Claudia's File -open-

[Bellatrix Black]

"Clearly I was no match for her wand. I still can't get the bloody scar to disappear. It took weeks before it even stopped bleeding." Bellatrix stood, then lifted the hem of her robes, revealing her thing and waist. And there on her hip was a large, discolored scar the length of Bellatrix's forearm. "Hideous, isn't it?" She dropped her robes and sat back on the couch with a little plop. "Of course I got on in a few good hits before that. And then she left me to deal with my wounds and the barkeep."

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius made a clucking noise and shook his head grimly. It was an angry-looking scar. "That woman is a menace... attacking her fellow Death Eaters! She's supposed to attack muggleborns, not you... But seeing as she's practically one of them, she probably got confused. It seems clear to me that her loyalty is questionable at best. Why did she attack you? Was it unprovoked? Or did you fight over something?"

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix couldn't risk telling Lucius the whole truth of the dispute that started the duel between her and Claudia. It was too sticky of a situation and she wouldn't want Lucius asking any of the wrong sort of questions. Lucius and Rodolphus were friends after all. But the heart of the argument was valid and that much she could speak of to anyone who listened. "I challenged her dedication to the cause and to our master. She was displeased my forwardness."

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius looked at her narrowly. He felt she was hiding something, but he couldn't think what. Still, he supposed it didn't really matter. It wasn't as if Bella's private affairs were really any of his business, anyway. "Ah, I see. Well, it seems you were right to question her loyalty, now that we know the truth about her. Wretched woman. Imagine, a mudblood!"

He avoided her eyes as he asked his next question. "Speaking of mudbloods, I caught the looks you and Rabastan were exhanging during our dinner the other night, after that scene with your errant sister. Can I assume the two of you are cooking up some sort of plan to break up the happy couple?"

[Bellatrix Black]

"Don't be dense Lucius. Of course we are. Do you really think I'm going to let my sister be torn away from me? From the family?" He was an idiot if he didn't suspect something was going on. But of course, he had. His question was really just a way to get her to tell her what was going on. "We've got a little trap set for that mudblood. Rita Skeeter is going to work her charm- or charms I should say. And when Andromeda sees what he's done, she'll run back to us. And of course Rabastan, the wicked boy, will be there to comfort her. She so weak, she'll be putty in his hands."

[Lucius Malfoy]

"Rita Skeeter?" Lucius wrinkled his lips in distaste. "That hag? Do you really think Tonks will be tempted by that painted whore? Do you really think Andromeda is going to be fooled if Skeeter just pounces on Tonks at just the right time?" He eyed her skeptically. The idea had potential, of course, but Lucius rather thought Bella was underestimating her older sister. He had never been fond of Andromeda, he found her to be entirely too self-righteous, but he also knew that the girl was extremely intelligent and a great deal tougher than Bella seemed to think she was.

"And even if that part works, I somehow doubt Rabastan will have an easy time wooing her back. My understanding was that he broke her heart the first time around; she's a bit too smart to fall for him a second time. I don't mean to discourage you, of course, but I fear this might backfire on you, my dear."

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix smiled at Lucius. "I think you underestimate the female mind Lucius. It's understandable. You're a man. You think differently. I've seen how Rabastan can woo a girl in less time than it takes to draw a wand." She straightened the papers of Claudia's file and closed it all up. "And as for Rita... She is very talented with Charming Charms. And if you've read a single article she's written you'll know she can be very convincing when she wants to be. I loathe the girl personally, but business is business, Lucius."

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Actually, it seems to me you're the one underestimating the female mind. Particularly that of your sister. Bella, I don't doubt you'll succeed in breaking her, if that's what you're aiming for. She and the mudblood will break up, you're sister will be heartbroken. Rita, for her flaws, does great work. But what I am saying," he said, pausing dramatically, "is that you may not get the results you desired. You can smash your sister's heart to pieces, but don't be surprised if she doesn't come running back to the fold as you presume. Furthermore, by setting her up to witness the same thing she witnessed when she broke up with Rabastan the first time, you are bringing to mind the previous incident with him. Do you honestly think she would trust him after being so acutely reminded of that? More likely, she's going to be unable to trust any man after that. I may not be female, and I fail to understand many of the mysteries of the female mind, but that's how I see it. The plan is brilliant, but its very brilliance is its main flaw."

Lucius knew his assessment of her scheme would displease her, but he felt it necessary to warn her of the flaw he saw. After all, he had witnessed the first incident with Rabastan, and knew exactly how angry and hurt Andromeda had been. Ultimately, he felt she was doing the right thing in forcing the split between Andromeda and Tonks, if for no other reason than to prevent the smear against the Black family name that Andromeda's defection would have caused. But if he was right, Bella's hopes for having her sister back would be ruined, and he wanted to make sure she was warned.

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix pursed her lips as Lucius pointed out the cracks in her plan. Hell, at least she had a plan. What was he doing about it? Did he not care that Narcissa, his supposed true love, was also to be affected by this faux pas of Andromeda's. Lucius' long winded speech only gave her more time to fume at him.

"If she doesn't come back to the family at least she's away from the mudblood. f*ck Lucius, can't you even try to be supportive of this? I don't give a sh*t if she comes back or not. She's a wretched bloodtraitor and she needs to pay!"

She hadn't meant to say that. She didn't realize what she was saying as the words poured from her mouth. Was that how she really felt about Andromeda? She was too furious with Lucius to care that she felt such cruelty toward her older sister.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius just smiled. "Well, if that's how you feel about it, then I'm sure your mission will be accomplished. I was merely pointing out the flaws in your plan to get you to admit how you really feel. You may think you want her back, and maybe you really do. But you need to be prepared to face the fact that you may have already lost her for good. If you're doing this to have your sister back in the family, you may be wasting your time and efforts on someone who may not, in fact, be worth the trouble. But if you merely want to save her and your family from her shame, then I think this plan will succeed."

He felt a bit smug as he stood up. "At any rate, I wanted to see what you had up your sleeve, and I will confess, my dear... it's brilliant as always. I almost regret that I can't be there to watch Rabastan attempt to pick up the pieces for Andromeda. It might be fun to see him fail with a woman for a change." He laughed. "I must be going now, but I trust you've got everything under control, both with your sister, and with Ms. Morley." With a slight bow, he headed for the door.

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix was still furious with him, especially since he now looked beyond pleased at her reaction. "Just go deal with Narcissa, won't you. And try to pretend to care that she's losing a sister." She didn't follow him out, he knew where it was. Instead she sat on the couch, leaning back against the cushion with a deeply embedded scowl on her face.