"People often do things, even when they know that they will hurt someone else. Perhaps that's when they do things most. It's weird, actually, but that's how we all work. But then comes the moment when you think that maybe you should stop, and yet you don't want to. So you don't, and you erase the pain you are causing from your mind. It's simple."

~Melina Perez

"You're dismissed now, Bella."

"What?" Bellatrix didn't manage to stop the single word that escaped her mouth when she heard her master's words. She sat up on the bed and fixed her puzzled eyes on him, who was already re-dressing.

"You are dismissed," Voldemort repeated flatly. "You may leave."

Bellatrix frowned. She had thought that her lord had wanted to be with her for the night, and yet here he was now, telling her to leave him. She had hoped that they would spend the night together, but it was obvious that she had been wrong. "Master, you know I would gladly stay-" she started, but was cut off by him.

"I don't need you to," Voldemort hissed as he finished with his robes. "Go back to your husband."

Bellatrix had no idea of why he was treating her like that. Only a minute ago he was holding her in his arms, kissing her, and now he was being so cold towards her, and even threatening. "But I don't want to go-"

"I didn't ask for your opinion, Bellatrix," Voldemort said coldly and the use of her full name made Bellatrix realize that he was being serious. However, she didn't want to give up so easily. The few hours they had spent together that night had been amazing, every single moment had seemed to her like heaven, and she most definitely didn't want to go back to her dull husband and once again start lying and pretending to be oh so hurt and damaged.

"Why, my lord?" she questioned, pulling the satin sheets around her as he watched him throw her dress right in front of her on the mattress, clearly ordering her to get dressed. She didn't receive an answer, only a cold, impatient gaze, and she dared to speak again. "Didn't I please you?" she asked, now fearing that he was not satisfied with her, and therefore wanted to get rid of her.

"Yes, Bellatrix, you did please me, but I have other things to do that cuddling with you all night," the Dark Lord spat angrily.

"But I don't wan-"

"Of course you do, Bellatrix, you're hoping that we are going to rest on the bed for the rest of the night, in each other's arms, kissing and cuddling," he hissed, obviously disgusted. "I have work to do, and you will leave, now."

"Master, I-"

"Now."

Bellatrix knew she would get punished if she objected him, so she quickly stood and redressed, wishing that he would take his burning eyes off her. It took a great effort to stop a few tears from flowing, and she silently cursed herself for being so weak in front of her master. Why had she been so stupid? What he wanted was simple; get her to bed, stay with her until he was satisfied, then kick her out. She had been a fool to think that something more than that could possibly happen between them. She hurriedly zipped her dress and put on her leather boots, and straightened up to face him when she was done. His eyes were cold and were looking at her angrily, as if blaming her for something. But why? What had she done? Had she done anything wrong? Had she displeased him?

She stood there, silent, as if expecting him to say something. "Leave, Bellatrix," he hissed, and now she was sure she felt a tear running down her cheek. A single tear it was, but enough to make her furious at her herself for being so pathetic, especially in front of her lord. She bowed to him and whispered a quick "Goodnight, master". As she headed to the door, she paused, half hoping that he was going to say goodnight too, but she only received a sharp, threatening glare and she realized there was nothing else to do but go.

Rodolphus Lestrange was a failure. A total failure. That's what he kept telling himself. And, as much as he hated to think of that, he knew it was the truth. He was a failure; he had failed the simplest of tasks and had made Voldemort furious, he had allowed the Dark Lord to bed his wife, and he had done nothing to protect her. He had simply left, leaving her there alone, with him. He had left. He knew he should have stayed, he knew he should have stood up for Bella, and yet, he had acted like a coward. He had crawled back in the safety of his manor, and Merlin knows what Voldemort was doing to his wife.

He took another sip of firewhiskey, directly from the half-emptied bottle, and he realized that the hot liquid was doing nothing to make him feel any better. Well, he knew nothing would possibly make him feel better at the least, but he simply couldn't just sit in the armchair and wait for Bella to return. Only some drink would take away all that pain, he had thought, and yet, he still felt as bad as before, if not even worse. He ran a trembling hand through his messy hair and closed his eyes tightly, trying to repel all the terrifying thoughts that were determined to invade his mind. Images of Bella screaming, trapped in the Dark Lord's arms, filled his head and wouldn't go away, no matter how hard Rodolphus tried. It made him sick, it made him furious, it made him depressed. He had no idea of what he should be thinking now. Maybe he should go back and take Bella from there, bring her back home. Yes, maybe he should. But still, he didn't move from the armchair. He couldn't. You're a coward, he told himself. You're a pathetic coward.

He opened his eyes, since being in the dark only helped all the disturbing and self-loathing thoughts slip inside his mind much easier. He was trembling again, and not from the pain Voldemort's curses had caused. Yes, that punishment he had deserved, he did not question that. But Bella… Bella had done nothing to deserve this. Nothing. And yet Rodolphus hadn't done a thing to help her. He gazed at the bottle in his left hand and chuckled darkly. Alcohol can calm the soul, he had heard someone say. Yeah, sure. He resisted the urge to throw the bottle against the wall, along with its content, and placed it softly on the small table in front of the armchair. He didn't want to create a mess again. He buried his face in his palms, and he cried. He cried.

Tears had not run down Rodolphus's face since he was twelve years old. Because he was strong, and crying was forbidden. It was a display of weakness, and everyone who cried was pathetic, that's what he was taught as a child. But he could not help it now. He cried. He had no idea of how much time had passed since he had found himself in this pitiful position, when he heard the familiar sound of heels tapping against the floor. Bella… He immediately stood up, without caring for the path of tears down his face. He stormed out of the living room, following the sound of the footsteps, and he saw her.

"Bella!" he exclaimed, beyond relieved to see that she was alright. He ran towards his wife, extending his arm to her, but she walked away without talking. Not quick enough to hide her tears though. Rodolphus felt his stomach leaping. Why she was crying? What had Voldemort done to her? "Bella, please, wait!" he said desperately and ran behind her. "What happened? Are you alright?" he asked worriedly, blocking her way so that she couldn't go away.

"I'm fine!" she growled and tried to push him away, shocking him with her behavior. "Bella, what happened?" he asked again, fearing for the worst.

"Nothing happened! Go away!" she snapped and more tears flew from her eyes, as she once again tried to push him backwards. He trapped her hands so that she couldn't leave, careful though not to hurt her. "Bella," he started, trying to calm her down. "Bella, please, relax, and tell me what happened. Calm down, Bella, calm down, there's no reason to cry now, you're home, with me," he whispered, and stroked her hair gently with one hand, while holding her still with the other.

"Rodolphus," Bellatrix hissed, "leave me alone". Her threatening tone didn't go unnoticed by her husband, but he wouldn't let her go away. "Bella," he said softly, struggling to keep her in place. "Please, Bella," he now begged, and soon, Bellatrix seemed to calm down. She stood still and Rodolphus removed his strong hold from her, and cupped her teary face with his hands. "Darling, why are you crying? What happened?" he asked, once again attempting to get her to open up. "Nothing happened, Rod," Bella replied, her anger being held back from the sudden fake calmness in her voice. "I am all right."

"Bella," Rodolphus insisted, "you are not alright, but I know you will if you talk to me."

"I don't want to talk," Bellatrix said sharply. "I want to go and take a bath."

Rodolphus sighed. "Okay," he agreed, seeing that there was no way to get Bella to talk. He didn't want to stress her more, and if remaining silent was what she wanted, he should comply with that. "Thank you," Bellatrix said, taking her eyes off him. "Go to bed," she told him, "You're tired. I'll come after I take my bath". Rodolphus nodded, and watched her as she headed to one of the bathrooms' door. There was nothing else to do now.

Half an hour had passed when the master bedroom's door opened and Bellatrix stepped in, wrapped in a snowy white towel. Rodolphus sat up on the bed and smiled. He had to admit that she looked very beautiful in white, even though it was just a towel. She never wore white. Bellatrix's expression was completely emotionless as she came closer and sat on the edge of the bed, her wet hair dripping on the dark green carpet. Rodolphus noticed a small bruise on the back of her neck, but didn't make any comments. She seemed to have calmed down, and he didn't want to upset her. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, after some several long seconds in silence. "Yeah," she whispered as she grabbed her wand to dry her hair. "I'm fine". Rodolphus watched her as she did her hair, wondering what she could be thinking. She seemed lost in her thoughts, barely even knowing that he was there with her. Once she was done, she crawled up in the bed next him, still wrapped in the towel, and her dark eyes met his. Rodolphus thought that perhaps she was trying to decide about something, but he didn't know what. He placed his hand on her cheek, and leaned closer to her.

"Bella," he whispered, "I love you."

She didn't say anything. After what seemed for an eternity, her lips were suddenly on his, pulling him in a slow, tender kiss. He was surprised by the fact that she wanted to kiss after what she had been through, but was beyond happy to respond. Feeling her close to him, feeling her tenderness was all he wanted. He kissed her back gently, as his hand cupped her face softly. He was genuinely surprised that she was kissing him like that. All the kissed they had shared in he past -in the few occasions that she allowed him to kiss her- had been rather rough and wild, despite Rodolphus's attempts to show her that he would much more prefer to be gentle and caring with her. Now, he finally had the chance to express how much he cared about her through that kiss; he wanted the moment to last forever, for he feared that would never happen again. Suddenly, she pressed herself against him, her hands wrapped around his neck, deepening the kiss. He was slightly caught off-guard, but he responded, kissing back more passionately and holding her firmly yet affectionately against his body. He thought that perhaps she needed to be treated tenderly and lovingly after what happened with Voldemort, and he too was willing to give her everything she wanted, he too needed to feel loved. Only a few seconds after, she tossed the towel on the floor and laid back on the bed, pulling Rodolphus on top of her, who undid his nightwear and while he kept kissing her.

Lord Voldemort sat in his study room, with some books open on the wooden desk in front of him. He wasn't even reading. His gaze was focused on the orange flames inside the fireplace on the other side of the room, and his thoughts were on Bellatrix. Three hours had passed since he had kicked her out, after making love with her. He hadn't wanted to keep her around for any more, for she could understand that he actually enjoyed her company. He admitted that feeling like that around someone what never occurred to him before. Whenever Bella kissed him, her passion and eagerness to please him, to be with him, made him feel something, that he was not ready to deal with. Bellatrix was his servant, not his lover. He didn't want a lover, he didn't need one. He wasn't weak to need someone to depend on. Yes, he could use Bellatrix to satisfy his needs, but there would be nothing more. But why was he regretting having kicked her out like that?

"Something bothers you, master?" Nagini's hissing voice echoed around the room as she slithered inside.

"No," came the sharp answer from Voldemort, who stroked the snake's head as it crawled up on his shoulders.

"Oh, and I know exactly what it is," Nagini hissed in a way that seemed like she was laughing.

"What are you talking about?" Voldemort hissed in parseltongue, angry with Nagini's sudden behavior.

"It's about the female human, am I correct, master?" the snake asked as it wrapped its body around the Dark Lord's armchair.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he hissed and pushed Nagini's head away.

"Of course you do," the snake said with amusement. "It's about your beloved dark-haired witch, you're thinking of her."

"My what?" Voldemort asked furiously, turning his head so he could look at Nagini, who was now slithering down the armchair.

"Oh, don't deny it," she hissed, "you fancy her! Your beautiful lover-"

"Nagini," Voldemort spat, "Bellatrix is my servant, and I only bed her for pure lust, nothing more. She is not my lover, and never will be."

"You honestly want me to believe you?" the snake insisted, knowing that she was threading on thin ice.

"GET OUT!" Voldemort snarled, and the snake quickly moved towards the door.

"You can't fool me, master," she hissed before leaving. "After all, I know you best than anyone."

"OUT!"

Once he was once again alone in the room, Voldemort threw the books back in the huge bookcase and stood up. He needed to distract himself from his previous conversation with Nagini, and he couldn't think of anything than taking all his anger out on helpless victims. Yes, a visit to a muggle village could be quite distracting…

Bellatrix woke up the next morning with a headache. She stretched her limbs and carefully removed Rodolphus's arms from around her body, before standing up and taking in her reflection at the mirror hanging on one wall. What on earth had she done? Sleeping with Rodolphus wasn't in her plans, and yet she had done so. Maybe it was the need to feel that somebody cared for her, that somebody wanted to be loving and tender with her, after the events with the Dark Lord. She sighed as she remembered how he had told her to leave him alone, but she quickly blocked the thoughts from her mind. She didn't want to think of that. She gazed at her husband's sleeping form on the bed. He looked so peaceful, so calm… She found it to be fairly weird. Oh well, she thought, and silently put on a simple, dark grey dress and left the room, careful not to wake up Rodolphus.

She ordered the house elves to bring her breakfast and she sat on one of the breakfast room's chairs, reading the Daily Prophet, as if trying to make her mind think of something else besides the Dark Lord and her husband. It worked, for a while. But only for a while. Once she started eating some biscuits, she felt a terrible wave of nausea hit her, and she stormed out of the room and went directly to the bathroom, ignoring the shocked looks of the house elves that were now bringing her coffee and milk. Only half an hour later, she was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, sweat dripping from her forehead, her hands clenched on her dress. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be.

A.N/Hey! As you can see, I finished the seventh chapter! I don't know if I'm entirely satisfied with how it turned out, but I'm already excited to write the next one… I hoped you liked it :) I want once again to thank everyone who supports me with this by adding the story to their alerts and favorites, and many special thanks to those who take the time and leave a review with their thoughts! It really means a lot to me… Next chapter coming soon! :)