Chapter Four.
It was once said, by a rather wise and studious man (who was later found to be under the influence of several illegal potions), that it would be a snowy morning in Hell when Rita Skeeter and Bellatrix Black would be in the same room without murdering each other. It was never even considered that the two might work together to achieve a common goal, that would be equal to the Dark Lord walking around in a bright pink dress while singing 'Sweet Transvestite' (which actually occurred in the December of 1984, while he was possessing the body of an Albanian actor).
Yet there they were, sitting in the library while innocent seventh years poured over books for them, a knife borrowed from the oh-so-helpful Baron clenched in Bellatrix's hand.
"Good work, getting that knife." Rita exclaimed, a grin on her face expressing to the world how much she thoroughly enjoyed not having to do any of the work herself.
"I'm positively itching to use it." The other ghost replied, watching the students as they began to anxiously turn the pages faster, writing as quickly as humanly possible.
The resident ghosts of the castle had called another of their almost constant secret meetings, out in the grounds of the castle.
"We must expel them by any means possible, even if it means sending a delegation to the Ghosts Council in July!" The Friar called out, many of the other ghosts agreeing.
"I can't stand by and watch innocent minds become corrupted by those two troublemakers!" Flaming Nora shouted, crossing her arms angrily. It was common fact that she had just begun to trust Nick again, until that Rita came along and snatched him out from right under her. Needless to say, Nick stayed quiet.
"I rather like Bellatrix." Baron called out, a smirk on his face. All eyes were on him, it was as if the ghosts were trying to murder him with their eyes.
"You people just have no sense of humour." He huffed, sitting down on the ground with a scowl. Everyone always ganged up on the Baron.
A sickeningly sweet voice from outside the small circle the ghosts had made called out, and the angry eyes of the small congregation turned to see two ghosts, one in a striped, ragged prison robe and the other in a shirt and skirt, both with their arms crossed and eyes narrowed.
"Rita, I think we should go and have sex in the Great Hall, it's almost lunchtime, you know. I can see we're not wanted here. "
"Yes, Bellatrix, I completely agree."
The two linked arms, floating off together with their noses in the air. Coughing awkwardly, the Baron stood up and tugged on his shirt collar, straightening out his jacket.
"If you don't mind me, I have an urgent engagement at the Great Hall."