"What are you working on?" Ellie asks as she sits down in Narcissa's study.

"Things for our annual Christmas ball." Narcissa says without looking up from her papers.

"Ah. Didn't know you were going to have it this year. You know with the war and everything."

"The Dark Lord requested that we throw a party for morale." Narcissa sighs as she puts her quill down. She looks up to see Ellie is just in a large t-shirt. Narcissa raises an eyebrow at her choice of clothes. "Please tell me you are at least wearing shorts under that shirt."

"I am."

"Good. Don't want anyone getting any ideas."

"Not like anyone will try anything after Bellatrix's last torture of Greyback."

"True." Narcissa picks her quill back up and starts writing again. "Did you need something?"

"Nope." Ellie replies.

"Then why are you here?"

"I don't know." Narcissa looks up to see Ellie staring at her.

"What?"

"You look cute when you're focused on your work." Narcissa rolls her eyes.

"You just want attention don't you?"

"Bella won't give me any." Ellie whines and Narcissa chuckles.

"Were you annoying her to get attention?"

"No, I know that's just going to get me into trouble. She's just in a mood right now. Felt it was best to leave her alone."

"Come here." Ellie stands and walks around the desk. Narcissa rolls her chair back and pulls Ellie down onto her lap. Narcissa turns back and resumes her work. Ellie sighs happily and lays her head on Narcissa's shoulder.

"Am I invited to the ball?"

"Yes."

"I've never been to a ball."

"Bellaaaaaaa." Ellie says as she walks into the library of Malfoy Manor after spending an hour with Narcissa.

"What?" Bellatrix asks as Narcissa walks in behind Ellie.

"Will you go to the Christmas ball with me?"

"Yes Ellie."

"Oh I need to go dress shopping." Ellie says.

"No you don't." Bellatrix says.

"But I have nothing to wear."

"Leave that to us Pet." Narcissa says.

"You're going to get me a dress?"

"Yes." Bellatrix says.

"You're our pet." Narcissa says. "It's our job to take care of you."

"Okay."

***

"It's beautiful." Ellie says when Narcissa shows Ellie the dress she bought for her. "It must have cost a fortune. I almost don't want to wear it."

"We split the cost." Bellatrix says. "It's from both of us."

Narcissa ties up the back of Ellie's dress. Ellie smiles and spins around in front of the mirror. "I love it." Ellie says and Narcissa and Bellatrix smile. Her dress is dark blue and has jewels all over the bodice. Bellatrix comes up behind Ellie and snakes her arms around Ellie's waist.

"I can't wait to take it off you." Bellatrix whispers into Ellie's ear. Ellie closes her eyes and lets out a shaky breath.

"Bellatrix knock it off." Narcissa says. "Don't tease her before the party."

"But it's fun." Ellie chuckles and turns around in Bellatrix's arms. Ellie smiles at Bellatrix before kissing her. Bellatrix pulls back after a moment. "Now sit down at the vanity. Narcissa still needs to do your hair." Ellie walks over to the vanity and sits down on the stool. Narcissa walks up behind her and starts working on Ellie's hair.

***

Bellatrix and Ellie dance for a while before Ellie goes and gets a drink. Ellie sets her glass down for a moment. Ellie goes to take another sip but Bellatrix takes the glass from her and downs it. "Hey!" Ellie exclaims.

"You are a lightweight and you don't need alcohol." Bellatrix says. "Come on. Dance with me." Ellie smiles and follows Bellatrix back to the dance floor. They dance for a minute before Bellatrix starts stumbling.

"Bella?" Bellatrix looks around, scared. "Bellatrix."

"Something's wrong." Bellatrix whispers. Ellie gently pulls Bellatrix off the dance floor. Narcissa notices and walks over to them. Ellie helps Bellatrix into a chair.

"What's wrong?" Narcissa asks.

"I don't know." Ellie says. Narcissa pulls her wand from a hidden pocket on her dress and waves it over Bellatrix. Narcissa pales. "What?"

"Poison." Ellie pales too as Narcissa runs out of the ballroom.

"Bellatrix." Ellie says as she forces Bellatrix to look at her. "Stay with me." Bellatrix lets her eyes close. "No keep your eyes open. Stay with me." Bellatrix opens her eyes and looks at Ellie. Ellie's heart breaks as she sees the fear in Bellatrix's eyes.

"Ellie..." Bellatrix whispers fearfully.

"Shh. You'll be okay." Narcissa returns with a vial in her hand. She pops it open and holds it up to Bellatrix's lips.

"Here Bella." Narcissa says as she helps Bellatrix down the vial's contents. Ellie notices people staring.

"We should take her upstairs." Narcissa nods and helps Bellatrix stand. Ellie and Narcissa carefully lead Bellatrix up to Ellie's room. They help her lay down in the bed and Narcissa turns to Ellie.

"Why would someone poison Bella?" Narcissa asks. "I mean I understand why but no one here would dare poison her." Ellie frowns before realizing.

"They weren't trying to poison Bella."

"What?"

"They were trying to poison me."

"What! How do you know?"

"I put my drink down for a second and someone must have slipped the poison into it. Bella took it from me before I could drink it."

"I'll kill everyone down there." Bellatrix says as she tries to get up.

"No you will not." Ellie replies as she pushes Bellatrix back down.

"Someone tried to kill you! I'll kill them!"

"You need to rest."

"No! I need to figure out who tried to kill you!"

"I will take care of that Bellatrix." Narcissa says. "You need to rest like Ellie said."

"But-"

"Bellatrix I will lock you in this room alone to rest if I have to." Ellie snaps. "You can either rest with me or without me.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

"Fine." Ellie nods and grabs her wand off her nightstand. She uses magic to change herself and Bellatrix into night clothes. She puts her wand down and climbs into bed next to Bellatrix. Bellatrix grabs Ellie and pulls Ellie tightly against her side.

"Good night you two." Narcissa says.

"Good night." Ellie and Bellatrix reply. Narcissa kisses both of their foreheads before leaving the room. Ellie lets tears fall as she lays her head on Bellatrix's chest, over her heart.

Narcissa goes back down to the ballroom and Lucius walks over to her. "Where did you go?" Lucius asks.

"Someone tried to poison Elliandria but ended up poisoning Bellatrix." Narcissa answers.

***

In the morning, Bellatrix and Ellie are still in the same position. Bellatrix wakes up first and smiles softly at Ellie. She plays with Ellie's hair until Ellie wakes up a few minutes later. Ellie lifts her head from Bellatrix's chest. "Good morning." Bellatrix says.

"Morning." Ellie replies. Ellie straddles Bellatrix's hips and kisses her gently. "I'm so happy you're okay."

"I'm glad I took that glass from you. I don't think you would have survived."

"What does that mean?"

"I would have just thought you were drunk until it was too late." There is a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Narcissa." Narcissa says outside the door.

"Come in." Narcissa opens the door and walks inside.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"Nope." Narcissa closes the door behind her. Narcissa sits on the side of the bed while Ellie gets off Bellatrix.

"How are you feeling Bellatrix?"

"I'm fine Cissy." Bellatrix says. "Did you figure out who tried to poison my pet?"

"He's in the cellar waiting for you. He won't tell us who hired him."

"I'll get it out of him or I'll kill him."

"You're going to kill him either way."

"Probably." Bellatrix gets up and goes into the closet.

"Now what are you doing here Narcissa?" Ellie asks.

"Just wanted to check on Bellatrix." Narcissa replies Bellatrix walks out of the closet and into the bathroom.

"Come El." Bellatrix says as she comes out of the bathroom a few minutes later. "You need to practice your Legimency. I want you to find out who hired that man to kill you."

"Alright." Ellie replies. Ellie stands and uses magic to change into a shirt and pants. She follows Bellatrix out of the room, Narcissa behind her. Narcissa leaves them when they pass the dining room. Ellie and Bellatrix go into the cellar and Bellatrix draws her wand as they approach the man. Ellie grabs Bellatrix's wand arm before she does anything. "Let's see what he has to say for himself before torturing him."

"Fine." Bellatrix says with a pout.

"Don't pout Bella, you'll get your chance to torture him."

"I'm not telling either of you anything." The man says.

"Do you realize what you've done?" Ellie asks. "How much shit you are in?"

"I'm not scared of either of you."

"You should be. You tried to kill one of the people Bellatrix Lestrange cares about. That is a death sentence. The only reason she hasn't killed you yet is because we want to know who hired you."

"Fuck you." The man spits and Ellie draws her wand.

"Legilimens." Ellie casts. Ellie searches through his memories until she finds the correct one. "He's all yours Bellatrix." Ellie kisses Bellatrix's cheek before leaving the cellar.

"Crucio!" Ellie hears Bellatrix cast as she walks up the stairs.

***

"Why won't you tell me who hired him?" Bellatrix asks Ellie.

"Because I won't."

"I want to kill them for touching you!"

"You can't kill them."

"I can get through any protection they have."

"Trust me, they don't need protection."

"Then why won't you tell me?"

"Because it was the Dark Lord!" Bellatrix's face drops.

"What? Why would he do that?"

"Probably because you have been more focused on me than on him and the cause. He probably thought my death would shift your focus back to him. Probably would've blamed it on the Order. I don't know his full motives."

"Because I would kill every last one of them if they touched you."

"Exactly."