Taking a steadying breath, Bellatrix Lestrange thought about her mission. Gilderoy Lockhart wasn't exactly the brightest of people. Still, Bellatrix always listened to the Dark Lord, and she would not begin to question him now. She was required to disguise herself and get needed information out of Lockhart.
So, dressed up like an old crone, she walked into St. Mungo's under the guise of an elderly woman who wished to visit her idol. Bellatrix almost hurled. She walked into Gilderoy Lockhart's room and waited for him to come back from his afternoon walk.
"Oh, I've got a visitor," he mentioned cheerily when he saw her. "You would like an autograph, wouldn't you? That's what the nice lady said. That you wanted an autograph." He took out a photograph and a quill. Bellatrix fought the impulse to roll her eyes as he squiggled on the picture.
"Here you go. Do you like it?"
"Erm…yes. Thank you. It's very nice," she forced with a strained smile. "How much do you know about the ancient Mayan culture?" she asked. And blanched when he had a blank look on his face.
"Do you like my quill? It's pure ostrich feather quill. Very nice, isn't it?"
She was furious that he'd change the subject. "You've been down there. What happened to the Mayan culture?" she questioned loudly.
"What's Mayan culture?"
Wanting to rip her hair out of her head, Bellatrix glared at Lockhart. "The Mayans were a very intelligent group of South Americans. You can not say that you don't know them. You quelled one of their curses a five years ago!"
"I did?" he asked stupidly.
"You're insufferable!" she barked. She calmed herself down. Patience, she told herself, patience.
"Are you raging mad? I heard one of the nice ladies say that after she dealt with me she was 'raging mad.' I seem to have a knack for it. That and plants. I have a natural gift for plants. That's what the other nice lady said."
Groaning, Bellatrix was half-tempted to leave. Lockhart's amnesia hadn't lessoned. He wasn't getting any better. Cursing to herself for Malfoy's incompetence when it came to research, she stood up.
"Are you leaving me?" Lockhart whined imploringly.
"Yes." It was short, and biting.
"Why?"
"Because you are of no use to me."
"But what about my magical green thumb? I can be of use to you with that."
Rolling her eyes, again, Bellatrix went back to her lord to tell him that Malfoy had lead her on a wild goose chase.