Revenge

A/N: This one-shot is a companion piece to my novel, "Becoming My Sisters' Enemy," told from Bellatrix's POV.
A/N2: A big thank you goes out to my beta, thesixthconclave on TDM!!!

I followed my mother though Diagon Alley, behaving like the good little girl that she threatened me to be. I had stood before her and Father in Father's office, where they lectured me about the privileges of going to Diagon Alley, and warned me that if I didn't behave, they would consider not allowing me to attend Hogwarts. Well, that just wouldn't do, so I sucked it up and tried to be the perfect daughter, like my youngest sister Narcissa.

Mother had already purchased my robes, books and potions supplies, and we were now on our way to Ollivanders to purchase my wand. After trying half dozen wands, I finally found the right wand for me. It was a twelve and three-quarters length walnut wand with a dragon heartstring core, and when I gave it a flick, a lightning bolt shot through the store.

'Perfect,' I thought to myself, but when I looked at Mr. Ollivander, he had a very anxious look on his face. I scowled at him, and turned to Mother, who merely nodded before placing the money on the counter.

As we were leaving though, I heard the old man whisper, so that only I could hear, "Quite a strong witch you'll be, dark, but very strong." I wasn't sure what he meant by dark, but I smiled inwardly at the thought that I would be a strong witch.

"Come along, Bellatrix," Mother said, as I began to fall behind.

We were almost to Eeylops Owl Emporium to purchase my owl when Mother stopped short and I almost walked into her.

"Ah, Druella, is this your daughter?" the woman in front of us said with a condescending tone. She had been blessed with a son I noticed, looking to her right; quite a good looking son.

My Mother steadied her voice, although her eyes betrayed her annoyance. "Yes, Elizabeth, this is my eldest daughter, Bellatrix. She is starting her first year at Hogwarts this year," she said before continuing, "Bellatrix, this is Madame Lestrange."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, M'am," I said with a perfect little curtsy.

"Hello, Bellatrix. This is my son, Rodolphus. He will be starting his third year at Hogwarts," she said with a smug smile.

I smiled at him, as he took Mother's hand and gave it a kiss. I waited patiently for my turn, but he just turned away. My blood began to boil; I was not to be ignored! Just as I opened my mouth to say something, Mother said her good-byes and took me by the arm, dragging me away from the Lestranges.

"Bellatrix Callidora Black, do not make me regret bringing you with me today," Mother said in a harsh whisper. "Let's go; we will get your owl another time," she continued with a look daring me to speak back.

I kept my mother shut, but I was fuming. That was the day that I vowed to do anything needed to make sure that Rodolphus Lestrange would never ignore me again.

I spent most of the next week trying to find out as much as I could about the boy who had snubbed me. I learned he was on the Slytherin Quidditch Team, and that he had a younger brother, who was Andromeda's age.

It was exactly one week after returning from Diagon Alley that I decided I was going to marry Rodolphus Lestrange. I was packing my trunk and speaking with my younger sisters when Andie asked me how I was going to get Rodolphus to notice me since he was a third year.

This was the point when I realized that I didn't need him to notice me; I would just get Mother and Father to arrange a marriage. That would teach him. I announced this to my sisters and was unsurprised to see a look of confusion in Andie's eyes. At nine years old, Andie still believed in fairy tales and true love, but at eleven I had already realized that I needed to be practical. Love was for fools; in our society, love was something not thought of until after marriage, and even then not every marriage resulted in love.

Besides, if I wanted to become such a strong witch, then I couldn't allow love to hold me back. The first step on my way to strength was to make sure that Rodolphus paid for his behavior, and in order to do that I would procure a betrothal to him.

The next day, I left my sisters and home behind and was off on my way to Hogwarts. I was still unsure of my next move with Rodolphus, as my parents would not even hear of betrothals and matches until I was at least fifteen. Even then, no betrothal would be announced prior to my seventeenth birthday, so I had time.

The ride on the Hogwarts Express was rather uneventful, although I did meet a girl, Isabella Wilkes, from a good strong pureblood family, who was rather easy to manipulate into being my friend. She was very much a follower, which was good; she would work out very nicely as my friend.

It was the first night after curfew when I snuck out of bed and pulled on my dressing robe. I was going up to the common room, and then possibly for a walk throughout the castle, learning my way around. All of the other girls in my dormitory were asleep as I crept from the room. Once in the common room, I sat in front of the dying fire to contemplate my next move with Rodolphus.

I was startled out of my thoughts by a noise behind me, and I whipped out my wand and turned towards the sound. I heard a chuckle, and then Rodolphus himself stepped out of the shadows. "Ah, you're the Black girl, aren't you?" he asked, knowing full well who I was. "Why don't you put that wand away? It's not like you know any spells that you can cast."

I tried to keep my temper, and kept my voice steady. "I probably know more magic than you did at my age. I have been stealing my parents' wands since I was seven."

He chuckled again, although this was a more vicious chuckle. "You don't want to test me, young Bellatrix."

I smiled smugly, and said, "That's fine, Rodolphus, but I am not a force to be reckoned with either. Just you wait and see." I waited for his expression to change, but it did not. He saw me as a weak little girl. Well, I would change that.

"If you say so, Bellatrix," he said in a mocking voice. "Why don't you go back to bed now? It's definitely beyond your bedtime. And you do not want to lose points from Slytherin your first night here, do you?"

I took a deep breath and turned away, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of an answer. I started towards the staircase that led to the girls' dormitories, and just as I got to the doorway, I whipped around and sent a mild stinging hex in his direction. I heard a hiss escape from his lips, and I hurried down the stairway, where he could not follow, feeling quite pleased with myself.

That would teach him that I was not to be messed with. I was not some dainty little girl, like Narcissa, or some shy bookworm, like Andromeda. I was strong and could stand up for myself. I crawled back into bed, and feel asleep rather quickly, happy that I had stood up for myself, and pleased that I had surprised him with my hex. Just another four years, and I could convince my parents to set up betrothal to him. Revenge was sweet.