No Life Wasted

A few hours later, the three Lestranges were putting the Aurors through their drills. It was just after lunch, and Rod liked to put everyone through their paces on a full stomach so that too much good food didn't make them lazy and soft on the job. An elf in Ministry robes Apparated in and presented them with a letter.

"A message from Mr. Grindelwald," the elf said and Bellatrix took it from his hand. "Thank you." The elf nodded and Apparated away, an indication that no reply was required.

Bellatrix cracked the wax seal. It was in the form of a spear for the Head of Defense. As she opened the scroll, her eyes glanced briefly toward Rod and Rabastan. The Aurors had been faster than expected. Prepared to read about the progress made to find those whose names Dolohov had given, Bellatrix was mildly surprised when the note was addressing a slightly different matter.

Dear Lestranges,

Before you kill Dolohov, or any of the other incoming prisoners, I want you to make them assist us in making extra Draught of Life potions like the one which returned my own youth. Their deaths should count for something. No lives wasted, and all that, when we can use them.

I wish to gift a few to my favorite followers, Atsuko and Abernathy, and the rest should be set aside for when any of us, you three included, may need them. I have ordered the supplies required for the potion's making, and they should be here by tomorrow. The potion takes only a few days to brew and Snape is grudgingly on it. I say grudgingly, because even though I told him he and his family could also make use of them when the need arises, he was still mildly bitchy because of how illegal this potion is.

Then again if Snape weren't bitchy, he wouldn't be Snape and we all know it. When the potions are ready I will have them sent over with instructions on how to add the last stage as that will be your bit. In essence, though, you torture the prisoner in question until he or she very much wishes to die, then you tell them you will grant that mercy if they only breathe their last into this bottle.

The bottle will, of course, be full of the draft I shall send over, only requiring the life breath as the last ingredient. It is important to kill them just as they breathe their last into the bottle. It is a bit of an art, I am told, but I am certain you three are entirely up for the challenge. I will be sending over more bottles of the draft when we have prisoners to kill, but making large batches is easier and you can store them in the office there.

Gellert

Bellatrix chuckled when reading the bit about Snape, and smiled through the rest, pleased at the prospect on many levels. Torturing worthless gits and making them breathe their last into a Draught of Life sounded like challenging fun she was certain they would enjoy.

The fact that they would be allowed the drafts themselves when the years at last turned them gray was definitely something to smile about as well. She passed the letter to Rod, who read it with much the same reaction before passing it to Rabastan.

The younger Lestrange let out a whoop upon reading that they were allowed to take the draft as well when needed. "It's been a damn good day," he said happily, and Bellatrix and Rod nodded. Indeed it had been a good day and it was only half over.