Chapter 7
"Have you seen this?" Evan asked, with a malicious grin lighting up his features, as he picked up a newspaper from a side table.
Bellatrix was a little surprised; seeing Evan reading something vaguely serious was like watching a house elf duelling! Though she supposed her cousin was older now and perhaps he had moved on from the silly comics he used to love. She granted him a fraction of her attention, her mind still mostly focussed on more important matters, namely trying to think of an excuse she could give for missing Narcissa's engagement party tonight, when she was meeting with the Dark Lord.
However, her attention shifted abruptly at the sight of the Dark Mark looming from the front page.
"It's those Death Eater people again," Evan said gleefully. "Apparently last night they attacked these two mudbloods and killed one of them and one of the Aurors who came to try and help." Bellatrix reached for the newspaper with interest. She had known of the attack, but not the outcome and it sounded like it had been rather botched. Seeing that he had caught her attention, Evan continued excitedly. "Imagine how great it must be to do whatever you want and get rid of anyone who gets in your way. And imagine being good enough at duelling to kill an Auror!"
Bellatrix smiled as Evan's words set off a spark of pride in her, as she knew herself to be a far superior duellist to any of the men that had been sent to carry out the attack. She loved the way she could feel her secret life like a burning talisman inside her whenever her family proved how utterly oblivious they were to her involvement in such events.
"I'm going to join the Death Eaters when I turn seventeen," Evan declared proudly. "Bella, you should join too." Bellatrix merely smirked at his ignorance and Evan's face fell a little.
"Don't say I'm too young and I don't understand," he said a little bitterly. "That's what everyone always says."
"Perhaps you understand more than they do."