The Other Potter

Part 8

Marvolo knew he wasn't a saint, he was in fact what most would consider a monster, still he couldn't help but feel disgust as he overheard the two young wizards talking about the little witch dancing before him. Harriet Lyra Potter, or rather Black, was a mystery Marvolo swore he would uncover. Her mind and more importantly her magic were fascinating, her future holding more promise beyond any other person here. Yet these two infantile wizards thought to reduce her to a simple housewife and broodmare... It was unacceptable and insulting, not just to Harriet, but to all witches. Marvolo fought to conceal his anger; it wouldn't do to make a scene. Still he couldn't just let this injustice go, so he turned and approached the boys but not before taking note of the livid witch beside them. Smirking as he knew that they would soon come to regret their immature fantasies, he spared Bellatrix a look of acknowledgment; her and her husband Rodolphus had recently sworn themselves to him, although they had yet to receive his mark.

Bellatrix allowed her ire to fade slightly when she saw just who was approaching her blood traitorous cousins. Oh, she would have her revenge for their slander against her little star, but for now she would watch and wait while her lord dealt with them.

"You would do well to keep such plans to yourselves young ones," he said, his voice clearly conveying his displeasure.

James froze when the man approached, something primal in him telling him to run and hide. Sirius however seemingly missed this evolutionary survival instinct and instead scoffed.

"I'm the Black heir, I can have whoever I want," he boasted confidently, caught up in his own arrogance and fantasies of the future.

James however shivered, unlike his sister, he could neither see nor even sense magic, yet the air around them seemingly got colder as Sirius uttered those words. Trying to rectify the situation he hesitantly spoke up, "What Sirius means is that a match between himself and my sister would surely be favourable to both of our families."

Marvolo scoffed internally, such arrogance was disgusting, it was no wonder Arcturus had looked elsewhere for an alternative heir, if this was what he had to begin with. Still the Potter boy had surprised him; he at least looked weary, seemingly picking up on dire nature of their current situation and trying to rectify it.

"And has your sister any say in this matter?" he asked, what little he knew about the witch indicated she would not be pleased.

Sirius pulled a face, "why would she possibly complain? She'll be grateful that I'm interested if she has any sense."

Bellatrix had to physically bite her tongue at that remark, oh how she would make him suffer.

Marvolo saw Bellatrix bristle and felt her magic lash out and spark in irritation, mimicking his own. He hated how this boy spoke about the little Black witch who held his interest, hated how he believed himself above her when he was nothing compared to her, a mere candle to her supernova. Carefully occluding his ire, he allowed a small fraction of his immense rage to show on his face and was pleased when even the arrogant Black heir stiffened in fear.

"You would do well to take heed of my next words boy. You will never be good enough for that young witch. Compared to her you are nothing, less than nothing. If you continue to talk about her, or any other witch of that matter, thusly you will soon find yourself unable to do anything but scream, isn't that right Bella dear?" he said, his voice carefully controlled to hide his fury.

James gulped in alarm, the aura around this man screamed danger. Sirius similarly felt himself freeze; finally registering the danger they were currently in. Bellatrix meanwhile took that moment to swoop in, leaning into to two frozen wizards as she gripped their shoulders hard enough to leave bruises, she hissed directly into their ears.