Bellatrix walked up and kicked Sirius, gritting her teeth as she said, "Traitor!"
Sirius slumped on the ground, pretending to clutch his stomach when he was actually preparing to activate the Phoenix Feather Mark Dumbledore had given him.
Just then, Voldemort from within the fleshy ball stopped her. "Bellatrix... don't take your anger out on him... he was merely deceived..."
Sirius was startled for a moment, his hand reaching into his robes coming to a halt.
Voldemort spoke again. "Wormtail... I admire your loyalty... you merely pledged it to the wrong person!"
"That younger version of me... was the duplicate... he deceived you!"
"The one you should serve is me... and only me... that duplicate of mine has already been destroyed by Dumbledore and the others!"
The Horcrux had planted more than just Wormtail as spies around him. After Bellatrix captured one of them, he quickly understood that the Horcrux he had created had taken advantage of his weakened state and attempted to overthrow him.
He understood that the people loyal to it were also loyal to Voldemort. They had merely been deceived by that Horcrux soul. He was desperately short of manpower now and did not wish to discard servants who should have been his most loyal.
There were differences even among Death Eaters. He had not contacted a single Death Eater like Lucius, who had escaped punishment and continued living freely.
Those gathered around him now were all people he considered the most loyal.
Sirius quickly sorted everything out and reacted. "Master! My ignorance has harmed you! Please give me another chance to serve you!"
He chose to seize the opportunity and continue lurking at Voldemort's side.
Voldemort said, "I forgive your ignorance... however... necessary punishment cannot be avoided... Bellatrix!"
Bellatrix gently stroked the wand in her hand,