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.
She frowned at that thought. As far as she knew . She would have to talk to him, and soon. If someone else knew who he really was, then she had to step up her game. It wouldn't do at all to let someone else reap the benefits of his time travel. He was hers; she had found him first, after all.
During the course of the meal, Bellatrix made a half-hearted attempt to join with her fellow Slytherins in conversation, mostly as a cover as she tried to listen to them talk and get a feel for their thoughts on Harry. Most of them were indifferent, which she had expected, considering that they didn't particularly care who taught what, as long as they got their grades in the end. Some were boisterously hostile, thinking that someone that young and clearly nervous would be easy pickings for them - Bellatrix made a mental note to talk to Harry about wearing his emotions on his sleeve. He was an open book she could read with ease as could, no doubt, others.
It was the select few that she had chosen to surround herself with because they had more brains than the average garden slug that worried her. Lucius Malfoy, for one, had a good head on his shoulders despite the fact that he was younger. He was shaping up to become a master at manipulating people to get what he wanted - not nearly as good as herself, of course, but good enough. The fact that he was ignoring her sister's advances when she knew he was interested in Narcissa told her he was smart enough to play hard to get for her younger sister.
Then there was Severus Snape. The kid already knew more about potions, both mundane and exotic, than most professors, and definitely more than Slughorn ever had. Bellatrix knew that his indifference and aloofness hid a keen intellect that was only betrayed by his piercing eyes. If anyone was going to pick up on the fact that Harry shouldn't be here, it would be either one of them. Glancing to the side where the Lestranges sat with their friends, Bellatrix hesitantly dismissed them as threats. Rodolphus and Rabastan were much too self-absorbed to be bothered with rooting out the background of an odd potions professor. Knott had no interest in potions, and Parkinson was too busy hanging off of Knott's arm to notice anything.
Deciding that she would have to make the first move, Bellatrix waited for the feast to end before quickly excusing herself from her own little clique. She made her way toward the staff table, doing her best to appear casual while trying to catch Harry's attention. He spotted her easily enough and, fortunately, had the foresight to move to a quiet space near the far corner of the table "How in Merlin's name did you get here?" she hissed as soon as she was close enough, taking care to look around and check that no one was within earshot.
"Malfoy," Harry replied quietly. "I had mentioned to him that I was looking around for something at that party of yours. He heard about Slughorn's accident and thought of me. Arranged it all."
"Malfoy?" Bellatrix asked, frowning. There was no doubt in her mind that Malfoy had, indeed arranged it all . But then that meant her uncle was working together with the elder Malfoy, which was too much of a coincidence. No, there was something deeper behind it, and she would have to be careful when digging with her father and uncle. "Do you even know anything about potions?"
Harry grimaced. "Not especially, but I didn't really want to pass it up. It can't be too hard." Well, it can't be too hard without Snape breathing down my neck just waiting for me to screw up and take off points, he thought to himself.
"I'll see if I can help you out," Bellatrix breathed urgently. Things were moving too quickly - and although it wouldn't be a good thing for Harry to become a pawn in one of her uncle's schemes, or Malfoy's, for that matter - he was here now, and they had to make the most of it. Harry appearing incompetent in front of the students wasn't a big deal. However, his appearing incompetent in front of Dumbledore, and thus causing him to begin questioning why Malfoy had pushed for Harry's acceptance at Hogwarts would no doubt cause all sorts of havoc. It might even force Malfoy and her uncle to accelerate their plans, whatever their plans were.
"We'll see," Harry said, not particularly eager to take her up on her offer. "Look, I've got to go now. Dumbledore asked me to stop by his office. I think the manner in which I've been added to his staff annoyed him slightly. He can't appreciate Malfoy doing his hiring for him."
"Yes," Bellatrix nodded, thinking quickly. "Do acknowledge that Malfoy's arranging this is irregular if Dumbledore brings up the subject or seems to be thinking about it, but act as if you're really grateful for the job and be thankful. And please, don't let him know you don't have a clue about teaching potions."
Harry bit back a scathing remark at her insistence to choreograph his every move. While it was convenient to have an ally - even if only temporarily, until she got what she wanted - who knew the lay of the land, it wasn't as if he was inexperienced and didn't know how to deal with Dumbledore. He kept himself to a curt, "Right," before turning around.
He knew all too well how to deal with Dumbledore.
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