Upside Down

Anon- Frisky little buggers...aww....I think I'm going to put that in somewhere...

Lady Voldemort87 - Aw...Narcissa inspired your pity for the first and last time? I must be doing my job, then!

distinctlyME - you're not going crazy, my wascally widdle wabbit! Just relax, and read my next chapter. Now, as for ending this monstrosity. I plan on doing that eventually, but I have so many loose ends to tie up. I don't know about a fairytale ending...those are so lame. But I'm a semi-happy person. I like babies too, as long as I can give them back after a few hours. I'm good at watching babies in the nursery at my church. Just play with them a bit, change a diaper or two, and then give them back. YAY!! I'm not planning a sequel, as unfortunately they seem to go flat. Some people don't like to read 'series fanfiction' as I call it. That's not to say all fanfic sequels are bad. Just mine. I'm already starting on another story, though I'll wait till this one is done to post it. I've got one story on complete mental block-down because I couldn't figure out how to end it. ANyway. As for your Ginny comment. I don't really like her. She seemed a bit...off to me. If I pair Harry up with some one, it probably won't be her. ANd your lestrange thirst will be quenched.....now.

RyGirl824 - I'm glad you're here now, and I hope you enjoy the new chappy... I hate Skeeter, I love Snape and his smexy self, and I want the Malfoys to be my sleepy-time hug bears....

FlowersBecomeScreens - Just curious....what does your name mean? Does it have a special meaning? And yes....he is a naughty potions master. You've been a bad boy, Snape, now go to my room....

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Snape awoke to the sight of Harry and the young woman bent over him. He waved them away.

“I wasn’t dreaming, eh?” he asked, looking over at the woman. She shook her head softly. “How did this happen?” he asked, sitting up.

“Well Snape…when a man and a woman like each other…” Sirius started. Snape glared at him.

“Sod off, Black. I know how it happened….” He snapped.

“We were drinking…” she said softly.

“Drunken debauchery! Way to go, Snape! I didn’t think you had it in you!” he said. Harry grinned mischievously.

“He didn’t….she did…” Harry said. They all looked at Harry.

“Don’t quite your day job, Potter…” Snape said, before standing to his feet. Sirius looked at the pregnant woman.

“So…who are you?” he asked.

“Annabel Lee.” She said softly. Sirius looked at the pretty woman, and then at Snape.

“Figures.” He sighed, and walked back to his chair, plopping down into it. Harry looked at Snape, his eyebrows suddenly furrowing.

“When did you ever go to America?” he asked. Annabel laughed.

“He didn’t go to America…I came here. We met at the bar. I loved his deep sexy voice.” She said, and batted her thick lashes at Snape, who colored slightly.

“So Snape likes American broads, eh? No wonder he was so friendly with Ruby.” But Sirius actually regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. Harry and Snape both glared at him viciously, and he fell silent.

“So what do you plan to do, Professor?” Harry asked, going to his own chair. Snape frowned slightly, and glanced at Annabel.

“What is it that you want me to do?” he asked, standing to his feet. She rubbed her round belly, and looked down to study her moving hands.

“I don’t want the baby to grow up without a father. I thought I could handle it by myself, but I was recently fired from my job, and I have nowhere to go. It took all of my money just to get back over here. I don’t like asking for help….but I figured if anyone could help me, the father of my baby could.” She said softly.

Snape regarded her coolly. He had grown up with his father, but often wished he hadn’t. The man was an abusive drunk, and took his anger out on Severus until the dour young man was old enough to strike back. He didn’t want to abandon this woman to fend for herself and his only child. Even after his name was cleared most people still hated him.

He didn’t really know this woman, though. He might hate her as much as he hated Black…. But maybe not. Even he deserved a chance to be happy. He had made his decision.

“I will not abandon my own child. It takes two to create a child, and two to care for a child. Bad things happen when that proportion is messed with.” He said, his eyes darkening a bit. “Come with me, Annabel, and we will discuss your housing.” He said, and held out his hand for her. She blushed, and nervously reached out to take his hand. Wow! Hot British voice at one o’clock!

This was working out better than she planned. She still had two months to go, and sometimes she was so horny she couldn’t see straight. She already knew that Snape was good….if he could stomach her, maybe he could scratch an itch she’d had for a while.

She could only hope….

As Snape disappeared in a side-along with the young woman, Harry looked over at Sirius.

“Is it just me, or did she look like she was drooling when they disappeared?”

~~

Bellatrix was nearly bouncing with excitement as she dressed Kyra in warm clothes. Today would be the first day that she and Rodolphus would appear in public after being freed. They needed things to spruce up the house, and needed to make a stop at the nearest Elfin Supply agency to re-stock the house with house-elves. After such a long time away from the family home, most of the elves had kind of died off. Those that were left were old, but eager.

When the squirming infant was finally dressed enough for the cooling weather, Bellatrix began to dress herself. She stripped off her pajamas, and stood in front of her dated wardrobe.

“Damnit….I’m going to look like something from the 80’s.” she sighed, and grabbed a robe that was once the height of fashion. “Oh fuck…shoulder pads…” she said, and ripped the padded pieces of cloth. Damn Narcissa and her fad fashion advice… Her closet was stuck in the 1980’s as a result of her and Rodolphus’ bright idea to try and get the whereabouts of Voldemort from the Longbottoms. 1981 was a long year….

She transfigured the oddly cut robe into something more traditional looking, and picked up Kyra to meet up with Rodolphus in the foyer. He was waiting, his own robes looking a bit dated as well. He’d grown rather fond of the Muggle-type clothing he’d worn at Grimmauld. Maybe they could take a trip to the Muggle world for some of those…what were they called again…ah! Trainers….

“Finally decided to show up, eh?” he teased. He laughed when he noticed the bundled up baby. “Good lord….it’s September, not January.” He said. Bellatrix frowned at him.

“Babies are more susceptible to the cold, you jerk. Do you want her to freeze?” she asked. She’d gone through enough trouble to save the baby, and then through hell and back to keep her. A couple had come forward as Kyra’s blood relatives, but after a bit of a back ground check Bellatrix decided that anyone who had been arrested for public intoxication four times shouldn’t have custody of the child. Rodolphus thought her a bit hypocritical, considering she had been arrested for torture, but he merely smiled and signed the papers that legally bound Kyra to them. She was now Kyra Lynne Lestrange.

“No, Bella. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.” He said, and held out his hand for her.

~~

Diagon Alley was rather busy this time of day. It made Bellatrix a bit uneasy. She had fought, killed, and maimed, but the sight of this large crowd before her made her insides squirm. She felt Rodolphus’ reassuring hand on the small of her back, and took a deep breath.

They stepped into the light of the Alley together, and almost immediately people stopped to stare. The world had divided over the Lestranges. Half wanted to believe the good in everyone, and wanted to believe that they had changed. The other half was the half that had lost someone, and wanted them to pay. Not to mention everyone’s hearts had been played over Kyra. Once again, there were half that thought she would be just fine with her new parents, and half that wanted the babe taken immediately.

They walked down the street, they eyes following them, though none spoke. The first stop was for their home. Several rooms were going to have to be completely redone, because at one time the Lestrange home had been used as a….meeting place for Voldemort. Those who were familiar with it could still get a whiff of old blood.

The furniture here wasn’t top-quality, but it looked very nice, and was built well. Bellatrix stopped at the handcrafted wooden cribs, her eyes going a bit distant. They needed a crib for Kyra. She wouldn’t be able to sleep with them in their bed forever. And there was a nice room beside the master suite that would work well for a nursery. While balancing Kyra with one arm, she rested her hand on her belly. She would need a crib for this one, too. But that could wait for a bit. She’d get her newest baby’s nursery ready when she went into that ‘nesting mode’ Molly kept telling her about.

After spending a small fortune on furniture and other tasteful house wares, the couple decided their wardrobes needed some serious redoing. Madam Malkins was great for a few sets of dress robes, but they both found themselves inside a more casual store quickly, for everyday clothing. Bellatrix was a woman, and deep down every woman loved pretty things. She was having a great time trying on the clothes. Rodolphus waited patiently while she did, getting odd looks from the patrons because he was the one holding Kyra, while Bella bought a good quarter of the store. Then they switched places. Rodolphus apparently had no innate fashion sense whatsoever, and had to rely on the assistants in the store. This was awkwardly hilarious, as they young women were afraid to come near him, and tried to coach him from ten feet away.

When they were satisfied with their purchases, they made arrangements for them to be sent to their home, and then went on a leisurely stroll, trying to ignore the stares. It wasn’t until a flash went off in their faces that they were truly annoyed.

“Bloody hell!” Rodolphus swore, stepping back when the bright light made him see spots. And then they were faced with Skeeter herself, one of her famous Kwills floating beside her, and a notepad poised in her hand.

“Well, well! If it isn’t the couple of the hour! Mind answering a few questions for the ‘Prophet?’” she asked. Bellatrix practically snarled at her.

“Back off, you bleached bitch.” She snapped. Rita put on a mock face of hurt. A few people around them laughed. Nobody really understood why Rita was still employed. She really was a bitch, and who better to tell her than Bellatrix Lestrange?

“Now…that’s no way to act in public. But you’re a bit out of practice, aren’t you? You’re used to hanging around Dementors and nutters...” she asked. Bellatrix colored, and opened her mouth to retort. Rodolphus put his hand on her arm, and then stepped forward.

“Let me intervene on this little…. ‘interview,’ shall we?” he asked, a smile forming on his lips. He was a rather handsome man. He was tall, with shaggy brown hair that reached just below his ears. His eyes were brown, but very cool, like soil in the dead of winter. He had a neatly trimmed goatee/mustache combination that accentuated his strong face. He stepped closer to Rita, his boots clicking on the sidewalk. “You will leave my wife alone.” He said simply.

“Come now, Mr. Lestrange! You can’t expect two of the most infamous criminals in You-Know-Who’s movement to be set free and allowed to move about in public without anyone wanting to know what’s going on in their wee little heads, do you?” she asked. Rita’s poison green Kwill was scratching away at the pad as she spoke, and he looked over at the small green feather.

“What is it that you’re writing? You haven’t asked any questions…” he said, and suddenly plucked her pad from the air. She tried to get it back, but was put in her place by an icy glare from him. “ ‘The Lestrange heir exudes a cold air of indifference and fear?’ ‘His height, while impressive, does nothing to mask the body that’s obviously gone to seed-‘ what? Bloody hell…” Rodolphus said, and looked down. Gone to seed?

Rita snatched her notepad back while he was distracted.

“Why yes. You look as if you had a few too many pastries while waiting on the Final Battle…” she said, and manually added a few notes. Rodolphus’ eyes suddenly flashed, and he ripped the book from her hand again. He flung it up into the air, and drew his wand in a single fluid movement, scaring the hell out of the few people who had stopped to watch. He blasted the paper to bits, watching in satisfaction as the ashes drifted down like sooty snow. In his wandlight the flash bulb was masked, and he was unaware that the photographer had gotten a ripe shot of him blasting her pad.

“Miss Skeeter. Next time you feel the urge to write about my family, do make sure it’s not total bullshit.” He said, and then tilted his head towards her almost aristocratically.

She fumed, watching as he began to walk off. Bellatrix walked by her, Kyra still in her hands. She locked eyes with the chemical blonde, and gave a mixture of a growl/sneer.

“Bitch.”

Rita was now incensed. She’d get them, oh yes!

If it was the last thing she ever did she’d get them!!!
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Uh-oh! Here comes trouble!!

Now...this could go so many ways. Any suggestions? I do always like some fan input....

Now....REVIEW!!!