A/N: I suppose all I can do is apologise again for the lack of updates! I'm trying my best to finish this, but I lost inspiration for a while. I do have to thank Moon Lantern, VioletKane, Anne and WeAreTheHearts for the reviews, particularly the two recent ones, who reminded me that I really need to try and finish this story! Anyway, I hope you enjoy! :)

"Bella, who is that?" Narcissa asked, frowning down at Ariella, who was still staring up at the elegant woman in frightened awe.

"This, my dear sister, is the Mudblood Granger's sister. She's got some information for us, haven't you sweetheart?"

Once again, Ariella flinched as Bellatrix's claw-like fingers reached for her chin.

"She's far too small. How old is she exactly?" Narcissa strode down the steps, holding her skirts up delicately as if she was worried about getting them dirty. Ariella immediately got the feeling that this woman was quite different from her insane sister.

"A first year," Bellatrix mumbled grumpily, clearly not happy that her sister didn't seem as pleased with her catch.

"Bella…" the younger sister started, yet she was quickly interrupted.

"But she was wearing this!" With a flourish, the dark witch held out the locket that was causing so much trouble.

"She could have picked that up from anywhere!" Narcissa exclaimed. "She's too young for this, be reasonable!"

"She's a Mudblood, Narcissa, she deserves it!" the elder sister snapped. "If you don't like it, then don't get involved! But don't expect anyone else to side with you."

"And where exactly are the others?" the younger witch retorted. Both of them seemed to have forgotten their young prisoner, who was listening, half in interest and half in fright.

"The Order arrived, they had to fight."

"And you? Did you not have to fight? Or are you a coward now as well?"

Bellatrix almost seemed to grow another inch as she drew herself up to look down on her sister. "Don't you dare call me a coward! I spent fifteen years in Azkaban for the Dark Lord. What did Lucius do? Run away into hiding at the very first moment."

"And where is my husband, Bellatrix? Even if he did stay to fight, they should be back by now!"

"Most probably in the presence of the Dark Lord, seeing as though he royally messed up… again," Bellatrix snarled.

Narcissa froze a moment. "What?"

"Yes, he lost the prophecy, Cissy. It smashed. They failed."

The blonde woman sank slightly, looking horrified. "No… Lucius…"

"If he even made it out of there anyway," Bellatrix smirked.

Narcissa's posture immediately snapped back upright and she looked to her sister in alarm. "What do you mean?" she demanded.

"I told you – the Order arrived. And as I left, so did the Minister of Magic. It will be a miracle if they've all escaped unscathed."

Narcissa stared at her from beneath her fringe. "And you still haven't explained to me why you got back so early."

"The Dark Lord ordered me to return here."

Whilst the pair continued arguing, Ariella realised that this could be her chance to sneak away, to get out of here. So, watching the two sisters closely, she began to edge herself away, sticking close to the wall until she was far enough away for them not to notice if she stood up and made a run for it. Glancing back at her captors, she saw that Narcissa and Bellatrix had now started a full-blown argument.

"You should have stayed and helped!" Narcissa was shouting.

"What, and disobeyed the Dark Lord?"

"If my husband ends up in Azkaban I'll –"

"You'll what?"

Taking a deep breath, Ariella prepared herself to run. This was her only chance. If she didn't get out now then she'd be stuck here.

"I'll… I'll…"

"You've never been good at threats, dearest sister. Leave that part up to me."

'Three… two… one… go!' the girl told herself and launched up from the ground, sprinting for the stairs.

It took a few seconds for the two sisters to realise what was happening and by that point, it was too late for Ariella was nearing the top of the stairs. She heard Bellatrix give a snarl of anger behind her, but at that point, she didn't care. She'd done it! She'd done the hardest part – sneaking out in front of their very eyes! Now she just had to find the way out of this house.

However, Ariella was so busy in her thoughts that she didn't see the figure standing in the shadows at the top of the stairs. She didn't see it until she ran into something very solid.

"And just where do you think you're going?"a harsh voice sounded out.

Before the girl could even squeak out in fear, a strong hand clamped down on her shoulder, stopping her from running past.

"Rod? You're back! Did He do it? Did He kill Potter?" Bellatrix asked, looking up at him in earnest. It was then Ariella realised who was gripping her shoulder. Rodolphus Lestrange – Bellatrix's husband. A man who had spent the last fifteen years in Azkaban. That was it, she'd lost her chance. She was never getting out now.

"Bella, calm yourself. No, He did not do it. Dumbledore interfered once again," the man answered. "The Dark Lord is not pleased. Only a handful of us escaped."

"Lucius?!" Narcissa gasped out, almost pleading.

"He was taken."

"No… not Lucius! Please!" Narcissa sobbed out. "Oh Merlin, what am I going to tell Draco? Bella, what am I going to tell him?!"

"That his father was captured because he failed the Dark Lord. That he is being punished for his misdeed."

"Bella!"

"What? He needs to know the truth so he doesn't repeat his father's mistakes."

At that point, Rodolphus, seemingly noticing that the sisters were about to start another argument, interrupted them. "Is someone going to explain who this little thing is?" he asked, bringing the attention back to Ariella. "And how she managed to get past you two?"

"It's not who, it's what. She's a Mudblood," Bellatrix said. "And Granger's sister."

The wizard, clearly disgusted by what he was holding, pushed Ariella back down the stairs and she landed roughly at the bottom with a gasp, unwanted tears leaking from the corner of her eyes. She'd caught her ribs on the way down and she could have sworn she felt one of them crack.

"Then you should be keeping a better eye on her, Bella. The Dark Lord is already angered, you do not want to make it worse."

"Cissy here thinks she is too young, that we should let her go," Bellatrix said, her eyes flashing dangerously as she emphasised the last few words.

"She's only a first year, Rodolphus. Don't you think this is a bit low?"

"She has the information we need," Bellatrix interrupted before her husband could say anything.

"If she has anything relating Potter or the Order then she is useful," was all Rodolphus came out with. To Ariella, this was like the axe on the chopping block. It was now two against one; she'd never get out of here unscathed. "But this is not what I came down here to talk about. The Dark Lord wants you and our little prisoner upstairs. He's called a meeting."

Ariella's blood ran cold. Could things get any worse? Not only were they going to try and get information from her, but now she was to be introduced to You-Know-Who too! She tried to inch her way back into the shadows, ignoring the throb of her ribs as she did so. However, she didn't get very far before all three adults turned to look at her. She stared back at them, wide eyed, not wanting to show the fear in her expression, but not able to hide it.

Without saying a word, Bellatrix stalked towards her and, despite the young girl's struggles, managed to grip a clump of her hair and started to drag her up the stairs. Ariella couldn't help the gasps and whimpers that escaped her as she struggled to gain her footing and stop her ribs crashing into the solid, stone steps.

The wooden door shut behind them with a heavy clunk.