The Chaos Within (A Bellatrix Fanfiction)

Arguments

I trudged out of Professor Lockhart's class, my bag heavier than usual and my limbs aching from a long, draining day. My friends; Tristan, Tyler, Rosanna, and Becka, were already chatting animatedly as we made our way down the corridor. I tried to tune in, but my mind felt foggy with fatigue. Potions was next. I needed food, not more lectures.

"Erin- Hey, Erin!"

I stopped mid-step and turned. Lee Jordan was jogging toward me, dodging a pair of second-years as he caught up. My friends stiffened instantly, their expressions curdling into identical scowls. Becka folded her arms. Rosanna scoffed under her breath.

"Can we talk?" Lee asked, a little breathless.

"Can it wait?" I replied flatly, flicking my eyes toward the dungeons. "We've got Potions."

"Dinner, then?"

The stares burning into my back from my friends weighed heavily. Still, I nodded. "Fine."

Lee gave a grateful half-smile and walked off toward the Great Hall. My friends resumed their grumbling immediately.

"What's he even want to talk to you for?" Tyler muttered.

"Probably to whine about his Gryffindor mates again," Rosanna sneered.

"Guys, knock it off," I said, though my voice lacked conviction. Even I could feel the divide stretching sharper lately.

We descended into the Potions dungeon and claimed our usual seats at the back- safely out of Professor Snape's firing range. I slumped into my chair, bracing for another hour of muttered insults and brewing mishaps.

Snape was in a foul mood. He stormed between desks like a bat unleashed.

"Mr. Salvador, what is this pile of worthlessness?" he barked, looming over Tristan's cauldron.

I snorted. Inside bubbled a thick, grey sludge.

"I think I forgot to add the Asphodel, sir," Tristan admitted sheepishly.

Snape curled his lip. "I could have told you that. I'm sure even Miss Granger could have told you that." With a flick of his wand, Tristan's potion vanished in a puff of acrid smoke.

The rest of class passed in sarcastic whispers and quiet snickers as we teased Tristan for his catastrophic potion attempt. For a short while, it was a relief to forget everything else.

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After class, our stomachs growling, we headed toward the Great Hall. I spotted Lee near the entrance, pacing slightly. I exhaled and turned to my friends.

"I'll catch up," I said.

They looked less than thrilled, but they didn't argue. Becka gave me a brief nod before disappearing inside.

"Hey," I said to Lee.

"Hey," he replied quickly. "We need to talk. About Saturday. I heard you attacked Seamus in Hogsmeade."

I blinked. "Who?"

Before he could reply, familiar voices cut in.

"Hey, Erin!"

Fred and George Weasley were striding toward us, expressions far from friendly.

"You attacked Seamus?" George demanded.

"Yes, I was just asking Erin about that," Lee said tensely.

"Well, yeah," I answered, arms folded. "But did he tell you why?"

"Because you're a nasty little Slytherin trying to impress your bigoted friends," George snapped.

I laughed incredulously. "Oh, is that what he told you? Did he also mention he hexed me first while my back was turned?"

Fred shook his head. "Nah, I don't buy it."

I felt a twist in my chest. "Are you serious? This is me we're talking about. I'm not like..." I gestured vaguely, "...them."

"Are you sure you're not?" George cut in, voice low and accusing. "How do we know you're not just playing us? Manipulating us? Are you even the person you say you are?"

His words hit like a cold slap.

"What?" I murmured, barely above a whisper.

"Guys, that's enough," Lee said, stepping forward. "I believe her. If she says Seamus provoked her, then he probably did."

"Yeah, because Gryffindors can do no wrong," I said bitterly. "But you're wrong. Some of you can be just as vile as the worst Slytherins."

Fred barked a laugh. "Sounds like you're just describing your lot."

"I'm saying the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters," I shot back. "Take me, for example-"

"Exactly," George interrupted. "Take you. You're exactly where you belong."

My fists clenched. The hallways seemed to spin with rage.

"There's a reason you're in Slytherin," Fred said coldly. "Lee was wrong to ever befriend you."

"That's enough," Lee said sharply. "I became friends with Erin when I realised she's not like her nasty friends."

"Excuse me, are you insulting my friends again?" I snapped. "I'm so sick of this superiority complex you lot have."

"Some of your friends are awful!" Lee defended. "I've seen the way they treat others!"

I took a step back, laughing in disbelief. "I'm not doing this. Not with any of you."

"Yeah, go ahead, run back to your little Death Eater wannabe friends," George muttered.

That was it.

I spun around, wand drawn.

"Miss Brooks."

Professor McGonagall's voice was sharp, immediate. She stepped out of the Great Hall, eyes narrowing.

"Do not let me make it a double detention."

I froze, breathing hard, fingers trembling as I slid my wand back into my robes.

Fred and George smirked, victorious.

I turned to Lee, heart hammering. "Maybe I was wrong to trust you. Maybe I was wrong to think you were any different from them."

"Erin-"

But I was already walking away, fury burning a hole in my chest.