"Talking"

"Parstletongue"

-o-

Prologue

Bellatrix twirled and spun, curses flying everywhere, with a wide smile on her face, her eyes alight. She let out a mad laugh as a streak of green flew from her wand and an Aurora who had been battling her fell to the ground, dead. She turned to face the other two she had been battling, a mad gleam in her eyes. More green light flew from her wand tip, mixed with a few Crucios.

They had all moved straight to Bellatrix when the fighting started, recognising her mad laugh as a girls and thinking she would be an easy target. They had obviously never fought her before. Anyone who had (if they were lucky enough to survive) would know not to fuck with Bellatrix Lestrange.

Said woman sent out more Avarda Kedavra's and the other two Auroras she had been battling also dropped dead. She looked over at her husband, Rodopholus Lestrange, and he grinned at her, green light also pouring from his wand, aimed at the two Auroras battling him. Bellatrix looked around for her Lord, but he was fighting Dumbledore again.

She rolled her eyes. Her lord went straight to Dumbledore every time. Taunting the ageing headmaster was one of his favourite hobbies.

Bellatrix let out a mad cackle as three more Auroras surrounded her, and began to battle again.

Ten minutes later, Dumbledore looked around is despair, all the while keeping his eyes on the hooded figure he was currently firing spells at. He was fighting a loosing battle. No less then fifteen of his Auroras were lying dead, and a mad cackle mad its way to his ears. Dumbledore looked around and saw Bellatrix, her mask off and hood down, curly raven hair flying wild, take out three of his best in less then ten seconds. She let out another mad laugh before skipping, yes skipping of all things, over to a masked Death Eater, and giving him a quick kiss.

Dumbledore tuned back to Voldemort, who shot a Morsemordre into the sky before grinning at him. His hood covered his who face save for his mouth, now stuck is a sick grin. Dumbledore shot one last spell at the Dark Lord before he turned on the spot, Disapparating. He looked around hopelessly as the remaining Death Eaters began vanishing. He saw Bellatrix, though he did not know her name at that time, as she grabbed hold of the man she had kissed before, her husband presumably.

She turned to smile devilishly at him before grabbing her husbands arm. Dumbledore shot one last Avarda Kedavra at her, and the spell vanished with them.

-o-

Bellatrix Apparated to Riddle Manor, which was full of smiling Death Eaters. She turned to her husband, afraid he was injured for he was leaning heavily on her, when everyone in the manor was stunned into silence.

Bellatrix screamed.

Not her usual mad cackle, but a real scream, full of so much agony and hatred it almost popped the eardrums of everyone in the massive house. Rodopholus' body had dropped to the floor, and Bellatrix was leaning over it, clutching his robes, her agonised scream still filling the room. Lucius Malfoy got over the shock first and stepped over and attempted to pry Bellatrix's hand from her dead husbands robe. She tuned and clawed at his face before throwing her whole body of his, not letting anyone near it. The other Death Eaters were not game to try and pry her away, but Rabastian joined her on the floor, tears dripping down onto his brothers lifeless body.

The Death Eaters left them alone, all but two leaving. Lucius looked sadly at Rodopholus' body, before walking over to Severus, who had watched the whole scene play out with the same impassive pace he always wore. The only thing that gave away any emotion was the shaking of the fist balled at his side.

"Lets go summon Tom" Severus said, grabbing the blonde by the arm and dragging him to the dining room.

-o-

Voldemort had not gone straight home after the raid like had planned, but had stayed to witness the look on Dumbledore's face when he saw how many of his precious followers had died. He looked on, hissing in contentment as he watched Dumbledore and the remaining survivors picking up the dead bodies of their fallen comrades. He had counted twenty-three before he felt the Dark Mark burn on his arm; Severus requesting his presence.

Voldemort sighed. Severus better have a bloody good reason for this.

Lucius and Severus were waiting for him in the dining room, where he had Apparated, and he was ready to share with them the look on his enemy's face when he saw the grave look he grave look on both of theirs. He quickly noted the house was almost empty.

"What happened?" He asked instantly, moving to stand in front of the two. As an answer, Severus pointed to the living room, and Voldemort walked in carefully, sensing the instability of Bellatrix's magic. His eyes widened as he saw the body on the floor, and paled. He ran his hands through his short brown hair, a strangled hiss escaping his lips. He had not lost any Death Eaters (or one of great value, anyway) in a raid for years.

Bellatrix had sensed her Lords presence, and turned to look at him. She was a mess; her normally smirking face was now painted with agony and tear-streaked, her usually perfect silky raven curls in a tangled mess and her dress ripped (but Voldemort was sure that was from the raid). Her hands were closed into tight fists around her husbands robes, and it looked like she might never let go.

"Bella?" The Dark Lord said softly, kneeling down beside her. He made her look at him, away from the corpse of her husband. "Bella, why don't you come in the dining room and sit down. I'll pour you a drink" It was the softest and most comforting Voldemort had ever spoken to anyone, and though still racked with loss for her husband, Bellatrix couldn't help feel honoured.

-o-

"I'll kill that bastard. I'll fucking kill him!" Bellatrix growled over and over, cradling an almost empty bottle of Firewhisky to her chest. She was more then a little drunk, but at least she had finally let go of Rodopholus' body. She now sat in a low couch in the living room in Riddle Manor, being watched carefully by her lord. Voldemort sat close to her, but kept some space between them, watching her carefully. He knew how psychotic she could become when angered, and this was way past that.

Thankfully the alcohol seemed to have calmed her down a bit, and now she just looked sad. Bellatrix finally let her lord prise the bottle from her fingers, which curled into fists and dropped into her lap. She scooted closer to Voldemort on the couch they were sitting on, and lay her head in his lap. It was a bold move, even for drunk Bellatrix (who tended to be ten times more cocky when filled with alcohol), but she didn't care. She needed comforting, and she wanted her Lord to do it.

"Bella?" he hissed, low and questioning, but not threatening. In any case, he let her stay there.

"Please my lord, just let me lie here. Just for a while." she pleaded, and Voldemort could have sworn he heard a whine in her voice. He let her stay, unconsciously stroking her hair, which had now returned to its normal silky state. Bellatrix almost purred in contentment on his lap, and the Dark Lord found him smiling in spite of himself. Oh how he loved having someone worship the ground he walked on like Bellatrix did.

The Dark Lord was so wrapped up in his own thoughts had not even noticed Bellatrix had moved. She wound her way around him, straddling his lap, and look at him with passion in her fiery eyes. She then boldly pressed her lips to his, and Voldemort let out a moan. He could feel her grinning against his lips, and forced himself to push her away.

"Bella!" He didn't have the heart to snap at her, but did make his voice as firm as he could without upsetting her. "You know that even if I wanted to do this, I still couldn't?" she ignored him, and kissed his slender neck., and the Dark Lord let out another groan.

"Yes, you can" she whispered seductively, nibbling at his earlobe. She then ran her hand down his chest to cup the bulge in his pants.

Another groan, louder this time, and Bellatrix smiled.

"It's just one night, my lord..." she squeezed, and pressed her lips passionately to his.

With that, he picked her up and carried her to his bedroom.