"Speaking of psychotic love," Grindelwald said, deftly spooning up the last bit of Chinese food from his plate. "We have our first group therapy appointment tomorrow at eight in the evening."
"Where," Bellatrix asked.
"Would Gellert like more?" Kreacher offered, eyeing the blonde's empty plate.
"Regulus and Kreacher were kind enough to allow us to meet here," Gellert told Bellatrix. "It seems neutral enough, and these two are quite aware of all of our issues." He turned to Kreacher then. "I would actually, thank you," Gellert said, smiling warmly.
"Me too," Rodolphus said, and Kreacher rang a small silver bell that sat in front of him on the table. One of his elves appeared and he requested seconds for Gellert and Rodolphus. Kreacher's pleasure that his foray into Chinese food had gone over so well was evident in the satisfied glint in his eyes as he regarded all the empty plates.
"That's kind of you both, allowing us to meet here," Bellatrix said, glancing from the elf to Regulus.
"Yes, Kreacher is very kind," the elf murmured rather immodestly, causing Regulus to grin.
"It's no trouble at all, Bella," he assured. "Kreacher and I could probably use some group therapy as well. It isn't anything we'd ever considered before, but as you're all doing it, can't hurt to try it out. We all suffered at Voldemort's hands. Kreacher and I both have guilt issues that could use sorting." He glanced uncomfortably down at the empty bit of dining table before him as he spoke.
"Besides," he added, brightening as he glanced around at the group at large. "It gives us all the opportunity to spend more time together, which seems to be a bit of a luxury these days."
Blaise nodded, placing his fork down onto his freshly emptied plate. "Indeed. I've really missed working with Kreacher. I never thought I'd be a Ministry drudge, but Delphini has managed to make things different in the most difficult of ways for anyone fighting against her."
"Isn't that the truth," Rabastan agreed fervently. "I've cut my drinking by fifty-seven percent because of that bitch!"
Kereston gave an incredulous laugh. "How do you figure fifty-seven percent?" she wondered.
Rabastan shrugged. "It's just an educated guess, but I'm rather educated, so I feel it's relatively accurate."
Bellatrix snickered, shaking her head. "Gods!"
Grindelwald smirked. "Though I am the only god present, I will do what I can to help you, my Dear."
Bellatrix rolled her eyes as the elf returned with Gellert and Rodolphus's second plates of food.
With all the news shared for which Grindelwald had called the meeting, the rest of the meal was relaxed and uneventful. While Regulus and Gellert spoke of various topics of magical research, Bellatrix found her mind wandering ahead to tomorrow evening's event.
She found herself a bit fretful over the concept of group therapy, but it was something they should at least try. They could tolerate everyone in their group, and knew them well. She couldn't bring herself to sit about with a bunch of strangers talking of her feelings or any traumatic events that were none of their bloody business.
By the next evening when the three returned to 12 Grimmauld Place after a rather tedious day at Azkaban, Bellatrix was still feeling uncertain. Mostly, it was that she had no idea what to expect. It left her rather agitated. As it happened, the group therapy was being held in the library.
"I find that our sort are always comforted by books, and I figure this calls for a comforting environment," the redhead who Gellert introduced as Mag Snape said, giving the three Lestranges a shy, yet equally friendly smile.
She was tall and willowy with long red hair that fell to her waist and large green eyes. She wore green robes, and her hair was tied back with a silver scarf, proudly stating her Slytherin pride.
She wore a long crystal wand about her neck on a silver chain. The crystal itself was studded with seven stones of various colors. It reminded Bellatrix that they wanted to speak to her about getting wands. Rod must have noticed the wand pendant at the same time, as he stepped forward eagerly.
"I was told by a goblin who works for us at Azkaban that you make crystal wands double the strength of wooden ones. We'd like to buy four of them if we may."
"Four," the redhead asked, glancing at the three Lestranges and arching delicate brows to ask where number four was.
"Our daughter could use the extra protection as well," Rodolphus explained and she nodded.
"Oh yes, the Aura girl. That was impressive! Very few wizards are aware of Auric magic. Her idea to use them for physical attacks and such was a very good one, but it's a specialized art. A Dark shaman or Astral Traveler would likely be the best at such arts I am thinking, but that's only a guess."
She knew about Auras and was married to Snape. On the other hand she could make bloody strong wands which was wonderful, so Bellatrix didn't know what to think. The being married to Snape bit in itself was odd, as she was pretty and a bit younger while Snape was...Snape.
"I can sell you four wands, sure. Would you like standard crystals or would you prefer them specially made for each of you," Mag asked.
"Made for us would be nice, depending on how long it takes," Rodolphus said. "Not to rush, but our work is dangerous."
Mag nodded. "Understood. I should be able to come up with something in a few weeks or less. I just need to sort which stones would suit each of you best. Your daughter is easy as she works with Auras, she is going to need lapis lazuli with her clear quartz, I think. It does so many things that would aid and strengthen her in her manner of work."
"Are you aware of her Mind Ripping ability?" Bellatrix inquired, and Mag nodded a bit distractedly.
"Yes. Lapis lazuli is a stone of air, so it should assist nicely in that as well."
"Do I get something black like my soul," Rabastan asked eagerly, and Mag chuckled.
"I could use black agate with clear quartz for yours, I think, yes," she nodded. "I was thinking aventurine, but it may give you more pep than you need, as you seem to have quite a lot on your own." She chuckled.
Rabastan grinned, nodding. "Indeed, Pep is my middle name."
"Especially when he's torturing someone," Regulus smirked. "Now, are we getting to the therapy part of this, or talking wands all evening? Come and sit down, all of you." As he spoke, he waved the three Lestranges over to a row of empty chairs beside Grindelwald.
Mag along with Kreacher, Regulus, Blaise, and Gellert were seated at the square reading table in the center of the room. It was then that Bellatrix noticed that rather than books the table held four bottles of wine and a tray of snacks.
"That's our little Gnerd," Rodolphus said, smacking Regulus fondly on the head as they passed him to take their seats.
"Wine and food! That's nice," Bellatrix observed as Regulus began to pour glasses for those who could imbibe – everyone but himself and Kreacher.
"Yes, I thought therapy may flow better with a bit of wine, at least for the first time," Mag said with a chuckle.
"Is that typical," Rabastan asked happily. "For therapists to recommend booze?"
Mag chuckled. "Probably not, but I'm not a real therapist."
Rodolphus feigned an alarmed look. "You're not?"
"I've studied Muggle psychology extensively, and Blaise and Gellert came to me for help when they needed it. They felt I was beneficial, so recommended me to you all."
"It's all good," Rodolphus drawled, flashing a brief grin as he reached for an olive and cheese cube appetizer. "Just don't mess our heads up more than they already are, and we're good."
"Speaking of messed up heads… You're married to Snape," Bellatrix said, frowning at the redhead. "You're pretty, intelligent, a skilled witch who could obviously have her pick of men, so why? Have you checked into the fact he may have used a love potion or mind spell on you?"
Mag laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, no. Severus would never do anything like that. He doesn't love attention, so it would never occur to him to force anyone to give it to him. I loved him for years before I was able to do anything about it. When I finally could, I am afraid I gave him little choice in the matter."
"If he did the spell properly, and Snape would were he to do such a spell, you would believe you were the one to initiate," Bellatrix said.
"Have you ever seen him doing such things before," Mag asked, and Bellatrix shook her head.
"Gods, no! He hates everyone."
Mag chuckled, nodding. "And there you have just proved my point."
"She just head shrunk you on that one," Rabastan cackled, rocking in his chair. "Thanks, man," he added when Regulus passed him a glass of wine.
"Of course," Regulus said, passing Bellatrix her glass. "Don't trouble yourself, Bella. As Severus was always a friend of mine, he was one of the first people I saw upon my return back in ninety-eight. He and Mag were together for two years then, and as a vampire who can read minds, I can assure you that neither has bespelled the other. Their love is quite natural."
"Severus could have anyone, though, so I am quite fortunate," Mag gushed, green eyes shining with obvious love for bloody Snape.
Bellatrix wrinkled her nose, sitting back so that Regulus could pass a glass of wine to Rodolphus. "If you want Snape with no magical encouragement, perhaps it's you who needs the therapy," she said quietly.
"Alright, everyone has a drink now, so let's get this party started," Mag said.
Bellatrix tried not to smile when the redhead took a small sip from her glass of wine. The Lestranges, perhaps, could make one want a drink.
"Shall we begin with you, Gellert, so that you can help the rest warm up?" Mag suggested.
Grindelwald looked startled and a little uncomfortable, but after a moment of hesitation, he nodded.
"Great then," Mag smiled at him before turning to the others. "I will talk with Gellert for a bit, and then if any of you wish to pitch in with any thoughts, feel free as long as they are supportive. Starting with him, we'll go around the table to each of you in a similar fashion," she explained.
When everyone else nodded, she smiled and turned back to Gellert. "How has this week been for you at the Ministry so far?"
Gellert shrugged. "Well enough."
"Have you had any issues?"
He shook his head. "I don't think so. As you suggested last week, I have reminded myself that I can lean on those friends I work with rather than fearing they are a liability."
Mag gave him a nod of encouragement. "Very good! I'm proud of you."
She turned to the others. "Gellert has been working on dealing with war situations again after being away from such for a very long time. As he has likely told you, it has brought some things up for him. Not only that, though, he has much to adjust to that isn't at all like what he's accustomed to.
"In some ways that makes it easier but in others, more difficult. I am explaining this because it is likely the case with all of you, which is why we are all here, sharing this space together."
She took a sip of her wine then continued. "Currently Gellert is processing the realization that working with friends is entirely different than working with followers. Friends don't follow blindly, but they do love you like no one else does. On the other hand, losing them can hurt far more and in a vastly different way. So considering that he has never had to put true friends in the line of fire during a war, it has put a strain on him."
Once again Grindelwald's vast difference from Voldemort struck Bellatrix. Voldemort had never had a friend unless one counted his snake. Bellatrix remembered Grindelwald shouting at her during the Gringotts attack when she'd fallen for Delphini's mind trick. She'd believed the bitch had her man with a wand to his throat, and Grindelwald had actually rage screamed at her!
It had hit her like a slap in the face. Somehow it hadn't put her in mind of the former Dark Lord's more snide rages with them near the end, though. Instead it had stung even more in that it had shocked her, and even hurt her feelings a little.
"So you didn't want to lose me when you shouted in my face like that at Gringotts," she asked slowly, her gaze moving to Gellert. "You weren't angry that I'd broken rank, but instead upset because you didn't want me to die?"
Gellert gave her an annoyed frown. "Don't be thick, Lestrange. Obviously it was both."