Bellatrix Lestrange

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

the lines of fear and blame || sirius & bellatrix

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

No. No. That isn’t true. [he’s shaking his head, a bit too vigorously now–– the family resemblance between them is coming from a slight look of being unhinged, not just the dark hair and bone structure.] Why not? [he looks her in the eye and laughs as she pushes him toward the door because, really, what could be funnier than this? Nothing, as far as he’s concerned. He’s stumbling slightly as if he’s drunk toward the door as she pushes him, but his brain is working ridiculously fast–– taking everything in a little too clearly] Why not in here? The more the merrier, no?

[picking up on his change enough to keep pushing that angle] Isn’t it? [clenches her teeth when he starts laughing, furious by his callousness about the matter] I’m not going to let you hurt anyone. [outright ignoring the irony of the fact that she still has to pretend she cares in this as a few more steps takes them both out the door] It has been years since you left. Don’t you think if he was going to run to you, he would have done it by now? He is missing, not running away, and even if he was, he clearly didn’t trust you enough to fall on his knees at his doorstep. Say what you want about me, but you’re looking too.

 Originally posted by lefaeys

[foreverloyal-rodolphus]

Little Talks || Bellatrix & Rodolphus

[foreverloyal-rodolphus]

When there was no last knock or final relative running to fetch some forgotten item, Rodolphus let himself fall back onto the nearest couch. A mixture of mental and physical exhaustion weighed down on him and he could just fall asleep right there if he wanted. He just wanted all of this chaos done and over with and their lives as back to normal as possible.

Sighing when Bellatrix snapped at him, Rodolphus stood up and slowly took to her side. “You can’t keep blaming yourself like this. You did all that you could and that’s what matters. We can only do so much.” The almost rehearsed words left his parted lips as he spoke gently to her. He had spent a lot of his time trying to help convince her that it wasn’t her fault, even though he knew it would just fall on deaf ears. “Let’s just go upstairs to our room for some alone time and let the elves clean up down here.” 

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

"It isn't about him turning on us, Rodolphus," she replied, the words not entirely true. She had grown desensitized to family members betraying them, but this was different. She truly felt played by Regulus, like she wasted her time. The fact that his face remained on the tree only made her feel more like he won. It wasn't supposed to be like that.

"I did too much. I spent weeks trying to find him, and for what? To have the Dark Lord find him first? To find out we have yet another traitor in the family?" She shook her head, but slowly moved towards the steps at his prompting. "Why am I still fighting for him? Putting in the effort to keep him around clearly didn't do anything. I just don't understand where it went wrong."

[msmacmillan-deactivated20220816]

That’s brilliant, I can’t wait to hear about it. [ she follows behind, looking around at the items in a display case ] No, this won’t be hard at all. There are quite a few here in this one.

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

I will be sure to tell you how it goes. What will be a true treat is the year I tell her I have no intention of doing Lestrange family Christmas. This holiday remains for Narcissa and me. [turns to look at the case Eva is in front of] That one on the right there. What do you think of it?

Originally posted by faymcwrath-archive

[foreverloyal-rodolphus]

Little Talks || Bellatrix & Rodolphus

Much time had passed and despite all their efforts, the truth about everything had been told and proper measures were taken. Rodolphus allowed Bellatrix her space to cope as she needed while he busied himself trying to make sure everything went without a hitch. It mostly involved barking orders at the elves, but he still made sure things were done properly.

Days began to blend together for him and the only way he could tell them apart was when their family and friends left for the night. Offering gentle smiles, he nodded and said his goodbyes as himself and Bellatrix ushered everyone out. When the door finally closed, he turned his attention to his wife. “Finally, some time to ourselves.” It was more of a side thought then anything, but with between the events and visitors, they almost never had time together with just them.

@bellatrix-warriorofthestars

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

It was a relief, to say the least, to see the last of their visitors go. The condolences offered by distant family had washed over her meaninglessly in the days since, but no one could say she hadn’t played her part well. Sad but polite thanks, perfectly rehearsed stories, and the expected level of sorrow all went over smoothly. No one guessed at her resentment or the exhaustion she’d been carrying since he was first declared missing. She doubted anyone wanted to look too hard.

Bellatrix stared at the door for a moment as if someone was going to knock and come through again, maybe insisting they forgot something of dire importance. When that proved not to be the case, she let herself relax slightly and turn to Rodolphus, his words taking a moment to register against the weight of everything that was threatening to crash over her. 

“Nothing to do, and it will still probably be the best way my time has been spent in the past month,” she said, not bothering to hide her bitterness. So much time wasted over Regulus, another smudge on the Black family name that only a select few recognized. The only good that had come of it was she finally seemed to be working her way back into the Dark Lord’s good graces. As good as they could be at least. Even now, that seemed distant, though. Every moment people had spent offering their so called support, which she often suspected was them taking a chance to gawk at their ever wilting tree as much as offering their sympathies.

[alice-the-kind-lion]

What do you mean?

Originally posted by ivebeensuchadisgustinggirl

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

Leave. Disappear. Be anywhere but here. What is so difficult for you to understand about the words 'go away'?

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

Looking over all of the papers and maps presented to him, he heeded her look and didn’t even attempt to touch anything. Instead, he propped his elbows up on the edge of the table, folding his fingers together and placing his chin on them. Nodding idly to himself as he spoke, his eyes followed her gestures along with the markings. “When exactly did he go out on his own?” 

Taking the glass of scotch from the house elf that silently walked up to them, he quickly waved him off. Sipping from the glass, he let his mind begin to work. Even without many people on this search, they had gotten a significant amount of places searched. Not that he was surprised, knowing Bellatrix, she only had the best people around helping her. “Have people been questioned? Maybe someone around those areas have seen or heard something that we have not.”

“Two days before New Year’s,” she answered, idly switching two of the papers. It was to give herself something to do while he studied more than anything, but there was no telling if a new idea could come out of it. She was always processing things differently, finding new paths to check had he decided to travel on foot. There were just too many possibilities. They could look forever and only tap the surface, more options surfacing with every one of Regulus’s decisions since.

Bellatrix pointed to a few spots on the map, tracing invisible lines between them as she spoke. “There aren’t many people in this area. A few at inns or taverns, anywhere he could have spent more than a passing minute. Very few were magical establishments at that.” She had felt dirty coming out of the muggle ones. Memory charms were used to keep from them questioning it later, but the foreign and almost empty nature of the places had made them even more unpleasant. To think of her cousin, the heir of the Black family, staying in one of them had only added to it. “There is probably more that could be done. It was a hard trade off when questioning meant stopping.”

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

January 28, 1980 || For DEs

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

You’re going to–– lie to her face? Just lie to her about what happened? And to his parents? I don’t care whose permission you’ve got. He betrayed all of our trust, and what happened was nothing that you should feel compelled to bury. [he knits his brow and folds his arms across his chest] It needs to be considered, still.

I am not going to let my family fall to pieces, Lucius, and if that means hiding things, it will not be the first time. He is dead. Had he been found with Sirius or traveling with a group of mubloods, I would not hesitate to condemn him. As it stands, there is no reason to do so. He cannot corrupt the family or draw  people away. He is dead. I may not believe that punishment enough, I do not believe he deserves to stay on the tree, but we cannot lose their support. [She stiffens slightly but doesn’t back down] I will sleep on the floor if it means I get to tell the appropriate story.

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

Tough Conversations || January 4, 1979 || Cissa & Bella

[princissa-black]

[she sighs and shakes her head] If you do not find him we will only have each other. 

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

I’ll find him, Cissa, and rest assured, I am never going to leave.

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

the lines of fear and blame || sirius & bellatrix

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

Maybe you should. Maybe you should. Because I think anyone could do a better job of it, seeing as you did a shit job of taking care of Reg. A fucking shit job. [he knows he’s verging on the hysterical, but he doesn’t care; e pulls his want out and holds it down by his side] You have no idea. No idea what I’ve been through. No idea what I’m wiling to do to find him. Who I’m willing to go trough. [he shoots her a significant look]

At least I tried. He wasn’t ever supposed to be my responsibility. He’s my cousin, not my sibling, but I still tried to balance it. You did nothing. You left him behind, and you’re blaming me because the only way you would have considered watching after him is if he had left with you. He chose us. He makes his own decisions still. You’re the last person he wants to be found by. [doesn’t draw her wand yet, but reaches out and pushes him towards the door when he pulls out his] Out. We’re not doing this in here.

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

[Hope’s eyes widened slightly. She’d heard about his disappearance but this was the first time since then that she’d heard his name spoken aloud.] Uh..yeah, sort of? No one has mentioned a sighting, but there’s a couple of ideas floating round people’s heads. Someone said he might have run away to live with his brother, but I presume you’ve already checked that. The only other one was at school where some Gryffindor decided it would be appropriate to suggest he’d thrown himself into the Great La-.. [she froze] Sorry, forgive me. I should be more considerate.

There always are. [Bellatrix bit her tongue at the mention of Sirius, all too aware of how little he knew himself] One of the few things I can be sure of is he has not run off to join the blood traitors. [She shook her head] It is alright. I have heard it all at this point. 

[msmacmillan-deactivated20220816]

That will be hilarious and you must tell me how it goes. I want to know how she handles it. [ she turns the corner as instructed, seeing the watchmaker’s sign up ahead ] We should ask about a watch first. They might be more inclined to bring out a compass if we’ve proved to be paying customers.

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

Oh I will. The goal was something potentially helpful that she can always stick her nose up at and ignore as she seems to love doing. I doubt the true gift of that will be acknowledged. [nods and pulls open the door when the reach the store, instantly feeling like they’re in a better spot and thinking a watch is the way to go] It is a plan. It shouldn’t be too hard to find something for Rabastan here either.

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

foreverloyal-rodolphus:

Rodolphus opened his mouth to argue back, but instead threw his hands up in defeat. He knew if he continued to press on that, it would just start a whole other argument, which he was far from the mood for. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he once again began to pace. “I know, I know. We’re not going to lose him, we’ll find him. I know we will.”

Crossing his arms, Rodolphus leaned against the nearest bookshelf as he watched her gather up her items. Not saying a word, he simply followed behind her, making sure to shut the library door behind them. Nodding at a couple of the elves cleaning as they passed, he pulled out Bellatrix’s seat for her in attempt to be  sort of gentlemanly. “Dessert as well?”

Without really waiting for an answer, he stomped off to the kitchen, shouting out for one of the elves. Demanding a meal along with a nice cake for dessert, he snatched a glass of scotch off the counter before joining Bellatrix  in the dining room once again. “Okay, so what’re you walking me through?” Grabbing the chair nearest her own, he took a seat beside her.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes as he walked off without giving her a chance to respond. While part of her was still looking to pick a fight, she didn’t so much as mention it when he returned - some things were too petty to so much as acknowledge - already completely engrossed in her work again. Maps and notes were spread out in a careful order, and she gave him a warning look to not touch anything. 

“What I have and what’s next,” she offered as a partial explanation before standing to better survey it all. “You have the place he was last seen as well as the other two he was supposed to touch on his assignment. The rings going out are labeled with travel time by foot in case he was injured or running and couldn’t apparate. We’ve checked the areas themselves and have been working outward then i-” she motioned to the map above it, the points marked far more specifically, “- have been checking spots he was known to frequent on my own. They have been even less productive which is why I haven’t taken others along.” It was partly true, at least. She couldn’t ignore how people needed rest, it just typically came far earlier than she was ready to stop. Combined with not especially wanting others around on these expeditions, it was the perfect opportunity.

She leaned forward on her palms and stared at the papers as if a new room and yet another new layout would expose some form of pattern she had missed. “If you have any brilliant revelation, now would be the time to share it.”

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

Tough Conversations || January 4, 1979 || Cissa & Bella

[princissa-black]

Do you promise?

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

I am going to do all I can, yes. One way or another, we will get through this together.

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

littlemisscarrow:

[Though Alecto had a good deal on her plate, she knew there were people with far more to tend to at this point. While she was off in Malta for a mission that required a good deal of relaxation time, a final ruling on the Regulus Black case was released. She was pleased not to be around when any sort of drama arose as a result. Still, she had to return sooner or later, and part of that meant speaking with Bellatrix, who she could only imagine needed a good deal of distracting right now. The invitation was a most welcome one, and she arrived perfectly on time, seating herself across from the other young woman.] I am more than happy to provide it. I’ve heard of nothing but continuous news of all kinds. A dinner out with only me should do you some good.

How much of it is true is an entirely different matter. [She made a face at the thought] But yes. A few hours with you almost always does. How have you been? Though where may be a better question.

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

January 28, 1980 || For DEs

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

lucius-underfire:

And what exactly are you going to tell her? That he was strung out and made an example of? [shakes his head slowly but he knows that its not worth fighting– because she’s right, he hasn’t been through it and he is forced to cede that she does know better in some situations, especially where a fragile Narcissa was concerned] We don’t have a guest suite. You’ll have to make do.

I am going to tell her he was killed on an assignment. I’ll take the fall, say had I been in better standing maybe I could have done something. She cannot know he was a traitor. No one will. I have his permission to keep that part of the story among only those that were in the room. [She’d normally be a bit surprised or suspicious that he is willing to let her handle this, but it’s not a point she’s going to argue now] A minor inconvenience is the least of my concerns right now, Lucius.

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

January 28, 1980 || For DEs

[lucius-underfire-blog]

Tell her before I have to. You’ve known her her entire life. She’s not going to let me walk in the door without giving her an answer. She’ll have her information and you’ll… [pauses because he can’t pretend to be positive that she’s capable of feeling enough to need comfort] Have her.

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

She will also take it better coming from me. [turns away from him almost like she’s looking for an escape. She knows she’ll have to tell him her plan or risk him ruining it] Which is why I want to go second. I want to stay there as long as possible. You haven’t been through this before. We’ve lost two, but Reg is the first who died. I can’t imagine it will be any easier.

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

January 28, 1980 || For DEs

[lucius-underfire-blog]

Better yet––? I want to be home with her. Today’s been hell. You get half an hour. Go there before Orion’s.

[bellatrix-warriorofthestars]

Tell her before his parents? You don’t need to tell me how bad things have been, and my night is just beginning. I have barely started piecing together the story.