Chapter Text
Dumbledore, still polyjuiced into the hapless Midwife the Black family employed, straightened and shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Malfoy, Mrs. Lestrange, but the babe is lifeless.” He told both the mother and the aunt, and Bellatrix Lestrange’s face crumpled with misery.
“May I hold him?” She asked tremulously, holding out hopeful arms.
Dumbledore placed the potioned baby into her arms and gave her a few moments to grieve.
“I’m so sorry, Corvus. That will be his name for the headstone. Corvus Rodolphus Lestrange.” Bellatrix whispered tearfully.
A simple draught of living death and Dumbledore had the baby Lily was hoping for.
A boy to carry on the Potter name and legacy. No one ever need know.
“I will prepare the body for burial.” Dumbledore offered. “You two should stay together for now, and give yourselves time to come to terms with your loss.”
Bellatrix swallowed thickly, and after kissing her son’s cheek, she let him go and handed the stillborn baby to her Midwife. “Make sure he is cleaned before you prepare the body. We need to have an open casket for our Lestrange Heir. He will have a brother later on, but for now, he is the Heir, and deserves a funeral befitting his status.”
Dumbledore realized he would need to quickly make a golem of the baby and find a way to smuggle the true baby out of the Manor.
Thankfully, he had access to the Floo, and was sure he could make it to Lily and James’ residence and back quickly enough to create a golem.
“I will give you both one day to recover and for me to prepare the body. I will then leave his body for you to bury. I’m so very sorry. No one ever deserves to lose a child like this.” Dumbledore said.
Bellatrix’s breath hitched. “I know.” She whispered. “I will somehow survive.”
The Black madness began to creep up on her that night.