A/N: Sorry for such a long pause! My muse went on holiday without me, but at least I managed to get all my Christmas presents done! Also, I'll be updating the previous chapters to put in dates and hours to make the timeline clearer. But, without a further ado: here is chapter 11.

WC: 1,101

Warning: slightly suggestive

Tuesday 22nd December 1970, 9AM

"Know your limits, but never stop trying to exceed them." That was what Father told Bella, one day when she was only 6, and he had apparently resolved himself to the fact that he was never going to have a son, so Bella was his only chance of having a worthy heir.

It might seem like something a little strange for a father to tell a six-year-old, but Cygnus Black wasn't any father, and Bellatrix Black definitely wasn't any six-year-old.

She already knew her name was Black, and that name inspired respect around her. She already knew she had magic, and powerful one with that, which she could learn to yield. She already knew she was striking, that people turned to look at her when she came into a room, and that could be a weapon.

And she already knew her limits. Though she was a Black, she was a girl. Though she had magic, something about it made people nervous. And though she was striking, she was not beautiful. These three facts became more and more apparent to her as she grew up. And she wanted to exceed those limits more and more.

So, that where Bella is now. Slowly, she's exceeding those limits one by one. She's made the name Black hers, so that when people year those five little letters, they think of her and a little bit of awe and fear fills them. Her Dark Lord has given her magic free reign, and that nervous something about it she is mastering through the spells he teaches her. And finally there's Rodolphus. He's the one who makes her feel beautiful.

Rodolphus. Their relationship is strange.

She likes to toy with him, and he likes to be toyed with. He looks up at her with wide adoring eyes, and when he does, something fills her and she feels absolutely elated. She knows it's not love, no – Bella refuses to believe in that sort of love – but it's something that she enjoys.

Which is why, of course, the whole engagement is a prickly question. The thought of tying herself to this man who makes her feel all-powerful is certainly very tempting. But then again, it's submitting herself to the rule of a man, after all those years she's tried to prove she's more than a girl, that a woman can make the Black name shine.

Then, there's the fact that her father and mother want this desperately, and that the Dark Lord believes it is a good move – Rodolphus told her. However, if she ties herself to a man, how can she live up to her father's expectations, to make her his Black heir? And more importantly, how can she truly be devoted, one hundred per cent to her Lord?

This internal dilemma of hers shows weakness, and she hates weakness. So, instead, what she does is give the impression that she has absolutely everything under control: change her mind abruptly. It clearly came as a surprise to Mother and Father last night when she announced she was engaged, a bright smile of her face. This unpredictability of hers might seem immature and childish; but it also means they can't control her, they don't know what she's going to do next. It's all part of this game she's playing with herself.

"Bellatrix," Rabastan says as he opens the door to her.

"Rabastan, can't the elves open the door now?" she teases, shoving him playfully. Not a very custom-like entrance, but Aunt Walburga isn't here to tell her off. Besides, it's allowed her to clearly show her dominance here.

Rabastan and Rodolphus, though Sacred 27, aren't quite as high in the hierarchy as Black – but then again, who is? - and while they have money, that isn't always necessarily enough. And more importantly, though they are inner circle, they aren't quite as close as Bella to the Dark Lord. She knows she needs to remind them of this regularly. Playful shoves are enough.

"I suppose you're looking for Rodolphus?" he asks.

"No, I came for your delightful face, Rabastan," she tells him, with a touch of irony. But then again, though Rabastan is two years younger than his brother, they could almost be twins. Sometimes, it unsettles Bella, but only just a little, and definitely not for long.

"Delightful, as always Bella," he says and she smirks, "He's in his office, I suppose you know the way."

"Yes, thank you," she begins to make her way up the stairs. An elf took her coat while they were talking.

"Oh, and remember, I'm going to be here all morning," he says.

"Yes?" she asks.

"Please stay in his apartments, I don't want to have to walk in on something unpleasant," he says with a laugh.

"Rabbie, darling, you're just jealous," she dismisses and continues to walk up the stairs, though there is a light blush on her cheeks.

Okay, so Rabastan did walk in on them once, but frankly, it was more embarrassing for him than for them. Rodolphus is, after all, exceptionally good in bed, so that's a factor of considerable importance (not that her parents are aware of any of their… activities, they're terribly old-fashioned about those sort of things) for her impeding engagement.

"I thought I head the door open," Rodolphus says as he emerges from his office and into the corridor.

She smiles, and wraps an arm around. "Rabastan greeted me."

He frowns. "I had forgotten he was there."

She laughs. "Rather unfortunate, isn't it?"

"Nothing a good muffliato won't mute."

She rolls her eyes. "I can't stay long. I just wanted to tell you, my Aunt Walburga expects you to propose officially."

He still officially hasn't done so, even to her. Last night, they just discussed (more like argued, and threatened), Rodolphus trying to reason asking her father for her hand before having discussed it with her, until Bella suddenly changed her mind. There has been no formal getting on one knee. She doesn't know whether she's happy or sad about this.

"Meaning?"

"You're expected Thursday morning for the impromptu engagement party they're throwing us."

"Will there be a lot of people?"

"No," she tells him. She's thankful for that too. She spent an hour this morning trying to convince Aunt Walburga that it just wasn't possible to throw the traditional engagement party on the 24th of December.

"Good," he replies, "Now, are you sure you had to go?"

"Rodolphus, I promised myself I would spend the day with my sisters," she scolds.

"It's rather cold outside, you could stay…"

She lets herself be convinced rather quickly.