If Bellatrix Lestrange were ever to consider herself giddy, tonight would be the night. Adrenaline pulsed through her entire body, making it hard for her to stand still at all the entire day. This actually worked out in her favour, because she had quite a bit to attend to before dark fell.
Tonight is the night we bring them down, she thought to herself with glee.
She still hadn't gotten over the excitement from the previous evening, when that Taliesin boy finally proved she hadn't spared a life needlessly when she could have enjoyed toying with it before ending it. The news that that filthy mudblood Granger was with her coward of a nephew behind Potter's back was such a stroke of beautiful luck that at when Taliesin first told her, she almost couldn't believe it. And if that fact alone wasn't enough, Potter was going to be made aware of it by his best friend, the red-haired blood-traitor.
The sheer magnitude of the betrayals, and the fact that they just dropped into her lap without her having to do anything, was more than she could find the words for. Just further proof of what happens when one gets mixed up with mudbloods.
Just think, Potter's being betrayed not only by the one he loves, but also by one he's trying to save and his closest friend. The wave of joy that came from witnessing friends betraying each other was almost more than she could handle, and she kept bursting into hysterical laughter all day, merely by thinking about it. She was truly going to savour this.
As soon as Taliesin had reported the news, she had sent for Morder and told him to gather all her supporters first thing in the morning.
"We're going to wipe the Earth clean of those filthy brats," she told him with a wicked grin she didn't bother concealing. "They will come to understand the true folly of crossing me."
She hadn't slept at all, but had spent the evening planning what would be the ridiculous Army of Dumlbedore's last night alive. She took great relish in the planning, making particular plans for Potter himself.
In the morning, when all the Death Eaters were assembled, she told them that they had learned the location of Potter and his friends, and that evening, an opportunity had arisen that was going to leave them hopelessly distracted and confused; the perfect fodder for her army to wreak its terrible vengeance. She could practically feel the waves of anger and maliciousness that radiated off her soldiers, and it left her panting.
She had made good use of all the energy she had, bustling around the ruined castle all day, making plans and giving out instructions. Now, as the sun began to sink below the horizon, the excitement was almost more than she could bear.
There was a knock at the chamber door, and she swung the door open with her wand, already knowing who it would be.
"What do you have to report, Morder?" she asked as she turned to face her lieutenant. His lanky brown hair hung in front of his face, almost covering it entirely, but his silver eyes shown with excitement.
"The scouts have just returned, mistress. The house and the defenses are exactly where the boy said."
She smiled, twisting a lock of her raven hair through her fingers.
"I know the boy wouldn't betray me. He knows what happens to those who do."
"Of course, mistress."
"And what else?" she asked.
"All the troops are assembled, mistress. They've been given all of your instructions, including making sure that Potter is left for you. Everyone else is fair game."
"Good, good. Any complaints?" she asked, picking up her silver knife off the dresser, and running her finger along the edge.
"No, mistress. A few wondered if we were supposed to bring your nephew alive as well?"
Bellatrix thought for a moment, feeling the faintest twinge of regret for her sister and the life she had foolishly given up by failing the Dark Lord. Not only had her son failed him as well, but he had also joined up with Potter's lot. The idea that one of such noble lineage could fall so low made her blood curdle.
"He is no longer my nephew, Morder. Whoever finds him has free reign to kill him."
"Very good, mistress. And Taliesin? You promised you'd let him go."
She smirked. She had promised the wretch that, if only so he would actually speak coherently last night, instead of blubbering away like a baby.
"I see no special need to hunt him down; we certainly have more important things to do. However, should one of our own come across him, I see no need in denying them a little fun."
Morder grinned at the response. "I'll make sure everyone is aware of both facts, mistress."
"Good," she said. "Taliesin said that Weasley was planning on revealing everything at Potter at eight tonight, so we need to be there early, while he'll be too confused to do anything to save him, or anyone else. The defenses start about ten minutes away from where the house is, correct?"
Morder nodded. "Yes, mistress, but they're not particularly complex ones, and we should have no problems getting through, especially if things at their headquarters are in disarray."
"I quite agree," she replied. "It's seven now. Have everyone prepared to leave in fifty minutes. Tell them this is the moment we have been waiting for."
Morder bowed, and left the room, his excitement at the coming massacre almost palpable.
Oh yes, she thought to herself, as she fingered her knife, this will be a night everyone remembers.
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