So sorry for the delay in updating. Christmas and all that was hectic and then I left for America for a while on the 2nd. I'm currently sat in a Motel room in LA as I've finished writing this chapter (going to Universal tomorrow!). Anywho . . .
Please read, enjoy and please please please do review if you have a moment.
The Purple Black
"Oh Bella," Narcissa grinned, reaching out and hugging her sister, "that's amazing news."
Bellatrix allowed her sister to hug her for a moment, wrapping one arm around her as she stared out into the grounds of her childhood home from the old marble bench they sat perched upon. She sighed and eventually pulled away from her grasp, pulling her cloak closer towards her against the slight chill of the September afternoon.
"How far along are you?" Narcissa asked, taking her sister's hand as she placed it on her knee.
"A couple of months I suppose?" Bellatrix said, shrugging slightly.
"You don't seem too happy about it . . ." Narcissa frowned.
"I am," Bellatrix forced a slight smile, knowing from the look her sister returned that she was not fooling her. She rolled her eyes, "it's unexpected."
"Well, you must have been trying?" Narcissa rolled her eyes, "You've been married for how long now? Six years?"
"Just about," Bellatrix murmured, "I suppose I didn't think it could happen . . . it's just . . . a shock."
"Well, I can imagine," Narcissa laughed slightly, "I personally would love a child, just one, that's more than enough. So long as it's a boy, obviously."
"Obviously," Bellatrix echoed.
"But we're in no rush," Narcissa sighed.
"Oh please, you've been married mere months," Bellatrix scoffed, "I have no doubt you'll have your perfect little boy soon. Then Mother will be fawning over you and how perfect you are yet again, none of the harassment and snide remarks I've had over children since I left the home. Merlin, you could probably go years without children and they wouldn't bat an eyelid."
"That's not true," Narcissa shook her head before she smiled slightly, squeezing her sister's hand in excitement as she stood to her feet, "but now you can go rub it in their faces! Tell everyone you're having a child—"
"No!" Bellatrix hissed, pulling her sister back down to sit beside her, "I'm not telling anyone—especially not them, heaven forbid they think I've done something right for once." Bellatrix couldn't help but smirk slightly in her own amusement.
"Well, I suppose," Narcissa huffed, "you'll want to wait until you're in your second trimester I suppose—"
"No," Bellatrix said firmly, looking into her sister's eyes as she put her right hand over her sister's, still tight in her grip upon her, "no-one can know."
"But, why?" Narcissa asked confusion etched on her features as she furrowed her brows, "Bella this is good news, you have to—"
"I don't and I won't," Bellatrix wrinkled her nose, "I don't even want to think of having that conversation with them."
"Why?" Narcissa asked, "They—"
"I said no," Bellatrix snapped, "I'm only telling you because you're my sister and Merlin knows I would never hear the end of it if I didn't. No-one else can know."
"But you'll show . . ."
"I'll hide it."
"You'll become as big as a house, Bella!" Narcissa whispered, "You can't hide something that big, it—"
"Disillusionment Charms work, I've researched it," Bellatrix interrupted, "I'll do that."
Narcissa looked to her sister, trying to read her, trying to find some sense in what her sister was saying she would do or find some reason as to why she would do it. She went slightly paler as a slight realisation hit her, "This is because of him, isn't it?"
Bellatrix considered the woman for a moment, chewing over her thoughts as she tried to decide what to say before she simply turned her head and looked back out to the grounds of the manor, "It's just the way it is, Narcissa. Don't question it."
The blonde witch went to speak again, though as she saw her sister's empty gaze she knew it was useless to question her further. She turned to face the grounds, leaning back on the bench as she silently rested her head on her sister's shoulder. She felt the older woman's arm shift, moving to wrap around her back as she absentmindedly stroked small circles on her shoulder.
"We used to sit like this all the time . . ." Narcissa breathed minutes later as if scared if she spoke too loudly she would make her eldest sister realise she was showing some form of affection, the sort she had not experienced in years, "we used to talk all the time . . . Sit in the grounds and just be in each other's company . . . What changed?"
Bellatrix stopped tracing circles on her sister's shoulder, she could feel the woman freeze up slightly beside her before she muttered her response in a dead tone, "You know, Cissa."
"Andr—"
"Don't," Bellatrix hissed, "don't speak that bitch's name to me."
"I . . ." Narcissa bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before she carried on, "I'm still here . . . I'm not leaving . . . But we've still drifted . . ."
Bellatrix stared numbly ahead of her. She dared not to speak of her thoughts but she could not help it as they rushed through her mind. Of course their relationship had changed. Andromeda had always been the peacekeeper, the sister to bring them together, the one to stop Bellatrix from hiding away from the world in her darkest moments, the one that encouraged her to carry on, to not let her difficult childhood break her, the one who kept her sane, the one that made sure Narcissa was still involved even if Bella could barely face being around one other person let alone two. She had always been closer to Andromeda, Narcissa was their third. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment as she gathered her thoughts.
"I'm sorry . . ." Bellatrix murmured, a sound so quiet that it was barely audible, "We won't drift . . . We'll stay together. It will be okay."
"Promise me?" Narcissa asked, just as quiet as her sister.
Bellatrix smiled slightly, squeezing her sister close to her briefly "Well, you're the only person that I've told about this baby, what does that say to you? I hardly want you to disappear on your niece or nephew, I fully expect you to be an overprotective Aunt who spoils this child rotten."
"Of course," Narcissa laughed.
"Now," Bellatrix took a deep breath as she stood, turning to look towards the manor she quickly looked down to her sister with a forced smile as she caught a glimpse of their father looking down at them from the windows of the sunroom, "I believe if we do not return to our husband's soon our parents may drive them insane."
Narcissa rolled her eyes with a smirk, though she gave a small nod and stood to her feet, walking back up to the Manor arm in arm with her sister.
"Bella?" Rodolphus knocked gently on the bathroom door, he had been stood there for at least five minutes alternating between quietly listening to see if his wife was okay and calling her name to try and get some sort of response from the woman. He sighed as she did not answer his call and knocked yet again, "Bella? Bellatrix—"
"Go away, Rodolphus!" Bellatrix cried out angrily from the other side of the door.
"Bella you've been in there for a long time, I—" Rodolphus stood back as the door swung open.
Bellatrix Lestrange glared furiously at the man as she wiped her mouth, her other hand gripped onto the door ready to slam it in his face again, "What part of go away do you not understand?"
"Are you okay?" Rodolphus asked, ignoring his wife's comment, he rolled his eyes and put his foot out as she went to slam the door in his face again.
"Rodolphus," Bellatrix hissed, "what on earth do you think a woman that is nearing three months pregnant is doing locked away in a bathroom for so long? Entertaining a group of young men? Throwing a party? Downing a bottle of fire whiskey and not inviting you in on the fun?"
The man hesitated for a moment, refraining himself from sighing at her for her comments. He was used to Bellatrix's sarcasm and snappy comments, however their unborn child seemed to be bringing out this side of her more and more often as of late. "I'm allowed to worry about you, Bellatrix," Rodolphus said simply, "you are carrying my child."
"Our child," Bellatrix hissed, abandoning her plight to lock herself back in the bathroom and barging past the man to walk towards their bedroom, "stop it."
She paused, she did not need to turn nor hear the man's footsteps to know that he had followed her. She waited for his response for a few moments, then with a groan of annoyance turned to look to him, raising an eyebrow she sighed "Do I need to curse you? Is that it? Because don't think I won't."
"Oh I know you would," Rodolphus couldn't help but laugh slightly before he shook his head, "but no. You're forgetting something."
Bellatrix frowned, "Forgetting something other than how much of an infuriating idiot my husband is?" she mocked concentration before she shook her head, "No, I believe that's all."
Rodolphus stepped forward as the witch tried to walk away, he took a risk as he grabbed her arm, luckily he knew her well enough to grab her wand arm a split second later as she reached for her wand, "Bella, we have places to be."
"I am not—!" Bella's face of frustrated anger soon turned into one of shocked realisation, her eyes wide as she swore under her breath. Her mind had been a mess of late, forgetting simple things and confusing matters that had once been so simple. Bellatrix had never thought she would forget a meeting though, not anything to do with her beloved master.
"We need to leave," Rodolphus said, "now."
Bellatrix swore again, going to apparate before she came to the realisation that she was stood in her nightgown and slippers. She ran to her room, Rodolphus quickly behind her.
"Why did you let me forget!?" Bellatrix hissed, wrenching off her nightgown and quickly summoning her dress.
"I didn't think you did forget," Rodolphus sighed, meeting his wife's furious glare as he handed her shoes to her, "you never forget."
"It's this damn child!" Bellatrix shook her head, quickly stepping into her shoes, "My mind is clouded, it's as if this thing is trying to imperius me from within, I—"
"Don't," Rodolphus said, his face suddenly serious as he grabbed his wife's hand, "you cannot use this child as an excuse for our lateness. He cannot think this child is making you stray from your duties to him."
Bellatrix opened her mouth, ready berate the man for his assumptions that she was straying from her duties, that she was anything but loyal. But she knew this was not the time, she simply nodded, gripping onto his hand more tightly she closed her eyes and let the feeling of side along apparation overtake her. The nausea was instant, making the woman sway on the spot for a moment though she did not stand still for long, quickly pulled by the tug of her husband's hand she forced her eyes open and strode beside him to where her master waited for them with the rest of the inner circle.
"Ah," the cold, high voice filled the room, sending a chill down the witches spine as she quickly let go of her husband's hand and bowed her head, "The Lestranges, how nice of you to finally join us."
The two chorused their greetings of 'My Lord', waiting for the man to gesture for them to move before they went to their seats, Bellatrix noting that her usual seat beside her Lord was occupied.
"My Lord, I—"
"I do not want to hear your excuses, Rodolphus," Voldemort rolled his eyes, "we have business to attend to, you have caused disruption enough for one day."
Bellatrix did not look at the man, her stomach was squirming with both the horror of disappointing her lord along with what was becoming the familiar pull of morning sickness. She ignored the smug smirk on Lucius' face as she tried to give Lord Voldemort her full attention.
"Rookwood," Lord Voldemort's voice carried across the room as he looked to his servant, "how fairs the department of mysteries?"
"No change, My Lord," Rookwood droned, "all is going to plan."
Lord Voldemort nodded, he carried on in his questioning, though Bellatrix had phased out. She became aware of the smallest of things, she could hear her heart beating in her chest, smell the obnoxious aftershave Lucius wore sat across from her, feel the subtle brushing of Rodolphus' hand against her leg. She closed her eyes, feeling the sweat bead on her forehead as her stomach continued to twist and turn.
"Bellatrix?" Voldemort hissed.
"My Lord?" Bellatrix breathed, forcing herself to look up to her master with as much concentration as she could gather at that moment, suddenly aware that it was not the first time he had called her name.
"Are we keeping you from something, Lestrange?" Lord Voldemort raised an eyebrow, his hand caressing his wand as it lay on the table before him.
Bellatrix quickly shook her head, ignoring the sniggers of her comrades. She was sure they were enjoying every moment of her suffering, every moment that showed her to not be the faithful, ruthless, perfect servant she had always been for The Dark Lord. She didn't care. She only cared that she did not appear to fail her beloved master in his eyes.
"N-No, My Lord," Bellatrix swallowed hard, clenching her fists in her lap as she tried with all of her might to fight down the bile rising in her throat.
"No?" Lord Voldemort repeated, tilting his head slightly as she shook her head vigorously, "How about yourself and Rodolphus, hmm? How goes your search for Dumbledore's band of fools? If I remember correctly you were closing in on more than one of them not long ago."
Rodolphus leant forward, gripping onto Bellatrix's hand underneath the table, "My Lord—"
"I believe I asked Bellatrix the question, Rodolphus," Lord Voldemort mused, "Has your wife lost her ability to speak?"
"N-No, My Lord," Bellatrix shook her head, "I—"
It was too late. There was no way in Bella's mind that she could allow her fellow Death Eater's, let alone her beloved master, see her in such a state. She knew what would happen next and there was only one logical answer in her mind as to what she would have to do. She threw her chair backwards as she rose to her feet, wrenching her hand from her husband she ran towards the door. She barely felt the invisible bonds that held her in place appear, standing awkwardly in place between her seat and the door, though the pressure on her waist did nothing to help what came next. The groans and swears of the men around her echoed across the room as she expelled the contents of her stomach onto the previously pristine hardwood flooring in front of her. She dared not open her eyes as she bent forward, falling to her knees the moment she felt the restraint release from her. She screwed her eyes shut again for a few moments, taking in large gulps of air every few moments until she was finally done. She forced the tears to stay within her dark eyes, though her face flushed in both her shame and anger at herself. The room was silent.
"M-My Lor—"
"Go home, Bellatrix," Lord Voldemort spoke with no emotion, a tone reflected in his features as Bellatrix looked towards him.
"I'm s—"
"Go home, Bellatrix," he repeated, this time it was clear the matter was not up for discussion.
Bellatrix slowly rose to her feet, drawing her wand as she vanished the mess before her. She could not bear to look up to her Lord again, bowing her head and muttering "My Lord," before walking from the room.
She disapparated to the outer grounds of Lestrange manor, letting the cold night air caress her heated skin as tears began to quietly escape down her pale cheeks. She was numb, unable to think of the events of the night nor the shame it had caused her. It was hours later when Rodolphus arrived back home, finding his wife curled on their bed staring blankly out of the window. She lifted her head slightly as he walked into their room. His face was clear of emotion and as Bellatrix went to open her mouth to try and ask the man what had happened after she had left he merely shook his head. She took a breath then nodded, resting her head back down upon the bed as she continued to stare aimlessly out onto the grounds. She listened as he took off his robes and changed into his nightclothes, feeling the weight of her husband lying behind her moments later. She was almost grateful as she felt his arm wrap around her, his hand gently laying upon their unborn child.
"It will be okay, Ma Belle," Rodolphus murmured as he kissed his wife's wild locks.
Bellatrix merely sighed, closing her eyes as she took hold of his hand in her own. Somehow she seriously doubted it would be fine.
