Ok so first i would like to apologizes for the time it took me to get this posted but school is crazy and i'm coming up to finals soon. Not to mention that my beta reader also has a life and school so...ya. But never fear i'm still alive! Actually i'm going through major writer's block with chapter 6 but hopefully christmas break will give me enough time to fix that. Once again big thanks to xoxLewrahxox and to everybody who takes the time to read this! Lot's of love from the Silly Frog!

"Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it." – Eliza Tabor

In a Lions Den
Chapter 3: Quarrels

"Miss Black....Miss Black wake up now!" Someone was shaking her with impatience. It was slowly the increasing urgencythat pulled her out of her untroubled and happy sleep. The drowsy girl's first thought as she forced herself to leave the comfortable world of dreams was that whoever that person was; Bellatrix would make sure to hate him or her for the rest of her life.

Bellatrix forced her heavy and sleep-encrusted eyes open, mumbling something incoherent as she struggled to sit upright. It was still dark in the room. With one swift glance towards the window, Bellatrix noticed that the sun had barely begun to rise. Only the very tips of the sun's vivacious rays could be seen; a burst of warm colors against the dark night sky, fighting for supremacy. She quickly looked back at the dark silhouette before her, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness. The outlines began to clarify that it was the witch from last night, the one who had giving her the Hat. She raked her brain, trying to remember her name.

"What-?

"Miss Black you are to get dressed now and meet me in the Common Room. Your parents have arrived.

Before Bellatrix had time to ask what exactly was going on, the teacher stood up and exited the room, obviously just as displeased with being awake this early in the morning as Bellatrix was. For a short moment, the young witch sat on her bed, completely puzzled. That was when the painful memory of last night hit her with full force and Bellatrix felt herself go cold. Gryffindor…Gryffindor…Gryffindor… The word played over and over in her mind as she struggled out of bed and pulled out a nice set of robes. She really was a Gryffindor! It hadn't just been a dream! Bellatrix knew that it was foolish but she couldn't help but hope that she had only had a nightmare. Well no matter…everything would be fine once her parents met with Dumbledore.

'Yes…Everything is going to be fine.'

She glanced back at the night sky, allowing herself one last moment of peace before the dreaded meeting. The bright rays of light were slowly creeping further up into the sky, gaining territory on the midnight blue sky. Bellatrix couldn't help but feel irritated as she watched Dawn fight against Night. Why was the sun so special? Why did everyone rejoice every time it rose? Was it for its spirit and splendor? The way it stood out against the pale sky? She could not see what made it so beautiful…To her the moon had always been the beautiful one. There had always been a certain serene magnificence about it. The wise moon knew when it was most important to shine; in the moments of darkness. It knew how to manipulate its surroundings into making itself the only thing worth watching. Yes, the silver moon was definitely far superior to the golden sun...

When Bellatrix was finally dressed and mentally prepared to meet her parents, she ran down to the Common Room where the teacher (whose name she remembered as McGonagall) stood. Her arms were tightly crossed and her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Where are they?" Bellatrix asked, cautiously scanning the room in search of her parents.

"Mr. and Mrs. Black are in the Entrance Hall. For some unknown reason, they refused to wait for you in the Gryffindor Common room." McGonagall answered sourly, watching Bellatrix with narrowed eyes.

For a moment, they both stood in silence, carefully evaluating each other. Bellatrix decided quite firmly that she hated this Professor and she was pretty sure that the professor did not harbor very fond feelings for her.

"Well then do not just stand there Miss Black. We're going to see the Headmaster."

Bellatrix snapped into action, brushing past the teacher with her head held high. She climbed out of the hole, and hurried down the corridor. She did not care how far behind McGonagall was, yet by the sound of her heels clicking against the stone floor, it was evident that the professor was close to the young Gryffindor student.

Bellatrix hated to admit it, but she was still afraid- Afraid of what her parents would say. Yet, she knew that everything would be fine and that soon she would be sitting next to Rosier, discussing with her fellows about how disgusted she was with the school, Dumbledore and the silly hat. They would drink up her words, naturally accepting her as the new leader of the new first years Slytherins. All would be forgotten soon enough and she would, once again, be her parents pride and joy. Bellatrix would be perfect once again.

Then she noticed them, standing stiffly in the Entrance Hall, watching her approach them. Displeasure was apparent on their faces. Her eyes made contact with her mother's. She was tall and thin with a stern expression that did nothing for the aging lines which gradually appeared on her face. Surprisingly enough, her father decided to participate in the 'family reunion'. He was tall and proud with his cold black eyes scanning the Hall with mild interest. Bellatrix couldn't remember the last time she had spoken with him properly.

"Mother. Father." She greeted them with a respectful bow of her head.

They did not smile.

"Bellatrix…you are a disappointment." Druella said dryly. "You should be ashamed of yourself for embarrassing your family like this."

Just because Bellatrix had been expecting this, it didn't mean that it didn't hurt any less. It pained her an awful lot, especially when she had sacrificed her entire life in order to please them.

"Forgive me."

"You're lucky I didn't have anything planned." Her father commented. "I would have been strongly displeased if I would have to cancel something of importance."

Bellatrix didn't know what her father would be doing this early in the morning but said nothing. She merely nodded and glanced at McGonagall who looked terribly irritated…almost more than her parents.

"Well then…" Her mother sighed. "Let's get this sorted out.

xxx

"Would anyone like a lemon drop?" The Headmaster offered casually and upon seeing the Blacks disgusted faces added; "No? Well then perhaps some elf-made mead?"

"With all due respect, Headmaster." Druella spat in a way that indicated that no respect was, in fact, intended. "All we want is to know why was our daughter sorted into the wrong House?"

Bellatrix nodded in silent agreement.

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose as if he had been pleasantly surprised.

"And what, if I may ask, gives you the impression that Miss Black was sorted into the wrong House?"

The Blacks looked at each other, aghast. Bellatrix noticed how Cygnus turned a shade darker.

'He's in for it now' She thought, unable to keep a smug smile from spreading across her face.

"Listen here." He hissed, leaning forward. "I do not know what you are playing at Dumbledore, but you shouldn't be messing with us. Bellatrix cannot have been placed in Gryffindor. Now I suggest that you stop wasting our limited time and place her in Slytherin."

For a minute or so, the room wallowed in silence. Bellatrix was sitting on the edge of her seat in anticipation. She loved it when her parents used their power to get what they wanted.

"Well..." Dumbledore sighed, refusing to react to Cygnus' obvious insults. "There are a few matters to look at first. The primary one being the rule we have when changing a student's House. We only change someone's House in the gravest of situations- which I am sure you will agree this is not." He added the last part quickly when Cygnus opened his mouth angrily in order to interrupt.

"I'm sure Miss Black here will find Gryffindor a most pleasant and welcoming House. I would not be surprised if by the end of this year Miss Black will have accepted her fellow Gryffindors as her family, here at Hogwarts."

The Headmaster fell silent and everyone turned to look at the young girl, awaiting her reply. She glanced at her furious parents and swallowed hard.

"I will never consider Gryffindor as my family. I want to be placed in Slytherin."

McGonagall frowned and pursed her lips, obviously displeased with her newest student. Dumbledore, on the other hand, betrayed no emotion except intrigue.

"Well I am quite surprised by your feelings towards you House seeing as you did not object when the Sorting Hat mentioned it."

"But it didn't mention it! The stupid thing didn't tell me at all where I was going to be placed."

Bellatrix was furious now. How dare he try to put the blame on her?

"Well it gave you pretty accurate hints, I assume. It most likely mentioned all the important traits of a Gryffindor, like, for example, courage and determination…It didn't tell you anything?"

Bellatrix bit her lip and glared at Dumbledore with as much hate as she could muster, which was a lot. Now that she looked back on the situation, the Hat had mentioned a good deal of Gryffindor traits that she had been too busy to notice…Although, she would rather die than admit this to the old man.

"Sometimes, when the Sorting Hat is most uncertain, he will ask you your opinion. I have a feeling that in your case, Miss Black, he would have asked. And my instincts are (forgive me for my lack of modesty) always nearly right. Why did you not protest?"

Bellatrix felt a sickening feeling in her stomach, the one she had been feeling time and time again since last night. 'What do you think Bellatrix?' She remembered it asking her! She actually had had a chance to change her fate! But she'd been to busy thinking of her future glory to react!

'Oh no…'

Only when she noticed her parent's looks of pure revulsion did she realize that she had just given herself away by the matching expression of surprise and horror she was wearing.

"Bellatrix Black…do you mean to tell us that you allowed yourself to be sorted into Gryffindor?" Druella's voice was dangerously low.

Her daughter frantically shook her head, lost for words. How could she possibly explain?

"Well now..." Dumbledore cleared his throat and clasped his hands together with a large smile. "I believe we have solved this problem. Being a Gryffindor can hardly be considered a terrible thing. If you refuse to consider yourself part of your House which you quite fervently have assured me Gryffindor will merely be a place for you to sleep and study. Of course, you will have to wear red and gold which, I am certain, will suit you perfectly Miss Black."

"You dare mock us?" Druella asked, outraged.

Dumbledore gave a soft smile, betraying absolutely no malice. This only frustrated the Blacks more.

"Not at all Madam. Believe me, when I say that is the absolute last thing I would want to do. I am only giving your daughter some words of encouragement."

Bellatrix wasn't quite sure how the fact that red was her color was considered to be encouraging, but she decided not to fall into his trap.

"Being in Gryffindor does not keep you from being friends with the Slytherin students. You can very well meet them anytime of the day. Nobody would be quite so horrid as to judge you on what House you are in."

Now Bellatrix was certain he was provoking her. There was no way that he could not have heard of the rivalry between the Slytherins and Gryffindors. He was only trying to get her to admit the fact that her 'friends' had all ditched her for that exact reason. Perhaps, he was trying to make her understand that the Slytherins weren't the only people worth befriending? Whatever it was, Bellatrix was not buying it. If anything, she was even angrier then she had been before.

"Well then...if Professor McGonagall has nothing to add-" He glanced at the witch who shook her head. "then I will be forced to bid you a goodnight...or good day actually."

He rose from his chair and the Blacks did the same.

"Professor McGonagall will escort you to our Fireplace. It was a pleasure meeting you both."

He held out his hand, his blue eyes twinkling with good will and Bellatrix suddenly had the urge to punch him straight in the face. Her parents stared down at his hand in disgust, as if they couldn't understand how there meeting could have been anything near pleasant.

"You are making very dangerous enemies, Dumbledore." Cygnus hissed angrily.

"Cygnus, you must know by know that I do not respond to threats!" Dumbledore chuckled, letting his hand fall limply to his side and gesturing towards the door, clearly dismissing them.

Cygnus opened his mouth to retort, hesitated, and then spun around and left the office, his wife following closely behind. A trail of shouting and cursing echoed in the halls behind them.

"I'd better go..." McGonagall sighed. "Before they wake up the entire castle." With one last glance at the young witch and the old Headmaster, she left the office, leaving Bellatrix alone and absolutely furious.

"I suggest that you hurry back to your Common room, Miss Black. Everyone will be waking up soon and you do not want to miss breakfast." Dumbledore said, breaking the silence. She wanted to curse him. She wanted to scream and tell him how he'd just ruined her life. Tell him how nobody would speak to her and how she was now the biggest disappointment of her family. Yet, she swallowed her anger and said nothing because a Black never admits their weaknesses. She nodded, lips tightly pressed together and eyes narrowed into a glare, before leaving his office.

xxx

Since yesterday evening, Bellatrix hadn't taken the time to evaluate the Gryffindor Common Room. It was still empty, yet she could hear people walking around upstairs. She stood in silence, taking in the warm-colored circular room with distaste. She was certain that the Slytherin Common room was much better. Better how? She could not say. All she knew was that everything Slytherin was better.

Welcoming the silence, Bellatrix threw herself into one of the chairs nearest to the window and pressed her forehead against the cold glass, watching as her warm breath fogged it up.

Everything was such a mess...She was a Gryffindor. A Gryffindor. It was like her worst dream had become a reality. Last night, she had crumbled under the shock and fear but deep at the back of her mind, she'd been almost certain that everything would turn out fine. Now, it would seem everything was lost. All because she had been too stupid to tell the Hat what she truly wanted. All she wanted was to turn back the time and-

"Arthur! Don't frighten the poor girl half-to-death!"

Bellatrix snapped out of her troubled thoughts and looked around to see that the Common room was now occupied. Standing near the stairs was a little girl with blond curly hair and two large books held against her chest. In front of her was a rather tall skinny boy with neatly brushed red hair and round glasses. There was another girl, older then the first, standing on the last step of the staircase leading to the girls dormitories. She had a short round figure with ringlets of red hair framing her pretty round face.

"But surely you must know! Do they put something in the middle part? And what about those wings sticking out of either side? How do those keep it up?"

"I really don't know." The girl insisted, inching towards the door.

"But haven't your parents said something? Surely they know how 'aeroplanes' stay up?"

"Merlin's pants Arthur! Can't you give it a rest? I'm sure you can find all of that out in a book!"

"Yes, but we don't have any muggles books at my house. You know that Molly. So, I just thought that maybe Sarah knew..."

Arthur trailed off when he noticed Bellatrix watching them with her nose scrunched up in disgust.

"Something wrong?" He asked, pushing his glasses back up his nose.

"How can you be interested in that?"

"In what?" Molly asked with an annoyed edge in her voice.

"In Muggles. Why would you want to waste your time with them? They're all filth. Wait...you're not a mudblood are you?"

Both Molly and Arthur turned fully around to glare at her.

"Don't use that insulting word in front of us! And especially not in front of Sarah."

"What's a Mudblood?" The small first year asked, craning her neck over Molly's shoulder to catch a glimpse at the rather messy-haired and unhappy-looking Bellatrix.

"Why? What's it to you?" The young Black replied with a sneer.

"Just. Don't Use. It." Molly said, turning pink with anger.

"Make me! You. Filthy. Blood. Trai-."

In a flash, Molly had her wand out and had it pointed towards Bellatrix who instantly stood up.

"Go on! What you going to do? You haven't got the guts." She jeered.

It felt nice, letting all her anger out on this complete stranger.

"Molly...Molly calm down." Arthur was mumbling, trying to pull her arm down with little success.

"No! Let me be Arthur!" The red-headed girl said, shaking her arm free. She then turned her attention back on Bellatrix. "You Blacks are all the same!" She exclaimed, not making a move to attack. "With your ridiculous ideas of blood purity! Do you at least know the amount of people you've hurt with your words? You've just arrived here and already you're making everyone miserable! Can't you stop being so bloody pessimistic and angry for a second? Can't you stop hurting other people just so that you can feel special? You're all rotten, the lot of you! I wish you'd been sorted into Slytherin like the rest of your kind! We all do! Instead you had to come here and ruin our lives!"

"What? I'm ruining your lives?" Bellatrix shrieked, taking a step forward and trembling with rage. "I'm the one stuck in this pathetic House! I'm the one that has to suffer for being so close to this" She gestured Sarah. "Mudblood scum!"

There was a large bang and both girls jumped back in surprise. Reeling around, Bellatrix found herself face to face with the Gryffindor Prefect (whose name she could not remember). She looked just as angry as Molly did only she was actually trying to keep herself calm.

"Black…" She said, eyes narrowed with caution. "What is the meaning of this?"

Bellatrix knew well what to do in this situation. She made her face go cold and blank and stared back into the Prefect's eyes with no emotion. She'd practiced this face a lot, back at her home. Whenever she was in trouble, it was what kept others from reading her like an open book. It made her feel safe.

"I wasn't doing anything."

"I heard what you said."

"What did you hear?"

The Prefect said nothing, staring her straight in the eyes, measuring her. Bellatrix refused to let her in. So they both stood there, watching each other, evaluating each other's stubbornness. Bellatrix had a feeling that they would have stood there for an awfully long time had it not been for the flock of students hurrying down the staircases to get to the Great Hall for breakfast. Many stopped in their tracks and watched curiously, wondering what the strange Black girl had done already. Not wanting to cause a scene, the Prefect backed off first.

"I'll be keeping an eye on you, Black. I don't want to hear anymore filthy language from you or I'll report you to Professor McGonagall."

"Just try"

xxx

"Sorry, I'm late Professor."

The potion's class was filled with little first years all sitting around small round tables. They were all turned in their chairs to catch a glimpse of the ever-intriguing Bellatrix Black. Their large curious eyes were shinning brightly in the shadowy room. At the front of the class, standing in front of a little pewter cauldron stood Slughorn, the potions professor. He looked fairly ridiculous to Bellatrix with his green velvet vest that was quite obviously too small for him and his long blond walrus-like mustache.

"I must have lost track of the time." She explained, raising her dark eyes to meet his.

The truth was that she simply did not want to go down to breakfast with the others and decided to stay in the common room for a little longer in order to think things over. It was a weak excuse, but at this point, she couldn't care less what this teacher would do to her.

"Not at all my girl!" He exclaimed, much to everyone's surprise. "We all make mistakes on our first day! Now have a seat my dear! Have a seat! I have something very special for you today!"

Bellatrix was slightly taken aback by the warm greeting. It was the first she had received since her arrival and it was well welcomed. Perhaps his vest and his mustache weren't so ridiculous…

As he went to the back of the classroom in search of a jar of eye-of-newt, Bellatrix stood uncomfortably at the back of the classroom, glaring at anyone who dared look at her. Now where to sit? She glanced around the room and noticed a group of silver and emerald ties. She did not know what to feel as she noticed her cousin sitting with Antonin, Rabastan and some other blond Slytherin boy. Could she place words on what it was she was feeling? Perhaps a mix of sorrow, regret and longing. Whatever it was, it was not pleasant and she was eager to get rid of it. So she turned her back on them and allowed her eyes to scan the rest of the room but everywhere she looked, she received cautious glances and angry glares.

"You can sit here if you like."

Bellatrix looked over her shoulder towards the soft voice that came just behind her. The girl had quite a pleasant face; not exceptionally beautiful but there was something in those dark blue eyes that gave off a deeper beauty. Her round face was framed by short light brown hair and sprinkled ever-so lightly with freckles. Bellatrix almost decided that she liked her when her eyes suddenly came in contact with a red and gold tie…

'Oh…'

The girl looked at her expectantly as she hovered, hesitating. But where else was she going to sit? No one wanted her at their table and she wasn't to cause a scene by forcing a Slytherin to allow her to sit with him.

"Haven't taken a seat yet Black? Oh I see! Too many places to decide!" Slughorn laughed as he returned with a couple of jars in hand.

Bellatrix gave him a quick nod before throwing herself in the seat next to the brunette, scowling. How she hated this school… The girl gave her a soft smile and held out her hand.

"I'm Alice, by the way."