Rita had to fight hard not to react to Bellarix's intense demeanor. No one at Hogwarts who had any sense of decorum or, frankly, self preservation didn't know who the Blacks were and what they were to their society. It was doubly so for Bellatrix with regard to self preservation. To say that Bellatrix had a reputation to fear was an understatement.
For a moment, she reconsidered what she was doing. It was like picking up a sharp stick and poking a tiger while you hoped that the cage was strong enough to hold the wild animal back. Was the cage Rita was building really be strong enough?
Rita couldn't go back though. She couldn't abandon her plan. It was just far too exciting.
"I'm glad the seat was open," she whispered quietly to Bellatrix as their professor began to give signs that the class was about to start. "We really don't get a chance to talk enough. Don't you think?"
Unlike Bellatrix, Rita had strong opinions about Bellatrix. One, the Blacks walked around like they owned, well, everything! It might have nearly been true, she hated to admit, it was obnoxious to rub everyone's faces in it!
However, there certainly was another side to that opinion...
Rita wondered when would be a good time to spring what she knew. As the lecture began, she began to scribble some notes. Taking a slip of parchment, she penned a quick note to Bellatrix in flawless, neat, feminine script.
It seemed you had a lot of fun the other night? the note said after she slid it over to her classmate.