Chapter 64: Moving on

The Death Eaters trials went on for weeks. Everyday Amelia brought more and more of them to the DMLE to be officially arrested. Most of the grunts got a few years in Azkaban but the big shots did not. They either got to Azkaban for life or got away by pleading the imperius. The ones who were condemned openly gloated their allegiance to Voldemort and didn’t believe he was dead. Certainly not by a ‘mudblood whore’.

The ones who got away had spent an untold amount of money in bribes to get acquitted. Crouch, who had doubled down on the sentences after the revelation of his son being a Death Eater, had been furious. Not as furious as Amelia when Corban Yaxley, one of the three leaders of her family’s slaughter, got away. She swore to herself at the end of the trial that she would purge the corruption of the ministry no matter what. It was also to honor her eldest brother’s wish and she would see it done.

Even in her spare time she worked tirelessly to put as many as she could away, to the point that Rick had a serious talk with her about neglecting Susan. While he and Lily would help with her niece, Amelia was her legal guardian and responsible for her. They had a fight and Rick endured all the insults and hits she threw his way until she simply broke down in tears. After months of bottling everything up she finally dealt with her feelings.

Mostly her grief.

When Lily put Susan in her arms she remembered that she had family left and that she also had a duty towards it. Perhaps one more important than her duty as an Auror. Her work paid off however and she was quickly promoted to veteran Auror. The youngest in history. She had the fortune or the misfortune to have working under her, James and Sirius.

The two aurors, with Remus, had cornered their traitorous friend in London. He had tried to get away by faking his death, casting a Bombarda Maxima at muggles but Remus had been vigilant and deflected it. When he transformed into a rat, James stunned him and Sirius changed him back to his human form. The obliviators had a lot of work to do but everything was settled quickly. In the end, Peter was sent for life to Azkaban with some of his Death Eaters friends. Unfortunately for him, they all blamed him for their Lord’s disparition.

James' family was safe and sound as Voldemort had not been interested in them. Surprising everyone, the reason for that was James' disownment that saved him, his wife’s and son’s life. It showed that Rick had no care about them to the Dark Lord and it was pointless to go after them.

Sirius, when he wasn’t at work or visiting his godson (James’ son, Henry), spent his time at Potter Manor, groveling at Marlene's feet. To no avail. Marlene was holding a grudge the size of Mount Everest and wouldn’t budge in forgiving him or taking him back. Rick and Lily had to coax her a bit when Sirius demonstrated he was genuine in being in his child’s life. Everyone from family to his friends tore him a new asshole for what he did and it was Dorea that set him straight.

Marlene had reluctantly agreed but was clear that she was the primary guardian of the child and that it would be a McKinnon. She could have asked Sirius to dance naked in the Ministry’s Atrium with a hippogriff feather sticking from his butt and he would have done it. He was that desperate to make amends and redeem himself in her eyes.

Remus, with Rick finally about to open his broom making shop, quickly went to work. With his first paycheck in advance, he bought the most expensive ring he could find and proposed to Rhianon who accepted to become his wife. Children would have to wait however because Rhiannon wanted to focus on her quidditch career. She could handle playing professionally and a marriage but she knew she couldn’t handle a child in the mix. It was fine for Remus who was not ready to be a father yet and wanted to have more experience as Rose godfather first. More importantly he wanted to go past his werewolf condition and the fear of hurting a child to whom he would be the primary guardian full time first.

For his part, Rick was doing his very best to deal with everything in his life. When Lily found out she was pregnant again, stinging hexes flew all around the manor. She kept yelling at him while he tried to escape her and in the end transformed into a crow to give him better odds to dodge and avoid the spells. Lily’s aim was that good.

All that happened under the eyes of Dorea and Marlene who had tears in their eyes with how much they were laughing. When Rick showed up for quidditch training everyone wondered why his face was all swollen. The only word he gave them was ‘wife’ and all the men in the team (including Coach Campbell) sympathised with him. Especially when said wife was the one who had killed the most powerful Dark Lord in History. Despite his rearranged face, Rick proved that he was still the best seeker around and got back his starter position.

A new development in his life, with Voldemort dealt with and his Death Eaters in Azkaban for the most part; Rick began courting Bella the proper pureblood away. He didn’t have to, really. The crazy witch was completely obsessed with him and his power and wanted to jump his bones all the time. She was always purring in his ears while rubbing her body against him and molesting him. When he asked help from her sisters, they just told him that it was actually normal behavior for Bella (with an amused smirk on their lips) and couldn’t do anything about it. Rick regretted more and more about agreeing to this clause when they made the unbreakable vow and wondered if dying from breaking it wasn’t the better option.

Regardless, he wanted a true marriage and not a sham of it based only on sex and power. When he told her they would be going on dates first before tying the knot, she had blown up a gasket. It was Lily who put her in her place after dragging her to their bedroom. One hour later and Bella was all submissive and agreed to Rick’s wishes. All the Blacks looked at Lily with awe for taming the unruly insane child of the family. When Rick asked how she did it, she confessed that she had been working on Bella every time she visited in secret the Manor and Rick wasn’t present.

One evening, Rick went to Bella’s home. It was a big house belonging to the Black family which Druella was living in and sharing temporarily with her eldest daughter. For the occasion, Andromeda and Narcissa were present too.

“No, you can’t wear that. You look like a… I don’t even know what you look like.”

“Cissy! This robe is perfect! It’s not like I will wear it for long anyway.” The manic gleam in Bella’s eyes told everyone what she wanted to happen.

“You’re right but not for the right reasons,” combing her sister’s hair, Andromeda gave her two knuts.

““What do you mean?””

“You forget Rick is muggle-raised. His standards in clothes are different than what you think. He would probably transfigure whatever you’re wearing, so yes, you won’t keep that dress on for long. As for what you’re thinking, you can forget it. Rick is not like that.”

The eldest sister was completely dumbfounded. “How could he transfigure that dress? It’s absolutely decadent!”

“For you maybe, Bella. For Rick, it’s a bit conservative.”

“Say what?!” / “Conservative?!”

Andromeda pursed her lips together in a thin line. “You really… You never tried to get to know him, did you?”

“Of course I did! He’s handsome and powerful and rich and pureblood and-”

“I’ll stop you right there.” The middle sister raised her hand. “You don’t know him at all. If you did, you'll know that to practice his transfiguration and charms skills, he created robes and dresses based on muggle fashion which are much more… libertan… Even Uncle Charlus was charmed by it and went on to make his own dresses for Aunt Dorea.”

“You’re lying!” Narcissa exclaimed, not believing a word.

“I’m not. What you’re wearing, Bella, is old fashion. Morgana, Ted's whole business is making muggle dresses for rich pureblood french witches. Aunt Cassie wore one at a party and everyone was down right jealous. He’s crawling under orders and galleons now.”

“Who cares about those french sluts?!”

“I do, Cissy. If a muggle dress is going to get me laid, I’m getting one! Andi, what should I do?”

“Morgana’s tits, you really went off the dragon didn’t you? Bella, do you hear yourself? Muggle!”

“Go with that dress and he’ll just transfigure it into something great.” Andromeda replied to the girl of the evening. “And Bella…”

“Yes?”

“Most of all, and I know this is going to be extremely hard for you but… Keep a very open mind, okay?”

Bellatrix looked at her sister with a questioning glance but got no answer. Her hair done, she used her wand to apply light make-up on her face and put her robe on. Just in time for her mother to warn her that Rick was at the door. Straightening her posture, she walked down the stairs as if she was a princess. She mentally shouted in victory when Rick’s eyes caught her. They never looked at anything else.

Greetings were exchanged and Rick kissed her knuckles, eyes still on her. She loved them but it wasn’t the ones she fell in love and obsessed with. She wanted to see the eyes devoid of everything. The eyes of her better, looking down at her as if she was filth not worth anything. Eyes, radiating presence, dominance, danger and most of all power. Power that made her shake in fear harder than the Dark Lord ever did. Power that made her wetter than the Dark Lord ever did. Power that he vowed he would teach her how to obtain. Power to make her a queen. Someone who rules and someone who doesn’t serve anyone. Anyone but him.

“Shall, we go?” Rick asked, offering her his arm which she took. She was already breathing heavily and wanted nothing else than to fuck him here and there.

They walked outside and Rick apparated them in a small deserted back alley. That surprised Bella a bit and as she looked around noticed that for a back alley, it was rather clean. The sound of city life reached her ears and looking at the exit, saw bright unnatural lights and tall buildings. Very tall buildings. Taller than the average magical ones. The succession of cars coming and going from left and right, told her she was in a big muggle city. That made her frown. Beyond not liking anything muggle because she had been raised that way, she simply didn’t like how loud and crowded and stuffy the non-magical world felt. She had always hated visiting her Aunt Walburga in London because of that.

“We’re in London.” she stated but it was more of a guess.

“We are. We’re a short walk away from the best restaurant in the country. Our destination.”

While she didn’t like mundanes and mundane things in general, food was food and the prospect of eating at the best restaurant in the whole country interested her on the spot. She perked up and gave him a glance.

“I told you I want a real marriage, Bella. Maybe there will be love between us, maybe there won’t but I hope at the very least that we can be close friends. I am taking you on dates to get to know you and you to get to know me and see where this relationship can go. Now if you don’t mind… I find your robe lovely but very ill-suited for the place we’re going to.”

He pulled out his wand and waved it at her. Under her very eyes her robes changed.The gown was a masterpiece of midnight silk, draping over her form like the whisper of a lover’s touch. Its bodice, a delicate corset adorned with intricate lace and the soft shimmer of midnight beads, held her like a secret longing. A single strap curved over her shoulder, while the other was left bare, as if the dress itself could not decide whether to be daring or demure.

From her arms cascaded sheer lace gloves, their delicate weave tracing ghostly patterns against her skin, a tantalizing contrast of elegance and mystery. The fabric pooled around her in inky waves, each movement sending ripples of shadow and light dancing through the folds.

But it was the slit that made the dress a thing of whispered scandal. It climbed high along her thigh, revealing the smooth expanse of skin beneath, as though the gown itself conspired to let passion breathe. With each step, the hem kissed the ground, a silent promise of the power held within such exquisite beauty.

Bella couldn’t have a good look at herself until Rick conjured a full size mirror in front of her. She gawked when she saw what she looked like.

“Absolutely scandalous and decadent. I think it suits you perfectly. It’s like… I was going to say the dress was made just for you.” he chuckled at his own joke. “It’s more like it fits your personality. I don’t think anyone but you could wear it as well as you do. Andromeda would probably try but she doesn’t have that regal air around her. Hard and cutting. Perhaps my best work yet. Even by muggle standard it’s very… provocative. All eyes would be on you though. That is, if you can find the gryffindor courage to wear it in public, little snake.”

The smirk he gave her infuriated her to no end and made her very hot. She wanted to curse and fuck him both at the same time. With a huff she crossed her arms, not taking his bait.

“Lead the way.”

He offered her his arm again which she took, and they exited the back alley. A short five minute walk and they reached an establishment called ‘Rules in Covent Garden’. Bella had already noticed the people around her giving her looks. Some were of awe, some were of lust. All of them had only her as a focus. From the corner of her eyes she had seen a man walking and hit a pole because his eyes were on her instead of where he was going. An amused, smug and a bit cruel smile had found its place on her lips.

At the restaurant’s lobby, they were quickly ushered inside. The distance to their table wasn’t small and yet again, as she passed people sitting and eating, their actions changed. Mouths stopped to chew, hands holding forks and food stopped in the air, bodies froze. It was as if time had stopped. She knew that wasn’t the case because eyes were following her. She had goosebumps at being the center of attention and when she realized that their table was at the very center of the restaurant, surrounded by everyone, her body had another reaction. Her panties were so damped that it was overflowing and trickling down the inside of her thighs. Her face was flushed, not out of embarrassment but because of the infernal heat which burnt at her very core and whose temperature kept rising.

That Rick seemed un-bothered by what was happening around them didn’t help at all. He was behaving as if it was natural. As if he was a king, graciously rewarding, blessing, the customers with his presence and hers. As if he had all the power in the world and everyone but her was below his notice. So enthralled was she that she didn't even remember what she had ordered or what she ate. If asked she wouldn’t be able to give a proper answer. If asked about Rick however, she would have been able to recite every move, every word, every twitch he made without any difficulty.

“Tomorrow, we’re starting your lessons.” he said. She didn’t think she could feel even more joy until he spoke those words. “It will be long and difficult. There is a lot of knowledge you need to learn but at the end of it all, you’ll learn how my spells work and how to use them. More importantly you could also create your own easily. All you need for that is a lot of imagination and creativity which, as a cunning Slytherin, you have in abundance.”

“I do.” she grinned almost evilly at the prospect.

Rick paid for their dinner and Bella got a glimpse of the bill. Of course, it was in pounds so she had no idea of how expensive the meal had been. Afterwards, Rick hailed a taxi and gave the driver an address.

“First time in a car, hm?” he asked her knowingly.

“What do you think?” she leaned on him and purred in his ears. She was very close to imperious the driver and have sex with Rick in the backseat.

“Slower than our usual mode of transportation but the advantage is that we can enjoy talking with others, the scenery and the comfort.”

One of her hands was massaging his chest in circles. Slowly it began to go down as her lips found their way on his neck. So did her tongue and she loved how he tasted. About the time her hand reached for his belt the car stopped and the driver told them they were at their destination. She didn’t crucio the poor fool when she sure wanted to.

They exited the taxi and Rick paid the man. Bella didn’t pay attention to that. Instead she was looking at the bright lights of the establishment in front of her and the movie posters (not that she knew what it was).

“This is a theater. Muggle may be handicapped because they don’t have magic but they are resourceful. Their kind is still around after all. One of the best things they invented is this.”

“A theater? No offence but that has been in existence for thousands of years.” she replied unimpressed.

“Oh, it’s not just a theater. It’s a movie theater. It’s two things world apart. You’ll see what I mean soon.”

Remembering her sister’s advice about having an open mind, she followed it. “... And what muggle play are we going to watch?”

“I’ve learned, from experts on Bellatrix Black, that she loved scary and horror stories.” Rick’s answer sounded very smug.

Bella almost scoffed. “Expert, huh? I wouldn’t call my sisters experts on me but fine. I do love those stories but I doubt muggles have anything that can scare me.”

“I thought at first about religious horror stories. Humans possessed by demons and other things like that but I dismissed it because I was sure it would bore you. Possession is a rare thing in the wizarding world but not that rare compared to the muggle one. So I chose something else. Something I knew you’d had no idea even existed.”

“We’ll see.” she replied a bit unconvinced but curious from Rick’s confidence.

“We’ll see, indeed.”

Arm in arm they walked inside the theater and Rick bought two tickets for ‘Alien’.

BELLATRIX BLACK’S UNHINGED BRAIN THEATER™ aka “WHO GAVE MUGGLES THE RIGHT TO BE THIS TERRIFYING?”

Scene: The cinema goes dark.

Okay. Everything is black. This is fine.Wait, no it's not....Also, I smell butter. I hate that I like it.Rick’s hand is on the armrest. Should I? Shouldn’t I?I will hold it.But like, coolly. Casually. Like it just accidentally landed there while I was trying to elbow the armrest into submission.

Scene: First ten minutes.

So far, nothing is happening. Space? Aliens? Giant ship? One guy looks like he’s never bathed.Rick’s watching like it’s the most fascinating thing ever and honestly? That’s hot.I don’t care about the alien. I care about the veins in his hand.I’m already wetter than the atmosphere in this spaceship.

Scene: That damn facehugger.

OH.OH HELL NO.What in the bloody name of Salazar’s saggy socks just launched out of that egg like a cursed jack-in-the-box??That thing looks like a spider and a ball sack had a baby and it just went for the poor bastard’s FACE.Rick, darling, if that ever comes near me, you have my permission to Avada it twice.

Scene: Chestburster™ moment.

NOPE. NOPE NOPE NOPE.WHAT.WHAT IN MORGANA’S NAME—HE’S CHOKING AND BLEEDING AND THAT’S—IS THAT A TINY WORM LIZARD CREAMING OUT OF HIS STERNUM??I have seen people literally explode from magical backfires and THIS is worse.I AM NEVER EATING DINNER AGAIN.EVER.I DON’T CARE IF THIS IS FAKE, THAT THING HAS TEETH.

Scene: Alien hunting them one by one.

This ship is too big. These people are too dumb.STOP SPLITTING UP, YOU ABSOLUTE BARNYARD IDIOTS.Also—why is this monster built like a damn sex nightmare?Dripping? Phallic skull? So much saliva?Rick, you knew. You picked this on purpose.You sadistic, beautiful bastard.

Scene: Sigourney Weaver being the baddest bitch alive.

Wait.Oh. Oh I like her.She’s yelling at the cat, she’s crawling through steam, she’s flamethrowering her way into my respect.I’d duel her. I’d win. I’d make her serve me.This is everything I thought being a Death Eater would be, except without the tragic self-hatred and Dark Mark rash.RIP, everyone else on this ship. This woman is the final girl and I support her.

Scene: The Alien comes back in the escape pod.

I KNEW IT. I KNEW THAT SLOPPY SPACE EEL WASN’T DEAD.It’s hiding in the wiring like some perverted ceiling goblin.And she still handles it?? IN HER KNICKERS??That’s it.Rick, you owe me a training montage and an underwear flamethrower.I will become this woman. I will surpass her.Bella Weaver. Bellatrix Ripley. Whatever.Muggles invented horror, but I’m going to master it.

Scene: Movie ends. Lights come on....I can’t move.My legs don’t work. I have sweat in places I didn’t know could sweat.That wasn’t a date. That was a ritual.That was a transformative experience.I understand now. I am one with the darkness. I fear no nightmare, for I am the nightmare.Except I am also never sleeping again.

“Can we watch it again?”