"This is not the time to break up this love, keep it together now; this is not the time to break down."

-Breakdown

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The plans were difficult to create. Sirius would spend hours on his own, pretending to mope by Buckbeak, while in reality he was going over the mental exercises of what he would be doing. Bellatrix would continue her duties as a Deatheater, but attempt to funnel a large percentage of her "kills" into hiding. From that point, Sirius could take the victimized across the sea and arrange passage to anywhere in the Americas. It wasn't a flawless plan, and it had many places where it could go wrong, but since it was the right thing there was little doubt it would do good.

Bellatrix worked hard on shielding her mind, putting craziness before the blocks to explain why her inner workings were not functional. The Dark Lord bought it completely, thinking she was his loyal and crazed queen of darkness. And Bella began to manuever the working so that they could go for the prophesy...

One of the rare nights it was possible, she lay awake in Sirius' arms staring at the star-laden sky and sighing. "Siri," she asked, "are we crazy, doing this?"

"Probably."

"What happens if we- if one of us doesn't make it out of the war alive?"

Sirius caught his breath. "I don't know, Bella."

Bellatrix had already known the answer. She had heard it in her heart. But to listen to the words spoek aloud was almost too much.

"I don't want to lose you," she breathed lightly.

"Nor I you." Sirius squeezed her tight. "We need a promise to each other. A reason to get through no matter what happens."

Bellatrix could only nod. "A promise."

"Your husband won't make it if we win."

Rodolphus would rather die than live in a world where Potter was hailed as a hero, true. "Probably."

"We could get married."

"We're cousins."

"We'll make new identities. Won't let it be seen. You and I could be married, and happily. What do you say, Bella? Will you marry me, when the war is over and we can both safely leave this place?"

Bellatrix squeeled, nestling into the hold Sirius had on her. "Yes," she whispered. "I'll survive for that. To be yours."

While she was unable to see his smile clearly, Bellatrix could feel the glee in her love's body. She sighed happily. For right now, she was a woman in love. Tomorrow she would be back to normal, but for now she could just be happy with her star burning no longer on the outside- but deep inside of her.