The eleven year old grinned, scrambling to join her father in his study. That tone was familiar. There would be a special gift for his favorite daughter.
Bellatrix climbed onto her father's lap, dark eyes wide with excitement. Father's gifts were always rare, valuable objects, and they were only for her. Cissy and Drom never got special things, not the kind of special Bellatrix did.
The man pulled out an intricate heart shaped silver necklace attached to a thin chain. In the center of the design rested a pale jade stone. The child gasped at the sight of something so beautiful, infinitely more beautiful than any of her past little trinkets.
"I'd it special, Father?" she asked.
He nodded, brushing his daughter's black curls to the side as he secured the necklace around her neck. "Goblin made," he explained. "Salazar Slytherin himself requested its creation."
Bellatrix loved the tales each new gift held. She snuggled closer to her father, peering up at him through her thick lashes, waiting to hear more.
"The stone, they say, was a gift from a shepherd," the man continued, petting his daughter's hair fondly. "Salazar came across him on a journey as the shepherd was leading his flock to the river. He watched as a terrible magical creature- the exact species has been lost over time- slaughtered the sheep and turned its attention to the shepherd. Pitying the poor man, Salazar slew the great beast. The shepherd was so grateful, that he offered his savior the only thing of value he owned."
Bellatrix frowned slightly. She would have let the man die and taken his gem.
"And so, Salazar had the necklace made for a woman he loved. When the woman rejected his advances, he kept it and placed powerful protective magic on it. I won it in a duel in my youth, and now it is yours. Wherever you go, whatever you do, it will keep you safe. I promise."
OoOoO
Bellatrix rested her cheek against her damp cell wall as the dementors passed by. Their cold danced across her pale skin, but it didn't breach the surface.
Her thin fingers caressed the jade stone lovingly. Azkaban had taken away her freedom and dignity. But she was safe, untouchable. Her father's promise had been good, and nothing could harm her.