DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter. Otherwise, I wouldn't be writing fan fiction.

Chapter 7.

Bellatrix woke up at the crack of dawn and spent an hour staring at the ceiling. After finally getting bored, she scrambled out of bed, tripping on the red and gold hangings, slipped into her robes and walked out of the dorm. Everyone was still fast asleep.

Bellatrix entered the Great Hall. There was almost no one in the Hall as it was extremely early. There was only a single studious Ravenclaw, who was trying her best to prepare for her Defense OWL while spooning porridge into her mouth. Bellatrix slumped on the Gryffindor table seat and started moodily munching on a piece of toast.

Bellatrix looked up as a first-year Slytherin girl entered the Hall. A smile spread over her features as she quickly hurried over:

'Cissy! How are you?' Bellatrix was overjoyed to see a friendly face after so long.

'Umm, I'm alright.' Narcissa was looking uncomfortable. She kept twisting her hair around her finger. Bellatrix's smile dimmed when she noticed this. Narcissa only did something like this when she was anxious or worried.

'Is there something wrong, Cissy?' asked Bellatrix. Her sister hardly behaved like this. There was definitely something wrong.

'There's nothing wrong Bellatrix, really.' said Narcissa. Bellatrix narrowed her eyes. Narcissa always called her Bella, even if they had a fight. What on earth's going on?

'Narcissa, I know there's a problem. You're behaving strangely and I demand to know the reason.' said Bellatrix coolly.

'You'll know the problem soon enough. Just wait for the post to arrive.' saying so, Narcissa turned and walked off to the Slytherin table.

Pondering on Narcissa's words, Bellatrix walked over to the Gryffindor table. Many of the students had awakened by then. Everything seemed normal. That was until the post arrived.

Sirius and James were busy goofing up; discussing which classes would be the most fun. A large, raven-black owl with yellow eyes landed on Sirius's plate.

'Oi!' yelled Sirius but froze when he saw the red envelope in the owl's beak. The owl dropped it on the table and took flight. The envelope was quivering slightly. James prodded it cautiously with his wand. The envelope started smoking and suddenly exploded with a bang.

'BLOOD TRAITOR, HOW COULD YOU BEFOUL THE NAME OF BLACK? YOU HAVE DESTROYED THE GLORY OF OUR FAMILY NAME AND CURSED IT TO ASHES! YOU ARE UNWORTHY OF BEING CALLED MY SON! A BLACK IN GRYFFINDOR!!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!' Walburga's voice echoed through the Great Hall, magnified tenfold. Sirius was looking pale. He kept twitching in his place as it was clear that he was extremely uncomfortable being the centre of attention due to the Howler. Bellatrix was smirking widely. The Howler her cousin had received was raising her spirit up nicely.

'I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR IMPUDENT BEHAVIOUR!! YOUR YOUNGER BROTHER KNOWS WHAT IS DUE TO THE BLACK FAMILY NAME BUT THE CASE IS DIFFERENT WITH YOU. I WILL NOT HAVE A GRYFFINDOR AS MY SON AND THAT IS FINAL!!! DO YOU HEAR ME?'

The last sentence left the glasses on the house tables ringing. Sirius was white as a sheet. He was clenching a fork tightly in his hand and breathing heavily. It was clear that he wanted nothing more than to plunge the fork in his mother's stomach. Several students were snickering, especially on the Slytherin table. Bellatrix felt ……….. revitalized. She was ready to begin her mission.

A sudden whispering among the students interrupted her thoughts. She looked up to see another owl carrying a Howler. Many students were pointing at it and gossiping amongst themselves on who could be the recipient.

'Who on earth could it be?' wondered Bellatrix aloud. Her eyes widened a bit. The owl was flying straight towards her. He dropped the scarlet envelope on the her plate and took off.

'What the …………..!!' exclaimed Bellatrix. She couldn't believe her eyes. Before she could say anything more, the envelope burst into flame.

'I am very DISAPPOINTED, Bellatrix, very disappointed. I could never have imagined that the dutiful daughter I know would have done something like this. Narcissa informed me that your views have 'changed' as you expressed on the train. I definitely did not expect this of you. Your father is very displeased and is looking forward to a good 'talk' with you during the Christmas holidays. However, if you wish to stay in Hogwarts with your new 'friends' , then I or your father have nothing more to say to you.'

Cassiopeia's Howler was absolutely different from Walburga's. Though she was not shouting or screaming, her sharp, ringing voice travelled through the entire Hall. Most people were pointing at Bellatrix and muttering among themselves. Sirius was whispering something to James and then they sniggered together. Bellatrix's head was pounding as all the blood rushed to her cheeks. Her knuckles were white as she was clenching her fists tightly. She lifted her head to look at the Slytherin table. Narcissa was focused on her plate and looked like she couldn't hear her mother's voice echoing in the Hall. Bellatrix turned to look at Lucius who averted his eyes immediately. Bellatrix got angrier. Her mother's voice kept ringing in her ears: I am very disappointed; your father is very displeased; your father or I have nothing more to say to you.

'It's alright.' Bellatrix swiveled around to see a red-haired, eleven-year old girl with brilliant emerald eyes smiling at her. 'I can understand how it feels when a loved one treats you like that.'

Bellatrix couldn't think or reason. She was fuming and livid. And all she knew was that this eleven-year old girl was the reason why she even travelled to the stupid past and the reason why her mother now thought that she was a blood-traitor. This stupid, idiotic girl was the reason for everything horrible that had happened. And she was longing to give this girl a piece of her mind.

'I don't need a Mudblood's sympathy.' said Bellatrix icily, venom dripping from every word. 'So keep your sympathy to yourself, got it?'

The Gryffindor table just sort of…………froze. Bellatrix's tone had been loud and almost every Gryffindor had heard it, even a few Hufflepuffs. No one had ever, ever heard a Gryffindor even say the M-word. They were generally the noble heroes and Muggle-born champions (at least according to them). So needless to say, all the Gryffindors were flabbergasted. Who the hell was this new Gryffindor behaving like a Slytherin?

This had been one of the happiest days of Lily's life. She came to Hogwarts with Severus, got sorted into a really good House by the look of it(although Sev was in another House), made a new friend called Alice on her first night in the dormitory, had a great breakfast and was now eagerly waiting for the classes to begin.

She was a little curious on who her new black-haired, arrogant-looking dorm-mate was and why she was scowling so fiercely. Lily wanted to talk to her and find out what the problem was but she was already fast asleep by the time Lily reached the dorm. Alice informed her that the other girl was a Black. According to her, the Blacks were a pureblood family full of Dark wizards.

Lily finally figured out what the problem was when the Black girl received a Howler. Lily felt really sad for her because she knew what it was like to be despised by a family member (namely Petunia). Lily saw clearly that the Black girl was upset and tried to comfort her, when she snapped at Lily. Lily didn't know what a Mudblood was but she knew it was an insult. A really deep one judging by the looks of outrage on all her classmates. But the insult wasn't what was bothering her. She was bothered by the intense hatred in that girl's eyes, like she wanted to torture and murder Lily then and there. But why did that girl hate her so much? What had she done?

Bellatrix got up and stormed off. Where? She had no idea. All she knew was that she needed to cool down. She ran out to the grounds and towards the Black lake. After breathing in the quiet, fresh air, she began to truly appreciate the massiveness of the mistake that she had committed. Here was the Mudblood, extending a hand of friendship and she not only rejected it but also insulted her!

Wow, I'm so great.

After cursing herself inwardly a million times, she glanced at her watch to see that class began in ten minutes. Running like the wind, she inspected her timetable to see that she had Potions with the Slytherins. She finally reached the dungeons with seconds to spare. She dumped her bag on the seat next to her blond-headed sister.

'Phew, made it at last.' panted Bellatrix as she searched inside her bag for a quill and parchment. 'Cissy, do you have parchment?'

Narcissa twisted uncomfortably in her place. She glanced around her, afraid as though someone was going to see her doing something wrong.

'Cissy?' asks Bellatrix impatiently. 'Are you listening to me?'

Narcissa was looking very shifty. She began hesitantly, 'Ummm…….ummmm…Bellatrix……um…'

Bellatrix looked at her suspiciously. She had almost forgotten Narcissa's weird behavior before breakfast. 'Cissy, is there a problem? You can tell me.'

'Umm…Bellatrix, I don't think Gryffindors and Slytherins are allowed to sit with each other.' Narcissa looked away from Bellatrix when she said it.

'What?' Bellatrix was surprised. After a few seconds, her temper mastered her. 'So, Narcissa, I think you can see that Snape is sitting with the Mudblood redhead just in front of us. I don't see you making such a fuss over them sitting together.'

Narcissa was looking guilty. But Bellatrix was not in the mood of forgiving her. She was her sister. Her twin sister. Bellatrix always looked after her, even though they were the same age. Narcissa always looked up to her. And now, her Cissy was refusing to sit with her just because she was a Gryffindor. Bellatrix suddenly remembered a line in her mother's Howler: "Narcissa informed me that your views have 'changed' as you expressed on the train." So Narcissa also spoke behind her back.

'Well Narcissa, if you have so much of a problem in sitting with a Gryffindor, then I suppose I'll have to find another seat.' saying so coldly, Bellatrix swung her bag around her shoulder and stomped to the back of the class.

Can this get any better?

Narcissa watched the back of her sister with something like regret. She wished that this never had to happen. Her mind went back to the moment last night when everything had changed between Bellatrix and her:

'Black, Bellatrix' called out ProfessorMcGonagall.

Narcissa was excited. She had already joined the Slytherin table and was now waiting for her sister to do the same. She watched Bellatrix walk up to the Sorting Hat with a straight face and the Sorting Hat was placed on her head.

Narcissa waited. And waited. The Sorting Hat seemed to have some problem sorting Bellatrix. And Bellatrix herself seemed to be agitated. Narcissa was confused. Normally, she would have expected the Hat to sort her sister in Slytherin the moment it touched her head. What was going on? She shot a glance towards Lucius who was standing in a line along with the other first-years. She thought she could vaguely discern anxiety on his face.

The Sorting Hat seemed to have finally made a decision. Narcissa relaxed and waited for the Sorting Hat to shout Slytherin. But the shout never came.

'GRYFFINDOR!'

A pin-drop silence descended over the Hall .Narcissa's mind became numb.

'Has hell frozen over? Damn, damn, damn! What is going on?' To say that Narcissa was bewildered was an understatement. How on earth can Bellatrix be sorted in Gryffindor? Her twin sister, Bellatrix Black, champion of the pureblood cause, outspoken against Mudbloods and vermin, the person she always looked up to, a Gryffindor? Had the Sorting Hat lost its mind? Suddenly, the words Bellatrix had spoken in the train came unbidden to her mind:

My views have changed.

Had her sister's views really changed? Was she really her sister Bellatrix anymore? Why is everything so confusing?

She turned to look at Lucius's face which was completely and utterly blank with his mouth hanging open like a goldfish. He was looking at Bellatrix now sitting at the Gryffindor table. After Lucius was sorted into Slytherin, he sat beside Narcissa muttering under his breath.

'This is not happening, this is not happening, how is this even possible?' Lucius turned to Narcissa.

'I don't know Lucius.' replied Narcissa quietly. 'But we can't change it.'

Lucius looked over at the Gryffindor table and saw Sirius and Andromeda conversing urgently with Bellatrix.

'But I thought Bellatrix doesn't get on with Sirius and Andy.' said Narcissa, following Lucius's gaze at the Gryffindor table.

'Well, it doesn't look like it.' said Lucius, staring at the three of them. He turned to Narcissa and murmured, 'She must have been pretending all along.'

'No.' said Narcissa suddenly, surprising even herself. 'No.' she repeated firmly. 'Bella would not, could not………'

'Then how?' asked Lucius.

Narcissa lowered her eyes. 'I don't know.'

A\N: Please review!! Thanks a lot to all who did.

To Joanne: I purposely put Bellatrix's sorting after Sirius and Narcissa coz I thought that it would make more of an impact even though B comes before S or N.

To Rhapsody Crystal: Well, you wanted to see Cissy and Lucius's reactions and here they are!!!!