A/N: A disclaimer: This is written for fun, not profit. I do not own anything except the plot. Warnings: a very brief and mild mention of child abuse, nothing explciit, I promise. I know the characters may seem a little OOC - but please keep in mind that Voldemort used to be a very charming man, he needed to be to recruit more followers. And Bellatrix hasn't killed yet or suffered through Azkaban, so she is considerably saner here as well.
"Oh my God, would you look at mother and Abraxas Malfoy ? Could she be more obvious ?" Nacissa Black said resentfully, her icy blue eyes narrowed at Druella Black, who was laughing at whatever Abraxas Malfoy was whispering in her ear, head thrown back, one hand casually placed on his arm.
"Oh, give the woman a break." Bellatrix said, refilling her wine glass. "She is married to a bastard, she is entitled to a little fun of her own."
"Bella, mind your tounge ! You cannot call our father a bastard !" Narcissa scolded.
"Well, it's true." Bella said, rolling her eyes.
"That's beside the point. She shouldn't act so outrageously in public, it is improper."
"Oh come on Cissy, you are just cranky because your little ferret boyfriend didn't show up." Bella said mockingly.
Cissy flushed. "He is not my boyfriend ! And he does not look like a ferret."
Bella simply kept staring at her with that condescending smirk of hers. "I did wonder why he didn't come." She allowed reluctantly. "He always accompanies his father to these events."
"Who cares ? You shouldn't even bother with him Cissy, he is beneath us. You are a Black, your blood is purer than any Malfoy's could be. You are way out of his league."
"Don't say that. Malfoys are a respectable family, despite how sleazy Abraxas Malfoy may be." She added, glaring at the hand Mr. Malfoy now had snaked around her mother's waist. "Besides, Lucius is quite sweet to me."
"Sweet to you, eh ? He is a good fuck, you mean ? Honey, you don't need him to take care of your needs." Bella leered. "You know perfectly well that I can be very sweet when I want to be. All you have to do is ask." She purred.
"God, Bella, shut up. What if someone hears ?" Narcissa hissed, glancing around frantically.
"Oh, relax. Everyone in this room is of the purest blood in the wizarding society. Which we both know is only code for kinky inbred freaks. We are the norm, really, so there is nothing to be ashamed about, my dear sister."
"You are impossible." Narcissa shook her head. "And besides, I do not want to see Lucius because of my needs, as you so delicately put it. I'm bored and I thought he could provide some entertainment. God, I did not mean it like that !" She protested indignantly when Bellatrix wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "These things are beyond boring, you always say so yourself. Why did you come tonight, anyway ? You always manage to find an excuse."
"Well, I've heard that tonight might be different. More interesting." Bella said vaguely, her eyes scanning the crowd with a little smile in the corner of her lips.
Recognition dawned on Narcissa's face. "You came to meet him, didn't you ? Rabastan told me the infamous Dark Lord would be making an appearance tonight." She said mockingly.
"Well, we might as well see what the hype is about, right ?" Bella replied nonchalantly, eyes still roaming over the room. "Him and his ideas are all father and his precious little friends discuss at those direly long dinners."
"Well, don't get your hopes up. I've heard that he is very intimidating. Lucius supposes that no one approaches him unless he talks to them first. It's like, an unspoken rule. He has to deem you worthy of his attention, or something ridiculous like that." She snorted. "Since no wizard would ever deem a woman worthy enough to discuss politics with, I'd say your chances are pretty slim."
"Oh, ferret boy supposes so, does he now ? I guess we will see about that." Bella said, smirking.
"You don't seriously think you can just go up to him and -" She trailed off, noticing that her sister was no longer paying her attention, her eyes focused on a particular spot. She followed her gaze. A tall, pale man with dark hair, dressed in all black had just entered the ballroom. A silence fell over the room for a few seconds before whispers broke out from every corner as Mr Lestrange rushed over to greet him.
"Is that him ?" She said, sounding in awe despite herself. "He looks handsome. He is too far away to tell for sure, though."
A predatory smile lit up Bella's dark features. "Hold my drink for me, would you ?" She said absent mindedly, not taking her eyes off the stranger, who had apparently dismissed Lestrange and was now surveying the scene uninterestedly.
"Bella, you can't just - Bella !"
But Bellatrix had already tossed the glass into Cissy's hand and was making her way towards the man. Cissy shook her head. Her sister was so impulsive. What if their mother, or worse, their father saw her ? Well, she thought wryly, it would certainly make better entertainment than watching her mother all over her sort-of boyfriend's father. She chugged back the remains of Bella's wine and leaned back, watching her sister and the man who was presumably the Dark Lord.
"Good evening, my Lord." Bellatrix said boldly, approaching the man from behind.
He turned around, and her breath caught in her throat. Up close, his handsome features were sort of blurred and his dark eyes had a red gleam. He did not look like a regular man. He looked beyond human. Somehow, instead of disgusting her, this made him even more attractive for her.
"Evening, Miss. I do not believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you." he said disinterestedly but politely, his eyes taking in her face and trailing below, over her form.
"Yes, it is quite odd. Our circle of friends is quite intimate." She said suggestively. "I do not believe I have ever seen you at one of our events before."
"Well, all this…" He gestured around the room vaguely. "is not really my thing. This is actually the first time I have attended a soirée like this."
"Oh, you are a smart man, my Lord. I find these events dreadfully boring myself."
"And yet you still attend, Miss -"
"Black. Lady Bellatrix Black." She corrected proudly, offering him her hand. He brushed his lips against her knuckles, sending tremors up her arm.
"Charmed." He murmured. "If you find these events to be such a chore, why do you attend at all, Lady Black ?"
"Well, tonight is supposed to be different, my Lord. There is a very special guest of honor, or so I have heard."
"Is that so ? And who is this special guest, may I ask ?" He said, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Oh, surely you know of him. He has done some great work, if even half of the rumors are to be believed. He supposedly has this grand plan. If he succeeds," she said, emphasizing the word playfully, "he will change politics as we know it. Create a new world order."
"I did not know young women such as yourselves were interested in politics." He said in a patronizing tone.
"Oh, that old argument." She said dismissively, tossing back her raven curls. "Wizards seem to think that all women are good for is finding a respectable suitor, popping out a couple of babies and raising them to be proper Purebloods."
"And you do not agree ?"
"I believe that there is a unique passion in women's hearts, the kind that most men could only dream of. If directed towards a worthy cause, it could be a great asset."
"What about you ? Don't you desire to be a mother yourself ? Do you not consider raising proper Purebloods a worthy cause ?" he asked, sounding intrigued.
"Oh no." She tossed her head again, shaking back a stray strand over her eyes. "I strive for greatness myself."
"Yes," he murmured, gazing into her eyes. "I can see it in you. You have gone through a great deal, Bellatrix." Bella shivered at his use of her first name, and suddenly she felt an intrusion in her mind. She tried to push it back, she was quite an accomplished Occlumence, but the force was far too powerful.
Flashes of her memories came swimming before her mind: Narcissa crying into her shoulder, Bella kissing her tears away; her father's hand snaking under Bella's skirt, his lips trailing down her neck, Regulus looking shocked, Sirius and Andromeda shaking their heads, accusing her of making things up to get attention, refusing to believe what she tells them is true, Cissy remaining silent, refusing to back her up, to face the truth, pretending it is OK and not horribly, twistedly wrong…
Then suddenly he pulled out. She trembled a little, visibly shaken.
"Yes, I see right through you. Power is everything, Bellatrix. It is a fact that the strong always triumphs over the weak. It is only through power and greatness that one can finally seek the revenge they so desire. So it is quite natural for you to be so driven to power."
She knew she should be angry and ashamed that this man had just penetrated her darkest secrets, but somehow she felt even more drawn to him, if that was possible. She was already under his spell.
Still, she tried to look nonchalant as she smoothly steered the conversation back on track. "Sadly, most men do not believe a witch can achieve great things. They are, of course, mistaken." Her eyes were shining as she spoke, her passion and confidence apparent.
"And what makes you think this guest you speak of would see it your way ?"
"Oh, he is no ordinary man, my Lord. They say he is an extraordinary wizard." She smirked. He looked pleased. "And what is this extraordinary wizard called ?" he asked.
She leaned in confidentially, her voice dropping to an excited whisper."No one dares speak it, my Lord. Even his name holds so much power over people, inspires so much awe, that no one considers themselves worthy enough. They call him the Dark Lord instead."
His eyes dropped to her lips for a second, and she let out a little laugh, triumphant.
"But enough of him already ! You still haven't graced me with your name."
This time it was him who leaned in. She tried not to shiver as she felt his breath on her face. "What if I told you that this extraordinary wizard you have been so eager to meet is standing right before you, Lady Black ?" he whispered, switching back to using her formal title.
"Oh, but that cannot be, my Lord. The Dark Lord surely would not bother to grace a young witch such as myself with his attention." She protested with false humility.
"But as you said, my Lady, I am quite the extraordinary wizard, not to brag or anything." He winked playfully. "And you are quite an extraordinary witch yourself. Most wizards in this room are wary of me. I can see it - though I cannot imagine why" he let out a little laugh indicating he knew exactly why they would be wary of him. "-they are waiting for me to approach them first. But not you."
He stared deep into her eyes, his gaze smoldering. She could feel her belly tighten with desire. "When I succeed, Lady Black," he emphasized the word, in reference back to her teasing skepticism earlier. She shrugged, smirking unapologetically. "when that time comes, I shall reward those who believed in my cause with great power. Strength beyond your wildest dreams. They will be the chosen ones, reigning over the unworthy alongside me. And you, I believe, could be a worthy asset to my cause. Of course, all this is merely speculation right now." He added dismissively. "But I would love to chat with you in a more… intimate setting, to get to know you more. Determine whether you really are as extraordinary as you seem."
There was a suggestive note hidden behind his words and Bellatrix did not miss it. She licked her lips nervously. It was now or never.
"Why don't we, then ? I know just the place. I guarantee you we will not be interrupted there." She raised an eyebrow, waiting for her answer. She was trying to play it cool but her heart was beating viciously against her chest.
Please let him say yes, she chanted inwardly. Please.
"Why, are you offering to be alone with a man you have just met, Lady Black ? And have an intimate conversation, no less. You are quite the impetuous witch, aren't you ? Surely if you had considered what you are asking, you would not be so audacious.
"But that is precisely why you consider me extraordinary, is it not my Lord ?" Bellatrix asked, her hand absent mindedly rubbing the side of her neck, slowly trailing down to her chest.
His gaze flickered to her cleavage and he smiled. It was a dangerous, predatory smile that made her insides tingle.
"Indeed it is, my Lady. Lead the way, then."
Bella turned on her heels, a triumphant smile on her face. His words were still ringing in her mind, she was yearning to hear more, know all about this extraordinary man and his ideas. Power, she thought. That is the key. She had to impress him, show her exactly what she could give him if he would accept her into his ranks. She burned with the need to earn his respect and approval. Once she did, her powerful, intoxicating Lord - she was already thinking of him as her Lord now - would give her the escape she much needed. He would help her reign over all those scum that deserved to be punished by her wrath.
He would be her savior.
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