Bellatrix Lestrange

"I am devoted to all that will strengthen my cause, even your guidance in that matter." Alecto had taken under Bellatrix's wing to learn the meaning of pure evil, already drawn to the dark magic that wields there. "You are my family." She meant that, and perhaps one day, they would share a name.

"I only wish for him to be pleased, and perhaps, neglect the matter that fell afterwards." That extra body there would have prevented this, but all was well, and she was not going to further dwell on it. "I shall be well soon, and back to duties." Being restless did not suit her well.

Alecto saw it, dancing in Bellatrix's eyes, the possessiveness that came for the one she called her husband. Was that how she was feeling for Rabastan? "I do hope to see him when he visits." It was only a matter of time until he would, his brother always a priority, especially in matters like this.

"What have I missed, Bellatrix? I do love my time at the Lestrange Manor, but I am not one to sit idle for too long."

"Your dedication is commendable," she replied, her voice dripping with approval. "We are sisters in more than blood. Whatever you need, you know you can always come to me." She reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from Alecto's face, a rare gesture of tenderness.

"He will be pleased with your efforts. Do not fret over the minor missteps. In our line of work, such things are inevitable. What matters is how we handle them, how we rise above and continue to prove our worth." The witch replied in a reassuring tone.

Bellatrix's smiled. "You will see him soon enough, I am certain."

She straightened, her demeanour shifting back to one of command and control. "You have missed a few developments, but nothing we cannot catch you up on quickly. The Dark Lord's plans progress, and there is always work to be done. Your restlessness is understood, but remember, even in moments of stillness, we are preparing, plotting, and readying ourselves for the next move."

Bellatrix's smile returned, a touch more wicked now. "For now, recover your strength. We will need every bit of it for what lies ahead. And when you are ready, I will ensure you are brought fully up to speed."

She flinched as she was called a blood traitor. It was a name she had been called more than once before. Still to hear it with such venom coming from her own sister hurt more than it should have. "Don't be absurd Bellatrix, it was an accident. I wasn't paying attention." She would keep the feigned ignorance, even if her sister knew better. "I don't see you walking away!" She snapped. "If you cannot even stand to be in my vicinity then leave! You act affronted yet here you stand, yelling at me." She would not back down from Bellatrix, she was not afraid of her.

She took a step closer, her wand clenched tightly in her hand. "You dare to speak to me of leaving? It is you who should crawl away in shame! You, who betrayed your blood, your family, for that filthy Mudblood! You disgust me!"

Bellatrix's face contorted with rage, her eyes narrowing. "You are nothing but a stain on the noble House of Black." She laughed, a cold, harsh sound devoid of any mirth.

"You stand there, pretending to be brave, but I see through you, Andromeda. You are weak, and that weakness will be your undoing. I stay because I will not allow your disgrace to go unchecked. You think you can face me without fear?" Her voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Then you are more deluded than I thought."

Apolline had heard what happened at home, a letter sent from her mother, and at the end, it requested her to come home. She knew she would have to share with them what happened with Rabastan and why his family suddenly pulled away. She hated that she was disappointing her family, but she held no regret for her actions. He deserved to know how it felt to be powerless, that to have something held against him that he had no control of. The half-veela held no qualms for what she was. She had finally stepped into her her potential.

She was walking down the street, about to make it back to her flat, when she caught sight of a shadow from the corner of her eyes, turning around to find one covered by his robes and hood.

"Can I help you?"

"Help me?" Bellatrix's voice was a soft hiss, a snake winding its way through the darkness. "Oh, my dear, it's not me who needs help."

The hood of Bellatrix's cloak concealed most of her face, but her eyes shone with a malevolent glint, piercing through the shadows. With a sudden, almost delicate flick of her wand, Bellatrix cast the Imperius Curse, her eyes gleaming with a twisted delight as she felt the magic take hold. The wand, an extension of her will, hummed with dark power.

"Imperio," she murmured, her voice dripping with a chilling satisfaction. Bellatrix stepped closer, her lips curling into a cruel smile, the shadows deepening around her like a sinister cloak.

"Now, my little Veela, it's time for you to sleep," Bellatrix whispered, her words weaving through Apolline's thoughts with insidious ease. "Sleep now until I tell you to wake."

"I feel improved," he told her. "But this curse is stubborn and potent." As she sat down, he stood and moved to fix her a drink. "I would deal with her myself, Bella, but I do not dare to touch strong magic at present. I fear it would exceed me." Approaching the chaise, he handed the glass to her. "Well, tell me what I've missed. Is the Dark Lord displeased? I am doing what I can from here, but it's nothing compared to what I would normally achieve."

She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with intensity. “As for the Dark Lord, he is...impatient.” Her fingers drummed lightly against her other arm, a sign of her own barely-contained energy. “His displeasure is a force unto itself, one we must avoid at all costs. Your absence has been noted, and while your efforts from here are appreciated, they are insufficient.”

Bellatrix began pacing the room with a fierce, restless energy. “However, take heart. The Dark Lord understands the value of patience when it comes to his loyal followers. Your recovery is paramount. Once you are fully restored, your contribution will be more vital than ever.”

She paused, a wicked smile playing on her lips as she turned to face him accepting the glass. “Now, regarding that creature...leave her to me. She will learn the true meaning of suffering, courtesy of Bellatrix Lestrange.” Her eyes, dark and intense, bore into his as she took a measured sip.

Bellatrix stopped her pacing and stood tall, her face gleaming with a dark promise. Turning back to him, she raised her glass in a silent toast. “Drink up, Rabastan, and regain your strength. The Dark Lord’s plans are in motion, and we shall need every ounce of power to see them through.”

Her gaze softened, just slightly, as she added, “And remember, family stands together. You are never alone in this fight.”

"He would have to deal with me stealing your time, regardless." Time spent with Bella brought ease to her troubled, chaotic mind.

Here, whispers did not have to fill a room. Conversations could spill freely, concealed behind wards of protection. "I obtained what was needed." At a cost that might go against her, but Rabastan assured her that he would handle the situation.

"Said item was collected earlier today and taken to him." She was uncertain bringing up that she wasn't meant to go alone was wise.

"Is your dashing husband with you?" Since the gala, thoughts of having what the two had with Rabastan plagued her thoughts, thanks to the witch across from her.

"Alecto," Bellatrix began, her voice a silky purr, "time with you is never time stolen. It's time well spent, time that strengthens our cause and deepens our bond." Her smile widened, a touch of affection glinting in her eyes.

"I'm pleased to hear you secured the item. The Dark Lord will be pleased." The raven haired female replied not having doubted her friend for one second. Alecto was as dedicated and capable as Bellatrix herself.

"As for my husband," Bellatrix's smile turned a shade more possessive, "Rodolphus is attending to other matters. His presence, while comforting, is not always necessary for the tasks at hand. We each have our roles to play, and his... well, his talents are being utilized elsewhere tonight."

Their first stop had been Honeyduke's, the three of them all had a sweet tooth that was hard to resist. It was unsurprising that they'd left with a bag of goodies to take home. Dora had begged to see the joke shop, and with the twin pleading looks on both her husband and daughter's features she had waved them off with promises that she would join them. Since she was here she wanted a chance to stop by the Herbology store to stock up on items she currently was running low on.

She had been on her way when she had caught sight of that mass of dark curls and froze where she stood. She was suddenly glad that Ted and Dora weren't in sight. She would rather they didn't have to see whatever her sister might have to say to her. Emotions warred inside her as she looked at Bellatrix, unable to recall exactly how long it had been since she'd seen or spoke with her. Likely since that night her family had called her a traitor and decided they no longer wanted anything to do with her. It had been like losing half of herself that night when they'd decided they wanted nothing to do with her. Now that she was looking at her she didn't know what to do. Rather, she wasn't sure Bellatrix would want anything to do with her if she attempted to strike up a conversation. She still recalled the look of loathing on all of their faces that night she'd told them about Ted. She likely wanted nothing to do with her.

"You did that on purpose, you filthy blood traitor." She spat accusation clear in her voice. "How dare you even come near me let alone trying to talk to me." Bellatrix was almost thankful for her anger else the awkward reunion may have been somewhat painful and sad for her.

Loyalty. That's what Bellatrix offered Rodolphus. And he offered it in return. She had proved herself time and time again. He was lucky to have a wife in his inner circle. Not everyone had such good fortune. He was married to someone just as dedicated to the Dark Lord as he was. Deathly dedicated.

It didn't hurt that she was attractive. They made a good looking couple to boot.

But what brought them together this time was Rabastan. His brother had been so stupid as to let some Veela get the best of him so now Rodolphus and Bellatrix had to deal with the aftermath. They were sitting in the library, Rodolphus reading up on dark magic -- a book he had read many times. He looked up at Bellatrix. "I can't believe we're sitting here instead of being on the streets where we're meant to be."

Bellatrix, however, remained calm. A flicker of amusement danced in her eyes. "You know, dear," she said, her voice laced with a dangerous sweetness, "it's not as if we're entirely useless even here."

She rose, her dress swirling around her like a storm cloud. "And as for that Veela,' she said, her voice growing colder, "she'll learn that her power is nothing compared to the true strength of a Death Eater. They'll learn to fear us, and fear us they will."

Bellatrix moved towards the shelves, picking up a book. The air crackled with an ominous energy as she opened it, revealing twisted runes and diagrams of forbidden magic. She gave Rodolphus a chilling smile. 'We may be forced to wait, but we will not be idle. We will use this time to our advantage. We will be ready when the Dark Lord calls.'

Once Rabastan had gathered enough energy to think coherently, the first thing on his mind had been the Dark Lord's work. It was at this point that he'd started to analyse the events of the last week or so, considering - with some irritation - whether his actions could have been better. There was nothing more important to him than the cause. He was devoted, blindly and dangerously. So the fact that his own choices had restricted him from pursuing it filled him with such annoyance that, at this point, while still ailing, it was not healthy.

Tasks that were simple and non-controversial had already been distributed by the Dark Lord himself, or by those beneath him. The remaining, Rabastan wanted to discuss with Bellatrix. Thus, he'd invited her to Lestrange Manor, where he currently sat at a desk in his childhood study, stubbornly intending to use his time wisely. A few letters were piled-up, ready to be sent; books lay open with passages marked, to be found useful later; he had written some scrolls for Emmeline, so that she could take over his objects at their business. He had not attempted any practical work, still unwilling to touch curses while still in an inconveniently enfeebled state. It was beginning to drive him to his wits' end.

So he was relieved to hear Bellatrix's familiar stride in the corridor outside the room. She would provide at least a semblance of usefulness. He waved his wand at the door, which swung inwards on its hinges, and called out, "In here, Bella."

It had been a day since her sudden arrival, summoning the strength to wander down into the study room, the warmth of the fire calling her name. A blanket wrapped around her, head leaning into the high side of the lounge chair, with a mug of tea in her hands.

Alecto had tea with his mother earlier, a little conversation had, explaining the incident she found herself in, leaving some key points out. Those were points that would be dealt with later.

Her head twists to the entrance of the study at the sound of heels clicking against the stone. The sight of Bellatrix standing there was a welcoming face. "It is I down here. Rabastan is upstairs with company."

News of Rabastan Lestrange's fate had set her heart ablaze with an unyielding fury. Every ounce of her being screamed for vengeance against the filthy Veela who had dared to inflict such harm. Visions of her torment danced in her mind, promising immeasurable satisfaction. Yet, she knew that her in-laws held equal sway in this matter of blood retribution. For now, she would curb her own desires and await their collective judgment and the perfect moment to unleash their wrath and exact their revenge.

As if to further inflame her anguish, she learned of Alecto also being cursed. With unwavering determination, Bellatrix sought her companions to see if there was anything she could do to help speed up their recovery. "Alecto, my darling," the raven haired beauty uttered upon entering the study. "Your presence has been sorely missed." She stated before taking a seat opposite her. "In that case he won't mind waiting while I check on my favourite friend. How did your mission go -- other than, you know, being cursed?"