I hate Mondays. Bellatrix sluggishly sat up from her bed, feeling terribly awful. She drowsily rubbed her face and took in her surroundings; she couldn't tell what, but something felt different. Descending down the spiral staircase, she heard the sound of breakfast. Why don't we get a bloody house-elf to do everything? Cissy does, well used to. She chuckled thinking of the irony that was her sister getting the one house-elf that did not like to work and seeked out freedom.
"Good Morning darling." Bellatrix harshly spun around to face the wizard who dared to address her in such a way. Her heart sank to find it was not Voldemort, but Rodolphus, who kissed her cheek sweetly. Disgusted, Bellatrix smugly stood with her hands on her hips.
"What did I tell you about calling me that?"
"I'm sorry, I thought after last night-"
"That what? It was okay to be all lovey-dovey around me?"
"Well, yes- I mean, no- I mean, I knew it was too good to be true," Rodolphus sighed.
"Wow, your instincts were actually right. Impressive," Bellatrix chuckled.
"Well, you did kiss me," Rodolphus replied quietly.
"I did what now?" Bellatrix asked bewildered, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.
"You don't remember?" Rodolphus seemed just as confused as Bellatrix.
"Remember what?"
"No, I swear. You did. You almost-"
"Almost what?" Penetrating into his eyes, she saw fear sink slowly into his blank, black eyes. Growing impatient, she finally decided to torture it out of him. He deserves it anyways. As a wicked smirk crept on her face, instead of the fear she thought she would see, she saw a kind of longing and- sympathy? Or was it- no it can't be. There was no mistake; what she saw in his eyes was, to her disgust, love. Her smirk quickly turned into a shunning frown as she pinned him to the wall.
"Do not make the mistake that I love you. My husband," Bellatrix spat.
"Where have I heard this before?" Rodolphus muttered sarcastically. What is this man talking about?
"Someone loves someone who will not share their affection. Bellatrix, do not make the mistake that I will give up. As you will not give up," Rodolphus rambled on, still pinned against the wall and adding determination to his gaze.
"That's different," Bellatrix mumbled.
"How? Bella, the only difference is he can't love," Rodolphus pitched in.
"How dare you!" There's the fear I've been waiting for. "CRUCIO!" she screamed with all her might. No scream? Have I killed him? About time too. But to her dismay, Rodolphus slowly rose from where he lay. Turning to face Bellatrix, his eyes now shone with satisfaction and what looked like he had just made up his mind on something.
"Goodbye, my one and only love," he whispered in her ear tenderly, before limping out of the room.
"Well, that was, strange," Bellatrix decided, mesmerized. Shaking her head, she decided to visit her sister. Maybe she knows what's going on.
Strutting the castle, Lucius jumped when Bellatrix apparated in front of him.
"Oh, it's just you. Oh no, not you!" he yelped in realization. Running for his dear life, Lucius headed towards the kitchen where he knew Narcissa would be.
"Hey, rich boy, where ya going?" She's gaining on me!
"Hello hon- what are you doing?" Narcissa greeted as he hid behind her.
"Hiding."
"Hiding from what?"
"The most hideous thing alive!" Lucius recalled before ducking behind her.
"My sister? Lucius! What have I told you about calling my fami-"
"Wait! Narcissa get back!" Lucius jumped in front of his wife heroically remembering Bellatrix wanted to kill her.
"What is going on?"
"She wants to kill you!"
"What?"
"Lucius," Bellatrix paused, "wrong sister!" Lucius looked around to see everyone was just as confused as he was. Setting aside a sigh, Lucius decided to tell his other half the truth.
"Bellatrix is you're competition."
"What are you talking about?" Narcissa inquired.
"Alright, this may come as a bit of a shock, but- Bellatrix is in love with me!" Lucius said quickly pointing at Bellatrix like a child.
"What?" the Black sisters asked in harmony.
"You- you like Lucius?"
"It's not that shocking," Lucius mumbled. "To like me, I mean."
"No!"
"But you said yesterday-"
"What did you do yesterday?" Narcissa scowled.
"First Rodolphus, now you-"
"What happened with Rodolphus? Did you fight again? Bella, you need to be more patient; he really is sweet."
"I know, isn't it disgusting?"
"Wait, so you don't like me?" Lucius frowned in confusion.
"No!" Bellatrix screamed, lifting tension into the air.
"What is going on here?" Voldemort pitched in, making everyone in the room jump and slightly raising even more tension.
"My lord, please tell Bellatrix she loves me."
"So now you want her to like you?" Narcissa asked skeptically.
"No, she's just confused is all." No one except Bellatrix seemed to notice the Dark Lord slowly back away from the fighting couple and sprint down the hall.
"Bella," Narcissa paused piercing the back of Bellatrix's head.
"Hm?" she asked, still not taking her eyes off of the hall.
"Bella, do you love him?"
"Huh, oh yeah," she replied in a sort of daydream state. Lucius didn't notice; the only thing he really cared about was going on about his victory.
"Ha! I was right you were wrong," he sang childishly, jumping up and down in rhythm.
"You know what? You can have him, child and all," Narcissa replied in anger walking down the hall with her head held high. Realizing what he had done, Lucius chased after her. Passing Bellatrix he decided she was in one of her 'places' and that it would be best to leave her to coop over his presence.
"Wait Narcissa!" he called after Narcissa.
"And why should I?" she asked from behind.
"How did you- never mind. I don't love her, Narcissa. You are the only one I will ever love," Lucius answered with a reassuring smile. Seeing the unconvinced look and pose, his smile slowly disappeared.
"Think of Draco. Would he want to see us fighting?"
"I- well- it-it won't work on me this time Lucius," she said sternly, but the worried look she heavily carried said otherwise.
"Then what will work on a beautiful, pure, and blonde girl?" Lucius gently whispered in her ear from behind her.
"Lucius! Stop, it won't work!"
"I like it when you play hard-to-get," he whispered, slowly raising his hand to her neck. Upon his touch, Narcissa shivered and quickly jerked forward. Giving Lucius a stern look, Narcissa's arms slowly unfolded. As her expression started to ease, Lucius sensed a smirk creep across his face.
I wonder what his problem is. He seemed, nervous. He's never nervous. Has one of his wondrous plans failed? Bet it was Snape's fault. Alright time to- oh, they're gone. Turning to where she thought the couple was, she examined the room before exiting. She was more curious than anything, and in a mischievous mood. So she decided to torment Lucius, if she could find him that was. But before she could even try, a cold voice reached her ears.
"Bellatrix, have you seen Crouch? I need to speak with him," the Dark Lord asked urgently. As she turned around, she noticed a shiny green apple in his hand.
"No my Lord, I have not, not recently," replied not taking her eyes off the apple.
"Recently?" Bellatrix's eyes became round with fear as he repeated what she had so dreadingly said. Turning around quickly, she did the best she could do to avoid eye contact. It wasn't good enough.
"Bellatrix, is there something you wish to tell me?" His words like nails on a chalkboard to Bella's ears.
"A couple things," she muttered quietly under her breath.
"And what is that?" Voldemort asked almost intrigued by her behavior. Bellatrix had to come up with something fast, or she would be done for.
"Um, Snape wanted to see you. He said something about Nagini being sick," she lied tightly closing her eyes.
"Nagini!" the Dark Lord screamed running off to find his precious pet snake. Taking a sigh of relief, Bellatrix proceeded to walk through the mansion. She then realized that she still had not received what she had come for: answers. Now, she had even more questions. Why were Rodolphus and Lucius acting so strange? Why did Voldemort have that apple? And why was he looking for Crouch?