In his room Sirius sighed closing his door on the continued screams of his mother. However the piecing voice of Mrs. Black could still be heard through the door.
"Silencio," he said lazily pointing his wand towards the door. Instantly the room went silent.
"At last," came a voice from Sirius's bed. "Peace and quiet." Sirius whipped around pointing his wand at the figure lounging on his bed.
"Expelliarmus," Said the voice in an almost bored tone. Sirius's wand flew out of his hand and was gracefully caught by the figure lying on his bed. The evening sky made it hard to see who it was however light provided from the street lamp outside illuminated the familiar face.
It was a girl. She had a beautiful face with heavily-lidded eyes and pale skin, which was framed with long dark hair that hung in waves around her face and shoulders.
Sirius breathed a sigh of relief.
"Bellatrix," he said slightly annoyed. "You gave me quite a fright."
"Sorry," Bellatrix said casually not sounding at all sorry. She studied the extra wand in her hand. "I always liked this wand, you know." She said spinning it between long pale fingers. "What is it? Oak?"
"Yeah," Sirius said. "Oak and Phoenix."
Bellatrix waved it. A pile of books on Sirius's desk rose in the air and promptly fell back down with a loud thump. She shrugged. "I still like mine better. Here." She got up from the bed and tossed his wand in the air. Sirius caught it and tucked it in his back pocket.
Bellatrix smiled at him. "Nice to see you coz," she said.
He smiled back. "Same too you," he said hugging her. They broke apart. "When'd you arrive?"
"Not long. Mother's settling Dromeda and Cissy downstairs." She replied lying back down on Sirius's bed. "We were going to say hi but you seemed...ah...busy." She laughed.
"So you heard all that," he said joining Bellatrix on his bed.
"Well your mum wasn't exactly trying to be discreet was she? If it weren't for all the charms on this house, I wouldn't be surprised if every Muggle on the block heard you as well."
Sirius laughed.
"What was it about anyhow?" Bellatrix inquired. "I didn't catch all the details."
"All this of course" Sirius waved his hand around his room and Bellatrix made a face.
"You don't have to be so blatantly obvious about it you know?" She said staring at the Gryffindor banners.
"And give her the satisfaction of taking them down?" Sirius pretended to look shocked. "I don't think so."
"Trust you to break the trend. Honestly Sirius, the entire Black family is in Slytherin. There been not one exception. Not one. Until you come along." She half pretended to look angry. "Bloody misfit."
"What can I say? I'm special."
Bellatrix sighed dramatically. "Honestly why Gryffindor?"
"Don't ask me." Sirius shrugged.
"Then who should I ask?"
"The bloody Sorting Hat I suppose."
"I can't yell at a hat." Bellatrix said. "People will think I'm mental."
"Well aren't you." Sirius asked with an impish look on his face.
"Oh shut up." She said hitting him. They laughed for a moment. "You really should be in my house," Bellatrix said once they had settled down again. "Might add some interest."
"What, all your good Slytherin friends aren't enough for you?" Sirius smirked. "There's Parkinson, and Podmore, and Greengrass, and Peverll. Oh and there's Malfoy." He snickered and Bellatrix hit him again.
"Malfoy's an idiot." She said.
"He seems to fancy you."
"Doesn't everyone?"
Sirius stared at his beautiful cousin. They had always been close. The two rebels. However it was not until several months ago when he began to notice how beautiful she was. He shifted awkwardly wondering how to respond.
She seemed to realize this and the atmosphere of the room swiftly shifted from playful casual to very awkward.
Sirius cleared his throat and changed topics. "Honestly I think you should be him my house."
Bellatrix burst out laughing. "Me? Be in Gryffindor?"
"Yeah why not?"
Bellatrix stared at her cousin. "You were serious?" she asked incredulous.
"Well obviously," he said. "It is my name isn't it?"
"Well its just….just…Gryffindor…its…"
"Bellatrix Black at a lost for words?" Sirius laughed. "This must be a first."
"No honestly why would you say that?" Bellatrix tone was very serious.
"Well you're obviously one of the biggest troublemakers at school." Bellatrix mocked a look of surprise. "Whether or not you're caught. You also make up most of your own rules and, I can't believe I'm saying this, you are probably one of the bravest people I know."
Bellatrix looked shocked. "I can't believe it." She said looking at Sirius. Their eyes met for a minute and Bellatrix was suddenly aware of how close she was to him. "You admit I'm brave" she said forcing humor into her voice in an attempt to defuse the awkwardness which had once again crept into the room.
Sirius smiled "If you tell anyone I'll deny it" he said lightly. And the two them reverted back to light meaningless small talk until dinner.