Alternate Universe: Harry Potter was killed by Lord Voldemort in the graveyard during the Tri Wizard tournament. After playing with Potter's corpse for several moments, making sure that he was dead beyond a shadow of a doubt. The Dark Lord then paraded the boy's body through the streets leaving him on the Ministry's doorstep, along with his dark mark. He then went and freed his most faithful servants from Azkaban. His next task was clear, he must kill Dumbledore as he was now the only wizard who could possibly stand in his way. While he plotted against his last real treat he sent his death eaters to begin recruiting followers so he could pick up where he had left off 13 years ago.
It had felt like an eternity locked away waiting for her master to return, but as his most loyal servant, Bellatrix knew that her Lord would come for her as soon as he could. That single thought had sustained her for the last 13 years that she had spent locked away on that cold, hopeless island. The last few months had felt different, somewhere deep-down hiding within her madness she knew that the winds were beginning to change. Her once faded and scarred dark mark had slowly begun to return to the jet black it was the day the Dark Lord had given it to her. It could only be a matter of time before she was reunited with her master and rewarded for her faithful servitude. An eerily calm clarity had begun to fill her sick little mind, the dark mark on her arm burning strongly. For a moment, she was sure she had been imagining the sensation that danced along her forearm like she had so many times. Then, a second sharp sting rippled over her mark. A sharp cackling howl escaped her lips, her eyes wide and alert, she knew her Lord was coming. Could it really be? Or had the years of torture and abuse finally driven her to a mental state that she would never return from. She had not had time to give it any more thought before she heard it. There was a large explosion, the sound vibrating through her bones as the bricks at the end of her cell fell away into the sea below. There was a rush of cool sea air that blasted through the gaping hole in the wall. She shivered, she could not believe her eyes, nor did she have time to fully process the scene as she crept forward to where the wall of her cell used to stand. As she got closer to where her cell now dropped into the sea she saw the familiar black silhouettes dancing around the prison, a menacing gleeful noise erupted from deep inside her. It had come from somewhere she did not even know existed anymore, as she danced gleefully around the cell. This was it, her master had come for her.
Only moments had seemed to have passed before Bellatrix, and over a dozen, other death eaters now stood in the foyer of the Malfoy's mansion. She was free, at last, to continue serving her Dark Lord. As they looked around, waiting for what was to come, Bella heard a familiar voice cry out as footsteps rapidly approached her. She swung around quickly looking for where the voice had come from when she saw none other than she sweet baby sister, Narcissa rushing forward to her – tears in her eyes.
"Cissy!?" came Bellatrix's hoarse voice.
From years of not using it properly, the words felt strange in her mouth, but she had a feeling that a lot of things would feel strange for a while. This feeling was confirmed as Narcissa wrapped her arms around her sister happily crying, babbling about how much she had missed her and how happy she was to have her home. It took a moment before Bellatrix was able to close her arms around her sister's small frame, awkwardly hugging her in return.
Before Bellatrix had been expected to say anything Narcissa's husband and several other death eater's had joined them and Lucius's voice broke the silence
"We will be taking you all to be cleaned up before the Dark Lord arrives for our meeting in the morning. If you will please follow me to your rooms," his words were clear and precise.
The mass of people slowly began to exit the room, following Lucius into other parts of the mansion. Before Bellatrix could move, her sister grabbed her hand kindly.
"I'll take care of you," Narcissa whispered sweetly to her sister as she lead her away from everyone else into another part of the house.
It was not long before she found herself ushered into what must be her sisters own room. With her loving sister's help, it was not long before Bella was in fresh new robes and cleaned up, to the best of Narcissa's abilities. The years of wear on her body would not be so easily removed, but at least, she was clean and in something that did not stink of her cell. Before they had time to catch up, or say much at all, Lucius strode into the room. Obviously, this was his room as well.
"Narcissa, dear, I believe it is time for you to escort your sister to her own room. We all need our rest before our meeting in the morning," he spoke neatly to his wife. Then looking a Bellatrix, who was much more recognizable in her current state, "It is good to see you again Bella."
She flashed a maddening smile across her full lips but before she could say anything her sister was quickly guiding her out of the room and down the hall to the bedroom nearest to them. Narcissa smiled as she led her sister into her new room, giving her another tight embrace.
"Get some rest and I will see you first thing in the morning, my dearest Bella." Her words were soft and kind as they always had been, something Bella had not heard in so long. As her sister stepped back and began to exit the room she turned and looked at her one last time, "I am so glad you are back," she said once again a smile on her lips before she finally left.
Bellatrix was thankful for her sister, more now than ever before. Her head was spinning and was glad she had not been asked any questions about her years locked away in her cold dark cell. Her small form gently fell into the large bed that set centered on the far wall of the room. Her eyes closed slowly, her mind slowly beginning to empty. The only thought that actively played through her mind was her anticipation of her reunion with her master in the morning. It had been 13 years, surely one more night would not kill her.
A wicked smile sat on her lips as she drifted off to sleep, but her sleep would not be a peaceful one. As it had been every night since she had been locked away on that damp island her mind flooded with fears. Her deepest darkest fears came to life in her mind, memories of her torture adding to the horrors that unfolded every time she drifted off. She was awoken, not by the sounds of her own manic screams that filled the air, but by her sweet sister who was holding her tightly trying to calm her down.
"Bella, Bella, Bella," Narcissa cooed in her sister's ear, "It's alright! You're home, and you're safe."
Bellatrix could hear her sister's words but it took a while before she was able to comprehend what was going on. Once the words had processed in her head she moved her arms to hold onto her sister. She was away from her cell and the dementors, why had the nightmares still invaded her mind tonight? Maybe it would always be like this, she thought, after all, she was never supposed to have walked away from her island prison. Her breathing had slowly returned to normal, her sister's hand stroking her thick head of hair soothingly. Bellatrix's head fell to rest on her sister's shoulder, as she snuggled into her.
"Will you stay here with my tonight Cissy?" she said hoarsely, her large dark eyes looking up at her sister.
Narcissa sighed softly, her motherly instinct was so evident, "Of course my sweet Bella," she said with a small smile holding her sister as she drifted back to sleep. She could not even begin to fathom the horrors that her poor Bella had endured while locked away.
Narcissa was lucky really to be only the wife of a death eater and not a full-fledged death eater like her sister was. It was perfect while she was pregnant and bringing up young Draco during the first Wizarding Wars though now that her son was older she had a feeling their Lord would be asking more of her family this time around. She would never be as enthusiastic as Bella was, her obsessive need to please her master was almost unfathomable. These were some of Narcissa's last thoughts as she too fell asleep.
When Bellatrix woke up again it was not out of panic, there were no screams or cold sweats, just the soft stream of sunlight dancing in through the window. She felt her sister still close to her, her arms wrapped around her softly. She really is the sweetest little thing, she thought to herself as she moved, slowly waking her up.
"Cissy," she whispered softly, her voice probably permanently hoarse.
Her sister jumped slightly, as her eyes opened slowly. "Are you alright Bella?" Narcissa said sleepily.
"Yes, yes I'm alright. Thank you for staying with my Cissy." Bellatrix replied as sweetly as she could muster.
"Always," cooed her sister as she rose from the bed. Narcissa knew that this was her cue to leave. After all, this time, part of her never wanted to leave her sister again, but she knew better than that. "I'll see you downstairs later," she added as she moved to the door once again leaving Bella on her own.
Bella smiled, as sweetly as Bella could ever smile. She was going to be alright. She had her family back, and soon she would feel her dark mark burn and she would be once again reunited with her master from who she would never part. After all, her Lord was her one true love, her one and only master and she would die before she was torn from his side again.