Hello everyone, this is my submission for round three of Season 9 of the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition. Thank you to my teammates: Cupcakeyyy and Wellwick for betaing this. I do not own any rights to Harry Potter; they belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chaser 1 Task: write about someone whose beauty is only skin-deep.

Optional Prompts used:

3 (season) winter

6. (setting) nighttime

7. (word) monster

Trigger warnings: small use of profanity along with a mention of manipulation/deceitfulness

Word Count: 2001

Bellatrix Lestrange had always known she was beautiful. With her thick dark brown hair that fell around her shoulders in waves and her deep chocolate brown eyes she had all the attention she could want from the boys at school – except for one – Rodolphus Lestrange. With his luxurious mane of black hair and his dark eyes he was the epitome of handsome and she had always believed that as a couple they would evoke so much jealousy not just at Hogwarts but in wizarding society. She had been taught the meaning of being a Pureblood by her parents as had her younger sisters, but she was determined that with a good Pureblood marriage to Rodolphus, she would be able to carry on the Black legacy.

There was, however, an issue – Rodolphus was her younger sibling Andromeda's boyfriend. While that was a problem, it was one she could fix and she already had a plan to make him hers. Being the eldest daughter of Cygnus Black III and also the apple of his eye, she could use it to her advantage in this matter. He had said time and time again that he didn't have favourites, that he loved his three princesses equally. But Bellatrix knew the truth, she was his favourite.

It irked her that Rodolphus never looked at her the way he gazed at Andromeda. Bellatrix just couldn't understand what her sister had that she didn't and she resented her sister for that.

Just the thought of him being hers made her thin lips curl into a grin that to any students in the dungeon corridor would seem devilish. As she entered the Slytherin Common Room, two things enveloped her senses – the fresh pine of the small Christmas tree in the corner, neatly decorated with baubles and tinsel in the house colours of silver and emerald green. The second was the heat from the fire that was roaring in the hearth, wrapping around her like a warm embrace. Embers were crackling and spitting up from the hard logs. While winter seemed to arrive early up in the Scottish Highlands, she couldn't deny that the feel of Christmas and the way the Common Room had been decorated this early in December made the place endearing and comfortable instead of dark and dreary.

Dropping into a vacant black low-backed leather armchair, she smiled over at her sister who was cosied up against Rodolphus, his arms wrapped lovingly around her.

Those wonderful arms should be around me, not her, she thought to herself, the tendrils of jealousy tightening unknowingly around her heart, turning it darker. She hid the jealousy behind a kind smile, a smile that she could make appear with practiced ease.

All good things come to those who wait.

"You know, you two are just gorgeous together. I'm happy for you, Dromeda," Bellatrix practically gushed, sitting forward on the chair, her hands resting on the arms. She resisted the urge to scrape at the smooth leather with her fingernails, to dull its perfect appearance.

Bellatrix watched acutely how her sister's nut-brown eyes, which were a shade lighter than her own, narrowed slightly as she tried to comprehend what her older sister was up to. She saw how Rodolphus' back had straightened too at the comment, his arms seeming to take on a protective hold now of Andromeda.

"Are you feeling alright, Bella?" Andromeda asked.

"I'm absolutely fine, why do you ask?"

"Well, it's just, I think that's the first time you've ever actually said anything about us as a couple. You never seemed bothered before, so what's changed?"

Ah, the questions, always the questions. That was dear Dromeda through and through wanting to understand things instead of just going with the flow and letting things be as they were. It was this part of her nature that made Bellatrix doubt she could ever live up to the Black name, to bring it to its own glory. The fact she was friends with that sandy-haired Mudblood Ted Tonks made things even worse in her eyes, not that she would ever say anything of course, especially not while playing the doting big sister.

"Can't I be happy for my little sister?" Bella replied, the flicker of hurt appearing in her eyes at just the right moment.

Andromeda smiled at her and Bellatrix inwardly preened; this was going better than expected.

"Of course, you can, Bella. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I know we're going home for the holidays in a few weeks, but I was thinking about sending a letter home. I could let Mother and Father know just how perfect you two are as a couple."

"You'd do that?" Andromeda asked, utter surprise lighting up her face. It made Bellatrix want to laugh at just how gullible her sister seemed in that moment.

"Of course, Dromeda, maybe then Father will let you choose who you marry if he sees just what a good match the two of you are. You deserve to be happy, besides it's what big sisters do," Bella explained, the smile still in place but her words taking on a genuine tone which seemed to sweeten the lie.

"Thank you, Bella, that means a lot to me."

"Yes, thank you, Bellatrix," Rodolphus said, his voice warming her up.

She bid them both goodnight before going to the girls' dormitory. Once she was settled on her bed with a sheet of fresh parchment placed on the top of a book to rest on and a freshly dipped quill in her hand, she began to write her letter home. The gentle, warm smile she'd been wearing earlier for her sister's benefit had turned into the evil, selfish smirk once again.

Dear Father,

While I know fully well how the marriages have worked within our family for centuries now, I hope you'll make this exception for me. I think I would be well suited to Rodolphus Lestrange. He's intelligent, comes from a strong bloodline, is charming and we get along very well. I think we'd make the most excellent couple.

Your darling daughter,

Bellatrix

She read the letter twice and smiled happily to herself; it was perfect and would certainly do the job. She wasted no time in going to the owlery to send the message before returning to the dormitory to go to bed. As she laid down under the covers that night, it was with the hope that her request would be fulfilled.

The Christmas holidays came around sooner than anyone had expected and Bellatrix couldn't deny that she was happy to be home, especially with the thought of an announcement that might be made on Christmas Day. It was the gift she was most looking forward to, though she had made no mention of it. She had to admit there was something nice about being inside where it was warm, rather than being outside in the freezing cold, she shivered involuntarily just at the thought. Though it was nice watching through the windows as the white pearls of snow blanketed the gardens, turning them into a picturesque winter wonderland.

That evening, the family was seated around the grand walnut table in the dining room, making small talk as they settled themselves after the main course of a beautifully cooked roast turkey with all the trimmings. Bellatrix kept looking up to her father, seated at the head of the table, wondering if he was going to say anything.

The time seemed to drag in the room, the blackness of night truly setting in from the view out of the window. Her hopes of any announcement were turning to ash, until Cygnus finally stood from his seat with a wine glass in hand.

Bellatrix looked eagerly at her father, knowing that this had to be the moment. There had been no mention of the letter she had sent before coming home for the break and she hadn't raised the subject, simply waiting.

"Well, I think it's time that I made the announcement, don't you, Druella?"

"Yes, dear, I think it is," her mother said from her seat to the right of her father.

"I'm happy to declare that Bellatrix will be marrying Graham Goyle after she finishes school next year, he's a good match for you, my dear," Cygnus said, looking at his eldest daughter who was as pale as a ghost.

Graham Goyle? He was one of the most ghastly boys in her year, he didn't hold a candle to Rodolphus. She could no longer stay silent.

"But, Father, I hoped that you would arrange so that I would marry Rodolphus after that letter I sent you…" Bellatrix all but whined. Inside, her blood felt like molten lava the way it was burning through her veins. She couldn't believe that they could do this to her, she was the eldest!

"You selfish, manipulative little bitch! You said you were going to write to Mother and Father about me and Rodolphus, but it was about what you wanted all along! How could you?!" Andromeda demanded, fury and hurt blazing in her eyes as she shot up from her seat at the table.

"He belongs to me, he always has!" Bellatrix exclaimed, standing up from her own place at the table to face off with her younger sister, while Narcissa remained quiet in her seat. She was the youngest and as far as Bellatrix was concerned it didn't concern her, it was better that she was silent.

"He's not a bloody toy, Bella! For Merlin's sake, I can't believe you're being like this. You might be pretty and have all the boys after you at school, but that's just it - your beauty is a mask to hide the monster beneath. I can't even stand the sight of you right now," Andromeda snapped, it was then that Bellatrix realised whatever bond they'd once had was now broken.

"That's quite enough from both of you!" Druella stated, calm but assertive.

Bellatrix felt sick watching the way her mother stroked Andromeda's hand in a calming motion. Andromeda might not say it but it was clear her parents had taken her side.

Andromeda sat down but didn't look at her older sister. Bellatrix wanted to just run from the room at that moment, but she didn't; she stayed standing to hear what her mother had to say.

"What you did, Bellatrix, was out of line and I will not tolerate that kind of selfish behaviour. You never used to be like this and I'm ashamed, I truly am," her mother said, before turning to Andromeda. "You can be rest assured, my dear, that a contract was set up a long time ago for you and Rodolphus. Nothing will change that."

"She doesn't know how to be a Pureblood, she has a Mudblood for a friend!" Bellatrix wailed.

"That is enough!" Cygnus boomed and stared at his daughter. "Go to your room, Bellatrix."

"But… Father… please."

"No! You cannot manipulate your way into getting what you want. It doesn't work that way. You could have chosen someone to marry, but after this stunt you left me no choice but to choose for you. We had two contracts ready for each of you, one where you could choose for yourself and a back up where we would choose for you. You've done this to yourself, Bellatrix."

Bellatrix didn't say another word, she couldn't, there was nothing that came to mind. She ran from the room, tears falling down her cheeks as she raced up the stairs and slammed the bedroom door shut behind her once she was inside. Her Christmas was ruined, her life was ruined.

She walked over to the window, staring out at the inky blackness, the only light coming from the dim beams of the moon. She felt at one with the darkness that had seeped into not just her heart but her soul at the unfairness of the events that evening. When it came to Bellatrix Black, her beauty was only skin deep.

If you enjoyed this, let me know what you thought by leaving a review.

I'll see you all soon,

S L Blake x