Bad Romance

Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Kings and Queens

"Do you know what this dinner meeting is about," Bellatrix asked Regulus and Kreacher once they were settled in the library at 12 Grimmauld. They were having pre-dinner drinks while waiting for Grindelwald and Zabini to arrive. Rather, the Lestranges were having drinks while Regulus and Kreacher looked on politely.

Regulus shrugged slender shoulders in seeming unconcern from where he sat on a dark green sofa with Kreacher at his side. Black may be a bit depressive, but that didn't prevent him from at least keeping his physical appearance in order, Bellatrix observed. Regulus wore a dark gray dress robe that contrasted nicely with his pale complexion and neatly combed shoulder length black hair. Kreacher sported a dark green tunic, providing a suitable contrast.

"Not really," Regulus said casually. "Gellert said it wasn't anything majorly concerning, whatever that means."

"It means though it is concerning, it isn't majorly so," Rabastan said cheekily, and Regulus arched his brows. Kreacher frowned at the younger Lestrange in mild disapproval.

"Thank you, Rabastan. It always helps when you repeat what I just said," Regulus said drily, with a reluctant grin.

Feeling herself losing interest in the conversation, Bellatrix sighed, causing Regulus to glance in her direction.

"What's the matter?" The genuine concern in her cousin's voice had her answering readily enough.

"It's Lyra's blasted man. I think Grindelwald will be interested in his services once he is made aware of them, which means she's won. She was all triumphant about it last night and it galls."

After dinner, Lyra had gloated silently all evening, an insufferable happy expression all over her face for bloody hours.

"What has she won," Regulus asked, exchanging a confused look with Kreacher.

"She's won the right to have him here, and in our lives if Grindelwald wants him here," Bellatrix replied. "We'd all sort of wanted him to stay in Australia...forever and ever!"

"So what will Grindelwald find so useful that would bring him here instead?" Kreacher wondered.

Bellatrix summarized Winterhaven's locking and unlocking abilities and how they could be used on a person's mind. To her annoyance, both Kreacher and Regulus looked fleetingly impressed.

"Even worse, he actually seems to relish us in all our twisted glory," Rabastan complained. Bellatrix and Rodolphus nodded together in glum agreement.

Before Regulus or Kreacher could ask for clarification, the door chime sounded, resounding through the entire downstairs of the manor. It seemed Grindelwald and his man had arrived.

"Well, we're about to discover what isn't majorly concerning," Rodolphus drawled, lounging back on the blood red loveseat.

"I can't bloody wait," Bellatrix said, meaning it. She was far more interested in that than speaking to their glorious blonde leader about Cassius Winterhaven.

When the library door opened, one of the four elves who worked for Kreacher entered first, Gellert and Blaise following. They still wore their Ministry robes and name badges. Like the Lestranges, they'd obviously come straight from work.

"May Stormy offer Mr. Zabini and Mr. Grindelwald a pre-dinner drink," the elf asked politely, and both men nodded.

"Yes, thanks," Blaise said. "That would be nice," Gellert added appreciatively.

The two settled side by side in matching arm chairs near the fire as everyone exchanged general greetings with them. While Stormy moved to the liquor cabinet in the corner to attend to the drinks, Blaise and Kreacher exchanged a few words about some project on which they were working together.