LET IT ALL BURN || LUCIUS

[``bellatrix ariadne black]

Bellatrix's mood grew terrible as the day went on. It wasn't the weather, it wasn't her beloved Rodolphus, or her sweet Lord. No, it was none of those things. It was the fact that she was simply bored. She had been cooped up in Grimmauld Place for days now, her mother telling her to read and what not. Although she would have preferred Cissy to be there with her, she really had no choice. Her sister kept a correspondence with her like clockwork. Although Bellatrix wasn't fond of writing, she made an exception for her little Cissy. The young blond was innocent in many ways, but Bellatrix knew not to underestimate her. She remembered when she was at school with her and how the girl had always been eager to do her work. The raven-haired witch had been the same, but not quite so laboriously. She got the good grades without having to study, something Cissy was extremely annoyed with. Recently, the youthful blond had sent her a letter explaining that she was warming up to Lucius. Bellatrix thought such a thing disgusting. She knew it was her parents' desire for the Malfoy and Black families to be united, but honestly. She was her little sister, after all, and Bellatrix was going to make sure he knew what would happen if he broke her heart.

She had told him to meet her at the Hog's Head this evening, just for a light dinner of sorts. The pub didn't have the best food in the world, but Bellatrix didn't mind that much. She loved the finger things in life, yes, but she didn't go out of her way to only do proper things and the like. This was where she became very different from her two sisters. Narcissa was the most proper of all three and Andromeda simply knew how to act and speak. Bellatrix did what she as told, but she had learned that doing whatever the hell she wanted was much more fun. The only real orders she followed were issued by her Dark Lord. He was simply the only man for her, besides Rodolphus. Her betrothed seemed to be a little distant lately. For some unexplainable reason, it was bothering her, itching at her insides like a disease. But, she wouldn't admit anything. She knew that she couldn't feel affection for someone else. It was only a deep obsession and lust towards them. Nothing more, nothing less.

Pulling her long black cloak tighter around her body, she continued on her way through the snow-laded town of Hogsmeade. She had always thought it disgustingly charming, but her favorite memories with her sisters had been here, before everything changed. She was still bitter about the rumors she had heard about Andromeda, but figured that since the girl denied them, there must be some mistake. However, Bellatrix had learned during her last year of school how to delve into the minds of others. She had practiced Legilimency on anyone who was weak enough to let her. For some reason, she fought the impulse to peer inside her sister's brain. She didn't want to know the truth. Sighing, she made her way to the pub, pushing open the door and glaring around that everyone attempting to see her face beneath the black hood shrouding the pointed visage quite eerily. She moved towards a table in the back, nodded toward the bartender, and sat down. It was partially in the shadows, but she knew the owner wouldn't mind her being there. She had already erased his memory from her last visit here. She grinned at the thought, pushing her hood off to reveal a smile so full of poison, it was frightening to the man that placed a firewhiskey before her.

Her silver eyes glistened with triumph, that spidery smile shimmering with bloodlust.

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[``lucius scipus malfoy]

Lucius, contemplating which legal spell was most apt for inconspicuous murder, walked into the Hog's Head. Eyes stared at him with initial contempt, followed by surprise, followed by dropped gaze. It was customary to come into the bar anonymously, but such activities didn't suit Lucius. He like being the center of attention, as he always was--the reputation earned him by being the son of a billionaire. It wasn't as if he didn't deserve it, though, he was one of the best people he knew. If anybody deserved attention for greatness, it was him. Or possibly the Dark Lord, but only because he was so open to sharing his limitless power.

Lucius would seize every last drop of power from him in an instant, had he the capacity.

Walking into the Hog's Head, he ordered a firewhisky. He was old enough to drink them now, (not that it had been a deterrent before) and therefore didn't have to answer any awkward question in regard to it.

He sat down alone, stroking his wand as he considered the previous point. Suddenly a thought of Narcissa floated across his mind. Was it possible that there were other people as wonderful, as innocent and gorgeous as her in the world, that he should spare?

NO he screamed to himself. Besides his own family and Narcissa, (and possibly the Dark Lord) every other person on the face of the planet was scum. Necessary only to do their duties, but could be replaced quite easily with another, equally incompetent person.

Suddenly, he noticed Bellatrix sitting at the table next to him. He cursed silently. If there was one thing he hated, it was running into people he knew when his goal was to achieve solitude. It was positively irksome. He knew she'd seen him, however, and didn't want to show open animosity toward his sister-in-law-to-be, so he said "Hello."[/color] through gritted teeth. He didn't know if she would have said something if he didn't, but he figured he may as well be the polite one.

The Malfoys had always been more courteous than the Blacks, in any case; he didn't want to tarnish that reputation.

[``bellatrix ariadne black]

Bellatrix turned her silver eyes to the door when she heard it creak open. Narrowing them into slits when she realized who it was, she fought the urge to stand up and hex the damn blond right then and there. The way he walked around, as if he thought he owned the place. Had he even seen her, yet? She owned the place. This was all hers and she wasn't going to share. Damn git. When he walked up to the bar, she continued to glare heatedly at him, waiting for him to notice her. She usually remained calm around fellow Death Eaters, especially the ones that were very faithful to the Dark Lord. However, Lucius Malfoy was a different case. He was betrothed to her baby sister, and she wasn't going to let anything happen to her Cissy. If he even looked at another female the way he was supposed to look at her when they were married, Bellatrix would rip out his eyes. Oh yes, she would love to catch him at a bad time. It would be her greatest pleasure to see him make a mistake.

Her silver puddles flashed violently when he finally made eye contact with her after he sat down. It was quite obvious that he wasn't pleased to see her, but they had both better get used to it, or there would be quite a bit of trouble---on his part anyway. Bellatrix didn't seem him as threatening at all. He could be frightening and damn attractive at times, but that was just because he had an evil streak in him that she found alluring. It was the same kind of personality Rodolphus had. The blond simply talked more than her betrothed. Well, she supposed that due to his current silence, he wasn't in a particularly good mood. She grinned devilishly at the thought. She loved to prod people's buttons. It was extremely fun.

Standing up elegantly, she moved to his table and sat down in the chair across from him, her silvery eyes glistening with anticipation. A cruel giggle escaped through her lips as she murmured, "Why so serious, Malfoy? This expression is so unbecoming of you. I doubt Narcissa appreciates it. How is she these days, Malfoy?" It was a trick question, really. If he said he didn't know, she would feel better about it and she wouldn't have to warn him to be careful. But, if he did speak of her, then Bellatrix would have to let him know who he was dealing with if he ever decided to hurt her baby sister. Oh, yes. If he ever decided to break little Cissy's heart, she would give him hell.

But that would simply be the beginning.

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[``lucius scipus malfoy]

Lucius sat where he was unmoving as Bellatrix sat across from him. She looked clinically insane, as if she belonged in St. Mungo's. Well she did, by anybody's professional opinion, but he felt sorry for the first idiot who actually tried to bring her somewhere like that. She sat across from him with silver, floating eyes. Tempting eyes, he would admit, but not so tempting as to actually tempt him into anything. He rolled his eyes as she sat down. He wasn't going to say anything openly hostile to her, but he could be rude by body language, couldn't he? He could simply deny it if she accused him.

How could the same loins that produced gentle, gorgeous Narcissa also spring forth such utter filth? he wondered to himself. Bellatrix seemed annoyingly comfortable around him, as though she was unaware that he could purchase her soul with only the smallest piece of his Gringott's Bank Account. Or whatever the black, repulsive ooze that was Bellatrix's essence could be called, for it certainly wasn't a soul. Her eyes danced around seductively, he didn't know if she intended for it. The sight made him want to vomit.

"Serious? Why, this is the way I always am. You should know that, by now. Unless of course, Narcissa doesn't find the time to talk to you anymore. That wouldn't surprise me in the slightest, she's been occupied with ah... other things, recently."[/color] he said smugly and he discreetly gestured to himself. He said it politely enough, but he knew the words were biting. By the way Cissa described her relationship with her sisters, Lucius guessed it would terribly offensive for him to insinuate Narcissa already cared more for Lucius that for Bella. He smirked slightly at the thought... he doubted it was false.

"So, what service have you been giving to the Dark Lord recently?"[/color] he asked, putting additional emphasis on the word service seeing as she never did anything of value for him, and he theorized he only kept her around because she was particularly nonexclusive regarding those who were allowed access to her body.

***Note: All assumptions are Lucius' simply because he always assumes the worst of people.

[``bellatrix ariadne black]

Bellatrix grinned ruthlessly as she noticed he didn't move when she sat down across from him. Finding it utterly amusing, she allowed a dark chuckle to escape through her lips and she ran a rather lanky hand through her black strands, her silver eyes never leaving the younger boy's in front of her. Although she found him very attractive, she knew it would be wrong to act upon her feelings. One, he was betrothed to her baby sister. Two, she was betrothed to Rodolphus Lestrange. There could be no good to come of harmless flirting or more with the young blond before her. Her silvery puddles narrowed into slits as she received the blows of contempt towards herself. She shook her head softly, as if warning him not to trifle with her mood. She could snap his neck in a second if she wanted.

Giggling horribly, Bellatrix straightened herself in her chair, continuing to watch him with her moonstruck eyes. He was an interesting spectacle to watch for, although he seemed to hate everything about her, there was a slight disgust in his soul, harboring prejudice toward everyone she herself despised. That was the reason in which she loved him so. Well, she supposed that it wasn't really love. She had never truly loved anything. She obsessed and desired more than anyone she had ever encountered, considering love to be foolish and irritating. So, maybe it was the fact that she simply admired him for having the same beliefs as her own. Smirking ruthlessly, she whispered, "Oh, Lucius, I know you better than you think." Her smile turned into a hateful glare as he continued to speak. She had heard from her baby sister just a couple of days ago, but she wasn't going to tell him that. If he wanted to continue being rude to her, then she was going to show him the same courtesy. With rage, she hissed, "If you touch her without her permission, Malfoy, I will slaughter you without a second thought, understand? Hogwarts will not be able to protect you if I desire to kill you." She laughed silkily, the tone poisonous in its depths.

When he began to ask of the Dark Lord in a quite condescending manner. Glaring with the rage of the Dragon burning deep inside of her, she leaned her head close to his, those silvery pools never leaving the cold grey eyes of the blond before her. With a hiss so full of insidious fury, she whispered, "I have done far more for him than you could even imagine, Malfoy. Do not begin to think that he would favor a pretty boy dependent on money like yourself over a servant willing to do anything by any means." She smirked cruelly before sitting up straight in her chair. She took a swig of her firewhiskey, which added to her insanity, and stared at him relentlessly.

Wanting him to bite back.

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[``lucius scipus malfoy]

Lucius was annoyed. For some reason, he didn't hate Bellatrix being there at that moment. The feeling was unfamiliar... he had grown accustomed to despising the very existence of any and all human beings. What was so special about Bellatrix?

Absolutely nothing, save she shares blood with Cissa. he told himself firmly. The last thing he needed was for him to begin feeling soft for people that didn't deserve it.

She was so sure she had power over him. He glared at her, in response. Hadn't he had the same education as she, both of Hogwarts and the Dark Lord? It wasn't exactly as if she had anything to hold over him. At all.

He shuddered when she said she knew him, better than he thought. It gave him an eerie sense, as if she was performing Leglimancy on him at that very moment. He shoved that thought aside, not wanting to show even a hint of weakness. She didn't deserve it.

Lucius smirked. She was angry... he liked her better that way. It made her seem like a rational angry human instead of a bottom feeding parasite. Then again, most humans [i\were[/i] bottom feeding parasites... he decided to respond by saying something equally offensive. "Without her permission?"[/color] Lucius scoffed, amused. "I'm rather sure she'd give me permission to do what I please. Then again, you of all people should know what that's like." he said, with a laugh as condescending and biting as possible.

Lucius almost choked with laughter. He quoted her in a mocking, high cackling voice, along with a rather stupid expression on his face: "Things you can't even imagine!"[/color] he laughed, trying to imagine what possible favors she had been doing for the Dark Lord. The second part, however, hurt slightly. He quickly recovered, however, returning with an equally offensive slur: "Well there's nothing wrong with financial aid. It's just as important to his program as the murder is. As for the 'pretty boy' thing... maybe you should take a leaf out of my book. Here's a few knuts... buy yourself a hairbrush. Yeah?"[/color] he said, sniggering as he dumped several fat galleons on the table. She could take it, he didn't mind. Not like he needed them, anyway.

[``bellatrix ariadne black]

Bellatrix read the irritation upon the younger blond's face, his icy greys very similar to her own in their contempt towards everyone they encountered. She was eager to crawl under his skin, to grasp at any irritation he had towards her and play with it, molding it to melt in her hands so that she could twist him any way she felt. She was surprised that he hadn't gotten up quite yet. She knew him to be rather distant when it came to other human beings, unless they were male Death Eaters, but she knew that he was a tad classier than most of the trash that passed for servants to her beloved Dark Lord. She always seemed to find a reason to hate someone for it was extremely easy to her. Bellatrix was the most powerful witch in the entire universe, second only to Voldemort himself. She was skilled at fighting and killing, eager to feel the blood of her victims upon her tongue and down her throat. She always made a habit of messing with people, because she fed off of their annoyance and negative feelings. She was similar to a Dementor, really, except she could actually take away someone's life. Sure, the Dementors could take away their soul, but they couldn't revel in the pain.

Throwing him an angered smile when he found her anger amusing, Bellatrix allowed her expression to twist with its comfortable malice, rippling off her body like a never-ending waterfall. She wanted to make him respect her, to give her the fear that she deserved. She worked hard to terrify people and she only had herself to blame if the endeavor didn't work. Her eyes narrowed hatefully when he began to speak. Her fist made contact with the table as she brought it down with force. He was crossing the line. This was her baby sister they were talking about! "Touch her and I'll rip apart your manhood, Malfoy." She clenched her fingers harder, so that her nails dug into the skin upon her palm. Her silver pools glistened with intense fury, their light too bright, as if normal beings were incapable of such lightness. He obviously didn't realize just how much power she held over him. She could ruin him with a simple thought. It would be easy, especially with her skill in the production of the Imperious and Cruciatus curses.

With silver slits of anger as her eyes, Bellatrix grinned ruthlessly, her insanity leaking out from her brain and dispersing throughout her veins. He was prodding the most unstable woman to be born, and he didn't even realize it yet. But, she loved the feeling of not being able to control herself. It added to her mystery. She could twist any kind of expression she wished, resulting in the fact of someone not being able to realize her next move. Leaning back in her chair casually, she hissed, "How many people have you killed, Malfoy?" She doubted he had slaughtered anyone because he was just not that type of person. He could torment and torture until the world ended, but to actually go through with a murder? Bellatrix doubted it. She giggled at the slight hurt he had received from her comment on his dependence on money. It was true, to be honest. One of the only reasons he came from a noted family was because of the money that had been passed down from generations. She knew that it helped Voldemort in many things, especially because quite a few people were eager for something that, although it was unfortunate they wouldn't join for the right cause, would make them offer their allegiance. But, the problem with that was when the money ran out. Faith lasted quite a bit longer than galleons and sickles. She doubted Lucius realized that as well as she did. Once someone of their group had a better offer of more money, if they were greedy, they would be gone in a second. Irritated that he had practically told her she was unkempt and scraggly, Bellatrix giggled horribly, the sound threatening. "My family is more notable than yours, Malfoy. I daresay that you should watch your mouth. My mother and father have the ability to tear your reputation apart. Understand?" She waited for him to bring up Sirius or Andromeda. When he did, she would kill him.

There would be no other reaction to such insults.

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[``lucius scipus malfoy]

Lucius glazed his eyes over, feigning boredom. The latent fear that was struck into his heart was virtually undetectable... he hoped. In reality, he had shifted slightly in his chair at the mention of his manhood. Courageous and brave or not, no man could take that threat with no reaction. He thought the did relatively well, though, considering the implications. He stared at her fingernails, digging white craters into her own skin. His first instinct was revulsion, followed briefly by arousal. He quickly squandered the mewing emotion effortlessly, having mastered such primal carnal desires. Except in the case of Narcissa, it was a completely different feeling then...

He looked Bellatrix straight in the eyes for a moment, before she dropped the question. How many people had he killed? He thought hard. He'd tortured several, and threatened countless... but death? No... what was the use in that? He pictured, for a moment, a man paling and slipping lifeless by the power of his wand. He pictured himself with a stony expression... then suddenly the man's faced evolved to his mother's... then Narcissa's... the thought brought him terrible anguish. It may have fluttered across his face as traceable concern for a moment, but he quickly regained repose. "I personally find that barbaric practice unnecessary. With enough focus and precision, there's no need to end the existence of one that may potentially prove more useful."[/color] he said emphatically. He hoped his argument was logical enough and his weakness hadn't momentarily surfaced...

He quickly put on a sarcastic face. "Oh I'm terribly sorry, Bella, didn't mean to throw you off your pedestal. Your 'notable' family still crawls around in dark cold enclaves you call 'manors', unaccepting of the opulence you could otherwise achieved. The Black family is too consumed in darkness to pay heed to the finer aspects of life... I pity you."[/color] he said. It didn't sound very convincing, and little of it was true... but he had to formulate a reasonable retort. They were vying for power, and he would not come off the inferior.