Chapter VI - Peace and Quiet

During the whole trip to Hogwarts, she allowed herself to be distracted by Andromeda's, and Narcisa's excited chatter. They were happy, careless, making plans to explore and have fun at Hogwards.

For them, it was just another year... She wished she could just forget about her impending doom. Their ease and clear excitement helped with that. Even if briefly. Her mind would often wander, and bring her back to the memory of her father annoucing that he had found the perfect candidate.

- He is a respectful young man, from a powerful family. Almost as great as our own.

Lestrange. She would be Bellatrix Lestrange.

An unexplainable feeling in the pit of her stomach made her feel like screaming her head out. She wanted to... to break something. She felt incredibly uneasy. It wasn't pain, per se, but there was a restlessness inside herself that she couldn't explain. She was angry at the building agony, and having a hard time controling her own emotions. She felt her heartbeat accelerate its pace. Her breathing was getting heavier, she knew that nothing could help her... Nothing...

"Bella?" Andie's voice brought her back to the present. She had a reassuring smile that eased Bellatrix's heartache. Only a bit, though. Under the surface, she was still boilling with contempt. "I'm sure that once father sees all the outstandings in your grades he will realize that you don't need a marriage to bring honor to the house of black"

Narcisa nodded along, smiling brightly while she ate a few chocolate frogs. She was the golden, perfect girl in their mother's eyes. If they were at home she would never dare behave in such unlady-like manner. Licking her fingers, and diving into sweets after sweets. Perfection is difficult to uphold... But that's what the sisters were for. They confided in one another. And in the privacy of their bubble, Narcisa let go of her uptight, cold persona, to indulge in childish things. Such as gossip with Andromeda, and sweet candies with Bellatrix.

Bellatrix responded Andromeda with a simple smile, but she knew that it wasn't a matter of proving anything, anymore. Her father knew of her potential. She could be the most powerful witch of the world, she would still have to marry. It was a matter of necessity. It was her responsibility, as the eldest daughter of Cygnus Black. She had to provide an heir to take over their rightful seat at the winzegamot.

Suddenly, the door to their compartment opened, and she turned to glare at the idiot who dared invade their spot. Everyone knew that the last compartment to the right belonged to the black sisters. Bellatrix made quite the statement on her third year, when the irritant griffindors refused to leave on the claim that they 'arrived first'.

Her almost forgoten feeling of rage came up again, because of that unwanted intrusion. She was itching to let go. Here he was, that hufflepuff Ted Tonks, staring at Andromeda as if he never seen a girl in his life. He was the perfect target.

Before she could open her own mouth, though, the stupid huffle-loser stunned her into silence.

"Hello, beautiful." He said, eyex fixated on a very flushed Andromed. Then steped fowards, letting the door behind him close, as he smiled stupidly at her.

He DARED... Bellatrix gasped and got up, ready to hex him until he couldn't stand on his own anymore. "And WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO ENTER YOU STUPID GIT?"

At the sight of her wand, he raised both his hands and backed away, fumbling with the door as he tried to open again without looking at it.

"I J-just"

"I J-just" Bellatrix mocked "WHAT? You clearly aren't a first year. You must know that I LOATHE sharing space with IDIOTS LIKE YOU!"

His eyes searched Andromeda's, desperate for some support. Take your eyes off of my sister you filth! "I'm sorry. I swear I will never do this again, I thought I could come and say hello, before-"

And a stinging hex hit him right in the face, stopping whatever he was going to say next. Oh, she knew just what he wanted to do. And she wouldn't let him.

No idiotic boy would play with her sister's feelings. She would not allow it. Especially a mudblood.

Before he could hit the floor, she waved her wand, opened the door with a wordless spell, and sent another powerful hex that made him fly out of their compartment, hitting the door of another, and promply sliding to the ground.

Belatrix closed the door, and before she could take her place by the window, Andromeda put both hands on her shoulders and forced her to face an annoyed glare. "Bella! He was nice! You can't go hexing people just because they paid me a compliment"

Bella's restlessness only grew at that... didn't Andromeda see that Bellatrix was looking out for her? "He shouldn't have invaded our space." she said dismissively, forcifuly shaking Andromeda's hand off of her, finally taking a seat by the window.

"If it's our space then I should get a say on who enters it too, shouldn't I?" Andromeda narrowed her eyes "And yet you keep chasing away any person that shows interest in me!"

Bellatrix turned to face her with a glare of her own. Andromeda stuborness ignited a raging inferno inside of her. She shook with the effort to keep it in. "If you want that stupid huffle-mud, you should chase him on your free time at Hogwarts. I will not share space with thrash." Her voice was dangerously low pitched. Scratchy.

This was THEIR space. No outsider should step in their moment of bonding... no matter who. This was for them. For them only! "I thought I made that clear back then. I guess not. Maybe I should make another statement" She said, staring at the door she just closed. Really considering going back there and give that boy a proper beating. Maybe then people would learn to stay clear from them.

The boy, as if sensing her thoughts, stumbled towards wherever he had come from. She could follow him, but she didn't want to get in trouble so soon. Save it for Hogwarts, Bellatrix. Save it for Hogwarts.

Andromeda was sillently fuming, Bellatrix got lost in thoughts again, trying to put a lid on her neverending rage, her body trembling slightly from time to time.

Narcisa seemed unsure of what to say. So she just kept her mouth shut, and ate the rest of the candies Andromeda and Bella bought for her. It didn't taste as good, though.

She absolutely hated when her older sisters fought.

Snatching the only thing left from her treats, she silently slid herself in between her sisters. She leaned her weight against Bellatrix, looking up at her. She seemed to be the most upset. "Here." She whispered, and gave her a small caramel candy.

Bellatrix looked like she was about to snap at her. She grimaced and closed her eyes. Flinching and involuntarily inching away, pressing against Andie. Nothing happened, though. So she opened her eyes again to see Bella staring at her in shock. She seemed hurt. Narcisa didn't know why, but she didn't dare move or say anything. Honestly, she was scared of making things worse.

To her surprise, Bella took her wrist gently, and unwraped her fingers that cluched the candy with incredibly force. "Thank you" She smiled at her, with a much softer expression on her face, finally aleviating the feeling of nervousness that took a hold of her when Bella's angry eyes were fixed on her.

It didn't take long for them to reach hogsmead after that. The rest of the ride was made in silence, Narcisa let her head fall into Bellatrix shoulder, while she let Andie hold her right hand in between both of hers, interlocking their fingers, and playing with Narcisa's smaller ones.

Playing well her part of mediator, Narcisa wondered when they would finally have some peace and quiet.

The sorting ceremony was as beautiful as ever. Hermione's amazement never faded. Every year, it was like the fisrt time she steped into this magical world.

Nostalgia washed over her, as she watched the awe-filled eyes of the muggleborn first years. She saw herself in them. The magical children were excited, sure. But the muggle borns... every little thing was a novel, and it showed. While the wizarding kids paid no mind to the candles floating, and the enchanted celing showig the night sky, the muggleborns took it all in as if they were living in a dream.

"Now, I'd like you to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor: Jean Grey!" Dumbledore Announced, giving her space to take his place and say a few words. Applause erupted around the filled dinner hall, the Slytherins looked confused amongst themselves, but clapped - even if it was in a subdued manner - nonetheless.

As always, the griffindors were the most raucous. She had to hold down the laughter building in her chest.

Her mission was clear: Impress Belatrix, and guide her away from her family's evil tendency. After revising Voldemort's ascension to power, Albus realized that he would never have gone so far without the major support from people like Bellatrix. Especially her, considering her power, and devotion.

Take away his most prized supporters, take down one of his pilars. Dumbledore concluded, and she had to agree.

Her speech wasn't meant for Bellatrix, though. "Words cannot describe how happy I am with this opprtunity. I will do my best to prepare you to face the dangers of this fantastical world, while enjoying the beauty of Magic. I cannot wait to see you growing into your power, and guide you through it. And for those who are in their last year of education, don't begrudge me for going hard on you. Believe me, it's for your own good, I'm doing this out of love."

She could hear the chuckles coming from the crowd, and around the staff table. She nodded at her future students, then smiled back at Dumbledore as he took back his place to make his announcements.

She couldn't stop smiling, even as her eyes found the ones of the angry teenager she was supposed to guide...

Seventeen years old Bellatrix wasn't insane, but it was clear to anyone with eyes that she was unaproachable. Her face was locked on an expression of pure distaste, aside from a few half-smiles sent in the direction of her sisters.

She was distant. And Hermione feared she wouldn't suceed in her mission at all.