Disclaimer – not mine.

Chapter 2! Thank you very much to the people who've already reviewed chapter 1 (Kaluki and The Wolf At Bay), this one's for you two. If anyone's reading this and thinking 'oh yeah I didn't review chapter one' please do go back and do that. And review this chapter as well. It's just such a nice thing to do.

A night of darkness

The wind carried the flickering sparks from the bonfire towards Bellatrix as she walked across the field. Around its glowing warmth stood four other figures, the light playing across their faces, their eyes gleaming like animals'. Behind her Harry walked slightly sulkily. He hadn't wanted to come but she'd held him to his word. At least he was smartly turned out, in a deep blue cloak which rippled in the night breeze and dark clothes. She winced as the field mud clutched at her boots and sucked at the heels. The house elves would have their work cut out in the morning, cleaning their mistresses' favourite stilettos.

One of the figures at the bonfire gave a shout of recognition.

"Bellatrix! You came after all!" She laughed back, feeling the night air catch in her throat.

"Lucius! But of course! And see, Harry has come to play as well." A slender figure detached itself from the bonfire's glow and slunk towards them through the dark.

"Black! Come to see how the adults play?" Draco Malfoy sneered. Bellatrix noted how Harry's shoulders slid back and he adopted a defensive stance.

"Draco," he said carefully. "I was not aware you were here. You're sure it's not past your bedtime?" Malfoy snorted.

"Weak, cousin. Surely you can manage better than that?" Harry slipped forwards until they were face to face.

"One of these days I am going to lose my patience with you, cousin," he hissed. Malfoy laughed.

"And how I tremble! However, do ensure that I am unarmed that day, cousin. Otherwise I fear it will go extremely badly for you."

Bellatrix left them growling threats at each other and moved into the warmth of the fire. There were two other Deatheaters – Yaxley, who had organised the evening, and his friend Rudolphus Lestrange. She didn't know what it was about Rudolphus, but somehow he always felt slightly closer than he should have to her. He glanced up with a genuine smile.

"Bella. Stunning as always, I see." She purred inside, savouring the compliment.

"Rudolphus. Looking forward to some fun?" He smiled.

"Most certainly. Well now that you are both here, we can start. We're not waiting for anyone else are we, Yaxley?" Yaxley shook his head, and waited a second as Lucius and Draco Malfoy returned to the firelight. Harry skulked somewhat crossly in the shadows, until Bellatrix cleared her throat pointedly and he slouched into the circle of warmth.

"We are currently in Devon, my friends, on the outskirts of an 'idyllic haven of calm'," Yaxley said. "A haven unremarkable except in that not a single witch or wizard inhabits it."

"Little does this peaceful village know," Rudolphus continued gleefully, "that it is about to be witness to an almighty tragedy."

"How shall we do this?" Bellatrix purred. "A house each? A road?" She showed her teeth. "Shall we destroy every last one of them?"

"Since its Harry's first night out in a very long time, shall we let him choose?" Lucius suggested, a little maliciously. Harry glanced up, vaguely disconcerted. Bellatrix found her heart hammering, the way it always did when the other Deatheaters submitted him to any kind of test. She didn't know why, and she'd certainly never admit it, but she realised that she was just waiting for him to fail.

"Come on, Black," Draco cajoled. "How shall we do this then?" Harry sighed.

"Split into groups of two. Cut the lines and set fire to as many of the houses as you wish. Pick them off as they run in the street. Then sweep the houses with searcher spells. Kill the remainder." Bellatrix breathed. It was a beautiful plan, it thrilled her to her bones and it was delightfully brutal.

"Groups of two?" Draco sneered. "So you can stay with your Mummy?"

"No, I'll go with you, Malfoy," Harry snapped. "And don't you dare get in my way."

"Fine with me," Draco countered.

"Fine."

"Fine then!" Bellatrix smiled at them. Always like two dogs circling each other, looking for weakness, nipping at the other's ankles. She knew that Draco didn't understand Harry fully and that aggravated him. And as for Harry? She believed he was jealous. Jealous of the glowing Malfoy boy whose father rode so high in the Dark Lord's favour whilst her Lord took care to avoid contact with her son. Jealous of Malfoy's grace and easy tongue. It saddened her to think that her son felt inferior. She doubted he knew, but he was not only braver than Draco, but also capable of far greater feeling. Draco was cold, callous, selfish. A good Deatheater, but somewhat lacking as a human being. She knew who she'd rather have as a son.

Still she did wish he'd learn to put this silly squeamishness behind him. She'd practically had to bully him to get him out tonight. Maybe this time he'd get a taste for it.

"What?" She glanced up as Rudolphus said something.

"I said, shall we go together?" he repeated. For some reason a little smile struggled to force itself onto her lips. Fighting to control herself, she nodded.

"Come Lucius," Yaxley called. "We'll take the houses on the other side of the square. We'll also do the phone lines. Bella, you and Rudolphus take the houses this side. And Harry and Draco, you've got the ones on the hill. Shall we, friends?" Together they all raised their wands and drew the Deatheater mask onto their faces. Bellatrix peered at Harry through the slits. His mask was oddly expressionless, just the lightning bolt scar clearly drawn onto the universal face of greek tragedy. Draco's mask was strangely Egyptian, with slits for eyes outlined in black kohl, drawn down in tear tracks. Rudolphus' mask was… well despite their masks it made her feel like he was looking at her naked. What was it about him that bothered her so much? She didn't know, but she did know that she liked it when he offered her his arm and they set off together.

"Meet me back at the house by morning!" she called to Harry. He might have given a non-committed grunt, but she wasn't sure. It didn't matter anyway, because her blood was already racing.

As they left the field via a path which turned into a small street, her breath came faster and faster. They stepped onto the small main street. It wasn't so much a village as a small hamlet, about twenty houses in all, surrounding a small square with a fountain pluming in the middle of it. She paused at the fountain edge, admiring the sculpted horse with the fish tail, trailing her fingers in the silvery cold. Harry would be all right with Draco, she told herself. Malfoy had done this before, could take care of them both. And there were no wizards here. He'd be safe.

The moonlight smiled down on them, filling her with a fluttering. Rudolphus must have felt it too, because he suddenly turned to her and held out his hand.

"Shall we dance?" What was it about his voice? It sent such a strange feeling through her. She laughed and accepted his hand, and he twirled her about.

"The others…" she cried breathlessly, her feet dancing faster than they had for years.

"No screams yet," he replied, his words echoing in the deathly silence of the sleeping houses. "We'll know when they've started." His other hand slid around her waist and it was… magical. There was something about his touch, it felt like it belonged there. They were dancing so close, their bodies pressing together, the darkness watching on silently.

The first screams shattered the shadows like glass. They came from the hill, where Harry was. Bellatrix laughed. She didn't stop the dance, but raised her hand, with her wand in it and shouted breathlessly.

"Incendio!" A jet of flame shot from its tip, hitting the houses surrounding them, shattering windows, setting alight front gates and doors. A cacophony of screams arose from the house and Rudolphus answered with a throaty half laugh, half growl.

"Time to hunt!" he cried, throwing her away from him. She shrieked, dizzy with the violence, the thrill of the flames. Muggles were pouring out of their houses like ants. A man raced towards her.

"Lady, call the fire brigade!" he yelled. She pointed her wand, laughing still more at the excitement.

"Crucio!" He fell screaming, and now others were screaming too. Muggles raced about, trying to flee the flames. Rudolphus was on the fountain, straddling the horse and cackling madly as he picked off the muggles.

"Avada Kadava! And Avada Kadava to you too!"

The laugh died on Bellatrix's lips. She was transfixed by the sight of Rudolphus, by his power, his cruelty. It excited her beyond reason, so much so that she felt herself petrified, turned to stone. Dimly she grew aware of a tugging at her skirt; she turned and saw a small girl of about five, sooty tear stained faced turned upwards.

"Mummy! I can't find my mummy!" the girl wailed. A sudden feeling of something terrifyingly, ecstatically vicious rushed through Bellatrix, and she spun her wand around.

"Crucio!" Then again and again. She didn't kill them, she inflicted pain, standing in the middle of the square knocking them down like nine-pins. Again and again her wand spouted red, whilst green light answered from Rudolphus'. It was amazing; the world contained only her and Rudolphus, she was spinning or it was spinning and she was still. The flames were burning and people were screaming and she was insanely happy.

Rudolphus turned on the horse to face her.

"My lady!" he cried. "My dark lady! Tell me, will you marry me?" She laughed crazily, tasting blood in her mouth, seeing blood in her eyes, feeling it hammering through her veins.

"Ask me again tomorrow and I will know you mean it!" He slid from the horse and stood in front of her, the remaining snivelling muggles forgotten. Lifting his wand he drew away his mask, then clasped her hands.

"I do! I do mean it! Bellatrix I adore you! I have for years!" And it was strange but she'd known he had for years, had wanted him back. Why hadn't they acted? He grabbed her to him and kissed the cold lips of her mask. She lifted her wand, dragged the mask off and kissed him back hard. It was violent and lacking in elegance, his teeth tore her lip as he devoured her, and the blood flooded her mouth, his hands had left hers, were sliding over the exposed tops of her breasts…

And suddenly a blinding, demanding pain shot up her left arm and she was wrenched away from him, torn out of the night air. The world spun and the blood suddenly tasted sickening and she felt ill. With a bang she landed. It took only a second to realise where she was and who had summoned her. She fell on her knees and lowered her head.

"My lord!"

"Get up Bella!" He snarled, and she staggered to her feet confused. Voldemort looked furious, his face twisted with anger, his eyes burning a terrifying scarlet. Self-consciously she raised her hand and tried to wipe away the blood from her mouth. "Enjoy yourself?" Voldemort hissed. She shuddered, uncertain, afraid.

"My lord… I… I do not understand." She felt like crying. Voldemort took a step closer.

"You have my permission to go out hunting. I do not care. I allow it. But you do not have my permission to make a fool of yourself and risk everything!" She shook her head, ashamed. Tears welled in her eyes.

"My lord, I was just… I do not understand. There was no risk." Her voice faltered. He laughed coldly.

"To yourself no, my lady. Do you really think I would care if you endangered yourself through your own foolishness? I am talking about the boy who is your son." Her head snapped up as cold fear gripped her heart.

"Harry? What happened? Is he safe?" Voldemort spoke icily.

"Whilst you were enjoying yourself, woman, your son was attacked by an auror." Her heart nearly stopped. No! I can't lose him!

"Where is he?" she begged.

"He is safe," Voldemort said. "But I am unconvinced that you are a fit mother for him. Perhaps I should give him to your sister Narcissa?" Bellatrix whimpered.

"No! He had Draco with him! He should have been safe!" She lifted her eyes and quailed at his expression. Inching forwards she grasped the hem of his robe. "My lord, I will do better. I swear! Please, I beg you, don't take Harry away. I couldn't live without him." Voldemort leant down, unpried her hands and lifted her up.

"I shall let you keep him, today," he said quietly. "But you must not forget that he is the most important thing in your life. You must keep him safe, Bella. You must. Do not allow yourself to be distracted." She nodded, confused. Suddenly she thought she knew what he was talking about.

"Rudolphus?" she whispered. Voldemort laughed.

"Do not fool yourself, Bella. There is only room in your heart for one person. Let Rudolphus go, or Harry will suffer." Harry will suffer. Instinctive horror rose in her at the very thought. She bowed her head submissively.

"My lord I will do as you say. I am sorry. I shall not think of him again." He smiled faintly.

"Good. I know you did not fail intentionally. Leave me now, and return to your son." He waved and she felt herself moving without command, felt herself apparating at his whim. The world spun and suddenly she was home, back in her house, in the living room, her boots caked with mud and a catch in her throat which threatened to make her cry. Her son was sitting on one of the sofas as a house elf tended to a cut at his temple. He'd jumped at her arrival, and now she fell forward, towards him.

"Harry! You're hurt!"

"You're bleeding, mother," he whispered, and she grasped him in a hug.

"It doesn't matter. I'm so sorry. Oh my baby, I'm sorry." He squirmed a little.

"It was nothing. I just feel so stupid. Draco was in the house and I was at the gate and suddenly… I didn't even see the bastard." Bellatrix held him tighter. It wasn't nothing, it was the end of the world. He was hurt. He was hurt! And all because she'd been foolish and callous.

Did every mother feel this way? Like she'd die if anything happened to her baby? Like she'd been assigned to protect him?

She couldn't let him be hurt. It was like a command written deep in her bones.

There was no way in hell Bellatrix Black would let Harry be hurt again.