Disclaimer: I don't own anything, all this wonderful HP world belongs to JK Rowling.
We're getting closer to the part of the story that really interests me, and I'm really happy to see that you're a lot to like this story, I really apppreciate!
CHAPTER 3: Try me
The next day, Bellatrix woke up early despite her desperate need to sleep. She took her pillow from under her head and placed it on her face, avoiding the sunlight. She didn't want to face that day because she knew that boredom was all she could expect now. Rodolphus moved next to her and she turned her back to him. Her feet were uncovered, shivering in the morning fresh air. It was quiet, peaceful, and for once, she had no desire to change that. But of course, someone had other plans.
She felt his hand on her hip under the covers while he got closer to her, pressing his chest against her shoulder blades.
'What exactly do you think you're doing?' She grunted.
Rodolphus stopped but his breath was still caressing her neck where he had put her curly hair aside. He started to stroke her hip as she put her pillow down under her head.
'Trying to relax you, you're all tense.'
'Rod'…' She sighed in exasperation.
She had never wanted this when she had married Rodolphus; it was nothing but an arranged marriage with another pureblood family that she had to make for her family's sake – which had been tarnished by her cousin.
Rodolphus kissed her cheek and pressed himself even closer to her, his hand lowering down to her navel. She seized his hand and moved it away from her.
'Get your hands off me.' She ordered.
'Come on Bella,' Rodolphus pleased, not moving away, 'I miss you.'
She laughed, not event realizing it could be offensive; well, maybe she knew but she didn't care anyway.
'How can you miss something you've never had?' She snorted, pushing away the covers and standing up, keeping her back to him.
She hated it when he was pushing her like that, and he knew it put her on edge, and that he would never get what he wanted. I am never ever going to have sex with you, nor anyone, except-
Bellatrix shook her head to push this thought out of her mind. Noticing he had probably been staring at her since she had stood up, she ran a hand in her tangled mane and reached out for her dress.
'How can you not?' He asked, more to himself than to her.
She froze, her arm bent only an inch away from her dress. She resisted the urge to kill him but instead turned to face him with a deadly stare. He didn't seem to care, however, and she caught his gaze on her breasts. What did she have to say? She could shout at him to shut up of course, or she could slap him, but he would never stop harassing her about sex. Why he wanted it so badly she did not know and she actually-
'-don't give a damn about it.' She whispered unconsciously.
She grabbed her dress and put it on quickly.
'Don't you dare talk about this again.' Her voice was sharp with a touch of madness he didn't hear was appearing.
Rodolphus propped himself up on his elbow and pushed the sheets to his knees, ostentatiously refusing to take his eyes of her.
Bellatrix frowned, his moves were slightly too aggressive in the way he was standing up and pacing towards her. I am much more powerful than he is, what is he thinking? That he can upset me and get away with it as if I was a nicy witchy? But before she could get to her wand, he turned away from her and started dressing up. Satisfied, she grinned, walked to the nearest window and opened it softly to enjoy the cold wind.
'Bella, Merlin's sake close this window, it's freezing!' Rodolphus complained.
The garden's walls were half-hidden under a heavy fog that ran through the dark forest and disappeared into the pinkish horizon, the branches covered in snow shaking like skeleton arms. It was all white and she hated that. I am a dark witch not a bloody snow queen! She plunged her naked hands in the snow covering up the window's edge and, ignoring the cold, she formed a perfectly shaped ball, so soft and only wishing to reach its target. However, she first went back to her nightstand to collect her wand and then returned to the window, the snowball still pressed against her belly. There, trotting silently on the grass was a tiny red fox, his furry tail caressing the silver snow. It had not the time to reach the opposite wall that a green light hit its back without a word and he stumbled. Dead.
'Yaaay!' Bellatrix screamed and jumped like a child. The smile on her face was one of true pleasure and joy; she could've been mistaken for a girl, had she not had that note of pure madness ringing in her voice. The wind was now howling in the room and snowflakes stuck in her hair.
'Close that window Bella!'
A smile still curved her lips when she turned to face him and met his angry stare. The snowball was bouncing in her slender fingers as she spoke.
'I. Don't. Want. To.'
He kept staring at her with angry eyes but seemed to hesitate.
'Come on, how old are you? Throw it out.' He finally said with a voice he wanted strong but which was slightly trembling.
'Not fun, Rody.' She purred, but still she did as he asked before closing the window. She grabbed her corset and started to lace it behind her back with little success.
'Let me help you.' Rodolphus offered beside her with his outstretched arms inches away from her hips.
She stepped aside immediately.
'I don't need your help!' She hissed. 'I can do it myself.'
'Bella, don't be stupid let me-'
'WHAT?!'
Her corset fell to her feet and she gripped his unbuttoned shirt by the collar. Her eyes were sending blades.
'WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO CALL ME STUPID?!'
She revealed her perfect teeth with a grin and raised her wand to his cheek, ready to cast any spell if he was to defy her once more.
'ME?! HOW DARE YOU CALL ME STU-
'Wake up crazy bitch.'
She opened her eyes and found herself blind.
'Get the others.' A deep voice demanded.
A door swung opened and Bellatrix had to close her eyes before the dazzling light. Where am I? When the door closed, she opened her eyes again and finally got used to the darkness. A man was standing in front of her and looking at her with disgust. Her wrists were caught in handcuffs and chained to the wall supporting her back but her legs were free; however the chains didn't seem long enough for her to stand up completely. She had her dress on but not her corset. Of course, I would have been able to lace it if that stupid Rod had not been annoying me. She felt almost naked without it actually.
'You're going to stare at me all day long?' Bellatrix asked lightly.
No answer.
'Because if you are, then I'm going back to sleep.'
She could not see him clearly but she noticed the frown of his eyebrows as she cocked her head to the side and hit the floor regularly with her sharp nails. The clicking sound of it was echoing in the silent room. I am in the Ministry, better get going.
The man shifted his weight on his other foot and cleared his throat, probably from anxiety. Bellatrix closed her eyes and focused on the chain rings on the wall. Wandless magic requires all the strength you have, and in this case, I have not much. She had to distract him.
'Imprisoned in the ministry,' she hummed in a high-pitched voice, 'with a really. Really. Ugly. Baby. Wizard. All weak and-'
'Shut up.'
The rings broke in half in a loud crack.
'What the…?'
Before he could finish his sentence, Bellatrix had jumped on him fiercely, a hand clamping his throat with the other one in search for his wand.
'Come on, love, give your wand to Crazy Bellatrix, or die.' She smiled.
She found his armed hand and tried to take his wand from him but he was resisting. The door burst open and another wizard entered the room in shock with his wand pointed to the struggling couple. Bellatrix released her grip on the wizard's throat and stretched her arm defensively before her face. She whispered a 'protego' as the intruder cast a 'stupefy'. Despite her strength, wandless magic was not powerful enough, and she was knocked off the ground and hit the wall with a loud thud. Her vision was blurred and a sharp noise vibrated in her skull but she managed to stay conscious.
'Incarcerous.'
Ropes tied her wrists together as a hand grabbed her arm and lifted her up on her feet. She faced the angry wizard and hissed.
'Don't play with me, traitor.' He responded. 'Walk.'
He pushed her before him into the corridor. The Department of Mysteries, better and better. She gave him her best crazy smile, straightened her back and walked along the dark marbled corridor, her face up in elegance and pride. No one crossed their path on the way and she ended up thinking that maybe she could have tried to escape better than that. Before she could make up a plan, they turned into a bigger room where they joined three other Aurors with Rodolphus, Rabastan and Barty. Where the first two adopted Bellatrix's proud attitude, Barty had seemed to regain some sanity and was shaking violently and glancing all around him as if hoping to find a way out; of course, there is none.
'Stay still, bitch. Don't forget who has the wand.' The wizard warned her when he placed her beside Rodolphus.
'I don't need a wand to be better than all. Of. You.' She teased him, sticking her tongue with a smile.
The Auror simply ignored her. Not fun. Rodolphus pushed his shoulder against hers and she looked at him. His eyes lost their pride for a second and came to a caring look.
'Someone betrayed us.' He whispered angrily.
Bellatrix frowned and instinctively eyed Barty who could not be more uneasy right now. But to her surprise, Rodolphus shook his head.
'Not him. But I don't know who.' He confessed.
That's why he was not completely confident; there was a traitor in their ranks with no idea of who it was. Well, at least I am no traitor, I will never deny where my faith lies and I will hunt down those who did.
A fainted sound took Bellatrix out of her reverie and she turned only to see six slender, ghostly, hooded figures entering the room.
Dementors.
She hated them, more than anything in the world she feared them. Because she was incapable of performing a Patronus Charm, wand or not, and because the hole in their face seemed to suck her entire being every time she laid an eye on them. They glided towards the four Death Eaters and circled them, thus allowing the Aurors to open the great door that led to a huge trial room. Hundreds of people were crowded around four iron seats in the center and every eyes were on the prisoners. Judges, journalists, witnesses, everybody whispered and glanced at them with a mix of interest, disgust and incomprehension. Well,well, all this attention for me? What an honor.
Bellatrix walked first, lifting her head and swinging her hips as is she was in a fashion show. She caught a glimpse of Barty on her left: his head down, he was shaking violently. Come on! What's with him? The crowd was grunting and some were even shouting insults and outraged cries. Dumbledore was sitting on her right along with others Aurors. He might be one of the best wizards of his time – only fools would deny it – he was no match for the Dark Lord and she would have great pleasure in killing him.
'Silence please!' Demanded the judge.
The voices faded immediately, leaving the room in an awkward silence where a fly could have been heard.
Rodolphus and Rabastan sat on the first two seats carelessly, Barty literally let himself fall against the back of the chair, and Bellatrix sat straight and her legs crossed as if it were a throne. Chains tied them all to their chairn and Bellatrix stiffened to the cold metal's contact. It was only when she looked at the judge that she understood Barty's strange behavior. High above every wizard was Barty Crouch Sr. and his wife, the latter awfully pale and uneasy, probably nor far from bursting into tears or breaking down in hysteria.
'You are accused of capturing the Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom, using the Cruciatus Curse on them to collect information about your master's whereabouts.' Crouch Sr. stated.
Rodolphus and Bellatrix snorted in unison.
'Father, please, I don't have anything to do with-' Barty pleased.
'You are, according to the laws,' Crouch Sr. loudly interrupted, covering his son's voice, 'condemned to life imprisonment in Azkaban.'
No witnesses? No vote from the jury? Not like I was expecting to be cleared of all charges, but that was fast!
'Father I didn't do anything! Don't send me back to the Dementors, I have done nothing I swear!'
'Your sentence is to be applied immediately with no chance of release!'
Everyone in the room applauded with faces of victory. You have not won, you will lose. Bellatrix turned to Barty who was struggling on his chair, tears ran down his cheeks and he kept on shouting.
'Mother! Don't let him do that! PLEASE! I did not know, I didn't do anything I SWEAR! Not in Azkaban!'
From the corner of her eyes, Bellatrix spoted the Dementors approaching as their chains released. She stood lazily and stared hatefully at Crouch Sr.
'The Dark Lord will return, Crouch!' She spat. 'Throw us in Azkaban, we will wait! He will rise again and will reward US! His most faithful servants!'
Rodolphus and Rabastan were already going away and Bellatrix followed them before turning around one last time.
'He will return more powerful than all of you and you will DIE! We will win in the end, and nothing will stop us! TRAITORS!'
She turned to the exit with a smile as a storm of shouts and insults erupted from the benches, laughing madly and hoping it would give goosebumps to at least half of the room.
'I am your son! Don't let them take me!'
When she exited the trial room and glanced at Barty, he was being taken away by two Dementors, slowly losing his strength but still struggling. The little thing is strong, too bad he is a traitor.
'I HAVE NO SON!'
Bellatrix glimpsed the weak woman beside Barty fainting before the great doors shut down loudly. Looking around, the Aurors were not here yet, maybe they'd never come. Fine, having a little time to make things clear. She rushed towards Barty and seized his throat, pushing him violently against the stone wall.
'How DARE you betray the Dark Lord?!' She shouted.
He was not scared of her; instead he was angry, probably about what his father had just said.
'He has given you everything and you deny-!'
'SHUT UP!' Barty pushed her away and they both fell to the ground, Bellatrix under him. UNDER?! Never am I under someone!
'I DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE IN AZKABAN AND END UP FUCKED UP LIKE YOU ARE!'
Bellatrix showed her teeth and punched his jaw, making them roll over until he was under her. The two others – as well as the Dementors – didn't seem to be really interested in them murdering each other, except maybe Rodolphus who was glancing anxiously at her.
'You already are fucked up! You are a fucked up TRAITOR!'
Her nails scratched his shoulder and drew blood whilst the other slapped him hard.
'Kill me then! It will never be worse than Azkaban!'
She raised an eyebrow in surprise and grinned.
'If you insist, there could be no greater pleasure.' She purred, clutching his throat.
'BELLA NO!'
Rodolphus rushed to her and grabbed her in his arms to pull her away from Barty. She struggled and shouted him to let her fulfill his desire. The kicks of her heels reached Rodolphus' legs and stomach but he miraculously managed not to let her go.
'I've had enough of your fake concern! NOW PUT ME DOWN IMMEDIATELY!' She ordered.
'Put her down,' A deep voice interrupted, 'and now you all shut up and stand still.'
The four Death Eaters turned to the corridor to find five Aurors on the threshold with their wand pointed to them. Bellatrix took advantage of the moment of astonishment and poked Rodolphus ribs. He groaned and let her go to hold his aching side. She readjusted her dress and threw a scornful look at Barty who was having difficulties standing up properly. So weak.
'We are going to take you to Azkaban where you will spend the rest of your life.'
The one who had been speaking was a tall man with tiny, mischievous eyes wrinkled by disgust at the moment. Bellatrix didn't know him, maybe he was one of the very few traitors she had never had the chance to threaten.
'This, of course, if no one has the brilliant idea to give you the Dementor's Kiss.' He grinned sadisticly.
Bellatrix laughed loudly, making both Rabastan and Barty jump; they were not as used as Rodolphus to her outbursts of madness.
'I doubt it, we won't be staying long in this hell, just visiting.' She joked, constantly playing with one of curls.
None of the Aurors replied but they simply circled them, each one holding the arm of a Death Eater. Of course, I have to go with that pretentious half-blood. She gave him her most deadly look and they apparated.
The stones were breaking and crumbling everywhere they set their eyes, everything was grey and dark. It was cold, so cold. The Aurors had left after they had changed into their prisoners rags and taken pictures with their identification number. It was soooo boring! The tall one had even teased her when she was having her number tattooed – it was supposed to hurt but she could feel nothing but a tickling really.
'None of you is going to last a year anyway.' He had laughed. 'You will all be mad within a month.'
Hearing that Barty would have lost it, had he not already plunged back into his state of unconsciousness.
'I am a step ahead then,' Bellatrix had whispered lasciviously, 'I already am.'
And now they were walking the corridor, avoiding to look in the cells on their sides; they knew how they would end up but that didn't mean they wanted to see it. They would discover it shortly.
She would never admit it to anyone, but Bellatrix was doubting. Not on her faith or what she was supposed to do for her Lord no, she doubted on her ability to preserve the small part of her mind she could claim to be sane. She had heard of Azkaban and what happened within its thick and unfathomable walls; it had made her shiver. The fact that she was half mad and that she had much less happy thoughts than most people was an advantage – as well as her occlumency indeniable mastery – but her mind could still be attacked nonetheless. But the worst in this place, what you are the most afraid of, what becomes your worst enemy, is yourself.
The Dementors kept draining their strength and mind until they stopped in front of an open cell. They motioned Rabastan to enter, which he did after putting a hand on his brother's shoulder and glancing at Bellatrix. They were all silent. He was very calm when he took a step in the small, windows-free cell. The door closed behind him and he couldn't be seen anymore. Bellatrix sighed. I'll see you when He returns.
Two cells farther, Barty was ordered to enter. Bellatrix didn't utter a word; she spat at his feet before the door was closed on his unmoved face. They walked for a minute or two until they stopped once more. This time, it was her turn to obey. There was an awkward silence where Bellatrix would wait to enter and Rodolphus would not know what to say.
'Goodbye.' Bellatrix finally broke the silence and took a step towards her husband.
I cannot just leave him, I don't love him but for once, I can try to force myself into this. She crossed his surprised gaze and kissed his cheek softly.
'We'll meet again soon.'
The door closed on his relieved smile while she probably had the same expression. I'm going to miss him, it's true.
The cell was really small, no air coming through any window or gap, no light except the weak ray of white under the door. She sneered anxiously, found herself laughing unbontrollably, crying and sobbing, finally screaming as she had never screamed before. All her rage, despair, sadness, madness, frustration, letdown, fear; it was all of it. The shrieking cry was unbearable and hurt her head but she didn't care, she needed to let it all out. Only when her bleeding hands fell limply to her side did she realize she had been beating up the wall. Her voice faded, her knees gave up and she ended up on the floor with her back against the bloody wall, looking up at the ceiling. That's what they want, don't give them that, keep your strength, and shut up! Yes you, that insane part of me who always tries to take advantage of my weaknesses. I won't give up! I will keep myself alive and as sane as possible.
She wiped her tears and put some hair away from her face. She remembered when she was at Hogwarts – damn, that was thirteen years ago! – and she was sad or angry, she used to sit by the Black Lake at night and stare at the stars for hours; that always relaxed her. Well, right now she couldn't see the sky, and even if she could, she would bet there were no stars above this living hell. However, Bellatrix was a very talented witch, and among her many talents was memory. She had learnt the whole sky map in Astronomy – not in Astronomy because she had never attended any of her classes, but in her book – and was able to name each and every star in the sky; there was even one named Bellatrix.
The dark witch closed her eyes, her eyes stuck on the ceiling, and concentrated. There, behind the dilapidated stones, was the dark night sky shining with thousands of little suns burning millions and millions of miles away from her. Still, their warmth was one she could not live without; not when it is the only one which can prevent my heart from turning into ice.
I hope you liked this chapter, don't hesitate to comment or ask questions, every critics will be read and taken into consideration for the rest of the story. Please, tell me what you like and don't like, ask questions, anything! Silence is horrible because I have no idea how you fell about all of this!
