The house, if one could really call the vast estate such a thing, was so quiet that anyone would be hard pressed to believe that it was home to a set of twin two-year-old girls. Such little evidence of the children would lead one to believe that the couple who lived in the manor were still enjoying a child-free lifestyle.
If such a person were to venture further into the home, up the stairs and down the corridor of the family wing, they'd be surprised to hear the light giggles and shrieks of a couple of toddlers. If that same individual were to open the set of double doors across from the master suite, a brightly decorated nursery would be found. On the floor of the aforementioned nursery, sat on a soft rug, two wildly curly headed little girls, hair pulled into fluffy buns at the crown of their heads, would sit, toys scattered about (some even floating in the air around the two).
One of the girls bore her father's auburn hair and her mother's stormy grey eyes. The other child inherited the opposite features of their parents, brown hair so dark it could be mistaken as black and bright hazel eyes. Apart from their differences in hair and eye coloring, the girls were nearly identical. A smattering of freckles dusted each of their noses, another inheritance from their father. One could argue that that was where their resemblance to the man stopped, in fact they were almost miniatures of their mother otherwise.
On the evening that we find the girls, someone does open those double doors. A feminine figure floated gracefully into the room, wild curls barely contained in the braided style atop her head and shimmering as if they were filled with magic. The red headed toddler was immediately jumping to her feet at the sight of the woman.
"Mama!" The girl's exclamation caught the attention of her sister, who stands to follow her twin's lead. The toys which had been in the air dropped to the floor, gravity taking them back into the fold once more.
A smile broke out across the woman's face as she crouched on the round rug before them. "Hello, my little stars." Their mother's hands cupped the cheek of each child. "Oh my darlings, how much I missed you. An hour away is still too much."
The children threw their small arms around their mother's neck as she gathered them close and stood.
"Bella, it's as if you ran through the manor to get here." A man's voice sounded from the doorway, a chuckle followed his words as he gazed upon his wife and children.
"Oh, Rod, I couldn't bear to be away from them for a moment more, especially knowing we're immediately leaving them all over again." 'Bella's' grey gaze looked upon her daughters fondly, a hint of melancholy lingering in her eyes.
"Papa! I wan' hold me!" The brunette toddler spoke this time, reaching out for her father from her mother's arms. The auburn haired man crossed the room in quick strides, scooping the small girl into his arms and spinning her around.
"Oh my little Lyra Bell! Such a daddy's girl, you are." The grin upon his face took away any of the bite the man's words may have had.
"Hmph! I supposed Lyra can be yours as long as our Cassiopeia remains a mum's girl." At her mother's words, the little girl leaned forward and placed a sloppy kiss upon the woman's cheek. "There's a girl, my little star." The older woman laughed, lightly tickling the toddler's stomach.
"I thought I might find you all here." The attention of the room's occupants turned toward the door once more, finding a man that looked identical to the girls' father.
"Unc'!" The toddlers shouted in tandem, struggling down from their respective parent's arms. The man was almost tackled as two blurs of light purple robes hurtled into his knees.
"There's my little firecrackers!" The children were swung into the air, each landing on one of the man's hips.
"Abandoned by my own children!" 'Rod' moved to his wife, wrapping his arms about her waist from behind. "And by the lesser Lestrange at that!" He buried his face in the woman's neck, feigning tears.
The toddlers looked between the two men, obviously worried at their father's state. The red headed girl, 'Cassiopeia,' patted her uncle's shoulder. "Unc' Rab, say sorry!"
The man pretended to look affronted before letting his nieces slide to the floor. Overdramatically, 'Rab' threw himself at his brother's feet. "Oh great Rodolphus! Won't you ever forgive me, for I know not what I do!" The girls clutched each other as they giggled at their uncle's dramatics.
Lifting his head from the shoulder of his bemused wife, Rodoplus pushed back his shoulders and drew a stick from the pocket of his robes. "Rabastan, I challenge you to a wizards duel! The victor will win the hearts of these fair maidens."
The younger brother jumped to his feet, pulling his own stick of wood. "Accepte-"
"And that's enough of that!" The sticks flew from the wizards' hands and into the grasp of Bella. "Gentlemen do not fight in front of children." The woman raised her nose into the air.
"Bellatrix, if I didn't know any better, I would say that you're Narcissa in disguise." Rodolphus chuckled as he plucked his wand from his wife's fingers, tucking it back into his pocket.
"Well, you do know better. Cissy would have had many more words to say if you two drew wands in front of the girls." The witch swept past the men, crouching before her daughters once more. "Little stars, do you want to stay the night with your Auntie Cissa and Uncle Luci? Cousin Draco is excited to see you."
"Drakey!" Cassiopeia exclaimed as 'Lyra' nodded her head fervently.
"Go now, Mama!" The twins spoke together as they each took a hand and began pulling their mother toward the door of their room. Bellatrix let out a light laugh as she followed, men trailing behind them as they continued their sibling squabble.
The group of wixen made their way down the stairs and to a parlor, fire glowing in the hearth. Rodolphus stepped forward, snatching Cassiopeia into his arms. Bellatrix lifted Lyra as her husband took a handful of greenish gold powder, turning back to his waiting brother.
"Rab, we'll be back shortly. Once we drop the girls off, the three of us will meet with Barty and make our move." After Rabastan gave a mock salute, he proceeded to fall back into an armchair to wait. The wizard tossed the glittering powder into the flames, causing them to turn emerald. Allowing his wife to step through the fire first, Rodolphus followed with a toddler in tow. "Malfoy Manor!"
The couple stepped out of a large marble mantel, into a posh looking sitting room. "Cissy!" Bellatrix called out as she walked briskly from the room, her husband following.
"Aun' Cissha!" Lyra called in the same tone as her mother, gripping the witch's lilac robes in her little fists.
Cassiopeia struggled down from her father's arms, running ahead of the group. "Unc' Luci! Drakey!" The small girl ran down the corridor, disappearing through a doorway with an excited shriek.
"Cassiopeia Druella, do not run in the manor!" Rodolphus shook his head with a smile, knowing that the words would have no effect on either of his toddlers, he and his wife were more likely to spoil than punish them.
The couple and their remaining daughter entered the room that the rambunctious toddler had run to. The girl had climbed up onto a sofa next to a woman with fair blonde hair, pulled into a neat knot at the nape of her neck, who had a hand resting on her protruding stomach as she nodded along to the animated speech of Cassiopeia. A man with long, flaxen hair sat on the floor in front of the couch, a fair skinned toddler, younger than the Lestrange twins, played on a blanket before him.
"Cassie, don't bother your Aunt Narcissa too much darling, she's busy growing your baby cousin at the moment." Bellatrix's chastisement was much too soft toned to have had much effect on her rambling child. Lyra scrambled down from her father's arms, joining her uncle and younger cousin on the floor. The girl proceeded to show the little boy how to build a solid base for a block tower. The adults smiled fondly at the sight, amusement on their lips as the toddlers took turns placing blocks, some by hand and some by levitation.
"Leave her be, Trixie. Cassiopeia is only regaling her new cousin and I with the tales of her afternoon." 'Narcissa' brushed a gentle, gloved hand over her niece's cheek, smiling widely as the child snuggled into her side, throwing a small arm over her pregnant belly.
"Take a seat, Bellatrix, Rodolphus." The man on the floor gestured to the other seatings with one arm, the other resting behind his son's back. "The girls and Draco can play for a few more moments before bed."
Rodolphus shook his head, wrapping an arm around his wife's waist. "Sorry, Lucius, but Bella and I really must be going if we're to make our appointment tonight."
'Lucius' nodded, a look of understanding crossing his features. Narcissa sat up slightly, hugging the niece in her lap closer as worry covered her face. "Are you sure you must do this tonight, Trixie? What if something goes wrong? The girls need you now more than ever after the fall of High Lord Slytherin. They've already lost their godfather, don't let them lose anyone else."
"We have to do this, Cissy." Bella sighed, casting longing looks at her daughters. "The Longbottoms must have some knowledge of what went down that night. High Lord Slytherin could never have fallen to a mere toddler, a boy younger than Draco." The witch gestured to her nephew as she spoke, the blond boy in question squealing in surprise as his and Lyra's tower fell. "Something more must have gone on. Our lord can't really be gone."
There was a tense silence in the room for a moment before the blonde witch nodded in defeat. "I suppose so, Bellatrix. But please, don't take unnecessary risks. Make sure that you and Rodolphus come back to us."
"Of course we'll come back, Narcissa. I'd rather die than be parted from Lyra and Cassie." The auburn haired father glanced between his daughters as he spoke for his wife, uncertainty flashed through his gaze before he straightened with resolve. "Now, we better get going before our plan is behind schedule. We'll be back in time to have breakfast with you all in the morning."
"Girls! Come give mum a hug!" Bellatrix knelt to the floor, arms open in invitation to the twins.
"Mama!" Lyra was the first to make it to her, Cassiopeia having to clamber down from her seat with her aunt. The older witch wrapped both of her daughters in her arms, hugging them tightly to her.
"Mama loves you, my stars." She placed a kiss on the crown of their heads. "Papa and I will be back in the morning. Be good for your aunt and uncle, and gentle with Cousin Draco. He's still smaller than the two of you."
A similar goodbye was given to their father before the wixen left, the twin witches taking seats on the blanket to play with their cousin. The blond couple shared a look over the heads of their son and nieces, a foreboding feel having taken up residence in their chests.
-
It was well past midnight, in the wee hours of the morning, when an elf-like creature appeared in the master suite of Malfoy Manor, waking the blond witch and wizard with a start.
"Smidgen? What's happened? Are the children alright?" Narcissa's voice was shrill with worry, despite just having woken, as her and her husband sat up in bed. The witch was out of bed and pulling on a dressing gown before 'Smidgen' had a chance to answer.
"There are wizards here to see Master Lucius, Mistress." The elf wrung its hands, something akin to fear on its face. "They bes mentioning the little Misses Cassie and Lyra."
Lucius stood from the bed, following his wife's example. "Cissa, go to the children. I'll greet our guests." He gave a sharp look to her as she opened her mouth to argue. "I will not have Draco and the girls unprotected with strangers in our home. Dobby! Boggle!" Two cracks sounded through the bedroom as two more elves appeared. "Stay with your Mistress. Guard her and the children with your lives." The two creatures bowed before leading the witch from the room. "Smidgen, lead me to our guests ."
By the time Lucius entered the parlor containing the group of wizards, he had fully dressed. Elf by his side, the Malfoy wizard found a strange assortment of people in the sitting room. The strangest being the elderly man, elaborate red and orange robes draped over his body. Behind the wizened wizard stood two men, one was tall with dark skin, a gold earring, and a bald head, the other was shorter but also bald, a dingy trench coat covering his body.
"Gentlemen. What can I possibly help you with this late, or should I say this early." Lucius raised a blond brow, hands perched on the cane before him.
"Ah, Lord Malfoy. How good to see you!" The old man's voice was jovial, though there was a hard glint amidst the twinkle in his periwinkle eyes. The tall wizard glared at Lord Malfoy, the other looked around with an almost hungry gaze. "I'm sorry to intrude on your hospitality at such hours, but Heir Shacklebolt, Mister Fletcher and myself have some unfortunate business to attend to."
Lucius seemed to hold back a sneer at the wizard's presumptuous words. As if he would offer his hospitality to such wixen. "Very well. What business do you have here, Mister Dumbledore?"
'Dumbledore' pulled his lips into a frown, something that others would call sorrow filling his features. Lucius would be more likely to call it concealed glee if he were in better company. "Unfortunately, my boy," Lucius scowled at the familiarity, "I first come bearing bad news. There was an incident earlier this evening at the Longbottom residence. Lord and Lady Longbottom were attacked in their home. It is only by chance that young Heir Longbottom happened to be with his grandmother, Dowager Longbottom, when the attack occurred. Healers are not yet sure if the couple will make a recovery." The wizard shook his head sadly. "Lord and Lady Lestrange, Master Lestrange, and Heir Crouch were apprehended upon the aurors' arrival to the scene. It was gruesome, from what I've been told."
Lord Malfoy tensed, thoughts flashed to his wife and the children upstairs. The twins' parents and uncle, his wife's sister, had been arrested. "I assume they are in Ministry custody, currently?" The blond kept his voice level, not giving any hint of the whirl of emotions inside him.
Mister Dumbledore nodded. "Until a trial takes place, that's where they will remain."
Lucius hummed noncommittally. "Very well, thank you for informing us of the situation so quickly. I will have my house elf, Smidgen, show you gentlemen out."
"Unfortunately, that is only part of the reason we have called upon you so late." A lesser wizard would have mistaken the look in the old man's eyes as sympathy. Lucius was not a lesser wizard, so he fully recognized the self satisfaction in the man's expression. "As Lord and Lady Lestrange had been… incapacitated. The ministry will be taking the young Heiress Lestrange and Lady Cassiopeia into protective custody. We have come to collect them."
Fire filled Lord Malfoy's eyes, the glare he leveled at the gathered wizards was almost lethal. "No."
"I'm sorry, Lucius, but it has already been deci-"
"I said 'no,' Headmaster . The ministry has no right in extricating my nieces from the care of House Malfoy." The grip on his cane tightened as he descended upon the men, knuckles white, ice blue sparks rolling off his person. "Heiress Lestrange and Lady Cassiopeia are both daughters of a main bloodline child of House Black. As my wife is a younger sister to their mother and also a main bloodline child of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, Lady Malfoy and I have the first right to custody where both of them are concerned."
"In normal circumstances, this would be the case, Lucius. Nothing about these last few weeks has been normal. Especially in light of these recent events and your family's involvement in them, forced," the expression on the headmaster's face showed that he did not believe Lord Malfoy had been forced into anything, "or not. Minister Bagnold, Lord Crouch, and myself have decided that removing the girls is the best course of action for the time being."
If he had been raised with a weaker willed etiquette tutor, Lucius would have reeled back as if he had been slapped, as it was, he only paled, face transforming from anger into a blank expression.
Heir Shacklebolt spoke for the first time, voice deep as he stepped forward. "It would be a shame, Lord Malfoy, for the Lestrange twins to be present during the next sweep of your property. As part of your probation, of course."
If possible, the Malfoy lord paled even further. "How long will our nieces be apart from us?" The question was asked in a raspy voice, something near fear almost detected in his tone.
"I'm sure it will only be temporary, Lord Malfoy. Until after their parents' fate has been decided." The look of forced sympathy returned to Dumbledore's face.
Silence reigned over the room for several moments. Eventually, Lucius spoke again. "Smidgen, go collect Heiress Lestrange and Lady Cassiopeia. Dress and bring them here immediately."
The elf looked between the wizards uncertainly before disappearing with a crack. Almost ten, silent minutes passed before the creature reappeared, a sleepy-eyed Lyra holding its hand. Boggle stood beside the two, Cassiopeia holding tight to its hand, much more awake than her twin. Each girl was dressed in lavender colored robes, hair pinned up on their heads.
"Unc' Luci?" There's a note of fear in the red headed toddler's voice as she edged closer to her sister, looking around the room in confusion.
The blond wizard knelt before the twins, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "I'm sorry to wake you, loves. The two of you are going for a… trip, with Mister Dumbledore here." Lucius' voice was strained, fear and anger colored his features. "But you'll be home with your Aunt Narcissa, Cousin Draco and I soon. I promise."
Lyra tilted her head up at her uncle, brow furrowed. "We go 'way?"
Tears welled in Cassiopeia's eyes. The girl lunged forward, wrapping her arms around the wizard's neck. "We be good! No leave Unc' Luci, no leave!"
Lord Malfoy wrapped a trembling arm around each of his nieces, desperation filling him. He stood with both of the young witches in his grasp, one sobbing and the other looking on in confusion. Before anything more can be said, both children go limp with sleep.
"It'll be easier for them to be asleep during such a large transition." Headmaster Dumbledore ignored the outraged glare on the other wizard's face as he tucked his wand back into his garish robes. "Kingsley, Mundungus, please take young Lyra and Cassiopeia from Lord Malfoy."
Lucius struggled to release his nieces to the other wizards, glaring all the while. "You will return them to us immediately following the trial." His tone was demanding as he glared at the old wizard before him, anger overflowing at the twinkle in the headmaster's eyes.
"Of course, Lord Malfoy." A genial smile graced his face. "We'll take our leave now. I apologize again for this having to happen at such a late hour."
After the last wizard stepped through his fireplace, Lucius collapsed into an armchair, burying his face in his hands. How had this happened?