On the eve of dawn, at the Death Eaters' temporary hideout, Bellatrix had just finished an irritating impromptu meeting and was making final preparations for the coming operation.
With the possibility that it was a trap, they could not simply charge in unprepared. The cunning Ministry of Magic had taught many Death Eaters just how perilous the world could be.
"Are you really not coming, Narcissa?" Bella had hoped her sister would support her at a time like this.
"No, Bella. I can't afford for anything to happen to me yet. Draco still needs me." Narcissa gave Bella an apologetic look.
"You think this operation will go badly?"
Bella took her sister's hand, undisguised disappointment on her face. "You don't trust me?"
"Though I hate to say anything so ominous, you need to be careful. I suspect it's a trap. Lucius fell for one just like it." Narcissa looked away and warned in a low voice, "That Mudblood is too clever and too devious. He can even foresee what will happen in the future. I think that's the real reason the Dark Lord is so desperate to get rid of him."
"I know." Bellatrix sounded somewhat impatient.
Of course she knew that Mudblood was devious. One disastrous example involving Lucius Malfoy was more than enough.
To avoid walking straight into a trap, Bella had discussed it with her husband Rodolphus long ago. They had used Galleons to recruit a group of down-on-their-luck Knockturn Alley wizards as cannon fodder.
At last, those people could be put to use.
One group would accompany them to that remote village in Devon, while another was already causing trouble all across England, helping draw the Ministry of Magic's attention and creating an opportunity for the coming operation.
In any case, the wealthy Lestrange family had