Twisted (Year 3)

Bellatrix Lestrange

~(Y/N) POV~

After a few laps around the ballroom, I finally manage to find Draco. He's sitting alone at one of the tables in the corner of the room.

I smile faintly as I approach him.

"Hey, sorry about that. I don't know why Lorenzo grabbed me away." I take the seat across from him.

"It's alright. I think he's just trying to get on my nerves." Draco shakes his head slowly. "You should stay away from him."

"I think we should head upstairs soon. If we want to sneak into my father study." I lower my voice, trying to ignore his comment.

Draco stays quiet for a moment, and scans the room. I do the same. I locate my mother, who's still laughing and smiling with a small group of people on the opposite side of the room. My father stands by her side, drink in hand. They both seem to be preoccupied.

Lucius and Narcissa stand about 40 feet away, talking with a different group. It would be hard to notice us missing because of how busy the mansion is.

I do one last scan, and notice Lorenzo sitting at the bar. He makes small talk with the bartender and swirls around the clear liquid in his cup.

"Are you ready?" Draco kicks my foot under the table. "Everyone looks busy."

"Yes, let's get going." I get up, and start to make my way out of the ballroom.

We finally make it to the stairs, ignoring all the people lingering around the outside of the banquet area.

The floor creaks as we creep closer and closer to the study. I start to get nervous, but remember my objective.

Maxx is still missing, and I have to do everything I can to find him.

"There it is." I whisper to Draco. "You wait out here. Try to warn me if anyone's coming."

"Got it." He nods in approval.

I slowly turn the gold handle and enter my father's study.

Surprised that is isn't locked, I close the door behind me.

It's an odd, oval shaped room with a huge desk placed in the center. The walls are covered with bookshelves and ancient relics. An unlit fireplace sits on the right, and a huge glass window lets in a fair amount of moonlight.

I take a few moments to scan the shelves for anything important. Nothing seems out of place.

I take a few slow steps from the door, being careful not to make any noise. My high heels click quietly until I make it onto the rug.

I pull back the huge wooden armchair seated behind the desk, and plop down happily.

I'm glad that he didn't set any traps. Usually, he's more careful.

I open the top left drawer and start to sift through documents. It's all meaningless papers and checks already cashed into the bank. I dig through drawer after drawer only to find nothing.

I pull on the handle of the last one, but it doesn't budge.

So he does put some thought into things.

"Alohamora." I mutter under my breath.

The lock clicks and I pull it open. Only a few papers lay on the bottom.

I pick up the one on the top of the pile and read it.

"Dear Mr. Wolfwood,

I'm writing this letter on behalf of the Dark Lord. Maxx is in stable condition. After the incident in the woods, he was put in my care. He won't be returning back to Hogwarts. Maxx is going to be apart of something bigger. He is the sacrifice your family is going to have to make for the Dark Lord. There will be further discussion of this during our next meeting.