The Hogwarts Express pulled into Platform 9 ¾ belching a huge cloud of white smoke as those students and their parents who had arrived at the station early said their farewells. Bellatrix was just turning around and picking up her trunk when her father called out to her from near the platform entrance.
"Bellatrix."
She paused and turned her head. "Yes?"
Cygnus Black strode to her, leaned in close to his daughter, and placed his hand on her shoulder-not in an unaffectionate manner. "Keep out of trouble, dear."
"Of course, father."
He smiled weakly at her expectant look. The idea of his coming all the way to the platform to say farewell wasn't fooling her, he knew that, and part of him was proud to have a daughter who was so very perceptive and intelligent. "Your uncle is concerned-things aren't right in the world. Do take care of yourself."
"Always."
Thinking that her father had delivered the message that had brought him to King's Cross, Bellatrix flipped her long black hair over her shoulder and made to turn around again, but was stopped by his hand on her shoulder.
Cygnus spoke quietly. Indeed, his voice was so low that she could barely hear him over the roar of the crowd around them. "Also… we'd appreciate it very much if you could keep an eye on that Ashworth fellow."
"Father?"
The mention of Harry's name surprised her. She was still a little disappointed that they hadn't managed to find him a job in Hogsmeade or anywhere close to Hogwarts - in fact, he was still unemployed - and she had been spending the last few days plotting how to smuggle him into the castle, though he had protested that he had no intention of going there if he had no business there. She was thoroughly intrigued by him, and there was no way she was going to let him out of her sight now, except for the fact that she would be going to school, and he would be free to roam about without a job, out of her sight and reach. He could wreak havoc with the timeline, for all she knew, and she wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
"We want to make sure that he doesn't associate with the wrong sort," Cygnus explained nebulously. "I would appreciate it if you would keep me updated on his doings."
Bellatrix sighed in frustration. "I'll be at school, father. I'd love to help, but I've got no idea what he'll be doing, especially since he got rejected for that job at Zonko's." Her eyes narrowed as she began putting the pieces together. Harry's interview with the Zonko's joke shop in Hogsmeade had been rather promising, until he had gotten a letter two days later that announced that they couldn't hire him based on his lack of qualifications. Exactly what qualifications those were, had never been mentioned.
"Don't worry, it's been taken care of," her father told her, which only heightened her suspicions. It was one thing for her father and uncle to request regular information about Harry. It was quite another to take care of things .
"Father, what are you saying?"
"Nothing," his gaze turned vacant for a moment, which she knew meant that he was hiding something, though she could guess what it probably was. Uncle Orion must've arranged something for Harry in Hogsmeade or Hogwarts, she realized, but why would he do that? And why does he want me to keep an eye on him?
Her father came back to the present a moment later, giving her a brief hug before she could formulate a reply. "Be careful, Bellatrix."
And he walked away before she could sort out all the questions she wanted to ask.
....
The journey to Hogwarts was mostly uneventful for Bellatrix. Instead of choosing to sit in one of the more widely used private compartments, which would have forced her to socialize with other students, she picked one of the public cars that carried a set of benches and the occasional table. Though there were many people around her, most of them kept to themselves. The few that were curious about what Bellatrix Black might be doing in a public train car knew better than to bother her. The arrangement was fine with her because she wanted to be alone so that she could think.
Bellatrix counted herself fortunate that her father had seen her off personally. For one thing, it had meant that she had not had to deal with Lestrange trying to get into her knickers-and she knew that was all he really was after. He lacked the brains to think with anything other than his teenage hormones after all.
Being alone also gave her the opportunity to turn her thoughts to what her father had asked her to do as well as the implications of what he had not mentioned. Her uncle, Orion Black, and her father knew very well that she was going to be at Hogwarts. That could only mean that they were of the opinion that Harry would be within her reach. Thus, it seemed likely that they had made arrangements of some sort.
The train car's door slid open, and Bellatrix groaned as she instantly recognized the newcomers-the source of the loud, incessant, boisterous chattering was unmistakably one or both of the Lestrange brothers. Bellatrix ventured a quick glance over to the door before quickly turning her head away, signaling everyone looking at her that she was deliberately ignoring the posse that was in the process of thundering into the train car. With some dismay she noticed that young Lucius Malfoy was nearly hanging off of Rabastan's every word, while Rodolphus was waving his arms around wildly, no doubt trying to describe one of his fantastically impossible Quidditch exploits.
"Bella!" Rodolphus called when he spotted her, much to her dismay. Talking to him was something she didn't feel like doing right now. In fact, considering what Harry had let slip before leaving the Black party at Christmas, she wasn't sure she even wanted to associate with any of the Lestranges anymore. Her mother was of the opinion that one of them would be a good match for her. They were purebloods and rich, and had a history of being violent, cruel, and ruthless on the battlefield, even if they were equally impotent and lazy in the political arena.
After spending some time around the two, Bellatrix had quickly found out that she and they had irreconcilable differences. Bellatrix valued her own quick wit, skill, and finesse and strictly adhered to the motto that knowledge was power-which was why she was in the top of her class. The Lestrange brothers, however, considered brains to be utterly useless, and it showed - they were all brawn, beaters on the Quidditch team, and brutal to the extreme. They were about as subtle as a sledgehammer, and were likely to use said sledgehammer when but a gentle tap would do perfectly well.
They were also at the very bottom of the class, though not necessarily for a lack of talent. Everyone who would usually have been inclined to make fun of them for their poor marks wisely kept their mouths shut. The three students who had once dared to say a wrong word ended up in the hospital wing with multiple broken bones. Said students had become a fine example and warning to their peers. For Bellatrix, who loved prestige and power-who luxuriated in acknowledgement and accomplishment, someone as unimpressive as them was almost beneath notice.
Thus when Rodolphus noisily made his way over to her, trampling on several students' belongings and feet on the way, she deliberately turned her head and looked out the window.
"Budge over," he urged. When she didn't move, he chuckled self-consciously and repeated himself. "Slide over, Bella."
Bella continued to ignore him, and she could almost hear the mental wheels turning in his head. She calculated the odds that he was likely to end up throwing a tantrum, and suppressed a smirk when she realized that chances were quite high. She stubbornly remained in her seat even when Rodolphus tried to push her over, gently at first, then almost shoving her. She counteracted his attentions with a quietly muttered sticking charm that attached her to the bench, feeling quite proud of her ensuring that he could not move her, though she had to wonder if he would end up trying to ram her off the bench like a wild boar if this continued.
"Bloody hell, girl, move!" he yelled loudly.
Bellatrix finally turned her head, fixing him with an icy glare that sent a shudder down his spine, and spoke one word. "No."
She took great delight in the fact that half of the people in the train car immediately found that they needed to visit other friends in other cars, while the other half paled noticeably.
"Come on, why don't you let me sit next to you?" Rodolphus said, his voice becoming pleading.
....
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