She was itching for her wand, in fact she was surprised she wasn’t currently gripping it. That sparks weren’t flying off the tip of it just from the rage swimming in her veins. Nothing was stopping her and yet she remained as if petrified. Hardly blinking, hardly breathing, the tremble she felt through her whole body only visible in her hands; which were clenched so hard she could feel her long nails digging deep into her palms.
Bellatrix had to think before she acted, and she hated doing that.
Her father was not going to change his mind, he did as she’d asked—in his opinion—and for her to change her mind after he’d made the deal would be out of the question. Bella knew that. She knew too well the way in which Rodolphus slithered his way to her fathers study and spoke of how Bellatrix would never expect the great Cygnus black to bend to his daughters will, so he was here to do so in her stead. He would then confess with a timid sigh that yes, they were courting and for bellas sake and only hers, he felt it was his duty to ask for her hand, as he would not bear to see her name slandered if betrothed to anyone else.
Cygnus Black wasn’t stupid, he was aware of his daughters determination to destroy their good reputation. The things shed done that a woman, let alone one of her status, should never do was enough to drive Cygnus to madness. He also learned long enough ago to leave her be, as it would only get worse if he interfered. He knew from multiple sources that Rodolphus was indeed seen with Bellatrix, though these allegations had diminished in frequency as of late.
Despite the arrogant deception dripping from the boy’s tone, Cygnus had no reason to think he was being untruthful. He was reluctant, but agreed to speak to his wife nonetheless. The boy seemed satisfied enough with that and seemed all too eager to leave and spread the news—Cygnus never understood the need these children had to do the work of common gossips.
Bella knew this. She knew Lucius would’ve been the first to be told. To let him know he’d won and Lucius wouldn’t be able to steal her from him again.Rodolphus wouldn’t dare to tell her—he’s got a shit defence against her hexes. Moreover he knew she wouldn’t be able to react the way she wanted to if her father was the one to tell her. He wanted her to know he had her and she wouldn’t be able to break away from him this time. Betrothals are final, they’re not up for negotiation—the fact that their generation has been given the grace to not be sealed to someone since birth was considered a revolution. She didn’t even think to ask if it had been finalised, there was no way it wasn’t all done.
What can she do? What were her options? She didn’t know.
First things first though.
Her hand snapped to her wand, immediately pointing to the door, placing upon it all the locking and silencing charms she knew. She sucked in a deep breath, and screamed, Bella felt the discomfort in her throat before she was done yet her screams continued, her hands clawed for something, anything to rip from the walls, to break with her bare hands to at least fantasise it was Rodolphus’ smug face. Her nails dug through the furniture, the walls, little glass ornaments shattered into a pile of chunks on the precious rug her mother always boasted about.
She couldn’t explain how she ended up on the floor, much less when she has started to sob instead of scream. But her cries ripped through her, her hands clutching her chest as if to keep it from shattering too, the sound of it causing an ugly echo on the stone walls. Bella could hardly see through the tears spilling from her eyes, nor breathe through her choked sobs.
She hated it. She was not this witch. She was Bellatrix fucking Black, she was not this powerless woman. She didn’t know what she was going to do, but she knew it had to be something. She wasn’t marrying Rodolphus, she would be dragged to Azkaban kicking and screaming before that happened. If thats what it took, so be it.
Bella stood and took in a long, hoarse breath; no more of this.
"Alohomora."