The New Friends
NOW:
“My my! Alecto… it’s been too long dear!” Bellatrix Lestrange smiles at the old friend from school. She had seen the girl walking through the halls of the Malfoy Manor. “Where’s your brother?! I would have loved to get the old group back together.”
“He’s not here, and besides we’d be missing someone.” Alecto’s voice is harsh and straight forward, not an ounce of fear hidden in her body. This bothers Bellatrix, everyone is afraid of her.
“You dare speak to me like that?” Bellatrix’s eyebrow quirks, this girl needs to learn her place… below her.
“Why,” Alecto casts Bellatrix with a menacing smile. “I thought we were friends! Or we were at least until…” Bellatrix doesn’t flinch, not knowing what this crazy bat is going on about, “Do you not remember?” Alecto’s mocks before leaning in close, Bellatrix indeed did not remember what she was talking about, but that wasn’t a concern too her. “Listen here, you're not the only one who knows people around here… and don’t think I haven’t forgotten.” With a quick flick of her mouth Alecto drags her wet tongue down Bellatrix’s face, but it’s not long till Bellatrix starts screaming.
“YOU WRETCHED HAG,” she screeches in disbelief. It’s times like this when Bellatrix’s mind goes sideways, and she’s thrown into a pool of thoughts.
That bitch, disrespec–
She’s gonna pa–
I wanna hear her scre–
Why isn’t she scar–
I’m more powerfu–
I want to see her blood paint–
How easy it would be to jus–
But one clear thought was being processed through her body… defend . “CRUCIO!” Bellatrix shrieks not fully realizing that it was she who cast the spell, after all these years it was the spell she resorted to.
When the screams hit her ears, everythings back, like paradise after a tidal wave, quiet, peaceful… lovely . A quiet sigh escapes her mouth enjoying the quie–
“BELLATRIX!” A high pitched yell brakes through her mind, and she snarls in frustration, breaking the spell and turning to the person who decidedly ruined her fun.
Her eyes meet with her youngest sister–really her only sister–and huffs, “Yes?!”
“I do not accept this behavior in my house!”
“Why?” Bellatrix giggles innocently. “Are you not enjoying the show?” She looks around at the group that had gathered, quite the bunch. “I can do it another way… if that's better for you?”
“No,” Narcissa’s answer was short and sweet but her tone left no room for argument.
“You ruin all of the fun…” Bella pouted
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7 Years Ago:
Kings Cross Station was jam packed with people. Either hugging their parents goodbye, or finding friends for the previous year. And there were tons of the large trunks much too similar to Bella’s. But Druella Black pushed through them all as if they were little ants pestering her, and they were, Bella had to remind herself. Most of the people here were mugglebo–mudbloods and half bloods unworthy of her attention. But still the sense of wrong kept nagging at Bella as people stumbled out of their way, almost running away. It was no secret that the Black family practiced dark magic and it was no secret they had raised their children to do the same… or, tried to.
As they arrived at the edge of the train Druella pulled her daughter close in a suffocating and uncomfortable way. Her grip was too tight, her nails were digging too deep in Bellatrix’s pale skin. But, no one seemed to notice as far as they were concerned this was a regular mother daughter exchange. But Bella knew better after all, even if she didn’t pick up on the Black’s beliefs, she knew what certain actions and movements meant, and this was one of them. A warning, that was it, a warning.
Bella’s mind thought back to the list of things she created soon after they left the house to prevent so called misbehaving. The list wasn’t long, but the items on it were mostly out of her control.
- Get sorted into Syltherin.
This was the most important rule, after all, a member of the Black family had never been sorted into another house in the last 500 years, and she did not want to be the person who broke that streak…
2. Become acquaintances with the most esteemed pureblood Slytherins.
This one was going to be hard, all of the times that Bellatrix and her sisters had met other proper pureblood families they were all… well, they were all pompous asses, and that was not the kind of people Bella wanted to hang out with. But, at this point it wasn’t her choice. Threatening the Black sisters was as well as using imperio and Druella and Cygnus Black knew it.
3. Become top of all classes, and top of the year.
This rule was decidedly the easiest, Bellatrix had always had a keen sense of learning, it was one of the only things her parents were proud of her for. Even without the… warning she had planned to be the best. After all, Bella had never minded attention, rather she thrived in it. Like a flower to the sun Bellatrix almost sought after the eyes of people without knowing it, it was a natural instinct.
Bellatrix nodded to her mother, keeping her facial expressions cold. “Thank you mother.”
“You may go,” Druella responded, ignoring her daughter's words. Putting her trunk in the luggage car Bellatrix turned away from her mother with one last nod. A sense of freedom overcame her, but she wasn’t free yet, not with her sisters still in the Black household.
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It wasn’t long before Bellatrix found a carriage with an empty spot, two girls, two boys and a very disturbing looking owl. Bella popped her head in, “Mind if I squeeze in?”
The group exchanged a quick glance before looking back and nodding. “Exciting little bunch aren’t you all?” Bellatrix muttered wondering if she chose the wrong carriage to sit in. She wouldn’t be able to survive in a group like this. Too quiet and unpredictable.
“You’re Bellatrix Black,” one of the boys stated, it wasn’t a question.
“Yes, and you are?” She rolled her eyes, of course this was the reason they were all quiet… always had to do with her name.
“Aycumus Carrow,” the boy muttered, his eyes still narrowed at Bellatrix. “And that's my sister, Alecto.” Bellatrix noded keeping the surprise from her face. So these were the Carrow’s children, they had never been at any meetings, dinners, or any type of gathering. It was as if they didn’t exist.
“They finally let you see sunlight after all this time?” Bellatrix joked with a quirked eyebrow
“Oh yes it’s crazy,” Aycumus’s sister-Alecto-gasped, feigning amazement. “After all this time we’ve only seen sun through the darkened windows! No you dolt, we're not fucking vampires!” A smirk grew on Bella’s face, and in that moment she decided that she liked Alecto. At least more than her brother. The other two in the carriage were undecided.
“Lecto, that was really good!” the other girl in the room exclaimed, excitement clear on her face. Bellatrix turned to face the girl meeting crystal blue gray eyes amplified by the hazel color of her skin and tamed curly hair. Even at the age of 11 this girl was gorgeous. She had the type of beauty that drew eyes, that boys liked, and other girls were jealous of… including Bellatrix. She was especially jealous of the girl’s hair, the perfect ringlets falling gingerly in a chocolate waterfall was nothing like hers was, a gigantic fluff of uncontrollable, untamable curls. Her mother hated it the most though, how the untamed long hair wouldn’t stay down for long despite the cups and cups of hair gel that was used. Druella called it “undignifying”, so, soon Bellatrix began to hate it too.
“What, the part where she insulted me?” Bella smirked, shaking herself from her thoughts.
“What! No sorry if it came out that way!” the girl laughed. “Her acting!”
“Ohhhh..” Bellatrix nodded before what the girl had said traveled to her brain. “What?!?!”
“Aida here would like to become an actress…” Alecto cutted in dryly, rolling her eyes. Bellatrix had to hide her grimace, that would get old real fast. Alecto’s eyes flicked to her’s, letting Bella see her annoyance about this. Yep Bellatrix liked her.
She turned to the final person in the room, “So we have Aycumus, Alecto, Aida and?”
“Tiberius Nott,” he gave a sly smile that Bella hated immediately.
“Oh!” Bellatrix’s mouth shaped into an O as she recognized him only making his grin grow. “ You’re that douchebag at my parents' parties, ya I know you… Thinking you are so cool and acting cocky, who knew that you don’t have any friends? Oh that's right I do, it was quite obvious.”
“That was rude !” Adia frowned, her lips puffed out in a pout.
“Adia…” Bellatrix whispered, turning back to the pretty girl. “I’m gonna teach you something before we get to Hogwarts, you’re gonna wanna remember this, I’m not nice. It’s sorta one of those traits you pick up when living in the Blackhouse hold…” This wasn’t technically true, Bella was plenty nice… sometimes, and mostly to her sisters, but for some reason this girl reminded Bellatrix of them so why was she acting like this? She had no clue.
“I think that you are mean to cover up the softie hidden beneath that mask… I’ll prove it.” Adia muttered, her stormy gray eyes flashing in determination.
“You keep telling yourself that,” Bellatrix responded airly. This girl was too soft, no way that she’d be in Slytherin, and there was no way that Bellatrix wouldn’t be in Slytherin, so Adia would never find that out if Bellatrix was “soft” on the inside.
“I will!” Adia humpfed, obviously frustrated.
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By the time the train stopped everyone had changed into their robes and were brimming with excitement, over new friends, and the next 7 years at Hogwarts. But Bellatrix was scared, the confidence of being Slytherin had passed and she was now afraid of what would happen if she was sorted differently. Surely she could’ve reasoned with the sorting hat?!? Besides that, her train ride was good, she and Alecto had sat crammed in the corner of the carriage speaking in hushed voices. Turns out they were more alike than they had thought! This had been a relief to Bella, maybe making friends wasn’t going to be that hard…
As the group of first years made their way out of the train they were thrown into chaos, students were pushing through each other trying to get to their different destinations. First years with Hagrid–a large man in the distance waving a dim lantern–and the rest to the carriages–somewhere to the right. Channeling confidence Bellatrix attempted to act like her mother for once in her life before stepping into the fray. Bellatrix’s small frame was not immediately trampled (which was a plus) but no one seemed to pay her any mind.
“Oh move over!” Alecto rolled her eyes pushing Bellatrix and several others out of the way to clear a path forward. That's the thing Bella liked about Alecto, she wasn’t scared.
By the time they had made it to Hagrid most everyone had left, and Bellatrix was out of breath. She was definitely out of shape.
“FIRST YEARS!” Hagrid bellowed once more as he saw the small figures approach him.
“We are the last ones…” Aycumus whispered, a red flush creeped up his neck as the rest of the first years stared at them from where they were waiting.
“Perfec’! follow’n me everybody!” Hagrid grinned before heading off on a small path.
“Too bloody cheery that one…” Alecto muttered, to their small group.
“I thought he was nice!” Adia exclaimed,
“Of course you did.” Tiberius and Bellatrix chorused before shooting a glare at each other.
“Oh get over it you two,” Aycumus remarked, making Bellatrix jump, this was possibly the first time he had spoken to Bella since she had entered the train carriage. “No one cares if Jimmy talked crap ‘bout Elanor or some shit… but this arguing is giving me a headache so shut it, or go get a room and have this lovers quarrel somewhere else.” Everyone paused in shock, before promptly cracking up. Their giggles and snorts echoed through the forest earning some glances from others.
“Well Aycumus… Certainly wasn’t expecting that of you!” Bella grinned, still quietly laughing.
“I mean it!” He breathed a laugh.
“And we are not having a lovers quarrel,” Tiberius scoffed but even he was smiling.
“Don’t sound so offende–” Bellatrix was cut off as the castle came into view. The first thing that came to her mind was how big it was. She had always imagined it as a quaint castle barley cramming all students in, but this was nothing like that.
It was large, stones upon stones stacked neatly on top of each other glittering from the yellowish lights seeping through the windows, there were a couple towers that loomed over the rest of the castle with an elegant look. But despite its size, it looked homely, framed by tall trees and a sparkling black lake. It looked like in every room you could find a cup of tea sitting beside a crackling fire, that was something that Bella had never really experienced, at least not in her family.
“You might want to pick your mouth off the floor Black,” Tiberius muttered but even he was staring at it in shock.
“Look at yourself Nott,” Bella responded, whispering as if speaking loud would scare it all away.
“Shut up both of you,” Alecto’s voice sounded from beside them.
“Lovers quarrel, what did I tell you?” Aycumus breathed, his eyes still locked on the building in front of them. Another quiet moment passed over the group of first years as they admired the beauty of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
“Alrigh’ first years, must be going now,” Hagrid said unfazed by the shock coating the students faces. That was normal. “Unless you all would like to miss the sorting…” That sent everyone into motion. Everyone separated into groups of 4 as they headed to the boats, this sent Bella into a nervous state, what if they didn’t want her in the boat? Maybe it was a good opportunity to get to know people.
“I can sit with another group?” Bella offered, her mouth moving before she processed the words completely.
“No, I’ll go, I can't stand another moment in this group.” Tiberius grunted, moving away from their group.
“Keep telling yourself that loverboy!” Aycumus shouted at his back.
“You’ve become quite the chatterbox. What happened to the scared little boy back on the train.” Bella asked as they headed to the boats.
“Actually, for your information, I was not ‘scared’... I was contemplating the pros and cons.”
“Pros and cons of what exactly?”
“Becoming your friend.” Bellatrix saw Aycumus smirk out of the corner of her eye.
“Wow… look at you Aycumus,” Bella rolled her eyes.
“Love to surprise!” He shrugged and got on the boat. With that they all went silent and enjoyed the glimmering lights reflecting off of the murky lake they were floating through toward their new home.
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Despite having rode with another group as soon as they had gotten back on land Tiberius Nott had rejoined the group as they headed up to the castle. They were now clustered at the end of the Great Hall nervously waiting to be sorted. First year after first year came and went.
Hufflepuff–Gryffindor–Ravenclaw–Gryffindor–Hufflepuff.
The first people to be sorted into Slytherin were the Carrow twins–no surprise there–and immediately the Slytherin table erupted in cheers. A couple more were sorted into Slytherin including Tiberius Nott who got the same welcome. But it wasn’t long before Professor McGonalgall called her name.
As she came to sit upon the rickety old chair every fiber in her body wanted Slytherin, not only did her mother want that, but her friends were in there. Win-win!
She felt the old hat be placed on her head, barely fitting over her bushy head of hair, and not long after an old, withered voice crept into her mind.
Another Black ay? Hasn’t been one not placed in Slytherin in years… what ‘bout you? Hm… The voice wondered as she tensed, why hadn’t it chosen yet? This should be easy… there is not a house except Slytherin that fitted her.
Slytherin huh? Could be… but then again… no, I see now, must be…
“SLYTHERIN!” It called out, and the hat was yanked from her head. Bellatrix let go of the breath she didn’t even realize she was holding. Thank merlin.
She made her way to the Slytherin table, sitting next to her friends with a wide smile on her face.
Adia Zabini ended up being sorted into Syltherin as well which came to a large surprise to Bella and the rest, the girl just seemed too fragile… but maybe there was more to her than she was letting on.
That night was the first night Bella truly forgot about everything outside of the castle, stuffing herself with warm food until she physically couldn’t anymore, chatting with her friends, and meeting other people at her table. But as she got up from the table she forced herself to remember. She still had responsibilities, but two tasks down, she hadn’t screwed up yet.