The Dark Lord's Daughter- Book One (A Harry Potter Fan Fic)

Chapter Seventeen: An Explination

Seth Maximus Crouch was born on April 22, 1997, less than a month before Albus Dumbledore would tumbled from the Astronomy tower, dead. In all her life, Leah had never felt such pain. The shot she had been given only made the pain go away for a small amount of time, enough time for the nurse to ask her name. Leah refrained from giving the nurse her last name.

The healers told her that her baby was coming much too soon, so instead of having a natural brith, they would have to cut her stomach open. Leah tried to snarl at them, to tell them that they would not do that to her or her baby, but she felt much too weak.

The entire time, Leah screamed in pain, wishing for it to end. As the procedure began, they let Daniel into her room, where he held her hand tightly. It wasn't good enough. She wanted Barty.

Half an hour later, however, Leah held her newborn son in her arms, though her body was still in horrible pain. She had never seen anything so prefect. The small baby had a tuff of black hair in the top of his head and pale green eyes, the perfect combination of her sparking green ones and Barty's brown. She wished Barty was here to share the moment.

All too soon, her baby was taken away. "The usual procedure, dear," the nurse assured her when Leah started to protest.

Leah left St. Mungo's completely healed and carrying little Seth in her arms two days later. They never suspected that had just delivered the Dark Lord's grandson.

As soon as Leah stepped onto the property of Malfoy Manor, Barty rushed to her side. He bore signs of recent punishment, which made Leah wonder how much shouting he had done while she was in the hospital.

He beamed at her and she passed him their son. "I've named his Seth Maximus Crouch," she said softly.

"I love it." He looked at her, his eyes filled with tears.

"Come on." She took his hand gently and led him into the manor.

The dinning hall was packed with people as Leah and Barty walked in, hand in hand, Barty carrying Seth.

Leah received a face full of blonde hair as Savannah launched herself at her.

"I had no idea Damian had a brother," she sobbed into Leah's shoulder.

"I know," Leah consoled. "Neither did I."

"Why do you think he never mentioned it?" Savannah asked her, her eyes brimming with tears.

"We can only guess. Maybe they had some sore of falling out. Maybe this was his plan all along, to get close to my family then betray us." Leah felt a bitter taste in her mouth as hatred and pity well up inside her for Damian.

"I don't believe that." Savannah shook her head defiantly.

"I don't know what to believe anymore," Leah said sadly.

Leah looked around the hall. Through the legs of all the people, she could see Rosier's body still laying on the ground. She stopped short. Leah racked her brain, trying to remember the fate of the man who had tortured her, but all she could remember was a lot of green light and pain.

"Don't worry," Barty whispered in her ear, reassuring her. "He's dead."

"Then why is he still here?"

"Because," came Voldemort's cold voice at the head of the table. "You deserve the explanation as to why he did what he did to you."

Leah looked at his body is disgust. Seth started to cry.

"Get that baby out of here!" snapped Voldemort.

"That's my son," Leah snapped back at him, then quailed under his hateful gaze.

Aunt Narcissa came and took Seth from Barty's arms. Both him and Leah watched nervously as she took him from the room.

"Douglas Rosier," said Voldemort, bringing Leah's attention back to him, "was sent by Albus Dumbledore to wreak havoc among my ranks in any way he could."

Silence followed his statement and all eyes turned to look at the dead body on the floor.

"How could a servant of that Muggle lover know anything about the Unforgivable Curses?" Daniel asked in a businesslike manor.

"As you know, the Rosiers have long been into the Dark Arts. When Mrs. Ella Rosier here married her husband, he was against the Dark Arts, but that didn't stop her from teaching her sons. Both Damian and Douglas knew all about the Dark Arts, though for the most part, refused to use them.

"When myself and my daughter tracked them down and accused them of being blood traitors and killed them, Dumbledore was looking for someone that could sneak into our ranks and sow discord. Mr. Rosier was more than willing, though I am certain the great Muggle lover had no idea of Rosier's true intentions."

"Would he have killed me?" Leah asked, fearful of the answer.

"Given enough time, I'm sure he would have," Voldemort responded, not sounding sorry at all that his daughter's life had been in danger. "He wanted to draw out your suffering first."

"Pity I couldn't do the same to him," she snarled, eyeing his body with loathing. A smirk flickered across Voldemort's snake like face.

No more was said about the dying Rosier line and the room slowly emptied. Leah and Barty practically ran from the hall to Leah's room, which she now shared with Barty. Aunt Narcissa was sitting on Leah's bed, cooing at like Seth wrapped in his blankets. She stood up when Leah came in.

"Oh Leah, I was just.." she stuttered.

"No, it's ok," she assured her aunt, taking Seth from her arms.

"Is Draco-?" Leah started.

Aunt Narcissa flinched like Leah had slapped her. "No," she said, her voice shaking. "His letters are getting more and more desperate. I know Snape is looking after him, but I fear for the worst." Before Leah could offer some advice, Aunt Narcissa fled from the room. Leah thought she heard a small sniffle.

Leah groaned and collapsed on her bed, keeping Seth close to her chest so she didn't jostle him.

"Don't," said Barty, touching her shoulder. "There's nothing you can do."

"I could have talked to my father about it."

"You know that wouldn't have done anything."

"Well what do you expect," Leah snapped, scaring Seth. He started to cry and Leah rocked him to calm him. "He's practically my brother, Barty. I don't want to see him die."

"I know you don't." He sat in the bed next to her. "But there's nothing we can do. Right now, we have to focus on raising our son. There's a war coming Leah. We might be facing more losses we can handle."

Seth made a small noise of content and reached a small hand out to play with a strand of Leah's black hair. She looked down at him. No matter what war was coming, no matter what losses she faced, she knew one thing was certain; she would protect her son until her dying breath.