Murder Most Horrid

Chapter 34: Fallout

When Bellatrix returned to the manor interior, she found that Pansy had already been brought to the hospital. The others followed suit after fetching Ted, whom had been asked to stay with Charlotte while the others had faced off with Creed.

Both Bellatrix and Lucius stayed behind; duty came first. Both an assault and a murder had taken place and, as the first detective on location, it fall to Bellatrix to coordinate the Department's efforts.

After exchanging her soaked clothes for something dry and warm, Bellatrix did just that. Constables and specialists had come quickly enough to examine the site and take away any evidence. The dark witch went through the motions thoroughly as was expected of her. But she really wanted to be with her family instead, a sentiment shared by a very impatient Lucius.

After Barty had, in his words, 'scraped the remains of the delivery boy into a bowl' and Lucius had taken care to lock up the manor, the both of them hurried to St. Mungo's.

They found their family in one of the waiting rooms on the first floor of the hospital, near the nurses' station. Their mood was one of shock and mourning; apparently, the healers were still working on Pansy. Ted, Andy and Dora were seated next to each other and, judging from her red eyes and ruddy cheeks, her sister had been crying profusely. Ted was doing his best to console his wife while Dora had adopted a thousand-yard stare, seemingly so lost in thought that she might not even respond when talked to. Draco, in the meantime, was worried to all hell and looked white as a sheet while his mother sat next to him, trying to comfort him.

However, the moment Cissy spotted her, she raised from her seat and rushed over to her. Bellatrix held out her hands, expecting a hug.

Instead, she got a hard slap to the face.

"Where were you?!" Cissy shouted. "Why didn't you protect her?! It's your job to protect people! She's going to be your family!"

"Cissy..." Bellatrix whispered in shock while rubbing the red welt on her cheek.

"Mother!" Draco protested. "If aunt Bellatrix hadn't been there, Pansy'd be dead! And me and aunt Andromeda'd be too!"

Finally, the expected hug came; Cissy held onto her tightly. "I know," Cissy whispered. "I'm so sorry. I..."

Bellatrix returned the hug. "I understand, Cissy."

"AND YOU! YOU USELESS EXCUSE FOR A HUSBAND!" Cissy released Bellatrix to direct her ire at Lucius. "YOU ASSURED ME THE MANOR WAS SAFE!"

The dark witch decided to let Lucius and Cissy solve their own marital problems. She stopped at Andromeda, squeezing her shoulder and offered her shell-shocked sister an encouraging smile. "It's not your fault, Andy," she spoke softly. There was a brief flicker of gratitude in her eyes before she cast her eyes downwards again.

But where was Hermione? Why was not here? Irrational panic shot through her being as she looked around frantically; certainly, the hospital was well-guarded, but the full moon was still out. Relief washed over her a moment later when Hermione came walking in from another corridor holding Charlotte by the hand. Apparently, they had visited the candy dispenser for a chocolate bar which Charlotte was now holding.

"Belle," Hermione smiled when Bellatrix held onto her her and closed her eyes. She ran her fingers through Hermione's wavy brown hair and gently kissed her on the lips.

"Pet," whispered Bellatrix. By the time she had reached Hermione, Lucius and Cissy were already embracing. Hermione broke the hug and sat down on one of the hospitals awful hard benches. Charlotte, being up way beyond her bed-time, suppressed a yawn and lay down on the bench, resting her head in Hermione's lap while taking a bite from her chocolate bar every so often.

Bellatrix sat down next to Hermione and wrapped an arm around her. Her girlfriend looked tired and tense, but relaxed slightly when she lay her head on her shoulder. Being soul-crushingly tired herself, Bellatrix rested her head against the back of the bench. "How are you holding up, pet?" she asked.

"Terrible," said Hermione. "At least Charlotte missed most of the... commotion."

"I'm right here, you know?" Charlotte whispered tiredly before yawning.

"And Pansy. Oh, god, poor Pansy," Hermione looked away. "Pansy... made my life miserable from my first year of Hogwarts. She called me names, humiliated me, pulled the kind of pranks that could emotionally scar a person for life if I'd let it. There were times when I cried myself to sleep over something she did to me. I... wanted bad things to happen to her. I wanted her to experience the same pain she inflicted on me. On bad days, I even wished she's just... disappear."

Bellatrix nodded. Judging from the shame in Hermione's voice when she spoke that last sentence, the dark witch concluded that she had wanted more than to just see Pansy... disappear.

"It's so odd, really," Hermione said. "We were just talking before she left to the ballroom to practice dancing with Andy and Draco. She told me that, for the first time in years, she was truly happy. She'd turned her life around and she hoped that, despite everything she had done, we could perhaps become friends. She didn't deserve this, Belle. God, look at me, I'm shedding tears for Pansy Parkinson. Life is full of surprises."

Bellatrix just nodded and kissed the top of her head. She was content just to let Hermione blow off some steam. "Should I get you a cup of water, pet?"

"No, thanks," said Hermione. "I'm just... look, the others are still in shock and denial, but, Belle, Pansy was bitten. We both know what that means."

"Yes," nodded Bellatrix. "That's why I sent for Remus. He'll meet up with us first thing in the morning. He can't be with us now for, well, obvious reasons. There might... still be hope. Wizards have been bitten and not turned."

Hermione shook her head. "That's because they died, Belle. There's only one known case of a wizard being bitten and not having contracted the curse. Once in over a thousand years."

Bellatrix groaned and slumped in her chair. She didn't want to hear this. "Oh, Merlin, I'm tired. I'm tired of Creed messing with my family. I'm tired of having the people I love being threatened and attacked by that madman. Who's his next victim going to be? Draco? Dora? You?"

"Belle."

"So tired," Bellatrix felt her eyelids fall shut, almost involuntarily. "So fucking tired."

With Hermione pressing against her, the exhausted Bellatrix fell into a uneasy, but dreamless slumber.

When Bellatrix woke up again, Hermione was gone. The dark witch rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stretched. She felt terrible; her throat was parched and sleeping half-draped over a bench hadn't really done much to make her body any less stiff. Finally, she took note of her own injuries; she had a split lip which she supposed she really should get treatment for and she just bet that her side where Creed had hit her would be one big bruise for a couple of days.

A cursory glance at a wall-clock revealed it was early morning. Charlotte, however, didn't seem worse for wear and was still sleeping on the bench, her head parked on an upright seat-cushion.

Craving a breakfast, preferably as fattening as possible, and a shower, Bellatrix bent forward and rubbed her temples. Merlin, what a horrible night.

What was even worse were the horribly bright hospital lights; Bellatrix groaned in dismay and shielded her eyes with her arm. It didn't help that Bellatrix hated hospitals with a passion. After being there for a whole night, she just bet that her clothes had started to stink of antiseptics to add insult to injury.

"Belle?" she heard a soft whisper. "Belle, are you awake?"

"The amount at which my body is protesting to it would suggest so," replied Bellatrix with a groan. "What time is it?"

"Just before eight," said Hermione. "The healers have news, Belle."

Bellatrix glanced at the still sleeping Charlotte, curled up on the settee. Hermione followed her gaze and shook her head quietly. She was right; let her sleep for now. No reason to get her involved.

Every muscle in her body protested against getting up from the bench. Together, she and Hermione stepped over to the others, already gathered around the healer. From the corner of her eye, she'd noticed Remus Lupin hanging back near the corridor. After offering him a brief nod, Remus kept his distance; he'd done this before and it would give the time the family would need to... process.

Merlin above, this was going to be brutal.

The others had already gathered around the healer whom she recognized as Hippocrates Smethwyck. Clad in a lime-green smock and holding a clipboard, there was look of concern on his face. "It a near thing, but we've managed to save her arm," spoke Hippocrates. A wash of relief went over the faces of her family, most of all Draco.

"I want to see her right now!" Draco demanded.

"You may in a moment," said Hippocrates. "She is conscious and has been asking for you, but there are some things you must all know, first."

"Speak up, then, man!" Lucius demanded. "You are wasting our time!"

"Lucius!" Narcissa hissed.

Hippocrates wasn't even fazed for a single second, possibly used to dealing with irate family members by now. "As you might know, wounds inflicted by werewolves are cursed and usual healing magics will have no effect. We managed to treat the wound with silver nitrate powder and dittany salve, but the injury was so severe we had to apply certain... techniques pioneered by Muggle doctors. We hastily brought in a few of those Muggle doctors who are 'in the know' as it were, to help us with setting the bones and knitting them with screws and wire, applying skin grafts and using stitches. We were rather out of our depths, but my team performed admirably."

"What does that all mean?" Draco pressed. "Screws and wire?! Muggles?! What did you do to her?!"

Hippocrates nodded. "With therapy, we expect her to regain eighty percent functionality in her arm, but this will take time and dedication."

"What?!" Draco snarled. "You call that treatment?! You bloody quack! Get back in there and give her some proper treatment!"

"My son is right!" Lucius narrowed his eyes. "Muggle techniques?! Really?!"

"I assure you, misters Malfoy," Hippocrates replied. "We did all that is possible for her, but... there is an added complication."

Bellatrix braced herself, and she felt Hermione tense up next to her. This is it.

"Miss Parkinson... was bitten during the attack," Hippocrates paused. "I'm sorry, but all our tests confirm that... miss Parkinson has contracted Lycanthropy."

The reactions were instant. Andy hung her head low and flew into Ted's arms where she burst into tears, while Dora cursed loudly and foully. A disbelieving Cissy ran two hands through her hair while Lucius adopted a steely expression. Draco turned white as a sheet, even paler than he usually looked. All the while, Bellatrix felt the bitter sting of failure.

"You're wrong!" Draco shouted at the healer. "Do the test again!"

Bellatrix took a deep breath and motioned for Remus to step closer.

"I'm afraid that the tests were... quite conclusive, mister Malfoy."

The dark witch could see that the reality of the situation dropped down on poor Draco like a ton of bricks. She felt for her nephew, truly. The worst thing was that the man who did this to his fiancee was still at large. Draco let himself drop down into once of the chairs, rubbing his face. "Why?" he whispered. "Why?!"

"A werewolf," Lucius shook his head, "carrying the Malfoy name."

Amidst all the hugs and offering of support that followed, it was Lucius and his damnable foot-in-mouth disease who had to go and ruin it all.

Bellatrix closed her eyes and cursed under her breath. That had to have been the most unfortunate timing of his entire bloody life. Immediately Draco sprung off the chair and faced off with his father. "I'm not canceling the engagement!" Draco shouted.

The dark witch could tell that Lucius was startled by the outburst. "Son," he started. "I didn't mean to suggest..."

"I'm not going to leave Pansy now that she needs me the most!" Draco narrowed his eyes.

Remus then announced his presence by scraping his throat. "Excuse me," he spoke. "Bellatrix asked me to come. I am Remus Lupin and I work for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I know this is a difficult time for you all, but I share miss Parkinson's... condition and I am often called to, well, advise the newly bitten and offer council to their families."

"Mister Lupin," Ted nodded. "I've heard of you. You're sort of the unofficial spokesman for the werewolf community, am I right?"

"Some see me as such, yes," nodded Remus. "Now, before I say anything else, it's important to remember that, despite the curse, miss Parkinson is still the girl you've always known. That hasn't changed and never will."

Bellatrix could only watch her nephew in silence; his expression was a mix of fatigue, worry and anger. She'd failed him; the dark witch had the events of the previous night run through her mind over and over again. If only she'd been quicker or paid more attention, perhaps none of this would have happened. Cissy'd been right; she was supposed to protect them. And she hadn't been able to do so.

"I... I just want to see her now," Draco stammered.

Hippocrates offered an encouraging smile. "This way please."

"Mister Lupin?" asked Narcissa. "Would you join us, please? I'm sure Pansy... would..."

Everybody moved towards Pansy's room, except for Lucius. The elder Malfoy stood still like a statue, watching his family enter the room without him. Bellatrix and Hermione shared a look when Lucius took a deep breath and turned around to walk away from the room.

Unbelievable!

Bellatrix raised an eyebrow. "And where do you think you're going?" she asked, barely containing her anger and annoyance.

Lucius' stopped in his tracks, his expression changed completely. "Did you see Draco standing up to me? I'm proud of him," the corners of Lucius' mouth curled up ever so slightly. "He's become a man. He doesn't need me there."

Before Lucius could walk on, Bellatrix grabbed him by the arm. "Bollocks!" she called. "Go see to your family! Now!" She sharply motioned her chin towards the room for emphasis. Lucius relented with a sigh and turned around to join his family.

"Well," said Hermione as she stood next to Bellatrix and watched Lucius enter the room where he was apparently welcomed. "A Malfoy with character."

"Which Malfoy?"

"Both."

The dark witch snorted. Only Bellatrix and Hermione were left standing in the hallway now and there were things she had to say. "Before we go in," Bellatrix said. "I want you to know I'll be booking us into Azkaban. All three of us. No protests this time. It's the only place in the wizarding world where he can't get to us. We'll just have to made do with having dementors as our next-door neighbors."

Hermione shook her head. "There has to be a better way. Being in Azkaban can't help your investigation."

"Do you honestly think I look forward to spending Merlin knows how long on that rock?!" Bellatrix snapped. "It's a necessary evil, pet! You saw what happened today! We thought Malfoy Manor was safe and by all rights it should have been! But he got to us anyway! I'm not taking any more chances! I don't want..."

"... what happened to Pansy to happen to me," Hermione finished for her, taking a moment to touch Bellatrix's cheek.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, the dark witch cast her eyes downwards. "It's far from ideal. Travel in and out Azkaban is severely limited for obvious reasons. Communication stinks too. But like I said, it's the safest place in the wizarding world."

Hermione offered her that knowing smile of hers. That horribly cute knowing smile. "What if we go outside the wizarding world, then?"

Bellatrix frowned. "What are you suggesting?"

"My parents' house in London."

Bellatrix blinked once. Twice. "You're daft!" she exclaimed. "Creed tore through Malfoy Manor! It had some of the toughest security measures in the entire wizarding world for all the good that it did. Are you going to tell me that Jack and Emma's house is safer than Malfoy Manor?! Or Azkaban for that matter?!"

The young witch grabbed her by the shoulders. "It's perfect. Don't you see? It's hiding in plain sight."

"We'd be putting your parents at risk!" Bellatrix exclaimed.

"No, no. I've talked to Remus about it while you were still sleeping," said Hermione. "He knows more about werewolves than you do."

"But I know more about murderers than he does!" Bellatrix retorted. "Do you really want to risk Jack and Emma's safety?"

"Just hear me out!" Hermione pressed. "My parents live on the edge of central London and the greater london area. There's too many smells there, and so many people he won't be able to find us. And judging what you've seen of him, a pure-blood, how difficult will it be for him to navigate the Muggle world?"

Bellatrix brought a finger to her lips. "Quite difficult. According to the file, he never interacted with Muggles. Considers them to be beneath him. I'd say his contacts with Muggles are limited to killing them when they get too deep in the forest."

"Right," said Hermione. "Standard pure-blood fare. Come on, the last time you were at my parents' house, you were scared by the toaster."

"Bread's not supposed to suddenly pop up like that!" Bellatrix retorted, remembering that she grabbed her wand on instinct and blasted the infernal Muggle machine into a thousand pieces. "And I paid to have it replaced, pet, thank you very much."

"My point being, if someone as intelligent as you is barely able to function in the Muggle world, how will someone psychotic and vile like Creed be able to?" Hermione said. "Yesterday, I went searching through the Malfoy library and found an anti-werewolf ward wizards of old used to protect their Muggle relatives and it works on werewolves in human and in beast-form. Look, we can also ward the house against prying wizarding eyes and get the house connected to the floo network so we can both keep working. There's plenty of room for all three of us and, well, I suppose it's nice to be home again. If it can't be Rosewood cottage, the house I grew up in is the next best thing."

Bellatrix rubbed her chin. She hated to admit it, but Hermione's plan was actually starting to making sense. Perhaps... perhaps this could even work. "How quickly can you cast this ward, pet?"

Hermione beamed slightly. "I already have! Didn't you see me slipping away from the manor yesterday morning? I had to make sure my parents were safe, after all. Furthermore, I've put protection in place which would hide our magical signatures from the outside world. It's... much like a Faraday cage, basically. Uh, I'll explain what that is later."

"Of course," Bellatrix chuckled. "Just how effective is this anti-werewolf ward?"

"Well, the most important requirement is to keep all windows and doors closed when there's a full moon out. You'd be surprised how many people have been necked by forgetting to close one.

Bellatrix scoffed. "What a stupid way to die. The epitome of being too dumb to live."

Hermione cocked her head sideways. "So? What do you think? I won't force you into anything like I did last time. It's your decision as much as it is mine. I just... wanted to give you an option."

Bellatrix took Hermione in an embrace. "It's insane enough to work, pet. And better than Azkaban. Alright, Hermione, we'll give it a try. But as soon as there's even a single hint of trouble..."

A yawn sounded from the bench at the opposite end of the waiting area. Charlotte sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes before sliding off the bench. The little girl strolled over to Hermione and Bellatrix. "Hm, what I miss?" yawned Charlotte.

"Good morning, dear," Hermione bent to one knee to look Charlotte in the eye. "We're about to go see Pansy."

Bellatrix steeled herself before stepping inside. From the doorframe, she could already Pansy, sitting up in bed with her wounded arm wrapped in bandages, crying while holding on to Draco, and thankfully surrounded by family.

Once again, there was that overwhelming sting of failure. It was a feeling she really didn't want to become any more familiar with.

With the overwhelming smell of ozone in the air from the release of tremendous magical energy ionizing in the air, Bellatrix took a few deep breaths before firing off more spells at the practice dummies at the Department firing range.

Acts of violence were always a good way to alleviate herself from frustration, Bellatrix found. And the poor practice dummies were such enticing targets. Letting out an enraged shriek, Bellatrix hit the dummy with such force that it was wrenched from its socket, flew across the air and smashed against the back of the wall. Immediately, a house-elf came rushing out of the booth, snapped his fingers and a new dummy fell in its place.

The poor house-elf barely got out in time before the dark witch started slinging her spells again. Streaks of red, green and white shot forth from her wand.

Seriously, the entire wizarding world was looking for him and he was still at large. Creed was a fucking shadow!

Letting out another shriek from the depths of her lungs, her magic obliterated what must have been the twentieth practice dummy today. Covered in sweat and panting profusely, Bellatrix closed her eyes and let her wand slip from her fingers to clatter onto the ceramic tiles which made up the floor.

She grit her teeth and let out another frustrated cry. Useless, yes, but damn, did it feel good to let it all out. Suddenly, the scraping of a throat from the stairway leading into the firing range let her know another person had entered.

Cissy.

Her sister slowly descended the staircase while Bellatrix stepped towards a cistern filled with cold clear water and splashed some of it in her face.

"Bella," Cissy spoke. "One of your subordinates told me I could find you here. What was his name again? Bimmy?"

"Jimmy," Bellatrix corrected.

Cissy shrugged and regarded the blasted practice dummies. "You've been busy. Blowing off steam?"

Bellatrix sighed heavily. "I gave a press conference an hour ago."

"You?" Cissy chuckled. "A press conference?"

The dark witch shrugged before picking up her wand and sliding it into its holster. "Comes with the job of being a Super. That arseface Sirius was only too eager to cut me out of the hunt for Creed last night, but very happily threw me to the wolves to let me face the press alone when it was time to own up to the Department's failure to find him. You'll probably read all about it in the Daily Prophet this evening. That damn Skeeter woman provoked me into losing my shit with her stupid comments about police incompetence."

Bellatrix changed her voice to sound like the whiny drawl of Rita Skeeter. "How can we expect you to keep the people of the wizarding world safe if you cannot even protect your own family?"

"Merlin's beard, that's a low blow," Cissy responded.

"I almost hexed her on the spot," Bellatrix replied. "But I had to settle by proclaiming in front of the entire press of the wizarding world that her parentage was a coupling of barnyard proportions. I swear, I thought I heard most of the other journo's cheering. But enough about me. How are Pansy and Draco?"

Cissy cast her eyes downward, her expression sour. "Coping, as you can imagine," Cissy replied. "Draco is dead set on marrying her, but the wedding's been put on hold until Pansy has had some time to recuperate."

Bellatrix dried her face with a towel. "I can imagine. Cissy, you inherited the Black family vacation home in the south of France, right?"

Cissy frowned. "Yes. Lucius and I make use of it regularly. Why bring this up?"

"Because of Father's paranoia," grinned Bellatrix. "He's warded that vacation home shut to the millimeter. We're only able to enter through a secured portkey which only recognizes members of the house of Black or invitees. The barriers around it incinerate anyone who isn't a Black on touch. Never thought the old man's paranoia would work in our favor."

"Again, why bring this up? What does Father's paranoia has to do with anything?"

"Creed likes to attack his victims when the moon is full," said Bellatrix. "If we haven't captured him by next month, I want you to take Andy, Ted, Dora and Lucius there. Use it as an excuse to bond or whatever. Draco will want to be with Pansy for her first... transformation and they'll be surrounded by aurors to guard them. They'll be safe."

"We can't just drop everything and…"

"We are being hunted!" Bellatrix hissed and grabbed her sister by the shoulders. "We are that bastard's prey, Cissy, don't you get that?"

"Fine. Is that why you're going to... hide in the Muggle world?" Cissy spoke with some distaste. "Don't tell me you're honestly going through with this."

Bellatrix shrugged. "We do what we must to protect those near and dear to us. Hermione is talking it over with her parents right now. To be honest... I don't have any better ideas other than Azkaban."

"Bellatrix," Cissy started to say. "There's something else you must know."

"What is it, Cissy?" Bellatrix rubbed her temples. She was not in the mood for more intrigue right now.

Cissy paused a moment, then looked Bellatrix in the eye. "It's about father's will."

Bellatrix closed her eyes and let out a sigh. It had been almost ten years since her father had passed away. After father's death, Narcissa, being the last Black sister in good graces, had inherited the entire estate and Black fortune. For her part, and going against the family's wishes, she had split the inheritance three ways, intending to give both of her sisters their due. For both exiled sisters, the pain had still been fresh. Andromeda had decided to take the inheritance, used a small portion of it to pay off the mortgage of her house and donated the rest to charity. Whatever she had kept as a nest egg had been put to good use as a starting capital for her party planning business.

Bellatrix, in contrast, had flat out refused to even consider taking the money. Cissy had put it in a bank account at Gringotts should she ever change her mind, but her pride would never permit it. And she would have none of it now. "If this is about the money, Hermione and I don't need any of it," she said resolutely.

"It's not about the money," said Cissy as she fished an envelope from the inside of her cloak. It was sealed with wax and had the phrase 'For Bellatrix' written on it.

Bellatrix's eyes widened. "I thought I told you to burn that!" Indeed, it was the only thing bequeathed to her in her father's will. A letter.

"I think you should read it," said Cissy.

"I care not for father's bile," Bellatrix snarled. "Why should I give him one last chance to kick me in the teeth from beyond the grave?! Destroy it!"

Cissy was resolute. "I kept it despite your wishes," said Cissy. "After mother died, she left Andromeda a letter. It gave her so much peace, Bella. Maybe reading father's letter will help you, regardless of its contents."

"I don't care. Burn it!"

"Bella!"

With snarl on her face, Bellatrix turned to her sister. "HE THREW ME OUT OF MY OWN FAMILY!" she shouted. It took a moment to regain her composure. The ferocity of her outburst surprised even herself. "And for what? Not wanting to marry a complete tosser of a man who's now breaking big rocks into small ones in an Australian work-camp for the rest of his life?! And mother? Oh, our dear mother. She didn't agree with father's decision, yes, but still she stood by and did nothing! And then they did exactly the same to Andy! Cissy, when Andy stayed with me at my apartment during the first weeks of her exile, do you know how many times I had to listen to her crying herself to sleep?! Of course you don't, because you weren't there!"

"Bella, that's not fair and you know it!" Narcissa snapped. "Merlin, why do you always do this?! Why do always put blame on me whenever I bring up father?! I'm sorry about what he did to you and Andy, but that's no excuse to treat me as if I'm your enemy! I am not! I have never been!"

Truth be told, it wasn't until fairly recent had developed these much stronger feelings of resentment towards her father. Though her relationship with Hermione, she had gotten to observe how other fathers interacted with their children. Jack, Hermione's father, would never consider exiling his daughter for any reason. Though Hermione's friendship with Ronald Weasley, she had seen how close the Weasley family was. This had made her think on more than one occasion. She'd had to admit there'd been times she'd been lying awake at night, wondering how things could have been different. The dark witch closed her eyes. "You're right, of course."

"Your sisters never left you, her sisters never left Andy," Cissy whispered back and held out the letter. "In light of recent events... with all of us being hunted by this monster. Bella, perish the thought, but if you were to die tomorrow, wouldn't you at least want to know what your father's last words to you were?"

"I want nothing from him!" Bellatrix spat back. "We both made our choice a long time ago."

"Then what was that outburst just now? Burn the letter yourself if that is what you want, but I'm going to going to make that decision for you," Narcissa spoke sternly while holding out the letter for Bellatrix.

Bellatrix sighed heavily. "Fine," she spat and snatched the letter.

"Good," Cissy smiled. "I must return to St. Mungo's to check up on Draco and Pansy. Do keep in touch, Bella."

Bellatrix closed her eyes. "Yeah. Yeah, I will. But first, I feel like destroying a couple more dummies."

Cissy smirked. "Don't let me stop you."