Written for The Houses Competition Year 11 Challenge Round 2
House: Gryffindor Stand-in
Class: History of Magic
Category: mini drabble
Prompt: [Pairing - platonic] Cho Chang & Bellatrix Lestrange
Word Count: 375
TW: none other than mentions of canon deaths
Cho kept her head down and walked purposefully.
Since Dumbledore's funeral, the Alley had been glum and almost deserted, but her parents didn't believe they had anything to fear. The Aurors will take care of it, they said. Truthfully, they didn't think any unrest concerned them. Because they were purebloods.
But Cho had experienced first-hand Voldemort's disregard for human life. Cedric had been a pureblood.
So she agreed to run her parents' errands as was expected of her, but she moved quickly, praying for her safety.
She was almost in front of Gringotts' white façade when a hush fell over the already-subdued Alley.
"Higher, you fool! Everyone shall see!"
She couldn't help turning towards the shrill voice breaking the silence.
A wizard was fixing a poster on a wall, and directing him—
Bellatrix Lestrange.
A frisson of fear shook her.
Bellatrix's wanted poster had nothing on the witch's presence. She looked almost put-together—her dark hair wild but clean and shiny, eyes mad but eyeliner and eyeshadow perfectly applied, lips a deep red, and long black robes fashionable and tidy. But an oppressive aura of dark magic and madness exuded from her, and Cho's eyes widened when the woman met her gaze across the Alley.
"Curious, little girl?" Bellatrix cackled.
Cho couldn't believe the woman had addressed her. At that moment, she realised she'd never felt like prey before.
Bellatrix abandoned the wizard fixing the poster and the two Death Eaters who accompanied her and sauntered towards Cho. Her chin was between the woman's fingers before Cho could think to duck.
"I recognise you," Bellatrix said in a contemplative tone, tilting her face up. "Ji-an's daughter, aren't you?"
Cho felt faint.
"Y-yes, Madam."
"Of course. She was in my year at Hogwarts, did you know?"
Cho shook her head, heart pounding in her chest.
"Who did she marry? A pureblood, of course."
Cho nodded.
"Hao Chang," she admitted.
"I know the name. Strong, pureblood family. Neutral," Bellatrix spat. "But the times are changing. Maybe you'll show them the right path." Bellatrix noticed her utter incomprehension and smiled mockingly, gesturing to the poster behind her.
"Rejoice, little pureblood, for the Ministry is ours."
Cho looked. A newspaper headline took up most of the page.
Ministry of Magic—Fallen!