Main Prompt: Native American Magic - Task 5, Write about an object that has magical powers.

Secondary Prompts: 1. [Object] Amulette, 10. [Character] Bellatrix Black and 11. [Family] Most Ancient and Noble House of Black.

Word Count: 1043

Warning for parents not equally loving their children

I know that Andromeda is in Slytherin, but I like her being in Gryffindor

~wWw~

Bellatrix Black wanted to scream! She never got any of her parent's attention. They always focused on Narcissa, their golden child, engaged to Lucius Malfoy. They even paid more attention to Andromeda, the disgraced child, a Gryffindor, than her. She yearned for their attention but rarely received it. She just wanted them to put her first, if only once. But they never did.

Bellatrix watched from her room as her mother fussed over Narcissa, brushing her hair with careful long strokes, nothing like how she brushed Bellatrix's hair. No, with Narcissa she was careful and loving, sweet even. Bellatrix watched as her mother delicately ran her fingers through Narcissa's blonde hair, gently pulling the knots out, never yanking or pulling. As she watched Bellatrix grew upset; tears gathering in the normally tearless girl's eyes. Just like always.

Bellatrix turned away and pushed the door shut, sliding her back down the wooden surface. She cradled her head between her hands, holding back tears. Her throat burned as she attempted to stop the hot tears building in her eyes. But they wouldn't stop. They just flowed, ignoring her valiant attempt at preventing them. She gently rocked back against the door, her tears slowly fading away.

Why did she need their approval? They never gave it to her. So why beg for something she was never going to get?

She leaned back against the door, her tears dried, completely disappearing. Bellatrix no longer cared. The first thing she had to do? Get out of the house. Number 12 Grimmauld Place was no place to do anything magical, well anything fun. Too many muggles around. Her parents ignored her but they would still pay off the ministry so she could use magic out of school.

She rose to her feet, ignoring the slight pain in her legs, from her uncomfortable position. Bellatrix opened the door, slightly ducking her head in an attempt to avoid being seen, it wasn't like anyone noticed her anyway. She made it all the way to the door before her father's voice stopped her.

"Bella," He said affectionately, he was the only one in their family who semi-cared for her and valued her existence.

She stopped, turning towards him, hoping he wouldn't notice she had been crying.

"Dad," she said with a small smile. He pulled something out from behind his back, presenting it to her.

"This is for you, it has been passed through my family for generations, and you are the one that it will continue to be passed down through." He handed her a small box and gave her a knowing smile. "I know you will use it well and for all that is ours."

"Thanks, Dad," Bellatrix said, having still not opened the box.

He turned away and continued to his office soundly closing the door behind him. Bellatrix stood still for a moment, unsure of what she was supposed to do. After a moment she continued out the door. She headed for the nearby park, by now the muggles knew to leave her alone when she was there. It had only taken a couple of curses for them to learn their lesson.

Most of them scrambled away as she approached the park, her face cloaked in shadows. She sat on one of the uncomfortable swings as she opened the box her father had given her. A dark amulet, surrounded by green tissue paper, lay in the box. She ran her fingers over the cool material of the amulet, watching as it glowed slightly in response to her touch. Bellatrix picked it up, allowing the silver material of the chain to dangle through her fingers.

She ran her thumb over the amulet, watching as its glow changed upon her touch. Bellatrix carefully balanced the box on her knee as she clasped the amulet around her neck and allowed it to fall upon her throat. Now it only glowed slightly, barely bright enough to see it. She closed the box, setting it beside her as she looked at the amulet. It was a pretty amulet but it seemed useless so far.

Bellatrix was so distracted by her new bobble that she missed the five boys approaching her from behind her.

"Hey!" one of them called out, startling her from her thoughts. She turned towards them, searching for her wand. She couldn't find it. Then she remembered, it was at home, on her bed, right where she had left it.

"What do you want!" Bellatrix growled, hoping to scare them off before they got close.

"For you to leave!" A muggle growled back, seemingly unfazed by her harsh tone.

"That's not happening," Bellatrix said, forcing her growing fear behind the walls in her mind.

"Well, what are you going to do about it?" Insults and taunts flew back and forth, but no one wanted to make the first move.

They were so preoccupied with their arguing that they missed Bellatrix's glowing amulet. Bellatrix hadn't noticed as it grew warm against her skin. Then it happened, one of the boys took a step towards her, then another. Bellatrix sat frozen on the swing, unsure of how to react. One of them with a single step towards her, towering over her skinny figure. He was close enough to touch her; but he would never get that chance.

He reached out to touch Bellatrix.

The amuelette pulsed, once, twice, three times. Then its colour shifted, shifting from black to deep green, not unlike the one Bellatrix wore every day at school. It flashed to red once, but not red like the Gryffindor colour, red like blood. A shot of red energy pulsed outward from the necklace, similar to the shade of a Stupefy. The energy passed through each of the five boys.

Bellatrix watched as they dropped one by one, just like flies. She had never seen anything like it. She stood, picked up the box the amulet had been in, not wanting to get caught up without her wand again, and started walking home. Bellatrix glanced down at the amulet and she noticed it was still green, not the black it had been originally. She touched it with her finger watching as the colour darkened a little.

It really was a special amulet.