Exhausted and can't fall asleep, as an aside-

Bellatrix is NOT taking the mark just so people stop commenting on it, would kinda make the whole story pointless if she did yeah?

Whatever, I feel like crap and have to be awake in three hours so please just enjoy.


Andi and Cissy were of course ecstatic about my invite to the private Malfoy Midsummer Ball and were both insisting that they be involved in the selection of my dress robes and accessories for the event; this also marked the first time in my second life that I wanted to strangle my little sisters.

I had just turned fourteen, I was transparently being courted by a psychopathic megalomaniac more than twice my age, and I had just been given a task I was not sure I could actually pull off by my clan's head. I had no patience for any sort of love struck schoolgirl bullshit and if I wanted to preserve my sister's feeling I would have to do just that.

Fucking. Hell.

My desire for a Xanax could not possibly be more overstated at the moment.

At the very least my boys were not being idiots about this, when I revealed the clandestine nature of my attendance to the ball they had simply exchanged glances, scoffed, then Barty pulled a knut from his pocket, and Rab stated 'heads' while it was flicked into the air.

It landed tails.

So the Doctor was to escort me to Malfoy Manor and I couldn't help feeling a bit, hmm...

Oh, what was the term I was looking for? Like I was white girl wasted sick to the stomach? Awesome, that worked.

"I'm going to throw up," I muttered as Barty pulled my arm closer looking about the courtyard in worry as he leaned down to whiser in my ear.

"Bell you need to relax, remember this isn't just an infiltration, this is representing the Black Family."

Right.

Deep calm breaths, while I was missing one of my boys he was in the gathering somewhere and I had Barty at my side, he would never let anything happen to me. I just... oh god what if Riddle wo-

"Stop it Bell, I'm here and while you are perfectly capable of protecting yourself I'm here too and do you honestly think I'd let anything happen to you?"

Of course he wouldn't, and...and ok, I had to accept that, didn't I?

Though accepting other people having control over your life, even in a positive sense was, well, difficult.

"I'm sorry Barty, I just-"

He then brushed a kiss on the tip of my nose and a moment later leaned forward to mutter into my ear, my cheeks heating without my consent in the process, "Stop apologizing Bell. I am just as well aware as you and Rab that you could very likely cause some serious damage here if you felt compelled to do so."

I admittedly pouted at that, "Still-"

Barty smirked down at me as he wrapped his arm around my waist and led me towards the Manor's entrance, "Still what Bell?"

"Still you do not have to treat me like some sort of damsel in distress while in public."

That was when Rab appeared at my side grinning mischievously, "Ah but that is half the fun! If everyone thinks you are the weak link who would ever be watching out for your 'knife in the night!?' As a complete aside we should get in the manor in roughly the next twenty seconds because the dung bombs I planted in the central fountain are-"

Eyes widening I grabbed both Rab and Barty's arms and power walked us towards the main gates while growling out, "BOYS!"

They just laughed, and I could not help but grinning despite the situation.

Once reaching the main doors Rab stepped back while Barty and I were announced, entering the main hall of Malfoy Manor I simply rolled my eyes as Barty guided me towards the ballroom floor; all while ignoring Rab's giggling as the sounds of several concussive, and flatulent sounding explosions went off outside the building.

I simply sighed while shooting Rab a tired look, "You are so juvenile at times, you realize this yes?"

Rab only shrugged with a slight smirk curling up his lips, "Hey, you only live to annoy the established order once. Also, sorry!" With that he spun on his heel and ran away.

"What the fu-"

Barty was cut off as we were approached by Lucius Malfoy and Rudolphus LeStrange, they stared at us for a few moments, all of which were uncomfortable, a few moments later Lucius eventually spoke up, "Lady Bellatrix."

"...Heir Malfoy..."

Dick move not acknowledging Barty and all...what did he wa-

"There is someone who would very dearly like to speak with you, if you would?"

Sighing I nodded and followed them to a set of highly detailed engraved dark stained doors, Barty and I approached them when Rudolphus pointed his wand at Barty.

He was half way through saying, "Not you, just he-" When he found my wand at his throat and dagger at his crotch.

"You were saying, Rudy?"

"Bellatrix, please." I paused and looked towards Lucius who, while never being a friend, was never an enemy, and the look of fear in his pale grey eyes made me pause.

Our gazes locked for a time before I nodded slowly, lowering my weapons while muttering, "If anything happens to Barty Rab becomes an only child, savvy?"

"Savvy," Lucius stated while Rudolphus sputtered out a response that had Lucius mutter out, "Oh do just shut up."

Taking in a deep breath I ignored the posturing boys surrounding me and pushed my way through the heavy doors, once stepping foot into the room I recognized it as a relatively standard study, although with more mirrors than were strictly necessary. Before I could really give the place a once over I heard a cough behind me and turned around to meet the visage of none other than Lord Gaunt.

"Ah, young little Bella, it has been some time has it not?"

I drew in a deep breath, pasted on an accommodating smile, and met he gaze evenly, "Tom, a pleasure as always."

Let the games begin.