Family Album: Babes in Arms

It was just as Bellatrix realised that the robes would not come off over her head without her undoing all the buttons again that the baby started crying. Through the heavy velvet swathing her head and upper torso she recognised the little burps of distress that were a sure sign of imminent graduation to Draco's distinctive high-pitched wail. Damn! Bellatrix knew too well from experience that calling out to her nephew would only make things worse. Well, they would just have to weather it. No baby was ever hurt by crying. She struggled vainly against the hideous clothing, trying to pull the skirts back down over her breasts so that she could reach the buttons, but the top clasp had caught in her hair and she would have to untangle it before going any further. She clenched her teeth as outside the fitting rooms of Madam Malkin's, Draco Malfoy began to shriek - and then suddenly stopped. The folds of fabric slid back and Bellatrix relaxed. From the direction of the pram came the distinct sound of a little gurgling laugh, and over it a woman's voice, one, two, one, two, wavy wand, wavy wand, and the little laugh again. Carefully Bella undid the last of the twenty tiny buttons and stepped out of the ill-fitting garments, dragged on her own, and passed her wand hand over her hair to smooth it, resolving never again to even think of not getting every single garment in her wardrobe fitted and handmade. Flick, switch, golden snitch! came the voice. Bellatrix straightened her robes, composed her face to meet even McGonagall, and stepped out onto the shop floor.

"Bellatrix Black!" exclaimed Alice Longbottom, "I'd know you anywhere. I haven't seen you in years."

"Hello, Mrs Longbottom." It was quite extraordinary, though Bellatrix, how young it made her feel meeting people from her childhood.

"Oh, Alice, please. How long has it been? That Christmas party, I think; you were in the children's choir."

"Yes. I was ten that year, and you were just married. You showed me your ring."

"So I did." Alice Longbottom's open, cheery face smiled at Bella as the older woman reached for her hand with its own golden ring. "And I have to congratulate you now; Bellatrix Lestrange, very elegant. I saw the notice in the Daily Prophet. You had a lovely robe. I'm sure you'll be very happy, my dear."

"Thank-you."

"But he isn't yours, surely?" Alice asked, nodding at the small blond baby who was batting an ill-co-ordinated hand at the golden snitch she had set bobbing around his pram. "He's a lovely little boy, but he can't be yours. Not with those colours, although, I don't know, there is a bit of the Black about him."

"No, no, Draco isn't mine. He's my sister Narcissa's little boy. Rodolphus and I are...looking after him for the moment."

"Oh." Mrs Longbottom looked embarrassed. Bellatrix smiled gently.

"It's too great a risk for Narcissa to have Draco with her. So many of the Dark Lord's supporters are still at large, and of course they are rather anxious to prevent people like Narcissa and Lucius saying what they know, now that they have recovered themselves."

"You believe that they are innocent, then? That they were bewitched?" The mild blue eyes crinkled slightly. Of course, the Longbottoms were both Aurors, and not without a certain reputation. They would hardly want too many of the supposed Death Eaters to be found innocent: people might start to wonder what means had been used to suppose them guilty.

"Of course!" Bella's low, smoky voice was guileless. "Really, Alice - it seems so strange to call you that - but you surely can't imagine my brother-in-law Lucius Malfoy voluntarily taking orders from anyone!"

"I see what you mean." Alice agreed. "Even from the Dark Lord!"

"Yes." Bella hesitated. "You still call him the Dark Lord," she said neutrally. Alice blushed.

"It's what I was used to at the Ministry."

"I think it's better. It has more dignity that You-Know-Who."

"You think he deserves dignity?" Alice asked sharply. The younger woman shrugged.

"I think we do."

"Yes." Alice turned away, as if looking for a change of subject. Fortunately she found one just behind her in the snort of an infant awakening. "Here, you must meet my Neville." She picked up the round little boy and held him up to Bellatrix, who waved at him and touched her finger to his snub nose.

"He looks just like you."

"I'm afraid that he does. We named him after Frank's father. It's a bit old fashioned, but it meant a lot to my mother-in-law."

"Oh, a lot of these modern names are so flashy. I think it's nice to keep the old ones in the families. Even my sister Andromeda did that."

"So she did. It must be difficult for you looking after Draco. In a way, it's a pity your sister couldn't have taken him. After all, she has experience with babies."

"Yes. But it would be quite impossible," Bella said flatly, and Alice nodded in pure-blood commiseration. "You know Andromeda works full-time at the Ministry."

"Ah, she's in Muggle Liaison now, isn't she?"

"No, I believe she's still in Experimental Charms."

"Really? I thought after your..." Alice trailed off, embarrassed.

"Oh, they tried to move her, but Andromeda is very stubborn. One might have thought they would have noticed that." There was a moment's silence before Bella went on brightly, "Will you be going back to work at the Ministry?"

"Next year. I'll be back with the Aurors, but not with Frank. They'll split the two of up. It's policy in the more dangerous divisions, to spread the risk. It will be interesting, we've always worked together."

"Is that why you never had children before, because you liked working together?"

"Partly, and because I wanted to get settled in my career. So many young witches in the Ministry think that they can have their children first, and then come back to work, but it doesn't always work. One risks being regarded as a bit older, a bit staid, a mother first, and so on."

"I see."

"You wait a couple of years, Bellatrix. A young witch like you, there are so many places you could go, so many opportunities. You must follow your own path for a while."

"Yes, yes, I shall."

"Then you can have children afterwards. As for Frank and me, I think that working apart will be better for us."

"Because of the risk?" Bellatrix enquired mildly.

"Because it will give us something other than nappies to talk about. Personally, I think the Ministry is wrong about the risk. After all, a couple who work apart but live together, talk together, who cover several areas, hear gossip from different friends, I think they'd be worth more to the wrong hands, don't you?"

"I...can see what you mean."

"Well, I must be going," Alice said. "I have to take Neville for his check-up. It was nice to see you again, Bellatrix. So grown-up, I can hardly believe how you've changed." Alice Longbottom flicked her wand towards Draco's pram and the buzzing snitch vanished. She reached out for Bella's hand and took it gently. "I do hope that your sister and her husband are cleared, Bellatrix. You mustn't worry, the Ministry are very keen to be fair to everybody. I know the Malfoys have had a certain reputation at times, but, as you say, one hardly imagines them taking orders. And it isn't as if young Lucius has been spending all his holidays in Albania!"

"... No, no it isn't. Thank-you, Alice."

"It's only what anyone ought to say."

"No, you've been a great comfort, and an inspiration."

"Goodbye, dear. It was lovely to see you. We must meet again soon."

"Yes," said Mrs Lestrange. "I think that we must."