Warmth hung in the soft cottony sheets entangled around Bella's lightly sleeping body. Her eyes had fluttered open for a moment as she breathed in the smell of soap and sandalwood from her pillow making a serene smile form gently on her lips as she hugged and pressed her face to it. She could still feel his warmth lingering on the fabric along with his sent causing a merciless jolt of excitement to surge through her body. She giggled to herself at her and Sirius' reckless behavior and disregard of anyone else's desires and rules, when they were together. It was as if no one else existed.
Her nights had been a luxurious escape from the drudgery of her everyday routine of classes, studies, and homework, which had intensified significantly in preparation for OWLs. Sirius had taken to sneaking into her dorm room every evening since there reconciliation using the secret passage. He had learned to listen for the group of Slytherin boys trudging down the winding hall every morning at quarter till five in rout to their morning detention with Mac. It was the perfect plan to insure safe passage from the Slytherin dorms right though their own portrait hole. Sirius would wait until five and then stealthily creep from the dorm room wearing one of Bella's plain black house robes with the hood drawn over his head just for good measure incase he was caught. Oddly enough Remus had been more than helpful by turning a blind eye to Sirius' nightly disappearances but Sirius knew that this was only an act to ensure that he and Bella would not end up in Gryffindor Tower once again.
Some nights Sirius would come to Bella's room to find her submerged in her studies, books and parchments strewn across the thick Persian rug in front of the fire. They would lay by the fire working out magical theories, solving chemical equations and quizzing one another on their many subjects. Other nights they would lay in each other's arms softly kissing and touching all the delicate details that made up who they were. All of the small things that go unnoticed by all but your lover, a barely visible freckle on Sirius' lip, a small beauty mark on Bella's neck just below her left earlobe. The way that Sirius' dark hair formed into small perfect curls at his hairline just behind his ears, the way that Bella would rest her lips lightly on the golden ring that Sirius had given her whenever she was in deep thought. Bella had been so thoroughly wrapped up in her schoolwork and her deepening relationship with Sirius that she barely had time to notice the excitement beginning to build around her in anticipation of the coming Yule Ball.
Bella felt as if she were the only girl in the entire school not making a huge fuss over the proceedings. She and Sirius had made plans to spend that evening together saying their good-byes before the holiday forced them down their separate paths. Bella and her family would be spending the holiday at Malfoy Manor as the plans for Lucius and Narcissa's wedding got underway. The thought of this sickened Bella, she dreaded being forced to do all of the silly girlie things that came along with a wedding, especially Narcissa's.
The only two saving graces for the coming holiday were that Rodolphus would be on a hunting expedition in Romania, and the time that she would get to spend with her father and Asher Malfoy. At the thought of her father Bella opened her eyes lifting her wrist to look at the area of her dark mark. She grimaced slightly knowing that it would be next to impossible to keep this secret from him but she was terrified of what his reaction would be.
Bella concentrated hard on the mark, it had been several weeks since she had acquired it from the Dark Lord and she was starting to get the hang of controlling it, causing the dark color to bleed slowly from the center out until the perfect black star was visible. Bella let a weak smile steal across her face as she slid her finger lightly across the mark successfully willing it to disappear. Sighing she glanced up at the heavenly pale blue light seeping in through the high window as the last remnants of night were ushered out of the sky by the dawns first gentle rays. Bella let her face press comfortably into her pillow closing her eyes to return to her dreams, the downy covers of her bed pulled about her to shield her skin from the chilled air of the bedroom.
She had just begun to drift off when she heard her door click and creek open. Bella's blood suddenly ran cold as she slipped her hand stealthily to the side of her bed reaching the hilt of a medium length blade sheathed between her mattress and box springs. She could hear light footsteps heading toward her and grabbing the hilt of the simple sword firmly, she whirled from her sheets her arm fully extended with the drawn sword. In the action Bella heard a gasp and blinked her eyes in surprise to see that she held her own mother frozen at the other end of the blade, the tip steady under her chin just a breath away from her skin.
"Bella! What is the meaning…" But before Gwendolyn Black was able to continue shrilling Bella swiftly drew the sword back to drop it innocently at her side.
"I'm so sorry mother, I had no idea it was you." Bella answered in shock, "One can never be to careful you know." Gwendolyn dramatically leaned griping the bedside chair her hand on her throat and her eyes wide as she began to breathe once again. Bella gave her an apologetic smile, "What are you doing here?" She asked casually while flopping back down into her pillows. Gwendolyn struggled to get her composure and came to rest on the side of Bella's bed.
"I thought that it might be nice if you, Narcissa, and I to all spent the day together. Little did I know that I would come within an inch of my life. I swear you become more like your father by the moment." Gwendolyn said this with snort of exasperation.
"How's that? Has he also become so disenchanted with your falseness that he can no longer stomach your presence?" Bella said this with a cold look at her adulteress mother who ignored her words as if Bella had been simply mentioning the weather.
"Isabelle Giovanni has been kind enough to agree to meet with us today!" Gwendolyn said with a well-rehearsed tone of excitement and girlish sparkle in her eye. "We will be going to look over fabrics and be fitted for our dresses for the Yule Ball. So, chop chop! I need you on your feet and better than presentable so that we may get on our way." With this Gwendolyn stood and walked over to Bella's wardrobe flinging the doors open to push through the many neatly hanging articles inside. Bella just sighed in extreme aggravation pulling her covers back over her head and calling from beneath.
"I'm not going…and if I was I am perfectly capable of picking out my own cloths." The blankets were quickly flung from Bella's weary eyes as her mother peered down at her, a look of stress on her face, her eyes cold.
"What do you mean? You aren't intending to go to the Giovanni's or you do not intend on going to the Ball?" Bella sat forward to snatch the covers from her mother shooting daggers with her eyes as she did.
"Both!" She answered gruffly pulling the covers over her once again, knowing that Gwendolyn was about to loose her cool with her. To Bella's surprise Gwendolyn softly took a seat next to her daughter on the bed and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. Bella peeked over the edge of the cover in astonishment expecting this game to be some type of trick. Gwendolyn had the most sympathetic look in her eyes as she gazed down at her lovely raven-haired daughter.
"Are you and Rodolphus fighting, dear?" Bella snorted in sarcastic laughter flinging the covers aside.
"Oh mum, you are ever so sharp. I swear I cannot get a thing past you. Hence I have no one to go to the Ball with, meaning that I might just be able to get back to sleep if you and Narcissa go ahead and just run along and leave me to it." Bella said jumping up in frustration and indicating the door to her mother who continued to sit serenely at the edge of her bed. She wore a long coffee colored, silk covered cloak lined with amber fox fur that matched her smooth high leather boots.
"Don't be ridiculous Bella, of course you will go to the Ball with Rodolphus. Your love life will not always be perfect you know, but you can't let the rest of the world know that. It's your duty as Rodolphus' future bride to put on your best smile and show everyone at that Ball that you and he are as one. Now get your things and come on, we've wasted enough time on this." Bella just gaped as her mother gathered her handbag and walked towards the door. If she didn't know better she would swear that she was no relation to this barbarically antiquated charlatan.
Just as Bella was turning to unleash a verbal assault so extreme that it could penetrate even her mother's thick-skinned heart she was silenced to see Narcissa heading toward them. Her sister was dressed in stunning form-fitting gray slacks with a matching contoured jacket and a black turtleneck beneath. Here hair was perfectly straight and hanging loosely in silky golden strands about her shoulders mirroring Gwendolyn exactly. Over one shoulder Narcissa had flung her black mink lined cloak.
"Are we ready?" Narcissa asked as she came, noticing Bella still in a tank top and sweats her hair a tangled mess. Narcissa just raised an eyebrow. "Oh please say she's not coming."
"Are you mad? And risk her showing up to the Ball in something…common and store bought? No, definitely not, we are all going. I won't have her ruin this for the two of us. Now come on or we'll be late." Gwendolyn waived her daughter's forward and started down the hall at a swift pace, her high heels clacking loudly and echoing through out the hall. Narcissa and Bella looked at one another in confusion with furrowed brows.
"It's finally happened, she has gone mad from lack of food and over abundance of perfume." Bella said with a stark serious look on her face, Narcissa scowled and called to her mother trotting after her to lightly catch her arm and turn her mother to look at the disheveled form of Bella leaning lazily in the hall.
"Mother we cannot take her to London looking like that." She desperately implored Gwendolyn, hoping that her mother would excuse Bella from the outing so that they would not be forced to endure Bella's nasty attitude and disposition for the rest of the day. With a girlish laugh Gwendolyn pulled her wand from her side.
"My goodness your right Narcissa, where is my mind?" At this Bella smirked
"I've often times wondered that myself…and what goodness?" She grumbled under her breath, as she watched her sister pull her wand as well.
"Look at her grumbling just like your father." Gwendolyn shook her head but smiled gently, "I'll take the cloths you take the hair." Gwendolyn winced as she eyed Bella's masses of tangled curls with little hope.
"Bald then?" Narcissa grinned at Bella sweetly.
"Yes please, then she certainly wouldn't allow me at the idiotic Ball." Bella answered her sister in the same falsely sweet tone that Narcissa had just utilized.
"Rubbish, we'd get you a wig." Gwendolyn answered absently as she and Narcissa raised their wands in unison. Without a word Bella felt a tingle wash over her body and in the next moment she was standing in the hall a vision of perfection, her black hair in glossy curls down her back. She was now wearing slim black slacks and a soft black Kashmir sweater accompanied by her own black mink lined robe. Gwendolyn and Narcissa both smiled in accomplished approval of one another and then turned to begin their departure.
Bella grimaced as she stormed into her room to pick up her wand off the nightstand and take a quick gulp directly from the crystal brandy decanter, only to hear her mother yell down the hall surely waking every soul in the dorm. "Bella!" Bella grumbled profanity under her breath as she swept from the room slamming the door behind her.
They arrived in London via Gwendolyn's champagne colored Bentley, which was chauffeured by a small graying man by the name of Reginald Tower who had been employed with the family since Bella could remember but had never uttered a word in her presence. The car sped smoothly trough traffic with barely a sideways glance from the muggle vehicles that surrounded them, finally stopping in front of a large Town home, only one of the Giovanni's many studios through out Europe.
As they entered they were quickly greeted by Isabella Giovanni, a breath-taking woman with dark hair pilled loosely atop her head and a creamy blushing complexion that made her look constantly aglow with inner light and happiness. Gwendolyn and Isabella had been good friends during school and embraced lovingly as they saw one another. Isabella cordially greeted the girls and proceeded to show them to the design studio where Narcissa and Bella took their places on raised carpeted platforms in front of several connected mirrors.
Immediately some of Isabella's assistants began draping lengths of fabric across the girl's shoulders as they stood being reviewed and prodded by the two women. Narcissa stood tall and made comments about how she wanted the dress to hang and colors she had in mind. Bella on the other hand was miserable feeling after a while of silent drudgery beneath the weight of the steadily pilling fabrics that her legs would give way and she would happily collapse and never come to. Bella became lost in her thoughts as she halfheartedly listened to the droning conversation between her mother and Isabella, thinking how simple their lives were and how she hated them all for it.
"I'm thinking that we should go with this luscious black velvet for Narcissa and what do you think of this pearly white for Bella, it will contrast so beautifully with their hair." Commented Isabella as she pulled each of the fabrics across the girl's chests.
"Oh I believe you're right. What color will Donatella be wearing, I assume that you are designing something special for her. And I have not heard who she will be going with yet?" Gwendolyn pried.
"Wait until you see it! Renato had a hand in finding the perfect blue silk on his last visit to India, it matches her eyes." Isabella answered with pride.
"Oh I know that she will look stunning she is such a ravishing young woman, and who will be escorting her?" Gwendolyn pushed more forcefully with her sweet voice.
"Will you believe that she has not decided yet, she had several young men ask her but she has not yet excepted." Isabella smiled as she removed the extra fabrics from Narcissa and began to tuck and pin the black velvet around her, leaving Bella to remain under her weight getting steadily dizzy from her surroundings but she had felt a tiny stab of heat in her at the mention of Donatella. Although Bella knew that Donatella had no malicious intent with the rumors that she had spread to Bella concerning Sirius, Bella still felt that a lesson was in order to teach Donatella that one should never spread gossip so willingly, especially about a Black. Suddenly having her thoughts broken by Isabelle handling her Bella gazed into the pretty woman's eyes.
"I'm not surprised that Donatella has so many boys at our school lining up to go out with her, I mean not only is she on of the loveliest girls at Hogwarts but she also has quite the reputation." Bella starred down into the stricken look on Isabella's face with the most innocent and caring eyes. Narcissa gasped and covered her mouth as the assistants scurried about busing themselves uncomfortably at the claims against their Mistress' daughter.
"Bella! How could you say such a thing! Quiet yourself at once!" Gwendolyn screeched in shock looking at Bella as if she had lost all reasoning.
"I won't! The Giovanni's have been our friends for years and if they cannot expect the truth from us then who can they look too? Their enemies as their good name is dragged through the mud, all because of Donatella's selfish indiscretions?" The group stood in stunned silence as Bella spilled her lies into their simple self-concerned minds.
"All I can say is that you would do well to betroth her as best you can, and as soon as possible before her rumors touch every ear in upstanding pureblood society." At this Isabella swooned, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm so sorry," she croaked breathlessly, "I must speak with my husband." With that Isabella was escorted out of the studio by one of her assistants leaving Bella in blissful silence without the silly and constant squawking of the pitiful women. That is until she met the cruel gleam in her mother's eyes. Gwendolyn lunged at Bella grabbing her at her shoulders and glaring into her eyes as if she were peering into her very soul. Gwendolyn spoke through gritted teeth as Narcissa looked on in silence.
"What is wrong with you? How dare you tell that woman, my friend, something so thoroughly disgusting about her daughter! Next time you have something to say, you clear it with me first! Do you understand me." Gwendolyn's fingers were tearing into Bella's flesh from the anger behind her grip.
"You let me go or I'll make you pay! You no longer tell me what to say or what to do! Do you understand me?" Bella glared into her mother's wide green eyes with more strength and hatred then she had ever been able to hold on to before.
For the first time she had not backed down in fear, she stood her ground as she felt the mounting anger building up inside her. How dare this idiotic pampered child give commands, How dare she sell her daughters into matrimonial slavery to save her own name but renounce the very act if mentioned in conversation. How dear she expect love and respect when she gave none, and loyalty where she showed none. She could feel Gwendolyn's heart beating through her finger tips but Bella did not even flinch at the pain.
"You disgust me." She hissed causing Narcissa to scream at Bella as Gwendolyn relinquished her grip on Bella's arm to let a hard blow fall on the side of her face knocking Bella to her knees and causing a hungry anger, unlike any she had ever felt before, to rise inside her. Suddenly there was an explosion of pain from her dark mark that was so severe that Bella cried out grabbing her wrist and crumpling in pain. Gwendolyn stopped her ranting since it was going unnoticed as Narcissa tore the pined fabric from her and grabbed her sister up from the floor.
Panicked Narcissa tried to grip Bella's face to make eye contact but Bella's eyes were sealed against her pain, her face going flushed as tears broke from the clenched corners of her eyes.
"Bella what's wrong, what's happening to you?" Narcissa cried, tears welling in her own eyes knowing that Bella was able to tolerate enormous amounts of pain and unhappiness before reacting like this.
"Whatever it is, it is suitable punishment for the way you have acted towards me you wicked brat!" Gwendolyn screamed now enraged that Narcissa was coddling her sister in concern. Suddenly Gwendolyn went eerily quiet turning white as milk as her eyes fell on the way Bella clutched her arm. She quickly fell to her knees grabbing on to Bella's arm fighting to force Bella's hand from covering what she guessed was the cause of all of this.
"No!" Bella shrieked for the first time opening her eyes as she struggled against her mother. Narcissa trying to intervene in the scuffle grasped Bella trying hard to pull her sister away from her mother's attack only to have Gwendolyn backhand her with such force that it knocked Narcissa backwards off of the small circular platform.
"Bella!" Gwendolyn yelled, "Stop fighting me! I know what it is, I know he has marked you, you cannot hide it." Bella and Narcissa both went still and quiet tears streaming down their faces only to see Gwendolyn for the first time in their lives cry real tears. She sat perched on her knees covering her face as she shook her head not wanting to believe her daughters sealed fate. Bella watched in breathless silence as she allowed her mother to push her hand aside revealing the small black star at the center of her wrist. This only caused Gwendolyn to weep harder as she brought her daughter's small hand to meet her lips.
"How could he? How could he do this, you're just a baby. You were supposed to have a life. I curse the day your cousin was born! This was his fate! The coward!" Bella and Narcissa exchanged hurt and bewildered looks as Gwendolyn sobbed pulling Bella to her chest, caressing her dark waves of hair in an attempt to calm herself. "We will go to your father, he will set this matter straight." Gwendolyn sighed with determination, but Bella closed her eyes and shook her head. Her mother was so naive to the world that she lived in, she had no concept of the true depth of this situation. But as she looked over to Narcissa who had so surprisingly come to her aid in her moment of need she could see the comprehension in her eyes.
"You cannot tell him! He can't help me, no one can. It will only make matters worse for all of us. Please trust me on this." Bella pleaded with her mother.
"How could you pledge your allegiance to that monster?" Gwendolyn whispered these words looking around the empty room. "We must tell your father! Caesar will fix this or die trying!" Gwendolyn answered with conviction.
"That is what I fear, I refuse to be the cause of my father's death." Bella whispered heatedly back.
"It is his fault that this happened to you!" The tears began to fall again, "Maybe for that he deserves to die." Bella's eyes glinted in momentary rage as her mother uttered these words, then quickly regaining control she leaned close to her mother.
"If you tell him my secret I will tell him yours, and you may think that he deserves death for his treachery but I can guarantee that you and Professor Beltane will meet a painful and certain end if I were to tell my father what I know." Bella's gaze remained cool and steady as her mother's eyes welled, her face darkening as if a light in her soul was extinguished.
"I understand." She relented in a whisper.
The remainder of that day was spent in painful silence as Bella and Narcissa were forced to complete their dress fittings minus Isabella Giovanni. The assistants had carefully measured and pinned fabric being sure not to make eye contact with either girl while Gwendolyn oversaw the proceedings. After what had felt like an eternity the ordeal finally ended with Gwendolyn escorting the two girls to the door and ordering Reginald to return them to Hogwarts.
A sickening feeling of guilt weighed on Bella as she made her way to the car glancing back to see Gwendolyn embrace Narcissa and stroke her long silken hair letting her eyes roll past Bella with out acknowledgment. She had felt her throat tighten in anguish as she reminded herself over and over that she wasn't sorry, she must never be sorry. Reginald held each door as the two sisters took their places in the soft camel colored leather seats of the extravagant car, then quickly and silently slid into the driver's seat to begin the journey back to Hogwarts.
"Well, that went about as badly as it could have possibly gone." Bella said lightly giving her sister a sweet smile and leaning casually into the seatback. Narcissa just narrowed her eyes at Bella with a pinched look of distaste.
"I wish you had never been born." She hissed in the most lady like tone as she folded her arms and turned to gaze out on the city that was steadily speeding past along with whipping gusts of finite snow flakes.
"Well that makes two of us then." Bella answered in a rough snobbish tone trying to hide her shame turning to rest her head against her own window and thoroughly regretting everything that had happened since she woke up.
The sun was already low on the horizon when they were returned to Hogwarts and Bella relished the sound and feel of the bustling castle after the hour's worth of fierce silence between her and her sister. Bella quickly threw aside her sleek black pants and sweater to replace them with worn faded blue jeans and a soft white hooded fleece. Miraculously she escaped the dungeons with out as much as a sideways glance from her housemates as she made her way towards the nearest exit to breath in the chilled air and stand amongst the steadily falling snow alone with her thoughts and fears.
Remus and Sirius could no longer stand to remain in the stands watching the Gryffindor Quidditch team practice as the final warming rays of sunlight were snuffed out of the sky. They were just rounding the high hedge to the small courtyard behind Herbology green houses 3 and 4 when they heard the all to familiar voice of Antonin Dolohov, he was cackling loudly and sounded as if he were taunting someone. Remus quickly threw his arm out to stop Sirius who had sped up to investigate the commotion.
"Listen Sirius, it may be better that you avoid Dolohov as well as the others. They really seem to have it in for you…" Remus tried to continue but Sirius smirked at him and brushed his hand aside as he continued his pace towards the sound of arguing voices.
"Quit it Moony, do ya think I'd let you go in to face Dolohov alone?"
"Who said I was going anywhere to face anyone?" Remus asked with stress in his voice as the approached the break in the hedge guarded by two smooth stone gargoyles.
Sirius slowed his pace and ducked back to peer around the statue into the open courtyard lined with low stone benches. Sirius had a clear view of Antonin standing in front of the large white marble fountain that was centered in the yard while several of the other members of the Slytherin Quidditch team were scattered lazily about on the stone benches. Sirius felt an immediate wave of disgust surge through his bones as he noticed the playbook that Lucius held and the sets of golden binoculars that hung from the necks of both Rodolphus and Olis. Glancing back over his shoulder Sirius noted that this was the perfect vantage point to spy on the opposing team's practice session with little chance of discovery although now the view was marred by the rapidly falling snow. Sirius narrowed his eyes "They were spying!" he growled through gritted teeth to Remus who was still peeking around him for a better view.
"Ah yes, you mean just like we are right now." Remus returned in his nonchalant wit with a grin causing Sirius to cast him a grumpy smirk.
"This is ridiculous Antonin!" A voice came from a tall think boy standing a few feet away with his back to the hedge. "Just give me the damn book!" Antonin's long sinister face beamed with menacing glee as he tossed a small tattered book carelessly in the air acting as if at any moment he would let it topple into the steaming pool of water.
"Well aren't we demanding this evening, what happened Severus did ya by chance grow ballocks in the last 24 hours?" Antonin asked with a snort of laughter, "To bad, Warren here was really looking forward to asking you to the Yule Ball." With this Antonin turned to Warren Wilkes with a sarcastically disappointed look, "Sorry mate, rotten luck." Antonin said with a shrug to Warren who gave him a disgusted look in return.
"Like anyone would have anything to do with this blighter, even if they did mistake him for a girl." Said Warren without a hint of amusement in his pale eyes. Without warning Antonin tossed the book across the fountain to Warren who just barely caught it and then laughed as he pretended to slip and loose the small book to the illuminated water. Both boys laughed as Severus jumped forward slightly in fear for the book and then began to close on him from either side of the grand fountain which was the image of two huge stone cats prowling after a single bird in the top pool of the fountain.
Remus observed the scene thinking how fitting the situation was with its surroundings as he watched the two menacing boys bare down on Snape who at the moment seemed small and defenseless. Remus grimaced looking away from the impending attack wanting to charge in and even the odds even if it was to help Severus who he was sure would be nothing but nasty about any help given.
"They're bastards." Grumbled Remus so only Sirius could hear, Sirius turned to his friend giving him an understanding smile.
"Don't go getting any crazy ideas Moony, they are bastards but that is who he surrounds himself with. Maybe if they beat seven shades of shit out of him he'll wise up and choose better friends." Sirius said with a casual raise of his brow but their attention was quickly drawn back to the courtyard upon hearing another voice approaching from the torch lit archway that lay between the glass structures of the greenhouses.
"You get away from him! Lucius! You heard me, call him off!" Demanded Bella stepping out from the shadows of the stone archway.
"Well hello to you as well Bella." Said Lucius with a taunting grin, "I'm not really in the mood to deal with Antonin this evening, how about you take care of it yourself." Bella glared at Lucius who was obviously testing her then rounding to face Antonin and Warren her eyes went cold. Sirius turned to look at Remus in shocked amazement at seeing Bella in this situation only to meet Remus' all knowing look.
"Yup, you've been had!" Sirius still in shock scowled at his friend and turned back to the action.
"We've just been out here helping good ol'Severus practice his steal." Chuckled Warren in the most innocent tone that he could muster as he tossed the little worn book back across the edge of the water to Antonin who caught it quickly out of the air before Severus' reaching hands could grasp it. This caused all of the boys in the courtyard to grin and chuckle in light amusement except for Severus who kept his eyes affixed to the book as if willing it away from the fountain.
Bella glanced over her shoulder at Lucius with a confident smirk on her face, "Well if you can't handle him I guess I will have to." This caused Rodolphus to crack a huge smile and take the seat next to Lucius.
"By all means." Lucius, retaining the grin, nodded towards Antonin who was now listening intently. Bella stepped over to Antonin and stood directly in front of the very tall, well-built Slytherin and simply put her hand out her eyes locked with his. Antonin's smirk grew as he folded his arms defiantly sliding the book against his chest.
"I didn't hear you say please." He said causing the group of boys to laugh again and Severus to grow anxious.
"Bella stop, I don't need your help." He said, trying to sound more embarrassed than worried for her. Bella never let her eyes leave Antonin she just remained with her hand out silently requesting the book as he smirked defiantly down at her. Sirius watched in disbelief.
"What is she doing, trying to get herself killed?" He asked with a tremble in his voice slipping his hand into his robes and placing it on the hilt of his wand.
"Hey maybe if they beat seven shades of shit out of her she'll wise up and choose better friends." Remus said with slight amusement.
"This is no time for jokes Moony I'm gonna need your help…"
Before Sirius could finish his thought he was interrupted by a pitiful sound, both boys turned to see Antonin bent to the ground at Bella's feet grunting in pain his long waves of brown hair covering his face.
"What did she do? Sucker punch him?" Asked Remus, a look of confusion on his face as he crinkled his brow. Bella stood her ground barely noticing Antonin writhing at her feet, her hand still held out palm up waiting to receive the book. Antonin was struggling now trying to straighten himself as the group of Slytherin boys all watched the scene with looks of discomfort and uneasy tension.
Antonin managed to finally place the book in Bella's hand his body trembling violently to keep it's composure long enough to complete the task. The moment that she had the book in her possession Antonin dropped to his hands breathing heavily. Bella turned to face Lucius and the other boys, her face without a trace of emotion.
"Maybe next time Antonin will remember that I do not ask." Then turning to look down on Antonin with the hint of a smile on her rose-colored lips, "And I don't say please." At this Lucius and Rodolphus both smiled approvingly but Antonin lifted his head angry to be so completely defeated in front of his friends worst of all by a girl.
"It was just Severus' stupid book! It's just like a girl to over react." Antonin growled. Without warning Bella swung the small thick book so that it connected violently with Antonin's cheek knocking him from his already shaky balance into a sitting position with a loud smack. Antonin sat rubbing his jaw with a look of confused anger but did not venture to speak again.
"That stupid book belonged to his mother who is unfortunately lost to us forever! The potions that reside in that book are worth more than your mortal soul so don't tempt me to choose which I would rather live without!" Bella let her verbal assault come out in restrained hisses as though she were holding off an explosion by releasing pressure through her words.
"Severus is mine, and that means that you will all treat him with respect and dignity as he and his line deserve. Your fathers understand his importance as do I and I swear that the next person to show Severus any kind of disregard will pay much more dearly than Antonin did just now!" Bella's tone was strong and commanding but she was relaxed in her power there was nothing rushed in the words she spoke. She gazed at all of them in turn seeing the fear that she stirred deep within each of them and appreciating what a difficult task it was to make any of them fear at all.
Bella let the disgust linger on her expression as she turned to Severus without meeting his eyes, which were searching her for some explanation to this odd situation, and thrust the book into his hand. Bella stormed back through the archway to the castle deciding that there was no safe place to be and finally figuring that her dorm room was her only refuge for solitude.
"What just happened here?" Remus asked as he glanced over only to see that Sirius had walked away trudging quickly through the steadily rising snow on the path to another side entrance to the castle. Rolling his eyes at Sirius' moody and unpredictable attitude Remus set off jogging to catch up.
"So just leave me there conversing with hedge why don't you!" Remus grumbled breathlessly.
"Sorry Moony, I suddenly have the urge to speak with my cousin." Sirius said in a sharp tone.
"Me too, I may have been wrong about her! How can I not like someone who walloped Dolohov like that?" Laughed Remus, steam curling from his mouth as he did. "Where in Hell is Marlene with that bloody camera when you need it. I mean that was prime blackmail material right there, and no one will ever know but us!" Remus said in desperate disappointment trying hard to lighten the uneasy mood.
"How funny is this, I'm actually thinking that you may have been right about her." Said Sirius in a falsely lighthearted voice.
As they hit the stone steps of the castle Remus could tell that something was very wrong with Sirius, his manner had changed completely and his eyes had gone dark. He could see the muscles of Sirius' jaw tightening and his brow was furrowed slightly, cueing Remus that it was better to leave him to his devices rather than press the matter with jokes.
"Sirius is everything alright? If there is anything I can do I will but I'm afraid I'm not quite sure how I can help." Remus said cautiously stopping in the dimly lit hall allowing Sirius to continue on with out him.
"No one can help me…not now." Sirius muttered as he stormed down the hall without a backward glance leaving Remus standing alone in the quiet of the cold stone corridor.
Sirius' thoughts raced along with his determined stride, the bodies of the students that he passed in the active corridors became blurs of furious color without form as he made his way to the hidden passage way focused on his mission and unconcerned with the many sets of eyes that glanced up as he blew by. A racket of noises echoed from the busy halls through his mind but fell silent as each encountered the chilling memories that Sirius was forcing from their burial place deep within his psyche. He could feel the nervous sickness sink into his stomach, freezing his skin and suffocating him as he thought of that voice. He had pushed the memory of that calm, cold tone to the back of his mind for years never daring to think on the terror that it stirred inside him. Witnessing Bella, a vision of angelic beauty, silently torture Antonin had caused the floodgates of Sirius' mind to burst.
Sirius slipped stealthily through the opening to the passage barreling carelessly down the long winding tunnel now so familiar with its turns and obstacles that barely five minutes had passed before he burst breathlessly into Bella's empty dorm room. Brushing the dust and cobwebs from his house robe Sirius stood panting as he studied the room the ache of his realizations of Bella descending on him once again now that his mind was no longer occupied with the arduous journey. He flopped down on the bed resting his head in his hands his eyes burning in the soft candle lit room as his thoughts wandered.
He had been foolishly curious as a small boy about what happened in those meetings amongst his father's friends. Many times he had hidden under the heavy round mahogany table in the massive drawing room just off the side of the library in which the interesting collection of men would convene. Sirius, a boy of only nine years, would sit intently listening as the men in the adjacent room laughed boisterously hoping that he would catch a fragment of conversation here or there.
He had never really had much of an interest in his father's business until the day that Lucius Malfoy had entered his home dressed in a fine robes like his father and looking down on Sirius as if he were a mere child. Sirius acted aloof in Lucius' presence but he could barely contain his jealousy and dismay to see Lucius led into the library along side Asher and the door sealed shut behind him. From that point on Sirius was eager to know what the mysterious assemblage was up to and why he was not involved.
It was on one of these occasions as Sirius sat hidden in the large dark room, covered in ornately carved wood paneling from ceiling to floor, that the doors of the library flew open suddenly causing Sirius to jump slamming his head hard on the underbelly of the thick table. He quickly steadied the table leaving only the delicate crystal prisms that hung from the jewel colored glass lamp tinkling lightly. Noise flooded the usually muted drawing room as Sirius watched two sets of legs come into view, the wide double doors to the library slamming hard against the wall only to crash closed again from the force at which they were open. Sirius sat wide eyed and still as stone, closing his mind as his father had taught him so that he would not be immediately spotted.
The two men scuffled about for a moment speaking heatedly and Sirius recognized the voice of his father sounding stressed and aggravated.
"Zander! Have you lost your mind?" Dominic Black growled in an extremely hushed voice gripping the man fiercely at the bicep and pulling him back toward the library. Sirius could smell the faint aroma of cigar smoke that had escaped the doors before they swung shut and mixed with the cobwebs and dust beneath the ancient table as well as his mounting fear of being caught, he thought he would loose his composure entirely. Sirius held fast silently praying to not be discovered, his heartbeat increasing with the struggle as it became more physical, Alexander Dolohov fighting to tear his arm from Dominic's unrelenting grip.
"I refuse to go back in there and take the blame for your deplorable brother's mistakes! Let him face his master, the damned coward!" There was a strained sound of panic in Alexander's voice as he pulled Dominic with him as far as he could get from the library doors.
"You must get control of yourself, you are rambling like a madman! You can't just turn your back and walk away, he is your master as well." Dominic said sharply.
"Watch me! I didn't sign on to be his whipping boy! Let him explain what happened!" Alexander yelled pushing Dominic hard into the table where Sirius was hidden. Alexander's reaction was that of a cornered animal and Sirius braced himself, tears welling in his eyes as he reached into his back pocket to arm himself with his small worn pocketknife. Just as Sirius was sure that his father and Alexander would pull their wands the library door swung open again, another familiar voice calling calmly from the doorway.
"I have explained everything Alexander, I explained it all very well." Sirius leaned his head quietly against the wall peering around a chair so old that the musty smelling black leather hung loosely from its back. He could see his uncle Caesar dressed immaculately in a dark gray robes, his dark shining hair laying in gentle waves on his shoulders. He was leaning carelessly against the deep molding of the entranceway to the library, an amused grin just barely visible beneath his smooth dark mustache and goatee but his satisfaction more than readable in the sparkle in his eyes.
Two more bodies stepped into the drawing room both dressed in black. The first crossed the room so swiftly towards Alexander that Sirius did not catch whom it was but the second hung back to secure the door. His long, perfectly straight main of white blond hair giving his identity away immediately, it was Asher Malfoy. He was dressed in a sleek black robes and seemed unaffected by the argument as he lifted his small tightly rolled cigar to his lips drawing on it slowly allowing a perfect split stream of smoke to curl from the tip. That is when Sirius heard the voice, which sent a gripping chill through his spine forcing him to hold tightly to the large bulbous center post of the table.
"I'm not accustomed to people turning their back on me…I'd venture to say that it is not a terribly wise thing to do." The voice said in a slow sharp tone. Sirius could see that the wielder of the voice now stood directly in front of Alexander who was visibly trembling and made the slightest movement backwards in retreat.
"Please my lord, he lies. Please let me explain." Whimpered Alexander his voice an opposite of its former gruffness with Dominic. Sirius heard what he knew to be Caesar Black grumble his disapproval at the accusation, and saw the nameless figure make the slightest casual movement of his long thin hand to command silence. Sirius could hear Alexander's breathing now loud and heavy from nervousness as Dominic stepped back from the proceedings still focusing his attention reverently on the two men.
"You all lie Mr. Dolohov." The voice said matter-of-factly with no readable emotion. "But your time to explain has come and gone. Maybe next time you will remember that I can tolerate your lies better than your cowardice…but we both know that there won't be a next time, don't we." At this Alexander made a faint gurgling sound in his throat but Sirius could not see what was happening above the table. Suddenly the tall slender form of Alexander collapsed to his knees allowing Sirius to see his face clearly from his hidden vantage point for the first time. Sirius gapped at the view as he watched Alexander's eyes widening and tearing up, his face growing bright read as his veins began to rise beneath his skin, his body tensing horrifically. Finally Alexander let forth a shriek so intense and full of pain that Sirius felt his skull would split before the ordeal was over.
Sirius was terrified. He had never seen anything like this in his life, tears began to stream from his eyes, he wanted to get out, to be free of the ominous musty room and the cruel scene that he was witnessing. He could not understand why his father would stand by and allow one of his friends to be tortured and killed right in front of him in his own house. He also could not understand exactly what was causing the damage to Alexander although he was not particularly interested at the time. Sirius felt that he would scream himself if the torture continued when Alexander dropped face first to the highly polished wood floor gasping desperately, his face to Sirius but his eyes clenched shut. Sirius thought for a moment that Mr. Alexander Dolohov had just been murdered in the drawing room of his very own home before he saw Alexander sigh in sudden relief.
"Thank you Lord…for sparing me." Alexander managed in short gasps still lying with his cheek to the floor.
"Don't thank me yet Dolohov, the only reason that you still live is so that you may make reparations for all that you have lost." With that, the one they called lord turned to the doorway, "Get him up! I won't have him wasting anymore of my time!" The commanding voice ordered as it's owner turned gliding easily back to the library where he entered without a word. Alexander had begun to struggle to lift himself from the cool floor but his muscles tremored and gave without much effort.
"Come on Zander, let's get you a brandy." Said Asher in a calm almost entertained tone as he bent to the floor along with Dominic, each taking an arm of their friend and hoisting him up. Sirius' heart stopped and he trapped his breath as the face of his father came into view concernedly supporting Alexander whose head lulled forward slightly, a small moan escaping his dry lips.
"Must we waste the brandy on him?" Caesar grumbled. He had not moved from his post at the door and stood gazing distractedly into the amber liquid that swirled in his crystal snifter.
"Oh belt up will you Caesar! The least you could do is stay quiet while we clean up your mess!" Dominic returned with frustration in his voice. He was working to get to his feet with the limp form of Alexander, blessedly focused on his footing instead of spying his son hidden amongst the shadow and dust of the antique furniture.
Sirius released the breath that he had been holding since his father bent to gather Alexander but quickly stifled it's steady silent release as Asher's eyes flicked over to meet his own. With the most minuet expression of a smile Asher turned to lift Alexander with out the slightest hint that he had just discovered their unexpected spy, leaving Sirius to guess for years if he had actually been seen.
"Are you saying that you actually believe him over me?" All causal mellowness had suddenly left Caesar's attitude causing him to furrowing his smooth brow in shocked dismay. "I'm of your own blood yet you put your trust in this…mongrel?" Caesar's manner was becoming more intense but Sirius knew that he had been cut deeply by Dominic's words.
"Being your brother doesn't make me blind to your faults…quite the contrary actually." Dominic answered flatly now on his feet and heading back to the library with a barely conscious, Alexander slumped against his shoulder.
"You are no man of honor yourself little brother." Caesar said with the darkest taunting smile as he gulped the last of his cordial, flanking the group of Asher, Alexander, and Dominic and slamming the door closed behind him.
A violent chill ran through Sirius snapping his focus back to the aching sickness of his heart. His father had been a willing captive of that accursed dark mark and he had only caught glimpses of it on Dominic's wrist but it's image had been etched into his memory for eternity. It destroyed Sirius to think of that monstrosity marring Bella's gorgeous skin, plaguing her existence and commanding her actions as it had imprisoned Dominic Black and so many others. Sirius pulled his hand roughly through his hair wishing that he would wake from this nightmare. There was no doubt in his mind that Bella was marked by the Dark Lord, but worse than the mark itself was the knowledge that she had to except the mark and that she had been obviously lying to him regarding it's existence.
Anger flooded Sirius as he thought on the fact that Lucius and his goons all knew that Bella bore the mark yet he had remained clueless until now. These were the very men that she was claiming to despise but as he watched her secretly in the yard he had noticed how comfortable she suddenly seemed with them all, almost friendly towards Lucius. Sirius gritted his teeth his eyes dark and dangerous as his mind linked to the only possible answer, she was using him, trapping him, luring him and he was falling for her charade all to easily. Bella had effectively stabbed her hook into his heart and was reeling him in for her Dark Lord. Sirius began to seethe gripping the downy cover of Bella's bed when she stepped through the door a towel wrapped about her hair.
Bella Leaned back against the door gently letting it click closed behind her, a bright yet sly smile dawning on her delicate face as she gazed at the sullen form of Sirius grumpily tossed down on her bed. Her skin was wrapped in a thick white robe, wet rings of her ebony hair escaping from their confinement within the towel, the intoxicating clean warm smell of her body hitting Sirius all at once and distracting him from his anger.
"To what do I owe this surprise visit?" She whispered as she made her way lightly over to stand before Sirius, "Did you know that I needed you so desperately after the day I've had?" She sighed climbing without hesitation into his lap to straddle him sliding her thin fingers through his hair and letting her eyes drink him in after their daylong separation. Sirius felt sudden heat rise inside himself completely separate from the anger which was easily ebbing away. Unwilling to fall victim to Bella's charms Sirius composed his senses remaining still and without reaction.
"The question is what you so desperately needed me for." Sirius said in a low, flat tone trying hard fight the urge to run his hand down the side of her smooth neck or wrap his arms about her pulling her to him where he would refuse to let her be taken away by anyone. Dizzying warmth was emitting from Bella's fresh body, the sent of vanilla positively maddening forcing Sirius' eyes closed as he absently leaned towards her breathing in the soft skin of her neck but turning his face away forbidding himself to give in to his desires.
Bella answered by kissing him erotically along his jaw line distracting him long enough to pull his long sleeved burgundy Gryffindor jersey over his head. She let her fingers glide tenderly over his chest causing his flesh to prickle as she dragged her nails lightly to his back letting them press softly into his skin. Sirius could barely breath, his mind insisting that he stop but his body demanding otherwise as he pulled the tie to the thick cottony white robe. The robe slipped from Bella's shoulders revealing he milky skin and parting down the line of her torso as if to invite him to her. Sirius was rendered powerless and slipped his hand to the curve of her back pressing her suddenly and roughly against him. Bella gasped in reaction and the white towel fell from her hair raining dark wet tendrils on to Sirius' bare chest and shoulders.
Sirius was feeling the broadest range of emotion that he had ever felt at the same time, his mind reeled at his overwhelming desire for her, something that he had not considered when storming through the passage down to the dorm. In the same moment that these feelings of intense want surged through his body pangs of guilt and fear would strike him without warning sucking back his breath and causing him to wince without raising Bella's attention. He secretly wished that she would stop and notice that something was wrong but she was absently and trustfully loving him unaware that there was anything to fear within his manner. This thought struck him like a slap in the face causing him to suddenly pull back from kissing her to look franticly into her dreaming eyes.
"I need to talk to you." He forced in a very unnatural voice his eyes pained to see her beautiful lips form into a gentle small as she bent connecting them to his. At first kissing only his lips and then deepening the kiss pressing her bare skin to his, wrapping her arms about his neck to allow her fingers to frolic in his hair.
"It will wait, I have no mind to talk with you right now." She whispered bewitchingly against the corner of his mouth, the feel of her wicked grin readable through their contact. Sirius' arousal finally taking unwavering control he tossed Bella heatedly down into the piles of satiny pillows, pining her hands beneath his own to each side of her a powerful mix of anger and passion coursing through him. She cried out as their bodies combined, her head thrust back exposing the creamy tones of her neck. He let his lips drag softly along the supple skin a deep sigh releasing from Bella only to be sucked back as Sirius seized her fine skin in his teeth wanting to devour her, Bella's body coiling seductively about him.
Sirius knew that this was the worst possible thing that he could be doing in his state of mind, adding further complications to an already impossible situation. He pulled back as a flood of ecstasy rolled over him and that is when he noticed her thin wrist pressed beneath his hand and covered by the soft robe that remained attached to her limbs. He could feel Bella tensing against him and breathlessly moaning, her eyes closed and her body rigid, but Sirius could not pull his focus from her wrist. He had to be sure, maybe it was all a mistake, some misconception of actions. Hadn't he been a victim of things not being as they seemed? Maybe it was the same for Bella and the horrific fears that he had of her involvement and allegiance to the one power that could keep him away from her.
He could finally curb his interest no longer and feeling the sick heat of guilt well in him he let his hand slide slowly down her arm catching the sleeve of the robe to reveal her pale wrist clear and without as much as a freckle marring it's surface. Sirius felt such immediate relief that he pulled Bella's mouth to his kissing her lovingly as he cast her body into the throws of ecstasy only to follow her lead a moment later.
Sirius released her lips looking down on her wide beautiful eyes privately berating himself for his unforgivable miss trust of her. Bella only smiled up into Sirius' lost expression letting a soft giggle escape her lips and bringing her hands to pull his face to hers, waves of powerful passion still pulsing through her body.
Just as Sirius was beginning to loose himself in her smile and be received by her hands he was distracted by a small black mark that had not to his knowledge been visible during his brief study of her arm. Sirius flinched away from Bella's touch, snatching her hand from it's path more violently than he had intended, furrowing his brow as his eyes fell on the perfect black star glaring back from her wrist. Sirius felt his heart would shatter as his eyes met Bella's, quiet terror swirling in their brilliant green depths.
They sat frozen in oppressive silence for a moment, a wordless exchange of anguish and sorrow between their eyes breaking with Sirius tossing her arm from his hand as if it was painful to touch her. He jumped up securing his pants and replacing his shirt without a word.
"Sirius please let me explain, I didn't mean for you to find out like this." Bella whispered her voice trembling as she tied the sash of her robe.
"You mean you didn't mean for me to find out at all! Your time for explanations has come and gone…isn't that what your master would say! Besides I have no more need of your lies." Bella's eyes had gone wide to hear Sirius' reaction.
"I wanted to tell you but I was afraid that you would stop loving me and I was terrified to face that. You are the one good thing in my life Sirius." Bella pleaded rising from the bed unsure of how to stop Sirius heated search for his house robe and anything that he might accidentally leave behind.
"You have to know that I didn't want this." Bella cried
"Just stop! I have nothing more to say to you." Sirius returned looking Bella dead in the eye his hurt obvious.
"You are the embodiment of all that I have fought against becoming and I can't sacrifice everything that I hold dear to be the best thing in your life. You've already proven that you aren't worth it, besides that precious little star on your wrist is the beginning of the end, your fate is sealed. I won't be dragged down with you." Sirius spoke with such disappointment and hatred as he stood wishing that he had never seen her angle's face.
"Stop it! Don't say that!" Bella pleaded through sudden gasping sobs as Sirius tore through the room in search of his missing cloak. "I'm not doomed, I am worth it, I would never hurt you, I love you."
"Oh come on Bella!" Sirius growled loudly hoping that his volume would block out the sounds of her crushing tears. "We both grew up watching our fathers be controlled by that devil of a man with his potions and those marks. Did you think that it would be any different for you? And as for you not wanting it I don't believe it for a moment, not after what I saw of you with Antonin this afternoon. You are as bad as your father and as comfortable in your cruelty as he is. The Dark Lord was right Bella, he picked the perfect Black for the job, you are inherently evil and for that reason I cannot blame you for the mistakes that I made in loving you." Sirius slowed his tirade to stand inches from Bella snatching the black robe from it's hiding place on the bed.
"You have no concept of love so don't throw that lie about so easily! You have stolen that wretched word from my vocabulary for all time and I hate that I ever wasted my breath to say it to you!" Bella bit her lip tears streaking her glistening checks causing a sharp stable of guilt to seize him.
"Don't cry Bella…" He said in a softer tone his eyes still dark and close to her, "I'm sure that you were just following orders, right? It's a wonder that you can think for yourself at all." Bella blinked, stunned at his words then growing suddenly severe.
"What exactly are you implying by following orders?" Bella fumed through her tears.
"I'm saying go back and tell your master that there is nothing that will ever blind me to his malicious ways…not even you. Nice try anyway, you were so close, I wonder how severely you'll be punished for your botched job!"
"You think this was all him…you think that he is so dissatisfied with having just me and not you that he has been trying to acquire you through our relationship, is that right?" Bella had turned frighteningly cool, her glinting narrowed eyes locked to Sirius.
"Well, darling cousin, just so that we are perfectly clear my Dark Lord chose to pass you up because to coin your mother's own terminology you are a disgrace and a humiliation to the Black family name, a factor that I over looked out of love for you. No one commanded me to seduce you. I loved you of my own free will and no matter how I feel about you at this moment I will always have that. Now get out." Sirius gazed at her through burning eyes hating what they had become and wanting so badly to be in the safety of Gryffindor Tower. He set his jaw resolutely forcing back his tears and throwing open the door to the dorm walking out into the Slytherin House corridors. Tears dripped silently from Bella's eyes as she crumbled onto her bed willing the door shut and sealed behind him.
Sirius was clouded by the most crushing words that anyone he ever truly loved had uttered, more for the fact that he knew he had spoken from his pain and anger and falsely accused Bella. As he stood looking into her stricken face and said the hateful words he immediately knew that his assumptions were based in nothing but agony at Bella's betrayal. He had wish that they would cut her as deeply as she had cut him and in ways prayed to see some proud acknowledgment that she had played him for a fool and he had figured her out just in the nick of time. It was not to be so easy as her words, her truth, rang through his head incessantly.
No one commanded me to seduce you. I loved you of my own free will and no matter how I feel about you at this moment I will always have that.
It was the truth that he could not admit to for the pain that welled from his crushed heart at the thought of loving her so intensely and loosing her so quickly to that monster, just as he had lost his entire family. Sirius walked powerfully through the halls of the Slytherin dorms ignoring the whispers and sideways glances of several young Slytherin students noticing the Gryffindor house crest so blatantly displayed on his house robe. Sirius stormed through the Slytherin Common Room an ominous energy exuding from his body daring anyone to get between him and the door as he pressed through a crowed at the portrait hole to burst out of the swinging door, his jaw clenched and eyes locked straight ahead.
