Author's Notes: This time a tiny one-shot that stands completely on its own. Christmas came early ;)

This is a side-piece to Birds become Dragons, however.

If you are not reading it, just know that this is an AU where the Malfoys, and not the Rowles, are raising Delphini.

If you are reading BbD, thank you once more, and know that this follows Ch28.

Please be so kind to drop me a review.

The Guilt of a Mother

December 2005

Molly has decided to have yet another sweater added to her list of knitting-to-do. It keeps growing and growing and she now has to charm two sets of needles to work simultaneously.

This one is not for family. Not of blood and neither of heart. This one is made to quell her guilt.

Because she knows she was right that day, but can't help to feel for the girl she left without a Mother.

Bellatrix Black was not someone to be taken pity on. She had been a terrible, wretched, cruel creature of Darkness. She was vicious even at school, where she had met the pride of Cygnus Black, just a year bellow hers. She remembers her sorting, the Hat humming like he had found an old acquaintance. "The first Black of this generation then, Miss. Very interesting." Bellatrix had raised her eyebrows and slightly pouted, bored to the core, obviously. "Well, Slytherin of course, Miss Black."

But this Delphini Lestrange is not even a year older than Teddy, their beloved blue haired little wizard with a love for pranks. And she deprived her of her mother. So she is knitting another sweater, with a yellow D against a deep green. She figures that is the only way the Malfoys will allow the girl anywhere near her gift.

When her ever expanding family assembles for Christmas, some weeks later, she asks Harry if he can send something over, assuming his owl will be a bit more welcomed at the Malfoys than her poor old one. Harry's face comes alight with a smile at the mention of it. Yes, he is sending his own sturdy owl, a gift from Hermione and Ron, over to the Malfoys. And yes, her fluffy pack is very welcomed to join his gifts to the Malfoy children.

Molly can breathe a bit better at that. Her aching heart of a mother beats steadier for it. It's her apology. For even if she has lost brothers and a son to war; for even if she only killed the girl's mother because her own daughter was in danger; she knows the wounds left behind by missing loved ones, and her motherly heart cannot help but wish to mend them.

Even in a child that is not her own blood or heart.

Even if the girl's mother still lives in her nightmares.

When she receives a little note back, she knows she did the right thing. In a bit of parchment that she takes from a raven's foot, in neat handwriting, is all she needs.

"Warm and cosy. Thank you,

Delphini"

And so, every year from then on, she knits a green sweater with a proud D, eventually changing it to fit Hogwarts' colours.

And every year, on the day after Christmas, there's a little tap at the kitchen window, and a raven with a note.