Bad Romance

Chapter 35

Chapter 35: We're The Lestranges, Bitch

Bellatrix found herself thinking over torture strategies during breakfast the next morning. Normally, the art came naturally to all three Lestranges, but this time the goal was a bit more complex. This time, they were to terrorize with the intention of enforcing loyalty. It was extremely unlikely that Delphini would ever get to any of the prisoners, but in case she did, those prisoners needed to know that being on the insane girl's side was the absolute wrong thing to do for their own well-being. Not to mention that of their family and close friends.

"So I'm thinking we begin with a bit of torture to serve as a warning, an example, then the talk," Bellatrix said, putting down her empty cup of coffee and turning to Rabastan and Rodolphus.

Rodolphus nodded. "Sounds reasonable."

"I was actually thinking torture, then talk, then a bit more torture to cement the deal," Rabastan said enthusiastically.

Rodolphus frowned thoughtfully. "Well, only if the talk isn't received well."

Rabastan nodded. He always acquiesced to what his older brother said. That was good as it meant there was never dissent within the ranks and, therefore, things flowed smoothly.

"Would you like us to accompany you to the Ministry before we go to Azkaban," Bellatrix asked Lyra.

"I think I can manage the act of walking into a Floo all by myself and saying Ministry of Magic," Lyra replied. "It would be embarrassing if my parents and uncle had to drop me off as if I was three."

"Very well," Bellatrix said with a reluctant sigh. "If you happen to finish up there in time and change your mind about coming to Azkaban, just have one of the Aurors escort you."

Lyra shuddered. "I won't be changing my mind about visiting that horrid place! I am sure the energy of each and every prisoner there would offend my senses and pollute my Aura!"

"That sounds so bloody weird," Rabastan said with a snicker. "Damn you, random prisoner, for polluting my Aura with your energy!"

"I bet your Aura will be polluted for sure," Lyra shot back. "You just aren't attuned to it enough yet to be aware."

"Do you really think we can learn to actually notice things like that," Bellatrix asked. "As in, does anyone have the aptitude or is it specialized?"

"It was a general class at my school, so everyone has the aptitude to a degree," Lyra replied. "Some are better than others, and they go on to be more specialized, using the Aura for various forms of work from healing to psychic readings, to attacks and hexes."

"That last one sounds more like our thing," Rabastan said.

"I actually work with the Aura in all of those areas, but my abilities at healing are limited. I can mainly cleanse and balance the Aura and detect obvious illnesses."

"How psychic are you, then?" Bellatrix wondered.

"It's called reading Auras, and I can only do that if the Aura has something to say, which isn't always the case so as a psychic method it isn't particularly dependable."

"So you're more advanced in Aura attacks and hexes, then," Rabastan asked and Lyra shrugged. "It's called Auric attacks and hexes, and... Yeah, I guess so."

Rodolphus gave his daughter a pleased smile. "A true Lestrange, through and through!"

"You do know most people would consider that to be an insult, right?" Lyra muttered. In spite of her words, she did look almost pleased by her father's compliment.

"Only the sorts we'd torture anyway," Rabastan smirked. "They're just afraid of us is all, and that right there is power."

"What, is that, the 'make them fear you if they won't respect you' bit," Lyra asked drily. "Personally I prefer respect. Do you know how hard it is going to be for me to make friends or even generally interact with people here?" she suddenly demanded, glaring around at all three of them. "People dislike you for what you did! They fear you, and they don't trust you, and all of that is probably going to trickle right down onto me."