Disclaimer: None of the characters you recognise from JKR's fabulous Harry Potter series are mine, or the names, or anything but the plot and some characters that you don't seem to be able to pin point..

Author's Note: Okay this is the third chapter and I figured I better get it written, this one is a very strange tale, the plot is getting a lot more complex than I had planned as well.. *grumbles*

For Whom the Bell Tolls

"Imacia!" Detric called up the stairs. He was wearing his dress robes, fine fabric light blue in colour with a brown belt, and was getting pink in the face - an unbecoming mixture on him. He was waiting for his wife; this function was not something in his eyes that they should show up late for but Imacia did insist upon taking forever.

"All right I'm nearly ready!" She shouted down the stairs applying a small amount of perfume. She was already getting annoyed with Detric, he was such a fusspot and wouldn't leave her alone, he treated her like she was a Goddess. The only problem with that was that he wouldn't leave her alone, Titus however seemed to like him, he was now eight years old and beginning to look a lot like his father - Icabod, the same eyes and lovely golden brown hair. Detric would do anything for that boy and she got the feeling this couldn't be doing him any good Titus was cleverer than he let on, Detric though he was not as smart because of his father but Imacia knew otherwise.

"Five minutes my love." He called going out to the living room to prepare the flu powder. Titus went to stay with his grandparents for the evening. It was for the best, Imacia could rather have gone to stay with hr parents if she would have been able to get away with it, there would be a brief dinner before the men started to talk non stop about Quidditch and their wives, boring old bags in Imacia's opinion would talk about money and brag about their children. Not Imacia's idea of stimulating conversation, she often ended up getting sautéed at the bar - a sedulous evening ahead she mused.

"Okay I'm ready." She said stepping elegantly out of the bedroom and walking down the stair like she had a pole keeping her posture straight her black dress robes flowing swiftly behind her.

"Very nice dear." Detric sighed looking at his beautiful wife. She was wearing black like normal but her face was fresh and pale, she didn't bother with make up other than perfume. Detric always thought she looked divine no matter how she dressed. He took a handful of flu powder and threw it into the fire. She stepped in and was carried to the ministry in a slipstream.

"Good Evening my Lady." A kindly old gentleman said as he took her hand and helped her out of the fireplace. "Mr. Bell joining us?" He enquired.

"He's just behind me." She said politely before Detric fell out of the fireplace. "Oh there you are Detric... Why did you fall over?" He was quite embarrassing at the ministry's functions she always dreaded them and there were at least three a year, at the last one he got completely off his head drunk and began table dancing along with all his friends who were also drunk, he received a warning from the Minister of Magic himself about repeating those events.

"Clumsy me." He said getting to his feet and accompanying his wife to their seats.

The evening drew on and people began to go dancing, Imacia sat in her chair and watched as Detric wandered off to talk to some Ministry members about Quidditch or something that men seemed to love to discuss. She missed Rycrypt; he'd been the only person she had met that really understood her not just claimed to.

She looked around the room and found herself sitting at the bar with a large drink in her hands as normal, she wasn't really drinking it though, she was just watching the liquid swish around the glass.

She could hear a loud booming voice behind her, a man, he sounded like an impressive character. He was shouting at another man who sounded completely shocked. The louder of the two men the walked up to the bar and called for a butter beer, Imacia laughed to herself, a man that seemed so brash asking for a butter beer.

"I see you have no call for alcohol to be uncouth." She said slyly looking at him a cruel smile on her lips.

"And who might you be." He said coldly before turning to face her completely gob smacked someone would challenge him. "My lady," he continued coolly.

"Lady Imacia Bell." She said proudly before he took her hand in his.

"Commander Randin Avaro, at your service Ma'am." He said kissing her hand like a perfect gentleman.

"Isn't that a strange occupation for a wizard? Being in the armed services that is?" She said looking at him cautiously.

"I'm in the Air Force my Lady, I like to fly, if it means that I must work for Muggles, with them, then that is the way it must be. They're not that bad you know." He was mysterious and obvious that no one approved of his choice of occupation but he did what he wanted, she had to admire that, if she'd have done what she wanted she wouldn't be here now drinking at this bar, she'd be on the arm of her only love, but she'd never had the guts to tell him like she meant it now she never could.

"I was married to one, Commander. I do believe that I know that." She said, she began to sound really stuck up. She was attracted to this man, what was she playing at she was already married, not happily but still married.

"Then you must be a truly open minded and openhearted witch; I must get to know you better." He said flashing a dashing smile and sweeping his flock of silver blonde hair out of his face. His eyes were a beautiful glittering brown and Imacia was beginning to fall away from Detric even more every second she looked at him it scared her. Their marriage had lasted all of five years; she didn't want to ruin that because she'd spotted a nice looking man dressed in a pilot's jacket. It's just the wrapping; she tried to assure herself. There would be nothing about this man remotely interesting. Then she looked into his eyes, he was warm and the look he gave her made her melt.

"I... Excuse me Commander, I have to go and join... my husband." Husband slipped off her tongue with such reluctance but she knew she had to get away before she started something she couldn't finish. She scurried over to Detric who placed his arms around her in a relaxed fashion and continued to converse with the man opposite him.

"So Mr. Wise would you be willing to give private tutoring to our son in Potions?" He looked at Imacia who didn't really like the way he always referred to Titus as his son, Titus was astute and nothing like Detric and insistent that Titus was the prodigal son. "Only I wish for him to extremely good in that subject as does my wife, neither I or Imacia are particularly good at Potions you see and I think he may need a bit of a head start." Detric was saying to the tall man with silver hair Imacia had pulled her away from the witch who told her Rycrypt was dead. Mr. Astix Wise, he was slightly younger than Imacia but still very strange. His eyes seemed electric and his hair bright white, people said it was because he had been struck by lightning but she'd never really believed the story but it was blonde two functions ago, it did change awfully quickly to flashing white.

"I teach at a University Mr. Bell, I can't very well be seen teaching at such a low level, no offence but it would do nothing for my reputation plus I'm a little busy at the Ministry at the minute. Another deviant has found a way of getting out of Hogwarts. I have a few lessons to teach him before he goes through the training..." He paused and looked at the bar, Randin was watching Imacia like a hawk. "I believe Commander Avaro has found a new sport... be weary Mr. Bell." He said before walking off.

"He doesn't interest you does he?" Detric asked feeling a little insecure.

"Not in the slightest." She said very quickly in order to squash any doubts her husband had she was good at that.

"Let's go home my love." Detric said as they walked out of Avaro's field of vision.

*******************************

"Trying times are they not Rycrypt?" Voldemort said as Rycrypt was freed from the cruciatus curse for the sixth time that day. It had been years it seemed of being cursed and taught to fear but it wasn't working, Rycrypt had already lost what was most important to him, death didn't frighten him and this jumped up bigot didn't really scare him, he hurt him - pain and fear were easily separated in Rycrypt's mind. Rycrypt thought he deserved it, he's been a fool not to choose death as the first option, there was no way he'd ever have his life back. "You're going to learn to fight that curse Mr. Snape and you'll learn to fear me like you've feared no other then I will tell you what it is I wish for you to do."

"What is it you want me to do Master? I am weak and you have no use for that... if you must then kill me and," Rycrypt breathed. "Get a move on!" He yelled, Voldemort was a little taken aback by this but didn't apply the curse again, instead he looked at Rycrypt's fearful eyes, his eyes didn't reflect his feeling within however, just a rouse to keep himself unharmed. They glistened from the curse making his eyes water and his vision become blurred. He couldn't see very well, seven years of this was weakening him physically, and cracking him mentally, why had he not been given a task?

"You'll not be taught will you Mr. Snape, is another round of punishment in order?" Voldemort hummed with amusement.

"'I'll not be able to do what you want soon! I can't see and this is blinding me! What is it you stole me away from my life for? Tell me now or kill me!" He yelled, the pain was becoming too much and making his life pointless, and his vision was failing, the pain blinding.

"You really want to know Rycrypt?" Voldemort said teasing him, pointing his wand at Rycrypt's temples to keep him alert.

"Of course I want to know... I can't take much more of this." He breathed looking at the wand tip fearfully swaying slightly feeling dizzy.

"The reason I have chosen you Rycrypt is because you know too much about the Dark Arts. I like that - So you will hide away and do some research, something I believe you already accustomed to research, I know you're interested in this topic. Immortality my friend, everyone seeks it, and I know that you know where to look to find out about it. You will find me the method of Immortality - that is your purpose." Voldemort smiled slyly and kicked Rycrypt to the floor again where he lay shuddering till the sun rose. Voldemort had left him alone for the evening while he went to collect more sheep. Was that what he had been reduced to? Auror who had been trusted greatly by the Ministry of Magic and now he was reduced to nothing by a the equivalent of a boy. He led on the floor and let the morning rays burn his pale face as he considered what his next moves were to be.

*****************************

Imacia paced her living room for days thinking of his eyes, she should think of it she told herself but deep down in her mind she was thinking of no one but the friend she lost. The thing that hurt her most was they never recovered his body and she clung to the notion that the parchment was wrong and that he would turn up knock on the door and have a go at her for marrying Detric.

Tiring of pacing she went to bed where Detric was already asleep. Why had she married him, she couldn't think why she had done. She lay in bed looking at the ceiling as she heard her husband snoring away, she couldn't sleep anymore, she kept thinking of his eyes, and her best friend. If he weren't dead what would he be doing now, would she have been married to Detric? She didn't know anymore she drifted into an unusually uneasy sleep.

When the sun rose she had the feeling something was desperately wrong, she looked to her side, Detric wasn't there. Where had he gone? She sat up sharply her heart pounding in her chest where was he? She jumped out of bed and ran to the door throwing her robes on and running out into the corridor. Where was he, he normally told her where he was going... It was five o'clock and she must have drifted off but he never in five years went away at all, or not that she'd noticed. She ran out to the street completely forgetting her son was still in bed. She found herself running blindly down the street her hair a mess and her robes billowing out around her furiously, she looked like she'd just woken up - which was true, but oddly attractive. Where was she going, she didn't know, she had no idea. One evening had made him uncomfortable

**************************

Rycrypt dragged himself off the floor noticing Voldemort had left him alone for a while after five years of watching him like a hawk. He stumbled to his feet shaking from all the curses he had with stood for seven years, it was all becoming too much, he couldn't even remember how to disapparate. He staggered to the doorway and pulled on the handle, his movements had become rather clumsy and his breathing constantly rasping its way out of his chest. He clutched his neck and looked through blurred vision as Voldemort stood in the doorway waiting for him but there was another accompanying him, a short man with a rounded face.

The shorter man looked at Rycrypt's weakened form with a cruel smile. He walked around Rycrypt and Voldemort followed him a smile also on his face.

"So I see my information helped you my Lord." He said in a sly and oozing tone that was also fearful and retiring. Rycrypt could have sworn he recognised this man were it not for his poor vision, he couldn't depend on his eyes at the minute, it was all going wrong and he didn't have his wand, it went down with the air craft five years ago.

"Indeed it has Mr. Bell," the name, Rycrypt's eyes sharpened in focus. "I trust you will keep your end of the bargain, I have Mr. Snape under my control. He was easy to manipulate as you said he would be, however you must get me information on the Minister of Magic - gift for allowing you the chance to get to know Lady Black a little better, or should I say Lady Bell." Voldemort hissed before laughing in an insanely high pitch being joined by the second person in the room who's laugh was more of a happy chuckle of despicable delight. Rycrypt now knew who it was, his blood was boiling an angry rage ripping him apart his eyes blazed and flickered into full recognition giving him full eyesight back and a strength beyond anything he had ever felt before. He rose slowly to his full height, Rycrypt had been an extremely proud man and hearing Detric's plans to get to Imacia made his head throb with hurt he never knew could exist and rage he didn't think he was capable of.

"I see you now know why you're here Rycrypt." Detric said slyly. Rycrypt glared at Detric without saying a word because he was unarmed and walked forwards gaining speed as he went. Detric began to look worried, Voldemort expression changed from the laughter to shrewdness as he poised his wand, he and Detric were standing together. Detric looked worried but drew his wand with Voldemort as Rycrypt thrust Voldemort out of the way and lifted Detric off the floor by the collar of his robes as if he weighed nothing and Detric was very heavy.

Voldemort was recovering from the blow to the back of his head as he had been slammed against the wall, while Rycrypt began to strangle the shorter man in his grasp. Detric dropped his wand to the floor and Voldemort shook off the momentary shock he was feeling and pointed his wand at Rycrypt who's eyes were blazing and his whole body shaking as he squeezed the breath out of Detric's body like he was choking a chicken.

"Crucio!" He roared sending a jet of ruby red light into Rycrypt's back. He stumbled but refused to let go of Detric wanting to kill him - vile despicable man. His eyes began to water as the curse started to take over his breath cutting out and his vision blurring again but he wasn't going to let Detric go, his heart was screaming to kill the man under his fingertips but his conscience was telling him it was wrong. His eyes weren't watering through pain though; it was sadness for his friend as she had married a complete fraud with no will power.

"You'll pay Bell! You'll pay!" He rasped increasing his grip as Detric's face began to go red and his eyes show less sign of life. In an effort to get the insane man off him he kicked his feet out violently but it was as if Rycrypt was immune to the pain, Voldemort looked frightened briefly, he couldn't make Rycrypt stop. Detric's fingers relaxed and his wedding ring dissolved on his finger turning to ashes. Detric opened his eyes sadly for the last time and noticed the desperation to let go but the anger forcing Rycrypt not to let him go in the aggressor's eyes.

"I'm sorry." Detric breathed with his last breath. Rycrypt didn't and wouldn't let go as he went limp, in one last outburst of rage he snapped Detric's head round quickly like it were a twig breaking his neck before the cruciatus curse took full grip of his senses sending him paralytic to the floor howling in pain.

He couldn't think what had he just done? Blinded by rage unthinking, unstoppable, he'd just killed a man with his bare hands there was no fancy waving of the wand but sheer madness, he allowed the curse to take over, he'd become just as bad as Voldemort, killing innocent people.... Was there a way to justify what he did, the howl continued to pierce the air until after a while Voldemort relented looking at Rycrypt flashing a serpentine smile.

"You do have it in you then." He mused pressing his foot onto Rycrypt's chest until his mind couldn't take the pressure anymore, Voldemort's face was becoming more saurian as time passed, it was chilling to note that fact about the younger man before he passed out. In his head he could see what he did, it was terrible, watching himself throttle the air out of Detric's throat, how his face changed colour and his eyes... the sincerity when he apologised, he'd done something terrible and he'd never be able to face Imacia again. He had however done his job as an Auror, he'd stopped information being leaked to this mad man, he could forgive himself for that, but what he had done... he hated it.

Author's Extra Notes... hehehehe: Okay so what did you think, I like this chapter because Detric pissed me off! And he was an ass! lol! Anyway I think I'll post this now so no more notes for now, you breathe a sigh of thanks I notice...

I.C. Fire

silver_shadow54@hotmail.com

btw, If you read Natural Veritaserum there are a few things in the story you may pick up on, you may be right.. lol!