A/N: Not everyone is happy with Bellatrix's endeavours.
Submission for:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Flying Lessons Assignment #3- consider the idea of endurance and hardships. Prompts - (plot) A major argument,(quote) "They dote and swoon and fawn on a lady who's withdrawn/It's she who holds her tongue who gets her man." - Poor Unfortunate Souls, The Little Mermaid
She returned to the castle within the hour, her house-mates curious to her disappearance and sudden reappearance at the house table, but none the wiser to her actual location. She remained tight-lipped to all their prodding questions, her mind still reliving every moment of their night and her skin still tingling from the places they had made contact.
The letters became more frequent, their contents less cold and more inquiring of her personal well-being, her studies and her hopes and dreams. Never before was anyone interested in the true desires of her heart, and she was usually hesitant to share because of how dark and inappropriate they were, but he was. He valued her for who she was, and that was better than any one night with him.
But her bliss could only last for so long. Within a few days, the Easter holidays had arrived and she had jumped on the train with her sisters to spend them at home.
It was late in the afternoon when her mother stepped into her bedroom, closing the door quietly behind her. Bellatrix looked up from the book she was reading by the window, trying to keep the curiosity from her expression. Blacks were never surprised nor unprepared, but her mother hadn't visited her bedroom since she had become a woman.
"Mother?" she asked politely marking her page with an elegant black feather before closing it.
Her mother's mouth fell as she read the title of her book - Dark Spells: Forgotten But Powerful. "You're still interested in the Dark Arts?" she asked.
Bellatrix bit the inside of her cheek as she put the book aside. Her mother never particularly liked her interests, preferring she was more attentive to her home duties than her personal studies.
"No matter," her mother continued with a theatrically sigh as she moved further into the room, "your marriage to the elder Lestrange will curtail such behaviour."
The pressure inside her mouth increased, pinching the sensitive flesh between her teeth. Her mother also held the archaic belief of a woman being subservient to her husband.
Her mother now stood beside her, placing a soft hand on her shoulder. "Which brings me to why I have come to see you. You are only here for a few days before returning to school, and there is much to be done in preparation for the wedding. We have to get the right flowers, robes, food, decorations, and there's a only a few months left before-"
"Mother," Bellatrix interrupted, ignoring the tender spot in her cheek as she turned to her mother. "I don't think we need to rush into anything right now. There is more than enough time to prepare once the summer starts."
"Nonsense," her mother said, giving her a quick, dismissive pat, like scolding a clueless child. "If you had listened to any of the things I've said over the years, you'd know that we are already behind in our planning. Luckily, I have already started some of the things, such as the guest list, the venue, the-"
"Without me?" Bellatrix asked, her voice rising slightly.
"Ah, ah, ah," her mother said, wagging her finger. "They dote and swoon and fawn on a lady who's withdrawn. It's she who holds her tongue who gets her man. Rodolphus will have a wonderful time taming you."
"Taming?" Bellatrix asked, jumping to her feet and moving away from her mother. "There will be no taming! I am who I am, and Rodolphus will have to love me just as I am."
"Love?" her mother laughed. "Marriages aren't about love, dear. It is about duty to family and blood. Don't you believe in duty? Don't you want to make your family proud?"
"You never cared what I wanted, Mother!" Bellatrix screamed. "It was always about what you wanted, what Father wanted, what was best for our family, but never what I wanted. I don't want to be a housewife. I don't want to wait hand and foot on my husband, being seen but not heard. I want to study and explore, better my magical ability. I want-"
A sharp slap resounded around the room, halting her tirade. Tears sprung to the corners of her eyes as she stared at her mother, wanting to clutch at her face but holding her ground. After all these years of subtly acting out, she was finally voicing her thoughts and she wouldn't back down now.
Her mother withdrew her hand and said, "I see that your father and I have much to discuss about your attitude, young lady." She moved towards the door, opening it before stopping in the doorway. "Your input is no longer needed for the planning," she added. "You will remain in your room for the remainder of your stay. Meals will be brought up to you. Hopefully, this will give you much needed time to remove such fanciful ideas from your head."
Once her mother had closed the door behind her, Bellatrix moved to the mirror, admiring the red handprint on her once-perfect skin. For all her talk, all she earned was a slap for her trouble. She grabbed a handkerchief from her dresser, dabbing at the corners of her eyes while careful not to touch the stinging mark.
She penned a quick letter, leaning out the window to call for one of the family's eagle owls. It wasn't until much later, in the wee hours of the morning, did it return with a response. She untied the parchment and read it in the dim light of the hidden moon. It was just one line, one so simple but with so much promise:
"Leave everything to me, my Bella."