Title: Black Tears

Author: Suave Aurora

Comments: None

The train station was crowded with people of all ages, many of them eager eleven year olds about to embark on their first journey to Hogwarts. Bellatrix Black was one of those many first years. She was standing beside her mother and her youngest sister in front of the train. Her mother was giving her a few last words of encouragement, no, rather lecturing her on proper manners and behavior that she would need to keep in mind at all times. Bella nodded her head in perfect timing to her mother's chiming voice. When her cue to leave had finally arrived, she gave her mother a slight peck on the cheek and hugged Narcissa. Out of the two Black women seeing her and Andromeda off, Bellatrix knew that she'd miss Narcissa the most.

Andromeda accompanied her sister onto the train. "Are you eager for Hogwarts? I know we'll have a wonderful time, Bella! Oh, you won't imagine the things that you'll see! Moving staircases and mysterious doors! And the ghosts-oh Bella, did I tell you about the ghosts?" Bella gave a tight-lipped smile and shook her head. Of course she had heard all of this before, countless times from Andromeda's own mouth, but it wouldn't do her any harm to listen to it again. Her sister was so very excited to have her own flesh and blood, a Black family member, at school with her after such a long time away from them all.

As Andromeda rambled on about Hogwarts, she placed Bellatrix's suitcases along with her own in an overhead compartment. Bella assumed that was where her sister was planning on sitting with her friends, because there was no way that Bella was going to continue this conversation in a closed space surrounded by those silly Ravenclaw girls. Her mother had already warned her about the other houses and she knew what was to be gained by being friendly to them. Absolutely nothing.

"Meda, I see Sirius, I'm going to go say hi." Bellatrix politely excused herself from her sister and began to walk down the corridor to where she had seen her black haired cousin. He was sitting in a separate compartment with two boys that he had apparently befriended. One was a scrawny looking boy with disheveled hair and curiously bright eyes. He had glasses which, strangely enough, only made him more appealing. Sitting in front of Sirius was a boy who looked slightly ill, with a bit of a pale tinge to his skin. He had long hair, similar to Sirius's, and tattered robes. If Bella wasn't mistaken he had that same hungry look in his eyes as that of a werewolf on a full moon…she shook that thought from her mind. If these were Sirius's friends, chances were they were as mischievous as anything…but utterly harmless.

"Hello Sirius." She said with an even voice. She didn't choose to sit down, although the boys made room. Sirius glanced up at her with a slightly guilty expression. He muttered something coherent to "hellobellatrix." Bella arched an eyebrow. She waited to be introduced.

Reluctantly Sirius mumbled, "This is James Potter and Remus Lupin." Bella smiled at both of the boys and said a polite hello, but all the while she kept noticing her cousin's utterly strange behavior. Why was he acting as though he were, as absurd as this sounded, ashamed of her? She kept waiting for him to make a reply, to say something in order to put her at ease as he so often did, but he just sat there looking like a sheepish dog.

"Um, Bellatrix, I think Andromeda was looking for you a while ago…" Sirius said quietly. Bellatrix stared at him. Without venom dripping on every word she replied,

"Oh. Well, I suppose I'd better be on my way. I'm sorry that I dared intrude upon you, dearest cousin." With a huff she stalked out of the compartment but still managed to hear,

"That's your cousin? You're related to a Black?"

"Stick with us, mate, we don't mind a bit of a tainted background ourselves. Can't always choose your family, I suppose." All echoed by laughter; Sirius's included.

Bellatrix had never felt so enraged. How dare those ridiculous boys consider even thinking that a Black was inferior to them. The Potters? She'd heard of them, they had some prestige, yes, but not nearly the fame and fortune as her own had. And who in the world even knew what a Lupin was? I don't even know why this bothers me so much. Although those fools ought to know who to insult and who to stay clear of, I guess we can't all be fortunate enough to have been born with such knowledge. But Sirius? Bella felt, in some sense, betrayed by her cousin. The entire summer they had talked about how they were going to have such a great time at Hogwarts and all of the adventures they'd go on and all the fun that they'd have. And now here he is, pretending as though he doesn't even know who I am. I should have expected this of him…what a traitor, what a terrible, terrible traitor.

She walked to an empty compartment and sat down, her black robes flowing around her. She hated Hogwarts before she had even reached it. Already she had lost one of her dearest friends over his…insane rationalizing that a Black wasn't good enough for his friends. She leaned her head against the window pane and was about to close her eyes and take a long nap, when the compartment doors suddenly swung open. Half expecting (half hoping) that Sirius would come bounding in offering her all sorts of explanations; she was surprised to see three boys and a girl walk in.

The girl was thin and tall with silvery white hair and a regal look on her face. She had clear, glowing blue eyes. With a smile, she took the seat beside Bella. "Do you mind?" She asked stiffly.

Bella didn't answer but considered her for a moment. "No, you may stay." The girl seemed to visibly relax after Bella's hard scrutinizing. "My name's Celeste, Celeste Vanche."

A tall, older boy with long blonde hair held out his hand with a smug look. "Lucius Malfoy." He stated as though it were the most important thing in the world, which, to him, it probably was.

Out of the other two boys, one was dark haired and tan skinned, a Russian with piercing eyes. He was introduced as 'Antonin Dolohov'. The last boy was somewhat…charming, Bellatrix thought. He was medium height with a crafty look in his eyes and soft brown hair.

"And you are?" She pointedly asked as the boy sat down without introduction, giving her only a teasing look.

"Rodolphus Lestrange. Pleasure to meet you, Bellatrix."

It took a bit longer than expected to pass over the giant lake and step inside of Hogwarts. Bellatrix had to give her eldest sister some credit, they had barely even seen the inside of the school and already she was noticing stranger and stranger things; like a giant squid (or a tentacle of) in the lake, a giant of a man with a strange accent, and horseless carriages. Magic at its best, she decided.

The Great Hall was filled with people, apparently of all ages and Houses. They were seated at long tables and were waiting for the first years to come to a platform and place on a-

A hat? How ridiculous. Bella thought to herself as she eyed it disdainfully. Why should such a tattered thing decide one of the most important moments of my life? For shame…it ought to have been a beautiful golden crown or something with a bit more glamour rather than this, this, abomination. She sighed. She would have to get used to some of Hogwarts more…plain and simple methods.

"When I call your names please come forward and place the Sorting Hat onto your head so as to be sorted into whichever house best suits you." A stately looking witch shouted over the rim of her glasses. "Ackerman, Caprice." A beautiful girl walked up to the hat and placed it on her head. After a few moments the hat yelled out; yes, it actually yelled, Bellatrix laughed to herself, "SLYTHERIN". The emerald clad table shouted out as they welcomed their new housemate. After Anderson, Alohin, Avery, and Bane; Bellatrix was eagerly awaiting her chance. "Black, Bellatrix," The portly witch called.

Bella walked slowly up to the platform, although inside she was nearly bursting. This would prove her ambition, her cunning and her cleverness. This would prove her standing as a Black.

She noticed her sister watching her with careful eyes, as well as the entire table of Slytherins with their leering and invasive looks. With a steady breath she reached for the hat and placed it on her head.

Ah, another Black I see.

I suppose so.

I had your sister only, what was it, two years ago? Intelligent girl, that Andromeda Black…

Bellatrix was beginning to get angry. For goodness sakes, this had nothing to do with Meda.

That's wonderful, let's move on shall we?

Impatient, I can see. Well, fine. Let's see….there's loyalty, yes. There's a loyalty within you that runs very deeply…

Loyalty? You can't be considering Hufflepuff.

Hm. You're right…that's a loyalty unbefitting of Hufflepuff. A loyalty to family and to pride…but yes, you're right. Not loyal enough for that house. Well, there's always bravery-no, no. Not brave enough…I'm afraid you'd choose what is easy over what is right…

What are you babbling about? Can't we just hurry up and choose?

Tut tut, very impatient. Well, Bellatrix Black, what house would you think best?

Slytherin.

Slytherin?

Yes. Slytherin.

Hmm, there's that desire to prove yourself, the ambition, the power, the cleverness and the pride…all very fitting attributes to being a Slytherin…are you sure about this?

Very sure.

One thing is for certain; you'll go far in Slytherin…you may not go correctly, but you shall go far…very well then…I suppose you'd fit best in SLYTHERIN.

Naturally.

A/N: Sorry it's a bit long...Bellatrix's character is going to develop but for the moment remember that she's only 11 so that's why I've got her kind of…one dimensional (I'm not insulting eleven year olds, I'm more like insulting my own writing lol). All right. Comment please.