Halloween, 1981
Bellatrix Lestrange, born Bella Black, had never felt so conflicted in her life. If someone had sat her down and said 'Bella, this strange thing that you're feeling is doubt.' She would have Crucio'd then into insanity. Bellatrix Lestrange didn't feel doubt. Except deep down where it truly mattered, doubt was exactly what she was feeling.
The conflicted woman was walking down a dark and empty street flanked by her husband, Rodolphus, and her arrogant brother-in-law, Rabastan. The two idiots were eagerly bouncing along as the three highly dangerous Death Eaters went to slay his most dangerous enemy. And it was here that, deep inside Bellatrix where she no longer looked, there was conflict.
Bella's family had been torn apart by the war currently raging throughout Wizarding and Muggle Britain. The glorious Dark Lord and his loyal followers on one side, the nasty Mud-blood Lovers and Blood Traitors on the other. As the war raged, Bella had thrown herself ever deeper into the conflict and her Master's view of the world in order to keep herself sane.
Her younger sister had been thrown out of the family for marrying a Muggle-born and she dreaded the day her Master would order her to face off against sweet Andromeda. Their baby sister was married to a powerful Death Eater, a fellow Inner Circle member, and she was sure the arrogant bastard was too free with his hands when it came to Narcissa. She had already faced against cousins Sirius too many times to count
As more of her family fell or broke away from the beliefs her Dark Lord promoted, the more Bellatrix Lestrange threw herself deeper into following her master. The only way she could prove everything she had done was right.
Until the dreaded prophecy had been overheard.
Bellatrix didn't believe in seeing the future or divining her fate beyond the games she used to play with her sisters. But her Master believed and that was enough for her. Neville Longbottom the child of prophecy was probably being killed right now.
She had laughed hysterically when she had heard about Orion's pride and joy in marrying a blood traitor. But she wasn't surprised Jasmine Potter was perfect, beautiful,strong, cunning and would have made a perfect death eater.
As the two dangerous men, one incredibly dangerous woman, flanked by two dozen Death Eaters, came to a stop at the ward boundary of their target's home, Bellatrix Lestrange née Black was finding it harder to fight back against the inner doubts.
They had each been shown the note that shared Fidelius' secret but a Black never put all their eggs in one basket. Regulus and Jasmine had placed wards up around his property that required a special key to keep any 'visitor' from dying horribly. They were paranoid when it came to protecting his family. Protecting their blood Black blood.
Family. The word echoed around what little there was of sanity inside Bella's mind. The older generation of Blacks were dying out, her sister took on that horrible Muggle name. There remained only two people to carry the name of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. A House Bella was proud to be born into. A House whose only potential heirs was about to be slaughtered by her.
"The ward is down, my loyal friends. "announced Bella in her seductively dark voice. "Let us proceed and find glory in the night." She had placed an anti-Apparition ward around the area and knew those inside the innocent house before them were trapped. Apparently, they knew it too as the door was flung open.
The Lord and Lady of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black p sent a stream of Deprimos at the death eaters
Her hastily erected shield shuddered and threatened to collapse under the ferocity of her cousin's barrage, something that not many could ever claim to be capable of doing. Over and over the blasting spell slammed into the shield or the ground around it to shower them with painful shrapnel. The Death Eaters responded with a series of Crucios and Killing Curses, all of which failed to even connect as objects were transfigured or banished into the way of their spells.
Bellatrix grinned behind her white mask. The blood traitor was helping Black the way a true fighting team should work. Regulus was keeping himself tight in the doorway, not stepping a foot out of the house, and refused to let up with his attacks while the woman played defense from somewhere inside. The death eaters were falling fastly.
"You think you're a match for me?" She laughed, stepping forward as he battered away some of the spells before they could hit his Protego. "You think you can stop me, Black?"
"I can't but it can" said Regulus
Subtle carvings and dark etchings hidden beneath a glamour whose magic was failing with all the spell-fire. He screamed with defiance. "Burn in hell, bitches. Fiendfyre
Regulus pressed the tip of his wand hard into a part of the door's frame and the world exploded in agony.
The strong dark curse along with the magical runes killed most of the death eaters except some who were clever in casting shields.
"Reducto!" The spell hit the pile of rubble Rastaban had just stepped over and he was sent flying into a wall with a hard crunch. The man didn't stir though whether dead or unconscious was hard to tell.
"'Hello, my Lovelies. Miss me?" Regulus smirked from the top of the stairs; his wand pointed at her heart.
She and the man who turned down being Head of House Black had a short, furious duel. Regulus's bright grey eyes held acceptance, a deep sense of resignation. As his shield was blasted away, Bellatrix swore she saw him open his arms just a little, as though welcoming the Avada Kedavra' that took his life. And before he fell, before the man who could have been great, crumbled to the floor of his home.
There were no words said as the group trooped up the stairs that had only marginally been damaged by the Bombarda. She stepped over the body with merely a sneer of victory while the Legstranges lifted their masks to spit on James's face and kick him hard for the Fiendfyre..
The hallway was large with many doors. Yet they didn't need to worry which one their target was in. Jasmine Potter engaged to become Jasmine Black, stood next to the open door of the nursery and glared bravely at the murderers.
Before they could do anything to her she swished and sent a blasting curse at the Death eaters. While she lacked the power like her husband, she equaled to it in her speed. Soon the fight was between the witches..
"Avada kedavra" shouted Bella
Jasmine Black dodged the curse and sent a dark cutting curse at her. Both dark arts users started dueling and lighting the room in an array of colours, both dodging curses and sending back their own.
Little by little Regina could feel her magic reserves depleting slowly, with a powerful blasting curse, Jasmine fell to her knees Bella chuckled and cast two of her favourite words.
"Avada Kedavra"