The Pensieve of Bellatrix Black

And the story continues on...

I had found a goal. I had found an icon. I had found an opportunity.

And for the first time in my life, I had fallen in love

A great hall in a large mansion is lit up. Yuletide decorations adorn the walls and ceiling, and large tables along one side are full of decadent foods. People dressed in opulent, magically glowing clothes dance around the floor to lively music. One young woman, however, seems to take no joy in her surroundings. She is dressed in a long black gown and looks much too mature to be seventeen and still attending Hogwarts. Bellatrix Black had sat down over an hour ago, much to the dismay of her dance partner Rodolphus, on the pretext that her feet were aching. Although dress shoes often leave room for this to be a legitimate excuse, it was not so for Bellatrix. Having to dance with Rodolphus pained her. She couldn't bear being paraded around as if she had already married him. There was little doubt that the two would make an excellent pair. Bellatrix herself had been considering the idea for the past few months. That had suddenly changed, however. For the entirety of three hours, there was only one man on Bellatrix's mind, and he certainly wasn't Pretensious-Pure-Blood-French-Asshole-Named-Rodolphus-And-Only-If-He-Were-A-Stranger-Lestrange! She was then saved from her angry thoughts by the very man that had replaced Rodolphus in her fantasies.

"It's a pity that a beautiful woman such as you would be sitting, wasting this excellent music," Tom Riddle said, in his always so eloquent way of speaking.

"Well, it simply didn't seem polite to keep dancing with the man if I didn't enjoy his company," she responded, looking up at him with dignity and a hint of promiscuity as only Pure Blood witches can do.

"May I take it that if you were to have another partner, you would be most agreeable to dancing some more?"

Did he not know what this was doing to her? A powerful, well known and incredibly talented wizard was propositioning her in the most graceful way Bellatrix had ever thought possible. Would he really dance with her? Had he noticed her as more than just a young Pure Blood student? Well, there were a few ways to find out. A life time of being raised to be cunning had taught Bellatrix something after all.

"Well, if there happened to be a wonderfully talented and handsome wizard capable enough to be my dance partner, then yes, I do believe I'd dance with him." How's that for a challenge, Tom?

"Well, I am certainly up for a challenge. I doubt you would object to calling me Tom, either." The man offered his hand to her before she had a chance to contemplate whether she had said that last bit aloud or not. With anticipation coursing through her every vein, Bellatrix placed her hand in his and stood up. As he guided her to the dance floor, she took a good measuring look at him: he was a good height for her and was very graceful. The music was cued and the dance began.

"You're a much more graceful dancer than I thought, Bella."

"Pardon?"

"The way you were dancing with Rodolphus, I wasn't so sure."

"Yes. Well. We seem to be thrust together so often, it gets a bit old."

"The key is to never let on that it's old. I myself am forced into these horrid meetings with Malfoy all the time, but I still manage to make them personally advantageous."

With a bit of recklessness, Bellatrix charged on with, "How advantageous do you expect this party to be? I hope it wasn't something you've been forced into by Malfoy. If so, I hope I've made it a little less horrid."

"Well, I have enjoyed the wine. And I must say that the house itself is rather intriguing. I think the evening would be made much less horrid if you were to give me a tour?"

Keeping in step with the music and keeping her jaw from dropping to the floor seemed to be very difficult tasks for Bella to juggle. Did he just ask for a tour? Is he actually flirting with me? I'm just a student! No. I'm a young woman who's graduating in a few months. I'm practically an adult and fully capable of being a good partner for him. Is this really happening? Sweet Salazar what do I do?

"I think the polite thing to do would be to say yes, Bella. Come, the song is about to end. Which part of the house would you like to show me first?"

A bedroom. The thought slipped out before she could stop it, accompanied by a blush rising through her cheeks. It rose so far, that it seemed to have reached Tom's face as he lifted an eyebrow. I didn't say that aloud too did I? I'm really slipping up tonight.

"I saw a nice balcony walking up to the house earlier." Tom offered, finally, filling in the suddenly awkward silence.

"Great. The moon's full enough that we'll be able to see the gardens it overlooks as well."