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Once upon a time, the planets and the fates
And all the stars aligned You and I ended up in the same room
At the same time.
Social climber was such a nasty word, Rita thought as she peered into each compartment she walked past, knowing she was running out of time. The train gave a lurch, and she hurried her search, finally homing in on her target. A girl with curly black hair sat staring pensively out the window. Rita walked into the compartment.
The word was full of nasty connotations about gold digging and status climbing. Really, she thought, she was quite innocent. All she wanted was a friend. And if her friend just so happened to be the girl sitting across from her who was richer, higher in social status, and prettier than her, then maybe fate had just deemed it so.
And the touch of a hand lit the fuse
Of a chain reaction of countermoves
To assess the equation of you.
Being sorted into Ravenclaw had thwarted her plans the tiniest bit. Ravenclaw’s barely ever had doubles with the Slytherins because of the professor’s sick and twisted goal to pit the Slytherin’s and Gryffindors together and ignore the other two houses. Today, however, Rita had lucked out.
There wasn’t enough of Gryffindor’s interest in arithmancy and so Ravenclaws shared it with the Slytherins. Rita, to her great delight, had been paired with Bellatrix. As she sat down at the desk, she gave the dark-haired girl a small smile which was returned with an upturned nose. That’s fine. She was in it for the long run anyways. She reached into her bag and pulled out an ink pot, her hand pulling up at the same time Bellatrix reached a hand into her own bag. Both girls stopped, locking their eyes as their hands brushed against one another’s.
“Sorry.” Bellatrix muttered, hastily.
Checkmate, I couldn't lose.
“And I believe that would be checkmate.” Rita offered; eyebrow raised as she stared down Bellatrix. The other girls' grey eyes widened as they scanned over the chess board, once, twice, three times.
“But this isn’t possible.” Bellatrix whispered grey eyes flickered up meeting Rita’s own.
“It would appear not.” Rita grinned. “Might need to re-evaluate that statement dearest.”
Bellatrix flushed a dark red and stood up, leaving the room abruptly.
What if I told you none of it was accidental
And the first night that you saw me, nothing was gonna stop me?
I laid the groundwork and then, just like clockwork
The dominoes cascaded in a line.
“Sir, I just think it would benefit both houses if we made each Ravenclaw pick a Slytherin to partner with for this activity. I’m all for house unity.” she offered.
Flitwick, who appeared to be half listening at most mumbled something like agreement. Rita went to find Bellatrix.
What if I told you I'm a mastermind?
And now you're mine
It was all by design
'Cause I'm a mastermind.
Rita glanced up from her arithmancy work to stare at Bellatrix who was already watching her from the other side of the table.
“I can’t seem to shake you.” Bellatrix said, annoyance evident in her tone.
“So, stop trying.” Rita offered.
Bellatrix’s lip twitched up. “Hmm. I suppose I’ll manage.”
“Yes, I suppose you will.” Rita agreed, reaching her hand across the table.
“Friends?” she offered with a raised eyebrow.
“Best friends.” Bellatrix said firmly.
You see, all the wisest women
Had to do it this way.
Zabini had been one of the most interesting Slytherins Rita had encountered in her five years at Hogwarts. She had the most interesting opinions even now when she was speaking of relationships. “Women are so interesting.” The dark-skinned girl mused. “It’s like we were born to be the pawn in every lover’s game.”
Rita tilted her head in confusion. “Explain.”
The other girl stared out into the great lake where they sat, feet in the water.
“We decide which direction any relationship goes. We can twist and manipulate it to our will. It’s one of the only ways women have historically had and gained power throughout history. With our bodies, our romance, and I suppose even our love.”
'Cause we were born to be the pawn
In every lover's game.
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail
Strategy sets the scene for the tale
I'm the wind in our free-flowing sails
And the liquor in our cocktails.
She hadn’t exactly been pleased at Slughorn’s insistence for her to make cocktails for the Slug Club’s Christmas party until he had mentioned payment. At which point she had eagerly agreed to join the team.
She stood now, green smoking cocktail in hand, reaching it out to Bellatrix who wasn’t focusing on the drink she was supposed to be taking out of Rita’s hand. Rather her steely grey eyes were locked on Rita’s. The storminess reminded Rita of the ocean on a cold winter’s night.
“Something bothering you?” she asked, a low voice and smile evident at her achievement. Bellatrix grabbed the drink and turned quickly. However, not fast enough for Rita not to notice the blush rising from the other girl’s neck.
What if I told you none of it was accidental
And the first night that you saw me, I knew I wanted your body?
“You’ve never dated anyone have you?” Bellatrix asked suddenly.
Rita stared up from where she had been lying on the other girl's chest and propped herself up on the green bed sheets.
“No. Why are you asking?”
Bellatrix shrugged, refusing to meet Rita’s eyes.
“You’re pretty. It surprises me.”
“It’s not like people don’t ask, I just say no.”
Bellatrix’s eyes snapped into hers suddenly and she whispered, so quietly Rita wasn’t even sure if she had said it. “Why?”
Rita leaned closer to the other girl, grinning at the way Bellatrix’s breath became faster. She inched closer, and closer to her face and then, turned abruptly. Relishing Bellatrix’s shiver as she whispered, lips brushing against the other girl's ear.
“I think you know why.”
I laid the groundwork and then, just like clockwork
The dominoes cascaded in a line
She didn’t see Bellatrix for a week after that. She worried that maybe she had blown it up. Scared the other girl off perhaps with how strong she had come on. That was her line of thinking until now. She was currently staring at the back of Bellatrix’s hair as the other girl dragged her along by the arm walking hastily.
“Where are you taking me?” Rita called out, irritation growing at the way Bellatrix ignored her and quickened their pace.
Finally, Bellatrix pushed the door open to a classroom Rita had never been in before. She closed the door and Rita’s breath hitched as she was pushed up against it.
Bellatrix’s eyes locked with hers as they had been doing so often recently.
“Bella?” Rita whispered, not daring to speak at normal volume in case it shattered the moment.
“What are you...?”
“Did you mean it?” Bellatrix said, cutting her off quickly. Her eyes seemed to be searching for something in Rita’s own.
“Do you....want me?” Bellatrix continued, sounding like she couldn’t' even believe she was asking it.
Rita felt her lips move into a smirk.
“Of course, I want you.”
Bellatrix leaned in quick enough to cause Rita’s eyebrows to lift in surprise as Bellatrix captured her mouth in a searing kiss.
“Good.” Bellatrix whispered, breath hot against Rita’s lips.
What if I told you I'm a mastermind?
And now you're mine
It was all my design
'Cause I'm a mastermind
Rita reached her hand down experimentally as they sat on the lawn of the grounds. She linked her fingers through Bellatrix’s and smiled staring up through long lashed.
“Is this, okay?” she asked, trying to figure out how Bellatrix felt. Trying to break through the cold mask she presented to the world.
“Anything is okay.” Bellatrix said back, voice softer than her eyes had ever been. “I’m yours.”
No one wanted to play with me as a little kid
So I've been scheming like a criminal ever since
To make them love me and make it seem effortless
Rita was lying on Bellatrix bed, resting against the smaller woman.
“When I was a kid, it was hard. I felt this need to be liked and wanted by everyone. That’s why I spread rumors all the time. There was this idea that I was sacrificing the love of one person, whoever I was spreading the rumor about, to get the gratification of all these other people enjoying the gossip. It was such a rush that I couldn't stop. I guess it’s why I took the job at the prophet.”
This this the first time I've felt the need to confess
And I swear
I'm only cryptic and Machiavellian 'cause I care.
“I always liked that about you.” Bellatrix offered. “You’re desire to get what you wanted, and the way you obtained it almost effortlessly.”
Rita laughed. “Well one thing I wanted took a bit longer.”
Bellatrix grinned, pressing a quick kiss to Rita’s lips. “And what was that?”
So I told you none of it was accidental
And the first night that you saw me, nothing was gonna stop me
I laid the groundwork and then saw a wide smirk
On your face, you knew the entire time
“ You obviously.” Rita offered, panicking for a moment, then continuing, deciding Bellatrix needed to know.
“I’ve wanted you since the train ride to Hogwarts first year.” She wrapped her arms around the other woman. “Not always the way I have you now, but I always wanted you in some capacity. First, I think of it as a friend or even a rival. You were so powerful, even for a twelve-year-old. I felt like I was the only one who knew how useful you would be. So, I planned things, joined chess club because you did, convinced professors to let us partner together, that kind of thing. That’s how I got you.”
You knew that I'm a mastermind
And now you're mine
Yeah, all you did was smile
'Cause I'm a mastermind
She waited for Bellatrix to release her, to freak out and lash out and scream. But none of that happened, instead Bellatrix lifted Rita’s chin up and smiled.
“You really think that’s how you got me?”
Rita nodded, eyes filling with tears at the other woman’s blank stare. “I tricked you.”
Bellatrix rolled her eyes and captured the other womans lips with her own. She kissed Rita firmly and with such assurance that it left Rita dizzy and confused. Why wasn’t she mad? Why wasn’t she leaving?
“You silly girl.” Bellatrix whispered, stroking Rita’s hair fondly, “You have me because we wanted each other. Not because you tricked me. I knew you were a social climber, don’t look at me like that we both know it’s true, but I found you enthralling anyways. You were the only person who could match me, or even showed any interest in challenging me. I loved that. That’s why I love you.”
“Oh” Rita whispered, then realizing Bellatrix loved her grinned widely. “Oh! You love me.” she teased.
Bellatrix stared back at her, mask slipping away and grey eyes showing Rita the joy she so rarely got to see.
“I do.” She said.