Bellatrix knelt before her master at the front of the small throng of death-eaters. "You all may rise." He said in a hiss. "I have summoned you all here tonight for it has come to my attention that there have been some new developments. A Hogwarts teacher will be traveling alone into Hogsmead later this evening. A select few of you will be allowed the task of capturing her and bringing her to me." He said very coolly. "She will be a very valuable bargaining chip and has to be kept alive. Expect that she will put up a fight and that enchantments have been placed on her to prevent us from obtaining her. Her name is Sybil Trelanway." Lord Voldemort said rising from his chair. He had a map drawn out of where they were to be positioned, different routes to Hogsmead, and what spells may have been placed upon her. "Now, go to your positions and wait." he ordered taking out his wand from his robes. Bellatrix still stood unaware of her fellow death-eaters exiting their meeting place. "Bellatrix." He said quietly. She blinked and returned to the real world. "Did you not hear me tell you to go to your positions?" Lord Voldemort asked sardonically.
"I am sorry my Lord, I will go immediately." Bella said before curtsying and rushing out to her place of hiding. She wasn't entirely focused on the task at hand and it would soon come back to haunt her.
She was positioned near the Dark Lord concealed with a disillusionment charm. When the professor came into view she didn't look like much of a threat. As if she had sensed she wasn't alone Trelanway stopped and looked around her. "Now." The Dark Lord cried lifting the charm. Dolhov was given the task of disarming the woman which he did readily. The woman's already buggy eyes went wider as her wand went flying from her hand. In such a short period of time much happened. Lucious Malfoy and two others cast several counter jinxes to what they thought may have been cast upon her. It took Bellatrix a moment to realize that she was up to bat. Her job was to silence, stun, and paralyze the woman up-close. She was then to establish a mental connection using legilimens and siphon any information she found and give it to her master.
Bella rushed forth wand at the ready "Silencio!" she cried flicking her wrist. The woman ran for her wand as Bellatrix began to speak "Petrificus Totalu…" she stopped mid spell and started to scream. Everyone froze as a surge of blue electricity emitted from the professor and struck Bellatrix. She went down on her knees her wand dropped from her hand and she clutched her head in pain. She continued to screech in agony as a second surge approached. It hit her with the force of a muggle truck. It knocked the wind out of her and sent her flying backwards. All of the death-eaters stood frozen, watching as she hit the ground and didn't get up.
"No! She's getting away, stun her!" The Dark Lord yelled gliding towards Bella. "Continue with the plan and get the hell out!" he cried scooping her limp form into his arms. Lord Voldemort then apparated into thin air.
Back at the hideout he laid Bellatrix out on a table taking her pulse. "Good, she's still alive; she wouldn't be of any use dead." He thought out loud. Lord Voldemort rolled up his sleeve and pressed his wand to the dark mark. Though he had not been summoned for this task he was one of the best. He would be able to heal her. Lord Voldemort waited almost a minute for him before he appeared in the room. "Severus." He said watching as the man went down on his knees to bow.
"Yes my Lord?" he asked rising.
"There has been an accident; one of our own has been injured." Voldemort said stepping aside and motioning with his arm. Snape's brow furrowed.
"What the hell happened to her?" he asked striding forward to examine her. Blood was now dribbling out the corners of her mouth and nostrils.
"Bellatrix was struck twice by a spell I am not familiar with. Blue electricity shot out of that wretch Trelanway when we tried to capture her. She had no wand and uttered no incantations." Voldemort said sitting down in wooden dining chair looking rather perplexed and angry.
"What incantation did she say before being electrocuted?" Snape asked digging through the ingredient cabinet. It was common for death eaters to be injured on missions such as this and it was decided that a well stocked supply was the best for everyone's well being.
"Petrificus Totalus." Replied Voldemort crossing his arms over his chest looking rather impatient. Snape nodded bringing out three vials from the cupboard.
"It's a wonder she's alive." Said Snape sitting her upward. Her jaw was locked tightly and when he could get her mouth open her gums were pale white. Then he siphoned the blood out of her throat and sinuses. Uncorking one bottle he poured it down her throat and the other two vials followed.
Just then Malfoy and Dolhov appeared in the room. Lord Voldemort wheeled around a wild look in his eyes. "One of my best, most loyal could end up dying and you three fucking imbeciles couldn't even capture one woman? Even without magic you should have been able to overpower her! You're pathetic!" He shouted slamming his fist down on the table where she rested. The three men went down on their knees and bowed their heads.
"We are sorry My Lord." Lucious said not daring to look up at his master. Bellatrix let out a pained moan as Severus unzipped part of her dress. Her shoulders were varying shades of purple, blue, and black. Severus stepped up to Lord Voldemort and whispered in his ear
"I'm going to take her into the other room, to be properly healed she needs to be undressed." Lord Voldemort nodded in agreement. Snape as gently as he could scooped her up into his arms and carried her into a small bedroom on the second floor.
"This is ancient and very powerful magic." Snape thought pulling the zipper down her back. The rest of her body was the same as her shoulders. "Must be internal bleeding, still coming out of the nose, mouth, and now from the ears." He thought to himself. Severus tossed the dress on the floor and stood back to assess the extent of the damage. She was lucky to be alive, such a powerful spell could have easily have blown her away. Snape had a jar of bruise salve infused with dragon scale oil which aided in healing; he would use it after he stopped the bleeding. Severus mumbled incantations drawing his wand over every area of her body. Soon the wounds didn't look quite so swollen and colorful. He applied the bruise salve and magically dressed her in a cotton dressing gown. He placed her on the metal framed single bed and covered her in blankets.
When Severus exited the room he closed the door quietly and came down the stairs. Voldemort had an infuriated look on his face and you could tell Lucious and the others had paid. Snape heard them screaming all the way up stairs. "I've done all I can and I believe Bellatrix will survive." He said placing the remaining salve back in the cupboard along with the empty potion vials. Lord Voldemort didn't even acknowledge him entering the room; he paced the floor eyes focused in concentration. Snape sat down in one of the wooden dining chairs. "What is the new plan of action My Lord?" he asked casually.
The man's snake like eyes drew out of the intense focus and looked to his spy. "I didn't anticipate failure; there isn't yet a plan of action Severus." He said continuing to pace. "One of my best is out of commission and now that crackpot fool Dumbledore knows. Damn him!" he shouted his irises darkening with rage. He stopped and stood straight backed. "Severus, I want you to go to Hogwarts and tell him that it was only a minor injury, tell him she will be fine within hours." Voldemort said in a cooler more relaxed tone. Severus went down on his knees.
"My Lord, Dumbledore is a smart man and will see through the lies; Bellatrix was struck twice by very powerful ancient magic. He will know of this deceit." Snape said cautiously. He knew it didn't often behoove a person to point out flaws in one of The Dark Lord's plans. Snape sat very still almost waiting for the cruciatus curse though it didn't come. He looked up to see his Master with a rather thoughtful look on his face.
"You're correct Severus." He uttered sitting down in a wooden chair opposite. "I want you to tell him that the curse killed her and that our forces are considerably weaker, lull him into a false sense of security." Lord Voldemort said a gleam in his eye.
Severus nodded and stood. "As you wish My Lord." And he apparated to the gates outside of Hogwarts.
Author's Note: Sorry for the awkward ending points for the chapters. I'm having trouble dividing them into semi-equal amounts. Once again I'll follow the two day rule when I post. *Sends thank you cards to reviewers and spam to those who don't*
