Elite
AN: Characters belong to JKR.
**
Bellatrix Black threw her head back and laughed gaily.
Rodolphus Lestrange still stood there, shifting back and forth nervously, clutching at the vivid red out-of-season rose.
"Why," Bellatrix asked, employing her best better-than-thou tone, "Do you think I would lower myself to go on a date," the word was spoken scornfully, "with you?"
Rodolphus felt as though he had just made the worst mistake of his entire life. Rabastan had insisted that Bellatrix would accept his invitation... though now he realized that his brother had known that Bellatrix, beautiful Bellatrix Black, would laugh in his face at the mere idea of being seen with him.
"You wouldn't," he mumbled to Bellatrix's question. He let the rose fall to the ground, and turned dejectedly away.
"Wait," said Bellatrix suddenly. He turned to see her pick up the rose, smelling the blood colored petals, breathing in the heady scent of summer, so out of place in this frozen winter landscape. "Did you charm this rose yourself?"
Rodolphus hadn't, Rabastan had, but he saw nothing for him in telling the truth. "I did."
Bellatrix smiled, and said, "I know that your brother set you up to do this."
"You do?" he asked before he remembered to act aloof and dignified.
"I do," she said. "He mentioned it to Narcissa- he's really a fool to think that my own sister wouldn't tell me everything that he says about me."
"Yes," Rodolphus agreed dumbly, wondering why Bellatrix had dropped the haughty act and was now acting as though they were, at the very least, acquaintances.
"I'm sure he's just upset because I refused to accompany him to the get together your parents are holding next week."
"He asked you?" Rodolphus asked, surprised. Rabastan knew about his utter infatuation with the most sensual looking Black girl. That's why he had encouraged him to ask her. The thought that Rabastan wanted to have Rodolphus's hopes of ever gaining the affections of Bellatrix shattered as Rabastan's had been was disheartening. He had thought they were close, that his brother cared for him... he had apparently been very wrong indeed.
"Yes,"she answered. "I didn't want to go with him, though."
"Why not?" Rodolphus asked, still feeling the pangs of betrayal. "He's the perfect, older son from a good family. He's a good match for you."
"Yes, but maybe I don't want the perfect son," Bellatrix said. "I couldn't imagine anything more dull than spending an evening in the exclusive company of Rabastan Lestrange. His somewhat awkward, but indefinitely more interesting younger brother, on the other hand, holds a great deal of interest to me."
It took several minutes for Bellatrix's words to sink in. "You'd want to spend time with me?" he finally choked out.
"I would," Bellatrix said.
"But- but you laughed when I asked you!" Rodolphus protested, feeling very confused.
"You just looked so nervous and serious!" Bellatrix exclaimed. "If you'd only seen yourself being that earnest, you would have laughed too."
Rodolphus thought that she was probably right.
"So should I expect you to escort me to you're parent's get together, or should I go tell your brother that my plans have suddenly changed?" Bellatrix teased him.
Rodolphus felt a sudden surge of bravery, and lifted one of her hands to his lips. After kissing it gently, noticing the way her skin felt as velvety smooth as the rose petals, he said, "I would be delighted to escort you, lovely lady."
Bellatrix flashed him a flirty, sexy grin that made him want to sweep her off her feet and have his wicked way with her. "I'm looking forward to it."
**