May 1975
The Prewett twins, Fabian and Gideon, were two of the most popular wizards in the whole of Britain. No party invitation list was complete without the inclusion of the twins, who had friends all over the country, from the Isle of Man to Portsmouth, and not one person had a bad word to say about either of them. This popularity made their network of information infallible; they could discover what the Minister of Magic had for breakfast after one Floo call, or who a shopkeeper in Hogsmeade had spent the night with, or even the identity of the newest Death Eater recruit...Gideon and Fabian Prewett were the best tool that the Order of the Phoenix had, and they had to go.
Bellatrix stood in the sitting room at Headquarters, her head bent over the desk, which was covered in scribbled notes and maps. She gave a frustrated sigh and buried her hand amongst her hair, pulling at it gently as she leant forwards and picked up the most prominent piece of parchment. It was a list of those who Bellatrix would be leading in the mission. Five of them, including her, were to attend: Rodolphus Lestrange, Lucius, Dolohov and Meydrick. The Dark Lord believed that that would be enough to finish off the biggest threat that the Order had, but Bellatrix was not entirely certain if that were true. She felt a great pressure for everything to be perfect; this was the first mission that she had been permitted to lead, and the consequences of this mission failing...she did not like to think of them. Giving another sigh, Bellatrix threw the list down and picked up another slip of parchment. It was a detailed plan of the Prewetts' home, which Bellatrix had copied out time and time again. She had gone over the route with the men several times, she knew it through and through, and yet she was still terrified.
There was a small knock on the door, signalling that it was time for Bellatrix to leave. She looked up at the sound and caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror that hung over the fireplace; her face was wan, her cheekbones jutted out, her eyes were wide with fear. Any trace of the plump prettiness that she used to have was fading fast; she seemed to look older and older by the day. With a sigh, her eyelids fluttered closed to blot out the sight, before she turned on her heels and headed towards the door, yanking it open to find Lucius standing there. He reached out and put a comforting hand upon her shoulder.
"Are you ready? The men are growing restless."
Bellatrix removed his hand and pushed past him, heading down the corridor towards the hallway with wide and determined strides. The small group of Death Eaters turned when she arrived, their disgruntled mumbling coming to an abrupt end. Bellatrix put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes as Lucius moved to join them.
"I'm not going to give you any rousing speech; you all know why we're here and what we're fighting for. You know the plan, you know the goal. Let's just go and get on with it."
Bellatrix disapparated, arriving seconds later on a beach on the Cornish coast. The sea roared loudly, for a storm was brewing overhead, and the din disguised the pops of the rest of the men arriving. Bellatrix's hair and robes billowed wildly behind her as she made her way along the beach, her heavy boots dragging in the sand and she tripped over rocks and driftwood. They were heading towards a cottage that loomed in the distance, in which Fabian and Gideon Prewett were soundly sleeping, ignorant to the fact that they would at any moment be killed. Bellatrix came to a stop a little distance away from the house and took it in; the cottage was beautiful, entirely embedded with seashells that had been buffed and polished by the sea winds. She could imagine leading an idyllic life there, isolated from the troubles of the rest of the world, with only the sea and the seagulls for company. It saddened her a little that they would have to destroy it.
Turning slightly, Bellatrix beckoned for the men to approach, and stood back a little as they stepped forwards. Lucius and Meydrick began waving their wands, breaking down the wards that surrounded the property, as Rodolphus and Dolohov set off to the other side of the house. Bellatrix watched as they worked, her heart racing and her palms sweating. At first, it seemed as if everything was going swimmingly; Bellatrix could feel as each of the wards fell successfully and silently, and she knew that they were down to the final two. However, a piercing scream suddenly rang out around the beach, causing all three of them to double over with their fingers in their ears, the pain of the sounds ringing excruciatingly in their ears.
"What does that mean?" Bellatrix shrieked. "Lucius, Meydrick, what does that mean?" Dolohov and Rodolphus came running towards them, looking similarly anguished and gasping loudly.
"They know we're here!" Rodolphus shouted. "Gideon came to the window as soon as the alarm started, he saw us!"
"The Order will be here any minute!" Meydrick yelled, looking around wildly. "We need to abort, Bellatrix."
"No!" She cried back, panic beginning to set in. "We must stay and fight! Fabian and Gideon Prewett are to be exterminated tonight. It is the Dark Lord's wish. Prepare to duel."
At that moment, a dozen or so popping sounds announced the apparation of the Order. Bellatrix spun round and deflected a spell that had been sent her way, giving off a cry of frustration as her own hex missed. Rodolphus ran off towards the sea, duelling fiercely with an aged wizard of whom he quickly disposed, as Lucius, Meydrick and Dolohov dealt with the other members who had arrived. Bellatrix looked everywhere she could, but she could see neither of the Prewett twins out amongst the fray. She gave a growl of disgruntlement.
"I am going to the house to find the target! Stay focused, fight well!"
It was a struggle to get to the house, but Bellatrix finally gained entry through one of the downstairs windows. She looked around the kitchen frantically, before pushing open the door and heading out into the rest of the house. It was quite amazing, she thought to herself as she crept up the stairs, how the sound of the fight was not audible within the house, but the crashing of the sea could still be heard. Bellatrix pushed kicked open the door of the first room she came across, pointing her wand in with a jab, only to find that it was empty. She gave a small sigh as she went to the next room, turning the handle slowly and opening it to find both of the twins standing there, their wands pointing directly at her. Bellatrix gave a dark chuckle and shook her head.
"We knew you would come for us sooner or later." Fabian said quietly. "I think you underestimate just how much we know about you, your master and his followers, Bellatrix Black."
"We know how your minds work, just as you know ours. This fight isn't as unequal as you think it is." Gideon added.
"It rather is though, don't you think?" Bellatrix answered with a smirk. "Two against one doesn't seem very fair to me...Avada Kedavra!" Fabian was struck by the curse and fell to the ground in a flash of emerald light. Bellatrix laughed loudly as Gideon fell beside him, clutching onto his brother with tears streaming down his face. Gideon turned to look at her, as Bellatrix spoke laughingly. "What's the matter? Lost for words, Gideon?"
Suddenly, Bellatrix felt tight arms grip her, and the blunt end of a wand pressed against her throat. The hairs all over her body stood on edge, her muscles tensed, as Gideon began to laugh at her.
"Incarcerous!" Bellatrix gave a quiet groan as ropes shot out and bound her arms and legs, before she was pushed into the room and forced against the wall. No matter how she twisted or turned, she could not see who her attacker was, for her head was pressed against the wall. Gideon stood remained stood by his brother, his wand pointed at Bellatrix.
"Did you really think it would be that easy?" He demanded. "Did you think I would just let you kill us both without a fight? Okay, Dorcas, we need to get her out of here."
"Can't we just...can't we just handle this ourselves, Gideon?" The woman who was holding Bellatrix replied.
"What do you mean? We need to take her to the aurors...Moody's outside! He wants this one for himself..."
"But I have waited so long for this. We deserve revenge for what she has done to us. She killed half of my family...our friends...your brother is lying dead beside you because of what she has done!"
"We...we can't, Dorcas. We're supposed to hand them straight over; we can only kill if our own life is in danger."
"Well how will they know that we weren't in danger? Come on, Gideon... don't you want revenge just a little?"
"I...No. I can't do this, Dorcas."
"Go then!" She hissed. "Leave me here and I shall take care of her! Go, Gideon, before I do something I regret and tie you up too!"
Bellatrix wriggled wildly as she heard Gideon run from the room, tripping over something in his bid to escape. Suddenly, the woman grabbed hold of her shoulders and spun her round, allowing Bellatrix to see her captor for the first time. She was a woman in her late thirties, with long curly hair and wide eyes that had no doubt been innocent once, but were now full of loathing and despair. She looked at Bellatrix for a long moment, before swiftly bringing her hand down and giving her a sharp slap across the face.
"Did that make you feel better?" Bellatrix muttered. "If I knew who you were and what I'd done to you, I would feel better about the torture. I'd like to know if I merited it."
"You killed my mother and my sister last summer." Dorcas spat angrily. "You murdered them in cold blood, without even a second thought about why or what the consequences would be! My mother was in her seventies, my sister had a baby, a husband..."
"I remember them well – Tabitha and Lydia Meadowes...It was such a pleasure meeting them, such a joy to watch the light fade from their eyes..."
"You bitch! Crucio!" Bellatrix's head flung backwards as the curse hit her straight in the chest, banging it against the wall. She winced at the intensity of the spell; all of Dorcas' hatred and loathing poured out of her and soared through Bellatrix's veins. The pain was so excruciating that Bellatrix's knees buckled and she fell to the floor, her arms and ankles still bound by the magical ropes. The fight must have moved slightly, for Bellatrix could hear it now; she could hear the voices of her men, shouting instructions at one another, hurtling curses. She wondered if any of them had noticed that she had gone – she supposed not, for no one had tried to look for her. Bellatrix gave a sigh and shut her eyes, resigning herself to her biggest fear. She was probably going to die that night. Dorcas Meadowes would kill her, there at Shell Cottage, and she would never return to the Dark Lord. Would he mourn her? She tried to summon an image of him crying by her graveside, but no picture would come. It would never happen.
Such a hollow feeling took over her when Bellatrix thought of never being near the Dark Lord again. She felt as if she might lose her very head, or go completely insane, if she had to contemplate the idea for much longer. A salty taste suddenly arrived in her mouth, and Bellatrix realised that tears were streaming down her face. She gave a groan of misery and opened her eyes, meeting Dorcas' gaze.
"Just put me out of my misery." Bellatrix moaned. "Just do what you intend to and kill me."
"No. Mercy would be too good for you. You don't deserve my kindness. Brackium!" Bellatrix gave a loud scream as one of the bones in her left arm gave a loud crack. Dorcas gave a satisfied smirk, and pointed her wand at Bellatrix's leg. "Brackium!" Bellatrix gave another loud scream and wriggled slightly, as pain soared through her body, before recovering enough to give a dark chuckle.
"Come on, Dorcas. You're only doing this because you're afraid of finishing it off." She taunted. "Do the deed...kill me."
"I think I might just break your neck." Dorcas hissed, stepping forwards and pressing her wand against Bellatrix's throat. "Bra – "
"No!" Bellatrix looked behind Dorcas to see Rodolphus standing in the doorway."Avada –"
Dorcas disapparated before Rodolphus even had time to finish the curse. He rushed towards Bellatrix and severed the ropes with his wand. Bellatrix reached out and squeezed his hand gently, giving a weak smile.
"Thank you." She moaned, the room swimming before her, before falling into unconsciousness.
Rodolphus stepped backwards and gave a sigh, running his hand through his hair. At that moment, Lucius and Dolohov ran into the room, their eyes wide at the sight of Bellatrix slumped unconscious on the floor.
"They've gone." Lucius said. "Disapparated when they realised that the fight was over."
"Gideon? Did you get him?"
"Yes." Dolohov answered. "Meydrick cast the final blow...but he was caught seconds later by Moody...they took him away."
"Shit." Rodolphus muttered. "They won't get anything from him though, thank goodness. He doesn't know enough to be a threat to any of us."
"What happened to Bellatrix?" Lucius asked, stepping forwards and kneeling beside his sister-in-law.
"Dorcas Meadowes got hold of her...It's a good job I got here when I did, or she would be finished."
"The Dark Lord isn't going to be happy about this..."
"No." Rodolphus sighed, shaking his head slowly. "Merlin help us when we have to face his rage."
Rodolphus bent down and swept Bellatrix into his arms, her body sagging lifelessly. He held her tightly, before disapparating and arriving in the hallway of Headquarters. Lucius and Dolohov followed Rodolphus down the hallway to the Dark Lord's study. Lucius knocked three times, before pushing open the door and guiding Bellatrix into the room. The Dark Lord, who was sitting inside, stood when they entered and marched over to Bellatrix; he placed the back of his hand against her forehead, frowning for a moment, before turning his gaze to Rodolphus.
"What happened to her? Who did this?" He intoned darkly.
"It was Dorcas Meadowes, my Lord." Rodolphus said quietly. "She had Bellatrix cornered..."
The Dark Lord began to pace the width of the study, his long robes trailing behind him as his brows furrowed in thought. He gave a loud click of his fingers and a house elf appeared, looking timidly around the room.
"Yes, master? What can I do for master?"
"Take Bellatrix to her rooms. Heal her, make her well. Contact her sister and bring her here immediately. Do you understand?"
"Yes, master."
The house elf placed a hand on Bellatrix's wrist, before disappearing as suddenly as it arrived, taking Bellatrix with it. The Dark Lord motioned for the men to sit down, which they did in silence, never removing their eyes from their master.
"The Prewett twins?" The Dark Lord asked quietly.
"Dead, my Lord."
"And Meydrick?"
"Arrested." Lucius replied.
"That is of no matter." The Dark Lord said, tapping his chin pensively. "He was of little use to me. Tell me, gentlemen, how Dorcas Meadowes was able to hurt Bellatrix so terribly?"
"She had her in one of the bedrooms, my Lord..." Rodolphus answered. "I did a quick check, and she used the Cruciatus Curse extensively, before breaking both her arm and her leg...Dorcas was about to use the breaking curse on Bellatrix's neck as I entered..."
The Dark Lord gave a roar of rage, and he toppled over the desk, before waving his wand and setting it alight. Lucius, Dolohov and Rodolphus cowered as Voldemort spun to face them, pointing his wand at Lucius.
"She is your wife's sister, why did you do nothing to protect her? Crucio!" Lucius gave a gasp and fell from his chair, such was the force of his master's curse. After a few moments, the Dark Lord waved his wand again and ended the torture, also extinguishing the fire on the desk.
"My Lord..." Rodolphus said quietly. "There is a subject of a sensitive nature that I must broach with you, my Lord."
"What is it?"
"It is...it is about Bellatrix, my Lord."
"What about her, you fool? If you do not speak soon, I shall kill you, Rodolphus. Mark my words, I shall kill you."
"She was a target." Lucius blurted, gasping for breath as he climbed back onto the chair. "They kept shouting it to one another: 'make sure you get Black, look for Black'".
"What? Why?"
"I managed to ask one of them, my Lord. I was torturing them for information." Dolohov said quietly. "They...they believe that she is your weakness, my Lord. They believe that you...that you love her, and to capture her would be to damage you most gravely."
"I see." The Dark Lord hissed, his eyes fixed on a spot in the distance, his mind immersed in thought.
"My Lord..." Rodolphus said tentatively. "I mean this with all due respect, but this cannot go on, my Lord. You must not be seen to have any weakness – we here know that you do not have any, my Lord – but it is dangerous for others to believe that you do."
"You are quite right." The Dark Lord repeated quietly. "This cannot continue; it must be rectified."
The three men sitting before him waited patiently as the Dark Lord began to pace once more, before coming to a stop and turning to face them again. They squirmed as their master seemed to inspect every inch of them, his dark eyes flicking across their faces, as if he was sucking in every aspect of their souls. After a moment, he narrowed his eyes and waved his hand.
"Lucius, Dolohov, you may go. Rodolphus, I wish to speak with you further. Stay here, I shall return."
The Dark Lord left the room and walked the halls, slowly and silently. He entered Bellatrix's bedroom, dismissing the house elf with just a wave of his hand, and approaching the bed upon which she led unconsciously. For a moment, he stood at the bottom of the bed and watched her with steady eyes; he watched the slow rise and fall of her chest, the way her hair led fanned out on her pillow, her slightly opened lips. It was unusual how, were it not for the obvious fact of her breathing, she seemed to be dead. The Dark Lord narrowed his eyes, and turned to leave but, before he did, he stopped and faced her again. With a wave of his hand, a single lily in a vase appeared by the side of her bed. He gave a small nod, before finally leaving Bellatrix alone.
A/N: Firstly, many apologies for the delay in updating this fic! Real life took over completely: I had exams, passed my second year of university (with a 2:1 no less), and moved home for the summer before I spend the next year living in Germany and France. As you can imagine, I haven't had much time for fan fiction, and I probably won't for the foreseeable future. I will continue updating this fic, however, because I hate seeing things unfinished! So here are two chapters for your enjoyment; i hope they were worth the wait! Please let me know what you like/dislike about them. Many thanks. :)
