Prologue

"What's troubling you so, Jamie?" Monty asked, concerned. He couldn't ask more as he was overcome by a hacking cough.
"Mother, Father. I don't know what to do!" James sighed despondently, running his hands through his hair with his worry for his newborn daughter. He hated burdening his sick parents with this; but they knew him too well. Besides, they were just as worried for their granddaughter as he and Lily were. A granddaughter they wouldn't get to see in person, only through pictures. Unless they wanted to risk her life; which they would never do. "I do not believe this Prophecy Dumbledore spoke of. It's too much of a coincidence."
"Use the contract your father and I made with Vinda and Falco Lestrange before you were born." Euphemia whispered tiredly, reminding her son of the close friendship not only his parents had with the Lestrange family, but James, himself, as well.

His parents had been best friends with Falco Lestrange and Vinda Lestrange née Rosier while in school and had wanted to unite their houses. That hadn't happened as of yet as neither he or Basty or Rodo were carriers, and he knew Rodo hated being married to Bellatrix. Their friendship had come to an abrupt halt what with Dumbledore and his manipulations, and the Lestrange brothers being forced to take the mark when their parents' lives had been threatened. To be honest, if that had been his own parents James knew he'd have made the same decision, as it was Dumbledore didn't like that he, Lily and Sirius hadn't joined his Order of Phoenix and Remus couldn't get their reasoning so that relationship had become fragmented much to their dismay.

"I'll send them a letter." James promised his sick parents. The Healers had said they wouldn't live to see his daughter born but they had proved them wrong. But James knew their condition was worsening no matter how much he hated it. "Persephone summoned the deer you brought her. Lily had left it downstairs and next thing we know it's hovering beside us as we were putting her to bed." James told them proudly, a wide smile on his face as he spoke of his little girl.
"She's going to be one powerful little girl." Monty beamed proudly. "What's this we hear about Dumbledore pressuring you and Lily to move into the cottage in Godric's Hollow?" He asked suspiciously.
"He has plans set in motion. Plans that involve my little girl. I just know it. Well, it's not going to happen! I'll set up contingency plans that make sure he can't do anything to my little Angel." James declared seriously.

"Don't you worry about anything. You just...just rest. I love you both. I'll see you in the morning. Lily, Persephone and Sirius send their love, too." James said softly, as his parents were starting to drift off while he tried to hold back his tears. Getting one last look at his parents, James turned and left the small mansion on the Potter estate and headed back towards the main manor. Tears fell down his cheeks in a waterfall as he walked through the containment shield and then a deep cleansing one that would vanish any trace of the dragon pox virus on his person, so there was no risk to his daughter who was too young for the vaccine at the moment. Upon reaching the foyer, James steeled himself as there was work to be done.
"Tilly." James summoned. A small pop heralded the arrival of the head house-elf, Tilly.

"What can Tilly bes doing for Master James?" Tilly asked, with a small curtsy. Like all house-elves in the Potter's employ they wore smart white shirts and black trousers or skirts for the females, with the Potter and Peverell crest upon the left breast.
"Could you notify Lily and Sirius that I'm back please and that I need to speak with them in the study." James asked politely.
"Of course Sir. Tilly will have tea set out as well." Tilly declared before she popped away.
"They will not get you, baby girl. Even if your mother and I have to sacrifice ourselves and have Sirius raise you in France we will do it." James swore to himself as he made his way to the study, his magic and the family magics holding him to his oath.

While he waited for Lily and Sirius to arrive James penned a first draft of the letter to Falco and Vinda, he'd flesh it out once he'd discussed things with his brother and wife. After a few moments James set his quill aside just as Lily and Sirius entered.
"Is it -?" Lily and Sirius asked fearfully. While Sirius saw Euphemia and Fleamont as his parents, Lily had grown to care deeply for her in-laws in the time she'd known them.
"No, but th-they're getting worse, however, they did offer some advice on how we can protect our Princess. Although, my Lily-flower if we want our Princess to survive the two power-lust, madmen-" James broached tearfully, not wanting to think on how he might not see his baby girl grow up.

"- we won't be there to see her grow up." Lily finished, just as tearfully, slumping into one of the chairs sat before the desk.
"What're you talking about?" Sirius demanded, he did not want to think about that prospect. "Of course you'll see Bambi grow up."
"No, Sirius." James denied gently. "We're surrounded by enemies. Dumbledore is getting desperate that we're not playing by his rules, you know this. I swore on my magic to protect her at all costs even if it means sacrificing myself and you watching her grow up, out of the country. She'll be safe then. I need my Bambi safe. What kind of life would she have hiding out here 24/7?"
Sirius nodded his head sadly knowing James was right.

"You're her father too, Sirius. You blood-adopted my flower the day she was born and there's no one we'd trust with Persephone than you. I swore on my magic as well, when I was putting her to bed." Lily revealed. "What did Mia and Monty say?" She asked her husband.
"As you both know my parents were friends with Vinda and Falco Lestrange during school and I was friends with Batsy and Rodo growing up. Our parents made a marriage contract between our families -" James explained.
"So, they suggested a marriage contract between Rabastan and our flower?" Lily quipped, an eyebrow raised.

"It's perfect. I could take Persephone to the Black villa in Auch, France. The Lestranges could come with us, it would protect them and as Lord Black, my father handed over the reins to protect me, I can disown Bellatrix which will null the marriage contract between Rodo and Bella. Also, the three family Magicks will protect Bambi." Sirius explained, adding more to their contingency plan.
"Yes." James agreed. "I've written the first draft of a letter to Vinda and Falco but I was waiting for you two, so we could flesh it out more together." James passed them the letter as he spoke. After reading through what James had written the three had a mild discussion on what to put in the letter until Lily read through what they'd written to see if her husband and best friend wanted to add any more.

Dear Lord and Lady Lestrange,

I hope this letter finds you well and I apologise for not having spoken to you and yours in a while, but I have something of importance to discuss with you and hope you would hear me out. We can meet in a neutral place to discuss further if that is what you'd prefer, however, I would like to instigate the marriage contract that you drew up with my parents Euphemia and Fleamont Potter, between your youngest son, Rabastan Corvus Lestrange and my daughter Heiress Persephone Abigail Adira Potter-Black.

This will not only be beneficial for us but also for your family as well as it would protect your sons. Sirius has a plan to disown Bellatrix which would nullify her marriage with Rodolphus. I have also made a contingency plan between myself, my wife Lily and Lord Sirius Black which I would be more than happy to discuss with you in person.

I await your response.

Sincerely,

Lord James Henry Potter
Earl of Stinchcombe
Lord of The Most Ancient and Most Nobel House of Potter

P.S. my parents send their regards.

"Happy?" Lily asked, looking from one to the other, both who nodded.
"I'll send it off now." James said, accepting the parchment back he rolled it up, dropped some wax on it before pushing his Lord ring into the wax creating the seal and addressed the back of it.
"Tilly." Lily called, as Sirius cast spells on the letter so no one other than Vinda or Falco could read it. A pop sounded within the study as the house-elf arrived with a curtsy.

"What can Tilly do for Lady Lily, Master Sirius and Master James?" She asked.
"Could you send this letter off with one of our fastest owls, please? It is for Lord and Lady Lestrange." She explained, handing over the letter.
"Of course Mistress." Tilly agreed, accepting the letter. She curtsied once more before disappearing with a pop.
"Now we wait." Sirius sighed.
"And now we wait." Lily and James agreed, bidding Sirius goodnight; they headed off to bed but not before visiting Persephone in her nursery who was fast asleep.

***

Nearly two worry-filled days had passed since the letter had been sent off, when as the second day was drawing to a close Tilly popped into the drawing room - where James, Sirius and Lily were relaxing after Persephone had been put to bed - holding a letter.
"Masters, Mistress. Tilly has a letter from Lord and Lady Lestrange." Tilly announced with a curtsy.
"Thank you, Tilly." Sirius said gratefully, accepting the letter as he was the closest, sat in a plump armchair in front of the fire while Lily and James were sitting cuddled up on a loveseat. "Could you check on Persephone, please?" He asked.

"Of course, Tilly will do's that now." The elf curtsied once more and disappeared with a pop.
"Well, read it out, Pads." James exclaimed. Rolling his eyes fondly at his brother, Sirius cleared his throat and read the eagerly awaited letter to Lily and James.

Dear Lord James Potter,

I hope this finds you and yours well. We were sorry to hear about your parents. They are dear friends of ours as you know, and we pray to the Goddess that they will make it through. Vinda and I are fine but we are worried for our sons and are exceedingly glad that you wish to initiate the contract, as we ourselves had been contemplating writing to you to initiate the contract.

If you wish, the four of us could come to the Manor as we do not believe in the need for neutral ground as you are a long time friend. We also believe this would be safer for you, Lady Potter and Heiress Potter-Black. As we said we mean you no harm but we know there are two madmen who wish to control and destroy you and we will not abide by such. The help to free my sons, there are no words I can express to show my gratitude for you and Lord Black.

Awaiting your response.

Sincerely,

Lord Falco Lestrange II
Lord of The Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Lestrange

"What do you think, Prongs?" Sirius queried curiously, the previously read letter now resting in his lap.
"I think we should hold it here in the study, as soon as possible as Dumbledore sent another missive with Remus's last letter demanding we join his cult of vigilantes and move to Godric's Hollow." James explained, growling with anger towards the end.
"If you trust them then I trust you James. You're the only one in this room who truly knows what they're like as you grew up with them. So if you say they won't harm us then I believe you." Lily assured her husband, squeezing his hand comfortingly.
"Thank you Lily-flower." James sighed, relief coating his tone, as he pressed a loving kiss to her temple.

"You know I'm always with you, Prongs." Sirius agreed.
"Thanks mate. I'll go write to them now before we retire." James stated, jumping up as if he'd been hit with a Stinging Hex and running to his office. A few minutes later an owl was winging its way to Lestrange Manor and the trio within Potter Manor retired for the night. However, tragedy struck the Potter household during the night and then the following night as well. Euphemia had passed away in her sleep succumbing to the Dragon Pox, and the following night Fleamont passed away from a broken heart while also succumbing to the Dragon Pox.

***

Despite being wracked with grief, James still carried on with the meeting as he knew his parents would've wanted that. James had just returned to the study, where Lily and Sirius were waiting, with Persephone in his arms soothing her, when the Floo flared a bright emerald green and out stepped Falco and Vinda Lestrange.
"Lord and Lady Lestrange, welcome." James greeted, shaking Falco's hand, while shifting Persephone more securely he bent and kissed Vinda's knuckles as custom demands.
"Now James, you know you can call us Vinda and Falco." Vinda chastised gently. "Lord Black. Lady Potter." She greeted cordially, after her husband just as the Floo flared a second time.

The emerald flames revealed Heir and Master Lestrange a moment later, as was Rabastan's title as he had just completed his Mastery in Ancient Runes.
"Oh, Heiress Potter-Black is absolutely gorgeous." Vinda gushed, spying the sleeping babe in her father's arms.
"Thank you Lady Lestrange." Lily replied graciously, as James and Sirius greeted Rodolphus and Rabastan.
"Well met Heir Lestrange, Master Lestrange. Master Lestrange, congratulations on completing your Mastery in Ancient Runes."
"Well met Lord Black, Lord Potter."
"Thank you Lord Potter." Rabastan returned politely.

"Now, all that's out of the way." Falco said, taking a seat on one of the sofas in the opposite direction of the room from the desk. "James, Sirius, we are so sorry about Mia and Monty. They were our very dear friends and will be truly missed."
"Thank you." James and Sirius sighed sadly but still graciously, James sitting on the sofa opposite them with Lily, leaving the three armchairs for Sirius, Rodolphus and Rabastan.
"As you know, You-Know-Who wants to kill us and Persephone for, what we believe, is a fake prophecy. It's just too much of a coincidence. For instance: why would Dumbles hold a job interview in his brother's pub instead of his office? Like all the others, plus they hate each other. If it is true, why would he get angry that we don't want to join his renegade band and keep pestering us to live in a cottage?" James asked rhetorically, laying out the lay of the land for them.

"So, what's the plan?" Rodolphus asked. "You can't go against two madmen, even with us."
"You're right but we can take one out." Lily stated, her eyes filling with tears as she gently brushed her fingers through Persephone's dark curly hair. "If the contract goes through then Persephone will be protected by three Ancient Family Magicks. Plus, James and I have sworn on our own magic to do whatever it takes for our daughter to survive. We will even do a Blood Sacrifice Ritual to protect her, with our deaths it will initiate the Ritual and protect her."
"We plan to make Dumbles think we're finally agreeing with him. Once Persephone is nearly fifteen months old, they'll move into the cottage. Peter is the traitor, yeah?" Sirius asked, getting nods from Rabastan and Rodolphus.

"So they'll use him as per Dumbles suggestion. We've started French Citizenship papers for myself and Persephone and have ones for you four as well, just in case. After the attack we'll go to Gringotts and take a Portkey to the French Ministry. We think - no, we know, it'll be blamed on me so Gringotts and the French Ministry will send James and Lily's Wills to the DMLE office, particularly Amelia Bones as Crouch is too power-hungry and will listen to Dumbles. Due to how things are pointing we think he wants Persephone to grow up with Lily's Muggle sister who hates magic, and that cannot happen.

I have a Black Château in Auc, France where we can all stay if you wish and Persephone can go to Beauxbatons, which will be better for her as she's a quarter Veela from James and Euphemia. I plan to fully disown Bellatrix on Samhain, 1981. We have to time it right otherwise you'll be attacked. Gringotts have also agreed to remove those marks off your arms. Once the plan is set in motion James and I are going to lock down each and every one of our properties via Gringotts so no one can access them. Only Persephone can once she's seventeen." Sirius finished explaining. The four Lestranges sat taking everything in for a few minutes, they had to admit it was a really good plan. They looked at each other and nodded with relieved smiles on their faces.
"We'll sign the Marriage contract and move to France with you." Falco agreed.

"Excellent. We'll meet at Gringotts at exactly 8pm on Samhain 1981, where you'll be led to the Potter Account Manager's office. The Portkey will activate at exactly 9pm which will give the Goblins an hour to remove those marks." Sirius said relieved, his pup will be safe come Hell or high water.
"On one condition." Rabastan input, stopping his father from signing the contract as Sirius, James and Lily's signatures were already on it.
"What is it, Batsy?" Rodolphus asked.
"The condition being that if I'm not Persephone's mate this contract will become null and void. I don't want her to suffer." Rabastan explained, which seemed to be the correct thing to say as Persephone's three parents beamed at him.

"Of course." They agreed. Falco smiled proudly at his youngest son and signed the contract, followed by his wife, Rabastan and finally Rodolphus as the witness. As soon as Rodolphus had finished signing it the contract vanished, disappearing to the Potter, Black and Lestrange Account Manager offices, as Sirius was Persephone's blood adopted father. For the next hour they caught up and went through the citizenship forms, filling them out before they too vanished with a small pop.
"Be careful." Vinda beseeched the three, gently passing Persephone back over to her mother. "I promise I'll take good care of her, Lily, and I'll tell her all about her strong and brave mother and father." Vinda promised, feeling for the young couple who would only have a couple of months left with their beloved daughter.
"Thank you." Lily choked out through her tears as they saw the Lestranges out through the Floo.

***

Samhain 1981

Upon arriving at the now destroyed Potter Cottage in Godric's Hollow, Sirius choked on his tears as grief burned through his insides as if someone had cast Fiendfyre inside of him. Trying not to look at the fallen figure of his brother lying at the foot of the stairs Sirius crept around him following the sounds of crying to the nursery that was destroyed. There was a massive hole in the roof, the room was destroyed, black smouldering robes lay on one side of the nursery while Lily lay in front of the cot in the same state as James downstairs.
"Pa'foo." Persephone cried, making grabby hands at her Sworn Godfather and Blood Adopted father. A bloody cut was on her forehead over her left eyebrow, and she was crying her little heart out.

But Sirius couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief seeing his daughter was very much alive.
"Oh my little flower. It's alright. It's alright, Padfoot is here." Sirius soothed, picking her up but making sure to shield her from seeing the corpses of her mother and father as he left the property.
"Mama. Dada." Persephone wailed tearfully, tightly holding her stuffed stag and black dog close to her while Sirius wrapped the blanket tighter around, kissing her head sadly.
"They love you very much Persephone and always will." Sirius swore, strapping her to his chest as he climbed onto his motorbike taking off into the air just as Hagrid arrived. "Now, let's get you looked at by the Goblins." Sirius said to his sniffling daughter.

Terminating all of an old man's plans with the moves they made up to this moment, the removal of the Horcrux, the Dark Marks and moving all the way to France where the small makeshift family will be untouchable. Fortunately it won't be until morning when a certain headmaster realises just how untouchable they really were. For a young quarter Veela grew up loved, knowing about her parents, the love they had for her, her heritage and her magic. Seems a new game was at play.

Thank you Arcstark  for the amazing banners.