Isabella quietly walked along the dark corridors of Hogwarts. The sun was setting rapidly and she thought, perhaps, she should have stayed in the Slytherin common room after all. Her two best friends, Roisin Rachel Ryan and Jack Lawford Graham, had warned her during dinner to talk to Snape some other time.
"Just wait until tomorrow, Bella." Rach, as all her friends called her, said.
"Yeah." agreed Jack. "You'll see him after class anyway."
"Yeah, I know." agreed Isabella. "But I want to ask him in private so no one can overhear."
"I know you want it to be a secret, but if you got caught tonight with everything that's been happening around the castle..." Rach said in a voice that pleaded with Isabella to see reason.
"She's right." said Jack nodding his head. "You know if your caught you'll be suspect number one..and I mean can you blame anyone?" asked Jack with an apologetic tone.
"No, I wouldn't blame them." said Isabella defeated. "I'll wait until tomorrow."
"Good." said Jack happily now that everything was solved. "So did you hear about...
But Isabella wasn't waiting until tomorrow. After being in the common room for 30 minutes she had made up her mind. Her friends would never know. Roisin was in Ravenclaw, Jack in Hufflepuff and, therefore, would not know if she snuck out of the Slytherin common room. After all, she was Head Girl. She could always make up some excuse about why she was out of bed. She had to ask Snape and she was doing it tonight. Isabella preformed the Disillusionment Charm on herself to blend into her surroundings. Hopefully this is good enough, she thought.
As Isabella walked along the corridors to Snape's office she began reflecting on her years at Hogwarts. She remembered her excitement as she made her way to Platform 9 3/4, her Aunt Narcissa and Uncle Lucius in toe. Even little Draco came for the event, although he was quite jealous he was not starting school yet. He stood at a distance, arms crossed and with a scowl on his face. She was so happy to finally have the opportunity to learn magic, although she had mastered quite a few spells already, some very powerful and dark. It was during the train ride when Isabella met her two friends, Rach and Jack, who had stumbled into her compartment because all the other seats were taken. She smiled at the memory but the smile quickly faded. During the train ride she tried to be friendly to everyone but not many of her fellow peers wanted to speak to her. Many children seemed to be shying away from her even when she said hello. Isabella was quite shy herself and thought perhaps the children her age were just nervous by the journey. But then she noticed many of the older children stayed away from her as well, some even with a look of fear or disgust on their faces. It wasn't until later Isabella realized people were cautious around her because she was the daughter of crazed Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange. The only reason she had not been exposed to these scared glances before was most people were afraid of her Uncle Lucius and always treated him, and his family, with the utmost respect. Luckily, her two new friends did not mind her parentage in the slightest. Rach and Jack were not very familiar with the First Wizarding War as the two were both from pureblood families in Ireland. Now in her 7th year, more people started warming to Isabella after realizing she wasn't really a threat. Still, she chose not to have too many close friends. Most people wanted to use her because of her powerful family connections. Or boys would want to say they dated Bellatrix Lestrange's daughter.
Lost, in thought, Isabella almost ran into Snape's office door. She stood outside a moment to collect her thoughts and undo the charm. Slowly, she knocked on the office door. After a moment, Snape appeared. Isabella let out a breath she had not realized she'd been holding.
"Lestrange!" he said, quite surprised to see her. "What are you doing wondering the corridors? It's getting quite late isn't it? His tone was slightly accusatory; his black eyes searching for an answer.
Although Snape detested Harry Potter he did not believe he was behind the attacks on students. A dimwit, such as himself, could not pull the attacks off undetected. Although he could speak Parseltounge...
"Yes, I'm sorry, Professor, but I'm afraid this can't wait.", she said sweetly, jarring Snape from his thoughts. "May I come in for a moment?"
Wordlessly, Snape stood aside, holding the door open for Isabella, his eyes following her as she entered. She really does look like her mother, Snape thought. Isabella was of medium height and slender but curvy. The long, shiny, black hair bounced a little as she walked towards Snape's desk. She had inherited the Black family good looks. She sat in the black leather chair across from his desk. It was quite chilly in the office and Isabella wrapped the Slytherin robes tighter around her body for warmth. Snape quietly walked over to the other side of the desk moving so gracefully, in his billowing black robes, it appeared as if he were floating. He stood for a moment, on the opposite side of the desk, observing Isabella. He had never known his god-daughter to break the rules, in fact, she was an excellent student. She was very respectful around her elders and genuinely liked by her peers despite her parents reputations. But people can always be fooled, thought Snape thinking about her father, and he wondered if perhaps her squeaky clean demeanor was beginning to take a dark turn.
Finally, Snape sat in his chair. "Well, what was so urgent it could not wait?" he asked with a tone of impatience.
"Well, Professor," she said slowly as if weighing every word carefully, "I was hoping you would be able to teach me Occlumency."
"Occlumency?" asked Snape needing clarification.
"Yes, Sir." Isabella replied matter of factly.
"And why would a young girl such as yourself want to learn Occlumency?" Snape asked slowly.
He was suspicious. She knew he suspected her of attacking students. Isabella could not blame him because he knew her family secrets. He knew how dangerous they had been. The fact was Isabella did not know for certain who was behind the attacks, but she had an idea. Unbeknownst to Harry, she too could hear the whispers in the walls and realized instantly what the predator was. She knew a chamber existed somewhere in the castle hiding the beast but did not know how to locate it. What would I even do if I did find it?, she thought. With her past, and parents, it really was quite remarkable no one openly suspected her of opening the Chamber, but unfortunately for Harry he had always been found near or at the scene shortly after the attacks. Isabella knew Snape would question her motives for the lessons and she had an answer ready.
"I think learning Occlumency will be a good skill to know for my career as an Auror." she replied staring into Snape's emotionless eyes. Snape considered her for a moment, disbelieving her story.
"Alright." he said finally. Perhaps I can figure out what she's up to, he thought. "We will meet next week at 6:00 sharp. Do not be late."
"Thank you, Professor!" she exclaimed jumping to her feet and wearing a big smile across her face. "I appreciate it." she said her dark brown eyes, almost black, glittering. As she closed Snape's door behind her and cast the charm, thereby, making her blend into her surroundings, Isabella couldn't help but be slightly troubled at how willing Snape had been to help her.
Weeks had passed since Isabella's conversation with Professor Snape. Every week at exactly 6:00, she would knock on the dungeon door for her Occlumency lesson. Isabella had nearly mastered Occlumency and this evening would be her final lesson. At ten til six, Isabella left the Slytherin common room and made her way to Snape's Office. The corridor's were nearly deserted. The strange happenings around the castle had escalated. More students had been petrified and even the gamekeeper had been taken to Azkaban by the Minister of Magic, at her Uncle Lucius' insistence.
Isabella was sure The Dark Lord was somehow behind the terror. She remembered last year when Harry and his friends had successfully defeated him. Who would have guessed Voldemort would be hiding under Professor Quirrel's turban? Isabella knew Voldemort would not give up so easily. He was trying to return to power and she knew one day he would succeed. It's only a matter of time, she thought. She knew when the Dark Lord returned she would be asked to join him. Isabella had spent her entire life preparing for the day. She had spent hours in the Malfoy Mansion, where she was raised, and in the Restricted section of the library researching the Dark Arts. She wanted to know as much as possible and be able to use this magic, if necessary. She had also researched the famous Harry Potter. It was truly a miracle he was not killed as a baby. When he arrived at Hogwarts last year Isabella was awe-struck, as was everybody. The boy who lived, in the flesh. She remembered watching, as the person the Dark Lord wanted killed most, sat feet away from her and was sorted into Gryffindor. Isabella had a feeling this boy would play an important role in the fate of the wizarding world.
"Good work, Bella." Snape said after hours of trying to penetrate her mind. "It seems like you have mastered the art of Occlumency."
"Thank you, Professor. I really..." Isabella's voice trailed off. Just as she was thanking Snape he surprised her with an attempt to penetrate her thoughts. Snape caught her so off guard she was unable to stop him from seeing her innermost secrets.
Dozens of images were swimming past her...She was 3 and her mother watched as Isabella preformed the Cruciatis curse on a muggle, her face stained with tears of sadness...She was crying in her room after her mother forcibly burned the Dark Mark into her arm...she was 7 and horrified, as she lay on her bed, by the images presented in the Dark Arts books provided by her Uncle...she was 13 and stood on the edge of the Astronomy Tower slightly frightened, but at peace, as she took in the length of the fall...
"NO!" Isabella screamed, as she broke the spell.
Isabella and Snape stood, panting, on opposite ends of his office. Slowly she lowered herself in the leather chair, unable to stand any longer as her whole body shook.
"Isabella...I.." Snape whispered trying to break the silence. He walked over to his desk and sat. After a few more moments of awkward silence he said, matter of factly, "You are not learning Occlumency for your career as an Auror, are you?"
After a few more moments of silence, Isabella finally had regained her composure. "No." she said looking Snape on his eyes. "I've seen the destruction the Dark Arts cause and I don't want any part of it."
Snape took a moment to digest her confession. He knew she had been up to something. "Why not tell me in the first place?" he asked.
"Forgive me, Professor, but I was not sure if I could trust you. I remember, during the first war, you were on the Dark Lord's side. But then you switched", she said looking up at him. A curious and desperate expression on her face. "If I told you the truth, that I despise everything Voldemort stands for and wanted to aid the other side upon his return, how can I trust you would not reveal my secret? Why did you switch sides?"
"Dumbledore is aware of my motives, Isabella, and trusts my fully." said Snape quietly as if this admission should be enough. He looked into her dark eyes, his face expressionless.
"I know he does", said Isabella finally, exasperated. "I suppose I have no other choice than to trust you, Professor. However, if my secret is ever revealed to The Dark Lord..." Isabella's voice trailed off.
"Is that a threat, Bella?" Snape asked, his eyebrows raised but with a small smirk playing at his lips.
Just then, Professor McGonagall ran into Snape's Office.
"Severus, come quick! Someone has been taken into the Chamber!" she exclaimed. Professor McGonagallwas so shaken up she did not even notice Isabella.
"I am coming, Professor." said Snape as McGonagall turned to leave.
Snape looked at Isabella. "I suppose you can find you own way out?" He asked, although it was not a question.
"Yes." she whispered trying to digest this new information after all that has happened this evening.
With a nod and one final look in Isabella's direction, Snape walked out into the corridor.