Merciless Intentions
Bellatrix Lestrange was infamous for having tortured the Longbottoms into insanity. By rights, she Wizengamot, horrified though they were that one of their own should have done such a thing, couldn't quite bring themselves to defy her father's claims that his daughter was slightly insane – had always been slightly insane – and therefore should be shown mercy. So her sentence became life imprisonment rather than the Dementor's Kiss.
But Bellatrix was perfectly sane. She knew it and so did her father. He knew, as did she, that she had had a reason for what she did. But only Bellatrix and those who'd been with her that night knew what that reason was.
"Tell me where my Master is! What's happened to him! You know! I know you must know!" Bella screeched, letting her fury mask the fact that she was close to tears. It wasn't fair! They had been so close! So close to ruling the world! It wasn't fair!
"I don't know! Honestly! I'd take an Unbreakable vow that I don't! Please, Bellatrix, please. Just don't!" Unlike Bellatrix, Alice Longbottom was already in tears. Bella sniffed scornfully, "It's Madam Lestrange to you."
"Bella!" Rabastan's voice cut through the scarlet mist clouding her thoughts, "They don't know. They truly don't!"
She spun to face him, momentarily releasing Alice from the pain of the Cruciatus Curse. "You're sure?"
"They're in no state to be using Occulmency, Bella," Rabastan chuckled.
Bella hesitated, then nodded curtly. She hated it when she was wrong, but even she had to admit that Rabastan was the best Legilimens among them, second only to their Lord himself. She was about to just stun Alice and call Rodolphus so that they could get out of there before the Ward alarms brought Aurors down on their heads, when something made her prick up her ears.
"Do you hear that?"
"What?"
"Shh! That!"
This time Rabastan heard it too. "A child," he breathed, "They have a child."
"Yes." Bella's eyes were dangerously bright and her free left hand strayed to her midsection. When she spoke again, her voice was so soft that even Rabastan had to strain to hear her."This one isn't going to grow up knowing its father. Why should these blood traitors and their brat have the pleasure of being a family, since Raistlin Slytherin-De Mort will never know such a thing?"
" Bella!" Rabastan cried, lunging forward to stop her. He was too late. Twisting away from him, Bella spun to fix Alice in the sights of her wand once more. Her eyes were blazing.
"Crucio!"
She had never meant an Unforgivable more in her life.