Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter series.
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"Bellatrix's fingers lose their ability to grip and soon not even Rodolphus's hands can keep Bellatrix from slipping under."
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When the sunlight pries open Bellatrix's eyes, she wonders if she can stop dreaming. Her left forearm tingles and for a moment Bellatrix fears she has overslept. As her mind clears from the fog of sleep, however, Bellatrix realizes that she has merely fallen asleep on the arm. She stretches the limb to coax it out of numbness as she yawns.
A letter flies through the air and hits her squarely on the forehead.
"Rodolphus," Bellatrix grumbles.
Rodolphus, who stands before the mirror fastening a traveling cloak, grins.
"Perfect aim, and serves you right," Rodolphus says. "Your sister's bloody owl woke me up this morning earlier than I liked with its infernal pecking at the window like we were at the height of a crisis."
Bellatrix examines the perfect quillwork and smiles as she opens the letter.
"It's from Narcissa; everything is a crisis," Bellatrix says fondly.
She ignores Rodolphus's commentary on her sisters as she reads the elaborate cursive.
Dear Bella,
We didn't appreciate your failure to turn up last night. By we, I mean Meda and myself, of course. Father found it amusing, and Mother said it was exactly the sort of rudeness at which you excel. Though I would like thoroughly to convince myself that you no doubt encountered last minute social engagements, Andromeda suffers no such delusions and told me I shouldn't either. In any case, I really doubt you occupied your time with something more important than sisters, so I demand you make it up to us.
Affectionately,
Cissy
Bellatrix finishes the letter in laughter, appreciation for her youngest sister warmer than Bella would ever dare let Cissy know. There is, however, also the rise of the same guilt Bellatrix poorly digested right before sleep.
"I'm leaving now," Rodolphus announces, standing in the doorway.
He stares at Bellatrix with the air of expectance, so Bellatrix makes a show of yawning then smiles.
"Then leave," she says cheekily.
They eye each other for weakness. Bellatrix smirks because she is certain that Rodolphus will break first. Rodolphus scowls because he knows he will break Bellatrix before he gives into her smug temptress act. When Rodolphus's scowl cracks into a grin and Bellatrix's smirk bursts into laughter, they compromise. Bellatrix crawls to the foot of the bed and Rodolphus meets her there.
"Can't the Ministry wait for Monsieur Lestrange?" Bellatrix murmurs when their lips separate.
"I am in very high demand," he replies, stroking her hair.
Bellatrix kisses his ear as her hands wrap around his neck.
"Surely you should take your wife's demands into the highest account?"
Bellatrix falls back to the mattress and pulls Rodolphus with her.
The benefit, Rodolphus thinks, of Bellatrix falling asleep in nothing but his robe is that she wakes up in nothing but his robe.
"I have a little time to kill," Bellatrix says. She smiles at Rodolphus as his eyes hover above hers.
"How long is a little time?" Rodolphus asks as Bellatrix begins to unfasten the clasps on his cloak. Her hands slide down his chest and snuggle into his pockets.
"Long enough."
Rodolphus's fingers wrap around Bellatrix's wrists and pull her hands to his lips. He kisses both of them, then kisses Bellatrix's mouth.
"That's not quite long enough, my pet," he whispers. "I am not a man to be rushed."
Bellatrix rolls her eyes. "And I am not a woman to call a pet."
"No," Rodolphus chuckles as he leaves the bed, "I suppose you're not."
Bellatrix scoots herself to perch at the edge of the bed. Rodolphus kneels so that he is eyelevel with his wife. His hands crawl up her thighs and linger below her waist.
"But tonight, you are mine."
"Only if I don't get you first," Bellatrix teases.
He kisses her knee and without another word leaves. Bellatrix returns to Narcissa's letter.
She summons a quill and a piece of parchment and writes sloppily just to annoy Narcissa.
You demand I make it up to you? You are suffering from delusions, aren't you, Cissy? However, I promise I will see you today.
Yours,
Bella
As Bellatrix folds the letter to Narcissa, Andromeda's owl flutters at the window with a letter clutched in its beak. Bellatrix opens the window and takes Andromeda's letter.
Bella,
You will grace us with your presence today as last night was a rather poor showing on your part.
Much love,
Your Meda
Bellatrix quickly scrawls a reply.
Meda,
Please don't be mad; it doesn't suit you. Of course, I'll see you this afternoon.
~Your Bella
Bellatrix ties the letters to Andromeda's owl and shoos the bird out the window. Then fearing it has grown later than she would like, Bellatrix dashes to the bathroom then hurriedly dresses. She eats breakfast in a rush and regrets doing so as she steps outside to Disapparate.
The rush of Apparating and Disapparating has always given Bellatrix unsteady feet; Apparating into the presence of him practically throws her off balance.
"Surprisingly punctual," he murmurs as Bellatrix bows. "That is enough, Bella."
Bellatrix raises her head and smiles at her master through the blazing light.
"I will come at any time my lord requests," Bellatrix replies smoothly.
He detects her double meaning and chooses to ignore it. The sun burns hot enough without encouraging Bellatrix. He reminds himself of his need to correct her delusional smugness before it gets further out of hand. But then, he muses, perhaps Bellatrix was already too far out of control when he branded her.
And yet, he revels in the thought as he circles Bellatrix, he does control her. He has her loyalty; he can see the worshipful devotion dark in her eyes. With a woman like Bellatrix, loyalty is all he needs to control her.
A/N: I could very well update later tonight if I don't do the other things I'm actually supposed to do. Thanks for your enthusiasm, guys and gals!