A.N: I know its only the last few hours of the weekend, but its here! sorry if you find any mistakes, I'm running on spellcheck and Haribo's...if you find any mistakes please let me know...for now enjoy :)
"There you are!" Ron blurted out, as Harry took a seat next to him at dinner "Tol' ya vey were vine!" He swallowed a large lump of mashed potatoes.
Bellatrix looked at him with disgust, as she took the seat opposite beside Hermione. Neither she nor Harry were in a very hungry mood, having just endured a painful detention with Umbridge-literally.
Umbridge had given them each a red Sanguis Quill. Bellatrix had recognized them immediately; the quills were designed to draw blood from the user in order to create ink. Originally created to be used only for Azkaban prisoners, forced to sign their cell numbers onto parchment and leave a permanent tattoo.
"You will both be writing lines for me today" Umbridge spoke pleasantly as she gave them each a piece of parchment. "You Mr. Potter, you're going to write, 'I must not tell lies'. Do you understand?"
For a moment, Bellatrix though Harry was going to punch the pink puff. His knuckles were turning white under his desk and his eyes had turned hard and cold as he stared back at the patronizing witch. Just as he opened his mouth to retort whatever insult she was certain was on the tip of his tongue, Bellatrix cleared her throat.
A tactful distraction. Umbridge had turned her Attention back to her, and Bellatrix shot Harry a warning glance.
"You my dear, shall be writing, 'I must not be late'." The woman strode over to her chair at the front of the class. It acted more like a thrown than a teacher's chair.
"How many lines?" Harry asked, not taking his eyes off the woman.
"Let's just say, as many as it takes for the message, to sink in." with her wand, she summoned a cup of tea, that to no surprise was accompanied, by a pink mug, saucer and spoon, and began sipping at its contents.
"You alright you two?" Bellatrix gave a start, both Hermione and Ron were looking at her and Harry with worried expressions. "Last time I saw you turn down food was the day of your first quidditch match." Ron nudged Harry in his arm, which seemed to bring Harry round too.
"I'm fine Ron." Harry said, in an unconvincing tone.
"Umbridge give you a hard time then?" Harry ignored this and began pouring himself a cup of pumpkin juice.
"What happened to your hand?" Hermione gasped, grabbing both Harry's arm and cup at the same time, and examining it closer.
"Watch it 'Mione!" Ron yelled, as pumpkin juice splattered his sleeve.
"Oh stop it Ron its not poison!" Hermione began touching the edges of Harry's new wound, tracing the words, "I must not tell lies. Great Merlin, did she do this to you?" Harry quickly pulled back his arm, and Bellatrix could tell he was determined to avoid the confrontation. She on the other hand, was not.
"Yes." Bellatrix ignored Harrys betrayed look. "May as well Harry, you're not giving Umbridge any satisfaction by showing everyone she's nothing but a ministry bully!"
"That, that utter cow!" Ron yelled, making several first years jump.
"Stop it, there's no point." Harry began, but was quickly hushed by Hermione.
"No point! Harry, the woman's torturing you for Gods sake! What if its not just you either? What if all of her detentions are like that? What if a first year has to go through that?"
"I hate to say it, but Hermione's right mate, she can't get away with it." Ron added, eyeing the blotches of blood on Harry's sleeve.
Bellatrix felt guilty for making harry seem weaker, she could tell that was the reason he hadn't wanted to admit it to his friends. He didn't want to be the coward. The boy who couldn't take being scratched by a pen without running for help.
"I've got an idea." Bellatrix said finally. The group's eyes fell on her, and she felt a smirk creep onto her lips. A very Slytherin trait, to be leading with cunning intentions. She leaned forward, and began to speak in a hushed tone, so that only the four of them could hear her. "I know for a fact than Umbridge used to have a thing about flies. When she was a student, she used to be a complete outcast, no friends, nothing. People used to call her toad, wart face, and ugly bugly!"
"Brilliant" whispered Ron with a wide grin. Harry also seemed to be perking up at the information while Hermione simply looked appalled.
"How do you know all this?" The brunette asked
"Details later, I'm not finished yet." She raised her hand with a wicked glint in her eyes " Umbridge used to pluck off the wings of flies in class, she used to say, it was the buzzing that upset her. People assumed that it was because of years of being called a toad, she just associated buzzing flies with the nick name." Bellatrix finished, a feeling of accomplishment filled her chest.
"That's horrible." Hermione folded her arms, "and doesn't answer the question of how you know this either?"
"I used to-" she was about to say 'used to called her toad' but decided that would seem ludicrous. "I used to talk to my dad about his old classes, and he mentioned this lonely girl called Dolores that used to play with flies." She lied, flicking a black ringlet behind her ear.
"So what's the plan?" Ron looked as confused as ever.
'No wonder he's in Gryffindor' Bellatrix sighed in frustration. If she had been with a group of Sytherin's, her plan would have become apparent by now.
"Its obvious isn't it." Harry piped up, "we can trick Umbridge into thinking there are loads of flies in the class." Bellatrix blushed as the dark haired teen caught met her eyes and she bit her lip as she smiled. She was impressed at his quick thinking; his ability to see her plan was indeed, very Slytherin of him.
"Cant we just use real flies, Hermione you must know a spell?" Ron turned to her; she looked torn at the idea of fooling a teacher.
"No," Bellatrix cut in, "If we use real flies, Umbridge wont get the blame, plus she could get rid of them with a banishing spell or something. For this to work, we have to use our intellect." She said knowingly, tapping her nose. "Trouble is we're going to need everyone in the class involved for this to work."
"So hold on." Ron had is eyes shut, as if trying to visualize how their idea was going to be executed. "You're saying, were all going to pretend that there are loads of flies in the room. Umbridge wont be bale to banish them because there wont be any, and will effectively make Umbridge look like some daft twit!"
"Exactly, and if everyone denies it when questioned Umbridge will look completely insane!"
"Brilliant!" Harry and Ron both beamed at her, and Bellatrix felt her cheeks redden slightly.
"There's just one thing that might be a problem." Hermione spoke up, sounding worried. "How are we going to get the whole class involved, if half of our class are Slytherin? I mean, they'll rat us out immediately and then Gryffindor will loose points or worse, Umbridge could get us expelled, especially you harry!"
Bellatrix watched as Harry and Ron looked slightly crest fallen at this, Ron looked like he'd given up completely.
"I really hate it when your right sometimes 'Mione." Ron said crossly, stabbing a carrot with his fork.
"Leave the Slytherin to me, you three spread the word around the Gryffindor's, ok." Bellatrix gave it like an order. She couldn't believe they had lost faith that quickly. If her father could see her current company, she was certain she would be punished black and blue. But she would worry about that later, after all she was in the future, and she was certain her father had died, at least she hoped so.
"Bella are you mad!" Harry challenged. "The Slytherin's will kill you! Malfoy and his gang most definitely will."
"Malfoy? HA! Give me some credit Harry. Lucius Malfoy is a pathetic snake that cant even-"
"Lucius Malfoy, don't you mean Draco, his son?" Hermione raised a questioning eyebrow, and Bellatrix felt her cheeks begin to burn. She opened her mouth to respond with another lie, but was surprised when Harry cut in.
"Bella's new, how could she?" Bellatrix felt someone's foot press gently against hers under the table. She looked up at Harry and he gave her a reassuring smile.
"Either way, they're both gits!" Ron grumbled, "So how you going to convince the Slytherin's not to snitch on us? I bet you two sickles they wont agree to it."
"I have my ways. I can be very convincing when I need to be." Bellatrix was certain she heard Harry mumble 'I bet you can' into his pumpkin juice before giving her another nudge with his foot under the table.
Quickly looking over to the Slytherin table to distract herself, she began scanning it for any features she might recognize. Anything was better than showing her face in full blush-mode, bitten lip and all.
"Soo…Which one is Draco?" But she needn't have asked, almost immediately her eyes caught sight of a young male with white blonde hair and skin that was just as pale. She felt herself gasp at not only his likeness to Lucius, but also his similarities to her sister, Narcissa. It was like looking at a male version of her, and immediately a pang of emptiness filled inside her, and she realized just how much she wished she could see her little sister again.
"Bella…. Bella!" she gave a start as Hermione interrupted her thoughts. "You ok?" She looked at the Brunette, and met her hazel eyes that were filled with concern.
"Fine. Just, thought I saw someone else." She tried to give a convincing smile, before turning away to look back at the Slytherin. "So that's nephew- I mean, Draco. Is that Draco, the blonde?" She heard Ron snigger at her mistake, and a ball of irritation bounced in her gut.
"Yep! Got it in one." Harry sounded less than enthusiastic.
A bell sounded, and the empty plates of food disappeared in a flash, and all the students and teachers began getting up and walking toward their dorms. At this Hermione, Ron and Harry also got to their feet. Bellatrix however, kept her eyes firmly on Draco. He too, seemed to be waiting behind, along with two other boys that were much larger in stature and looked as though they were still eating pudding. She gave a daring smile-this was the perfect opportunity- if she was going to talk to Draco and get the Slytherin's in on the plan, it was now.
"You go, ill catch up." Bellatrix called to the trio. Hermione was the only one who stayed a moment longer to call "Good-luck!" before running out of the Great Hall and out of sight.
Bellatrix took a deep breath, stood up, and walked over to her nephew. He was deep in conversation with the other two, although he looed like he was scolding them, which was only confirmed as Bellatrix drew nearer.
"Honestly, you two need your own feasts to be satisfied. Hurry up, some of us have more important things to-" He stopped as he spotted Bellatrix approaching, his face instantly contorted into something that was both fearful and confused. Before Bellatrix could even introduce herself, Draco's expression changed again to one of anger, and he turned back to the two beefy teens in front of him. "Get out!" he ordered.
"What? But I'm not-" one protested, a cup cake mere centimeters away from his mouth.
"GET OUT!" He slammed his fist on the table, making them all jump, although Bellatrix managed to hide her shock more convincingly than the others-which was saying something given their size. The effect on them however, was instant, although they grumbled under their breath; they departed immediately, leaving Both Draco and Bellatrix alone.
"Draco Malfoy I presume?" She asked, keeping her expression indifferent. If she was going to talk to a Slytherin, she had to act like one, formalities and all. "My name is Bella Balaqua, pure blood-"
"Don't lie." Draco stared at her, and although his expression was stern, Bellatrix could tell his fathers grey eyes, were afraid. He really was Lucius' son. She was however shocked that Draco knew she was lying; perhaps narcissi had shown him this annoying trick. The youngest Black had never needed occlumency like Bellatrix; she had a horrible knack of spotting the telltale signs of a lie, the memory of which only made Bellatrix smirk.
"Did Narcissa show you how to catch a liar?" Bellatrix leered taking a seat opposite the teen.
Draco paled slightly, and she heard a faint gulping sound as she watched him.
"My mother didn't show me anything." He swallowed again, " But you did." Bellatrix felt her eyes narrow slightly.
"So you know who I am?" she sounded more pleased than she initially intended.
"Know you, I've met you!" The blonde teen ran a hand through his hair, and Bellatrix smiled at his resemblance to her sister. "When I was young you came to our manor you gave me my first flying lesson, but then you…" Draco looked nervous, and ran his hand through his hair again.
"What? What did I do?" She raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"I'm not allowed to say, mother made me promise." He held up his right hand and Bellatrix could just see the faint trace of a thin white line winding its way around his wrist and fingers. "You recognize this?"
"She made you take a vow- how very brave." She said coldly, "Is that the reason you are afraid? You think I will force you to reveal my future, subsequently killing you?" He gave a single nod.
Bellatrix was not surprised by her sister's actions, and felt no pity towards Draco. It was common practice, amongst older wizarding families, to make their children make many unbreakable vows before they had even come of age. Bellatrix herself had made several by the time she as thirteen and was due to take another in the Christmas holidays. But that particular vow was for an arranged marriage and she was at least thankful she hadn't taken that one.
"Is there anything you can tell me?" She questioned after a moments pause.
"It depends on what you ask. Mother says she would prefer to tell you herself, and therefore my vow will not be relinquished until you meet with her." Bellatrix felt her heart leap in its chest. She could meet her sister-her little Cissy. It was an excitement she had not felt since her arrival into the future and the thought briefly drove out any thought of a plan to ruin Umbridge-briefly.
She felt herself beam at Draco, who seemed to relax somewhat at her reaction and he sighed in relief.
"So, Gryffindor huh?" an air of smugness in his voice, as he eyed the red and gold tie around her neck. "I don't think mother will approve of you're choice."
" I didn't choose it!" she snapped, "I am rightfully a Slytherin, my blood line has never had a single generation that has not been one. Dumbledore must've done something to the hat." She argued, again a glint of fear reflected into Draco, who merely nodded in acceptance.
"There is probably a reason for that." But on seeing Bellatrix's hungry expression, he quickly added, "one which I'm sure mother will explain."
"Speaking of which, how does my sister know of my presence?" She began tapping her index finger on the table.
"You told her. When you do eventually return to your own time, you tell mother and auntie everything." He explained hesitantly, as if checking every word before it left his lips.
"Naturally." She smiled. A wave of hope hit her like a cannonball to the chest. She definitely would be going home. "Do you know the date, of when I go?"
Draco shook his head. "I can't tell you, because, no one knows."
"You mean I never said?" Bellatrix said, sounding skeptical, but Draco continued to shake his head.
"I think you should ask mother these questions, I only know what I've just told you." He looked away for a split second and bit his lip.
"You're lying." Bellatrix gave a smirk, "You do know more, don't you, nephew."
Draco gave a slight shudder at the word nephew- like a child when it knew it was in trouble.
"Please just talk to mother. Shell tell you more than I can." He held up his arm again to prove his point.
"Fine." She sighed, feeling a little disappointed at his behavior. Yes he was clearly afraid of breaking his vow, but he was still a member of the Black family - even if he was tainted with Malfoy blood. The boy should be stronger than this. Blacks were strong, and fear was something they never showed. "So when can I see Narcissa." She asked a little more enthusiastically.
"Over Christmas." He pulled out a piece of parchment from inside his robe pocket and handed it to her. The black family crest was stamped onto the front in thick green wax. "Mother invites you to stay with us over the holidays. She hopes you will join us for the usual festivities and looks forward to seeing you."
"She knows I'm here?" She questioned and she carefully put the letter away in her skirt pocket.
"Of course. But again you'll have to talk the details over with her." Her gave her a small smile before slapping both hands onto his lap. "So. I take it you didn't come over here just to say hello."
There was a moment's silence as Bellatrix struggled to recall what she had originally wanted to speak to Draco for, when it popped back into her head like a light bulb. "No I didn't!" she watched Draco eye her with suspicion. "I came to talk to you about the DADA professor."
"Ahh yes, Umbridge, odd lady isn't she. Rather pink." He answered, scratching his chin.
"Forget the pink, its her methods I don't like." Bellatrix felt her eyes narrow as Draco gave an abrupt laugh.
"HA! Let me guess, you've come up with some, clever plan to get rid of her?"
"You're more intelligent than your hair color perceives, Draco." She smirked, "but yes, I have a plan, trouble is, I don't think the Slytherin's and Gryffindor's are willing to pull it off together, without one snitching on the other."
"So you've come to me, in the hope I will persuade the Slytherin's not to snitch on the Gryffindor's, while at the same time going along with this-" He waved his hand in the air, "idea of yours. Am I right?"
"Down to the letter." She smirked again.
"In that case I just have one more question." He leaned forward, his steel grey eyes focused intently on hers. "What's in it for me?"
Bellatrix heard herself tut, "Typical Malfoy." She sneered.
"I am my fathers son." His eyes hardened slightly.
"Yes, shame really." She said coldly, "but never the less, I do need your help. If you manage to convince the Slytherin's not to snitch and to go along with the plan alongside the Gryffindor's, then…." She paused, considering the best possible lure to catch the young Malfoy. "…Then you can take credit for it being you're idea in the first place."
Draco's answer was immediate-even if he didn't say it- he was delighted by Bellatrix's proposal. "Alright." He held out his hand for her to shake in agreement to their bargain. "Ill do it. So you better tell me what your plan is, Auntie." He gave a sly smile as he said it, and Bellatrix shook his hand.
It was late before Bellatrix returned to the Gryffindor dormitory. Harry and Ron had retired to the boy's dormitory, deciding on an early night, while Hermione had chosen to read ahead for tomorrows Herbology lesson in the common room. It was also an excuse to wait up for Bellatrix-after all, she said she would.
Bellatrix crawled through the portrait hole and instantly caught sight of the recognizable bushy brown hair, sitting in the red armchair by the fire.
"Ron owes me two sickles!" She announced, sauntering over and sitting on the sofa beside her.
"Wait…what?" Hermione looked at her in shock before adding, "You mean, he agreed? You actually got Malfoy to agree to something?"
"You sound so surprised by this." Bellatrix laughed as she spotted Hermione's open mouth.
"Well…I am!" She slammed her book shut. "I didn't think that, no offense, Malfoy would ever agree to helping anyone.
"Maybe he's not as bad as you think." Bellatrix began twiddling with one of her raven ringlets.
"Or maybe there's a catch you're not telling me." Bellatrix gave a dramatic gasp as she looked over at Hermione with a mock-horrified expression.
"Hermione! How could you accuse me of such a thing?" She gave a playful wink.
"I knew it! With Malfoy there's always a catch. C'mon spill!" Hermione crossed her legs on the chair and sat forward like an overly eager child.
"Okay you got me!" Bellatrix held up her hands in surrender. "There is one small catch. When the time comes, we have to tell people its Malfoy's idea. So he gets all the credit for it."
"That's it? It all came down to who gets the glory?" Bellatrix gave a nod. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Leave it to a Slytherin to bargain over Glory. What if it doesn't work, then hell just look stupid."
Bellatrix felt a twinge of annoyance. Only a Gryffindor would say that Slytherin's were only after glory, if anything that position was saved for Lions. Always the hero's. True Snakes on the other hand were for glory of mind. Their highest praises only reserved for the intelligent and the cunning. The exact traits Draco had portrayed.
"Well next lesson we'll find out if it worked, wont we." She said coldly, lying down onto her belly and closing her eyes. She suddenly realized just how tired she was.
"Bella can I ask you something?" Hermione asked in a cautious voice.
"Mmm."
"Did Umbridge…hurt you, like…She hurt Harry?" Bellatrix heard a shuffling noise beside her and presumed Hermione had shifted position in her chair.
She didn't really want to talk about it. Her first day in what appeared to be the future – if this was the future- seemed to have gone by in a whirlwind. It had barely been a day and she'd already got a detention, been tortured, met her nephew, and was hanging around with a group of Gryffindor's. She felt her eyes begin to burn with threatening tears and she turned to face the back of the sofa, so Hermione couldn't see any that escaped and were now running down her cheeks.
"Bella?" She felt Hermione's hand touch her shoulder. "Are you ok?"
Bellatrix held her breath. She knew if she didn't, Hermione would feel her shaking breath as she silently cried. She hoped she looked like shed fallen asleep.
Hermione sighed. "Good night Bella." Bellatrix felt Hermione's hand slip slowly off her shoulder, only to find it replaced by a soft, warm blanket. She breathed slowly and caught the scent of lavender and immediately felt calmer and more relaxed. She felt her eyelids become heavy and the last thing she heard before allowing sleep to come, was Hermione re-opening her Herbology book and flick through the pages.
A.N: well there you go, hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to review. thank you to everyone who has so far x Next chapter hopefully out by friday and Umbridge starts hearing things... ;)
p.s I'm still unsure on Bellatrixes love interest at this point...so again ideas and thoughts here please..would like it to become clear soonish. xx