x-x
Bellatrix stepped out of the house and crossed into the garden. The late afternoon July sun was still hot and it was a beautiful day – about to be made all the more perfect.
She'd selected a knee length ivory dress with a beautiful full skirt made of tulle and a dark green satin ribbon around her waist. He'd left her a bouquet of red roses he wanted her to carry and she'd carefully tucked one of the flowers into the back of her elaborate updo. She was, for the first time, wearing the complete set of Slytherin emeralds – although her favourite item was the engagement ring temporarily sat on her right index finger.
She could see him waiting under a huge, leafy tree which was surrounded by rose bushes. Next to him was the Ministry official, completely clueless as to whom he was stood with. Bellatrix smiled as she realised that he'd seen her. As she got closer, he extended his hand to her and was smiling back. "My love," Voldemort murmured, his eyes not leaving hers as he bent over and kissed her hand.
"Hi," she replied, suddenly feeling really nervous. She looked back into his eyes, blue for the occasion, which was disappointing although necessary. She glanced towards the Ministry official, smiling slightly at him although she was suddenly so overwhelmed that she couldn't see him properly.
Voldemort drew her closer. "Would you like to get married now?" he asked her, his hand against her cheek.
"Yes," she breathed back, smiling as she gazed into his eyes.
The Ministry official was speaking to them both, but she couldn't concentrate on him or his words. She could only think about how safe she felt and how happy she was with the Dark Lord. She'd not known it possible to love someone like this.
As he took her hand and drew her close to him once more, Voldemort spoke at the prompting of the official.
"I do," he said squeezing her tightly and smiling gently. It was a rare expression to reach his face, completely relaxed and warm, and Bellatrix loved it was reserved for her alone.
"And Bellatrix Druella Black, do you take Tom Marvolo Riddle to be your lawful wedded husband?"
Inhaling nervously through her nose, Bellatrix looked up at Voldemort. She smiled, feeling an overwhelming sensation of joy in her chest. He squeezed her hands again, his smile widening. "I do," she responded finally, not looking away.
Before she knew it, Voldemort had produced the wedding ring. He was sliding it onto her finger, and she was almost sure she could feel his hand shaking slightly. She couldn't believe he was nervous – she didn't know he even had those kinds of emotions. He looked up to her face and she knew their little marriage ceremony was almost over. She didn't mind. She wanted to be his wife as soon as she could be.
"You may kiss the bride," the official said quietly, smiling between them.
Voldemort closed the gap between them, kissing her deeply and thoroughly. His hand traced the back of her neck gently and she reached out to take his free hand.
They pulled apart and their eyes met. She knew what they had to do next.
"It is done?" Voldemort asked the official. The man nodded, flicking his wand and a rolled-up scroll appeared before them.
"Your certificate," he said with a broad smile. "I shall leave you."
"Just a moment," Voldemort said softly, looking back to Bellatrix. "Would you like to do the honours, my love?"
Bellatrix shrugged slightly, sliding her arm around him. "You found him."
The man looked confused for a moment, until he noticed Voldemort's eyes were back to their usual eerie shade of red. A look of understanding and distinct panic crossed his face, but the flash of green light stopped that. He fell to the ground in the next breath, dead.
Bellatrix smirked. "At least we don't have to pay him."
Voldemort chuckled. "We could have afforded it." He took her hand in his and kissed it. "My beautiful wife."
Bellatrix threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. His arms closed around her and they stood together in silence for the longest time. His lips were pressed against her hair and she could hear his heart beating against his chest. She couldn't believe they were married – a mere few days after her abusive partnership with Rodolphus had ended. A month ago, she was destitute without him. And now they were husband and wife.
"You will want for nothing," he murmured into her hair. "I swear."
"I just want you," she responded into his chest.
"You have me." He glanced down at the body, before looking back at her. "Not particularly romantic."
Bellatrix laughed. "I think it's incredibly romantic." She pulled away, looking up at him with a smirk. "You killed a man so you could marry me."
"I would kill a hundred men to marry you," he responded lightly, squeezing her tightly in a hug. "Come inside." He took her hand and led her towards the house.
Bellatrix couldn't stop smiling. She couldn't believe that they were finally married.
She frowned slightly when she realised that he had led them to the meeting room. He smirked over his shoulder at her, pulling her up the two steps of the dais and then gesturing that she should sit on his throne. "My Lord…" she said, her voice protesting.
Voldemort turned to her. "Don't call me that today," he replied quietly. He tugged at her hand, drawing her into the seat so she would sit down. Feeling quite confused, Bellatrix did as he wanted. He disappeared from her view for a moment, behind the large wooden chair, and when he appeared again, he was holding a large silver and emerald tiara. "This is the final piece of the collection you are wearing." With a smirk, he placed the tiara into her hair, adjusting it so it was straight. "The Slytherin diadem."
Bellatrix gasped, lifting her head to feel her gift. The stones were as smooth as the matching emeralds on her necklace. "Tom," she whispered, looking over at him in shock. He was smiling. "This is…" She trailed off, unable to find the words.
"You're definitely the most beautiful woman to wear it," he said, bending over and kissing her. Then, in a gesture causing Bellatrix to gasp again, he knelt in front of her.
"Tom!" Bellatrix cried, trying to pull him up. "Anyone could walk in here!"
Voldemort ran his hands down her leg, looking up at her with another smirk. "I have changed the wards for today so no one can enter." His hand closed around her dark green satin shoe. "We are quite alone." Slowly, he removed the shoe, dropping it to the floor. Then he removed the other one. He began to place tiny kisses up the inside of her calf. "Your shoes for the day are surprisingly low," he commented between kisses.
Bellatrix sighed contentedly as he moved higher up her leg. "I just liked the shoes," she replied softly, looking hazily up to the ceiling. "And –" She cut off with a surprised gasp as his hand slid up the inside of her thigh.
"And?" he asked, smirking up at her.
Bellatrix tried to compose herself as his lips reached the side of her knee. "And… You once said you prefer me shorter."
Voldemort nodded, his fingers toying near the top of her thigh as his lips reached the bottom of it. "I did."
Bellatrix reached down and ran her hand across the top of his hair, looking down at him. "Why?" she asked after a moment.
"Why?" he repeated mockingly, pulling back to look at her. "Are you questioning me again?"
Seeing his smirk, Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "Yes. Get used to it."
He chuckled, ducking under the net of her skirt and pressing three kisses to her hidden upper thigh. Biting her lip, Bellatrix looked up at the ceiling again. He was so annoyingly good at turning her on beyond the realms of anything she knew possible.
He pulled back once more although she could feel his hand creeping higher. "Because I don't want you to be as tall as me."
Despite everything going on at that moment, Bellatrix laughed. "I'm no where near as tall as you."
Voldemort's hand reached up to the top centre of her thigh, grazing the side her underwear. Bellatrix hastily looked down from the ceiling, noticing his gaze fixed on hers with a smug smile. "Panties, today of all days?"
Feeling pleased with herself, Bellatrix smirked back. She knew she could wipe that smug look from his face. "They're very special."
He tilted his head to one side, flicking his fingers under the waistband. "Special how?"
Spreading her legs slightly, Bellatrix smirked. "Why don't you see for yourself?"
Voldemort's eyes slightly narrowed at her, as if he didn't believe her, and he lifted her skirt slightly and looked. Then his face broke into a smile as he realised that they were crotchless. He looked back up at her. "What a naughty wife I have," he murmured, shifting forwards so his whole head was under the skirt. He said something else but Bellatrix couldn't hear under the many layer of tulle. Then she found she didn't care what he was saying at all because she suddenly realised what he was doing.
A gasp of surprise and pleasure left her lips. His lips were pressed against her exposed flesh and she could feel his tongue lapping against her. It felt incredible. He moved in further and she realised one finger was teasing against her entrance. She moaned, gripping the arms of the chair tightly. Then she realised his finger was moving further south, across her perineum and onto her previously untouched back entrance. She was about to shout at him to stop before she realised how good it felt. He wiggled his finger gently against the hole without entering her, still using his tongue on her sensitive nub, and with his other hand plunged his fingers into her wet entrance.
It was too much, and she found herself convulsing around the fingers, moaning out his name. For a moment the world around her vanished and she could see stars. Intense was an understatement.
Voldemort withdrew from her, the smug smile back on his face. Bellatrix slumped back, staring at him in surprise. "So sensitive," he said softly, standing up and bending over her to kiss her gently on the forehead.
"You can't just…" She trailed off, knowing she couldn't complain about his actions.
He laughed. "I won't do it again if you hated it that much."
Bellatrix scowled at him. "I didn't mean…" She stopped speaking, sitting up and pulling him closer so she could kiss him firmly on the lips. He was still laughing at her as she did. "Tom!"
Voldemort took her hands, pulling her to standing. "We need to dance."
Bellatrix shook her head. "What about…" She gestured towards his crotch.
"Later," he said dismissively, leading her from the room and up the stairs.
"I haven't even sucked you yet," she replied, hoping to wind him up a bit.
As they reached the entrance to the ballroom, he turned to look at her. "We have forever." He kissed her gently on the lips and then lead her to the centre of the room. Beautiful music filled the air and he pulled her into his arms, swaying along to the melody.
"Why'd you like dancing so much?" Bellatrix asked after a moment of leaning against his warm body.
"I don't," Voldemort replied softly, kissing the top of her head. "But often in the past I needed an excuse to speak to you alone, or to be close to you, and it was a gentlemanly excuse."
"It's not like you've ever needed to be gentlemanly," Bellatrix responded, leaning against him and once again feeling completely safe with him.
Voldemort chuckled. "The sacred twenty-eight have rules," he said softly. "I can't afford to lose support because I offended the wrong person. Your mother, for example."
Bellatrix laughed loudly. "She's going to be offended when she finds out you married me without permission from them."
"I don't care," Voldemort replied, chuckling. "Pure-blood rules can be damned now I have married the best of them." Bellatrix smiled to herself. He was sweet. "You'd be surprised how far being charming to the right person has got me," Voldemort said quietly after a moment. "And dancing… it's part of the act."
Pulling back, Bellatrix frowned up at him. "What act?"
Slowly, he pulled her back into him, turning them around as they moved to the music. "My closest followers know the real me, to a certain extent. They know that I use charm to get what I want, and only if I need to. You've seen me with other women. They have been disposable, as are my lower followers. I am easily angered; I enjoy killing people who disobey me or cross me. I have little patience." He paused, absently pressing his lips against her hair. "I personally have no interest in the traditions and ways of the pure-blood society – but people I need do. Therefore, I must pretend."
He twirled her around, and Bellatrix was temporarily distracted by the beauty of the skirt she was wearing as it flared outwards. He pulled her back into his arms and Bellatrix felt nervous suddenly. How much did he pretend to her?
"Don't be worried," Voldemort said softly, obviously noticing her tending up. "Bella." They stopped moving and she looked up at him. His expression was slightly concerned. "I have been considering the idea of taking a wife for a while, but I needed it to be the right woman. I have waited for you, because you are the perfect woman."
"Why?" Bellatrix asked bluntly, staring up at him.
"You're perfect," Voldemort repeated quietly, looking into her eyes. "On a superficial level; you have the blood, the power, the beauty, the intelligence…" He paused, smiling slightly. "But most importantly… You have me wrapped around your little finger." Bellatrix raised her eyebrows quizzically at him, definitely not sure that was possible. "You do, Bella. If it had come to it, I would have killed Rodolphus, one of my highest and most useful, to marry you."
"What if I'd never fallen for you?" she asked him, raising her chin to look at him. "What if I didn't want to marry you?"
Voldemort shrugged. "You did though."
"But what if I didn't?" she pressed, wanting to hear the answer from him.
He looked at her carefully. "If you didn't feel like I did then I would have let you be. Your happiness is my priority."
As she looked into his face, she could see that he was wearing that genuine expression she always longed to see. The smirk of amusement that was normally on his face was no present, and neither was there any sign of displeasure or anger. He was just a man, looking down at his new wife.
"I have laid myself bare before you," Voldemort said quietly. "I kiss your hand and dance with you because it's what you need. You're a traditional English pure-blood. I can barely take my hands and eyes away from you because you're so beautiful." He brought her hand to his lips, kissing her gently. He didn't look away from her face. "I trust you with my cause because you are the most loyal Death Eater, because we want the same thing. I can talk to you, because you understand me and because you're so clever." His hand made its way into her hair. "And Bella, when I fuck you… I wish I'd never fucked anyone else before. I wish you were my one and only."
Bellatrix found the smile creeping back onto her face during his speech. "Merlin, Tom…" she mumbled, putting her arms tightly around him and squeezing him. "I'm glad you fucked around. You're just… incredible."
Voldemort laughed gently, squeezing her back. "We need to drink champagne next." He took her hand once more and led her up the stairs to their rooms.
"You're taking all of the wedding traditions very seriously," Bellatrix said, smiling at him happily.
"I know it's important to you," he responded as they entered the sitting room. "I'm sorry it's not the big day you had…" He trailed off, turning back to face her. Bellatrix bit her lip nervously, looking back up at him. "I am wrong to mention it."
Bellatrix shrugged. "It made me, me."
"It made you mine," he replied softly. He cupped her face in her hand for a moment, before he withdrew and headed towards the drinks cabinet.
"What are we having?" she asked, moving further into the room.
He turned to face her, peeling the metallic wrapper from around the bottle. "It's a vintage Bollinger," he said softly, smiling. "From nineteen-fifty-one."
Bellatrix burst out laughing at the thought of drinking champagne the same age as she was. "Are you calling me vintage?"
He popped the cork loudly, looking at her and laughing. "The absolute finest vintage," he responded, pouring them a glass each. He turned to face her, handing her the drink. "Aged to perfection with a lot of life left."
Bellatrix held up her glass to his, and then tapped glasses. "To my husband."
"To my wife," Voldemort responded, smiling towards her.
They both drank. It was delicious. Bellatrix could feel butterflies dancing around her stomach – she still couldn't believe that she was married to this gorgeous man she'd only dreamt of being with.
"Ah – I think I should have carried you into the house," Voldemort said, smirking at her.
Sniggering, Bellatrix sat down on the sofa. He sat next to her. "You should have. What a failure." He chucked. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, drinking the champagne. When she was done, she set the glass down. Slowly, she turned to face him. "I'm going to suck you now," she informed him, running her hands across the top of his legs.
"Are you, indeed?" he asked in response, smiling slightly. "And what if I said I wanted to make you come again first?"
Slowly, Bellatrix moved in, her hands unclasping his robes. Her eyes flickered up to his for a moment. "Why would you do that?"
"Because." His hands moved around her body, finding the zip at the back of her dress. "Making my lovely wife orgasm is my delight in life. It makes me feel…" He pulled the zip down, very slowly, maintaining eye contact with her. "It makes me feel powerful and it makes you feel good."
Bellatrix smiled at the thought. "Making you come makes me feel powerful," she responded, pulling his robes apart. She reached for his tie, loosening it slightly before undoing it. "The Dark Lord… putty in my hands…" She smirked, noticing the temporary flash of displeasure in his eyes. "But can you resist me, Tom?"
Voldemort smirked back. "Interesting point there." He bent forwards, pressing tiny kisses on her neck, and slid the straps of her dress from her shoulders. An involuntary moan left her lips. "But I do have to wonder… who has the better will power." His lips trailed across her collarbone, down across her breasts.
"Well…" Bellatrix started, knowing he'd won already. "I think perhaps I'll let you go first."
"Very generous," Voldemort replied and she could hear the smugness in his voice as he continued to kiss her. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes. "But I appear to have a dress in my way."
He pulled back, looking at her face. Bellatrix slowly stood up, feeling that the insides of her thighs were sticky. Very slowly and carefully, she removed the rest of her dress, looking into his face. She could see his smile as she was revealed fully to him – and although this reminded her a little bit of an encounter with Rodolphus, she knew his smile was because he loved her. "Is that better?" she asked.
"So much better," he replied, standing up and approaching her. His hands ran down the sides of her arms, and his eyes wandered further down towards the panties she was wearing. "Such a genius invention…" He placed another kiss against her neck. "Will you leave them on?" he asked quietly, and she could hear he was definitely slightly breathless.
"Yes," Bellatrix responded, feeling slightly breathless herself.
"Excellent," he all but hissed into her ear. His hand trailed down her back, settling on her arse for a moment before he brought it around to the front of her body. He cupped her womanhood, putting his spare arm tightly around her. Bellatrix felt a groan come from deep in her throat as he flicked his thumb against her. "I like it when you moan," he murmured in her ear. He flicked his thumb once more, harder this time. Bellatrix let out an involuntary moan. "That's it," he whispered. "I'm going to make you come with my thumb alone." He rubbed the digit against her, very slowly to begin with, and then sped up. She moaned again as he did. "Now who is putty?"
Bellatrix choked out another moan as he changed his position on her. He chuckled, obviously pleased with himself. "Merlin," Bellatrix mumbled against his chest.
"You know," he began conversationally as he continued to rub her. "I used to make my conquests orgasm before I fucked them, because it felt so much better for me." He slowed down his ministrations for a moment. "But with you…" He picked up the pace again and Bellatrix could feel her entire body tensing up as it prepared for release. "With you I think I would happily make you come a hundred times, over and over, without any release for myself, just to hear you moan my name." He pressed further kisses against the sensitive flesh of her neck and Bellatrix moaned out loudly, clinging onto his neck for dear life as she came – harder than she'd ever done before. She continued to call out as the long orgasm faded and he finally let go of her. Panting, she flopped against him. "It's just so satisfying."
After a moment, Bellatrix pulled back to look at him. She felt dazed. "Good," was the only word that came to mind. She wasn't sure if she was responding to him, or just saying a word that summed up entirely how she felt.
He smirked back. "Good."
"Umm," Bellatrix mumbled, frowning slightly as she tried to recall what she'd been battling with him about previously.
With a laugh, he pulled her back towards the sofa and down onto his lap facing him when he'd sat down. "You wanted to suck me off," he said with a smug smirk.
"I know," Bellatrix replied defensively, looking down at him.
"But I want to fuck you."
Bellatrix sighed lightly, still feeling dazed. "Okay," she replied. "But…" She gestured to his clothes.
Voldemort shrugged. "I do find the idea of fucking my naked wife while I remain fully dressed quite appealing."
Bellatrix tilted her head to one side, considering. She'd never thought of it, but she did enjoy being dominated and she was certain any form of sex with him would in fact be quite appealing.
"Would you be comfortable with that?" he asked quietly, running his fingers up and down her arms again.
"Yes," she replied, feeling slightly awkward about him asking her for consent.
"Good," Voldemort responded, kissing her neck again. She let out a little sigh of contentment as he continued to move down. "I want you to enjoy our sex games, Bella. I want you to come as hard as I do, every time. I want to bring your fantasies to life."
Previous words of his – 'dark sexual fantasies' – suddenly made sense in her head. Her stomach flipped as she realised that he'd seen her thoughts and memories, and more than once some form of sexual desire or fantasy.
"Tom…" she moaned, feeling him shift below her. She felt him lift her up slightly before letting go – and she slammed down fully onto his hardness. "Oh, Tom!" she cried out, looking down at him. He moaned slightly, shifting his hips. Bellatrix pulled herself up by his neck, leaning forwards so her breasts were in his face as she began bouncing up and down on him in earnest.
"Fuck!" he hissed, his hands around her waist.
Bellatrix moaned – his word just about summed her feelings up too. There was something deliciously depraved about being the only naked one. His grip around her tightened and Bellatrix found herself laying on her back across the sofa, being pounded as if his life depended on it. She called out his name again, gripping the back of his robes as she orgasmed. Her husband stiffened and she knew he was done too. They lay together for a while, both panting and coming down from their high.
Bellatrix breathlessly turned to him, her fingers tugging his robes from his shoulders, pulling the tie away from him and unbuttoning his white shirt. She was pleased to see his firm chest revealed to her and he was smiling as she attempted to pull the shirt away from him.
"You didn't like the clothes?" he asked, pulling his shirt off for her.
Bellatrix grinned back, reaching down and tugging her knickers off. "Uncomfortable," she said, chucking them across the room. "I did like the clothes," she continued, feeling a little bit shy all of a sudden. "I just…" She shook her head, trying to find the words. "I like how your skin feels against mine."
Voldemort smiled back at her, looking relieved. He raised his hand and the blanket from their bedroom soared towards it. He tucked it around both of them, flicking his fingers towards the fire to light it in a burst of flames and summoning their champagne. Bellatrix slowly released the pins from her hair, very aware of the cascade of curls falling around her. She felt his fingers in the curls, and she tilted her head to smile at him.
"Your hair wasn't black the first time I met you," he commented softly, sliding his arm around her as she lay back down.
Bellatrix swallowed deeply. "Rodolphus changed it," she replied lightly, as if she didn't care.
She could feel him stiffening behind her. "What?" he said, his voice angry.
"It's okay, Tom," she said, turning to face him as best she could in the position that they were laying in.
"Why don't you change it back?" he asked, and she could see he was frowning.
"Because… I like it, actually."
Voldemort was silent for a long moment, and Bellatrix was worried that her answer had annoyed him.
"I like it too," he replied, breaking his silence. "But honestly, I'd like you in anything."
Bellatrix laughed, relaxing into him. She looked into the crackling fire and lifted her champagne flute to her lips. She let out a happy sigh, snuggling into him and pulling the blanket up around them tightly. She couldn't believe how much she'd enjoyed her wedding afternoon with him. She felt sad that the day was coming to an end, but at the same time she was excited to start her life as his wife.
"When did you realise you were in love with me?" she asked him, after a while.
Voldemort chuckled. "You threw your arms around me once in the heat of a moment," he responded lightly. "And I realised that no one had touched me like that before." He smoothed her hair down absently. "And… this strange, unknown feeling of longing I had every time I looked at your suddenly made sense."
Bellatrix laughed softly. "I was in denial at that point. But it didn't take me long, and the next time I saw you…" She trailed off.
"You hugged me then, too," he said quietly, looking down at her fingers entwining with his own. "And every time I saw you after that, I wanted you to do it again."
Bellatrix shook her head. "I don't understand why that was important."
"Because it made you special," Voldemort said quietly. "You're the only thing even close to a friend I've ever had. I like spending my time with you because of you, not for something I can gain by being with you."
Squeezing his hand, Bellatrix turned her head as far as she could and kissed him on the corner of his mouth. "That's beautiful and sad, all at once."
"Not sad," Voldemort replied, squeezing her hand back. "I don't care about anyone else."
Bellatrix pulled herself up to sitting, looking down at him. She shifted, and lifted his head into her lap. Her fingers tangled into his hair and she could see his eyes closing. "You're always so interested in me that I feel like I don't know anything about you. We don't talk about you."
"I tend to keep my secrets close to my chest," he responded without opening his eyes.
"You can't keep secrets from me, Tom," Bellatrix replied quietly.
He opened his eyes and looked up at her. "I'd be here forever telling you them."
Bellatrix laughed softly. "How about you tell me your birthday?"
He frowned slightly. "I've never celebrated it."
"You've never had a wife," Bellatrix pointed out.
Voldemort sighed and shut his eyes again. "It's a difficult one for me," he said quietly. "My mother died on it."
Bellatrix instantly felt bad for asking him about it. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said regretfully, stroking his hair. "How old were you?"
His eyes opened for a moment, before his frown deepened and he shut them again. "I mean she died on the day I was born; New Year's Eve, nineteen-twenty-six."
With a gasp, she let go of his hair and took hold of his hand. "Oh, Tom…" She trailed off, not sure what else to say. That was an incredibly sad story. She hated that she'd known him for all this time, and been so unaware of his life.
His eyes snapped back open. "I have not spoken of this for a great many years." Slowly, he sat up, moving so that he was face-to-face with her. Bellatrix felt a tingle of fear spread through her as she tried to recognise the emotion on his face. "Don't be scared," he murmured, obviously sensing her discomfort. He placed his hand on her cheek, bending forwards and pressing a gentle kiss on her lips. "I want to share things with you."
"I'd like that," Bellatrix replied, smiling slightly. "I hate not knowing all about you."
"While we are having a more serious discussion, I think we should talk about our working relationship." He let go of her, sitting up straighter before resting his hand on her thigh. Bellatrix nodded, placing her hand on top of his. "You can say whatever you want to me in private – and I do mean that, Bella." She nodded again, looking down at their hands, not quite willing to look into his face. "In public generally there is a time and a place, of course, but in meetings you must never question me, Bella, because I will have to take action."
Bellatrix nodded once again. She'd seen what happened to people that questioned him in the past. "I know."
Voldemort drew her hand up to his lips, kissing the flesh of her fingers and looking up into her face with a smile. "I won't let any of them forget that you're my favourite."
Laughing, she squeezed his hand. "You shouldn't do that. Half of them hate me."
"Good," he murmured, pulling her closer to him and kissing her briefly on the lips. "Let them. And next, you should make them fear you. Rodolphus treated you like dirt and stifled you. Let them see the real you."
Bellatrix shrugged. "Falling for you, of all people, will be my greatest downfall. I'll always be a weak woman with a protector to them."
"Possibly," Voldemort responded quietly. "And I will always protect you. I won't be able to help myself."
Their eyes met. Bellatrix felt a surge of desire race through her blood. She wanted that, she wanted him to look after her. She needed it. Deep down, she knew that she was vulnerable. She didn't think she would be if it wasn't for her abusive marriage to Rodolphus. He had crushed her spirit and damaged her more than she cared to admit. But her husband was different and loved her for her. And for that, she loved him.
"I think we should get dressed and go and have dinner," Voldemort said, his eyes still on hers. "And then, I want to get you undressed again. I have at least five more orgasms planned for you."
Bellatrix laughed, feeling herself soaring with happiness. They stood together and Bellatrix put her arms around him for a long cuddle. She felt a little bit closer to him than she had before, and she hoped that she would feel closer still to him tomorrow.
x-x
A few days after their beautiful wedding afternoon, it was time to break the news to Narcissa. Bellatrix knew she owed it to her younger sister to tell her everything personally. She'd planned the whole thing with Lucius, who was being surprisingly amiable. She suspected that it had something to do with her new husband.
Bellatrix looked up from the sofa in the sitting room as Lucius and Narcissa entered. She smiled slightly, watching as Narcissa headed towards her. Lucius shut the door as he left.
"What's going on?" Narcissa asked, and Bellatrix could hear the nerves in her tone. "Why are we meeting here?"
"Sit down," Bellatrix said gently.
Narcissa slowly sat down. "Lucius has refused to tell me a thing," she continued, her voice faltering.
"I asked him not to," Bellatrix responded, shifting closer to her sister. "Narcissa, I wanted to tell you myself."
"Tell me what?" Narcissa asked, frowning.
Bellatrix swallowed, actually feeling a bit nervous herself. While she didn't care what the rest of the family thought, she did care about Narcissa's feelings on the matter. "I suppose you know that I am divorced from Rodolphus now?"
Narcissa nodded slowly, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Mother has only told me that you had left Rodolphus. That's all she's telling anyone."
"Of course she is," Bellatrix mumbled, feeling irritated that she was being made to look like the guilty party in all this. "I left because he…" she trailed off; not quite sure she could bring herself to say the words out load. "He was very violent towards me."
Narcissa looked horrified. "I had no idea!" she said, her voice high pitched. "I never saw you together, but I knew he wasn't very social so I always assumed that was why."
Bellatrix shook her head. "I stayed for as long as I could… Longer than I should have, really." She looked down at her hands and realised that they were shaking. "H-he nearly killed me, one d-day when he lost his t-temper," she said, hearing her voice shaking. Narcissa pressed her hand onto Bellatrix's, but remained silent. "I had a few days of recovery, and then I went back and he was busy with other women, and then…"
Narcissa looked like she was going to be sick. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that." Bellatrix breathed in and out a few times to steady herself. "It's very kind of the Dark Lord to let you stay here for a while," Narcissa said after a moment, obviously trying to distract her, although Bellatrix could hear some doubt in her voice. "Where will you go?"
"I…" Bellatrix faltered again. "I'm not exactly… staying here for a while, as you put it."
"What do you mean?" Narcissa asked, frowning, until an expression of realisation appeared on her face. "Oh, Bellatrix, you know what he's like! You mustn't let him take advantage of you!"
Bellatrix took a deep breath. "It's not that, Narcissa. I have been in love with him since the moment I first saw him. He is… Perfection."
Narcissa shook her head, an expression of despair on her face. "This is madness."
"It's not!" Bellatrix replied sharply.
"He's the Dark Lord! It's not like he's not going to marry you!" Narcissa bit back, her tone frustrated.
Bellatrix smiled slightly, feeling herself relax. "He already has," she said quietly.
"What?" Narcissa asked, her mouth gaping open in shock. "When?"
"Last week," Bellatrix replied, holding out her hand to show Narcissa her new engagement and wedding rings. "Narcissa… I've never been so happy."
Narcissa studied the rings. "I can't believe it," she murmured. She looked up at Bellatrix, smiling slightly now. "You're sure about this? He… He might be just as bad."
"He's not," Bellatrix responded, smiling back.
The door opened and Voldemort entered, Lucius following. "Mrs Malfoy," he said softly, approaching her and kissing her on each cheek.
"My Lord," Narcissa responded, smiling slightly. "I am just processing your news."
Voldemort turned to Bellatrix and bent over her. "My love," he murmured, pressing a kiss on her lips. Bellatrix smiled back, taking in his red eyes and perfect teeth as he did. A surge of desire spread through her blood – he was so handsome. His smile turned into a smirk and Bellatrix resisted the urge to roll her eyes; she really needed to start using her Occlumency skills when she was around him.
"I imagine this is all quite surprising for you," Voldemort said, turning to face Narcissa. He smiled, sitting down next to Bellatrix. Lucius took the armchair.
"Yes," Narcissa replied, looking towards him. Bellatrix thought that she looked a little bit nervous, although she was hiding it well.
"I'm sorry we didn't invite you along," Bellatrix said softly. "It was just the two of us, it happened so quickly but we couldn't wait any longer."
"How long have you been…" Narcissa trailed off, obviously searching for the right phrase.
"We've been..." Bellatrix looked up at her husband, trying to find the right word once more. "We've been close sort of… well, friends is the closest word I can think of, for the last year or so and..." She bit her lip, suddenly feeling a bit emotional again. "I don't mind saying that he has been driving me insane since the day I met him." She felt his arm slide around her waist and instantly relaxed. "I can tell you that I wouldn't be sitting here right now, alive, if it wasn't for my new husband." She smiled over at him, feeling him squeeze her to him.
"I know what you're thinking, Narcissa," Voldemort said after a moment, and she could see Lucius visibly stiffen in the armchair. Bellatrix bit her lip slightly, knowing that her husband probably meant his words literally and knowing that Lucius was aware of that too. "And you're right to think it. I know that you have always been close to Bella, and I swear to you now that I will always protect her from harm."
Narcissa nodded, but Bellatrix could see that she still wasn't entirely comfortable. "Will you see our parents?" she asked, looking back to Bellatrix.
"I don't want anything to do with our mother," Bellatrix retorted, feeling angry suddenly.
"What about Daddy?" Narcissa asked softly. Bellatrix sighed after a moment. She missed her father terribly and she knew that he would love to see her. "Why don't the six of us have dinner together, at our house? Mother will be on best behaviour if she isn't at home."
Bellatrix glanced over at Lucius, who looked quite panicked at that suggestion. She looked back to Narcissa. "Alright," she said, wishing she could just say no. "But Mother has no idea that I have re-married."
Narcissa laughed softly, and Bellatrix was pleased to see she looked happier. "I will let you break that news." She stood up and kissed Bellatrix on each cheek. "I will pop you an owl when I have arranged it."
"Of course," Bellatrix replied, forcing a smile.
"Thank you, Narcissa," Voldemort said, smiling slightly as his new sister-in-law kissed him too.
Lucius stood up; his face still horrified. "I'll ensure there's plenty of wine," he said quietly, before following his wife out of the door.
Bellatrix half laughed, but she really didn't think it was entirely a joke. She thought she might have to be drunk to face her mother.
"You don't have to come," she said quickly to her husband, knowing that this was not something he would appreciate.
"I absolutely do," Voldemort responded, pressing a kiss on the top of her head. "You haven't heard the threats she's been making in those howlers."
"Are they still coming?" Bellatrix asked incredulously, unable to believe that her mother was still sending angry letters.
"Yes," he replied shortly. "I have just sworn that I will protect you… and honestly, I think that you need my protection the most from your mother at the moment."
Bellatrix snuggled closer to him, a feeling of dread pooling in her stomach. It had been a while since she'd felt like this, and she definitely hadn't missed the sensation.