CHAPTER 2: A difference of opinion
"What's the matter little boy?' The fifteen year old taunted. "Too scared to reach out and get your little broomstick?"
A more sensible teenager than Rodolphus Lestrange would have recognized the dangerous glint in the determined gray eyes that glared back at him, even though it belonged to a five year old boy. But Rodolphus wasn't the smartest of wizards; he took the boy's age and lack of a wand as an easy target for the sort of reckless bullying he usually saved for muggleborn first year in Hogwarts.
Even if he was no face reader, maybe Rodolphus should have noticed the striking resemblance the five year old showed to the hosts of this evening's New Year's party or maybe even knowing the simple fact that only purebloods of great name and stature come for this party, should have kept his behavior in check. But Rodolphus was easily bored without a target to bully and the only thing that superseded his stupidity was his big ego and sense of self importance.
Not that Rodolphus had anything to be proud of but the Lestranges were an old and proud family but nowhere as noble as some others.
"Stop glaring at me with your little eyes. I might have to poke them out" Rodolphus jeered, but the boy just glared defiantly back. 'Well let's see if this teaches you a lesson.'
With a lazy flick of his wand and a muttered,' incendio!,' the broom that had been hovering over their heads burst into flames.
The boy let out a yelp which was more anger than pain. Mustering all the strength he had in him, he kicked Rodolphus in the shin.
It was Rodolphus' turn to yelp with anguish. He glared at the boy venomously, pointing his wand directly at the five year old. He was glad to see fear register for the first time on the kid's face. 'You will pay for that, kid.'
Rodolphus was just about to wave his wand when there was a huge bang and not the boy, but Rodolphus was thrown back into a shelf.
Groaning and straightening himself, he got up looking for the source of this new trouble. Standing in front of him, was a young witch, maybe a couple years younger than him. She was short for her age, but her long dark hair fell over her face in several places and her dark brown eyes were seething with little masked fear; power radiating from her.
Her lips parted into a menacing sneer. Her wand remained pointed at Rodolphus's face. "Lestrange, Next time you dare raise your pathetic wand at Sirius,,' Her words were sharp and icy. 'MY SIRIUS' she added, venomously. 'I will take great pleasure in cutting you up, bit by bit and making you eat your own parts,' She finished with a little drawl.
She lowered her wand to point it at his rather sensitive regions. 'And I know where I'd start with,' she said smirking in a twisted fashion.
Rodolphus recognized the girl. He had talked to her only a few times but her reputation preceded her. But Rodolphus can't just step back and take threats from a girl. He moved to raise his wand but before he knew it a huge gash has formed on his wand arm, causing him to bleed openly and drop his wand as he winced with pain.
'Do you really want to test me, you halfwit,' the girl scoffed. The young boy has now moved to stand next to the older girl, looking relieved and his eyes devoid of fear that had been there moments ago.
'What have you done to me, b****?!' Rodolphus yelled as he continued to bleed. He took a step towards the girl and again, with a lazy flick of her wand, the girl threw him back into the wall this time. She advanced towards him, the boy following close by. This time, not bothering with her wand, Bellatrix kicked him between his legs.
'Next time Snuffles,' She said her cold tone, contrasting with the affection that slipped when she spoke her chosen nickname for him. 'Go for that,'
The boy grinned at him dotingly. Encouraged by his look, the girl raised her wand again.
'Bellatrix!' a panicked voice called from behind. Running hurriedly, another boy of sixteen or seventeen, moved in between them. "He didn't know who he was, Bella. Please let it go," He stammered nervously. It was kind of funny and kind of sad how the much older boy was trembling as he looked down at the thirteen year old girl in front of him.
Grinning maliciously and obviously relishing in the older boy's fear, Bellatrix said coldly, 'Fine, Rabastan. As long as your vermin little brother got the message. Come now, Sirius,' Turning around elegantly, Bellatrix walked out of the room, Sirius hurrying along behind her.
Rather than consoling his injured brother, Rabastan Lestrange looked at him, appalled. 'How stupid are you? Reserve your ragging to mudbloods and blood traitors. Don't have a go at Sirius Black. You know how strong a house they are, we depend on them for everything and here you are bullying the future Lord Black and Rodolphus do you really want to cross Bellatrix Black,'
Rodolphus muttered something about not knowing she would get involved.
"Are you that out of the loop? You messed with her favorite cousin or well, you could say favorite person, altogether. Bellatrix Black is cruel and heartless, but the only person she seems to love is that little cousin of hers and you would do well to not mess with him, ever again. I will not sacrifice my hide for you,'
"All I said Bella is that I don't understand the concept," 10 year old Sirius Black pouted. "I'm not able to grasp why I would hate someone I haven't met yet. What did they do wrong?"
"Because we need to show them their place, Sirius! They need to know we are better than them. They shouldn't be allowed to practice magic. They aren't worthy to lick our feet,' Bella snarled.
"But why? Merlin must have given them magic for a reason, right?" Her cousin wondered out loud.
"Oh sometimes Sirius, you irk me more than my stupid sisters," Bella said huffing. "Even young Regulus understands these things better than you. "
Sirius looked annoyed now. "That's only because Regulus follows everything anyone says,"
"True." Bella conceded with a small grin, her anger fading away as it usually did around her cousin. "Your brother doesn't have much of a spine. You on the other hand are the future Lord Black. Certain things are expected of you,"
"I don't want to be Lord Black. You should be Lord Black, Bella. You are worthy of it," Sirius pointed out with reverence in his eyes.
"Well you are right of course," Bella's grin widened. "But now that I'm out of Hogwarts and with the current climate, I have bigger and better things to do,"
Bella's eyes attained a dreamy look that Sirius rarely ever saw in them. Even though curious he didn't push it.
"Anyway Snuffles," Bella said this time more softly. "Just promise me you won't go and fraternize with any dirt when you are in Hogwarts,"
"Fine," Sirius said rolling his eyes, a smile creeping onto his face also.
"Now come along, your mind won't learn Occlumency all by itself,' Bella said, poking her cousin on the temple.
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Sirius stared at his knuckles as he sat in the empty compartment. He was really conflicted at this point. On one hand, he thought he just met his first true friend, maybe the person who would go on to become his best friend.
It had been easy with James Potter.
Sirius reminisced with a smile. The jokes came naturally, without wasting time on politeness or etiquette. They had made fun of that greasy haired boy with ease. It felt like a true companionship. But his family including Bella, had taught him that all Gryffindors are fools but James definitely didn't seem to be a fool. He seemed like someone that can be a real good friend.
It was surprising the ease with which he had been able to renounce his family's Slytherin tradition.
"Maybe I'd break the tradition" He had said.
James had earlier said that if he got into Slytherin he would probably leave. Funnily enough, that's what Bella had said about Gryffindor.
Sirius was so confused. Either way, he'd lose one of the two persons today. It was strange that James meant to him almost as much within that few hours they've been sitting together as his older cousin who he adored. Despite his adoration of Bella, sometimes Sirius found her chilling and couldn't agree with certain things she would do. But James..
James felt positive, good and noble..
Sirius decided not to wallow on it anymore. He would forget James and Bella and just let the Sorting hat decide. He would not try to influence its decision like Bella said was possible.
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"GRYFFINDOR!"
The hat roared followed by a surprised but loud applause from the Gryffindor table.
Sirius's eye darted to the table on the other end where several faces glared at him and there was a lot of mumbling had started. He found Narcissa whose eyes were laced with surprise mixed with disgust. He moved his gaze along the table to look at Andromeda.
He had always liked Andromeda though not as much as her older sister. And even now she was just looking back at him surprised and she smiled slightly. But it was like Sirius wasn't looking at Andromeda at all. He was finding in her, the striking picture that she was of her sister.
Bella, I hope you forgive me.
A small tear trickled in his eyes which he blinked away and turned to in turn find James Potter and that ragged clothed boy, who had identified himself as Remus Lupin, clapping and grinning at him from the line of students awaiting their sorting.
Yea, this might be alright.
He grinned back at them as he bustled along to join the vibrant table of Lions.
A/N: If you liked it, please let me know. If you didn't, please tell me why!