It all started when Hermione was sat next to Bellatrix in their Defense Against The Dark Arts class. They didn't talk much but they were both talented witches and fairly knowledgeable. Bellatrix had a talent with the dark arts while Hermione had a plethora of knowledge to offer the class. Hermione was the student called upon most to answer questions while Bellatrix was the student called upon most to help with examples.
Their professor tried not to show favoritism during the first quarter but by the second he barely called on anybody but the girls. In his defense, it wasn't as if students were lining up to answer questions anyways. It was strange though. A Gryffindor and a Slytherin were the top of the class and leading their houses to the top of the points leader board. Hermione felt pressure from some of her house mates to keep getting Gryffindor points but she imagined Bellatrix didn't care what her peers thought. The dark witch always seemed more interested in actual classwork and learning spells than what her classmates thought. Granger admired this about her, but then she supposed Bellatrix's carefree attitude had something to do with being a member of the "Most Ancient And Noble House of Black".
The pure blooded family had a long history of shady success stories. She didn't know much about them other than they probably had enough money to buy Hogwarts and have it destroyed just so they could build another mansion. She supposed most of their money made its own money by now, because money talks and who would question the legitimacy of such a high class family? Hermione wasn't really impressed by the money, unlike most people. She felt it didn't matter much but perhaps that had something to do with the fact her own family was pretty well off. They weren't nearly as rich as the Blacks (they'd probably have to work for hundreds of years just to have the money Bellatrix's family currently had squirreled away in Gringotts and even then they'd still be far richer than anybody else) but at least she'd never wondered about whether or not dinner would be on the table. That was more than some could say.
Hermione would've been lying if she said she didn't admire Bellatrix, though. The young woman was always casting her spells perfectly yet seemingly effortlessly. She even managed to pass tests without studying! How could someone do that? It was one thing to scrape by as though you didn't care what your marks were but another to pass them with flying colors without even trying. The mere idea of not studying or practicing spells but still getting astounding marks was baffling. Even more baffling was how Bellatrix never seemed to care what her grades were. She just went with the flow and seemed to hope for the best.
Still, as days turned into weeks and weeks into months Hermione noticed her schoolmate growing paler. She began falling behind on her class work and her grades were slipping. Sometimes Bellatrix failed to show up to class at all and their professor would always look at her empty seat with what seemed to be a sad, faraway expression before taking attendance. When the raven haired witch did show up for class she stopped paying attention. Sometimes she would have a bruise on her arm that she perhaps forgot to cover up with makeup or a charm and other times her eyes would be bloodshot and glassy. Hermione supposed she had simply cried, perhaps over boy troubles.
The professor assigned the class a project. An essay of sorts that would require a presentation and demonstration on the spell they chose to write about and study. As the girls packed up at the end of the class the professor called to them.
"Bellatrix, Hermione, please stay for a moment." Bellatrix huffed and Hermione raised a brow questioningly but they both complied without argument. As they walked over to his desk with their bags over their shoulders he began speaking again, "Bellatrix it is no secret you're falling behind in class and this project can make or break your grade. I'd like you to partner up with Hermione because as you know she's currently top of the class and could be of great help to you." He then turned to Hermione and continued, "On the flip side of that, Hermione you know Bellatrix is a very capable and talented witch. You're a very intelligent student but where you sometimes lack in spell casting. I am certain she can help you." Bella snorted and was probably about to say something particularly rude but Hermione beat her to the punch.
"Professor, with all due respect I'm not sure we'd make the best team. We're two very different people and haven't paid each other more than a glance the entire time we've had this class. Are you sure this is a good idea?" The professor rubbed his chin and squinted as he thought for a moment before nodding as if he just had an entire mental conversation with himself and came to a sudden conclusion.
"Yes. You two compliment each other more than any of the other class partnerships. People usually pair up with their friends because they know they'll get along and their views will always be the same. They don't consider being partners with people that makeup for what they lack." Bella snorted again and chuckled to herself but this time she spoke before Hermione could cut her off.
"You're trying to pair up a Slytherin and a Gryffindor. I hate to break it to you, professor, but I'm not sure it'll work the way you hope it will. Granger here is a bookworm and I happen to enjoy spending my free time out and about with friends. As you can imagine she'll probably end up doing all the work." This admission puzzled Hermione. Surely Bellatrix would want a partner that would willingly do the entire project on her own? Why wouldn't she want to subject a Gryffindor into doing her schoolwork for her?
"Miss Black I'm sure you've realized those friends you enjoy hanging around with are part of the reason your grades are slipping. I believe Miss Granger will be nothing if not a good influence on you and I hate to do this to you, but if you refuse to partner up with Hermione I will have no choice but to flunk you this quarter." Bellatrix bristled at this and slammed her hands down on the professor's desk causing the book bag she'd previously slung over one shoulder to slip down to her wrist.
"You can't do that!"
"I can and I will." His eyes shot between the two women before him as he put his hands together and leaned forward on his desk. "Now, do either of you have any questions?"
"Just one" Hermione finally piped up, causing Bellatrix to give her a bored look "Professor what the fuck?" This caused Bellatrix to laugh so hard she doubled over and grabbed her stomach. The professor simply grinned though she couldn't quite decide whether his faint smile formed out of amusement or because he felt he won a battle.
The project would be a large portion of their final grade for the semester so Hermione tried drafting the essay as soon as possible in the quiet of the library. The only problem was she wasn't sure what spell they should use and it just so happened she had no idea where her partner had run off to. As soon as they exited their classroom Bellatrix had gone in the opposite direction of Hermione without even paying her so much as a glance. Frustrated by the lack of help, she decided she'd better find her supposed partner and ask her what her thoughts were. She'd probably the one to cast the spell in front of the class anyways, so Hermione supposed her input was fairly important for obvious reasons.
She packed up her bag and began walking through the halls towards the Slytherin common room. She was halfway there when she looked out a window and saw the woman she was looking for talking to a particularly shady looking Ravenclaw. They seemed to be fighting and as Hermione looked on she saw the witch push the man into the wall of the school and push her wand up to his throat. She wasn't sure what the witch asked him but she saw him shake his head. Bellatrix pushed him again and stormed off. Hermione figured she'd better catch up to Bellatrix before her trail went cold. She didn't feel like waiting until the last minute to begin their project and her curiosity was piqued by whatever it was that she'd just seen.
So she turned around and began walking towards the closest staircase hoping she could get outside and find the witch before curfew and before any faculty members caught either of them. As she rounded a corner on the first floor she almost bumped into the man she saw Bellatrix arguing with. She stopped dead in her tracks and looked him up and down.
"Problem?" He practically growled.
"No. Do you know where Bellatrix is? I saw you two...talking earlier." She offered him a slight smile hoping he wouldn't read too much into her hesitation between a few select words.
"Black? That bitch probably ran to her usual spot. She likes to pout near the forbidden forest, and if she isn't pacing around like a lunatic outside of it she's probably blowing up some trees or something with the very bad luck of crossing her path in it. Now get out of my way, I have places to be and people to talk to." Hermione raised a brow and stepped in front of him as he tried to sidestep her to walk by.
"Just a minute. What were you two fighting about?" He glared practical daggers at her.
"Fighting? Its none of your business and besides, I thought you said you saw us talking. I see you've been spying on us. I don't know what I expected from a filthy mudblood." The ravenclaw realized his mistake as soon as the witch raised her wand and pointed at his throat. She wasn't as good as Bellatrix at magic but she knew enough for her threats to carry weight.
"Now you listen to me," She spat, "I don't care what you believe in be it stupid propaganda or ridiculous rumors-you better never call me a mudblood again or so help me I will bombarda you into another room. I don't care how thick the school walls are or how many of your bones I'll need to break to make it happen! You'll find yourself limp and struggling to breathe before you can even think to utter that slur again." The wizard swallowed and she realized her breathing was heavy and she was holding her wand so tight her knuckles were white.
"Well...um...we were fighting about something she wanted. I can't really tell you about it, it's not my place. Please don't-erm-bombarda me into the next room."
"Miss Granger!" Hermione went stiff and felt the color drain from her face. Her wand shot down to her side as she instantly turned around to face professor McGonagall.
"Hello professor!" she offered, trying to sound chipper but her voice was a pitch too high and McGonagall was looking none too impressed.
"Mister Claudius please go wherever it is you're supposed to be. Miss Granger, come with me. You certainly have some explaining to do!" Hermione glared at the boy as he walked away and snickered. She wasn't usually one to hold grudges but she felt she wouldn't forget what he said anytime soon. Why should she? That wretch of a man should have been put in Slytherin. The sorting hat practically cheated him out of it last minute, shame really. He was far too crass to be a Ravenclaw, but then she supposed she didn't know him very much and knew she shouldn't judge a book by its cover no matter how repulsive that cover seemed.
McGonagall turned around and gestured for Hermione to follow her. They walked side by side in silence for a few moments before Hermione decided she ought to begin defending herself sooner rather than later if she wanted to have any time to find her DADA partner today so they could begin their draft. She wondered if all this trouble really was worth it and if the draft was just a cover up in her mind so she didn't feel weird about practically investigating Bellatrix Black. She put that thought on the back burner for later. I really should do some self evaluation tonight,she thought, albeit somewhat bitterly.
"Professor I was only defending myself" she offered weakly. The older witch raised a brow and gazed at her questioningly for a moment before averting her gaze back ahead.
"Miss Granger having someone against the wall with your wand against their throat seems a bit excessive in terms of self defense, I'm sure you'd agree despite your current predicament."
"He called me a mudblood." At this the older woman sighed and seemed to mull over what to say in her head. She stopped walking and faced her student.
"I suppose I can't be too upset with you defending your name but I can't let you go unpunished. You were clearly threatening to use magic on another student, after all. So what do you suppose I do?"
"Well you could always give me a warning and send me on my way" at this the professor'a eyebrows furrowed and Hermione cringed slightly. "or I suppose you could deduct points from Gryffindor and give me detention..."
"I think the latter will suffice" she said, "now run along Miss Granger and do stay out of trouble. It's unlike you to have to receive punishment."
"Thank you professor" she said as she bowed her head in both respect and shame. She still had to find the other witch. Part of her wondered if finding her was even worth all this effort. Surely she could just talk to her about their project tomorrow in class. With a sigh she began walking towards the Gryffindor common room but stopped in her tracks when she saw a witch enter the ladies bathroom. More specifically, she stopped in her tracks when she saw Bellatrix Black run into the bathroom with a hand over her mouth.
Curious, Hermione followed.