The door to Borgin and Burkes opened, the bell above tinkled, but then there was silence, and the door banged closed.
"Hmm. Must have changed their mind about coming in after all." Bellatrix laughed as she reached forwards, far too close to and flirtily brushing her arm against the body next to her. Her fingers plucked the ring off the dish it sat in, and she pulled her hand back and held it up in front of her face.
"You could have bought me a ring like this, you know." There was no malice or scorn in her voice, just purely matter of fact with an almost concealed hint of sadness.
"What, the cursed ring of a muggle harlot?" scoffed Lucius. "I don't imagine you'd have been happy with that, Bella, anymore than you were happy that I married your sister."
"You might have married her and fooled yourself into believing you love her, but you and I both know that ours was always the true love, Luci."
"Don't call me that in public, Bella!" The heat behind his aggravated stare made Bella wet, and she smirked at him, knowing that she would pay for that later.
"We're the only ones here. Not many are brave enough to rummage the wares in here," she waved a hand around airily, "and anyway, I think it suits you." Lucius narrowed his eyes at her and stepped aside to look at a statue stood on the floor. Bellatrix took her opportunity to slide in front of him, and his arms looped around her waist. She pushed her arse back against him and moved from side to side almost imperceptibly. His cock hardened and she stilled, his length nestled in the cleft of her arse. She hummed a content sound as she leant her back against his chest.
"Maybe you are a harlot after all" Lucius laughed into her hair. She reached behind her and found her way into his robes. Her hand paused on the zip of his tailored trousers when he spoke.
"Bella… We can't do this. Not here."
"So you don't want to lay me over the counter and fuck my brains out? Or pin me to the floor while you have your way with me?"
"You know I do. And I would. But the Dark Lord has given us a job to do, and we should get on with it. He's told us not to distract each other once, he wouldn't be pleased if he knew we were still doing this. Besides, what I've got planned for you later…" the heat was back in his eyes, "let's just say you'll be glad we didn't waste our energy on a shop floor." He planted a kiss on the top of her head. "I've got to go, I need to run some errands before I meet Cissa. Later, my love." Lucius turned and was gone, the bell and door slamming the only sounds left. Bellatrix held onto herself for a second, fighting to control her emotions, and then sniffed, wiping away a tear that had shamefully escaped down her cheek. Death Eaters who were famed as being the most psychotic did not cry over a man. Even if that man was Lucius Malfoy, the only person she loved more than the Dark Lord. And yet he was married to her sister. It was supposed to be to her, they had always been in love. But when her parents had betrothed Narcissa to him instead, she had found herself shunted into a loveless marriage of convenience to Rodolphus Lestrange. A union which had pleased the Dark Lord, at least.
"Well, well, well. Does Narcissa know about you two?" A disembodied voice came from between two cabinets, making Bella jump. She knew they had been alone in the shop when they had come in, so who was this?
"Who are you?" She called, the arrogance in her voice shining through. She was far from scared.
A young boy stepped through the gap in the aisle. He couldn't have been more than Draco's age, Bellatrix thought, but she wouldn't hesitate to kill him if she needed to.
"Who are you?" She repeated, sneering at him.
"You can answer my question first. Does Narcissa know you're fucking her husband?"
"Well, you've got a naughty little mouth haven't you? No, she's blissfully oblivious. Now, who are you, and what business do you dare to have here?!" Bellatrix was shouting by the end.
"My name is Vincent Crabbe. And you're going to do something for me." Crabbe's chin jutted forward as he spoke, sounding far braver than he looked. Bellatrix burst out laughing.
"You can't blackmail me, you seedy little cretin. Sneaking around a shop like this, spying on the grownups enjoying themselves. Ha! Who do you think you are?"
Crabbe was infuriated now. Bellatrix Lestrange may be powerful, but he wasn't about to back down.
"You're having an affair with your sister's husband. And I heard him say He Who Must Not Be Named isn't pleased about it. So I think that means I can blackmail you, and I will. So these are my terms. Protect Draco Malfoy. Help him succeed in whatever task it is he has been set, and keep him safe. Even if he won't accept your help, you do it. Otherwise I'll make sure you're found out for what you're doing, and from what I heard before I'm not sure either of you will come out of it too well. Do we have a deal?"
Bellatrix was intrigued. She nodded, and then held up one finger.
"Why would a shady little shit like you want me to protect Draco?"
"Just do it." Crabbe's tone was final, as though he would say no more on the matter. But this was Bellatrix Lestrange, and she knew how to make people talk.
"No. You either tell me why I'm risking my neck to protect my nephew, or I'll kill you both myself instead." It was a bluff, she would never do that to Lucius, but she was a game player. And apparently, it was exactly the right button to press. Crabbe's eyes bulged and his face turned puce. The next words exploded out of his mouth.
"Because I love him! I love every stupid hair on his stupid head! And I have no interest in living in a world where he doesn't exist! So you protect him with every bone in your evil body, or so help me I will rat you out to your Dark Lord myself!" Crabbe was breathing heavily following his confession. "He's been my best friend for years, but I'm in love with him, and he loves me back. We've made a pact that we survive this war together or not at all, and I'm not ready for my time with him to be over. So you save him, for me and for your precious Luci." Her nickname for Lucius falling from Crabbe's lips made her mouth drop open, and she realised just how much he had heard. Her eyes narrowed.
"Fine. I will protect him. But once his task is over-"
"No. I said you keep him safe. That extends to the rest of the war, not just his current job. Agree now, or it's all over." Crabbe's hands were shaking in his pocket where Bellatrix couldn't see them.
"Fine. Deal done. Now get out of my sight, you treacherous little creep."
With that, Crabbe exited the shop, knowing he had risked his life when he decided to blackmail Bellatrix Lestrange. But it was worth it. For his Draco, it was worth it.