A/N; I hope you guys don't mind Ch. 4 or this one. I suppose they're serving as little icebreakers to get my creative juices flowing again – can't immediately thrust myself back into the ultimate darkness that is Bellatrix Lestrange :) Enjoy!

"Did you not think that I would find out about this sooner or later, Bella?" a snakelike voice whispered directly behind where the black haired Death Eater had seated herself. "Did you think you could fool me?!" it demanded. "This is not the time for foolishness! The Prophecy has been destroyed and circumstances that were unforeseen by me have shown themselves. There is no time for games." The lecture ceased for a moment. Bellatrix had yet to move a muscle in the uncomfortable wooden chair. Her long, bony fingers were wrapped around each arm tightly. The room was dimly lit but she managed to fix her gaze at the stone wall that was not even five feet away.

Ever since the night at the Ministry of Magic, the Dark Lord had been making Bellatrix feel worthless. She was his most loyal follower, she spent many years in Azkaban for him and still returned to his side more willing than ever. She devoted her entire self to him, and what did she get in return? Reprimanded, beat up, and threatened. Of course she was going to act out and not entirely follow his wishes. Especially after finding out that he had been sharing his plans with Snape! She had spent some time trying to convince her Dark Lord that he was not a person to be trusted, but nothing good for her came out of it. She had spent that night being the Dark Lord's plaything, helpless against him. She thoughtlessly brought her right hand up underneath her left breast – the Dark Lord had given her a present that would remind her of that night forever. Sometimes, she thought she could still feel it burning...

He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head back tightly so she couldn't move it. She could feel his breath, hot on her skin. Her breathing quickened and both hands were returned to their rightful spots, gripping the wooden arms of the chair. Her black fingernails were digging into the wood quite successfully and the skin on top of her knuckles turned so white it seemed to shine in the darkness. "I'm sorry my Lord," she said through clenched teeth. This was a quality that the Dark Lord liked in Bellatrix – she was fast to put up a fight. He had no doubt that she would be forever his, faithful until the day she died. She was one his best and favorites, so much anger welled up inside of her and ready to take it out on anyone he ordered. A low, throaty chuckle erupted from the Dark Lord and he tightened his grip on her. "Do I sense some hostility, dear Bella?" He thrust her head back a bit more. She let out a grunt and gripped the arms tighter. He could just feel the anger and fear dripping off of her.

Voldemort moved his head in closer to hers and inhaled deeply. "Is Bella jealous? Have I not been paying enough attention to my dear, sweet Bella?" With this, he thrust her head forward and moved so he was in front of her. "Am I going to have to dispose of my dear, sweet Bella before she causes something else to happen without my command?!" His voice grew louder as he continued on.

Bellatrix immediately fell on her knees before him. "Please, my Lord! I am here to serve you," she begged. "I waited for your return all those years in Azkaban, I killed Sirius Black! Have I not always been on your side!?" she reminded him. "I live to serve you, my Lord. I am entirely yours," she said, looking up at the familiar snake-like face that she had missed for entirely too long.

Voldemort paused for a moment, looking down at Bellatrix and then straight ahead, holding his breath while in thought. "Get up," he ordered and she quickly scrambled to her feet. "I have just thought of something that we could make out of this mess that you've caused," he announced, letting his dagger-eyes rest on Bella's face. Her face lit up and her black eyes darkened even more with the thought of pleasing the Dark Lord, her Dark Lord.

"Perhaps you've done good, Bellatrix. You may continue with the Granger girl until I direct you to do otherwise. You are to get information about the boy or anything else I may need when I tell you to, and only when I tell you to. You will not direct your business here unless I permit you to do so. Do you understand?"

Bellatrix was staring straight ahead. This meant her fun was practically over unless she had a death wish at the hands of the Dark Lord. She knew he would be watching her, testing her, making sure she did not step out of line. She felt an immense amount of pain on her left cheek and at the same time let out a bone-chilling cry. "You speak when spoken to, Bellatrix," Voldemort stated forcefully. "Now do you understand?" Bellatrix took a moment to look up at him through her narrowed black eyes, making it clear she did not agree with or like anything he was saying. An eerie smile appeared across his lips at this sight, revealing two rows of sharp teeth. He had always allowed her to have her fun when it was under his command, when she was completing a task that he sent her to do. But she was out of line and she needed to be put back in order, he couldn't risk having anything else go wrong at this point. "Yes, my Lord," she finally replied.

"You may go."

And with this, she pushed herself up out of the chair with such a force that it went flying backwards. With a flick of her wand the door unlocked and opened and she disappeared into the darkness. She was infuriated, and there was only one person who could fix that. She would follow the Dark Lord's orders and give him what she wanted. And she would have her fun, too. Oh, she would make damn sure of that.