A/N: This takes place after Harry Potter and The Cursed Child. I always loved Delphi's character and felt she could have been redeemed if given the chance. That being said please enjoy!
In the biting wind, waves lashed against the craggy rocks, spraying saltwater up and over the imposing stone edifice of Azkaban. The fortress that had housed generations of dark witches and wizards stood just as menacing as ever. For 19-year-old James Sirius Potter, it seemed to loom even larger. It was his first day as an Auror, a role he'd dreamed about since his father had told him stories of his own time in the job.
As James stepped through the portkey, Auror Dean Thomas welcomed him. Dean, tall and broad-shouldered with a no-nonsense aura about him, was the head of Azkaban. He clapped a hand on James' back, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Welcome to the big leagues, Potter."
James nodded, attempting to match Dean's casual demeanor, though his heart pounded in his chest. He had trained rigorously for this, had prepared for every scenario, every curse, and every hex imaginable. Yet nothing could quell the mixture of excitement and fear at the prospect of facing the daunting stone fortress.
As he entered the echoing halls, Dean began the tour of the prison. The lower floors housed petty criminals, a motley crew of smugglers, thieves, and low-level dark wizards who would be rehabilitated and released back into the wizarding world eventually. But as they ascended, the cells grew darker, colder, housing witches and wizards of increasingly disturbing reputations.
Finally, Dean led him to the highest floor. "This is where we keep the most dangerous," he said, his voice carrying an uncharacteristic hint of gravity. James swallowed, stepping forward to look into the cells. It was here, behind heavy enchanted bars, that he saw her - Delphini Riddle, daughter of Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange.
Despite her lineage, James found himself taken aback by her appearance. She was undeniably beautiful with her sharp features softened by silver-blue tipped hair that fell past her shoulders. Delphi looked up, and her eyes, a striking icy dark brown, met his.
"I didn't know Potter had another son," she said, her voice smooth and surprisingly pleasant, but laced with a biting coldness. She tilted her head, studying him. "Or are you just an overly obsessed fan?"
James blinked, taken aback. He knew of Delphi's story from his father, knew about the powerful dark magic that coursed through her veins. Yet, he was still taken aback by the reality of it - the calm, collected veneer she maintained despite her incarceration.
"I'm real," he finally responded, a flicker of defiance in his voice. "And I'm not my father. I'm James Sirius Potter, the new Auror in charge of this block."
Delphi chuckled, a sound that sent chills down James' spine, but he stood his ground. He was an Auror now, and this was his job. He was here to guard and protect, not to be swayed by captivating prisoners.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. As James finished his rounds and left the prison, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of intrigue. His first day as an Auror had been more challenging than he'd ever expected - and yet, he couldn't wait for what was to come.
After a long day at Azkaban, James returned home to his parents. As he stepped into the warmth of the Potter household, the cold stone walls of the prison felt like a distant memory.
"James!" his mother, Ginny, exclaimed, wrapping him in a hug. "How was your first day?"
"It was…" He paused, hunting for the right words. "Intense. Different."
"And your assignment?" Harry queried from his armchair, lowering the Daily Prophet he was reading.
"I'm on the highest floor," James said. "Including Delphi Riddle's cell."
At the mention of Delphi's name, he noticed his father's hand tightened on the armrest. Harry's face grew solemn, his green eyes darkening with a distant unease. "That's… that's a tough assignment, James."
James nodded, the gravity of his new responsibility washing over him afresh. He excused himself, retreating to his room, the image of Delphi's icy dark brown eyes haunting him.
The following morning, James returned to Azkaban, this time with a newfound determination. He knew his job was far from easy, and his parents' reaction had only underscored its importance. Still, he was a Potter. And he had a job to do.
James was a people person - he enjoyed conversation, thrived on interaction. The silence and the monotony of guarding the cells began to wear him down. As he was performing his daily checks, he found himself looking at Delphi once again, her beauty still as striking as the day before.
Delphi looked up from the book she was reading, catching him off guard. "What are you staring at, Auror Potter?" she asked, her voice echoing in the chilling quiet of the prison cell.
James faltered for a moment, before recovering his poise. "Just making sure you're not planning any grand escape, Riddle."
Her laugh echoed through the stone corridor, cold yet mesmerizing. "Even if I were, Potter, you'd be the last person I'd reveal my plan to."
Their exchange left James on edge, but he pushed his unease aside. His duty lay not in banter with inmates but in securing the prison and its notorious inhabitants. He refocused his attention back to his tasks. As he moved on, he couldn't help but look back one more time. Delphi had returned to her book, but there was a smirk on her face that James couldn't shake off.
For the remainder of his shift, he remained vigilant, but his interactions with Delphi lingered in the back of his mind. His first week as an Auror was proving more challenging, and more intriguing, than he'd ever anticipated. He could only wonder what the days to come would hold for him.
The incessant drone of James Sirius Potter's voice filled the otherwise silent stone hallways of Azkaban. Delphi Riddle found herself at the end of her tether. She had grown used to the silence, had learned to find comfort in the quiet monotony of her cell. But now, this new Auror had disrupted her peaceful solitude.
James was in the middle of regaling her with a particularly uninteresting tale about his time at Hogwarts when Delphi finally cut him off. "Why are you talking to me, Potter?" Her icy voice bounced off the stone walls, the crisp sound shocking the young Auror into silence.
James blinked, his mouth opening and closing as he searched for words. "Well, I... I thought it might...make the time go faster," he stammered, his confidence wavering under her piercing gaze.
Delphi snorted. "I'm a prisoner, Potter, not a friend. I don't need your stories or your company. I need silence."
His face flushed, but he nodded, taking a step back from her cell. For the remainder of his shift, he maintained a respectful silence, filling out his reports and keeping a vigilant watch on the cells.
All the while, Delphi retreated back into her silent musings. She was haunted by a burning hatred for his father, Harry Potter, the man who had thwarted her plans, who had denied her the chance to meet her father, Lord Voldemort. She loathed his brother Albus, who she had tried to use as a pawn in her game, only for him to betray her in the end.
Delphi's heart yearned for vengeance against the Potter family. She had been denied her birthright, had been denied her destiny by them. In the oppressive quiet of Azkaban, her dreams of revenge grew, seeping into the stone walls and echoing back at her.
For Delphi, James was simply a representation of what she loathed most - the Potter family. His incessant chatter was a constant reminder of her defeat, of her incarceration. Despite this, she found herself watching him, studying him. Not because she found him interesting, but because he was a Potter. And she could never know when that information might come in handy.
So, she let him talk, let him fill the silence with his tales and chatter. For now, it was a small price to pay for the knowledge she might gain. And as she watched him from her cell, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of anticipation. After all, she was a Riddle, and she had time. She had all the time in the world to plot, to plan, and to dream of her revenge.
James Sirius Potter had a knack for saying exactly what was on his mind. It was a trait that had earned him popularity and occasional scorn in equal measures at Hogwarts. With a reckless grin and a dash of that old Potter charm, he had been the quintessential ladies' man.
However, there were certain situations where his candor might not have been the best policy. This became starkly apparent as he blurted out an observation to Delphi Riddle during one of his rounds.
"You know, you're... kind of hot," he said, his eyes widening as soon as the words escaped his lips. He hadn't meant to say it aloud; it was a thought that had simply slipped out. But in the echoing silence of the high-security wing of Azkaban, his words hung in the air, reverberating off the cold stone walls.
Delphi, who had been absently studying the worn-out pages of her book, looked up sharply. If looks could kill, James would have dropped dead then and there. Her icy dark brown eyes flashed dangerously, her mouth pressing into a thin line.
"Excuse me?" Her voice was dangerously low, her eyes never leaving his. The chill that ran down James' spine had nothing to do with the drafty corridors of Azkaban.
"I... uh," James stammered, heat rising to his cheeks. He was an Auror. He was supposed to be professional. He was not supposed to be commenting on the attractiveness of the inmates, especially not one who was the daughter of the most feared Dark wizard in history. "Sorry, that was out of line."
"You think?" Delphi's voice dripped with sarcasm. She was not a woman to be objectified, especially not by a Potter. She didn't need his flattery or his awkward compliments. She needed him to do his job, maintain his professionalism, and most importantly, stay out of her personal space.
James cleared his throat, taking a step back from her cell, a regretful expression etched on his face. He had a job to do, and it didn't involve making cringe-worthy comments to the inmates.
Delphi turned back to her book, an eerie calm settling over her. James, for his part, carried on with his duties, his cheeks still burning with embarrassment. He made a mental note to hold his tongue in the future, lest he make an even bigger fool of himself.
As the day wore on, he couldn't shake off the incident. It was a stark reminder that he was no longer the reckless Hogwarts student but an Auror with responsibilities. He had a lot to learn, and hopefully, the remainder of his assignment at Azkaban would provide him with the lessons he needed.
Back at the Potter residence, James was greeted by Albus, his younger brother, who had been waiting for him in the living room. Albus was the quieter of the two, more introspective, and had a first-hand experience with Delphi that still haunted him.
"You're guarding Delphi Riddle's floor?" Albus asked, his voice carrying an undercurrent of concern.
James nodded, grabbing a butterbeer from the fridge. "Yeah, she's... interesting."
Albus frowned, his eyebrows furrowing. "James, be careful around her. She's dangerous. I've seen what she's capable of."
James snorted, taking a sip of his drink. "Albus, I'm an Auror. I'm trained to deal with danger." Yet, he couldn't shake off the look of concern in his brother's eyes, reminding himself to be more vigilant.
Meanwhile, within the stark walls of her cell in Azkaban, Delphi was battling with her own thoughts. She lay on the uncomfortable cot, staring up at the ceiling, her mind replaying the day's events.
She thought about James' comment, his words echoing in her mind. She was well aware of her ability to charm men. She had manipulated Albus Potter effortlessly, after all. But Albus had been naive, inexperienced with women beyond his own mother, and easily swayed by her.
However, hearing someone else voice their attraction, especially someone as seemingly unattainable as James Sirius Potter, was different. She hated to admit it, but he was quite good looking. An unwelcome thought, one that she immediately shook off. She couldn't afford to be distracted by such superficial matters. She had more pressing things to dwell on, like her revenge.
Yet, in the darkness of her cell, the compliment nagged at her. It was an annoyance, an unexpected disturbance in her carefully maintained emotional armor. With a frustrated sigh, she forced the thoughts away, focusing instead on the rhythmic dripping of water somewhere in the distant corridors. She was Delphini Riddle, daughter of Voldemort and Bellatrix, and she wouldn't allow the likes of James Sirius Potter to disrupt her resolve.
Back in the comfort of the Potter residence, James too was lost in thought. Despite his bravado, Albus' words had struck a chord. As he lay in bed that night, he couldn't help but ponder the complexities of his new assignment, the silent warnings of his brother, and the unexpected intricacies of Delphi Riddle.
A/N: Please feel free to review and let me know what you think!