`Such Improvements - Bella

[draco]

Draco was on his break and he decided to stay at home rather than hanging out with his friends, namely Crabbe and Goyle. He pushed opened the door to see an empty house. He was greeted by the house-elf but he hardly pay any attention to it. He made his way up the stairs and towards his room. He began to wonder where did his mother went. She should be at home around this hour. She should be greeting him with warm welcome and all after staying in Hogwarts for quite sometime but once again, empty. Draco sighed softly before entering his room. He chucked his bag onto the brim of the bed before falling onto the bed, flat.

Of course, he was careful enough not to break his wand. He had taken it out before he dropped onto his bed. Just then, a house elf appeared with Draco's goblet filled with pumpkin juice. He pushed himself upright in sitting position and took his goblet of juice. Sipping a little, he flicked his wand messing around with the house elf, levitating it in mid air. It was then he heard some footsteps and got distracted, the house elf dropped onto the ground with a 'thud' before appariting away. Draco carefully placed his goblet of juice onto the bed desk and held his wand out, preparing himself. Clearly, he was shaking in fear.

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix was in the library perched in her favourite arm chair with her legs tugged underneath her, reading a book and sipping from a glass of firewhiskey. Patter, the family's house elf peeked inside the room and scratched the back of his head. He took a deep breath and waded inside the room. "Madam Lestrange?" he began. Patter stopped in the middle of the library, standing at a safe distant from Bellatrix and continued, "It's time..." Bella's head snapped in the direction of the elf and hissed, "Time for what?" The elf bowed his head slightly and started backing away while saying, "Your nephew Madam. Madam promised Mrs Cissy she would be at the house when Master Draco arrive from Hogwarts."

With her eyes narrowed, Bellatrix slammed the book shut and threw the glass at Patter. She jumped to her feet and said angrily, "I know that. I do not need a filthy servant to remind me what I said." Patter hid his face with his hands and continued backing away, towards the door. Bellatrix hurried past him and on the way out, reminded the elf to punish himself for his insolence. She went to collect her travelling cloak before apparatting in the Malfoy's parlor. She saw Draco's trunk in the hallway and swiftly made her way upstairs, her heels clattering against the marble.

The woman headed straight towards her nephew's room and stepped inside without even bothering to knock. Draco was cowering beside his bed, shaking and with his wand aimed at her. Bella regarded the boy with a raised eye brow. She closed the door behind her and started walking slowly towards her nephew. "Put that away dear." She paused and folded her arms over her chest. "Never allow your opponent to see or detect your fear in anyway."

[draco]

Sometimes, Draco wondered if this is his house as he hardly knows who might be around seeing that he is hardly home hence, hardly knew about anything at all. His father never told him anything much about the Death Eaters neither what is going on around the family. Of course, Draco knew his father just did not want him to worry and wanted him only to score good grades for OWLs, what a drag. Hogwarts is a pathetic school, really. Only that Potter brat loves it so much. Draco could not even stand at that sight of the school. It could be decorated better at times. Snapping out of his thoughts, the footsteps got louder and soon the door flung opened, only seeing Bellatrix. Draco has no worries over his aunt, just fears of her high expectations, most of the time.

As she slowly walking towards him and giving him an instruction, Draco immediately moved his wand away from her, realising how rude he was at the moment. He immediately got up from his bed and dipped his head and greeted his aunt, "Y...Yes. Aunt Bella." He straightened his robes before looking at his Aunt. Okay, so if his Aunt is at home, where would his mother be? "Aunt Bella, did my mother left any note or a message for you to convey to me? She should be at home during this hour, or at least, most of the time." Draco realised she meant business or something serious to discuss with that look and posture. He pressed his lips together for a while before speaking once more with respect, "Is there something I can help you with, Aunt Bella?"

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix started walking around Draco's room, inspecting every inch of it. When she finally turned back to face Draco, she looked content with the decor. Bella sat down on the edge of the bed and folded one leg over the other. She leaned forwards and looked up at her nephew. "No she did not. Your mother asked me to be here when you arrived." Bella paused and pointed at herself while adding, "And here I am."

She stood up from her perch and walked towards her nephew. Bella stopped a couple of inches away from Draco with her back straight and a serious expression on her face. "Actually, yes there is." She paused and leaned towards Draco. "I believe it is high time I start training you." Bella smiled at him, turned on her heel and walked towards the other end of the room.

[draco]

As she paced around his room, sort of inspecting something, Draco felt a little uneasy even though he is confident enough that his aunt would be pleased with the tidiness and the nice decorations. When she settled down, Draco eased a little but he certainly did not slouch. He knew how displeased that appearance of him might bring to his aunt. Feeling her eyes upon him, he turned back to her, looking at her and heard her words clearly. Draco was a little upset that his mother was not home when he was, finally home, that is. Then again, he had to be content that his aunt was here.

As much as he enjoyed his mother presence, even though she always pampered him, he enjoyed having his aunt around as well. She always have this 'proud of him' kind of feeling whenever Draco is near her. He loved that feeling very much. While Draco was in his thoughts he did not realised that his aunt had walked up towards him until he noticed a shadow over him and looked up. To his surprised, his aunt had a serious expression on her face and Draco wondered if he had done something wrong. He only erased that thought when she spoke.

Draco honestly could not believe what he just heard, "Train me? Are you certain, Aunt Bella? You know I'm only good at Potions. Sadly, that is the only one of the very few subjects I scored distinction. And what exactly do you mean by 'high time', Aunt Bella? I'm still 14... Besides, Father might not agree, neither will my mother." Draco had a lot of questions. He was not sure if he needed training when he could have fun. Sure, hanging around with Crabbe and Goyle might be annoying due to their lack of intelligence but should he not be enjoying his youth now?

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix looked disappointed with Draco's reaction. Her smile faded from her lips, only to be replaced by a prominent pout. She walked back towards the boy and replied gloomily, "Of course I am sure." She raised an eye brow at his questions and gave a small shrug before saying, "Your grandfather, the great Cygnus Black, started training me the moment I purchased my first wand." Bella pulled out her wand and caressed it gently with one manicured finger. Without looking up at Draco she continued, "By the time I was your age I was a skilled duelist and I could control fairly well occlumency and legilmency." Bellatrix locked her eyes with Draco and whispered, "When I was 14, my father taught me the unforgivable curses..."

She paused and sat down comfortably in an arm chair. Bella looked thoughtful and after a couple of seconds chuckled softly to herself, remembering the good old days. She straightened her back and snapped, "Maybe not... but that will not stop me from training you. You need to learn how to properly treat the unworthy scum out there." She paused and a mischievous smile appeared on her face. Bellatrix folded one leg over the other and flicked her hand dismissively at Draco while saying, "Besides who ever said they need to know." Her smile widened and she winked at her nephew.

[draco]

It was not at all a good sign to see his aunt not smiling. Draco swallowed hard when she walked up to him. He shivered a little when she pouted and raised her eyebrow at him. Though, he kept his cool and listened to her. When she mentioned about his grandfather teaching her from the day she got her first wand, he too, had his father teaching him. The problem lies with him not paying much attention and thinking of the easy way most of the time and he still does. As she continued on with her skills, Draco's eyes slowly widened. How he wished he could learn those too, but would his parents agree?

That is one problem. Another problem would be if he can master those skills too, being as powerful like this Aunt? He hardly saw his father in a battle but it must meant something that both him and his Aunt could serve as Dark Lord's left and right hands-man. While his Aunt was comfortably sitting on his arm chair, Draco walked up to her as he wanted to know more and learn more from her as well. Upon mentioning the unworthy, his mind only came across those three people, without knowingly, he murmured, "The trio...Potter..." It was then Draco's expression extracted into a frown.

The hatred he had for Harry will always be in him in some reason. Perhaps, it might be link with his family tree, who knows? With his Aunt ending sentences, Draco smirked a little and looked up at her, "That's true... Aunt Bella, will you be teaching me all those you learned and mastered? Especially, the unforgivable curses?" Draco asked with sincerity and respect, hoping she would teach him not only those he needed to know but also more than what he should know. Basically, everything to take Potter down.

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix looked pleased when Draco moved closer, looking curious and intrigued by what she had to say. His words did not go unnoticed by Bella. She reached out for him and placed a hand on his shoulder and with a nod said, "Yes... Potter and his lap dogs. Use the thought of them to ignite your anger." She removed her hand and stood up. Bellatrix walked past him, towards his desk and picked up a snow globe in her hand. Bellatrix shook it and stared into it while replying, "Yes darling. I will. When I am done with you, you will be a stronger wizard indeed." She turned around to face her nephew and smiled at him, "Now remember that this will be our little secret. Deal?"

[draco]

The moment she placed her hand on his shoulder, Draco snapped out of it and eased himself. He lowered his head slightly to look at his Aunt. When she stood up, his eyes followed and so did his body. The thought of defeating Potter once and for all will definitely be a plus bonus for him to get to his target, his goals. He should use that hatred to master those skills that were not suppose to be taught to him right at this moment, to making himself more powerful and definitely to make him man up. He was certainly sick and tired of his coward self. He was always humiliated by them and he had enough.

It is about time to show those brats what a Slytherin Prince, him, can become when he takes things very seriously. When he was in his thoughts and his Aunt looking at one of his favourite snow globe, he was gazing down, feeling that unknown sensation within him. It was until his Aunt called for him, he raised his head and gazed upon her with a firm nod, "It is a deal, Aunt Bella. Are we starting the training now?" Draco was getting eager to change himself for the better, someone to make his father, family, proud. This time, maybe, he can prove something to himself too, just maybe.

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix was silent for a while after Draco's question. She kept shaking the snow globe and staring at the moving figures within it. She slowly looked up at her nephew with a wide smile on her face. "We could if that is what you would like," she finally replied. Bella placed the snow globe on his desk and approached Draco. "Get your cloak dear. We're going to France. I believe you haven't seen uncle Rodolphus in a while." She winked at Draco and hurried downstairs to leave a message for Cissy. Her manor was the perfect place to train Draco. There wouldn't be any witnesses, apart from her husband... but Rodolphus would never betray her. She walked back towards the foot of the stairs and called out for her nephew, "Hurry up Draco."

[draco]

Looking at her smile, Draco knew he made a decision that his Aunt was proud of, even just a little was still satisfactory for Draco. He hardly got that kind of sensation with his father. His father was never proud of him, or hardly to be nicer. He was about to pull out his wand until she spoke about heading to France and visit her husband, his uncle. Draco was never close to his uncle unlike he did with his aunt. Strange. Something about his uncle just creeps him out. Maybe it was because his father despised him, however, father was not all pleased with his aunt either.

Draco gave up pondering over the issue. He was never good at pondering matter for long. He was left in daze when his aunt headed out to left a note for his mother or giving some instruction in private. As she called out for him, Draco quickly snapped out of it and grabbed his cloak, putting it on before rushing down to meet his aunt, "And exactly how are we going there? By floo powder? By broom?" Clearly, Draco had no idea about a thing called apparation just yet. He soon reached by the side of his aunt and looked at her while wondering what form of transport will they be taking.

[Bellatrix Black]

Draco did not seem to understand the meaning behind her words. She could see it in his eyes. Bellatrix rolled her eyes in annoyance and said, "Uncle Rodolphus is away. It will be the two of us and a couple of elves." She paused and tilted her head to the side waiting for his response. Bellatrix narrowed her eyes and added impatiently, "We are going there to train." While she was downstairs, Bellatrix scribbled a quick concise note for Narcissa. After calling out for Draco she started pacing up and down in front of the staircase. When he finally appeared and asked her the question, she started laughing. When he saw the expression on his face, Bella narrowed her eyes. "For Merlin's sake you are being serious." She folded her arms over her chest and added, "Apparration Draco. Have you never heard of it." Bellatrix look frustrated. She grabbed Draco's hand and said, "It might be uncomfortable and do not let go off me." Without giving him the time to reply, she disapparrated and reappeared in the hallway of her manor.

[draco]

Draco smiled only when he realised what his aunt was trying to imply and he thought he was really going for a visit. Silly him. Well, he hardly had any training outside of school, he was pretty slow with that kind of matter, not to mention special training with his aunt. Then again, perhaps his aunt might have second thoughts of training him now. Oh great, Draco thought. If that was the case, he might just lose his chance of ever becoming more powerful and that stinks. He looked at his aunt as she told him how they would be heading to France and Draco could not help but to look around trying to find himself an answer to reply to his aunt, "Should I know that? I don't believe there is such word in the textbooks..."

Before Draco could continued, he was being grabbed by his aunt. He looked at her hand before back to her while listening as she kept on telling Draco not to let go but before he could ask why or even say a word, something strange happened. When he was able to see again, the surrounding was different, it was his aunt's manor. Draco gasped for air as though he had been suffocated a couple of minutes or so, "What is this strange feeling... Is that... Apparition?" Draco supported himself against the wall while looking at his aunt and trying to catch his breath.

[Bellatrix Black]

A satisfied grin spread across her face and she commented, "I see your dear father has not bothered to mention apparration to you. Thank Merlin you have your aunt Bellatrix. I would not want you to go to Hogwarts without knowing basic wizardry." As soon as they arrived at her house, Bella let go off Draco and started walking towards the dining room. "Yes that was it," she said impatiently. Bellatrix took of her coat and threw it at a nearby elf. She looked at Draco and asked, "Would you like some tea and cake Draco dear?"