As Bellatrix LeStrange entered what looked like a palace's front entry she shuddered. The hall was derelict and creepy, the only source of comfort was the moonlight that fell through the grimy stained glass windows. She felt like someone was watching her, she the Dark Lord's most faithful death eater was afraid. The air was heavy, stale, and damp it carried voices from one of the corridors that split away from the main entrance.
"Your whole world is falling down, falling down, falling down. Your whole world is falling down Bellatrix LeStrange. Your lords pretending to be strong, to be strong, to be strong. Your lords been pretending all along, Bellatrix LeStrange. What will you do now fight or run, fight or run, fight or run. What will you do now fight or run, Bellatrix LeStrange. Your whole world is falling down, falling down, falling down. Your whole world is falling down Bellatrix LeStrange." The soft voice crept towards her, like a mist, echoing over the rough hewn stone. "You need to come with us Bellatrix." Bellatrix whipped her head around, the voice came from behind her. A creature sat on the floor behind her, her black hair fell in front of its face obscuring her eyes, her skin was a sickly white, torn, limp wings trailing on the ground, her knees curled to her chest, thin, frail arms wrapped protectively around the equally thin legs.
"What?" Bellatrix was startled, how had the creature gotten behind her?
"You need to come with us." A second voice whispered, Bellatrix whipped around again, looking up this time. This time a boy sat in one of the high windows obscuring the light, chains hung from his ankles and wrists, clinking eerily in the silence.
"Why?" Bellatrix asked cockily.
"You need to come with us." a third voice whispered, standing right beside her was a second little girl, her hair was pulled into a long braid, exposing her empty eye sockets, her tattered wings brushing the experienced Death Eater. Bellatrix screamed.
"My, my we are jumpy now, aren't we?" A second boys voice asked, he leaned against the wall, raggedy bandages floated delicately away from him, they were spotted with blood, they were reaching towards Bellatrix. "come Bellatrix, they're waiting for you. Devon, Ophelia, Belliate. Come." His voice was soft, barely louder than a whisper and yet the creatures acted like he was shouting.
"Follow us Bellatrix." The four whispered in unison before they disappeared down one of the corridors. Bellatrix followed with minimum hesitation, she had a job to complete.
"Hmmmmm, you'd think they would at least try to be convincing." Ginny said scathingly as she stroked the silky feathers of the raven that sat on her shoulder as she watched Bellatrix walk confidently down the halls of her home. "They can't honestly think that Bellatrix of all people can get into our ranks on a spy mission. Did he even think this one through?"
"No." was Luna's reply as she gazed into a crystal ball that sat on the arm of her throne the pale stone seeming to glow around her.
"Welcome to our humble home Bellatrix." Hermione's voice cut through the dark surrounding them like a knife. The dark seemed to part before Bellatrix allowing her to see the rulers who had been able to see her since she had entered their home.
"What are you here for? Certainly you didn't hunt down the darkest, dampest holes in the world just to come and visit us?" Ginny smirked, giggling as the raven nibbled her ear.
"You speak the truth my queens. Your humble servant has not sought you in vain, no she aspires to join you in you endeavors." Draco's laugh reverberated around the room
"Wow, aunt Bellatrix. You must think we're all stupid, did you really think you could waltz right in here and just join just like that? How did you find us anyway?"
"I let her find us Draco, I wanted to see exactly what that pretender was throwing our way, no curve balls as you can see. And now that I know the best that he has, we have no reason to worry, we can restore balance with ease, his people will fall apart at the seams the second he is dead."
"But mistress, would you let such a valuable piece just waltz right back into the game? It would be like releasing a Queen from a trap, it makes no sense; so is she a messenger, or a warning?" Luna asked softly, her gaze had shifted from the crystal ball to the ground on which Bellatrix stood.
"She's a pawn, Luna. Look, see? She moves as directed by her King, who hides behind his people, she jumps as the call to duty. I'm almost insulted he threw nothing but a pawn our way." Ginny said as Bellatrix finally noticed the ground that she stood on was checkered white and black, like a giant chess game.
"She is no pawn, make no mistake of that, that would be like saying I am nothing more than a knight." Hermione gently reprimanded Ginny, "Her position changes from Rook and Queen often. He keeps his own forces weak with constant power struggles and battles for his favor. That makes them more loyal, however, it also leaves them constantly weak. Luna, she is yours." Hermione said waving her hand at Luna who's eyes lit up instantaneously.
Bellatrix had one final epiphany before she simply disappeared, the woman sitting in the throne before her was truly a queen, and her people didn't need to be controlled. And even if they did at times, she kept them under her thumb with her power, they were addicted, and Bellatrix doubted that they would ever even be able to live without the stuff again.