CHAPTER TWO:

Help

Time was passing and yet He hadn't arrived. He must know by now what happened at Gringotts. She imagined the whole Wizarding World must know by now. The damn kids had broken out of the place on the back of a half-blind dragon, for Merlin's sake. There was no hiding something like that, even if one was in charge of the Ministry, the Daily Prophet, and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Hogwarts.

Snape.

Snape was at Hogwarts.

Snape was the Dark Lord's most trusted servant, His most loyal… after herself, of course. Also, Snape had been the one given the task of placing the sword in her vault in the first place, so maybe he would feel personally connected... indebted... responsible. Would that matter? Perhaps Snape would be willing to head Him off, to fly interference, so to speak. Could she convince him to come to her aid? It was possible, she supposed. Anything was possible. Besides, they had history. He couldn't just ignore that, right? Going to him for help was a long shot but she was desperate.

"Come on," she whispered to the baby, removing her from her breast, resting her against her chest with the baby's head by her shoulder. She patted Nova's back, waiting for a burp. "We're going on your first trip to Hogwarts."

But how would she get there?

Side-along apparition was possible with a baby, but could be dangerous, especially if attempted without her wand. She needed a wand.

She couldn't take Draco's – he'd lost his too. She couldn't take Narcissa's – she'd given hers to Draco. The Dark Lord himself had used Lucius' wand until it was destroyed. Those damn kids had stolen Pettigrew's along with her own, and there was no chance her husband would give up his. She had stolen one off a Snatcher she killed three weeks back, but the Dark Lord confiscated it an hour later, telling her He didn't think she deserved one for the time being. Presumably He also took the others before having the house elves dispose of their bodies.

That left Rabastan.

Finally, the baby let out a little burp. Hurriedly Bellatrix fixed her dress, threw on a traveling cloak, wrapped the infant in a thick blanket, and went to find her brother-in-law.

He was alone in the kitchen, drinking what appeared to be scotch.

"You," she said, pointing a bony finger at him, holding a sleeping Nova Black in the crux of her left arm. "I need your wand."

He laughed, downed the rest of his drink, and turned to face her.

"My wand? Why would I go and give you that. You couldn't hold onto your own. You don't deserve mine."

"It wasn't a request. I need it. Now. You'll get it back."

"You need it?" Again, he laughed. She momentarily envisioned how great it would feel to punch him in his haggard face, perhaps break a crooked tooth or two. "So you need it. So what?"

"I need it to travel with the baby. I don't need it to curse you into insanity. Hand it over. I said you'll get it back."

"I don't trust you."

"Hand it over."

"Or what? You'll beat me about the head with that bastard baby of yours?"

Heat resonated from her fingertips. She was sick of his attitude, unwilling to ask again (plus, nobody insulted her baby). With a flick of her wrist, he found himself being choked by an unseen force. His hands climbed to this throat as if trying to pull away a cord or rope but they found nothing there.

"If you wish to breathe again," she said, her voice lilting, "You'll give me the wand. Otherwise I'll simply take it after you're dead."

Rabastan thrust his hand into the pocket of his robes and held the wand out to her. His eyes bulged, silently begging her to lift this curse. She smiled.

"Thanks so much." She flicked the wand. Rabastan was again able to breathe and took advantage of that to eek out, "Bitch!"

"I get called that rather regularly," she said. "I'm starting to think of it as my middle name. Bellatrix Bitch Black Lestrange. How does it sound?"

"Sounds better without the Lestrange," he said, still rubbing his sore throat. She spit on the floor by his feet. Without further discussion, she held baby Nova tight, closed her eyes, and apparated.

Moments later, she was standing inside the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade. She walked from there to the castle (unaware of the tunnel she'd be traveling through in a few hours time) at the quickest possible pace. Thankfully, the baby continued to sleep. When she was close enough, she opened her traveling cloak, slipped the baby inside, and tied it shut again.

She was worried she'd have difficulty getting inside Hogwarts, but by a stroke of luck, Alecto Carrow was guarding the door, scolding students for something or other.

"I need to see the Headmaster," Bellatrix said loftily, attempted to push past her.

"Wait a second," said Alecto, grabbing Bella by the arm. "Who're you?"

"You know who I am," said Bellatrix. "You blithering idiot, you've known me for twenty-five years."

"How do I know you ain't that girl again, in disguise? I heard she got into Gringotts pretending to be you. Plus the Dark Lord says you can't leave your sister's house, so whatchyoo doin' here anyway? And what's that you've got under your cloak?

"Please don't cry," Bellatrix thought as she felt the baby stir. If the baby cried now, she'd certainly be found out.

"Hello? I asked, what's that…"

"What I've got is no concern of yours," she answered haughtily. "The Dark Lord sent me to see Severus. I haven't got much time. When He returns to Malfoy Manor and I'm not there because I've been held up here, how do you think He'll react? Do you think He'll be happy about the delay, Alecto? However He feels, I'll be sure to send Him your way to express it."

Perhaps it was the sharpness of her voice, or maybe Alecto was simply too afraid of the possibility of a visit from the Dark Lord to argue further, but she seemed to accept this. "So sorry, Mrs. Lestrange. Do come in."

"Don't call me Mrs. Lestrange," snapped Bellatrix. She strode quickly by, heading straight for the Headmaster's office, the location of which she remembered from her own days at Hogwarts when she was seventeen, the evening he'd called her in, scolded her, and given her detention for practicing a few questionable jinxes on a pair of obnoxious Slytherin first years who'd been caught gossiping about her in the common room. It was her second time being assigned detention, though this was for only one night, not every night for two weeks, which had been assigned shortly after she'd spent the night with Him (which required sneaking away from a Hogsmeade visit). That indiscretion also lost her the title of Head Girl, something she'd only been bestowed in the first place because Professor Slughorn (head of Slytherin house) was so hopelessly charmed by her. She was replaced by her own cousin, Zillah Rosier.

She got past the statue blocking the Headmaster's office easily enough, having guessed the password (Lily. How disgustingly predictable) then banged on the door until he answered.

"Who is it?" he snapped as he opened it. When he saw her, his dark eyes widened. "You… what… Get in here."

She entered. He closed the door. She slipped sleeping Nova out from under her cloak.

His mouth dropped open. "You brought the baby?"

"No," said Bellatrix. "I left her at home, alone. She's a whole two months old now, practically self-sufficient, can even change her own nappies."

"She'd better be left home," he replied, "She'd better be here only as a figment of my imagination. Because the Dark Lord's going to kill you for leaving, then bring you back to life and kill you again for taking her out of Malfoy Manor, and then who'll be left to play Mummy?"

She sighed, momentarily defeated. "Snape, I need help. That's why I'm here. It couldn't wait."

"What is it with the women in your family?" he asked, clearly exasperated. "Why look to me for help?"

She sneered. "Who else in my family is looking to you for help?"

In her arms, baby Nova roused. With a whimper, she opened her eyes and blinked up at the lights above, mildly curious but mostly unfocused. The whimper became a cry that grew to a wail.

"Shh," cooed Bellatrix, slightly bouncing her. She slipped her index finger into the baby's mouth. Nova ceased crying and, comforted, immediately began to suck. "Yes, that's right. Back to sleep. Mummy's trying to work our way out of this mess."

"Which mess?" asked Snape in his usual drawl. "Leaving despite being expressly forbidden to do so? Bringing that out –" he indicated the infant, "Even though you know He wants no one to know of her, or…"

"Surely you heard about Gringotts?"

"I heard, yes."

"He's going to kill me, Severus!"

"Since when are we on a first name basis, Lestrange?"

She bristled. "You know I'm not using my husband's name anymore. But that's neither here nor there. Please, you've got to help me, to do something. The Dark Lord trusts you. He values you. He… years ago, he made you a promise didn't he? He promised He wouldn't hurt her, your Muggle-born, He wouldn't kill her, but He did, didn't He?" She sounded mad, desperate. He opened his mouth to reply but she barreled on. "He owes you, doesn't He? He owes you a favor. So… so perhaps you could ask Him… if He could spare me my punishment… and in exchange… for you, I could..."

"There is nothing you could offer me in exchange, Bellatrix, that would entice me to beg him for mercy on your behalf."

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow, stepping closer to him, her eyes looking him up and down. "I'm sure I could think of something."

"You're not going to appeal to me using sex," he said, voice dripping with disdain. "For one, you're not nearly as attractive as you used to be."

"I've lost more than half the baby weight…"

"I don't mean that, though I do have to say it's fascinating to see you attempt to behave seductively whilst cradling an eight-week-old. Not a good look for you. But I meant you're not half as attractive as you were before Azkaban."

"You do fourteen years in that hell and come out of it looking good." She glared at him. She was aware of the negative effect prison had had on her skin, her shape, her teeth, her hair… her mental state… but fuck, she could – and did – still turn heads. "I seem to recall a time just after I got out of Azkaban during which you felt quite differently."

He was unmoved. "A momentary lapse in judgment, I assure you."

"I'll have you know there are plenty of men who would gladly risk their lives just to lay down with me."

"Good," said Snape. "Get one of them to address the Dark Lord on your behalf."

She switched to a different tactic: pouting. "Please, Snape. I need help. I need you. I'm scared."

"Come off it," he said, waving her away as if she were but a bug. "That look suits you even less."

Again, she made an attempt to appeal to him, this time more menacingly. "He seeks the allegiance of the Elder Wand, Snape. He has it in His possession, He has for two months…"

"I'm aware," began Snape, but she interjected.

"Only He has failed to truly gain its power. Why do you suppose that is?"

"I don't know, Bellatrix." He rolled his eyes. "Tell me."

"Because of you. You killed Dumbledore. You, Snape, are the true master of the Elder Wand, and as long as you are still alive, the Dark Lord won't be in command. If this notion occurs to Him, He'll sure ki…"

"Are you threatening me?" Snape took several steps forward, so much so she had to step back until she hit the bookcase behind her, knocking off several leatherbound plays by someone named Shakespeare. Bella removed her fingers from the baby's mouth, thus Nova began to cry. As much as she'd hate to admit it, Bellatrix rather felt like crying too.

"Snape, I'm simply saying…"

"Do not threaten me, Bellatrix. It would be most… unwise… for you to put such an idea in the Dark Lord's head. Understand? Now you should leave. He will be expecting you when He returns to Malfoy Manor."

"I have to do something!" she shouted desperately over the infant's wails. "I'm desperate!"

"I am not interested in taking advantage of your desperation, nor do I believe it is prudent for you to be here at all. I believe you have forgotten who I am. I am the Headmaster of this school, an agent of the Dark Lord, and a capable potions master. That is all. Nowhere in any of my job descriptions have the words 'family counselor' ever appeared."

"Who else in my damn family is coming to you for counseling?" she asked, realizing he hadn't answered her when she'd asked a short time ago.

"When Nymphadora wanted to know whether the Dark Lord would be prepared for a fight when the Order removed Potter from his aunts house, she came to me. When Andromeda wanted to get a message to you concerning her pregnant daughter, she came to me. When Narcissa wanted protection for her son in light of his task, she came to me. Now you want someone to appeal on your behalf to the Dark Lord, so you've come to me."

"What can I say?" asked Bellatrix, trying to look sweet. "We like you."

He stared at her for a long moment before cracking up. "No, you don't! You hate me!"

"Well, Narcissa likes you, I think."

"I would think so," he agreed. "And Andromeda certainly seems to like me."

"Are you sleeping with Andromeda?"

"Why are you always so concerned about with whom everyone is sleeping? No, I'm not. Despite being widowed, she has no interest in any man besides her husband, nor has she ever. That is the difference between her and the two of you. She married for love."

"She married a Mudblood."

"At least her husband never ran around behind her back, right?" He smiled, which pissed Bellatrix off even more. "Not that you didn't do you own fair share of running around."

"Damn it." She moved the baby to a vertical position, supporting her body with her left arm and stroking her hair with her right hand, then bounced her lightly, but Nova would not stop crying. "Do you mind if I feed her? She'll only stop if I feed her."

"Do I mind…?"

Without waiting for further response, she unbuttoned her dress, this time allowing the baby to latch to the other side. Catching his semi-repulsed expression, she laughed.

"It isn't as if you've never seen me half-naked before, Snape."

"This is different," he said. "This is… humanizing."

"Sod off."

"You're charming, has anyone ever told you that?"

"I fucked you one time and you can't get over it, is that it? Is that why you won't try to help me?"

"You fucked me twice," he said, expressionless. "Remember?"

"The first time doesn't count," she said. He laughed.

"No, I suppose it doesn't," he agreed.

"And you alone saw what he did to me the last time he was angry, Severus!" She clutched the front of his robes with her free hand. "You, of all people…"

Before she could finish, they were both startled by the sound of a door opening within the office, pushed so hard it slammed against the wall.

"Wait a minute! You slept with Bellatrix?" It was Narcissa, looking exhausted… and livid.

"What are you doing here?" Bellatrix shook her head as if she couldn't quite believe her own eyes. "You and Snape?"

"You and Snape!" replied Narcissa. "When?" She shifted her glare to Severus. "Twice?"

"I'm lost," said Bellatrix. "I need to sit down."

"No!" Snape's voice made her jump. "No, you cannot sit down, you need to leave! Hide that baby, hurry to the edge of school grounds, apparate back to Malfoy Manor, and pretend this never happened like you pretend most things never happened."

"I can't go back there! He's going to kill… to kill… He…" Bellatrix's thought trailed off as she and Snape both felt heat emanating from the Dark Marks on their left forearms. They exchanged a look.

"What is it?" asked Narcissa, tugging anxiously at her sleeves. "Are you being summoned?"

"No," murmured Bellatrix. "But He is nearby. And He is angry."

"We must go," whispered Narcissa. She turned to Snape. "Thank you for... everything. You'll keep Draco safe?"

"You know I'll do as I can, Narcissa."

"And you'll keep yourself safe?"

"I said I'll do as I can and I will."

Her eyes darted from him to her sister and back again. She started to walk toward the door but instead, as if acting on sheer impulse, she ran back to him and placed a quick kiss on his lips. He did not press his lips back against hers, but did allow his eyes to close just for a moment. "Thank you," Narcissa whispered. "It's all I ask. I owe you."

"The fuck?" Bellatrix repositioned the baby, sizing up Snape and her sister, wondering if they'd gone mad, or if she had.

"Let's go," said Narcissa. She threw her own traveling cloak over Bella's front, hiding baby Nova from the world, and guided her toward the door. "I'll explain at home."

"Better be some explanation."

Snape closed the door behind them, without another word.

"I'll explain at home," Narcissa began again as they hurried through the halls, "After you tell me when and why you slept with Severus."

"It's not much of a story," Bellatrix said. They made their way out to the castle grounds. "But if you truly want to know, I'll tell you."

A/N: Coming up in Chapter 3, as close to Bella/Snape as this story will get, just for you Harry Hobbit (lol). Seriously, though, like I said, this fic is Bellatrix/Voldemort not Bella/Snape or Snape/Narcissa, but since Snape is my favorite I had some fun inserting him in the Black sisters' personal drama. Hope you enjoy! AL