Bellatrix gave a gasp as her maid tightened the strings on her corset. She could never really see the point of the fashion. And it seemed incredibly unfair that she had to wear one and the muggleborns and half-bloods didn't. It was the only thing she would ever be jealous of.
"Bella?"
She brightened instantly, and looked around the dressing screen as her younger cousin entered the room.
"Regulus! What's up, kid?"
"Not much," Regulus sat on the chair at her vanity. "Just thought I'd say hello."
"I heard Sirius brought one of his awful friends," she said. "Do you know who it is?"
"Lupin."
"Oh," she sighed. "I guess he could have done worse. At least he minds his own business. More or less."
Regulus smiled wryly.
Bella knew that he liked Lupin; for whatever reason, Remus spent a semester in second year helping him in History of Magic. And while neither would ever admit it, there was a mutual respect there. And for Regulus's sake, Bella would accept it, simply because she loved Regulus that much.
"How's Angeline?" Bella asked.
"Moody," he replied. "Wouldn't you be?"
"If Rodolphus died?" she said. "Nope."
Regulus looked surprised. "But…you're marrying him!"
"Only because Mum and Dad would disown me if I didn't," Bella laughed. "If I didn't, I probably never talk to him again, once out of school."
"I don't believe that. You'd have to be connected in some sort of social way."
"Indeed," she said.
"But you'd talk to Severus again, wouldn't you?" Regulus asked slyly.
Bella stiffened. "What makes you say that?"
"I'm not stupid Bella."
She turned to look at him. He was looking at her intently.
"You must never tell anyone," she said. "If you do, I'll—"
"I won't! You know I wouldn't!"
Bella pulled the dress handed her over her head. Her maid buttoned up the back, and Bella walked around the screen. She shooed Regulus off the chair to a couch against the adjacent wall, and sat down to have her hair done.
"I hate black," she sighed. "I hate wearing this much. It makes me feel like a widow. I'm too young to be a widow."
"Of course you are!" Regulus eyes sparkled through the mirror. "You're not even married yet!"
Bella smiled back at him. "Maybe I can arrange that I am a widow before I'm married."
They sat in silence, gazing at each other through the mirror. They both knew she was only half joking. Bella was not a moral person. She had ambition, and she had quick wits, and she had a temper that could only be matched by Sirius's and Angeline's. It was an advantage and disadvantage of Alphard marrying Angeline's second cousin. There was little doubt that she would have no qualms about killing anyone in the way of her own plans.
The maid finished on her hair, and left the room. Bella studied her hair for a moment.
"I don't know if I like human service better or not," she said thoughtfully. "They certainly are more aware of fashion than house elves."
"Mum doesn't like seeing them," Regulus said. "any more than she likes the thought of them touching our food."
Bella laughed. "More like she likes to show off that she has the resources to hire help at the same time. It's all part of the show."
"I wonder how well she'll keep it up under these conditions," Regulus said.
"Well, we'll find out, won't we?"
The two smiled at each other.
Notes: Holy Cheezits! I haven't written fanfiction in ages! My computer doesn't recognize half the names anymore cries.
Thank you to those who reviewed! And I beg you to keep reading, even if the updates aren't as frequent as they used to be! I still love Harry Potter, fanfiction, and all you people out there that take the time to read my shit!
This chapter was actually supposed to be from Regulus' pov. I actually decided moments before writing it to make it Bella's. We're going to get one hell of a tangle with all the stuff going on, I think. So please, tell me if you get lost, maybe it'll help me improve the way I write—meaning always have discreet reminders of all the other subplots.
