Dementophobia - A fear of insanity

Bellatrix sat in her cell, the screams of the other prisoners penetrating her mind. The feel of their insanity washed through her, making her shudder.

"Poor little crazy wizards," she said under her breath.

You're just as bad as they are.

She scoffed, "No, they're worse than me, just listen to their screams." As if to emphasize her point, a scream erupted, penetrating the walls of her prison cell.

This place changes a person, and never for the better.

"What does that mean?"

The little voice laughed, a quick sound ringing with delight and smugness. You're a smart girl aren't you? Why don't you tell me what it means?

"I don't answer to you."

You are so determined to deny the truth. What has happened to my little Bella to make her this mad?

She shook her head. "I am not insane!"

The voice laughed again. I think you need reminding of what you have become my dear Bella.

"Don't call me that!"

Don't call you what? Dear? Or Bella? I can only call you what you permit me to. Should I perhaps call you a murderer, a sadistic woman who takes pleasure in torturing innocent people? Would you prefer that dear Bella?

"I'd prefer you to leave me alone."

It laughed again, she was sure it would have shaken its head disbelievingly if it had one. Poor Bella, you don't know do you? You can't see, for you are blinded by your madness, the insanity creeping through your mind like poison, slowly taking away every part of you. I know dear Bella. I know all about you.

She shook her head again. "You don't know anything about me!"

Oh but I do. I know how much you enjoyed torturing those two Aurors, the Longbottoms. It gave you pleasure to hear them scream, to watch the poison slowly take their minds. It made you happy my dear Bella, don't deny it.

"No."

I am not fooled by you, I know you enjoyed it. I enjoyed it too. The sound of their screams was sadistically beautiful.

"And you say I'm the crazy one."

Dear Bella, everyone's a little bit crazy. The madness is what makes life fun.

"I don't want to listen anymore."

The poison made your life fun my dear Bella. The thick poison of insanity. Why else would I be here?

"Maybe I'm not the only one who enjoys torturing innocent people."

But you were never innocent. Even as a child the poison was there, sitting at the back of your mind, just waiting for that first act. You released the poison Bella, you're the reason I'm here.

"And just who are you?"

The voice laughed again. I am the poison my dear Bella. Why else did you never question me when I told you to commit those sadistic acts? You never even thought twice about any of them. My dear Bella, such a good girl, always doing as she is told.

She shook her head again, more violently. "No! You're lying!"

Unfortunately I cannot take all the credit for your unhinged mental state, this prison has played a large part, adding to the poison. Why do you think you're alone, secluded in this area with no other prisoners around you? It's because you were already poisoned when you came here. I had already claimed much of your mind; so much of your being was in my control.

"I'm not alone here! I can hear them! I can hear their screams!"

But the screams you hear are your own my dear Bella. I've poisoned you so much and I've enjoyed every second of it. You always were a fun toy, and now you fear me.

"I am not afraid of anything."

But you are dear Bella. You spent your childhood fighting me after I was released, not realising that the more you fought, the more I poisoned. Such a waste of time on your part.

"No! Go away! You're not real! GO AWAY!"

But you're my favourite toy dear Bella. I never want to stop playing with you.