Bellatrix was dead bored. She had nothing to do the whole summer but continue training. Little did she know, her luck was about to change, and the final 5 weeks of summer would turn her summer around. Her parents had left for the day, as always having to attend a social gathering, and this time, lucky for Bellatrix, she would be able to get out of attending this one. And for the once, Bellatrix wasn't overly thrilled about this. She had the strangest feeling she was being watched, and had been having it for the past few days.

Cygnus was well aware by now that Bellatrix had received her Dark Mark, and he was more than pleased. Bellatrix hadn't told anyone but her father, and she intended to keep it that way. A simple concealment charm was all it took to be able to hide her mark, although she wore it in complete pride while out training. He had used it a number of times so far but for nothing major, and Bellatrix was waiting for the time to come for her to finally get some blood on her hands. She was well aware however, that this would take a few months, and she wasn't likely to be able to get anything done until Tom had agreed her training was sufficient, but when she wasn't being trained by Tom, that was what her father was for. He was a skilled duellist and also an expert hunter, fantastic with daggers. She knew exactly where she was going to learn every skill she so desired, and her father was more than happy to help.

Lounging in the green gardens of the manor grounds, she knew she would not be needed by anyone today, including her master who was away in Hungary on business with some foreign powerful wizards he getting to join his forces. Bellatrix was sipping on a cocktail and lounging by the pool in her black bikini, thoroughly enjoying herself and smiling to herself while remembering the first trip Tom had taken her on the moment she had gotten back from Hogwarts which Cygnus had planned perfectly to make sure no other family questioned her whereabouts on.

She leant over the table, allowing the man she was greeting a good look at her cleavage as she shook his hand.
"My latest recruit, Miss Black." Tom said simply as the man ogled Bellatrix.
"A pleasure, Miss Black." The man had said, his hungry eyes taking her in as he pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
"The pleasure is all mine." Bellatrix said in a low purr, smiling a little and licking her lips which were painted red. She sat down as he pulled a chair for her, her slender body and perfect curves being hugged by the dark cocktail dress she wore.
"Well... I'm listening." He said as if he were already agreeing to the proposal Tom had. Damn, Tom had thought, she was extremely smart. She knew how to entice a man.

And so the meeting had begun, Bellatrix continued eyeing up the man in front of her and occasionally 'accidentally' running her foot up the inside of his leg while Tom spoke –purely for show of course that by the time Tom had told him what he was doing there hardly a minute later, the man in front of him was so hot under the collar and assumedly so deeply in lust with Bellatrix he held his hand out in front of Tom to shake it and say firmly, "you have a deal. I'll help in every single way I can."
They had left promptly after, Bellatrix allowing the man a few more sentiments of explaining how he was so looking forward to working closely with Bellatrix –and Tom of course. Tom couldn't help but chuckle as they left the room after agreeing another date for his return.
"You know, you keep that up and in some ten years time, they're going to know you as the woman who could get away with murder." He smiled only the slightest bit, standing as he always did, his shoulders back and his chest up. It was probably the only time she had seen him smile so far, and she knew it was genuine as her father had not long ago said to her 'he never gives a genuine smile, does he?'
" I was hoping more like five years, my Lord." She said innocently enough though she too could not help but smile as she walked beside him and they left the man's office in the large Russian Ministry building without so much as a backward glance.

Suddenly jolted out of her train of thought, Bellatrix sat up and turned. She had the oddest feeling someone was behind her watching her once more and this time she would find out who or what it was and kill it. She looked at the manor grounds, scanning them for any sign of change of motion. Her dagger was beside her and she picked it up.
"Wouldn't kill me would you?" a voice said, coming from where she had just been. Standing in front of her reclining seat was none other than her blood traitor cousin, Sirius Black.
Bellatrix stood suddenly, looking more than shocked. He was the last person she was expecting to see.
"How the hell did you get in here?!" she hissed. Her cousin looked rough. He looked as if he had been through the mill and was exhausted.
"Those protection charms your father has used don't work for animals," He said calmly, "could you put the knife down? It's extremely unnerving."
"Get out." She said simply, not dropping her weapon.
"But Bella..." he said exasperatedly, "your note... Please."
"I changed my mind, you can't come see me," She said simply as she turned and walked away towards the manor, "now go away back to your stupid little blood traitor friend's house."
"Bellatrix, please." Sirius said as he made a grab for his cousin's arm. She stopped as he made a grab for her arm. She turned, pursing her lips slightly and shrugging herself free from his grasp. She folded her arms over her now even more defined stomach.
"You have one minute to tell me what you're doing here. If I don't like the sound of it you better get as far away from here as you can or I'll destroy that little mudblood friend of yours immediately.
"I have nowhere to go." He said simply, not arguing with her or getting angry at the terminology she used.
"What?" she asked confused.

"I was supposed to go and stay with Remus for the rest of the holdays but his family have had an emergency and left for Sweden, where his father's family are." He continued.
"So what do you want me to do?" Bellarix asked, furrowing her eyebrows, "you're certainly not welcome here."
"I have nowhere else to go."
"And what the blood hell do you expect me to do about that?"

Druella almost screamed when she saw the large black dog standing beside her daughter.
"What in the name of Merlin is that?!" she shrieked.
Bellatrix frowned and said innocently, "Mother. Don't be so harsh. A friend came to visit and she needed me to look after her dog for the rest of the summer. I said yes. It's no problem, is it? Is it daddy?"

Cygnus was stood looking rather surprised, "Well he's certainly a very handsome dog."
Cygnus crouched low to bring his hand out, "is he well trained?" he continued, to which the large dog who had been told to be on his best behaviour shook Cygnus's hand and wagged his tail. Cygnus looked impressed and gave the large dog a rub around the back of his ears, "I like him. That's nice of you to say you'll keep him for the summer, Bellatrix."
Cygnus nodded in approval and the large dog looked up at Bellatrix, now happier than ever and wagging his tail even more.

"What? Cygnus no!" Druella shrieked, absolutely horrified to whatever her husband had agreed to, "where is he supposed to stay?!"
"In my room of course. I'll take full responsibility, don't worry mother. I have perfect access to the large balcony and our grounds are absolutely massive, he'll have plenty of space for freedom. Besides, he's already so well trained I hardly think it necessary to make him stay outside in the cold."
"It's summer, Bellatrix, he can stay outside!" Druella hissed, to which her husband reappeared, whiskey in hand.
"Don't be ridiculous, it's still far too cold for the poor animal at nights." He frowned at his wife.
"Well what will he eat?!" Druella tried.
"The same thing we eat, mother." Bellatrix said calmly as the large dog shuffled closer to Bellatrix as if he were worried Druella would attempt to throw him outside. He whined slightly, his ears dropping back. Bellatrix continued, leaning down and hugging the great dog around his body as he sat tall, "see he's upset now. He's extremely smart, understands everything you say to him or about him. Besides it's just for the last few weeks of summer."
"It's fine Bellatrix. Enjoy your new dog." Cygnus said, dismissing his wife with a wave of his hand.
"But-" Druella started before Bellatrix cut in.
"Thanks daddy!" she said standing and kissing her father's cheek before walking away, Sirius following her.

Once they were in her room, Sirius was quick in pressing a kiss to his cousin's cheek as she turned away, but before she could even turn back or say anything, he was back into his dog form as he hopped onto the bed immediately taking his usual side and almost immediately falling asleep at how comfortable her bed was. He shut his eyes and attempted to get some sleep, absolutely exhausted from the few days of trying to find a way of figuring out what to say to his cousin. Bellatrix couldn't help but smile a little as Sirius made himself comfortable. He took up almost as much space as he did when he was human and atop the white cotton sheets in her mostly mahogany and black room. She would let him rest and she wouldn't say it but he really looked like he needed it. She made her way out onto the balcony, laying back out onto another lounger under the hot mid-july sun.