Chapter 2: The Mirror of Erised

I walked through the busy hallways of Hogwarts, feeling several pairs of eyes on me. Molly glared at the girls who whispered about me. "Bugger off, Slytherin!" Molly scowled at a girl who was looking at me in slight fear.

I sighed and sighed. How much longer would I be the most hated witch at Hogwarts?

"Oi, Death Eater!" someone screeched from atop the hallways arch that led to the courtyard. I tried to control my anger but it was not working. I had had enough. "I think we've some revenge to get back now that we've found Bellatrix's daughter."

I dropped my book bags and clutched my wand. "Don't let them get to you, Crucia." Dominique warned me gently. I didn't listen to her. I was livid, pissed, and most importantly, eager to have some rebellion in me. Maybe I was trying to defend my mother, maybe I wanted to be like her but I gave into the fights.

I looked at the offender. Cornelius Creevey. "Your scum of a mother killed my uncle. And I am here to take it out on you, her only heir, am I right? I am. So, let's be brave about this, eh, Black?" I gritted my teeth and glared at Cornelius. His cocky attitude wound him up here. There was no influence from me.

"Let it be know, if I pull out my wand completely in the next three seconds, you'll be in the hospital wing for the next three weeks. I suggest you scurry back to your pathetic Hufflepuff common room and practice your spells. Be fortunate that I am far more forgiving than my mother." I warned him.

Creevey paled a bit but glared at me nonetheless. "You want to follow the footsteps of your mother, eh? I'll show you what Death Eaters get in this generation and time! Expelliarmus!"

I dodged the spell and pointed my wand right at Creevey. "I warned you. Now, you must suffer the consequences-"

"Miss Black!" a voice roared from behind me. I turned to see my Herbology Professor, Professor Longbottom. He was usually quite fond of me, because of my abilities in naming many herbs and such, but he had a face of pure hatred now. "Detention, now! And fifty points from Slytherin." he spat as he dragged me to Professor McGonagall's office.

It took me awhile to calculate what he had just said. Before I could say that I was not in Slytherin, he jammed me into Professor McGonagall's office. Professor McGonagall looked slightly alarmed, more concerned. "What happened?"

Professor Longbottom glared at me. "Bellatrix was just about to perform the Cruciatus Curse on Cornelius Creevey." Professor Longbottom told Professor McGonagall in a rushed tone.

I sucked in a breath of air. "No, professor! I promise I was not!" I told her in complete honesty. I was only going to hex him, not curse him! Then I processed what other things Longbottom had said. "My name isn't Bellatrix, Professor." I told Professor Longbottom in an angered tone. He looked at me oddly, realization flooding his eyes and he abruptly walked out of the door.

Standing before Professor McGonagall, I had nothing to say. I was the new Death Eater, the one that would be forever mocked, maybe even killed for my mum's actions. I would have to accept that, sooner of later.

Professor McGonagall asked me to sit down and I did, hesitant at first but feeling more comfortable when she sighed, a usual sign of disappointment. "I wasn't going to torture him. And I know I shouldn't even hex another student but I was going to. I admit to that much." I told my headmaster honestly.

"You are not Bellatrix," she murmured to herself. "You are not Bellatrix Black. Miss Black, many people were harmed in many different ways by your mother." she told me carefully.

I bit my lip. "I know that." I admitted.

Professor McGonagall shook her head. "But you are not Bellatrix. Everyone must become aware of that much. You look much like her, I must agree with that, but you are far more superior to her. Perhaps not quite in dueling…yet, of course, and for that I hope you wish you to use your long family dueling traits for good, but you are good. My dear girl, she was not good. Do not dwell on this. You have been raised by good people, don't let her haunt you now."

I bit my lip from crying. Nobody had anything good to say about her. It was terrible and I felt even more terrible for agreeing with them. "Professor? Was she good before? I mean, at one time in her life?" I asked hopefully.

Professor McGonagall knit her eyebrows and then smiled. "Bellatrix. She…she was protective of her sisters. That much was clear. Remember, Miss Black, no matter what ties we may have lingering in our blood, we must be stronger than that, and choose our own path."

I nodded my head. "It's getting late, what's my punishment for the hexing?" I asked.

Professor McGonagall heaved in a sigh. "Five points from Gryffindor, considering Mr. Creevey provoked you. Yes, goodnight, Miss Black." I nodded my head and walked out of the room.

The entire castle was dark. I needed time to walk around, clear my mind.

I walked around the castle at least twice. It was getting really dark and I panicked, realizing it was past the time to be in our dormitories. I ran towards the Gryffindor common room before realizing Filch was right behind me. I stifled a gasp and ran into the closest door I could find.

I stumbled into the old, unused classroom and fell on something. Filch walked past the old classroom and I allowed myself a breath of relief. As I was thinking about what I should do next, I noticed myself in a mirror, directly in front of me. I gasped and felt a utter and complete surge of love in my heart.

In the mirror, which was a good eight feet tall, my mum was standing next to me, smiling, her hair neat and orderly, her eyes not dark and evil but warm and kind. My mum's arm was clean and clear of the Dark Mark, her face smooth and unscarred. She was gently holding my head and I began to feel as if I were on top of the world. She smiled once again and I was interrupted by someone walking in behind me.

"Professor?" I asked in a slight gasp. Professor Longbottom stood before me, his hair undone and his eyes sad.

"You're not Bellatrix, Crucia." he sighed in a smile. "You're Crucia." I smiled, thankful I was not going to get more points taken from Gryffindor.