Tom did not know which was more odd. The fact that he could now think outside trying to kill a teenager or that he could now refer to himself as Tom again. Or was it simply odd that he found these things odd? It was harder than some might realize to regain a sanity once lost. When you're insane you don't really know you are. And when you're sane, you think you've gone insane. He might have actually laughed at this if it all wasn't giving him such a headache and an itch to curse the nearest person to oblivion.

And yet, that was also odd. That he stopped himself from cursing someone. No one he knew would ever say he had done such a thing in the past. Tom knew these things weren't what really bothered him. What really bothered him was the fact that all these things seemed odd yet should've felt normal. A clear indication that coming back to reality and getting a grip on it was harder than anyone else could imagine. Except for maybe one.

And she was the one he currently waited upon.

The Dark Lord looked as impassive as ever to the naked eye. But inside, he was burning with impatience. He had never had much patience, and it bothered him more so now because before he would have outright killed someone for testing it this way whereas now he knew he might not. With certain people. And before, it never would have mattered who it was. It was all so very complicated, and he could feel his heart beat in his temples from the headache this was causing as he pressed his spindly fingers to them.

Bellatrix entered the home imperiously, as if she owned the place. This was no surprise to anyone who saw. This was her way, and who she was. Once again, no one stopped her or dared to question her. Any would who might have would most definitely have come face to face with her wand. And she looked to be in the kind of mood where she wished someone would. So no one did. It was that simple.

Bella had a dark look on her face, her internal thoughts about her son along with her newfound freedom were steadily weighing more and more on her mind. It was not easy adjusting to life outside of Azkaban, and even less easy adjusting to actual reality when your mind was trying to trick you into thinking you were really going insane. But Bella pushed all this to the back of her mind as best she could, entering the room with the air of one who had had a great gift bestowed upon them. Such was her admiration, respect and loyalty to the Dark Lord.

She bowed her head even as she moved to kneel in front of him. "My Lord." It was the only thing she spoke, and in such a reverent tone no one who heard could ever doubt her loyalty to the wizard. Though no one doubted it anyways. She was almost giddy with the honor of the private meeting with the Dark Lord, and whatever honor he was to give her as to the task she was to be set upon.

When the witch finally made her appearance in the room and immediately kneeled before him Tom noted with satisfaction that she did not utter one apology pertaining to her lapse in punctuality. He wondered if it was due to her pureblood pride or to the fact that she knew either way anything she said would not excuse her tardiness. In anyone else, the pureblood pride would have irritated him beyond reason. Tom utterly hated their pride. How fake they were. To the rest of the world, they pretended to be elite. To be better than everyone else. Yet here, in front of him, they were mere fools who cowered under his gaze and quivered at the sound of his voice. They disgusted him.

Yet it was a powerful feeling to have the wizarding world's elite witches and wizards at his feet. But most of them he knew showed as little loyalty to him as they did to Dumbledore himself. He knew for a fact thanks to his mastery in legilimency that many of his so called followers only became so out of self preservation. He knew for many of them that every time they came before him their pureblood pride warred against their self preservation and it amused it in a sadistic way.

Yet one had stood out beyond the rest in their unfailing loyalty. One who had proudly spent years with only dementors for company because of it. One who had given everything up to serve him fully. Who was not pushed by anyone else into said servitude. Nor had they joined him in a bid to survive. If one thing had remained the same it was the death eater before him.

It was this and only this that allowed her to keep her pride before the others, and a reprieve from punishment for her tardiness. That's what he told himself anyways. His gaze lingered on the top of her head for a moment until the hissing reached his ears and he looked to his familiar Nagini as she slithered in.

"Bella." It was the only invitation he would give to hear what she had to report.

Head still bowed, Bellatrix couldn't repress the insane smirk that graced her lips at the lack of curses being sent her way. It was common knowledge the Dark Lord favored her above almost all either, save for perhaps Severus. It was something the witch constantly rubbed in the other's faces. Especially Lucius. The high and mighty Malfoy who thought he was the Dark Lord's right hand. Hey who had fallen from grace last year at the Ministry fiasco.

She hadn't offered an apology mainly because she knew it would be futile to apologize when she knew there was no excuse for not showing when her Lord called. But also a small bit of pureblood kept her from it. It was one thing she was well known for. She did not apologize. Ever. For anything.

Carefully wiping her smirk from her lips as she resumed her standing position, Bella made sure to make and keep eye contact with her Lord as she filled him in on her visit with her son. "Overall I feel with the proper training the boy will be an asset to your ranks my Lord. It is a wonder he has not been better trained as it is. " She concluded, not being able to resist the obvious dig at Malfoy Sr. When he remained silent, the witch seized her opportunity and asked in a way that made it seem as it would be an honor if he should bestow such a task to her, "If I may be so bold, I would like to offer myself for the task. I will train the boy my Lord." In the end though, it sounded a slight bit more like she wouldn't have it any other way.

And really, why would she? She was his best follower, second in regards to how lethal she was only to the Dark Lord himself. She knew that unless he planned to train the boy himself, she herself was the best alternative. Besides, Silas was her son. She would not have anyone but herself taking the grade for his outcome. Especially when she knew it would be a high one without a doubt.

There was a specific tone in her voice and an obvious choice of words that made it apparent that she did not approve of her son's lack of training. It was also obvious that she wholeheartedly blamed the elder Malfoy for this. Tom reflected on this for a few measure moments and his face didn't give anything away.  Lucius had been found wanting more and more lately, Tom could not deny that. A lot of his inner circle was if he were being honest with himself. It was why it was such a hassle getting the new recruits to fall in line. There was no respect with the next generation of followers.

Lucius was already on Tom's bad list for not having his own son ready and waiting to join. The Dark Lord was still considering possible consequences for this. There was no excuse for the Malfoy and Lestrange heirs to not be trained, given who their parents and guardians were. Yet they were not prepared to join his ranks and Tom placed the blame entirely on Lucius.

Thinking over the option of having Belltrix train the boy Tom found the idea had it's merits. There was a little nagging voice in the back of his head that was telling him he should perform one of the many curses in his stockpile on the witch for the tone she used with him but he shoved it away instead focusing on the possibilities now at hand. She said the boy had potential. But potential for what? Tom was trying to make a change in his regime which had gotten vastly off course in the last fifteen years due to his insanity. Thanks to Dumbledore. He didn't need any new crucio happy candidates. He needed intelligence. Cunning.

"That will not be necessary Bella." He finally told her slowly, weighing his words and thoughts carefully. "I have a more important task for you." He waved his wand wordlessly and a rolled up scroll of parchment appeared between them which he gestured for her to take. "You will work with Severus on this." He added and his tone left no room for argument on this subject. It was imperative the two complete the task. "As for the boy," He continued on as he waited for her to read the scroll, "I will attend to his training personally. As well as that of his cousins." There was a smirk in his voice that did not show on his snake-like  face, but it was there all the same.

Bellatrix took the scroll with a nod of her head, accepting the plan of her Lord's to train both her son and her nephew himself. That was infinitely better than her doing it herself, and she could still give the two young men pointers in private. That couldn't hurt. They could only benefit from learning straight from the Dark Lord himself. She remembered vaguely her own days of being taught by him herself. Those were days she wouldn't trade for the world, even in their pale camparisons to how she had first been able to recall them.

By this time the witch had unrolled the scroll and was reading through a complex potion and spell. Ancient. She briefly wondered where the Dark Lord had gotten it from, but it was not for her to question. It was obvious why he had chosen herself and Severus for this specific task. It was extremely complex magic. The potion itself would take months to prepare. And the end result had to be more than perfect. Anything less would be detrimental to the outcome of both parts of this ancient magic which would restore the Dark Lord to his former glory. This was a task she was sincerely honored to have been given, and it showed as she rolled the scroll back up and returned her eyes to the wizard in front of her.

"Thank you My Lord. It will be done as you wish." She said in a reverent tone.

There was no doubt that the witch would perform to the standard set before her. She would not fail in this task. "I don't believe there is any need to tell you this task requires your utmost discretion Bellatrix." Tom told her in a ruthless tone. He was very aware of just how much the witch liked to brag, but this was neither the task nor the time to do so. It was paramount that this entire plot go under the radar so to speak. He had to make this perfectly clear, lest there be a slip of the tongue. "If Dumbledore were to get word of this I should be very displeased." He held a hand up to silence her before she could speak as she had opened her mouth to do just that. "I know your concerns about Severus but you will simply have to deal with my choice." The silent or else was not spoken but he could tell was still understood.

"You will also return to Malfoy Manor and notify both your son and nephew that their first lesson will be soon. Very soon. That is all." He waved a dismissing hand and the witch left him to his thoughts which he was questioning. Why had he volunteered for such a mundane task as training the two heirs? Because obviously he couldn't trust anyone else with it.


[permission to GM by Bellatrix]