Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. The credit belongs to J.K. Rowling.
A Tale of Three Sisters
Part 2
The Great Hall was filled with noisy chatter of excited students at the beginning of the welcome back feast. In a few moments, Professor McGonagall would be leading in the new first years to be sorted. "You look so thrilled," said Alecto Carrow to Bellatrix. The two were seated in the middle of the Slytherin table.
"Why should I be?" asked Bellatrix adjusting her hat. "I'm not getting sorted. Plus only a few of them will be in Slytherin anyway. The rest are useless. Probably full of mudbloods."
"True," laughed Alecto, "but your sister is among them, isn't she?" Bellatrix sighed.
"Yes. Andromeda will be joining me at school this year."
"Will we have to save an extra seat at breakfast tomorrow or will she be sitting at the other end of the table?" Alecto nodded towards the far end of the Slytherin table, where those were sorted into Slytherin, but not was "true Slytherins," would deem worthy were seated.
"Not sure," Bellatrix answered. "I don't want her being my shadow, but I don't want her fraternizing too much with them."
"At least they're not mudbloods," Alecto remarked.
"Very true," replied Bellatrix. "Don't even joke about that."
A sudden quieting overcame the hall when the large oak doors opened revealing a mass of nervous first years taking their hesitant first steps into the hall. "That must be her," Alecto pointed to one of the first year girls towards the front of the group. "How did you know?" asked Bellatrix slightly uninterested.
"You look at exactly alike," stated Alecto almost unsure of why Bellatrix would even ask. It was true; Bellatrix and Andromeda had the same general appearance—pretty face, long, thick dark hair, slender, and tall. To a stranger, they could be twins.
"We do not," argued Bellatrix. She watched her sister walk to the front of the hall and wait for Professor McGonagall to emerge into the front of the crowd. First, the Sorting Hat sang a song describing the characteristics of each house. Bellatrix neither found the songs, nor the hat, all that interesting.
"When I call your name, you will please come forward," began Professor McGonagall picking up the hat. "I will place the Sorting Hat on your head and each of you will be sorted into your house."
Bellatrix didn't care enough to pay attention to the first few students. It wasn't until she heard Professor McGonagall called, "Black, Andromeda," that she turned her head towards the front of the hall. Andromeda meekly walked up to the stool. Thinking for a moment, Bellatrix decided she would make room for Andromeda at the table. It was only a few seconds have she scooted closer to Alecto, when the hat bellowed, "Ravenclaw!" Bellatrix was sure she didn't hear it right. Perhaps there was another student with the same last name. She stared up at the stool and watched her sister remain still for a moment—no doubt overcome with shock as well. Coaxed by the applause from the Ravenclaw table, she practically leapt off the stool and scampered towards the table. Although the Ravenclaw table was next to the Slytherin table, she did not even look at Bellatrix.
Beyond embarrassed, Bellatrix scooted back over to occupy the empty space she made for Andromeda. She refused to look up from the table hoping that none of the Slytherins were paying attention. She only looked up twice to catch a glimpse of Andromeda, whom she found to be happily chatting with her new housemates.
"Well," Alecto, who was fully aware of the situation, leaned in towards Bellatrix, "You couldn't look more different now."