The air was thick with anticipation as Voldemort prepared to leave for Malfoy Manor. He stood in the dimly lit room, his pale fingers tracing the contours of his wand. Lucius Malfoy, ever the sycophant, hovered nearby, ready to accompany him.

- Make sure we retrieve Bellatrix's wand. - Voldemort instructed, his voice cold and commanding. - It's essential for her to return to us. We can't afford any mistakes with the Vanishing Cabinet plan. Schedule a meeting with the others for later today. This needs to be executed flawlessly.

Lucius nodded, his brow furrowed with concern. The gravity of their mission weighed heavily in the air, but the prospect of Bellatrix's return seemed to invigorate the dark wizard.

Meanwhile, in Voldemort's house, the witch stirred awake. The soft light filtering through the curtains revealed an unfamiliar room, its grandeur overshadowed by her confusion. She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, and glanced around. Where was she? The absence of a house-elf left her feeling strangely unanchored.

Nagini slithered beside her, eyes watchful, like a guardian intent on keeping her in line. Bellatrix felt a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. She had been so lost in her thoughts, in the chaos of her dreams and nightmares, that she hadn't fully absorbed her surroundings. Now, with Voldemort gone, she was free to explore—but what secrets did the house hold?

As she moved through the corridors, the silence seemed to whisper to her, urging her to uncover what lay beneath the surface. She opened door after door, peeking into rooms filled with dark artifacts and chilling decor. Each step drew her deeper into a labyrinth of mystery. What was he hiding? What did he want her to see—or not see?

In one of the dimly lit rooms, her eyes fell upon a small desk. Curiosity piqued, she approached it and discovered an old photograph nestled between papers. It depicted a moment she had nearly forgotten: her and Voldemort standing close, a flicker of warmth in his eyes that now seemed foreign. She felt a pang in her heart as nostalgia washed over her.

Next to the photograph was a letter addressed to her. The envelope was slightly yellowed with age, the ink elegant yet haunting. She opened it, her breath catching as she read the words penned a year after the Yule Ball when Voldemort had fled Hogwarts.

"Dear Bella,

Happy Yule. I have been thinking of you and the choices that lie ahead. I wish to extend an invitation for you to join me. Together, we can achieve greatness. You would be a valuable addition to my cause."

Her eyes lingered on the ink, now faded with time. The letter, left unsent, hung heavy in the air, as though it carried a weight she hadn't expected. He had thought of her. Not just as another follower but as someone special. Someone he had wanted by his side, even before he had become the Dark Lord before everything had changed.

"He could have told me this sooner", she thought, her chest tightening. "Why hadn't he?". The letter felt both like a gift and a curse

—proof that he had seen her, valued her, even back then. But it was also a reminder of all the time she had spent doubting her importance to him.

But he has decided not to send this.

She folded the letter carefully, sliding it into her dress pocket, her fingers brushing against the fabric as if to reassure herself it was still there. A keepsake-her own secret.

Yet, it left her with questions she couldn't ignore. Had he ever truly planned to send it?

Or had he always meant to leave her guessing, just as he had done for so many years?

With renewed determination, she resumed her exploration of the house. She could sense that Voldemort's presence lingered in the air, filling her with both hope and anxiety. What future awaited her in this dark world? As she ventured deeper into the unknown, she felt a flicker of excitement at the thought of what would come next—the moment Voldemort returned, and their paths intertwined once more.

Bellatrix goes back to the room where she woke up. Sat on a chair and just stared at the windows, waiting for Voldemort to come back. Nagini continues next to her, paying attention to every movement.

- What are you thinking about, Bellatrix? - his voice breaks the silence. - Are you feeling any better?

- Oh, my Lord, yes. - she says fixing her posture.

He sits in front of her and holds her hand. She gets paralyzed.

- The trembling stopped, and you're warm again. That's good. - he looks deep into her eyes. - We're going to practice today, here's your wand.

He handles it back to her and it's the same feeling as when she was eleven years old at Olivander's store.

- Thank you, Master. - she smiles. - When can we start?

- Now.

They go to his garden and start with simple spells and about an hour later Bellatrix is connected enough with her wand to try to duel. He goes easy on her, taking a lot of breaks so she doesn't feel so tired or overwhelmed.

- That's enough for today. You're still very good at this.

- Thank you, Master.

- Don't thank me, that's all you. - he gives a tiny smile. - Narcissa gave me some potions for you, to help you with your nightmares and trembling. - he says while going back inside.

Voldemort leads her to a small room. It only had a fireplace, some chairs, and a small bookshelf, but the windows were big and showed a great view of a forest that seemed to go on forever. They sit facing one another.

- We're going back to the Malfoy's later. - he said. - Rodolphus could locate the Vanishing Cabinet, so now we need to train Draco.

- Will I train him?

- Yes. But I'll be there watching you. Until I am sure you can be alone. - he takes a deep breath. - It's better if you get some things to bring here, you'll be here a while.

- Yes, Master.

Silence remains in the room, but it's comfortable. Bellatrix just enjoys the view, all those years barely seeing the light… that view was extremely peaceful. Voldemort started studying something but after a while, he started looking at Bellatrix. She looked extremely beautiful and peaceful.

- What are you thinking about, Bella?

She doesn't even think before answering, she just shouts:

- When did you decide to call me a Death Eater?

That was a surprise. Voldemort could never see this coming.

- I think I have always known, since Hogwarts.

- When you called me and my family, I was about to get married. Do you remember that?

- Yes! Why you ask?

- I waited for you. I'd go to the owlery and wait for hours during the night, waiting for you to come back for me. - she said that with a little bit of anger in her voice. Where was that coming from?

- I did come, didn't I? - his tom was several.

She didn't answer for a while.

- I was coming home from my last year at Hogwarts with a diamond ring on my finger. When I got in with Rodolhus you were just there. You barely looked at me. - Voldemort got confused about why she was saying all of that. - You treated me like I was no better than all of the others.

- You're not like them. - he said immediately.

- So why didn't you show me that?

- What's that all about, Bellatrix?

- All I ever desired was to be seen by you. - her voice was calm and almost sweet now. - Why didn't you ever tell me I was bigger than any other Death Eater for you?

- I thought you knew. Isn't that obvious?

- I knew I was better. I've never been sure I meant something to you.

Silence again. No answers to that. Voldemort just went back to his book and Bellatrix went back to her trees.

When the night made itself present they went to the Malfoy Mansion. The dinner was a bit more intimate than last night: Malfoys, Lestranges, and Voldemort. Almost like a family gathering.

They celebrated a bit the successful mission and decided on what Draco's training would be. He'd spend the next couple of months studying all he could about duels at Hogwarts and every time he came home, his aunt would teach him a new charm.

Bellatrix went to her bedroom at her sister's house to get some of her things and Rodolphus saw his chance to be alone with her.

He hugged her from behind and turned her to him.

- Oh, hi! You've scared me. I need to finish this. - she says trying to gently get out of his arms.

- Why are you getting all your things? You should stay here, last night was just one scare. I can take care of you now.

She hated this idea. She wanted to spend more time with her Master.

- I need to go, Rod.

- Why?

She didn't know what to say.

- I just have to. - she holds his head in her hands. - You can understand, right? He's training me again, after all this time without magic. I'll be back before you notice. - Even though she didn't want it.

- What about all those years without you? How do you think I feel about that? - He said as he pulled her body closer. - I want you with me.

Rodolphus kisses her with desire and it's hard for her not to retribute. Rodolphus's hands gripped her waist as he pulled her closer, his body pressing against hers with need. Bellatrix closed her eyes, feeling his lips on hers, trying to focus on the sensation of being wanted. "You owe him this.", she thought, though the words felt hollow like they didn't quite fit.

- I need to go, Rod. - she whispered.

- You don't. I'm the one that needs you.

Her body responded automatically, the heat between them building. His touch was familiar, and yet something was off. As Rodolphus kissed her, his hands moving with urgency, her mind wandered back to the letter in her pocket. The one she couldn't stop thinking about.

"What if he had sent it? Would everything have been different?"

When Rodolphus laid her back on the bed, she felt a surge of guilt. She wasn't sure if it was because of Voldemort, or because she was going through the motions of something that should have felt right but didn't. Rodolphus's hands roamed her body, and she could feel him hardening against her, ready for her, but her mind was far away.

She kissed him back with a force she didn't feel, letting her body take over. When he finally entered her, she gasped, the sensation pulling her back to the present. It felt good, and yet, something was wrong. As he thrust into her, Bellatrix forced herself to focus on the physical pleasure, the way his body moved against hers, trying to shut out the gnawing sense of betrayal.

"You're his wife. This is normal. This is what he expects."

It was good, it felt good. But the guilt persisted, curling in her chest, even as Rodolphus came, groaning softly into her neck.

When he finally pulled away, laying next to her, his body warm and heavy with satisfaction, Bellatrix stared up at the ceiling. She forced a smile when he called her "hot," but deep down, she wanted to cry.

- I need to go, now. - she says and manages to get out of there in a couple of minutes.

- There you are, Msr. Lestrange. I was just waiting for you. - Lord Voldemort says while getting up and ready to go.

- Yes, Master, we should go.