Escape from the brink.
"Master she has returned to us."
"Then show her in fool, I have need to speak with her."
Wormtail groveled and left the spacious chamber quickly, leaving Voldemort to contemplate his next play for power.
"I have returned as you wished master." a crystal clear voice spoke from beneath the Death Eater mask.
"I trust you the potion was effective and you are well Bellatrix?" Voldemort said softly
The Death Eater pulled back the hood on her cloak and removed the mask they all wore when in public. The tall woman still had the long black hair she had been famous for, now though it shone like black silk fire. Her face had lost the gaunt expression the came from her years of imprisonment and her eyes sparkled with barely contained intellect. She had been returned it seemed to the time before her madness fully claimed her. Her beauty and intelligence had returned with her sanity as well.
"Yes my Lord it was most effective and I thank you. I am myself again as I have not been in many years."
"Think nothing of it Bella, you have been loyal when others have turned from the path of service. Let it not be said that the Lord Voldemort does not reward loyalty and service. I trust you have not found yourself truly lonely with the death of your husband?"
"My husband was a loyal servant of my Lord and in that I will mourn him. He was however no fit husband and I will miss him naught in that regard."
Lord Voldemort laughed "Truly Bella you deserve a husband who can match your courage and loyalty. If you wish I shall give you your pick of all my servants to choose from."
"With my Lord's permission, I find myself wishing not to be without a husband but I will choose one of my own if it pleases you. My first husband was chosen for me and we were ill suited and much grief came of it."
"As you will Bella, as my most loyal subject I wish to see you naught but happy and content when we have driven the Muggles and Mudbloods out of our world. Then you will sit at my right hand as my most trusted advisor."
"You are too generous my Lord, I will strive to only serve you better. If I might though my lord I wish to beg a boon of you."
"Do but speak it Bella and if it is within my mighty grasp I shall grant it most willingly."
"I must take leave of you for a short while. I have debts that must be paid and insults that must be avenged."
Voldemort was silent for a while then he nodded "Of course Bella take all the time that you need. I must ask one thing of you, do not go after Potter. I have a plan for him already in motion. Other than that do what you will and return when you are ready."
Bellatrix bowed before Voldemort then went down on one knee. "I, Bellatrix Black will never forget all you have done for me my Lord. I will serve you unendingly my master."
"Your knowledge and observance of the old ways does you great honor Bella. You are a shining example to those who would purge the corruption of the Mudbloods from our people. Now go tend to your affairs and return to us unharmed. If you bring with you a husband willing to serve our cause so much the better."
With that Bellatrix turned and replaced her mask and hood then swept from the chamber.
"Do you think it wise to allow her to roam freely so soon after she has regained her sanity my Lord?"
Voldemort laughed shrilly for a moment "For one of such great ambition Lucius you know precious little of the best ways of achieving loyalty."
"You are certain she will always be loyal my master?"
"I trust Bella far more than I will ever trust you Malfoy. Every one of my servants is paid in a coin of their own choosing. You desire power and to survive and as long as you do not overly disappoint me you will have both. Bella only desired to be wanted and needed; she already had more power than you will ever have. Indeed Lucius she could have so easily been our foe in this war had things gone but a little different. It was I though who saw her need and was the first to grant it, now she will die for me if I but ask it."
"As would we all my Lord."
"Do not seek to cozy me with lies Lucius, you were far too eager to deny me at the end of the first war. Bella went to prison rather than to deny me and I will not forget it."
Malfoy bowed to Voldemort and left the room hoping to avoid any further mention of his actions at the end of the first war. He had merely done what he had to do to survive, though doubtless his master would not see it that way. Despite what Voldemort had said he was certain the Bella was someone who now bore watching. With the return of her sanity she was far more useful to their cause but she was also far more of a loose cannon. She had never bought into the hate and anger as the other did until that night her mind broke. Faced with the choice to disobey her master or torture the Longbottoms, she had stayed loyal to her Lord and her decent into to total madness had started.
With luck their current plan would soon come to fruition and they would have Potter in their hands. Then when they returned the Boy Who Lived to Often to the wizarding world in pieces it would break the spirit of most of them to fight back. Then they would only have to mop up the few remaining hero's and victory would be complete.
It was that thought that reminded him he needed to contact that worth shell of garbage his wife called their son. To weak to have joined their cause already he helped them in small ways at his school. Lucius knew some of the other Death Eaters questioned if his son was leaning to the other side. He had no doubt of the darkness of his son's heart he only wished he possessed courage in equal measure. What ever else you might say about the Potter boy he had skill and courage. As he walked to get an owl his mind wandered to what might have been if Potter had been born a Malfoy instead of his worthless Draco.