Chapter Nine

I looked at the clock, and pressed my lips together tightly. Rodolphus wouldn't be home for several hours...that was plenty of time to go see Narcissa. I was unusually bored and lonely at the moment, and the very idea of spending more time sitting alone in the house practically put me in a panic. I moved quickly through the old house, gathering a few items for the evening. I scrawled a note telling him where I was going and sent it to him with our owl. He would just come to retrieve me from the Malfoy's with Lucius later. I checked once more to make certain that I had everything I needed before I apparated to my younger sister's home.

"Bella, what a pleasant surprise," Narcissa said with a smile from where she sat in the living room. I pulled my long cloak off and draped it carefully over the back of one of the chairs in her living room.

"You don't mind the intrusion, do you?" I asked, looking over at my sister and practically daring her to say that she did.

"Of course not," Narcissa replied smoothly. "What brings you here this evening?"

"Boredom," I answered bluntly. She laughed slightly and shook her head. I turned to sit beside her, and that was when I realized she wasn't alone.

Severus was sitting across the room in a large armchair. It was obvious that he had been here for some time, and that he had clearly not anticipated my coming to visit Narcissa. Irritation began to creep through my veins. Narcissa was happily married to the man that she had been after for years, and yet Severus still obviously yearned for her. Why couldn't he understand that she would never love him?

"Hello, Severus, I'm surprised to see you here with Lucius' wife," I snapped waspishly, sitting beside my sister and daring him to challenge my statement.

"Lovely to see you, of course, Bella," he commented politely. "I do believe that our master wanted to see you as soon as possible."

I glared at him for a moment and sneered coolly.

"If that were true, Severus, he would have summoned me himself. He wouldn't have sent a message to me with the likes of you." Severus lifted a brow and smiled wickedly.

"Actually, Bella, you really should go to him immediately. If I misinformed you, then, I will be the one punished," Severus told me calmly.

My mind began trying to work out what he was telling me, and my eyes narrowed. I was spared having to decide if I wanted to believe Severus or not, by Lucius' arrival. He walked in, looking slightly harried, and when his fell on me, he seemed to relax slightly.

"Bella, you have to come with me immediately," Lucius said, grabbing my cloak and throwing it at me. "He wants to see you and I now."

I watched him for a moment, and then sighed, pulling the cloak on and apparating immediately. I found myself face to face with Voldemort, and I sank to my knees.

"Ah, My Bella, I am so glad that you and Lucius could be here so quickly," he said, irritation thinly veiled in his voice. "Now that you are here, I have two very important matters to discuss with you."

He looked at Lucius and I speculatively, obviously trying to reach a decision about something. I stared at him, my gaze unfaltering.

"You are aware of the process of creating Horcuxes, are you not?" he asked imperiously, and I nodded instantly. It was something that I had been playing with the idea of attempting myself. "I have begun to create Horcuxes for myself," he said quietly, his red gaze flickering between the two of us. "Lucius," he snapped, and Lucius moved forward slightly. "I want you to keep this safe. I doubt that we will ever need to use it, but I would that you not take any chances with it."

Our master held out what appeared to be an old black diary with the name "Tom Marvolo Riddle" written on the front in golden script. I sneered slightly. He had chosen a moldy old diary that belonged to someone else to use as his horcrux?

"Bella," his voice cracked like a whip, and I reminded myself instantly where I was and what was going on. "I have another Horcrux that I want you to know the location of," he said quietly. "I do not want you ever to attempt to retrieve it unless there is no other alternative." I nodded calmly. "It is a locket, and I need you to tell me of a place where I may conceal it. A place worthy of holding such a magnificent object."

I stared at him for a moment, shocked that he had actually created more than one horcrux. As the shock wore off, I began thinking as quickly as I could. The Cave! Of course! I smiled evilly.

"There is a cave that my family has used to store valuables for generations," I said quietly. "I can and will show you where it is and how to get through the defenses...and you may of course add your own embellishments."

He smiled and nodded, clearly pleased with my cooperation.

"My Lord, I cannot express to you the honor you bestow upon us," Lucius said quietly.

"Yes, to entrust us with your most precious..." I trailed off, smiling wickedly. "We are hardly worthy of such an honor."

"I expect that you will never speak of this to anyone, no matter what may happen," Voldemort said in his unusual, cold, high voice. I nodded immediately, never really thinking about the fact that he had not stated it as a command. Lucius agreed quickly, a smug look on his face. Our master motioned for us to leave, and we turned to walk away.

"Ah, Bella, your young cousin has joined our ranks," that high cold voice slid silkily to me, and I stopped, turning to stare at him in disbelief.

"Sirius?"I asked in shock. He laughed and shook his head.

"Regulus. He seems very eager to rise to a position of greater power."

I sniffed and met Voldemort's gaze calmly.

"Regulus is a ridiculous child," I stated coolly. "He is not worthy of knowing anything too important."

Voldemort smiled coldly, and nodded, his red gaze on my face. I realized that he had more he still wished to say to me. I glanced at Lucius, and gestured briefly to the door.

"She is right, Lucius, I wish to speak with Bella alone for a few moments. Please tell Rodolphus that she will be home shortly."

Lucius glanced at me uncertainly before walking from the room. I turned to face my master, and he sighed heavily.

"Severus has delivered some extremely important and worrisome information to me, Bella," he said quietly. "I need all of you to attempt to discover the location of the Potters and the Longbottoms, and tell me of that location so that I may take steps to avert what Severus has told me," he said quietly.

I stared at him in shock. "What did Severus tell you? What could either of those families do that would pose such a danger to you?"

He turned to look at me coolly. "Have a child."