Chapter 10-Love and Being in Love

Fly Away- John Denver & Olivia Newton-John

"What was Bellatrix's reaction to being passed on to the French country?"

"You can guess her reaction, Bella being the woman she is." The uppity older blonde woman shrugged with narrowed eyes. "As a pureblood daughter we were expected to marry without complaint and in the end she embraced it. Friendship between Britain and France must be cemented in marriage. My eldest daughter, Bella, shall be Queen of Île des Tribunaux."

"Mother said we'll be able to tag along!" Narcissa bounced enthusiastically on Bellatrix bed.

Bellatrix smiled through clenched teeth as the tugging on the corset tightened more and more.

"Stop that girl!" Druella chided Narcissa through the large mirror. "You look like a senseless puffskein."

Narcissa immediately stopped her movements before smirking at Andromeda who sat in the far corner of Bellatrix's room sitting at her vanity. Andromeda shook her head before turning her attention back on Bellatrix.

"You stupid creatures," Druella muttered knocking Tippy from the stool she stood on. "A corset is supposed to give a woman a silhouette. It looks dumpy on her. I will not have you ruin my reputation because Bellatrix looks like low class muggle!"

Druella kicked the house elf out the room as she took hold of the strings on Bellatrix's corset. Bellatrix dangled a treat above Tom as she got on his hind legs jumping from it. Bellatrix giggled as he turned in a circle.

"A pureblood woman is to be sophisticated…a member of high society. You should…be glad you're father has chosen young Lestrange as your…betrothed. She's to be an accomplished lady of quality devoted to her duties. I can't think of anything that would stand in the way of a singularly happy marriage." Druella tied the corset and stared at her daughter's chemise. "You could have married a 30 year old when you turned 18."

Bellatrix's attention snapped to her. Druella had a faint purplish bruise on her shoulder to the crook on her neck.

"As long as he was pureblood, rich and had a good status." Bellatrix replied as easily as she could. Her mother smiled with satisfaction. It was the best response to that statement.

"Narcissa…Andromeda assist your sister with her dress." Druella ordered as she swept out the room.

Andromeda immediately jumped up at the opportunity to tend to Bellatrix's corset. She loosed the knot on the corset. Bellatrix felt a breath of fresh air as she was able to breathe more easily.

"Thank…you." She said through deep breaths.

"Mother finds out you loosened it…," Narcissa sang as she smoothed over Bellatrix's dress robe.

"She's not!" Bellatrix bit back as she braced herself on the wall as Andromeda loosened the tie, "How about you just past the blasted dress?"

Bellatrix's dress was a long sleeve, white pannier cotton dress. It draped the floor, just stopping an inch. Narcissa handed Bellatrix her nude pea coat.

Bellatrix finished tying the buttons on the coat and shrugged her shoulders. She pushed a nude ribbon back on her waist long hair.

She crossed over to her vanity and sat down gazing around her near empty room. The elves already packed away her old clothes and things.

"Please say something, Bella!" Andromeda's voice cracked as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Why?"

"You cannot be happy about this. You and Rodolphus just started dating!" Andromeda crossed her arms defiantly.

"I remember the first time I ever saw him," Bellatrix admired with a smile. "He was so arrogant. I know why now. Now I know he's the one I want to marry. He has all the qualities I need for a comfortable life."

Andromeda's mouth dropped. "You can't be serious! Bella, we have always talked about falling in love."

"Don't look at me like that, Andy." Bellatrix replied firmly. "This is a sign. He feels that same way too."

"Bella, even at school, while you and he were dating 'exclusively', he still flirted with other girls. You know this!" Narcissa watched the conversation as she fidgeted nervously.

"Why are you not happy for me?" Bellatrix asked calmly with a hostile undertone as she narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. "Has it not occurred to you my husband is in love with me?"

"No he is not." Andromeda said as if it was the most obvious. "Quite the opposite, I fear."

Bellatrix looked down at her hands passively. Her eyes fluttered with tears and her face turned hard towards Andromeda.

"That's enough."

XXXXXX

Bellatrix looked out the window at the Black Mansion. Her mother and father stood on their steps with Leo. She and her sisters sat in the family's all black carriage. They were surrounded by about 30 Aurors for escorting. Apparently, many people disapproved of the Ministry's decision on the alliance.

"Remember our family motto." Druella insisted coldly. Even though her eldest daughter was leaving home for good, she still remained aloof.

"Toujour pur," The family said in unison. It was a practice among the Black family for centuries. Bellatrix's first word was the baby form of the motto, "two-door poo".

"Also, listen closely to Ambassador Florimond Claude," Druella insisted.

Ambassador Claude was a man about 45 years old. His hair was greying and he wore fine robes. He was a stiff man who looked worried about everything.

"I'll take very good care of your daughters." He said with a slight bow at Cygnus.

Cygnus nodded as Bellatrix gave him a small smile. He inclined his head acknowledging her.

Leo quickly strolled to the carriage and grasped Bellatrix's hands that she had grasping the open window of the carriage. He clenched his mouth as Bellatrix kissed his fist.

"Don't be sad." She whispered as his eyebrows furrowed.

"I'll miss you. You'll knock the French dead." He smirked slightly. "Don't stop owling me."

"Only…if you don't stop," she said quickly whacking his shoulder lightly, grinning. She was happy he didn't give her grief about her nuptial.

As he backed away from the carriage, it immediately rolled off.

Bellatrix sat back in the carriage. Narcissa sat next to her and Andromeda sat across from them on Bellatrix's side. Tom sat on the bench with her on his own pillow. It was custom to ride by carriage in to the edge of British territory first then, proceed to the Island which was between Britain and France. Bellatrix thought it was a load of hippogriff dung.

For the first few hours of the ride the girls were entertained by the sights of the English country and playing cards until the ride brought them to sleep. Bellatrix was the last to fall asleep as she gazed out the window at the darkening sky. She petted Tom who was wedged in between her and Narcissa.

"Bella," Andromeda began groggily as she leaned on a pile of pillows. "What are you doing? Are you enjoying the avenue?" She yawned.

Bellatrix sat back leaning on Narcissa's head as she gave the drowsy Andromeda a tentative smile.

"I'm saying good-bye."

XXXXXX

THUMP! THUMP!

Bellatrix immediately awoke to the sound of someone knocking on the carriage door. The other girls stirred awake directly after her.

"Are we there yet?" Bellatrix asked groggily as the door opened.

"Yes, mademoiselle," Ambassador Claude smiled slightly. "We have arrived to the first destination. Our next destination will be near wizarding Versailles."

Bellatrix held Tom close to herself as she and Ambassador Claude walked to a large white tent. Narcissa and Andromeda flanked her a few feet behind. They came to an older woman who stood at the entrance of the tent. Maids waited further inside.

She wore a deep red gown with black ruffles. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into an elaborate twist. She had a lot of makeup on to try and cover her wrinkles as if she did not want to age.

"Mme. Black this is Madame. She will be your protocol instructor. She is to teach you the fine customs of French society."

"Bonjour," she greeted with a bow. Her voice held a thick French accent.

Bellatrix shoved Tom to Ambassador Claude to give Madame a hug, who was quite taken aback by her actions. Bellatrix smiled at Madama before grabbing Tom back again.

"This marquee was built for your transition to heiress of Île des Tribunaux. You will bid adieu to your party on British soil and step on to French soil," she said in a low, husky voice.

Bellatrix nodded at her before turning around to her sisters. They huddled with their foreheads resting on one another's. Their eyes brimmed with tears.

"This is it, girls." Bellatrix whispered her voice cracking.

"I'll miss you." Andromeda replied to Bellatrix, smiling as Tom brushed his head on her chin.

"You'll visit, right?"

"Of course," Narcissa wept. "The Black sisters have to stay together somehow. We'll always be together no matter what." Bellatrix grinned at her sisters.

"Together."

Bellatrix stepped away from the girls briefly nodded to them before turning around to Madame. She took a deep breath before stepping onto the tarp inside the tent. She could hear Narcissa and Andromeda walking away. She figured that the British Aurors also left. Before she could even take her second step, Tom was snatched from her arms by Madame.

"Tom!" She cried trying to reach for him as an officer took the puppy away.

"You can have as many French dogs as you like." Madame replied emotionlessly as she guided Bellatrix further inside. "It is custom that the bride retains nothing belonging to a foreign court."

The maids made quick movements to remove Bellatrix's clothes in the middle of the open tent. They even removed the nude ribbon she adored. She noticed that the guards turned away. She felt exposed as the maids help her remove her underclothes…in the forest. She was naked for all eyes to see.

She was given a new dress. It was baby blue and trimmed with white ruffles much to her dismay. The maids whipped their wand and her hair was tightly pinned back in pin curls. They placed a topsy turvy hat on her head that had a large white feather, much to her dismay.

Bellatrix took a deep breath as she exited the tent for all the escorts to see. Then it truly hit her.

This was it.

Okay, so Bellatrix is on her way to France. I know I refer Île des Tribunaux as France constantly. I'm still debating on just calling it Tribunaux because the name is so long. It's a principality like Monaco. It's a large wizarding island that Muggles can't see.

I know you are wondering why Bellatrix changed her views on her marriage. She knows she has no other choice but to go through with the marriage. She's trying to embrace it the best way she can and if that means convincing herself she loves Rodolphus and vice versa then so be it.