AN: As promised, Tom is making an appearance in this chapter! R&R, please!

xx

Chapter 5

"Bellatrix," called a voice from behind me.

I slowed down, but didn't stop. If the Head Girl wanted to talk to me, she could catch up. I heard her huffing behind me but continued walking.

"Bellatrix," she called again.

"I won't be late to my first class of the year on account of you, Evans," I said, but I slowed down more.

Finally, she reached me, and we walked together to 7th year Potions with Professor Slughorn.

"What can I help you with," I sneered, making my contempt for her and her Gryffindor ways obvious.

"I heard you have a broom in your room?"

"You heard correctly," I said, stepping through the doorway of the dungeon classroom.

"That's against protocol."

"So I've heard," I said, standing still, casting my eyes about and looking for a seat. Rodolphus was sitting near the back on the left side of the room, and Lucius was sitting directly in front of him. I groaned inwardly and looked about for more seats. That smarmy git, Severus Snape, was seated in the very back with Mulciber. I groaned again.

"Well, then you can't have your broom-"

"Listen, Evans. Unless you are going to get up at five every morning to carry me across the grounds to the pitch to practice at six, mind your business. It's not a weapon. It's a mode of transportation so that I can carry out my duties as Chaser. If you have a problem with that, cite me, and I will talk to Dippet myself." I turned my dark eyes to the red head, who was shorter than me by a head. Looking down at her, I said, "But we both know what he will say."

Her brow furrowed, and she seemed to be considering something. "I guess it doesn't hurt-"

"Of course it doesn't," I said. My eyes sought out one of my few female friends, Rose Costello. I noted that she was sitting next to Cassius Parkinson, and swallowed a sigh of disappointment, trying to be happy that she was sitting with her next target.

"Well, I've gotten some questions about your quidditch practice," she continued, following me to where I finally decided to sit.

I nodded at Rodolphus, who merely gazed back at me. Sitting down without further ado, I turned my full attention to Evans, eager to get her away from me before Slughorn thundered in, spewing shit about house unity and congratulating us on our maturity. "It's not my practice. I'm not team captain. Lucius is. Direct your inquiries to him."

"Some of your first years would rather approach you and ask," she mumbled, face turning red as Lucius turned around and glanced at her. Unbothered, he turned back to Yaxley and continued speaking in hushed tones.

"I suppose they will approach me and ask when they find me. Please sit down. Class is beginning soon," I said, fed up with playing nice. I pulled a quill from my supple dragon leather satchel, and withdrew a leather-bound stack of parchment from the same satchel. I was eager to learn the more advance potions, and this year, I was determined to keep up with Severus. Lily finally trounced away to sit with her flock of Gryffindor hens, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Rodolphus glanced at me, then looked away again.

I rolled my eyes. "Why doesn't she just talk to you about these things," I huffed.

He shrugged.

I turned my attention to him, ignoring Slughorn's loud arrival. I was curious. "What's got your knickers in a bunch," I whispered.

Rodolphus ignored me.

Sticking the tip of my quill in my mouth, and then transferring it to my left hand, I reached my right hand down and pinched his leg, watching his face for a reaction. There was none. Frustrated, I said nothing and turned my attention to Lucius, who's back appeared to be ramrod straight. His shoulders were tense, and there was a palpable energy about him. I looked back at Rodolphus and noticed he was sitting similarly. Suddenly, my curiosity peaked.

What had occurred before I arrived? Although I truly didn't want to, I scribbled a note to Lucius and enchanted it to fly to his desk. On it was scrawled, "What did you do to Rodolphus?"

Lucius snatched the note from where it was prodding his elbow, read it quickly, then scribbled back, sending it back my way.

"Nothing."

"Oh," I said out loud.

"Is there a problem, Miss Black," Slughorn boomed, having heard me.

"Not at all, professor. I was just admiring the ingenuity of that stirring technique. I don't think I had come across it before," I answered, thankful that I was naturally an attentive person.

"Ah, thank you! I came across it when I studied in…" he continued, speaking to the class at large.

I went back to my ministrations, miffed that my valuable learning time was being wasted.

"Rodolphus," I whispered.

He ignored me.

I placed my hand on his thigh, boldly placing pressure and moving it up. His hand shot out and stopped mine, squeezing it firmly. He held my small hand in his larger one for a second, then disengaged it from his thigh and placed it back in my lap. He looked at me quizzically, his bright green eyes shining with some undefinable emotion. I saw his Adam's apple bob up and down and fixed my eyes on it, watching him struggle to make words.

I parted my lips, ready to ask him one last time about what had occurred before my arrival, before I was interrupted by Slughorn's loud voice.

"Bellatrix, you will be partnered with Rodolphus for the year. Ah, good. You're already seated next to each other. Lucius, you will be paired with Severus…"

I broke out of my entrancement and rose, like the rest of my peers. It was time to make the first potion, which was a review on the Polyjuice. I readied myself to head to the ingredient cabinets, when Rodolphus finally spoke.

"I'll fetch the ingredients," he said, voice quiet. He walked away to the far side of the room, countenance somber, and I wondered again at how deeply he allowed his emotions to affect him.

I sat back down and faced the front, but as soon as I saw that Lucius was also still seated, I shot back up out of my seat and walked quickly to the one next to him.

"What happened," I asked, careful to keep my voice quiet.

"I said nothing."

I gazed at him and noticed how flushed he was. "Oh really," I said, narrowing my eyes.

"Yes, really," he said, meeting my gaze.

I took that moment to quickly perform Legilimens on him, and was able to immediately find what I was looking for.

"Stay away from her, I'm marrying her," Rodolphus said, voice steely with barely controlled rage.

"Not yet," Lucius said, his voice mirroring Rodolphus'. "She's still free to decide. You haven't claimed her yet."

"I'm not claiming her! My marriage to her will be more than one of convenience!" Roared Rodolphus.

"Good luck convincing her of that," Lucius said, before turning away to walk down the dark hallway towards his next class, leaving Rodolphus standing in the empty corridor, thunderstruck.

I quickly found myself shooting out of Lucius' mind and back into my own. Lucius' face had hardened with resolve and self-righteousness. Shocked with what I had seen, I tried to slow my heartbeats, to no avail. By the time Rodolphus had returned with the ingredients for the potion, which we were to begin brewing on our own time when the lunar cycle allowed, I felt positively sick to my stomach. Recalling my mother's wise words about hiding my emotions, I quickly pushed them down and opted for a cold demeanor. I would deal with this foolishness when the time was right, and potions class was by no means the right time.

"Bella," Lucius said, as I stood to return to my seat.

"Silence, Malfoy," I seethed, controlling my rage just enough so that he could see just how furious I was that he had spoken for me.

I am my own woman.

Lunch time found me sitting next to Rodolphus. We hadn't been able to speak at the prefects meeting right after potions, so I was really hoping that despite how aloof he had been acting, he would talk to me.

My plans were ruined when Andromeda made her way to where I was sitting. When she found that there was no room, she glanced at me before turning to Rose, giving her a look that indicated she should move over. Rose huffed loudly, glanced at me, then scooted, giving Andromeda her seat. I looked at my sister appraisingly. Surely, this was important. Andromeda didn't usually employ such tactics in public.

"Yes, 'Dromeda? This must be pressing if you're asking Rose to scoot over at lunch on the first day back from vacation," I drawled, sipping pumpkin juice. "We, after all, did have all summer together." I smiled at my younger sister, indicating to her that I was fine with her actions.

Andromeda gave me a smirk back, then, casting a look at Rodolphus, waved her wand and cast a Muffliato over us. "I heard you fought with Lucius again."

I set my cup down. "What's it to you, my pet?"

"Bella, mum told me you were betrothed to Rodolphus."

Surprised, I turned my gaze back to her. "Did she?"

"Yes. On the same night that she told me I was betrothed to Mulciber and Narcissa to Lucius."

I scowled. I didn't approve of Andromeda being paired with the cow of a man. I said nothing to that effect, however, and continued eating the pot roast that had been prepared for me.

"Bella, please be careful. I know you, so I know you and Lucius had a lover's quarrel. But others will begin to think that you are losing your mind and wielding your power uncontrollably."

"Why is this a problem," I asked, feigning ignorance.

She tsked loudly, before saying, "You know why! Just be careful, please. I love you and want you to do well. Don't let the ministrations of one silly boy, who has barely even reached adulthood, ruin your reputation here."

I laughed loudly and she joined me, and not for the first time, I found myself grateful to have Andromeda with me, even if she was still too meek for my tastes. I reassured her that I would look out for myself, then sent her back to her end of the table before I disenchanted our area.

Rose cast a look at me. The brunette looked as confused as ever. "What was that about," she sneered.

"Watch your tone," I said slowly. "That's my sister you're talking about."

Rose merely looked at me.

I sighed heavily. "Nothing. Now can I please have a meal in peace?"

She shrugged and turned back to Cassius. I was finally able to begin eating, and nearly had my fork to my mouth when Rodolphus spoke.

"What was that about," he asked, before drinking from his goblet of pumpkin juice.

"Now you speak," I said, annoyed.

"Now I feel like speaking." He turned to me. "What happened today was between Lucius and I. It does not concern you."

I laughed loudly. "That's funny. I was the topic of your dispute, was I not?"

Rodolphus' eyes narrowed, but then his countenance quickly changed to one of indifference. "It's your life. Either way, you'll end up married to me. I just thought I would make it easier for you, but I see you're not interested in that."

My ears perked up at this revelation, and I turned quickly to him. "What do you mean?"

"We'll see if you ever find out," he said cryptically.

Frustrated, I looked up at Lucius, who was seated across from us, only to find that he was looking right at me with an unreadable look on his face.

So it had come to this. I was to choose between interrogating these two idiots, or feeding myself.

When it came down to it, I only cared about number one. Such was my reasoning as I carefully sliced my pot roast and ate it slowly, staring at Lucius but not quite seeing him, and considering everything I had learned today.

And the day had barely begun.

I met Lucius outside the portal to the Headmaster's office. I didn't say a word to him, merely speaking the password aloud to the gargoyles guarding the entrance.

"Bebop," I said, sneering at the unfamiliar term.

The stone gargoyles jumped out of the way, revealing the slowly turning staircase that led up to Dippet's office. I stepped onto the steps first, allowing them to transport me to the wooden door at the end. I felt Lucius stepping on behind me, but he was careful not to touch me. I couldn't tell if I was upset or happy about this gesture, but decided it didn't matter.

Not soon enough, we had arrived at the top of the staircase. I knocked on the door to the office.

"Come in," Dippet's voice called.

I turned the doorknob and stepped into the circular room, the second time in as many days. Dippet was sitting behind his desk again, and upon our entrance, he looked up.

"Ah, both of you are here!" He glanced at his pocket watch, then said, "Right on time. You know, punctuality is a virtue."

I actively resisted the urge to roll my eyes and remained silent. Behind me, Lucius said, "Yes, sir. If you don't mind, we'd like to use the Floo now."

Dippet nodded and gestured for us to use his extremely large fireplace. "No, by all means! How else will you get to your apprenticeship," he said, laughing.

I wiped the scowl off my face and made the short walk to the fireplace, waiting for Lucius to throw the powder in. He grabbed a handful, sifting the grains between the openings of his fingers before tossing them into the roaring flames. I stepped in first, stooping as to not hit my head. I straightened up and brushed my hair back with frustration, then watched as Lucius crouched in and straightened up across from me. He shouted the address, and I could barely hear him over the roaring of the flames, but I could see his expression. His gaze was stormy, and reminiscent of this morning, and I could have sworn that the heat I felt was not from the flames, but from that same undefinable look with which he had targeted me.

We arrived in a slightly larger fireplace, and I was immediately surprised. Stepping out, I realized I knew this room. It was the parlor of the Malfoys' summer cottage in the countryside of Hanover, Germany. I looked questioningly at Lucius.

"You traveled to Hanover almost every night for the last part of sixth year, and you didn't tell me?"

Lucius just looked at me and shrugged, then led me out of the parlor and up the stairs to what was his father's study. He opened the door slowly, ushering me forward before entering himself. Seated behind a heavy ebony desk was none other than Tom Riddle, who seemed content to be lounging in the dim firelight. It was a distinctly ominous aura, and I reveled in the power emanating from him. He met my eyes from across the room and smiled, nodding approvingly.

"I'm glad, Bellatrix. Extremely glad indeed."

Only slightly annoyed, I threw up my shields. Smiling, I said, "Of course I would have found a way to make it, Mr. Riddle." I took the opportunity afforded by the brief pause in conversation to look around the room. There were several other figures gathered around the room, in various states of study and research. Surprised, I began to make my way over to where Lucius was seated with another person. It was too dim for me to see who, but I was curious.

"One moment, Bellatrix," Tom said, calling my attention back to him.

Frowning, I turned back around. "Yes," I said.

"I would like to speak to you privately," he said, " in the parlor." He held the door open, motioning me to walk through first.

I did, glancing at him as I passed. He seemed serious, so I didn't expect him to be as ridiculous as he was the last time we met. I climbed down the wide set of stairs slowly, giving him a chance to walk with me.

"Miss Black," he began, as he guided me to the parlor as if I hadn't been to the same room so many summers before, "I am glad that you've shown the initiative to join my little group."

I laughed. "I didn't have much of a choice."

"Oh?" he said, heading to the fire. He quirked a brow. "Didn't you?"

"You offered to teach me. I want to learn." I Summoned a comfortable armchair so that I could sit. I was tired from my long day.

Tom appraised me with his dark, glittering eyes. The fire flickered across his face, casting it in shadows and highlights. Instead of finding the effect ominous, I was attracted to it. It was comforting. Tom nodded solemnly. "Very well then," he muttered. More loudly, he said, "You seem extremely tired, but I'm afraid that if we are to begin your tutelage, you must do something for me today."

Immediately put on guard because of his strange tone, I waited for him to continue.

He stuck a long-fingered, pale hand into the pocket of his black robes and withdrew a bottle of Pepper-Up potion. "I need you to take this, and duel me."

"Duel you? To what end," I asked, confused.

"Dueling is an art form. It is also the perfect way for me to gauge your skills. After I have done so, I can better decide how best to teach you."

I scoffed. "And I suppose you tested those men I saw upstairs?"

"Every single one of them," Tom said, his gaze intense.

I tried to stall, fully aware that dueling was not my strong suit. "You haven't given me much notice," I said, almost meekly.

"That was my intention," he smiled.

I opted for the truth. "I don't know much about dueling, Tom."

"You're here to learn, aren't you? Dueling, coupled with research, is the perfect way to hone your magic and skills."

Unconvinced, I faltered.

Tom peered at me questioningly. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes," I said, drawing myself up to my full height. "What if you hurt me?"

He chuckled smoothly, cupping my cheek with a cold hand. "I'll try not to." He dropped his hand to mine and pulled me through the cottage to the yard out back.

He swung open the glass door, holding it for me to walk through. I immediately inhaled deeply, remembering the calming effect of the scent of earthy heath. Casting a glance behind me, I walked a ways forward, looking into the blue dark, wondering where we would be dueling. Tom walked towards me, then extended an arm for me to take.

"We're heading out a bit further. Wouldn't want to burn the house down with our ministrations," he said, eyes twinkling ominously in the dark.

I looped my arm through his, trepidation rolling off me in waves. "I can't really see," I said.

He chuckled. "I guess you are right. We can save night dueling for a lesson you will have in the future." He continued leading me further away from the cottage, tightening his hold on my arm to still my trembling. "Are you scared, Bellatrix?"

"Unseemly so," I said, disappointed with how I was presenting myself.

Tom looked down at me, then nodded. "Good. Use that fear to fuel your fighting. Over time, fear will cease to exist."

I gazed at him, confused at the gleam of red I saw in his eyes, but decided it was just a trick of the light. "Alright then. Let's begin."

Tom nodded again, then stopped our progress. "We're here." He cast a wandless spell. "Lumos maxima!" he boomed, and I watched as the power of light exploded forth from his hands and expanded towards the sky.

I was nearly blinded by the display or dazzling illumination, and found myself in awe at his sheer power. I gazed around us and saw that we were five hundred or so feet away from the cottage. "Surely all this distance is unnecessary?"

"We will see," he said. He disengaged himself from me and walked fifty feet away. "Ready yourself, Bella," he called.

I settled into my customary dueling stance, remembering what little was taught to me by my father and trying to recall the spells I had read about in the past.

Tom nodded appreciatively, then stood ramrod straight, his left arm behind his back, and his right arm firmly attached to his side. Despite his stance, I had a feeling that he was oddly relaxed. I swallowed my fear, then turned it into a ball of simmering anger that sat at the back of my chest, just as my father taught me to. Letting my wand slide down the sleeve of my blouse, I clenched the curved, smooth wood firmly, and bowed. Tom returned the gesture, and when we both rose, I extended my arm, twirling my wand in a tight, circular motion, willing a white spiral of light to inch out of the end of it. Swinging my arm back behind me and then forward toward the ground with great exertion, I saw the light dance in a ground-wrenching wave towards Tom, who swirled his wand at it and cast the entire length of energy up to the sky. I felt, rather than saw, the Lumos spell dim until I had the impression that it was dusk.

"Impressive," Tom said. "But slow, and too wasteful."

I tamped down on my embarrassment, then readied myself to be on the defensive.

"In dueling," Tom continued, his voice carrying across the distance between us, "There are customs, but few rules. So while you are preparing yourself to be on the defensive, remember that you could just as easily carry on the offensive at the same time."

I absorbed the information, then watched as a beam of violet light shot out of the end of Tom's wand. I jumped aside just in time, then whipped my wand arm across my shoulder, pivoting as I did so, directing my wand at the beam. Latching onto it, I flung it back in Tom's direction, then followed with three replicas of the spell. Tom formed a circular net of gossamer light to envelope the volleys, then enclosed the net, which swallowed the spells into nothingness. He shot a curse that I flung up and out, then I volleyed a curse back at him, knowing as soon as I launched it that it would be ineffective. It fizzled half way, and I fell to the ground, exhausted by my efforts. Tom didn't relent; he shot spell after spell at me, and all I could do was roll out of the way, panting for breath. Feeling my energy ebb dangerously low, I climbed to my knees and launched a Dark spell at him, one that my father taught me. The jet blue light shot across the expanse of land between Tom and I, and I grasped my wand with both hands, swinging my arms up and down to create a wave effect. I heard a loud crack as the earth beneath the jet of light ripped open, threatening to swallow Tom. Just as I was beginning to feel triumphant, Tom swung his wand around, wrapping the spell around himself before unleashing it towards me in a blanket of electric blue. Unable to get up in time, with one hand holding my ribcage to stop my breath from exploding from me, I managed to throw up a shield just in time to deflect the majority of the damage from my person. The rest of the spell hit me full force and I felt myself flying back through the air, my screams renting the still night. Before hitting the ground, I cast a Pillowing charm to cushion my impact. The last thing I saw before I fell unconscious was Tom running across the field to my sprawled figure, Lucius following, fear filling his eyes.

The black night enveloped me as my breath finally left me in a great whoosh.

I was happy to go.