A Tale of Two Blacks
Theme 55: Egg on


Bellatrix Black sat at the back of the class, laughing loudly. James grabbed Sirius's hand, to make sure the latter did nothing stupid.

"Leave it," he hissed in his best mate's ear.

"How can I leave it, Prongs?" Sirius did not sound very pleased. At all. "You know she does it on purpose to infuriate me. She ruined my whole potion by throwing in that stupid, crushed beetle."

James nodded. "I know, mate," he said sympathetically. "But she eggs you on, and you let her. Calm down."

"I suppose you're right," Sirius said, sighing and looking away.


The title is derived from that of Charles Dickens's historical novel A Tale of Two Cities.