A/N: I know you're all a little confused, and yes Bellatrix WAS killed, but she's not as stupid as she seems! Everything will be explained below as well as a flashback in Bella's point of view. It won't be going to Belinda's point of view anywhere in this chapter, this is devoted to Bella and I know it's short but it's really just a build up for the next chapter which is going to be absolutely action packed! Hang tight guys, this one's dedicated to LittleMissPsycho, my faithful reviewer!
Disclaimer: If Harry Potter was mine, Belinda would exist and Dramione would be cannon. That is all.
Bellatrix Lestrange looked up into her sister's eyes and smirked lightly. Narcissa's mouth fell open with a pop and she lunged forwards, tackling the beautiful blonde to the ground and pressing a hand over her mouth before she could scream as Bella had known she was about to. "Shush, Cissy, calm down and i'll explain," Bella cooed to her sister, a mad glint in her eyes mixed with joy at seeing her sister. Possibly, one of the only people she still actually cared about. Finally, Narcissa's eyes relaxed and her body shifted under Bella, silently asking to be released. Bella stood up and brushed her hands off on her dress as she scowled at her sister who pulled herself up off of the ground and stared at Bella with shock still in her eyes.
"Dear Cissy, I hear that my nephew, your SON, Draco, is to marry a mudblood! Is this true?" Bella hissed, straight to matters that weren't important to Narcissa. She immediately saw Narcissa's pupils dilate with fear and she took an instinctive step away from her violent, easily angered sister. It always pleased Bella that her darling, perfect sister who had been the apple of their parent's eyes was terrified of her. This was not to say that Bella didn't love her sister dearly, in fact she was one of the few things in life that Bella did care about, but she liked to know that her sister was not as perfect and courageous as she seemed.
"It would also appear," Bella continued, her face still set in a firm sneer though the mad look was still in her eye. Narcissa flinched and lifted her hand, as if to persuade the crazy one to calm down but Bella slapped her hand away. "As I was saying, it would also appear that you lied to the Dark Lord, ultimately resulting in his downfall!" Bella could remember that day clearly, as if it was just yesterday despite the years that had passed. However, to Bella, it had not been years, it had been only a few months since she had woken up from the state she had been in...
Bellatrix Lestrange was many things, but stupid was not among those. Perhaps she could be considered stupid in how relentlessly she punished people without a care for the ramifications, but her intelligence was not lacking in any way shape or form, and any who met her was aware of this. Within the depths of madness, there was quite a freakishly smart woman.
When the Dark Lord had entrusted Bella with the Hufflepuff cup, she'd almost scoffed right into his face but she knew that would not end well for her. "My Lord?" She whispered softly, taking the cup carefully and looked up at him with confusion thick in her eyes. "My Lord, why do you have such an object in your possession Surely you hold no fondness for the Hufflepuff house?" Bella's tone was incredulous at the mere thought and the Dark Lord chuckled without amusement as he turned away from his most faithful and trusted follower.
"No, Bellatrix, I do not hold any fondness for the house Hufflepuff, though I do respect Helga - as I respect all over the Hogwarts founders," the Dark Lord swept across the room, his robes billowing out behind him and faithful as ever, Bella was immediately shadowing his footsteps across the room. He picked up something else that caused Bella even more confusion and offered her the sword of Gryfindor, himself! "My Lord! Where did you acquire such a thing?" She gasped in shock, before bowing low as she realised her mistake. "My apologies, I did not mean to pry," as previously mentioned, Bella was not stupid and knew to apologise before the Dark Lord could point out her mistake.
It always pleased him when his followers were able to realise their own mistake and apologise for it. "Rise, Bellatrix," if the man before Bella was capable of strong emotions, the fondness in his tone would've been more prominent, but as it was there was just an underlying tone that caused Bella to smirk before she smoothed out her features and straightened up. Oh, they all thought she was some stupid girl who followed Lord Voldemort around like a lost puppy and was there to do his bidding without question. None of them realised the twisted game Bella played.
By playing the part of the faithful-without-question-lost-puppy-dog, Bella had the Dark Lord completely under her control. Not to say that Bella was not his most faithful companion who strongly believed in him and would follow him to the ends of the Earth, but she was not as foolish as she made herself out to be. She was able to extract information so easily from the Dark Lord because he believed that she had no ill intentions with the information. She watched as his lips twitched and formed something reminiscent of a smile, but was also disturbing at the same time. Pleased with the reaction she managed to elicit from her Dark Lord, she waited patiently for him to elaborate.
"You see, Bella, these objects are very important to me and my soul," he chuckled as he spoke the word 'soul' and Bella's eyes narrowed slightly before she feigned a look of innocence, as if she did not understand anything he was saying. With patience that none believed he had, the Dark Lord continued. "You must guard them with your life Bella, especially the cup! I want you to place them in your vaults. If anyone ever manages to locate these objects it will surely be my demise and it is important that no one is EVER allowed near them. Do you understand?" The Dark Lord's tone meant business and it was a tone that scared all others shitless.
Bella bowed majestically, honoured that he had entrusted such important objects to her whilst her mind ran a million miles a minute, piecing together little clues and thinking hard about why it would amuse him to say 'soul'. She took the sword of Gryffindor and then bowed once more, shrinking both objects and slipping them inside of her pocket. She performed a sticking charm so they stuck to her pocket and would not fall out. "I will die to protect them," Bella said honestly, bowing yet again and eliciting a half-smile from Lord Voldemort.
"I know that you will, Bella, my most faithful follower," he tilted her chin up and regarded her carefully, before turning his back on her. Words need not be spoken, for Bella knew she had been dismissed but her curiosity still burned brightly and she immediately left the room to study these objects - especially the cup - carefully. She disappeared into the Malfoy Manor's library where she knew she would find any information she needed to know.
"Why have you come back, Bellatrix?" Narcissa's tone was deathly cold as she took yet another step away from her sister, her hand immediately disappearing into a fold of her dress robes. Bella blinked a few times as she was brought out of her memories and sneered at her sister once more, taking two quick steps towards her and grabbing her sister's hand. "Cissy! You aren't scared of me, are you? I'm only curious," Bella's tone was whiney as she tilted her head at the blonde who wrenched her hand free of Bella's grasp.
"You should not have come back. I do not care why you are here, or how the HELL you are still alive, but I don't want to see you near myself or my family, and that INCLUDES Hermione Granger. She is to marry Draco and if you so much as look at her the wrong way you'll be dead before you can say 'mudblood'," growled Narcissa, showing backbone that she'd never had before. Bella's eyes widened in shock at her sister's newfound courage before she chortled with laughter.
"And who is to kill me, Cissy? Will you kill me?" She snorted with laughter, she did not believe her sister had the guts to kiss her! A maniacal laugh erupted from her that was cut short by her sister's next words.
"If not me, then Draco. If not Draco, then Harry Potter and his army of Weasley's. You think you are better than them, Bella? Remember who killed you, i'm sure Molly would love to do it again given the opportunity?" Narcissa challenged, her eyes narrowed in on her sister's figure. Bella growled menacingly and whipped her wand out, shoving it into Narcissa's neck.
"I'll kill them all, you don't know how powerful i've become Cissy. I'm not afraid of you, i'm certainly not afraid of the Weasley's, and Draco is just a boy." Bella sneered once more at Narcissa, outraged that hersister dared to challenge her!
"If you lay a finger on Hermione Granger, Bellatrix, I can assure you that Draco will not be just a boy to you or anyone." Narcissa's tone was short as she turned her back on her sister and apparated away before Bella could get another word in.
With an angered growl, Bella whirled around and summoned her most faithful follower, the one who had brought her back after she had created her horcrux. Yes, Bellatrix Lestrange was very intelligent, enough to tell that the dark aura around the Hufflepuff cup was more than just a simple spell, enough to realise that the Dark Lord had created horcruxes. And she had no problem creating her own. Her faithful follower emerged from the shadows, a smile on her lips as she bowed before Bella.
"My Lady," Bella's lips curved upwards in a smile as she was reminded of herself by the girl. She bowed down before Bella, but she was having none of that.
"Rise my lovely, today we attack the ministry. Prepare the army, prepare them for battle," the girl nodded and turned to disappear into the shadows once more, but Bella had to throw something in. Something that she had always longed for her Dark Lord to say to her, to show that he truly did care just a little about her, even if Bella knew it. She'd always wanted him to show it just a little bit, but she never would've asked him too. He most likely would've ended her life if she did.
"Try not to die," Bella cooed. With a nod, the girl spun on her heel and just before she apparated away Bella uttered her name to give more meaning to her words. "Alicia Spinnet."
A/N: There wasn't much of a response to the last chapter, but I know that there are a few people alerted to this story so I hope you're still reading! :) Of course LMP keeps me going because she's wonderful and reviews. It would be nice to have a few more reviews but getting a review a chapter is still wonderful, so thank you LMP and thank you other people for reading, too! Oh and to the other member who reviewed, cheers! :D