Bellatrix and her Master

The Inner Circle

July 1971

Narcissa and Andromeda were seated in the drawing room of Grimmauld Place, each engrossed in her own reading—Andromeda with a small glossy novel, and Narcissa poring over a long, finely written parchment. Taking advantage of their distraction, Bellatrix sneaked up behind Narcissa and snatched the parchment with a quick swipe.

"Hey! Bella, give that back!" Narcissa exclaimed, immediately jumping up, her cheeks flushing red.

"... If you could find someone trustworthy to accompany you, I'd be happy to meet in a discreet location this week," read Bellatrix aloud in a mocking tone.

Narcissa leapt from her chair, snatching the parchment back from her sister.

"A discreet location? Isn't that a bit inappropriate, don't you think? This Malfoy thinks he can do whatever he likes!" Bellatrix's tone was stern, but a smile broke through her expression, and Narcissa visibly relaxed.

Andromeda and Narcissa had returned from Hogwarts a few days earlier. Andromeda was anxiously awaiting her N.E.W.T. results, but relieved to be done with school. Bellatrix and Rodolphus greeted their parents, as well as their uncle and aunt, and soon everyone sat down for dinner. Sirius, who would be starting Hogwarts in September, kept bombarding Andromeda with questions, while the rest of the Black family enjoyed a satisfied silence after the feast prepared by Kreacher, their house-elf. Rodolphus, with his arm lazily draped around Bellatrix's shoulders, finished sipping his wine with a slight smirk.

"Ah, my dear Orion, you should visit my father's cellar at Lestrange Manor; he'd show you wines far superior to this."

Orion exchanged a disgruntled look with his brother-in-law, Cygnus, clearly unimpressed by Rodolphus's arrogance.

"Oh, we have fine wines for special occasions," Walburga quickly defended. "We just didn't feel tonight's dinner warranted such extravagance."

Rodolphus raised a skeptical eyebrow, and Bellatrix hid a smile behind her napkin. Just then, Sirius's excited voice broke through the conversation:

"And who won the Quidditch Cup this year?"

"Gryffindor," Andromeda answered with a patient smile.

"Oh," he responded, sounding unsure whether that was good or bad news. "I'd love to join the team when I'm old enough."

"Quidditch? Who has time for such frivolities these days!" snapped Walburga. "You'd better focus on your studies when you get to Hogwarts, Sirius."

"Your mother's right," Rodolphus added. "It's no time to be weak, and the Dark Lord has no use for the incapable."

"Not everyone is destined to join a gang of murderers!" Andromeda's voice flared, her temper igniting. "Don't tell Sirius what to do with his life."

"Dromeda..." Bellatrix growled, her voice low and dangerous.

"No, Bellatrix. You and Rodolphus can do what you like with your lives, but don't drag Sirius and Regulus into this, like you did with Rabastan!"

A cold silence settled over the room. While Narcissa and Andromeda knew of Bellatrix's involvement with the Dark Lord's cause, her parents, uncle, and aunt had not been made aware.

"Rabastan didn't need convincing—" Rodolphus started, but was cut off by Druella, Bellatrix's mother.

"What? Are you in his service, Bellatrix?" she demanded, her expression a mix of horror and anger.

Bellatrix cast a long, dark glance at her younger sister before turning to her mother, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"I have the courage of my convictions," she replied, referring to the Black family's passive support of their supremacist ideals.