AN: This is my first Bellamort, so please be gentle. As you may have noticed from the strange jumble of pairings I've used to categorize this tale, it is not only a Bellamort, but a love story between Bellatrix and Rodolphus. It's a love story that spans about three decades, and there are a lot of twists, turns, and chapters coming, so if you just want a quick smash and bang type story, this isn't for you. But if you're curious to see how a femme fatale goes from being madly in love with the love of her life to being madly obsessed with her mentor, by all means, read on.

Chapter 1

I stood on the very edge of the world, my feet teasing the rocks so that they crumbled down into the tumultuous sea. The silvery sky stretched out before me, its fingers entwining with the green-blue water that seemed to beckon me to come closer. It was a siren's call, and I, the sailor.

I pulled my heavy ermine cloak around me as my hair lashed at my face. It was cold and windy, and oh so perfect. Mother Nature seemed to echo my emotions today, and I was grateful for her, and for it. My foot continued to dance along the edge of the cliff, and as I watched, more tiny rocks vanished into the depths of the ocean. I was thoroughly entranced.

"Bella," a voice called, startling me away from my reflections. It was my mother, Druella Black. "Come in, dear. You have a visitor, and Lucius says that you would do well to receive him."

"Lucius Malfoy says many things, mother," I said, turning away from the ocean, and walking away from the edge of the world. I grabbed my mother's outstretched hand and pulled her into my cloak. The silly woman hadn't bothered with one. "Half of which he doesn't even begin to mean," I muttered, chuckling.

"Now, now. I've told you many times, Bellatrix. It is unseemly for you to be so fond of him when you know he is betrothed to Narcissa. I know this is difficult, but the women of the Black household are extremely strong-willed. You will cease to think of him thus." My mother pecked my cheek quickly and with consternation, before pushing me through the door of our home. She walked me to the parlor, disengaging her hand from mine. "Behave," she whispered, before walking away to someplace nearby, presumably to listen in on my conversation with this stranger.

I entered the ornate room with great trepidation, pulling my cloak from my shoulders and handing it to the house elf. I immediately allowed my eyes to hone in on Lucius. He was sitting on one of my mother's horrendously expensive chairs, speaking animatedly to the man sitting next to him. His platinum, silky hair fell softly onto his regal black robes, which had been tailored to fit not only his body, but his extravagant taste. Even from this far away, I could see the excitement in his stormy grey eyes. Suddenly, he turned to look at me, and the smile that lit his face nearly stole the breath from my lungs. I smiled softly in response to his silent greeting. Taking a moment to calm my nerves, I then turned my gaze to the stranger sitting next to him, in the chair furthest from the entry way.

He sat with the posture of a man who knew of his own power. His back was straight, but his composure was relaxed. He too, was wearing black robes. These were modest compared to Lucius', but exuded the power of an individual confident in his looks and intelligence. His face was turned slightly toward Lucius, who had returned his attention to whatever he was saying. The man nodded slightly, his profile and countenance seeming to indicate that he was listening to Lucius and considering his words. Then, suddenly, as if sensing my stare, he turned to face me and met my eyes.

His eyes perused my face, which I had composed into a neutral mask of subtle defiance, and his lips quirked slightly. He nodded to me, and I took the necessary steps to cross the room. He stood up, towering over me as soon as I reached him, and extended a pale hand.

"My Lord," Lucius said, his tenor voice creeping into the space between myself and the stranger. "It is my pleasure to introduce you to Bellatrix Black."

I glanced at Lucius, curious about his use of the epithet.

"Bellatrix," he continued, "this is the wizard I wanted you to meet." He smiled encouragingly at me, and I couldn't help but feel more at ease.

Finally, I took the man's hand, turning to meet his eyes. "You can call me Bella," I said with reserve, quickly recalling the scant details I had learned from Lucius. This man was to be respected and feared, and while one part of me wanted to be polite and respectful, the other was scornful and skeptical. I could feel the latter part rearing its unwanted head.

"Bella," he said, as if savoring the feeling of my name in his mouth. His eyes twinkled charmingly, and he bent forward in a bow. "The pleasure is surely mine." He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it softly, eyes still locked on mine. I tried to ignore the chills that crawled up my spine as he released my hand and straightened up again. "You can call me Tom. Please," he said, gesturing to the seat that was next to him. "Sit." He then turned to Lucius, who bowed smartly and left the room.

Smoothing out my dark burgundy skirts, I sat down, sinking into the cushions. I looked up at Tom, who was still standing, and took this brief lapse in conversation to carefully consider him. His face, which was turned to me, was so devastatingly beautiful. It appeared to me that he had been carved from the softest, most delicate marble. Each feature of his face was intricately defined, as if he had been a hundred years in the making. Pale white skin stretched over high cheekbones and a pointed chin, and intelligent black eyes, framed by thick, dark lashes, peered out from the pale expanse of his face. His nose sloped gracefully down, and I wondered if he often looked down it at those he found to be beneath him. I glanced at his lips, and appreciating their softness, thought about what I would like to do to them with my own. Suddenly, the lips in question quirked into a half-smile, and startled, I quickly met Tom's eyes.

"Mr.-"

"Riddle," he said smoothly.

"Mr. Riddle, if you don't mind me saying, you must be quite the heartbreaker."

He laughed loudly at that, mirth spilling from his lips. "Miss Black, I must warn you, I am a Legilimens; I've been reading your thoughts this entire time." He sat down next to me, a smile still on his face. "I appreciate that you thought to censure out your true feelings about my appearance."

"Mr. Riddle," I said, shielding my thoughts with Occlumency, "I still am a lady, after all. And you cannot fault me for my thoughts. I enjoy beautiful things."

He peered at me again. "That is one thing we have in common, my dear Bella."

Internally surprised at his familiar tone, I quirked a brow and immediately challenged him. "I don't suppose you expect me to address you as Lucius does."

"No, I don't. Like I said, you can call me Tom."

"Forgive me for being blunt, Tom," (oh how strange the name sounded, coming from my mouth like that) "but why are you here?"

"Miss Black," he said, "I am in the business of educating. And Lucius tells me that you hold great promise. Essentially, " he said, lowering his voice and leaning forward, "I am hoping to create a faction of superior wizards."

"To what end," I asked, itching to move further away from this peculiar, attractive man.

"To whatever end I need. There is never a reason not to learn more. Education is the future." He reached a hand out to grab mine, and I gasped in surprise.

"Mister, you are quite bold." I tried to disengage my hand from his, but couldn't.

"A man such as myself has to be bold. Miss Black, please let me tell you this one thing. I heard from Lucius that you are the brightest witch of your age. I sense hungry ambition in you and believe that it would be an honor to teach you."

"Magic is my natural ability. It is a raw talent, and I don't need to be taught it," I said. "And besides, I have a path set for me. I am still a student and would do very well to learn what Hogwarts has to teach me. I can't just accept tutelage from a stranger and ignore my studies. I have goals."

"Then allow me to be your teacher as well, so that I can provide you with a sort of supplement to what you are learning at school. I can help you accomplish these goals of yours." He leaned back, finally responding to my discomfort.

"You? You can't be a day over 23," I said snidely. "I don't know what a man as young as yourself could possibly teach me."

Tom nodded in contemplation, and seemed to be considering something. After a moment, he said, "Miss Black, I don't often tell people this, but I am old enough to have what it takes to teach you."

I quirked an eyebrow skeptically.

Tom laughed. "At the risk of disappointing you, I must confess that I am 23 years your senior." He regarded me intently.

"I don't take kindly to teasing," I said, looking intently for signs of age. I saw no wrinkles. "And if you are not teasing, you must reveal to me your skincare regimen."

Tom laughed loudly at this. "Only if you choose to come into my tutelage."

"I'm sorry, Mister Riddle, but aside from your age, I know absolutely nothing about you. Who are you? Are you qualified to teach me? Lucius told me many fascinating stories, but they still are just stories to me. I don't know where you come from, or your pedigree," I sneered, tired of playing the polite hostess. I fully intended to have him reveal more about himself, and as a Pureblood, I knew the best way to do that was to question his pedigree. "I won't have someone of questionable ancestry come into my home and offer me false promises of greatness, which I can achieve on my own." I stood up promptly, readying myself to oust him.

"Miss Black," Tom said, his tone stern.

I looked down at him.

"Lucius must have deceived me. When he told me about you, he promised that you were superior in your own right. But so far, you have proved yourself to be average in every aspect."

I started, surprised and indignant. "That's absurd," I said, bristling with annoyance. "Pippa, escort this man out of my home," I called to my house elf. I walked towards the entry way, anxious to leave.

"Is it," Tom said, before standing up and following me.

Curious, I turned back to face him.

His eyes shone with predatory anger, and he grabbed my chin with his right hand.

"Yes!" I shouted, immediately regretting my decision to entertain him further, and wondering at his short temper. "Get off me!" I tried to turn to look for my mother. I couldn't figure out why she was not coming to my rescue. And where in the bloody Hell was Pippa?

Tom's grip on my chin tightened, and he forced me to look at him. "I will not allow you to dismiss me," he seethed, "without first allowing me to demonstrate to you just how foolish you are."

"You have nothing to offer me," I shouted, offended by him calling me a fool. I could not believe the audacity of this man. How dare Lucius bring him into my home! I could feel my anger building exponentially, and made the conscious decision not to calm myself.

Tom immediately released his hold on me, then folding his hands behind his back, chuckled slowly, his eyes stormy with barely controlled rage, and some other, unidentifiable emotion. "Is that so? I've never had a woman resist my charms," Tom said, laughing. "They usually just give in and give me what I want."

"And what is it that you want?" I asked, feeling myself cool down exponentially now that the situation was no longer tense.

"Like I've been saying, I only want to teach you. Maybe eventually, I'll bring you around to my way of thinking. But in the meantime, let me show you the other side of magic."

I scoffed. "Dark magic? You want to show me Dark magic?"

"You laugh now, but your dismissal of Dark magic only indicates your ignorance about it. Interesting to see such a strong-willed woman fall into the trap of traditions, norms, and stereotypes."

I slapped him. I didn't mean to, but my hand reached out before I could stop it, and the resounding smack startled even me.

"No one comes into my home and speaks to me like that. You know nothing of my life, values, or beliefs," I seethed. I was acutely aware of the smell of burning flowers, and with a flick of my wrist, extinguished the decorative orchids that had been set on fire by my rage.

Tom rocked back on the heels of his feet and appraised me, his face bearing the mark of my slap. He hadn't even flinched, and in fact, seemed suddenly very calm for a man who had just been attacked violently. "Wandless magic?" He appeared to be very impressed, and was appraising me as if I were prized cattle.

I didn't answer, crossing my arms defiantly and silently begging this lunatic to leave my home.

"Miss Black," Tom said, placing both hands on my shoulder and gazing at me intently. "I don't know what it is about me that has caused you to react in such a way. I've never met a soul with such a capacity for destructive anger. Please, let me apologize, and at least allow me to show you one fascinating facet of Dark magic." His eyes bore into mine.

"You aren't planning to hurt me, are you? I've figured out that you warded this room, but if you attempt to hurt me, I will destroy you." My eyes narrowed.

Tom softened his gaze. "No, of course not," he whispered, squeezing my shoulders and dropping his hands. He stepped back, giving me room to breathe. "I noticed that your home sits on top of a cliff that drops into the ocean."

"Yes, it does."

"If you will lead me to the edge of the cliff, I can show you what I have to offer." Tom projected sincerity, and I tried to shake the niggling at the back of my mind that told me he was dangerous. I damned my insatiable curiosity to hell and agreed to take him to my special place.

After all, I reasoned foolishly. What could it hurt?

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Tom stood at the edge of the cliff, staring out at the sea as I had done earlier in the day. I stood behind him, off to the side.

"Miss Black, have you ever flown?"

I laughed. "Yes! I am a Chaser for Slytherin House."

"So you fly with a broomstick," Tom said matter-of-factly.

"What else would I fly with, Mr. Riddle?"

Tom turned to look at me, then uncloaked himself. "With innate magical ability." He smiled slightly, then turned back to the ocean.

"What do you me-"

And with that, he took a great bounding leap and fell off the face of the earth.

"Tom!" I screamed, running toward the edge of the cliff, ready to hurl myself down to save him. I knelt down, then laid myself flat on my stomach with my head poking out beyond the edge of the cliff, looking for his body amidst the crushing waves.

"Miss Black," said a voice coming from above me. "It's quite unladylike to sprawl yourself onto the dirty ground. Very unbecoming."

I craned my head back and looked up, shocked. "You- you're flying without a broom!" I quickly got up, brushing the dirt off my emerald robes.

"Astute observation," Tom said, smirking. He turned himself midair, taking strides toward me from his perch above the ocean. He descended slowly and freely, landing on his feet right in front of me.

"You flew," I said, still shocked, reeling from what I had just witnessed. "Is this Dark magic? Is it really Dark magic?"

"Yes, I did. And yes, it is." Tom grabbed my shoulders, for the second time that day. "Now will you believe that I have what it takes to teach you?" His glee and passion brightened his countenance.

I stared at a spot directly behind him, trying to process my thoughts. "You flew?"

"Yes, I did."

I took another moment to compose myself. "Why me?"

"Why you what," he said, feigning confusion.

"Why not someone else?"

"Miss Black, when you begin to see yourself the way others see you, you will understand."

A thought suddenly dawned upon me. "You are the man that has been watching me."

Tom's eyes quickly shuttered.

"You have been watching me!"

Silence from the man.

"Why have you been watching me?" I yelled, backing away.

"I had to see with my own eyes the woman Lucius has been raving about for the past year."

"It's inappropriate."

"No," he said adamantly. "What is inappropriate is that you are denying yourself this opportunity! You are a Slytherin for a reason. This," he gestured to us, "was meant to happen. I am meant to show you how to be great, how to be legendary."

"You can't be legendary if I haven't heard of you before."

"Miss Black, your naïveté astounds me. A great man mustn't always broadcast his greatness to the world." Tom smiled. "Besides, you've heard of Lord Voldemort."

"Yes, and?"

Tom looked at me expectantly.

"You're Lord Voldemort? He's a terrible human being!"

Tom just smiled again, then walked towards me. He reached a hand out to tilt my chin up so that I could fully regard his face. "Terrible, maybe. But definitely great. Consider my offer very carefully, Miss Black. It would be a great pleasure to teach you."

"I am only seventeen. I am far too young to help you with your vision, and I am not sure I even fully agree with it."

"Oh, but you do. I can see clearly that you do. Never mind that, though. I am only offering to teach you." Tom's eyes shone brightly with enthusiasm. "So do consider it." He dropped his hand from my chin, then grabbed my right hand. He brought it to his lips, kissed it once again, then vanished in a wave of smoke.

I was left standing at the edge of the world, confounded.