Bellatrix makes her way back from a late night of training. The hallways were nearly empty, filled only with the few lingering students making their way back from curfew. Her mind, as always, kept wandering back to Rodolphus. She tried to concentrate on anything else, hell, potions, even, but his damned stupid smile kept wandering back into her mind. It was worse that he was so trusting. She hated him for it. She also loved him for it. That was a small thing that she kept to herself, but she could feel it growing inside of her, distracting her. Even now, she felt herself smiling involuntarily just thinking about him. It made herself feel powerless, this boy having so much control over her emotions. But he did have a devilishly handsome smile.
Bellatrix stops, taking a deep breath to try and clear her head. From down the hallway, she hears faintly familiar voices. She pauses, looking back, interested. Was that Andromeda? And if so, what was she doing out so late? She takes a few steps but then pauses. She was being paranoid. Andi was entitled to her privacy. And yet the curiosity brought her forward. She was about to round the corner when Andromeda steps out, nearly running into her. There's a bright smile on her face that freezes with panic when she sees Bellatrix.
"Trixy," she says, startled. "What are you doing out so late?"
"I was about to ask you the same question," she says, side-stepping Andromeda to try and get a look at who her younger sister had been talking to. She's too late, however, to catch more than a glimpse of a blue scarf going around the corner. "Who were you talking to?"
"Just talking to a classmate about a homework assignment," Andromeda says softly, almost guiltily.
Bellatrix looks at her sharply. "Where's Rabastan?" She asks. "Shouldn't you be spending time with him?" It was false advice, of course, especially since Bellatrix had been avoiding her own betrothed, but she didn't like the hesitation in Andromeda's body, the look in her eyes like she wanted to make a run for it. She had her cloak wrapped tightly around herself, too, as if she could hide from Bellatrix's sharp eyes.
"We've decided to take things slow," Andromeda says softly. "Wait until summer and just focus on school for now."
"Uhuh," Bellatrix says, looking her over. She should have used that excuse with Rodolphus. "You can't keep putting this off because of Travers. Nick is a good guy and all, but Rabastan is going to be your husband. You should start working on that relationship now."
"I know," she says, finally looking at Bellatrix confidently. "And I promise, I fully intend on devoting myself to the man I'm going to marry. Building that relationship means everything to me. You needn't worry about that."
Bellatrix nods, satisfied by her answer. "You should get to bed. It's late."
Andromeda nods and scurries away, hurrying off to the commons. Bellatrix walks back down the hallway quickly, trying to see if she can catch whoever Andromeda was talking to, but they're long gone. Bellatrix sighs, wondering if she's merely using her paranoia with Andromeda as a means of distracting herself from Rodolphus.
Dammit, fine, Bellatrix told herself. Maybe she'd let herself fall for Rodolphus just a little. Maybe it'd be easier to concentrate if she wasn't consumed by guilt and irritation.
