DISCLAIMER: I own HP. No one ever said it was illegal to dream.

A/N: And I'm back to Bella's second year! Thank you to all the readers who have followed the story this far.

To Astronomar: Thank you so much! Please continue reviewing!

Chapter 25.

Bellatrix walked down the winding cobblestoned streets, the heel of her dragonskin boots clanking against the pavement, creating a periodic sound which echoed down the empty alley. The setting sun's rays faintly shone along the edges of the red-tiled roofs, belonging to old-world buildings lining the street. The cool breeze gently caressed her long ebony locks as they blew in a wind that had its origins ages past, gusts of air that had probably started blowing when civilization had first kept foot in the world. It was a scene that looked as if it had been taken out from an ancient painting and brought back to life.

Bellatrix entered what seemed to be a lifeless town square paved with flagged stones and surrounded by old-worldly shops that appeared to be from the time of Merlin and Atlantis. Breaking off from her casual stride, she paused before a shop whose banner was too faded to read the name, but a single musty tome with velvet and gold bindings on the display declaimed the shop to be some kind of book-store. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside the dusty shop and her eyes scanned the room to find no sign of life. Books however, were visible in hundreds and thousands stacked neatly in mahogany shelves. Taking a step towards the nearest bookcase, she slid out a maroon volume and polished off the dust from the cover with a finger. Faded curly gold lettering said: Ancient Celtic Runic Wards.

Sliding the antique tome back into its position, Bellatrix perused the shelves, pausing here and then to flip through what seemed to be a useful book. However, the item she was searching for caught her eye in the form of a deep plum volume with black-and-silver bindings. A smile, or rather a smirk, twisted her face as she flipped open the hardbound cover and stared at the illustration on the front page. A man with hair growing in some places and eyes glowing amber yellow, clearly undergoing a transformation. Underneath it was an ornate, self-explaining caption: Animagi

Finally! Something that will help me to ensure that my training will not take a couple of years like the others. Soon, quite soon, I'll be able to access anduse my former power again…

Retaining the book in her hand, Bellatrix cast a final glance over the dusty shelves. Taking a leather pouch filled with gold galleons, Bellatrix set the clinking bag on the main table and proceeded out into the town square. Walking decisively, she exited the square from the way she came and started pacing up the sloped lane. Shortly, she arrived at the turn of the lane where a red-bricked gateway was visible and definite sounds of a bustling crowd could be heard beyond.

Stepping through the gate, she was transported from the eerie silent world she had just been in to a lively, active wizard's alley where well-dressed people were busy shopping for their odds and ends and shopkeepers loudly declaimed the prices of their wares. Weaving her way in and out of the crowd, Bellatrix crossed the length of the street to find a familiar, albeit worried face, standing outside a Quidditch Supplies shop. The boy turned and on spotting Bellatrix, quickly hurried towards her, the look of anxiety fading from his face.

'Where were you? We were instructed to stay together. Mother would have had a fit if she knew you had disappeared,' Although Regulus's tone was worried, his relaxed posture betrayed his relief at finding Bellatrix before his mother found out.

'The Wizard's Alley here is much better than the one back in Britain. Sure, the Dark Art's Alley could have been better, but it definitely beats Knockturn Alley.' Bellatrix casually leant against the window display, her cloak effectively hiding her recent purchase.

Regulus suspiciously looked at her, 'We've been to Knockturn Alley many times. Even with the adults. You weren't in the Dark Arts Alley.' His voice held a tone of conviction within it.

Bellatrix appraisingly looked at him, 'Not bad, Regulus. It seems like you are a destined Slytherin.'

Bellatrix was surprised to see Regulus's gaze drop at her words. She narrowed her eyes, 'Why, aren't you expecting to be Sorted into Slytherin this year?'

'I am.' Regulus answered quietly. He was still looking down. 'But …last year's sorting already proved that expectations can be broken.'

'If you're talking about your brother, then you already know that he is as different as-' Bellatrix broke off on seeing Regulus raise his gaze upward. He looked directly at her, in an unswerving tone, 'I'm talking about you, Bellatrix.'

Bellatrix stood still, meeting Regulus's unflinching gaze. She turned her eyes away, looking loosely at the shop behind her, unaware of what her eyes were seeing but ever the more aware of Regulus still steadfastly looking at her. She spoke in a carefully offhand tone, 'Slytherins are known for their cunning.'

Regulus snapped up, looking even more intently at her. Bellatrix met his eyes directly, her deliberate tone conveying a subtle meaning in her words, 'They are known for their ability to deceive, to deviously conceal what is right, and to deliberately display what is not.'

Regulus looked at Bellatrix, his eyebrows creasing lightly, trying to catch the elusive meaning in her tone. There was a vague distrust in his look; but as he looked cautiously at her, his brow lightened, a spark entered his eyes.

A half-smirk graced Regulus's lips, 'Let's go, Mother will be worried.' Regulus calmly walked towards the exit of the street, smirk intact. Bellatrix followed him.

Finally, even if I act like a Gryffindork and even manage to turn the idiots to the Dark Side, I won't be welcomed myself. I need to be equally there on both sides, and not doubted by any. Yawn, this is going to be tiring.

Bellatrix walked down the marble hallways, ornamental green and silver lanterns hanging in stone brackets on the walls illuminating the way. French windows patterned the side walls of the halls, providing gorgeous views of the moonlight-carpeted grounds of the Black Chateau. Royal carriages could be seen outside the imposing entrance and people arrayed in their finest dress robes dismounted from them and entered the chateau. It was clear that an important event was taking place.

Bellatrix climbed up the grand marble staircases and on reaching the second landing, walked to the ebony door located at the end of the corridor. Pushing it open, she stepped inside the beautifully-furnished room quietly, not alerting the brunette in the room of her presence. The girl in question was stooped over a study table, quickly scribbling on a piece of parchment. She hurriedly stuffed the parchment inside a cream envelope and tied it on the leg of the tawny owl sitting on the table, which took flight through the open window the moment it was done. Wearily wiping the sweat off her brow, she turned around and let out a startled shriek on seeing the new visitor. Her hand automatically clenched on a piece of paper as she hid it behind her.

'Bellatrix, what are you doing here?' Andromeda warily looked at her younger sister. She was wearing long, dark blue, silk dress robes with silver trimmings. Her light-brown hair done in a formal bun and her hands nervously rubbed against her long elegantly cut sleeves as she stared at her sister.

Bellatrix shrugged. 'Why, can't someone wish her elder sister on her fourteenth birthday?'

Andromeda snorted. 'You'll have to fake a smile to wish me downstairs in front of all those people anyway. Why take the trouble now?'

Bellatrix smiled lightly. Her eyes found the clenched piece of paper in her sister's fist. Andromeda found the direction of Bellatrix's gaze and clamped the paper even further. She stared her sister down, daring her to say something.

Bellatrix smiled again, to Andromeda's confusion, 'So, your best muggleborn friend has sent you a birthday card?'

Andromeda gritted her teeth and glared at her sister, 'Fine, go complain to Mother. It's not like I care.'

'On the contraire, dear sister, I have no such intention.' Bellatrix casually reclined on the nearest couch. Andromeda regarded her sister in confusion, 'What?'

Andromeda questioningly looked at Bellatrix, a mixture of wariness and puzzlement evident on her face, 'You heard me right. I'm not going to tell Mother that you're still corresponding with that Tonks.'

Andromeda remained silent for a while. Bellatrix continued lounging on the couch, aware of her sister's dilemma: to believe or not to believe. Finally, she felt the place beside her on the couch depress slightly. Looking up, she found Andromeda seated beside her, gazing off into the distance. 'Bella-' Bellatrix experienced a slight shock. It had been ages since her sister had called her that. 'Bella, to tell you the truth, I'm really confused. I simply don't know…..' Andromeda sighed.

'Don't know what?' Bellatrix's voice automatically grew softer. She looked at her sister and for the first time, spotted the turmoil in her: the choice which she had to make, the choice which could change her entire life, for the better or for the worse.

'I've always looked up to Mother, just like you have. Before I came to Hogwarts, I believed every single thing that she ever told me: about the muggleborns, about pureblood supremacy, everything. But then, I came to Hogwarts and got sorted into Gryffindor and everything changed, just like that.' Andromeda sighed again, but continued looking out of the window. 'Then, I met him. Ted Tonks. At first, I didn't know he was Muggleborn and we became the best of friends. But when I realised…' Andromeda broke off.

'First, I tried to ignore him. I remembered every single thing that Mother ever told me and tried to stay away from him. But…' Andromeda's weary look clearly displayed that the effort had been futile. 'He confronted me, asked me why I was acting like this, why I was avoiding him. He just didn't take no for an answer. Then I started thinking, if Ted was a Muggleborn, and he was so good and such a great friend, then are Muggleborns really that filthy? Are we really superior to them? Is having pureblood really that important?'

'I don't know, Bella. I just don't know what to do. On one side, there's Mother and you and Cissy, and no matter how much I might rebel against everyone, you're still my family. And on the other side, there's Ted and all the things that I believe in. Sometimes, I wish I could have both. But I can't. I have to choose one.'

Bellatrix gazed into her sister's troubled face. She could feel the confusion rolling off her in waves, her pain at the quandary she was in. For a moment, Bellatrix forgot who she was, forgot her age and time, forgot the last name she was going to have in the future. She simply felt like the eleven-yr old she was at present, and the fact that the young teen sitting beside her was her elder sister.

Andromeda had opened her entire heart to her younger sister, but still, she felt surprised when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She smiled faintly, 'What were you really here for, Bellatrix?'

Her full name suddenly sent a jolt through Bellatrix as her older spirit overcomed the younger eleven-yr old inside her again. The question rang in her ears, 'What were you really here for, Bellatrix?' Her identity, her master and her mission flashed before her eyes again.

I'm Bellatrix Lestrange, not Bellatrix Black, and I can't afford to forget that.

Bellatrix spoke softly, but this time the tenderness was missing, 'Actually, I was here to give you a birthday present.'

The lack of genuine tenderness in Bellatrix's voice went unnoticed by Andromeda whose eyebrows wrinkled up on hearing Bellatrix's answer, 'Birthday present? Aren't you supposed to give that downstairs at the celebration ball?'

Bellatrix snorted, 'Those are idiotic ones that are only given for the sake of formality. You have more than enough jewellery, I think.'

Andromeda raised an eyebrow, 'So if it's not jewellery and not for the sake of formality, then what is it?'

Bellatrix withdrew a small package from underneath her robes and dropped it on Andromeda's hand. Andromeda curiously unwrapped the package to find a cobalt-blue box. On gently opening it, the box revealed an elegant platinum photo frame which gleamed softly in the dimly lit room. The black-and-white photo depicted a moving and laughing trio of three small girls, clearly sisters. The shortest girl was posing beautifully but her black-haired sister had stepped on her shiny shoe. The two were quarreling incessantly and the eldest was trying to break them up. All three of them had an aristocratic look, especially with a huge mansion forming the background of the photo, but the childish roundness to their faces brought an unnatural sweetness to the picture. The sisters, inspite of the quarreling, looked extremely happy.

Andromeda drew a deep breath. She stared at the picture, saying nothing, but drawing her hand lightly over the photo, caressing it. Her eyes looked unnaturally bright in the dim light as she gazed quietly at the picture.

Bellatrix spotted her sister's strangely bright eyes, moisture dwelling at the surface. She got up from the couch and moved towards the exit of the room. Standing at the door, she gave a parting shot to her motionless sister who was still staring at the frame, 'Every time you're confused about which side to choose, look at that picture.' Bellatrix departed the room, the faint smirk on her face conscious of a job well done.

Now she'll definitely think twice before thinking about deserting the family…..

The grand ballroom downstairs was filled with guests already, men debating about the next political legislation and ladies falsely flattering each other's clothes. Bellatrix simply walked through the hall paying no attention to the people around her. That of course, does not mean that the other people treated her the same.

'Miss Black!' Bellatrix turned around to see a lady in her middle ages accosting her. A look of utter disdain crossed Bellatrix's features.

Social events, what a pain….

'Yes?' Bellatrix asked in the most disparaging tone possible. The lady seemed just a little bit hesitant on hearing her tone but she plunged on, 'Being the daughter of Cassiopeia Black brings a lot of baggage with it along with the pressure of the upholding the family name…word has gotten around that the second eldest daughter of the Blacks was sorted in… Gryffindor?' The lady seemed particularly smug, not to mention derisive, especially at the last word.

Desperate idiots…wanting to attain the high position and respect of the Blacks in society and what other better way than to disparage their daughter. Fools….

Bellatrix laughed derisively. The lady seemed shocked, not to mention befuddled to see this, instead of the embarrassed reaction she was expecting. Bellatrix continued in an extraordinarily withering tone, 'I am sorry Madam Edgecombe, I do hope I'm getting your name right, but your words just reminded me…the three Edgecombe sons were last sorted, if I'm not mistaken….in….Hufflepuff?' Her utter scorn was dripping from every word.

The lady turned red, her tomato-like cheeks clashing horribly with her purple eagle-stuffed hat. Bellatrix's voice turned as mocking as it could get, 'Now Madam Edgecombe, if you could please excuse me.' With a contemptuous turn of her cloak, Bellatrix walked away, but not before hearing the lady mutter nastily to her friend, 'Did you see that twelve-yr old's attitude? That's definitely Cassiopeia Black's daughter.'

The mother in question was staring piercingly at Bellatrix through her cold grey eyes from the end of the hall. But she didn't say anything as at that exact moment, Andromeda descended down the marble staircase. Cutting the cake, blowing out the candles, was not a part of this celebration as birthdays in pureblood society were celebrated only to show off their future heirs (or heiresses). Andromeda coming down was only a signal for the formal ball to commence.

The pureblood daughters and sons were pairing off as the first dance began and Andromeda led it awkwardly, together with a black-haired Nott. They stiffly danced to the slow, uninspiring tune and the moment it was over, Andromeda made her excuses and fled. Bellatrix watched it all from the corner, simultaneously emitting a do-not-come-closer aura for males looking her way. For the idiots who did come, they bolted within ten seconds of her 'Bellatrix Lestrange' glare.

'Narcissa, you're acting like a baby.' Bellatrix turned to find two familiar blondes 'debating' quite near her. Approaching them, she heard Narcissa's voice contradicting quite loudly, 'That's not true!'

Lucius looked plain aggravated, 'We're in public, you're a Black and you're not supposed to be shouting!'

'You're a Malfoy and you're not supposed to be acting like an idiot.' Bellatrix almost rolled her eyes at her sister's comeback. She stood behind them, without either blonde noticing.

Lucius looked fit to grasp his head in his hands. But being Lucius Malfoy, he didn't and sufficed with a calm, imperious tone, 'Look, it doesn't fit either of our status to be squabbling in public, so stop acting immature.'

Narcissa looked at him skeptically. She flipped her blonde hair, done up in the same elaborate bun as Andromeda, over her high-necked emerald cape, a deep green version of her sister's silk dress robes. 'Really? And I supposes you're the most mature between the two of us?' Her tone held a snobbish, slightly sarcastic note.

'Did it strike either of you that we're just, at the maximum, twelve-yr olds?' Lucius and Narcissa both spun around to see Bellatrix, in the same garb as Narcissa except hers was pure, jet black, with silver linings. She leaned nonchalantly against a pillar, running a finger through her black tresses.

Seeing who it was, the startled look faded off both their faces to be replaced, in the case of Lucius, by a cold expression. Ignoring Bellatrix, he coolly turned back to Narcissa, 'Narcissa, I'm in no mood to argue so just give up and forget it.'

Bellatrix jutted back again, 'You know, its really amusing to see you act so grown-up when in reality, we're just children.'

'I don't see you acting so childish, Bellatrix.' Lucius snapped back. 'You weren't acting like a twelve-yr old when….um…let me see…when we were having our Quidditch lesson? Or at the detention? Or when you were laughing at me when those Gryffindorks pranked me? What do you have to say to that?' Lucius looked extremely bitter at each memory.

'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' Quoting the line, Bellatrix eyed Lucius sharply. 'Pretty famous saying, Lucius. I'm sure you have heard it?' Sarcasm rolled off from every word.

Lucius turned his head away. Bellatrix spoke quietly, 'It's a difficult thing, for a snake to stay in the Lion's Den.' But then, her tone suddenly changed, 'Speaking of animals, do you remember the argument the two of you had on the train on the way to Hogwarts? The one about owls?'

Narcissa, who till now had been staying on the sidelines, smiled faintly, 'Yes. I almost convinced Lucius against the practice.'

'No, you didn't.' Lucius looked up suddenly. 'I told you that owls are are a part of ancient tradition and there can be no other better way of delivering letters. And you agreed.'

'No I didn't, Bella was there! Weren't you Bella?' Narcissa entreated Bellatrix, who smirked again at the second use of her short name during the day. Lucius bit something back in contradiction and Narcissa continued her denial, as Bellatrix leant back and observed them.

You treated me like you did before I was Sorted into Gryffindor and you didn't even notice…..No matter how hard you try, it's difficult to remain estranged with your family, which is exactly what Andromeda has realised….

A/N: Only one sentence to say. If you liked the chapter, review!

And a tiny encouragement to read the next chapter: Bellatrix goes back to Hogwarts and ploughs on with her mission!