DISCLAIMER: I think everyone is getting bored of these disclaimers. I don't own HP

Chapter 20.

Bellatrix sat on a hard, straight-backed wooden chair in the centre of the room, looking intently at a medium-sized book on a shelf some distance away. Silence reigned in the circular room. She wrinkled her forehead, concentrating with all her might on the book, willing it to come towards her. But the book refused to budge.

C'mon! If you don't fly to me soon, I swear I'm going to burn you like I did the last one. Accio! Accio!

A bead of sweat appeared on Bellatrix's brow. It rolled down her cheek and dropped off her chin. Bellatrix clenched her wand in her hand, trying not to say the incantation out loud otherwise the whole purpose would be destroyed. Yet, it was irritating to concentrate and try to accomplish something for the past two hours but fail miserably. Bellatrix's irritation was comparatively mild as she had only burnt four of the books she had been trying to summon. Yet.

Unbelievable! I was the first to cast a non-verbal spell in sixth year in my last lifetime, that too so easily and now I can't even do it after trying for two hours. Two bloody hours! I don't think I've ever practiced so much for something.

Bellatrix closed her eyes and tried to think of the book and nothing else. She heard a loud thud. Opening her eyes, she found that the book had flown only half-way and now lay on the floor between her and the shelf. Irritation consumed her again.

'Aaaaarrrghhh! This is it!' Bellatrix stood up and flung the chair on its back which landed on the floor with a bang. She pointed her wand at the book, which caught fire immediately and after a few minutes, got reduced to ashes. The 'Incendio' charm was the easiest to perform non-verbally. Especially when one was angry.

Five.

Bellatrix sighed in resignation. Vanishing the ashes, she flung herself on the nearby couch and threw her wand aside. Rubbing her eyes in exhaustion, she drank the glass of ice-cold water which had appeared on the nearby table the moment she thought about her parched throat. She sighed in contentment. The Room of Requirement had its advantages.

My stupid temper is the cause of all my troubles. But it's useless trying to control it anyway. It's so damn annoying when I can't perform such an easy spell! But my eleven-yr old body and still small magical core are the main reasons. I still can't believe that I can't cast an Unforgivable now even if I wanted to. I'll just have to keep on developing my skills as fast as possible. But the day I manage in casting the Cruciatus again, I'm gonna badly Crucio all the people I've wanted to for so long, my dear cousin being at the top of the list. I still haven't repaid him for the Christmas present.

Exiting the Room of Requirement, Bellatrix examined her platinum watch. Quarter past seven. It was time for breakfast. Bellatrix walked languidly towards the Great Hall, wishing that all the people who were bustling inside and rapidly increasing her headache, would just decide to suicide. As she entered the Hall, she spotted a sandy-haired boy sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table and made her way towards him. For once, Remus appeared more irritated than Bellatrix.

Remus was muttering under his breath while scooping porridge into his bowl as Bellatrix sat next to him. Raising her eyebrow at her usually calm "friend's" bad temper, Bellatrix decided not to make any comment because he would just tell her anyways. Her patience was rewarded when Remus turned to her and began in an angry strain, 'I just don't believe those two! How could they actually blackmail me like that? That too for a silly prank? They don't have a drop of maturity in them.'

Bellatrix resisted smirking at the sight of a short, eleven-yr old boy talking about maturity. She sufficed by saying in a disinterested manner, 'I suppose you're talking about Potter and Black, since I don't think anyone else in Hogwarts has the ability to infuriate you like this. So what blackmail are they upto?'

'They want me to prank Lucius Malfoy in exchange for not telling anyone about the…..for not revealing certain information.' said Remus, almost slipping up.

'Prank Lucius?' asked Bellatrix, her curiosity truly awakened.

'Yes. And they want me to do it myself after the incident with Ornell Greengrass.' said Remus darkly. 'I don't want to do it and even if I do get caught, they're just going to blame me! After all the Headmaster has done for me, if I fall into trouble, then…' Remus was looking extremely worried.

Prank Lucius? He's always been a good friend but…this seems like a good time for Lupin to make friends with Potter and Black. If they become friends, then it's a good chance that I'll be able to mingle more with them too and that way I can come closer to fulfilling my mission. And anyway, this is punishment for Lucius for believing that I have deserted the Pureblood side.

'It'll be alright.' said Bellatrix suddenly, startling Remus out of his reverie. He looked at her and Bellatrix smiled reassuringly back at him. 'It'll be fine, just go ahead with the prank and don't worry.'

Remus smiled too, feeling considerably lightened after Bellatrix's reassurance. He looked across the food-laden table where Potter and Black were whispering together. On catching their eye, they simultaneously smirked at him and Remus smirked back. He stood to leave, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He swiveled around to see Bellatrix holding out a large slab of dark chocolate.

'Here, take this.' Bellatrix said, waving the chocolate in front of him. 'Eat it now.'

Remus stared at the chocolate being waved in front of his face. He then stared at Bellatrix's face, quite sure that he was dreaming.

'What!' snapped Bellatrix, startling Remus even further. 'Stop looking at me as though I've grown a tail and just take it.'

'Ok.' said Remus trying to be as calm as possible and not to panic whether the world was going to end or not. 'Who are you and what have you done with Bellatrix?'

Bellatrix scowled at him, 'Ha ha, very funny Lupin. Now get going before I shove this up your nose.' Bellatrix's reply somewhat composed Remus as it was characteristic Bellatrix behaviour but he was still suspicious.

'You're going to prank Lucius along with Potter and Black now, right?' asked Bellatrix. A look of understanding suddenly dawned on Remus's features and he smirked at Bellatrix, taking the chocolate from her hands. 'Thanks Bellatrix. Is it a Christmas present?'

The smirk became more prominent on Bellatrix's aristocratic face, 'You got that right, Lupin. Now off you go and don't you forget to eat the chocolate.'

'I won't.' Remus walked towards the entrance of the Great Hall, where Potter and Black were already waiting for him, meanwhile shoving the slab of chocolate inside his robes. 'Ready Lupin?' asked Black.

'I'm as ready as I'll ever be, thanks for asking.' Remus's unusually Slytherin-ish manner made Sirius a little apprehensive, but he dismissed it by saying, 'It had better be good otherwise nothing is gonna seal our mouths.'

'It will.' was Remus's short, simple reply. 'When should I do it?'

'We have double Potions next period with the Slytherins.' said James. 'That will be a great time as any.'

'Fine.' said Remus, closely followed by James and Sirius. He walked down to the entrance of the cold, chilly dungeons where the Potions class was going to be held. On coming outside the entrance to the classroom, Remus was about to go inside when Sirius stopped him. 'I think we should wait for Malfoy over here.'

Without saying anything, Remus leaned outside the door leading to the classroom and took out a small bar of chocolate from his pocket. He started munching on it, while James and Sirius peeped down the corridor to spot for the tell-tale group of Slytherins. Many minutes passed by.

'Man, when is this Malfoy gonna come? The bell rang ages ago! Who does he think he is, coming so late!' Tired of waiting, Sirius slumped against the wall and his eyes fell on Remus who was wiping off the chocolate crumbs from his mouth and taking out the large slab of dark chocolate.

'Whoa, that's one big piece of chocolate you've got.' Sirius leaned over and plucked the slab of chocolate right from Remus's hands. 'I'm sure you don't mind sharing it.' saying so, Sirius took a large bite from the slab of chocolate, closing his eyes in pleasure as the dark, creamy chocolate melted in his mouth.

Remus frowned. 'And I'm sure you've never quite learned to say 'Please' or have such a limited supply of chocolate at home that you go about snatching it from people.'

'Now, now, Remy-dear don't cry, I'm sure Mommy will comfort you coz the big, bad bully took away your chocolate,' said Sirius in a baby voice, taking another bite from the chocolate. 'Mmmmmm, this is some seriously good chocolate, James wanna have some?'

'No thanks Sirius, I've got stomach-ache,' said James, denying the offered chocolate and looking warily at the barely-concealed smirk on Remus's face. 'You can have it all to yourself.'

'Whatever you want.' said Sirius, licking his lips for crumbs. He looked at a group of approaching Slytherins, spotting a familiar head of platinum blonde in the centre, 'Looks like our prey has already arrived.'

Lucius Malfoy stopped near the door as the other Slytherins stood nearby, his pale face sneering at Sirius, 'Why Black, I didn't know that you were still a two-year old, gnawing away at chocolate.' A few of the Slytherins chuckled unpleasantly.

'Oh I'm so sorry Lucy, I didn't know that someone had stolen your strawberry lollipop.' Sirius said in a sweet voice. James started laughing uproariously and gave a high-five to a grinning Sirius.

Lucius scowled. 'Keep your strawberry lollipops to yourself, Black. That is if you even deserve that surname.' He was about to enter the classroom, when he knocked into Remus standing in the middle of the doorway. A container in Remus's hand burst open and its contents spilled over Lucius, who gave a death glare to Remus.

'Stay out of the way of your superiors, you filthy beggar.' Lucius hissed. Pushing anyone else in his way, he angrily strode into the classroom. Looking supremely unconcerned, Remus corked the vial and put it inside his bag. He walked into the classroom, quite unable to stop looking smug. Plan A and B had both succeeded.

'The Slytherin resident 'Blondie' is usually mean to everyone, but he was being particularly foul to you back there. Any reason why?' enquired James.

Remus shrugged. 'I suppose it's because he thinks that I'm responsible for Bellatrix's Sorting into Gryffindor and her so-called change in sides. He thinks Bellatrix has picked our side over his because of me being her friend.'

'Do you really think Bellatrix has changed sides?' demanded Sirius.

Remus looked directly at him. 'You live with her. You're her cousin. I think you'll be able to reply to that question better.' And without saying another word, Remus went towards the back of the class where Bellatrix was sitting alone, observing the action going on.

'So, was Plan A a success?' asked Bellatrix. Remus nodded as an answer. 'And Plan B?' Bellatrix was keeping her fingers crossed that the horrible-in-lying Remus Lupin had been able to play the trick properly. The chances seemed less.

Remus smirked and gestured to James and Sirius who were going to sit in their usual seats in front of Remus and Bellatrix. Sirius still had the large slab of chocolate in his hands and was regularly taking large bites from it. James gaze darted to it now and then but he controlled himself thinking of Remus's tell-tale smirk. Just then, Professor Slughorn entered the class and gave them the instructions to brew a fever-relieving potion. The class slowly got to work.

Remus leaned towards Bellatrix and whispered, 'Potter refused to take a bite from it but I don't think you'll mind.' Bellatrix smirked, 'On the contrary, I want my dear cousin to enjoy the full effects of my Christmas present, alone.'

Simply mindblowing! Not only did Lupin help to execute my revenge on my dear cousin but judging by Lupin's last words to him, he managed to make my cousin doubt the fact that I truly belonged to the 'other' side. I'm really glad I decided to befriend Lupin first.

At that moment, James turned backwards. He glowered at Bellatrix, guessing who was behind the chocolate, but whispered to Remus, 'What did you sprinkle on Malfoy? I couldn't see anything in the container.'

Bellatrix chose to reply on Remus's behalf, 'Well Potter, Remus is not such an idiot as to get caught like you or Black during pranking, which is why the container contained invisible dust so that Lucius does not get suspicious. But do not exercise your brain so much, such a concept is probably far beyond your understanding.'

The magnitude of James's glare increased tenfold but he was distracted by the sound of Sirius sniggering. 'We'll see how smart you are, Bellatrix, after your Slytherin friend gets humiliated in front of the class. Looks like the fun is about to begin.' Sirius grinned evilly.

Bellatrix turned her head towards Professor Slughorn who appeared to be asking questions to the class about the effect of mint leaves in potions dealing to relieving fever. Lily had her hand up as always and Snape had a smug look which clearly shouted out to the class, 'I know the answer and you don't.'

'What a showoff.' muttered James to Sirius, but he was busy looking at Professor Slughorn who on seeing a usually average Slytherin student raising his hand up to give the answer got overexcited, 'Ah Lucius, since you know the answer, please stand up and tell it to the whole class.'

Lucius stood up but there was clearly something wrong with him. He looked disheveled and his hair was rumpled and not in its usual pristine condition. 'Uh, I beg your pardon Professor?'

Slughorn frowned, 'Lucius, you raised your hand so I'm asking you to give me the answer.'

'Well…..I…..uh…' Lucius was looking entirely befuddled and it was quite clear to the whole class that he had not even heard the question. However, Slughorn was unable to get this point. He impatiently tapped his feet, 'Mr. Malfoy, I'm waiting for your answer.'

'Sir, I didn't hear the question.' Lucius had obviously decided that honesty was the best policy in this situation. Now Slughorn look confused. 'Mr. Malfoy, if you didn't hear the question, then why did you raise your hand?'

'I wasn't raising my hand….my head was itching.' the last part was very soft but the class still heard it. Sniggers broke out from the Gryffindors.

Slughorn looked displeased, 'Mr. Malfoy, now is not the time for jokes. Why are mint leaves used in fever-treatment potions?'

'Um…because…..' Lucius's hand started scratching his head once more. More sniggering erupted in the class, particularly from James and Sirius. Slughorn cleared his throat sternly. 'Put your hand down Mr. Malfoy.'

Lucius started scratching his head even harder. His perfectly combed blond hair became even more tousled than before. More snickers echoed through the class. Slughorn was now positively angry. 'Mr. Malfoy! Put your hand down now!'

Lucius managed to lower his hand. He bit his lip in an effort to control himself from scratching again. 'I'm really sorry Professor, I didn't mean to do it.' he sounded sincerely penitent, but out of the corner of his eye Bellatrix saw Lucius give the snickering James and Sirius a death glare.

'Very well, straighten your hair, it's looking very untidy.' This command of Professor Slughorn turned to be Lucius's downfall for the moment his hand touched his hair, all resolve crumbled and he began scratching his scalp again as if his life depended on it. The riotous laughter of the Gryffindors now knew no limit. But the prank was not yet over.

'Mr. Malfoy! 5 points from Slytherin!' said Slughorn, looking horrified at the disrespect being shown by a student. 'Sit down at once and for Merlin's sake, stop scratching!'

'Does he have lice in his hair or something?' Alice's question to Lily was posed softly but the entire class heard it. All the girls instantly looked disgusted, even some of the boys were disturbed. Lucius grew red, half out of embarrassment and half out of effort to keep his hand down. His hand didn't go up to his head again but to a worse place: his armpits. The class was practically howling with laughter, Professor Slughorn trying in vain to quiet them.

'Looks like we have a chimpanzee loose in the class,' commented Sirius loftily. Lucius's bloodless face was flushed as the Gryffindors rolled about in mirth. Even some of the Slytherins couldn't help smiling, the sight was that funny.

'Watch out guys, he may have fleas.' shouted James loudly. A final raucous peal of laughter travelled through the students. Even Bellatrix had to admit, the sight of the arrogant and regal Lucius reduced to a Lucius with his immaculate hair in a total mess and scratching in the most versatile places possible was pretty hilarious. With a beetroot-red face and the air of one disgraced, Lucius strode out of the classroom but not before casting a betrayed look at a smirking Bellatrix who trying as hard as possible could not hide her amusement.

I'm sorry Lucius but in order to fulfill my mission, I need to make certain sacrifices and your ego is included as one of them.

The bell rang signaling the end of the lesson. With a sigh, Professor Slughorn gave up trying to make the lesson productive as some students were still hiccupping with laughter. As Remus and Bellatrix left the classroom together, James's loud voice suddenly hailed them, 'Hey Lupin, wait up!' Without casting a backward glance, Bellatrix walked onwards leaving Remus to talk to James and Sirius.

That's it. Chummy up to them as much as possible because that's the only way the Marauders will form and my mission will succeed.

Remus paused to see James and Sirius running upto him, signs of glee still visible on their faces. 'That was amazing!' raved Sirius. 'Lucy's face was absolutely hilarious. And the way that Slyther'sin' scratched his armpits! Merlin!'

Remus glared at Sirius, 'Is that all you find funny? Making fun of people and humiliating them? I'm sorry I ever had to do something like that but even if you announce about the passage in the Great Hall, I'm not going to play a prank on anyone again.'

'Whoa, calm down Lupin.' said James, raising his hands up. 'It was just a harmless prank, nothing else. And there's nothing wrong with having some fun once in a while.'

Remus shifted his glare from Sirius to James, 'Sorry, but for me, having fun isn't at the expense of others. You may say that the so-called Slyther'sins' are horrible and mean but you're just as bad as them. Strutting about the corridors, bullying the weaker students is what both the Slytherins and you do and there's no difference between the two of you. Why do you think you're so superior to everyone else?' And leaving that question hanging in the air, Remus started walking through the corridor.

'Lupin, wait.' Sirius strode through the corridor. Remus turned and looked directly at his face which was now completely serious. 'You say that we act superior to others. Have you ever thought about yourself? Ever since James and I talked to you yesterday, you've always acted as though you're more intelligent, more mature. Forget that, the truth is you've always acted as though you're older to us, as if you always know what's best even though we're both eleven, as if we're naughty two-yr olds and you're a mother whose scolding us. Even though we're not so serious and we don't act mature all the time like you, that doesn't mean you can always walk around treating us as if we're beneath you. You've always acted superior, Lupin, and not just to us but to everyone else. So don't think that we're the only arrogant ones walking around here and the sooner you accept that, the better.'

Sirius walked away leaving a stunned Remus in the corridor who try as he might, couldn't forget Sirius's words ringing in his ears, 'You've always acted superior, not just to us but to everyone else…'

Bellatrix walked through the Forbidden Forest, the dead leaves crunching as she stepped on them. The setting sun cast pale rays of light over the forest, penetrating through clearings here and there and bathing the entire forest in a golden glow. The light made the usually creepy looking forest seem alive and strangely unreal. Chirping of birds could be heard in the generally silent forest and an occasional squirrel scampered over the ground carpeted with leaves in search of rare nuts.

Walking purposefully, Bellatrix picked a hidden path through the Forest and after several minutes of walking, came upon a small clearing bordered by unusually young rowan trees. She was not alone in the clearing, a dragonish looking creature with a skeletal body and bat-like wings was also there, picking at something on the ground. Bellatrix walked forward and ignoring the creature, paused to examine the thing the creature was picking at. Kneeling down, she wrinkled her nose in disgust at the smell coming from the dead owl's body but stretched her hand out to take a rectangular object tied to the barn owl's leg.

Bellatrix stood up and gently caressed the nose of the standing Thestral. 'Good boy, Sapphiron. You've made my job much easier.' she whispered. Sapphiron snorted and nuzzled his nose into Bellatrix's hand. 'Now you'd better get back to your herd.' After some more stroking, Sapphiron finally left the clearing, pawing his way through the undergrowth.

Bellatrix examined the envelope in her hand. After a few quick spells, the seal on the envelope finally shriveled up and broke and Bellatrix quickly slit out a piece of faded yellow parchment from the envelope. Throwing the envelope aside, she unfolded the parchment and perused its contents:

To Miss D.B.

I have made my decision. We will meet on the Astronomy Tower at midnight and you can finally hear what I've got to say once and for all. I do not doubt your ability to effortlessly break into Hogwarts a second time. I would have Flooed you but your 'profession' does not allow you to remain at a particular address for a long time. I will try to contact you by Floo again tonight and we will finally settle the terms of our meeting.

From D.W.

Bellatrix placed her wand on the parchment which instantly caught fire, disintegrating into ashes in a few minutes. Depositing the ash under a tree, Bellatrix set off towards the school, a sardonical smirk playing on her lips.

Looks like tonight is definitely going to be interesting.

A\N: And Bellatrix is back! If you liked the chapter, please review!

Thanks to Freewolf for the Slythersin word.

To Ghost King's Queen : I know you advised me not to use bold in the chapters. But I use italics for Bellatrix's thoughts so I use bold for emphasizing the people's talks. I also use 'I' instead of "I" because I'm simply too used to it to keep on changing. Please pardon me!