They had lost. Despite destroying all of the horcruxes they could, they had still lost. The Battle of Hogwarts never got past the front door, everything was lost before then, and Voldemort hadn't even needed to fight Harry. He hadn't wanted too. Months of sneaking around, searching for horcruxes had given him time to turn friends into enemies. He'd infiltrated everywhere. They'd been surrounded, and surrender their only option.

They had lost, and now, those left alive were being auctioned off in some sort of sick slave ring. Surrender had included being collared and their magic dampened. Hermione couldn't make heads or tails of how it all worked. Sometimes there were bids, galleons going higher and higher with each call, and sometimes someone just stepped forward and claimed one of the survivors as theirs.

Instead, these people seemed to pay with a token that was forfeited to Percy the same the galleons were. The tokens were black, with the dark mark engraved onto the surface and approximately the size of a hand. Each one was tossed into a box at Percy's feet, making a light clinking sound.

Percy, who stood arrogantly and calmly at the foot of Voldemort's throne, reading out each name and acting as the auctioneer. Percy, who was just one of many who had betrayed them.

Professor Sprout came forward with a token and claimed Neville and his grandmother, never looking up from her hands. Hermione could practically feel the shame coming from her, but all she could think was that at least Neville wouldn't be tortured this way. The Lestranges had been muttering to each other since the moment Neville was dragged forward, and Rodolphus looked more than a little put out as Professor Sprout lead Neville away.

The most surprising betrayal had been Professor McGonagall. She had been staring straight at Hermione all night, fiddling with the token in her fingers.

Order members, Ministry officials and Death Eaters alike all stepped forward to make claims.

When Andromeda Tonks had been dragged forward Bellatrix stepped forward and grabbed her sister's chin, looking into her eyes with a sneer.

"Her brat is mine as well."

One of the cloaked death eaters guided Tonks forwards, much more gently than her mother had been, but that was likely only because she held her newborn son in her arms. Bellatrix's grip tightened around Andromeda's face as she stared down at Tonks. Tonks refused to look up, hiding her face.

"Oh, a two for one deal. What a bargain, Andy."

Bellatrix let go of Andromeda, only to grip her harshly at the back of her neck to lead her out of the room. Tonks followed them, head still hung low. The fight had long been beaten out of her, and Hermione knew that her face was a canvas of blue, yellow and purple bruises.

Tonks had been the first to talk back to their slavers, and she had paid the price. Most of the bruises she hadn't earnt herself, rather she had been their whipping girl. It had stopped any rebellion far quicker than Hermione had expected. No one wanted little Teddy Lupin to lose both parents. Remus hadn't been seen in weeks.

Bellatrix didn't offer Percy any sort of payment and Hermione seriously doubted he had the guts to demand it from her. She supposed that being Voldemort's right hand had to afford some luxuries. Free slaves was probably one of them.

As much as Hermione felt for Andromeda and Tonks, she couldn't help but feel grateful that Bellatrix was gone. She wasn't sure she'd survive another extended stay in Bellatrix's care. Especially after Gringotts. Her rage from just thinking Hermione had possibly been in her vault was terrifying. The fact that Hermione had impersonated Bellatrix, broken into her vault, and destroyed everything on the way out? There probably wasn't a word to describe how much Bellatrix wanted to hurt her.

/

They were led down a large hallway. Tonks knew where they were going, she'd spent years as an aurora running through these halls trying to not be late to work. She usually was anyway.

What a time to meet her insane aunt. Beaten black and blue, sold to said aunt, all while clutching her newborn, who's father was somewhere. Remus hadn't even made it to the auction. He'd been handed off long before then, but a fast approaching full moon meant it was probably for the better.

Her insane aunt, who looked so much like her mother it was disturbing. Years in Azkaban had not been kind to Bellatrix, but it didn't wear itself on her face. No, she was still beautiful, if untameable and wild. It was in the way she walked, bow legged and uneven. In the way her hands tended to flutter around, looking to grasp at something, anything. Perhaps it was from too many years of clutching at bars. Her eyes moved over everything quickly. Seeing far more than others did. Her shoulders hunched, she'd probably been too tall to be comfortable in Azkaban, even without the dementors. Shoulders hunched or not, Bellatrix still towered over Tonks. Tall and strong, all muscle from fighting multiple wars.

Bellatrix stopped before one of the Ministry's many floo network fireplaces and turned her attention to Tonks.

"Brat, you will take the floo to the Lestrange Estate. I will bring my blood traitor of a sister with me. I don't trust her not to try and run away."

Bellatrix's hand tightened around Andromeda's neck, just as Andromeda opened her mouth to say something.

"Don't say anything you'll regret, Andy. You're not the one who will feel my anger if you do."

Tonks stifled a sigh. It looked like she was to be her mother's whipping girl too. Bellatrix hooked a finger under the collar around Tonks' neck and pulled, causing Tonks to stumble forward. The finger rose, forcing Tonks to look up at her aunt.

"Now, I'm sure you know that this little thing stops you from using magic, but now that I have claimed ownership of you, it allows me to track you. Anywhere. There is no escaping me, Brat. So be smart and do as I say. Understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Awww." Bellatrix cooed. "She's polite, Andy. Despite all the drivel I'm sure you filled her head with. Now go."

Tonks had taken a handful of floo powder and stepped towards the fireplace when she heard the growl behind her.

"Wait."

Bellatrix stormed towards her, letting go of Andromeda for the first time since they left the auction. With a swift yank she had taken off the cloak that rested on her shoulders. A well practised movement later, and Bellatrix fastened her cloak around Tonks' shoulders, making sure to fully cover Teddy.

"Wouldn't want him getting sick, now would we?" Bellatrix muttered. "Go."

Tonks nodded sharply, her eyes wide. She threw the handful of powder into the fire, called out her destination and stepped through.

Seconds after Tonks arrived at the Lestrange Estate a loud crack announced Bellatrix and Andromeda's arrival. This time Bellatrix held a tight grip on Andromeda's upper arm.

"Noory!"

With a quiet snap, a house elf appeared at Bellatrix's side.

"Has everything been packed?"

"Yes, Madame." The house elf squeaked. "Noory packed and Zanny moved it to Black Manor. But Noory has been bad. Noory wasn't able to collect some of the jewelry or books. Bad Noory!"

Bellatrix clicked her fingers and Noory let go of the ear he had been twisting as punishment.

"I don't care for my mother-in-law's hand-me-down jewelry. Most of that stuff is cursed anyway. Show me these books."

Bellatrix headed out of the room, Noory on her heels. She stopped briefly at the doorway and turned to Andromeda and Tonks.

"Wait here. I do mean that for your own safety. It's hard to tell what's lurking in this house now days."

Then she was gone.

Andromeda immediately turned to Tonks. They hadn't been able to talk since the end of the war.

"Oh sweetheart, how are you doing?"

Tonks shrugged. "It's just a few bruises, mum. I'll be fine."

Tonks lifted up Bellatrix's cloak and peered down at Teddy. Thankfully the newborn had slept right through the day so far.

"They'll heal over time, as long as we don't do anything to raise Bella's ire."

Tonks glanced up at her mother. "It's not me I'm worried about stepping out of line. I can play at meek, and hurt for my and Teddy's sake. You can't, and I'm the one who will end up getting hurt for it. She's already said as much."

"I…." As happy as Andromeda was to know that Tonks hadn't given up fighting, it hurt to have that fight directed at her. "I'm sorry Nymphadora. Bella has always been able to get under my skin. She's a difficult person to get along with."

"Bad mouthing your new mistress already slave? That's not a good way to make a good first impression."

The harsh voice floated into the room before the man did. Stepping out through the fireplace was Rodolphus Lestrange.

Tonks recognised him from the various wanted posters, while Andromeda could only think back to Bellatrix and Rodolphus' wedding. He looked far worse than either of them remembered. Azkaban and war had treated him badly.

Rodolphus' grin grew as he approached Andromeda.

"I'm sure we can beat that out of you."

He backhanded Andromeda, the force splitting open her lip and causing her to stumble backwards. Tonks shot out a hand, steadily her mother. If she wasn't holding Teddy she could possibly take him. The ache in her body would slow her down, but Rodolphus didn't seem to be in very good health at all. But she couldn't risk Teddy. He raised his hand again, but the strike never came.

Instead Rodolphus' hands went to his throat, where a thick leather whip had wound itself.

On the other end of the whip stood Bellatrix. Her teeth were bared in a cruel snarl.

"Oh, Roddy. You should know better than to touch my things."

She yanked on the whip and Rodolphus went flying back, landing on the floor with a loud thump. With a flick of her wrist, the whip reversed, turning back into Bellatrix's wand. She stormed forward, ignoring Rodolphus and taking in the damage to Andromeda's lip.

"As idiotic as he is, he is right. Watch your mouth, Andy. You never know who's listening."

Rodolphus staggered to his feet, clutching his throat.

"You bitch. What happened to a shared estate? What's mine is yours and all that shit?"

"What's yours is mine, Roddy." Bellatrix said with a laugh. "But I've never been one to share my toys. Be thankful that a little choking is all you got."

"You won't let me touch your property," Rodolphus spat. "You won't let me into your bed. I visit a whore once and the brothel burns down the next week. You wouldn't even let me buy the Longbottom boy to complete the set! What's man supposed to do?"

Bellatrix laughed, turning from Andromeda. The split lip hurt, but it wasn't too bad.

"A man? Why would you care what a man would do? You neither are one, nor will you ever be one."

Rodolphus drew his wand but Bellatrix was quicker. She deflected the hex sent her way and cast several of her own.

"What you should be, Roddy, is scared. But you already are, aren't you?"

Bellatrix advanced on him, deflecting each weak spell slung her way.

"You're scared that I'll go to the Dark Lord and ask permission to kill you. You're scared that he'll give it. I'm his favourite after all."

Bellatrix disarmed Rodolphus and pushed him against the wall. She held him still with one hand on either side of his head, her wand trapped uncomfortably against his skull.

"Isn't that right, you rat bastard? Well, let me put those fears to rest. I have asked him. Years ago. He gave me permission to end your life when we won. When you would be of no more use to him. I don't know if you've noticed, Roddy, but the war is over. We won. And now, I win."

Rodolphus' eyes rolled back into his head and his mouth dropped open. Bellatrix cackled as his body started to shake. Blood dripped from his nose and ears. Lots of blood, too much blood. Rodolphus' body stopped shaking eventually and Bellatrix pushed him aside. Her hands hung at her side. Blood dripped from her hands and wand and onto the floor.

"Noory." Bellatrix muttered.

Noory appeared beside Bellatrix. He managed to stifle his gasp, but a hand did rise to his mouth at the sight of Rodolphus' body.

"Noory."

"Yes, Madame!" Noory squeaked, ripping his eyes away from his old master.

"I need this cleaned up. Have his body interred with his parents. Send for a death certificate from the Ministry. Rabastan will need to be informed and then you will join me at Black Manor. Rab can inherit the estate, I don't care for it, but you will continue to serve me."

"Of course, Madame…" Noory glanced down at the body. "Mistress?"

"Mistress Black will do, elf. Now do your job."

Bellatrix turned. Tonks was surprised at the blank look on her face. In all the battles they had fought, Bellatrix had never been anything but joyous at the destruction she wrought. Andromeda however had seen that look before, a long time ago. Perhaps her sister wasn't as far gone as she had been led to believe. She had always been deadly serious when it mattered.

"To Black Manor. Now."

Andromeda nodded and grabbed a handful of floo powder. She tossed it into the fire and called out the name of her childhood home. Then she was gone.

Andromeda had just a fraction of hope that she'd be able to grab Nymphadora and run when they arrived in Black Manor. It was her childhood home after all, and she knew most, if not all of the secret passages.

Two things surprised Andromeda though, and quickly put a halt to any escape attempt.

Firstly, Nymphadora didn't come through the fireplace nearly as quickly as Andromeda had expected. It was unnerving because the idea of her Nymphadora alone with Bellatrix was terrifying.

Secondly, was that someone was waiting for them to arrive. Narcissa. She sat in an armchair, with a book in one hand. Seeing Narcissa was even more of a shock than when Bellatrix had skipped into the auction chamber. While Andromeda certainly paid attention to the news around her younger sister, it wasn't the same as seeing Bellatrix's face screaming at you from dozens of wanted posters all over Diagon Alley. Bellatrix had always been larger than life. Wanted posters somehow seemed more real than reading about Narcissa's fall from grace. It was easy to believe Bellatrix had fallen under the Dark Lord's thrall. Narcissa had always been better than that, better than both of them.

"Cissy." Andromeda said quietly.

Narcissa simply raised an eyebrow.

"That's awfully forward for someone who isn't family, Mrs Tonks."

Andromeda didn't know what she expected, but for some reason she had thought Narcissa would be the one look past her 'blood traitor' status. War did change people though. Being married to a prat like Lucius Malfoy was probably cause for change as well.

"Where is Madame Lestrange?" Narcissa said, breaking the silence between them. She snapped her book shut and stood.

"Apparently it's Mistress Black now." Andromeda's brow furrowed. "She should have been right behind me, with Nymphadora and Teddy."

"Then she will be here. It is not your place to wonder when."

Narcissa drew her wand and advanced on Andromeda. She caught Andromeda by her collar and peered at her face. Quickly, Narcissa raised her wand and tapped Andromeda's split lip. She cleaned away the blood but left the cut. Narcissa's wand came up under Andromeda's chin, forcing her to tilt her head back and move her head from side to side as Narcissa wished.

/

Tonks reached for the floo powder, not wanting to stay any longer that she had to at the Lestrange Estate.

Bellatrix's fingers found Tonks chin and turned her face towards her. Blood smeared across her face. How Bellatrix had moved across the room so fast was beyond her.

"Hmmm." Bellatrix mused as she peered into Tonks' eyes. "You're not as defeated as you'd have the world believe. To what end, Brat? Your family, I'd guess. A respectable enough reason. Survival over morals, a practical point of view. You might of made an acceptable Black. Had your mother not been a blood traitor."

Bellatrix released Tonks and waved her hand towards the fire place.

"Go. And make sure you cover the child well."

With a shaking hand, Tonks threw the floo powder into the fire place. She hadn't expected Bellatrix to see through her act so easily. She was an aurora and a metamorphmagus. Disguise and deception were her speciality. She adjusted the cloak around Teddy and stepped through, into Black Manor.

Bellatrix followed mere moments after.

"You've bruised her." Was their greeting.

Tonks heart jumped upon seeing her mother held at wand point, but the wand was quickly tucked away.

"I'm aware, Cissy." Bellatrix snapped.

"It isn't enough."

Bellatrix shrugged as she stalked through the room towards the armchair Narcissa had recently vacated. She dropped into it, making the chair creak terribly.

"It's fine. If anyone starts speaking up just tell them I turned her brat into a whipping girl for her transgressions."

Narcissa hummed, glancing over Tonks.

"She does look the part. Now get up, you have an auction to get back to, and you're getting blood on my favourite chair."

"It's my house, Cissy. I don't care if it's your favourite chair."

To prove her point, Bellatrix dragged a hand down the side of the chair, smearing the blood as far as she could.

"You're disgusting." Narcissa said with a scrunched nose. "I assume this has something to do with your slave telling me you go by Mistress Black again?"

Bellatrix pouted. "Oh yes, it's horrible news! I've been recently widowed."

"My sympathies." Narcissa drawled as she flicked her wand and forcefully cleaned the blood off of Bellatrix's hands. The chair would likely have to be thrown out. Especially if it had Rodolphus' blood on it.

"Bella, you're expected back."

Bellatrix rose with a grumble.

"Fine, fine. I'll pick up the paperwork for … what is the whelp's name?"

She wiggled her fingers vaguely in Tonks' direction.

"Edward Remus Lupin."

"What a god awful name." Bellatrix scoffed. "I'll pick up a name change form as well. At least Edward Black is somewhat respectable."

"What do you want with my son?"

Bellatrix spun at the loud voice from behind her. She grinned as she slowly advanced on her niece.

"Well, someone found their backbone again, now didn't they? I suggest you lose it again before I beat you with it."

"Edward is to become Bella's ward. The Dark Lord has put very strict rules in place to stop the child being punished for their parent's failure. He will be cared for, supplied for, and taught the proper ways of our family. You will most certainly look after him, but as far as the rest of the world is concerned, he is Bellatrix's responsibility."

Nymphadora looked shocked. Narcissa softened her voice.

"It is better for him this way. He can be free, and happy, not bogged down by the cost of war."

"Don't undermine my threats with logic and reasoning, Cissy." Bellatrix groaned.

"Either way, he's much safer than either of you. I bet I can even make a proper Black out of him."

Bellatrix turned to the fireplace, but was waylaid by Narcissa grabbing her arm.

"Give these to Draco, please." She said as she handed over a velvet bag.

"He's stupid for wanting this, but fine. Don't put yourself in anyone else's debt over this endeavour. If he's a few token short I'll supply him."

The tokens were favours. From the Dark Lord originally, but they had become a black market currency. One could bribe, or buy with them. Even the Dark Lord would take them in exchange of punishment, if the price was right. Bellatrix never used them though. Why would she? If she wanted something she just took it, and if she couldn't take it, she'd ask the Dark Lord for it. He rarely refused her. Like Andromeda. Andromeda was hers. Why would she pay for something that was hers?

It was the same with punishments. If she had earnt one it was hers to take. What sort of coward paid his way out of pain he'd inflicted on himself? Well, Rodolphus obviously, if the lack of tokens on his body was any indication.

Bellatrix turned to Andromeda and Nymphadora.

"Do whatever Narcissa tells you. She'll show you your rooms, or whatever."

Bellatrix grabbed a handful of floo powder and disappeared from Black Manor.

Few people would dare to stop her as she stormed through the Ministry towards the auction room.

Her entrance wasn't exactly dramatic, but few could stop themselves from looking at a storming Bellatrix. From a safe distance, of course. The Dark Lord nodded to her, acknowledging her presence. It was subtle, but those who knew their Lord would pick up on it. Apparently he approved of her taking in her wayward sister and the brats. He'd always been strangely focused on family.

She made her way over to Draco, making an effort to stand as close to him as possible. He hated it, but was too stubborn to step away when she invaded his personal space. Too much like his mother, in that way.

"I have something for you, Little Dragon. From your mother."

She dropped the purse of tokens into his hand.

"Thank you, Aunt Bella."

"Next time be man enough to just ask me yourself." She hissed. "Otherwise your mother will find herself owning more than she can repay, just to pander to your stupid plans."

Draco gritted his teeth, but nodded. Bellatrix ran a hand through his hair, messing up the carefully slicked back look.

"Have Severus make the bid." She whispered in his ear. "With your father's recent failures he'll be less inclined to give in to you, and he'll be firmly against shared ownership. Give the tokens to Severus on the condition that he mentor you. You'll be his vassal until your mentorship is up. It's the best you're going to get. A united front is needed, or you'll get nothing."

Draco nodded again before stepping away.

"A pleasure as always, Aunt Bella." He said with a bow, before heading across the room to Severus.

Their plan was stupid, but if Draco was determined to follow it, she'd damn we'll make sure he succeeded. A Black never failed.

Bellatrix turned back to the Weasel running everything just as he called out the name of his own family members.

"Fleur Weasley."

Obviously married into the family, since her hair wasn't obnoxiously red. She was a pretty one too, though she stood with too much confidence. Any other day, Bellatrix would have been tempted. She has bigger plans though. Plans that involved a certain mudblood.