Author's note: You may feel a tiny little bit sorry for Bellatrix in this chapter. But only for a second or two. I'm sure she'll lose that sympathy vote further on in the story! SA

'I can hardly wait, I can hardly wait,

I can hardly wait, I can hardly wait.

Been so long, I've lost my taste,

Say Angel come, Say lick my face,

Let fall your dress, I'll play the part,

I'll open this mouth wide, eat your heart.'

"Hardly wait" – PJ Harvey

Tuesday 6th June, 2000

'My Lord, Is there anything else you wish me to arrange for the ceremony?' Narcissa Malfoy stood before him expectantly. She was too good for Lucius. Brains, beauty and common sense. Calm and composed as well, unlike her erratic, volatile sister.

She was an excellent hostess too, he had attended to some of the gatherings she and Lucius had held at their home. She was the ideal choice for preparing the arrangements he wanted.

'No, that is all for now, Narcissa. I trust you to help the girl with her own arrangements. She may have some free rein, but they must meet my approval.' Narcissa nodded. 'Of course. my Lord, I understand. I'll make sure the girl does too.' She bowed and exited the room.

Voldemort walked around the room, deep in contemplation. He had not visited the girl since the night she was brought to him, not even in her dreams. He had wanted to, but had refrained from doing so. He could exercise patience when he chose and it was part of her punishment. She was a person who craved company and stimulation, and solitary confinement would make her suffer.

The torture of Black had worked well in bringing her to heel. He'd had no real intention of killing Black so soon, for he'd needed him to give all the information he held about the Order first. The sight of her protectors blood spilling on the floor had the girl screaming with fear and terror. He had sensed a close bond between the two and ever suspicious, had probed their minds.

Black was a handsome and charismatic man, who would have no trouble in turning the head of a young woman. If he had dared touch what was his... But the girl's mind held nothing suspicious, only a friendship between them. Black's had been harder to penetrate. Despite his injured state, a steel ring protected his deep inner thoughts. He could only sense fatherly concern for the girl from Black's mind and hoped that was all there was. Black would suffer if he discovered otherwise. Torture would be the only way to extract information that Black held about the Order he wanted.

He had been secretly amused by the reports of the girl's insolence to Narcissa and Bella. He could not help but admire her fiesty nature. However he had not appreciated her disdain for giving him an heir. Bella could not wait to tell him of what she had said. He had punished the girl for her insult, food had been withheld from her for a few days. Just another small example of who was her master. She would learn...he would teach her.

Once the ceremony was over, he would surrender himself to the pleasure of taking her body and soul. He relished it, for it had been some time since a female had aroused and enticed him as much as she did. He liked the fire in her, though she still hadn't learned to contain it yet, as her insolence had shown. He did not wish to extinguish it completely though.

Bella was a pleasing bed mate, but she was, how could he put it? Cloying, and needy. She would do anything he wanted, anything to pleasure him. She was too willing and pliable and he was finding her extremely irritating.

But the thrill of seeing the girl's fear, repulsion and arousal in her eyes when she looked at him was deliciously intoxicating. The look he saw in Bella's eyes when he bedded her was akin to love, and it caused him to shudder in disgust at the thought of it.

And Bella was ageing, her body no longer having its youthful freshness. The girl's body was soft and supple, elegantly slender, and he hardened at the thought of it. Not long to wait before you can indulge your desires, he thought to himself and smiled darkly.

As he continued his reverie, Voldemort mused on how it would surprise many that he was a man who liked things done properly, wished to uphold certain conventions and traditions. If he was to have a child, then a marriage would take place with the mother before he impregnated her. His child would be the product of an official union between himself and the girl.

He knew some of his followers were clearly surprised, unnerved and disgusted by the news he was going to marry the mudblood witch. He smiled to himself. Not that they will dare to question or challenge my plans.

He could understand their feelings, for taking a mudblood witch as a wife went against the ethos he and his followers believed in. He of course knew that there was more to this girl than anyone suspected. Even the girl was unaware of who she truly was, and he would reveal the truth when he chose to.

How he enjoyed holding sway over so many people, having them at his command, feeding on their fear and subjugation. Watching them react to his every whim and wish. It was a uniquely satisfying feeling.

Everything was going the way he wanted and his plans were coming to fruition. He had the girl and now Sirius Black was broken. The damned Order of the Phoenix could be annihilated at last. Soon, his everlasting dynasty would rule the Wizarding and muggle worlds.

xox

'I can't stand it Cissie! He can't marry that filthy whore, he can't!' Bella flew around the room, apoplectic with rage. She had almost fainted when she had heard the news. Their lord, her Lord was marrying that mudblood witch!

'What about me?' she had screamed inwardly. She had wanted to go to him, ask, no, demand him to explain what he was doing. Only Lucius and Cissie had prevented her.

'Calm yourself sister! This will do you no good. He is marrying the girl and that is an end to it.' Narcissa tried yet again to calm her sister and still her jealous rage.

She was losing her head and Narcissa knew the danger Bella was in if she dared to challenge Voldemort on his decisions. His mistress she may be, but he would show no favour or mercy to Bella if she dared question him on this matter.

'An end to it? How can you say that Cissie?' Bella continued to pace relentlessly, her dark, wild eyes glittering with fury. 'You know how I feel about our master! He is everything to me, I can't, and I won't share him with filth like her!'

Narcissa sighed. 'Bella, dearest, I know your feelings for our master, you have told me often enough. But you cannot hope to bind him to you. He will not tolerate it. He will never return the feelings you have for him. He does not love, he is not capable of it.'

Bella's eyes continued to glitter, but now tears formed. Narcissa put a comforting arm around her sister's shoulders. But Bella shrugged off her sister's contact and continued to move around the room, making her way to the window. She took a deep breath and stared outwards.

Eventually she turned slightly, looking back at her sister. 'I don't care if he doesn't or can't love me Cissie. I love him and I would be his perfect companion. I would worship him, be his slave, and do anything for him.' Bella sighed and turned round fully to meet her sister's sympathetic gaze.

'When Rodolphus died, I was sure, I hoped he would consider taking me as his consort and companion. Me, his faithful and constant servant. He desires me, he takes me to his bed! At least he did, until that mudblood bitch came along!' Bella's temper rose again in hot fury.

'He has stopped asking me to come to his bed since she arrived!' Bella began to pace again, looking deep in thought. 'I know! If I went to him and suggested that instead of marrying her, he just beds her and gets her with child! Then, once she has given birth, he can get rid of her and allow me to bring up his child!' Bella grinned at the idea. Her face took on the manic appearance of someone losing their grip on reality.

Narcissa flew to her sister, gripping her arms and shaking her in frustration. 'Enough Bella! What you are suggesting is madness! Do you really think he will listen to you? Our master; this man you love, his only real love is power, control, domination and greatness.'

Bella began to speak once more, but Narcissa cut her off. 'You have seen what he will do to achieve it. How many people have died for him to obtain his desires? You know that nothing and no-one is allowed to stand in his way. He allows no-one to countermand, challenge or disagree with him.'

And you wish to go before him and suggest to him he changes his plans to marry this girl? That you tell him what to do? I won't let you do it Bella. You are my sister and I love you. I won't let you destroy yourself!'

Bella looked into her sisters impassioned, loving eyes and the tears began to fall. Narcissa folded Bella in her arms and soaked up her sister's pain.