Strange Beginnings

Prologue

The light from two candles flickered across the parchment as shaking hands scribbled the urgent message in ink. The Dark Lord called an important meeting in the home of William Y/L/N to discuss important matters concerning the magical war at hand. William's wife, Bellatrix, sat at the dark wizard's side. Overhearing just a small portion of the conversation held in his dinning room, William made haste to warn the Order of Voldemort's intentions. He knew that if caught, Voldemort would not hesitate to kill him, even with the favor of being Bellatrix's beloved. William feared even more so that she would justify such actions.

He watched as the love of his life slowly descended into the manipulating words or the Dark Lord. Her thoughts became not her own and her devotion to the wizard became more evident with each passing day. William however, could see past the lies, the misguidance, and the empty promises Voldemort had told. Sadly he could not seem to show his wife the same enlightenment.

Without letting the ink time to set, William folded the paper and sealed it shut. His owl was perched patiently at the window and accepted the letter before taking off into the dark sky. Just as the message was sent the door to the study burst open. Voldemort sauntered in, the floorboards creaking eerily as he walked with a disappointed expression overtaking his features.

"Why have you done it William?" the Dark Lord's voice was quiet yet instilling unease into the air between them.

William knew there was no hope to deny his betrayal, "I can't stand by you any longer. You've poisoned my home with your presence and taken my dear wife from our family."

He looked to the wizards left, seeing Bellatrix with wide eyes threatening to spill over with tears. They weren't for her actions though, but for his unwillingness to follow and the consequences they will bring.

"You have taken yourself away from your family. By not following me you've chosen a despicable world to raise your child in. You shouldn't blame Bellatrix for wanting better." He paced to the right of the room and drew his wand from his robe, "I didn't want for this to happen but you leave me no choice. Avada Kedavra!" Before the green bolt could strike William he aaparated away. "Find him!"

Death eaters and followers vanished and took off out of the house in hopes to retrieve the traitor. Bellatrix stood in the doorway utterly dismayed at what had unfolded. Her two worlds, that of her family and of her devotion to the Dark Lord, were colliding. The two couldn't exist together. The long pale fingers of her leader rested against her cheek.

"Tonight you will break free and become loyal only to me."

She could feel something in the pit of her soul that wanted to resist, to run with her love and hide from the Dark Lord. But she knew she couldn't. He would find her, destroy her family, and wouldn't hesitate to kill her no matter how much she had done for him. Voldemort walked out the door and on to help the search but before Bellatrix left she knew where William had gone. Taking two steps at a time she climbed to the bedrooms and ran to the nursery. There he was wrapping their child tightly in his arms before he had a chance to escape.

"William-"

"Come with me. We can run from this, we don't have to be a part of his reign of terror!" William begged.

Bellatrix hesitated, not taking the step towards her husband and child. She couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Will I can't, he will kill you and me, he will find us." She advanced slowly, "You should have trusted him. He will bring a better world for us, for Y/N."

William shook his head, tears now freely escaping down his cheeks.

"I can't let you take Y/N."