Hi! I'm Tullulah, this is my first published fanfic so I hope you'll all go easy on me. Any reviews will be greatly appreciated and I hope you enjoy what I've written. I'll be trying to update weekly - let me know what you think and who your favourite characters are and what you think will happen!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.


Chapter One: The Fall of '81
Lestrange Manor, 1981

The forest of Lestrange estate was changing with the coming of Autumn, leaves were going crisp and red, fewer birds littered the branches of trees and a coldness had filled the air. The sky above was an unbroken white cloud that gave the day a dreary impression. In the centre of the wood, crunching could be heard as twigs and leaves snapped and crackled under foot. A spark rushed past one oak tree and hit another, narrowly missing that target it was aimed at. A shrill cackle filled the air, causing blackbirds to rise in shock at the sudden noise in the previous early morning silence.

'I'm gonna get you for that' Rodolphous yelled, panting frantically as he pursued his prey on foot, half laughing, half gasping for breath. Everything went quiet, he stopped and looked around. Out of nowhere, a flash hit the tree a few inches from him creating a large, searing burn in the wood. Another evil laugh met his suprise, he grinned and began running after her again. Ten feet ahead of him he saw movement amongst the trees and flicked his wand at it, missing by a way off.

'You shooting at bunnies now?' she said from behind him, he turned and was met with the amused grin on his wife's face. She stood there, one hand on her hip, the other holding her to wand to her temple as though in thought. He advanced one step, putting his wand inside his cloak. She took one too, mirroring his actions. He closed the final distance between them, wrapping his arms around her tiny waist and pulling her close.

'Another win to me' she bit her lip, her eyes watching his mouth as it hovered inches from hers.

'Whatever you say' he whispered, disregarding the subject with a smile and pressing his lips to hers. She relaxed into his hold, letting her arms wrap around his neck and angling her head to taste more of him. She'd never had a more divine pleasure than kissing Rodolphous, everything about it was perfect. The sensation of his tongue exploring her mouth, his unique musky, pine-needle scent and that taste that stayed in her mouth long after the moment. He was pressing her up against a tree, his hands moving up and down the length of her thighs, finding contact wherever he could. He pushed her mess of curly black hair away from her neck and plunged his lips to her throat, kissing and sucking and biting at her skin, filling her with raw pleasure.

She gasped for air and finally managed to choke out her words.

'Rodolphous...' he didn't answer so she repeated his name again. He mumbled against the skin of her collar bone.

'Rod, I've got to show you something' he looked up at her with a raised eyebrow.

'In the house' she continued. 'I have to show you something in the house.'

'Can't it wait?' he complained, giving her chest an apologetic look.

'No, I've got to show you now'

'Is it hot?' he wiggled his eyebrows.

'What? No!' she pushed him away and walked off toward the house. He caught up with her and they walked in together.

'I'll be up in a minute, darling' he said kissing her hand and letting go. Bellatrix continued up the stairs to their master bedroom, she went straight for the large chest of drawers that contained her secret. Her fingers hooked under the handles of the drawer and then paused. She took a deep breath and unbuttoned her coat, throwing it to the bed. She looked down at the drawer and hoped her husband's reaction would be what she expected. She pulled back the heavy drawer just an inch and saw the tin that held that photograph. She felt an uncharacteristic smile cross her lips just thinking about it and then looked down at her stomach.

Yes - Bellatrix Lestrange was going to be a mother. But she was still yet to disclose that information to her husband and now seemed just the right time when he was in such a good mood. She was just about to reach for the tin when she felt his arms around her. He pushed hair away from the nape of her neck, leaving hot wet kisses on her back as his fingers fumbled with the buttons on hte front of her dress. Bella leant her head back against his shoulder, not wanting to give up the way he felt against her. She moaned slightly as he granted himself access to her chest, she closed her eyes and let her husband have his way just one more time...

A loud crack echoed in the lobby downstairs, filling the cavernous space and reaching the master bedroom. Rodolphous stopped what he was doing and leant his forehead against Bella's shoulder.

'Darling, somebody's-' Bella began to be met with her husband mumbling something about turning up unannounced. Bellatrix fastened the buttons of her dress whilst making for the stairs. She was met with the uncouth appearence of her brother-in-law, Rabastan. The tall, skinny man greeted her with a toothy grin which quickly faded with the unimpressed nature of her scowl.

'Sorry for barging in like this, Bellatrix - got some news for you and me brother'

Rodolphous appeared on the last few steps of the staircase his hand touching the small of Bella's back before leaving her side to shake his brother's hand.

'Well?' Rodolphous prompted when Rabastan stayed quiet.

'Oh, yeah - right. The Dark Lord has fallen' he said dramatically in a voice that seemed almost mocking and disrespectful to Bellatrix.

'How dare you take that tone' she snapped, her eyes widening as she closed the gap between she and her brother-in-law.

'Now, now Belle, he's a few marbles short, cut him slack' Rodolphous calmed her, turning his attention back to Rabastan.

'What do you mean he's fallen?'

'I mean he's fallen from power. Poof. Gone. Nobody knows where'

'What are the other Death Eaters doing about it?' Rodolphous questionned, eyeing his younger brother carefully.

'Nothing. Nobody knows what to do about it'

'Well, I do' Bellatrix piped up, both the men looked at her as she took her moment.

'We'll interrogate the Aurors, find out what they know - we'll fly tonight'

'Which Aurors?' Rabastan asked.

'The Longbottom's' Bellatrix replied. 'We'll get Barty to come'

'Barty Crouch Junior?'

'What other Barty do you know?' Bella snapped. She was getting rather worked-up with the disappearence of her master.

'Ok, Rabastan - you find Barty and come back here as soon as possible' Rodolhpus told him. Rabastan gave him a three-fingered salute and disapparated.

'He doesn't take things seriously enough' Bella stated, folding her arms.

'I'm sure we'll get something out of the Aurors' he paused and then a thought occured to him. 'What were you going to tell me?'

'Nothing, it can wait. Lets just get the interrogation out of the way' she muttered, becoming quickly sure of doing everything possible to find and follow her one master...


Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think...

Until next time, T x