DISCLAIMER: I don't own HP for all the future chaps of Change of Heart.

Chapter 21.

Bellatrix entered the Great Hall, her mind still dwelling incessantly on a certain letter that she had managed to intercept. Professor Watson would certainly contact Delphine again by Floo to confirm the date and time of the meeting. He would be a little suspicious of the fact the Delphine had not received the letter but would hopefully not change the place or date of the 'get-together'.

Maybe he'll think that the owl got caught in a storm or something. Stop fooling yourself Bellatrix, he's not that stupid. But he won't postpone the meeting because he won't expect that the interceptor is in Hogwarts and ready to gatecrash. But why would he call Delphine in Hogwarts? It's much riskier than meeting somewhere else. There is an angle to the story which I am missing….

It was dinnertime. The Great Hall was bustling with students and a few teachers were already seated at the teacher's table, McGonagall and Dumbledore included. Bellatrix shot a look at McGonagall, and on catching her eye, winked. McGonagall blinked, not quite sure about what she saw. Bellatrix smirked at her and seated herself in her usual seat at the end of the Gryffindor table.

I should probably stop drawing McGonagall's attention to myself, it'll make her suspicious. Heck, like I care.

Bellatrix spotted Remus walking towards her, looking more troubled than usual. He sat next to her and began biting his lip anxiously, staring off into the distance. Not exactly bothered about what was troubling him but just for the sake of it, Bellatrix poked him in the shoulder, none too softly and Remus gave a sudden start. Looking towards Bellatrix whose look clearly said, albeit in an annoyed manner, what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-you, Remus gave a tired sigh, 'I'm not even going to bother asking you where you vanished the whole day after Potions.'

'Lupin, don't tell me that you're actually feeling sorry for what you did in Potions?' Bellatrix asked incredulously. 'You think way too much about rubbish.'

'Well actually, no I'm not feeling sorry.' Remus admitted. 'Lucius was a bully and bullies deserve all the pranks that people can possibly play on them. But it's something else.'

'Well, spit it out quickly. I don't have time for all your moans and groans.' said Bellatrix, ladling her plate with food.

Remus smiled softly. This was why Bellatrix was so different from everyone else. Normal friends on seeing someone upset would pester the person until they found out what was the matter. Bellatrix on the other hand, didn't give a damn about it as it wasn't her business and showed it too. Remus surprisingly liked this about her as he never liked people's sympathy, which was often fake. This don't-care attitude suited him and he didn't mind being treated like that.

'After the prank, your cousin came up to me and asked why I disliked him and Potter. I frankly told him that I thought he and Potter were bullies acting superior to everyone else and I have no respect for such people. But he said that I was the one acting superior to everyone else because I had the opinion that I was more mature and sensible than anyone.'

Bellatrix looked at Remus. She could spot worry and anxiety in his amber eyes. He had a certain opinion of himself, and of others, and Black's words had probably dashed that opinion to the ground. She understood the unspoken question hidden in his words, 'did she think that too?' Bellatrix took a deep breath. This was an opportunity, not only to ensure a friendship between Lupin, Potter and Black, but also to mould Remus's views of the wizarding world and its people. A lot depended on her answer, and she knew that Remus would not question it. She needed to choose her words carefully.

'I think,' started Bellatrix cautiously, conscious of Remus's unwavering attention to her words. 'that it is not possible to judge who acts more superior, because all people are conscious of some kind of superiority. All people believe that they are superior in one field or another, one respect or another. Remus, when I was first Sorted into Gryffindor, the others all felt superior as they were so called 'true Gryffindors' unlike me. You were the one who first accepted me because you said that people did not have the right to judge whether I deserved to be in Gryffindor or not. In the same way, we can't judge whether Potter and Black are right or wrong in their behaviour with people. Maybe those people deserve it, just like Ornell Greengrass deserved it the other day when you Confunded him. People may say that you were bullying him, that you should not have humiliated him like that, but you have your own reasoning behind what you did. We can't simply judge or condemn an action by saying that it is wrong, while the reason or motive behind the action might have actually been correct. Actions don't matter, the motive behind them does.'

And slowly-slowly by this reasoning, I can show you how all the murdering and torturing done by Death Eaters can't be condemned because the motive behind them is not wrong, to restore a new, reformed world order in the name of the Dark Lord.

Silence reigned for a long time. Bellatrix was worried that she might have actually confused Remus with all these complex concepts, after all he was an eleven-yr old boy no matter how developed his mind might be. He was probably thinking what the hell was she blabbering about. However, after some time, Remus asked quietly, 'But don't you hate Potter and Black yourself?'

Ah, but my hatred is based more on the fact that my cousin is a blood-traitor piece of filth and Potter is a speckled git, father of the vanquisher of the Dark Lord, my master, rather than who is superior or who bullies whom.

'Well…I never really had cordial relations with anyone, least of all my cousin in the Black house. We could never see eye-to-eye on most topics. As for Potter, I extended the hand of friendship towards him when I first met him in Diagon Alley, but he had met my cousin first and preferred to pick his side over mine. To tell you the truth, I never really cared that they were mean or bullied anyone. After all, I'm not the nicest of people myself and nor do I want to be one.'

'Now that I can't deny.' allowed Remus, smilingly. Bellatrix mock scowled at him and he cordially grinned back at her. But even though Remus seemed quite all right, Bellatrix could still detect turmoil in his eyes.

I know you're going to think a lot about what I said, Remus Lupin, and you probably will not sleep all night. I have just radically changed your views of right and wrong and you will not forget this in an instant. This marks a new beginning and you will remember this moment for your entire life, when I altered your understanding of good and evil.

Lost in her thoughts, Bellatrix did not notice anything until Remus nudged her slightly. She noticed his smirk and turned to see Potter and Black approaching their side of the table. Black was licking crumbs of chocolate around his mouth and on the tips of his fingers, but his hands were empty. Potter was still looking at him warily, but he did not say anything. They seated themselves about two seats away from Bellatrix and Remus which put them in an excellent position to observe the fun.

'Looks like he's finished all of the chocolate, without even offering a bite to Potter.' whispered Remus. Bellatrix chuckled evilly and Remus looked apprehensively at her, feeling sorry for Black. Almost.

'I think it's time.' murmured Bellatrix. She then raised her voice and yelled across the Gryffindor table, attracting everyone's attention. 'Black! Did you receive my Christmas present?'

While people around them were wearing befuddled expressions, puzzled at why Bellatrix would be giving Sirius a present when the hatred among the two cousins was legendary, Sirius clapped his hands on his ears, 'Bellatrix! Why the hell are you screeching so loudly?'

'I said, did you receive my present?' yelled Bellatrix even louder. Sirius tightened his grasp on his ears, 'No I didn't, now stop screaming!' His voice was pretty loud too. This loud exchange was now the centre of attention on the Gryffindor table.

'ARE YOU SURE!' Bellatrix's shout attracted even the attention of some of the Hufflepuffs, who started staring at her and Sirius curiously.

'YES, I AM! NOW SHUT UP!' Sirius bellowed back, his ears barely visible as he clamped them shut with his hands. The neighbouring Hufflepuff table was now too busy staring at him to eat their food. Many of them had food dribbling out from their mouths, but they were too occupied to notice.

'YOU ARE A TOTAL IDIOT!' Bellatrix yelled out for the whole Great Hall to hear. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Professor McGonagall coming towards them to inspect the source of disturbance.

With Bellatrix's words, Sirius was now gripping his ears so hard as if he wished to immobilize them. They turned tomato-red under the pressure. It seemed as if every sound made by Bellatrix was causing physical pain to Sirius. 'BELLATRIX, I SWEAR IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP THIS INSTANT, YOU ARE GOING TO REGRET IT!'

'Mr. Black, is there a problem?' a sharp voice spoke right behind Sirius. Sirius winced prominently, his hands in the procedure of tearing his ears out. 'WHOEVER'S STANDING BEHIND ME, I'M GONNA PUNCH YOUR FACE RIGHT NOW!'

'What did you say?' everyone spotted the dangerous tone in the voice but Sirius unfortunately did not catch on to it. He turned around, hands still squeezing his ears, 'I SAID I'M GONNA PUN…..' Sirius froze, spotting the highly irate face of Professor McGonagall sporting a look of absolute fury. Sirius gulped audibly, foreseeing the incoming storm.

Oh wow, this is gonna be good.

'Repeat what you just said.' said Professor McGonagall in an incensed tone. 'Now!'

'I…j..ju..just..sa….said…..th…tha…' stammered Sirius, his fear lowering his tone but his voice was just sufficiently loud to enrage Professor McGonagall even further. 'P..Prof..Professor, if you c..could p..ple..please j…ju..just speak a li..little softer the..then…..'

Stutter all you want cousin, you are definitely dead meat.

'You dare speak this way to your Head of House!' Professor McGonagall's anger made her voice climb several pitches. The tip of her nose was fully white.

Sirius couldn't help letting out a little yelp of pain at this, his fingers clawing away at his ears. This only served to infuriate Professor McGonagall. It was clear that shrillness was even more damaging to Sirius's ears than volume but Professor McGonagall remained quite oblivious to that fact. He continued speaking loudly like a deaf man, 'Professor, p..please lower your voice….'

'You're asking me to lower my voice!' Professor McGonagall's voice attained previously unknown heights of shrillness. Sirius could not bear it any longer, standing up he spoke louder than ever before, 'I'm really sorry Professor but I can't bear the noise any longer!' Before an infuriated McGonagall could stop him, Sirius ran pell-mell out of the Hall, every student staring after him.

Silence reigned in the Hall. For several moments, no one spoke, either looking at a still white-nosed McGonagall or the entrance of the Hall through which Sirius had fled. Afraid to rile McGonagall even further (if that was possible), everyone remained silent until the tranquility was broken by someone's laughter.

Everyone: Gryffindors, Slytherins, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws turned simultaneously to find the foolish one. At the centre of attention, Bellatrix sat at the end of the Gryffindor table next to an uncomfortable Remus who was staring at his shoes. Bellatrix's clear laughter echoed through the Hall, her mirth evident to all and sundry. Professor McGonagall now in a towering rage, turned upon Bellatrix like a predator on her prey. 'Is this something very funny, Miss Black? 20 points from Gryffindor!'

Bellatrix laughed even more, clutching her stomach and rolling about, not quite in control of herself. After she regained her breath, she managed to reply, still chortling, 'I am afraid so, Professor McGonagall. You see, he just called your lecture as noise. Not that I disagree or anything.'

Everyone was looking at this incredibly brave, not to mention stupid first-yr Gryffindor in disbelief. No one, not even the seventh-yrs were so unbelievably disrespectful to Professor McGonagall, nicknamed the Queen Dragon. This girl was in for a lot of trouble.

Professor McGonagall's lips became as thin as a line. Her eyebrows went high, her pupils dilated and temper flared. In an extraordinarily controlled voice, she spoke, 'Your point being, Miss Black?'

Bellatrix looked at her straight in the eye, devoid of fear and in a completely offhand tone, 'My point being, Professor McGonagall, that normal people generally laugh at such situations. You know, such incidents are usually considered funny by people whose senses have not fallen to irreparable ruin. In other words, people who are not prigs. My utter condolences to you.'

The entire population of the Great Hall drew in a breath as one. A deathly silence prevailed. Professor McGonagall's face was at that time…indescribable. In a bone-chilling voice, she spoke, 'Blatant insolence is not appreciated at all and will not be allowed, Miss Black. Since detentions clearly do not help you at all, maybe shunning by your House will. A hundred points from Gryffindor.'

Many of the Gryffindors gasped. The Prefects sent pleading looks towards Professor McGonagall whose anger made her impervious to all pleas. All the Gryffindors glared daggers at Bellatrix whose smirk was still intact on her face. Looking at Professor McGonagall, she smiled widely. 'As you wish, Professor McGonagall.' Coolly standing up, she strode out of the Hall, the eyes of all the students on her.

You really think I'll care if you take even a thousand points from Gryffindor? On the contrary, I think I'll be even happier than the Slytherins. This punishes you more than it does me, Minerva. After all, you're the Head of Gryffindor and you just ensured that your House doesn't win the House Cup this year. As for Gryffindors shunning me, they already did so before and now even more. Big deal.

There was an outbreak of whispering in the Hall the moment Bellatrix walked out and Professor McGonagall walked out in the other direction. Most of the Gryffindors were planning ways of murdering her, while the others were merely gossiping about the new rebel. After the incessant whispering ceased, the students's attention returned to their dinner.

James sat alone at the table, the seat next to him empty when Sirius ran out of the Hall. He knew that there was something wrong with the chocolate the moment he saw the mischievous smirk on Lupin's face and the evil glint in Bellatrix's eyes, after all he was a born prankster, but he hadn't expected it to have such a grand effect. But there was no denying it, Bellatrix's behaviour tonight shocked him to the core. When McGonagall took 100 points off Gryffindor, his immediate reaction was outrage and the desire to hex Bellatrix to Jupiter and back. But now when he thought about it, he wasn't quite sure that he was feeling just anger towards Bellatrix. The way she spoke so nonchalantly towards McGonagall as if she was no more than dirt on the sole of her shoe, her eyes looking so clear and unafraid, her relaxed posture oozing confidence that definitely was impossible in an eleven-yr old….. No matter how hard he tried to deny it, somewhere inside him, he felt a small degree of admiration for Bellatrix's courage and confidence. She spoke like an….adult at a high position. 'Well Bellatrix, you were pretty…..cool tonight.'

Bellatrix was walking down the stone corridor, picturing McGonagall's furious and highly amusing face, when she heard footsteps echoing through the dimly lit passage. She turned to see Remus hurrying down the corridor, looking anxious. She resumed walking while Remus fell into step beside her. He spoke quickly, concern evident in his voice, 'What on earth were you thinking baiting Professor McGonagall like that? Have you gone out of your mind? She looked fit to slaughter you!'

'She was looking hilarious, wasn't she?' Bellatrix questioned in a light tone. 'I wanted to aggravate her further but I figured she would expel me so I resisted the temptation.'

Remus looked as if his shock knew no boundaries. After becoming temporarily speechless for a few minutes, he managed to say, 'You wanted to irritate her more…..oh Merlin, just forget it.' After taking a number of deep breaths, a faint smile appeared on his face. 'You never fail to amaze me Bellatrix.'

'And proud of the fact, Remus.' Bellatrix returned. A question arose to her mind, 'Do you know what happened to Black?'

'Madam Wallace escorted him to the Hospital Wing. Says he has some kind of problem with his ears. Bellatrix, what did the chocolate do exactly?'

'Proved the fact that deaf men do tend to speak louder.' On seeing Remus's puzzled look, Bellatrix groaned. 'Idiot, it decreased his hearing sensitivity to his own voice and multiplied by fifty his sensitivity to others. In other words, he became partially deaf to his own voice but extra sensitive to other noises. Which is exactly why he reacted so much to my yelling and McGonagall's screaming. Get the point?'

'So, how long will the effects of the chocolate last?' asked Remus thoughtfully. Bellatrix shrugged. 'Just about two weeks or so. And the strength increases with every passing minute.'

Remus looked flabbergasted. 'That means…by the end of two weeks…'

'He will be hiding under the bed, even a whisper as loud and sharp as a hundred Hippogryffs tearing their lungs out near his ears.' Bellatrix finished for him. 'Even the sound of the wind will be pure torture to him.'

Remus looked at her doubtfully. 'You didn't do anything else, did you?'

'Well. I may have kept a shrill singing get-well soon card under the mattress of the last available bed in the hospital wing. And applied a Permanent Sticking Charm to it. And cast a modified silencing charm so that the sound is only audible to Black, not to anyone else, so that Madam Wallace doesn't take him seriously when he says that a singing card is driving him crazy.' Bellatrix counted off from her fingers. 'Apart from that, no, I haven't done anything else.'

Remus looked at her in incredulity. 'All this for a Christmas present prank that made your eyes water and itch for two minutes?' he sighed. 'Bellatrix, you're pure evil.'

Bellatrix laughed, raising the hairs on the back of Remus's neck. 'I know.'

Bellatrix sat inside the broom closet on the topmost floor of the Astronomy Tower. It was a few minutes away from midnight. She crouched there, her eye pressed against the tiny crack in the door of the closet, enabling her to see everything on the Tower. It was a moonlit night, the silvery light illuminating the entire room. A few night birds could be heard, including owls, hooting in the night and breaking the peace that prevailed. It was a classic movie atmosphere. Bellatrix sat, completely alert like a tigress in search of her prey. Her eyes were peeled for any disturbance and her ears straining to hear a cloak trailing on the ground which could alert her to the presence of others.

Or that was what Bellatrix would like to believe. In truth, she sloped against the door, her eyes half-closed with sleep as she strove to keep them open. She tried to push herself up in an effort to keep herself awake, but her eyes kept betraying her by closing at inopportune moments. She gave up and leaned against the wooden back of the closet.

Damn this eleven-yr old body! I can't even keep awake for past midnight! O hell, why did the meeting have to be at midnight anyway! Why not at noon? It would be so easy to eavesdrop in that case. Now, even if they do hold a meeting, I won't even be able to hear what they're saying coz I'll be fast asleep! Hurry up!

All of a sudden, Bellatrix heard the sound of heavy boots walking up the stairway. She got up in a hurry, eyes wide open and all thoughts of sleep vanished from her mind. Straining her ears, she distinguished the sound of someone stepping on the topmost step and stepping outside the entrance to the room.

A shadow slinked into the room, blocking the moon from Bellatrix's sight. She heaved a deep breath and willed herself to remain still as a statue. Even a tiny creak could alert the person to Bellatrix's presence. The room was quiet and still. The only sound that could be heard was the inhaling and exhaling of air. Even the owls became strangely quiet. Bellatrix's heartbeat was calm and steady, she knew nothing would go wrong as long as the other person turned up quickly and the meeting began.

Professor Watson walked towards the wooden closet right in the corner of the room. Through the tiny crack, Bellatrix could see him approaching. He loomed over the closet as Bellatrix's heartbeat still remained steady inspite of the decrease in distance. He looked at the wooden door which was not shut completely and left ajar by just an inch.

I know that I can easily pull this off…

'There's no use hiding, Miss Black. I know you're there.'

A\N: Please review! I wanted to write fully about the meeting in this chap itself but it had already exceeded the word limit I had in mind.

James may feel a little bit of admiration for Bella now but all of that will fly out of the window once he finds out what Bella has done to his best mate. Oh well.