Chapter Text
“Everything went splendidly well, no one suspects a thing, stop fidgeting!” Regulus scolded his brother in the Gringotts waiting room they had been given to wait for the prisoners to wake from their healing baths. It was quite crowded, if only because every remaining member of the Blacks that wasn’t in school wanted to be there to welcome Bellatrix.
Sirius was a nervous wreck, and even all his occlumency couldn’t conceal it.
“Well I’m sorry if I’m not dead inside like other people,” Sirius hissed without any real heat behind it. “I don’t exactly have the best track record with dear Belly. I’m nervous.”
“Please, for the love of Circe, whatever’s going to happen will happen whether you fret about it or not, so just breathe and try to channel Grandfather will you? You are not meeting her on the same level as before. You are the head of the family and you have been for long enough that you could maybe start acting like it.” Regulus hissed back.
“That was mean Reg,” Remus whispered from behind them.
“Well, I’m nervous too but I’m not jumping around like a niffler in a jewelry store.” He huffed angrily before settling down. “Sorry Sirius. That was uncalled for.” Regulus admitted.
“It’s fine Reg, I left before Wally could pull enough of a number on me like she pulled on you. But you’re right though. It’s long overdue that I start acting the part.” Sirius said, squaring his shoulders and taking a steadying breath.
Apart from the Blacks, the only others in the room were Lucius, Alice and Tom. None of the other prisoners had family to welcome them back, and Lucius was there as steward to their seats.
They waited for Bella while Lucius was already busy with the goblins, sorting out Mulciber and Travers. The next one to arrive was Corban, and Alice went straight to meet him.
Corban looked troubled as to how to greet her, but Alice dispelled any sense of awkwardness by giving him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Cousin, delighted to see you so well,” she said, eyes a little misty but still proper. “I’m sure uncle Lysander is very happy right now, wherever he might be watching from.” She said, squeezing his arm.
“Allie, I’m very happy to see you as well, and pleased to see the family headship agrees with you. Not to mention finally on the right side of things.” Corban said fondly.
“Well, our Dark Mother works wonders, as you surely know by now. Come and let’s get your new identity sorted out,” she said, pulling him by their linked arms.
“How is Francis handling everything? I can’t imagine it’s easy for him.” Corban said knowingly.
“He understands, though he’s not involved. We have his vote and neutrality. Ignorance is bliss as far as the rest of our business goes.” She said, patting his arm, “now, I don’t mean to rush our meeting, but I do want to get you sorted out before that woman arrives.” She said bitterly.
“Maybe we should greet Bella and the boys somewhere else?” Regulus whispered to Tom upon overhearing their conversation.
“It was my intention at first, but it wasn’t practical and I may be stretching the vows we took, but I wanted to test the limits of their civility. I didn’t exactly force this contact as much as I didn’t prevent it. We should be fine. I must admit, I do want Bella to have some semblance of closure over the fact, even if it is to have her apology thrown in her face.” Tom whispered back.
“Well, let’s just hope this doesn’t blow up in your face.” Regulus said worriedly.
A few moments later, the Lestranges walked in. Bella looked beautiful. More beautiful than she ever looked. Peaceful, serene like never before, not a hint of madness or the slightest strain on her porcelain skin. Her hair was luscious and shiny, falling in loose waves around her frame down to her waist. She looked around the room and her eyes watered a little when she saw her mother and sisters. Sirius should go up and greet her first as head of the family, but he allowed the family reunion to take place first.
Narcissa walked up first, any semblance of her usual decorum gone as she wrapped her arms tightly around Bellatrix. “Sister,” she whispered hoarsely.
“Hello Cissybug” she whispered contently into the embrace, inhaling the sweet aroma of the jasmine and orange blossom bottle of scent the three of them shared as girls. They held each other for a while longer before Narcissa dislodged herself from her sister’s hold, smiling brightly. Bellatrix then looked to Andromeda, who’s eyes shone with unshed tears as well as a hint of uncertainty that she understood but it hurt her no less to see.
“Trixie” Andromeda smiled hesitantly, her feet twitching to approach.
Bellatrix took the initiative and swept her into a tight embrace. “I’m so sorry Meda, I’m so sorry you felt so alone. I would have ripped him apart limb for limb, I swear on our blessed mother I would have. She showed me everything, I would have bled him dry if you'd ever told me, but it was my fault you felt like you couldn’t and I’ll carry that with me always. I’m glad he’s gone, and I can’t wait to meet my beautiful niece,” she said as she stroked her hair, Andromeda shaking minutely as she kept herself from sobbing. “And my dashing nephew,” she said, pulling away and giving a knowing look to Cissa.
“Come here so your mother may look at you, starlight,” Druella said evenly, the emotional tremor in her voice only noticeable to those very observant.
“Mother, you don’t look a day older than when I last saw you. How is that fair?” Bellatrix teased as she approached her mother.
“Hush you, I am positively ravaged after worrying about my star locked up in that hellhole.” She said, cupping her cheek. “You, on the other hand, look lovelier than ever. I wonder if the goblin nation might consider offering these waters of theirs as a beauty treatment?” She teased back, engulfing her in her arms, and Bella reveled in the feeling of her mothers curls tickling her cheek as she buried her head in the crook of her swan-like neck.
Once she let go, she turned to Sirius. He was masking his nervousness well enough, but she knew her cousin, and the pulsing vein in his eyelid and slight twitch of his upper lip were telling. She simply smiled warmly at him and curtsied low to the ground.
“My Lord Black.” She said solemnly.
That seemed to break through Sirius’ mask, because he pulled her up and hugged her just as tight as everyone else’s.
“Are you really back, Bellybean? Is it possible?” He whispered hoarsely into her hair.
And of course it would be her darling cousin, her mirror image as if they were two sides of a coin that would bring the first tear to fall. Memories that had been so clouded before, of her little imp of a cousin threatening Rodolphus with dismemberment of particular members should he ever hurt his Bellybean, his high pitched toddler voice trying to sound low and menacing, and the hurt in his eyes the times they met on the battlefield, the subtle shields he’d cast hoping no one would notice him aiding his cousin were clear as crystal now. The love and hurt that shone bright as the Dog Star behind the vitriol.
“Entirely possible puppy, and I’m not going anywhere. I told you once didn’t I? I told you it would be worth it.” She said against his chest.
“Cousin, you look splendid. Delightful to see you so well.” Regulus said stiffly, kissing her cheeks.
“Aunt Wally? Is that you?” She teased. “Ever so sorry Reggie, my mistake.” She said with a smirk when he gawked at her. “Prim and proper as ever I see. Ickle Reggie, my lord consort.” She said bowing to her young cousin.
She lost all trace of humor and sarcasm when she turned and bowed deeply to Tom.
“My lord. Thank you for liberating us. We never lost faith you’d return.” She said solemnly.
“Well, thank you Bellatrix. I admit the whole Potter affair was a slight hiccup but I am back now.” He said chuckling, not wanting to be the one to sour the good mood with sudden solemnity.
“We held out hope you’d return to us since long before that Samhain night my lord, if I may be so bold.” She ventured, head still bowed submissively.
“Rise Bellatrix. There is no need for such simpering anymore. You were always my most trusted and most effective, but now we are family. We will treat each other as such.” He said, taking her by the arms lightly and pulling her up to kiss her cheeks much like Regulus, as the pair of emotionally stilted men they were.
Family reunion done and over with, Bellatrix noticed Alice Longbottom finishing up her business with Corban. She didn’t know what to do or say. To realize the magnitude of what she’d taken from her and her husband was one of the things that broke her the most now that her mind was clear of fog. As if compelled by some external force, she approached in spite of the hatred she saw once Alice realized she was coming her way.
“Lady Longbottom. I, Bellatrix Druella Lestrange nee Black, Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Lestrange, do place myself in thy hands for reparations as thou see fit. I become thy liege woman of life and limb, your shield against harm such as that which I committed unto thee. Name my punishment and will bear it as a scarlet letter.” She said contritely, protracted on her hands and knees.
Alice just regarded her with pure, unadulterated venom in her eyes, her breathing haggard until she managed to control it. She let her stew for a good minute before answering evenly.
“Bellatrix Druella Lestrange, I reject thy oath like the mud on my hem it is. Thy punishment shall be to live with the fact that what thou took from me and mine will never be able to be put to right. I will never get my son’s childhood back. If remorse is what thou feel, then thou will do better unto others in the future, but we will never speak again and I will give thee no chance at making amends to me, I will not acknowledge thy existence and we will live our lives. We both got second chances from our blessed mother and as much as I wished that thou would have been found unworthy of her grace, thou have been blessed with her healing touch and it is not my place to question that. If thou value this second chance, thou will never again come near me or mine. We do not exist to each other.” She said, stepping past her to leave without a backwards glance.
Bella stood shakily, head down in shame. She expected as much, but it had to be done anyway, as much because decorum demanded it as because it was the right thing to do.
“Come darling, we need to get things sorted,” Rodolphus said, wrapping his strong arms around her. She sagged into his hold, enjoying the comfort she hadn’t found there in so long.
They sat with the goblin assigned to them along with Lucius and Tom and listened to the goblin explain everything.
“As we’ve discussed before with his Lordship and Lord Malfoy, you will be given new identities along with new appearances. Lord Lestrange will reclaim the lordship as a French cousin, notified of his heirship status after the tragic passing of the previous heir Lestrange.” The goblin smirked evilly. “Lady Lestrange will be his halfblood wife, the last of a Rosier line extinct in France. Upon arriving in England with her husband we required an in depth inheritance test as a background check for her to open vaults in the bank, to check for any outstanding claims. Black heritage was found on her supposedly muggle side from a squib and she will be legitimized into the family tree.” The goblin explained.
Bellatrix couldn’t help the slight turn of her nose at the thought of having to claim muggle blood, as healed as he might be, but found solace in the fact that she would be a Black again at least.
The goblin produced a stack of parchments and a blood quill for each, passing them on for them to sign. “Your new names are Corvus Guillaume Lestrange IV and Delphine Electra Rosier-Black. Even if we finalize things now, everything will be dated two days from now, since your bodies will be discovered today and that gives the bank an appropriate window to make contact with suitable heirs.” He said, producing the lordship and consort rings for House Lestrange. “Since the imprisonment clause in the Lestrange family law was revoked along with the start of the persecution of the dark arts, a smart choice in hindsight, there should be no problems with your claim, Heir Lestrange. Please place the ring on your right ring finger.”
With the lordship properly claimed, they moved to Rabastan.
“Heir Lestrange, your new name will be Sebastien Corvus Lestrange III, brother to the current lord. You have come as the heir to spend a season helping your brother settle into his new role. You will hold the heirship until the current lord and lady produce an heir or heiress of their own.” The goblin explained, producing papers for Rabastan to sign along with the Lestrange heirship ring.
“Well, I hope you two get busy then, I’m not exactly lord material.” Rabastan joked without thinking, looking suddenly very contrite. He forgot how much trouble the couple had had in that department.
“It’s fine Rab, she healed me, remember? I don’t think we will have the same issues as before.” Bella said, placing a soothing hand on her husband’s arm to keep him from socking his brother for his impertinence.
Rodolphus brightened up at the thought of finally giving his beautiful wife the babies she had always craved. It had been the final nail in the coffin of her insanity, when she took that curse that left her barren.
“Now, you will stay with us at the citadel along with Travers and Mulciber until you can make your debut in society properly and move into your respective estates. Your impersonators will be dying systematically so there is time for your identities to be established while you are alive, so to speak, before you claim the titles. Antonin will be an exception since the Dolohov family isn’t titled, so he will just be a Russian cousin moving to England doing research for his runes mastery.” Tom explained, getting ready to leave.
~~~
The end of the second week of January brought with it the headlines announcing the Lestranges death in Azkaban. It detailed the extent of the crimes attributed to them, as well as the cause of death. Apparently 14 years in Azkaban will do one in, the report stating they lasted above average for the usual prisoner lifespan. Neville had the presence of mind to act happy about it, even if he knew the truth, and people congratulated him throughout the day.
January went on for the members of the Dark Academy without much change. They studied, they trained and they moved in packs. At one point, they simply started ignoring Dumbledore’s summons, neither Alice nor Severus acknowledging them further than asking what message they wanted him to relay. Harry focused on his training and studies to keep the doom and gloom away. He was not going to let that stupid old man ruin his chance at perfect OWL scores.
Soon enough, Imbolc was upon them, a much welcome respite from the thick atmosphere of the castle. Harry and Draco were most excited for the chance to meet Bellatrix.
The news of the new Lord and Lady Lestrange popping up to claim the title after the death of the previous ones had taken the press by storm. No one suspected anything, especially with how polite and charming the new couple was in comparison to their deranged predecessors. It must have been hard for Nev and Aunt Alice, because the woman featured heavily in the society pages and fashion reviews. She had taken up many charitable causes, as was expected of proper pureblood ladies, and was constantly pictured at fundraisers and tea gatherings for the causes she championed. Who could suspect this well mannered angel to be a deranged fugitive? No one, it seemed. Even if some of Dumbledore’s mouthpieces sent subtle hints that the deaths might be dubious and things appeared much too coincidental to be considered mere coincidence.
Harry caught Alice white-knuckling the paper once when they were having tea, her rage thinly veiled.
“This isn’t healthy Aunt Alice.” Harry said cautiously, gauging her reaction as if she were a cornered animal.
“What is darling?” Alice said, feigning ignorance.
“May we speak frankly? I don’t want to overstep but I think we should talk about it. I don’t want it to become the hippogriff in the room. And it might help to unload.” Harry said gently.
“It’s just so unfair,” she said after some internal debate. “She took everything from me, and she gets to strut around getting photographed for the sodding society pages?”
“This may be hard to hear,” Harry said hesitantly, “but coming from someone who is intimately acquainted with loss and betrayal, I think you should consider forgiving her. Not for her sake but for yours.” He hurried to add as she gave him an outraged look.
“How can you ever think I’d be able to forgive her!” She said indignantly. “She should burn for what she did.” She added venomously.
“And Tom should burn for my parents, and perhaps many of us who have wronged someone have their loved ones wishing we’d burn. War is an ugly thing, messy and terrible. Trying to make sense of it will end up rotting your heart.” Harry said warmly, trying to convey his love and understanding for the woman he’d so recently gotten back into his life.
“I’m not saying that forgiveness means accepting that what she did was ok. Not at all. But if you let it fester eternally within you, it will eat you up. I could have resented everyone around me. Tom, my parents even. My parents, who chose a war over my safety, who chose to trust Dumbledore instead of their intuition and continued to fight rather than run away. I forgave them because I understand them. I don’t think it was right, I don’t think it doesn’t matter that they did what they did, but I forgave them.” Harry explained. “Bellatrix was insane, desperate and grasping at straws. She went too far, she took everything from you. Is the woman in the papers the same person? I don’t think so. She will carry the shame of what she did forever, but you don’t have to carry it for her. Let her go, let it go and live without that weight that’s not yours to carry anymore.”
“Fuck! You make me miss your mother,” she let out, quietly sighing as she rubbed her tears away. “I don’t know if I can do that darling, I just have so much hate inside me and I don’t know how else to let it out.”
“I know what you mean. I went through it too. I don’t expect this to click right away and bam! You’re healed. It takes time, and it takes work. But eventually you’ll come to find that you’re crumbling under the weight of a rock that was always easily removable. Before I had the blindfold lifted I ran on hatred against Voldemort, and once I found out the truth I was fueled by my hatred towards Dumbledore and his lies, how he’s the root of everything that’s ever been wrong in my life. Then, I had to work on myself to master the shadows, and I came to understand and forgive them.” He said.
“I don’t think she’s out there for the chance to get on the papers or rub it in your face. She’s clearly overcompensating for the fact that she used to be a monster. She’s living with her past and trying to make amends for it as best she can. Why should you waste a second of this new lease on life you’ve been given worrying about her? I’m sure you spent all those years trapped inside your head thinking of nothing else. It’s time to think about the future, not the past. I function now because I want a future, I want a quidditch team of babies with Draco in a world where they can learn every aspect of magic without persecution, I want creatures to thrive in our society, and I want to be happy. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to feel truly happy, to feel absolute peace and not be waiting for the other shoe to drop, but that’s what motivates me.” He said with a little shrug. “I know just this chat won’t fix things, but one day it’ll click.”
“I hope one day I get there,” she said sadly, “but I sure can start with redirecting all this hate towards Dumbledore,” she said, laughing mirthlessly.
“It’s a start,” Harry shrugged and poured her some more tea. “I hope you understand that I won’t take sides here.” He said, getting to the crux of the matter. “Because just as I believe the man I resurrected isn’t the man who killed my parents, I don’t think Bellatrix is the woman that tortured you. You’re my godmother and I love you, but she’s family too and Father’s favorite cousin. He’s so happy she’s back healthy and sane and I don’t want to be put in the position of having to choose. She’ll never be you to me, but I can’t ostracize her in your favor.”
“I understand darling. I don’t have to like it, but I do understand it. And I know Neville does too, his heart is twice as big as mine and he’d never put you in that position. You never knew her like we did. You are not tainted by that version of her so you should be allowed to know this new person. I understand that at a logical level, but it’ll take a while to fully integrate it on a deeper level.” She said, resigned.
~~~
Harry was nervous after stepping out of the floo into the reception hall at home. Draco, Hermione and himself had all flooed to the Palais for lunch, since Draco’s parents were invited. A lunch so they could meet Bellatrix.
“Everyone is being in the conservatory masters” Pepper told them, and they made their way there.
“Kids! Blessed turn of the wheel to you all. Come pup, I want you to meet my darling cousin Bella.” His father says enthusiastically. Harry didn’t know what to expect, except this wasn’t it. The woman was very pretty and very similar to Andromeda, except with darker hair. He’s sure they didn’t change her appearance much with the potion so it must be close to what she looked like in her prime.
“Bellybean, this is my son and heir, Hadrian Potter-Black.” Sirius said proudly.
“I’m happy to meet you Hadrian, Puppy here has been singing your praises ever since I came out of our blessed mother’s waters.” She said with a mischievous smirk.
“I’m happy to meet you too, Father has told me a lot about you as well.” Harry said warmly, yet somewhat detached. He was still conflicted about her after all.
“Well, I should be thankful if he managed to find a couple of redeeming qualities to string a sentence together, but what’s done is done. I look forward to the opportunities Delphine will afford me to atone. You may call me Aunt Della if you wish. I’m leaving Bella behind, even if I can’t get old dogs to learn new tricks.” She said wryly, looking at Sirius.
“Aunt Della then, I look forward to getting to know you.” Harry said a little more warmly. This he could handle. Some semblance of divide between who she was and who she will be.
“Sister, I’m sure you remember my son Draco,” Cissa said, pulling Draco forward. “Dragon, this is your aunt Della.” Cissy said, eyes a little shiny.
“Draco, I remember holding you when you were no bigger than a niffler! You’ve grown well nephew. I hear you are a tribute to your houses.” Bella said.
“I remember you, you used to make fire dance.” Draco said quietly, a small smile playing on his lips.
“Which she will not be doing again.” Cissy said with finality, “she knows better than to entertain children with fiendfyre now.”
“You’re just jealous I had such mastery even while clinically insane, sister dear.” Bella smirked, “but your mother is right Draco, no more dancing dragons for my little dragon who’s not so little anymore.”
Everyone dispersed after the initial greetings and Bella watched with amusement as Harry and Draco cuddled by the fire.
“They’re together? That’s very… Black of them.”