Shamefully, Bella was fascinated with this man. She didn't know why, but he was someone she wanted to know better.

Narcissa reached out and grabbed Bella's sleeve.  "Come back.  Where do you have to be?"

"None of your damned business."  Bella jerked away and Disapparated.
 
 
 
 

A startled Jason opened his mouth as Bella quickly cast, “Tussio!”  Jason was wracked with coughs so violent he was bent in two and in danger of falling off his chair.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Jason smudged Gabe from head to foot, starting with his eyes to acknowledge all of the tears Gabe had shed since his partner and infant daughter had journeyed on.
 
 
 
 
 

“Who are you? Where are we?” Bella tried to appear unaffected by her strange surroundings. 
 

“You’re in God’s country,” the woman replied, in a definitely non-British accent. “And I’m Rain.” 
 
 

As the elder Black made an appearance in the doorway, Bella aimed her wand.  “Confundo,” rang out clearly and confidently. 
 
 
 
 

“I’d like to be your dinner partner, with your approval of course,” Rodolphus managed as he noticed Bella’s attention waning.


“Oh, that’s not possible,” Bella said quickly. “Cissy spent hours arranging this dinner. She put a lot of thought into seating. She wanted everyone to be seated with the best partner. This is her dinner, you know.” Bella smoothed back a stray curl. “Cissy saw fit to seat me next to the guest of honor, the Dark Lord.”
 

"I'm a witch," she blurted.  Oh gods, that wasn't how she planned to say it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

They left the flat and went down to the alley. Bella took the tiara off her head. “This is a Portkey. Take my hand and put your free hand on the tiara. It won’t take but a couple of minutes and we’ll be in Italy. Remember, keep your hand in mine and keep one on the tiara.”

Gabe nodded. “I think I can do that.”
 
 

Gabe happily paid the down payment for the bike rental not realizing at all what Bella was planning.  He swung his leg over the bike and put both feet down to balance while Bella climbed on behind him.  He turned around and asked, “I almost forgot.  Do you want a helmet?  At home in South Dakota they’re not required so I never use one.”

 

 
 
 
 

“Good evening, Bellatrix. We were about to get started. Do you bring a message from your father?” Tom asked.

Bella inhaled her cigar and blew little circles above her head. “I bring my own message. My father is occupied as you can imagine and I felt the noble House of Black must be represented.”

Tom gazed into her eyes so deeply, it made Bella worry that her Occlumency wasn’t effective. He said, “You’re wasting your talent on these trivial pranks.”

“Am I?” She replied with a cool smile, although her face grew hot.”I suppose that’s my choice to make.”