If I Had Sons

A/N: This fic is inspired by Bellatrix Lestrange's comment in HBP that said something like "If I had sons, I would gladly give them to service the Dark Lord." Never said anything about daughters. So this is my fic about Bellatrix Lestrange's daughter…

If there was something Bellatrix Lestrange learned in Azkaban, it was never give up hope. She knew, someday, somehow, her Lord would come and rescue her. She laughed silently to herself every time a Dementor glided past her dark, grimy jail cell. These were the Dark Lord's natural allies, a key to their success. Bellatrix had faith, oh yes she had faith. Rudolphus, her husband, tried his best to keep the faith, but he too failed in the end. Just like so many others of her Lord's followers. Lucius Malfoy, her sister's husband, he was the first to go back to "the Light". Bellatrix knew better of her brother-in-law, he couldn't bare part with his possessions and his comfy Wiltshire mansion. And then there was Severus Snape. He was like a younger brother to Lucius, so willing and eager to follow in his footsteps. But no, he had to betray the Dark Lord. He did the worst possible form of betrayal- he took a job as Dumbledore's Potion Master.

Ah, Albus Dumbledore. The only person her Lord ever feared. Surely he was a force fifteen years ago, but today, he was nothing but an old man, sitting comfortably in his leather bound chair, stroking his Phoenix, and complementing dear Harry Potter on his latest achievement. Harry Potter, the bane of Bellatrix's existence. Even after getting out of her dark Azkaban cell Bellatrix knew what she had to do, and that was get rid of Harry Potter. A boy, a mere teenager, was the most dangerous threat to her Lord's life. But then again, he was so young, so innocent. No, he wasn't innocent. So many times, he stopped the Dark Lord from returning. Even the worst Death Eater should have been able to get rid of this nuisance, but nobody could.

After breaking out of Azkaban, Bellatrix returned to her home she shared with her husband so many years ago. Fifteen years ago, she thought. She carefully wiped a thick layer of dust off a photograph. How she would have loved to be that happy and powerful again. Only the Dark Lord could provide that for her. Brushing her long, dark hair aside, Bellatrix moved to a photo album, long ignored by the awful events that had transpired. She flipped through the album, with pictures of her and her husband, pictures at her sister Narcissa's wedding, at her nephew, Draco's birth…and then, Bellatrix came to the pictures she had so long dreaded to see.

Sixteen years ago, Bellatrix Lestrange gave birth to a beautiful, baby girl. She had thick, dark hair, exactly like her mother's, and dark piercing eyes like her father. Though Lord Voldemort was shocked and upset this force of nature put one of his most loyal servants out of action for several months, Bellatrix could not have been happier. She and Rudolphus named their daughter Lyra, and the three were one of the happiest families that could be.

Until the Dark Lord's fall. Bellatrix and Rudolphus took it upon themselves to punish those who could possibly have led to his downfall. The Longbottoms, with a new son themselves, just about the same age as Lyra…As the Ministry hauled Bellatrix and Rudolphus away, Bellatrix could only think of her daughter. The night Bellatrix was to be taken to Azkaban, she pleaded with her sister to take her daughter, and to keep her safe. Narcissa oblidged…until Lucius put his foot down.

Lucius was supposed to be on the right side now. He couldn't raise his niece, when for the past few months he had been claiming he was wrong…there had been error in his ways…And so, Lucius sent his niece away, somewhere no one would find her and find out who she truly was. Little knew of Bella's secret, and even fewer new of Lyra's existence. If her secret was discovered, Bella would have to face her worst fears, her inner demons.

But the moment she escaped Azkaban, Narcissa put her greatest effort into tracking down her niece. It wasn't easy, however. She had been found living up north, attending another wizarding school which name Narcissa wasn't exactly sure of. Bellatrix knew nothing of her daughter's disappearance from the Malfoy household so many years ago. But as Bella escaped from Azkaban, her first thoughts her on her master's return, not on the safety of her daughter.

As Lucius Malfoy was carted off to Azkaban himself, Narcissa brought her niece home, under the guise that "Lyra's mother was Lucius's cousin, and the Malfoys were her only family". Lyra would now be taking the name of Lyra Malfoy, something Lyra quickly obliged too. Sixteen years of having no surname, no sense of family, no sense of self-worth, and Lyra was now getting everything she wanted with the family she never knew she had. They had more money than Lyra had ever known. Years of second hand books and robes had plagued her memories with embarrassing moments between herself and her classmates. Instead of spending the harsh winter in front of a nice fire with family for Christmastime, Lyra spent it trying to keep herself warm at school. Going home for summer term meant returning to nowhere.

But things were different now. Lyra would be going to Hogwarts, completely unaware of what would greet her there.