Hat's off to such wonderful characters and we are eternally grateful to JKR for letting us use them! What wouldn't we do without Lucius and Rodolphus! wink

Remember, 1800- DON'T- SUE. We swear we have our husbands' approval before writing this!

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Chapter One: Choices and Consequences

I stretched out luxuriously on the soft green grass by the small pond, letting my thoughts run wild back to earlier that day when I went to speak to Narcissa about my good news.

"Cissa! Guess what?" I exclaimed as I burst into her bedroom.

"You've finally found yourself a husband, Bella?" she enquired innocently.

"Yes, because you're totally married aren't you?" I snapped back sarcastically.

She held up her left hand proudly which sported a sparkling, white gold diamond ring.

"I am far closer to it than you are, my dear!" she returned scathingly. I didn't reply, refusing to concede defeat. Narcissa rolled her eyes and said in a bored tone,

"What is it, Bella? What is your great news?" she added sarcastically. My eyes lit up excitedly as I remembered what I had come to tell her.

"Cissa, I am going to be a Death Eater!" I stated proudly. "I'm going with-"

"Excuse me?" she interrupted, her tone of voice low and threatening. I waved my hand dismissively and rolled my eyes,

"Don't start that again, Cissa. First Lucius, now me! Why are you against the idea so much?" She looked down at her hands,

"I'm not against it; I just despise the idea of my family being in danger."

"Ugh! Sometimes it amazes me that you were even sorted into Slytherin. Honestly, I think you would have been better suited to Hufflepuff, just like Andromeda!" I countered a look of disgust upon my face. Narcissa gasped with shock,

"I am nothing like that blood traitor!"

"Oh, okay." I replied sarcastically as I stalked out of the room, leaving Cissa with a defeated look on her face.

I shook my head angrily. Damn Narcissa! Why can't she see that serving the Dark Lord is the best thing for everyone?

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"I'm going to be a Death Eater!"

Bella's voice reverberated in my mind as I thought back to my conversation with her. The goblet of pumpkin juice smashed against the wall as I threw it in my frustration. She doesn't know what she is doing! She obviously has not thought this through properly. Doesn't she understand that once you are in there is no going back? It's either do exactly as the Dark Lord says or die… It is that simple and yet, so complicated.

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"Bellatrix….Bellatrix, wake up! It's time to go." I opened my eyes and saw Lucius standing over me.

"It's about time you arrived." I grumbled.

"I'm assuming you told her," he inquired. "How did she take it?"

"Fantastically! She's even contemplating becoming one herself!" I answered sarcastically before my face turned into a dark scowl. "How in Merlin's name do you think she took it?"

"That well hmm…?" he replied as he looked up towards the Manor. "She'll come around; she did with me." he stated as an arrogant smirk flitted across his face. "So, are you still up for it, or are you reconsidering?" he asked mockingly. I rolled my eyes in disgust as I stood up and dusted myself off.

"You think I'm reconsidering because of something Narcissa said? Might I remind you that she is my baby sister." I shook my head in annoyance and started walking towards the gate. Lucius stood where he was and continued looking up towards the Manor.

"Well…what are you waiting for?" I inquired impatiently. I didn't appreciate having to wait for people, least of all Lucius.

"Maybe I should just go up and see if she's okay…" he trailed off.

"Sure that'll be an interesting conversation! 'Hello Cissa, how are you darling? Look, Bella and I just have to pop out to a Death Eater meeting, but we'll be back soon okay?'" I laughed at him contemptuously. His lip curled slightly as he glared at me. I rolled my eyes and continued on to the gate, where I turned to him expectantly, waiting for him to follow. We then dissapparated to the meeting with two loud cracks.

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I was sitting at my vanity table staring at my reflection in the mirror, yet not really seeing anything. Horrible images of Bella in pain and dying were running through my mind, I shook my head to get rid of them. I sighed as I got up and walked over to my bed; past the broken goblet and puddle of pumpkin juice. I felt a stab of annoyance that it hadn't been taken care of as of yet and swore that a house-elf better clean it up soon, or there would be hell to pay. I lay down on my bed, ashamed of myself. If Bella saw me now…well, I can just imagine some of the things she would have to say to me.
"You're a Black, Narcissa! Black's don't show weakness or emotion, no matter what the circumstances may be!"

I knew there was no point in worrying about her or trying to get her to change her mind. For one thing, she wouldn't listen to me, she never has. To her, I'm still 'Baby Cissa'. She's always been protective of me and watched out for me. And since Andromeda selfishly disgraced the family, it seems to have intensified, as if she's worried I'll take the same path as that Blood Traitor! It's actually quite offensive, but I know she can't help it….Most people think that Bella is devoid of any emotion. But they don't see her way I do; as the protective older sister with a kindness that would shock many. She cares deeply for the select few that she loves, but most people don't see this side of her…

Secondly, as much as I hate to admit this, she can take care of herself. When we were younger, she could get herself out of any situation, some of them quite dangerous now that I look back on them…

My eye-lids felt heavy and they started to droop as I slowly fell asleep with a million thoughts running through my mind.

"CRUCIO", a voice screamed

"NO…NO! My Lord, I'm sorry!" a figure wept, sobbing at his feet, clutching at his robes.

"You have failed me for the last time Bellatrix!" the first voice warned in a dangerously low voice. "Get up, Bellatrix" he spat. Then with a cruel smile, the Dark Lord pointed his wand at her and hissed, "Avada Kedavra!" and she crumpled to the ground as she was hit by a blinding flash of green light.

A blood-curdling scream filled the air.

I woke up suddenly and realised I was screaming. My heart was thumping so hard in my chest; I thought it would burst out. I was drenched in sweat, my breathing laboured as if I had run from here to Azkaban.

As remnants of the dream flashed through my mind, I realised that I had no idea where Bella was. It was highly likely that Lucius took her to the Death Eater meeting that was scheduled for tonight. I felt pangs of worry grip me at this prospect, but the rational side of myself told me there was nothing I could do about it, so there was no point in worrying. I lay back down and tried to put the dream out of my mind.