A/N: Here is when Alexi gets more accustomed to the wizarding world. My Bellatrix is going to be a bit less insane than JK Rowling's, but she will still be her evil self.
Chapter 3
A strange looking creature, like an elf, brought up her trunk. She pulled it to the end of her bed and opened it up. She hung her clothes in a large wardrobe, and lined up her books on a shelf. The rest of it stayed where it was- she wouldn't need a cauldron or scales until school started.
The creature returned to tell her that it was time for dinner, and she went down. She had cleaned herself up the best she could, dusting herself off and fixing her hair. She followed it down to the dining room, a large room with a grand wooden table in it. It seemed strange for the four of them to be eating at such a big table alone.
She sat down and was presented with a necklace, a carved wooden owl on the end of a black leather strip. The owl's eyes seemed to glow green, though they were just wooden. Mr Malfoy explained that while she was wearing it, the Ministry of Magic couldn't know if she was doing magic, and couldn't trace her like other under-aged wizards.
Then they began to eat. Draco complained loudly that he'd better not have to put up with her for long, and threatened that if she bothered him while they were at Hogwarts- his father cut him off. Then, Alexi remembered something.
"Won't the orphanage be wondering where I am?" she asked in a lull in the conversation.
Mrs Malfoy informed her that the Dark Lord would take care of it, she was sure. They went back to eating, Mr Malfoy watching her curiously, Mrs Malfoy making small talk, and Draco glaring at her. It was obvious that this would be a strange family to live with.
The next day, as promised, Mrs Malfoy woke her up so they could go get some things –clothes, books, whatever she wanted. Surprised at this show of generosity, Alexi eagerly got up and dressed- as she had so few clothes, she wore her robes again on top of jeans and a t-shirt.
When she was ready, she went downstairs. Draco was wearing robes, and his mother was wearing a black dress. Mr Malfoy was nowhere to be seen, and Alexi assumed he was at work.
They stepped into the fireplace one by one, throwing down green stuff called Floo Powder and shouting 'Diagon Alley!' They would then be transported to a fire place in the Leaky Cauldron.
Alexi was amazed at this, but the other two acted like it was perfectly normal. They walked into the crowded street of shops, and got Draco his school supplies. They also purchased more robes for Alexi, along with books so she could catch up on magical things.
They were walking back to the Leaky Cauldron when it happened: an eagle owl dove out of the sky to land on Alexi's shoulder. Its feathers were black with some lighter patches, and its bright yellow eyes were looking at her curiously. It held no letter, so she kept walking.
The presence in her mind was there again, so she found herself thinking to it, rather like talking to the voice without actually saying anything.
My Lord? She thought slowly, a hiss at the edge of her thought's voice. How did she do that? Speak Parseltongue without trying.
This is Nightwing, let him watch over you for me. Came the answering voice.
Yes, my Lord. His presence withdrew from her mind, and she relaxed. The Malfoys were looking at her curiously, but they seemed to understand that this owl was to be hers.
They returned to Malfoy Manor and ate a lunch of sandwiches. When they were done eating, Mrs Malfoy went and did whatever it was she did during the day, and Draco followed Alexi up to her room.
She ignored him at first, deciding that since he had followed her, he could say why. She hung up her new clothes and added the books to the shelf. Nightwing settled on a perch the house elf brought up, and was sleeping.
"Who are you?" he finally asked.
"Alexi Knight." She said firmly, even though she knew he meant more than that. She just wasn't quite sure what kind of answer he had been expecting.
"No, who are you? Where did you come from, why are you here? And why has the Dark Lord chosen you?" the last part seemed to be bothering him the most.
"Well, I'm an orphan from London. Dumbledore came to my room yesterday and told me I was a witch. I'd gotten all my things from Diagon Alley, and I wandered into Knockturn Alley. Then the Dark Lord contacted me, and next thing I knew I was here. And I don't know why he chose me, just that he did,"
He seemed satisfied enough, but didn't leave the room. "Can I help you with something?" she asked with a sigh
"Er… no," he said, somewhat awkwardly, and left the room.
She spent the day reading her books. Nightwing flew in an out of the window in her room, sometimes bringing back prey that he would gobble up when he returned. But then, he brought something unexpected: a letter.
She set down the book she was reading and crossed to his perch, where he was waiting proudly, a letter clutched in his beak. She opened it, and found tight, untidy handwriting sprawling across the page. It was unfamiliar, but what did she expect?
Alexi-
My name is Bellatrix Lastrange. The Dark Lord has informed me that you are to be taught magic. I will be at the Malfoy's Manor tomorrow at noon. Burn this letter after you have read it.
-Bellatrix
She was getting a teacher? To come and personally teach her? IT was strange, knowing the special treatment she was getting. On the other the hand, Draco would be jealous, and she might even catch up to him.