The Greatest Time of Year

A/N: Yes, these are fics centered around Christmastime and what it means to various HP characters. Yes, I know Christmas is over, but I'm writing it anyway, because I had the plot-bunnies and I couldn't wait until next year.

A late Christmas present for MBC, just in case I forget to bring in the chocolate truffles for him. XD

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Bellatrix Black

s h a t t e r

(and she's just a stupid little girl with her hopes too high and feelings much too strong)

Bellatrix had not celebrated Christmas for many, many years. It was her mother's fault, though, for it was that one awful day that started her hatred of the holiday.

It started off as a typical Black family Christmas. Bella was much younger then, only about seven years old. Kreacher was decorating the tree, and Druella, her mother, was supervising. Andi and Cissy were both far too young to help, but she, Bella, had her own hopes for the year. For many days leading up to the tree decorating, she had locked the door to her room and worked in secret on her own little "project". When it was finished, she was quite proud of it – and she was sure her mother would love it too.

(and that was her first mistake)

So Bellatrix ran up the stairs to her room, grabbing her creation from the vanity in her room. She raced back to her mother, clutching a rag-doll-like figure in her hands.

"Mother," she asked hopefully, showing her mother the doll, "could we please use this for the top of the tree?"

(and that was her second mistake)

Druella Black looked sharply down at her young daughter. "Bellatrix, where in the name of Merlin did you get that monstrosity?" Without waiting for an answer, she added, "The goblin-made crystal star is much better, don't you think?"

Bella looked dejectedly at the lumpy doll in her hands. It was crudely made; it had choppy black yarn hair and two mismatched buttons as eyes. It was almost like a regular doll, except it had no legs and its dress was hollowed out so that it could fit on the top of the tree.

"Of course, Mother," she answered, faking a smile. "I don't know what I was thinking."

Her mother nodded distractedly, turning back to the tree. Bella flew out of the room, hot tears stinging her eyes. She took the doll back to her room and threw it into a trunk, where it would inevitably stay for the next long years.

But she knew better than to stay moping for long. Her mother would then get angrier with her, and then she'd have to spend time locked in the attic or in the basement for "acting up" and "being fresh". So, instead, Bella walked back downstairs, blinking away her tears and putting on her brightest fake smile.

"Mother, can I help with anything?" she asked sweetly, walking back into the living room.

Her mother looked at her. "Actually, Bella, could you be a dear and put the star on top of the tree? Kreacher and I have to step away for a moment. Can you handle it?"

Bellatrix forced a smile. "Of course, Mother," she answered.

Kreacher handed her the delicate glass star, saying, "Be careful, Miss Bella." Bellatrix nodded solemnly.

Druella walked out of the room with Kreacher scurrying at her heels. Bellatrix climbed onto the first step of the ladder that had been left out. As she stood at the top, she realized that she still couldn't reach the top of the tree. She stretched, standing on her tip toes, but still couldn't get the base of the star to reach the top of the tree.

In an instant, the star slipped from her hands and fell to the ground, shattering. Bellatrix looked guiltily towards the hallway where her mother had left, but nobody came running; either nobody had heard, or nobody cared.

She climbed carefully back down the ladder, looking at the shards of crystal. The damage was irreversible, she knew, for magic didn't affect goblin-made items. Stealing one last look at the broken star, she then walked out of the room without sparing a backward glance.

-x-

Bellatrix looked disgustedly at the ragged doll that had once caused her so much pain. She was an adult now, and didn't bother with hope and foolishness like that. She had learned not to expect much from people. She scowled again; the doll really was ugly, but she couldn't help but feel that everything would have been different if her mother had just let her use it as the tree-topper.

In her living room, in her own house now, there was no Christmas tree, though Christmas Day was tomorrow. There were no silver bells, no candy canes and mistletoe. There was, however, a fire, raging wildly in the fireplace, yearning to be free.

In a sudden movement, she cast the doll into the fireplace, where it was instantly enveloped in flames. She didn't watch it burn. She was just glad to finally be rid of it.

(and that was her last mistake)

A/N: Another Bella fic, just 'cause I love her so. I'd like to think she wasn't always evil and crazy, she just became that way due to her dysfunctional family and pureblood obsession. And then her Voldy obsession. XD

I know the thing in the parenthesis is supposed to end with "especially for a boy like him", but the rest of it fit so well I decided to chop the ending off. ;)

Anyway, please leave a review!