"If there's discretion that you've not abandoned, now's the time." -AFI, "End Transmission"

-- The Killing Lights --

Bellatrix went back to sleep after her pain was sufficiently relieved by the massage. They ended up staying for dinner, after which the Dark Lord took her home.

When they were on their way out, Narcissa had handed Bellatrix a paper shopping bag with "some things you'll need" in it, and entrusted a crystal vial containing single dose of the extra-strength pain relieving potion to the Dark Lord - just in case Bella should happen to need it. Although according to Naricssa, "Her cramps ususally don't last past the first day."

Now that they were home, Voldemort asked Bella what her sister had given her.

Bellatrix blushed slightly as she answered, "Not much, really. Just some magical panties and shield-charmed sheets."

"Magical panties?" he repeated, sounding slightly amused. "And, ah... what, exactly, would the purpose of that item be?"

Bella flushed scarlet as she snapped, "They're enchanted to Vanish blood. You do know what menstruation IS, don't you?"

Wait, blood?! Why is there bleeding? And where is the blood coming from?

"Not... entirely..." was all he said aloud. He had a general idea but didn't know the specifics of it, just that it had something to do with female fertility and that most of the women he knew tended to be in a foul mood during it and sometimes complained of cramps or 'heavy days'.

She smirked a little, reveling in the sight of his shocked expression as she broke down the mysteries of the female anatomy to him.

"And... you go through all of that once a month...?" he asked incredulously, once she was done explaining.

"Like clockwork," she replied flatly. "Like I told you earlier, being a woman is tough."

Yes, she'd told him that, but he hadn't realized how much of an understatement it was until he had the details laid out for him like this.

For the next few days Bellatrix mostly stayed locked in her room, until the worst of the bleeding was over. For another three days after that she was alternately either restless or overtired.

The morning of the eighth day since their trip to Malfoy Manor, he woke to find her curled up beside him, sleeping peacefully.

They'd been through thirty days of hell together. And compared to that, winning the war seemed like it would be a piece of cake to accomplish.

-tbc-

A/N: Next chapter will be the final.

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