Order Only: Bellatrix Lestrange
Hydra was called before her mother and Professors Lestrange, Dolohov, Sprout, Slughorn, and McGonagall. (Oh, Madam Pomfrey, she looks so thin.... And very worn out.) That was probably the one moment I worried I might be discovered but she called Hydra over and it gave me a second to get into the corner.
Then the Headmistress said, 'Well, Bellatrix, we're all assembled. What did you want to say?'
Well, you could tell 'Bellatrix' didn't like being talked to that way but she ignored it and started speaking. She never raised her voice, she just said that she understood from Professor Slughorn that Hydra had been indulging in an 'ill-conceived dalliance' with Justin ('that Hufflepuff boy' is what she said) and that everyone was to consider that entanglement at an end. She said Hydra had 'more important things to do' and wasn't ever to be alone with Justin or even in his company except if they were engaged in school activities, like revising or participating in clubs together. She looked right at Hydra and said 'As for you, you're not engaged, don't be silly. Your father may have indulged your little fantasy but you won't get any of that from me. You're going to use your gifts to serve the Lord and that's that. If he chooses you, you may marry Harry, but it may turn out that the Lord and I have different plans for you.'
Professor Slughorn asked if there was to be a penalty to either of them (or both) for their violation of the terms Mr Lestrange had set. Hydra's mother said she didn't care about any of that, so long as Hydra wasn't holding herself back in any way. 'However, if she's breaking the rules for this boy then he's clearly holding her back and dominating too much of her attention. And I expect that all of you will make certain he does not interfere again.'
Then Professor Lestrange asked if they would hear the same thing from his brother if he were to speak to them about the matter. And Bellatrix said--and I don't know, Hydra, I thought this sounded sort of ominous--she said that Mr Lestrange was not to be given any say in the matter anymore, that she had 'revoked his authority over Hydra' and that as far as she was concerned his judgement was no longer to be trusted.
Professor Sprout pointed out that they have mostly the same friends in common, so they're bound to be together loads of the time. Bellatrix just shrugged. 'That's immaterial to me, so long as they are conducting themselves appropriately and in approved school activities.' She looked at Hydra again. 'To be clear, that means no compromising positions, no after-hours interludes, no carrying on together. Whatever you thought you were doing with this boy is over.'
Professor McGonagall asked what Auror Lestrange expected them all to do if Justin and Hydra broke her prohibitions again. And she said, she didn't care what measures were taken to ensure that her instructions were followed, just that they'd better see to it that they were followed.
And if they are not followed, then she wanted to be informed immediately. She looked right at Hydra but from where I was, I could see her face, too, and--oh, Hydra, I'm sorry, I hope I never see that look again. She was so cold. She said if she heard of any more 'nonsense' that she would leave off whatever she was doing to come here directly and kill Justin herself. 'If that is what it takes to get my daughter to stop wasting her time, then so be it.'
She looked at everyone in turn (and it was almost funny to see everyone avoiding her eyes!) and then she asked if she'd been clear enough for them all, and then demanded that Hydra answer her, too, and then she said, 'Good. Then may this be the last time we need discuss it' and she swept out.
It felt like everyone took a breath, then, and Professor McGonagall said to Hydra, 'Well, I hope you have considered your situation very carefully. We have matters to discuss, so I think you had better go back to your common room, Miss Lestrange' so Hydra left then, and they all talked about what to do.
The good news is that it was mostly more about how to keep you two from getting into trouble again, and not about making you feel even worse for what happened. But it doesn't sound like you'll be very happy about their solutions. I don't want to say so that you can both act surprised when you hear it from them. I mean, it's odd because in a way, they all sort of regret calling Bellatrix in on the issue. I could tell. Especially Professor Slughorn, he seemed relieved that she wasn't out for Justin's blood--this time. But I don't think it's going to be easy and I'm sorry, so sorry, there's just no way I think you can ignore everyone this time.
Then the Headmistress said, 'Well, Bellatrix, we're all assembled. What did you want to say?'
Well, you could tell 'Bellatrix' didn't like being talked to that way but she ignored it and started speaking. She never raised her voice, she just said that she understood from Professor Slughorn that Hydra had been indulging in an 'ill-conceived dalliance' with Justin ('that Hufflepuff boy' is what she said) and that everyone was to consider that entanglement at an end. She said Hydra had 'more important things to do' and wasn't ever to be alone with Justin or even in his company except if they were engaged in school activities, like revising or participating in clubs together. She looked right at Hydra and said 'As for you, you're not engaged, don't be silly. Your father may have indulged your little fantasy but you won't get any of that from me. You're going to use your gifts to serve the Lord and that's that. If he chooses you, you may marry Harry, but it may turn out that the Lord and I have different plans for you.'
Professor Slughorn asked if there was to be a penalty to either of them (or both) for their violation of the terms Mr Lestrange had set. Hydra's mother said she didn't care about any of that, so long as Hydra wasn't holding herself back in any way. 'However, if she's breaking the rules for this boy then he's clearly holding her back and dominating too much of her attention. And I expect that all of you will make certain he does not interfere again.'
Then Professor Lestrange asked if they would hear the same thing from his brother if he were to speak to them about the matter. And Bellatrix said--and I don't know, Hydra, I thought this sounded sort of ominous--she said that Mr Lestrange was not to be given any say in the matter anymore, that she had 'revoked his authority over Hydra' and that as far as she was concerned his judgement was no longer to be trusted.
Professor Sprout pointed out that they have mostly the same friends in common, so they're bound to be together loads of the time. Bellatrix just shrugged. 'That's immaterial to me, so long as they are conducting themselves appropriately and in approved school activities.' She looked at Hydra again. 'To be clear, that means no compromising positions, no after-hours interludes, no carrying on together. Whatever you thought you were doing with this boy is over.'
Professor McGonagall asked what Auror Lestrange expected them all to do if Justin and Hydra broke her prohibitions again. And she said, she didn't care what measures were taken to ensure that her instructions were followed, just that they'd better see to it that they were followed.
And if they are not followed, then she wanted to be informed immediately. She looked right at Hydra but from where I was, I could see her face, too, and--oh, Hydra, I'm sorry, I hope I never see that look again. She was so cold. She said if she heard of any more 'nonsense' that she would leave off whatever she was doing to come here directly and kill Justin herself. 'If that is what it takes to get my daughter to stop wasting her time, then so be it.'
She looked at everyone in turn (and it was almost funny to see everyone avoiding her eyes!) and then she asked if she'd been clear enough for them all, and then demanded that Hydra answer her, too, and then she said, 'Good. Then may this be the last time we need discuss it' and she swept out.
It felt like everyone took a breath, then, and Professor McGonagall said to Hydra, 'Well, I hope you have considered your situation very carefully. We have matters to discuss, so I think you had better go back to your common room, Miss Lestrange' so Hydra left then, and they all talked about what to do.
The good news is that it was mostly more about how to keep you two from getting into trouble again, and not about making you feel even worse for what happened. But it doesn't sound like you'll be very happy about their solutions. I don't want to say so that you can both act surprised when you hear it from them. I mean, it's odd because in a way, they all sort of regret calling Bellatrix in on the issue. I could tell. Especially Professor Slughorn, he seemed relieved that she wasn't out for Justin's blood--this time. But I don't think it's going to be easy and I'm sorry, so sorry, there's just no way I think you can ignore everyone this time.