The beginning of the end: Bellatrix Black

Lightning strikes

March 27, 1998

Of course on the day when the so-glorious Golden Trio was captured and brought to the Malfoy Manor, there was no way I could miss such fun. Especially when the fun had been brought to me.

I finally had some sort of excuse to leave this terrible place even second even though I knew how a long time ago, there was always that tricky part that I needed to be able to think clearly.

I set myself first on escaping. The minds of the guards on post could always easily be infiltrated but it was tiring. Too tiring, as expected but still too much. This time I had motivation. Harry and his posse were here.

They were here and I could toy with them as if I were still in control.

Somehow at that precise moment the first guard went to drink water and then the other had to visit the restroom. It could be all accidently. And so accidently I could undo the heavy dark spell on the lock without a wand.

How accidently.

By the time I found my wand, hidden in Narcissa's room, the fun had already commenced. For a second I was dizzy, going down the stairs but it was all gone in a matter of seconds. I could already hear their loud voices.

The drawing room's grand door opened with a heavy noise and so announced my lovely presence to our visitors. Among those were the so-famous Harry Potter and his close friends Hermione and Ronald. Those had performed some terrible jinx and looked next to unrecognizable for anybody who wasn't focused enough to put two and two together.

A mudblood and a blood traitor, leaded by a fool with a bit too much luck on his side, the biggest obstacle in the great Lord of Darkness. What a party.

The "close" friends of Harry seemed close enough on their own. I could see the secret looks the shared to each, behind Harry's back.

My presence brought more tension to all the Death Eaters as I still had my reputation. The prisoners minds were growing more scared by the second which only made me grin wider.

Until I could feel my prideful look being replaced by disgust. I quickly went through their heads, making sure that they were indeed the Trio. I passed quickly through the boys' heads where fear was dominant but in the ginger's mind were also feeble thoughts on " the fair and bright witch that he fancied over his head".

Hermione's mind was rather more complicated as she was overwhelmed not only by fear but by her strong emotions for the ginger himself. I could see her past memories and how had he left her, how he had hurt her.

But he had come back. Unlike one another person who left me nothing...

How convenient that I was such a skilled Legilimens.

My entrance had interrupted Draco's stuttering. Unfortunate. I went through the Death Eater's minds and soothed them from my unexpected appearance. We didn't want them informing the Lord and him ruining our fun.

They were still debating on whether they were actually the Trio and somehow never thought of Legilimency, somehow. I would have rolled my eyes if I could.

Meanwhile I had another wave of nausea that I hoped to pass quickly. Yet I kept my head held high as if it wasn't happening at all.

I decided that I should join the debate, mimicking their stupid assumptions and fights for who would get to summon the Lord if they really were who we thought they were.

"Potter?" I shrieked "Are you sure? Well, then, the Dark Lord must be informed at once!"

I dragged back my sleeve but just a moment earlier creating a spell to hide the wound on the Mark to reveal perfect, pale skin. I had no intentions of summoning the Lord and of course with a little motivation on my side, Lucius decided that he didn't want that happening either.

It was really boring generally making up fake fights and treats about the stupid Sword of Godric and who would summon the Lord. That sword had been put there by Narcissa, Polypotioned as myself and with my wand. I had no say in it. Just as usual.

My mood had shifted from neutral to strikingly negative.

I was growing disinterested no matter how much I tried to make it a little better. I ignored the worried glances from Narcissa. She had no right in this and all along she owed for too many things.

Soon I regretted getting out of my room just for this. For basically nothing. I remembered just how annoying were ordinary people. Yet I knew what could give a better taste to atmosphere. Narcissa was about to send all prisoners to the cellar when I interrupted.

"Wait. All except... except the Mudblood." one of the only. The brightest.