Bellatrix and her Master

The Student

Christmas 1968,

Bellatrix gazed at her reflection in the mirror, her black eyes gleaming. Perhaps it was the two glasses of champagne she had consumed, but more likely, it was the bitterness coursing through her. She peeled off her black gloves and washed her hands, taking her time. She had no desire to join the dining room. The Black Manor was once again becoming stifling. She could hear her mother's high-pitched laughter, her uncle's deep voice, and her aunt's shouts at Sirius.

He had probably caused yet another mess. A faint smile flickered across Bellatrix's face. Then she busied herself with drying her hands. Her gaze lingered on her bare arms revealed by the little black dress she wore. Walburga and her mother had looked disapprovingly at her when they saw her dressed like that, but Bellatrix was seventeen now and enjoyed the right to dress as she pleased.

Her white skin, free of any scars, irked her. She had been able to gaze at leisure at the mark adorning Rodolphus's arm. That grim skull vomiting a serpent that coiled and uncoiled in the thin skin of his forearm. The first time she had glimpsed the mark, jealousy had engulfed her unimaginably, and she couldn't help but send him some malicious spells afterward. Rodolphus had avoided her for days.

Lord Voldemort had made Rodolphus a Death Eater at the end of his schooling last July. Other former Slytherin students had been marked as well. The soldiers of Lord Voldemort whom Bellatrix knew were not numerous. She knew she must be around many of them, but it was extremely difficult to know who was a Death Eater and who was not. Without the tattoo, Bellatrix would probably never have believed Rodolphus.

How could Lord Voldemort have wanted Rodolphus in his ranks? True, the young man was not stupid and praised the Dark Lord, but Bellatrix found him so weak. He had enlisted out of tradition. After all, his father was a Death Eater too, and it was only natural to offer his son to the Dark Lord now that he was of age to be useful to him. Rodolphus shared the Dark Lord's ideas, but he lacked the passion or fervour to prove his worth.

Bellatrix could never forget the one and only encounter she had had with Lord Voldemort. She remembered his smile, his scent, and his bewitching gaze. She remembered every detail precisely.

Lord Voldemort had obsessed her in recent years. She was now in her final year of schooling, and she had not had a moment to be bored, but the memory of the Dark Lord had not given her any respite. She longed so much to cross paths with him again one day, but she wondered more and more if it was just a futile dream after all.

The Dark Lord was even more discreet than before. His name began to be whispered with fear in the streets of the wizarding world. The presence of a wizard with terrifying powers had not escaped general attention. Bellatrix suspected that Lord Voldemort was reserving a spectacular entrance for himself. He was building a valiant army woven by influential wizards before taking control. Bellatrix burned with desire to be part of his army, to be in the front row when the power of the Dark Lord descended upon the world.

She blamed herself terribly for not being more alert the time she had met him. She hadn't even opened her mouth! The Dark Lord must have considered her so lowly. A brainless, awkward, and ill-mannered idiot. But above all, he had seen in her only a future mother. Just a woman.

Bellatrix knew that the only reason why Voldemort had come to Grimmauld Square that evening was to give his approval to Reginaldus Lestrange, one of his oldest Death Eaters, to marry his son. Lord Voldemort had a say in every alliance in the families of his Death Eaters. After just a few seconds, he had indicated to Lestrange Sr. that he accepted the engagement of Rodolphus and Bellatrix. The young girl couldn't help but wonder if this meant he had liked her or if, on the contrary, he had found her useful only for the task of giving an heir to the Lestrange family. Merlin knew how much Bellatrix hated that idea.