DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER.
The next day was a Hogsmeade weekend. It was already May and this would be one of the last ones that she would be enjoying in the small village before the annual examinations. As Andromeda was in her fourth year, she would be coming along as well. Narcissa however, would have to wait until her third year.
The two sisters were holding hands and skipping along as they stood under a tree at a point from where they could see the castle some distance away, looming majestically before them.
Bellatrix spoke, "It's so amazing isn't it?"
Andromeda spoke, "Well, after this, we'll have to study seriously for our exams. Then afterwards, it'll be your seventh year."
Bellatrix replied, "And then I'll have to get my auror apprenticeship. It will go well."
Andromeda looked around and said smilingly, "Just wait over here. I'll be back."
Bellatrix looked at her and said, "Be careful Andi, I don't want you running into any trouble."
Andromeda nodded her head and went on her way.
She went to Honeydukes and bought a box of Bertie Bott's every flavor beans.
Thinking she would pop an ear wax flavored one in her sister's mouth, she smiled and exited the shop.
As she exited, her smile turned into an expression of discomfort.
For, just a little distance away from her, was a man with a dirty face, looking shady. He looked like he wanted to cause trouble.
And then, he looked at her and spoke, "Oi Miss, where are you off to? Want some help you pretty girl?"
Andromeda looked at him with disgust and said, "You just stay away from me savage!"
With that, she walked off in the other direction.
A few moments later, she turned around and was horrified to find him following her.
She turned here and there, hoping to lose him, and finally ended up near the Hog's Head which just so unfortunately happened to be closed.
And then, she saw him running towards her, and ran off as fast as she could.
He pursued her, and she ran behind the building, hoping to lose him. She pulled out her wand to defend herself, but suddenly found herself propped against the wall, with an evil face close to hers.
"I don't like the way you spoke to me you little beauty!" The shady guy spoke evilly, "Now let me teach you a lesson you will never forget!"
Andromeda cried out, "No, don't touch me! Help me! Bellatrix, someone, help me!"
The man laughed and reached out to rip her clothes off. Even as he grasped her upper clothing near the neck to rip it off, he licked his lips.
And then suddenly, there was a roar.
The man found his grip being forcibly loosened and the next moments, he had been pushed back by a man with black hair and glasses.
Abhimanyu, who had been near Honeydukes, had noticed the shady character and feeling protective, had followed them from a distance. He was burning with rage seeing this vile man who had tried to rape a woman, someone he considered as his friend.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Abhimanyu roared with fury that Andromeda had never seen before.
The man got up and sneered, "You bastard, I'll get you for this you nigger!"
With that, he charged.
Abhimanyu grappled with him furiously for a while, after which he proceeded to punch him in the stomach.
Even as the man clutched his stomach and his head jerked forwards, Abhimanyu delivered a vicious hook to the jaw. He fell backwards and his head hit the ground.
He lay still, unconscious.
Abhimanyu immediately rushed towards Andromeda and hugged her saying, "Andromeda, are you okay? I won't let him hurt you. Don't worry, he won't touch you."
Suddenly, they saw Bellatrix nearby shouting, "Hey you! Get away from my sister!"
With that, she rushed forward and was about to pull them apart from each other when Andromeda suddenly stretched out her hands and yelled, "No Bella don't! He saved me! Abhimanyu saved me!"
Abhimanyu spoke worriedly, "That guy tried to rape her! Quickly bind him! We have to hand him over to the cops! Quick!"
Bellatrix had the rapist bound and afterwards looked at Abhimanyu with curiosity.
She had never been his friend.
And yet he had saved her sister.
Two days later…
Abhimanyu had just come out of the charms classroom after a word with Professor Flitwick. Classes were over for the day and he was feeling very tired.
Just as he walked down a corridor and turned round a corner, he ran into Rodolphus and a few other boys who usually hung out with him.
Rodolphus sneered, "So what's up Pandey? Getting another treat from the teacher, being the teachers' pet, aren't you?"
Abhimanyu replied in frustration, "Ro, stop that. I was discussing an important matter with Professor Flitwick. And I need to go, so see you later."
Rodolphus shouted, "Where do you think you're going, Mudblood?! Think you're still worth it? It's many of us against you here. You know you are powerless if you try to fight us! But why should you? Go eat your cereal, itty bitty Mudblood!"
Suddenly, everyone heard a female voice yelling, "Shut up!"
They turned around to see none other than Bellatrix, standing just behind the group of Slytherin boys.
Rodolphus spoke, "What's your problem Bellatrix? We're just…"
"I said shut up!" Bellatrix shouted, "Leave him alone and just go away. I'll handle him."
Rodolphus said, "Oh come on! What's happened?"
Bellatrix warningly said, "If you don't stop, I'll take away points from you. Don't forget that I'm a prefect! Now just leave."
Rodolphus shrugged his shoulders, looked weirdly at Bellatrix, and spoke, "Come on boys, let's go find something else to do."
With that, they walked away.
Abhimanyu, who was feeling hurt and tired, looked at Bellatrix and said, "Thanks."
With that, he turned and was about to leave.
Just then, he heard her voice, "Abhimanyu, can I talk to you?"
He stopped and turned to look at her.
She had no smirk on her face or some such thing.
Looking at her and her dark hair, he said, "Okay. But can we go somewhere else? Not here. Maybe the lake or the courtyard…"
Bellatrix replied, "Sure, come on."
A few minutes later, Abhimanyu and Bellatrix were sitting under a beech tree very close to the lake, watching ripples of water striking the shore.
Bellatrix turned to Abhimanyu and spoke softly, "Abhimanyu, I'm just wondering, why did you save my sister?"
Abhimanyu looked at her and said, slightly bitterly, "What was I supposed to do? Just stand by and let that creep rape her? What kind of person would I be? Nothing but a monster! And I'm not one. No one harms anyone who I care about."
Bellatrix looked at him and spoke, "Abhimanyu, I have to tell you something. I know you're not going to like it, but you need to hear me out."
Abhimanyu said, "What?"
She explained, "You see, I am from the House of Black, and my family is dead against Muggles and Muggleborns. We are expected to live up to its name. So far, I know you'll probably hate me for this, but I have never considered you as my friend. I felt irritated when you came to me for tips, but somehow, I couldn't not give them to you. But I always sneered at you for being a Muggleborn. Even the other day when we found out about our wand cores, I was rude to you. I never treated you like a friend should, and yet you saved my sister."
Abhimanyu looked like he wanted to cry, but he held his tears back.
A few moments later, he said in a pained voice, "I always thought we could be good friends. And you're not like Rodolphus who hates me and jeers at me all the time. Somehow, you're different. I always thought if I tried to be more polite and considerate, you'd let me hang out with you. But no matter what, defending Andromeda was the right thing to do and I don't regret it."
Bellatrix looked at him for a few moments and spoke, "You're not weak like Rodolphus says. You are talented, strong, smart, and polite."
She breathed deeply and then said, "Thank you for protecting my sister."
Abhimanyu looked at her and nodded in acknowledgement.
He then said, "By the way, there's something I want to ask you."
Bellatrix asked, "What is it?"
Abhimanyu replied, "Can we please be friends, this time for real?"
He looked into Bellatrix's eyes, hopeful that she would accept him.
Bellatrix looked at him deeply. Sure, her father wouldn't appreciate this, but she couldn't just turn someone like him away. And besides, she felt like she liked him now.
As Abhimanyu continued to look at her hopefully, she suddenly clasped his hands in hers and said, "For real."
Abhimanyu said, "Friends forever?"
Bellatrix replied, "Friends forever."
Abhimanyu launched himself into her arms and they hugged each other.
He cried, releasing pent up emotions and Bellatrix comforted him by slowly rubbing his back and rocking him from side to side.
After a few moments, he calmed down.
They leaned on each other's heads, enjoying the breeze.
Abhimanyu whispered, "Bellatrix, are you hungry?"
Bellatrix replied, "I could do with something to eat."
Abhimanyu laid his head on her lap with a mischievous smile on his face and said, "Well, do you specialize in annoying boys?"
Bellatrix looked at him evilly and said, "I suppose I could devour you. A cute Muggleborn meant for me to eat."
Abhimanyu laughed and said, "Well, okay. How would you destroy me? Maul me?"
Bellatrix glared at him playfully and replied, "Oh yes! I will tear you apart and eat you up!"
With that, she pretended to tear him apart with her nails and then eat him.
Afterwards, she caressed his forehead.
Abhimanyu smiled and sat up. He pulled Bellatrix into a hug and said, "I'm glad to have you as my friend for real Bellatrix, but what about Andromeda and Narcissa?"
Bellatrix replied, "Andromeda's more than willing to be your friend. She and Narcissa look up to me. They won't sneer at you. We'll all be your friends now."
Abhimanyu smiled at that.
Later on, after having had dinner, Bellatrix was sitting on her bed, reading a book when she suddenly heard someone calling out, "Bellatrix."
She looked up and saw Avril standing in front of her bed.
Avril asked, "Is it true that you are actually friends with that Mudblood Pandey?"
Bellatrix replied, "That's none of your business Avril. And there's more to him than we've seen so far."
Avril spoke, "Bellatrix, he is a Mudblood! He doesn't belong here!"
Bellatrix spoke a little angrily, "Don't use that word. He saved my sister from getting raped, even though I sneered at him for six years."
Avril said, "Are you serious? What's to say he didn't set this whole thing up?"
Bellatrix hissed, "Abhimanyu would never ever do something like that! It's despicable! And he is the opposite of that."
Avril said disdainfully, "Bellatrix, you know about how true those rumors are. After what you and I heard from Rodolphus, you want to start a friendship with one born from Muggles? Have some sense. One day, we'll be taken to see the Dark Lord. You need to end this friendship with him and show him where he belongs, before you meet the Dark Lord."
Bellatrix replied, "I am not ending this friendship! He is someone genuine. He never ever gave up trying to be my friend. And I'm not going to put him down, not anymore! There's more to him than just the fact that his parents are Muggles."
Avril said, "You'd better know what you are doing Bellatrix. You are after all from the most Ancient and Noble House of Black. Anyway, I guess I should turn in. I'm really sleepy. Goodnight Bellatrix."
"Goodnight," Bellatrix replied.
As Avril turned herself in, Bellatrix closed her book and stared into space, thinking.
Recently, there had been some incidents involving cloaked figures and Muggles disappearing, and rumors of a new dark lord.
She knew, having heard it straight from Rodolphus, that they were true.
For there was indeed a new dark lord, and he was known to his followers as Lord Voldemort.
From what she had heard, Lord Voldemort wanted to gather followers, declare war and eventually take over the wizarding world, and put Muggles and Muggleborns in their place.
Rodolphus had offered to take Bellatrix to meet the dark lord one day.
He had made the same offer to Avril.
But now that Bellatrix was friends with a Muggleborn, her thoughts towards him, which had earlier been those of resentment, had now become thoughts of concern.
She would have to tell Abhimanyu about the new dark lord who was rising, the Dark Lord Voldemort.