Pooh.

You know, Bella never actually thought she would miss spending time with Narcissa. Naturally, the woman drove her absolutely insane while she was pregnant, and she was somewhat clingy to her and - shockingly! - their mother for the first week after Draco was born. However, three weeks had passed, and it was the end of June, and she no longer needed either of them. In fact, her little sister had mastered the art of taking care of an infant. To be honest, it wasn't difficult. When Bella was there, all it did was sleep, though it had to be changed an awful lot, and fed all the time... Bit of a pain really, but she had become somewhat taken with Draco. He was her nephew and godson, and with that came a certain weight of responsibility. Not that they let her do much after she accidentally knocked the baby's head against the window frame when she was leaning out. Honestly, they should have been more upset that she was leaning out an open window with the brat in her arms, not that she had knocked his head. More like a bump, really. Anyway. Narcissa had become somewhat hesitant to let her older sister hold her new son, though Bella was sure it would pass.

Within the past three weeks, Rodolphus had actually gotten a job. He had taken his rather ridiculous love for Quidditch and put it into working with some of the league's member doing... something. She wasn't particularly sure what he was doing, because she only listened to him half of the time he spoke, and usually that was when he was insulting her. All she knew was that it got him out of the house for eight hours a day, like a real job should, and Bella was stuck by herself. She didn't really have any girly friends like Narcissa did. Her sister had lots who also had children, and they'd all get together and discuss babies and domestic skills and good house elf etiquette. Well. The Lestranges had one elf, and she hid most of the time in her work. In fact, Bellatrix rarely even saw her. Not that she would look to that filthy thing for company, but it would be nice to have movement in the house. She couldn't bring herself to go see her mother - she would never be that desperate - but to be honest, there was really no one else to entertain her. Death Eaters, while some were friends, liked to stay away from each other to avoid any sort of suspicion, and Bellatrix hadn't dared visit the Dark Lord's home on a whim in months.

With a sigh, Bella stared out the window of her home, watching as a couple of deer strolled out of the nearby forest. Dear Lord this was a dull place to live. She wasn't completely sure why they didn't live in Rodolphus' old flat... At least it was downtown and in the city life. She could amuse herself by snatching Muggles and tormenting them! Oh, that was an idea! Her dark eyes sparkled as she mulled it over, but she was torn from her thoughts when she faintly heard a knock at the door. Glancing over her shoulder, she wrinkled her nose at the presence of the house elf, "What?"

"A man here to see you, Missus."

Her heart skipped a few beats. What man would see her, if not the Dark Lord? Instantly she was on her feet, and she casually brushed off the deep lavender dress that hugged her curves, "Show him in."

The elf nodded as she ran a hand through her hair, though she paused as the man stepped into the room. He wasn't anyone that she recognized. In fact, he seemed a touch young for her. Tall, somewhat slim, with dark brown hair and green eyes. He almost looked like a student, maybe someone who had just graduated. Arching an eyebrow, she placed her hands on her hips, "What do you want, boy?"

He smirked, "I'm here on assignment for the Dark Lord."

Her eyes raked over him, and she took a few steps forward, glaring down her nose at him, "Oh really? Prove it."

"I shouldn't need to. If you don't want to help him, then I'll return, tell him that, and he can find someone else."

Bold brat, wasn't he? Bellatrix felt her eyes narrow at him, and she stalked toward him, "Of course I want to help, don't be stupid."

"He needs you to put this in your family safe at Gringotts."

She studied the item in his hand, and then snatched it up to get a closer look. It was a large cup of some sort, elegantly crafted, with a large 'H' on the front. There were yellow gemstones encrusted deep within, and it was clear that it was an item of importance. But how could she be sure this brat was truly working for the Dark Lord? She had never seen him before. Holding the cup close to her, she continued to stare up at him, scrutiny in her eyes, "What's your name?"

"Tom."

"Tom?" she repeated, her foot kicking out as she began to circle him, "And how long have you been in the Dark Lord's service, Tom?"

He chuckled, "For as long as I can remember."

"Oh?"

Perhaps one of his parents were older Death Eaters... They wouldn't be the first to bring their children into the regime while they were in their teens. She did know for a fact that the Dark Lord wouldn't give any of them his Mark until they were at least of age. This boy looked of age, but there was no way to see it without actually using the Dark Lord.

"I can tell you about the mark on your forearm, if you want more evidence," he remarked, his eyes darting over to him as she mused. She arched an eyebrow once more, and then sighed, "No. That won't be necessary. But you mustn't be so brazen about your assignment. Anyone could be listening from anywhere. I'm sure the Dark Lord would not be pleased if you let any secrets slip because you were too incompetent to keep your mouth shut."

"I promise to behave in the future."

"Don't be flippant with me," she snarled, calling for her house elf and ordering it to fetch the black traveling cloak. "Now tell me about this. What does the Dark Lord wish for me to do?"

"We are to deliver this to your vault and ensure that it is... safe."

"Very well. Did the Dark Lord say why he wanted you to bring this to me? Couldn't he just come here himself?"

"You question his actions?"

The sharpness of his tone threw her for a moment, and she slipped into her cloak, "Of course not! I was merely hoping he would come tell me personally."

"You think yourself high in his favour."

"Above all others," she remarked snootily, tucking the cup safely in her cloak as she pulled out her wand. Within a moment, the two were standing in Diagon Alley, the summer breeze engulfing them instantly. Pocketing her wand, she marched up the pearly white stairs of the bank, Tom close behind. She ignored the two men who held open the doors for her, and the sound of her heels clacking echoed noisily through the bank's main lobby.

"Madame Lestrange," a goblin greeted, suddenly appearing at her side. Merlin, they were quite a sight. Bella would like nothing more than to pick them up by the ears and hurl them across the hall. However, she had to constantly remind herself that she was in the general public now, and she could not appear as anything more than a civilian. Her identity of a Death Eater had managed to stay hidden for now, and she intended to keep it that way for as long as possible.

"I wish to deposit something in the Lestrange family vault," she stated, retrieving the cup and holding it out for a quick examination. The creature nodded after turning it over in its hands a few times, and she tapped the toe of her shoe impatiently. Tom was silent behind her, simply watching. As he should be, now that he knew the Dark Lord held her at such a position. Honestly, who did he think he was, coming in and giving her all that snotty attitude? Someone needed to put him in his place. Now. Perhaps Bella would request if she could be the one to do it.

When the cup was finally handed back to her, she let out an irritated sigh, sounding bored with the whole situation, and followed the creature to sign a few routine papers about depositing items into the vault. She hadn't gotten her key - stupidly - but for such an 'esteemed customer', they were always willing to let her use the spare that was held on file. Within a good fifteen minutes, she and Tom were seated next to each other, uncomfortably close, on a little cart that was taking them to the depths of the bank. The boy sitting next to her still hadn't really said much, but that suited her just fine. She was on a quick assignment for the Dark Lord, one that would please him, and she didn't need to be hassled or force conversation with the man's messenger boy. The cart came to an abrupt halt, causing its occupants to jolt forward a touch. She glared at the driver, and then scrambled out. Her heels once again echoed as she moved across the cement floor, though she could hear Tom following in pursuit. Thrusting the key into the appropriate hole, she glanced over her shoulder to ensure he wasn't gawking, then performed a number of odd little necessary tasks in order to get the vault to open, along with three turns of the key.

As the large door swung open, she smirked at the contents inside. There were countless treasures that she and her husband had stolen from people they had... disposed of along the way over the past year or so. It was fun, collecting things from them. They weren't necessarily worth a great deal, but it was always a fun little reminder. As carefully as she could, Bellatrix set the cup down deep in the vault, assuring herself that it would be relatively safe here. When she turned around, however, she ended up walking smack into Tom's figure.

"What the Hell are you doing?" she snapped, glaring at the boy. Her hand darted down for her wand, but Tom grasped it suddenly, then pulled her out of the way, his own wand out and trained at the cup. Her eyes widened, and for a moment she thought he was going to somehow destroy it, then blame it on Bella.

Paranoia was an irritating thing.

"No!" she hissed, trying to lash out at his hand and drag his wand down. She was, however, unsuccessful, and he gave her a shove back, sending her stumbling into a pile of linens and expensive rugs. She landed in a heap, and when she looked back up heatedly, she saw him soundlessly casting some spells on the cup, "What are you doing?!"

Didn't he realize that one shouldn't tamper with the Dark Lord's objects?! Did that not make sense to anyone but herself? She struggled to her feet, "How dare you-"

"Quiet, Bella," he snapped. The woman frowned; why did that seem familiar? She watched as he moved toward the cup, then hunched over it, studying it only for a moment before stepping away, "It needs to be charmed, Bella, so that no one else will ever touch it. You yourself must not, under any circumstances, touch it. Do I make myself clear?"

Her mouth opened and closed several times, stunned, and she inched closer to him, "Who are you?"

He straightened up and ran a hand over his cotton t-shirt, "Bella... I cannot simply walk around Diagon in my normal manner. A disguise is necessary."

Stunned, Bella leaned back against one of the rolled rugs, "My Lord?"

"Your loyalty to me is unwavering," he sighed, turning to study her as he tucked his wand in his pocket, "and I must impose on you the importance of keeping this cup safe for as long as you live."

Although she still couldn't believe it, she could suddenly see it in his eyes. They were somewhat similar to how his eyes had been before, and he called her by her pet name... She swallowed thickly, "Of course, my Lord. It will remain here, untouched."

"Good."

Her eyes followed him as he started to retreat out of the vault, but she couldn't let her curiosity slide any longer, "What is it, if I may ask?"

"Helga Hufflepuff's cup," he replied, giving the object one final glance before returning his gaze to her, "and it will keep me alive forever."

"Really?" she whispered excitedly, hopping over a trunk so that she could stand closer to him, "How does that work?"

"Now, Bella," he chuckled, patting her cheek delicately, "I can't tell you all my secrets."

He reached down and wrapped his hand around her wrist, and began to lead her out. She followed in somewhat of a daze, simply adoring the close contact, even if he no longer looked how he looked at the present. His current guise was still mildly attractive, and now that she knew it was him, she could instantly see his inner persona beneath the exterior.

"Why didn't you just tell me it was you?" she murmured as they stepped out of the vault, his hand still wrapped firmly around her slim wrist. With something of an amused twinkle in his eye, he glimpsed back at her as a goblin began closing the vault door, "Now, what fun would that have been? I have to keep you on your toes, Bella."

The thud of her beating heart no doubt matched the loud 'clang' of the vault door officially swinging shut and locking down. Merlin, he was brilliant. Although she disliked what he turned her into - a weak and goo-goo eyed little girl - she couldn't deny he had brightened up her day of boredom considerably. If only he would do it more often...