A/N : This chapter is Bella's POV again. Firstly, because Lucius is in a bit of a state (teehee) and secondly because he leaves quite early on anyway.

One Step Closer

Bellatrix gasped. The Dark Lord stood in the doorway, his expression difficult to read. How long had he been standing there? How much had he seen? It suddenly occurred to her that he might be angry with her, that he might have expected her to intervene in the fight. After all, it had been about her.

"Stand up," he said coldly. This wasn't a problem for Bella, who was standing anyway, but it took Lucius considerably longer to struggle to his feet, and Rosier didn't even try to. He simply moaned weakly and twitched a little, his face rapidly changing colour as he ran out of air. The Dark Lord watched him for a moment, his foot tapping impatiently. When it became clear that Rosier didn't intend to obey his instruction, he flicked his wand at his neck, slicing straight through the offensive intestines. Rosier sat bolt upright, clutching his stomach, and choked in horror at the sight of his intestines lying in a bloody heap a foot away, as completely removed from his body as it was possible to be. A moment later he screamed as the bones of his legs melted together again with a hissing sound. At last he staggered upright, leaning heavily on the sofa .

"Explain yourselves."

"It was Rosier's fault," Lucius muttered.

"Is that so."

"It was, master," Lucius wheezed. "He had some . . . ridiculous . . objection . . to Bellatrix's presence, and he attacked me. It was purely self defense. I don't know what's wrong with him."

"Rosier?"

The question was aimed at Rosier, who nodded. Apparently he had not yet regained the power of speech.

"I see," their master said, nodding thoughtfully. "Lucius, come here."

Bellatrix saw Lucius flinch as their master pointed his wand at him, but a moment later he relaxed. He was being healed.

"Amycus and Dolohov are waiting for you in the hall. Go."

She saw surprise flit briefly across his face, and then he was all gratitude. "Of course, master. Thank you, my lord." He bowed quickly and hurried away.

"Rosier?" the Dark Lord said again.

"Y-yes, my l-lord?"

"Crucio!"

Rosier collapsed again, screaming.

"Tell me, Rosier, what is your objection to Miss Black?"

Rosier shook his head, mute.

"Crucio!"

More screams.

"I repeat -"

"She's a girl!" Rosier blurted. "She doesn't belong here!"

"She is not the only female follower, and even if she were, her sex is hardly relevant."

"She . . she's my cousin! And . . and she doesn't have what it takes, I know she doesn't!"

"Crucio! Now, Rosier . . I care nothing for your opinions. I hope you understand that. I care even less for the fact that you are questioning your master's decisions."

Horrified understanding dawned on Rosier's white face. "N-no, master, I didn't, I wouldn't! Please, master . ."

"Silence. I think it's time, Rosier, that you were given a little lesson in humility. Crucio! Crucio!"

Bella watched as her cousin became a twisting, flailing heap on the floor. The sound of his screams didn't bother her. Rosier had tried to destroy everything, and for that he deserved every bit of pain coming his way. While her master tortured Rosier, Bella moved quietly about the room, picking up fallen books and returning them to their shelves. She had to use her cloak to wipe blood from some of them. It irked her that she couldn't use magic, but it was probably safer not to. When she was done she sat down on the sofa.

"Enervate."

Rosier's eyes opened agonizingly slowly. "M-master," he choked. "I'm . . . sorry-"

"Go to St Mungo's. Explain your injuries however you see fit. Do not arouse suspicion," their master said, talking over Rosier's apology. "Go."

Her cousin nodded and crawled from the room.

"Bellatrix?"

"Here, my lord."

Bella approached him slowly. She felt she was beginning to understand this game. Rosier had questioned their master's authority, and been punished for it. And Lucius . . Lucius had won the duel, and been rewarded for it. She wished she knew what would happen to her.

"Sit."

Bellatrix obeyed, dropping into Lucius' vacated seat.

"Explain."

"I . ." Bellatrix opened her mouth, and shut it again. What was she supposed to say? What did he want her to say? There was only one thing she was sure of – hesitation was not her friend. It certainly hadn't been Rosier's.

"Well . . .Lucius was telling the truth, my lord. Rosier provoked him, because he wasn't happy about me being here."

"So you believe Lucius' behaviour was purely self-defense?"

"Yes. No, wait a minute. I mean . . no."

Her master raised an eyebrow. "No?"

"Well, he was enjoying himself. He probably would have killed Rosier if they'd gone on much longer."

"I see. And you didn't think to intervene?"

Bella felt herself blush. "No. Honestly, I was . . .well I was enjoying it too."

"Would you have enjoyed it if Lucius had killed your cousin?"

Bella gave a contemptuous snort. "Rosier's not really my favourite person, my lord. I mean, I could probably summon up an appropriately trite expression for his funeral, but I'm not sure I'd lose much sleep over it."

Silence. She waited for more questions, but there didn't seem to be any forthcoming. Her master simply sat watching her, wearing the same mildly curious expression she had seen after her first torturing. After a while, Bella found herself talking just to fill in the silence.

"You see, he's . . . ugh, it's embarrassing really. He's . . . in love with me. I mean, I don't even know why. I've certainly never encouraged him."

"Really?"

"No! I've never seriously . . ." Bella trailed off. Her master was still watching her, wearing an amused, ironic smile. Suddenly, Lucius' voice echoed inside her head. Never lie to the Dark Lord, because he always knows . . . She sighed. "I suppose that's not true. I string him along sometimes, if there's something in it for me. Or if I just want to punish him. But that's different. That's not really encouragement, because he knows I would never really do anything with him. And he knows, deep down, that he's wrong for wanting me to. So, I suppose . . . what I really like is knowing I have some sort of power over him. Knowing he has a weakness, and I can manipulate it . . ."

Abruptly, she realized something. This was just another game. He had probably been watching the fight. He probably knew everything, he just wanted to hear them all say it. A test . . . of their truthfullness. So he said as little as possible, and let them talk and talk . . . and hang themselves with words. "It's all a game . ." Bella whispered, shocked.

Her master's smile widened. "Yes," he said softly.

"Oh." She could think of nothing further to add.

"Although I would prefer the term strategy. Now . . you wished for a book?"

Bella nodded mutely.

"Very well." He flicked his wand again and three books shot from the shelves and fell gracefully into her lap. "You should find those a good starting point. I will test you on what you have learned in a few weeks. Now, on to a more important question. When will this Trace of yours be removed?"

Bellatrix winced. "November," she admitted.

"November?" he repeated.

She nodded. "I'm sixteen. I was ten when I first started Hogwarts. My mother twisted Dumbledore's arm, told him I was already stealing my sister's textbooks and using her wand. She said she wouldn't be able to control me for much longer and that a few months wouldn't make much difference."

"And he believed her?"

Bella shook her head. "No. He believed me, when I told him I was lonely, and said I didn't have any friends. He believed me, when I said that sometimes I got so bored that I liked to hurt things – my cousins, or my sister's pets – just for something to do, and to feel like I wasn't stuck in a dream. He made me promise to stop. And he let me come to Hogwarts. That was our deal."

"And what of following Lord Voldemort?"

Bella smiled. "It wasn't a factor in the deal."

Her master chuckled. "Tell me, did you have any intention of honouring your agreement with Dumbledore?"

Bella shrugged. "I got what I wanted. And I did leave the cat alone. For a while."

Her master actually laughed out loud at that.