A/N: 1. Sorry about the delays guys, real life has been crazy

2. Don't own anything, just playing

3. Keep reading and reviewing, It really pushes me to write this thing.

4. This chapter isa bit more than againhalf as long as the last one, so more normal in length :)

Chapter 14

Behind Closed Doors

Lucius refused to believe that he was cowering, Malfoy's never did anything so undignified. No, he thought, he wasn't cowering, just strategically brooding behind a locked, barred and blood-warded door while ridding out the raging storm that was Bellatrix Black.

Ever since she had returned to the manner with that Merlin blighted Potter brat in a bloody heap she had been absolutely incorrigible. She was worse than the Dark Lord himself at the height of his rages.

Things had only gotten worse once the Potter child actually awakened. Rudolphus was still little more than a gibbering heap. The wards of Malfoy manor were in a state of perpetual structural flux from some incredible burst of accidental magic and, to add insult to injury, there was some damned mangy grim roaming the manor grounds who somehow managed to avoid every one of the elves efforts to drive it off. Nothing was as it should be since Bella had walked out of the realms of the dead and back into his life.

Narcissa. He thought with a tired sigh as tears once again fought a vain battle against the implacable Malfoy facade. Malfoy's had no tears for grief no time for mourning, but still...but still he missed her.

Theirs had been an arraigned marriage that he had initially dreaded. The thought of living with one of the hot-headed Black sisters as a useless trophy on his arm for the rest of his life was not one that he was eager to dwell on only days after coming into his own birthright of cold, Malfoy blood.

Narcissa had proved his every expectation wrong. The blood of the most ancient and noble house of Black seemed to affect her differently than her insane siblings. Instead of foolhardiness like Andy or mad bloodlust like Bella, Narcissa's Black blood had manifested itself in a streak of utter ruthlessness a mile wide. At times she seemed to be almost more a Lestrange than a Black.

That ruthlessness coupled with her devastating intellect and power made her a matchless partner and ally in the long brutal war that marked the first rise of the Dark Lord. In that time he had come to lean on her more than he could have believed. She was the one ally he never had to doubt, the one constant in his wretched world ofdeath and betrayal.

Now she was gone. Stolen from him by her own cousin. No one stole from a Malfoy and lived to tell the tale: Sirius would be begging for death by the time he was done with the convict. Lucius thought with a bitter grin as he settled back to read one of his families ancient books on sadomancy.

Amelia absently stunned Kingsley for the seventh time in order to stifle his screams before rebinding him and once again employing her small, grey, spy-pensive to leech every memory of the battle she could from her second-in-command's mind. Spy-pensives were a nasty invention that surfaced in the chaos of the second world war. They had been banned within three days of their creation, a record surpassed only by the Crucio curse.

With one of the highly illegal devices one could take memories from unwilling subjects and examine them in a leisurely fashion. Beyond the obvious ethical questions such a device had generated the process of extracting the memories was less than pleasant for the victim.

Good thing my room is sound proof. Amelia thought wryly as she carefully placed the mass of silver thoughts she had ripped from Kingsley's head into the viewing bowl. Amelia hesitated for one last moment to make sure the auror was well and truly stunned before she took a deep breath and dunked her head in the bowl.

An hour and a half latter she emerged to find a furiously looking Kingsley struggling vainly against the steel cords she had conjured to hold him fast to the chair. Kingsley's look of fury quickly faded to one of fear as he took in the expression on Amelia's face.

"You idiot!" Amelia roared as she blasted Kingsley across the room, "You utter fool! You knew the capacity of those two and you still led my aurors against them? Do you have any idea how long it took me to build this corpse? Do you have any idea how far your foolish disregard for the lives of those under your command has set me back?"

"Things were different this time Amelia, we had Dumble..." Kingsley began only to be cut off by another angry blasting curse from the head of the DMLE. "Yes, yes I saw just how much good your precious headmaster did out there! Without that damned Russian conjurer the other arch mage would have brunt you all to ashes! I'd throw you in Azkaban for terminally poor judgement Kingsley but sadly it's not in a state to hold prisoners anymore!"

"What wold you have had me do Amelia? Stand by and let them make off with the most dangerous criminals in the wizard world?" Kingsley shot back as he frantically tried to dodge curse after curse from his bound position

Amelia didn't bother to answer as she calmly leveled her wand at Kingsley and stated, "Avada Kedavra!" Kingsley had a brief moment to look at the green bolt of death in stunned disbelief before it hurled him backwards to the ground unmoving.

It's a good thing the casualty reports from Azkaban haven't been released yet. Looks like I'll be giving one more speech beside the grave of a 'fallen hero.' Unless...yes..that could work. Amelia thought with growing glee as a new plan slowly coalesced in her mind.

Albus Dumbledore was a wizard who prided himself on his iron control, but he liked being surprised nearly as little as he liked being defeated. To have both happen to him in the same breath was not something to which he was accustomed. He felt his legendary control slip as the headlines of the Daily Prophet mocking stared up at him:

Azkaban Breakout led by renegade Order of the Phoenix!

By Rtia Skeeter

Reports issued last night by the DMLE indicate that a massive breakout occurred at the high security prison. Details are sketchy, but we at the Prophet have caught rumor that escapes include several prominent death eaters and even Sirius Black himself. Although the details on who escaped are unclear one thing that the DMLE stated unquestionably was that the breach of the legendary fortress occurred because of a direct act of treachery from the vigilantly group the Order of the Phoenix.

Department head Amelia Bones hinted to this reporter in an exclusive interview that the order of the Phoenix, reportedly led by none other than Headmaster Dumbledore himself, manage to compromise a high level auror and use his position to engineer the breakout.

For more details of the deeds of the escaped death eaters see page 3. For information on the nefarious past acts of the Order of the Phoenix please see pages 4 through 22...

Dumbledore fumed as he read the page after page of slander against his personal army. By the time he reached page 17 it was too much. Every single Daily Prophet across the whole of Hogwarts exploded in blue flames as the legendary arch mage lost control of his temper. Damn Amelia! Merlin blighted witch is too cunning by half. Even Tom wasn't this much of a threat to my power! There has to be someway to bring this witch to heel. Dumbledore thought as he sent a pulse of magic through his signet ring to call a meeting of the Order. They needed to do damage control and fast. If this was allowed to run its course Fudge, the idiot, would be only to eager to distance himself from Dumbledore. Once that happened the fat fool was a sitting duck for Amelia to destroy at her leisure. Amelia in charge of the DMLE was bad enough, Amelia as minister would be a disaster.

Lucius absently cursed the fates as a light in his warded chamber began to flash, indicating that someone was requesting permission to enter the manor wards. With his house packed to the brim with escaped convicts now was not a time that he was in the mood to receive a random inspection from an auror looking for a quick bribe.

Walking over to the flashing jewel that served as the control stone of the manor wards Lucius absently tapped an intricate pattern over its flawless surface, engaging a magical signature sweep of his unexpected guest. When the results came back a moment latter it made Lucius snarl in frustration: for some reason Amelia herself had decided to grace him with her presence.

Fuck. Still, I'd best go deal with her quickly before Bella gets any crazy ideas. Lucius thought as he cautiously lifted the wards that surrounded his door and crept out into the hall. Seeing no sign of Bella and hearing none of the telltale screams that would indicate her presence Lucius straightened his posture and walked with a confident stride though the manor.

Five minutes latter Lucius stood in front of the gates and tapped his wand in an inverted star pattern to admit the head of the DMLE, "Amelia, your presence does me honor," Lucius began smoothly as he ushered the witch in with a bow that was a touch over elegant even for a Malfoy, "though I must ask what brings such an exultant witch to my humble dwelling."

"If your dwelling is humble Malfoy I hate to think of just what that means for the rest of us." Amelia drawled back with dark amusement as she stepped into the manor.

"So do I. Bloody Peasants." Lucius dead-panned as he ushered her towards the north study, as far away as he could get from Bella's usual stalking grounds without entering hidden portions of the manor.

"Your egalitarianism does never cease to amaze Lucius." Amelia shot back as she gestured to encompass the fabulous wealth on casual display about the manor.

Lucius merely smirked in response as he gracefully opened the door to the north study and gestured expansively for Amelia to proceed him. Amelia shot him an odd look and Lucius was sure she muttered something to herself about being an idiot to show a Malfoy her back before swiftly proceeding through the door and taking a seat in front of an elegant writing desk. Lucius followed her into the room a moment latter as he closed, locked and covertly slashed his palm to throw up a bloodward over the door.

"If I didn't know better Lucius I'd say you're afraid of something in your own house." Amelia said with an arched eyebrow as Lucius took a seat across from her. Damn guess I didn't set that blood ward quite as covertly as I thought. Lucius mused internally while outward simply giving Amelia a Malfoy 'look' and drawling, "I haven't the faintest idea what your talking about Amelia. Tea?"

"Please. Two sugars and some of that delightful poison you slipped me back in '73 if you please." Amelia said, "The slight nutty flavor it adds is truly delightful."

Lucius bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment of the auror's more than justifiable paranoia before idly gesturing and banishing the tea he had laced with truth serum, "Well if its not for my lovely tea to what do I owe the pleasure of paying host the Matriarch of the most ancient and powerful house of Bones?"

"I'm not here my capacity as Matriarch." Amelia said flatly.

"Really?" Lucius drawled with a hard edge suddenly falling across his voice, "Then what business does the chief auror think she had playing around in the den of the most ancient and deadly house of Malfoy?"

Amelia causally ignored the threat in Lucius voice and replied back almost flippantly, "I'm looking for someone that I have a suspicion you're acquainted with."

"That hardly tells me anything Amelia. We Malfoy's know everyone in this world worth knowing."

"Wonderful. Then you won't mind telling me just how I can get in contact with Bellatrix Black." Amelia said calmly, smiling to herself at the brief expression of annoyance that flickered across Lucius's face.

"I would recommend throwing yourself through the veil Madame Bones. Bellatrix is dead, I had the distinct displeasure of seeing her remains myself during that terrible ministry mishap that unjustly placed me Azkaban."

"Yes, quite a mishap that wasn't it? Would be a pity if such a mistake were to repeat itself due to a slip of the pen don't you think Mr. Malfoy?"

"No more so than if a slip of my wand tragically caused my wards to incinerate anyone trying to leave my manor. My hands do get rather shaky these days with all the fire whiskey I've been drinking to forget the sad state of affairs in the wizard world. Dangerous thing that when the gesture for 'kill' and 'open' are so similar." Lucius drawled back with venom only a Malfoy could muster

"You would threaten me Lucius?" Amelia snarled as her hand slowly crept down to the disillusioned dagger resting on her belt.

"No more than an upright department head such as yourself would threaten an upstanding citizen such as myself." Lucius said with a placating sweeping of his hands that left them resting within easy reach of his vials of poison gas.

"We can dance this dance all day Lucius or you can just tell me what I want to know. I know Bellatrix Black isn't dead. I used a bloody spy pensive to confirm it!"

"Admitting illegal acts now Amelia? Are you sure that's the wisest idea?"

"With the magical interference generator in my pocket its really no matter." Amelia drawled as she absently patted the small metal orb that emitted nearly undetectable waves of latent magic which distorted almost all known recording spells beyond use. "Now, Lucius, where is Bellatrix?"

"What makes you think I know Amelia?" Lucius drawled cooly

"Please Lucius don't insult my intelligence. Bellatrix liberates a bunch of death eaters and then disappear to a location that baffles our apparation traces, could she really have gone anywhere else?"

"The Riddle house." Lucius suppled helpfully, hoping that he could send Amelia on a wild goose chase into that death-trapped fortress.

"I'll believe that when you lead me through the front doors of that hell-hole yourself. Bellatrix may have a reputation for insanity, but even she's not stupid enough to try to enter that place without the Dark Lord to unlock the ward grid.

Lucius was about to point out that Bellatrix's reputation for insanity clearly did not nearly do the truth justice when he was driven to his knees by a howling impact of wild magic against his hastily set bloodwards.

Amelia shot up from her seat with battle-honed reflexes as she watched her host writhe in pain on the ground. Tearing her eyes away from Lucius to search for the source of his pain she noticed that the heavy door was glowing a brilliant red. Someone's tearing through his bloodward in his own house? Amelia thought with mute astonishment, That's not possible! Not even Dumbledore is that strong!

As Amelia gripped her wand tightly with nervous anticipation Lucius let out a hoarse scream as the glow around the door intensified to a sickening green. Then, without warning the glow cut off. Amelia allowed herself to relax for a fraction of a second, only to jump in shock as the wall next to the door exploded inwards.

Standing in the gap, surveying the room with malicious glee was a tall black haired woman who could only be Bellatrix Black. Slowly her insane violet eyes swept the room, taking in and dismissing the ruin her entrance had left as well as Lucius lip and moaning form. It was only when her eyes came to rest on Amelia that they stopped their mad roving.

She regarded Amelia quizzically fora long moment, tilting her head from side to side idly as she tried to place the witch. Finally a wicked smile appeared on her face that seemed to make her violet eyes blaze with flame, "Madame Bones...it has been, too long." Bella drawled in a near perfect impression of a Malfoy.

The Malfoy coldness was a terrifying juxtaposition with the mad Black fire that blazed about the supposedly dead Bella. Amelia found herself unconsciously taking a step back and falling into a defensive stance.

Bella noticed her motion and shook her finger at Amelia mockingly, "Aww is ickle Amelia afraid of poor little Bella? We'd better take away that wand before you hurt yourself." Bella mocked as she moved with viper-like quickness to disarm Amelia.

Amelia barely saw the crimson bolt fly towards her. It was only reflex that saved her as the endless practice from her auror days kicked in, sending her diving to the left. She was up on her feet an instant latter, circling the insane Black as she tried to reach the door.

Bella simply smirked at the attempt as she neatly cut off the attempt with a raid side-step and acid curse combination, "Now tell me Amelia, what is it you do these days? I must confess I'm a little behind on current events." Bella asked conversationally as her wand spat a barrage of dark pain curses at the other witch.

Amelia was panting hard as she twisted, turned and shielded to prevent the deadly curses from impacting. She's toying with me. A tiny part of her brain clinically noted as the rest of her tried to draw on the cold calm that had served her so well in the past.

"I'm head of the DMLE! I would recommend in the strongest terms that you stop this unlawful assault upon my person and I may be able to overlook the illegal curses you have preformed so far." Amelia snapped back coldly, refusing to be drawn into Bella's game.

"The head of the DMLE...how...interesting. Now enlighten me Amelia, just why is the head of the DMLE talking to my dear Lucy? Its not that I don't trust him, its just well, you know how Malfoys are?" Bella asked almost amiably as she effortlessly slipped through Amelia's defenses to land a momentary Crucio.

Amelia bit back a scream at the fleeting contact with all of her will power before managing to snarl back at Bella, "I was looking for you." Auror rule number seven: tell psychotic death eaters the truth, it confuses them. Amelia thought with triumph as a brief flash of puzzlement flashed across Bella's features.

Deciding to press her advantage before the mad witch resorted to more Crucio's Amelia rapidly added, "I watched the battle of Azkaban, I wanted to speak with you and your companion."

Bella considered the comment for a long moment before giving a curt nod and indicating that Amelia should return to her seat at the desk. Amelia cautiously made her way over to the chair and sat down, never taking her eyes or wand off of Bella for all the good she knew it would do her: the death eater was too fast to be believed.

"I must admit Bellatrix I'm rather curious as to just what your plans are." Amelia began cautiously only to be cut off by a derisive snort from Bella, "I'm crazy, not stupid Amelia, why on earth would I tell my plans to the head of the DMLE?"

"Because if our plans happen to coincide a mutually beneficial relationship could be established." Amelia said quickly as she struggled to hide the growing desperation in her voice. Bella simply laughed in response, a mad giggling that sent shivers up Amelia's spine.

"Aww, is ickle Amelia doing something she shouldn't be?"

"Ickle Amelia is trying to stuff the old man in a coffin." Amelia snapped back as her temper finally got the better of her fear. Bella looked shocked for a moment before a wicked grin broke out on her face, "Indeed?" She asked, all traces of mockery gone from her voice, "Perhaps I can be of assistance. But, why would I want to pit myself against the old fools rather formidable power if I can avoid it?"

"He'll be sending the Order to kill you after what happened at Azkaban."

"Good. I do love the screams of foolish Lions." Bella countered, clearly not impressed by Amelia's reasoning.

"He's a bastion of the light and..." Amelia tried again, attempting to come up with some angle that would appeal to the twisted witch's mind. Bella cut her off before she could get more than a few words out, "As much as I love playing games I fear I lack the Malfoy patience to do so. I'll help you against the old man, but I want you to do me a favor in return."

"And what's that." Amelia asked, leaning forward unconsciously at the conspiratorial look on Bella's face.

"Well you see there's this mudblood..." Bella began, never noticing that Lucius had awoken from her attack against his bloodwards and was listening intently.