Prologue- Bella

I stumbled down the drive of Malfoy Manor, lost and confused.
It couldn't be... It couldn't...
The rain roared in my ears as I reached the door. It swung open to reveal my little sister.
"Bella!" she shrieked when she saw me. I allowed myself to be led inside. "Oh, Bella, what happened?"
I shook my head, defeated, sinking into an armchair. "Cissy... I don't know what to do," I croaked. "Please... Please help me..."
Her eyes glistened with tears as she came over and put an arm around my shoulder.
"Tell me," she whispered.
I gulped lungfuls of precious air, suddenly lost for words.
"Tell me," she said, firmly.
I forced myself to meet her concerned gaze.
My sister. My baby sister. Would she understand?
"Cissy... Dear Cissy..." I paused before plunging straight in. "I'm pregnant."
As Cissy squealed with delight, my heart sank.
She didn't understand.
"Oh, that's fabulous!" she exclaimed, hugging me. "Congratulaitions! Tell Rodolphus-"
My heart sank further.
"No, Cissy," I said, desparately, "it's not like that. Rodolphus... Rodolphus.."
Doesn't love me.
"...It's not his baby."
"Oh." Her face fell slightly. "I see."
Do you?
She brightened again. "Well, don't tell him, silly!"
I nearly screamed with frustration.
"No," I groaned. "It's not that simple, Cissy. You see, it's... his."
She frowned. "Whose?"
"You know. His."
"Um..."
My sister's stupidity was the last straw. I sank to the floor, sobbing hysterically. Somehow, through my tears, I managed to choke, "It's the Dark Lord's baby."




Chapter 1- Lucius

I knew it was only a matter of time before the Dark Lord sent for me, but, for the meantime, I was stuck here.
Fantastic.
The day for my escape was getting close, I could feel it. The Ministry officials didn't even bother to check the cells anymore; they thought that the prison was empty.
But I had no desire to leave. Not yet. I had somehow managed to steal back my wand to summon meangre food portions from overseas. Small comfort, since I knew deep inside that I was wasting away.
I rarely ventured out of my cell, and never out of my level. I neither knew nor cared what had happened to my fellow Death Eaters, except for Avery, who had escaped a long time ago. It used to be just him and I on Level 4. Now it was just me.
"Hello?"
My head jerked up. A human voice?
It couldn't be.
Maybe this was the fabled Azkaban madness; the hallucinations brought on by Dementors.
What Dementors? said a voice in my head.
"Shut up!" I snapped.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
I shrank back against the wall, cursing myself. I had no idea if this person was friend or foe.
The bars of my cell, so conveniently unlocked, swung inwards, but the owner of the voice hung back, so I could see nothing but a silhouette. I remained in shadow, in a place where I knew they couldn't see me.
"Oh. I thought this level was empty."
I automatically whipped out my wand, shocked that she (at least it sounded like a she) had spotted me.
"Name?" I hissed.
"My mother called me Druella."
Druella...
The name fluttered around my mind like a ghost of my previous life, but I impatiently dismissed it's familiarity.
"Surname, idiot!" I growled.
"I do not know." She had a strange, unearthly voice; dreamy and yet, at the same time, devoid of emotion.
"Why are you here?"
"I live here."
I snorted. "Imprisoned here, you mean."
"No,"
She moved towards me, into the light. I raised my wand, but her appearance made me gasp.
She was thin and frail, with ghostly pale skin that was almost translucent. Raven black hair tumbled down her back, almost reaching the floor. Her face looked oddly familiar, but she couldn't have been more than sixteen.
"Here," I said, surprising myself by offering her some of my stale bread. She looked at it for a few seconds.
"When I am hungry," she said, "I eat."
"Where do you get the food from?" I asked.
"I can make it appear."
I looked at her incredulously. "But that's impossible."
"I am magic. Are you?" she asked, ignoring my last statement.
"Where's your wand?" I asked, choosing not to answer such a stupid question.
She gave a half-smile that looked odd on her naturally hard features.
"Wand. I like that word, but I don't think I have one." She pointed at mine. "Is that a wand?"
I gaped at her. This girl was something else.
"What's your name?" she asked.
I took a moment to consider her, but such a brain damaged girl could hardly be a threat.
"Lucius Malfoy."
The name clearly meant something to her, because her lips parted in surprise.
"Do you know... Narcissa?"
"She's my wife," I said, suspiciously. "Why?"
"My mother always said that if I was in trouble, Narcissa Malfoy would help me.
What could this crazed lunatic possibly want from Cissy?
"And who exactly is your mother, girl?"
"The others called her Bella."




Chapter 2- Cissy

He caught me by the arm, just as I was leaving the room. He held me back until all of the Death Eaters had gone, and then turned to me, staring at me intensely.
"Cissy?"
I looked deep and looked into his eyes. "Yes, Lucius?"
"Does Bella have a child?"
I knew that, whatever I said, he knew the truth.
"Yes," I whispered.
His grip on my arm tightened slighty, but the he let go quickly.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He sounded hurt. Even vunerable.
These emotions that had never appeared on his face before scared me and I took a step backwards, looking at him fearfully. Paranoia surfaced and I saw various people, such as Rodolphus and the Dark Lord, taking Polyjuice potion and accosting me.
He tried again. "Cissy, who's her father."
I still couldn't find the right words. I could see his patience wearing thin. "Narcissa, it is obviously not Rodolphus so-"
"How do you know?" My words sounded so sharp that I shocked even myself.
"I met her," said Lucius, grimly. "In Azkaban."
I put my hands to my mouth. "She left it there."
"Her," he corrected.
I turned away, half shocked half relieved that my neice was no longer one of my problems. My sister had not said anything, so I hadn't even know if she was still alive. She remained a burden at the back of my mind, but she was in prison, and was probably never going to bother me.
"Look, Cissy, are you going to tell me who the father is or not? Because if you don't, I'll just ask Bella, so-"
"Lucius, please," I begged, "I'd tell you if I could, but I promised-"
"Did you make the Unbreakable Vow?" Lucius interrupted.
"Well, no, but-"
"Then tell me, for Merlin's sake!"
My emotions welled up inside me. Suddenly, I felt angry and spiteful.
"Don't you dare try to boss me around!" I snapped. "A promise is a promise, but maybe trust and love are just things you will never understand! Go ask Bella if it means so much to you!"
With that, I stormed out of the room.

***

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Author's note: Lucius DIDN'T ask Bella, and eventually forgot about the strange encounter with the girl, because that's what selfish people do.

ABOUT A YEAR LATER...

Chapter 3- Druella

I put all of my faith in that man. Lucius. But then he left, just like my mother, and he didn't come back for me. Nobody comes back for me.
A rat scurried accross the floor, a few metres in front of me. I don't like rats. Rats make me angry.
It didn't know what had hit it. One second it was a rat, the next second it was a smoking cinder. I gave a cry of delight, and bent down to scoop up the ashes.
I heard a distant shout, and running footsteps.
I straightened up and willed myself to be invisible, as I had done on countless Ministry inspections.
But it was too late; I had misjudged my timing, and two men came racing around the corner before I could finish the spell, blowing my concentration. They spotted me almost immediately.

"Oi, you," said one, pulling out a stick and pointing it at me.

No, I corrected myself. Not a stick, a wand.

"What are you doing here?" said the shorter man, peering at me. "Officially this prison should be empty."

"Blimey, Ed," said the other, staring right into my eyes. "She's just a kid." He began to talk very slowly and gently, as if I was a tiny toddler. "What are you doing 'ere, love? Where are your parents, darling? Your mummy and daddy?"

"What are YOU doing here?" I asked, coldly. I didn't like these men.

"Don't you know, girlie?" said the shorter one. "The Dark Lord's fallen. Dead! There's gonna be a lot of changes around here."

"The Dark Lord?" I said, in surprise. "My mother spoke often of the Dark Lord."

"And who was your mother, little one?"

Too many questions.
I closed my eyes and curled into a ball.
Let me be in the next cell along... Let me be in the next cell along...

I opened half an eyelid, cautiously, and then smiled, broadly, listening to the cries of alarm next door.
It had worked.

Chapter 4- Kingsley

My secretary popped her head round the door.

"She's here to see you now, Minister."

I nodded and put my papers away in a drawer. The door opened and a couple of big, burly aurors stepped in.
It took me a couple of seconds to spot who they were escorting.
She was a tiny little thing, very frail and delicate. It made the huge aurors look very stupid indeed.

"So, this is the girl that eluded ten of our best men," I said, pleasantly, gesturing to the seat in front of me. She didn't respond immediately, so the hulking men shoved her down forcefully.

"All right, all right," I said exasperatedly, waving them away, "you can go."
They turned and slouched off.

I turned back to the girl, glancing down at the record that had been thrown together for her.

"So..." I squinted at the paper, "Druella. Tell me what you were doing in Azkaban."

"I live there," she said bluntly.

Her answer threw me. "You mean you were... born there?"

She smiled. "Yes."

I could do nothing but stare at her. Quickly, I regathered my composure.

"Who were your parents?" I asked.

"Bella was my mother. I don't have a father."

I opened a drawer and pulled out the Azkaban records for sixteen years ago.

Bella... Bella... Bella...
I looked up at her.

"Do you mean Bellatrix Lestrange?" I held up a photo.

"Oh look," she said, pointing at the photograph, "it's my mother."

I suddenly had to fight with the urge to put an arm around her shoulders.

"I'm afraid," I said, gently, "that your parents are dead."

"Oh."

She didn't look the tiniest bit sad. Just indifferent.

"Who was my father?"

"Rodolpuhs Lestrange," I said, trying not to let my hatred of that foul man show on my face. "Now, what we need to do is find your closest surviving relatives and-"

"Narcissa Malfoy will help me."

"I... er... what?" I looked at her in confusion, but she didn't say anything else.

"Narcissa Malfoy?" I said, slowly. "Wife of Lucius Malfoy? The Death Eater?"

She still didn't say anything, but I couldn't blame her.

How many Narcissa Malfoys are there in the world? I asked myself. Stupid question.

"Well, I'll, um..."

Do a genetic check to verify who you are and how old you are,then apply for the legal documents, then wait until after Lucius' trial because the whole family are probably going to Azkaban anyway and...

"Write to them now."

Who said that? Oh, it was me.

I nodded to her, indicating that she could go. She got up, her chair making the tiniest of scraping noises on the wooden floor. Almost immediately, the two brutish aurors were onto her, and dragged her away.

Sighing and muttering to myself about Ministry brutality by-laws, I got out a clean piece of parchment and began to compose a letter to Narcissa Malfoy.

Chapter 5- Draco

I stormed up the stairs, ensuring that I made as much noise as possible.

Unbelievable... UNBELIEVABLE...

I flung open my bedroom door, revealing my mother in the centre of the room, waving her wand as various bits of furniture were shrunk and packed away. She glanced at me when I entered and then looked away again.

"Mother," I said in as calm a voice as I could manage, "what the hell are you doing with my stuff?"

"We're having a bit of a reshuffle, dear," she replied, without looking at me. "You're moving to your father and I's room, and we're moving to the master bedroom upstairs."

"What's wrong with my room?" I asked, a little defensively.

"Well it's the smallest in the house, so-"

"What about the guest room?"

"That's a guest room."

I sighed loudly, trying hard not to say what was on my mind, which was, Well, duh!

"Besides," my mother continued, "once it's stripped bare, this room should be plain enough not to scare Druella too much-"

Oh my God. She's finally lost it.

"Um, Grandmother Black died 10 years ago, Mother," I said, as gently as possible.

She laughed. Yes, laughed.

"No, no, Draco, dear. Did I not tell you? Druella's your cousin."

And it's off to St. Mungos she goes.

"Mother. My cousin's name is Nymphadora, and she's dead..."

And she just laughed. Again.

"No, your Aunt Bella's daughter, dear!"

"Aunt Bella... DAUGHTER?"

Ewwww! That's just too weird to think about!

The last few photos on the walls packed themselves away, and the boxes flew out of the room, just as I heard the door slam.

"That'll be your father with her now," said Mother, brightly, grabbing me by the hand and practically dragging me out of my ex-room.

Am I supposed to be EXCITED? I thought to myself.

***

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Bye!

Chapter 6- Lucius

I heard hurried footsteps on the floor above and sighed with relief. I had barely been with Druella 5 minutes, but it was DEFINITELY enough.

There was a loud smash, and Druella yelled in surprise as one of my grandmother's vases tried to leap off the matlepiece and bite her, but instead fell to the floor and broke. I restored it with a flick of my wand, and Druella kept her distance from all of the china. Not a minute too soon, Cissy burst in, dragging Draco behind her.

They stopped just in front of Druella, looking at her expectantly. When she stared blankly back at them, Cissy turned to me and said, "Did you get them."

I produced the papers for her to examine. She took them from me with shaking hands and read them over. Then she looked up at me.

"So that's it?" she whispered.

"That's it," I replied calmly. "We are all officially innocent."

"All thanks to me," she said with a smile. Then she turned back to Druella. "You must be Druella."

Druella still seemed lost for words, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. "Cissy," I said, briskly, "this is Druella. Druella, this is Narcissa, your aunt, and Draco, your cousin."

Cissy smiled, warmly. "We've just finished your room, dear," she said, gently. "You're up there," she gestured vaguely upwards, "and Draco's right next door if you ever need anything."

Draco opened his mouth to speak, but I shot him an 'if-you-go-any-further-I-will-curse-you-beyond-recognition' look and he closed it again.

Cissy winked at me and then turned to Draco. "Dear, why don't you give Druella a tour of the house."

Draco groaned loudly. "Do I have-"

"I think it's an EXCELLENT idea," I said, dangerously. "Off you go, Druella."

She looked at me questioningly for a few seconds and then followed Draco out of the room.

***

Chapter 7- Druella

They're after me. They're coming to get me. In the shadows... Hiding...

I pulled my blankets further over my head, but to no avail. I wondered if the bed would have been better, but had simply seemed too daunting when I had entered the room, so I had huddled on the floor instead.

Usually, I like the dark. I like the sense of being completely alone. But tonight, I wanted company. I struggled up, trying hard not to look too carefully into any of the dark corners. I stumbled out of the room and felt my way along the wall to the door on the right of mine. I found it and opened it.

Draco's room was dark too, but somehow less so than mine. Standing over him, I wondered how best to wake him up; trying to remember how my mother had done it. I decided to trust my instincts.

Water...

It worked. Draco struggled upright, coughing and spluttering. He caught sight of me and rubbed the water from his eyes.

"What the hell was that for?" he asked.

I could see his emotions, as clear as the room around me. He was angry. He didn't like me.

I felt my hatred building up inside me. If he didn't like me, then I didn't like him.

"Answer me, for Merlin's sake! Why did you try to drown me?"

His harsh comments made me angrier than I have ever been. I let my fury wash over me, and summoned my energy.

Flames licked around the foot of the bed and I saw the fear in his eyes. I felt powerful. I was in control of him.

Burn.... Burn....

The fire spread downwards, crawling slowly up his legs as he screamed and writhed, unable to get away.

Burn... Burn...

I heard pounding footsteps along the hall outside. I didn't care. There was noone in the world except for Draco and I.

Burn... Burn...

A woman was screaming and a man was yelling. I felt hands dragging me backwards, cutting off the flames just as they were about to reach the boy's knees. As darkness descended apon me, the last thing I felt was a burning anger.

Burn... Burn...

***

It's starting to get a bit dark now. Please leave feedback!

Chapter 8- Draco

Where am I?

Floating...

Floating away...

No you're not!

I feel weird... I think I'm dead...

Idiot! Get a grip!

Floating...

Open your eyes. NOW!

I can't

Yes you can

No, I can't!

First sign of madness...

What?

Talking to yourself.

GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

It's my head too!

I DON'T CARE! GET OUT!

You really are insane.

Not as insane as her.

Who?

Druella...

I knew that.

Shut up.

Did you see her eyes?

Red eyes...

Just like...

His eyes...

I'm scared.

Me too.

I want to wake up.

Me too.

***

Chapter 9- Cissy

I blinked. Was it my imagination, or had his eyelids fluttered? I clutched my son's hand tighter.

I am not losing you.

A soft groan escaped his lips, giving me hope. I lent across until I was as close as I could possibly be to his ear.

"Draco?"

He sat bolt upright, shaking uncontrollably.

"It's all right, darling," I said soothingly. He collapsed into my arms, sobbing.

"It's all right," I repeated, stroking his hair. "Noone can hurt you here."

"I thought I was dead," he choked. "She was going to kill me."

He looked up at me, and he reminded me of a very small, very frightened child.

"She had red eyes, mummy. Red eyes!"

He hadn't called me mummy since he was three years old.

"Don't worry, dear. It's all in your head."

I hugged him again, trying not to betray my own feelings.

Red eyes...

How long could I keep the secret hidden?

***

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Chapter 10- Rubeus

A loud knock at the door snapped me out of my reverie. I stumbled over, still a little woozy from my trip to the Hog's Head last night, and thrust open the door.

No bloody way.

I am a Hogwarts gamekeeper. A half-giant. Member of the Order of the Phoenix. Why the hell am I being visited by some crazy former death eater who somehow managed to buy his way out of Azkaban AGAIN, and who tried to kill Harry on numerous occasions?

"Malfoy," I said, gruffly. "Shouldn't yeh be somewhere? Azkaban, maybe?"

"Strangely enough," said Lucius Malfoy, "I actually have better things to do with my time than talk to you all day. I'm here on the Minister's orders."

I shook my head. "Yeh've been in the same room as Kingsley? Wha' an outrage!"

The git just ignored me, and beckoned someone to come forward. A tiny little girl stepped into the light. She looked at me blankly. I stared back.

"Wha' the hell?"

"This is Druella, Hagrid," said Malfoy, smoothly. "That's all you need to know" He turned to go.

"Now wait a ruddy secon', Malfoy!" I called after him. "Yeh can't just dump a human person on me out o' the blue."

"He just has," whispered the little girl.

"MALFOY!" I roared. He came slowly back over. "Explain!"

"This girl is a, relation, of mine." he said, looking at me in disgust. "Unfortunatly, after all the hospitality I gave her, she had what the Minister affectionatly refers to as a 'psycho moment', and tried to kill my son."

"No more'n 'e deserved," I growled.

"Quite," he said coldly. "Anyway, we thought 'crazed psychopath', 'nowhere to go' and guess whose name popped into our heads?"

"I'm not taking the bloody child!" I shouted, but it was too late. He was already gone.

"RUDDY COWARD!" I yelled at the darkness.

"I don't think he can hear you."

I stared down at the tiny, frail being in front of me.

"Well," I said after some time, "yeh'd best come in."

She moved slowly inside, scrutinising my cabin.

"So," I said, trying to break the silence, "why'd yeh try 'n kill Draco Malfoy?"

She said nothing.

"How're yeh related to tha' lot?"

Silence.

I took the hint and collapsed back into my chair.

"Make a bed anywhere," I managed to grunt, before falling into a drunken stupor.

***
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Chapter 11- Harry

I paused, my hand hovering in mid-air, poised to knock.

Did I really want to do this?

I mentally shook myself. Of course I did. Hagrid was my friend!

I rapped on the door. Dark muttering issued from behind it and Hagrid's disgruntled face appeared, but he grinned when he saw me.

"Harry!"

He dragged the door open, and then burst into tears.

"Oh, Harry!" he choked. "After all yeh've been though, yeh still come an' see ME!"

"Hagrid!" I placed a hand on his arm to reassure him. "Of course I came to see you!"

"Yeh're right," he sniffled. " 'M bein' silly." He turned and shuffled inside, and I followed, peering round the familiar hut.

That was where Ron started to belch out slugs.... Where Norbert was born... Where me and Ron hid under the invisibility cloak from Fudge and Mr Malfoy...

"Hagrid... what's that?"

Hagrid glanced at the huddle of sheets in the corner. There was a lump in the middle and it was... breathing.

I automatically took a step backwards. Knowing Hagrid...

"Oh, blimey," he said, lowering his voice. "I forgot she was asleep."

"And what is 'she' exactly?" I glared suspiciously at him. "Nothing illegal, I hope."

His face darkened. "You could call 'er illegal- Oh but not in the way you think!" he said hurridly. "It's jus' that she's related to bad people."

I frowned. Hadn't Kingsley been telling me about something recently? Something about a little girl?

"What do you mean bad people?" I asked absently.

"Bad people like death eaters who escaped Azkaban again!" he glowered.

My jaw dropped. "You have a Malfoy? Here?"

"I have no ruddy idea!" he growled. "Bloody Lucius Malfoy wouldn' tell me anythin'!"

I was fascinated. Who cares what Kingsley had been telling me? This I had to see for myself."

Cautiously, I stepped forward and pulled back the covers, revealing a tiny child, curled up in a ball. Her eyes snapped open and stared around. Our eyes met, and I stepped backwards in shock as she rose out of the covers like a nightmare.

Her red eyes burned me. My scar was bursting with pain. Her mouth opened and smoke hissed out. It wasn't the only thing that hissed.

I could hear the Parsletongue ringing in my ears as I fell backwards with a crash, scrambling away from this unearthly creature.

"Burn... Burn..."

Chapter 12- Druella

There was something different about him. It made me frustrated.

At first, he dodged my balls of flame, and then, when I was so close to hitting him, he got out his wand and waved it.

I yelled in triumph as my next fireball sped towards him, right on target. I was going to kill this man. But then, the flames made contact with something invisible and they were absorbed. His shield appeared, glowing red, revealed by the shock of the impact.

Streams of continuous flames flew out of my outstretched hands, and the shield began to crumble under the strain. He was going to die...

Suddenly, someone grabbed me. The flames stopped coming and I could hear normal noises again. Someone was shouting. Everything was a blur until I got thrown out of the house with such force that I flew several yards before landing and stumbling a few feet further.

I was on the edge of a large forest. I didn't get the feeling that I would be allowed back at Hagrid's for a while, so I decided to walk through the forest.

Odd things started happening. As I passed a clearing not very far in, I heard someone speak. It was just a whisper. I couldn't make out the words. It was out of place because, I couldn't be sure, but it sounded as if it were laughing.

I glanced to my left and gasped. There, in front of me, as clear as day, I saw that the previously deserted clearing was filled with people. I saw Hagrid, looking a little nervous as he stared down at a squat little woman with a clipboard.

The girl who was being spoken to by the squat woman must have been the one who whispered. Her slightly squashed face was contorted with trying not to laugh.

Someone caught my eye. He looked like I felt: angry.

I stared. It was that man from the cabin! I blinked and...

They were gone.

I went deeper and deeper, and the whispers grew louder and more frequent.

"Harry!"

"Mars is bright tonight."

"Hagrid has never sent men into our hollow before."

"We'll have another little chat soon, once you decide where your loyalties lie..."

On and on they went. Louder and louder and louder and-

Suddenly they all stopped. Silence.

And then, as I came to a halt in dark clearing, there was another whisper, louder than them all.

"Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived."

A twig snapped behind me and I jumped, landing on something sharp.

"OUCH!"

I bent over and picked it up. It was a ring.

I turned it over and over, my head suddenly empty. I was hypnotized by it.

At the back of my mind, something stirred. A word.

Mother...

I could feel something coming. Closer and closer. Yet I could not move. I was rooted to the spot.

A figure appeared, half ghost half real person. Her long dark hair hung in waves down her back, just like mine. Her features were cold and hard, just like mine.

She was me, and I was her. We were one.

"Mother?"

***

I'm so sorry about all the cliffhangers! Please leave feedback here.

Chapter 13- Bella

I hadn't moved in so long. I hadn't been in so long.

I knew nothing. I had forgotten what it was like to be alive.

I had felt death, and it had burnt me. I wanted to live again. But even more, I wanted to know what had happened to him. Had we won? Did he miss me? Was he... was it possible... was he dead?

I was there in that constant state of nothingness for a day, a year, a hundred years, a millenium...

And then I was called. Was it him? Was it them? Was it my imagination?

The Forbidden Forest. I had forgotten the colours, the sounds. It was so clear, as if I'd never been away. Had I never been away?

I tried to move. I couldn't. I was a sort of ghost, niether here nor there.

"Mother?"

I hadn't forgotten her. How could I? She was the only evidence that him and I once were...

"Where is he?"

She looked surprised.

"Where is who?"

"Your father. Where is he?"

"Rodolphus is dead."

It was my turn to look surprised.

"What do you know of Rodolphus?"

"Only what Kingsley Shacklebolt told me."

I cackled. "What does that idiot know of my fool of a husband. Of course he would make that sort of presumption."

She put her head on one side and regarded me carefully. "Why are you thinking so strongly of the Dark Lord at this moment?"

I gasped. Then I smiled. "Legilimency. A talent that you inherited from your father."

Her lips parted in surprise. "Was... he my father?"

"Yes, Druella. You are the Dark Lord's daughter."

She began to cry. It took me completely by surprise. Big fat tears rolled down her cheeks and spilled onto the forest floor.

"He's gone." she said between silent sobs. "My father is gone. You've gone."

"Gone?"

It was as if if someone had stuck an icicle in my chest. I could feel the cold spreading, numbing me, chillling me to the bone...

Gone.

"We must bring him back," I said urgently. "Druella! How did you get me here? ANSWER ME!"

She showed me what she had been clutching so desperately. It was a ring.

"I used this," she said, drying her eyes. "I thought of you, and you came."

"But I'm not truly here," I thought aloud. "We must return him. He has returned from the dead before, so-"

I broke off suddenly, straining my ears.

There!

He knew we had seen him. He turned and ran, and as he turned, his round glasses flashed, reflecting a miniscule patch of light.

"POTTER!" I screamed.

Druella's eyes flashed scarlet. She opened her mouth and let out a low, deadly hiss. She bared her teeth... but where they still her teeth? As I watched, they lengthened and sharpened, until they were fangs; her body was changing, trasforming, until...

Harry Potter can run fast, but you can't escape a giant snake, especially not when the snake just happens to be the Dark Lord's daughter.

***

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Chapter 14- Ron

"Hey, Hagrid," I said, casually. "Harry here yet?"

Hagrid made a funny choking noise and pointed at the Forbidden Forest.

"What?"

I stood on tiptoe to try and see what he was pointing at.

"BLOODY HELL!"

This enormous... thing was moving swiftly between the trees, and stumbling ahead of it was...

"HARRY!"

Hermione sprinted past me. I hadn't even seen her arrive, I was so hooked on the chase. I could do nothing but stare as she ran closer and closer to the Forest and the sinister creature.

"Hermione, NO!"

I saw the creature raise its ugly head and sniff the air. It's gaze seemed to flicker from Hermione to Harry.

I couldn't just stand there and do nothing. I ran after Hermione, tripping over my own feet in my desperation to reach her. In the moment of the beast's confusion, Harry had managed to get to Hagrid's hut, but Hermione seemed to be frozen to the spot, and the monster was slowly realizing who it should go for.

"HERMIONE!"

I seized her around the waist, knocking her off her feet. The thing lunged right over our heads and I rolled out of the way. I could feel Hermione shaking violently, her body pressing against mine.

Then from behind us came a horrific spitting noise that made my stomach do an Olympic gymnast's floor routine.

Blindly, I lashed out with my foot. I felt it collide with something solid and then began to drag Hermione to safety. I felt hands grab me roughly, and knew that Hagrid, in his haste to get Hermione to safety, was pulling me along as well.

I tried to close my eyes, but somehow I couldn't look away. Behind us was an enormous snake, moving powerfully through the grass. It was hissing angrily in a way that made my heart stop.

This snake wanted to kill. Badly. I could feel it.

There was a sudden bang and a flash of light that made the snake halt in it's tracks.

Harry sent another badly aimed curse at it, forcing it to back up slightly.

He opened his mouth, and from within came a hiss that felt far worse than anything a snake could produce.

For a minute, the snake and Harry kept eye contact. Then, reluctantly, the snake turned and slithered back into the forest.

Hagrid pulled me too my feet and then helped Hermione stand up on trembling legs.

"HARRY!" I finally burst out. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT THING?"

He shook his head, still speechless. Then, he slowly lifted his head and looked me in the eye.

His voice was a feeble croak, but it was as though he were screaming, so great was the shock it gave me.

"The Dark Lord's daughter."

***

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Chapter 15- Druella

It had been so close. I had almost tasted the warm blood of the Chosen One...

Yes, I knew who he was now. He had murdered my father. And I was going to murder him.

My body was slowly changing back into my true form as I approached the clearing where my mother was waiting.

"Did you get him?" she asked impatiently. I shook my head.

"Well, it is of little consequence," she said sniffily. "You need to explain to me why you are here of all places."

"I'm staying with Hagrid because I tried to kill my cousin," I said in a bored voice, as though it was perfectly normal to be in the care of a half-giant for the attempted murder of family members.

My mother smiled unwillingly. "Did you manage to kill him?"

"No," I said sadly. "He's still in St. Mungo's though."

Mother cackled. "Never liked that brat anyway."

I couldn't help but smile. We were so alike.

Her smile vanished suddenly.

"But what of your father? What of the Dark Lord?"

"Potter killed him," I growled. "Potter cheated death and killed the greatest Dark sorcerer of them all.

She gasped.

"I thought Potter was dead!"

I shook my head.

"I know it all now."

She began pacing.

"We HAVE to bring him back!" she burst out. "He MUST return."

I fell into step beside her.

"But how?" I asked. "Once death has taken someone, they can never return."

I glanced at her. There was a peculiar gleam in her eye.

"Oh," she said casually, "we'll manage."

***

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Chapter 16- Lucius

I stared broodingly into the flickering flames in the marble fireplace. It had been a terrible couple of weeks. An absolute nightmare.

The door to the drawing room creaked open a tiny fraction.

A completely natural noise for a door to make I told myself.

Out of the corner of my eye, I swore that I saw a little movement. I whipped around, but all I saw was the darkened walls at the far end of the room.

I turned back to the fire, all my senses on the alert. Call me paranoid, but I was sure...

I jumped. The fire cast a dim glow over one of the walls, and in it, there was no mistaking it, a shadow

"Where is it?"

It was a voice I had hoped, prayed, never to hear again.

"Where is what?" I asked, struggling to remain calm.

I felt a slight pressure on the side of my neck. Turning my head slightly, I smooth shiny wood, it's tip trained firmly on me.

She has a WAND? This can't be good.

"You know what," said another, more chilling voice.

My heart stopped. That was a voice I knew I would never hear again.

"What is it you want from me?" I asked, more forcefully this time.

"Where is it?" repeated Druella.

"I- I- I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered.

"I think you do," someone hissed in my ear.

I turned my head again, and found myself looking deep into the eyes of my deceased sister-in-law. Deciding not to sidetrack myself by asking how she had mysteriously risen from the dead, so I got straight to the point.

"I know what you're trying to do, Bella," I said fiercely. "And it won't work. You can't have it."

I felt the wand retract from my neck.

"Shall I mother?" I heard Druella ask.

"Do it," said Bella, an unpleasant smile creeping across her face.

There was a faint pop. I sensed rather than saw that Druella had gone.

There was a loud bang from the floor above, and I suddenly knew what she was going to do.

Someone screamed.

"No," I croaked. "Don't..."

Bella cackled.

"Now you're listening, aren't you?"

There was another soft pop and a pathetic whimpering sound filled the room. Druella smiled cruelly and pointed her wand at Draco's head.

"Now tell me," said Bella softly, "where is the portrait of the Dark Lord?"

***

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Chapter 17- Draco

My Aunt Bella is dead. Deceased. Gone. Moved on. Put it any way you like.

DEAD PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO STAY DEAD! THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO COME BACK TO LIFE AND START HAVING COSY CHATS WITH YOUR FATHER IN THE DRAWING ROOM! AND THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BRING THEIR INSANE DAUGHTERS ALONG TOO SO THAT THEY CAN POINT A WAND AT YOUR HEAD!

"So," said Aunt Bella, sitting down on the sofa like she had just bought our house, "Perhaps now you will be willing to co-operate..."

Oh. So I was a hostage.

My father said nothing. I could tell that he was trying very hard not to look at me.

"Druella's temper can be a little... unbalanced," continued Aunt Bella. "So I wouldn't want to upset her if I were you. And she was so set on having that portrait of her father..."

"But I thought you were here for the portrait of..." My father put two and two together. So did I.

Oh merlin. The crazed psycho pointing a wand at my head also happens to be the daughter of the greatest dark sorcerer in the world. My situation couldn't get any worse, could it?

Just give her the stupid portrait... My life is worth so much more than a painting... Just give it to her...

"You...? And the Dark Lord...?"

"He always called me his most loyal follower..." said Aunt Bella wistfully. "And he gave me the great honour of bearing him a child... A child whose mother was too plagued by Azkaban madness to recognise her own flesh and blood..." There was a certain bitterness in her voice now. "A child he never knew..."

"It won't work," said my father quickly. "He tried it. It won't work. It was a waste."

"Or maybe," said Aunt Bella icily, "he didn't trust you with the truth. it can, and will, bring him back."

I wanted to scream, vomit, curse someone and burt into tears all at the same time.

They were going to resurrect the Dark Lord.

"Just imagine," said Aunt Bella slyly. "If we were the ones to bring him back, Lucius. You and I would be honoured above all other. And you know how the spell works. Immortality for him and anyone he chooses. He would choose us..."

She knew him too well. She was taking advantage of his weaknesses, and it was working. Immortality... The highest ranked follower of the future ruler of the world... Aunt Bella could be taken care of... I could almost see the thoughts flashing through his brain.

Don't give her the picture. DO NOT GIVE HER THE PICTURE!

She wasn't to be trusted. I could see it in her eyes. She wouldn't share the Dark Lord's right hand side if her life depended on it.

"And after all," she said casually, "I'm not really back, you know. I'm just a ghost. The imprint caused by a miraculous ring, in which is embedded a rather remarkable stone. The Resurrection Stone... "

She had won. I knew it.

She had a Hallow... Proof that the Hallows existed... And she wasn't really alive, so she couldn't be the Dark Lord's most faithful follower...

It was enough for my father.

"Upstairs. Third door on the right. Go through it and you will see a brazilian cherry panel where the rest are oak. Press your hand against the panel and say "To The Dark Lord." It will open. It's in there."

***

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Chapter 18- Cissy

I woke with a start. I lay in the pitch dark, straining my ears for a clue as to why I had woken up so suddenly.

A stair creaked somewhere in the house. I shivered, but forcibly reminded myself that there were two other people living in this house who had a perfect right to move around at night.

The doorknob turned slowly, and the door swung inwards. Instinctively, I pretended to be asleep. I heard footsteps coming over to the bed, and someone lent over me, breathing harshly.

"She's asleep," it whispered to itself. I knew that voice...

A scream caught in my throat. I flung off the covers and sat bolt upright. There she was right in front of me.

"You aren't dreaming, my dear little sister," she said, with an evil smile. "I am really here."

"I... You..." I struggled to come to terms with the fact that my dead sister was in my bedroom, talking to me.

"Now," she said. turning away, "your husband was kind enough to tell me that there was a... brazilian cherry panel in here..." She snorted. "And, of course, this particular panel will be incredibly easy to spot..."

Her eyes swept over all the oak panels, and then met mine. I couldn't help myself. She followed my gaze to the secret panel, smiled, and strode confidently towards it.

"If you would be so kind," she said, with a malicious smile. I followed her mutely, and placed my hand against the wood.

"To the Dark Lord," I whispered.

Magically, the wood split down the middle and slid away to either side. She grinned, triumphant.

"Wait here," she said, turning to me. "Don't try anything, or someone will die."

She disappeared into the darkness. I sank into a chair, still in shock.

She's here... Here...

Bella reappeared.

"Go and get it."

Ever the obedient younger sibling, I walked through the secret passage, emerging into the freezing stone room at the end. I shivered, but not from cold. On the table in the middle of the room was a square package, carelessly wrapped in brown paper. I took it, and hurried back to my sister.

"Come," she said imperiously, when I was at her side again. Once again, I did not question her, but followed her out of the room and down the carpeted hall. Down two flights of stairs. Through the darkened entrance hall. Into the drawing room.

Lucius rose when he saw us. He looked from Bella, to me, confused.

"What-"

She shook her head, and he fell silent.

"Druella. Leave him and come here."

Someone hit the floor hard. Druella emerged from the shadows, her expression identical to her mother's.

"Thank you, Aunt," she said mockingly, taking the painting out of my hands. She took it over to the wall, and hung it up with a flick of her newly acquired wand. Her hand poised to tear the paper covering, she looked back at her mother. Bella nodded curtly, and, with one swift movement, Druella tore away the paper. I bit back another scream. Lucius covered his face with his hands.

There was a tense silence. It was broken by Druella.

"Hello. Father."

***

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Chapter 19- Tom

It hurts... Oh God, it hurts so much... Make it stop... I'll do anything, just leave me alone...

The pain stopped. All of a sudden, my mind was clear. I was whole again, if a little... two-dimensional.

Of course, I thought. The portrait.

I flexed my painted fingers and surveyed the room around me. It was so sharp and so focused. My vision had been blurred for so long, I had forgotten what it was like to see things without tears in my eyes.

I confess, I was surprised to see the three Malfoys. I had left the portrait with them, of course, but I never believed them to be quite so... trusting in returning me. I thought I had shown them quite how far they had fallen, past the point of no return. And yet, here they were, like little sheep, still together and still following my lead. It was almost touching. Almost.

Of course, Bella was there. She always was my most faithful. Even death couldn't part her from me.

I wondered briefly about the means Bella had for returning from the other side, but I decided that there are ways that one can go about it, and I put it out of my mind.

"Hello. Father."

I turned. There, in front of me, was a girl. About sixteen years old. Her thick, dark hair was Bella's, but her features were my own. I confess, I had forgotten of my plan to produce an heir to my legacy. Bella had never said...

"Bella," I said, acknowledging her first. She flushed with pleasure. "Lucius. Narcissa. Draco." I nodded to each of them in turn. "And you. My daughter. What is your name?"

"Druella, my lord," said Bella, choking slightly as she held back her tears of admiration for me. "After our mother." She inclined her head slightly towards her sister, who seemed to be in a state of shock, her face even paler than what I remembered was usual.

"Druella." I nodded to her as well. Then I turned to the rest of them. "You know that I reward the faithful. So, may I ask, whose doing was this? Or was it a group effort?"

"Druella brought me back to this world, my lord," said Bella breathlessly. "But it was my idea to use the portrait..."

Lucius cleared his throat significantly. She shot him a filthy look, but said, "And, of course, Lucius informed me of where the painting was." She looked back up at me with adoration. "I knew it would work, my lord. You yourself were uncertain, but I knew..." Her eyes filled with tears.

"It would be... unwise for me to come out of this picture," I said, choosing my words carefully. In actuality, I knew that my soul, in it's weak and tattered condition, would not survive the transaction. "So, I must know. How many are at my command?"

Bella looked expectantly at Lucius.

"None... None living, my lord," he said apologetically. "They were all imprisoned after the battle. But we..." He glanced sideways at his wife and fell abruptly silent. Curious, I was about to probe further when Bella interrupted.

"But we have a Hallow!" she said excitedly. "A Hallow, my lord. That is how I returned."

I stared at her.

"A what?"

She looked a little confused. "A Hallow, my lord. One of the gifts given-"

"I know what a Hallow is!" I snapped. "But what... Which... Where...?"

Obediently, Druella produced an old, cracked ring. A ring that I instantly recognised.

"That?!"

Druella looked at me with her head tilted to one side. "You have seen it before?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"It is of little consequence," I said quickly. "The Resurrection Stone..." I murmured to myself. "Why did I not see it before...?" I turned back to Bella. "But, you are not truly back. You cannot perform magic?"

"You must help us, my lord," she said. "You must show us the way back. If you can do it, then surely we..."

"Perhaps," I said, thinking hard. It would require some research, but perhaps there was a way. Not through magic, after all, there are no spells to reawaken the dead, but perhaps there was something else...

"You may go," I said distractedly. There was a pause. "Go!" I said more firmly.

As though she been holding herself back, Narcissa suddenly let out a long breath and hurried over to her son, getting him unsteadily to his feet and helping him out of the room. Lucius followed them, avoiding my eye. I was sure that he was hiding something.

Bella scurried after the Malfoys, glancing continually back at me. Finally, with one last searching look, Druella exited too, leaving me alone.

***

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Chapter 20- Harry

I woke up suddenly, drenched in cold sweat. I had seen... But it couldn't be...

I blinked rapidly, the room coming slowly into focus, but I still saw that face everywhere I looked.

"Harry?"

I looked over at Hermione, half hidden under her covers. She blinked up at me nervously.

"Harry, are you OK?"

Ron snored on.

"Yeah," I whispered back. "Yeah, I just thought I saw..." I trailed off.

There was a long pause.

"Hey, Hermione," I said finally. "You're smart, right?" She nodded. I took a deep breath. "Can someone return from the dead through a portrait?" I gabbled.

"Why... What... I don't... Harry, what's wrong?"

"Just answer the question, Hermione."

"I... I don't-"

There was a loud, insistent knock on the door. Ron jerked awake.

"We're under attack!" he said loudly. Hermione smiled weakly.

"Do you think I should..." I asked nervously.

"Don't be silly," said Hermione brusquely, throwing off her covers and suddenly becoming business-like. "No one knows we're here except our friends. I'll get it."

Yes, she was right. I was just being paranoid. I got out of bed to and followed her down the dark hall, down the stairs and to the door. She paused ever so slightly before opening it.

It was raining hard outside. Very hard. The figure framed in the doorway was soaked to the skin. They shuffled slowly into the light, dragging something heavy behind them.

My jaw dropped.

"I need to talk to you," said Malfoy, panting slightly, dropping the unconscious form of the pale, dark-haired girl in the doorway.

***

Chapter 21- Draco


I deposited Druella inside the nearest broom cupboard and followed Potter and Granger into the kitchen. They looked at each other.

"I'll go and get Ron," Granger said, going to the door. I heard her footsteps receding up the stairs. Potter and I looked pointedly in opposite directions.

"How did you know we were here?" Potter asked after a long pause.

"Druella overheard you telling Hagrid."

"Druella?"

I nodded in the vague direction of the broom cupboard. "She's my cousin," I said by way of explanation. Potter nodded.

"I know. I saw your aunt in the Forbidden Forest."

"Right." I didn't really feel like the situation could get any stranger.

Weasley and Granger appeared.

"You?" said Weasley incredulously.

"It's urgent," I shot back. "I think you're the only ones who can help."

"If we WANT to help," Weasley retorted.

"If you don't-"

"Both of you, shut up!" Granger snapped. I fell silent.

"What's so urgent?" Potter asked. I sighed.

"It's sort of a long story."

"Well," said Granger diplomatically, "You can start from where your cousin tried to kill Harry."

"She tried to do what?" I asked, surprised.

"Just after your aunt came back from the dead," Potter explained. "Well, actually, she tried to get me with some fireballs a bit before that as well."

I nodded. "Yeah, she does that. Anyway, she found Aunt Bella using this ring; it had the resurrection stone it it. The one in the kid's story."

Potter, Weasley and Granger exchanged glances. I felt like I was missing something.

"Go on," said Granger.

"Well, they both came up to the manor and got this portrait."

Potter gasped. "You've got to be kidding!"

I blinked. "You... I mean, you know what it is?"

"I had a dream about it!" he said, glancing sideways at Granger. "It's of Vol-"

"Don't," I said warily.

"Voldemort," he said determinedly. "Isn't it?"

"Yes," I said, in a resigned voice.

"Shouldn't you be jumping for joy?" said Weasley coolly. "Your old master, back from the dead?"

My hands balled into fists and I turned slowly to glare at him.

"Think again, Weasley," I said in a dangerous voice. "You really believe that after all he's done to my family I'd welcome him with open arms?"

"Ron, just shut up for a bit," said Potter. He was obviously thinking hard.

"What we need," he said finally, "is a plan."

"Well..." said Granger slowly. "I could try and read up about portraits. I'm pretty sure they can't come to life..."

"I'll go and speak to Kingsley," said Weasley. "He'll know what to do."

"And there'll need to be extra protection around Azkaban in case he tries to get any of his Death Eaters out," added Granger.

"Maybe I can find out what he's planning," I said, trying to be helpful. Potter looked at me with a funny expression on his face.

"I'm coming with you," he said.

"What?"

"Harry!"

"Are you crazy?"

"You can't."

He shook his head. "You don't understand. I've got to see him. I've just got to."

Weasley and Granger fell silent.

"What about her? Druella?" Potter asked slowly.

"I stunned her and brought her with me," I said carelessly. "She was supposed to be guarding me or something."

"No, I mean what is she doing outside the window when we locked her in the cupboard?"

***

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Chapter 22- Druella

Weasley, Granger and my cousin turned slowly to face me. I leaned in through the open window.

"Anything else I might chance to overhear before I depart?" I asked sweetly. "Anything at all might be of use to father."

They remained silent, presumably speechless.

"What about you Potter?" I asked, fixing my gaze on the boy that my father hated so much. "No? Well, that's a shame." I put my hand in my pocket, groping for my wand. Managing a half-smile, my cousin revealed two wands that had been concealed in his fist, one unmistakably mine. Sighing, I pointed my finger at Potter instead. It didn't have nearly the same dramatic effect.

In a split second, Potter, Weasley, Granger and my cousin were all gagged and bound tightly. Slipping into the room through the window, I considered them.

"Mr Weasley and Miss Granger can remain here, I think," I said finally. "I don't expect they'll be found for at least a month. Perhaps they'll starve to death." I broke off and laughed at the prospect of their deaths. "I've always thought that slowly and painfully is the best way to kill someone." I turned to Potter. "As for you Potter, you can come with my dear cousin and I. We're having a little family get-together, and father is so eager to meet you. I'm sure you'll get along splendidly."

With a single gesture, Weasley and Granger were swept into a dark corner, quite possibly the last dark corner they'd ever see. Potter and Draco were hoisted high into the air, and preceded me out of the door. I hung back to address Weasley and Granger.

"Sorry I can't stay," I said brightly. "Still, at least you're dying together. It'll only take a few weeks." They still looked terrified. I shrugged. "Fine, don't face death bravely. Tut tut, what would your friend Mr Potter say?"

I laughed softly and left them lying there, side by side.

***

Chapter 23- Tom

There was a loud knock on the door to the room I was hanging in. I sighed deeply.

"Come in if you really must."

The door swung inwards, and Druella stepped in.

"You have some visitors," she said, gesturing towards the hallway. "I think my dear cousin has some explaining to do. And I brought a certain Mr Potter to see you." She glanced quickly at me to catch my expression. I disguised my initial shock at the news. Potter? Here? I couldn't decide if it was inconvenient or fantastic.

"Does anyone know he's here?" I asked her.

"Only his friends, Weasley and Granger," she replied. "I left then tied up in their kitchen. They won't live for much longer."

I smiled, the sort of smile a father gives his daughter on her first day of school. I surprised even myself, but I couldn't help it. She was so like her mother, and yet so like me at the same time. It was a fantastically dangerous combination.

I composed myself. "You mentioned your cousin. What of him?"

She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Father, I don't trust the Malfoys."

"Neither do I," I said, thinking of how Lucius had avoided my eye. "But I'm not sure how far we can progress without them. So far, they are my only living servants."

"You have got me," she said growing more animated. "I could do it all for you." She paused. "For us."

I smiled again. "I know you could, but now you must understand what my dilemma has been since I returned four years ago. My best Death Eaters were the ones who had gone to Azkaban in my name, your mother one of them. But in my first year, I had to remain hidden, and only the Death Eaters who renounced me could help me regain my position of absolute power." I looked down at her eager face. "Your time will come, but as it is, the Ministry most probably know who you are. I will find out what Lucius Malfoy is hiding, but not until we can afford to lose him."

She waved a hand dismissively. "Yes, yes. But I'm talking about Draco. I haven't yet told you what he did."

"What?" I asked, vaguely curious, but also thinking hard.

"He went to Potter for help," she said, grabbing my attention instantly. "He also stunned me and took me with him."

I sighed deeply. I'd always known Draco would end up to be even more two-faced than his father.

"Go upstairs and fetch Lucius," I said in a resigned tone of voice. "Then send them both send them both to me."

***

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Chapter 24- Lucius

A hand lightly brushed my shoulder, instantly dispelling the fog of drowsiness around me. I sat up in bed, immediately alert.

"You are needed downstairs, Uncle," Druella said in her cold, clear voice, fixing me with a steely glare. Something about the way she said 'needed' didn't bode well. I sighed and swung myself out of bed, smoothing down the crinkled robes that I hadn't had time to change out of. With a smirk, Druella apparated out of the room, but I chose to take the stairs. They gave me time to think.

How long would it be before he realized. realized that the only way Harry Potter could have risen from the dead was if he was never really dead in the first place, if the person he had sent to check what he thought was the corpse had lied to him? How long before he realized that that lie was what was keeping me and my family out of Azkaban?

I concentrated on placing one foot in front of the other on the stairs, not daring to look towards the room where his portrait lay.

"Father..."

My gaze was lifted from my feet. I looked at Draco, standing hopelessly in the corridor, and I knew something was wrong.

"What-" I began, but I was cut off by a voice drifting through the large wooden door.

"You may enter now."

Draco shuddered conspicuously, placing his hand on the doorway.

"I'm sorry," he whispered in a cracked voice. "I... I was just trying to do the right thing."

Before I had time to stop him, he flung open he drawing room door.

***

A/N: Okay, okay, I'm horrible, I don't update for ages and I then make the update really short and inconsequential. But I was going to do the big encounter from Lucius' POV, but then decided half way through typing to do it from Harry's, and felt that we needed this filler in the story. I promise I won't keep you waiting so long next time!

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Chapter 25- Harry

Neither of us said a word. We just looked at each other. I could feel him trying to probe my mind, and it took all of my energy and limited knowledge of Occlumency to force him out. The girl - Druella, that was her name - apparated right next to me, but I didn't even flinch. My hands were balled into fists and my eyes bored into his painted form, willing him to crack first.

He broke the silence between us. "You may enter now."

I heard a door open and shut behind me but I still didn't break eye contact. He did, however, his gaze shifting to over my shoulder. He receded from inside my head, and I felt secure enough to glance behind me.

"As you can see, Lucius, we have a visitor, courtesy of your son," he said smoothly, his voice one hundred times worse than I remembered.

Lucius Malfoy looked from me to him to his son, his mouth slightly open. I couldn't quite see what he had to do with any of this, but I knew that he didn't want to be within a thousand miles of him any more than I did. Draco was trying as hard as he could to avoid looking at anyone. He looked rather tense, and I wondered if he was trying to use Occlumency for protection as well.

"His surprise is genuine," Druella said from beside me, addressing her father. "It was all my dear cousin's idea." Her voice was a horrifying mix of Bellatrix's and his. It brought terrible memories flooding back.

"Yes," said Draco, seeing some sort of way out. "It was all my idea. Punish me, please," he swallowed slightly, the two simple words not coming to him easily," my lord. Father doesn't need to be-"

He held up a painted finger, silencing Draco instantly. "I require Lucius for a separate matter." He paused thoughtfully. "One which I think I shall address now, seeing as the evidence is so prominently in front of us." He gestured in my direction. "Harry Potter." He spat my name. "You see, Lucius, I am remembering some key detail. I am remembering the precise moment when I fired the killing curse in Potter's direction, and then, a few seconds after that moment, I am remembering when I sent someone to check that the Boy Who Lived lived no more."

Embarrassingly late, I cottoned on to why Lucius was here, why he looked like he wanted to be a million miles away, and why Draco wanted to get him out of the room as quickly as possible.

He sighed. "How long did you really think you could keep it from me, Lucius. From me, the greatest Legilimens the world has ever known, even without a physical body. Perhaps long enough to destroy me, to send me back to the clutches of death?"

Lucius seemed to be fighting with the urge to either deny everything or run for his life, when he knew that both were useless; Druella started to laugh, an exhilarated cackle that still managed to have a high, cold edge to it.

"The Malfoys have done nothing but fail me," he said, shaking his head. "Perhaps they have finally exhausted their second chances." He smiled slightly. "I'm no Dumbledore, after all."

"For you to even mention Dumbledore's name is a crime!"

Everyone turned to look at me. It took about a second for me to realize that it was me who had spoken.

"Dumbledore was the greatest wizard in the world," I continued, still not fully aware that I was talking. "You will never, ever be great."

He regarded me with an expression I couldn't read. I tensed, waiting for him to try Lelilimency, but the feeling of him inside me didn't come.

"And yet the reason you have to defend his memory is because he is no longer here," he said finally. "Yes, he is truly great."

I couldn't help but smile. How could he be so wrong, so ignorant? A small chuckle escaped my lips; he frowned at that.

"As always, Potter, you display a terrible knack for disprupting my plans. I will deal with you later." He turned quite firmly back towards the two Malfoys, but I could feel Druella drawing closer to me, perhaps in case I tried anything. "I am offering the Malfoys one last choice," he continued, an note of finality in his voice. "Either, Druella can kill you now." Druella giggled. "This would be rather frustrating for me, you understand, as I need as many people as I can get at this current time. Or, she can kill you later, when I have no further need of you."

There was a pause while this rather unappealing proposition sunk in. Die now or die later; there wasn't much of a choice.

"Now," said Draco finally. He frowned slightly.

"What?"

"Die now," Draco repeated, with more courage than I thought him capable of. "If we are going to die either way, I would rather die without the weight of whatever you force me to do this time on my conscience."

As opposed to looking disappointed, he looked amused. "And, Lucius, do you agree with this decision?"

"If it delays you, even for a second," Lucius said slowly, "then yes."

Druella started forward, the hungry expression on her face completing her resemblance to Bellatrix.

"Wait."

Draco, who had closed his eyes, opened them in surprise. Druella looked up at her father, disappointment etched in her features. He smiled indulgently at her for the briefest second.

"I forgot to tell you about one very important condition." He studied the two Malfoys carefully. "If you choose to be killed now, all three of you will die. However..." He paused for dramatic effect. "If you choose to serve me and then be killed, only one of you will die."

Druella's mouth curved into a cruel smile, identical to the painted one on her father's face. For what seemed like an age, no one spoke.

"If we choose to serve you," said Lucius in a defeated tone. "If." He paused, shuddering at the thought of what was facing him. "Which one of us will die?"

"I am feeling generous," he replied, his tone conveying that he knew he had won. "I will allow you to make the choice yourselves."

Draco and Lucius exchanged horrified glances. For a moment, I imagined having to make that choice myself. I imagined what it would have been like if I could have understood what my parents were deciding to do, the night that they...

"Druella, go upstairs and fetch your aunt. I want this to be decided now." He smirked at the terrified Malfoys again. "Fetch your mother as well. She would want to see this."

Her expression identical to his, Druella disappeared with a pop. The only physical opposition in the room, gone. I saw a slim chance, and grasped it.

I crossed the room in two bounds, seizing Draco's arm in one hand and Lucius' in the other. I knew I would need their help. He knew the minute that I moved what I was going to do. I heard his frustrated and furious scream, heard the pop as Druella hurried back to his side. But the mistake had been made. He always made mistakes where I was concerned.

Determination... Destination... Deliberation... I thought desperately. Determination... Destination... Deliberation...

I turned and the spot and embraced the suffocating blackness with relief.

***

What did you think? Was it dramatic enough. And can you see what the vital flaw in Harry's plan is? Tell me here.

Chapter 26 - Cissy

A loud crack jolted me from an uneasy sleep. I sat bolt upright, looking for the source of the noise; it was my niece.

I took in her positively gleeful expressions with a sense of foreboding. She opened her mouth to speak...

"NOOOOOOO!!"

She was gone in a heartbeat, answering the anguished cry that had issued from a few floors below. Within a few seconds Bella was standing in the doorway, her ghostly imprint glinting in the half-light.

"What is it? What's happening?"

There was a second crack and Druella appeared once again, grabbing hold of me roughly.

"What's happened?" Bella repeated impatiently, more to her daughter than to me this time. "I heard someone... Was it...?"

"The traitors have left," Druella stated. She looked at me when she said this, although I had no idea who these 'traitors' were. "They had Potter with them. They may come back for her." She inclined her head towards me to show who she meant by 'her'.

"Well, well, well," said Bella after a long pause, obviously understanding a lot more than I did. "I always knew this would happen."

Druella's grip on my arm tightened. "Father wants to see you downstairs," she hissed. "I suggest you cooperate with him. It will only make it easier."

Confused, anxious and still in my nightdress, Druella all but dragged me down the three flights of stairs to reach the drawing room.

"I have her," she said when we entered together. She forced me on to the floor in front of the painting and drew back, her face regaining some of its former eager expression.

"Look at me." I flinched at the sound of his voice, and lifted my eyes slowly. I could hear his slightly quickened breathing, always a danger sign. I reluctantly met his gaze.

"Yes, my..." The words tasted wrong in my mouth. They sickened me. "...my lord?"

"You have slept through rather a lot," he hissed, a twisted smirk creeping on to his face. "You missed our guest." There was a long pause, wherein I tried to work out whether I was supposed to speak or not. "Your son brought a little friend of his home." Again there was another pause while I stared listlessly at him. He was implying something, that much was obvious, but I was too tired and too tense to figure it out. "Narcissa, you never told me how close Draco was to Harry Potter."

It all fell into place with a sickening thump. The 'traitors', me, Potter, the shout, Bella.

"I now only have one Malfoy in my service," he said coolly, confirming my wildest theories.

"My lord," I choked, "please... They wouldn't have... Can't have... Not possible... Please..."

"Do stop snivelling, Cissy," Bella snapped from behind me. "They betrayed the Dark Lord. They mean nothing now."

I hated her. I hated her so much it made my head spin. How could she really think that, think that people only mattered to me for such reasons?

"Perhaps your sister has reason to feel a little discomforted," he said silkily. I lifted my head and stared at him in surprise. How could someone so cold, so unfeeling, possibly sympathize with me. "You see, before their hasty departure, I put forward a little proposition to your husband and son, Narcissa. I have no room for failure, and the Malfoy family has continued to disappoint me. First, Lucius denies his loyalty to me and sits idly while I seek out a new body. Then there was the dismal catastrophe and the Ministry." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bella tense nervously. "The less said about that the better. Then there was Dumbledore's death. Draco made a good start, but backed out at the last minute. A great shame, and a great failure in my eyes." I began to shake slightly, half from fear, half from cold, and almost entirely from anger. I wanted to scream at him, tell him who was really the failure. "And then there was you, Narcissa. I know what you did. You were quite close to Harry Potter too, weren't you?"

My heart stopped. He knew.

"It... It was YOU!" Bella shrieked. "YOU! You LIED! To the Dark Lord! Why you-"

"I did what I had to do, Bella!" I snapped, overtaken by rage. "And look where it got me. Which one of us is alive again?"

"Enough!" he shouted, just in time. Bella looked positively apoplectic with rage. "The point is, that I reached an agreement with Lucius and Draco. I gave them the choice between sacrificing the entire family now, or later when I have regained my powers." He looked at me, expecting an interruption, but I was too stunned to give one. "The terms were that all would die now, but only one would die later. It plays a rather key part in the conclusion, don't you think."

I couldn't come to terms with what he was saying. After 'sacrificing the entire family' it had all gone over my head. Druella finally let forth her cackle of glee.

"You will be pleased to hear that they chose the latter option," he continued. "And I, merciful as always, allowed them to make the choice themselves as to who would die. Unfortunately for them, they left before informing me of their decision. So, Narcissa, the last Malfoy under this roof, it is up to you. You have until midnight tomorrow. You may go."

My breath caught in my throat, my chest contracted until my heart could hardly beat at all. My worst nightmare was playing out before my eyes and I was powerless to stop it. At first glance, the choice was clear; wild horses could rip me apart and feed me to flesh-eating budgerigars before I allowed anything to so much as touch Draco, and I couldn't conceive allowing Lucius to die. I would have to die with him for it to make any sense, because we had been through so much together that to separate now was unimaginable. It had to be me. It just had to be, and somehow, I wasn't afraid.

But then there was something else to content with. Guilt. Draco and Lucius could not return, for their own safety, so I would have to die without ever seeing them again. They would forever blame themselves for it. Could I let them live with that? Did I have an alternative?

Tears seeped out from under my eyelids as I turned away from the portrait and made my way past my sister and niece. Bella looked indifferent, but it was Druella who caught my eye. She grinned manically at me as I left, revelling in my misery.

"Once one is down," she whispered to me, "there only two more to go. I'll give them a sporting chance, aunt, don't worry."

She momentarily grabbed my wrist, and I felt the searing heat pulsing through her hands, the sheer power she had at her fingertips.

Smiling like a thirsty vampire who has just come across a lonely traveller, she released me.

***

Well, what do you think? I'd love to know!