A/N: 1) For those of you who have read my 'Slytherin Army, Death Eaters Reborn' yes this is the same character and family, but the storyline is much different. I have developed the characters and plot a great deal more. So the names are the same, but that's about it.
2) My sister, RaineArilan, is writing a fic about Alex Bellmonte. These two pieces are meant to be read together. Some of the scenes will be the same, as Tania and Alex interact, but from different POV. Please read her stuff, it's awesome.
3) Please review. Any comments are helpful.
"How dare you, Tania! I cannot believe that you would think you can behave that way." Falon began his rant as soon as the door of their carriage shut and they started for home. Tania said nothing. Falon never expected an answer.
"Alex must think us the lowest form of Pureblood. Surely you have ruined whatever good reputation I had built with the upper class. Not only did you impose on a Bellmonte, but you were gone most of the night." Falon turned his furious gaze to his brother. "And you, stepping in where you weren't needed or wanted. Tania had no right to leave me and you interfered so I could not stop her. Do you want to be noticed by the Elite? Then let me work. I know how they think, what they want to hear. I am the one who can gain status for our family."
Hunter, who had been looking out the window, finally met Falon's stare. "Tania did nothing wrong, Falon. To have kept her from Alex would have been a grave insult. Tania knows how to behave and I have no doubt that she did not disgrace us."
Falon sneered. "You are as blind as you are weak, Hunter, if you think such things." Suddenly his hand lashed out and struck Tania across the face.
"You are not paying attention." He snarled. She blinked and redirected her gaze to her brother. A bruise began to form on her cheek, but she didn't appear to notice or care. And in truth, she didn't. Bruises were gone by morning and the pain they brought was insignificant.
Hunter grabbed Falon's wrist as he moved to hit her again. " That is enough!! Yell at her if you must, but do not ruin this night. Do not strike her, Little Brother."
"I'm sorry, Falon." She whispered, to distract them both. It was the only thing Falon ever wanted from her when he finished. Not an explanation or excuses, just an apology. He wanted her to admit that she was wrong and he was right.
Falon yanked his arm free of Hunter, leaned back in his seat and studied her for several long moments. "I think you might mean it…this time. Don't do it again." He warned. Nothing more was said on the ride home, everything that needed to be said, had been.
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Tania passed through the barrier into the chaos that was the school platform. Muggles, Mudbloods, and Halfbloods ran around with no apparent direction or order. It was easy to spot the Purebloods in the crowd. They were isolated calm, collected and silently suffering the masses swirling around them.
Her Family was no exception. Father and Mother walked calmly through the insanity, the students parting before them. Falon, then Hunter, then Tania followed. Servants carried their trunks. The goodbyes that were said were short and formal. Each child took their trunks and owls and boarded the train. There was no reason to linger on the platform, anyone worth talking to had already boarded.
Tania watched as both her brothers left, slowly pulling her trunk behind her. She had no friends to rush to, nor did she want to sit with Falon or disturb Hunter. She passed by compartments filled with Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuff. There were a few groups of Slytherins, but they preferred the front of the train usually.
Tania paused at the doorway to one compartment. Inside was Alex Bellmonte, alone, and reading a textbook. She had been the only Slytherin girl to ever talk to her and Tania had to admit that she had enjoyed mingling with Alex. Her quick and caustic wit were a refreshing change to what Tania was used to. It couldn't hurt, asking to sit with Alex. Most others would leave her alone. No one like to sit with Slytherins.
She quietly knocked on the glass. Alex looked up from her reading. Tania refused to meet the other girl's gaze.
"Hello, Tania." Alex greeted.
"Are these seats taken?" Tania asked tentatively.
"No. Go ahead and sit. Do you need help stowing your things?"
"No. Thank you. I'm fine." Tania quickly swung her luggage into the rack above their heads before Alex could do more than offer. It wouldn't due for Alex to think that Tania couldn't take care of herself. Once finished, she took the other window seat, directly across from Alex. Taking out a textbook similar to Alex's, Tania hesitated. It would be rude to read if Alex wanted to talk or something.
"Oh, good. You're going to read too. I wanted to finish this before class started." Alex disappeared behind her book and Tania breathed a silent breath of relief. Falon's words about disgracing the family were still haunting her. Tania gratefully hid in the world of academia.
A silence fell, mostly a comfortable one. It was punctuated only by the occasional noise of students passing by in the hall. Tania caught scathing glares that Alex gave over the top of her textbook to keep anyone else from trying to sit in their compartment. The sound of students had faded and the platform had nearly cleared when…
"Alex!" a voice called. It took everything in Tania's power to keep from flinching, but she managed it. Fixing her eyes on the page in front of her, Tania recognized several of Alex's year-mates, Fourth Years. She heard rather than saw Alex close her book.
"Milli. Blaise. Looking for a seat?" Alex asked.
"Alex." Milli slid into the seat next to Tania, ignoring her, for which Tania was fine with. She didn't want to bring any attention to herself. "How was your summer?" Milli continued.
"Same old stuff," Alex responded with just a hint of yawn in her voice. Tania saw Alex smile suddenly. "I know your grandmother is old fashion like that, Blaise, but all the girls are seated. You don't have to keep standing." Tania swallowed hard as she connected the second person as Blaise Zabini. She kept her gaze firmly on her book, hoping none of them would notice the fact that she didn't turn any pages.
He grinned and dropped down beside Alex as the train started moving. "I've been hearing weird stuff about you lately, Lex."
"Rumors? About me?" Alex flipped her hair over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. "Why, that's never happened to me before!"
"I'm not talking about rumors, Alexandria."
"Oh! Use of full name. Are you worried about me, Blaise?" She dropped a hand delicately onto his shoulder. "I'm touched."
"Lex! What happened between you and Darius at that stupid Flint party?!"
Milli leaned forward, concern warring with glee in her eyes.
"What makes you think that's any of your business, Zabini?" Alex's voice was quite vicious.
"Goyle said you did his brother. Marcus says he did you. Darius himself has either no comment or mutters something about you screwing Draco Malfoy. Who won't comment one way of the other as far as I've heard…" Tania felt very out of her league. She knew all those names, but it all swirled around her as the older students gossiped.
"What?!" Milli exclaimed in delighted shock.
"What?!" Alex growled in an unknowing echo, gripping Blaise's arm.
"What?" Pansy stood just outside their compartment, a surprised smile on her face. "Our very own Alex is a sl-"
With a sharp wave of her wand, which had appeared instantly in her hand, Alex sent the door slamming shut barely missing the end of Pansy's nose. This time, Tania could not keep from flinching at the sound, but no one noticed as they were all watching the outraged Pansy. Personally, Tania would have done the same thing and envied Alex the confidence to actually do it. Laughter turned to rage when Pansy failed in her attempts to yank the door back open.
"I'd cast a silencing spell but I think there's no point. This seems to be wide spread amongst the men and now that Pansy knows...will there be anyone who won't find out? Somehow, I doubt it." Alex said.
"You're entirely too correct," Milli said, sighing lightly. "What's your plan, Lex?"
"Simple, do nothing." Tania nodded, still using her book as a shield. If Alex protested, it would only make everyone believe there was truth to it.
"I am a Bellmonte." Alex continued, "I am above such obvious stupidity. I do not acknowledge it and it cannot touch me. I don't care."
After a second Blaise nodded slowly. "If there's no reaction then what's the point. Elegant and practical as ever, Alex."
"As for the rumors themselves, your sources are Goyle and Marcus Flint. Who believes Marcus and Goyle about anything? Draco…" Alex shrugged. "He's Draco Malfoy. It's all complicated."
"Ain't that the truth." Milli muttered. Alex and Blaise jerked up and stared at her. Alex started to grin. "Milli…that was hilarious." Tania hid a frown, she didn't understand what was so funny.
Milli laughed. "Ain't it just?" this time her voice held disgusted mockery.
"Oh gosh." Alex started to laugh as well. "I never thought I'd hear Millicent Bulstrode using low born language."
Tania switched her gaze from the book to the window and watched as countryside passed rapidly outside as the others laughed. They had calmed down by the time a knock came from outside the compartment door. Tania glanced over and saw only the nice old woman who sold candy and treats off her cart. Alex spelled the door back open.
"One of everything and two of anything new." Alex ordered with the air of one who didn't care about prices or depriving someone else of a supply.
"The same." Blaise said in a scornful monotone, his 'public' voice.
"One of everything and two of anything chocolate." Milli put in creatively.
"And for you my dear?" The old lady leaned in and looked at Tania.
"I-I…Nothing for me thanks. I'm fine." She had no pocket money left. The small allowance she received had all gone toward research books that had to tide her over until Christmas.
Milli let out an airily cruel laugh that cut Tania deep. "Oh just order something even if you don't want it now. Alex pays for everything and her purse has no known bottom." Tania felt all the blood drain from her face. It was bad enough that she had no money, but now Milli was suggesting that she take charity.
"Oh please do buy one of everything at least. My parents get suspicious if they don't think I'm spending my money on 'normal' things." Alex didn't look at Tania as she said it. Tania knew Alex was pitying her, but there was no way to back down gracefully.
"One of everything then." Tania spoke just loud enough to be heard, and was happy that she didn't falter over the words at all. As soon as she'd spoken the appropriate treats flew to the laps of those who'd ordered them and Alex pulled out her belt purse. When a handful of galleons had found their way into the pocket of the woman's robe she left and Alex shut the door again but refrained from locking it.
"So. Who are you exactly?" Milli said, ignoring the bounty of junk food covering her lap. Her words prevented Tania from retreating behind her book again, as she had started to.
"Must be somebody interesting to earn a spot in Alex's compartment." Blaise commented as he opened a chocolate frog. Tania took a breath to answer as Alex did it for her.
"Millicent Bulstrode. Blaise Zabini. This Tania Dethart. I'm sure you've met her older brothers, Hunter and Falon." Alex commented.
"Falon?" Milli jumped right in, smirking. "Not the Hated-Imbecile Falon?" Tania swallowed. There was no right way to answer that.
"What she means to say," Blaise interjected smoothly, "is that you are far too beautiful to be related to a specimen such as Falon Dethart."
Tania, who had just gotten her coloring back from the last comment, paled brilliantly, which was followed by a blush at Blaise's comment. Red stained her cheekbones. Alex chuckled and tapped Blaise's nose with her wand.
"She is quite lovely but she's too young for you Blaise. Don't you prefer them tall, blonde and at least seventh year if you can't get a Professor?" she asked.
Blaise leaned back in his seat and grinned smugly. "Not that that happens often."
"The only time you ever did without was when your grandfather put that age limit spell on you. Limited you to girls within six months of your age if I remember rightly." Alex smirked at his horrified expression.
"Hit on everything vaguely feminine in our year you did…including me and Alex." Milli was laughing again.
"It was not exactly my fault! Abstinence has never been my thing!"
"And it was second year too! I'm not sure who was more relieved when your grandfather took it off, you or the girls your age."
As the landscape continued to rush past and the conversation dissolved into debating Blaise's conquests and preferences, Tania slipped back into hiding behind her textbook, grateful to once again be forgotten. She tuned out the others for the rest of the trip, disappearing as soon as the train stopped.