Born to privilege & with that comes specific obligations (Closed - Leyton, Draco, & Luca)

There was certainly something to say about change because everything changed at one point or another. Hardly anything remained the same for very long. Bella was not immune to change as much as most thought. After all, adaptation was change, was it not? The woman was quite adaptable, given her heritage and the fact that she personified the Slytherin traits, self-preservation being one of those. It was necessary to adapt to survive, and so Bella did so, and though while for most people change often made them some form of weaker in most cases, 'changing for the better' as they said, Bella could only smirk at the fact that in a way she supposed she had changed for the better, though she doubted anyone with a distaste for what she was, who she was, and what she represented would agree. But such a woman as Bella would never concern herself with the opinion of others anyway. In her opinion, she thrived more now than she had even the first time around. And was twice as deadly.

That was why she entered the establishment her nephew had acquired with all the haughtiness she had been graced with since birth, her dark eyes full of lurking dangers in their depths as she gave it an absent look over, hardly deigning to grace the shop with her presence for the simple task of shopping and browsing. That was house-elf work, and there was certainly hardly anything in the shop worth her effort or time. While Bella was proficient in potions, well, that was what Septimus was for after all. Among other things. She seriously doubted the rare ingredients he so coveted could be found there, and while Bella did enjoy tea, she would certainly not contribute a single knut to the wages of the filthy half-breed who, unfortunately for herself and fortunately for Bella, decided to try and stop her as she made her way to the back which was clearly meant for employees only. As if that would or could possibly stop Bella.

It certainly did not stop the sneer of extreme disdain and disgust from crossing her features, or the quick and fluid motions of her wand that forced the disgusting she-wolf back into the chair behind the counter where she had come from, tied to it and bound tightly by none other than deadly snakes that spit and hissed. Bella rather wondered whether a werewolf was more tolerant to any one of the poisonous, lovely creatures, but could hardly be bothered to do more than send the thing in the chair a cruel smile that matched the dangerously glittering eyes and carry on her way, clearly not caring if the thing died. She could always run that test on some other unsuspecting werewolf at some point if she wanted. She did, however, flick her wand to have a cloth tying itself around the woman's mouth to no doubt muffle any screaming and calls for help, a deranged smirk curling her lips.

Bella had no qualms about her actions or conduct, and certainly never would have. If her idiot nephew thought his disgraceful pet would be safe upon her visit, he was even more brainless than she had given him credit for. She had sent owls to her three nephews after all, alerting them to meet there. It had not been a request. So given the fact he had been forewarned and had still left the creature within even viewing distance of Bella, well, that just made it twice as delicious to kill the thing. Besides, she had shown just enough mercy to not kill it outright. Then again, it was hardly mercy and more the fact that Bella preferred to play with her victims. She did so enjoy seeing the terror in their eyes after all.

She went up the stairs that led to the apartment above the shop, not bothering to knock or wait to be let in. She merely waved her wand to have the door open at her entrance, finding one nephew already awaiting her arrival. Leyton didn't look particularly happy to see her, and her smirk turned malicious, wondering how he would feel when he discovered what she'd done to his pet. She absently wondered whether it would be dead by the time her other two nephews arrived, or if one of them would manage to save it in time and ruin her fun. She stroked her wand fondly and idly, wondering if she'd have to teach one of them the lesson they never seemed to learn. That Bella was not to be trifled with.

"Leyton." She allowed him as far as greeting with a sneer on her face, her tone cold and laced with danger just beneath the surface, as it often was when it came to the Lestrange twins. Bella, proud and arrogant Bella, had very little patience for the pair of brats and their ever-growing list of things that brought shame to her family. Bella hardly cared what their idiot mother said or did, whether disowned or not the pair carried the name still, though either hardly cared. Her sneer became more pronounced at that. It disgusted her beyond belief how very little pride in family and name they had. And Bella had grown tired of their stream of antics in bringing nothing but shame and growing dishonor to the family. And Draco was certainly not out of hot water with her for encouraging it. He was perhaps her favorite nephew, but he was not above her corrections because of it.

After having to stomach the meeting with the Potter brat and his friend, and having to refrain from using her wand to give the brat something to glare daggers about as he explained about Blake and Dumbledore, Bella was quite sure it was time to make her nephews understand once and for all the value of family. While Draco knew who Chancellor was, the twins had no knowledge of that kept secret, and mostly because the pair could not for the life of anyone be trusted. Of course, she would not divulge Potter's secret, under Cyrus' orders, and she quite agreed the Lestrange's could not be trusted with anything more than absolute need-to-know, and she was there to make sure Draco did not make the mistake of providing the idiot twins more than that. Not to mention she was going to make it entirely clear just why they were not to be trusted and how they would correct that. The 'or else' would be heavily implied without her needing to say it. And if she did need to say it, she wouldn't hesitate to do so with her wand. All three of her nephews seemed to have been content over the years to pretend they had no duty or responsibility to their family. Their mothers, including her idiot and disgrace of a sister Cissa, may have let them get away with that. Bella certainly would not.

Leyton was going to die.

Merlin, he hoped not. But anything was possible at the hands of his aunt. His rehab had been kept under wraps the best they could and he had managed to avoid almost every member of his family since he had come back. Sure he had a class or two with Luca but they kept out of each other's line of sight and never spoke to one another. His mother's family in France never held much interest in them anyway and he still barely knew his cousins on that side.

The Lestrange side however, was none too pleased. Bella had been furious to say the least when she had learned where her nephew had disappeared to and Leyton had managed to duck out of her presence every time she was in the same vicinity as him. He had done nothing though in those two years that would put even a smudge on the families name but it appeared even that now was not going to be good enough. Or else Bella would not have sent the owl.

He had no idea what it could be regarding though. He kept his head down and nose out of everyone else's business. What little news he received came from Draco during their weekly meeting or what Piper would share with him throughout their work day. That was exactly why Leyton had open his shop there as opposed to anywhere else in the world, to stay away from the conflict that always seemed to be waiting on the other side. Milling just below the surface.

Pacing back and forth in the living room he crossed his arms over his chest, fingers moving across the soft fibers of the dark sweater that he wore. He had come upstairs just under an hour ago, leaving Piper to tend to the shop and handle the closing duties for that day knowing that she could handle it with ease having done it plenty of times before. He planned on meeting her later for dinner to finish up the plans for the greenhouse.

Just as he turned for another circle his door opened an in walked his aunt. Great, not the one he was expecting to show up first since he was hoping someone else would have a clue as to what was going on.

"Bellatrix," he responded with a sour look upon his face not missing the underlying hatred in her voice. She was one of the most dangerous witches that had ever graced his presence and he was not one to ever forget that. Water was always treaded very carefully around her, lest one wrong word and you wind up dead family or not.

"I would offer you a seat but I really hope you are not staying that long." Yeah, he was definitely going to die.

When Luca had received the owl from his aunt he was a little more than curious as to why he was being summoned. He wasn't exactly on her nice list after turning down her proposition to marry Nox, especially after practically disappearing every time he saw Bella coming.  Thankfully it was a bit safer once she graduated but who knew when she might pop up to pay a visit to the school. Luca was thankful she hadn't tried to kill him, yet.

While he knew the animosity still existed he wasn't going to live in fear. Luca was perfectly fine on his own, still on the outs with most of the gang after Leyton came back but it was fine.  Gave him time to dig into his studies that last year and party when he wanted to. He stayed single, went on a few dates but otherwise had an uneventful last year. The family treated him the same as his brother. Mom's side didn't really want much to do with him, his cousin's weren't in his social circle so there wasn't much of a loss there.

Luca knew that his aunt didn't approve of them, she never had. Draco had always been her favorite, had always been everyone's favorite but the boys had moved past that several years ago. Bella had hated their father but then again who hadn't. The Lestrange name was tarnished long before the twins were born and they had their elders to thank for that, but Merlin forbid they actually mention that. No, it was always their fault now.  

Locking up the store, he headed towards his brother's ready to get this little meeting over and done with.  He had better things to do than to sit and be lectured by his aunt about whatever she was on about now. Luca had considered for all of five seconds of not going but he didn't want Bella tracking him down somewhere else. It was better to come on his own two feet, where he would hopefully be leaving on his own two feet as well.

Rounding the corner to the shop he started up the side stairs until he noticed the front door of the shop was slightly open and he glanced at his watch. Luca knew he would have wanted it shut down early with Bella coming, wanting as few witnesses as possible if things went sideways. Starting towards the door he pulled it open slowly and stepped inside pulling out his wand as he did.

"If there is someone in here that shouldn't be, reveal yourselves now and no harm will come to you," Getting no response he took a few steps farther in finally coming into view of the counter and Piper bound to the chair by what appeared to be vipers, "What in the bloody hell," he whispered more to himself before looking back up to see the fear in her eyes, "Don't move. I know this spell, I've seen my aunt do it before." Watching one of the snakes coil around her wrist he let out a slow breath, and backed up slowly towards one of the shelves as the snakes continued to move.  "Leyton carries an anti-venom for spells just like this. If hit them, they will bite you. We will have 90 seconds to get you free and get the anti-venom in you. Do you trust me?"

Luca got all he needed by the look in her eyes before he reached to the shelf beside him to grab the bottle. Turning his attention back to her he slowly inched his way towards the end of the counter so he could reach her as quickly as possible. "One. Two. Three." He sent a blasting spell directly at the snakes and watched as they sunk their fangs into Piper's arm before hissing and dying. Since the snakes were the only things holding her up he dived to catch her before she could hit the floor and instantly he was popping the topper of the bottle and squeezing her jaw with the other to pour the potion down her throat. "Come on Piper, this has to work."

It seemed like an eternity before she gasped and sat up looking around wide eyed. Sighing Luca let out the deep breath he had been holding, "Thank Merlin you are okay, now you have to get out of here before she comes down and attempts round two." He helped her up off the floor and out the door, locking it behind them. "I'll do my best to keep him safe from our aunt. You head home, make sure your wards are up and I'll send Leyton your way when we're done."

He watched her head off down the street before heading up the outside stairs to see what new hell awaited him with his aunt.

Draco had much more important things to do than meet with his aunt and cousins. Hell, he could be sitting around watching dust float through the air and it would be more important than this. The woman was clearly on the warpath against the twins, and Draco wanted nothing to do with it. Why on earth did he always get dragged into other people's drama? It wasn't him who was acting foolishly about family names and reputations. He was being a good boy going to school and making something of himself. Why did he get lumped in with his cousins so often?

He hadn't expected the letter from Bella, nor had he expected the meeting at all. She was adamant that they all have a chat at Leyton's apartment, and Draco wasn't even sure how good of footing the twins were even on. It seemed cruel to bring them all to Leyton when he had no say in the matter, especially if he and Luca hadn't fully mended things between them. He hadn't had his weekly meeting with Ley since he planned to see his brother, so he didn't know if they'd even spoken to each other. Now they were meant to meet with their aunt together? It was a recipe for disaster in Draco's opinion and he could only hope it didn't ruin things between the brothers.

The blonde haughtily strode through Avalon on his way to Leyton's flat. At least it was a nice day for a stroll he supposed. He could have sworn her passed Leyton's little wolf along the way, but she was moving too fast for him to say anything to her. She looked well and truly panicked, which had Draco wondering what his aunt might have done now. He picked up his pace a bit, reaching the shop much quicker than originally intended.

Entering on Luca's heels, Draco glanced from his aunt to his cousin and back again. Seemed like they'd gotten real far without Draco and Luca. The blonde rolled his eyes and shoved Luca inside, strutting into the kitchen and putting Leyton's kettle on. He knew how the man loved his tea and if anything it might calm the older wizard's nerves a little.

"Aunt Bella, so nice to see you," Draco called, silver eyes darting between her and Leyton. "I assume you're going to tell us what this meeting is about? I'm just simply dying to know. How have we all fucked up this time? Hmm?" Draco usually spoke much kinder to his aunt, but he was not happy about being dragged into this little meeting. He certainly didn't think he'd fucked up at all, if he was honest. Alas, he was still here which meant he earned some level of her anger, so he'd rather get right to it than beat around the bush all day.

If Bella was offended by her nephew's greeting, she didn't let it show. On the contrary, she found it amusing. Her lips coiled into a smirk, her dark eyes regarding him cooly as one fine brow arched arrogantly on her face in response. "Well, well, well. Look who's finally grown a spine." She commented, her mocking tone doing nothing to hide the danger in her every word. Most considered it a purposeful effect, and she never corrected them on it. Bella was quite proud and happy to instill fear in anyone and everyone who ever crossed her path, so she would never admit that it was simply just who and how she was. Her dark head tilted at the man, giving the appearance she was considering him like one would an insect they were about to step on with the heel of their shoe. "Shall we test how long it'll take you to turn back into a spineless jellyfish?" She questioned him casually, every word as per usual laced with the promising threat that she would do it.

Some may call her cruel, which was true for the most part. Certainly one didn't become as dark as she by having any adversity to cruelness and it was a fact that she thrived on it. In the case of her family, however, Bella felt the old saying that one had to be cruel to be kind fit rather suitably. Even prior to her descent into darkness, Bella had never been one that could be expected to coddle anyone. Was she a hard woman? Yes, she was. She was a descendant from the proud and noble house of Black and to be anything other than strong and proud was a stain to her family name, whether she bore it or not anymore.

It was easy for people, including her nephews, to assume she lacked any care or love save for the very few. The dark witch would not hesitate to make their idiocy at that mistake known if they ever bothered to ask or comment on that. It seemed to her it didn't take a genius to note that if she truly cared not for her nephews, they certainly wouldn't still be breathing. Their remaining alive had more to do with the fact Bella did genuinely care about the twin brats rather than it being in any amount due to their ridiculous efforts to avoid her like a plague. If she really wanted to murder them, there was hardly anything they could do or anywhere they could run and hide that would stop her, that was a fact. It was a common misconception that the severe contempt and hatred she often spoke to them in was entirely for them, when in fact, it was for their lack of any dignity and pride. For all intents and purposes, the Lestrange name meant little to her, and the twins didn't so much as share blood with her or hers. So she had very little reason to care if they lived or died if one only thought she cared about name and blood. Bella did care about familial pride though, and that was not contingent on name and blood alone. They were her nephews, and as such, they were her family.  

Since he was so intent on her not making herself comfortable as if she would be there a while, however, Bella felt compelled to make him as uncomfortable in his own…she glanced around the room with a disdainful look crossing her face…home, if one could call it that. At the very least, it was better than a cell in Azkaban she supposed. So she sat with all the haughtiness she was known for on the couch in his living room, inwardly relishing the reaction she was to receive for it, making it clear she certainly did not need his invitation to do as she pleased, and certainly would be staying longer than he would like.

"Nephews." Bella greeted with her typical cool tone, not bothering to take her eyes off Leyton as the other two arrived. Her dark eyes bore into his, her face impassive to the thoughts in her head. Even her eyes gave nothing away as she searched his gaze, much like she had done Draco years ago when her interference and guidance had been required. "I'm sure it is, Draco." Again, she responded without her gaze wavering from the nephew she had it pinned on. Her lips curled into another knowing and deadly smirk at the tone of her favorite nephew's greeting, however. Unlike most adults, Bella had no care about admitting she had favorites among her young relatives. Draco was directly related to her and was the least disappointing of the lot. He was the only one who ever cared to act with the dignity and pride of the status he had been born to. So yes, the blonde was her favorite of her nephews, and he earned her direct ire a lot less, and her respect a lot more for having overcome the obstacles he had faced in his young life and making a man of himself.

"Watch your tongue Draco, unless you'd prefer to lose it." She replied simply and absently to her blonde nephew, hardly needing to put effort into the threat, still regarding Leyton with that hard stare of hers, trying to discern and judge something in the man as only Bella could. "Well, if you'd prefer to start there," Bella said with the air of someone who had had other intentions but would hardly disappoint her nephews' insistence to begin with the subject that would bring on them her dangerous anger, finally allowing her cold gaze to drift from Leyton to land on Draco, meeting his gray gaze, "perhaps you would care to explain your role in encouraging your cousin's relations with the thing downstairs." Again, her brow arched, this time though, at her favorite nephew. Bella truly had no care about whether the twins got married, settled down, or whatever it was their mother had pushed on them. Even though she had agreed to an arrangement between Noxaura and Luca, for obvious reasons at the time, she hardly ever felt Luca worthy of the honor, and aside from that, she was convinced that would have been about as much of a farce of marriage as her own had been to Rodolphus. Neither of the pair would've made each other happy in the least. Her daughter certainly deserved better than that and Bella wasn't going to subject her to the same mistakes she had been subjected to by her parents. Deep down, Bella also would prefer the same for her nephews. All of them. Though she would hardly admit it when they did things like run around with werewolves. She drew the line at half-breed creatures and muggles, and her nephews had reached a new level of both low and idiocy to believe she'd allow for that.

Bella had of course been raised in pureblood supremacy, and they should have known better than to think she would have changed that outlook enough to approve of such a thing. She made exceptions for exceptional half-bloods, and could perhaps be convinced of the rare muggleborn. Possibly. But the line was thick and bold at that point. Aside from that, though her nephews failed to recognize any care she bestowed upon them, there was a danger that could not be ignored by a werewolf. Beneath her utter disdain for the filthy creature was the fear for her nephews' well-being. One accidental slip-up, one missed potion, and Leyton could be dead or worse, subjected to the life of such a creature. Not to mention the closer the pair became, the closer to the rest of their family it would become as well, endangering the rest. Bella would surely not allow that to happen under any circumstance. They'd had an oversight thinking that and she was more than disappointed and furious with them for not recognizing the danger to them all that thing would be putting on them. Especially Draco, who was an expectant father to children with enough danger lurking over their heads before even being born without adding to it unnecessarily.

Knowing her nephew would have something to say in his defense, Bella sneered at him, her dark eyes glittering daringly, angry at the fact that the men in that room had no forethought to consider the consequences to their family. To each other. Despite that, she waved a hand as if uncaringly, though the cruel and promising smirk that adorned her face made it clear she was anything but. "Feel free to keep your little pet, if you would prefer. Don't say you weren't warned though." The finality and promise in her deadly tone was telling. Bella would not be held responsible for her actions if Leyton carried on a relationship with the beast. If the thing were still alive even. Hopefully, it wasn't by then, and that would be that. If it were still alive however, well, Bella would make sure it wasn't for very long if her nephew didn't heed her threat. At that point, it would be his fault the creature died.

Her gaze moved to Luca, the eldest of her nephews, and wisely on his part, the quietest. She had not much to admonish him on. Compared to his twin, he was relatively respectable in Bella's eyes, something she disagreed on with their mother. Of course, she had taken offense to his slight regarding Noxaura, but despite the fact her nephews did not acknowledge it, Bella had changed since gaining clarity over insanity. Obviously, her daughter would always matter the most to her, as would be the case with any parent, but it didn't mean she didn't genuinely see the mistakes of older generations. They seemed to forget that Bella came from a life of those very mistakes, and had little interest in making them herself aside from the despicable werewolf business. She was not harboring a grudge against her eldest nephew for his slight in that regard. Draco had been allowed to choose his own match, though it had taken him a bit of fighting for it given whom he chose, and she felt it only fair to allow the others the same freedom if they so wanted, so long as they chose a human, and one that was not a muggle.

"You're mother," she began as she watched the twins, her gaze lazily drifting from one to the other, "seems to have been under the impression she had any right to do what she did." Bella could not refrain the sneer she spared for the woman. Luckily, the goblins who controlled Gringotts and the various deeds and such that regarded family matters such as inheritances had very little regard for wizarding law. Which meant that Bellatrix Lestrange, while essentially on the run as an escapee from Azkaban, was still very much in control of the Lestrange family, as Rodolphus had been her legal husband and the elder of the Lestrange brothers. She brandished her wand slowly, and two matching parchments and golden keys appeared on the table in the kitchen. "A mistake that has been corrected. All you need do is sign and add a drop of blood." Bella advised the twins with no less impassiveness to her face. She wasn't going to apologize for the time it took to handle the situation. The fact she did it at all spoke volumes of which they should be grateful. "Feel free to take your time and read if you must. But it is no trick and there are no requirements or stipulations. It is what you are entitled to."