Flirting with Danger - Alecto - 1968

[Alecto Carrow]

The scope of her world narrowed - she, Quirinus, and Bellatrix existed, and that was all that mattered. Bellatrix's laughter and applause from behind while Quirinus struggled against her conjured rope and the curse which blinded him, and she had made it all happen. The world started to return when she took Bellatrix's hand, but the drone of students couldn't overpower the buzz in her ears or dim her giddy smile. Alecto laughed as her companion gave orders to the prefect, and the uncontrollable laughter followed her until they had left the common room behind them, speed walking to keep up with the taller girl.

She didn't want this feeling to leave her - surely there was somewhere else they could go, someone else on a list of nemeses to tick off, and she looked up at Bellatrix when she spoke, bright hazel eyes wild and clear. The praise that she had earned did nothing to calm her senses, and excited sparks flew from her wand, lighting the faded rug underfoot. She stomped them out, for once unashamed at the lack of control she had for her magics when she was heightened, and turned her smile to Bellatrix. 

"I did well - so you'll keep teaching me, then? Do you promise? I'll learn, I'll learn well and I'll learn quickly, and I won't tell Andy if you don't want me to. Please, Bellatrix, will you promise?" Alecto continued in a hurry, finding the idea of secret lessons in dark magic one she was entirely keen on regardless of her roommate's opinion on the matter. A secret made it all the more thrilling, didn't it? And all the more special? Something just for Bellatrix and herself?

Amycus won't like this.

    Amycus didn't come for me!

[Bellatrix Lestrange]

The revenge being extracted in the Ravenclaw boy’s dorm had quickly turned into a spectacle, and Bellatrix loved it. She loved to put on a show, to let other people know who they shouldn’t be messing with. And it seemed that Alecto didn’t care who knew that it was her sending Quirrell to the hospital wing. Most people, including the Prefect, knew better than to talk. Hopefully, Quirrell would also know better - as well as anyone brave enough to tell a Professor about what had happened. Then they would go to Slughorn, who prided himself on having Bellatrix Black in the Slug Club, not only was she a Black, but she was highly dedicated to potions. He’d talk to her about it, and she’d spin a story about how it was a lie, that Quirrell had a grudge against Alecto. No matter what, the situation would be handled.

The young girl laughed the entire way out of Ravenclaw tower, and it kept a smile on Bellatrix’s face. Why could her own sisters not be this eager to learn the Dark Arts? Narcissa she could understand, the girl was too young to really have experienced enough of the ability to use magic. As she got older, surely she would see the wisdom in Bella’s words. Annie cared too much for other people, and that was something Bella didn’t truly understand. How could her sister look at people unworthy of magic and consider extending them compassion? Annie followed their ways, but Bella could tell that her heart wasn’t truly in it. It was disappointing, but tonight had given her hope that those younger than her didn’t care for the cause.

She smiled down at the girl as she asked to keep learning, telling Bella how she would be a quick learner and keep it a secret. “You’ll keep it a secret, even from Amycus?” she asked, waiting for the younger girl to answer. Not telling Annie would be easy, it wasn’t as if the two roommates seemed to be close friends. But she doubted that the girl’s older brother would approve of these lessons. Considering he had abandoned his plans to help his sister tonight to instead have sex with Bella. “I promise I will teach you everything I know, and far much more than your brother would ever teach you. We’ll have you casting spells better than him in no time.” Extending her hand once more, she waited for Alecto to take it as they started down the stairs back to their own dormitory.

[Alecto Carrow]

"If he'd been there when I needed him, there'd be nothing to hide from him," the younger Carrow said simply. "It's like you said - they think they run the world, but who's really making things happen? We are, so it's our secret." Her brother had his secrets from her, whatever they were, like whatever had kept him from joining her tonight. Wasn't Alecto entitled to just as many? He'd be proud if he knew - insulted, yes, but he should be proud by association - that she had as fine a teacher as Bellatrix looking out for her now. It was a shame that she and Andy never got on as well as she was finding herself enjoying the company of this Black sister, or this could have been happening since their first year. She and Amycus were close, bound to each other, but did that mean she wasn't allowed any bit of a life of her own? He left her alone tonight, and he would leave her alone here so soon. If she left things up to him, she wouldn't know how to defend herself properly before then. So here she was, with another option, and she'd be damned before she let the chance go.

Everything she knows. More than Amycus could ever. Better than him.

Alecto looked between the offered hand and Bellatrix's eyes, the magnitude of what was offered sweeping over her, and quickly took her hand again in hers. The descent to their region of the castle felt faster than their rise, a different adrenaline fueling her steps, one of victory and promise. She didn't want to lose this, any of it, more than she hated being still. The unexpected warmth in Bellatrix's hand, the surprise to learn at her feet, the luck at a new ally, someone who could understand... She applauded when you tore into Quirrel. She understands. Bellatrix had felt - she had felt her rage, her strength, her fear. The other witch had become respected, had learned to channel what she felt into something more, and if Alecto could learn, adapt... How long have you wanted to be like her? And now you have the chance to learn from her. 

"Do you think - could we meet over the holiday? To practice?" she asked abruptly, the idea preferable by far to any imaginings of what the time at home would be. Could it be said that her marks were suffering if they were never very good to begin with? It wasn't her fault, but the professors and her parents didn't care to hear her side. About that, or her behavior - Howlers were bad enough, but she worried more when an incident was written home about and only met with silence. "I can make up an excuse to get away, they'll never know."