Shock might be the proper word to describe Bella's current state. She had been ready for a fight, maybe even longing for it after such a lackluster murder. To be taken away from it was one thing, but to be swept away in her master's arms was most certainly another. There was not even enough time for her to process what had just happened as she was now standing in her room back at Malfoy Manor with her master's arms still around her. He held on to her for a moment before finally loosening his grasp on her waist. She spun around looking up into his eyes their bodies almost touching once more. His eyes were skillfully hiding whatever feelings lurked just below the surface and although it was all she could think about she knew better than to ask. Thankfully her master's words broke the silence.
"Good job tonight, Bella. I am sorry it could not have been more, challenging." She bowed her head, only break eye contact for a moment.
"Thank you, my Lord. It is always a pleasure to accompany you." The Dark Lord smiled his beautifully wicked smile and Bella's heart leaped as it always did when her master smiled at her.
"Your loyalty will be rewarded, soon," he said as he brushed his hand across her cheek.
Her heart skipped a beat as his skin met hers, her eyes locked onto his. Had her master not rewarded her enough? She was perfectly content serving as his right hand and proud to be his best lieutenant. There was only one thing that she longed for and although she knew that her master would never be hers like she was his when he was this close it was impossible to push such feelings from her mind.
"It is becoming clearer what would be a worthy reward for my most loyal servant, my best lieutenant," he said with a grin on his pale face.
"You have rewarded me again and again. Pleasing you my Lord has always been reward enough," she spoke truthfully watching him closely.
"Well then, my dear Bella, it pleases me to be able to reward my most faithful again and again," he hissed softly, his words strangely seductive.
He gave her no time to reply before he pulled her close into the most lustfully passionate kiss that Bellatrix had ever received. Her heart leaped and swelled, a million butterflies erupting within her and spreading to every inch of her body. Then as quickly as it had begun he pulled away and disapparated without another word, leaving Bella speechless. Shock was most certainly and understatement for the state that Bellatrix was in.
Never in her wildest dreams, well actually in all of her wildest dreams, had she truly thought that could anything like that night would ever happen. She did not only torture the minister's wife and murder the minister, but her master swept her away and kissed her. It was like a fairytale, and this renewed her spirit in a way that nothing had ever done before.
The following weeks passed smoothly on the wake of Bellatrix's unbreakable high. Pius was elected as the new Minister of Magic and had begun a new era for the wizarding world. There was now a mandatory muggle born registration and everyone who worked at the Ministry was under investigation. The Auror office had been shut down and the Order of the Phoenix had gone into hiding and muggle sympathizers were being hunted down one by one. Bellatrix was still being kept safe and sound in Malfoy Manor, but she was hopeful now that they had control of the Ministry that she would be allowed out more. She was aching for a piece of the action, but she knew that she was to truly be rewarded beyond her wildest dreams if she just did as she was told. The hope that she would be allowed another intimate moment with her master was the fuel that was keeping her going until her next assignment. Everyone else had noticed her euphoria, but they thankfully assumed that it was because she killed the minister, which she was still boasting about weeks later. She knew that what had happened between her and the Dark Lord was not to be shared, and she was not going to mess her chance with him up.
It was now well into December and the grounds of the manor were covered in a thick blanket of snow. Even though she was not fond of the cold the snow looked rather beautiful across the perfectly manicured grounds of the manor. Tonight was Christmas Eve. This would be her first Christmas with her family in 13 years, and while she was thrilled to be able to spend it with her family, she wanted nothing more than to spend it with her master. She wondered what her master would be doing for the holidays, but she shook the thought from her mind quickly as she paced around the empty halls of the manor. The Dark Lord was often on her mind, but she was certainly thinking about him more and more since their last encounter. She stopped, looking over the dark grounds outside, willing herself to be tired so she could wake up early tomorrow. Her mind was racing and even as a skilled Occlumens she was having a hard time clearing it.
"Get it together," she muttered harshly to herself.
She needed to get her act together and quickly. She closed her eyes and spent the next several minutes trying to close her mind. Just as she managed to push away all of the lingering thoughts of her master her left forearm began to burn and her dark eyes flew open. Her heart raced as she pulled up her sleeve and apparated in a whirl unsure of what she might find when she arrived. As her eyes opened again she found herself in the formal dining room of the manor, where there was clearly to be a meeting.
A prideful grin played across lips as she made her way to her seat to the right of the Dark Lord. She had not seen her master since the night she killed the minister and was trying her hardest not to be awkward. Her brain was on full overdrive, conveniently overthinking everything she did just like a love sick little school girl. Pull it together she thought to herself over and over again. She was thankful that her fellow death eaters were arriving promptly so she would not have to sit here in silence for too horribly long. When everyone had taken their seats around the long table her master began.
"I would like to congratulate our members of the Ministry on the progress they are making now that the Ministry is fully under our control. I would also like to congratulate Severus on his appointment to headmaster and Rodolphus and Rabastan as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions professors at Hogwarts." He paused momentarily while the room applauded and Bellatrix tried to hide the shocked look on her face.
She had not seen hide nor hair of her 'husband' or his brother since the last meeting. While she was still cross with him she felt oddly left out. She looked at him hoping for his eyes to meet hers, but they seemed to look everywhere but at her.
"We now have full control over Wizarding Britain and to celebrate," the Dark Lord said as he flicked his wand above his head ushering in the floating body of a worn looking witch. "This is Ms. Charity Burbage who will be the last Professor to ever teach Muggle Studies at Hogwarts. It is her belief that muggles are not so different from us. She would even have us mate with them she had her way," the Dark Lord's face was clearly disgusted as was everyone who was sitting around the table.
Bella audibly showed her disgust, sticking out her tongue and Ewing, like a child would before giggling madly. The woman was crying silently her eyes looking pleadingly at Severus who was, as always, stone featured.
The Dark Lord turned and looked at Bellatrix and smiled darkly, "Bellatrix, please show our guest how such thinking is handled."
A sick grin danced across her lips as she quickly drew her wand up and cast a hot red jet directly at the suspended witch. Screams erupted from the former professor as she writhed and flailed wildly, still suspended above the table. Her fellow death eaters looked on coldly, her master's lips curved in a smile as another jet of red light erupted from the tip of Bella's wand. The room was filled with cries of agony and Bella's manic laughter that grew as she sent curse after curse at the helpless woman.
As the muggle lover reached the point of insanity the Dark Lord shouted "Avada Kedavra!" The hot jet of green light hit the woman and her lifeless body hit the table with a heavy thud.
For a brief moment worry spread through her but at the sight of the evil grin on her master's face it left her mind as quickly as it had entered. The Dark Lord moved his hand, offering the corpse to the giant snake that laid curled up and his side. Nagini hissed softly as she made her way up onto the table, carefully investigating the body before opening her mouth and beginning to devour her whole. Bellatrix was unable to hide her madness as she giggled psychotically. The power her master gave her was intoxicating and she only saw greatness in their future as her master continued to take over the Wizarding world with her by his side. What wonderful times these were.