Chapter Five: Black and White:

Blood Castle:

Bellatrix was not in a good mood at all. She sat slumped in the chair of her castle brooding over the loss of Sirius Black. She should have realized the house elf Kreacher was attached to his master like he was. No matter, she was sure she had killed him when she threw the silver knife at him. Sirius was badly hurt as well and that was a comfort at least. She got up and left the anti-chamber and headed to the main hall. It was gleaming now as she used her own house elves, or rather those passed on to her via the death of Voldemort. This castle was hers, she would not go back to the moldering wreck of Riddle house, the place Voldemort had had to complete his complex bit of magic to come back.

She felt a pang of sorrow, she had not been the one to bring him back, no that was Barty Crouch, a noble death eater who she had respected, she missed him still. Wormtail hovered at her feet, he had escaped from Azkaban and had proven useful to Voldemort as he was good with potions and spells in his own right. Though a coward Bellatrix knew not to underestimate him, which is why she had bound him to her. She was his mistress, he her slave and she felt safer with things that way as did he, she protected him even grudgingly but there it was, she needed him as she had no potions master of her own now. Oh yes he was gifted in that regard, not as gifted as Severus Snape but gifted nonetheless. He had created several beauty potions Bellatrix required and she had liked the results, so for now she did not Crucio him in frustration for her loss.

"My lady I am sorry." Wormtail said trembling at her feet.

"It is not your fault fool." Bellatrix said. "How was I to know Kreacher would show loyalty to that bully and scum of a cousin?"

"You could not mistress." Wormtail said casting his watery pale eyes to the floor.

"What I do not understand is how Severus could live under the same roof as Sirius, I know all too well how they hated each other in school, unless, ah how could I have been so blind!" Bellatrix laughed. "They must be lovers!"

"Sirius is mad but I do not think he is that mad." Wormtail said cautiously. "Snivillus cares not for any but his own self and that brat he spawned."

"What have you found out about the death of the brat's mother?" Bellatrix said.

"The one who killed her has fled the country mistress." Wormtail said. "He was a follower of Grindelwald."

"I see, where is he now?" Bellatrix asked Wormtail.

"I know not mistress." Wormtail said fearing he was to get tortured.

"Mistress, Mr. Yaxley is here." A house elf in a spotless black pillow case said bowing low.

"Bring him in elf." Bellatrix said.

The elf bowed and in a moment Yaxley came into the room. He towered over the trembling bent from of Wormtail but was not much taller than his lady. He was clad in black death eater robes but did not wear the death eater mask. Bellatrix hated them, her followers did not need them now, there were so few and they followed her out of loyalty to the cause. He knelt before her and kissed the hand offered and remained there until she bit him to stand.

"What news my faithful knight?" She asked him.

"Grayback after long days has sniffed out the one who killed Severus's brat's mother." Yaxley said.

"Good, very good, where is he?" She asked.

"In Bavaria my lady." Yaxley said. "Grayback you worthless werewolf come here!"

At once a tall stocky figure came into the room and stood before Bellatrix. With a cuff from Yaxley he snarled but knelt before her. She did not extend her hand as she would not allow this filth to touch her. He had at the very least bathed as the last time he came filthy, smelling of blood and who knew what else she had Crucioed him so badly he had howled and begged for mercy. Still he was unshaven and his hair and beard were matted and gray and his nails were long and uneven. His black robes were tight upon him and he went barefoot as he shunned much of the human world. He trembled but dared not move, even the little bit of silver that Bellatrix's gown was shot with made him uncomfortable at such close range.

"Speak fool or I will see how well you tolerate a silver tipped whip!"

"I found the murderer in Bavaria mistress." Grayback said. "He is in Fussen, on the Austrian border."

"You did not bring him to me." Bellatrix said glaring at the wolf.

"No mistress, he is well protected and hidden."

"I must see him." Bellatrix said. "You will take me wolf."

"Yes mistress." Grayback said. "Your wish is my command."

"So glad you understand that filth." Bellatrix said.

She knew how to deal with filth like Grayback, she would give him a few rewards for his service but he knew she was in charge here. She could kill him any time she wished and would if he did not obey her. He did not fully like the arrangement but it was better than what awaited him if he went out on his own. With the death of most of his pack and the refusal of new pups to join him he was in a vulnerable state and knew he needed the protection of Bellatrix to survive.

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The Burrow:

Lucius Malfoy stood quietly in the garden of the burrow. He looked around with interest and actually found it a peaceful and quiet place to be. He had learned so much over the last year, he had been a wicked spiteful man in his actions. So many had died because of him, yes he had saved some families but so many others had died. He himself felt as if he should not have been allowed to live. Still being here made him feel peaceful, it was a piece of heaven on earth he mused. That is until the gnome that popped up from a hole saw him gave a squeak at his smirk and swore at him.

"If you were in my garden I would have you working on my flowerbeds or as food for my dogs." Lucius said to the gnome who looked up at him and swore again. "I wonder which child taught you that?"

"All of them I am sure." Narcissa said as she walked to stand by him and looked at the gnome. "They are useful, if you can get them to work. If not for our elves I am not sure they would work. Dobby had a knack with them."

"He was an arrogant horrible elf…" Lucius began when his wife cut him off.

"No, you beat and tortured that elf so that he had no choice but to seek freedom you never treat a house elf like you did, no wonder he disliked you so!"

"Do not side with a house elf dear." Lucius began.

"I will, they are good creatures, take Kreacher if not for him Voldemort could have come back."

"Do not say his name!" Lucius hissed turning pale.

"I will, he nearly killed Severus, Draco and used you horribly, he was nothing more than a murderer and other things." Narcissa knew full well what Voldemort had done to her husband as she was still helping Lucius get over that.

Lucius knew she was right, however before the conversation could continue Molly appeared and ushered them into the burrow. She was prepared for rude remarks but was not prepared for how humbled both the Malfoy's looked. It was as if they had been given the honor to enter Buckingham palace and Molly was the queen. Lucius loved the place at once, his once hard heart was softened and he could feel the love that filled this humble yet great home. He loved it at once and wished his own cold manor could feel like this home. Oh yes he had all money could buy, and the Weasleys did not, yet they were richer than he by far because of all the love that was here.

"It's not much but safer than Grimmauld Place right now." Molly said.

"It's beautiful." Narcissa said.

"It is rather." Lucius said.

"Well in that case you may stay for tea." That last coming from Arthur. "The order is meeting here."

He walked up to the tall aristocratic Malfoy who looked so humbled now. Arthur never in a million years thought that he would see such a look on a Malfoy. However he had seen it in the eyes of Draco last year and he saw it in the eyes of Lucius now. He knew Lucius had been through hell under Voldemort, he had a pretty good idea what Voldemort had done to him. He was willing to help Lucius as he knew it was the right thing, old rivalries had to be put behind them if they were to survive in this new world. Harry was right, fighting and showing nothing but contempt was not going to work, they had to unite and Arthur was humbling himself just as much as Lucius was.

"Arthur I have been a wicked evil fool." Lucius said. "How can you forgive me of what I have done?"

"Because it's the right thing to do." Arthur said slowly. "I mean to not do so kind of puts me on the same page as Voldemort and other dark lords. Harry was right, we have to stop fighting each other and work together."

"Out of the mouth of babes." Lucius said. "He was more than generous, he allowed those who surrendered their freedom to stay with their families. If I were him I would have had me beheaded and hung said head on a pike."

"What good would that do?" Molly said. "You do have skills that are needed."

"Such as?" Lucius said.

"Well you are Slytherin and as Severus and I were the only ones for a time in the order you are needed." Mad-eye Moody said slumping up to stand before Lucius. "I got both eyes on you boy, you mess up again and I will take a whip to you."

"Alastor!" Molly warned him.

"No he has every right Mrs. Weasley." Lucius said. "He knows I will not be stupid like I was before."

"I love Veritaserum." Moody said smiling thinly.

"Yes I am all too aware of that Mad-eye." Severus said entering the room trying to glare at Moody but failing.

"Do not test me boy." Moody said to him. "Next time I use Veritaserum on you I will make it myself and I am not sure I do make that right."

"Yes you are a dismal potions maker." Severus said to Moody.

"Severus to you everyone is dismal at potions." McGonagall said coming into the room.

"I am the best Minerva and I want everyone to know that." Severus said.

"You are impossible." Minerva said.

"Thank you." Severus said smirking.

Lucius had never seen Severus banter with McGonagall like this before. He did not think it would be wise to laugh and so he did not. He took a seat at the scrubbed wooden table and after being defended by both Severus and Mad-eye from McGonagall who was enjoying seeing how easy it was to annoy the senior Malfoy the meeting got under way. Lucius just wished he could be like Severus. He never showed much more than a flash of annoyance when he was annoyed by McGonagall but Lucius knew he colored, the curse of a Malfoy he knew.

At this first meeting he had to deal with being grilled on his motives and why he was here and if he really was going to help them. Yet he did not mind, no-one tried to torture or hurt him or really even insult him. This was a far cry from being a death eater, this was more like family and he wished he could take back the past and had done what Severus had done and turned spy. It would not be the last time for him to think this way either.

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The title of the chapter is more about feelings than anything else. Bellatrix is black, evil and cruel. The contrast is Lucius Malfoy, I wanted to show how he has started to change for the better, and I wanted him in the order as well. He is on probation and does not have to help out but I thought that he would want to as he needs to make up for how horrible he had been as he did take a major dose of humble pie as it were. He needs to work for his reformation, and he wants to. Oh he will still be a stuck up jerk at times but he really does want to do the right thing here.

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