Moving inside, her gaze shifted from the woman at the door to the child peering up at her. It was pathetic how easily their trust was purchased, a sentiment hidden by a smile and an opening of her hand that revealed a caramel in a shiny wrapper. Dropping down to the boy's level, she held out her hand.
"Aren't you just the very image of your father," she smiled as the boy's small hand hesitated before reaching out to claim the candy.
Conveniently, women were often excused for lingering over children. The wife, Bellatrix had little interest in. They always became so shrill, and displaying them at the opportune moment tended to make targets upset rather than afraid. Spouses could be precious possessions, but children? Merlin, parents saw children as literal chunks of themselves wandering about. People got angry when you broke their things. They became terrified when you toyed with the vulnerable facets of themselves.
This was going to be quite a bit of fun. She glanced up at Barty, giving the slightest nod. He would deal with the wife. There was supposed to be another child, a girl. Bella would see to her through the boy. The child looked at her sheepishly from under his long lashes as he pressed the candy into his mouth. Hidden in that little candy was a helpfully suggestive potion. It wasn't enough for total compliance, but the time for the spell would come later.
"Why don't you go collect your sister for me?" she mentioned.
The boy nodded before hurrying off. Bellatrix stood, giving a smile in Barty's direction as she went.