CHAPTER THREE

Bellatrix's school year was wasting away quickly. With one month left of school, she had began to get anxious. Her parents were writing less and less, to the point where receiving an owl from them was only for little news updates within the family. Her classes picked up pace, and the end-of-the-year exams were coming very soon. The hallway she was walking through got lighter meaning the Great Hall was just ahead. She glanced at the walls, looking at the pictures of old teachers, headmasters, and student awards that hung on them. She walked past a suit of armor that bowed after her. She then lifted and turned her gaze to straight ahead where she saw Severus walking ahead of her. Bellatrix lengthened her stride to catch up.

"Severus! Wait up!"

Severus kept walking from her.

"Oh come off it! Your no Mr. Mystery, Severus! So quit acting like it!" Bellatrix snapped at his cold expression.

"Bellatrix, you dont even know what you are talking about! You cant even stand up for your 'friends'! Here I am being tortured by James again for the fifth time this month! He embarrassed me in front of the entire great hall! THEY ENLARGED MY NOSE TO DOUBLE ITS SIZE!" Roared Severus. His voice dropped, "You looked at me. I saw you! ...You even smirked. Then you left them to laugh at me. You took their side?! Youre mad. Are you a traitor to the Slytherins, Bellatrix Black? You know we have to stick up for eachother, why didnt you for me?"

Bellatrix's eyes narrowed and she drew her wand. She pointed it at Severus's face and spat, "Take that back Severus! You know I cant go and hex my own cousin!" Knowing that she really could, she lied through her teeth to Severus. If it would save herself, she would do it. She pushed her face an inch from his and hissed, "As for Potter, we all know he is Dumbledore's favorite. Messing up his face could get me expelled!" A hint of lunacy flashed in her eyes as they widened in anger. The wand sparked with magic that was produced from her anger alone.

"YOUR SUPPOSED TO BE MY FRIEND!" Shouted Severus. A few heads turned in the hallways to look at the arguement.

"I DONT NEED FRIENDS! I AM FINE ON MY OWN!" She yelled. Bellatrix closed her eyes. She was furious. Not a good friend? He should be grateful I even talk to him! When she opened them Severus was watching her with a look of dispise on his face. By then, the people that were watching had either left, or rolled their eyes at how strange she was being.

-----

A house elf entered the common room.

"M-M-Miss Black?" sputtered the little house elf, "Its growing darker in this room. I-I-I just wanted to ask you if you like me to light the fire?" The house elf motioned to the fireplace.

"That would be nice, thank you," Bellatrix didnt even look up from her 'Care of Magical Creatures Year: One' book.

The house elf bowed deeply and walked slowly to the dark fireplace.

Rodolphus walked in from the corridors and glanced at the house elf who had placed about a foot in front of the empty fireplace. He looked at Bellatrix, who was sitting cross-legged in the big chair at the end of the table.

Trying not to pay attention to him, she blushed and kept reading. "A bite from the Gurtsped can be fatal if not treated right. The only cure.." Rodolphus watched her with a half smile. Bellatrix gave in and looked up at him. Just then, the fire boomed and the room was filled with a dim, flickering light.

CRACK! The house elf disapparated.

"---So," Rodolphus began, looking somewhat alarmed at the sudden sound, "Bella, I heard Severus is quite angry with you, eh?" He pryed with a smile.

"Its very likely, yes." Bellatrix stated, her eyes not leaving his. She cocked her head to the side, a characteristic her mother always did, "Why do you ask Lestrange?"

"No reason, some Slytherins were talking about it in Herbology."

"Oh." She looked down at her book. She was nearly halfway through the chapter she was assigned to read.

"Anyways, I just wanted to know, how big DID Severus's nose get?"

Bellatrix giggled to herself, but let a smile slip across her beautiful face, "Pretty big. But not that much out of the ordinary size."

And at that, Rodolphus chuckled and left the room to his dormitory.

She let out a deep breath and looked out the window in front of her. The storm thundered loudly and the rain pounded the window.

-----

During supper that night, Avery and another Slytherin, Talus, were in deep conversation about the latest article in the Prophet.

"...it was Him!" Avery whispered.

"You-Know-Who?" Talus asked worried.

"I mean, look at what it says, 'After months of not being heard from, officials found the two well known missing persons - Rhona and Isiah Feharny. Their remains were found in a ravine a few blocks from their home.' He struck again, Talus! They were muggle borns! It says down here!" Avery said to Talus.

"Yeah? Well, its about time they did something about them. Maybe He can clear out some of this filth," Talus said snidely, pointing a finger over his shoulder to the students in the other tables.

Bellatrix sat down next to them, and they turned their attention towards her.

"Bella, did you hear about what happened in the newspaper?" Avery asked, almost excited.

"Yup, Mother says that it serves them right for stealing magic from other wizards," She said as-of-matter-of-factly.

"Yeah!" Avery agreed, "Mudbloods!"

McGonagall stood from her spot at the teacher's table. She walked over to the middle of the room and pointed the wand at her throat. "Students! Quiet please!" The hall fell silent as they all turned to look at the professor. "Thank you. As you all may have known, another attack has been made by the Dark Lord. We-the teachers and headmaster-would like to tell you that you are safe here. We want you all to be comfortable and assured that nothing bad can happen at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There are more safety spells on this school than anywhere else in the world at the moment!" McGonagall looked around the room. A student raised her hand.

"Where is Professor Dumbledore?" Lily Evans spoke up.

"The headmaster is on leave right now. The has other duties to do as well as sitting in his office!" McGonagall said shortly.

Bellatrix snorted. That old man? He could probably barely lift his wand properly! She smirked at her own joke.

McGonagall turned and sat back in her seat and began a discussion with Professor Slughorn.

"My mum said that You-Know-Who is going to rise to power probably by the time we get out of Hogwarts!" Piped up Dezerea.

Bellatrix thought about that for a moment before saying, "The Dark Lord has already risen to power, Dezerea, He just hasn't made it official."

Rodolphus leaned in, "When I turn sixteen I am going to join Him."

Bellatrix's eyes widened and she smiled. He is so brave! "Thats cool," She said as he brushed some of his hair from his eyes.

"Me too!" Grinned Avery.

"I will be sure I will be his right-hand man," Spoke a voice that had not previously been in the conversation.

Taken by suprise the group turned their heads to see Severus staring, his eyes glinting with self-pride. Bellatrix rolled her eyes. He was too much of a coward to be given that task. Just then, an owl came down from the ceiling towards Bellatrix. Startled by how off-time it was, she took the letter from its leg, fearing someone in the Black family was in trouble.

Dear Bellatrix,

You can come home for summer break. You will be staying with Sirius and Regulus at their home. Because you are the oldest, I would like it if you would take care of Andromeda and Narcissa too. They will be there when you arrive in two weeks.

We will be out of the country during the summer months because we have to help a family aquaintance.

Druella and Cygnus Black

Bellatrix looked upset. The last thing she wanted was to stay with the blood traitor's side of the family. Another owl swooped down and dropped a peice of parchment for Sirius. His expression was the same as hers.

-----

Later that night, Bellatrix tossed and turned in bed. She couldnt sleep so she arose, tossed the blankets over and stepped down into the common room. Severus was sleeping soundly on top of his books. His body was oddly twisted to rest in the wooden seat he was in. The fire was magically still blazing before him. She sighed, still a little frustrated at him for their arguement the day before. She leaned over to poke him in the back, right before her finger was about to touch him he spoke,

"Dont even think about it, Bella." Severus said with a little humor in his voice. She smiled.

"How did you know? You were just asleep!" She asked him, in a faked shocked voice.

"I was not, I JUST finished my essay for Defense Against The Dark Arts, and I laid my head down in exhastion." He lifted his head and smoothed his greasy hair consiterably.

"Oh. Well, dang. I wanted to wake you!" She smiled again.

"Well, I didnt want you to! 'Night Bella." Severus stood up and lugged his books with him up the stairs.

"Wait! Severus!" Severus turned around to face her. "Are we still friends?" She asked, slightly abashed.

"Yeah, I guess."