A Snowy Night

**Trigger Warning**: The following content may contain material that could be distressing or triggering for some individuals. It may include references to topics such as violence, abuse, mental illness, self-harm, substance use, etc. Please proceed with caution and prioritize your well-being. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, consider stepping away or seeking support from a trusted source.

It was a cold winter night the snow fell silently on the ground and the sky was covered with thick grey clouds. Throughout the neighbourhood not a single soul was awake the people of Little Hexham slept deeply lost in their dreams un aware that something far more magical was taking place in the shadowy streets.

 At the corner of the street stood a man in a black cloak waiting for someone nervously looking around and jumping at the smallest sounds as if he was here to commit a crime. Well as a matter of fact he was here to commit a horrible crime which in the eyes of ordinary Muggles would be considered a noble task but the Wizarding World especially the Ministry of Magic would not forgive such a crime, the crime of saving a child and putting it into the care of an orphanage nun.

The wizard werewolf named Argos Noir stood with one hand inside his cloak holding his wand firmly as though he feared to be caught seeing alone lurking. Suddenly there is a sound like a whoosh of a wind the from the other end of the street. The man turns around searching for the source of the sound and he sees the shadowy figure of a women wearing a black cloak one hand holding a basket, the other hand tucking a golden chain under her robes visible under the light from the street lamps.

She spots the Argos and addresses him in a clear hushed voice holding out her own wand at him threateningly.

"If you are who I expect you to be and are here to fulfil the task that you were ordered to do prove it" 

The Argos Noir hears these words and roles up the sleeve of his left arm, there visible is a mark of a serpent and a skull etched in his skin.

"I believe it is your turn" said the Argos in a raspy voice.

"Fair enough' replied the women evenly rolling up her own sleeve and showing a similar mark.

 The Argos lowers his wand.

"My Lady it's a pleasure to be at your service' je says addressing the woman named Narcissa Malfoy.

"It means a lot hearing it from you most of others would have fled or turned us in by now" said Nrcissa gratefully.

"My Lady a faithful servant can never betray the hand that fed him when non did" Argos said with bow. Then continued firmly "Now let's get to the point may I ask where the child is?

"Here in the basket." Said Narcissa Malfoy showing a small basket which had a baby girl with silver and blue hair wrapped in blankets fast asleep, a small round golden locket with Delphine flower design and an emerald was around her neck. The man noticed this and inquired.

"Pardon me I was wondering if a child should be given such a n expensive trinket, it can attract trouble." 

"It was her mother's last wish that she keeps it, it is a family heirloom." Replied Narcissa slightly saddened by the mention of the late mother.

"Well if that's the case I understand come let's get inside." Said Argos and walked up to the Orphanage building with Narcissa at his side.

"About that I need to ask you Do you really trust this woman with such a n important task? Mind you I am not very found of Squibs" remarked Narcissa slightly annoyed and worried.

"She is a stiff woman of God but she does has a heart and can be trusted as long as paid well. And besides we know her weakness." replied the Argos positively.

"I don't like the sound of that but it's not like I have much of a choice." Said Narcissa with a sigh.

"Knock Knock" the sound echoed in the quite air as they knocked on the Orphanage door.

A young nun opened it and asked "Yes how may I help you?"

"We are looking for Madam Mastigia" replied Argos.

"Yes she is expecting you let me take you to her study" said the young nun taking them to the head nun's study.

Argos and Narcissa Malfoy walk up the narrow dimly lit hall. The orphanage consists of an old British building with flickering lamps and the wall paper is peeling off from places. The floor is clean though cracked and rough looking. The young nun opens a door and leads them in.

"Good evening please have a seat" said the whizzy woman in her thirties with flat black hair and round bulging brown eyes with a mole on her right check. She was standing by the book self near her desk " would you like a cup of tea it is really cold out there?" 

"Thank you but I had enough of formalities, I would like to make the matter as clear as I can." Said Narcissa Malfoy with an firm air of a queen giving orders while Argos Noir stood leaning next to the gate slightly showing his pointed teeth in order to frighten her.

"Proceed". Said the head nun sitting on the chair behind her desk.

"This child will be kept in this Orphanage for safe keeping not adoption. Safe keeping " She said pointing at the basket the baby Delphini was in which she had placed on the desk and continued.

" All her expenses will be covered by my family. She will be raised and educated in the most suitable manner for a lady. But above all she will be kept healthy and happy. She is not to be told anything about her heritage, or connection with my family. She will attend Hogwarts at the age of 11 and will study there until she turns 18 and then and only then she can be told about us. Is that all clear?" She asked leaving no room for doubt however the head nun was a bit annoyed.

"Hold on a little madam you said she is not to be told about her family heritage or you, so what will I tell her when she turns 18 as I know nothing about who this girl is?" she inquired annoyed and slightly confused .

"And also I have few questions about this child's peculiar appearance and how she is connected to you. If she is who I think she is," she said with a narrowed eye look at the child.

"You know even we Squibs hear rumours surrounding the Wizarding World, then why would I ever agree to keep her and not turn her in." She finished with a sly smile causing the werewolf Argos to growl and glare at the women threateningly.

"You will do no such thing because of a number of important reasons." Said Narcissa again in a silky sweet threatening voice. 

"That being?" she asked doubtfully.

"The first being that you will be paid a fortune for this task. And your secret about your own criminal deeds will not be exposed---"

"What do you mean?" she tried to deny but Narcissa continued.

"lastly if you told another soul about this I will give you a death worse than hell. We will form an unbreakable vow."

"I will do no such thing" refused angrily standing up and causing her chair to fall.

At this Narcissa Malfoy fired a revealing spell at the bookshelf which fell with a thud revealing a small room containing old magical artefacts, narcotic herbs, and stolen money from the Orphanage donations and smuggler wizards.

"If you don't want to be sent to Azkaban It would be best to accept my offer besides you are getting paid aren't you." Said Narcissa taking out her wand and placing it's burning tip at the nun's heart.

The nun looked extremely scared at the revelation of her crimes so she said with a resigned to the worst expression "Fine now tell who this child is. Is she really the daughter of Dark Lord and Bellatrix Listrange "

"Your had guessed quite right, she is the dark lord daughter however her mother was my niece Dahlia, Dahlia was Bella's Squib daughter an illegitimate child. She died in child birth and left this locket with the child as an heirloom. Her silver and blue hair are the cause of a mutation." Told Narcissa in an offhand manner.

"You can't be serious I was only kidding about the Voldemort part. Do you really think that this child will not be found here. The Ministry will know when she uses magic." Asked the nun now worried of getting caught.

"The Ministry will only know that an unrigestered orphaned witch is here however they will not suspect her as Lord Voldemort's daughter as the child they are looking for should be seven years old by now but this child is only a few months old." Said Narcissa with a proud satisfied smile.

The head nun realized truly for the first time what she was seeing and asked. "How is that possible, unless unless—" and the realisation of the impossible hit her like thunderbolt.

--But that can't be true all the time turners were smashed years ago there are non left." She finished horror struck.

"Don't think too much about things that do no concern you. Just do as your told take care of the child and make sure she is happy and safe." Advice Narcissa Malfoy with a deadly look daring the old woman to defy her. The werewolf Argos also came and stood in front of her bearing all his teeth.

"Now if you don't want to die I suggest we form a vow." She suggested and Argos took out his wand,

Madam Mastigia vowed to take care of Delphini Riddle and after a bit of tedious paperwork and some more instructions from Mrs. Malfoy. It was time to say goodbye.

Narcissa bent down and kissed the child on the forehead a small tear falling from her eye. With a deep breath she calmed herself and said to the child in a hushed loving voice of a mother. "Take care my sweet child, be brave one day I will see you again. Goodbye." 

And with that final pat on Delphi's head she left the orphanage. Argos Noir was by her side he bid Narcissa goodbye and Apparated. Narcissa took out the Time Turner around her neck and turned it backwards and with a last longing look at the Orphanage and a whispered goodbye Narcissa Malfoy disappeared with the whoosh of a wind.

Delphi Riddle was taken to the baby's nursery and placed in a cradle sleeping soundly without a worry in the world not knowing that her fate was filled with dark secrets and magic, Not knowing that even right now people in the Wizarding World shuddered in fear whenever they talked about the idea of her existence the existence of the cursed child