Bellatrix was still a girl when her parents gave her to a suitably aristocratic husband. His name was Rodolphus Lestrange, and she felt no love for him. However, she knew her duty: to bear him a male heir.
She threw herself into their relationship passionately, entirely self-confident and somewhat brazen. He on the other hand, was slow, methodical and controlling; her attitude irritated him. So she hid her passionate side under a thin veneer of patience, oh yes; she could play along with this game. It was not long, not even a year, before she was with child.
She turned her passion inward, reveling in the fact that a small life was growing inside her, one that would look up to her and love her. It was completely hers for now; Rodolphus could not touch it, but she could. She fell in love with this new person in a way she would never love her husband. Her greatest pleasure was when Rodolphus was gone, and she would sit and caress her growing belly, sometimes telling this child all she knew, and sometimes crooning nonsense.
Rodolphus's only interaction with either of them was to say, "We will name him Christoph."
"What if it's a girl?" Bellatrix had asked.
He said nothing, but glared at her threateningly. Secretly, Bellatrix knew in her heart that it was a girl. She called her Christyana, and thought of black fluffy hair and pale skin, and wondered if the child would have the same brown eyes that she did.
The time came, and a midwife attended her. It was a long and arduous labor, and at the end Bellatrix was so exhausted she could hardly move. The midwife caught the child and proclaimed, "It's a girl!"
Little Cristyana let out a wail, and Bellatrix asked to hold her. All pain and weariness were forgotten as Bellatrix cradled her treasure. The baby girl was still red and splotchy, and her hair was matted to her head, but nothing in the world was more beautiful to the new mother.
Once Rodolphus heard it was girl, he didn't come and see them, but Bellatrix was just fine with that.
The next morning when Bellatrix reached over to pick up her daughter, instead of a warm child's body her hand met cold flesh. Bellatrix sat up, frightened and trembling and looked at the corpse of her baby girl. Christyana was dead. Dead!
Bella's anguish welled up into an inhuman, never-ending scream. Like a lunatic she raged, ripping out her hair and scratching her face as tears rolled down it in utter agony. Her heart broke; all the love fell to pieces in the pain, and she was sick to her stomach.
The midwife rushed in, and Rodolphus trailed behind her but did not enter the room, merely leaning against the door.
"You!" Bellatrix shrieked, pointing a trembling finger at him. "Healthy babies don't die in the night! You- you- Bastard! See if I ever let you touch me again! You took my girl, my lovely child, my baby, my love; and now I'll take all your hopes for a son. I hate you!" Her voice broke and she sobbed like a madwoman.
Rodolphus said nothing, denied nothing.