The Warrior and Her Prince
(Bellatrix/Regulus)
By MatoakaWilde
Dear Mother,
I miss home very much. This school is freezing and I am very uncomfortable. I must hunt down house elves just to get extra blankets! And worse yet, some mudblood Hufflepuff has taken to fancying me, and I ASSURE you I have repeatedly made it clear that I want NOTHING to do with her and her filthy lot. But she is quite stupid and continues to harass me in the hallways—even after I hexed her! Anyway, as you know next weekend is Valentine's Day, and I fear she might be just so bold as to do something really terrible and embarrass me in front of the entire school. Maybe send me a singing telegram or put love potion in my pumpkin juice. What I'm saying mother is that you must help me! I CANNOT be on school grounds this weekend. I might end up using an Unforgivable! Help me! I MUST come home next weekend.
Love, your son,
Regulus
My Poor Darling,
Of course I will protect you from that DISGUSTING girl. I will send an owl to the Headmaster straight away and explain this most unfortunate situation. I must say I am very proud of how you are handling this. If only your wretched ex-cousin who must not be named had possessed the sensibility you do. I am relieved I have raised at least ONE son to take pride in his blood. I will send Kreacher to fetch you after your classes next Friday. For the House of Black must be protected!
Sincerely,
Your Mother
P.S. Which hex did you use? Perhaps next time you should do something a bit more devastating to the bitch. She must realize she can NEVER have you.
Regulus reread his mother's reply for the seventh time as he waited for Kreacher in the Slytherin common room. He didn't know when the house elf would show up, only that it would be sometime after five. Presently it was four forty-six. Regulus hoped nothing would spoil his plan.
In reality, there were no girls lusting after him. There was not a Hufflepuff mudblood stalking him. He had made it all up. The only truth his letter had held was that occasionally he did suffer through the odd chilly night—apart from that though, pure fiction.
Really the letter he'd sent was part of a greater scheme then just fooling his mother into making the Headmaster let him go home for a weekend. His main goal was not actually to go home at all, but to see Bellatrix.
--Oi! What're you doing, sitting there with that bag?
One of the Slytherin prefects came over to Regulus from across the room. The prefect nudged Regulus' bag with his foot. It fell over. Regulus picked it up and held it in his lap.
--I'm leaving for the weekend. I've got permission from the Headmaster.
Regulus produced a piece of parchment from his pocket. The prefect seemed uninterested in the note.
--Let me see what's in your bag.
--Why.
Regulus hated prefects—Gryffindor and Slytherin ones alike. They all acted the same, like giant arrogant self-important ministry officials. And this particular prefect had a particular bone to pick with Regulus. Just the week prior Regulus had made a house elf sing a love poem to one of the first year Slytherin boys. And Regulus had made sure the house elf would tell the poor first year just who'd sent him to sing: the prefect.
It had been hilarious. He'd gotten detention with Slughorn, but it had been worth it.
--I SAID, let me see what's in your bag!
The prefect snatched the bag from Regulus and began pulling stuff out; socks, a shirt, underwear, then he stopped. He held a box of chocolates in his hand. The box was olive green and bordered in silver. It was in the shape of a heart. The prefect chuckled to himself.
--What's this now? Was this received or is it to be given?
Regulus' brows slanted.
--Give it back Rosier.
--Let me guess, it's for James Potter. He's quite popular, isn't he? You would never guess what I caught two of our very own first year girls doing in the Gryffindor locker-room.
--I could care less. And it's not for anyone. My mum sent them to me.
--You're mum's your Valentine? Should've guessed. I mean, I know your family likes to keep it pure, but—
--STUPEFY!
Red light shot out at Rosier and the prefect fell to the ground, unmoving.
Regulus didn't care how many detentions he would get or how many House points he would loose. No one was allowed to say such things about his mother or his family.
He heard a loud cracking pop. He turned his head. The family house elf Kreacher stood behind him. Regulus grinned. He'd come to feel something like love toward the elf that he'd known his whole life. Regulus didn't really have any 'best' friends, and he figured Kreacher was really the only one qualified for such a title, though he'd never told anyone this.
--Fantastic! Kreacher, you've arrived just in time.
Kreacher bowed his head.
--No Master Regulus, you are mistaken! Kreacher is thirty-two seconds late from when he had planned to arrive. He tired to come sooner, but Master Regulus' bed needed fresh linens.
Regulus laughed at the house elf's seriousness.
--No matter Kreacher. We must be going though. I don't want to be here when they find out about that.
Regulus pointed to the unconscious prefect who still clutched the box of chocolates in his hand.
--Of course Young Master! Let me gather your things!
Regulus dumped his bag into Kreacher's arms and watched the house elf gather the clothes Rosier had tossed onto the floor.
--Oh and Kreacher, will you get that green box right there? It's mine and I would be very sad not to have it.
--Certainly Master! I would love to!
The little house elf eagerly crouched down to the stupefied prefect. Kreacher's small gray fingers delicately pried the box out of the prefect's grasp and tucked it underneath his arm. The elf then held out his free hand, which Regulus readily grabbed hold of.
With a loud crack, they were gone.
Another Valentine's Day alone, Bellatrix mused to herself as she washed down a mouthful of chocolate covered shortbread with fire whiskey and tea—a drink she had developed a taste for.
Rodolphus, for one reason or another, always seemed to be away on February 14th. Work, the Dark Lord, and other such obligations always came first. Bellatrix didn't mind though, he always made up for it. Earlier that day an owl had delivered a box of bakery and a dirty letter he'd written describing all the things he would do to her when he got back. She had laughed for hours. Rodolphus could be so silly sometimes.
As she finished her tea she looked out of the window at the hazy sky. A mixture of rain and not quite snow was starting to fall. During the night it would all freeze into ice. She was glad she was not expected to be anywhere. Though there was a downside to sitting around the house with nowhere to go and nothing to do. She was bored.
She sighed. It seemed like a good a time as any to check to see if she had finally gotten pregnant.
Since their second year of marriage, she and Rodolphus had tried to conceive a child, failing repeatedly. She blamed him. He blamed her. About once a month they would fight.
Having a child was something she was beginning to obsess over. Not only did she feel it was her duty to prolong the great House of Black, but everywhere she went she felt herself surrounded by more and more mudblood scum. She felt she had an obligation to fight such a trend.
She went to a small cupboard and lifted out a large metal case. She put the case on the table and opened it. Inside was a miscellaneous assortment of things; miniature bottles, empty and full vials, strange little silver tools, and compartments with different potions ingredients.
She took out one of the empty vials, over which she held the tip of a one of her fingers. Using the sharp end of one of the silver tools, she pricked her fingertip. A small dot of blood slowly made its way to the surface. With her thumbnail she pressed onto the minuscule wound, collecting the blood she milked into the vile.
Only a few drops were needed. In no time at all she pointed her wand at her finger, healing it instantly.
With the vial of blood now procured she looked through the metal case once more and removed from it a little glass bottle. It was made of iridescent purple glass and on the label was the face of a happy baby.
Carefully Bellatrix poured a small measured amount of the bottle's contents into the vial. The bottle's liquid was clear, but when it hit the blood both the liquid and the blood began to rapidly change color. Red to green to brown to yellow. Bellatrix watched it impatiently, swirling the mixture in hopes of agitating to react faster. The color finally settled on a pleasant powdery white, and ceased to change.
Bellatrix screamed and threw the vial, which shattered upon the stone-tiled floor.
The result had obviously not been the desired one.
Tears of rage swam in her eyes. She let out more screams; each filled with more emotion then the last. Her howls sounded like that of a wild beast. She continued to scream and cry as she began to destroy anything that happened to be around her. She threw her empty teacup against the wall and then threw the box of Valentine's biscuits Rodolphus had sent into the air, aimed her wand at them, and made them explode.
Then she fell to the floor, and covered her face with her hands. She took a ragged breath.
There was a knock at the door.
The plan had come to him months ago on a November night, just after he'd finished masturbating.
On Valentine's Day he would tell Bellatrix, in person, how he felt about her. If he had to sneak out of school to do so he would. He would show up on her doorstep, preferably with a gift of some kind, and profess his love (in his fantasy Rodolphus was always inexplicitly absent).
He would tell her that she was the only one he loved, the only one he could ever love. That he didn't care if she was ten years older, or if she was married or if she was his cousin. She would be so moved by his pledge of allegiance that she would have no choice but love him back. Then they could begin a secret affair. Rent rooms together. That sort of thing.
It all seemed terribly romantic to him, and the more time that passed the more energy he put into thinking about it.
Now almost three months later, there he was, standing in front of Bellatrix's door. Without thinking about it any longer, knocked. Immediately he regretted it. He felt his heart drumming within his chest.
There was no response. He had never considered that she might not be even home when he came calling. He felt sick to his stomach. He knocked again. She had to be here. No answer. He knocked again. No answer. He knocked again. He felt desperate.
Before he could knock again the door opened.
Bellatrix stood before him.
He thought he might faint.
She hadn't bothered to clean up any of the mess she'd made, and as she sat staring curiously at her young cousin, she fiddled with a piece of broken teacup. Regulus glanced about at the rubbish strewn throughout the normally meticulous room.
--Is this ah, um, a bad time?
Bellatrix smiled, what he must be thinking! Surprisingly she did not feel ashamed about the mess. On the contrary. She found the situation quite amusing.
--No. Not at all. Why do you ask?
Regulus blushed.
--Er, no reason.
They sat in silence a moment longer. Bellatrix made no move to offer him anything to eat or drink. She just sat looking at the young boy, barely fifteen. Some said that Sirius was the more handsome brother, but she did not agree, and not just because she despised Sirius and his treacherous behavior. No, Regulus was the more appetizing of the two, with his round face, high check bones, and thick black hair, Bellatrix had always fancied him a male version of herself.
--So why are you here again? Bellatrix asked matter-of-factly. She had never understood the necessity of manners.
Regulus looked slightly bewildered. He just stared at her. She wondered if the boy was all right. She was about to ask again when he practically shouted,
--I LOVE YOU!
Bellatrix regarded the boy will a peculiar look, slightly confused.
--Yes…I suppose I love you as well little cousin. After all, we are family.
Regulus began to get a bit red in the face.
What in the world is going on? I wonder if he has been poisoned. Too bad I'm all out of bezoars, Bellatrix thought, he better not drop dead on my floor. I will have none of that.
Then Regulus got out of his seat and walked up to her, presenting her with a green heart-shaped box from inside the bag he carried. Bellatrix took it, smirking.
--What's this?
--Read the card.
Sure enough a little envelope was stuck to the back of the box. Bellatrix ripped it open. Inside was a plain ivory card.
Dearest Bellatrix,
Your eyes are nothing like the sun. Coral is much redder than your lips. If snow is white, then your breasts are dun. If hairs are wires, black wires grow on your head. I have seen red and white roses, but I see no roses in your cheeks, and perfume smells much better than your breath. I love to hear you speak, though your voice doesn't sounds as beautiful as music. And yet I think you are wonderful and rare, without compare.
With the love of a thousand stars,
Regulus
Bellatrix finished reading the note and at once began giggling with delight, which soon escalated into hysterical laughter. Regulus mistook her pleasure for mockery. His face went pure scarlet.
--You don't have to laugh… He managed to mumble.
She looked at him and laughed even harder, tears leaking from her eyes.
--Fine. I get it…Okay? I'm just going to go. I'll let myself out.
Regulus started to shuffle out of the room, his head down, defeated.
--No! Please. Don't go! Bellatrix managed to choke out between giggles.
Regulus turned around and looked at her, all hope gone from his face.
--Why? So you can laugh at me some more?
He sounds so pathetic, she thought, before collecting herself, trying to calm down.
--No. Not so I can laugh at you.
Regulus gave her a brief little half-smile and hesitantly returned to his seat.
--So, you think you love me? Bellatrix asked smiling.
--I know I do. I love no one but you.
His serious tone almost reignited her hysteria. She stifled it, thought barely.
--What's in this box then?
--Chocolates. I selected them all myself at—
--Incendio!
--Hey!
The box burst into flames. Ashes sprinkled down into Bellatrix's lap.
--It's a rule I have. Never eat anything given to you by an obsessive maniac—it could very well spiked with something. Box of Chocolates, Valentine's Day? So very basic. Slughorn's just taught you how to brew amortentia, has he?
--I am not an obsessive maniac.
--Of course you're not darling.
--And I don't even know how to brew a swelling solution, let alone amorentia…
--Is that so?
--YES IT IS! Regulus roared angrily.
Bellatrix smiled. The boy was handsome, cute really. Bellatrix actually did feel slightly flattered that he felt so strongly about her.
--So back to my initial question, which you never sufficiently answered, why are you here? She paused, then added, What do you hope to accomplish?
She re-crossed her legs and while eyeing him, dropping the piece of porcelain she had been playing with to the floor.
--I, I, er, I just wanted to…tell you how I felt. I mean um…it's Valentine's Day?
Oh the poor boy, he is really quite sad, she thought, what am I to do with him?
She continued looking at him, and he out the window. Aside from his determined silliness, he did remind her a lot of herself. The way he sat, how his hair looked in the light...and she too remembered getting dismal marks in potions. To Bellatrix his most attractive quality was the fact that he appeared so similar to her.
Suddenly a thought occurred to her.
She left her seat and moved to the small settee that Regulus occupied. Without stalling she pressed her lips to his, giving him a long serious kiss, which he readily gave into.
If Rodolphus couldn't get her pregnant perhaps her handsome cousin could.
Regulus thought that a great error had occurred when Bellatrix leaned forward and kissed him. She must have fallen or something, he thought. Was she really kissing him?
But he could taste her mouth, her spit wet his lips, and she wasn't pulling away. When the kiss ended Bellatrix gently caressed his face, making his skin erupt into goosepimples.
--What are you doing?
A stupid thing to ask, he knew, but he just couldn't juxtapose what was happening now to what had transpired earlier.
--Making your visit worthwhile.
She kissed his ear, then whispered into it,
--Rewarding your efforts.
Then she kissed his neck, and it felt so good he could scarcely stand it. But something fought in his mind to be said.
--Do you love me?
Bellatrix looked up at him. She seemed mildly surprised. She smiled at him and said looking straight into his eyes,
--With the love of a thousand stars.
Regulus almost couldn't take it, he had to hold himself back, it was all so much. He felt like he was in the middle of one of his fantasies.
Bellatrix took his hand and stood up. Instinctively he stood as well.
--Come now; let us go someplace more…comfortable.
She walked towards her bedroom. He followed willingly.
Regulus lay on the bed staring up at Bellatrix's face with longing and doubt. His dark brown eyes tried to penetrate hers, but she gave nothing away. Her face beamed down at him like a Cheshire cat's.
--I've never done, er, uh…
Bellatrix sat atop his waist, straddling him. Regulus isn't wearing a shirt and neither is she. All she wore were her knickers, which are anything but modest. As she unzipped his trousers she began to kiss his chest.
--Don't worry my little Prince, she purred, I'm here to…help.
After she freed Regulus from the confines of his underwear her mouth briefly lingered between his legs before she lowered her lips. A noise escaped Regulus that sounded like he was choking.
--Bella—
She looked up, normally she hated when people called her that, but they way Regulus said it touched something within her.
--Yes?
--I…I love you.
And she wasn't completely lying when she said,
--I love you too.
When it was over Regulus watched Bellatrix lay on her side, her head turned away from him. He was afraid to touch her. He didn't want to ruin anything. He savored the moment, failing to intellectualize any of it.
Then he remembered something. He leaned over the bed and reached into the pocket of his discarded trousers.
--I almost forgot. He said cautiously, I…I got this for you.
Bellatrix turned around. She was handed a thin silver band. She inspected it.
--Look on the inside.
She did. Engraved in neat lettering was: 'To Bella—I love thee, Ab imo pectore, Ad infinitum, I love thee.'
Bellatrix didn't say anything.
--What, er, what, do you like it? What do you think?
Bellatrix fidgeted with the ring, but didn't put it on. A sharp pain struck her and she felt overwhelmed by an unfamiliar feeling.
--I think you should go back to school.
He looked at her with perplexity. She barely returned his eye contact. And when he didn't make any move to get up she suddenly became very angry.
--Don't you have some homework to do? An essay on the uses of unicorn hair or something?
--What? Why are you so angry?
--I'm angry because I've been a good hostess and now I'm asking you to leave and you won't.
--A good hostess?
--Yes. I entertained you so now you can go.
--Entertained me?
--What are you, are parrot?
--No.
--Rodolphus will be back soon, she lied. Go on, get!
As Regulus dressed Bellatrix stared at the wall opposite him and gazed into a mirror at her reflection. She lost track of time. Before he left she heard him call a 'good-bye' in the most pathetically polite way, so much so it nauseated her.
When she heard the front door gently close she gave the silver ring one last look before violently flinging it out of the room. She couldn't bear being near it. She kept her eyes locked on her reflection and began to scream until her throat hurt.
Three weeks later Rodolphus is on his way to bed when something catches the light and sparkles in his eye. He kneels down onto the oriental hallway rug and begins searching for what he just barely saw.
What's this? He thinks as he finds the ring. He hears Bellatrix calling to him, I'm coming, he says.
He looks more closely at the ring, trying to remember if he recognizes it. He is just about to shrug it off and pocket it when he notices some lettering on the inside of the band.
He reads it.
He knows it's not from him.
He gets angry. Furious.
What has been going on in this house when he's away?
Bellatrix calls to him again. He says nothing, but goes to her.
He keeps asking, but she won't say where the ring came from, or who gave it to her.
They have a fight. A really bad fight.
This time Bellatrix does not win.
The next day she has a miscarriage.
She tries her best never to talk to Regulus again. Even when they both become Death Eaters she will go out of her way to ignore him.
He will never find out why.
A/N: 'Ab imo pectore, Ad infinitum' 'From the bottom of my chest/heart, without limit/to infinity'
Also Regulus' love letter was adapted from Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 (My Mistress' Eyes are Nothing Like the Sun). I figured what could scream 'Valentine's Day' more then a little plagiarism provided by ole Willy S.
Oh and story took place in Regulus' fourth year, I made him have an early birthday so he'd turn 15 while still being a 4th year. Yes, that means a 15 and 24/25 year old hooked up. It turned out quite unfortunate for both of them, don't you think?