"Where are you going?" Rodolphus asked softly. He lent against the door frame, watching his wife scurrying around their bedroom, trying to find her cloak.
"He needs me," Bellatrix gabbled.
"Who needs you?" Rodolphus said.
She ignored him. Rodolphus spotted the black cloak draped over the bed frame. Silently he crossed the room, picked it up and gave to her. Bellatrix didn't even thank him as she snatched the cloak from his hands and threw it on. Next she sat down on the bed so lace up her boots. Her hands trembled as she tried to rush, her fingers fumbling so that she could hardly grip on to her laces.
"Let me," Rodolphus offered. He knelt down beside her and gently brushed away her hands.
"I'm not a child, Rodolphus," Bellatrix snapped, "I can do it myself!"
Still, she allowed her husband to lace up her boots and when he had done there was silence again. They stared in to each others eyes.
"Stay with me tonight, Bella, please," Rodolphus suddenly begged, "It's Christmas Eve."
"He needs me," Bellatrix whispered. She stood up and walked over to the door.
"I need you!" Rodolphus yelled. He jumped up and grabbed her wrist, tightening his fingers around it.
"How dare you!" Bellatrix shrieked, and with her other hand she drew her wand, "Crucio!"
The spell hit him and Rodolphus dropped to the floor instantly. It had had only lasted a second but already he was crippled by pain. Bellatrix stood over him, breathing heavily.
"Why do you run to him, Bella?" Rodolphus said through gritted teeth, "Why is it that you would rather stand by his side than mine? Do you not love me anymore, is that it?"
"He needs me," Was all Bellatrix could say. Rodolphus gazed at his wife's crazed eyes and realised in that instant that he no longer knew her. He nodded.
"Fine, go to him. Do what you have to," He said, "But remember, Bella, it is I who will always love you back."
He watched as she stormed from the room.