Written for Flying Lessons on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)

Prompt: The Great Hall

Bellatrix burst through the doors of the Great Hall and climbed onto Gryffindor's Table. She cackled uncontrollably, kicking every dish and cup off the table, a childlike happiness surging through her. Dumbledore was dead, they had won. There was nothing protecting Potter now. She couldn't help but laugh as she shattered the Great Hall's windows in glee. Her Dark Lord would soon take over the world, and there wasn't anything anybody could do to prevent that.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a spell whizzing past her ear, the magic prickled her skin on the way past. Bellatrix spun and crouched into a duelling position, ready to uncoil and strike at her new prey, but to her surprise she was not met with a barrage of curses. A red-haired man stood calmly, facing her with his wand raised, and a look of determination.

"Another Weasley?" Bellatrix snarled, eyes narrowing. "Why didn't you hit me? You were close enough."

The man frowned, but kept his voice level as he answered her.

"You killed Dumbledore, a friend and mentor. My brother's face has been ravaged by a werewolf, I don't know if he'll ever recover. But don't think for a second, that I would ever stoop to the level of you Death Eater scum by attacking a wizard with their back turned."

Bellatrix laughed uproariously, wiping tears out of her eyes.

"Cute. Naive, but cute. What's your name, boy?"

The man seemed taken aback, his alertness dropped slightly for a moment.

"Charlie."

"Well, Charlie…" Bellatrix leapt off the table and stood opposite him, the gap between them no wider than ten metres. "Here I am. What have you got, kid?"

Charlie snapped back to attention, launching a volley of disarmers and stunners at her. Bellatrix smiled wildly, her eyes lighting up as the thrill of the fight took her over. She ducked in and out, snaking between the beams of light, before firing her own stunner straight down the middle, catching Charlie square on the chest.

Charlie dropped to a knee, gasping for breath, struggling to shake off the effects of the spell. Bellatrix crowed, strutting towards him, wand dangling loosely in her hands. "You're raw, no experienced fighter would lower their defences like that."

Charlie tried to respond but the stunner was too strong.

"Hmm? What was that?" Bellatrix mocked, firing off stinging jinxes at the immobile Charlie, burning patches of skin all over his body.

Charlie's eyes flashed, he gritted his teeth and mouthed an inaudible shield charm. One of the minor stinging jinxes bounced back and caught Bellatrix on the hand. It wouldn't change anything in the whole scheme of things, he was still going to die here, it was just a final act of defiance.

Bellatrix howled with rage, "Crucio!"

Charlie collapsed to ground, writhing in pain. Bellatrix frowned, where were the delightful screams? The Cruciatus curse should have dispelled the effects of the stunner. Bellatrix reached down and grabbed Charlie's hair, yanking him up. Sure enough, his mouth was firmly closed, veins bulging on his forehead in an effort to not show his pain.

Bellatrix smirked, she had to give him some credit for that. Stronger wizards than him had died crying. Through all the pain, his blazing blue eyes glared at her, unblinking, and Bellatrix found herself breaking eye contact first. This one was different, he wasn't intimidated.

"Do you not know who I am?" Bellatrix hissed, releasing the curse, and pressing her wand right between his eyes.

"You're an old, crazy, bitch." Charlie spat.

Bellatrix lashed out in anger, kicking him in the stomach. Why had that insult bothered her so much? Everything about this boy, Charlie, was infuriating her. He wasn't scared. He wouldn't scream. He didn't attack her from behind. Bellatrix was curious. She wanted to know more.

Bellatrix was on the verge of lowering her wand when she sensed a powerful magical presence approaching. She gritted her teeth, what was she thinking? Her life belonged to the Dark Lord, he was the only curiosity she needed.

"Avada"-

"Bellatrix!"

She lifted her head to see Snape standing at the entrance way. Bellatrix raised an eyebrow to show her annoyance at being interrupted.

"There is no time for this, we must go now!"Snape commanded, "The Dark Lord is waiting."

Bellatrix internally breathed a sigh of relief, uncharacteristically complying with Snape's orders without complaint.

"Consider yourself lucky." She sneered at the semi-conscious Charlie.

Bellatrix swept away, following Snape out of the hall, and disappearing from Charlie's sight.