Part One

Bellatrix was feeling a little irritated, to say the least. Her parents had just cancelled another of her betrothals – only this time she'd actually liked the man she was to marry. Rodolphus was good looking and had enough contact with the Dark Lord to ensure that she could try and join when she finished school in a year.

Her father had informed her just a moment ago that he wanted her to meet a guest he had. She sighed a little at the thought – usually these surprise guests were suitors to her hand. No one was going to better Rodolphus Lestrange.

As she approached her fathers' office, she noticed a man just leaving. The man was tall, with a full head of black curls, lily-white skin with a strong and masculine jaw line and cheekbones, thick black eyelashes and bright blue eyes. He was without a doubt the most handsome man she had ever seen. Bellatrix could never resist a good-looking man with a dark aura, and as he stared into her eyes, she knew he was very dark indeed. She could tell he was dangerous instantly and that excited her. Perhaps he was a Death Eater. Perhaps they were trying to marry her off to him.

Cygnus and her mother, Druella, were keen to see their eldest daughter make an excellent marriage. Of course, they were only interested in what they would gain from it; her feelings were not taken into consideration. But then here was a different sort of man from all the others she'd met before... Her parents had really got it right for once.

Then the man smiled at her, and Bellatrix felt her knees weaken slightly as he moved towards her. She couldn't tear her eyes away from him and he didn't seem to want to look away from her either.

Cygnus broke the spell by coming out of the office and shutting the door behind him. Bellatrix hastily looked to her father, and she was questioning as she did. "Bellatrix, we were just coming to find you," Cygnus said walking towards her. One hand rested on her shoulder. "My Lord," he said, turning to the tall man, who was still watching Bellatrix intently. The man turned his attention to Cygnus, although Bellatrix was sure he was having difficulty in doing so. She didn't even hear that her father had addressed the man with a title. "This is my eldest daughter Bellatrix. Bellatrix, this is the Dark Lord."

Bellatrix's eyes widened; she had been ogling over the Dark Lord? She hastily bowed her head to him. "It is a pleasure to be of your acquaintance, my Lord," Bellatrix said softly, peeking up at him from under her eyelashes, hoping with every fibre that he liked what he saw.

Cygnus turned to the Dark Lord. "Forgive me, my Lord, I must leave for the Ministry at once." He looked back at his daughter. "Bellatrix, will you see that the Dark Lord is well looked after?"

"Of course, Father," Bellatrix said softly, her eyes flicking towards the handsome Dark Lord for a moment. He looked about thirty; surely he was older than that?

"I shall owl you this evening, my Lord," Cygnus said and with a bow he turned on his heel towards the apparation room, leaving Bellatrix and the Dark Lord very much alone in the house together. The Dark Lord smiled at Bellatrix once more, and her stomach lurched. "The pleasure to meet you is all mine, Miss Black." It was the first time he'd spoken and his voice was very sexy. Slowly, he reached for her hand and pressed a gentle kiss on her knuckles, his eyes never leaving hers.

Bellatrix held his gaze as she smiled at him. "You must call me Bellatrix, my Lord," she murmured, slightly breathless.

"I think I shall call you Bella," Voldemort responded, finally letting go of her hand.

Her eyes lit up, although she didn't know exactly what to say to that. She settled on something safe. "Would you like to stay for a drink?" Bellatrix asked him, slightly uncertain as to whether he would stay or not.

Voldemort smiled at her. "I would love to stay, Bella," he said much to Bellatrix's surprise, and she led the way to the sitting room. They sat down together, and before they knew it, they were deep in conversation. They had a lot in common, Voldemort wanted to know all about her life, Hogwarts, the classes she took and her social life inside Hogwarts. Bellatrix wanted to know about Voldemort's aims, followers and supporters, and soon they both began to know a lot about each other.

"Are you betrothed, Bella?" Voldemort asked suddenly, as she finished telling him about the ten outstanding's she'd received for her OWLs.

Bellatrix laughed softly. "Not at present, my Lord," she replied, not wanting to mention her recently broken engagement.

"Do you want to marry?" he pressed, and Bellatrix wondered why he was so interested in her potential husbands.

"I don't want to be a housewife, I would be bored," Bellatrix said honestly. "I want to do something with a purpose." She paused, looking at him in contemplation. "I would love to join you, but what husband would allow that?"

Voldemort smiled. "I had best lay my claim on you now then," he said, and as Bellatrix turned to look at him and ask what he meant, she felt his hand press against the back of her neck, pulling her forwards. Their lips met and Bellatrix could hardly breathe - he was an amazing kisser. As he pulled away, Bellatrix could feel his hand in her hair, stroking her soothingly. She rested her chin on his shoulder, not quite sure what he meant still. "I think I could use a woman in my ranks," Voldemort told her quietly. "Especially one as beautiful and talented as you."

Bellatrix smiled. "I think I have just decided exactly what I want from my life."

Voldemort chuckled. "And what would that be, Bella?"

Bellatrix smirked, leaning forwards and kissing him briefly. "You."

The Dark Lord nodded, smiling. "I love how bold you are," he said, kissing her and holding her tightly to him.

Bellatrix lay back in his arms, for what seemed like an eternity before he spoke once more. "I must leave you now, Bellatrix."

Bellatrix sat up, and turned to look at him. "When will I see you again?" she asked him, trying to hide her concern.

Voldemort ran one hand down the side of her face, ending it with a kiss on her soft lips. "As soon as is possible," were Voldemort's final words before he was gone.

x-x

Two days later, while Bellatrix, Cygnus, Druella and her two sisters sat having breakfast, an owl arrived. It was a big, black owl, which Bellatrix thought nothing of until her father gave the letter to her to read. It was from the Dark Lord.

Cygnus,

I am writing to you to invite your daughter Bellatrix to my Manor. After having such a delightful afternoon with her two days ago, I'd very much like to spend the day with her. I will await her in the outskirts of the forest of my Manor at 11 o'clock today; I believe you do know that location.

LV.

Bellatrix excused herself from the table, after realising that it was half past ten already. She ran to her room to decide what to wear, and settled on plain black robes, with a silver and emerald sparkling clasp to hold them closed around her. She brushed her hair and applied some make up hastily before returning back downstairs for her father's directions to the forest.

She apparated into a very dark and misty forest she'd never seen before. She looked around her, hearing things from all around. The trees were dark green, and there were leaves and twigs on the floor, crackling as she walked on them. The wind was quiet, and the fog seemed to be intensifying. She soon realised she was shaking and that feeling increased when she heard footsteps, twigs breaking and leaves crunching. She looked over her shoulder and saw Voldemort there, watching her, the way now clear as the mist parted. He walked over to her, his robes flowing behind him.

"Welcome to my humble home," he said with a smirk. He put a hand on the small of her back, and pushed her forwards, around a tree. She blinked, sunlight hitting her eyes, and saw a great manor in front of her. It was built out of red bricks; the windows were gleaming pleasantly in front of her.

When they reached the house, Voldemort showed her into a large room. It was very beautiful, with large wooden panels on the walls and dark gold and silver paper above it. "Have a seat," said Voldemort. Bellatrix walked forwards and sat down on the sofa, hardly knowing where to look. "A drink?" he asked, watching her carefully.

Bellatrix nodded. "Whatever you're having," she replied softly. This time she couldn't keep her eyes off him. The way he moved was so graceful; his movements were like liquid. He sat down, and passed her a glass of red wine, which she accepted with a smile. "I'm glad to see you again, my Lord," Bellatrix said after she'd taken a sip.

"I am very glad to see you, as well," Voldemort replied with a smile. He set his glass on the table next to him and looked at Bellatrix. She placed her glass down next to his and reached up to kiss him.

Voldemort placed his hand over her lips before she could and Bellatrix pulled back in confusion. "Before I kiss you any more, Bella, you need to understand me, and you need to answer my question." Bellatrix, in her confusion, nodded and watched him as he began to speak. "Bellatrix, I am the Dark Lord, as you well know. I aim to purify the world of mudblood and muggle lover scum, and kill all of those who try to stop me. I am not a nice man. I torture, and I kill and I do not care who I hurt to get what I want." He paused, to let all of this sink in, although Bellatrix was not surprised by any of it. "Two days ago, I met you, Bellatrix, and as soon as I saw you, I wanted you to be my own. You're beautiful; you're witty and intelligent. I knew as soon as I saw you that you are special. You will be mine, yet only if you are willing to be." He removed his hand, looking into her eyes. "Tell me now; is that what you want?"

Bellatrix didn't need a moment to think; she knew her answer. "It is what I want, my Lord." Voldemort gave her the first smile that she knew he really meant.

The Dark Lords eyes seemed to be turning red; Bellatrix could see colour moving through them in tiny rivers, meeting to form a lake in the middle. "You must never doubt your decision, Bella; from now on you will be mine." His voice was beginning to get very strong and commanding, and Bellatrix knew she should be scared, but his power thrilled her.

Bellatrix smiled devilishly at the Dark Lord. "I am yours," she breathed, moving closer to Voldemort once again. This time nothing would stop the kiss. It was deep and warm, and Bellatrix felt the Dark Lord's tongue against her lips. She'd never been kissed like this before, and she knew that no one would ever match up to the Dark Lord.

When they finally parted, Voldemort's eyes had returned back to normal. "You're mine," he murmured, his eyes looking down onto Bellatrix's hands. "I'll show you the rest of the house." Bellatrix stood up, and followed Voldemort as he gave her the tour of his manor.

On the first floor was the room they had just been in, which Bellatrix supposed was the parlour, a kitchen and a very big dining room, with a long table going down the centre of it with lots of chairs, enough for at least thirty people. He took her up the grand staircase and showed her two smaller meeting rooms, both with circular tables in them. She supposed this was just for meetings with his inner most supporters and followers. Across the hallway were all the other bedrooms, and there were about twelve of them, all with bathrooms. Bellatrix knew she'd be able to stay here whenever she liked, though it probably wouldn't be a guest room she'd be sleeping in.

They mounted another flight of stairs onto the third floor, which seemed to have two very big rooms to it. One, as Voldemort told her, was the ballroom, and another was his throne room where all the main meetings were held. When they were halfway up the stairs, which were hidden by a door in front of them, which was strangely buzzing with magic, Voldemort stopped her with his arm. "This floor contains my private rooms. There are only a few Death Eaters who have ever been up here, and you are the only one privileged enough to receive a tour of it."

He paused, with a small smirk, and continued up the stairs. He went on to show her his own sitting room, dining room, his study, and then finally, what she'd been waiting for the most, his bedroom. The first thing she saw was a four-poster bed, with crisp white sheets and green velvet curtains around it. Hardly thinking, she walked fully into the room and went to touch the curtains. They were soft, yet rough with that velvet feel beneath her fingers. The Dark Lord walked up behind her and put his arms around her from behind, before turning her around and placing a chaste kiss on her lips.

Bellatrix reached up and touched Voldemort's curly hair. "My Lord, what will I be to you?" she asked him softly. Voldemort looked down at her beautiful face, wondering what had brought on that sudden question.

"You will be my most faithful and trusted follower." He paused, that was not entirely all of it. He'd been thinking over the last few days - thinking a lot. He also knew he was human. Though he protested about it to himself, deep down inside he knew it - he knew he didn't want to be alone forever. He doubted Bellatrix would believe this; he'd even be shocked if she did.

"I'm still in school, why would I be important to you?" Bellatrix responded, after a moment of thinking.

Voldemort sighed. In a way he was glad she had asked him now; he could tell her although he didn't exactly know how to put it into the words he felt comfortable saying. "Even the Dark Lord needs someone to be close to, someone to confide in." Bellatrix understood. He had seen her and known right away that she was the one that would be his confidant; someone who would love him and not need that love back, as long as there was trust and an ability to be able to speak openly. Bellatrix smiled, squeezing him tightly to her for a moment before glancing suggestively at the bed. "Not today," he murmured. "I am quite happy to wait until school is finished and I think you should wait as well, until you are ready."

"I am not inexperienced," Bellatrix said sharply, instantly defensive.

Voldemort smiled, and ran his hands through her hair gently, and lent forward and kissed her tenderly on the lips. "Forgive the assumption," he said, still smiling at her. Bellatrix smiled back. Voldemort shuddered involuntarily, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on and that smile was not helping matters.

"There are a few people I want you to meet before you leave; I believe they will be here shortly," he said, his voice slightly cool.

"Your friends?" Bellatrix asked as the Dark Lord led her towards the door.

"You could call them that," Voldemort replied, with a smirk. "They call themselves the Death Eaters. You will be one, soon."

"Your servants then," Bellatrix said quickly.

Her bluntness made Voldemort smile. "Yes, Bella," he said. "Be warned, these men are dangerous. I have no doubts that you can protect yourself, however; they are exceptionally trained wizards, and have age and experience; something that you do not possess."

"I have no reason to fear them," Bellatrix replied, which left Voldemort resisting the urge to carry her back to his bed and make love to her until she passed out with exhaustion.

"You have not met them yet," Voldemort murmured, stopping outside the room he had described earlier as the meeting room. He opened the door and Bellatrix instantly noticed hushed voices coming from the room. "Gentlemen," Voldemort said smoothly upon entering. "This is Bellatrix Black."

Bellatrix looked around the table. She scowled as she spotted Lucius Malfoy and deliberately ignored him. She noticed Rodolphus Lestrange staring at her in surprise as well. Bellatrix was slightly embarrassed to see him like this, but she knew it wasn't her fault their betrothal had been cancelled.

"Sit down, Bella," Voldemort said aside to her, beckoning to the seat next to him. "Muciber, what happened?"

A man next to Lucius spoke. "It was mayhem, my Lord; we were attacked and outnumbered by about five to one."

"So you lost." The tone had changed to a very dangerous one, and for the first time, Bellatrix understood why he was so feared. He was terrifying. His face hadn't changed at all, except for his blue eyes, which seemed to be suddenly glowing an eerie red colour like they had been previously that day. Bellatrix wondered why it happened - it seemed to be when he was feeling angry or passionate. The men around the table all seemed nervous now, except Lucius, who was his usual cool self.

"Of course not, my Lord," Mulciber said hastily. "We won with minimal casualties. It was unexpected, but clearly not impossible."

Bellatrix was hardly listening. She suddenly began to wonder if she had made a mistake, what if something she was asked to do didn't quite go according to plan? Would she be murdered, or tortured? She swallowed unconsciously and her eyes met Lucius's for a moment. His eyebrows rose, in a typically Malfoy gesture, but Bellatrix knew he was wondering what she was doing there. She looked away, back to Voldemort, whose serious face was still the most handsome she had ever seen.

She struggled to follow what they were all talking about during the meeting. Things moved so fast, strange names were brought up, and she found she was quite relieved when it was all over and the Death Eaters finally left her and Voldemort alone together.

"Your sister is betrothed to Lucius, is she not?" he asked. Bellatrix nodded. Voldemort looked at her, and slowly reached forward with his hand, and tilted her chin so she was looking back into his eyes. "I have scared you," he said, smoothly.

"A little," Bellatrix admitted.

Voldemort nodded. "You have nothing to fear, Bella. I have your respect, don't I?"

"Of course you do!" she said swiftly.

"Good." He kissed her for a few short moments, before letting go of her long brown hair and moving away from her. "As much as it pains me, I shall take you back to the apparation point now."

Bellatrix nodded at him, standing up and walking towards the door slowly. She really didn't want to go home.

"Bella…" Voldemort followed her and took her by the hand. "I have to go away for a few days. It might even be a bit longer but I had to see you today before I left; I wanted you to know how I felt… I…" He paused, eyes fixed on hers. "We might not meet again before you go back to Hogwarts."

"I know," she answered him softly, as they headed towards the apparation point. When they got there, Bellatrix turned back to him, words forming on her lips.

"My Lord, it's my birthday, on the twenty fifth of August. As I am coming of age, my parents have planned a party for me, a ball." Her eyes were bright. "I would be delighted if you could come... As my guest."

"I will not make you a promise I cannot keep, but I shall do my best to be there, Bella." He kissed her, tenderly this time, struggling to wrench himself away from her. "My best is all I can promise."

"It is good enough for me," Bellatrix replied softly. Her hand rested soundly on his cheek for a moment, as she spoke again. "I will think about you every minute until I see you again."

"I shall write." Voldemort smiled. "Goodbye, Bella," he whispered, and as she vanished, he knew he was in trouble. He knew that he was going to fall in love with this bold, beautiful young woman and he knew that all he wanted as her hand in marriage. He made no mistake in knowing he was going to get it.

x-x

Bella,

This is my first day in Albania. I do not mean to stay here for long, the weather is not to my liking, nor are the people.

You have my word that, someday soon, I will tell you all about this journey - about my transformations and magical powers. I believe that we should wait, until you are older, more experienced in the world, though I am sure you will disagree.

I understand you have a thirst for knowledge. We share this, my Bella. You will learn everything I know one day.

I hope you are enjoying your summer. Your seventh year will be an important one for you – rest now while you can.

Yours,

LV.

x-x

My Lord,

I find the situation we have found ourselves in a little hard to believe. For so long you have been a source of gossip and rumour for my colleagues at school. Now I know that you are everything I have been told - and so much more than that. The crazy part is that you have chosen me, a young girl who knows nothing of the world, to share your secrets with. I don't think I will ever understand why.

I fought with Andromeda today. We were out in the garden, and she tried to jinx me. I'm not sure what happened, I was angry with her, and my wand sort of spun out of control, and before I knew it, she was under the Cruciatus Curse. It all went rather quickly. I took it off her right away but the sheer power I felt from it was amazing. I've never done it on a human before, only animals. She ran away from me - the poor girl was obviously terrified.

It appears that I am betrothed again. I don't know to whom – but I do know that I have pledged myself to you and you are my first concern. Perhaps you might speak with my father and persuade him I should remain unmarried for now?

I hope you are successful in your travels. I eagerly await our next meeting.

Yours forever,

Bella.

x-x

Bella,

I will speak to your father. It is my intention to train you in the dark arts, as you know. A marriage for you will hinder that training and will hinder my aims.

As for the spell, I am most impressed that you already know how to do that, my training is not going to take half the time I expected if you can master a spell from a book. Especially a spell like the Cruciatus Curse.

I have met a very interesting character – her name is Akasha, and from what I can gather, is an ancient vampire. I want to know more about her but something tells me I will only find out more and meet her again if I move onwards to Sweden. Having someone as exciting and powerful as her, fighting for my cause would be a great achievement, something you would enjoy as much as I would, I am sure.

I look forward to your next reply, Bella.

LV.

x-x

My Lord,

A vampire? It sounds exciting; I've never met a vampire before. I hope things are going well for you.

There is something strange going on with my mother and my father. I mentioned to my mother that we had been corresponding and by the end of the day my betrothal had been cancelled again.

Every time I receive an owl from you something changes within me. I ache for your touch, my heart beats faster, I smile, and the middle of my chest feels as if it could explode. I have never felt like this for anyone.

We hardly know each other, yet I feel as if we've been in each other's arms for a lifetime already.

My birthday is a week away. I hope to see you but I understand if you cannot be there.

Yours,

Bella.

x-x

Dear Bella,

I'm coming back. I should be back either on your birthday, or the day after. Either way, you will see me within the week and I have several things planned for you.

I write hastily as I am anxious to return to you as soon as possible - I must continue to travel.

Yours,

LV.