I do not, nor will I ever, own Harry Potter.
A rather short and pointless oneshot
When Bellatrix was little she dreamt of living in the largest castle in the world. Andromeda had smiled indulgently, just as she had the month before when Bella had dreamt of becoming a dragon tamer. Narcissa had rolled her eyes and scoffed. Sirius had informed her that he'd live with her and become Lord of her Castle.
She's not sure what Sirius really thought but her sisters had never truly believed in her dream. Andromeda at least had the courtesy to pretend. She's now proven them both wrong, though that revelation gives her little comfort. Azkaban is indeed the largest castle in the world but Bella's existence can hardly be called a life.
Bellatrix Lestrange: battle hardened, irrevocably insane, deadly, a force to be reckoned with. That last trait is the only she still shares with Bella Black, the girl that she used to be. Bellatrix cloaks herself with her insanity, uses it as a shield to keep others at bay. She'd learned when Andromeda ran away that if you let others in, if you give them the power to destroy you, they will. If you love, your downfall is inevitable. Much like her imminent death.
She'll die here, she's certain. It's been nearly ten years she'd guess, and she figures she'll die of malnourishment or succumb to prolonged exposure to dementors soon. That thought both frightens her and gives her hope. Hope because, just maybe she'll find a bit of peace through death, and fear that this is exactly what hell is like.
While Bellatrix waits, she thinks. It's the only thing to do in here: to think and to remember. She hates both but she does it anyway. It's an aquired taste, rather like torture and murder. No, Bella wasn't born a killer. She's not even evil, not really. She's just a woman broken by duty, bound by honor.
"Bella?"Comes a rasp from the cell adjacent to hers. She looks up, peeking through her untamable raven ringlets, now streaked with silver, at the man she once called cousin. Sirius Black allows a gentle smirk to soften his wary features. "Thinking again?"He asks."That's bad for you, ya know. Too much thought and your brain may implode,"he teases. She can't help but to chuckle huskily, voice hoarse with disuse but still oh-so-enchanting.
"You're one to talk. Do you even have a brain?"She asks with a grin, showing off sharp teeth, a few rotted from prison life. No, she's nothing like the dark eyed mischevious chocolate-stealing cousin he adored as a child. He loves her anyway.
"I do,"he agrees."I'm just intelligent enough not to use it too often in this place."He chortles. No, Sirius isn't half as insane as Bella. He has his innocence, his happy memories to hold vigil over him, to keep the worst of the dementor's effects away.
"Do you ever miss it? Being a Black, I mean."She clarifies softly. Sirius frowns and shrugs.
"I miss you."He admits.
"Then why did you leave?"She demands.
"Maybe I couldn't stay and watch you destroy yourself."He finally replies, soft grey eyes dark with memories he'd rather forget. Bella bows her head. It's too late to change the past, she knows, but she wonders if remorse will count for anything when this is all over. Sirius sighs and slumps back against the wall, watching her lose herself in quiet contemplation, once again. She occasionally glances up and obsidian eyes meet stormy grey. Sirius wonders if this feeling in his chest is what happens when stars collide.