A/N: sorry I've been gone for so long! Life got crazy and I had to focus on college and my job. I graduated~! With honors and a minor~! I also have been going through personal crisis, but it's all over now and I feel much better. Hopefully, now that I have my life together, this year will let me keep writing J Enjoy the chapter~

Chapter 6

Good and bad…

Luna and Bellatrix sat in silence for what felt like hours. It was too risky for Bellatrix to attempt another peak into the young blonde's mind, but the silence was killing her. Luna, however, was waiting for Bellatrix to do something; punish her, yell, even crying would be more bearable than this silence. Anything would beat this silence, as long as it wasn't the dungeon.

Finally, Luna stood and walked over to the window. Even though they had only gone up to the second floor, the view was incredible: The moon was glowing brightly, illuminating the courtyard below. There was a large hedge maze, of sorts, that looked like a garden version of the labyrinth from the Triwizard tournament. Small fountains guarded the entrance and gave a sense of grandeur even in the light of the moon. The rest of the garden, however, looked like a beautiful nightmare; frightening shadows and shapes cast in the direction of the Manor: It looked as though the darkness was reaching out to her, beckoning to her.

Luna turned to face Bellatrix yet again. "Could we go for a walk? In the garden? I would like to get some fresh air and think about…" she gestured to the table, "all this."

Bellatrix thought for a moment, wishing she could take a peek into the young girl's mind but decided that it would be too risky. "If we were to go outside, I would need to… keep track of you." Bellatrix spoke slowly, thinking of the right way to phrase it. She couldn't let Luna go and risk her escape, but she also knew that if this plan were to work, the girl had to take her time. It would need to be her choice in the end. "Perhaps, a simple spell to keep you close would work. If you go further away then I deem necessary, you will be shocked and returned to my side."

"Or I could just stand near you the whole time?" Luna gave a small smile only to meet Bellatrix's stern look. Okay, so that is not agreeable. "If you don't mind, I could hold your hand. That way I am close to you at all times, and I don't get shocked." Win – win, with a nice little bonus for me.

The dark witch stood and walked over to the window. Leaning forward, just enough to peer down, but also giving the younger witch a nice view, Bellatrix checked the courtyard for any guards. She would have to arrange a break to let the little one have her time.

"You'll have to wait here." Bellatrix leaned back and saw the blonde's eyes snap up to meet her own. She smirked, "I'll need to arrange for the guards to 'take a break' before we head down. I also will do a simple spell, but you will just be summoned to my side without the shock effect. I think that there will be less questions and less prying eyes if they could sense a binding spell." She turned toward the door and paused to face Luna again. "You will stay here and make no sounds until I come for you."

Luna nodded and Bellatrix strutted out the door. There was a click and Luna knew she was truly alone again. The realization made her sick and she sat below the window. After a few moments, Luna stood and looked out the window yet again. It seemed rather large to be in a room that looked more like a servants closet than anything else, but she assumed that the servants or Malfoys must have made it so for a reason. Perhaps it was so that the Manor would look consistently elegant from the outside, or to keep the closet from feeling as small as it really was. Who cares, thought Luna, the point is I can see out.

The three wizards who had been patrolling the courtyard and garden all stopped and turned towards the Manor. It looked as though there was a conversation, but she was too far up to hear anything. Luna leaned into the window, trying to see below to who the guards were facing, but only able to see the window sill. The three wizards began walk to the Manor as Bellatrix walked toward the entrance to the maze. Zill appeared at her side and she leaned down to give orders to the house – elf. With a pop the creature disappeared from the garden and re-appeared in the room with Luna.

"Lady Black sent Zill for the young Miss." Zill extended her hand to Luna. "We need to Pop down to keep you safe."

"Why thank you." Luna said as she took the house – elf's hand. Zill stared, stunned by her kindness, before shaking her head and delivering the young girl to her mistress. There was no point in liking the child if the dark one had any plan for her.

Once the pair were at the maze entrance with Bellatrix, Zill Popped back into the Manor to continue her duties. Luna turned to say "thank you" but only faced the night air. How refreshing it was! How clean! A cool breeze blew through her hair and she inhaled deeply. How long had it been since she had been outside?

The sight of Luna standing there, wind blowing through her hair, blue robe flowing in the wind, long blonde curls waving behind her like golden snakes, made Bellatrix a little short of breathe. The robe was plush, but a little loose in the wind, and Bellatrix got a bit more of a view than intended. Luna didn't seem to notice as she stood with her eyes on the moon, taking deep breaths of the night air.

"Come, we need to do the binding spell before someone comes to check on us." Bellatrix held out her hand. Luna smiled wide and stepped forward, turning just so the robe was blown open across the top, the middle tie doing everything to keep the bottom of the robe shut. She flushed full red while she tried to close the robe and recover herself, but there was no denying that she had been completely exposed.

"I – I'm – I'm sorry!" She stammered as she pulled her robe back together and tightened her tie. Luna kept her head down as she took several small, cautious steps toward Bellatrix.

Bellatrix stood in surprise, hand still extended out. Well… that was unexpected. "Here, let me fix that for you." She drew her wand and pictured a warmer dress for the young girl; the blue plush robe slowly and carefully transfigured into a floor – length velvet number with long sleeves and a modest scoop neck. Luna looked even more incredible in black than in the gentle blue and the two stood in the night for a moment. If this works, Bellatrix thought, the girl can wear some of my clothes and look twice as stunning. They grasped hands and entered the maze.

After walking for a bit, they came to a sculpted bench. Bellatrix motioned for Luna to sit and so she did. Bellatrix pulled out her wand again and motioned between the two of them as she muttered the binding spell. Luna couldn't help focusing on the bright strands of silver and white flowing out of the wand and creating a rope between them. Once the spell was done, the strands faded into nothing, but felt ever present.