Tell us the truth. Delphini isnât the only one who calls Tom Riddle daddy?
He hears her slip into the room before he sees her.Â
Lord Voldemort cracks his eyes open, glancing towards the large double doors where he catches a glimpse of her lithe frame blocking the candlelight. She pauses for a moment clearly taking in the sight before her, giving him a second to appreciate her figure.Â
Bellatrix closes the doors to their adorning rooms carefully, her steps quiet as she ventures closer to their bed. His witch is very obviously biting back a large grin, eyes glittering over his face before drifting down to the little body cuddled against his chest. Sheâd already shed her robes, slipping quickly into her night dress before sliding beside him in the large bed.Â
âHi,â she whispers, all a smile. Her knuckles brush gently across his sharp cheek, thumb caressing his jaw before her hands settle lower to rest against a tiny back. Â
âI take it everything went well?â Heâs looking at her intently, though he speaks just as quietly as she - each of them mindful of the small witch sleeping peacefully with an ear glued to her fatherâs heartbeat. At this point Bella can hardly hold back her smile, eyes lingering on Delphiniâs little face as she answers him.Â
âThe assignment went wonderfully,â she starts, regaling him with all the key details as her fingers gently run through their daughterâs curls. Eventually she opens her mind to him, sharing with him the details of the mission that would take too long to properly explain. Theyâre quiet for a bit after, listening to the sound of Delphiâs even breathing.Â
âHowâd you end up in this position?â She asks softly, nodding at their daughter.Â
âNightmare.â He explains simply, causing a quiet chuckle from Bella.Â
They linger for a while, the three of them. Bella basking in the moment whilst Voldemort is dissecting the details of her mission. He is plotting already, trying to carefully pinpoint his next move to finalize their integration into the Ministry, not to mention this little prophecy Severus recently brought to his attention. It doesnât take long for his mind to grow too loud.Â
âItâs nearly morning,â He starts, body shifting. âIâve got a meeting with Arcturus in a few hours that I need to get ahead of. Want me to drop her in her rooms or-â
âIâll take her.â Bellatrix interrupts, rolling onto her back so that he can shift their daughter over more easily. The Dark Lord nods, having expected her answer.Â
He leans over, gently passing the little witch into her motherâs arms.
Not nearly gentle enough.Â
Delphiniâs eyes snap open the moment her head is lifted from her fatherâs chest.Â
She is positively glaring at him. If looks could kill this little three-year-old would be drawing blood with the way her glower cuts through the dark room. There is nothing but utter betrayal in her stare.Â
âYou promised!â She hisses at him, hands gripping fiercely onto his robes. The dark lord glares right back.
âDonât start with me little girl - look who I am passing you off to.â It takes Delphini a moment to turn in his arms. She gasps, suddenly quick to twist out of his hold and to wrap around her mother. Bella laughs and the Dark Lord has to hide his smile.
âMama.â She whispers into Bellatrixâs neck, her mother smiles in response planting gentle kisses into their childâs curls. The Dark Lord sighs, backing cracking as he makes to rise.Â
âPapa, you said you would stay.â With a grumble Voldemort turns around at the edge of the bed, an eyebrow raising at his daughterâs word.Â
âYour mother is here now, Delphini. Thereâs no need for you to have us both, your mother is more than capable of protecting you.â Â
âBut Daddy! You promised!â The little witch whines, eyes peering at him from across the duvet. Bellatrix turns them to their side, breaking their daughterâs eye contact as she pulls her against her chest. She gives him a devious glare before adding:Â
âYeah, daddy,â Bellaâs voice is dripping in mischief. âIn this family, we take our vows very seriously.â She mocks, her eyes full of mirth despite his returning glare.
Itâs a standoff. Delphi turns in her motherâs arms to give him another pleading look. Â
Lord Voldemort narrows his eyes at Bellatrix.
âYou wretched witchâ He mutters, his hands running through his hair as he resigns himself to his fate. Delphini cheers as he makes his way back over to her and her mother along the sheets. âYou also promised that you would go to sleep.â He reminds the little witch, who giggles in response.Â
He slides next to the pair of them on his side, one of his arms slipping beneath a downy pillow to support his head while the other reaches for Bellaâs waist. The witch in question slips closer to him, her forehead coming to rest along his collarbone, despite being unable to see her face he can still feel her smug grin. Delphini is sandwiched between them, her back facing her father as her head is tucked comfortably beneath her motherâs chin, tiny fingers holding onto her mothers night dress gently.Â
ââNight, daddy.â The little witch starts, he can hear the smile in her words.Â
âDelphini - go to sleep.â He warns.
âGoodnight, daddy.â Bella whispers against him.
Amongst the early morning light the Dark Lord sighs.







