Chapter 37

Apologies for the wait. I have been looking for my inspiration and it took me a while to find it. Hope this is satisfactory. Please let me know if you like this or what you'd like to see happen next. Thanks all.

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"You're exceptionally quiet today Bella,' murmured the Dark Lord as he looked at her from across the room where she sat in a huge armchair, a book resting comfortably in her lap. Voldemort looked from across the room at her. She has been looking down at the same page for the past half an hour. Her mind was still elsewhere, not that he can read her mind these days.

Abruptly, he dropped a heavy leather-bound book to the floor, startling her.

"I'm sorry,' he said raising his eyebrows. 'I didn't mean to startle you."

Not catching the sarcasm in his tone of voice she murmured back. "S'okay." She still did not look up at him and he was getting annoyed at the way she was ignoring him.

"You have a lot on your mind Bella. I know that there is something that you wish to ask me." He said to her as he picked up the book off the floor and manually putting it back onto the shelves instead of using his wand.

She looked up at him with wide-eyes, wanting to take up his offer and ask him but hesitating still. The issue was a sensitive one, Bella knows it well. The Dark Lord is unforgiving when it comes to those who had betrayed him. But Bella knew in her heart that Rod could never have done that. Why would he?

"My Lord, do you believe that Rodolphus would betray you?" she said, her voice so soft one had a feeling it would dissolve into the breeze just as soon as the words leave her mouth.

"Had….he had betrayed me.' Voldemort replied looking back at her with a passive face, awaiting her reaction. When there was none, he continued, 'You think otherwise, I see."

"My Lord—'she began slowly, carefully choosing her words. 'Forgive me but I just do not see why he would resort to this. After all he's gone through for you….for us…." Bella paused for a moment as she studied his face wishing to be able to read what was going through his mind but couldn't.

"My Lord, Rodolphus went to Azkaban for you during the time when everyone else renounced your name. But Rodolphus…..Rodolphus and I, we refused to do so my Lord come what may." Her voice was full of passion as she reaffirmed to her Lord her's and Rodolphus' unwavering loyalty to him. 'And now….now….to betray you my Lord….it's just unfathomable."

"People can change. Don't you think so Bella?" he looked at her intently from his corner, his long forefinger caressing the left side of his temple.

Bella looked back at him, seemingly confused with his answer. "My Lord?" she muttered.

"I'm talking about you, Bella,' he paused. 'How funny it is that you have changed yourself and you do not even realize it."

"My Lord, forgive me but, I do not quite understand what you mean." Bella said as she edges out of her seat slowly but then stopped. Bella was not sure what to do with her self at this point.

"Your concern about this matter- shouldn't you be more upset that there are traitors within our ranks?" His eyes were turning slightly red. "I don't suppose that matters to you where Rodolphus is involved."

"My Lord, I….' she began, swallowing back a lump in her throat. Her hands started to grip firmly on the arm rests. 'Of course I am concerned about that my Lord. You know that I would do anything to weed out any traitors my Lord."

"If there's one concern of yours as of now it is only Rodolphus Lestrange. Do you still deny this?" he started moving towards her. He could feel adrenaline rushing through his veins as he tried to suppress his anger. Her silence made him even more heated. She was watching him, not uttering a word.

His wand was held firmly in his hand and she saw his eyes turn full scarlet. She stood up slowly, not in defiance but more in submission to him. She was well aware of what was coming to her. She just couldn't deny it, she couldn't lie to the Dark Lord. She just couldn't. She was very worried about Rod but she knew that she would dispose of anyone who gets in the way of the Dark Lord and the cause.

She waited for him, for that first strike of a spell so strong it numbs entire senses. As he got closer to her, her heart began pounding so hard and fast it felt like it was going to explode out of her chest. As he stood before her now, she could feel the faint stirring of his breath against her cheek, the tip of his wand pressing against her neck. She felt herself getting hot, feeling slightly turned on by his overpowering aura. Their eyes connected for a moment and before she knew it, his mouth was on hers. Her lips were hot against his cool mouth. His left hand had grabbed the back of her hair as he pulled at it roughly. Her hands held on to his back, desperate to feel the closeness of him. For once, it was as though things had suddenly become clearer to her. She does care about him, beyond idolization. For once, standing there In front of him with their bodies intertwined and their hands roaming all over each other, Bella suddenly realize that there was something that she had desired from him that he could never give her. Love.

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At least 20 people were in the restaurant as Bellatrix Black entered. Bella had a feeling that the loud silence that resounded in the elegantly decorated restaurant was still fresh. Furtive eyes followed her as she went in looking for the only one other person she had truly cared for besides the Dark Lord, Rodolphus Lestrange. Bella did not even care to exchange hellos or even to exchange glances with them. She just went about her own business though she was acutely aware of the sudden growth of whispers in the room. Nothing seems very different in this part of the world, her world that is.

The people here are after all "apparently fervent" supporters of the Dark Lord. Much to Bella's dislike however, they were all supporting the Dark Lord because of their own personal interests and not for his cause. These people are the crème de la crème of society or as Bella preferred to call them, dandelions. They have no convictions what so ever, preferring to bend in the direction of the wind. As of current, the Dark Lord's power is rapidly rising and his ideas of cultivating a pure society is getting acceptance in more places outside of England. Naturally, the people in this very room are responsible for the Dark Lord's political expenditures, providing funds for his propaganda and lavish Death Eater parties held in honour of him. And they so happily oblige for fear of their own lives. They knew that there isn't much that they can provide to the Dark Lord except for their money. They knew the Dark lord would leave them be if they remained as neutral parties with a slight outward inclination toward the Dark Lord's beliefs.

Personally, Bella had grown to hate this side of the world although she knew, not so long ago her own family was one of these 'dandelions'. Bella had grown up as a well-bred pureblood witch of one of the most noble and respected wizarding families. Her mother had taught her the proper mannerisms and etiquette of a pureblood lady and her father had taught her about the honour and strength that a pureblood woman should possess. Her own father had been a sponsor of the Dark Lord. But her father was different. Unlike other 'dandelions', Cygnus Black was one of those who are willing to go all out for the Dark Lord's cause. Cygnus had always believed in a 'pure' society, a society that is untouched by others who are less worthy by blood. He considers the birth of half-bloods and mudbloods in society as a contamination that must by all means be contained.

He had thus set out to raise his three daughters with the right mind set and ideas with regards to society, stressing to them importance of preserving the purity found in only the purest of bloods and bidding them to uphold the Black family tradition.

"Bella,' he had had said to her one day. 'you are my eldest and I love you dearly. Someday, you will find yourself a man of reputable background and substantial means. Remember my dearest, it is not important how a man looks at society, it is important how society looks at him."

Bella knew deep inside, it was true what her father had said. But to Bella, it was more important that she believed in what he said.

"Bella,' Avery called out to her as he saw her approaching the bar. As she came over closer to him, he continued. 'What are you doing here?" when she did not reply him, he continued. "Rod isn't here." This time, his voice was lowered and he was no longer looking at her. Instead, he turned back to his drink he had placed on the table. He felt her gaze on him though she still had not uttered a word. He downed the rest of his drink and looked up at her.

"Sit down Bella," he said. He was surprised when she pulled out a chair opposite his without arguing and sat down. He turned to two of his companions who were staring silently at Bella and beckoned for them to leave him and Bella alone. They simply nodded to Avery and left without a word. Avery began to lean in towards Bella. "Bella,' he began but paused for a few seconds before continuing. "The rumours have been spreading like wildfire. Everyone's heard about it. Rod's turned on us Bella, he's turned against the Dark Lord."