With Me, Into The Dark

by Lamia of the Dark

Drabble Collection. Marauder Era, slightly AU (major canon events remain unchanged). Bellatrix is assigned to train the new Death Eater recruits. (Focuses mostly on OCs, you have been warned.) WARNINGS: Violent/disturbing imagery in some chapters (gore), swearing, sexual references.

4. A Lasting First Impression

~ With Me, Into The Dark ~

The first time Bellatrix meets Lilith Goyle is in Borgin and Burke's.

Lilith has her hand fisted in the proprietor's collar and is shouting, "That piece of shit you sold me didn't do what you said it does!"

The shopkeeper makes a strangled sound.

"Not that it wasn't funny when it turned my brother into a toad, and I did manage to turn him back eventually, but I expect you refund the defective merchandise in full. And if you ever try to cheat me again, well... let's just say I could use some practice with my wandless Cruciatus Curse."

The man is starting to go blue around the lips when Lilith finally releases her hold. He collapses to the floor, coughing. She turns to leave-

-and stops in her tracks when she spots Bellatrix standing in the shop's doorway.

"Cursing in public isn't ladylike," Bellatrix says, but her tone is one of cool amusement rather than true admonition.

"I didn't realize we had an audience, my lady," Lilith returns.

The sarcasm is not lost on Bellatrix but she pretends to ignore it as she moves out of the doorway so that the other witch can exit.

Wondering if what the woman said about casting a wandless Cruciatus Curse is true, Bellatrix turns to the shopkeeper - who is still on the floor, but has stopped coughing - and asks, "Who was that?"

~end of scene~