Bellatrix maintained her silence and glare until Rodolphus gave up, turning around with an angry shrug and a scowl that threatened bodily harm to anyone who dared remark about his failure to sit down next to his alleged girlfriend. She continued staring at his back until the door shut, then let out a quiet sigh. I'm really starting to hate that bloke, she thought to herself. I mean, who does he think he is? Ordering me around? Me! Treating me as if I was his property-as if Bellatrix Black could belong to anyone.
The train car remained mostly empty for the rest of the trip until the Hogwarts Express reached Hogsmeade, and she left the train with her trunk before anyone could even try to engage her in conversation. She made sure to keep an eye on the Lestranges and made a point to avoid their location, instead choosing to ride in a carriage with three unfortunate second-years who were ready to flee in terror by the time they arrived at Hogwarts.
She was still wondering what her uncle could have arranged - she knew this wasn't her father's work; while she respected him, she knew he didn't have the sharp mind or the clout her uncle wielded. Orion Black was a masterful manipulator who could engage in games of intrigue and subterfuge without anything ever being traced back to him. In fact, that was his style and he reveled in it. With the political firepower of an Orion Black behind him, Harry Ashworth could end up nearly anywhere, even as the Minister of Magic, but it had to be something less ambitious, something less recognizable, if he was planning on changing the future.
Her answer concerning Harry's placement came the moment she stepped into the Great Hall and glanced at the head table. Bellatrix's abrupt halt occurred so suddenly that the person behind slammed into her back, nearly sending her pitching forward. Under usual circumstances, she would have turned around and retaliate, but she was too stunned at the sight before her to even contemplate that.
Sitting at the staff table, right between Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick, in the chair usually occupied by Horace Slughorn, was Harry Ashworth. She continued to stare at him until he noticed her in the crowd. He gave her a weak smile and shrugged. His expression communicated to her he was as surprised as she was by his being at Hogwarts, and she could all but feel the nervous energy radiating off of him.
Bellatrix regained her composure and strode towards the Slytherin table, taking her usual seat. She had schooled her features into neutrality again, but her mind was reeling with the revelation. When in Merlin's name had he gotten a job at Hogwarts? For that matter, when the bloody hell had Slughorn lost his job? There hadn't been any openings before, and Slughorn's absence meant that Harry was here to replace him-her head shot up abruptly. They couldn't have… she thought, her eyes wide. It was quite possibly within her uncle's influence to have a teacher fired, though he had no desire to interfere with Hogwarts or its headmaster.
Bellatrix was even so distracted that she even failed to notice her sister Narcissa flirting with Lucius Malfoy two seats down, something that would have earned Narcissa at least some criticism otherwise. Harry's presence on the staff table left her mind with one burning question: what did her uncle think Harry Ashworth was worth, if he was willing to risk tangling with Dumbledore?
The chattering around her ceased suddenly, pulling her from her thoughts. The headmaster stood at the head table, his expression grave instead of jovial. "We welcome you back for the remainder of this school year." he said. "Among the reminders I usually give to you after the holiday, there is an extra announcement I must make. Our very own Professor Slughorn recently met with an unfortunate accident. Though the incident was far from life threatening, I regret to inform you that it has left Professor Slughorn unable to return to his normal duties for a certain amount of time."
Whispers broke out among the students and Bellatrix noticed that Lestrange and his friends were giving each other significant looks. Bellatrix didn't understand why they would be sensitive to something as simple as an idiot potions master having an accident. On the other hand, Bellatrix realized that odds were that it was no accident-but Lestrange and his friends didn't know what she did.
Dumbledore continued his announcement as soon as the whispering had died down. "During his absence, Professor Slughorn's classes will be taught by Harry Ashworth."
Bellatrix frowned, glancing between Harry and Dumbledore. Though Harry had been hired, it didn't sound like Dumbledore had been terribly enthusiastic about the prospect. If Slughorn had really been sent out of commission only a few days ago, whatever Orion did must have quite literally forced Harry down the headmaster's throat. The next words from the headmaster's mouth only served to reinforce her suspicions.
"Mr. Ashworth comes… highly recommended," Dumbledore stated, glanced over at Harry with an unreadable expression. "I am assured that he will be an excellent teacher."
Bellatrix arched an eyebrow at this. Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't - judging from what she had seen of him, she was willing to bet he had little idea how to manage a classroom full of rowdy students. It left her with the question as to what her father and uncle saw in Ashworth. How had they had known or sensed that there was something to be had in associating with him? She was certain that he hadn't told them he was a time traveler from the future, and he had not made contact with anyone else as far as she knew.
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