DISCLAIMER: Do I even need to say this? I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 6.

'C'mon now, out of the boats! We're here!' Ogg said loudly.

Bellatrix could hardly contain her excitement. She was back, back at Hogwarts. Now, nothing could stop her. She stepped out of the boat and set off in a brisk walk towards the giant wooden door. She was just about to push it open when a short stubby hand placed itself on her shoulder.

'Whoa there, you're in quite a hurry.' said Ogg. 'You'd better stand in line with the others.'

Bellatrix glared at the hand on her shoulder with the deepest contempt and spat, 'Don't touch me.' saying so, she whipped the hand off her shoulder and stormed off to the back of the line. Ogg looked absolutely shocked.

Remus was observing as disgust contorted Bellatrix's features and she shoved Ogg's hand off her shoulder.

'So I did analyze her correctly.' mused Remus. 'She was only faking being nice to me. But why?'

As Bellatrix stood at the back, several students were looking at her appraisingly. Some were muttering amongst themselves and a few were shooting glares at her. Evidently future Gryffindors. Suddenly, the meaning of the sentence struck her.

'And I'm one of them! Oh Merlin help me!'

Ogg raised his hand and knocked three times loudly on the door. A very strict-looking, raven-haired woman with her hair in a bun opened the giant wooden door. She surveyed the students, her hawk-like sight sweeping over potential troublemakers. She frowned slightly as she saw James and Sirius whispering together excitedly. Then her eyes fell on a black-haired girl with a haughty air. She was staring right at her with a smirk gracing her lips. Professor McGonagall felt…… unnerved.

Bellatrix was looking at that stern face and she couldn't help but smirk. 'My favourite teacher – McGonagall.' she whispered.

'Come on now.' said Professor McGonagall as she turned with a swish of her long, magenta cloak and led them to the Entrance Hall. She turned her head slightly and saw Bellatrix smirking even more than before. Trying unsuccessfully to shake off that strange feeling she got whenever she spotted Bellatrix's face, she began the speech that many would remember as their first introduction to the traditions of Hogwarts.

'Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Here, all of you will not only learn magic but also how to control it and use it for a good cause.' several people snorted at this, Lucius being among them. 'When you are at Hogwarts, you will be Sorted into a House; namely Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each of these Houses has produced great wizards and witches who have carved history. Your House members will be your family while you are here at Hogwarts. At the end of the year, the House-Cup will be awarded to the House with most points. Points can be earned by achievements and can be deducted by rule-breaking. Hopefully, all of you present will prove to be a credit to whichever House you're Sorted into. The Sorting Ceremony will be beginning shortly.' saying so, Professor McGonagall swept out of the room.

Bellatrix was as calm and cool as a statue on the outside, undisturbed by the muttering and whispering that had broken out on McGonagall's exit. However, she was feeling quite the opposite on the interior as she was feeling like a wreck. It had been a long time since she was nervous to such an extent. Her heart was thumping loudly and she vaguely wondered what would happen if she was not Sorted in Gryffindor.

But before Bellatrix could proceed further on this chain of thought, Professor McGonagall came in again and told the students to follow her into the Great Hall. As the students filed in, all the older students on the different house tables started staring at them with an occasional thumbs-up from a few (Hufflepuffs of course). Bellatrix spotted Andromeda's face at the Gryffindor table talking animatedly with a fellow third-year. When the first-years entered the Hall, Andromeda's face lit up as she waved to an over-excited Sirius but it dimmed as she spotted Bellatrix and Narcissa.

Bellatrix looked towards the head table where Dumbledore was chatting pleasantly with the Potions teacher. Upon seeing the old dingbat again, she felt an overpowering urge within her to Avada Kedavra him then and there. But she suppressed it and looked at the person next to him. Horace Slughorn was as obese and chubby as ever before. Bellatrix couldn't figure out how such a person who could be manipulated so easily could ever be the Head of Slytherin. Oh well.

McGonagall brought in a stool with the ever-familiar Sorting Hat on it. Slowly, as she called out the names, the students sat on the stool and got Sorted to the different Houses.

'Black, Sirius!' called out McGonagall.

Sirius braced himself as he sat on the stool and got ready to be Sorted. Bellatrix watched as minutes went by and people started muttering on what was taking so long. Just at that moment, the Sorting Hat shouted, 'GRYFFINDOR!'

Bellatrix sighed. It seemed that her fate was doomed. All around her, people were speculating that a Black had been Sorted into Gryffindor. Sirius himself looked surprised for a second and then; a huge smile spread over his face.

'Black, Narcissa.' called out McGonagall.

Narcissa looked at Bellatrix who shot her a smile and sat on the stool. Merely seconds later, the Sorting Hat shouted, 'SLYTHERIN!'

The Great Hall was rent with applause as Narcissa joined the Slytherin table.

'Okay, now it's my turn. C'mon Bellatrix, you can do this!'

'Black, Bellatrix.' called out McGonagall.

Bellatrix took a deep breath and strode forward in a show of confidence which she didn't feel. As she walked towards the stool, a tumult of whispering broke in the Great Hall.

'Do you think she'll join her cousin in Gryffindor or her sister in Slytherin?'

'Duh! Didn't you see the way she spoke to Ogg? That girl's destined to be in Slytherin!'

'Does she think she's royalty or something?'

'Gosh, what a stinking attitude!'

Ignoring the whispering, Bellatrix sat on the stool and McGonagall placed the Hat on her head.

'Bellatrix Black.' said a snide voice inside her head. 'Or should I say Bellatrix Lestrange.'

Bellatrix was caught in a wave of panic. 'How the hell did the Sorting Hat find out? Does it know about my mission? What am I gonna do now? It's probably going to tell everything to Dumbledore! Oh no!'

'Relax, Miss Black. Whatever I see in the minds of the students, I am not allowed to reveal it to anyone, not even the Headmaster. Your Occlumency is commendable but your shields cannot affect me.' said the Sorting Hat.

Bellatrix calmed down a little. But she remained alert and wary of this presence inside her head.

'Normally, I would have placed you in Slytherin the moment I touched your head. But the secrets that you hold intrigued me. But now that I have identified your mission, the only thing to do now is to sort you…………. in Slytherin.'

'No.' for the first time, Bellatrix addressed the Sorting Hat. 'No, you cannot do that. I cannot be in Slytherin.'

'But Miss Black, your character is purely Slytherin and would suit in no other House. You are extremely loyal; and smart when the occasion requires it, and extremely talented, but you use all of your non-Slytherin qualities for Slytherin purposes. Your mission itself proves it. You belong nowhere else but in Slytherin.'

'No, please, I need to be in Gryffindor!' Bellatrix couldn't believe that she was begging to a hat but she had to do it all the same. There was no other choice. 'There must be some Gryffindor-like quality in me!'

Bellatrix cringed while she spoke those words. But the Sorting Hat sounded thoughtful. 'Well, now that you speak of it, you do have a lot of spirit inside you. No ordinary person would dare to travel through time and attempt to accomplish a practically impossible mission. Moreover, you have a short temper and wear your heart on your sleeve. You're never scared to take risks and dive into the unknown. You can do anything for those you are loyal to, even if those people are on the Dark Side. You definitely belong in Slytherin but…………….I guess you won't be so much of a misfit in Gryffindor………………….now where do I put you?'

Bellatrix waited with bated breath. Finally, the Sorting Hat said with a resigned voice, 'Very well, very well, but let me give you a warning. You have journeyed to the past to change the heart of your enemies but remember this – theirs might not be the only hearts that are changed. GRYFFINDOR!'

The Hall was absolutely still. It seemed no one was breathing. Then, the silence was broken by a few teachers who clapped politely, including Dumbledore. But they were just as shocked as the others. Two Blacks in Gryffindor! An absolutely unheard-of thing.

Bellatrix took off the Hat and proceeded to the Gryffindor table. Everybody was looking shell-shocked. Sirius's mouth was hanging open. Bellatrix ignored everything and sat down at the table, staring at her shoes. Suddenly, someone nudged her sharply on the shoulder. She looked up to see Andromeda's face.

'What in the name of Merlin is going on here? How the hell are you in Gryffindor? Has the Hat gone bonkers or something? How can a person like you be in Gryffindor?'

Bellatrix felt anger building up inside her. 'Wow, thanks a lot for the support Sis.' she commented sarcastically. 'I don't see you being so surprised to see Sirius in Gryffindor. Then what's wrong with me?'

'Well, the answer on what's wrong with you, Bella, would be that you're a pureblood maniac.' said a voice from the other end. Bellatrix looked up to see the scowling face of Sirius. 'You see, we Gryffindors don't enjoy insulting Muggleborns at every chance we get.'

Bellatrix sent an icy glare towards him. 'Well, Black, sorry to disappoint you but I wanted to remind you about something. Now, whether you like it or not, I am a Gryffindor and you can't do anything about it.'

With that, Sirius looked livid but didn't say anything and stormed off to another spot at the table. Andromeda too got up and went to sit with her own group, still looking displeased. Bellatrix didn't pay any attention to the remaining Sorting, not in the mood to think about the task at hand. She looked so foreboding as she sat alone and glowered at an imaginary person, that no first-year sat beside her and she was left solitary at the end of the table.

Barely listening to the start-of-term notices, Bellatrix practically ran after the feast ended and reached the Gryffindor common room. Waiting impatiently for the prefect to give the password, she walked to the dormitory, casting dark looks at the maroon and gold upholstery. Before any first-year even entered the dorm, she wrenched the gold and maroon hangings off her four-poster bed, threw herself on the bed and laid there till sleep took her senses away.

'What a horrible day.'

A\N: Guys, I've got many alerts and favourites but so few reviews! Please, please review! Give your opinion on whether you like the story. Even constructive criticism is welcomed. Please!