Bad Romance

Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Too Exhausted To Hex Anyone

The Lestranges used the Floo to get home, too tired to Apparate safely. The day's work had been taxing to say the least. Grindelwald had trained them in dispersion walls and other interesting blocking wards, many of which when struck by magic caused the magic to explode or rebound on the caster. Such tricks certainly made one feel safer, but learning them, casting them, and at last holding them in place for prolonged periods was certainly draining!

Bellatrix stepped out of the hearth in the library and gratefully collapsed into the nearest chair.

"Do you think Grindelwald gets tired too, or is he just like a bloody magical battery," Lyra asked, stumbling a little in her exhaustion as she left the fireplace, dusting soot from her orange skirt.

Bellatrix opened her mouth to ask her daughter why she felt the need to dress like a fucking pumpkin but shut it again, too tired even to be properly bitchy.

"He isn't a man," Rabastan said dramatically. "He's pure magic made flesh, or perhaps a Lethifold!" Lyra giggled. "Want a drink," Rabastan asked, glancing around the room to include everyone in the offer.

"No, and neither do you," Bellatrix snapped. "You have to wake up and go into Azkaban tomorrow, if you recall."

That had been the order from Romeo Valdez for tomorrow's activities. They were to play with the prisoners and make sure none would defect to Delphini, if ever given the opportunity. Though the prison had wards upon wards, one could never be too safe. Romeo had asked the Lestranges if they believed they could make the prisoners too terrified to follow Delphini even if given the opportunity. Of course they could!

For once, Bellatrix was excited about the prospect of going into Azkaban. For the Lestrange family, torture had become an art, a beautiful painting of pain to work on the mind and body of each victim. My, how she had missed being creative! Working Shadow Ops hadn't provided much opportunity for torture. It was all about killing, and that was all well and good, but the art involved in that was so short lived. Of course, when one needed a quick release of anger, or to make a lovely point, killing was perfect, but if one wanted a prolonged activity...

"I am not going to work with you tomorrow," Lyra said firmly. Bellatrix sighed, too tired to fight. The Rodolphus-like firm set of Lyra's chin said she would make it an issue if anyone tried, and Bellatrix didn't care enough at present. Her daughter did need to learn the joys and benefits of torture, but if tomorrow wasn't to be that day, so be it.

"What will you do while we're at work, then," Rodolphus asked and Lyra shrugged. "Unwinding sounds nice," she said drily.

"You sure you don't want to come in with us," Rabastan asked his niece. "You're missing a grand opportunity to learn how to make sure a person will always do exactly what you want without the involvement of an Imperius Curse."

Lyra's eyes widened incredulously. "So you're saying that torturing someone with Unforgivables, and worse, is preferable to hitting them with the Imperius Curse?"

Rabastan shrugged. "It's certainly more fun! But yes, I am saying that torture is better... The Imperius Curse can be lifted, but the shit we will do to them tomorrow will NEVER fade!"

"I suppose not," Lyra said with a shudder. "I am not going to that place, though! I can just imagine how foul the energy is there with all those miserable prisoners who will be made a lot more miserable tomorrow by the three of you! All that will gunk up my Aura for weeks, and I'm not interested in feeling yucky for that long."

"Gunk up your what," Rodolphus asked, blinking at Lyra as if she'd just proclaimed herself to be an alien. Bellatrix understood his sentiment well!

"My Aura," Lyra enunciated carefully. "Please tell me you learned about Auras in school," she begged.