An unlikely pair

13

Bellatrix POV

The hum of the Hogwarts Express and the faint clatter of the tracks beneath it were the first things I registered as I woke up. Darkness pressed against the windows, the world outside nothing more than a blur of shadows streaked with the occasional glow of passing lanterns. My neck ached from sleeping at an odd angle, and the soft orange light of the compartment made me blink as I tried to piece together where I was. Right—the train. On our way home for the winter holidays.

"Morning, sleepyhead," came a soft, teasing voice that tugged me fully from my haze.

I turned my head slowly, my movements stiff and lethargic, and my gaze landed on Valentina. She was sprawled in her seat across from me, her posture all effortless elegance, as if she hadn't just spent the last few hours in the same cramped train car as the rest of us. Her expression was that infuriating mix of amusement and knowing smugness that she wore far too often.

"You're back," I muttered, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My voice sounded hoarse from disuse, and I cleared my throat, feeling exposed under her unwavering gaze.

She didn't say anything at first, just nodded slightly, her eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. I could see it—the way her lips twitched, the way her brow lifted just slightly. She was itching to say something sarcastic, something that would set my teeth on edge. But for once, she held back.

"What?" I snapped, my irritation bubbling to the surface as her gaze lingered too long. There was something unnerving about the way she looked at me as if she were peeling back layers, searching for something hidden. It felt invasive like she was prying into parts of me even I wasn't ready to face.

"Nothing," she said simply, her voice as smooth as silk. A lazy smile stretched across her lips, infuriating in its arrogance.

"Then quit staring. It's rude," I bit out, my tone sharp as I busied myself folding the blanket draped over me. The fabric was soft beneath my fingers, but I didn't focus on it; I focused on anything except the way she was watching me.

Even as I spoke, her gaze didn't waver. I could feel it—burning, probing, searching. It made my skin crawl and my temper flare. That was Valentina, though. Always pushing boundaries, always too close, always too much.

The faint clatter of the train's wheels filled the silence between us, and I glanced around the compartment. Something felt off. My brow furrowed as I realized what it was. The seat beside me was empty, as was the one across from Valentina, where my sisters had been not long ago.

"Where are they?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended, as if accusing her of being responsible for their absence. "Narcissa and Andromeda. They were here when I started to drift off."

Valentina tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable, though I swore I caught the faintest flicker of amusement in her eyes. She shrugged, the movement slow and deliberate, as though she knew it would irritate me.

"When I came back, you were alone," she said simply, her tone annoyingly casual. "No sign of them. Just you, out cold and snoring softly, by the way."

"I do not snore," I shot back instantly, heat rising to my face as I glared at her.

Her smile widened at that, like she'd won some unspoken game. "If you say so, Trixie."

I clenched my jaw at the nickname, choosing to ignore it for now. My gaze flicked back to the door of the compartment, unease curling in my stomach. Narcissa wouldn't just leave without saying something—not to me, anyway. And Andromeda? She'd usually drag Valentina with her when she couldn't bare our arguing anymore.