/𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒\ [𝒔. 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌]

𝟑.𝟛.𝟤

"life is like a camera. just focus on what's important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don't work out, just take another shot." ~ Richard Branson

~september 1973~ (continued)

They were only in the Great Hall for a few minutes before a mean, pointed face with glittering black eyes was facing the boys and Artemis, leering at them with an evil sort of glee. "Oh, look at that," Bellatrix half-shrieked, "-the rat-girl's wearing real clothes!"

"Real clever, Bellatrix," Artemis said smoothly, trying to push past Bellatrix to get to the Gryffindor table.

"Oh no," said Bellatrix, "you're not going anywhere. I'm not done talking to you."

James and Sirius were at her side in an instant. "Let her past, Bellatrix," James said, a warning note to his tone.

"Oh!" Bellatrix squealed. "Her little protective posse is here! Getting saved by a knight in shining armor is so a thing of the past, Blake."

"So is that hairstyle, but I wasn't going to say anything about it," Artemis murmured. It was a low insult, but it seemed to work.

Bellatrix let out a shout of laughter. "Oh, you want to talk hairstyles? Who cut your hair? A gargoyle, or your mother?"

"At least I didn't waste all my money getting- what is that? Seventeenth century inspired?" Artemis tilted her head, pretending to examine Bellatrix's hair.

Bellatrix's nostrils flared and she reached behind her. Artemis slipped her hand into her pocket to grab her own wand, but when Bellatrix brought her hand back, she was holding an enormous spider instead. "Wanna meet my new pet?" she sneered. "One bite and you'll be dead. Wanna hold her?"

"That type of spider's actually not poisonous," Remus said, coming up behind Artemis and peering over her shoulder at the spider. "Yeah, no. Completely harmless."

Artemis snorted. "Looks like your intelligence is pretty seventeenth century too, Bella."

"Well," Bellatrix huffed, her cheeks flushed, "that doesn't matter." She lowered her voice and took a step closer to Artemis, menacingly close to her. "I'm going to give you hell this year, Blake. So you'd better watch your back. Your little posse can't protect you forever."

"Can't wait to see you try," said Artemis, not even flinching.

When they finally sat down at the table and settled in, waiting for the sorting to begin, Sirius eyed Artemis carefully. The way she'd talked to Bellatrix- with such calm intolerance- it was impressive. Sirius had a hard time holding his temper in any time someone insulted him. Artemis, with her choppy hair and new clothes, was a different person this year. She was more confident, more talkative. She was sort of badass, if Sirius was telling himself the truth. What are you doing? he thought angrily to himself. She was Artemis Blake. Every other thing she said to him was an insult. She may look cooler that year and maybe he liked that she wasn't afraid to stand up to his family, but that didn't mean they would ever be real friends. He shook his head.