Author's Notes: READ AND REVIEW :)
and enjoy, naturally.
love,
G
November 26th
Dear Diary,
Operation FTF has passed in a haze of shouts, hexes, sneers, and exhuastion; In other words, nothing short of expectations. Roddy managed to put the imperius curse on another 3rd year Gryffindor who spiked little Molly Prewett's morning orange juice when she wasn't looking. Within moments of Molly taking a hearty gulp from her glass, she began laughing. It was a soft giggle at first, only noticed by those seated on either side of her, and the Slytherins eyeing her maliciously from across the Great Hall. This innocent giggle, however, quickly grew to a chuckle, then to loud laughter that became obnoxious, before frightening, and then a roar that made nearly everyone in the room stare at her, agast. Her pale face slowly became pink, then maroon, and then a shocking shade of purple. The teachers had noticed after 7 minutes and rushed over to her aid. She looked on the verge of fainting when the laughter began to die down and she sank, shaking violently into her seat at the Gryffindor table.
"What is this?" McGonagall asked, snatching the note from the table. She read the note scrawled in scarlet ink, slightly reminiscent of blood, out loud to the entire hall, " It reads, 'Little Prewett, if you don't die this time, you will the next time. Though I doubt there will be as much laughing. Love always from the defenders of purity and pride.'"
A long pause followed the reading of the cryptic and aggressive note, with only the scattered chimes of dropped silverware, or the intake of sharp gasps. The atmosphere of the Great Hall had changed into one of unease and uncertainity. Though, I noticed, to my amusement the members of the DEY had triumphant smirks they failed to conceal on their smug lips, and I was certain my expression reflected the very same sentiments about the chaos unfolding before us.
"Who-," McGonagall began dangerously, her voice low, but loud in the silence of the hall, "-Is responsible for this disgusting act of cruelty?'
"THE DEATH EATER YOUTH!" Fabian cried out suddenly, jumping to his seat so abrupty he nearly turned over the entire table, sending food and coffee musg along with tall glasses or grapefruit or orange juice, flying through the still air. And indeed, the air did feel strangely still, as though it too was in shock.
"Er, the what?" McGonagall asked, her brow furrowed anxiously and quizzically as she regarded the furious younger Prewett brother who stood beside his table, breathing with a heavy sort of brimming fury.
"THE DEATH EATER YOUTH!" He repeated, his teeth and fist clenched, and he then rounded on the Slytherin table where I sat surrounded by the rest of the DEY, "Its this secret underground organization in this school! They're training to be REAL Death Eaters and are using their influence to play pranks on other students they deem as blood traitors, or something, and they need to be stopped because this time they have gone too far! Its the Slytherins, the lot of them- Bellatrix Black, Lucius Malfory, Rodophulus Lestrange, Severus Snape, Antonin Dolohov-"
"Excuse me," Slughorn cut him off quickly, "But, you are accusing fine upstanding members of the Slytherin house, members of this house who you personally have differences with, of immoral, illegal, and cruelty beyond their capabilities, Mr. Prewett. I am very fond of you, very fond indeed, but I am also fond of these fine, talented and ambitious children you accuse of terrible things that they would never-"
"THEY DO, THEY DO, ITS ALL THEM!" Fabian was growing increasingly hysterical, and I bit my lip to keep from succombing to ever growing laughter in the pit of my stomach, "THEY'RE MAD, BARKING MAD WITH PUREBLOOD MANIA! THEY'RE GOING TO BE DEATH EATERS AND THEY MUST BE STOPPED! YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THERE CRUELTY, THEY ARE HEARTLESS, SOULESS-"
"That will do, Mr. Prewett," Slughorn said, a note of finality in his booming voice, "I will be taking 20 points from Gryffindor for accusing several perfectly kind students of cruel acts with no evidence whatsoever and trying to besmirch their good names. I will not stand for such outlandish behavior, Fabian, you must control yourself!"
"But Professor McGonagall," Fabian pleaded, as every eye in the Great Hall rested on his face now displaying signs of desperation as well as fury, "You have to believe me, its them, I just know its them!"
"Prewett," McGonagall sighed heavily, "You heard Professor Slughorn, your behavior is unacceptable. I understand you're worried about your sister, but you cannot publically assert terrible things about respected and talented students without proof to support these slightly hysterical claims. Calm down, and you may escort Molly to Madam Pomfrey to make sure she's all right."
Without another word, the two younger Prewetts left the Great Hall, and silence, an uncomfortable extraordinary silence, followed in their wake. It may have been minutes or hours before people began talking once more. It began in whispers at first and grew to normal speech, that was soon followed by the clang of silverware against plates as dinner continued, without further incident.
"That," Roddy grinned, "Was bloody fantastic. He looked completely unhinged, didn't he? That was a success if I've ever seen one, we can read this predictible blood traitor like a book, its actually too easy, don't you all think?"
"Sure, it went well," Lucius nodded in agreement between nibbling absentmindedly on a buttered roll, "But he named names, and said the title of the DEY. How did he know anyway? Nosy git."
"Probably overheard us during a detention or summat, innit?" Dolohov asked after a hearty swig of his pumpkin juice, "Other than this audacity to actually name us, it was perfect. For teenagers, we're certainly showing them who is truly in charge. Our power is becoming rapidly more undeniable."
"For teenagers," Lucius said, his lip beginning to curl slightly, "I want to show them our power in a way that bypasses the simple acts of teenagers."
"Then we'll double our efforts on Sirius Black," Severus sneered, his eyes glinting coldly, "But do not diminish our success, Lucius, this was... as Roddy stated 'bloody fantastic'. Fabian won't think twice about messing with us again, but others more cowardly certainly will, and now we've gotten to him, broken him, given him a taste of the poison that he'll be drowning in one day."
"Yeah, I suppose this is a victory," Lucius agreed, not longer even paying the slightest attention to his half empty plate of food, "But next time, I want a to do something people will never forget, something that will be talked about with such fearful reverence our power will never be questioned again. I want to do something worthy of the praise of the Dark Lord."
"Now that, Lucius," I smiled, more warmly than usual, "Is what we all want."
He kissed me on the cheek, in a sweet manner I had forgotten he possessed. I avoided Roddy's eyes for the remainder of dinner, and went straight from the Great Hall to meet Gideon by the portrait leading to the kitchens. As I set off to my destination, I knew Barty Junior was hurrying to find Fabian, and tell him that Lucie Bagman was waiting for him with a surprise. To ensure he was not in close proximity to Lucie at the time, Severus had giving her a sleep draught he'd brewed and convinced her was a memory retaining potion for her upcoming OWLS, that would ensure her exhusation would lead her into a deep sleep in the Hufflepuff common room for the entirety of the evening.
I felt pangs of surprising anxiety as I made my way down towards the kitchen portrait. There was so much that could go wrong, and once Fabian caught sight of us, his reaction would decide the amount of success the plan had garnered. I would have no control after he saw us, none at all. And that, I believe, was the reason for the anxiety pumping through my veins down stream with the blood that grew cold at the prospect of failure.
I saw Gideon leaning casually against the wall before he noticed my descending figure along the path. His eyes were lowered in a manner that suggested thoughtfulness and, perhaps, anxiety of his own. But what would illicit his anxiety? I wondered vaugely as my footsteps caused his bright eyes to chance a look upward, and they fell on my face. His mouth twisted into a smile that appeared slightly forced.
"Hi, Bella," He welcomed me weakly as I leaned against the wall beside him. I could tell, just be standing in his direct vicinity, that he was shaking ever so slightly.
"Hello Gideon," I replied, in a convincing attempt at warmness, "What is the matter? You appear rather upset! I do wish you would confide in me, for I would like nothing better than to help you."
"You're sweet, Bella," He grinned a less constricted grin now, "I suppose you remember the events of this evening at dinner? My little sister! Your forrmer mates are after my little sister! As if what they did to my parents wasn't enough? I feel so hollow sometimes after my loss, so deadly hollow. But they never relent! They never consider the damage already inflicted! I swear right now, on the very heart I hear in my chest right now, beating so frantic and unstable it leads me to worry for myself as well, that I will never let them destroy me. Even if they kill me, I will never be destroyed because I will die a HERO. I WILL DIE A HERO."
"I'm sure you will, Gideon," I consoled him gently, though I was certain our definitions of 'heros' could not be more different.
"They can take away my family member's breaths and heart beats, but not their souls! Not their courage! Not their memories! Not their spirits! Nor can they rob me of mine!" His voice was labored with fury and breathless desire for justice, but he continnued onward in his diatribe, "They will never know love, and therefore it is them that I pity! Those who can take love away, must have never known love for themselves, or must not have it in their lives. I actually feel sorry for them, Bella, I know you hate them for what they put you through, as do I, but I pity them as well. They must be so unhappy, so miserable in their own sick excuses for a life in order to be able to inflict such pain onto others. They must have no sense of justice or morality, and therefore they are to be pitied."
I wanted to curse him right then, the moment he said we were to be pitied. I wanted to scream that he was the pitiful one, he was the pathetic one, he was the one who had chosen the loosing side. I wanted to kill him, to destroy all that nausiating hope he insisted upon burdening me with, but I held myself back. Soon, I promised myself, soon this charade would be over and worth every agonizing second of enduring his monologue.
"You are so passionate," I told him, stil on the verge of attacking his blood traitoring face, "Its a little... sensual."
"Is it?" He looked up, startled, "I love how you appreciate every aspect of me, Bella. Its like..."
"Its like what?" I tilted my head at him, curiously.
"Its like we were made for each other..." He paused, looking embrassed, "Was that too forward of me?"
"No," I shook my head, biting my lip to keep from exploding into a fit of malicious laughter, "It was the perfect thing to say. Now, kiss me..."
It was only a short whle after we first fell into a passionate embrace and fit of aggressive kisses that I heard two sets of footsteps echoeing softly in our direction. I moaned seductively in his ear to mask their sound, whispering sweet nothings as he moaned hungrily in return, tightening his hold around my waist as I wrapped my arms around his neck. We had subsided into feverent kissed once more when a scream of rage tore through the previously quiet air of the cheery underground passage way that lead towards the kitchens.
Gideon and I looked up simultaniously at Fabian's horrorstruck expression and Barty Junior's one of smug satisfaction. Fabian sputtered several swears loudly and rather incoherently. Gideon and I broke gingerly apart, unwrapping one another from the embrace we had just shared, stumbling in opposite directions of the hall. Fabian's eyes were piercing, and overflowing with livid, raw, emotion. Barty seemed to be choking bach laughter, as was I though I am certain I retained an expression of confusion and shock.
"WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" He rounded on the three of us, glaring viciously from Barty, to myself, to his older brother once he finally regained composure for long enough to string together a competent sentence.
"I meant to tell you, Fabe," Gideon mumbled guility, his eyes once again lowered to the white tile floor beneath our feet.
"You meant to tell me, WHAT, Gideon?" Fabian demanded, striding forward until he was within an inch of his older brother. They were within an inch of each other's height, Gideon slightly taller, though looking very small in the shadow of his irate younger sibling. "Tell me you were off having some disgusting affair with the Slytherin Death Eater princess? What is wrong with you? Are you under some sort of enchantment? Have you been drinking copius amounts of the strongest love potion around? Are you under the bloody imperius curse?"
"No, its nothing like that," Gideon said in a very small voice, shuffling his feet shyly, "I'm honestly falling in love with her."
"YOU'RE AS MAD AS SHE IS THEN!" Fabian exploded, as Barty fell into a fit of silent giggles and leaned against the wall for support. I kept my expression calm, suggesting polite confusion, "SHE IS A MONSTER! SHE IS A FOUL, PUREBLOOD MANIAC, WHO SEES EVERYONE ELSE BENEATH HER! SHE IS A SICKENING EXCUSE FOR A WITCH AND SHE IS SCUM! YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING IN HER EXCEPT THE WAY SHE LOOKS, BUT EVEN THAT IS CORRUPTED BY THE DISGUSTING CREATURE SHE TRULY IS!"
"Merlin, Fabe," Gideon looked up, his own face showing signs of anger now, "Give her a bloody break. She's trying to get a fresh start, all right? You're bang out of order, judging someone you don't even know with such harsh, and inaccurate, assumptions! Ever since she and Lucius Malfory suffered a rough break up she's been trying to change her life around, and we sort of found each other..."
"YOU'RE MAD IF YOU BELIEVE ANYTHING THIS PSYCHOTIC BITCH TRIES TO SELL YOU!" Fabian's shouts were murderous now, and I wondered vaugely if it would be best for me to sulk quietly away from the scene of the arguement. Barty, seeing the danger signs as well, had already began to sneak back up the path to safety. I hesitated, and began edging along the wall, towards the exit, but Fabian's eyes caught me swiftly, "WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING, YOU BLOODY SLUT? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, TRYING TO SEDUCE MY BROTHER? I'LL TEACH YOU A LESSON OR TWO ABOUT MEDDLING WITH THE PREWETT FAMILY!"
"Protego!" I shouted immediatly, sheilding myself from the jet of purple light that had erupted from his wand.
"Now just a bloody minute, Fabe," Gideon's voice was dangerous now, "Do not attack Bella, she is someone I've started to care about and you should not let your personal bias stand in the way-"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU IDIOT, SHE'S USING YOU TO GET TO ME!" Fabian declared, his eyes bulging in fury, and bits of spittle flying from his mouth.
"Oh?" Gideon glared coldly at his younger brother, stepping back, adding distance between them that did not exist before, "You think she's just using me to get to you? Because you think the whole WORLD revolves around you! I suspect thats why you're so horrible at astronomy, you keep labelling the sun as 'Fabian Prewett'. Get a grip on yourself, mate, you're embarassing both of us. And if you attack her again, I will attack you."
"How thick can you possibly be?" Gidein snarled, "And just because I didn't get an astronomy OWL and you did, doesn't mean you get to rub it in my face all the bloody time! One day, you'll realize she's a bitch who just wanted to trick you to piss me off, and I'll accept your apology if you're ruddy lucky enough! Until you realize what an utter git you are, to turn away your family for some maniac tart, I REFUSE to speak to you!"
"That's fine by me," Gideon answered back, harshly, "I refuse to speak to you until you apologize and support me! Mum and Dad wanted us to be happy! They would have wanted us to trust people!"
"WE'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD WANT, GIDEON!" Fabian's yells were so loud, his voice practically cracked under their intensity, "WE'LL NEVER KNOW BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE BELLATRIX BLACK THEY ARE DEAD!"
And with those last, fleeting words of loathing and unmasked pain, Fabian turned and stormed away from the spot where Gideon and I stood, frozen and silent.
"What was he doing down here anyway?" Gideon asked, breathing heavily with anger from the confrontation, "And with Barty Junior? What was that all about? Its almost as if they were looking for us."
"Its a suspicious situation," I nodded in agreement, breathing heavily as well, but from the adrenaline of success, "This had been a terrible day for you, Gideon, I am so so sorry. Allow me to walk you back to your common room so you can maybe rest a bit? Or we could go to the infirmiry and find you a calming solution. We can do whatever you like, whatever will make you feel better. I can't smile if you can't smile, Gideon, dear. Let me do something to help."
"Oh Bella, you are wonderful," He said, his voice wavering with emotion and exhuastion, "I'm sorry you had to witness that, you must feel nearly as awful as I do, what with all the things he shouted about you. He was just upset, you see. Our parents, well, their deaths impacted us all in different ways. Fabian has become more reckless, and so, so angry with everyone. He's a great person, talented, kind, and loyal, but he always had a temper and its just developed to new heights. I'm sorry you had to see it, I truly am. I know he must have seemed like quite a prat, but he's one of the best people you'd ever have the pleasure to meet if he's not in one of his rages. I'll sort it all out, once me and him get back on speaking terms. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you? You must be in quite a state, but you would do well to remember he didn't really mean what he said."
"I think he meant it," I laughed without amusement, "I think he meant the bits about me."
"Ah well, no he didn't really," Gideon lied without conviction, "I'll sort it out eventually, I promise. Are you tired? Would you like to call it an early night? I must admit Fabian's appearance certainly ruined the mood a bit."
"Yes, infact, if you don't mind I think I'd like to get some sleep. Its just been an upsetting evening, and I need some time to think things over, to recooperate." I sighed sadly, avoiding his eyes.
"Shall I walk you?" He asked, offering me his hand.
"No," I shook my head, still avoiding his eyes, "I'd just like to be alone for a bit. I'll see you, Gideon. I hope you feel better!"
"Yes, you as well," He replied, dispirited, as I began walking away, my legs taking large strides to get me away from the blood traitor as quickly as possible, though I heard him add before I rounded the corner: "Sweet dreams, beautiful."
"Yeah, you too," I called back, and as soon I was out of his sigh I broke into a sprint, not lacking my speed until I stumbeled, gasping for air after my long run, into the Slytherin common room.
Most of the Death Eater Youth was seated, anxiously around the fire, and all their faces looked up at me expectantly as I collapsed among them, my chest raising up and down rapidly as oxygen flowed once again through my system.
"Well?" Lucius drawled, tapping his wand against his parchment, sending green sparks flying upward, impatient for me to recount the events of the evening, "What happened? Barty Junior's not a Slytherin so he couldn't come to tell us, and therefore we've been waiting on you. Spare no details, we demand to be engaged in every moment from the second Fabian saw you, to the second to slumped into our circle most ungracefully."
"Shouldn't this wait until the meeting Saturday?" I smirked, knowing the lot of them were simply dying for my recount of the night.
"NO!" Several of them shouted in unison, eagerness and anxiety prevelant on all their faces, glowing with anticipation and the heat from the fire.
"Well, if you simply must know, you nosy bastards..." I delved into my explanation of kissing Gideon who had voiced his anger at the incident with Molly before hand, which aroused several sniggers from the group. I continued on to detail Fabian's initial shock and the heated arguement that had ensued between the two blood traitoring brothers. My audience listened, captivated until I finished dramatically with how I insisted I needed sleep and left him standing, alone and quite defeated in the empty hallway.
"Well, you have returned successfully, the way any true aspiring Death Eater should," Lucius smiled approvingly, "A job well done, Bella."
"This calls for a celebration!" Roddy exclaimedm "I can get some firewhiskey from the kitchen-"
"No, Roddy," Lucius grabbed Roddy's sleeve as he had already began to make his way out of the common room headed for whereever firewhiskey was waiting, "Listen, its a Thursday and we all have lessons tomorrow. After the meeting Saturday we can have a wee celebration for a successful endeavour, all right?"
"Yeah, that's well sound," Roddy beamed widely, "It'll give me more time to locate the materials we will require to fully immerse ourselves in celebration."
"Also known as, the amount of firewhiskey to get totally pissed?" Dolohov chuckled lightly, clapping Roddy on the back in a brotherly fashion.
"Naturally, Antonin, naturally!" He laughed as well, tossing his dark hair from his shining eyes, that reflected the firelight in a hyptonizing fashion, "Its the DEY way, you all see, we work hard and party hard!"
"That's immature, Roddy," Lucius scolded, but smile none the less, "Now, its growing late, and as a prefect it is my duty to usher you all to your perspective dormitories to bed. Good night, all."
He swooped in to give me a brief peck on my lips, and whispered "Sweat dreams" before departing up the stairs. I followed suit and climbed the stairs, into my dorm where my roommates lay already in the depths of slumber. I paused before embracing sleep to record the evening's events. Now, however, I find myself unable to resist the persistant beckons of sleep, and shall retire myself.
After this evening, I thought I would feel free of the burden of Gideon and washed with the glory of victory, but I feel as though the situation remains pending and though a battle plan was put successfully into action, the war has not yet even begun. I also find myself, ashamed to admit this, but wishing I had spent more time with Roddy this week. I cannot refrain myself from picturing this celebration following Saturday's evening and I imagine Roddy and I alone in our green hallway, entertwined in kisses and a strong embrace. I have chosen to ignore the feelings, though I cannot help but acknowledge their existance here, for admitting it to you is merely admitting it to myself, and I refuse to lie to myself. I respect myself much too much for that.
Love,
Bella
November 27th
Dear Diary,
I have only an hour before my detention tonight, so I will be writing in haste this evening. I must admit, I knew the weekend would be one that would result in exhuastion after the events of yesterday evening, but I did not know it would start this morning! You see, after breakfast Severus and I were walking to herbology together, chatting lightly of the party Roddy happens to be putting together for Saturday night, following the usual meeting when Sirius Black, my good for nothing blood traitor of a cousin runs up to the pair of us, panting lightly from trying to catch up to us before we had reached the greenhouses.
"Bella, I need to talk to you," He said, slightly breathless. The sun was bright this morning, though cold, and Sirius was shivering despite the soft rays of sunshine that caught his dark eyes in a flattering fashion. These eyes looked at me with an odd sort of imploring expression I could not convince myself to ignore.
"Fine," I conceded, tossing my hair over my shoulders and scowling, waiting impatiently for him to continue, "Go on then, Siri."
"I'd really rather we talk alone," He said stiffly, his eyes fixed loathingly on Severus, who returned his gaze with pronounced animosity, "Without Snivellus here, you know."
"Anything you have to say to me can be said in front of Snivellus- I mean, Severus," I corrected myself quickly, earning a glare from Severus, "Just spit it out, dear cousin, I haven't got all morning to waste away chatting with the likes of you."
"Its about Andy!" He snapped, his own impatience mounting.
"Oh!" I looked at him in surprise, expecting to have him lecture me on Operation FTF, and turned to Severus immediatly, "Sev, I'll see you in Herbology. Tell professor Sprout I'll be in a few minutes late... for family affairs."
"Bella-" He began to argue.
"Run along, Severus or I'll start calling you Snivellus as well." I barked, frustrated. He looked as though he was going to protest further, but upon further consideration merely scowled at Sirius and I before storming off to the greenhouses, his cheeks flushed with anger and the chill in the air. I returned my attention to Sirius, who was also watching Severus retreat, his lip curling with disgust.
"He's a foul little prat, Bella," Sirius shook his head, laughing coldly, "Even compared to you, he's a sicko."
"What's going on with Andy?" I demanded, placing my hands on my hips and staring up at him anxiously.
"She's moving in with Ted." He informed me, unable to surpress an evil grin, "This winter, she's moving into his house."
"WHAT?" I felt instantly ill, and rounded upon Sirius, my voice escalating by the second, "SHE IS 15! THAT'S BLOODY INSANE! SHE'S A 15 YEAR OLD PUREBLOOD MOVING IN WITH MUGGLES AND THEIR FILTHY MUDBLOOD SPAWN?"
"I knew you'd take it well," Sirius chuckled, "She asked me to be the one to give you the good news. I couldn't have been more pleased, I mean, why would I want to miss this reaction? Priceless, just priceless..."
"HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?" I shrieked, earning fightened and confused stares from third year Hufflepuffs on their way to Care of Magical Creatures, "HOW CAN SHE DO THIS TO HERSELF? TO THE FAMILY NAME? WHAT IF SHE... WHAT IF SHE MARRIES HIM, THIS PIECE OF TRASH? WHAT IF THEY BREED? WE HAVE TO STOP IT! WE HAVE TO-"
"We?" Sirius laughed even harder, though his eyes regarded me with distinct coldness, "We? You're on your own now, Bella. I am just your messenger. I don't give a damn who Andy dates, married, or breeds with as long as she's happy."
"You're as bad as she is," I sneered, "You're both nasty little jumped up blood traitors and you're both mental. It makes me sick to be related to the both of you."
"That's a bit rich coming from the soon to be Mrs. Gideon Prewett." He snorted loudly, "Aren't you shagging him? Isn't he a blood traitor? And did you really break up with Malfoy?"
"My love life is hardly any of your concern, Siri," I spat, furiously, the first years still sending me anxious glances over their shoulders as though I might break out into a duel with my cousin at any moment, "Though, I would like to set the record straight that I am most certainly NOT shagging Gideon Prewett!"
"Just a bit of snogging then?" Sirius offered, sniggering slightly, "And don't lie, because Fabian told the whole common room after he caught the two of you. Sneaking off with a blood traitor, Bella? I can only imagine what your mother will have to say when I tell her this Christmas..."
"SIRIUS BLACK, DON'T YOU DARE-"
"Keep your robes on, I'm not coming round your house for Christmas anyway," He cut me off immediatly, and went on briskly, "But what are you doing with Gideon Prewett? He's hardly your type, is he? I mean, he has a heart and soul, so I would have figured you'd find him a disgrace to all wizard kind..."
"This is really none of your business," I snapped, haughtily, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a class to attend-"
"Fabian's in a right state to attack you senseless," Sirius continued, ignoring me entirely as per usual, "He's not someone you want to fire up, Fabian Prewett. I certainly wouldn't fancy having a duel with that bloke and he wants to crucio you into insanity... or thats what he told Gideon in front of the entire Gryffindor common room when he finally strolled in after the rest of your little date. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you may want to take some precautions during detention this evening, because he's a man of action."
"What do you care?" I demanded curtly, trying to catch his eye, but he stared determindly into the canvas of blue sky above us.
"I wouldn't want Fabian to have a murder charge on his pristine record, that's all," He replied, his dark eyes still gazing upward.
"You don't want to see him hurt me?" I exclaimed, amused, "You're concerned about me! Well Sirius, I cannot decide if I should feel flattered or sickened by this sudden display of cousinly affection!"
"You're off your broomstick, you are," He muttered, but without conviction as he finally lowered his eyes, but only for a moment before returning to his gaze to the clouds passing along the endless stretch of blue, "I couldn't care less about you, Bella. You're mad, barking mad. Its Fabian's criminal record I'm concerned for..."
"Sure," I laughed coolly, and turned away without another glance, "See you in detention, Siri. I'll be well prepared, don't you worry. I can take care of myself, I'm not a Hufflepuff for Merlin's sake!"
"Bella?" He called back, his voice unsctruable.
"Siri?" I answered, uncertainly, stopping just short of the greenhouses and feeling eager to escape the cold.
"Remember that Christmas when we were ten years old?" He asked tentatively.
"Bits of it," I replied, feeling slightly uncomfortable, and desiring the promised warmth of the greenhouses that were waiting right before me.
"A promise is a promise." He reminded me, his voice containing a note of familiarity that did not seemed rather foreign in a conversation between us.
"Oh really?" I sneered, "I thought a promise was a niffler! Thanks for clearing that up!"
"Keep that in mind, that's all. I just wanted to make sure you remembered" He stated simply and though I did not turn around, I knew he was gone for I heard his retreating footsteps along the cold grounds, back up to the castle doors where he would find comfort in the warm hallways as he raced along to whatever lesson he was late for.
"I've remembered all along," I mumbled to myself before flinging open the greenhouse doors, apologizing to Professor Sprout and joining Lestrange and Severus at our table where we were collecting bubtuber pus. It was disgustingly satisfying work, though it allowed for a noisy classroom where we could contently converse without the risk of being over heard.
"What's up with Andy?" Severus asked after a few moments of pus-collecting.
"She's planning on moving in with her mudblood boyfriend, for good," I said, wrinkling my nose in disgust.
"So she'd be living with muggles?" Lestrange asked, horror-struck.
"Yes!" I seethed, accidently spraying pus on the dirty greenhouse floor by squeezing the pod with excessive force, "Its quite an atrocity. I'll think of a way to stop it, there must be something I can do."
"Haven't you got enough plans to be getting on with?" Lestrange chucked darkly, "I mean how many evil plots can one girl manage at a time?"
"Pardon?" I asked, distracted from cleaning up the spilled pus, "What are you on about? I don't have that many 'evil plots'! Just a couple ideas I'd like to put into action, and they could hardly be classified as 'evil', Roddy..."
"Operation FTF?" Severus laughed, kneeling down to help me clean with a mischevious gleam in his black eyes, "The latest plan against Sirius?"
"Your vendetta against the fat Carrow girl?" Lestrange added brightly, peering down at us from where he stood at the table while we mopped up the last of the pus, "And Merlin knows what else that mind of yours is concocting!"
"I think you guys covered it all as of this particular moment," I said, failing to surpress a grin, as Severus and I stood once more, returning to the bubtubers, "But as I said, 'evil' is not the proper term to describe said plans."
"No?" Lestrange teased, grinning back, his white teeth flashing in the sun streaming through the windows, "What word would you find more appropriate then?"
"Oh, I don't know..." I mused, smirking, "How about 'brillant'?"
"Always the modest one, aren't you Bella?" Lestrange nudged me flirtaciously, almost causing me to drop yet another pod.
"I try," I replied, smirking wider still. The lesson passed quickly and lead into transfiguration which was followed by lunch and a free period. The class day ended with divination, and then we finally made our way down to dinner.
The bright sunlight of the morning had faded away into gray twilight by the time the Slytherins found themselves seated in the Great Hall for dinner. As dinner began gray swiftly found its way into a cold hue of black, and thus the night was born. During dinner, I felt strangely distant, and picked half heartedly at the roast chicken and ginger glazed carrots before me, for they did little to satisfy my restlessness. Roddy, who was seated beside me, was engaged in an animated conversation with Lucius to his left, about the meeting and the party preperations for tomorrow evening while Severus who sat across from me was conversing excitedly with Dolohov about ways to hurt Sirius. Sirius sat, oblivious to the calculation of his demise, sat across the Great Hall at the Gryffindor table. Potter, Pettigrew, Remus Lupin, along with my dear cousin were seated in close quarters, deep in conversation over their dinners. I found myself staring absent mindedly at Sirius, his serious frown, the way it twitched into a smile, and the way he lowered and raised his eyes with such careful speed. I found myself remembering his seemingly cryptic words...
"A promise is a promise."
Yes, a promise is, in fact, a promise shockingly enough. I know why he said that today. I know the Christmas he was referring to by heart. It was nearly 6 years ago...
Snow was falling softly that Christmas eve. We could see it through the large windows in my bedroom as the dull winter sun began to set. Sirius and I were seated comfortably on my large canopied bed, and through the slightly frozen glass of my window we saw the flakes spin and dance and fall before our eyes, we saw them flutter and join together upon the frozen ground. It was the silent sort of snow, the kind that sweeps in overnight and coats the world in a diamond sparkling blanket of pure white. Snow brings with it a sense of great beauty and purity, only to be destroyed in the morning with footsteps and the heat of the sunrise. But I was not concerned with purity that Christmas. Nor was Sirius, for together we were planning how best to escape and began a snow ball fight.
"Our mums will surely notice if we sneak out now, Siri," I sighed at his suggestion that we quietly left the house that very minute, "Its almost suppertime, and we have to pass by the dining room to get to the front door, you know. We have to wait until the coast is clear, don't we?"
"But it'll be dark outside if we wait until after supper, Bella," He protested insistantly, tossing one of my pink sily pillows at me from across the bed.
"We can't leave before supper, that's mad," I rolled my eyes at him, tossing the pillow back with surprising strength for a small 10 year old girl, almost as if there was a magical force behind her... "If we missed our Christmas eve dinner mum would cut out heads off and mount them next to your old house elves."
"Probably," Sirius cringed, "That's a nasty tradition. Why would anyone want to look at a beheaded house elf all the time? Its boarding on creepy, if you ask me."
"That is one tradition we need not uphold," I nodding in agreement, "But we have more important things to discuss, like our pending snowball battle! How and when are we getting outside?"
"After dinner, we'll sneak out the door instead of going upstairs," He offered confidently, "They'll never suspect a thing, and we know they'll retire to the kitchen to supervise the house elves who still have their heads for a bit, so they won't see us leaving. It will be dark out though, it might be kinda scary."
"Well you certainly won't be a Gryffindor, will you?" I giggled, avoiding the pillow he aimed at my head by skirting towards the window, "I know you want to be a Gryffindor, you know. I heard you and your mum rowing when you first got here. But why, may I ask, would you ever want to be in that trashy house?"
"It's better than Slytherin," He retorted defiantly, "I don't care about the pureblood thing, I don't like snakes, and the whole house seems rather unfriendly."
"All Blacks are Slytherins, Siri," I said firmly, eyeing him angrily, "That's one family tradition you can't break. Its not like beheading house elves and mounting them, its a good tradition. Slytherin is the most noble Hogwarts house for the most Noble House of Black. Thats what my father says, anyway. And he's right, isn't he? They let mudbloods into other houses, my mum says, and half breeds. Mum says next thing you know Kreacher will be going to Hogwarts is Dumbledore remains headmaster."
"You sound just like our parents," Sirius grumbled, "But we all have to chose our own paths. I don't want to be a Slytherin."
"Well you can't be a Gryffindor, because they aren't afraid of snowball fights or the dark!" I teased, sticking out my tongue.
"I'm not afriad!" He shot back, scowling at me, grabbing another pillow for ammunition incase I incensed him further.
"Dinner isn't for another hour, lets just go now!" I grinned jumping off the bed, grabbing his hand to pull him along.
He dropped the pillow and half fell from my bed in surprised, before he refused to allow me to drag him any further, "Even you said it's too risky right now, Bella,"
"Nothing is too risky for a potential Gryffindor," I smirked, and pulled at his hand again, relieved to find this time he consented to be dragged out of my room after we had grabbed our cloaks and hats. Hand in hand we raced down the long spiral staircase, hoping Cissy, Reggie, and Andy wouldn't hear our scurrying footsteps. The foyer was empty when we snuck quietly off the stairwell, and raced across the wine colored carpeting, softly opening the large french doors and shutting them behind us. We ran towards the gardens, half of which were dead under the acculmulating snowstorm, and the other half were enchanted to thrive even in the dead of winter, and their bright colors glittered beneath the sheet of sparkling white flakes. The air was a blur of white, and bitterly cold.
"Its beautiful!" I cried out, twirling gracefully in the snowstorm, and shocked as a ball of cold snow hit me squarely in the back.
"Got'cha!" Sirius cackled and ran further into the gardens, "The Gryffindor hit the Slytherin!"
"I'll get you back for that, Siri!" I shouted, racing along the path behind him. I held out my hand and the falling snow seemed to magically form itself into a perfectly shaped ball in the palm of my outstretched hand. I didn't bother to aim as I tossed it out before me, but it magically found it's mark: Hitting the back of Sirius's neck.
He spun around, narrowly missing my shoulder as I ducked down under an enchanted red rose bush, laughing and holding out my hand where another snowball seemed to form itself in the increasing snowfall. I hit him flatly in the center of his chest as he laughed at my hiding place. He nearly fell over, the laugh still on his face as the snowball hit, but regained his balance. In the snow I watched him as he ran over, and grabbed me by the waist and the two of us landed roughly in the cobblestone path that was coated in a thick sheet of freezing snow and ice. Shivering and laughing, we attempted to push snow in each other's faces, and without warning we began to roll down the path, and our laughter turned into screams as the hill grew steeper. We landed ungracefully at the foot of a large pine tree, the needles falling into our hair as we got unsteadily to our feet. The sun had almost entirely disappeared now and the gardens were growing darker as we looked at each other, anxiously.
"Scared, Mr. Gryffindor?" I asked him coolly, "I heard you screaming, you know."
"I wasn't the only one, Miss. Slytherin!" He replied, his voice slightly cool as well, "And yeah, that was a bit scary. I don't much fancy rolling down steep icy hills!"
"I'm not a fan myself," I agreed, brushing snow from cloak and robes frantically, knowing it was no use, "Our mums are going to be so mad when we show up to dinner soaking wet!"
"Aye," Sirius frowned darkly, as we made our way back up the hill, "There are going to be some Christmas murders tonight. Any last words?"
"Yeah," I smirked at him as we struggled up the icy slope, "Slytherin rules!"
"You're a nutter," He laughed as we neared the top of the hill at last, clammoring back amongst the snow that was nearly knee deep, "My last words are: Gryffindor forever!"
"Because that's much less nutty?" I called to him sarcastically through the wind.
"Exactly!" He replied, grinning at me, and taking me hand to help me through the snow drift by the front steps I accidently fell in. With his help I managed to make it up the steps and we crept through the front door. We ran up the spiral stairs again with about 20 minutes before dinner by the time we had thrown open the door to my room, where we collapsed, soaking and shivering, onto my rose colored carpet.
"We're going to be in loads of trouble, Siri!" I exclaimed after my breath had returned to me, "What do we do, Mr. Gryffindor?"
"You're going to change your robes, you daft Slytherin!" He laughed, pointing towards the set of dry robes in my closet. I immediatly followed his instructions, tossing my snow drenched robes to the floor and pulling dry ones over my head.
"My hair is still wet," I moaned, slumping back to the floor beside him, "And what about you? You look like you just fell down a snowy hill in our back yard, Siri."
"Think about something warm," He instructed, leaning back on my floor and closing his eyes intently, "Think about fire, and tropical islands, and travelling by floo powder, and hot chocolate..."
I followed suit, laying beside him with my eyes tightly closed. I imaged laying beside a warm fire sipping sizzling hot coco on a tropical island where the sun beat down its heat forcefully, intently...
"See?" Sirius's elated voice broke my train of thought and my eyes snapped open to find him sitting up, completely dry. I touched my hair gingerly, and broke into a smile when I found that, it too, was warm and dry as though we had never escaped and had our adventure in the ever mounting snowfall.
"That was just like magic," I winked at him, "I wish we could tell our mums, that'd be proud at that trick!"
"Not nearly as angry that they'll be if we inform them that we ran amok in the blizzard right before dinner," He chuckled, "But it was impressive, wasn't it? I had a feeling it might work, but I'm not going to say I'm not relieved that we actually pulled it off!"
"Cheers," I grinned, hugging him happily, my arms wrapped tightly around his waist as I whispered urgently "Please don't be a Gryffindor, Siri? You're better than that! You're a Black!"
"Aw Bella, come on," He hugged back, whispering in a consoling tone, "Gryffindor or not, I'm still a Black."
"Your mum could disown you!" I reminded him, clutching him tighter, "What then? Who is going to save the day, then?"
"Even if I'm disowned, unfortunately, I'm still a Black!" He laughed lightly, resting his head atop my mane of long dark hair, "And I'll still save the day."
"You promise?" I pouted, remaining comfortably in the embrace.
"I promise," He assured me gently, "If you promise to not get too carried away with all the Slytherin ideas. I know you're reckless, as reckless as I am, but you can't let everyone make you as nutty about blood status as they are! You have to stay who you are, because that's how I like you and that's what matters, isn't it? So promise me you won't change when you get sorted?"
"Yeah, yeah," I said dismissively, "I promise."
"You really promise?" He demanded, sensing my lack of enthusiasm, "Because a promise is a promise."
"Yes, I really promise not to get too carried away and change myself, Siri," I whispered sincerely and stood on the top of my teas to give him a swift kiss on his cheek.
"SIRIUS AND BELLATRIX BLACK, WHERE ARE YOU TWO TROUBLE MAKERS?" the voice of Sirius's mum called up the stairs, "YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE TO SUPPER! GET DOWN HERE IMMEDIATLY!"
We broke apart from our embrace, and laughing at his mother's impatience, we set off down the stairs for Christmas dinner. The snow fell all night that Christmas eve, and half way through the white-sky Christmas dawn. The entire world was pure, the entire world was white and we were Blacks and all was pure in the world.
I felt myself wondering if that Sirius at the Gryffindor table laughing with James Potter was even the same boy who I used to throw snowballs with, who I used to hug so resolutely, who I used to make promises to, who I used to love in the niave way of a child. Was he the same boy who promised he would always save the day? Was I the same girl who used to think she'd need her cousin to save her? Since when do I need saving? I am the one people need saving from these days. Does he see that weak little girl in me? I was ten, of course I was foolish and weak. I was not that girl any longer. However, I realized with a pang of nostalgia, Sirius was still that boy.
I have detention now. The night awaits my presence.
I shall write as soon as I can.
Love,
Bella
Author's Notes: I hope you all like this chapter, I feel happy with how it turned out! I have even bigger plans for the next one! So read and review and you shall recieve the next chapter quick as can be :)
xoxoxox
ps: Please review, I loooove you guys!
pps: if any of your want to beta for me, I'd probably simply fall inlove with you. and youd see all the chaps ahead of time!
so read and review and enjoy!
love,
Georgia