The Cave

Chapter 4: The map

The cave Chapter 4: The map, a harry potter fanfic | FanFiction

Avery, Rookwood and Amycus returned from their mission a few hours later. As expected they had indeed encountered powerful magic in the forest and decided to go back the next day for the crystal.

"Don't bother," was Bellatrix response to this and they followed her into a room to find out what she meant. She later explained that she had done some more research on the subject and that she discovered the crystal in the forest was only a fake. Thus, they would have to look for the real one somewhere else. The three Death Eaters were both disappointed and relieved because none of them had been looking forward to returning to the forest.

The team of Death Eaters had a meeting that day to discuss how their next move. Bellatrix was staring out the window at nothing in particular, while her fellows were discussing the mission. She felt trapped. Trapped in this mission that she could not carry out, at least not successfully. A part of her regretted standing up to her master and refusing to return to the cave and try again. But another part of her, the part which all humans possess and which keeps them alive, made her feel she had done the right thing, the only thing worth doing, when she defied him. Now, she was a leader and while she listened to her team talking she realised she needed to act like one, she needed to lead. They were waiting for her to come with the perfect solution and, even though she did not have one yet, she was sure she wouldn't disappoint them. She turned and faced them.

"Bellatrix, what do you say?" asked Avery. "How shall go about this?" They were all looking at her expectantly and she felt both admired and pressured.

"I don't know," she answered honestly.

"I have to take the books back very soon before the Ministry finds out they're missing," said Rookwood.

Alecto was biting her lips considering something. "Bellatrix, we still have a hope. Rememeber the cave that we read about? It's very near the forest. We should go there."

Travers shrugged. "I guess it's worth a try."

This was exactly what Bellatrix had feared. She knew Alecto wouldn't forget about the cave and her blood froze in her veins when she thought about going there. But then another part of her, the evil one, told her that she needn't return there. In fact, she could very well send one of her cronies to do her bidding. After all, they seemed very pleased with the idea. For a few moments this thought had been tempting and refreshing but then again her goal was to find the crystal and the others would only die in the cave just like she, Yaxley and Dolohov almost did. Besides, she didn't want to send one of her friends to death.

"No," she said decidedly,"no one is going to the cave. It's too dangerous and it would only lead to some one's death."

They stared at her for a moment and the Alecto asked:

"More dangerous than the forest? Besides, how do you even know what's in there?"

"I am your leader and I will make the decisions. I don't want them questioned," she answered in a tone that accepted no contradiction.

"So "leader" what do you want - I'm sorry- what would you order us to do?" asked Avery sarcastically.

"Well, I will study the books again tomorrow and-"

"We have already studied them," said Rookwood, "and found nothing that would help." His tone had been just as sarcastic and irritated as Avery's. What was wrong with them? She only wanted to protect them.

"Let's all just calm down," said Amycus in a friendly voice, "and listen to our leader here. Sister, when you have achieved as much as Bellatrix has then you can defy her." Bellatrix raised her eyebrows and was glad at getting some support. Amycus walked to her and put his arm around her shoulder. She wanted to flinch at first but didn't want to alienate him as well.

"I for one trust her," he said looking at her with a smile. "She's a very good witch and she's pretty too. I will do whatever she says."

He others did not look pleased and Alecto seemed ready to strangle her brother for not taking her side. Bellatrix was, for the first time in her life, a bit embarrassed and smiled awkwardly at him.

"T-Thank you, Amycus," she said. "The meeting is over for today. It's late and I'm sure you all have better things to do than sit here and argue with me. Go home, get some sleep, and I'll see you tomorrow."

Amycus gave her another, quite lecherous, smile and then followed the others out. Left alone, Bellatrix ran her fingers through her hair and decided to read the books one last time in hopes of finding something that would help them. But first she had to get some sleep as the clock was preparing to strike midnight. Reluctant to leave the room, she lied down on a red sofa to sleep there, for no more than a few hours. Being very tired, shutting her eyes for just a few seconds was enough for sleep to overcome her.

After a while -she wasn't fully awake yet- she thought she heard footsteps in the room. She opened her eyes and reached for her wand which was in her robe-pocket. Whoever was in the room was preparing to leave. She listened without making a move. The door was opened by the mysterious figure. She turned around but saw no one. The person had already Disapparated and she scorned herself for having reacted too late. She got up to see what damage the person had done. Everything seemed in order. Nothing was missing.

She gave a sigh of relief and sat at the table taking one of the heavy books in her arms to study it. Hours passed and nothing of importance was found. Just as she was ready to give up hope she turned the page and saw something that brought her immense joy: a map. A map which showed the way to the crystal, to the real one. She stared at it for a few long moments and felt a mixture of joy and suspicion. The map had not been there before. She was sure of it since she had been the one to read that book. The page had been blank then. Could it be possible that some charms had made the map invisible at that time only to reveal it to her now? But why now? She took her wand and cast a few spells on the page to make sure the map wasn't a fake. It turned out it wasn't. There was nothing fishy about it. The steps she had heard had probably been just a dream. Nothing had been taken from the room and it was quite improbable that someone would try to lure her by putting the map there.

Her joy at having found another lead got the best of her and she smiled and felt hopeful again.