Voldemort sat at his desk at the manor, feeling pleased with himself. Things were going well, they couldn't be better. It was only a few weeks since they had won the war and the Ministry was running smoothly. Bellatrix was as safe as she was ever going to be, now protected by Antonin and his team. For the first time, he felt like there was no stopping him. There were no barriers, no saviours and no interfering spies and double agents.
He had to admit to himself that Severus Snape had played him, and played him well. His blindness had almost lost him his one true love, and his life. But in the end, her soul had saved his. He had known, all along, that he couldn't live without her. But that was a weakness, and so he had ignored it and pushed her away. He had known how unstable he had become, and he knew as he created his final Horcrux that there was a chance – a massive chance – that the effort might finish him for good.
As soon as her soul had touched his, he knew that he was safe. She loved him with her entire being. Sometimes, when they looked at each other, he could feel a massive swelling of emotion coming from somewhere in his chest. It wasn't his emotion. It was hers. It was her soul within him. Through that connection, he would always know exactly where she was, who she was with and how she felt. And with practice, she would be able to do the same. That didn't scare him. For the first time, he was happy and complete.
There was a knock on the door. Voldemort sighed lightly, hoping the knock was not going to signal a disturbance in his peace. He flicked his finger, watching as the door opened.
A young Death Eater entered, followed by another and a woman struggling in their grasp. For a moment, all he could see was long black hair and a beautiful face, and he was about to curse the hell out of the two morons before him for daring to harm his wife. But he realised that the Horcrux bond between them was not active – she was not in danger. This was not his Bella.
"We have brought you the traitor Tonks, my Lord," one of the men said.
Voldemort stood up, walking around his desk and staring at the woman before him. He'd forgotten how much Andromeda looked like Bellatrix.
"Her wand?" Voldemort asked, his voice soft. The men threw her to the floor. Voldemort watched silently as the wand was produced and given to him. "Wait outside," he continued. One of the men left without question, but the other hesitated. Voldemort raised his eyebrows, eyes narrowed. "Yes?"
"There is a reward on her head, my Lord," he said, his tone defiant.
Voldemort laughed coldly. "You bear my mark, do you not?" he enquired.
"Yes, my Lord," the man said, his voice proud.
Voldemort stepped forwards and grabbed him by the throat, pulling him in closer. "Then it is your duty to act for me, regardless of any reward," he hissed. He squeezed for a moment, watching in satisfaction as the Death Eater turned a dark shade of red. Then he released him. "Now, wait outside." The man did was he was told and shut the door behind him.
"I don't know what my sister sees in you," Andromeda snarled from the ground.
Voldemort smiled down at her, watching as she sat up. "Yes, finally after almost twenty five years of being your brother-in-law, you learn the truth." He moved around the desk, slowly sitting down at it. "Funny you never knew. Your family couldn't trust you with it."
"They disowned me when I was just sixteen," she retorted, staring up at him. Apparently she didn't fear him one little bit. To be fair, he knew he wasn't that scary at the moment. Even his eyes were normal.
Voldemort was silent for a long moment, contemplating. He knew he should kill her, but what would Bellatrix want now? "There is no one else from the Order left," he said quietly. "Your side has lost."
"We lost honourably," Andromeda replied, leaning against the wall. Voldemort noticed a gash on the side of her head, and realised she must be feeling unwell. He admired her for a moment; she was strong like Bellatrix was.
"What do you think of reuniting with Bellatrix? And Narcissa?" he asked, wondering if that might sway her so he didn't have to kill her. He knew that putting Andromeda and Narcissa together probably wasn't the best plan, although Narcissa still had a lot to loose and he didn't think she would risk it. Not now, at least. Andromeda had lost everything.
Andromeda laughed, tilting her head to look at him. "Bellatrix would not have me back. She is tainted and obsessed with blood."
Voldemort smiled. Andromeda didn't realise how much Bellatrix had changed. "Let me tell you something," he said, and for the first time he was not afraid to say it. "Bellatrix is not obsessed with blood. I have confessed to her my true heritage, and her devotion has not changed."
She glared at him scornfully. "I know all about your heritage, Tom Riddle," she hissed back. "Calling yourself Gaunt is an act of desperation. People will see it soon."
Voldemort gripped his wand tightly, careful not to let his rage show on his face. She was not going to know she had got under his skin. Carefully, he blocked Bellatrix out, although he could sense she was busy. Her arrival back home was not needed at this moment.
"You're alone, Andromeda," Voldemort said after a moment. "You have no family and you have no friends."
"Then I suggest you murder me now," she replied, and with difficulty she stood up.
"I could offer you a high place. Whatever you wanted would be yours." Voldemort knew that Andromeda was powerful now. He knew she could be useful to them. He also knew it would look very good for them in the papers, if the three Black sisters were reunited once again.
"I have had what I wanted, for most of my life," Andromeda said, moving towards his desk. "Now I have lost those I love, I have lost my cause. But in the end…" She rested her hands on his desk, leaning forwards. "We have won, because we lived a life of love."
Voldemort smirked at her. "So have we," he responded. "I love Bellatrix more than I knew was possible. We have exchanged souls. We are one." He smiled at the expression of surprise on her face, watching as she drew back. "More so than any other marriage, we are one."
Andromeda moved away, frowning. "Dumbledore said you could not love."
Voldemort laughed, standing up and moving towards her. "I allowed Dumbledore to think what he wanted. I fucked every woman I saw in my younger days to let him think that. I hid a wife for twenty years. She even pretended to marry someone else to protect me and our child." He pushed her roughly against the wall, seeing her eyes widen. "Bellatrix lost our baby because of Harry Potter. Because of Lily Potter's love, because of Dumbledore's lies."
"You should have considered that before you tried to kill him in the first place," Andromeda replied, frowning at him. "My sister has suffered because of you."
"It was all meant to be," Voldemort replied simply. "Look at us now, we have everything we could dream of."
"You've got all of it through the murder of innocent people," she snapped back. "If you're trying to get me on your side, you can give up now. I will never join you. I am not afraid to die." She smiled for a moment. "Do you think you can kill me? Not worried about upsetting your wife?"
Voldemort stepped back from her, moving towards the window. "Bella understands that things have to be done to protect what we have fought hard for." He pointed his wand towards her, knowing it was the right thing to do. She stared back at him, unflinchingly.
For a moment, Voldemort felt like he was about to kill his own wife. For a moment, he wondered if Druella had been involved in an affair, because Narcissa was so different. For a moment, he considered that if he had died and Bellatrix had fallen into the hands of their enemies, she would be staring death in the eye completely unafraid too.
He knew he had to do it. He watched as the green light left his wand and he noticed that she almost moved towards it. She wanted it. Perhaps she had given herself up to his Death Eaters.
Andromeda crumpled, hitting the ground; her eyes open and vacant. He looked down on her for a long while, before stepping over her and opening the door to the hallway. The two Death Eaters were waiting patiently. "Dispose of the body," he ordered them, sweeping past and heading towards the stairs. He needed to go to Bellatrix at the Ministry and tell her the news.
Antonin was running up the stairs towards him, panting. "My Lord!" he said, reaching him.
"What is wrong?" Voldemort asked, instantly concerned.
"Posey Weasley has made contact, she is in your office with Bellatrix," Antonin replied hastily, looking worried.
"Why?" Voldemort snapped back, continuing down the stairs. "Why did you allow it? I told you to watch out for Weasley."
"I know, my Lord," Antonin said, following him back down. "But you know what Bellatrix is like once she gets one of her ideas."
Voldemort stopped dead as they reached the fireplace, turning to look at Antonin. "More than anyone else," he responded, shaking his head. His gaze turned cold. "Do not address her familiarly in public. She is the Dark Lady."
Antonin nodded. "I know, my Lord," he said, breathing heavily. "But she insists…"
Voldemort cursed, picking up a handful of floo powder. "I know you try," he said, stepping into the flame and tossing the powder around him. He felt the familiar sensation of being pulled through the floo, before it stopped suddenly and he stepped out of the fireplace in the Atrium of the Ministry. The crowds were there, apparently awaiting his arrival. Antonin appeared in the fireplace next to him.
"Why is the Dark Lady meeting with Posey Weasley?" someone called out to him. Voldemort ignored the comments, heading towards the lift.
He cursed again as the doors of the lift shut. "Why do these things always happen at once?" he asked. "I've just had to kill her sister. And now I probably have to kill her old best friend." The lift ground to a halt. "We've been searching for them since she was twenty, you know," he told Antonin. "And now they are both here on the same day."
Antonin smiled lightly as they stepped out of the lift. "They say things come in threes, is there anyone else from her past you'd like to kill?"
Voldemort chuckled. "I'd like to bring her mother back to life and kill her again," he said, pausing outside of the door. He pressed his hand lightly against it, looking over at Antonin for a moment. "Sorry if she gets upset with you. I'm afraid your job may become a bit awkward."
Antonin shrugged. "As long as she's happy."
Voldemort smiled at him for a moment. It was nice to know his wife did have some friends she could count on, and that they were appropriate friends too. He pushed the door open, preparing himself for the worst outcome possible.
Antonin was right, Bellatrix deserved happiness. And he was going to make sure she got it, whatever the cost.