I woke with a start. For the second time this week I had dreamed that the walls were closing in on me, killing me. I pulled back the covers, taking care not to disturb Rudolphus; I walked quietly out to the kitchen. I sat at the long dining room table, with a cup of hot chocolate. I was interrupted only by the small giggles that Narcissa produced every time she was bumped by Lucius.
Oh my God! Can she control herself? No! It's a cup of hot chocolate! Why can't I drink it in peace?!?
Before I was tempted to scream I chugged all my hot chocolate down in a few gulps. The hot liquid stung my throat as I slammed the cup down on the table, making both Lucius and Narcissa look up from their games to stare at me. I glared back and stormed up to my room, only to find Rudolphus lying in bed with his eyes open. He glanced at me and smiled, and I had no choice but to smile back. The Dark Lord had granted Rudolphus this time with us for Christmas. It would be perfect if not for the Blonde B$&ds. Draco was coming home for Christmas and Lucius was already here.
"Hey Honey," he said.
"Hello," I replied, batting my eyes.
"Want to go down the garden and find some spiders? Oh the fun we'll have, striking fear into the hearts of all arachnids!" he said, moving up into a sitting position. He wrapped his arm around my waist and drawing me close.
"Oh yes, dear. We can terrorize together!" I said, putting my head on his shoulder. I felt him relax beneath me.
"If it was not for Karkaroff and others like him, I would wake up to you every morning. At least He is gracious enough to let me have this precious time with you," he smiled and kissed my forehead.
"If it was not for Draco and Lucius, it would be perfect," I whispered into his ear.
"It is Malfoy Manor," Rudolphus said quietly, "but I agree. If I did not have to leave this morning, I would stay to keep you company."
"And fine company you would make," I said, bowing deeply. I jumped out of bed as he stood up. We walked around to meet each other at the foot of the bed. I held his back and he kissed me deeply. We both pulled away at the same time.
"I wish I did not have to go," he said as he got dressed.
"As do I wish for you," I answered.
"I will miss you, my sweet," Rudolphus said softly as he disappeared with a crack.
There goes my moral support. Time for the bitch to hit the fan…
I ran downstairs, ate some toast and ran outside. The sun was fresh on my face as I tried futilely to pull my hair into submission as I waited with Lucius and Narcissa for Draco. Don't ask me why they wait; they just do… every year.
When Draco finally was insight, they cried out.
Good Lord, not this again!
"Draco!" they cried running towards him. They showered him in kisses and cooed over him until I almost couldn't bear it anymore.
Draco saw me and walked my way.
Brilliant. I know why Rudolphus left before now.
"Aunt Bella!" he cried and edged towards me, hoping to get the same attention.
"I told you not to call me that, Draco," I said, keeping my voice as cold as steel.
"Mother, Father, I missed you so much this year!" Draco said.
"I know, I did too!" said Narcissa.
5…
"It's good you are back home, son," said Lucius.
4…
"Did you go well this year? How is Professor Slughorn?" asked Lucius.
3…
"Fine, dear Father," Draco replied.
2… They sound like a bad family movie!
"That reminds me, Bellatrix, would you be willing to further Draco's dark skills?" Lucius asked solemnly, looking straight into my eyes.
What?!?
"What does that entail?" I asked.
Why couldn't this have waited 'til we got inside?
"I want you to teach Draco Occulemency."
St. That little butt can't learn a thing. I can't refuse, but I don't want to do it. Nice hole you just walked into, Bellatrix.
"Sure," I said, fixing an evil smirking gaze on Draco, "there's nothing I'd rather do."
Draco smiled. "Thank you oh so very much, Aunt Bellatrix! I am ever so excited!" he said.
Oh brilliant. He can play the game.
I awoke with a start. Yesterday was awful. Draco had not stopped getting fawned over by his parents. The dream had been replaced with a dream of falling into nothingness. It was a terrible sensation, filled with panic and primal fear.
Calm yourself. It was just a dream.
I walked into the dining room only to be attacked by a house-elf. He fell into me and shoved a piece of toast into my hands. He ran away with a squeak as Lucius appeared.
"The house-elves have gotten lazy. Surely you have nothing to do with it, Bellatrix?" he made it sound like a question, though he used a threatening tone. I do not deal well with threats.
"But surely they answer to my sister, so take it up with her in bed."
I waited as Lucius's face turned all shades of purple.
"Remember," he said as he walked by, "You are in this house because of me."
"At least I'm not in your bed." I said loudly.
He glared at me as he backed out of the dining room.
Now to find Draco…
I cornered him in my room.
"Get out!" I screeched.
"But you need to teach me!" he whined, looking hurt.
"Lesson one: Get the Fk out of my room!"
"Aunt Bella, but why don't you treat me like a grown-up?" he demanded. "Respect me!"
"Respect?!? You want respect! Then earn it!" I shrieked.
I pushed him back into the chair of my desk. His face turned white as he thought of my intentions.
"Calm down, Draco. I am only going to invade your last sanctuary," I said in a falsely kind voice, "your mind."
I plunged deep into his mind, making him wince. I saw him getting told off by Harry Potter in first grade. I was him as he was punched by the Mudblood. He winced again as the blow struck again. I slipped out of his mind as easily as I went in.
"You didn't have to do that!" Draco said as he sputtered out air.
"Lesson two: Don't tell the teacher how to teach!" I said harshly as I plunged deeply into his mind. He winced once again as his protested to my scrutiny.
The next days came and went, filled with reliving Draco's pitiful life. Boring. The only interesting thing was the noises coming from the master bedroom.
There came a day, however, when Draco fought back. He cornered me in the hall after I had gulped the hot chocolate and toast down.
"You-" he spat, unable to, apparently, say anything else, "you, you, you, you!"
"Yes. I am me," I said with a smirk.
"Sectumserpia!" he shouted, his wand raised.
I raised my wand, twirled out of the way of his spell, and made him fly back against the wall. I walked up to him, and pulled him up and slammed him against the wall by the front of his robes. I stuck my face close to his.
"Never, ever, do that again if you want to live to grow another year older. Never again, do you understand?" I asked menacingly.
"You can't do anything or my father will make your life hell," he glared back at me.
"This isn't Hogwarts, boy. Accidents happen… maybe to your father as well," I said, smiling. He looked at me appalled. "I can take him any day, Draco. Just as I can you," I said, letting my hands go as he fell to the floor in a heap.
He came to me the next day… for his lesson.
"What the hell do you want?" I asked as he sat on the doorstep to my room.
"I am not a coward," he said.
"Whatever makes you happy," I replied.
He plunged into my mind this time. He started looking through my nights with Rudolphus first. I shoved his mind out of mine.
"F#k you!" I screamed, followed by an inaudible "crucio."
Draco writhed on the floor.
"You aren't a coward?" I taunted.
"No!" he said through barred teeth.
"Could have fooled me," I jeered as I made a new wave of pain hit him.
I let him go. He jumped up and started to run down the hall.
"My father shall here about this!" he screamed.
"Oh really?" I mused. I flicked my wand, and he fell like he had run into a brick wall. I walked over and looked at him.
"This isn't school, Malfoy. And I don't play by the rules," I said as I made him writhe on the floor again. "Don't push me, because I push harder back. I don't need your father's help. Keep that in mind."
"But lessons," he whined.
"Don't give me that bullshit. You don't need lessons. Run along now and play," I said as I turned and walked to my room.
Asshole. No wonder he is Snape's favorite. Little bugger had me going for awhile too… must be getting old. In some ways, I'm glad I never had a child. Having a boy like Draco would just be depressing. That hex worked really well though…
"What the hell are you playing at, bitch?" I was asked as I walked into the kitchen.
"Huh?" I said, bewildered. I opened my eyes fully and saw Lucius in the shadows, trying to be menacing. Trying to be. With his hair, he stuck out like an elephant in a dog show.
"My son, the cruciatas curse, and you last night," he spat.
"Well, tell your beloved son that he should only pick fights that he can win. Otherwise, he looks like a complete idiot," I said back.
"My… son… is… not… an… idiot," Lucius said through grated teeth.
"Sure looks like it," I said casually, "Could be his breeding though." Before I knew it the world was blurred and then I felt the hard wall pressing on my back. Nice. Lucius was holding me by my robes and pressing me against the kitchen wall.
"Leave it be, Bellatrix," he said, pouring every bit of anger and hate into those four words.
"Leave what be, pray tell?" I asked innocently enough.
"You know damn well what," he said dropping me. With my mad skills I dropped to my feet and kicked him "where it hurt."
I bent over him as he writhed on the floor. "You are so like your son," I said, "I do not respond well to threats."