Author's Note: For those who are a little shaky on the timeline, this is in three years into the First Wizarding War, and around four years before Regulus joins the Death Eaters. Your feedback is always welcome, so please do review. I hope you enjoy this section and have enjoyed it so far. Thank you for reading.

April 1973

"Those are troll tracks; I'm sure of it," her father told the group.

Either that or half-giant, Bellatrix somewhat sarcastically thought, following her father through the darkness. On second thought, she wouldn't mind if it were a half-giant. Hunting a half-breed would be more fun than hunting a troll, anyway.

"Do you think the troll's nearby?" Regulus whispered.

"Yes, son," Uncle Orion nodded. "The rain stopped recently enough that it must have left that print recently."

"I'll lead," her father quietly told them. "Bella, you follow directly behind me. Rodolphus and Orion guard the rear. Regulus, stay in the middle where you're protected, and don't put your wand away, no matter what. Remember the spells we taught you."

The group moved quietly through the dark woods over the rough mountain terrain. Bellatrix kept her wand ready, pointed at an angle so that she could shoot around her father easily if a troll were to come crashing out of the woods in their direction.

Her father stopped to listen. "There's a creek down there. He'll probably be in that direction."

The crept down toward the stream. As they exited the trees a giant troll sat by the stream ripping the limb off of a dead stag and eating the flesh raw. "Forest or mountain troll?" Bellatrix quickly asked.

"Mountain, and he's clearly hungry. We'll have to be careful with this one," her father returned, walking carefully from their cover in the trees.

With a wave of his wand he shot a stunning spell at the troll. It was really just to get the trolls attention. The troll stood and looked at them. Uncle Orion joined them, shooting a jelly-legs jinx at the troll. It stubbled, but didn't fall. She shot a stinging hex at the troll's eyes. It noticed that and roared in pain. They went around in a circle for a few rounds, shooting spells at the troll to weaken it.

"Bella, teach Reg something fun," Rodolphus yelled when it came to her turn. He knew her well enough to know what she wanted to do, that watching these small doses of pain was just making her crave more.

A small smile flicked across her lips "Crucio." The effect wasn't as dramatic as what happened to a human, but it was enough to please Bellatrix, with the troll falling and shrieking. She held it, loving the power she felt, feeling a charge from her complete control. Finally, she let go.

Uncle Orion turned to Regulus. "Try it, just like Cousin Bella showed."

Regulus held his wand at the ready. "I'm allowed?"

"It's a troll; no one cares," her father laughed. "Besides, the Ministry can't control London; they aren't watching what happens in Skye."

"Crucio," he yelled. Nothing happened.

"You have to mean it, Reg. You have to want to cause pain. He's a nasty troll. He's unworthy of life. Show him who's in charge!" Bellatrix yelled across the ring of wizards, trying to charge her twelve-year-old cousin with enough fury to accomplish the curse.

"Crucio," he yelled again. This time the troll let out a small cry of pain. It wasn't enough to truly take down the troll like her curse had been, though. If anything, the troll grew more agitated.

"Crucio," Regulus tried a third time. This time the troll jumped up and charged. Regulus froze with fear.

The troll lifted Regulus, ready to bite him in half with a chomp of it jaws. Streams of light, including her own bounced off the troll, but were making no difference in its rage. "Avada Kedavra," she shrieked, sending the curse at the troll's torso.

The troll dropped Regulus, and fell with the force of a tree. "Reg," she cried, running to his side. "Are you okay?"

He sobbed but nodded, grabbing onto her.

Uncle Orion joined them."Regulus, you didn't break anything, did you?"

Regulus shook his head. "It's all right; you're just a little shaken. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you to try that," Uncle Orion apologized to his son.

Bellatrix took out her canteen and gave Regulus a drink. "You did a good job," she told him. "It's hard the first time."

Regulus handed her canteen back and she took a sip. Her father emerged from behind the troll. "Dead. Very effective, Bella. Very good thinking," he praised her.

"That's why she's the Dark Lord's favorite," Rodolphus quietly observed.

"Rodolphus, help me here a moment. One that fought this hard ought to be cut up for trophies," her father observed.

"I had better take Regulus home," Uncle Orion told her father regretfully. "I was hoping we'd kill at least two tonight, but he's too shaken to keep hunting."

Regulus held Bellatrix tighter. "I don't want to leave Cousin Bella," he sniffed.

Bellatrix thought for a moment. "I can take him home. I had my fun for tonight. You three keep hunting."

"Please don't tell Walburga what happened," Uncle Orion begged her.

"I'll say we were tired of walking around in the rain and mud," Bellatrix reassured him. "You won't tell, will you Regulus?"

He shook his head. "No," he quietly said.

"Okay, Regulus, hold on tight," she commanded him, apparating to the steps of Grimmauld Place. The home allowed her and Regulus to enter.

Kreacher promptly appeared to take their coats and muddy boots. "Master Regulus, may Kreacher bring you something, maybe warm milk?" the elf asked, seeing Regulus was upset.

"Kreacher, that would be lovely. Please take Master Regulus up to his room and bring him some warm milk," Bellatrix instructed him.

"Yes, Mistress Bella," Kreacher bowed low.

Bellatrix walked back to the drawing room, her stockings sliding on the wood floors. Her mother, Narcissa, and Aunt Walburga were gossiping with one empty bottle of wine and another half empty in front of them.

"Bella, sit down. Accio goblet." Aunt Walburga greeted her.

"Thank you," Bellatrix replied. A goblet flew past her, which Walburga failed to catch. "Reparo." Bellatrix tapped it and poured herself a glass of wine.

"Was it so awful that you came home this early? Didn't I tell you to stay here with us?" her mother cackled. It wasn't that early; her mother had clearly lost track of time after a certain amount of wine.

"It was wet and muddy, and Regulus was afraid," Bellatrix explained.

"I don't blame him. I'd rather spend time with unicorns than trolls, myself," Narcissa giggled.

"It's because of Sirius. He was teasing Regulus awfully that he was going to be eaten by a troll," Walburga explained.

"Older brothers can be awful. My brother used to do things like that," Druella lamented.

"Where is Sirius?" Bellatrix asked.

"He decided to spend the Easter Holiday at school," Walburga coldly commented.

An awkward silence descended over them. "I'm going to go say good night to Regulus and then go to bed myself," she told them.

She drained her glass and walked up the steps to her cousin's room. She knocked quietly. He opened the door, no longer crying, but with red eyes. "Reg, are you feeling better?"

He nodded. "Can we talk?"

"Of course," she walked into his room, and they sat on his bed.

"Are you really the Dark Lord's favorite?" he asked quietly.

"I'd like to think so. He knows I'm one of his most loyal, and he values that," she told him.

"Someday, I'd like to join the Dark Lord. Someday, I want to be as powerful as you," he told her.

"You will be welcomed among the Death Eaters. If you practice, you will be skillful, and if you are loyal, and your heart is as pure as the blood in your veins, he will value you," she softly told Regulus.

"Thank you. I love you, Bella," he told her.

"I love you, too, Reg." She ruffled his hair and stood to leave. She paused for a moment. "You really did do well tonight." With that, she left her cousin, and settled into one of the rooms designated for visiting members of the Black family.