Sirius smiled softly as Lucius slid into bed beside them, offering a sense of calm and warmth to the moment. Rodolphus, feeling safe and content, drifted off to sleep, instinctively snuggling closer to Regulus. Regulus wrapped his arms around him protectively, mindful of Rodolphus and the baby.

Time Skip:

Six months had passed, and Rodolphus's pregnancy was now more visible. Despite his condition, his mother, Ginger, had been relentless, making repeated attempts to reach him, each one more forceful than the last.

One afternoon, Rodolphus was resting in the garden, enjoying a rare moment of peace when he spotted her storming toward him. His muscles tensed, and he quickly stood, determined not to be caught off guard. She closed the distance between them in no time.

"Ginger, how dare you do this to me?" she shouted, her voice dripping with venom.

"Please, leave," Rodolphus replied, his tone firm but weary.

"You are coming home now. You will get rid of that... thing, and marry the person I choose!" she demanded, her eyes blazing with anger.

Rodolphus backed up, shaking his head. "No, I'm not. You need to leave me alone."

But Ginger moved closer, and before he could react, she slapped him hard across the face, the sharp sound reverberating through the garden.

Rodolphus froze, his hand flying to his cheek as shock and pain overwhelmed him. Instinctively, he reached for his wand, quickly sending a signal for help.

Within moments, Sirius came sprinting out, his face livid. He placed himself between Rodolphus and Ginger, his voice shaking with anger. "How dare you touch your own child like that!" he shouted.

Tom was next, appearing with a fierce glare directed at Ginger. "I warned you to stay away," he said coldly. With a flick of his wand, he summoned Death Eaters to take her to the dungeons. "You will not lay another finger on him."

Turning to Rodolphus, his expression softened. "Are you alright?"

Rodolphus exhaled shakily, still holding his cheek but trying to calm himself. "I'm fine. Just… shocked, that's all."

Lucius and Regulus rushed out moments later, both of them clearly alarmed. Regulus immediately wrapped a comforting arm around Rodolphus, while Lucius checked him over for any further signs of injury.

"We're here," Regulus said softly, his eyes filled with concern. "You're safe now."

Lucius nodded, his jaw clenched. "We won't let her near you again, I promise."

Rodolphus gave them a small, grateful smile, feeling the weight of their support. He leaned into Regulus's embrace, letting the tension slowly ease from his body.