Lost Things Are Lost For A Reason //Bella/Open//

[Emmeline Vance]

Emmeline sighed as she walked out the Transfiguration classroom into the empty corridor. For some reason she was always the first one to arrive to classes and the last one to leave. The brunette shook her head and ran her long fingers through her dark curls. After another sigh she lowered herself on an empty bench opposite the window. It was almost time for dinner, but she, for some reason, didn't feel like eating.

The girl remained seating on her wooden seat, her light eyes focused on nothing in particular. The quiet ticking of her wrist watch filled the silence around her. She loved that watch. It used to belong to her grandmother, who had bought it in France, several years before Emmeline was born. Even before her father was born. It was a good watch.

The sound of footsteps brought Emmeline back to the present. Someone was going towards her. The Ravenclaw girl narrowed her eyes slightly as she observed the seemingly empty corridor. When she recognised the newcomer, Emmeline's eyes narrowed even more and she suddenly stiffened. The black hair, Slytherin robes and infamous arrogance - it wasn't hard to recognise Bellatrix Black. Leaving was out of the question and Emmeline was wondering whether she should simply try to ignore the other girl and hope she wouldn't notice her. The only thing she could do was wait.

[Bellatrix Black]

"Stop being silly," Andromeda chided.

Bellatrix raised an eye brow at her sister and fixed her with an icy glare.

"Andromeda Black watch your tongue young lady."

Meda could only roll her eyes at that. There was only one year difference between them, but Bellatrix somehow thought of herself as an adult. And ever since getting that dreadful Dark Mark, she had become worse.

"I just meant that you cannot curse that poor girl because she accidentally looked in our direction."

"Watch me," the eldest Black hissed.

She stood up, her back straight and her nose high up in the air, scanning the Great Hall. Bellatrix frowned and looked down at her sister.

"When I find her, that is. Would you like me to reserve you a front seat?" she mocked before existing the dining area.

Andromeda hesitated a moment before jumping to her feet and hurrying to catch up with Bellatrix, who by now was already roaming the first floor corridors. She had just spotted Emmeline when Meda took hold of her arm and spun her around.

"Leave her alone Bellatrix," she begged.

"What will it take to change your mind?"

"Nothing," was the cold bitter reply that Meda received.

Without even looking behind her - and keeping her eyes on Andromeda - Bellatrix addressed Emmeline.

"Vance, have you seen a second year Gryffindor walking this way. Short. Blonde hair. Brown eyes."

[Emmeline Vance]

Emmeline sighed heavily. Bellatrix had, as usual, eclipsed her younger sister, so it took the Ravenclaw some time to actually notice Andromeda. Poor girl, she probably wasn't too bad, compared to her other two sisters, but she was a member of the Black family anyway.

The Ravenclaw focused her gaze on Bellatrix as she approached her, trying to stay as calm as possible and sound as though she was bored and had better things to do than talking to the eldest Black sister. Well, she certainly had better things to do, but knowing Bella, that was out of the question.

Emmeline was quite affronted by Bella's behaviour. That uncivilised girl wasn't even looking at her. Casting an icy-cold glance in her direction, Emmeline answered in equally cold voice: "No, I haven't. Why?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow. "Is it your idea on how to pass the time? Bullying children?" she continued, keeping her gaze focused on Bellatrix.

[Andromeda Black]

"Hmm..." Bella intoned softly.

She shrugged off Andromeda and turned slightly so that she could view Emmeline from the corner of her eye.

"I believe that is none of your business. Now run along little girl. As you can see that my sister and I are discussing family issues."

Meda could hardly believe her sister; how could someone be so rude. Once again she grabbed hold of Bellatrix and started tugging at her arm.

"No, Bella. We should go. I have uhh... something I want to show you in our dorm."

Bellatrix did not look convinced and she was about to comment when Emmeline's next words reached her ears. She pushed Andromeda away, a little too forcefully, and watched her sister stumble back - but not fall - before heading towards the Ravenclaw.

"Actually I think I will keep Vance company," she said her voice dripping with mock sweetness.

"What was your question again, dear?" Bella asked as if giving Emmeline the opportunity to rephrase.

[Emmeline Vance]

The look on Emmeline's face changed from mildly irritated to extremely annoyed in a matter of seconds. Who does she think she is? Bellatrix might have been under the impression that she was better than anyone else, but Emmeline wouldn't allow anyone to talk to her like that. "I beg your pardon?" she hissed, casting another deadly glance in Bellatrix's direction. She did notice, of course, that Andromeda was trying to take hold of her sister and stop her. At least they had one decent member of the family...

Emmeline didn't even blink when Bellatrix headed towards her. She had seen it coming, those things were more or less inevitable when it came to Bellatrix; you never knew when and why she might attack. The Ravenclaw gave the Slythrin a stern look, more or less imitating professor McGonagall's attitude before she spoke again.

"Oh, dear. I asked whether it was your idea of amusement to bully children? I thought that it was too foolish, even for a fourth year Slytherin, but I was obviously wrong." Emmeline spoke steadily and clear, but she deliberately emphasised the words fourth year. She was after all older than Bellatrix. She even managed to give her a fake little smile when she finished. "Now, if you'll excuse me..." Emmeline took her bag and was about to get up and leave.

[Bellatrix Black]

Bella pursed her lips and diverted her gaze heavenwards while lightly tapping on her chin as if she was deep in thought.

"I do not find bullying children, as you put it in, amusemin. I think of it as disciplining those who have done me wrong," she paused for dramatic effect.

"And I evidently do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender or bloodline."

As soon as she uttered that comment, Bella heard Andromeda scoff and that instantly made her stiffen. Her sister was embarrassing her and she would pay for that. Later obviously, the Black sisters needed to appear a union in front of the rest of the world.

"Oh no no, that will not do. You are not excused at all," Bellatrix said.

The proud Black stood up and moved behind Emmeline, simultaneously pointing a finger at Andromeda.

"And you had better block her way," she hissed.

Meda raised an eye brow and was about to protest when she was hit by the Imperio curse. Bellatrix chuckled. She was doing both herself and Andromeda a favour. It would not do to have this Ravenclaw scum start rumours about Meda being soft.

[Emmeline Vance]

Emmeline raised her eyebrows as she looked at Bella. "What did they do this time?" she asked, with a fake mixture of worry and amusement in her voice. "Did someone look at you in a way you did not fancy?" she inquired further, unintentionally making the right guess.

It was hard for Emmeline to keep a straight face, even in situation like that, when Bella spoke of her prejudice and discrimination, or, in her own words, lack of them. Andromeda's reaction was even funnier and had it been a different place or a different time, Emmeline would have allowed herself to laugh as hard as she could.

The dark-haired Ravenclaw narrowed her eyes at Bella's following comment. "I do not take orders, Black." she spoke, trying to sound calm again, but she was ready to reach for her wand if needed. "Now, if you please... I have other business to attend to." Emmeline rather unwillingly turned her back to Bella and started to walk towards Andromeda, in order to walk past her and out of the corridor. She was hoping that the younger sister would not obey that tyrant and that she would simply let her pass. Emmeline suddenly stopped, approximately at the same distance from both sisters, when Bella's curse hit Andromeda. The green-eyed Ravenclaw sighed, wondering what to do next.

[Andromeda Black]

Her eyes flashed with anger at Emmeline's mockery.

"It is easy for you to criticise. After all people rarely look at you or notice your pathetic existence," Bella taunted.

Andromeda remained stationary, giving the impression that she would not follow the orders. That was unacceptable and Bellatrix was convinced that cursing her was the only reasonable solution.

She cast the spell and then fixed her eyes on Emmeline. Her sister was resisting her, but Bella knew she would soon give in, she knew she would win... as usual of course.

"I do believe you have some unfinished business, Vance. With us. No one is permitted to mock the Blacks and remain unpunished."

"Andromeda. Be a darling and take care of our problem," she said lazily.

Several seconds passed before the meek Black actually advanced towards Emmeline.

"Better late than never," Bella tutted to herself.

She observed in silence as Andromeda drew out her wand and aimed it at Emmeline, casting a body binding spell.

[Emmeline Vance]

Emmeline drew in a shaky breath. She was trapped. Her large eyes travelled from the face of one Black sister to another. Andromeda was fighting, but for how long? Emmeline didn't want to stay there long enough to see.

She managed to cast a small fake smile in Bellatrix's direction. "I am glad that nobody looks at me the way they look at you." she spoke quietly. She only shrugged at Bella's words; she had never been particularly friendly type and she didn't really mind the lack of attention she was usually given. Black's words weren't important. The only important thing was escape.

After casting another quick look around the corridor, Emmeline fixed her gaze on Bellatrix. She opened her mouth to protest, but she was unfortunately looking at the wrong Black. Before she could even move, she felt a curse hitting her on the back and she collapsed on the floor, motionless. Emmeline cursed her carelessness and the entire Black family in the privacy of her own mind. Her wand was still in her robes, but she couldn't get to it, due to Andromeda's spell. At least, she could hope that someone would show up or that Andromeda would manage to resist her sister's spell. She only needed a second or two to get to her wand.

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix scoffed.

"Students fear and envy my beauty, my power..."

She paused and flashed Emmeline a smile.

"As you can see," she gestured in Andromeda's direction, "I am talented beyond my years."

The older Black's eyes were slightly narrowed as she watched her sister stagger and fight the spell. When Andromeda finally relented, Bellatrix smiled broadly. As far as she was concerned, she had already won.

Without warning, Emmeline dropped to the floor. Bellatrix threw her head back and let out a low, long, evil laugh. She approached the unmoving body of the Ravenclaw and started circling her. Bella looked down at the girl, like she was a smelly rat.

"What to do with this lovely prey?" she mocked.

Bella crouched beside Vance and lightly pressed her thumb on her nose.

"Perhaps break her nose?"

A long pause followed her words.

"Hmm... that would be rather messy. Perhaps..." she added and drew her wand.