"She is dead, then?"

"Yes."

Voldemort, disguised as a regular wizard so as not to arouse suspicion in this makeshift infirmary the day after the battle, bit his lip and bent his head convincingly before asking, "May I see her body?"

"Yes sir. Of course."

The young orderly led the believably disguised Voldemort across the hallway to its end. Having been unable to find a coffin, her body had been lain out, hands folded, eyes closed, on a small cushion on the floor.

The Dark Lord stepped over to the corpse and knelt beside it. "Leave me," he choked out to the man who quickly left Voldemort alone with his apparent grief. Once alone, bending down so his lips were brushing the woman's ear, Voldemort whispered, "Are you alive?"

Barely moving her lips, she breathed back, "Barely."

He smiled, for though he had been almost certain of it, it was nonetheless consoling to know that she was alive. "I'm taking you out of here. Don't move." He kissed her earlobe softly, sending electric thrills through her aching body, before casting himself around her broken figure and Disapparating.

He took Bellatrix immediately to his home, the old Riddle Manor on the outskirts of Little Hangleton, straight to his bedroom. The room was exotic in every sense of the word, with black obsidian tile for the floors, wooden screens carved into intricate patterns and scenes placed strategically around the space, and red draperies hung as partitions. The whole place seemed dark, despite the tall, narrow windows set into the outer wall. Black smoke swirled around, magically instructed to form into vague, almost recognizable shapes, adding to the air of mystery the room imposed, dispersing before it felt human touch.

Directly opposite the door was the bed, a magnificent piece of handiwork. It was sunk several feet into the floor, and cut into the wall a foot or so as well, forming a recessed alcove draped from the top in black, gauzy silk that flowed around the edge, creating a sense of seclusion and privacy. The soft mattress was swathed in warm, bloodred blankets and sheets.

The Dark Lord, still carrying Bellatrix in his arms like a baby, sat down on the edge of the dip, where the stone floor dropped off to the mattress, and slid along the bed, bringing Bella with him so she was stretched out along the length of his body, underneath him but with his weight mostly to the side. He held her gently in his arms for several minutes, massaging her tense lower back, breathing in her scent. All the while she lay there in his arms, still barely alive, wondering why he was gracing her with his presence so close to hers.

"Bella. Are you alright?" he asked quietly.

She coughed roughly and then replied, her voice scratching painfully on the raw-feeling skin on the inside of her throat. "I am now…my Lord…."

He lifted her chin so that she was staring into his eyes. Then, having used his unprecedented skill at Legilimency, he said, "No you are not. I can see what has happened to you over the past few days. Come. We must get you cleaned up and then I will heal you."

"My Lord, you are so merciful," she murmured weakly as he picked her up once again and brought her to his private bathroom.

"Merciful? Maybe. But I am not doing this for free, Bella. I will require… compensation from you in due course."

"Compensation?" She coughed. "My Lord, I don't understand-"

"Why are you coughing, Bellatrix? You were hit by a spell on the day of the battle, but that was several days ago and you should be fine now." He set her down on the edge of the tub and with two flicks of his wand filled it with water and Vanished her clothing, sending a shiver through her body.

"I apologize, my Lord, but-" she coughed again, louder and more horrible-sounding this time, and was cut off by Voldemort's words.

"Bella, did I ask you for an apology? I, who have risked everything, capture by the Ministry even, to save you from that wretched place where they could have killed you? Did I say that I required an apology from you, whom I have given everything to?" He lowered her into the warm water.

"My Lord, they thought I was dead! How could they have known? What could they possibly have done to me that I had not already experienced?" said Bellatrix.

Her master removed his own clothing and joined her in the bathtub, kneeling on the bottom and grabbing a bar of soap. "Bella, I was not willing to take any chances when your life was at stake." Seeing the stunned look on her face at hearing this, he said, "Bella, not you personally, just think of the Legilimency they could have performed, the Veritaserum they surely possessed. I realize that you are an accomplished Occlumens, but they could have extracted valuable information about my whereabouts if they had discovered that you were alive. Even now they are sure to be looking for you, and they will have figured out that it was I who took you."

"Of course, my Lord." She coughed yet again and Voldemort wrinkled his brow in frustration, and though he would never admit it, concern.

"Bella, for God's sake, why are you coughing so much?"

"I'm sorry, master, I can't- cough- I- cough-"

"Bellatrix!" he shouted as blood flew out of her mouth. Bella's eyes bulged as the coughing increased and she started to heave and choke. He grabbed for his wand, never far away, and threw the bar of soap aside, losing it in the water, which was slowly turning red. "Anapneo!" he shouted and instantly her windpipe cleared, but more blood came as the old was Vanished. "Bella!" he screamed as he clutched at her naked body, willing her to live.

OOOH-oooh cliffie!!!

This is intentionally vague to add to the air of MYSTERY!!!!!!

Don't ask about the time period or what battle it was; it's not important and if it does become important, I will tell you.

Because I'm just that awesome.

Speaking of awesome, you will be too if you leave a review! Signed ones are nice; I will TRY to reply to any signed ones (not making any promises) but annonymous ones are o.k. too as long as you're not too mean.

oh and go read lil-miss-voldie-woldie's stuff. She rox my sox off and she writes Bellamorts.

YAY BELLAMORT!!!

I have another chapter ready if you want it... : D mwahahaha! cackles evilly

plz reveiw? -Death Snacker