Aftermath

[devotedwarrior]

Who: Bellatrix, Lucius, Severus, Voldemort
When: November 17th, 2000
Where: Undisclosed Location (Bunker)
Status: Complete

Comments

[devotedwarrior]

Sneering at the two men with her, Bellatrix approached Voldemort and bowed, "My team has found no trace of the attackers except for a few dead Aurors and a Muggle farmer that reported he saw someone on a broom. We've interrogated the farmer but he didn't have any further details."

As she stood, she once more looked towards the others, "There was one member of the security detail that managed to successfully strike one of the attackers. You remember Liam Neary, my Lord?"

[faustian_prince]

Severus was silent as Bella delivered her piece. As for himself, he'd turned up little more than whispers and half-baked shadows. Nothing of true import, not until they were definitive, but he wasn't about to interrupt Bella while she was talking. Merlin knew the woman liked the Dark Lord's attention far too much.

[riddled_lord]

"And Severus, what have you found to report?" Voldemort turned his attention from Bellatrix, he would deal with her failure shortly. He wanted to hear from each of them before he addressed the attack and his plan to hunt down the perpetrators.

[faustian_prince]

"A point of entry, my Lord. The two missing Death Eaters were found, I suspect some type of charm to hide their bodies, but from there I was able to trace where the likely point of entry was for the attack," Severus supplied.

[riddled_lord]

"And the point of entry from the one on his broom? Did you find that as well? How was he able to escape, Severus?" His anger was soothed slightly by his casting at Bellatrix but he would not be waylaid in finding out just what had resulted in his injury, his blood being spilled.

Someone would be punished for it.

[faustian_prince]

"My Lord," Severus began. He had no desire to join Bella as a recipient of the Dark Lord's wrath and failure surely would be the fastest route to that. Calmly manuevering between confidence and servitude, he finished, "That is being looked into as we speak. As soon as I know anything of import, I will deliver it to you."

[riddled_lord]

"Then what are you doing here? Find the answer within the next day, Severus, I have only so much patience." Voldemort glared before turning his attention away from Severus and to the others. The dismissal was obvious.

[manofbadfaith]

Lucius listened skeptically to Bellatrix's report. He doubted the farmer had seen anything at all, more likely Bella was merely bored and found it a good excuse to torment a Muggle. Not that excuses were really needed.

He has to give Bellatrix credit though, Liam Neary was her project and an undeniably brilliant idea. The Irish boy was surprisingly capable and had proved to be an asset even before this latest incident.

[riddled_lord]

"During your socialising, did you hear anything, sense anything, Lucius?" His voice was calm as Voldemort watched Lucius. He was a keen mind, but that did not mean that he would hesitate to punish failure.

[manofbadfaith]

"I assure you My Lord, I didn't see or hear anything that made me suspect an attack was imminent. However, as you know I acted immediately at the first sign of trouble." Lucius bowed obsequiously, carefully negotiating the fine line between confidence and subservience.

"There are two people being held as possible conspirators, although we've been unable to get any information from them. Perhaps if they were implicated and suitably punished it would reassure the public that the situation is under control."

There were several small leads he might also have reported, but none had proved successful. As Bellatrix had inadvertently demonstrated, it was unwise to report one's own failures to Lord Voldemort.

[riddled_lord]

"In all your socialising, you heard nothing? You're losing your touch, Lucius." Voldemort stared at Lucius to see if he would fidget or break. It was a small game but one he enjoyed.

"Bring them to me and I will take care of their punishment. See to it that the public is reassured that the conspirators have been punished for their attack on the welfare of our world and peace."

[manofbadfaith]

"I certainly hope not, my lord," Lucius said smoothly. The slight tensing of his neck and shoulders were the only outward sign of any nervousness he felt.

"Yes my lord. I'll see that the news is spread at once. The prisoners can be brought whenever you wish."

[riddled_lord]

"On the morrow, we will deal with them. Perhaps..." his voice trailed off as he debated internally. A public execution might do more harm than good to the people but who was he to be concerned with the masses? "A public execution. Arrange it."

With that, he turned towards Bellatrix. He would have to keep an eye on all three of them. They all wanted his position and though they were loyal, there was always a limit to that loyalty. He trusted no one but himself.

[riddled_lord]

"Of course I remember him, Bellatrix. Do you think the attack hurt my memory?" He allowed a trickle of his anger to escape as he addressed her. She was a devoted servant but he had others and she obviously needed reminded of that. The failure was, ultimately, hers.

"A small attack that did not result in a capture. How were they able to gain admittance? What holes did you leave? Do you fancy yourself capable of taking my place? Crucio!" He smiled as she fell under the spell. He did not keep it on her for long but just the small reminder of pain was enough for now. A small reminder of what future failures would gain all them was more than enough for now.

[devotedwarrior]

As the pain spread through her body, Bellatrix focused on not screaming. She wouldn't, not in front of the others. When the spell broke, Bella fell to her knees and bowed her head.

"My Lord, Dolohov was in charge of securing the perimeter. I did what I could and I would never think to take your place." She hated that she was forced to grovel in front of Lucius and Severus. She'd served faithfully, protected and suffered while they'd repented.

schadenfreude

[manofbadfaith]

Lucius averted his gaze as Voldemort punished Bellatrix. It was the polite thing to do. Still, a small smile played at his lips - at least it wasn't him. The Dark Lord could be fickle and surely it would be Lucius's turn again eventually, such was the price of power. For now though, it was someone else.