Voldemort sat at the head of the table in the meeting room at Malfoy Manor, having Summoned all of his Death Eaters to debrief the strikes against Dumbledore's allies the night before. He sat with his hands folded on the table as people slowly filed into the room. His attention pricked up when Bellatrix came walking in, but then he frowned.

Rodolphus Lestrange had his hand between Bellatrix's shoulder blades, and when they reached two empty chairs, Rodolphus pulled out a chair for Bellatrix. She looked uncomfortable with the chivalry, but she sat and bowed her head toward Voldemort in deference. Rodolphus gave a respectful bow before sitting. Voldemort licked his lip and cleared his throat a little. But it only got worse. Rodolphus sat beside Bellatrix and asked her, just loudly enough for Voldemort to hear,

"Perhaps we could go out for dinner tonight, Bella? I've a terrible craving for lamb stew the way they make it at the White Wyvern. We used to go there all the time."

"Erm…" Bellatrix looked a little confused. "Yes, all right, Dolph. Dinner. Certainly."

Voldemort pinched his lips. He tried to say something, to interject that he had a job for Bellatrix to do tonight that would keep her too busy for dinner with Rodolphus. Instead, he just sat there like a fool, watching as Rodolphus picked up Bellatrix's hand and kissed her knuckles carefully. He shut his eyes and held her hand to his lips for a long moment. Voldemort's heart began to race. He felt absolute rage strike him through. He met Bellatrix's eyes, and she flashed him an apologetic look. But all he could think was that she had betrayed him, letting her philandering husband touch her like this, in front of everybody.

"Yaxley. Malfoy," Voldemort snapped, and the room went silent. "Tell me about Archibald Angler."

"He went easily, Master," said Malfoy. "He tried to fight. It was a bit adorable. Pathetic."

The others chuckled. Voldemort flicked his eyes to where Rodolphus Lestrange still held Bellatrix's hand in his. He scowled deeply and barked,

"Peony Macmillan and Violetta Browne? What of them?"

"They, too, tried to fight," said Rookwood, "but, Master, the worst they managed was sending Mulciber into a wall with a charged Knockback Jinx and Stupefying Rabastan Lestrange for a few moments. Both Macmillan and Browne were quickly and easily eliminated."

"The Caspada brothers?" Voldemort stared at Bellatrix, who looked like she wanted to cry as Rodolphus caressed her hand. Just pull your hand away, Voldemort thought. For goodness' sake; pull your hand away! But she didn't. She let her husband keep touching her. Voldemort distantly heard Nott say,

"Juan Caspada cast a Ducklifors spell that momentarily turned Selwyn into a duck, My Lord, but no real harm done. Both brothers are dead."

Voldemort ripped his eyes away from Bellatrix and Rodolphus and nodded to the group. "Marna Beckwith is dead. Bellatrix and I saw to that. So it seems we took out all of our targets. Now we go quiet and underground for a while. The Daily Prophet will write about nothing else for a week solid. The Ministry will scramble frantically. Dumbledore will send out all of his forces after us. No social gatherings. No unnecessary trips to Diagon Alley. Lay low. Understood?"

There were murmurs of Yes, Master, and Voldemort chewed his lip as he nodded.

"Dismissed."

Those in the room rose and started to go. Rodolphus put his hand on Bellatrix's back again, and Voldemort felt anger thrust through his veins. For a brief moment, a vision flashed in his mind. He could see himself with Bellatrix on his knees before her, his cock in her mouth whilst Rodolphus was forced to watch. He could see himself with Bellatrix bent over the table whilst Rodolphus looked on in horror. But instead, Voldemort just called out,

"Rodolphus. Bellatrix."

They whirled around, and in Bellatrix's eyes, he saw pain. Voldemort wanted to scream at her. Slap him! Move away from him! But she let her husband touch her back, so Voldemort just told her,

"You can't eat at the White Wyvern tonight. We're laying low, remember?"

"Oh. Yes, of course, Master. I'll just come to the townhouse for dinner," Rodolphus said cheerfully. "I'm sure Punky can cook up some good lamb stew."

Voldemort squared his jaw and snapped, "I don't care about your fucking lamb stew. Leave. Both of you."

Rodolphus led Bellatrix out of the meeting room, and once they'd gone, Voldemort flew out of his chair, wand in hand. He aimed his wand at the table and broke it with a slash of his wand, sending wood splintering through the air. He screamed in anger, roaring in rage, and he sent a chair soaring through the air and crashing against the wall.

Damn her. If she was going to be like that with him, with her husband, then he was finished.

Many hours later, he was staggering, drunk on firewhisky, on the sidewalk in front of Bellatrix's townhouse. Surely Rodolphus had gone by now. If he was still here, Voldemort was liable to kill him. Voldemort stumbled up the steps and banged on the front door of the townhouse. The red door swung open, and Punky the House-Elf stood before him.

"Madam Bellatrix!" called Punky, "The Dark Lord has come to see you."

"Master!" Bellatrix came rushing out of the parlour. She immediately clutched at Voldemort's robes and pushed herself up on her toes as though she wanted a kiss, but he shoved her so roughly away that she almost fell. She stared up at him, and she said quietly,

"I made him leave after dinner. Dolph. I told him he was taking things too far."

"No. He's not." Voldemort dragged his fingers through his hair. "He embarrassed me at that meeting, touching you like that in front of everyone. And it made me think, Bellatrix, that I have become a stupid fool for you. And I dislike being a fool. He is your husband. I am your master. If Rodolphus wants to fuck your cunny, then -"

"My Lord!" gasped Bellatrix, but he pushed at her shoulder and slurred,

"We're through, you and I. You'll serve me, as my slave, because that is what you are. You are my slave. And nothing more. I'm leaving now, and I'm not coming back here anymore."

"You're going to Splinch this drunk," Bellatrix fretted. "Let me take you back by Side-Along, Master."

"I do not require your assistance!" he bellowed. "Get away from me, you wicked siren!"

Then he Disapparated with an uncharacteristically loud crack, Splinching just enough to leave an entire fingernail behind.

The next several months were spent at the task of war.

Bellatrix worked hard for Lord Voldemort as a soldier, killing Mudbloods skilfully for him whenever he gave her an assignment. She seemed close with Rodolphus; the two of them even walked into meetings holding hands. At first, the nearness of the two of them did not bother Voldemort. He'd completely written off Bellatrix. What he'd done with her - kissing her and touching her, taking her in her bed in the townhouse - had been folly. It had just been a dumb little affair. But after awhile, it began to grate at Voldemort to see Rodolphus holding Bellatrix by the small of her back. He could not help remembering doing that himself. It began to bother Voldemort to see Bellatrix smirk at something Rodolphus whispered in her ear. Their intimacy felt like a slap in the face.

By late November, though, things seemed to have cooled between Rodolphus and Bellatrix. At a meeting to discuss the logistics of the annual Christmas party in a few weeks, Rodolphus came walking in five paces ahead of Bellatrix, who looked like she was going to be sick. The two of them very reluctantly sat next to each other, and Bellatrix glared at Rodolphus. Curious, Voldemort used the time of the others' entrances to peer surreptitiously into Rodolphus' mind.

'Again? You just can't help yourself, can you?'

'Bella. It's nothing personal. You know I adore you.' Rodolphus sipped at his tea. Bellatrix paced the parlour.

'Adore. But love? Never. You could never love me, not ever. And even Holly getting killed couldn't stop you. Even the Dark Lord throwing me aside couldn't stop you. Who is she? She likes very purple lipstick.'

Rodolphus hesitated. 'It's Aphra Travers. It hasn't been going on long. I'll end it.'

'Aphra Travers?' Bellatrix scoffed. 'She's married, too. Does her husband know?'

'Of course not, and I'd prefer if he didn't. If you please,' Rodolphus said tightly.

Bellatrix had silent tears running down her cheeks, and she shoved her fingers into her curls as she mumbled,

'I just want him back. All I want is my master back.'

'Well, we're a pair, aren't we?' Rodolphus sighed.

Voldemort pulled out of Rodolphus' head. Rodolphus stared at him in terror. He knew damned well that his head had just been searched. Beside Rodolphus, Bellatrix sniffed lightly and stared at her lap. Voldemort raised his voice and barked down the table,

"I do not feel like having this meeting today. In fact… I find I do not care to be involved in the logistics of the silly Christmas party. Get security details and guest lists and all that nonsense drawn up into a summary, get me that summary, and do not trouble me further with this. Madam Lestrange, I need you in my office. Now."

Bellatrix looked surprised, but she flew to her feet and followed Voldemort as he stalked out of the meeting room. He walked briskly down the corridor to his office, leaving the door open behind him. Bellatrix came walking into the office after him, quietly shutting the door.

"My Lord," she said reverently. Voldemort whirled on her, looming above her and staring down at her. She shrank back a little, and he licked his lip.

"You have missed me," he guessed, and she nodded.

"Very much, sir."

"We have seen one another," he shrugged. "All the time. In meetings. Here in this office, preparing you for missions. You and I have been face-to-face many times."

She gave him a withering look, and he knew why. It wasn't the same. It wasn't anything the same. Of course it wasn't. Voldemort cleared his throat and said quietly,

"Aphra Travers, now. He can't help himself. He's ridiculous."

"He's a bloody fool for witches, My Lord," Bellatrix nodded. "I don't suppose he would ever fully be satisfied. Certainly not by me."

Voldemort let out a long breath and reached to cup her jaw in his hand. He shut his eyes and whispered,

"I was satisfied by you. I would have been satisfied by you for a very long time, I think."

"My Lord." She reached up to cover his hand with hers, and she sounded like her throat was thick with tears. Voldemort opened his eyes to see that hers had welled heavily. He bent and brushed his lips against hers, then pressed his mouth more firmly against her. Suddenly he wanted her, very badly indeed, and he murmured,

"I am so very sick and tired of playing games, Bellatrix."

"No more games, Master." Bellatrix threaded her arms up around his neck. "Make me yours."

Before he knew what was happening, he was backing her toward the wall, kissing her until his lips felt bruised, and he hummed,

"Once and for all this time."

Author's Note: Uh-oh. Rodolphus is really in for it now. Any guesses as to how Voldemort's going to handle the situation? Thanks so much for reading and reviewing.