#smol delphi

[daughterofyourdarklord]

Tell us the truth. Delphini isn’t the only one who calls Tom Riddle daddy?

He hears her slip into the room before he sees her. 

Lord Voldemort cracks his eyes open, glancing towards the large double doors where he catches a glimpse of her lithe frame blocking the candlelight. She pauses for a moment clearly taking in the sight before her, giving him a second to appreciate her figure. 

Bellatrix closes the doors to their adorning rooms carefully, her steps quiet as she ventures closer to their bed. His witch is very obviously biting back a large grin, eyes glittering over his face before drifting down to the little body cuddled against his chest. She’d already shed her robes, slipping quickly into her night dress before sliding beside him in the large bed. 

“Hi,” she whispers, all a smile. Her knuckles brush gently across his sharp cheek, thumb caressing his jaw before her hands settle lower to rest against a tiny back.  

“I take it everything went well?” He’s looking at her intently, though he speaks just as quietly as she - each of them mindful of the small witch sleeping peacefully with an ear glued to her father’s heartbeat. At this point Bella can hardly hold back her smile, eyes lingering on Delphini’s little face as she answers him. 

“The assignment went wonderfully,” she starts, regaling him with all the key details as her fingers gently run through their daughter’s curls. Eventually she opens her mind to him, sharing with him the details of the mission that would take too long to properly explain. They’re quiet for a bit after, listening to the sound of Delphi’s even breathing. 

“How’d you end up in this position?” She asks softly, nodding at their daughter. 

“Nightmare.” He explains simply, causing a quiet chuckle from Bella. 

They linger for a while, the three of them. Bella basking in the moment whilst Voldemort is dissecting the details of her mission. He is plotting already, trying to carefully pinpoint his next move to finalize their integration into the Ministry, not to mention this little prophecy Severus recently brought to his attention. It doesn’t take long for his mind to grow too loud. 

“It’s nearly morning,” He starts, body shifting. “I’ve got a meeting with Arcturus in a few hours that I need to get ahead of. Want me to drop her in her rooms or-”

“I’ll take her.” Bellatrix interrupts, rolling onto her back so that he can shift their daughter over more easily. The Dark Lord nods, having expected her answer. 

He leans over, gently passing the little witch into her mother’s arms.

Not nearly gentle enough. 

Delphini’s eyes snap open the moment her head is lifted from her father’s chest. 

She is positively glaring at him. If looks could kill this little three-year-old would be drawing blood with the way her glower cuts through the dark room. There is nothing but utter betrayal in her stare. 

“You promised!” She hisses at him, hands gripping fiercely onto his robes. The dark lord glares right back.

“Don’t start with me little girl - look who I am passing you off to.” It takes Delphini a moment to turn in his arms. She gasps, suddenly quick to twist out of his hold and to wrap around her mother. Bella laughs and the Dark Lord has to hide his smile.

“Mama.” She whispers into Bellatrix’s neck, her mother smiles in response planting gentle kisses into their child’s curls. The Dark Lord sighs, backing cracking as he makes to rise. 

“Papa, you said you would stay.” With a grumble Voldemort turns around at the edge of the bed, an eyebrow raising at his daughter’s word. 

“Your mother is here now, Delphini. There’s no need for you to have us both, your mother is more than capable of protecting you.”  

“But Daddy! You promised!” The little witch whines, eyes peering at him from across the duvet. Bellatrix turns them to their side, breaking their daughter’s eye contact as she pulls her against her chest. She gives him a devious glare before adding: 

“Yeah, daddy,” Bella’s voice is dripping in mischief. “In this family, we take our vows very seriously.” She mocks, her eyes full of mirth despite his returning glare.

It’s a standoff. Delphi turns in her mother’s arms to give him another pleading look.  

Lord Voldemort narrows his eyes at Bellatrix.

“You wretched witch” He mutters, his hands running through his hair as he resigns himself to his fate. Delphini cheers as he makes his way back over to her and her mother along the sheets. “You also promised that you would go to sleep.” He reminds the little witch, who giggles in response. 

He slides next to the pair of them on his side, one of his arms slipping beneath a downy pillow to support his head while the other reaches for Bella’s waist. The witch in question slips closer to him, her forehead coming to rest along his collarbone, despite being unable to see her face he can still feel her smug grin. Delphini is sandwiched between them, her back facing her father as her head is tucked comfortably beneath her mother’s chin, tiny fingers holding onto her mothers night dress gently. 

“‘Night, daddy.” The little witch starts, he can hear the smile in her words. 

“Delphini - go to sleep.” He warns.

“Goodnight, daddy.” Bella whispers against him.

Amongst the early morning light the Dark Lord sighs.

[asktheheirofslytherin]

Bella starts screaming in her sleep. You try to wake her up but it looks as if she’s trapped in the nightmare.

The bedroom’s door cracks open and a scared Delphi walks in holding her stuffed snakes tight. “Mama?” Her tired eyes grow wide and fill with tears as Bella screams once again “Dada!? Is mama…why is…is mama hurt? Is she gonna die?”

Voldemort did not notice Delphini at first, too busy casting an enchantment of dreamless sleep on Bella. If she could not be woken, it was the best thing to do. And truly - she had not slept well recently, so perhaps waking her would be unfavorable, even if he could.

She falls still and curls into a pillow, her mind now refreshingly blank, and it is only then in the silence Voldemort hears the child in the doorway.

"Ah, Delphini," he mutters, coming to the doorway to greet her. "We must be very quiet, as your mother is sleeping again. She had a nightmare, much like the one you had the other week, with the dragon trying to eat you, do you remember how you were quite upset?"

"Was Mama dreaming about dragons?" Delphi asked, eyes wide, trying to peak past her father to get a glimpse of her mother.

"N- Yes," he corrected himself, stepping aside to show Delphi that her mother was in the bed, the rise and fall of the blankets proving she was alive and well.

"But she told me they weren't scary," Delphi protested, seeing through the lie- and Voldemort hesitated. Delphi was clever, precocious, but she was only five - too young to learn the entire truth, about Azkaban and dementors and the slow chipping away at one's mind. "She said they never scared her," Delphi repeated, frowning. "Was she lying?"

"No, no, your mother was not lying," Voldemort said quickly. "I was. You see, you are very small, and-"

"I wanna know!"

"Shhh, your mother is sleeping," Voldemort murmured, taking the child's hand. Come to my study, we can sit by the fire."

"Before you were born," Voldemort said, sitting the girl on his lap in his favorite armchair - the one big enough to accommodate Bella, himself, and the child if need be - we fought a glorious war. But you know that, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"Your mother fought in that war - and she also fought in another war, before that one. You will learn of it in your lessons as the First War."

"Two wars?"

"Yes. We lost the first one, your mother and I."

"But..." Delphi's brow furrowed. "You can't lose."

Voldemort smiled. "Ah, now, we cannot lose. But we...everyone makes mistakes, Delphini. Everyone must learn. Your mother and I - we are the greatest to ever live, but it took time to get there." He sighed, noting how the girl hung on to his every word. "Losing a war, fighting in a war, it is difficult, Delphini."

"What happens when you lose?" Delphi asked, eyes wide. "Do you die?"

Voldemort laughed at the innocence of the question, stroking the girls hair. "Not I, no," he assured her. "I cannot die. Sometimes the loser does die, however. I just had to...hide." Just had to hide. he swallowed back the grimace as he recalled his time in exile. "Your mother also spent time away, away from me, away from Aunt Cissa and Uncle Lucius, away from cousin Draco. Sometimes it makes her sad."

"But she's back now," Delphi said, frowning. "She's ok now, right? She doesn't have to go away anymore."

"No, no she does not," Voldemort assured Delphi, nodding. "But sometimes the dreams tell her she has to go away, and - much like you and the dragon - she cannot tell they are not real."

"Oh," Delphi said stoically, nodding. "You said I wouldn't dream about dragons when I was bigger."

"And you likely will not. But when you are an adult...your dragons are still there, they just... look different." He sighed, pressing an affectionate kiss the the child's forehead. "How about I read aloud to you now until you fall asleep. Would you like that?"

"Yes Father," Delphi murmured, curling against him.

"Excellent."

@crucioslut @daughterofyourdarklord

[daughterofyourdarklord]

Okay, so ten things that Bella and Delphi have in common too pls???

1.) Her little girl’s hair is black as night, curling at the tips.  Bellatrix quickly recognizes it as her own, just as stubborn to brush, all wild and wayward.  Those indistinguishable curls grow as she does, Bella sits behind her daughter before the large mirror, running a brush through her locks, twisting and twirling large strands into beautiful braids.  There’s something peaceful about it, she never much enjoyed doing her own hair, but with the little witch it’s different. 

2.) Her daughter’s laugh is high pitch and clear and so painfully familiar that Bellatrix’s magic falters for a moment when she first hears it. The colorful bubbles she’d been entertaining her child with disappearing in a pop.  She’s quick to start up again, desperate to hear that giggle that reminded her so much of her own mother’s.  She brings it up to Narcissa later, asking if she also recognizes Druella’s laugh cascading from her daughter’s lips. Cissa smiles at her, eyes softening: “That’s your laugh too, Bella.” 

3.) The child is so very playful, physical in every aspect.  Certainly, not a trait passed down by her Father.  Delphini is constantly clinging to someone - holding onto Rodolphus’s legs, Narcissa’s hand, Draco’s dress pants.  She jumps into Bella’s arms nearly every time they’re together, always so eager to be close. Sometimes, she thinks to scold her for it, but she never can.  Even the Dark Lord accommodates to Delphini’s neediness, pulling her into his arms when the child demands it.  She supposes, at this point, he’s rather used to touchy Black witches. 

4.) “Listen to me,” Bellatrix starts, hands tight along her daughter’s shoulders for emphasis.  “Scorpius is your cousin - Draco’s son.  He has the same blood as us - he’s family.  There’s nothing to be upset about, dove. In fact, he’s going to need you to look out for him now. Can you do that?  For me, for Aunt Cissa, and for Draco, too?  Can you look out for your family?”  Delphini nods gently, still not meeting her mother’s eye.  “Why, dove? Why is it important to look out for each other?”  Bellatrix expects her to answer in kind, ‘because we’re family, mama’ she’s hoping to hammer that point home.  Her daughter sniffles before saying:  “Because we’re Blacks, mama.”  There’s a fierce sense of pride that sings through Bella at that. 

5.) She’s watching from the doorway. Narcissa's seated with her daughter on the piano bench, elegant fingers caressing carefully along the high notes.  Delphi is entirely the opposite, slamming down on the keys with such force, the little girl’s frustration becoming more than apparent.  Luckily, Narcissa’s immediate protests drown out Bella’s poorly veiled laugh.  “Come now. That’s not how highborn ladies play piano.”  From her position, Bellatrix can only imagine the reproachful look aimed her daughter’s way.  “The piano is a graceful instrument - delicate, refined, just as we..”  Delphini huffs, dropping her hands down to the bench and leaning back along the seat as though in utter agony, another dramatic sigh follows.  “Auntie Cissa..  I think I need to pick a different instrument..” 

6.) Bellatrix marches into the headmaster’s office, refusing to sit, standing tall while she listens to little Severus prattle on about decorum and respect while referencing an exceptionally disheartened charms professor.  It’s exhausting as ever, listening to the half blood drone on.  She shuts the slimy fool up, at what she imagines is likely not even halfway through his righteous speech, pushing Delphini towards the door before reminding the greasy git just exactly who he’s trying to reprimand. “I thought we raised you to be much more conspicuous!”  She hisses, frustrated but not enough to be hypocritical.  They still go to Hogsmead for tea afterwards - spending the rest of the afternoon laughing behind scones as Delphini recounts all of the circumstances where she was, in fact, much more conspicuous.  

7.) Bella hadn’t met someone that matched her in temperament since Sirius abandoned their family.  She and Delphini are quick at each other’s throats, too combative, too confrontational, restless for a row.  In some ways, it would be refreshing, if it wasn’t so achingly frustrating.  The way her daughter is looking at her now.. Magic humming around her, making those heavy, dark curls stand out, coiling like serpents.. Bellatrix has to take a step back, suddenly far too distracted by the resemblance to even remember what it was that they were fighting about in the first place. Only for a moment, though.

8.) Delphini is a menace on the battlefield.  Whipping around, curse after curse, her magic stretching and spanning in all sorts of ways - it’s wondrous to behold.  That doesn’t change the fact that she gets so lost in the duel, all eager and excited. It leaves her careless in so many ways - open, exposed.  Bellatrix is a ball of nerves the entire time, staying close to her, warding off enraged enemies and stray spells, things the girl would have never seen coming.  Rodolphus is at her side after the mission, nearly laughing at her still anxious expression. “It’s interesting isn’t it..” Bellatrix throws him an irritated look, not sure exactly what he means, he elaborates: “Finally having to worry about someone..  Now you know what it's like.” 

9.) Narcissa is a wreck, Astoria too, both of them perched at Draco’s bedside while he recovers, Lucius promptly summoned from the Ministry.  Bellatrix stayed with her sister until her husband got there, dutiful as ever.  She goes to look for Delphini the minute he arrives.  The cries coming from the cellar give the girl away immediately.  It is a pleasant sight that greets her, Delphini standing over the blood traitor, a rush of red streaming from the end of her wand.  He had hurt Draco, badly at that, and Delphini seems to have taken that personally.  She stops for a moment, two sets of eyes both resting behind heavy lids meet in the dark.  Bella nods and she turns back to the coward, cruciatus quick to follow.  It’s powerful and assertive, and it’s Bellatrix’s (Druella’s?  Delphini’s?) own laugh that chases after it. 

10.) She’s truly a beauty of old blood.  Sharp cheekbones with an even sharper jawline, her father’s eyes resting behind those heavy lids.  Her whole life, everyone had constantly reminded Bella that she was nothing short of stunning - she'd accepted it, naturally, very familiar with her own face, though, the complement always meant so much more coming from Him.  It’s not until she sees her own looks so clearly spelled out on her daughter’s features that she really understand what witches and wizards mean when they say devastatingly beautiful.

[daughterofyourdarklord]

6) sender finds receiver crying and approaches,  clearing the tears with their hands while demanding to know what happened. 

Distantly, Delphini was aware that her mummy was following her.

She had practically ran right into her mother's skirts, little legs tumbling to get around her and then back down the hall, all a rush to get to her room before she crumbled. She thinks perhaps her mummy may have called for her, too, though the only thing she could really hear was what those men had said. She felt awful. Her whole stomach turning on her as she slammed the door to her room, little hands fumbling to lock it behind her. She ran to the other side of her ornate bed, sliding against the frame of it and wrapping herself behind the expensive canopy. Delphini broke then, large tears running down her cheeks as she sobbed into her hands as quietly as she could.

The simple lock did little to keep Bellatrix out, her mother rushed to the side of the bed, she knew all of the six year olds hiding spots, and pulled the canopy back softly, quick to get eye-level with her daughter. Gentle hands surrounded Delphini's face, pushing her own away and carefully prompting the girl to meet her mother's eye. She couldn't, her gaze running every which direction.

"Little Dove.. please, tell Mama what's wrong.."

She shook her head, denying to give her mother an answer. Bella's hands refocused her gaze, thumbs sweeping kindly across her cheeks trying to curb her cries. Delphini could hardly get a word out over her hiccups.

"I h-heard," She sniffled, bringing up a shaking hand to wipe at her nose, her mother still held on to her face. "The men downstairs.. Before t-the inner circle meeting - they said.. they said.." She bit back a sob, lifting her hands to hold her mother's against her cheek.

"You can tell me anything, Dove."

They said that Father should've taken care of his little mistake when he had a chance. That it was such a disappointment that his only heir was a girl. That Bellatrix had never wanted to be a mother in the first place. That perhaps that's how things should have been.

"Mama," She looked up at her mother so earnestly then, tears still slipping out of her wide eyes. "Does papa.. will he? Does he want me gone? Am I bad? Do you not want me?"

[daughterofyourdarklord]

Give me some Delphini, Bella and Roddy on her first day of Hogwarts (yes because I assume Rod would have been there before daddio)

Delphini was well aware of the stares. To her left, to her right, witches and wizards both frightened and floored, couldn't help but gawk at the presence of Dark Lord's two most renowned Death Eaters - not to mention His daughter.

She ignored them, like always, completely unfazed by their poorly veiled gapes. Only this time, appearances were everything. She was going to Hogwarts now, starting a little reign of her own. They all already knew that she was better than them, but a little reminder certainly wouldn't hurt.

Uncle Rod was kneeling in front of her at eye level, hands holding gently onto her shoulders as he added to his goodbyes.  Delphini had spent her last evening home at her Father’s, listening to his stories and asking him every last minute thing she could think of and then some about Hogwarts.  He wasn’t able to see her off at the platform today, but Rodolphus agreed to come along with Mother and even helped her charm her bags.

“Behind the second bookshelf, three floor boards in?”  She repeated to her Roddy, trying to engrain in her memory exactly where he had told her he had hidden something all those years ago.  Rodolphus shook his head in confirmation, giving the girl one more playful squeeze before moving to stand.

“It will be one of the first things I look for once I get in the common room!”  She promises, squeezing at his arms as he pulls away, never a doubt that she would be a Slytherin.  The Hogwarts Express whistles in warning, calling out to all the students still on the platform.

Something in Delphini shifts at the sound. She'd been excited for this for months, years even, but now.. Now, she had to say goodbye to the most important person, the one who she could hardly even bring herself to look at since she had woken for breakfast that morning. It was unsettling for Delphi, to imagine having to be away from her. Bellatrix had always been such a constant in her life, her teacher, her paragon, her protector, her mum.

The whistle called out again, and as it did she felt her mother step to her side. A slender hand grabbed tenderly at her own, and Delphini had to turn away from all the anguish that came with it. How was she supposed to say goodbye to her? Her mother was the last person she wanted to leave, the one she would miss most, being away from her.. it felt wrong somehow.

Delphi swallowed, throat dry, before glancing left, and glancing right. Their former spectators seemed, for a moment, all too preoccupied with their own children to scrutinize the uncommon family. She was betting on that ignorance. Quickly, Delphi turned back to her mother, diving deep into Bella's arms and burying her face in her mother's curls, eyes screwed tightly shut. She willed her sobs to silence as she shook in her mum's hold, grabbing onto her tightly. Bella was whispering something into Delphini's hair, and it was a few more breaths before the eleven-year-old could answer.

“But what if I do? What if I do need you?”

She pulled her face out of her mother's mane, looking at her with teary eyes. Bellatrix smiled, and for a moment Delphini couldn't help but think that her mother looked as brave as Delphi wanted to feel. She promised her everything then, promised her that she would be okay, that the castle would be amazing, magic at her fingertips, that she'd be safe, that she'd find friends, that she wouldn't need her. All the things Delphini had already known - except one. She lurched forward again, this time softly, giving her mother one more tight hug before reminding her:

“I’m always going to need you, Mama.”

The whistle called again.

She walked to the train with as much grace as any eleven-year-old heiress could muster. Mum was right, she was born to do this. Taking one more deep breath, and turning back one final time, she shared a confident wave with her Mama and with her Roddy, before stepping onto the Express. Her luggage lingered after her, spelled to follow her every step. Delphini smiled.

Now.. to find Travers and Nott.. Hogwarts was just around the corner after all, and it was finally time for her to start building her Kingdom.

@crucioslut

[daughterofyourdarklord]

Tell us about the attack!

Delphini held her mother's hand tightly despite tiny fingers being trapped inside a generous mitten.  It was cold enough that she could see her breath, each puff bringing a small smile to the five-year olds face.

“Are we gonna bring the gifts straight to Aunt Cissa’s, Mama?” She asked, taking a moment to turn her head and look all the way up at the witch by her side.

“Oh, not yet, love. I know you’re excited, but it’s still over a week away from Yule, and we have to wrap them first, yes?”  Delphini nodded, turning back to the narrow cobblestone street, Bellatrix leading them back to the fireplace they floo’d in from.

They bent down an alley, a shortcut they’ve taken a thousand times before - only this time something was different. 

Delphini felt the unsettling sputter of magic before her and hesitated.  Bellatrix stopped outright, wand slipping out her wide sleeve and into a gloved hand, she pulled her daughter in front of her wrapping a protective arm around Delphi’s front to hold her close while raising the other.

“I’d think twice if I were you.”  Her mother called out to no one.  Delphini's eyes darted from side to side, looking for the witches and wizards she could feel lurking in the shadows.

“Mama..”  She whispered softly, an uneasy feeling spilling over her prompting her to back even further into her mother. 

Time seemed frozen for a moment before the illusion shattered, the next few seconds were a blur filled with every color of curses.  Her mother threw Delphini behind her, taking the onslaught of curses with seeming ease and dishing them back tenfold.

For a moment, for a seemingly endless moment, Delphini was in awe of her mother’s skill.  The sudden burst of agility, the steady focus in even the smallest of movements, power that seemed ready to burst at the seams.  She was amazing.

But there were so many of them. 

Hooded figures swooping in and surrounding them - where one fell, another seemed to immediately take their place.  A flash of red somehow made it through her mother’s defenses, and Delphini screamed as rivers of blood bloomed along the fabric covering Bella’s left side. 

There were so many of them.

Her mother did not falter, hardly sparing a glance at the wound, her focus on par with their attackers.  Had Delphini not been there, she may have laughed, taunted them, took her time in torturing each and every one.  But Delphini was there, placed carefully behind her mother, terrified and trembling.

They were getting closer and closer, and her mother’s magic was getting more and more sporadic.  Somehow, one of them managed to grab Delphi from behind.  "Mama!" She screamed again, thrashing in their hold. A wave of pure, uncontrolled magic radiated off her then, sending her captor spiraling.

Bellatrix whirled around, eyes furious and frightened.  She made a grab for her daughter, sending a ring of fiendfyre around the pair before pulling them into an unstable apparition.

There was blood all over the back of Delphini's clothes when they landed on the floor of her Father’s mansion. 

Her mother did not get up.

[daughterofyourdarklord]

do tell us about delphi’s first word

As an infant, there were plenty of things that Delphini still could not fully comprehend.

Why her parents had to leave so regularly, why Nagini would never allow her out of the playpen, why her aunt was so insistent on feeding her disgusting smushed peas.. Most importantly, she couldn't fathom why no one ever seemed understand what she was trying to say.

Delphi was under the impression that she spoke regularly, calling out to her family members in a gaggle of baby blabber and thinking it made complete sense. The concept of language was still lost on the not even one-year-old, but she was beginning to understand that certain sounds elicited more desired reactions.

She was working on ways to be more clear in her demands, rather than just relying on tears and frustrated bursts of magic. Magic was something the child felt very strongly (no surprise, given her parentage) it flowed around her freely, in a way that she could easily feel but not yet control.

So, when Delphini felt the change in the wards, she understood that it meant someone new was home. What she could not understand, was the look her aunt was giving her after her announcement. The floating baby spoon frozen in the air as Narcissa gaped at her, small splatters of smushed peas dripping onto the floor.

Delphini crossed her little arms, giving her aunt what she hoped was an expectant look before attempting to ask again.

"Ma-ma."

She enunciated clearly, studying the woman's face to see if her aunt knew what she meant and could get her what she wanted. Narcissa only blinked.

"Oh, darling girl!" Her aunt started, walking over towards the levitating baby chair, smushed peas entirely forgotten. "Do you understand what you just said?"

Of course she did. Delphini had been trying to ask for her mother since the moment the woman had walked out of the door that morning. She hated being apart from her, and hated most of all how no one seemed to understand that Bella was all she wanted - not stupid smushed peas. Delphi looked up at her aunt through small dark curls that were just starting the creep past her jaw, she took a frustrated breath just as the back door swung open.

"Mama!" The infant called again, this time in delight, tiny arms immediately uncrossing to reach as high up as she could beckoning her witch forward. It seemed to have the opposite effect. Bellatrix froze at the doorway, staring at her little girl with an expression Delphini had not seen before. "Mama?"

She asked this time, wondering if perhaps she hadn't gotten the word right after all.

It was another moment before her mama sprang forward, pulling Delphini up into her arms entirely overjoyed. She didn't know exactly what her mother was saying, but Delphi could tell that what she had spoken made her positively elated. She pulled back from the newly established hold she had around her mama's neck, soft miniature hands reaching up to grab at Bellatrix's sharp cheeks. Delphini looked up at her mother with a wide toothy smile. She tried again:

"Mama."

[daughterofyourdarklord]

What happened after your mum apparated you both in front of your father's manor?

[OOC: Going to have to follow-up the below since I was lacking the creative ability (aka time) to answer this question before: https://asktheheirofslytherin.tumblr.com/post/673413731421716480/pov-when-bella-and-delphi-arrives-at-your-manor]

Her Father nodded at her Uncle Rod, who was immediately at Bellatrix's side upon apparition. Delphini still stood in the doorway, watching the scene unfold in near horror. Mummy seemed to be in and out of consciousness, calling for her, and calling for her Father.

Everything was moving fast and slow at the same time.

Her Uncle Lucius came to her side, scooping her up despite Nagini hissing at him in warning. Delphini hardly noticed, unable to take her eyes off of the scene. Daddy started walking away and suddenly Delphini was panicking.

"Papa!" She called for him as he pulled out his wand. He turned to her then, something fierce in his gaze. She struggle against her Uncle Lucius, trying to squirm out of his arms and get to her Father. Distantly, Delphini was aware she was getting blood all over her Uncle's dress robes, her mother's blood. He let her go.

"Delphini," Her Father started calmly, though even at five she could hear the barely contained rage behind his words. Rage she knew was not aimed at her. "I need to go after the wizards who attacked you and your mother, I shall return here shortly." She finally made her way across the room and over to him, grabbing tightly at his robes and looking up at him in earnest.

"Papa," She said again breathless, attempting to hold him in place. "You'll hurt them, won't you? For what they did to Mama? T-they can't hurt you, can they? You promise?"

The Dark Lord bent down then, getting eye level with his daughter before brushing away a stray tear from her eye.

"I will kill them, child. That is a promise."

Delphini smiled.

@asktheheirofslytherin