Bella heard a distant howling, probably coming from the Forbidden Forest, as she walked slowly, her boots making a soft clicking sound on the unpaved ground. The moon was immense that night and it lit up the streets more than she would have preferred but unfortunately, she couldn't reschedule. There was no one out at those hours, save from a lone silhouette in the outskirts, slow, an old man, Bella decided. It was no threat or obstacle. She wouldn't hesitate to dispose of anybody she might encounter in the next minutes.

With her cloak over her head, her face in shadows, Bella took a turn in the alleyway behind the Hog's Head. There he was, just as her Lord had foreseen. A pathetic figure lying next to a dump against the wall. Asleep. By then, the man surely couldn't afford a room even in the Hog's Head. He didn't hear Bella approaching until it was too late. Samuel Byrne stirred and turned to look over his shoulder, jumping in fright as he saw the hooded figure standing over him. He couldn't see her face. But when she spoke, he knew he was screwed.

"Is this where you reside now, Byrne? Cozy, I must say." The irony in her voice didn't make him as angry as it frightened him. Byrne didn't speak. He merely flinched when Bellatrix crouched down on one knee and retrieved something from inside her robes. The man closed his eyes but nothing happened. Re-opening them, he saw that Bella had taken out a small flask and was nonchalantly holding it to his face.

"The Dark Lord would like that information you promised, Byrne. And if you'd like my advise, I think you should give it to him. You've seen what happens when... you know." She teased, an obnoxious hint of pleasure in her voice now.

The man trembled and looked away, then closed his eyes. Byrne knew what he'd done could hurt the ministry badly and if he gave that information to the Death Eaters, they might just win the war. But... his family. The tip of a wand touched his neck and his eyes flew open. Without speaking, Byrne nodded.

It didn't take longer than a few seconds for him to draw the memories out his head and deposit them inside the flask that Bella was holding. Without much effort, Bella grabbed his wand after he was done and snapped it in half. Byrne didn't even put up a fight. What was the point?

As she put the flask inside her robes, Bellatrix stood up slowly and pointed her wand at him.

"The Dark Lord thanks you for your services." She spoke slowly. "But He no longer needs you, Byrne."

The silence stretched the seconds. There was no one around. They'd just find him there sometime during the week. Would she even leave a Dark Mark up in the sky for all to see? To brag about another murder? Would she-

"Avada Kedavra!"

Byrne's corpse keeled to one side, leaving him in an awkward position against the wall, eyes open. And Bella turned on her heel to walk back to the entrance of the alleyway. She had to check the area before disapparating and getting that flask to her Lord in no time.

Her chest swelled with pride whenever her Lord sent her to take care of important issues such as this one. It showed that he trusted her beyond all others and she could honestly say that he did the right thing by assigning Bella these missions. So far, she had failed none. She wouldn't fail. Ever.

The streets was still deserted. There were no lights on in any of the houses, no sound, no nothing. It was too easy. Bella put her wand away.

Her back had been half turned towards the village, ready to creep back into the alleyway to disapparate in the deep shadows. Confident enough to overlook the discrete sound footsteps until their owner was close enough for Bella to be aware of her presence. Sharply turning her head to look over her shoulder, Bellatrix's expression remained impassive, although inside she felt dread mingled with annoyance. How unfortunate to meet someone then and there and even more so that it had to be a familiar face who also turned out to be an auror. Facing Lauren Blackwood now completely, Bella kept her hand inconspicuously close to her wand, a smirk instantly drawn on her face. She leaned against the cold brick wall of the pub, not taking her eyes off her old acquaintance for one second.

"Sadly," She spoke slowly, "I cannot say the same. It's been a while... Lauren. On duty, I suppose? I expect your lot are running about like crazy these days, am I right?"

Bella's eyes constantly glinted. She enjoyed finding ways to turn things to her advantage no matter the circumstances. It fueled her daring even more so the fact that people knew of her part in the war but had no way of proving it. So far, she'd never been caught in the act. It was only amusing to her and Bella intended to entertain herself while it lasted. Who knew how long it'd be before somebody actually witnessed her in action. In the meantime, she was still just a regular rich witch with a wild reputation. Nothing the aurors could do about it.

"Mmm-hmm." Bella tilted her head to one side slowly. "I've been reading the paper. Pity about the Boneses. They had it coming if you ask me, though. Too involved. And too traitorous. Good, old pureblood family... mixing with muggles... I wouldn't follow their example. But you know that already, Blackwood. It's no secret to anyone that we like to keep it clean." She paused for a second. "Might that be why your lot keep sending aurors to my parents' house every two weeks with searching warrants? I'm sure the minister hasn't decided that one all by himself. He rather likes my father. No, no. It's some pathetic clown I bet, undoubtedly acquainted with Albus Dumbledore. That Marlene McKinnon is annoyingly nosy. Tell her that from me when you see her at the ministry, won't you?"

Bella heaved a deep sighed, a small smirk still planted on her face as she carelessly looked down the main street of Hogsmeade. She could make out another sneaky figure on the other end of town.

Bella's father, Cygnus Black, had been expecting the aurors. It was only natural that they'd suspect the Blacks, the Malfoys, the Lestranges and all of their acquaintances. He'd made sure the ministry had found nothing on them. After all, none of them had the mark except Bellatrix, for which they were both proud and apprehensive. Cygnus had led the aurors in, Druella had offered them tea. The aurors had left empty-handed. That had been that. But then they'd returned. McKinnon was keen on finding something about them. When the ministry had visited the Black manor for the second time, Mr. Black had demanded to speak to the minister. They had met in his office and the minister apologized and assured him that it hadn't been personal, just a standard procedure. But the aurors were sent a third time and they'd been treated far from politely.

"You go ahead an do your job by all means. I will not stand in the way of that, but if McKinnon dares bother my parents once more, my father will press charges. It won't help Dumbledore's cause if one of his best assets is behind bars, will it?" Bellatrix stepped away from the wall, her arms still crossed. "We are simply bystanders. As for doing your job... I believe I'm keeping you from it. It's hard to resist catching up with old friends, but your mate probably needs another pair of eyes." She nodded towards the small silhouette of Lauren's partner in the distance.

Bellatrix looked up at the sky. The moon was still bright and howling could still be heard. The temperature was descending slowly and oddly, she could feel it against her cheeks. So far she hadn't had to use her story. She hadn't thought she'd meet anyone there but her husband had told her to think up an excuse for being there, just in case. Having a drink was more than enough; walking out through the back door was plausible because the pub had closed a little over an hour ago.

Her encounter with Lauren Blackwood hadn't been more than a nuisance, yet certainly interesting.

Bella looked over at the figure of the other auror making his way towards them finally.

"Just that I shouldn't be keeping you from duties any longer. He's coming over." She looked at Lauren again. "It's late, even for me." Stepping further away from the wall and into the middle of the main street, she uncrossed her arms and noticed the other auror hurrying his steps. "Be good, now, Blackwood."