Lestrange Manor, Hampshire, England
September 12, 1980
Only years of proper pure-blood conditioning kept her from crying out in agony as she collapsed to her knees. She bit her lip, tasting her own blood as she attempted to lock her limbs and hold herself still. Her nerves felt like they were on fire. Thousands of needles stabbing her over and over. It felt as though fire was searing her nerves and despite those years of conditioning as a proper Pure-blood Heiress she could not stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks. The pain was so great that she feared it would never end and that this would be all she would ever know. That she would become lost in this crucible of fire.
She gasped for breath when the curse was lifted from her and she curled in on herself from her position on her knees. Heavy sobs shook her even as every nerve in her body twitched and her whole body tingled. 'So, that is what the torture curse feels like by those that truly mean it,' she thought. She had experienced the Cruciatus a few times in her teen years. It had been administered by her father who felt she should have a taste for what the curse actually did. Still, Cygnus Black was her father and so it stood to reason that he would not truly mean the spell, would not want to damage his daughter.
"My Lord, I beg you, she has had enough," the voice of Rabastan Lestrange, her brother-in-law and lover pleaded.
Bellatrix opened her gray eyes and watched as her beloved Rabastan dropped to his knees before the Dark Lord Voldemort. He kissed the hem of Voldemort's robe before raising himself back to a kneeling position. "Please, My Lord, she is your loyal servant. She does not hold loyalty to Lord Black. She is not a spy in your midst reporting back to him," he promised the Dark Lord.
Bellatrix was suddenly glad for the fact that she could not control the twinges of her body for she had wanted to twitch upon hearing her lover promise that she was not loyal to Lord Black. She was brought up a proper Lady of House Black, she knew her duty. Family was first. Her father had taught her that. Though Rabastan was correct in that she was not a spy for Lord Black.
Voldemort stared down at Bellatrix for several long moments and then looked to Rabastan. A dangerous smile curved his lips. "Such devotion for the woman you love Rabastan," he spat the word love as though it were more hideous than the torture curse that he had been using on Bellatrix only a few moments before. "Rodolphus, come forward."
Bellatrix watched as Rodolphus moved forward from the group of watching Death Eaters. He dutifully knelt and kissed Voldemort's hem. She felt dread course through her. Why had the Dark Lord called for her husband?
Voldemort walked in a slow circle around the three of them. "Tell me Rodolphus, did you know that your brother Rabastan was so devoted to your wife?"
Rodolphus frowned as he looked down. "I knew," he spoke truthfully to Voldemort. Bellatrix thought it a wise decision since Rodolphus had never learned how to Occlude his mind.
Voldemort paused in his steps but only briefly. "I see. You knew but then you did not care?"
Rodolphus nodded. "My marriage to Bellatrix was dynastic. It was arranged. Marrying an heiress of the House of Black would raise the prestige of House Lestrange," Rodolphus explained. "That Rabastan fell in love with her was unfortunate at first but later I considered it a bonus."
Voldemort paused, his curiosity truly peaked. "Oh and why is this?"
"Dynasty," Rodolphus replied, "In my youth I suffered spell damage from dark spells. It has always been possible that I might not be able to sire a child. Rabastan is healthy and strong. His magical core is stronger than mine, though like a proper younger brother he follows my lead and obeys me."
Voldemort smirked at that. "Does he? Was he obeying you when he fell to his knees tonight?"
Bellatrix cringed at the question. She knew the answer. No. Rabastan had broken their protocol. Those rules were a careful balance that had kept their life together happy. She stared at Rabastan for a moment and he turned his aqua blue eyed gaze to look at her. Rabastan loved her. She had never really let herself think on their relationship as love. She did not know if what she felt for Rabastan was love but she knew that she was more protective of him than she was of his brother. She would do much to protect Rabastan Lestrange that she would never even consider in regards of his brother.
"No, My Lord. Rabastan was not obeying me when he begged for an end to Bellatrix's punishment. She is your marked follower as am I and as is Rabastan. If you deem it proper to correct us, then we must be corrected."
Bellatrix closed her eyes tightly then. It was a diplomatic answer, one that would save Rodolphus from pain and one that would condemn Bellatrix and Rabastan to more pain.
Voldemort seemed to approve his answer for he told Rodolphus to arise and return to his position. Once Rodolphus did so, Voldemort looked down upon Rabastan and Bellatrix. "Such loyalty your Lord Lestrange has for you," he mocked the two of them.
Bellatrix slowly sought out the hand of Rabastan and clasped it tightly. She didn't know what Lord Voldemort intended to do to them but she was glad for this moment, to be able to simply hold Rabastan's hand once more.
A moment later she heard Voldemort cast Crucio and then she was whimpering slightly as she watched Rabastan twitch under the effects of the torture curse. She had witnessed people writhing under this curse many times. It was a favorite of many of the Death Eaters and Voldemort often employed it's use against his followers when they failed him. She had never felt the least bit of sympathy for those who had to endure it, until now.
Hatred burned in her for Voldemort for cursing Rabastan. Dear Rabastan whom had pleaded so prettily for her and had kissed Voldemort's hem. He had shown proper penitence and respect and yet this was how he was rewarded?
She held his hand throughout the ordeal enduring as his hand clenched hers and then spasm and released only to clutch at her yet again. Then it was her turn again. Voldemort turned to her and once more said the words of the spell, "Crucio." Fire erupted along her nerve endings and this time she could not bite back the screams of pain. Voldemort ended the spell swiftly after she had screamed and she wondered then if her screams had affected him or if it was something else? Perhaps he had bored of torturing them?
She then felt the Dark Lord's hand in her hair jerking head back and she whimpered in pain as she looked up into the inhuman eyes of the man whom she had believed would be the savior of the Wizarding World.
"Bellatrix, open your mind to me and show me that you have been a faithful servant and I will free you and Rabastan." He promised her.
She felt it then, his mind probing hers and she shuddered and squirmed as though it would break his grip. She could not look away from him. She was sucked into her own mind trying to push him out as he ruthlessly destroyed her mental boundaries and went over her memories. He replayed her meeting with the Black Family in which Arcturus declared Vendetta against Voldemort and his followers. She was a shivering, quivering mess when Voldemort finally exited her mind.
"Innocent," he said at last, projecting his voice around the room. "She has not betrayed me in anyway," he reassured his Death Eaters.
He released his grip upon her hair and she fell forward exhausted. She curled her hands around her head and whimpered as the Dark Lord strode away. She felt trembling arms come around her and knew in an instant that Rabastan was holding her and trying to comfort her.
She remained curled in his arms for several long moments unable to do anything other than tremble and breathe. She concentrated her attention as best as she could on the breathing. Her mind felt like he had literally opened up her head and riffled around, clawing at her. It was a while before she heard Rabastan crooning to her, whispering false promises into her ear, "It will be alright Bella. It is over now. It will be fine."
She wanted to rage at him and ask him how it would be fine? She wanted to tell him it would never be fine, but she could not gather the strength to do so. Instead she clung to him and allowed him to lift her up on her unsteady legs. He did not carry her and she knew it was for the sake of her dignity. She let him hold her, leaning on his strength as the meeting progressed. She heard Death Eaters report about the movements of Auror's and such but she could not retain the knowledge.
It was only when Voldemort called her name and demanded that she come forward that she was able to hone in on what was happening around her. She felt Rabastan's reluctance to release her, but release her he did and she was able to move forward on shaking legs. She clenched her jaw and resolved to move on more steady legs and slowly she found that she walked more steadily as she approached the Dark Lord.
She dropped to her knees before him and bowed her head. "My Lord?" she said solemnly showing her faith and devotion, no matter how that devotion had been shaken this night.
"Sweet Bella, you have been wronged. I was led to believe that you would betray me but you have proven your innocence and you took your punishment so very well." The Dark Lord's voice washed over her, "I wish to reward you."
Bellatrix stared down at the floor and answered, "My Lord is too kind. I do not deserve a reward. Service to you is my reward."
He chuckled then. "Bellatrix would you say that I am wrong?"
Bellatrix looked up, her eyes wide with dismay. "No My Lord, no of course you are not wrong."
He nodded. "Then you will accept the gift I am offering you." He said and then he arose from his chair and came to stand before her. He offered her his hand, like a proper gentleman and Bellatrix placed her hand in his allowing him to help her to stand.
"Macnair, do bring him in," Voldemort said in a pleasant tone of voice, that belied his deadly intent.
There was a shuffling of people as Walden Macnair bowed low to Voldemort and then made his way through a throng of Death Eaters and out of the door of her ballroom. There were quiet murmurs around the room of people questioning just whom it was that Macnair would be returning with.
"I am pleased that you were innocent Bella," Voldemort whispered in her ear causing her to shiver.
Bellatrix turned her head to look at Voldemort and said simply, "It would be my greatest folly to turn traitor."
He chuckled then, "Yes. And you are many things Bella but you are not a fool."
She nodded and then asked softly, "My Lord, if I may ask, who was it that told you that I was a traitor? Surely you could not have thought me a spy on your own. You are far too intelligent for that my Lord." She murmured, "You surely knew that to have me be a spy would be far too obvious. Lord Black would never be so obvious."
She felt him pause behind her and she thought he might answer her but then the door to the ballroom opened and in marched Walden Macnair along with Michael Carstairs. Carstairs was in chains as he was forced ahead of Macnair.
"Bellatrix, my gift to you for your faithful service," Voldemort proclaimed as Carstairs was forced to kneel before them.
She glanced questioningly at the Dark Lord. Why was Carstairs her reward and what was she to do with the man? She turned back to Carstairs and her frowned deepened as she tried to puzzle out what the Dark Lord wanted her to do. Her head was pounding and she wished that she could go upstairs to her room to sleep but she could not, she was forced to play the Dark Lord's game.
"Sweet Bella," Voldemort's voice whispered in her ear. "I give to you the man who murdered Orion Black."
Her wand was in her hand before she realized what she was doing and she pointed it at Carstairs so swiftly that Macnair startled back, the better to be out of the line of fire. "Einhardi Nervi!" she cried out, and with a flash of vague pink light her spell took affect and Carstairs began to writhe in agony. His mouth opened in a scream and she felt pleasure at hearing that scream. This man had killed her uncle, her kin. He would pay. She had to make him hurt before she killed him.
"Interesting," Voldemort purred from his position behind her, "Growth of the Nerves. A light spell used to torture someone. Oh Sweet Bella, you are a truly inspiring creature."
Carstairs continued to scream as Bella held him under the spell. It had been designed by healers long ago to regrow damaged nerves. In this case there had been nothing wrong with Carstairs nerves but she had used the spell regardless and so new nerves were growing over the old and giving him a far greater agony than if he had been nerveless and growing new ones.
"End it in an interesting way and I will give you the name of your accuser," Voldemort promised her.
She smirked then as she looked into Carstairs eyes and said, "Frigidus Sanguis." A soft blue light shot from her wand and Carstairs stopped screaming. Slowly his skin began to pale and then turn blue. He began to take heaving breaths and it was clear that he could not get enough oxygen. Bellatrix laughed at the look of desperate pleading upon his face. "The Lady of Shalott showed more courage than you," she hissed at Carstairs referring to the legends of the Lady of Shalott whose blood froze slowly in her veins after she was rejected by her beloved Lancelot. Carstairs gurgled and Bellatrix smiled as she watched the man who murdered her uncle die.
There were murmurs and applause from the crowd of Death Eaters around her. She smiled in satisfaction and then felt Voldemort's breath at her ear. "Very good Bella. I am most impressed. The name of your betrayer is yours as promised," He murmured and then he whispered the name into her ear, "Rodolphus Lestrange."
Her mind reeled with the information and she almost felt as though she would faint but she stood firm and tall in the Lestrange Manor's ballroom. She finally met the eyes of the Dark Lord as though seeking the truth. If he was lying she could not tell. What reason did he have to lie to her? Rodolphus was his faithful follower the same as she was, the same as Rabastan was. Why lie to her and claim that Rodolphus had accused her of being a spy for the Black family unless Rodolphus really had done it? Her hand tightened upon her wand and she ached to curse her husband but she could not. The Wedding Contract that bound her in marriage to Rodolphus also bound her to never be able to raise a hand against him.
She purposefully chose to make her way back to Rabastan's side instead of Rodolphus'. Let him think that she was being petulant because he had allowed the Dark Lord to torture her and Rabastan. Let him guess that she now knew that he had sold her out for that torture. She didn't care. She could not stand to let him near her. Not now. Maybe not ever again.
"My faithful followers," Voldemort's voice rose above the chatter once more calling them to order. "I did not call you here tonight to witness the testing of my faithful sweet Bella," he told them. "You are here to witness the beginning of the end of an era. Too long has foolish individuals like Dumbledore and Bagnold been left to govern this country. No longer! We will make our strike before the year ends. First we shall tend to the final threat that is standing in our way. There is a Prophecy of one who is strong enough to kill me, born in the seventh month. Well, my ever faithful friend, Orran Nott, was able to gain access to the book of magical children from the archives of the Ministry of Magic. He was able to copy the listing of magical children that were born in the seventh month."
Bellatrix felt dread seize her at the Dark Lord's sudden feral smile. "I will now assign my most faithful into groups and you will be assigned the task of surveillance over a child and their household. Then, on Samhain, we shall strike and destroy the threat."
There were exclamations and cheers around her but Bellatrix could not cheer. She felt sick and she was sure it was for reasons aside from the torture she had suffered.
"Orran Nott, my dear friend," Voldemort called out.
Out of the Crowd to the left of Bellatrix swept the Lord of House Nott. His dishwater blond hair trailed down his back nearly to his waist and was left unbound. It was a contrast to the black velvet robes that he wore. He knelt before the Dark Lord and bowed to kiss the hem of his robe, but the Dark Lord stopped him. Instead he offered his hand and Nott kissed it reverently.
"Orran tell me, do you still count Abraxas Malfoy amongst your friends?" Voldemort asked, and Bellatrix felt the crowd tense at the question. She frowned then wondering what they knew that she did not?
"I do, My Lord," Orran answered clearly.
"Good," Voldemort said with a smile, "then you will be able to get into Malfoy Manor." At Orran's nod the Dark Lord continued, "I task you with the Death of Draconis Lucius Malfoy. If you can be rid of both Abraxas and Lucius in the process, then I shall not object."
Orran bowed his head low. "It had been my hope that Abraxas and his son would embrace you, but I see now that it shall never be. Rest assured my lord that I shall do my duty. If Abraxas and Lucius cannot be of use to you then they shall have no place in this world."
Voldemort smiled at Orran. "Very good Orran," he said and then he waved a hand at Orran, a clear dismissal.
"Augustus Rookwood. Come forward," he called out even as Orran retreated to his spot near to Bellatrix. She watched as Augustus emerged from the crowd and strode forward. He swept his black cloak over his shoulder in a gallant show even as he knelt before the Dark Lord. He kissed the hem of the Dark Lord's robe, and if he was disgruntled to have not been offered the same honor as Lord Nott, he gave no sign.
"Rookwood, my faithful soldier," Voldemort praised. "You shall lead the assault on the child Laura Dale," he informed Rookwood.
"As my lord commands," Rookwood said before he arose and rejoined the ranks of Death Eaters.
"Karkaroff," Voldemort called out and Bellatrix forced herself not to sneer as she watched Igor Karkaroff march forward, all arrogance and too much undeserved pride.
"You shall be the leader of the group sent to eliminate Lisa Turpin," Voldemort informed Karkaroff.
Bellatrix smirked slightly as she watched Karkaroff thank the Dark Lord for the assignment. Benedict Turpin was an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries. She was positive that should Karkaroff attack his home to get to the infant Lisa that he would fail miserably.
"Macnair," Voldemort called and Bellatrix watched as the executioner came swiftly to kneel before Voldemort. Macnair was a man who enjoyed killing. It was for that reason that he was given the name of "The Executioner" though many thought it was due to his work for the Ministry of Magic as their executioner of dangerous creatures. "You will lead the group to eliminate Marcus Shields," Voldemort proclaimed.
"I swear it will be done," Macnair said.
"Of that I have no doubt," Voldemort praised and then he waved his hand dismissing Macnair. The man arose and swiftly went back to his position at the ballroom doors. Then Voldemort called out, "Victor Mulciber Jr."
The handsome black haired man moved through the crowd and then he knelt before Voldemort and kissed the hem of his robes. "I task you with the elimination of Randal Brayer."
"I live for your will alone, My Lord," Mulciber insisted.
Voldemort smiled and then motioned for his dismissal. "Evan Rosier," He called.
Bellatrix watched as her handsome, blond haired cousin, Evan Rosier separated himself from the crowd and he approached the Dark Lord. He hesitated only a moment before he knelt before the Dark Lord and kissed the hem of his rob. Bellatrix was not as close to Evan as was Narcissa, but she was fond of the younger man.
"Evan, I task you with eliminating the target Bryan Albright," Voldemort told him.
"Your will shall be done," Evan answered. Bellatrix thought his answer lacked solemnity of purpose but Voldemort did not seem to hear it. Instead he nodded and then dismissed Evan.
Bellatrix caught Evan's eye for a moment as he moved to rejoin the Death Eater ranks. He gave her a tentative smile but then he composed himself and rejoined his friends. She sighed from her position next to Rabastan.
"Dolohov," Voldemort called, and he smiled a cruel smile as Antonin Dolohov kissed the hem of his robe. "My devious Dolohov, you shall lead the group that eliminates Daphne Greengrass and Astoria Greengrass."
"You honor me, My Lord," Dolohov proclaimed and his voice held his satisfaction at his task. It was when he turned to rejoin the Death Eaters, and Bellatrix saw his smiling face that she recalled that Antonin Dolohov had once attempted to win the hand of Evelyn Greengrass nee Turpin. She had never heard exactly what Evelyn had thought of Dolohov but she did know that the Turpin family had been dead set against the match. Instead Evelyn married Nicholas Greengrass.
Bellatrix was idly contemplating whether or not Dolohov would kill off the whole family but leave Evelyn alive when the Dark Lord called for Amycus Carrow to come to him. She forced her mind to pay attention as he gave Amycus his assignment.
"You shall lead a team to eliminate Ernest Macmillan," Voldemort told Amycus.
"As you command," Amycus said happy to take his assignment. Bellatrix did not doubt that the very young Macmillan heir would suffer great torture before his death. Amycus and his twin sister Alecto thoroughly enjoyed torturing their prey before killing them.
"Rodolphus Lestrange," Voldemort called her husband's name. As Rodolphus moved to kiss the hem of Voldemort's robe she felt Rabastan tense beside her. She brushed her fingers over the back of his hand in order to sooth him as they watched Rodolphus take his orders.
"You shall lead the team that eliminates Neville Longbottom," Voldemort demanded.
"It will be my great honor, My Lord," promised Rodolphus. When he turned back toward the crowd of Death Eaters he was smiling a chilling smile. It was clear that he was looking forward to shedding the blood of the Longbottom family and that included the innocent babe that was his true target.
"You know he will demand us on that mission," Rabastan whispered to her.
"He'll demand you at least," she responded.
He smiled at her then, "You underestimate yourself. Rodolphus is not a complete fool. He knows that you have gained favor with the Dark Lord. He will not leave you behind."
She said nothing to this and listened as the Dark Lord announced that he would lead the final group to Harry Potter, the young Heir to House Potter. "You will watch their homes, learn their habits until Samhain. Then we shall strike," Voldemort declared, and then there were voices raised in cheers of delight and satisfaction.
She shivered as Rabastan put his arm around her, though if it was to comfort her or himself she was not sure. She only knew that she liked the gentle weight upon her.
