Chapter 13

Send in the Clowns

"Right, everyone," Voldemort addressed his assembled minions from the head of the table, "I am sending you on a recruiting mission. There is a powerful wizard by the name of Hans Hermann travelling the country as part of a troupe of performers in the Cirque de Lune. They are currently based outside of London, go and present our...offer to him. If he refuses, kill him. The last thing we need is a powerful wizard on the side of the Order."

Bellatrix's heart skipped a beat. The Master was sending them to a circus? With animals and music and...clowns? Her palms began to sweat and she began to shake violently. She gulped, breathing heavily. She wouldn't go near one of those things, she'd sooner die!

The others had begun to notice her odd – well, odd for Bellatrix – behaviour.

"Bella, is something the matter?" Narcissa placed her hand on her sister's shoulder.

"No, nothing at all!" Bellatrix laughed nervously, "what could possibly be wrong? The Master has given us a task, I intent to carry it out! There's nothing wrong with that, is there? Of course not..."

She rose out of her chair and strolled out of the room, still muttering to herself. Everyone shrugged their shoulders at each other. It was Bellatrix, what more could they say?

Le Cirque de Lune was set up in a field, not far down the road from Hampstead, in London. Everything was ready and set to be a splendid evening. People were lined up, grasping the fingers of over-excited children, eager to go in.

The peace and harmony was ruined by the entrance of a group of people, one of them secretly hyperventilating into a bag when the others weren't looking. The Muggles, oblivious to the danger they could be in, grinned at the new arrivals, believing them to be performers. They were dressed so strangely, what else could they be?

Lucius, Greyback, Rodolphus and Bellatrix – tucking the paper bag back into her robes – shoved passed the people queuing to get in. A few scoffed as they passed by them and went in.

"Well, I never!"

"I certainly won't be coming to this circus again!"

"They almost pushed my son over!"

"These circus people, no respect, I tell you. They think they're better than everyone else!"

The Death Eaters ignored these comments. Usually, the remarks made would mean a full scale massacre, but not tonight.

Everywhere was being set up for the night's performance. Three of the Death Eaters made their way to the middle, scanning around for any sign that one of the men they could see was Hans Hermann.

One, however, stayed exactly where they were, frozen with fear. She fumbled for the paper bag again, not sure if she was going to breathe into it, or throw up.

Down in the centre, where the others were heading, was a mass, no, a horde of clowns. Faces made up, costumes all prepared. Bellatrix felt faint, she had to get out of there, quickly, or she wouldn't make it out alive. She could feel them growing closer, until they were right behind her, laughing, sharpening knives and axes...

"Bella?"

"Ah!" Bellatrix jumped, screaming. She turned, it was only Rodolphus.

"Are you alright, dear?" he asked, trying to reach out to hold her hand. She snatched it away, glaring.

"I'm fine," she looked daggers at him, "go join the others, or something. I'm going to look outside."

Looking hurt, Rodolphus turned away and went.

Bellatrix marched away in the opposite direction, back through the door and elbowed her way back through the crowds. This time, when they insulted her, she threw some back.

"And the same to you, madam!" she yelled, "I hope you get them same disease your mother obviously did to have such an ugly child! Have you got anything to say, sir? No? Good, keep it that way."

She spotted a cluster of tents just behind the main one, so she headed in that direction. Most of them were empty, thank Merlin.

She got to the one in the middle. Outside there was a sign.

"Hans Hermann"

"This is it," she said to herself. She went to the door, but someone was already walking out. She looked up, to her worst nightmare.

"Is zat you, Bellatrix Lestrange?" the clown smiled, white face yellowing his teeth, clothes oversized and baggy. The clown thrust his hand out for her to shake, "I'm Hans Hermann. I believe you and some ozers ver planning to meet me, so I could join your cause?"

Bellatrix was petrified. Her eyes only saw a white gloved hand reach out for her. She heard someone screech, only half way through realising it was coming from her.

"Madam Lestrange?" the terrifying man – if that's what he was – asked, stepping forward, "you do not...how do you say...look very well?"

Bellatrix staggered backwards. The last thing she remembered of that day was the ground hurtling towards her faster than she would have liked.