DISCLAIMER: No matter how many times I say it, the truth is not going to change. I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER.

Chapter 5.

'Ah, Bellatrix, a pleasant surprise.' said Lucius. 'Here to get your school supplies?'

'Yes and I suppose you are already done?'

'Yes. My parents are at Madam Malkins. Will you accompany me there?'

'Of course.' saying so, Bellatrix started walking towards the popular dress store. She had met Lucius Malfoy when she was a child. The Malfoys were old family friends with the Blacks. Both the families were ancient, wealthy and dedicated towards the pureblood cause. Unknown to Narcissa, her marriage had already been settled with Lucius when she was a child by their parents. She had no choice in the matter.

Bellatrix twitched unpleasantly when she remembered her husband. The only connection between Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange was their devotion to the Dark Lord. Other than that, they were complete strangers. Neither cared about the other and their marriage bore more of a resemblance to a political contract. If given the chance, Bellatrix wanted to alter the original timeline and prevent this marriage. She knew that she would have to meet him when she came to Hogwarts. Rodolphus was already a third-year Slytherin student and his brother Rabastan was a second-year Slytherin.

'So, looking forward to Hogwarts?' asked Lucius. 'We need to modify the whole face of Slytherin, not to mention the entire Hogwarts School. Ever since Dumbledore became the Headmaster, the school has been going to the dogs, admitting Mudbloods and all. But not anymore. We have to restore Hogwarts back to its old glory which it had during the times of the great Salazar Slytherin and reform the magical society. What do you think Bellatrix?'

'You are right, Lucius.' smirked Bellatrix. Inside her mind, she added, 'Unfortunately I have to desert Slytherin to fulfill this very goal. Master is right, I need to get sorted into Gryffindor if I can ever hope to reform my enemies. The only problem is: How on earth is a person like me ever going to be sorted in Gryffindor?'

Lucius rambled on and on about family honor, the pureblood cause, restoring Slytherin's glory blah, blah, blah. Bellatrix tuned out his high-pitched voice from her head. It was not that she didn't find these topics important but right now, she needed to plan out her moves.

'Lucius, what's the date?' Bellatrix snapped suddenly, interrupting Lucius Malfoy's rant midway.

'31st August, why?' questioned Lucius, narrowing his eyes.

31st August, hmmmm, interesting. That means The Hogwarts Express is due tomorrow.

'Nothing really. Well, see you at Platform 9 ¾ tomorrow. Bye!' saying so, Bellatrix ran off towards the Diagon Alley entrance, leaving behind a little suspicious and bewildered Lucius.

Bellatrix paused before Sirius and asked in a fake sweet voice, 'Shall we go then, my dear little cousin?'

NEXT DAY AT PLATFORM 9 ¾ .

'Good bye Bellatrix and Narcissa and take care of yourselves.' called out Cassiopeia. 'As for you Andromeda, you had better behave yourself.'

Andromeda shifted uncomfortably under her mother's sharp gaze. She had discovered that Andromeda had been corresponding with Ted Tonks during the summer. This resulted in a shouting match and Andromeda getting grounded for the entire summer. This was the first time in the vacation that Andromeda was stepping out of the Black family home (Diagon Alley being an exception).

'Yes Mother, I will.' said Andromeda stiffly. She heaved her luggage on the golden and scarlet train and disappeared from view.

Cassiopeia then turned to Bellatrix and said softly so that no one else could hear: 'You have always been my favourite daughter. Take care of Cissy and try your best to dissuade Andromeda from doing anything that is wrong. I know that you will grow to be powerful one day and uphold the name of the Black family. Do not disappoint me.'

The last line was said so softly that Bellatrix had to move forward to catch it. She looked at her mother straight in the eye and said, 'I won't disappoint you Mother. I promise you that Andromeda will not do anything. Not this time.'

'I believe you.' whispered Cassiopeia, placing her hands on Bellatrix's shoulders. 'Now go.' With that sentence, Cassiopeia straightened her back again and returned to the façade of the regal Cassiopeia Black, wife of Darius Black. She had betrayed a drop of emotion a minute ago (a rare thing) and now looked as hard as steel.

Bellatrix got on the Hogwarts Express and started looking for a compartment. She found an empty one at the end of the train. As she sat by the window, memories flooded her mind. 'I never thought I'd sit on this train again.' she whispered to the air as a sudden voice suddenly snapped her out of her thoughts.

'Excuse me, what was that?'

Bellatrix swirled and saw to her utmost relief that it was only Narcissa. Narcissa walked across the compartment and flopped down on the seat opposite to Bellatrix. 'What on earth do you mean by that? Why on earth do you think that you wouldn't be able to sit on this train? And what does again mean? Isn't this your first time as well?'

Bellatrix was saved from answering by another new arrival. 'There you are.' said Lucius Malfoy as he claimed the seat next to Bellatrix. 'Ready for Hogwarts?'

'You bet.' said Bellatrix, glad to change the topic. Narcissa looked like she still wanted to keep on bombarding questions at Bellatrix but decided against it. After all, there was plenty of time.

'You know, I wanted to get my wand earlier so that I could practice; but the stupid letters just had to come late. Sometimes I wish that we wizards had other, better ways of communication than just owls.' Narcissa observed after a moment of silence.

'Owls are the oldest and best ways of communication.' argued Lucius. 'It has been the wizarding tradition to communicate through owls from centuries!'

'But owls make so much of a mess! Moreover, they often get delayed due to storms and other natural calamities.' returned Narcissa.

Bellatrix simply rolled her eyes. It always happened this way. First Narcissa would make an observation, then Lucius would disagree and both of them would plunge headlong into a heated debate. Honestly, sometimes Bellatrix could never understand how they could survive when they were husband and wife.

'Oh, just shut up!' said Bellatrix after some time, getting irritated by their argument.

'But Bellatrix…………' protested Narcissa when a sudden knock on the compartment door interrupted her. A sandy-haired boy with brown eyes opened the door and peeped in.

'Can I please sit here? You see, everywhere else is full.'

Lucius and Narcissa looked at him critically. After taking in his very shabby appearance and ghost-like complexion, two replies came simultaneously from Lucius and Bellatrix:

'No.'

Yes.'

Bellatrix gave Lucius a sharp look and turned to the boy. 'Of course, we don't have any problem.' She had identified the boy in a glance and was anxious to leave a good impression.

The boy looked tentatively at Lucius. But seeing Bellatrix nod agreeably at him, he stepped into the compartment.

'My name is Remus, Remus Lupin.'

'Bellatrix Black. And this is my sister Narcissa and the one in the corner is Lucius Malfoy.'

'Nice to meet you.' Remus stretched out his hand towards Bellatrix. Bellatrix paused for a second, words such as stinking werewolf and filthy half-breed passing through her mind, but she finally took Remus's hand and shook it.

The faint smile on Remus's face faded. He was always sharp and observant and he marked the minutest of details. He noticed Bellatrix's hesitation on shaking his hand and saw the flash of hatred on her face when he entered the compartment before it was replaced by a smile. Even now, part of her smile was forced.

'So which House are you hoping to be in?' enquired Bellatrix.

'Don't know really. Probably Ravenclaw; might even be Gryffindor.' replied Remus.

'Gryffindor?' scoffed Lucius. 'Why on earth do you want to be in a House that's full of rash, stupid, obnoxious idiots?'

Bellatrix was forced to rise to Remus's defense. After all, Gryffindor was the House that she needed to be in. 'C'mon Lucius, Gryffindor isn't that bad.'

Lucius raised an eyebrow at that comment. Narcissa looked at Bellatrix as though she was covered in boils.

'Not that bad? Not that bad? Bellatrix, is that you speaking?' asked Lucius. 'Weren't you the one who insulted Gryffindor at every chance you got?'

'Yes, I know but………..' at that Remus looked at her sharply.

Oh no, oh no now Lupin is going to turn against me, OH NO!

'But my views have changed.' said Bellatrix calmly. Why didn't I die before I said this?

If the way Narcissa was looking at Bellatrix was weird, then there was no comparison to the way she was looking at her now. Even Lucius seemed shocked and that was saying something as his feelings rarely showed on his impassive face apart from the occasional smirk. Even Remus was looking at Bellatrix quizzically.

Any future remark was fortunately postponed as the train stopped at the Hogsmeade station and everybody started getting off the train. It was dark and drizzling lightly. The excited voices of students filled the air.

'First-years! First-years! First-years over here!' called out the short, stout game-keeper, a man named Ogg.

Bellatrix walked down the path, unaware of her companions. She was too absorbed in remembering the last time she saw her school, the time she had come to invade it.

'C'mon now, no pushing! Only four in one boat.' yelled Ogg.

Bellatrix clambered in a boat, too wrapped in her memories to notice who her co-passengers in the boat were. She could only see the majestic, turreted, stone castle, gleaming with lights, beckoning the students who were going to find a second home within its walls. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

'I'm back.'

A\N: Thanks to all who reviewed! Please keep on reading and reviewing! Any constructive criticism is welcomed!