabbed the arm of her friend.

"Lock her in here and keep the rest of the train in line, Draco," Dora said, still sneering down at the young girl, "I'll see you later for dinner, perhaps I'll let you join in on the fun with this one."

To her surprise Luna Lovegood did not struggle, letting her pull her to the nearest exit and watching her throw the door open. She merely let out a yell of surprise as she was thrown out of the train and onto the mud before them. It wasn't long until the train started up again, Rodolphus and Rabastan at her side.

"Lock her in the cellar," Dora commanded, "I have better things to be doing than wasting my time on her."

With that Nymphadora disapparated, arriving back at the manor she made sure that the other two had arrived with their newest prisoner before she strode off to report to her Aunt.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed, please do leave a review if you have a moment :)

The Purple Black