Bellatrix kept her word, she approached the quidditch pitch, purposely avoiding the large crowds of gossip and excited students, she made a point to avoid half the staff too. She really didn't want a hoad of questions thrown her way from Hooch, especially when they were all aware of how little she knew of quidditch. Bellatrix never took a liking to quidditch, or flying a broom for that matter, most of the staff knew this, having once taught her themselves. Madame Hooch was exceptionally hard on her during her time at Hogwarts, her dislike for brooms and any sport involving a broom was in Rolanda's eyes a disgrace to witches and wizards everywhere.

A group of students whizzing by snapped her from her thoughts. She shook her head, blowing a strand of hair from her face when she felt a presence beside her.
"I bet Draco'll be real happy you actually came." She glanced to her side, Harry hovered just above her on his broom, all kitted out.
"Yes, I'm sure Draco is ecstatic to have his auntie who has no clue about Quidditch, coming down to watch the game."
" He should be honoured his auntie made an effort. More than anyone from my family has ever done. Not that my parents have much of an option." Harry shrugged in response.
"If they did, no doubt in my mind James would be coaching you from the sidelines, and your mum would just be cheering alongside him." Bellatrix smiled at him, she'd only known the Potters through her cousin, and in a way she envied them, and the love and relationship they had. She never had that, her father had already signed her away, the day of her 16th birthday she was to be married to a man twice her age. Rudolphus Lestrange. And love was not in that man's vocabulary.

Harry smiled at that, he could imagine it to an extent. The Weasley's had told him how much his parents loved him, hell his mother literally sacrificed herself for him. True his auntie, uncle and cousin might despise every inch of him, but there was no doubt in Harry's mind that his parents loved him.
"Is that what you'll be doing for Draco?"
"Oh no, I'll leave that to Andromeda or Nymphadora, I wouldn't even know when to cheer or not." The woman chuckled, continuing her walk to the stadium at a slow pace, Harry flying ever so slowly alongside her.
"When ever Gryffindor score, that's when you should cheer." Bellatrix arched her brow, an amused twinkle in her eye at the grinning young Wizard.
"That so?"
Harry nodded furiously,
"And when the Gryffindor seeker catches the golden snitch, you should cheer extra loudly."
"When the seeker catches the snitch? Very confident in your teammates there."
"Well, the seeker has talent, so I've heard."
"Oh really? I heard the Gryffindor seeker was absolutely horrific, couldn't even ride his broom properly." Bellatrix said, her face hiding all evidence of the playfulness of her statement.
"You clearly must have had the wires crossed somewhere, I heard he could out ride anyone." Harry met her challenge, leaning in closer towards her. The woman shifted her gaze to the floor and chuckled. Potter's name being called was what broke up their little chat, he shouted back before turning to the witch.
"Prepare to loose professor." He smiled confidently before wrapping his Gryffindor scarf around her neck and flying off.

Bellatrix slightly dumbfounded, glanced down at the offending item wrapped around her, the colours didn't even match her attire. That boy was becoming far too cocky, he was slowly turning into the Weasley Twins, and she had enough trouble with them. As if on cue an echo of whistles caught her attention.
"Looking good Professor, those colours suite you."
"And here I thought I'd gotten you out of my hair when you left school."
"Us? Out of your hair? Never" they said simultaneously, both grinning cheekily.
"Well, I hope you brought me some chocolates from that shop of yours." Bellatrix eyes the suspicious colourful paper bag.
"You insult us, you know that?"
"As if we'd show up empty handed, of course we got you something extra special."

They sounded far too mischievous for Bellatrix's liking, especially when they started approaching her.
"Why is my gut instinct telling me to run?" She eyed them cautiously, though their smile gave it all away.
"We have no idea." With that the woman took off running, after six years of teaching the terrible two, her senses were a lot sharper when it came to their shenanigans. Bellatrix dodged students and professors alike, no way was she going to be caught by them...again. No they had her once, after years and years of trying, they managed to prank her last year when she visited their shop. With bloody jellybeans of all things. They ruined jellybeans for her.

The game wasn't due to start for another 45 minutes, Ron just wanted to inform Harry on his latest plan of attack, Harry nodded in agreement though gave him some slight alterations before he got called away by the rest of the team. The head captain was about to join when he noticed his professor running amongst the growing crowd.
"Hey come on Harry." Ron called, the Gryffindor glance at his teammates before returning to the fleeing witch.
"I'll be there in a minute." He calls before dashing off himself, much to their surprise.
He pushed through the crowed, wishing he'd brought his broom, he could of avoided so many people stopping and chatting to him had he still kept his broom at hand. He caught a glimpse of the witch, her black curls bouncing as she continued her run, she looked as though she was heading to the towers.

Bellatrix, slightly out of breath reached the towers where she knew Minerva would be already sitting, eagerly waiting for the game to start. Convinced she'd lost the twins, she took a moment to catch her breath, leaning against the tower as a few professors passed by, greeting her as they did so. The hand to her shoulder however gave her such a start she screamed before spinning around, wand at the ready.
"Oh it's you." She sighed, relief written all over her face.
"I saw you running, is everything alright?" Harry couldn't quite hide his concern, which made the witch chuckle all the more. She placed her hand on his shoulder to steady herself.
"And you thought you'd come to my aid? Be my knight in shining armour?"
"Well, yeah... that was the plan." Harry shrugged, unable to stop a smile from creeping onto his lips.
Bellatrix was about to respond when she noticed something over his shoulder, her eyes widen at the sight.
Harry, panicked turned around only to be greeted by the twins.
"Nows your chance to be that knight in shining armour, stop them." With that the woman dashed off, heading to the steps to climb the tower. The Gryffindor chuckled, shaking his head. Now he understood, Fred and George did mention they were going to try and get Professor Black back for what she did to them 4 weeks ago.

***

Bellatrix quickly made her way to the seat next to Severus and sat down. Severus did a double take before nudging Minerva and nodding in the direction the the defence agains the dark arts professor.
"What? I told you I was coming."
"That's not the problem, the problem is, you a fellow Slytherin, here to allegedly support Slytherin house, but sporting a Gryffindor scarf. I don't think I've ever seen something more disgusting in my life." Severus's words were dripping with disdain. Bellatrix glanced down at the offending material, she'd forgotten to take it off. Damned Potter.
"Oh please, it's Obvious Bellatrix knows the better house when she sees it. It's hardly her fault she got sorted into the wrong one."
Bellatrix shook her head as the pair began to bicker, chuckling to herself. Not long after the pair settled down as the game began.

Bellatrix had no idea what was going on, though by Snape's expression Slytherin were clearly loosing again. Minerva on the other hand was in an overly joyous mood, probably already counting the pretty pennies that would soon be coming her way. Madam Hooch was practically ripping her hair out at the scores, despite being the referee she clearly wanted Slytherin to win. No doubt she'd also loose pocket to Minerva. Bellatrix chuckled, Minerva probably betted half the teaching staff, and it showed who placed their money on Slytherin, if the sour faces of filch, Aurora, Bathsheda and Dinah were anything to go by.

Bellatrix studied each student that played the game, noticed their tactics and took note. She might not know how to play, but she certainly picked up on the repetitive tactics of Gryffindor that allowed them to be so far ahead. Something she'd definitely mention to Hooch, Severus and Draco after the game. They were far too ahead by now to be knocked down, that much Bellatrix knew. But next game, next game they'd better eat their words.
The Gryffindor side erupted with blissful cheer when Harry caught the Snitch, Minerva could barely contain her excitement as she turned and gloated to Severus. Gryffindor had won, that much Bellatrix knew. Teammates roared all flying towards Harry, who in turn glanced around as if looking for something. Bellatrix arched her brow when his gaze fell on her, he'd apparently stopped his search, smiling broadly.