Surprised at Bellatrix's guess and ignorant of how she might have found out, Harry nodded. "Yes, James and Lily Potter are my parents."
"I am really sorry, Harry," Bellatrix said somewhat quietly. "I did not mean for this to happen."
"Things happen," Harry said, already working to determine how he and Bellatrix could rescue Lily Potter and Molly Weasley. He could feel deep emotions stirring below the surface, but knew that if he drew on them and gave them expression, he would not be able to think rationally enough to launch a rescue. Drawing upon occulmency instead, Harry queried Bellatrix, "I don't suppose you have any ideas already thought up."
"No," admitted Bellatrix, "but I have brought some help with me."
"Really?" Harry replied, his astonishment apparent.
"Yes. A Potter, a Black, and a Weasley. I left them outside. The Black and Weasley are going to need your permission to cross our blood wards." Bellatrix said.
"Uh… permission given?" Harry said.
"That is good enough," Bellatrix said, leaving the room.
Five minutes passed before she returned with three teenagers in tow. Regretfully realizing he had been too distracted to disguise himself with glamour, Harry immediately recognized Ginny Weasley among Bellatrix's charges, but found the other two unfamiliar. Harry stared curiously at their faces as they looked at him with naked suspicion painted on their faces.
"They have been sworn to an oath of secrecy concerning your existence," Bellatrix told Harry. She gestured to the boy. "This is Leo Black, the son of Sirius Black." Then, motioning toward the girl with brown hair, "This is Rose Potter." Finally, she motioned toward Ginny. "This is Ginny Weasley."
Harry was vaguely surprised at the existence of Rose and Leo, but pleased to see that his parents had lived to have more children and that Sirius had apparently not gone to Azkaban. He also was happy to see Ginny alive and well.
"So, you're Lord Black," Rose Potter said, staring into Harry's green eyes with a maddeningly vague sense of recognition.
"I hardly think being Lord Black is the most significant thing about me," Harry scoffed, slightly put off by his quasi-sibling.
"Then what's your real name?" Rose demanded.
"Call me Harry," Harry instructed.
"Harry who?"
"Harry Black," Bellatrix snapped.
Rose turned on Bellatrix. "You still haven't told me what your name is."
"It's Lady Black, dimwit," Bellatrix growled. "Do you want to rescue your mother, or do you want to be a snot?"
"Has anyone notified the Order of the Phoenix about Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Potter?" Harry asked.
"No," Bellatrix said. "They were afraid that if they went home to sound the alarm, they wouldn't be able to return and help. I told them we'd figure something out."
"Well, let's notify the Order and give your mothers an extra chance," Harry said. "Can any of you cast a patronus?"
"I'm sorry, but no," Leo said, remembering that the Order often communicated with patroni and cursing himself for never learning the trick.
"You can," Bellatrix said to Harry.
"Yes," said Harry, "but I don't really have a lot of magical strength to spare. Didn't you ever practice it after I taught the spell to you?"
"A little bit," Bellatrix said, annoyed at losing face in front of the three teenagers, unmindful of her own teenage status.
"How much progress did you make?" Harry asked.
"Mostly white mist. One time, it looked like it might form into a bird," Bellatrix admitted.
"Try it again," Harry said. "Remember everything I told you and focus on a really happy memory. When the patronus appears, instruct it to tell Albus Dumbledore that Lily Potter and Molly Weasley have been captured by the Death Eaters."
Bellatrix waved her wand and uttered the incantation. A white mist shot from the wand, hung in the air, but eventually dissipated. Everyone in the room let out a disappointed sigh. Bellatrix looked back to Harry. "Any other bright ideas?"
"Try again?" Harry urged.
"If it didn't work now, it isn't going to work again," Bellatrix said with disappointment.
Harry locked his gaze onto Bellatrix's violet eyes and was again reminded of how breathlessly beautiful she was. Tightly channeling his admiration into his voice, he spoke directly to her. "Bellatrix, you're singularly the most powerful, most talented, and most stunning witch I have ever seen on the field of battle, and coming to truly know you has been both a blessing and a pleasure. I know that you can do it, Bellatrix, because I know you can cast pretty much any spell there is."
Bellatrix stared back at Harry silently for several moments, her eyes widening and shining so fleetingly that Harry could not be sure he had really elicited the reaction. With a small, unconscious smile she cast the spell again. This time, a blindingly bright raven flashed into existence and circled the room before landing on Harry's shoulder. Everyone-Rose, Leo, and Ginny included-stared at it in awe. Harry nodded at Bellatrix to remind her of the message, and soon the raven patronus was on its way to inform Professor Dumbledore of Lily and Molly's plight.
"It just occurred to me," Leo said slowly. "How can we be completely sure that Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Weasley were taken to Malfoy Manor and are still there?"
"The Death Eaters said that they were taking them there," Bellatrix replied, surprisingly placidly, considering that Leo was questioning her assumptions.
Harry frowned. "Maybe Lily still has that ring I gave her," he said.
"Ashworth!" Rose shouted. "You're Harry Ashworth!" She whirled on Bellatrix. "That makes you Bellatrix Black."
"I'm guessing that Lily still has the ring," Bellatrix said drily.
"Why did you two disappear and why are you here now?" Rose demanded. "What happened?"
....
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