July 1969

The Black family and Lestrange family had decided to go to a gourmet restaurant in Nice that particular night. It must have cost them quite a bit to arrange a portkey over there, Bellatrix reflected. That was before you even took into account the amount that it was costing for the meal: a gourmet four-course meal for nine. Rodolphus said it was really nothing for his parents. Bellatrix could guess what was set to happen that night.

They finished their Foie Gras, which had been cooked with cognac and then served chilled, and the waiter promptly came to clear the plates. He spoke quickly with Bellatrix's mother, as she, in the tradition of the Rosiers, had studied French along with doing a brief stint in the country as a young woman.

"What did you order for us, Mother?" Bellatrix curiously asked across the table.

"The strawberry bagatelle. It is a simply wonderful way to end such a rich, lovely meal," her mother explained.

Bellatrix's mother sat with the posture of a queen next to her father at one end of the table, while the Lestranges sat at the opposite end of the table. The Lestranges were a wealthy and distinguished family, though not as classy as the Blacks. One needed only look at Rodolphus's mother's posture to see that she had not been given the finishing education that Bellatrix's mother had. She also could not even begin to compete with Druella Black when it came to looks. Her mother had long, blond, luscious hair and heavily-lidded blue eyes. When she was a young woman it was said she turned down countless suitors for Cygnus Black. No, there was no doubt that the Black family was the more polished of the two.

The cake arrived, and as her mother had indicated, it was exquisite. Bella particularly loved the way that the cream and the kirsch syrup complemented each other. As they finished eating, Rodolphus's father cleared his throat. "Mr. and Mrs. Black, as you can imagine, there is a reason that we have invited you to Nice for a beautiful night such as this."

"We had hoped as much," her mother daintily replied as her father shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"It has come to our attention that our eldest son has taken a liking to your eldest daughter. Our time is limited, if we wish to keep to the traditions of our ancestors, which we assumed a like-minded family such as yours would wish to do," Mr. Lestrange continued.

"Naturally," her father nodded. "Rodolphus, do you have anything to say on the matter."

"Only that your daughter is a brilliant witch and ravishingly beautiful. I will make sure she is well cared for," he told her parents.

"Bellatrix, what do you say of our son?" Mr. Lestrange asked her.

"He is a clever and respectable wizard, and I would be honored to keep his family's honor," Bellatrix gave the reply expected of her. She did not love Rodolphus, but her grandmother always had said that the love grew after the marriage.

Her mother glowed with pride. Her father spoke. "What do you ask for our daughter's dowry?"

Rodolphus's father pushed an envelope to her parents. As they read it, her father had a disgusted look, and her mother merely raised an eyebrow. "Well, that is quite a request," her father replied.

Her mother took a haughty look. "It seems there has been some mistake. None of our daughters will submit to the humiliations of a purity test or make Unbreakable Vows of Fidelity. We value our daughters too much to ask that of them," she explained with finality.

Bellatrix glared at Rodolphus. Would he really require this outdated non-sense from her? Maybe she had not correctly evaluated the type of man he was.

"It is only traditional," Rodolphus's father argued.

"Call us liberals, if you must, but I will not do that to any of my daughters. If you had daughters, you would understand," her father told him.

"Add 1,000 galleons to that, then. We want to be well compensated, at least, if our son ends up with a witch of low morals," Mrs. Lestrange sourly made the counter-offer.

"Low morals?" Bellatrix screeched. "I will not tolerate such insults! Not from you; not from anyone!" Bellatrix pushed back from the table and gripped her wand subconsciously. Sparks flew from it from her pure fury.

Mr. and Mrs. Lestrange had shocked looks, while Rodolphus looked entirely enamored. "Bella, please, she didn't mean it," Rodolphus rose from his chair and walked over to her side. He put his arm around her.

Bellatrix pushed him away. "I don't care if she meant it, I will not have such insults said against me!"

Rodolphus nodded. "Mother, apologize to Bella."

"Rodolphus," his mother sounded offended.

"You have offended Bella, who is a fine woman, and I must insist that you apologize to her," Rodolphus insisted.

"How are we to know she is a fine woman, if she will not prove it?" Mrs. Lestrange asked.

Fire showed in Bellatrix's eyes, but she stayed quiet when Cygnus held his hand up, telling her to be calm. Her father bit his lip and looked over the offer again. "Our daughter is not of low morals. She has never been with another man, and will never stray from your son. My wife has never strayed from me, and she did not make an Unbreakable Vow of Fidelity."

Her mother tossed her blond locks. "Besides, you misunderstand your position. All three of our daughters are great beauties from only the finest pedigree. We are as much members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight as you. Any pureblood wizard would be fortunate to marry any of our daughters, and our Bella is a particular prize. She was at the top of her class, and you will never find a girl with more correct views. If you will not be reasonable, the Yaxley and Travers families have both expressed interest in her for their sons. We'll add 100 galleons to skip the purity and vow non-sense."

"Done," Mr. Lestrange replied.

"Excellent, then we have a wedding to plan," her mother smiled a little too sweetly.

Bellatrix's eyes met Rodolphus's. "I will hear the apology."

Mrs. Lestrange smiled with a saccharine look. "Of course, you are to be my daughter-in-law- the daughter I never had. I did not mean to cause offense to a fellow witch of society."

Bellatrix gave Rodolphus a half-smile. They were going to be married. At least Rodolphus always respected her as an equal, and they had similar goals. Yes, she was sure she and Rodolphus would be a fine match. They were always good study partners and Quidditch teammates.

He mouthed "Sorry" and gestured his eyes to his parents. She felt better knowing he hadn't asked them to do that. She had confidence that they would be a good couple. She doubted she would ever find a better man, so it was probably just better to settle for the good man she had now.