madam-noire:
“Such a relief to not have to listen to the prattlings of a loony old bag at the beginning of dinner anymore,” Bellatrix swung about in her seat, surveying the crowd and speaking to no one in particular, “His voice always made it hard to digest - sort of like listening to an old bagpipe being stepped on. At least the new Headmaster knows when to shut up.” She shot a sparing glance to the front of the hall, lips curling upward into a cyanide smile at the sight of a freshly silenced McGonagall, and a largely uncertain staff. Swirling her drink about in her goblet - as if it were wine and not pumpkin juice - she stood, watching with lackadaisical attention as the first years scurried from the hall first, leaving little time for the rest of them to collect themselves.Â
In fact, the chaos seemed tenfold tonight; Bellatrix, ignoring all semblance of mannerism following her cynical little speech, stepped up onto the bench alongside the table, and began to walk, the way clearing before her - for those seated alongside knew they would be trampled otherwise. She stopped a few sections of bench down, one hand on her hip and the other holding the goblet to her lips; another glance up at the new Headmaster, and her smile grew once more -Â
- until a second year knocked into her eye-level knees and nearly sent her sprawling into what remained of the pudding. “Hey!” she barked, regaining her balance, hulking over the cowering Hufflepuff like a cobra over a mouse, “Touch me again, you bloody idiot - see what happens. Watch where you’re going.”  She straightened, tugged at her sleeve with a pointed sniff, and then to no one in particular once more, “Now that Dumbledore’s not here, I may actually be able to get him back for that.”Â
Truthfully, Regulus had given very little thought to the new headmaster at Hogwarts. To the fact there would even be one to greet them at the opening feast. He hadn’t had a problem with Albus Dumbledore. Their limited interactions having consisted mainly of coming across him when with a group of the older Slytherin’s and in such situations he was rarely the one to do the talking. Either way the older male always seemed to find a moment to look at him like he knew something, like he was waiting for something from him. That unnerved Regulus, sure, but he wouldn’t have said he disliked him.Â
Still, the sudden realisation of the new headmaster had taken a fair amount of his thought, fork pushing his food absently in circles around his plate. Humming softly when those around tried to make conversation, the familiar dart of his cousin’s voice was the first thing that managed to tear his attention away. For a moment he simply watched her from several seats down, a soft shake of his head accompanying the eventual placement of his cutlery as he drew his attention to Bellatrix and the unfortunate kid to be one of no doubt many to get on her bad side this year.
“    two hours in and you’ve already given a twelve year old a heart attack. I think you got him back when you made him cry.” A look almost akin to pity flashed across Reg's features, brown eyes following the second year that ran from their table before eventually finding their way back to Bellatrix. The small smile that followed played at the corners of his lips, a fondness present that only tended to find its way over his expression in the presence of her and her sisters. “Even for you, that must be a record?”
