#(bellxtrixls2)

The mansion was quite, and it made Rodolphus suspicious. Rabastan was probably with his blood traitor best friend, or on the grounds with the giant murder cat Rodolphus had only recently discovered. He wandered through the house, Raphael curled around his shoulders because the goblin creature had apparently decided that in absence of Rabastan, Rodolphus would do as a substitute, albeit a poor one given the way his claws would kneed into Rodolphus’ shoulder with every other step.

He found Bellatrix in the study, seated imperiously in a rich green chair, staring intently at a regal calico cat sitting on the table in front of her. They seemed to be having a staring contest of some sort.

He watched with amusement as Bella’s hand suddenly rose and smacked down on the arm of the chair, a surprising thwap of sound that made Madonna start, tail leaping into the air, the hair on her spine sticking up. Then she hissed at Bella and leapt off the table, vanishing into the house.

“Did you just cheat in order to beat a cat?” he said with amusement, leaning against the doorframe and watching Bella preen. “Merlin, you must be bored.”