"I like the Lestrange boy," Cygnus said to his daughter as she was making her way upstairs to her bedroom after dinner, stopping her in the hallway, "I think he'd make a good match for you."
"He's a friend daddy… Nothing more."
"Be thankful he is. If you ask me, it's becoming harder and harder to find decent, good looking, pure-blood men," he said as he put his hands in his pockets and looked at his daughter, "Better your friend than a stranger you'll never love."

Bellatrix watched her father. He was a handsome man, and as he stood in the dim light of the hallway, now in his night robe – which Bellatrix's mother hardly considered appropriate until he was actually going to bed, he only looked more handsome. She had learnt almost everything from him since she was three years old and he had first taught her how to wield a knife.

"I don't think I could ever see Rabastan that way." She furrowed her eyebrows slightly.
"No," Cygnus shook his head, "I will be honest I never thought of you with a boy like Rabastan – I like the older brother more. He's well spoken and he seemed to have you busy most of the evening but returned you in one piece, which says something about his character, does it not? It certainly does for me as your father."

"Rodolphus?" She asked surprised, "I don't even know him – and I couldn't. Rabastan would hate that."
"Does Rabastan want to marry you?" Cygnus asked.
"No," she replied, "of course not."
"Then why worry about what he thinks?"

Bellatrix had no response for her father's question. That was very true – she shrugged and bid him goodnight with a kiss to his face, but before she had gone so far, he spoke again, "I'm going for a drink with Evander Lestrange and Abraxas Malfoy tomorrow night, the boys will probably be there – why don't you join me?"

Bellatrix chewed on her lip for a moment before she agreed, "Okay."
He smiled only a little to her answer, bidding her goodnight once more as he turned. She had her father wrapped around her little finger. He didn't consider Narcissa so much a 'Black'. She was too Rosier for his liking, too blonde and gentle and fragile. Andromeda was beautiful too and far more a Black than a Rosier, nevertheless she was still very much so like her mother, naturally slim but not lean, preferring her books and the confines of her bedroom. But his Bellatrix, as they had rightly named her, she was a warrior – strong, agile, dominant in every aspect of her life and – she looked just like the rest of his family, dark haired, slightly tan and beautiful in every way.

Bellatrix was ready by seven o'clock the next evening. She had gone simple, a beautifully designed and cinched at the waist black dress that tightened to her hips and fell to just below her knees. She had donned heels tonight and also decided on leaving her messy waves of hair open, lining her eyes with black kohl and painting her lips nude.

Her mind played on Rodolphus as she got ready, the older, handsome and dark, brooding brother whose expression seemed to never change in front of others. Rodolphus had been interesting; handsome and sharp, he seemed similar to his brother of looks and mannerism, but in his nature, in his eyes – she saw a whole other world of hidden and undisclosed desires.

Bellatrix was very different from most girls, and that was why Rodolphus Lestrange liked her so much. She wore heels higher than was deemed acceptable for a lady, she wore leather and low cut shirts which were only too revealing. Her trousers were always too tight and her skirts were always too short. Her hair was a glossy mess of waves and darkness and her lips were full and often glossed. Not to mention; she was a Deatheater, often on the field for Lord Voldemort – though this last detail, no one but her father knew.

She looked the part she wanted to play; and today was no exception. Her father didn't mind; he thought the wildness of her nature was from him – he belonged out in the wild, hunting and fighting. His daughter was exactly the same.

Rodolphus was first to see Bellatrix as she walked in with her father to the exclusive lounge set aside for them in the bar. The hugging dress fit well around her slim waist and her shapely hips and small but in Rodolphus's not so humble opinion absolutely perfect sized bust, the straps of her dress looking so thin, as if they might snap with a simple tug. But his brother was there first as he'd already gone to their private bar to order drinks. Cygnus was quick as he walked with his daughter, grasping her around the waist to make her meet his friends already at the table waiting for them. He was quick to kiss Bellatrix on the knuckles.

"You look wonderful my dear," Evander said as he looked Bellatrix over. She said nothing but offered him a smile as she glanced sideways at Rodolphus who was looking her over as if she was something to eat while their father greeted Abraxas Malfoy with a handshake. Evander continued, his attention still on Cygnus's eldest daughter, "I'm so glad you joined us this evening. We do love a woman's company. And your father tells me you drink like a man, so that's even more impressive."

"I see you've already ordered fire whiskey and gin… and rum – good man!" Cygnus said as Bellatrix couldn't help but laugh the slightest bit at the older man's comment, though her eyes were becoming distracted by Rodolphus who also took her hand and kissed her knuckles, though his eyes didn't leave hers as Cygnus continued, "Druella sends her love."

Lucius was sat at the table beside Rodolphus but relocated to Bellatrix's side when she arrived. The pair went to school together and got along perfectly well. Lucius was snobbish and arrogant and Bellatrix was rebellious and arrogant. She often teased his prudish behaviour and he often commented on her immoral behaviour. They certainly annoyed one another, but they got on none the less. They were Slytherin Prefects in their sixth year, but had relinquished their titles in their final year. Neither of them wanted to be Head Boy or Head Girl. Instead, once they had received their dark marks after their seventeenth birthdays and once their traces had been removed, they had set their sights on becoming incredibly devoted and dangerous Death Eaters.

They drank and talked. Bellatrix was comfortable, she had known Monsieur Lestrange since she was a little girl and he had always been nice to her. Abraxas was also nice enough seen as though Lucius was betrothed to Bellatrix's youngest sister, Narcissa. Perhaps it had been because of how often she had clung to her father's side as a child, and still as she grew up, she loved his company. He was different to her mother, he was warm with her, he laughed often, he was insightful and intelligent – and she couldn't help but note Rodolphus was equally as insightful and intelligent.

"Good work, is it then Rodolphus? Working for Lord Voldemort?" Cygnus asked.
"It certainly keeps me busy," he replied with a laugh, his whiskey glass in his hand, "He's a great man."
"That he is," Monsieur Lestrange agreed with his eldest son, "We all went to school with him – he was gifted from a very young age. We knew he'd be doing brilliant things."
"We certainly did," Abraxas agreed, "Lucius will be getting his mark soon, we hope."
"Inner circle too, are you hoping, Lucius?" Cygnus asked.
"Yes sir," Lucius nodded, a thin smile on his lips, "I will be starting work at the Ministry with father this summer now we've graduated and I hope to be of a good source for him."
"I'm sure you will be," Monsieur Lestrange encouraged, "we do hope Rabastan will be joining soon enough too – as soon as he is eighteen."

"He really is brilliant, the Dark Lord." Bellatrix said to the men, who all looked at her with curiosity.
"You've met him, Bellatrix?" Abraxas asked.
"A fair few times." She said simply, her father smiling at her comment.
"Well I suppose it's important he knows every pureblood, even the women." Abraxas said with some distaste.

"You make it sound like just because she is a woman she isn't important, Mr Malfoy," Rodolphus said before Bellatrix could so much as reply. Her eyes fell over the older Lestrange who was looking to Abraxas Malfoy for a response as he added, "I think the women in our society are more important than the men, even. We needn't work to bring any further money in, so what are we needed for? We need them, not the other way around."

"Brilliantly put," Cygnus nodded to Rodolphus as he looked over Abraxas, "and I must agree."
Abraxas was clearly embarrassed to have been put in his place by a man almost half his age. he cleared his throat as he looked to Bellatrix who was watching him with an eyebrow faintly raised, "pardon me, Miss Black, that is not what I meant."
"That's quite alright." She said smoothly, a faint smirk playing at her lips. Oh, if only these men knew how not only five hours before she had her dagger slowly slicing through a man's throat on the Dark Lord's order.

Conversation changed from topic to topic and within just a few moments everyone was laughing again. Bellatrix couldn't help but think about Rodolphus's comment – was that truly how he thought? If it was, she was impressed.

Finally, she excused herself. Everyone stood as she stood and silently she scoffed – she was no lady for them to be standing for. As she walked away and she made her way out of their lounge; a sudden hand wrapped tightly around her arm had her thrown back against the wall. She barely had a chance to react before Rodolphus Lestrange had easily pressed her against a wall in the dimly lit corridor. Her leg was up and immediately she kicked him in the shin to which he cringed and half let go of her, before she twisted out of his grasp and moved her elbow up to aim to hit him in the jaw.

He grabbed her elbow and though she tried to force him up he was easily able to push her back down as he spoke, "Easy Black, I'm not trying to hurt you."
She stopped trying to fight him when she realised exactly who it was, "I was ready to break your ribs."

"At least we know you can look after yourself," he said with the slightest of grins, it was perhaps the most emotion he had shown all night, "Rab won't have to worry about you."
"Would he have had to if I wasn't able to 'look after myself'?" she said calmly, looking him over.
"Pretty girl like you," he said as he leant into her ever so slightly almost as if to breathe her in, "can never be too careful."
"What do you want?" she asked finally, leaning further back into the wall behind her as he leant into her.

Rodolphus was careful with his choice of words as he watched her, silent for a few moments while he calculated her expression and her body language. She was only the slightest frightened of him – but it was a sort of scared curiosity as opposed to fear. Still, it was enough to satisfy him for now.

"I came to the conclusion after you left my house a week ago," he began easily, one hand sliding into his suit trouser pocket while the other pressed to the wall beside her head, "that I know you."
"We've already established that." She said flatly, folding her arms across her stomach.
"No sweetheart," he said as calmly as he could without laughing at her, "I know you. I know who you work for and what you do for him."
Bellatrix was silent for perhaps a second too long before she answered, "I don't know what you're talking about."

He scoffed a laugh, shaking his head only the slightest bit, "Don't play dumb, it really doesn't suit you. But this mysterious person the Dark Lord has hidden away from everyone, I was only too lucky to have a glimpse myself at the end of our last meeting – who we thought was a young apprentice, or at least a man was in fact a little girl. Don't worry I wouldn't tell anyone. Not even my brother. But now I know why he's hidden you away from me for so long. You're too…"

"Did you mean what you just said to Lucius's father?" she suddenly asked, cutting him off in the middle of his sentence.
"Yes," he said as he furrowed his eyebrows to her slightly, "Why?"
She didn't respond for a few minutes before she narrowed her eyes to him, leaning into him only slightly as she studied his face before she told him quietly, "Maybe you're not as much of an asshole as I thought you were."

"I'd hold that attitude if I were you." He growled.
"I can show you more than an attitude, Lestrange," she purred almost sarcastically though she licked her lips as she pushed him back, she was almost his height in her heels. Her hands pressed to his chest before she said calmly, "If you're not careful."

Her fingers insinuated themselves between the buttons in his shirt, long nails dragging along him none too gently eliciting an almost animalistic growl before his fingers were back on the warm flesh of her arms and pressing her into the wall once more, "Don't try me, little girl."
"Oh," she said, tilting her head only ever so slightly before she rest her head back on the wall behind to look up to him only the little bit she had to, "You're going to be so much fun."

How had she got him so hot under the collar – no woman spoke to him like that, and for once he had nothing to say before he realised he was silent, and fast becoming hotter under her gaze.
"That supposed to scare me? I could snap you in half with two fingers." He growled threateningly.
"Not at all…" she mused innocently, letting him keep his grip on her arms while she ran her hands up his chest once more, "Quite the opposite actually."

She wasn't going to play him at his own game, he would see how far she was willing to go with her little game – he knew he could take it further.

"I warn you, Black," he said lowly, as he leant into her only ever so slightly, "I bite."
Closing the distance between the two, she gripped his shirt only to pull him closer while answering him, "So do I."

They were playing the same dangerous game – and it wouldn't end well for either of them, they knew that much, but he was as proud as she was, and neither of them backed off a fight they might even lose. But he couldn't help himself as she tested him, pressed her slender body against him, a wicked gleam in her eyes that dared him to do it, to take what he wanted – as he always did. There was something about this girl, she was dangerous and wild and he simply had to have her. She would be his whether she liked it or not – she was getting no say in this.

Her nails were on his chest and up his neck before she moved away from his mouth by pressing her fingers against his lips as she said, "I'm disappointed. I wonder what your brother will say."
She pushed him off easily in his moment of confusion before he fumed, grasping her once more to pull her back while he snarled dangerously, "you started this. Finish it."

"What a shame you've not been told yet…" she said calmly as she leant back into him, "I always play with my food before I eat it."

Without another word she wrenched her arm free and walked away from him. Rodolphus was fuming and ready to punch the wall – considering what he really wanted to hurt had walked away scot-free. But she would come back to him soon enough; he knew that much. They always came back for more.

He followed soon after, taking his seat once more and this time Bellatrix was more engaged with the conversation. Rabastan couldn't help but shoot his brother a smug grin, but Rodolphus did nothing as he drank his whiskey, his dark stare remained emotionless on the eldest Black. She was too beautiful to hurt; no his corruption of her would be much more destructive for her, he would condition her; she was different from the usual girl who he could bend to his own will. She was far from innocent – she was a cold blooded killer who acted on the demands of the man she worked for. One who promised her nothing but power and glory in return. But Rodolphus would be the death of her – she just didn't know it yet.