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For once, I felt good. I was confident that today, at least half of our worries would disappear. Umbridge was going to die, and that would be one major threat eliminated.

With absolute certainty that Lilith was safe at home with Draco, and the toad-lady's last moments were happening, I walked with my head held high next to Voldemort, and it felt as if it had been far too long since I could say that.

We had met only a half-hour before we meant to strike to finalize our plans. Not a mere five feet from where Umbridge was seated, in the alley right outside her office, we gave out final orders and moved in.

Five Death Eaters, wearing Ministry of Magic robes, some also disguised as Ministry employees, along with Voldemort, rendered invisible, would go first to Umbridge's office door. Well, there were supposed to be five Death Eaters, but we now had four after one foolish man thought it would be smart to ask why we were disguised if we were in charge of the Ministry, and of the entire Wizarding World. I even wanted to scoff, just thinking of it afterwards. Any fool could see that five Death Eaters sauntering in, along with the Dark Lord himself, would cause a disturbance, and the very last thing we wanted to do was call attention to ourselves when performing an extremely delicate operation such as this.

Lucius and I waited outside of the Ministry as the Death Eaters took their positions which would ensure that Umbridge had no escape, while Voldemort performed charms around her office to prevent the use of Apparation or the Floo. Only Voldemort, Lucius, and I would enter Umbridge's office. With a sneak attack like this, we would not require any excess back-up, and Death Eaters were positioned in the surrounding halls, just in case.

Lucius wore his Ministry robes and I wore an invisibility cloak, not the Invisibility Cloak, but a replica that would last long enough to suffice. After speculation long into the night about whether invisibility charms would be safe, and without either of my sisters' knowledge and advice, we decided against them.

A few moments after the five men had departed, Lucius asked casually, "Did you get Narcissa's letters?" but I could clearly hear the tension in his voice.

My forehead creased. "Lucius," I sighed, forcing myself to look at him. His blue eyes looked tired. "I... They were received in the mail," I commented, pulling my eyes away again.

"But you didn't read them."

"I..." I choked. "I...I couldn't," I managed to whisper.

"Why, Bellatrix? I don't like to get involved in situations that don't involve myself, but she's worried for you. She says there's something wrong. Something important you need to know. She says-"

"No!" His eyes darted to mine. "Please," I begged, "don't tell me. I can't stand to hear it."

"I couldn't tell you if I wanted," he said. My eyebrows rose. "I don't know. She wants you to be the first, and possibly the only one to know whatever she does. She hasn't told me, and she isn't going to."

I did not respond right away. "It must be something very important," I finally commented.

"It is. And... I know this is hard to hear, but... she says that if you truly care about your unborn child, you'll hear what she has to say."

"I know... I just can't bring myself to-" I was cut off by tears. "It's terrifying," I moaned, stepping away for a moment.

"Bella?" I did not answer his call. "Don't do this; I don't even know where you are," he hissed, reaching out wildly. I let him grab my arm after brief consideration.

His arm wrapped around my shoulders, and he pulled me in, a truly brotherly gesture.

"Listen," he ordered, rubbing my arm, "Maybe you're not ready to hear what she wants you to hear, and that's okay. But after today, don't do this sort of thing anymore."

"What?" I questioned, clearly confused.

"These missions, putting yourself in danger, doing things you don't have to do. Narcissa won't tell me why, but she practically wants you on bed rest. I don't know the circumstances, and I don't know what being on your feet could possibly do, but if for no other reason, try to take it easy, or... as easily as you can take it. Just to humor her."

Thinking hard, I bit my lip. "You're right," I said, finally. "Even though I can't hear whatever secret she has to share with me, I should at least do what she tells me to do. It can only help, right?"

"Right," he assured me. "You might even find it beneficial. You've been looking worn-" All of the sudden, he hissed. The Mark on his arm burned ebony.

Instantly, I switched into battle mode. "Let's go," I said, previous conversation instantaneously forgotten.

As soon as Lucius and I stood out front of the office of Umbridge, his eyes widened, and he paled.

"Lucius?" My voice was barely a whisper. His arm was moving towards me as if it had no control. I began to back away before realizing what was happening.

"I'm right here," I whispered, sticking my fingers out just an inch from under the cloak. Voldemort's had found mine, and Lucius's arm dropped.

"Ready?" he whispered. "As soon as I knock, we walk in, make ourselves visible, point our wands at her, and I'll stupefy her. Let's go."

Lucius rapped twice on the door, as ordered.

No answer.

He tried again, this time calling out, "Ms. Umbridge? You have some important visitors that would like to see you."

Silence.

He turned the knob and the door slowly creaked open. I gasped.

Papers were strewn all across the office, drawers were pulled fully out from their cabinets and laid on their sides on the floor, and the desk looked messy, but empty all the same.

"Somehow, she knew what we were going to do. It looks as if she packed up and left in a hurry, just mere minutes ago," said Voldemort.

I could only gape at the empty office. The same went for Lucius, who was right beside me, frozen.

Voldemort's eyes travelled slowly around.

"Well," I spluttered, "shouldn't we go try to catch her?" I walked towards him, but an arm held me back.

"Stop," he ordered. "You'll disrupt the magic."

All of the sudden, my senses turned on. I felt the pull from the unbalance of magic in the room.

"She was in such a hurry that she left Apparation tracks," I whispered harshly. My wide eyes met his, which sparkled in amusement.

"Indeed, very good, Bella. Catching up with her should be extremely easy," he said turning towards the door, where Lucius was still standing, unable to move from the shock.

"Are you really sure, Voldemort?" Immediately I felt guilty for my doubt, but...

"I know a lot has not gone as planned, Bella, what with Potter escaping, and now Umbridge. But we know exactly where she Apparated to. It's only a matter of time, and we'll have her. Give it a few months. If we don't have her by then, you can say, 'I told you so.'" He smirked, and led Lucius out, who shook his head out of his thoughts, and followed obediently.

I looked around the room, taking in the nauseating pink wallpaper, the various teakettles, and three pairs of shoes, the only orderly part of the room at the moment, lined up neatly against her desk.

"We're going to get you," I hissed, even though Umbridge was miles away by now. Only a cat, a decoration on a china plate, mewed in reply.

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