Barty sat, snoring on the other side of the compartment, his head pressed against the glass. Regulus had tried to wake him, but upon discovering how truly exhausted he is, had moved on to hex boils onto his arm. Bellatrix rolls her eyes but doesn't stop him, too excited by the letter in her hand. She had already read it ten times before, but even just seeing the font filled her soul with passion. "I look forward to seeing you. And as for your sister, there is a place for everyone in the new order. Lord Voldemort." Lord Voldemort. She had heard rumors of this new name, this new presence, but here was confirmation. More than that, it was affirmation that he had become something more than just a man and Bellatrix swore to herself that she would not, nor allow anyone else to, call him anything but Lord Voldemort from here on out.

Bellatrix slips the note into her pocket and kicks Barty as they near the station. Barty groans but doesn't quite wake and Bellatrix feels a bit guilty at Barty's exhausted state. "Barty, wake up before Reg's does permanent damage," Bellatrix says, kicking him again.

Barty finally stirs and sits up, yawning. He notices the boils on his arm and swears. "Damn you, Regulus," he says, too tired to really put up a fight. He pulls his sleeve down to try and cover them. "I'll deal with that later."

"Oh, look, Junior," Bellatrix says with a grin as the train comes to a stop. She nods at the window where the Crouches are waiting. "Your parents came for you."

Barty rolls his eyes at the nickname, looking out the window to see the domineering presence of Bartimeus Crouch Senior and the slim grey form of his mother. "Father came, too," he notes. "Usually it's just mum. Oh, Bella, you're going to have to come out with me. Father thinks you're a terrible influence on me and I love to see him get red faced."

Bellatrix laughs but nods. "Alright, Barty, let's go down, then. Ruin your reputation a little bit more."

Barty grins and the two of them leave the train together. Bellatrix makes sure to talk loudly with him about the letter she received from Lord Voldemort. She grins at Barty as they watch his father's large mustache twitch with annoyance. "See you soon, Barty," she says with a wink, heading back into the train to grab Narcissa.

She heads to Narcissa and Lucius's compartment and tries to open the door, finding it locked. "Get decent now or I swear to god I will rip off those arms like I always promised," Bellatrix demands, already assuming what the two of them are up to. This is only confirmed by Narcissa's giggling from the other side of the door. She waits thirty more seconds and pounds on the door again. "Can you two not show restraint for one day of your life?"

Lucius opens the door, looking to Bellatrix. "Oh, hey, Bella," he says, tucking his shirt into his pants. "Thought you would have gone on ahead."

"I'm here for my sister, Lucius. Hand her over."

Narcissa opens the door wider, stepping besides Lucius and rolling her eyes. "Enough, Trixy. I'm right here."

"Let me inspect you," Bellatrix says, pulling Narcissa out of the compartment. She shakes her head at the disheveled state of her sister. "Oh, come now, really? You'll start a scandal just by walking out like this." She tucks in Narcissa's shirt back into her skirt and straightens out her sweater, ignoring Narcissa's protests. She takes Narcissa's chin and shakes her head, turning to Lucius, showing the small bruises and bite marks on her neck to him. "Really, Lucius? Really? I swear to god, the two of you are trying to make my life difficult." She takes out her wand and heals the small bruises before focusing on Narcissa's hair. She grumbles, noting it's messed quality. "Pull your hair back, Narcissa. We don't have time to fix it."

Narcissa shakes her head, giving a pleading look to Lucius, but she unties the ribbon Lucius gave her months ago from her wrist and pulls her hair back into a simple ponytail. "Am I finally suitable?" she asks.

"Yes, now let's go," she says, pulling her arm.

"Wait, wait!" Narcissa protests, pulling back. "I have to say goodbye to Lucius."

"Judging from the sight I found the two of you in, you've already said your goodbyes."

Narcissa shakes Bellatrix off of her and goes back to Lucius, pulling him down for a deep kiss. "I love you, Lucius Malfoy."

Lucius smiles and kisses her again lightly. "I love you, too, little Cissa. I'll see you soon when you come to visit."

"Alright, alright, enough of that," Bellatrix says, grabbing Narcissa's arm again. "Yeah, we all get it, the two of you love each other. The whole bloody world knows it. Now, please. Mother and Father are waiting for us, Narcissa. We're going."

Narcissa whines, but Bellatrix pulls her away from Lucius and down through the hallway. Bellatrix could smell Lucius all over the little girl, but she hoped that that would be something her parents overlooked. They make it out to where their parents are waiting and Narcissa stops resisting her, hurrying herself to go fling her arms around their mother.

"What took the two of you so long?" Cygnus asks as they leave the station.

"Oh, that was my fault, father," Narcissa chirps in. "My luggage broke and Lucius Malfoy did me a kindness by helping me fix it."

Bellatrix rolls her eyes but stares at the ground as she walks, but she can't help but smile to herself, especially at the pleased look her father has on his face.

"I've seen the two of you at our balls," Druella says, squeezing Narcissa's hand. "That boy is sweet on you."

"Oh, mama, do you really think so?" Narcissa says with bright innocent eyes and Bellatrix has to lag behind a few steps to hide her snicker. "He's the most handsome boy at our school."

Druella looks to Cygnus with a smile. "Oh, let me tell her. Please let me."

"I suppose she's old enough now," he says, stroking his chin. "Yes, go on ahead, I suppose."

Druella smiles and turns back to Narcissa. "Narcissa, my dear," she says, a pride on her face. "Your father and I have finalized your betrothal. But before I tell you who it is, I must remind you that it will become your duty to be a good wife to this man and to live up to the Black family name. Do you understand?"

"Of course, mama," Narcissa says with a nod. "I've always known my duty and I will be the perfect wife and the perfect Black. I promise."

How easy it was for Narcissa, Bellatrix thinks to herself with a sigh. How suited she was for this role.

"Now please," Narcissa says with an eager plea. "Tell me who it is. I cannot go without knowing for a moment longer."

Druella laughs with a brightness that Bellatrix rarely sees in her mother. "Why, it's none other than that handsome boy that you favor," she says. "Lucius Malfoy."

"Mama, do you mean it?" Narcissa says, as if she and Lucius hadn't been revolving around each other since the moment their planets crashed together. "Do you think he'll like me?"

"Of course he will! From what I've seen, the boy is already terribly smitten with you. And who wouldn't be? You are the most beautiful girl in the world."

Narcissa throws her arms around Druella, crying in delight. "How wonderful, mother! I couldn't ask for a better match. He's so tall and handsome..."

Druella beams happily at Narcissa's delight.

As the family arrives at the Black Manor, Narcissa tags back to walk with Bellatrix. "How did I do?" she asks with a grin.

Bellatrix snorts. "I'm surprised they didn't notice that you already reak of Lucius Malfoy."

Narcissa turns to her with her eyes big and wide. "Lucius Malfoy is going to be my husband? What a wonderful surprise!"

Bellatrix breaks into a laugh. "You're terrible, you know. I don't know how you do it. You better not use those big eyes and naive routine with me, little girl."

"Of course I do," Narcissa laughs. "All the time. How else am I supposed to get everything I want?"

Bellatrix shakes her head. "Run along, little girl. I've got to talk to Father. I'll see you at dinner."

"Alright, alright," Narcissa laughs, running to catch up to Druella.

Bellatrix smiles to herself, for the briefest moment catching herself longing for a kind of love that Narcissa had found with Lucius before shaking her head and berating herself for such a silly thought. That wasn't what Bellatrix wanted. Not at all. It was just that Narcissa was so convincingly happy that she made it seem that that was the only way. But Bellatrix would never be happy in a life like that. She'd be bloody miserable. And Bellatrix didn't need love, not in any sense. What she needed, what she truly wanted, was power.

Bellatrix makes her way to her father's study and knocks on the door, already knowing that he'll be inside. "Come in," Cygnus Black's voice booms from the other side of the door. Bellatrix slips easily into the room.

"Ah, Bellatrix," her father says.

Bellatrix nods to him. "Father, there's something I would like to talk to you about." He nods for her to continue. "Father," she says again. "I plan on joining Lord Voldemort's cause this summer. I know you support him and I do as well. I want to show that support by joining him. You have no sons, but I am as capable, if not more, than any boy my age and I will do honor to our family name by doing this."

Cygnus looks her over slowly. "It is… not the place for a lady, Bellatrix."

"I know it is unusual, but it is where I belong. I have" —she cringes as she says this next part— "obtained Rodolphus's permission as well, father. And he will be joining me there." She hates this. This play of her life between men's hands. But she wanted to go, needed to go, needed to be with Lord Voldemort.

"When do you plan on going?"

"As soon as possible," she says. "I have written to Lord Voldemort my intentions and he supports them." Bellatrix holds out a few letters of correspondence for her father to look over. This was the true selling point and she knew it. Looking over them, she could see her father nodding.

"If you have the Dark Lord's support, and your betrothed's, then you have mine as well, Bellatrix. Though I ask you to stay the remainder of the week with us for your mother's sake."

Bellatrix nods. She wanted to go now, but a week wasn't terrible. She could manage. Just one week before her life finally begins. "Thank you, father."

"You will have to return for your betrothal ball at the end of the summer," he tells her.

Bellatrix tries to keep the frown from her face as she nods again. "Yes, father."

He looks her over and nods. "Make me proud, Bellatrix."

Bellatrix looks to him, chin out, and nods. "I will," she promises him.