Whoops of laughter fill the great hall. Students pile in excited to see each other after the summer apart. Everyone is so preoccupied with finding old friends that no one noticed the argument brewing just under the entry arch.
A fifth year girl with long think tresses and a fifth year boy with unruly brown hair were in the middle of a heated debate.
Or maybe no one really cared anymore.
Bellatrix Black and James Potter went at it so many times that such a scene was very nearly common place. Standing next to James stood another boy around the same age with handsome features and dark hair. Though he bore a slight resemblance to Bella, the mischievous gleam in his eye linked him undisputedly with James.
Sirius stood watching his best friend and his favorite cousin go at again. They hadn't been back to school for more than 15 minutes and already the two of them were fighting. Sirius sighed. He glanced around at the room in his characteristically bored fashion. The argument was quickly growing tiresome. He nudged James, "Just leave it. No one cares."
"I care," James replied. "She called me a—"
He was interrupted my Professor McGonagall. "Potter, Black, enough is enough." She scolded. "The Sorting is about to begin. Get to your house tables now. You too, Sirius."
James made a face at McGonagall's retreating back but started for the Gryffindor table anyway. "Come'on Sirius." He called over his shoulder.
Sirius stares at his cousin. Bella gives him a reproachful glare. "Don't look at me like that. He was asking for it."
Sirius shakes his head laughing. "You two are impossible."
"I think you had a serious lack of judgment when you picked your friends." Bella replied tossing her thick hair over her shoulder.
"Hey your friends are so nice either."
She just shrugs. Alecto Carrow waves from the Slytherin table. Bella fakes a smile and waves back.
Sirius stares at her. "My point."
"Alecto is fine once—"
"Once what? She gets a personality transplant? I mean honestly does that girl every shut up?"
Bella laughs. "Okay, okay she's a little…annoying. But at least she knows how to hold her wand the right way unlike your little rat of a friend."
"Don't hate on Peter. He's cool."
"Oh please you just like having someone worship you."
Sirius gave her a sly grin.
"You two! Tables now!" McGonagall swooped down on them once more.
Bella stifles a laugh. "Going right now Professor."
And with another laugh the two cousin parted ways.
