But Time Will Tell - Tumblr Posts

'Bella' is a woman in expensive black robes that hug her body like a pair of too-tight gloves, vintage or perhaps even ancient jewelry, who stands nearly as tall as James with thick, shiny black hair, cheekbones that could cut glass, hooded eyes like some kind of predatory bird, long eyelashes that remind Harry of spiders, and a thin mouth.

Also known as Bellatrix Black, Sirius's least favorite cousin — desperately rich, devastatingly beautiful, and dazzlingly short-tempered. Her husband, Rodolphus Lestrange, lasted about two years of unhappy arranged marriage until he died in a sporting accident on Halloween 1978. After a lengthy autopsy, it was ruled that there had been no foul play. Bellatrix famously turned up to his funeral late, two months pregnant and dressed to the nines, with a handsome man who looked completely out of it (no one's seen him since).

Rodolphus's brother, Rabastan, offered to marry her to 'save her shame,' but she refused, and left the country. Gossip says she's been in Northern Europe lately; she's been seen with the headmaster of Durmstrang.

So what is she doing here?

Harry counts. Seven months after the funeral puts her due date sometime in January 1979; which means the kid, if she kept it, is Harry's age now. Hogwarts age.

He looks at Bellatrix, and Bellatrix, impassive, looks back at him.

Sirius says he used to call her 'Smelly Belly' when they were kids, but that seems ludicrous now.

She's scary. It's a rotten surprise — more like a jump scare.

A black widow spider, that's what she reminds Harry of. Spinning, spinning her web and ensnaring her prey, until she decides to eat them.

Gross.

She makes Aunt Petunia look like a saint.

People often dismiss Bellatrix as 'crazy,' but Harry knows better than that.

There is a kid behind her, too. Probably spoiled and mean, like Dudley. Harry catches a flash of slicked-back hair the same raven-wing colour as Bellatrix's.

Still, he can't help but be curious. No one's ever seen Bellatrix's child before.

He glances back at the smaller pair of shoes: maybe a bit larger than his, high quality dragonhide and painted lustrous black.

"Harry," says James, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Bella is going to be your stepmother."

His what?