A Bellamort Tale

Part 24

"Well spoken." A cold voice hissed from the other end of the room, making the teenagers pivot to face him. There he stood, the dark lord himself, Bellatrix at his side, her child protectively in her arms. "What have we here? Harry Potter's little mudblood friend came back to do what? Let Bella finish what she started? Or did you come to join my cause, mudblood?"

Bellatrix giggled in a high pitched tone over his last allegation. Then she addressed Hermione.

"Yeah, mudblood, what do you want? Get a finishing touch to your new scar? Maybe I should draw you a flower or something, so you can show it with pride." She mocked her.

The girl swallowed heavily before she stepped protectively in front of Draco. Crossing her arms in front of her chest, she said stubbornly.

"Draco caught me while I was snooping outside. He brought me here to find out what I was up to. Before he could decide if he believed my story, I was telling him about the origin of your name and who you got your original name from. But I heard a few interesting things from Draco too. Like who this girl's parents are and how you treat her and Bellatrix."

"Don't you dare speak of me by my first name, mudblood. And even worse, trying to insult the dark lord. I can't even think of the things I'll have to do to you, before you'll be allowed to die!" The boy's aunt screamed, waking her child as she did who instantly started to cry.

About to scream at her again, Bellatrix opened her mouth, but Voldemort had noticed something and that had made him curious. The girl tried to hide her thoughts, but she wasn't very good at it and so he could read her like an open book. Lifting one hand to stop Bellatrix, he looked down at Hermione and hissed.

"You came here because you heard her cry yesterday and thought she was some random baby we had here to play with. Sweet thought, but no, we wouldn't. But you found out who said child is and who she might become, yet I can't find it in your mind that you're about to tell your friends and I keep wondering why you wouldn't inform them and have them try to use this weak spot to their advantage. Tell me, Hermione Granger, why is it like that? If your answer pleases me, I may let you live!"

The young woman scoffed.

"I don't care if you do. The baby is innocent. Yet I can't be sure that everybody on our side will see it like me. Even Dumbledore supported his friend Grindelwald for some time, until his sister was the victim of a fight between him, his brother and his lover. I am sure they 'would' try to harm her or even kill her and I can't let that happen." She said stoically. As if she wouldn't care about anything anymore. Her eyes though told a different story as did her expression when she stared at the still crying baby, feeling the urge to go and comfort the child, rocking her on her shoulder, while Bella just stood there, holding her and waiting for her master to decide.
Voldemort cocked his head, then said to the girl.

"Do it. Pick her up and see if you can calm her. Maybe then you'll be of some use! Bella, let her. She won't harm Delphini."

The new mother's face showed her absolute shock when he ordered her to hand her child, their child to a mudblood. But of course she obeyed.

Hermione hesitated.

"Go on, I'd like to see what happens if you hold her."

Bellatrix watched her with disgust as she carefully lifted the baby out of her arms and laid her against her chest, the tiny head on her shoulder. Then she calmly spoke to the newborn, while starting to walk around, gently rocking her up and down as she did. Soon Delfini calmed down and stopped her crying, yet she was awake and seemed to listen to the kind and soft sound of Hermione's voice.

"That's enough!" Bella spat and was about to walk towards her, when her master held her by her arm.

"Shush, dear. Just watch her. She's a natural, just like your sister. As you already said. Muggles are like house elves or goblins. They are beneath us but understanding enough to have them work for us. And from the way our Draco is looking at her, he most likely wouldn't mind keeping her as his playmate. Right Draco?" He looked snidely at the young man who was still petrified in terror.

Bellatrix laughed.

"Drakey, Drakey! Who would have thought? Having an eye on the filthy little mudblood. You're both lucky today. If I had been alone, the girl was already dead. But if she could convince the dark lord she must be telling the truth." She mocked her nephew now.

Voldemort grinned at her.

"Well Bella, I do remember some situations when you took advantage of simple muggles to find your release. Of course you killed them after but still, you let them touch you and most likely also..."

The witch grinned.

"Let me explain, my lord. Muggles have one benefit other than elves and goblins. They are built like us and therefore can be more useful than them. Let him have her. Maybe he can learn a couple of things for his future wife or at least let out his sick fantasies on her instead of a pure-blooded witch. That's why I found my release with those muggle men. Nothing serious and no risk because they wouldn't survive to tell the tale. And if I took their women with me, I would be able to avoid my husband for days. Now give me my child, mudblood!"

Hermione was hesitant as she approached the dangerous witch. Bellatrix wanted to reach for her daughter, when she noticed how calm she had become in the younger woman's arms and just stood there and stared at her.

"How? If she's crying like this she only calms down when I feed her or when Cissy holds her. My lord is right, she has the same nature as Narcissa. Amazing." Her voice though didn't sound amazed, rather jealous.

The girl took a deep breath and seized the opportunity.

"I've been watching my cousin's kids since I was nine. She taught me how to do that. I'm not a natural, I just had enough time to practise. If you agreed, I would show you. It's only a matter of how to hold her. Some babies don't like to lie all the time. They want to be able to look around even if they can't see a lot at that age. She's simply curious and eager to learn."

Hermione sighed in relief when she saw the mother's expression change from annoyed and jealous to curious and intrigued.

"Show me then!" She demanded.

Not able to hide the tender smile when she lifted the baby off her shoulder, she placed her in a similar position on Bella's shoulder.

"I know you can't see her face, but right now she is watching her surroundings. I am sure, if she heard a familiar voice, she would try to turn her head towards it." Hermione whispered softly as she stroked along Delphini's back before bringing some distance between her and the dark haired woman.

"My lord, would you mind?" Bellatrix almost begged him. He smiled softly, making the little hairs on the back of Hermione's neck stand up in terror. Then he spoke, incredibly calmly and softly, as if he really loved her.

"Delfini, did you like to be with the mudblood? If you really did, we'll keep her for you. And for your cousin. He seems to like her looks. And if she stays she can ease your mother's every day and she certainly will be able to recover quicker from everything." He looked at the witch who had given him a child. "It's your decision, Bella. You're her mother and you're to decide who has the right to be with her."

The girl gulped, her eyes still on the baby.

"She's smiling. She knows her dad's voice and she likes it." She told Bellatrix. Draco had stood there in silence all of the time, but now he stepped forward and confirmed her words.

"She really is. The way she usually does when she hears you!"

His aunt's eyes widened at his statement.

"How would you know?" She pried.

"I have spent quite some time with her when mum was looking after her. I held her, cleaned her and talked to her. But she only smiles if she hears your voice, and obviously yours, my lord!" He said hoarsely, his eyes on the floor.