The fine line...

Calm Like A Bomb

Christmas passed inconsequentially. Bella wasn’t surprised to not receive any gifts and was just pleased when the dreaded holiday was over. Ava had seriously contemplated getting Bella something, if for no reason other than to piss her off, but decided that things were going too well to ruin them now.

In spite of herself, Bella couldn’t help but feel that this was one of the better Christmases she’d had. She despised the holiday itself, but had enjoyed spending the few days with Ava with no one around to judge or think there was more going on when there wasn’t.

It annoyed her, really, how much she was enjoying the other girl’s company. A few moments of fear had passed through her mind where she worried that her sister and Rabastan might be right, that maybe she was falling for her, but she banished the thoughts quickly. She was a challenge to be around. She didn’t take Bella’s shit and she’d grown so much respect for her that it no longer mattered whether or not she liked her.

Besides she was great, no, fantastic in bed and was growing and learning more every day. Not to mention how much she had fine tuned Bella’s “skills” in the matter. Bella knew she could fuck before, but now she was unstoppable, and she knew she owed that to Ava’s time and dedication. The agreement was paying off well for both parties.

She was staring into the common room fire, lost in thoughts of Slughorn’s upcoming New Year’s party when interrupted by a group of Slytherins entering the room. She almost snarled in disgust as she saw Lucius swagger in, returning from his holiday at home.

“Black,” he nodded curtly. The acknowledgement startled Bella; she had expected the git to continue ignoring her as he had before he left. She found herself annoyed, having enjoyed him leaving her alone.

“Malfoy!” She exclaimed with an obviously fake cheer. “Dear friend, how was your Christmas?” Her face dropped to its usual stony indifference the moment she stopped talking.

He sniggered to himself. Their false niceness to one and other was something that had always existed between them. Despite their dislike for one another, they liked to joke around, ironically, almost as though they were mocking the idea of friendship and those that held it so close.

“Happy to see me, are we Black? Well not that you actually care but Christmas was a disaster.” Dramatic sigh. “Father got me the wrong racing broom and attempted to discipline me when I burnt it in front of the family.”

Bella rolled her eyes at his immaturity. The Dark Lord was rising and all he cared about was a stupid broom.

He smirked, knowing full well what she was thinking. “C’mon, Black. Surely your Christmas here at school all alone wasn’t that bad. Tell me all the exciting stuff you got up to while I was gone.”

“Well, since I know that you actually do care, if you must know, I spent the week fucking Mendez and let me tell you I am absolutely exhausted .” She yawned and stretched for dramatic effect and didn’t bother trying to hide the mischievously evil smile playing at her lips.

Lucius stood seething for a moment before muttering the now very familiar “fuck you, Black” and heading out to his dormitory. Sure it looked like Lucius had come back trying to make peace (or as close to peace that ever existed between the two) but why should she sit back and call a truce now when she was completely crushing him?

Her moment of satisfaction was short livid though, as Lucius left and Bella noticed for the first time who it was that had followed him in in the first place. Their looks a bizarre mix of disgust, confusion and amusement (the latter probably aimed at her play with Malfoy), Narcissa and Rabastan stood in his wake. Bella cringed a little inside, even if her outward composer was proud. She knew what was coming.

Narcissa broke the silence. “You spent the whole time fucking her? Don’t you think-”

“Oh god don’t start with this shit now, Narcissa,” Bella cut in. She wanted to say that her and Ava hadn’t spent the whole time screwing around, but figured that would make the situation even worse. Her sister shut her mouth indignantly and Bella continued. “You know what I think?”

“No I don’t know what you think. And quite frankly I don’t care,” Narcissa spat.

Rabastan cringed. Bella however smiled and walked closer to her sister. “Now now, Cissy, don’t be like that,” she said in that sweet yet threatening voice that she mastered so long ago. “I was only going to say that if you’re jealous I’m sorry and I could make it up to you somehow.”

Her demeanour was still sweet but her eyes were flashing dangerously. Narcissa only batted away the hand that had reached out to touch her face. “I’ve told you to stop this.”

“I know you have… I’m not deaf. I just don’t believe you.”

A moments silence passed with the two girls glaring daggers at each other before Narcissa turned and began to walk away. Stopping in the door on the way out, she glared at Bella over her shoulder. “Don’t think this is over. We are not done discussing you’re little whore yet.” Then she was gone.

“Oh Rabastan, why must most my precious sister hurt me so?” Bella exclaimed sardonically, throwing herself into an arm chair near the fire.

Rabastan, who had stayed quiet through the whole encounter scoffed with amusement. The exchange between the two sisters and the implications it carried may have seemed wrong or disturbing to the average person, but Rabastan had grown up the same way that Bella had. While he may not have agreed with some of the stuff that went on, he knew it was just pure blood custom to have a somewhat closer relationship with your family. It’s to be expected when you are taught that only your blood and the blood of your family is good enough for you.

He sighed and took a seat near the fire as well. “You’re going to have to watch that one, Bella. She’s certainly starting to take a stand against you.”

“Don’t worry. She’ll be put in her place soon enough.” Her eyes were hooded as she stared into the fire, her thoughts travelling far beyond the room she was in.

“I hate to think what that means for her,” he said. Noticing her smirk at the comment he felt relieved. He, like Narcissa, was worried about what this Mendez girl was doing to Bella. However, unlike Narcissa, he wasn’t stupid enough to bring it up. Not after what happened after last time he crossed her…

“So, Bellatrix. Any thoughts on who you’re going to take to Slughorn’s party? Or don’t I need to ask?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re right; of course I’m taking Mendez. Don’t give me that look, what do you expect? I wasn’t going to bother taking anyone, just to prove a point that I can go without her, contrary to popular belief, but then I had so much fun teasing Malfoy that I thought I might dress her up and flaunt her in front of him all night.”

“Well when you put it that way, it makes a lot of sense. Sounds a lot more like you, actually. You do know that Malfoy is going to snap one day, don’t you?”

“Oh I know he will. In fact, I’m counting on it…”

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Bella frowned. “You don’t like it, do you?”

Ava was spinning herself in front of Bella’s full length mirror, trying to get an all over look at the new dress robes she was in. “It’s not that I don’t like them, Bella, cause I do. It’s just they’re a bit…” she trailed off, thinking of a way to end the sentence that wouldn’t offend Bella who had given her the new attire.

“Slutty?” Bella finished for her.

She wouldn‘t quite say ‘slutty’, there was still a bit of class to them. They were quite beautiful really. A nice deep red colour, quite long in length, but they did seem to put a fair amount of attention on her chest and very much exposed back. “No, they’re just… they’re not quite… well they aren’t very subtle, are they?”

“Since when is anything I do subtle? And that includes you, Mendez.”

Ava shook her head but couldn’t help the small smile threatening to make it’s presence known. She should have known that Bella would have wanted her to stand out. “So what is this then, you getting me all dressed up to flaunt me in front of everyone else and gloat that you’re the only one that can have me?”

It was in this statement that anyone listening would have been able to pick up how different a person Ava was becoming. A few months ago this would have been a passing comment made to amuse and poke fun at herself and mock those who thought that highly of themselves. Now though, with what Bella had taught her, she knew she was desired and knew how much her presence would affect everyone else. It would be a lie to say she didn’t enjoy the feeling.

“That’s part of the plan, yes.” Bella got up from her spot lounging on the bed and went over to her dresser and retrieved a necklace from her drawer. “It’s time to move on to our next lesson”.

“A lesson? Tonight?” Ava asked, as she began half tying her hair up.

“Yes, a lesson. If we must attend this ridiculous excuse for a party we might as well take advantage of it. Tonight will be one exercise with two lessons.” She stood behind Ava and began to put the necklace on the other girls’ slender neck. “In part it will be a continuation of your confidence building.”

Ava fondled the chain around her neck and noticed that the pendant had the Black family crest on it. She didn’t know how wearing it made her feel. “Then what’s the second lesson?”

“Hunting,” she replied simply. “Hunting for fun.”

When the only reply she received was a questioning look she elaborated a little more. “Tonight you are going to learn to flirt, to toy with those who want you and to seek out those who don’t and make them want you.” As she spoke her fingers ran up and down Ava’s neck.

Ava was suppressing shivers, not that there was much point in pretending what Bella was doing didn’t affect her, the other girls could surely read her like a book by now. Especially now that Bella’s mouth had joined her fingers and was gently nipping at the soft flesh.

“Bella,” Ava got out in a breathy whisper. “You have to stop or do you want me to look a mess at the party?”

Bella looked up into Ava’s eyes in the mirror, a mischievous look that suggested she wouldn’t mind doing just that. “Fair call, Mendez. We do need you to look your best. If anything you look a little too good…” she trailed off as her eyes roamed up and down the other girl’s body.

Ava smiled her best imitation of Bella’s well known superior smirk and Bella shot one right back. “I get the robes, but why the crest? I would have thought that I wouldn’t be worthy to wear this?”

“Because you are mine. No one else’s. We like to mark our property so people know not to touch. You should consider yourself lucky I didn’t brand you with it,” she replied as she went back to her dresser to add the finishing touches to her makeup. “You are to go out tonight and toy with people as much as you can, but they aren’t to touch you. And when they see that on you they will be reminded of where you belong.”

Ava chewed her lip as she went to sit on the bed. “I suppose that makes sense. So I’m not to touch anyone?”

“Oh I never said that,” Bella replied as she walked over to Ava. “I said they aren’t to touch you, but you may do whatever you wish to them.” Her suggestively cocked eyebrow betrayed the thoughts going through her head as she tried to squash any possible feelings of jealousy at the idea of Ava touching someone else. “Shall we go?”

“Yes. Yes we shall.” Ava stood and walked out with Bella, unsure of where the night was going to take her.

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Slughorn’s party had been in full swing for almost 3 hours now and Bella couldn’t but admit that it was no where near as terrible as she was expecting it to be. The potions master had a band and everything for the night and she was almost ashamed to say she was enjoying herself. The highlight of her night so far was definitely arriving and seeing everyone’s jaws drop at the sight of Ava. Her Ava. Never had Bella felt more smug than walking into that party with Ava in tow, the looks on everyone’s faces, especially Malfoy. And none of them would have her. Ever.

She watched from the shadows all night as Ava worked her magic. Boy after boy brought her drink after drink, Bella noticed she never actually drank them though. Smart, she thought, she didn’t want her head to get clouded. She watched as Ava danced with different partners, getting close but never quite touching them enough to satisfy them. She was doing Bella proud. The boys were eating her up, but the second they got close enough to notice the crest on her chest, they backed away, sending scared and apologetic glances in Bella’s direction.

Bella was just getting herself lost in thoughts of what it would be like to dance with Ava when a cold voice interrupted her daydreaming. “I see you bought your whore with you.”

Bella didn’t take her eyes off of Ava’s form as she responded. “Yes I bought my whore, Cissy, and I’m glad you understand that that’s all she is.”

Narcissa scoffed. “Whatever you say Bella, you haven’t taken your eyes off her all night.” Then she was gone.

“You here to agree with her, Rabastan?” Bella asked. He had just strolled over to Bella, noticing that the two sisters had had another confrontation.

“It’s true you haven’t taken your eyes off her, but either has anyone else in this room since she arrived, so I guess I can’t hold that against you.” Their was a brief pause before he spoke again. “Dance with me?”

She rolled her eyes and took the hand he had offered. “Suppose I should, it is a party after all. Might keep my retched sister off my back for a while, even if I hate dancing.”

“You shouldn’t be so hard on her, Bella. She’s got a lot going on right now,” he said, twirling Bella, earning him a glare.

“She’s got a lot going on right now? Like what?” She asked, intentionally stepping on his foot as payback for twirling her.

He winced but grinned, dipping her for good measure and holding the position as he replied “just talk to her, she could use you a lot right now.”

Bella looked at him quizzically from her half dipped position and was just about to reply when there was a loud crack and the room went silent. She released herself from Rabastan’s hold and looked for the source of the noise. It wasn’t hard to find, as all the party guests had made a large circle around it and as Bella pushed her way through (and not gently either) she found Ava standing alone in the middle.

She was angry; Bella could see that easily, it practically radiated from her. She followed Ava’s glare and found Lucius suspended in the air in front of her, his face covered in ugly purple boils. She turned back to look at Ava and was taken aback but how frightening and beautiful she looked. Her wand arm was raised and her breathing was heavy. It was now that Bella noticed she didn’t have the necklace on anymore.

“How many times,” Ava said quietly but menacingly, the voice made Bella shiver. “How many times do I have to tell you not to touch me?”

Lucius just sneered and spat at her from his upside down position. “Filthy mud blood whore!”

Ava just sneered right back. “You are despicable, Malfoy. What Voldermort wants with an arrogant and useless excuse for a wizard like you is beyond me.”

“How DARE you!” Malfoy shouted. “You are not worthy to speak His name!”

“And you are not worthy to call yourself a wizard!” Ava screamed right back.

Malfoy laughed a cold and hollow laugh. “You wait, Mendez. When He is in power you filthy mud bloods will be the first to go. And I’m going to finish you off personally.”

Ava could feel Bella’s presence behind her. She stepped forward and when she got close to Lucius she bent so their faces were level and smiled. “I’d like to see you try,” she said and snatched something that was hanging from his hand.

As she turned and began to walk away from him Bella noticed that it was her necklace that Ava had taken from Lucius. When she approached Bella, she handed it to her and turned, holding her hair out of the way so Bella could put it back on her. When she was done, Bella put her arm around Ava’s waist from behind possessively.

“I’LL KILL YOU!” Lucius screamed.

“You lose,” Ava said in the same quiet voice she had used earlier. And with a flick of her wand Malfoy was sent flying back into a table of snacks.

“What the hell is going on in here?” Slughorn had just returned from where ever he was and was staring at the scene before him bewildered. “Malfoy..?”

“Was just leaving,” Ava finished. Staring pointedly at Lucius who was only now picking himself up from the remains of the table he had crashed into. He shot one last death glare at the two girls and left the room.

Slughorn looked as though he was going to question Ava further, but when he noticed Bella standing behind her and the look the darker girl was giving him, he cheerfully said “Oh well! No point letting a good party go to waste. Happy New Year everyone!”

Everyone cheered, and as the band started playing and Slughorn magically repaired the mess that Lucius had left, Ava turned to look at Bella for the first time and nearly faltered. Bella was smiling at her. A true, genuine smile that Ava was sure no one had ever seen before. “Sorry about that,” Ava said, smiling herself.

Bella just shook her head and her grin returned to it’s more usual cockiness. “Oh don’t be sorry, Mendez. That was the best show I’ve ever seen.”

Ava laughed as Bella pulled her in closer. “Now dance with me. Seeing you like that has made me want you even more.” She smirked as she saw everyone watching her and Ava dance together and deliberately ignored the look her sister was giving her from across the room. She knew this would have some serious backlash later, but for now she just enjoyed the feel of Ava’s body moving against her own and thought of all the things she was going to do to her after the party was over…