Perilous Times. On Dawn's Eve, at the Death Eaters' Temporary Stronghold, Bellatrix had just finished an irritating Temporary Meeting and was making final preparations for the coming operation.
With the possibility of a trap, they could not simply charge in unprepared. The treacherous Ministry of Magic had taught many Death Eaters just how perilous the world could be.
"Are you really not coming, Narcissa?" Bellatrix 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 Bellatrix an apologetic look.
"You really don't think much of this operation?"
Bellatrix took her sister's hand, unable to hide the disappointment on her face. "You don't trust me?"
"Though I don't want to say anything unlucky, you need to be careful. I suspect it's a trap. Lucius fell for the same thing." Narcissa looked away and warned her softly, "That Mudblood is too clever and too devious. He can even predict what will happen in the future. I think that's the main 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 unfortunate example involving Lucius Malfoy was enough.
To avoid walking straight into a trap, Bellatrix had discussed it with her husband Rodolphus long ago. They had used Galleons to recruit a group of dissatisfied 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 throughout Britain, helping draw the Ministry of Magic's attention and creating an opportunity for the next operation.
The wealthy Lestrange family never lacked money anyway. If a thousand Galleons