As soon as the door opened, Harry was greeted by the sounds of agonized screaming followed by a mad cackling laughter. As Harry stepped into the opulent living room, the source of the screaming became apparent. It seemed to be a muggle, bound and chained, on the tiled floor, right in the middle of the room as a dark, beautiful woman with inky black curls stood over him with her wand pointed directly at him. Lucius cleared his throat and spoke up,

"Did I not inform you that we would be having company, Bellatrix?"

That seemed to have caught Bellatrix's attention because Harry found her heavily hooded gaze fully focused on him. Her painted red lips curved up into a hellish grin as she cooed,

"Well, well, well, if it isn't itty bitty baby Potter."

She began steadily making her way towards him and Harry was unable to break eye contact with her. He felt the tip of her wand press into his cheek as she whispered,

"I ought to torture you to death."

Lucius glared at her as he hissed vehemently,

"You will do no such thing. The Dark Lord's instructions are very clear on the subject. He is not to be harmed. If he finds a hair on his head out of place, it will mean sure death for the person that caused it to be."

Bellatrix bared her teeth at him and spoke,

"He will give you to me, Potter. You will be mine to torture."

Lucius snatched her wand out of her hand and spoke,

"He will do no such thing. Potter has proven his usefulness to the Dark Lord and in doing so, he has chosen his side…Our side… He stands among our ranks now."

Bellatrix cackled raucously,

"Among our ranks? Is he truly worthy enough of that?"

Bellatrix grabbed his wrist and Harry couldn't help but hiss out in pain as her sharp, pointed nails pierced his skin,

"I see no Dark Mark on his skin. If he stands among our ranks then why hasn't the Dark Lord branded him?"

Lucius growled,

"It is not your place to question the Dark Lord's intent…Release his wrist, Bella. You shall bring his wrath down upon all of us."

Lucius pulled her hand away from his wrist and thrust her wand into her hand,

"Go and torture that muggle. That ought to keep you occupied."

She glared at him for a second before walking back towards her prey. Lucius took his wrist and examined the nail marks that were oozing blood,

"Narcissa will heal you. You will not speak of this to the Dark Lord."

Harry could only nod silently as Lucius let go of his wrist and went in search for his wife. The muggle was screaming again…begging for his life…begging for Bellatrix to stop…

It didn't bother him…Not the least bit… In fact, he found himself to be quite fascinated by the spells Bellatrix was casting. He'd certainly never heard of them or read about them. He was certain that he'd never be taught them at Hogwarts.

Bellatrix seemed to have picked up on his morbid fascination because the screaming stopped and when Harry looked up at her, she was grinning wildly,

"Maybe, he did see something in you after all…Come here, Potter."

Harry walked towards her and she spoke softly,

"If I didn't know better, I'd assume that you were mute."

Harry cleared his throat before speaking,

"I can talk. I just…"

Bellatrix cut him off abruptly,

"You just don't feel comfortable talking to death eaters?"

Harry shook his head,

"It's not that."

Bellatrix chuckled darkly,

"You don't feel comfortable talking to me because you think I'm insane?"

Harry sighed as he looked down at the muggle, who was curled up in a fetal position and shaking like a leaf, before inquiring curiously,

"How can you tell if you've gone insane?"

Bellatrix stepped closer to him,

"Care to clarify your question?"

Harry looked up and met her gaze. He found it slightly odd that she resembled Sirius. Maybe he was missing Sirius a little too much,

"What's the standard for measuring insanity? What would I have to do to be sure that I've really truly lost my mind?"

Bellatrix made a thoughtful sound before touching his cheek,

"You must have lost your mind if you're standing over a muggle and you don't feel any empathy…"

Harry pursed his lips,

"I don't think that's it… If that was the case, then all the death eaters are insane…I know they're not insane… You're not insane…"

Bellatrix laughed as she kicked the muggle with her high heeled boot,

"You're amusing, Potter…I'll have to give you that… This is not what I expected you to be…"

Harry tucked his hands in the pockets of his jeans as he asked,

"What am I?"

He knew the answer… He wanted to hear someone else say it. He wanted someone else to affirm his view of himself,

"You're one of us, Potter… You're loyal to the Dark Lord and his cause… You hate muggles just as much as any of us… You are, by all rights, a death eater."

A death eater…He was a death eater… He was loyal to Tom. He'd do anything for him. He'd probably give his life if Tom asked that of him. But that wasn't all…He wasn't just loyal to Tom…

He loved him…He loved him so much…

Maybe, he had lost his mind.

Before, he could contemplate the matter any further, Bellatrix had taken his wrist in her hand and was waving her wand over the wounds. He watched as the wounds sealed themselves and the skin merged back together. It was as if the wounds had never existed.

He was about to thank her even though she'd the one to cause them when he heard the door open, and he turned around to find Sirius rushing towards him. When Sirius was inches away from him, he reached forward, stealing his breath and the heat from his skin. Before he could draw in the air his body needed, he melted into Sirius's form. He could feel his firm torso and the heart that beat within. Sirius wrapped his arms around him, drawing him in closer. He could feel his body shake and tremble as he cried his heart out. Cried for all the pain he'd been through. Sirius pulled his head back and wiped away the tears with a finger, the pure kindness in his eyes brought more relief than his heart could hold.

Sirius was eating him with his eyes, running his hand through his hair, as if he couldn't quite believe that he was real…that he wasn't a dream. Sirius's mouth painted a soft smile and he spoke,

"You're here…you're really here…"

Harry could only nod and Sirius had him wrapped up in his arms again. He buried his face in his shoulder and shut his eyes trying to revel in the warmth that surrounded him,

"I missed you, Sirius… I missed you so much."

Sirius only held him closer,

"Harry, you will never have to miss me again."