"So Bella what were you doing that caused you to collapse in the girls bathroom? You weren't by any chance doing muggle drugs were you?" Antonin laughed.
"Dolohov, don't!" Rudolphus said giving Antonin a warning look. Bella smiled slightly at Rudolphus and returned to studying her book. "Hey Antonin don't jest. If my sister had disgraced my family by eloping with a mudblood, I'd want escapism!" Theo Nott snorted. Bella looked up and slammed her book making Regulus and Severus jump slightly.
"That's it. How dare you imply that I was doing any such thing?" Bella spat, her wand whipping out of her robe pocket in a millisecond. Theo gulped slightly at the sight of a furious looking Bellatrix brandishing her wand merely millimetres from his nose.
"I di..didn't mean it. S..sorry Bella." He stuttered. Rudolphus got off his chair and slowly approached Bellatrix.
"Bella, don't. Ignore him." He said attempting to sooth her. She slowly relented and her wand dipped in her hand. Tears welled up in the corners of her pretty hazel eyes but she refused to let them fall in front of her house-mates, not wanting to give them further fuel to mock her with. "I thought you were meant to be my friends!" She said her voice choked with unshed tears. "Friends aren't meant to be horrible to one another." She sniffed, the tears finally overcoming her. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and bit her bottom lip, as it had been quivering during her tirade. "I can't stand to be with you all now!" She said as she made her way to the door and spoke the password, mounting the steps up to the ground floor of the castle. There was a pregnant pause and several boys sent frantic glances around the room.
"Don't you think someone should go after her?" Severus said looking up from his interrupted game of Gobstones he'd been playing with Regulus. "Yeah, where's Narcissa?"
"With Lucius, and I aren't interrupting!" Walden Macnair, Lucius' best friend, stated.
"Well someone needs to go. Regulus you're her cousin." Rudolphus stated, not wanting a tearful Bella wandering aimlessly around Hogwarts particularly after her collapse earlier in the day. "No way! I aren't going after Bella when she's in a mood. I value my life thanks." Regulus said looking thoroughly terrified at the prospect of approaching Bella when she was so obviously upset.
"Fine I'll go. We can't have her wandering about in a state god knows what she'll do." Rudolphus said sending a contemptuous scowl towards Theo who looked away from the glare. "If Lucius and Narcissa do emerge at any time tell them I've gone after her." Rudolphus stated leaving the common room in pursuit of Bellatrix.
Rudolphus sighed as Peeves swarmed alongside him. "Why Mr Lestrange you seem to be striding purposely along the corridors."
"Piss off Peeves." Rudolphus said irritated by Peeves.
"Tut tut, Monsieur Lestrange. Mind the French!" Peeves laughed at his own joke, despite the fact it wasn't funny in the slightest. Rudolphus shook his head as the poltergeist floated off upon spotting the Fat Friar. 'Where the hell is she?' he wondered as he continued his search. He found her finally in the great hall, her sobs echoing around the spacious room. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed softly and his felt a dull ache as he saw her so upset, he could murder Nott for his thoughtlessness. He approached her cautiously not wanting to scare her, his footsteps were too heavy on the stone floor alas and she looked up at him, her eyes glassy from the tears she'd shed. "I guessed someone would come after me." She said wearily as Rudolphus took a seat next to her on the wooden bench.
"Yeah well we couldn't have you upset and on your own could we!"
"Thanks." Bella replied resting her chin in her hands, her tears still flowing.
"Hey c'mon Bella. Shush." Rudolphus said putting his arm round her and stroking her hair. He could feel his robes getting moist as she let out her tears but did nothing, allowing her to fully release her emotions. "We should head back Belle, I think people might be starting to get a little worried." Rudolphus said after a few minutes. Receiving no reply he looked down and saw that Bella had cried herself to sleep. "Well missy I guess I'll have to carry you back." Rudolphus said gazing down at the now sleeping Bellatrix. Gently picking her up in his arms he slowly and carefully made his way back through the Great Hall all the while gazing down at the pretty girl in his arms. "Is she alright?" Nearly-Headless Nick asked gliding through the candle-lit corridor and almost passing through the lolling head of Bellatrix.
"Yes Nick and if you don't mind I should like to get back to our common room." Rudolphus stated. Nick nodded and let them pass.
Meanwhile a dishevelled Lucius came down to the common room followed by a flushed Narcissa, her hand clasping his. Scanning the common-room quickly Narcissa noticed the absence of her sister. "Where's Bella?" She asked, not addressing anyone particularly. There were frantic glances and an awkward silence before meekly someone spoke up. "Somebody said an unhelpful comment and she got a little upset and left. Rudolphus went after her though." Severus said unsure whether he was been a little too outspoken for a fourth year. "How long have they been?" Lucius asked taking a seat in a large leather armchair and picking up a copy of the 'Daily Prophet'. He wasn't that concerned for his future sister-in-law although he sincerely hoped that both she and Rudolphus would return before the curfew started, as if they were caught wandering around they would surely lose valuable house points. He was interrupted from a rather interesting article, on the importing of Dragon-skins and the rising value of the black-market, by a loud cough. He looked up and was met with a rather upset looking Narcissa. "Lucius, how dare you sit there without a care when my baby sister could be lying in a heap anywhere in this castle." Narcissa said her voice icy.
"Oh come Narcissa don't worry yourself I am quite sure Bella is safe and well and I promise you that if they haven't returned within the hour I shall go search myself." Lucius said humouring her.
"You wouldn't understand you selfish, ignorant prat! She's my sister, my responsibility. You wouldn't understand because you don't have any siblings." Narcissa said her voice raising as she got steadily angrier.
Lucius felt himself clench his fists, 'How dare she speak to me like that?', however before he could react and tell his fiancee off, Rudolphus stumbled into the common-room, Bella fast asleep in his arms. "Is she alright?" Narcissa enquired scurrying towards them both.
"Yes Cissy. She was a little upset and tired it would seem. Would you like me to take her up to her dorm?"
"No take her to my room. I think it'll be best if I can keep an eye on her." Narcissa said honestly. She didn't like the idea that Bella should have to be alone at the moment. "Are you coming back down?" Lucius asked.
"I doubt it." Narcissa replied, her attention still focused on her younger sister.
"Fine." Lucius stated returning his glance back to his paper.
Rudolphus followed Narcissa to her room and gently lay Bella on the large bed, ebony curls spilled out over the pillow and Bellatrix stirred softly, repositioned herself and continued to sleep. Narcissa smiled at Rudolphus. "Thank you forgoing after her."
"No problem.I think you're right though about her not been herself. She doesn't normally let anything get to her but Theo's comment made her cry. She'd normally just hex him and be done with it."
"Oh so it was Theo!" Narcissa said. Rudolphus silently cursed himself for letting it slip. Narcissa shook her head at Rudolphus's expression."You needn't worry Rudolphus I shan't tell him it was you who told me."
"What are yougoing to do?"
"I don't fully know yet but he shouldn't upset my little sister, not when she isn't well."
"Did Madame Pomprey say what was up with her? She was mumbling when she was crying on me and I think she must have hurt her head when she collapsed earlier. She kept saying that 'Papa was angry with her, that she'd brought shame on the Blacks. Do you have any idea about what was going on? I just thought it must be to do with And..." He cut off as henoticed Narcissa's smile drop from her face as he mentioned the name of the eldest Black sister. "Yeah that must be it." Narcissa replied trying to drop the subject. "Anyway Rodulphus if you could excuse me I have to finish my Ancient Runes essay for tomorrow." Narcissa stated as she opened the door for Rudolphus. "Okay Cissy. Take care." Rudolphus said exiting the room. Narcissa leant against the door, her pretty face buried in her hands. She hoped dearly that Bella hadn't murmered much else during her sobs.