Dark Prince Rises by Ronin2106

Chapter 14

August the 12th. Hastingstown.

The cracking sound of the apparition signaled the appearance in the back alley of two persons, two women to be more precise. Nymphadora Tonks, dressed in civil clothing, looked out of their spot to see that they haven't been detected, letting her to let out a sigh of relief, as well as to signal her companion an all clear signal. Once she got it, Bellatrix Black, formerly Lestrange, had let out a sigh of relief as well, before she and her companion went out of the alley and onto the streets of the town, with people upon which they came across graciously greeting them in a polite fashion.

It was a relatively small town, barely over seven thousand souls, with the majority of the buildings being only up to two or three levels highs and made in a traditional British style. It had a sense of good old English hospitality and an air of a Victorian era in, as if the time had somehow stopped here and allowed the old era to be preserved here. Of course, that wasn't entirely true, as there were modern automobiles, shops and other stuff, but overall the atmosphere was truly one of an old small English town, of which there are so many romances.

While Nymphadora was taking it all in, Bellatrix was trying her best to relax and let go of the anxiety that she has been feeling for all day, not helped by the fact that she was literally surrounded by Muggles. As a pureblooded Black witch, Bellatrix has associated herself only with the Wizarding World, and has barely ever left it to see the Muggle Britain, and that was ages ago, back before her aunt and father had made her into a murderous psychopath in service of Voldemort. She still shuddered when recalling her darker self, or a fake persona, which ever it was, but at least now she had left her suicidal and self-pitying tendencies behind her, having once more acquired the inner will and strength, thanks to her family.

Regulus hadn't lied when he said that he'd be able to set up a hearing for Bellatrix in a jiffy, and that he did. Barely two days passed after her mental release, Bellatrix faced an ICW's Court, where in a private session, with all the evidences that Regulus and Cassiopeia had presented of Bellatrix having been controlled through Dark Magical Arts, she was pardoned of her crimes and exonerated. She was in shock and tears when she had heard, her feet failing her, and only thanks to Regulus and Andromeda, who had come to support her, did she not plant her face into the floor. Right after she was released, Andromeda and Ted Tonks took Bellatrix into their house, where Cassiopeia and Andromeda began to heal here, a process which was by now largely complete, but the recuperation time had allowed her to reconnect with her family.

Regulus, Cassiopeia and Andromeda were the first to accept her back, with Andromeda not leaving her sister's side for long hours, spending them together in talks and recounts of what had happened. Bellatrix was most grateful to Andromeda for these talks, as well as for just being there for her and helping her. She had also gained a chance to get to know Ted Tonks and their daughter more closely, and she now understood completely why Arcturus liked the guy, which said volumes already.

Ted and Nymphadora were easy-going, caring and kind, but also internally strong and protective, with Ted definitely being the head of the family, even if he let Andromeda say otherwise. Nymphadora, though initially on the defensives, did connect with her aunt, especially through the fact that Bella's daughter and Andy's daughter were closest friends. Bellatrix had spent hours just listening about her daughter's life, only daring to interrupt Nymphadora when she wanted more details on something. Nymphadora didn't mind at all talking with her aunt, and it was clear by now that they were close. Cassiopeia had never been all too close to most of the Blacks, having been the closest with Dorea and her children and grandchildren, but she accepted Bellatrix without any hostilities, which was already something. Faye trusted her husband's word, and too had accepted Bellatrix, but it was clear that the two would need to first learn one another before they would become friends.