The first time Bellatrix saw Hufflepuff's golden cup she promptly gave it to an elf to take to Gringotts and preened over the honor of holding one of her Lord's great treasures.
Unfortunately, the elf in question was absolutely loyal to could not simply ask for it to retrieve the cup. She would have to go in person, but she also knew that Rodolphus was petty. She would not put it past him to put a blood ward on the vault, which was how she ended up at the hunting lodge.
"The place isn't the same without you here," whined Rabastan as he licked chocolate mousse from his spoon. Now that raspberry season was over he had the elves working nonstop in an attempt to fill the void.
Bellatrix reclined in her chair and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Rab. It was time to begin a new chapter." They were in the kitchen nook, and the elves kept giving her baleful looks as they whisked and scooped in the kitchen. One was making cupcakes and the other appeared to be making a tart.
Rabastan followed her irritated look and smirked. "They think you think you're too good to be a Lestrange," he explained.
"I do," she said, smirking back.
He laughed ruefully. "If only my parents had picked you for me." He dipped his spoon back into the chocolate mousse, "I think we could have made it work."
"Maybe," she said gently.
He twisted the spoon. "You're thinking of your little birdie, aren't you?"
She had, in fact, thought of Hermione. "I would have divorced you too Rab."
He sighed. "I know." The bowl made a heavy thunk as he placed it back on the table.
For a moment, she watched the snow fall on the bare trees through the window. "I need your help, Rab."
The elves looked at her, and she made a slashing motion with her arm. "Get rid of them!"
"They're my elves," he protested, "They would never-"
"I don't want them here."
He stared at her for a moment and then made a motion with his fingers. The elves, who had stopped their preparations to stare at her, gave her a reproachful look and then disappeared.
Her shoulders relaxed. "Thank you."
"You're doing something devious." He said, his eyes wide. She could see her reflection frowning back at her.
Bellatrix shifted in her seat. "You understand that you can't speak of this to anyone?"
"The trip to Gringotts? No, I won't say anything. But I don't suppose you'll tell me why you need my accompaniment?"
"In case of blood wards."
"Yes, you've explained that, but what's so important that you wouldn't provide a list to Rodolphus?"
"I just need to retrieve some things from the vault, and drop a few things off as well." She trusted Rabastan, she really did, but the less people involved the better. Her brother in law had never been able to withstand rigorous questioning. It was part of the reason they were convicted. That, and her unflinching loyalty to-
She flinched, and stopped her train of thought.
Upon realizing that she was not about to leave without him, Rabastan sighed and found his cloak.
"I hope you appreciate what I do for you," he grumbled. He had put on quite a bit of weight since their escape, but his skin was still sickly pale, and his uncombed hair flew around his head in a cloud.
She felt a stab of pity, looking at him, and decided to take him out more once the war was over. She could keep him hidden, and they could use Polyjuice…
Diagon Alley was unnaturally bare. Only a few shops had holiday decorations up, the Weasley shop in particular was dressed up with gaudy ribbons that flashed red and green and screeched carols at the passers by. In spite of that, the Alley was practically empty. The few people who ventured down the cobblestone lane looked jumpy and fearful.
Potter's face was everywhere, looking back at her from "Wanted" posters. His green eyes flashed angrily at her, and she felt her resolve harden.
"We'll stop later," she promised Rabastan, who had stopped at the Weasley shop window and looked hopefully at a display of color changing powder.
"I'm not a child," he shot back, but he hooked his arm through hers and whistled as they made their way to the tall marble building.
The goblins barely reacted when she told them which vault she was heading to, though the one who called up her cart did side eye her and grumble, "Not sending an elf this time? What an honor…"
She swallowed as they passed the old dragon that guarded the older vaults, but Rabastan's arm was warm in hers, and she felt her confidence return.
"We'll only be a moment," she told the goblin once they reached the vault. "Rabastan, would you do the honors?"
Rabastan nodded, and handed his key to the goblin. The being made a show of checking the key thoroughly, and then opened the vault.
Without her portion of their treasure and galleons, the vault looked to be full of old rubbish. Battered trunks lined one corner, racks of Lestrange heirlooms (tattered heirlooms) filled up the rest of the space. The pile of gold was considerably smaller, though it was plenty to sustain the two brothers for the rest of their lives if they spent it wisely.
She pulled a shrunken bag from her pocket and returned it to it's regular size. "These are the few Lestrange items I had in my posession," she explained to Rabastan as she opened the sack and returned the items to their rightful spot. Mostly it was old spellbooks, the only items she was truly sad to see go were a pair of diamond hair combs that she had worn during her initiation into the Death Eaters.
"All done," she whispered. She dragged her eyes to the cup, and felt her stomach sink. "I only have one thing to retrieve." Winky had retrieved the rest of her things earlier that autumn.
"A cup?" Rabastan wrinkled his nose when she picked it up and put it in the sack. "You've done all this for a cup?"
"An heirloom," she lied. Was it her imagination, or did she feel worse now that she held the thing?
She half expected the ground to sink beneath her when she exited the vault, but nothing amiss happened. Rabastan whistled cheerfully as the vault swung closed, The goblin said nothing as they rode the cart back to the main floor.
As promised, Bellatrix let Rabastan browse Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. As he laughed among the shelves, she slipped into the lavatory and locked the door. Just to be safe, she copied the cup and sent the real one to her house with a modified portkey Narcissa had created. If all went well, Winky would attach the thing automatically to the little brown owl and she would be rid of it. She didn't know how long Rabastan would want her to stay, and she wanted to be rid of the thing as soon as possible.
She instantly felt better. After a quick check in the mirror to make sure she still looked carefree, she rejoined Rabastan.
"I'm done with my Christmas shopping," he said, making a show to keep his items hidden. "Let's pay and return to the manor for some hot chocolate. I think I still have one of my aunt Reina's old diaries laying around. We could read it!"
She watched him fondly as he paid the shopkeeper (Not one of the Weasley boys, but an older man who looked particularly harried). When they stepped back out onto the street small snowflakes fluttered lazily from the clouds.
"Snow," Rabastan said. His face was open, like a child's, and he stuck out his tongue.
Bellatrix watched him for a moment, and then threw an arm around him and kissed him. "I love you, Rab," she whispered.
He smiled slowly at her, his eyes sparkling. "Merry Christmas Bells."
They made a few more stops in the gloomy shops of Diagon Alley. Rabastan insisted that she buy something for Hermione and for Narcissa, and she even picked up a present for Draco. It was a shirt made out of unicorn hair that was supposed to give the wearer good health. Rabastan shook his head when she held it up, but sighed and said,
"Anything's better than nothing for the poor little bloke."
It was nearly dinnertime when Rabastan insisted they return home.
"Why not eat at the Cauldron?" Bellatrix asked. "My treat?"
Rabastan sucked in his lower lip and shook his head. "Let me cook for you, Bella. One last time."
"It's not the last time, Rab. You'll always be my brother."
"And you'll always be my sister. But let's go home. I want it to be special. I've planned something important."
Bellatrix shrunk her bags and stowed them in her pocket. "Alright, back to the lodge it is."
Her feet had barely found the floor of the lodge's kitchen when her wand was yanked from her hand.
"Well, well, well," said a sinister voice from behind body went cold as Rabastan materialized beside her, and stepped quickly into the corner.
Bellatrix yelped as she was flung face first into the wall.
"You got your things out weeks ago, wife of mine." Rodolphus pressed his face against hers. His breath was foul and hot against her cheek. "What could possibly warrant another trip to my vault?"
With every ounce of contempt she possessed, Bellatrix spat, "I didn't take anything that wasn't given to me!" It was true. The cup had been given to her.
Rough hands searched through her coat. The gifts were enlarged, and flung to the ground. Inside, Bellatrix seethed. She had never felt so helpless before. How had Rodolphus known she would be here? If only she could get her wand…
"Aha!" As soon as he enlarged the cup, Rodolphus stepped away.
Bellatrix turned, and glared at him. "Rab, get my wand!" She commanded. Her ex brother in law used to be able to hold his own in a fight, hopefully he still could.
Rodolphus' face twisted into a sneer. "Rab!" He said in a shrill falsetto, "Oh Rabbie, get my wand!" He held Bellatrix's wand aloft. "This wand, Trixie?" He brought it down savagely, and snapped it in two.
Cold dread spread through Bellatrix, and tears pricked her eyes. Then, white hot fury gripped her, and she flung herself at Rodolphus. "How dare you?" She shrieked. "The Dark Lord will punish you when he hears what you've done!" She was flung back into the fall with a sweep of Rodolphus' wand, and she strained against the force holding her there. "I'm going to watch him tear you apart!"
Rodolphus' grin grew wider. "I think not," he said softly. "You see, the Dark Lord told me there was one thing I needed to do," he held up the decoy cup and grinned at his reflection. "I don't know why he asked me to make sure you didn't remove the cup. But he did, and you did, so here we are." He stepped closer, and laid his hand against Bellatrix's cheek. "Who's going to be his favorite now, I wonder?"
Bellatrix tried to bite him.
Rodolphus jerked his hand back, and then struck Bellatrix across the face.
"No!" Rabastan jerked forward. "You said you weren't going to hurt her!"
The blood rushed heavily in Bellatrix's ears, and her cheek burned from the blow, but she understood Rabastan perfectly. Incredulously she raised her head and stared at him.
Rabastan flinched at the look in her eyes. "Bells, I-"
"Shut up!" Rodolphus fisted his hand through Bellatrix's curls, and yanked her head back.
Behind her, Rabastan whimpered. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry," Rodolphus mimicked, shaking his fist so that her head jerked from side to side.
Bellatrix breathed heavily through her nose, and pushed away the sting of Rabastan's betrayal. "The Dark Lord is going to be annoyed when he finds out I was only taking back what's rightfully mine." Bellatrix said, grinning despite the ache in her jaw. "He gave the cup to me, not you, and you've been sore ever since."
He gave a harsh chuckle, then his eyes shifted. He pulled her forward, then slammed her back so hard that she saw stars.
"I've had enough of your games, Trixie," Rodolphus spat. There were two of him, flickering back and forth before her.
Bellatrix blinked furiously in an attempt to clear her vision, but just as Rodolphus solidified he pulled her hair tighter and wrenched her neck back at a painful angle.
Don't fightI, Bellatrix told herself. If she fought it would only make her look guilty. The Dark Lord had to believe that she was only acting to preserve her own reputation.
As soon as she felt the tell-tale pull of side-along apparition, Bellatrix threw a wall between her mind and Hermione. Luckily, the girl was distracted by something, but she did not want to risk the Dark Lord finding out about the bond. Not when they had come so far.
The Dark Lord was alone. He leapt up when Rodolphus dragged Bellatrix into his study, and snatched the spectacles off his face. "What is the meaning of this?"
Bellatrix groaned as Rodolphus threw her to the ground. The rug scratched at her palms, and she hastened to get on her knees. "My lord, Rodolphus is mistaken-"
"Shut up, you lying bitch."
Yelping as a stunner hit her from behind, Bellatrix hissed, "My lord, please!"
"Rodolphus. Enough." Lord Voldemort raised his hand, and withdrew his wand from his sleeve. Bellatrix watched it, and felt her mouth go dry. She noticed that he did not raise her up as he usually did, and felt a stab of anger. After all she had done for her, he wouldn't even give her the benefit of the doubt? Her fingers flexed, and she was bitterly aware of how powerless she was without a wand.
"Tell me," The Dark Lord said.
Rodolphus's voice dripped with glee, "My Lord, she took it. The cup you bestowed upon us. She tried to say that she was taking it to her own vault-"
"I was!" Bellatrix insisted. "My Lord, i would never-"
The Dark Lord cut her off. "You have it?"
Rodolphus dug the cup from Bellatrix's bag, and handed it to the Dark Lord.
For one brief moment, Bellatrix thought she saw fear flicker through the Dark Lord's eyes. Her stomach sank when his red gaze met hers, and his face transformed into a hideous snarl.
"Where is it?!"
She licked her lips, "My lord, that's the cup-" She broke off as pain beyond imagination gripped her.
"Lies."
Rodolphus laughed as another wave of pain washed over her. This one was worse than the last, and Bellatrix fell back onto the carpet. Her vision clouded as a scream ripped from her throat. "Please!"
Red eyes entered her vision, and the sickly sweet smell of decay filled her nose. She struggled not to heave her lunch on the Dark Lord's robes, and whimpered as his cold fingers dug into her chin.
"My… lord…" she whispered hoarsely. Her stomach turned, but she gazed pleadingly up into his eyes.
"Tell me Bella," he spoke her name so lovingly that it was almost a caress, "What happened to my cup?"
Her heart pounded beneath her ribs, "I d-d-don't kn-know."
"Ah." He closed his eyes, and took in a deep breath. "Well, I'm afraid we're going to have to confirm that."
Bellatrix struggled to raise her occlumency shields as the Dark Lord stared down at her and whispered,
"Legilimens."