this one is dedicated to ThisLife103.7 and all my other crazy friends from the forum Bellatrix Lestrange: The Dark Lord's Most Faithful. best forum EVER! :) not canon but i had a lot of fun writing it. enjoy!

Bellatrix Black followed closely behind Professor Minerva McGonagall, gazing around curiously. A small disdainful sneer flickers in and out of her expression as she takes in these surroundings that are no where near the grandeur in which she was raised but she has managed a convincing polite look of interest. The professor ushers her into a room at the far end of the hall, closing the door behind her with a flick of her wand.

The room was small, barely big enough to accommodate all the people in it. There were about twenty witches and wizards, all huddled around the round table at its core, talking amongst themselves in hurried whispers. Most turned their heads to gaze curiously at the newcomer. Several shot her loathing glares, which she returned with as contemptuous a sneer as she could muster.

"Dumbledore," McGonagall hurried forward to pause beside an old man. His beard and mane were long, disappearing beneath the table, and was currently in the transition phase from rainstorm grey to unicorn white. "Dumbledore – I have found her – she has agreed – I haven't explained – not everything, not yet." The older witch glanced up at Bellatrix, who was still standing by the door, excitedly.

"Well, before we begin the meeting she will need to be told all of the basic crucial information." Though he was apparently speaking to Minerva, his bright blue eyes remained on Bellatrix; his gaze was electrifying and she had to suppress the urge to shift uncomfortably.

"What has she been told already? We mustn't waste time. But where are my manners?" He chuckled pleasantly. "Come, young Bellatrix Black, sit. There is an empty chair here abouts…where is it? Ah yes, there! Between Dorcas and Mr. Diggle. You know Dorcas Meadowes, of course, she was at Hogwarts with you – a year or two ahead, I believe. Would you care for a sherbet lemon? Or a toffee perhaps? There are also these tiny candies – M&M's, I was told they are called. Delightful!" As if to validate his statement, he reached slender fingers into the bowl before him, picked up several circular, brightly coloured candies Bellatrix had never seen before, and plopped them between his lips. He munched on them, mouth still smiling, blue eyes still twinkling. The whole scenario was a little disconcerting, really.

"I – what – no – no, thank you, no." She managed to say. She exchanged a glance with McGonagall, who gave a half-shrud as if to say "Just go with it". Realizing that the old Headmaster was waiting on her, she slowly made her way tot eh indicated chair and cautiously lowered herself into it. The old man beamed and leaned forwards across the table, elbows resting on the tabletop with his hands joined at the fingertips to make a steeple.

"So, let's begin at the beginning, shall we?"