Lucius leaned his head around the door, tentatively, and ready to duck. There was no telling what sort of mood his sister-in-law would be in. But the room seemed empty. "Bellatrix?" There was no answer. He tried again, raising his voice a notch. "Bellatrix?"

"What is it Lucius?"

The voice can from behind him, and he jumped, startled. Bellatrix Lestrange was sweeping down the hallway, her long curly dark hair rippling down her back, her dark amethyst eyes flashing.

"What is it?" she repeated, her voice dismissive. She twirled her wand in her hand, looking slightly preoccupied.

" The Dark Lord requests your presence."

She nodded, and stowed her wand in her pocket. " I don't need you to tell me when My Lord requires me." She brushed her fingers down the Dark Mark on her arm, and smiled slowly, reveling slightly pointed teeth.

" The Dark Lord asked me to fetch you."

" I am not a dog Lucius. I presume that The Dark Lord merely wanted you to get out of the way." She said, smirking at him. Then her voice changed, and became suddenly harsh. " Where's Cissy?"

" I don't know. Nowhere important, i'm sure."

"Hmm. Tell her I want to see her."

" You cannot give me orders in m own house, Bellatrix."

" I can do what i wish, Lucius. The Dark Lord has graced this house with his presence. I have just as much right as you do."

Her fingers again flew to the mark on her arm, and she stalked away down the corridor. Lucius sighed, and leaned his head against the doorframe. If Bellatrix had had any idea of what her Lord wanted her for, she certainly wasn't showing it. Sometimes he wondered about Bellatrix.

Bellatrix kneeled at the foot of The Dark Lord, and gazed up at him through adoring eyes. "My Lord..." she breathed. "You called?"

"Yes, Bellatrix." he said in a cool voice. " I want to ask you a question."

" Yes, My lord. Anything, my lord."

" Have you ever had contact with the order of the Phenoix?"

" What do you mean, my Lord?"

" Are you a traitor, Bellatrix? Don't lie to me."

Bellatrix gasped. Tears flooded her eyes, but she blinked them back. "My lord, i am your most loyal, your most trusted, your most faithful. i would never do anything to betray you, my lord."

" You're lying."

" My lord knows i speak nothing but the truth."

" Legilimence!" the dark lord sighed with rage and frusteration. Bellatrixes mind was a stone wall, an impassable concrete wall. he had never been able to look into it as he had done with everybody else.

" My lord..."

" There has been a prophecy, Bellatrix."

" My Lord, i am your most loyal. i am faithful to you completly, my lord. never would i do anything against you, my lord"

" Then you say the prophecy lied, Bellatrix?"

" No, My Lord. but prophecies can be confusing, My Lord. I, who have spent years in Askaban for you, i would never to anything that would betray you my lord, i am loyal to you, i really am. I am your most loyal my Lord. You must be mistaken, my lord. i would never betray you."

"Bellatrix.." said the Dark Lord warningly. " I would not like to believe that you are a traitor. you have served me faithfuly for years..."

" My lord knows i am forever faithful."

" ...But i must trust the word of the prophecy."

" No! you cannot! it is not possible."

" I rather think it is Bellatrix. and Traitors will regret it. You do not betray the dark lord without consiquences. i will kill you yes, but you shall suffer first. The dark lord does not forgive. "

" My Lord..."

" Take her to the basement."