"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Skeeter howled, heels still drumming the floor of her bathtub as she screamed.
Rodolphus grinned happily, obviously hoping that she would flub the question. Bending at the waist in what might have appeared a sweeping bow, Rod's wand aimed at Rita's feet as he spoke a French spell. "Tu danseras."
Bellatrix licked her lips, one slender hand coming out to snake around the hard muscles of Rod's upper arm as he straightened. "I do love it when you use French spells," she purred.
"And I love it when you love it," he replied, lustful gaze meeting her own.
Rita gave a cry of pain that drew their eyes back to her. Rita's body jerked from side to side in her bathtub as if having a seizure.
"Oh, fuck," Rabastan said, laughing. "I forgot I put her in a body bind. Guess I better undo that so she can shake her booty." Rabastan flicked his wand at Skeeter. With the body bind removed, she was free to leap to her feet and Bellatrix supposed it almost looked like a dance. The woman hopped from foot to foot as tears of pain streamed down her face.
"Come, Bella," Rod said, drawing Bellatrix into his arms. "We shouldn't make her dance alone. It's rude. Rabastan, sing something, won't you? Dancing is always better with music, after all."
Rabastan grinned, nodding obligingly before beginning to sing an old war song said to be from the time of Salazar that wizards had later turned into a rousing drinking tune.
"We'll bathe in your blood,
If it's made of mud
Cleanse the world of fear
All in good cheer.
Our spirits are high,
as the Muggles do die!"
While Rabastan sang, Bellatrix and Rodolphus swayed together, transfixed gazes on Rita Skeeter's delightfully tortured gyrations.
"Oh, for fuck's sake!" The annoyed hiss came from behind them.
"Grindelwald?" Bellatrix struggled to come down from the natural high that well deserved torture and killing gave her. The light raspy voice with that slight breathy undertone and German accent was unmistakable, but what was he doing here… and where was he?
"As I suspected, you lost a little control," Grindelwald drawled. "If you're planning on it to appear that she killed herself, all those cuts on her body aren't going to mesh with that narrative."
Bellatrix's eyes widened slightly as that realization hit her. She scowled. "We would've eventually bloody realized that and called you to come heal her. That's why you're here, isn't it?"
"Exactly."
Fortunately Skeeter hadn't heard that bit over her own screams of pain because it would be more difficult to make her cooperate if she knew absolutely for certain that they were going to kill her.
"Want to drop the invisibility cloak?" Rod grumped. "Talking to thin fucking air is becoming annoying."
"You want fat air?" Grindelwald snickered.
"And it isn't an invisibility cloak. It is a disillusionment charm." The deep resonant voice belonged to Zabini, and Bellatrix wasn't surprised as the two never separated. She wouldn't be at all shocked if they even took a shit together.
"I was just asking Skeeter about the magic in her quill," Rod divulged.
"Did she admit to that, then," Grindelwald asked. Judging by his tone, Bellatrix could just picture his blue eyes narrowing with interest.
"No, I just asked and she got stupid so I made her dance on her burning feet just as I threatened to do if she did not cooperate," Rodolphus answered.
Grindelwald sighed. "You burned her feet as well? It's a good thing I came to do any necessary healing!"
"It is a spell that only makes it feel as though she's burning," Rodolphus said with an affronted frown. "What do you take me for? Never mind, don't bother answering that."
"Thank you," Grindelwald said and Bellatrix could hear the smirk in his voice.
Rod rolled his eyes and turned back to Skeeter. He flicked his wand a few times at her in rapid succession, removing the burning and dancing charms and allowing her to collapse to the bottom of her bathtub in a quivering sobbing heap. "So is there anything special about your quill," he asked, tone only mildly annoyed as if he had not just tortured her for not giving him the answer to that simple question earlier.
"I use different quills all the time, so I should think not," Rita managed, tone incredulous as she peered up at Rod through a tangled curtain of blonde hair. "They're just quills! What do you want me to say?" she demanded desperately.
"Do you get them from anywhere special," Rabastan asked.
That was a smart question, Bellatrix thought.
Skeeter shook her head. "Just anywhere and everywhere that sells them. Sometimes I accidentally steal them, you know if I'm writing with someone else's and forget to give it back. Everyone does that, though."
"I have, in fact, never done that, actually," Rabastan said. "What about you two," he asked, glancing at Bellatrix and Rodolphus.
Both shook their heads gravely.
"No," Rodolphus said. "We've done a lot of illegal, wild, and some would say crazy things, but never have we stolen a quill, accidentally or otherwise."
Bellatrix could hear Grindelwald choking on a laugh behind them.
"Perhaps it isn't what the quill does on its own, but what it does only when in her hand. What she and the quill do together rather than separately."
The voice was unfamiliar, but from the compressed sound and the fact it came from around the level of Bellatrix's hip, she guessed it was an elf. Likely the Zabini elf, Bramble. According to Regulus, he often helped Gellert and Blaise with specific types of tricky magic. In fact, that explained how they'd gotten in here without drawing outside attention, as Grindelwald would not wish to do that.
"Good, then," Bellatrix replied without bothering to turn around when replying to the elf. He was obviously under disillusionment as well and she didn't feel like talking to empty air again. "We were just about to make her write a note apologizing for all the foul things she's said. We shall get to see her and her quill in action."
"I can do that," Rita said desperately. "Just stop hurting me, I'll write anything you like."
Bellatrix smiled happily. "Done."
Skeeter made to stand and Rodolphus jammed his wand into her face with lightning speed. "Crucio, Bitch," he snarled, and she screamed and fell back. "Don't. Fucking. Move," he explained almost calmly.
The glitter in his eyes caused a shiver of pleasure to travel the length of Bellatrix's spine. He was usually so calm and it was especially hot when he lost it.
"I thought you wanted me to write," Rita sobbed. She lay shivering on the bottom of her bath, apparently at last smart enough not to move without being specifically instructed.
"Where are your parchment and quills," Rodolphus asked.
Skeeter opened her mouth once then closed it as if the stress of the moment had her quite beyond words. When his wand shot out again she gasped and then the words began to spill forth. "I have a quill here in my pocket! And there is parchment on the desk in the front room!"
"Fine," Rodolphus snarled. "Rabastan, go and get a piece of parchment. Of course do not touch anything with your hands, not even the parchment," he reminded.
"Obviously," Rabastan snarked as he headed from the bathroom. "Last I checked, I wasn't stupid, you know."
"Of course you aren't, but we can all get a little forgetful during play time," Rodolphus replied mildly. "Just having your back, Bro. All of our backs just in case."
"Alright," Rabastan said, mollified. He was back soon with a sheet of parchment floating in the air ahead of him.
"You may sit up now," Rodolphus told Rita.
She did, movements slow and stiff. Rabastan floated the parchment down to land in her lap.
"Get out that quill now and start writing," Rodolphus said.
"The letter is to be an apology for all the lies you wrote," Bellatrix informed firmly. "You shall apologize in particular for the lies you wrote about Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald, as well as myself and Lord Voldemort, and Severus Snape and Lily Potter. You will explain why you told those lies and apologize to all of us."
"Yes, of course," Rita said, nodding quickly before reaching into her pocket for a quill. Ducking her head over the parchment, she placed it on the tub's floor then got to work. Bellatrix could feel figures brushing past her and assumed Grindelwald, Zabini, and the elf Bramble were coming closer to study Skeeter at work.
A few minutes later, Rita held up the parchment. "Here you are."
Rodolphus flicked his wand and the parchment floated toward them to hang at eye level so they could read.
"Give us the quill as well," Bellatrix said, and Rita held it up. With a flick of her wand, Bellatrix had it hanging in the air beside the parchment. Better to strip her of anything she could even potentially use...just in case. Turning her attention to the parchment, Bellatrix read it aloud.
I, Rita Skeeter, write this retraction letter as an apology for the lies I wrote about any and all persons presumed to be dead at the time.
I deeply apologize for what I said about Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald, Bellatrix Lestrange and Lord Voldemort, otherwise known as Tom Riddle, and Severus Snape and Lily Potter. None of these persons had relationships with one another, and I basically made it all up for convenience, spite, and money. It is my deepest and most sincere hope that they can forgive me.
Sincerely,
Rita Skeeter
Bellatrix nodded. "That works for me."
"You'll leave me alone now," Skeeter asked.
"Almost," Bellatrix said. "Very soon. Rabastan, bring her a bottle of whisky."
Rita's eyes widened as Rabastan wordlessly left the room. Soon he returned with a bottle of fire whisky bobbing in the air ahead of him.
"Now drink it all," Bellatrix said flatly as Rabastan lowered the bottle to the floor of the tub with a flick of his wand.
"What?" Skeeter squawked, eyes flying wide.
"If you don't, I shall begin hurting you again," Bellatrix sing-songed happily.
"I'd like that better myself," Rodolphus drawled, and Skeeter snatched up the bottle.
After several deep swallows she began to cough, lowering it to her lap. "I can't drink anymore! I shall be ill if I do! Why do you want me to drink it anyway? What is it that you want of me now," she demanded in open frustration.
"Crucio," Bellatrix said flatly, jabbing her wand at the side of Rita's head. Rabastan was quick to levitate the bottle because Rita's consequent thrashing would've surely toppled it and wasted the rest of the whisky.
"Want to drink more now," Bellatrix asked with a low chuckle, and Rita snatched the bottle up with shaking hands.
"I would almost feel sorry for her if I didn't know who she was and exactly how evil she is," Zabini said invisibly from the doorway.
They were all silent as Rita chugged more from the bottle. When she lowered it again it was two thirds empty and she was swaying from side to side. "Please," she moaned and Bellatrix nodded.
"Yes, that should do," she said. She cast a hard body bind on Rita before turning to other matters.
Flicking her wand in a circle then aiming it at Skeeter's throat, she cast a recording charm. "Speak now," she told Skeeter.
"Apologize to Albus Dumbledore for tainting his name."
"I am sorry, Albus, for saying you were gay," Rita said, voice shaking.
"And now to me," Bellatrix continued.
"I am sorry, Bellatrix, for writing that you shagged Voldemort. Please..."
"And to Snape," Bellatrix concluded.
"I am sorry, Snape, for insinuating that anyone would want to come near you," Skeeter snapped and Bella's lips twitched.
"Crucio," she said sweetly and Skeeter screamed and writhed.
Once more Rabastan saved the bottle from spilling with a quick flick of his wand.
"Now let us try again," Bellatrix suggested, aiming her wand once more at Rita's throat and recasting her recording charm. "Apologize to Snape."
"I am sorry, Severus, for claiming that you ever loved the wife of your enemy."
Bellatrix lowered her wand and smiled.
"Is that good enough?" Rita snapped.
"Yes," Bellatrix replied before turning to regard the empty doorway where she knew Grindelwald and co. still stood. "Anything else before we...let her go," she asked.
"I think that is all," Grindelwald said after a thoughtful pause. "I will heal her cuts now."
"Thank you, whoever you are," Skeeter said, voice shaking.
"Don't mention it," Gellert said drily.
The woman obviously had no idea that she was about to die which proved just how stupid she was, Bellatrix thought. Anyone who believed they'd be tortured by the Lestranges and left to talk had to be stupid.
"There, I'm all done. Bramble, come and mend the tears in her clothes now, please," Gellert said.
Though Bellatrix could not see the elf at work, she did see the tears in the fabric of Rita Skeeter's outfit that the Sectumsempra curses had caused rapidly closing. When all was perfect with Skeeter's clothes, Bellatrix flicked her wand at the bath, filling it as she'd done earlier in the evening.
With another flick of the wand, she allowed the nearly empty bottle of fire whisky to fall into the tub. It would appear Skeeter had drunken herself into a stupor and then drowned, probably intentionally considering the note she'd just left. As the tub filled, Bellatrix cast a weighting charm on Skeeter's still bound body, holding it under the water.
"A rather dull way to kill such a foul person, but we must be careful to avoid it looking like anyone did this to her but herself," she said.
"Very good," Grindelwald replied.
Soon bubbles were disrupting the surface of the water as Skeeter struggled unsuccessfully to breathe. It took far too long in Bellatrix's opinion but at last the bubbles stopped. Bellatrix lifted the binding and weighting charms and turned away. With a wand flick she lowered the parchment to the floor beside the tub. "Do you want the quill for any reason," she asked Gellert.
After a moment of hesitation the quill was snatched from the air by an invisible hand. "May as well study it just in case," Grindelwald said.
"Well, now that it's done, does anyone want a drink," Rabastan asked cheerfully. "I mean, we should celebrate."
Blaise, Gellert, and their elf came into view as their disillusionment fell away.
"Why not," Blaise drawled. "We do need to hear what you got out of her, after all."