Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter. Damn!

Voldemort stared at the death eaters who had assembled in the clearing. There were so many more as well but these were his main followers.

Lucius, Narcissa, Draco-the trusted Malfoys.

Avery, MacNair, Dolohov, -the oldest

Crabbe, Goyle-the newest

Fenrir-the werewolf

Pettigrew-his slave

Rodolphus, Rabastan, Snape-the trusted

Bellatrix-his prize possession

Bellatrix Lestrange was his oldest, most faithful and cruellest servant. She alone had looked for him after his defeat. She alone had the power to destroy him. He had taught her everything, she knew about the horcruxes, his jinxes and so much more. She knew him. This was a problem. He cared for her; he might even say he loved her. But that would be a weakness and he couldn't stand weakness. He would scream at her, threaten her and had once tried to torture her. That had been a mistake. Bella was not to be messed with, she was sadistic and he loved it. He only hurt her because he cared, and she knew it. She would whimper at him and smile knowingly just to wind him up and promote a reaction. Normally it did. He had stepped in at the ministry to kill Potter but also to save her. Dumbledore would have killed her or worse. He had watched Lucius desert hundreds of times to save Narcissa and he had never stopped him. Even on his side there was love. True, it was different and bred with hatred and fear but it was still love. He remembered grabbing Bella at the ministry, pulling her to safety and turning to hit her as punishment. She had been smiling and almost laughing She'd been happy about something. Probably the fact she's been able to kill and torture, which she had missed doing in Azkaban. He remembered how angry he had been with the others for letting her be locked away.

Bellatrix was now torturing a muggle. Her eyes were lit with the flame of hatred. The man writhed in agony causing her to scream with pleasure.

"Bellatrix." He called.

"Yes my Lord." She whimpered

"Kill him."

Bellatrix whipped her wand above her head and shouted almost with glee "Avada Kevadra."

The man was dead, his body lay motionless while the death eaters jeered.

"What now?" Lucius asked.

"Meet me outside the ministry at 11. We have business with Fudge."

The death eaters smiled and turned to apparate.

"Bella, come here. You are with me."

A smile played on her lips but she bowed low to her master, her Lord.

"Yes, Lord." She agreed.

The other death eaters left them. It was only Voldemort and the beautiful, cruel, sadistic, clever and insane Bellatrix-his saviour. He needed her as much as she needed him and he knew it. Even the darkest wizards need somebody to hold on for.