Cissy sat miserably on her bed, long hair hanging in her face and masking the tears that dripped down her nose. She didn't hear Bellatrix enter, and jumped in surprise when the door slammed.

"Has the blood traitor bitch gone yet?"

Narcissa sniffed and stuck out her bottom lip.

"Don't talk about Andy like that."

"I'll talk about her how I want; she's not one of us anymore."

"She is."

"She's not." Bella smirked, "Father officially disowned her this afternoon. All the relatives know. It's pure scandal," more pearly white teeth were exposed in a maniac smile, "she'll be dead within the month."

Narcissa's eyes widened and she let out a sob.

"Bella – Bella, you wouldn't! You can't let father do it!"

Bellatrix shrugged, and recited in a chilling impression of their mother, "It's none of our business what father does or doesn't do," then her blood-red lips curled again, "Still, if he doesn't..."

"No!" Narcissa clutched at her sister's arm. "Bella, you can't kill her!"

Bella's eyes narrowed and she snatched her arm away, before grabbing back in with a vice-like grip. Narcissa gasped in pain and Bellatrix glowered furiously into her eyes.

"Andromeda is no longer a part of our family. By associating with mudbloods, she is just as good as one of them." She hissed, "Do – you – understand?"

"Bella..." Narcissa whimpered, "She's our sister!"

"No! She is not one of our family! She has BETRAYED us! Forget her! Hate her! Don't – don't ever speak of her again!"

Though the hand grasping her shoulder was firm, Narcissa could see tears crowding her sister's dark eyes. She was shaking with some kind of fiery emotion that Cissy could never evoke.

"Bella," she eased the hand away, wary eyes never leaving Bellatrix's face, "It's ok."

"Never speak of her again...Never ever...don't...don't even mention her name..." Bella's lip was quivering now, fingers curling and uncurling and whole body trembling. Suddenly, Narcissa understood.

"Bella..." she whispered, "You love her, don't you?"

Narcissa let out a yelp of pain as her head ricocheted of the headboard. She clutched at her cheek, tears spilling. Bellatrix was panting heavily, eyes blazing with fury.

"I said NEVER to mention her again!"

I walked casually into the room, enjoying the feel of my long skirt swinging around my hips. I hadn't had a new dress in so long...it was so wonderful to not be in hiding.

To know that the right people were back in charge. If the Dark Lord had his way, the Potter boy would be dead within the month. We would be back on top, and the muggles and mudbloods would be where they belong – firmly at the bottom.

There was so much to look forward to after war; when everything was cleared up, the Dark Lord had promised me a fertility spell. Then I would be able to give Rodolphus his heir, and he would be satisfied. Then the spare, of course, as was only proper, then perhaps a little girl for me. We would never have to bother with blasted mudbloods turning the heads of our little darlings, and they would be raised to be pure, perfect children.

I could feel Rodolphus's gaze on me now. He was more than ready for the war to be over – not that he didn't believe it was a just cause, but he didn't trust me. I'm not stupid; I could see it in his eyes whenever I was with the Dark Lord. What did he think – that I was going to suddenly jump onto the table, strip and beg him to take me there and then? Honestly. Was that all men thought about?

Sometimes, I wondered if Rodolphus wouldn't be better off with some meek woman that he could control and tame. But he would get ever so bored. He likes a challenge, so naturally I present him with one. Isn't that what he wants? The thrill of the chase?

I sat down on the chair next to Narcissa. She looked gaunt and ill, bags beneath her eyes making her look a decade older.

"Honestly Cissy, you look as if you haven't slept in a week!"

She jumped out of her skin at my voice and stared at me for a few seconds. There was fear in her eyes. She mumbled something about not sleeping well. I smirked.

"Heh. Lucius keeping you up all night?"

A little colour returned to Narcissa's cheeks and her gaze strayed to her husband. He was sitting on the other side of the room, white-blond hair lank and eyes so glazed he looked partially insane. Somehow I doubted either of them were up for the activities I had suggested.

I heard a strange noise and noticed Draco slumped in his chair on the other side of his mother. He was looking rather disturbed at the thought of his parents and such behaviour, as I assumed most children were. My mouth curled.

"Hullo, Draco. Have you been practising lately?" My voice was low and sweet, but the boy visibly blanched. He shuffled closer to Narcissa. Cissy snapped out of her trance-like state and squeezed her son's hand gently.

I raised an eyebrow, "Well?"

"Answer your aunt, Draco," Cissy murmured. Draco dropped his gaze.

"No Aunt Bellatrix."

"And why ever not?" I purred. Draco shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"I would assume it would be because he has no one to practise on."

I turned sharply to see my brother-in-law standing behind me, arms folded, a large smirk on his face. I longed to avada it off. Rastaban was the most annoying person ever.

"What was that?" I hissed. He shrugged lightly and took a seat on my other side, leaning casually back, knowing he was infuriating me. Merlin I hated that man!

"Oh, well, he doesn't have anyone to practise on, seeing as, you know, SOMEONE couldn't quite manage to capture a little baby, his parents and an old lady..."

"Bella's older than Andromeda," Narcissa reminded us unhelpfully. I glowered at her. She really knew the wrong time to butt in.

Rastaban's lips twitched, "Exactly."

I curled my fists, eyes narrowing. Why that-!

"I believe, brother, that you are insulting my wife."

I felt a large hand on my shoulder and Roddy's breath tickled my cheek. He cuffed his younger brother over the head. "Be gone, Rast."

"Rast..." I snickered, "Rat..."

Rastaban glared at me. I continued quite happily.

"Rat...Weasel!"

"Don't ever relate me to those scumbags! You-you...!"

I knew at once I had hit a nerve. It was a deep family secret that, on his first train journey to Hogwarts, eleven year old Rastaban had accidentally befriended a Weasley. It only was later when, spotted by Rodolphus, Lucius and I, and hurriedly taken aside to be explained the 'rules' – don't make friends with blood traitors, mudbloods or Gryffindors – that he dropped the kid like a hot potato. He had a personal grudge on them ever since. I never found out which Weasley it was, but Rastaban seemed to have made it his personal duty to make the whole family's lives a misery.

"Rastaban," Rodolphus rolled his eyes, "Go. Away. Go talk to someone with a brain capacity like yours – make friends with Wormtail."

The youngest Lestrange brother left the room to the sound of my laughter, grumbling under his breath. Rodolphus sat down beside me and I lounged indulgently against his shoulder.

Lucius approached us from the other side of the room. His eyes were hollow circles in his face, with a haunted look about them. He sat on Draco's other side and both of his family members immediately scooted closer. I raised my eyebrows.

"Wassup, Lucy?"

I deliberately used a nickname to coax some kind of reaction out of him, and was very disappointed when all I got was an annoyed frown. I tried again.

"Merlin, Lucius, you're such a wet blanket. We're winning! What's your problem?"

The man turned, if possible, even paler. He exchanged glances with his wife, who squeezed his hand gently on the armrest. Draco swallowed, looking extremely uncomfortable. Narcissa crossed her legs and gazed into her lap.

"I don't think Lucy here wants to play," Rodolphus purred in my ear.

I smirked. "What about you?" I murmured. He chuckled.

"It's a little early in the day for that, don't you think?"

"It's never too early, Mr Lestrange. I thought you would know that by now."

On that delightful note, the Dark Lord entered. At some silent command, we all immediately stood.

Yaxley flicked his wand and suddenly there was a long mahogany table between all our chairs. The Dark Lord sat at one of the table, as was our sign to all be seated.

The meeting commenced quite normally. Everyone gave notices about what had happened recently – the Weasels had switched bases, now no longer giving out the story that Ronald was in bed with spattergroit, they had simply scarpered. Rastaban, of course, was making it his personal duty to discover wherever it was that they had scarpered to.

A sighting of Potter and friends flying over London on a dragon was the main subject – how they had managed to impersonate me, of all people, and get inside Gringotts. And how we were going to make sure nothing like that would ever happen again.

Much time was spent discussing our next move, how we were going to get rid of the Potter boy and which of his supporters were under watch. Each small group of Death Eaters stood up and reported on their charges – the Longbottom woman, Lovegood with his ridiculous newspaper, finishing, to my own personal humiliation, with Andromeda and the Lupins. The task of shadowing them was handed over to Dolohov. The man was a talented duellist, but good for not much else. After being found, bound, in their house (thankfully by Rodolphus – anyone else and I would never have lived it down), with a distinct lack of dead bodies, Dolohov was assigned to them.

Next, Snape made his report on the goings on at Hogwarts. No one knew that he was gone, or he believed that a full riot would take place in his absence. None of the teachers seemed to like the idea of him being headmaster. I longed to snort – duh! – at this point, but restrained myself on the thought of keeping in my Lord's good favour. Severus really did have a knack for pointing out the obvious. I really didn't see what the Dark Lord saw in him.

The Dark Lord quickly decided that we ought to station extra people on watch around the school, lest Potter should decide to return to rally troops.

"Now," he gazed around at those assembled before him, "Who will volunteer. Draco, perhaps? No one will suspect a student. You could see all your little friends again."

A few jeering snickers passed around the room. Draco's eyes had widened slightly, his fingers curled and shoulders hunched. Narcissa looked horrified.

"Draco, my Lord?" she whispered. The laughed immediately stopped.

"Why, Narcissa, do you have a problem with what I have decided?" came the low voice. Lucius turned to her, silently begging her not to upset the Dark Lord. I touched her lightly on the shoulder; I would not have her tarnishing the Black name. She dropped her head, long hair hanging in her face.

"No my Lord," she murmured finally. He nodded.

"I thought not. Now, who else will accompany young Master Malfoy? Rowle, Yaxley, I want you and six others stationed around the Hogwarts grounds tonight. You will act on my commands, understood?"

A few 'yes, my Lord's echoed around the room. There was a split second silence, before Rodolphus nudged me in the ribs; he nodded almost imperceptibly towards Lucius. He had shifted forwards, as if to say something. The fool was going to complain! He would get us all punished again, and once more our name would be out of the Dark Lord's favour. I shot him a warning glance, but he ignored me.

"My Lord," his voice was hoarse and croaky from misuse – or perhaps from having to constantly talk in whispers.

The Dark Lord looked up. His brow raised in a way that indicated Lucius to continue. The blond man gulped, and I saw Narcissa's fingers close on his hand.

"My Lord...I...I thought perhaps...if it would work...I could go with the Hogwarts party?"

There was a second's silence, and the corners of the Dark Lord's mouth curled in a smirk.

"Oh, how sweet – Malfoy wants to protect his little child." Then his eyes narrowed, "I do hope, Lucius, that this is not a complaint? Why is it that the Malfoys seem so unhappy about their lot? You assured me that the cause was of highest importance to you...I hope you have not changed your mind...?"

"No my Lord," he gasped quickly. "I – I – of course, I have not!"

The Dark Lord frowned, eyes scrutinising the man. He turned swiftly and waved a hand. The table disappeared.

"Dismissed."

The moment the Dark Lord left the room, people began to apparate and depart. After a few moments, it was only the Malfoys and I left. I turned to my sister.

Lucius was slumped in his chair, head in his hands. Cissy looked distraught, one hand resting on Lucius's back, the other wrapped around Draco, who was staring blankly at the opposite wall, trembling slightly.

"Cissy!" I hissed, "What – the – heck did you think you were doing??"

She didn't ever turn, bending to whisper words of encouragement in her husband's ear. I grabbed her shoulder, ready to haul her to her feet, but to my surprise she spun around and stood up herself. Her eyes were blazing with some kind of fury that made her look insane, lips pursed in anger.

"Yes?"

I stared, open-mouthed at her for a few seconds, before remembering what I had to say.

"Narcissa, you tried to cross the Dark Lord! That's suicide! Are you insane??"She scowled quite uncharacteristically. I recoiled slightly, wary of her. It was not in Narcissa's nature to suddenly lash out, but then again, I had never seen her that angry...

"No, Bellatrix, I am not insane."

"Then why...?"

"Because I care about something other than power, that's why!" she spat. She was visibly shaking, "Because I care about my husband, and I care about my son, and I care about a better future for them! Have you ever stopped to think that maybe there's more to life than you?"

"Don't you talk to me like that!" I yelled,

"I'll talk to you how I like!" she yelled back, "This is my house!"

"You're never to cross the Dark Lord again, understand?"

"You can't order me around!"

"I can and I-"

I gasped in pain as my sister's hand connected with my cheek. I stepped back, staring at her in shock. Narcissa's whole body was quivering in fury, as was her voice.

"Don't you judge me, Bellatrix Lestrange!" she hissed. Her furious facade was crumbling, and her bottom lip began to tremble, "Don't you judge me."

Then she dropped to her knees and sobbed.

I stared at my sister's distraught face for a long time, before I turned away.