Bellatrix; The Last and The Best

Chapter One

Of Trains and Toads

A/N ~ I like writing in bold. It's makes my words feel bold. That is kind of the point. I'm rambling, aren't I? SORRY . Well, I've got about a million fics I'm writing at the moment for Merlin, but this is my first Harry Potter fanfiction! And it's going to be freaking long. I was about to say 'squee' when I realised how much I HATE people who say that. Well, anyway, this is going to be the life of Bellatrix Black/Lestrange, starting with her first trip to Platform 9 ¾ through everything to her death (WHY, JO ROWLING, WHY?!) at the Battle of Hogwarts. Review or I'll Crucio.

Kings Cross Station is completely jammed with people, wizards and Muggles alike, and there's a flutter of excitement in the pit of my stomach. The first of seven trips here. I've been waiting to go to Hogwarts my entire life.

"Bellatrix. Come along. This place is crawling with Muggles." My father sniffs distastefully. He's right, though. The magic-less filth are milling around everywhere. I can hardly be too bothered about that today, though; I've been waiting for this moment for eleven years. Mother and Father aren't so worried about the scum at every turn either; their first child to go to Hogwarts. They're proud.

My sisters are a different matter.

They're completely ruining it. Narcissa, barely seven years old, hasn't stopped snivelling all day. Mother said it was sweet that she's going to miss me, but I know better. She's only moping because it's so long before she gets to come. Andromeda's older, nine, but may as well be five with her relentless whining. Their jealousy began the day I got my letter. Still, they're both just babies.

"Are we going through the wall, too, Mother? Please? Please? I'll be good." Andromeda begs as we near the barrier separating the useless Muggle dirt from the wizarding world. Andromeda's being stupid. As usual. They're all coming through to say goodbye. They'd better stop trying to muscle in on my day. I'm elder and I'm better than they are.

"Remember what we told you, Bella," Mother says "You run straight at the wall, no stopping."

I'm not an idiot. I take a deep breath. This is it. I run, and in a second, I'll be on my way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I almost laugh at how pathetic Cissy and Dromeda are being.

I clutch my trolley and run.

A huge grin breaks out on my face when I'm through to the other side. I barely notice my parents, and my sisters, dizzy and red-faced with excitement (or fake crying, in Narcissa's case) appear behind me. Past the clouds of people, the famed Hogwarts Express gleams scarlet and steaming. I can't wait to be on it. Hogwarts! I remember what my Uncle Orion was saying to me the day I received my letter. 'The key moment in any young witch or wizard's life is their first trip on board the Hogwarts Express,'. I laugh in excitement and Narcissa, clearly devoid of attention for a millisecond too long, starts pretending to cry.

"Narcissa, do shut up." I snap, tugging my hand away from hers. "Wait your million years like a good girl."

"Bellatrix." Father warns. I glare at him. Mother bends down to do something to my hair and I swat her away.

"Well, Bella, this is it!" Mother says eagerly. "Do well. Concentrate in lessons. Don't worry about the sorting, you'll make Slytherin, I know it." She smiles broadly. "Have fun. Make us proud."

"Write to me." Narcissa demands stoutly, face pink.

"Not if you don't shut up."

"Bellatrix!" Father snaps. I raise my eyebrows and glance around the station. Fleeting farewells are made all around, the raucous buzz of screeching owls and pounding feet and sobbing families fills the platform. I'd better board soon. Go to Hogwarts! And escape my sisters.

"Kreature." I snap harshly. Aunt Walburga and Uncle Orion lent us their new house elf, just for today, as a farewell gift for Uncle Orion's 'favourite niece'. He calls Andromeda and Cissy that too, but I'm sure I'm the only one he means it to. The hideous house-elf scum slopes from where he lurked behind my father. "See to my things." I command. "This year would be good." I kick at it.

Father doesn't say anything but he nods approvingly. He's always saying how Narcissa just ignores house-elves and Andromeda's too soft on them. Andromeda's too soft on everything.

"Well. Bye. I'll be back for the holidays." I say carelessly. It's so near, I just can't stand waiting around to get on the train any longer.

"Goodbye, Bellatrix!"

"Farewell!"

"Write!"

"Bye Bella!"

"Mum, why can't I go yet?"

I roll my eyes and hop onto the train, the moment before it pulls away from the platform. My family shout something at me, but they're lost to the crowds as I stand at the window, watching King's Cross fall away. I turn away and search for a free seat.

I find my hand sliding into my pocket to close around my wand. My wand. Just the thought of my own wand! We bought it from Olivander's a few days ago. I think it's perfect, polished and curved like the talon of some great bird of prey, or like an extension of my own arm. Older students fill compartments everywhere. I have to prowl the full length of the train before I find a carriage that looks empty, but for two boys, who are maybe first or second years. I slide it open and walk in. One's reading a book and barely glances up but the other, a chubby boy clutching tightly onto a toad, frowns.

"Who're you?" Toadboy asks thickly.

"Who're you?" I retort back at him. He frowns again. The boy with the book answers me instead.

"Rod. Rodolphus Lestrange." He sticks out his hand.

"Bellatrix. Bellatrix Black." I shake it. I try to crane my head to get a look at what he's reading but I can't see. Rodolphus seems ok. The little fat one with the toad, on the other hand, does not. He's staring at me stupidly. I can tell he's going to be very annoying unless I get rid of him.

"A toad?" I look at the plump green toad in his arms. "Really? An owl or a cat and you bring a tired old toad?" He looks a little offended but in no rush to move.

"He's an heirloom."

Rodolphus Lestrange snorts, not looking up from his book. Toadboy glares at him.

"Stupid sort of heirloom." I go on. I've started to really enjoy myself now. "You'd be the beggar Hufflepuff sort, then?" I'm stretching it now but I can't stop. It's too much fun. Toadboy notices I'm still standing by the door.

"If you've just come in to insult me, y-you c-can just leave ag-g-gain."

"I'm not hear to insult you." I smile reassuringly and plop down next t o Lestrange. "I'm here to mock you."

The boy next to me laughs again, not looking up from his book. Half of me wants to talk to him, but provoking stutters in the boy with the toad is a lot more fun.

"W-well you can go any-anyway."

I laugh.

"Why should she take orders from you?" Rodolphus Lestrange says eyebrows raised, watching over his book. Toadboy has no answer. I realise in that moment how much he resembles his toad. Lestrange is smirking into his book. I groan in annoyance. Toady is still staying. What's wrong with him?

"Get out." I command flatly. Just go away! "Out. Leave. Now."

"Y-you c-can't make me – me leave." Yes I can. I'm a Black. Black's do not give in. Black's are strong.

My hand goes to my wand and I draw it out, the polished tip pointed at him. His watery eyes widen. Pathetic. I smirk at the fear creeping into them. If he doesn't leave now, I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this. I don't actually know any spells. Thankfully, he hurries out, gathering up his toad. He mutters something about 'no need for wands' before he's gone. I let out a laugh. The boy next to me joins in, slamming his books shut.

"Nice one." He laughs. "You can bet they'd be no need for his want. You can just know it's a hand-me-down splinter of rubbish. He'll be in Hufflepuff for sure. Or, no, worse, Gryffindor."

This boy seems like my kind of person. "What did you say your name was, again? Rodolphus?" He nods and I, in turn, confirm my name to be Bellatrix. "What're you reading?"

He shoves the book at me. It's a heavy tome, bound with dark blue leather.

"History of the Dark Arts. Volume Two. Found it in my family library. Really interesting actually."

"Cool. Let's have a look."

And so Rodolphus and I discuss and laugh about all these amazing dark wizards. Rod is a little annoying, a little eager, but I'm not having a bad time. At some point, rain begins to explode against the steamy window pane, and I take the bruised, brooding sky to be a good sign. Rain and storms have always been counted lucky by myself. More interesting things happen in the rain.

After a while, a boy with blindingly white-blonde hair walks in, first-year, and announces himself as Astor Greengrass, and joins our talk. He seems ok as well. Less mildly-irritating than Rodolphus Lestrange.

"So?" He says "What're you looking foreward to?" He has a very precise, but drawling voice.

"Curses." I grin simply "The Unforgiveable Curses." Astor Greengrass grins back.

"Yeah. My brother says Muggle Studies is meant to be good."

My grin disappears. So does Lestrange's. Astor takes in our expressions and laughs. "Joke. I don't even have a brother."

"Good." I say darkly. Fraternising with the magic-devoid animals is nothing to joke around about. That's what Father always says anyway. Lestrange laughs. I don't. Rodolphus Lestrange is eager to please, but he's a pureblood, and he's a friend.

"I have a brother." Rodolphus says. "Rabastan. He's starting his second year. He said he'd come see me once he'd caught up with his friends. He should be here soon."

True to his word, Rabastan Lestrange is in our carriage within the half hour. Rod introduces us all. Rabastan smiles at my name. "Black? Your father wouldn't be Cygnus Black, would he?"

"Yes. He would." I frown.

"He's friends with our father." Rab turns to Rod. "Why didn't you say?"

Rodolphus flushes furiously scarlet. "I – I didn't..."

"Evidently." I snort.

Astor laughs and Rodolphus turns redder.

A low, loud, hum of excitement bubbles up through the train. I wipe away the condensation of the window and realise why. Hogsmeade station.