The Eye of the Serpent

"Do you intend to continue your father's legacy," Rodolphus asked Delphini carefully.

The girl shook her head, lip curling in distaste. "Voldemort was a madman with small selfish goals. I truly want to make the world better for everyone, even Muggles. He hated Muggles, so there is your proof that he and I are quite different."

"If you dislike him so much, why tell everyone that he is your father," Bellatrix asked.

"So that they might understand my level of power, and my abilities in order to make an informed decision," the girl replied calmly.

"Why is it that you wish to change the world so badly," Rodolphus asked in a reasonable tone. "Even if you don't feel it is enough, our Minister is progressing in leaps and bounds nonetheless. People need time to adjust to change if it is to truly stick. Why not allow her to start the changes, then pick up where she left off later if you feel it necessary?"

Bellatrix had never seen the debating diplomatic side of her husband, and it was hot. The brains and the control were hot or rather the mix of those qualities in a man who could also be fierce and brutal was hot. Realizing that she was gazing lustfully at her husband instead of watching Delphini, Bellatrix hastily returned her gaze to the girl. It was never wise to look away from someone dangerous and miss them hurling a deadly spell at you, after all. Or worse...because the Dark Lord had most definitely shown them that there were worse things to do to a person.

"I am unable to wait," Delphini told Rodolphus. At last an edge of something that wasn't quite so calm entered her voice. "I want to redeem the blood of Slytherin and change the world while I am still able!"

It was then that Bellatrix remembered the girl was a Maledictus. This was discovered when she was murdering students in her snake form at Hogwarts in order to perform a right of dark necromancy to resurrect her father. Though in what form, Bellatrix did not want to imagine. His last body had been beyond dreadful, and she could only assume, due to there being less soul involved, that it would only be worse now were Delphini to succeed.

"I do have one question," she said. "If you dislike your father, why resurrect him?"

Delphini clasped her hands almost primly in front of her stomach as she regarded Bellatrix. "Because I believe he may know how to help me. If not, he will be the only person who can understand me when I am eventually unable to regain my human form. Without him, I will have no one to talk to. The loneliness would be unbearable. Maybe I planned to make him my toy in the end if I am unable to find a cure for my condition," Delphini concluded with a teasing wink.

Was she playing with them or telling the truth in a way that would make them wonder if she were playing with them, Bellatrix silently wondered. "Are you aware that the Maledictus Curse is passed from mother to daughter," Bellatrix asked Delphini carefully.

"Oh, Bellatrix." Delphini's tone was conversational. "I know that you aren't my real mother. It's just that you and Rodolphus were intended to be my host parents, and I know he chose you because you are special. So, I wanted to know you. The fact that you were almost my mother makes you the closest living mother I have. Don't worry, I plan to kill the pathetic wizard who killed my mother. And guess what? I plan to use the sword of Gryffindor to do it because sometimes I believe in poetic justice, when I'm not being even more creative."

That was very much in line with the way the Dark Lord would think, and Bellatrix tried not to shiver. Gods, they had all admired him so once, for his power, skill, and deadly lack of limits in achieving his goals. Of course the discovery that he was a deceitful monster with no soul, who had no loyalty in return for that given to him, had changed all that before he'd changed it back by force. "Who told you that the Dark Lord intended for us to be your parents," Rodolphus asked.

Delphini gave a mysterious smile that said plainer than words that she knew far more than they. "I know this among many other things. I see the future but also the past and at times the present. Did you know that the priests and priestesses of many ancient cultures used snakes for divining? It is because snakes can see far and deep and on many levels of possibility."

That probably wasn't supposed to be creepy as hell, but the lulling tone in which the girl spoke, full of calm knowing coupled with the powerful words, was certainly doing the job. "I could help you to remember if you would like," Delphini offered. "As it did not go his way, it was a thing he did not allow you to remember."

Though Bellatrix did not at all like the idea of not remembering dreadful things, in case they were sitting somewhere very deep inside and screaming, she didn't trust Delphini not to plant memories instead of restoring them. Besides, Grindelwald had repaired the damage done to their minds, so eventually they would likely recall the horror on their own if it had even truly happened at all.

"If you wish me to restore the memory, I will need to come closer to do so. I would hate to shred your pretty wards if I forced my way past. They look so new and shiny, after all. If you allow me onto the island, I give you my word not to harm you," Delphini told them. Bellatrix exchanged a brief look with Rodolphus as the Acromantulas and goblins shifted a bit closer. They should take this opportunity to get her closer and kill her, but Bellatrix was leaving the decision to Rodolphus.

"How can we be certain that you won't put something into our minds instead," Rodolphus asked Delphini.

"Because I am not my father. If I wanted to do that to you, I would not politely ask to enter. I can break your wards if I wish," she boasted.

Bellatrix struggled to keep a frown of doubt from her face, but so many wizards and different types of creatures had layered those wards over the past two days that she just didn't see anyone, not even Delphini, breaking them easily.

Delphini sighed, eyes on Bellatrix, obviously reading the doubt on her face. "Very well. Apparently I need to show you. But please don't think I am being rude," she said, floating closer. The wards shuddered. Bellatrix could feel it in the air...then the Acromantula webs snapped, and a slit appeared in the wards in front of Delphini through which she slipped.

One of the new elf Aurors muttered something that sounded like a curse from where he stood just behind Bellatrix. The reason for this was clear. The girl's level of power was obscene. Bellatrix was jealous.

"I don't blame you for not wanting to be my host parents," Delphini told them with an understanding smile. "My father wasn't very nice to you, was he?" She chuckled softly. "He was so angry when you were able to resist him even under compulsion! Don't you want to remember that? You should be proud of yourselves!"

"How did he manage to have you without our help," Bellatrix asked. She was definitely stalling for time while trying to figure out how they were going to stage this attack. It may have to be a just go for it and hope for the best sort of situation. Those were usually right up the Lestrange alley, but this was a bit more dangerous of a game than they usually played, considering the girl had the strength of at least thirty, which should be impossible by all bloody rights!

"He managed to get me hatched instead," Delphini explained cheerfully. "It worked out. He didn't think my mother could manage, but she was able to lay an egg. Most Maledictus are born human style, but my magic was strong enough to conform."

"Do you know how that is," Bellatrix asked. "How you have such strong magic? I must admit to being rather envious," she flattered. She wasn't good at lying, but though she didn't want this girl's sort of power, being that strong would be quite soothing. Not to mention a great deal of fun! Delphini seemed willing to talk, so though Bellatrix was stalling, she was also quite curious about the girl's origins and thought the Minister would be as well.

Delphini gave that mysterious smile that Bellatrix was beginning to find familiar. It seemed to be one of the girl's trademark expressions. "Now, I can't tell you all of my secrets," she chided gently. "Not until you agree to join me, that is. I can give you far more than this Ministry ever will."

Were they going to attack the girl or what, Bellatrix wondered. The tension was beginning to get to her. She dared a quick look at Rodolphus, who gave his head of short, wavy, dark hair the slightest of shakes. Kereston had put him in charge of Azkaban, and Bellatrix could readily admit that he was more level headed than she. So if he said hold off, they would hold off.

"Why don't you let us get to know you first" Bellatrix asked, trying for a gentle tone. She approached Delphini and smiled, allowing the sadness over the time she, Rod, and Rabastan had wasted on the Dark Lord to show in her eyes. "We never had children, you know. We could always practice the family thing together. I am curious to know how you grew up with the Dolohovs, and though you know quite a lot, perhaps there are still a few magical tricks we could show you."