July 21st, 1991

4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging

"Give me that," Belle hissed, snatching the bandage from her brother. Harry winced as the cut on his arm was wrapped up expertly. She was always better at patching them up, but he hadn't wanted to get her in trouble by interrupting her chores.

When she was finished, she shoved the package of bandages back under the loose floorboard and took a rag to his arm and then her own hands to clean up the small amount of blood that had fallen.

"She's trying to kill us," Harry complained. "Something's going on."

"I know, Harry, but how do you suggest we figure it out? Uncle Vernon is on vacation. He'll know if we do anything and then it'll be even worse."

Harry sighed deeply. "I know. I'm just sick of this. I wanna go back to school."

Belle gave her brother a sympathetic smile. "Not long now. Just another month."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

July 31st, 1991

The Island

The letters had driven Vernon mad. He lost his mind that Sunday and took all of them to a cabin on a rock in the middle of the sea, insistent that no one would be able to reach them there.

He was wrong.

Belle poked Harry's cheek. "Happy birthday, Harry."

"Happy birthday, Belle," he replied, bumping her shoulder with his own. "We're eleven."

A loud bang against the door startled the twins and they grabbed onto each other in fear as Dudley sat up, woken from his deep sleep. When the banging continued, Belle and Harry shot to their feet in fear, ready to run. They backed into a corner and Belle pushed him behind her, poking her head out the side to see what was happening while their aunt and uncle made their way down the stairs.

"Who's there?" Vernon managed weakly, his shotgun pointed at the door. The door was thrown off its hinges and landed on the floor, revealing a giant man who stepped inside and looked around, an umbrella in his large hands.

"Sorry about that," the man said, tucking the umbrella into his jacket. He picked the heavy, wooden door up off the floor and slammed it into the doorframe again.

"I demand that you leave at once, sir," Vernon snapped, waving the gun a little. "You are breaking and entering!"

The man rolled his eyes and stalked over to him, bending the gun until it broke. "Dry up, Dursley, you great prune." The gun went off and shot a hole in the ceiling, startling everyone. Harry stayed quiet but Belle let out a startled squeak, slapping a hand over her mouth when she did. "Oh, there you are! I haven't seen the pair of you since you were babes!"

"You know us?" Belle managed slowly. Harry gripped her wrist tightly in his hand, prepared to pull her back behind him in defense.

"Well, sure I do!" the man grinned. "I've got something for you. 'Fraid I might've sat on it at some point, but I imagine it'll taste just the same." He pulled a box out of his jacket and Harry grabbed it from him, opening it with a frown. "Baked it myself, words and all!"

"It's a… cake," Belle said when Harry opened it. In the shaky green frosting, it said 'Happee birthdae Harry and Belle.'

"Thank you," Harry said, surprised by the sight.

"Not every day you twins turn eleven, is it?" He grinned at them happily.

"Who are you, sir?" Belle asked after a moment.

"Rubeus Hagrid," he answered easily. "Keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts. Of course, you'll know all about Hogwarts."

"Sorry, no," Harry shook his head, ignoring the glares he got from their aunt and uncle.

Hagrid frowned, looking at them strangely. "No? Blimey, didn't you ever wonder where your mum and dad learned it all?"

"Learned what?" Belle asked sharply, uncomfortable.

"Magic," he told them, looking between them. "You're a witch and wizard."

"I-I'm a what?" Harry breathed while Belle shook her head.

"That's impossible," she said with a frown. "Magic doesn't exist!"

"It does, and I'd wager you'll be great at it. Once you train up a little, that is."

"It can't be!"

"Well, did you ever make anything happen?" he asked her while Harry kept shaking his head in confusion. "Anything you couldn't explain when you were angry or- or scared?"

"The snake," Harry whispered softly to his sister, who froze, remembering the incident clearly. Hagrid stepped over to them and pulled out two letters and handed them over with a grin. Belle opened hers first, pleased to finally know what they'd been sent.

"Dear Miss Potter," she read aloud as Harry opened his own. "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"They will not be going!" Vernon said, ripping the letter out of her hands. "Neither of you! We swore when we took them in, we'd put a stop to all this rubbish!"

"You knew?" Harry asked, horrified. "You knew all along and you never told us?"

"Of course, we knew," Petunia scoffed, her arms crossed in disgust. "I mean, how could you not be? My perfect sister being who she was. Oh… my mother and father were so proud the day she got her letter. We have a witch in the family. Isn't it wonderful? I was the only one who saw her for what she really was. A freak. And then she met that Potter, and then she had you and I knew you'd be the same. You both look just like them both. I knew you'd be just as strange… just as abnormal. And then if you please, she went and got herself blown up! And we got landed with you. Twins! With no warning!"

"Blown up?" Harry yelled.

"You said they died in a car crash," Belle glared, just as angry as her brother.

"A car crash?" Hagrid shouted, horrified by the lie. "A car crash killed Lily and James Potter?"

"We had to say something," Petunia defended softly while Dudley grabbed the cake and snuck away with it.

"It's an outrage! It's a scandal!"

"They will not be going," Vernon said sharply, shaking his head. Hagrid laughed.

"And I suppose a great muggle like yourself is gonna stop them, are you?"

"Muggle?" Harry questioned, confused.

"Non-magic folk," Hagrid answered offhandedly. "These kids have had their names down since they were born! They're going to the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry and they will be under the finest Headmaster that Hogwarts has ever seen! Albus Dumbledore."

He said the name with such reverence that they were inclined to believe him.

"I'm not paying to have some crackpot old fool teach them magic tricks!" Vernon shouted, his eyes narrowed into slits. Hagrid pulled his umbrella out and pointed it at the man, furious.

"Never insult Albus Dumbledore in front of me again," he instructed, his eyes falling on Dudley, who was digging into the cake. He pointed the tip of the umbrella at him and a flash of light flew out and hit the boy in the butt, growing a tail that pushed out of his pajamas.

Vernon and Petunia began screaming and it was only Belle's hand over his mouth that kept Harry from laughing out loud. Hagrid leaned over to them, winking.

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone at Hogwarts about that," he said. "Strictly speaking, I'm not allowed to do magic."

"Why?" Belle asked before she could stop herself.

"We're a bit behind schedule," he said, ignoring her question as he looked at his pocket watch. "We'd best be off."

Hagrid moved to the door and threw it to the ground again and Harry stood there, only moving when his sister shoved him forward.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

August 1st, 1991

Diagon Alley

The group of three had stayed in the Three Broomsticks for the night after they'd portkeyed to London. Entering the Alley had been shocking to both of them. Magic was potent in the air, making Belle's arms tingle.

"First off is your robes," Hagrid told them after they left Gringott's. "I've got a few things to do while you're in there, so I'll leave you there."

"What do we need to get exactly?" Belle wondered as they approached Madame Malkins.

"She'll know," he assured her with a grin. "Be back in an hour."

With that, the twins were left alone. They made their way into the shop quietly and, luckily, it was mostly empty aside from a blonde boy being helped by the shop assistant.

"What can I do for you dears?"

"We need our school robes," Belle answered Madame Malkins with a small smile. "We're to be in our first year."

"Of course," she nodded. "I'll just need your measurements. Who would like to go first?"

"She would," Harry said, pushing Belle. She shot him a dirty look but walked up to the pedestal next to the blonde boy who looked her over in disgust.

"A Weasley?" he asked her. She shook her head, watching in amazement as the measuring tape measured her.

"I'm Belle Potter."

"Oh," he said, surprised. "You have red hair."

"Um, yes, I do."

"Everyone said it was black," he explained slowly. She frowned at him.

"Should I know you?"

"Draco Malfoy," he introduced, offering his hand. She took it, surprised when he kissed her knuckles. Still, she bowed her head.

"Very nice to meet you. My brother, Harry, is around here somewhere, but he ran off upon hearing of measurements," she rolled her eyes.

"What House do you want to be in?" he asked curiously.

"I did some reading last night," she answered, thinking. "Slytherin, I believe. Or possibly Ravenclaw."

"I feel the same," he said with a nod and a small smile. "Gryffindor and Hufflepuff have too many muggleborns."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Well, they steal magic," he answered her seriously, almost making her laugh. "They don't even know about magic growing up, so they steal it when they find out."

"So if someone doesn't know about magic growing up, you think they then steal it."

"Yes, of course. That's what Father says. He also said they have mud in their blood."

It took a great deal of restraint to keep from laughing. The only thing that stopped her was realizing how serious he was. "Draco, Harry and I weren't told about magic until yesterday."

"Why?"

"Because we were raised by our aunt and uncle, our mum's family. They apparently hate magic."

"But you're a half-blood. It's different for you."

"But you think my mum stole her magic?"

"How else would she get it?" he shot back, uncomfortable. He clearly didn't want to offend her but she was questioning his beliefs, something that he did not like.

"Maybe it's in her genes," she suggested. "I did a lot of reading last night because I couldn't sleep. Squibs are people who were born to magic but didn't have any, right?"

"Yes, of course."

"So, what if there's a squib deep in our ancestry and the magic just resurfaced in my mum?"

Draco stared at her, confused. "What about the mud?"

"Well, that's just ridiculous," she admitted. "If our mum had mud in her blood, she'd have been dead a lot sooner than she was. We need blood to live, Draco."

"But my father said-,"

"And our aunt and uncle said magic isn't real," she shrugged. "Sometimes people lie about reality to achieve the truths they want."

"Belle," Harry called from the back of the store, gathering her attention. "They have shoelaces that tie themselves!"

"Magic, Harry," she laughed softly, though she was intrigued.

"You really didn't know about it," Draco said softly, amazed. Belle nodded, watching Harry make his way back over to her.

"Nope."

"Would you and your brother like to sit with my friends and I on the train?" he asked her. She grinned and nodded, happy to have already made a friend.

"I'd love that."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

The bookstore was large and smelled like old books and tea. Belle thought it was possibly the most beautiful place she'd ever been to and when Hagrid told them they could each have thirty minutes in the store of their choosing, she decided to stay there while Harry went next door to the Quidditch supply shop.

To her surprise, there were both magical and muggle books. She'd read up on the money system and knew that they really did have a lot of money. More than she could comprehend, honestly, because she knew they'd just gone to their school vault that held money for their school tuition, school supplies, and spending money. It also held their parents' old school things, some of which she'd begged Hagrid to let her take.

She'd found a couple of old, enchanted trunks, which saved them a trip to the trunk store. Aside from that, there was a small bag with an undetectable extension charm - something she hoped was exactly what it sounded like - that she'd taken as well. Harry had grabbed a few notebooks with their mum's name on it that held notes for their first year and had been content to move on.

"That's all lies."

Belle jumped and turned around, dropping the book she was holding to the ground. "What?"

The boy picked it up and handed it back with a kind smile. "Gilderoy Lockhart doesn't do any of the things he writes about in those books. They're not very factual."

"Really?" she frowned down at the book, disgusted. "Shouldn't that be illegal?"

"No one has cared so far," he shrugged. His curly, dark brown hair fell into his face and hung around his sharp blue eyes.

"That's horrible," she muttered, putting the book back on the shelf. "Thank you for letting me know. I'm Belle."

"Theo Nott," he introduced. She offered her hand and was less surprised this time when he kissed it. "Are you going to be going to Hogwarts?"

"Yes, I am. My brother and I will be in our first year."

"So will I," he smiled kindly, a smile she returned easily. "Maybe I'll see you on the train."

"A boy named Draco Malfoy invited us to sit with him," she said. "You could join us if you'd like."

He looked at her in surprise. "Aren't you a Weasley?"

"No," she frowned. "He thought so, too. I'm Belle Potter."

"A Potter twin," he realized slowly. "Everyone said you had black hair."

"That's what Draco said," she shook her head. "But why would anyone know about me? Harry and I were raised in the muggle world. We didn't even know about magic or anything until last night."

"Oh," Theo breathed, surprised. "Everyone knows you because you guys supposedly ended a war."

Belle scoffed. "Well, I don't remember doing anything like that."

"Belle, I got a- oh," Harry stopped at the sight of Theo. "You're talking to a lot of people," he complained.

"Two," she answered shortly. "Shush. What are you talking about, Theo?"

"There was a war when we were young," he said slowly. "Led by a man named- he went by the Dark Lord or You-Know-Who."

"But what was his name?"

"No one likes to say it."

"Why?"

Harry stood close to her, unsettled by the conversation.

"It scares them," Theo said softly, looking around. When he spotted his father at the front of the store, he dropped his voice to a whisper. "His name was Voldemort."

"What a ridiculous name," Harry muttered, making Theo laugh, startled.

"He was after your parents. He killed them and tried to kill you guys and when he couldn't, he died."

"And everyone thinks we killed him?" Belle asked. When Theo nodded, she rolled her eyes. "That's ridiculous. We were babies."

"This man killed our parents?" Harry asked, frowning when the boy nodded.

"This is a depressing conversation," Belle commented. "Although that man lying about his books is somewhat depressing as well."

"You're not more curious about this guy that killed mum and dad?" Harry asked, astounded at her brushing it off.

"Hagrid told us yesterday that they were killed," she answered slowly. "And he's dead, right?"

"That's what everyone says," Theo shrugged, looking uncertain. She nearly asked him about it but spotted a man step behind him and place his hand on his shoulder. She kept her face carefully blank when she noticed him flinch at the touch. A familiar feeling she'd felt only a few times before settled in her, making her nervous.

"Theodore," the man said. "Who are your friends?"

"This is Belle and Harry Potter," he introduced reluctantly. "We were discussing Gilderoy Lockhart."

The man's eyes lit up for only a moment before he nodded. "Would your friends like to come for dinner?"

Theo looked at Belle, considering her for a moment before he gave her a smile that felt less genuine than his earlier smile. "I'd love if you could come."

"Don't we have to get home?" Harry asked. Belle shook her head slowly.

"We're supposed to stay here until school," she informed him. The decision had been made by Petunia, who said she didn't want to see Belle specifically because she reminded her too much of Lily's freakishness, especially since she was now going to school. "We'd love to come, thank you, sir."

"Then feel free to stay with us until school," he offered. She noted the way Theo's lips thinned slightly and considered it. Something was wrong and she didn't think it was that Theo didn't like them or want them around, she thought that it was about his father. If that was the case, then their presence might be helpful in whatever situation it was. "Theodore's friend, Blaise Zabini, is staying as well."

Harry and Belle exchanged a long look before nodding quietly together.

"Thank you, sir."

"We still have more shopping to do," Harry pointed out. "We don't have our wands."

Belle spotted Hagrid outside the store and gawked at the sight. He had two cages in hand, one with an owl and one with a ruffled looking orange cat.

"Merlin," she breathed. Harry followed her gaze and stared as well.

"Is that an owl?"

"Our thirty minutes is up," she pointed out. "Is there somewhere we can meet you when we're done?"

"We'll wait in the Leaky Cauldron," Theo's father offered with a surprisingly convincing smile. They said their goodbyes and, after paying for the books she'd grabbed, she pulled her brother out of the shop and to Hagrid, who was waiting for them.

"Happy birthday!" he exclaimed, handing them each a cage. Harry was handed the cat and Belle the owl, but she switched, knowing fully well that he hated cats. "They're magical creatures. Owl is smart and the cat is a kneazle, a magical cat."

"Thank you so much," Belle smiled as they made their way across the street and down a little bit to Ollivander's. "You didn't have to get us animals."

"What'll you name them?" he wondered, waving her off.

"Hedwig," Harry decided firmly. Belle stared at the cat and hummed softly.

"Icarus."

"What sort of name is that?" Harry asked, making a face. Belle rolled her eyes at him.

"Greek mythology, Harry. Didn't you pay attention in school?"

"Honestly, no."

"I'll wait out here for you both," Hagrid told them, waving them into the shop. Harry went in first and Belle paused.

"Hagrid, we've made a friend. His name is Theo and his father invited us to stay with them for the remainder of the summer. We've agreed, so we're going to meet them at the Leaky Cauldron when we're done."

"I don't know, Belle… what did you say their last name was?"

"Nott," she said, remembering it after a moment.

"That man is nasty," he warned her. She nodded a little.

"I thought maybe," she agreed. "But Theo is nice. I want to make sure he's okay."

"You're a kind girl, Belle," he told her with a soft smile. "Okay. But you write to me every few days and let me know if you're okay."

"I will."

"Now go on," he waved her inside. She went just in time to see Harry holding a wand. When he waved it, boxes flew off shelves and she ducked to avoid being hit with one.

"No, no, definitely not," Ollivander muttered, plucking the wand from Harry's hands and putting it away. "I wonder…"

"How's it going?" Belle asked as they watched the old man grab another one.

"Badly," he muttered, making a face. "You tell Hagrid?"

"Mmhm. He told me Theo's dad is awful."

"So are we not going?" Harry asked, deflating a little. She shook her head.

"No, we are. I thought he might be."

"Why?"

"Cause Theo flinched when his dad touched him," she said as if it was obvious. She didn't want to tell him about the feeling she'd had until they were in private. Harry's lips opened into an 'o' shape and Ollivander presented him with a box.

"Try this."

That time, the shop glowed lightly and a magical wind picked up, indicating he had the correct wand.

"Interesting… very interesting," Ollivander commented. His eyes slid to Belle. "And you, my dear?"

"I need a wand as well," she said with a polite smile. "Does it always light up like that?"

"It is different for everyone," he denied, looking her over for a moment before he grabbed a box and handed her the wand. When she waved it, a window cracked sharply, making both kids wince. It was another four wands before she found the right one, a wand with flowery vines running up to meet a set of runes that went up to the top. "12 ½ inch acacia. Phoenix feather core and quite bendy flexibility."

The twins paid quickly and pocketed their wands, leaving the shop quickly.

"He was weird," Harry complained lightly as they were led back to the Leaky Cauldron by Hagrid, who stopped outside.

"This is where I leave you," he told them with a proud smile. He'd shrunk down all of their things for them to fit into Belle's bag, leaving them with only their animals to carry. "Write to met and remember not to be late."

"We will, I promise," Belle assured him, hugging him quickly. Harry did the same and the twins rushed inside to spot the pair they were looking for, making their way through the crowd to meet them at their table.

"You have your wands?" Theo asked with a small smile. They nodded and Harry pulled his out to show it to him.

"Do you have your school things?" Harry asked.

"I got the last of it today," he confirmed.

Belle smiled at his father, though she frowned when she felt a sharp pain in her head again and grabbed it. "Ow."

"What?" Harry asked, putting a hand on her back in concern. "What is it?"

"My head," she muttered softly. "It just… I'm fine, there was just a sharp pain. Headache, I guess."

"Probably overwhelmed from the day," Theo's father suggested. "Why don't we get back?"

"Yes, thank you," she smiled hesitantly. For some reason, she felt like it was him that had caused the pain, especially considering how familiar it was. She wasn't sure why it happened, though. Still, the thought stayed with her as they used something called a floo and went to their home. When they stepped out of the fireplace, they were met with the sight of a beautiful and large room decorated in white and gold. "Your home is beautiful."

"Thank you," Theo's father nodded before looking to his son. "Show them to their rooms."

"Yes, sir," Theo replied, waving them along out of the room. They were quiet as they walked up two flights of stairs and down a couple of halls, only speaking when he led them into a large bedroom. "There's this room and the one to the right. Blaise is on the left and I'm across the hall."

"Thank you," Harry said with a smile. "I know you don't really know us."

"Father wants me to befriend you," Theo explained, surprising them. "Your family used to be very powerful and it will be again when you take over, so he wants to ensure an alliance."

"Oh," Belle breathed. "That makes sense."

"Don't get me wrong, I'd be happy to be friends," he assured her. "Father just wants to make sure you're… aligned to the right like we are. I assume so."

"Why?" Harry frowned, confused. He'd never paid attention to muggle politics, so he didn't know anything about politics in general. Belle, however, had been fascinated by the subject.

Theo nodded at Belle. "You befriended Draco. He believes in blood purity."

Belle screwed up her face. "Yeah, he told me. I told him that it was ridiculous and why."

"And he didn't get all red and confused?"

"Confused, sure," she agreed. "But he seemed to understand what I was saying."

"That is… incredible," Theo shook his head, surprised. "His father is one of the worst, almost as bad as my own."

"You don't agree with that stuff, do you?" she asked, worried. His eyes widened a little.

"No," he assured her. "Father thinks so but I don't. I suggest you pretend to as well."

"What's blood purity?" Harry asked with a confused frown.

"Mum was born to muggles, making her a muggleborn," Belle explained. "Draco thought that it meant she stole her magic and had mud in her veins. I told him why that's impossible."

"Blood purity means excluding muggleborns and some half-bloods," Theo added. "Getting rid of them. That's what the war was about, actually."

"Hey, Nott, are you talking to yourself- oh."

"Blaise," Theo rolled his eyes as the tan, dark haired boy stopped in the door to stare at them. His dark brown eyes fell on the Potter twins. "This is Belle and Harry Potter. Father invited them to stay until school."

"Oof," Blaise winced. "Sucks."

"No, it's fine," Theo waved him off. "They didn't even know about magic until yesterday."

"Damn, they move to prejudice quick."

"No, they're not- they're not like that," Theo laughed shortly. "And she might've even fixed Draco."

"Fixed Malfoy?" Blaise snorted. "No way."

"I guess we'll find out in a month."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

That night, Harry slipped from his bed and into Belle's room, getting into bed with her quietly. "Hey, wake up."

"I'm not asleep," she told him softly.

"Do you think this is all real? We're not with Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon and Dudley," he whispered, intertwining their fingers.

"It doesn't feel real," Belle agreed, closing her eyes again. "Magic feels more real than this. Still, I'm… Lord Nott is… there's something about him."

"Is this like one of your feelings?" Harry asked, worried. "The last person you said that about tried to push me in front of a bus, Belle."

"I think it is," she sighed. "I don't know. I was just worried in the bookstore at first but I got so anxious and my head hurt so bad, just like the other times."

"You really wanna stay here if you're worried?" he asked reluctantly. She nodded a little.

"Yeah, I don't think he'd do anything. Blaise seems perfectly relaxed here. If something does happen, we can go back to the Leaky Cauldron or something."

"Okay. We just have to be careful, I guess. Like always."

"I guess so."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

August 6th, 1991

Nott Manor

"Where is everyone?" Blaise asked, walking into the dining room, still in his pajamas.

"Harry is still sleeping," Belle rolled her eyes. "He was up late reading that stupid book you gave him."

"Hey, that's not stupid," Blaise defended, sitting down next to her. It was a large table, so they tended to sit close together. "Quidditch history is important, Potter!"

"And Theo is at the Wizengamot with Lord Nott," she continued, making a face at him. "Just us for now."

"Harry's gonna miss breakfast if he doesn't get up soon," Blaise muttered as he took a bite of his sausage. "Why didn't you wake him up?"

Belle let out a laugh and took a sip of her tea. "Waking him up is a difficult task lately. You're free to try if you'd like to, but I figure it's better to let him sleep. We never really get to sleep in at home, so it's nice."

"Why?" he asked offhandedly. He was pushing his eggs around on his plate, looking totally disinterested in them. Staring at his plate, he missed Belle tensing a little as well as the way she forced herself to relax. She was well aware their childhood wasn't a normal one - the few friends she'd had at school had told her as much. Still, she couldn't quite help the way she reacted to questions about their home life.

"The day starts early there," she answered quietly, focusing back on her tea. She'd already finished eating and she quickly drank down the rest of her tea. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go read."

"Hey, what's wrong?" Blaise asked, looking up in time to see her frowning as she walked past him. He was a surprisingly sensitive person when he was paying attention or cared, making him a good friend for Theo, who was much the same.

"Nothing, I think I'm just a little tired still," she offered him a smile. "If you'll excuse me…"

"Sure."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

"What's wrong with them?"

Theo dropped his outer robes in surprise and glared at his friend as he picked them up. "What are you talking about?"

"There's something wrong with them," Blaise answered him seriously, following Theo into his bedroom. "What is it? Why'd you invite them here?"

"For the same reason I told you," Theo said after a moment. "Father invited them. What's going on? Did something happen?"

Blaise nodded and plopped down into the chair across from Theo, tapping his fingers absently on the table. "Yeah, Belle was weird about her home life."

"Maybe she didn't want your nosy questions," Theo suggested tiredly. "Not everyone is messed up. You don't need to fix everyone, Blaise."

"I'm serious," he said, his lips thinning. "We were eating- er, I was eating and she was drinking her tea. She said Harry was sleeping in and she didn't want to wake him because they never got to sleep in at home. When I asked her why, she got all weird and left the room."

"You were at breakfast," Theo tried. "So you were probably just tired. I'm sure it's nothing."

"Merlin, Nott, don't you want to know? What if there is something wrong with them? Didn't you say they didn't know about magic until last week?"

Theo hesitated. "Even if there's something going on, we can't do anything. Neither of our families are related to them in the least and Dumbledore placed them with their family."

"So you don't even want to know?"

"Know what?"

"Shit," Blaise cursed loudly, jumping at Harry's voice. "You're quiet."

"Want to know what?" Harry asked again, looking abnormally guarded. The two friends exchanged a look and, before Theo could stop him, Blaise spoke.

"Things aren't good at home for you." He said it as a statement, something which got a much better reaction than a question would've. Harry first looked defensive, but moments later, his shoulders sagged and he just looked a bit tired. "I told you."

"I don't think now is the time for an 'I told you so,'" Theo snapped at Blaise, sighing. "What is it, Harry?"

"How did you know?"

"Belle was weird at breakfast," Blaise explained easily. "Straight up walked out of the room when I asked about your home life."

"Well don't tell her that's why you know," Harry winced. "She'd be so upset."

"But what… shit, how do you ask someone about this shit?"

"Stop cursing," Theo smacked Blaise's arm. "I don't know."

"Well it's not like I'm going to tell you about it," Harry made a face at them. "I mean, we're fine."

"So fine that she's gotta leave the room?" Blaise wondered before pausing. "Wait, that raises an interesting question. Why would your guardians let you stay with a stranger for a month before not seeing you until Christmas?"

"They kind of hate us," Belle said from the door, making all three boys jump. She was scowling and glaring at her brother. "What did you say?"

"Nothing!"

"Why would they hate you?" Theo asked gently.

"I look too much like our mum and Harry looks too much like our dad," she answered easily. "They hate magic which I'm starting to think was actually why they've hated us so much all our lives. They think we're freaks."

"That's horrible," Blaise told them with wide eyes. "Magic doesn't make you a freak."

"Try telling them that," Harry muttered.

"But wait, they just handed you over to Lord Nott in the middle of Diagon Alley?"

"No, of course not," Belle replied. "They didn't take us, Hagrid did. They told us basically not to come back and when Hagrid said we had to, they said not to come home until summer."

"That's horrible," Theo told her.

"It's not like we're bothered by it," Harry pointed out. "We don't want to be there even more than they don't want us there."

"Is that why you came?" Theo asked Belle quietly. If she and Harry endured abuse, they were much more likely to spot abuse in others, something he knew because he'd done it before, too. She nodded a little.

"You flinched when he touched your shoulder. I thought maybe whatever was going on would be better with strangers around. I think I make him uncomfortable or something, that's why I've been spending so much time with you."

"Shit, you're perceptive," Blaise told her while Theo cringed. "No one makes Lord Nott uncomfortable, though."

"No, she does," Theo confirmed. "I don't know why."

"My head hurts every time I'm around him," Belle added. "I'm very okay with avoiding him."

"That's just weird."

"Not for her," Harry shook his head. "We met this guy, Trevor or something-,"

"Travers," Belle corrected.

"-and he tried to shove me into a bus. Belle had a weird feeling about him before and got a headache then, too."

"Travers," Blaise frowned. "That's an old family. My mother tried to get him to court her once. What's he look like?"

"Kinda short, skinny, brown hair," Harry answered. Theo and Blaise shared a look.

"You're saying Travers tried to murder you and he gave Belle a headache," Theo summarized. "And my father gives her a headache."

"Sounds like Death Eaters give her a headache," Blaise snickered, earning himself a confused look from the twins. "Death Eaters were the Dark Lords followers. Theo's dad was one of his right hand men as well as Lucius Malfoy, Draco's dad."

"And this man, Travers, he was a Death Eater?" Belle asked softly. At their nods, she shook her head. "It's happened more than just with them. A woman tried to drown me at the public pool when we were three and about an hour earlier, I got a bad headache and got really anxious, the same with the others."

"Okay, well, what did she look like?"

"Um… black hair, grey eyes… she jumped into the pool fully clothed in this weird black dress and shoved me underwater," Belle answered, squeezing Harry's hand. They were both uncomfortable even thinking about the times they'd nearly been killed by strangers.

"Merlin," Blaise said loudly.

"It can't be," Theo shook his head quickly. "She's in Azkaban, Blaise."

"They were three," Blaise pointed out. "She wasn't in Azkaban then."

"Who?" Harry asked, looking between them.

"Bellatrix Lestrange," Blaise answered him. "Famously a Death Eater. She was really close with the Dark Lord. Obsessed with him, according to my mum. She's always been proud of the side of the war she fought on, even when she was arrested five years after it ended."

"You guys don't actually think I head a headache around Death Eaters, do you?" Belle asked, uncomfortable. "How would that even work? I don't know them. Maybe I just get anxious because they seem dark."

"Bellatrix, sure," Theo nodded. "But Travers and my father are good at hiding it. You don't get the same thing, Harry?"

"Nope," he shook his head. "Just Belle."

Blaise let out a laugh. "I think she's allergic to Death Eaters!"

OoOoOoOoOoOo

August 16th, 1991

Greengrass Manor

"So why are there four of you again?" Astoria asked. "There were definitely two of you last time you came over."

"Harry and Belle are staying with us," Theo explained as they walked into the large room to find Blaise and Daphne with their wands out. "What- what are you guys doing?"

"Magic," Daphne said, rolling her eyes. She cast a spell and grinned when it hit Harry, flattening his messy hair. "That's one Mum taught Story and I years ago."

"I thought we're not allowed to do magic outside of school," Belle commented in confusion. "Aren't you going to get in trouble for that?"

"Not at all," Daphne waved her off, putting away her wand. "For one, we're an Ancient and Noble House. No one would touch us for a little underage magic. But also, they can only monitor the area where an underage person is, so if there's magic in the area of a magical adult and child, they'd have no way to know who cast it. We're fine here."

"You're fine in Nott Manor, too," Blaise added. "We grew up learning magic so we already know plenty."

"Really?" Harry asked, his mouth hanging open in surprise.

"My mother used to give us lessons every day," Theo confirmed softly, coming to sit with his friends. "Father didn't want to continue when she died, but we still practice every once in a while."

"Can you teach us something?" Belle asked, excited.

That was how the six of them found themselves spending the afternoon casting whatever spells they knew, and by the time they returned to Nott Manor, they'd learned a great deal. It was one of the best days they'd had there so far, and the use of magic had exhausted them, letting them have a restful night of sleep.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

August 28th, 1991

Nott Manor

Belle was well and truly annoyed with the boys. It was hard to be annoyed with anyone other than maybe Blaise, though she was never really upset with him. Still, all three of them had bothered her all month to play Quidditch with them. It had led to her getting so annoyed and upset that her hair had begun sparking, surprising all of them. They'd backed off then, and she'd been allowed to make her way to the library while they played.

When she stepped into the huge library, she settled her eyes on the book she'd left in there earlier that day. It was on the table by the door, and she picked it up and made her way to the second floor to find a place to sit.

"Miss Potter."

Belle tensed and, after a moment of trying to relax, she turned to face him. The same deep anxiety and headache hit her and she had to force herself to smile politely. "Lord Nott. I didn't mean to bother you."

"It has been a while since I've seen anyone's hair spark," he told her, ignoring her apology. "An old friend of mine's hair would spark whenever she was angry."

"I'm not- I just don't want to get on a broom," she explained carefully. "Heights scare me."

"Brooms are very safe if you take proper precautions," he assured her. "I apologize. Your hair only startled me. I haven't seen that since the Black family was active."

"Who?"

"The Black family," he repeated. "They used to be the most powerful magical family, only seconded by your family. They died out, one way or another. The last ones alive are either disowned or in Azkaban."

"How did they die out?" she asked, reluctantly curious.

"Well, their Head of House died only a few months ago. The last daughter of the House is in Azkaban. Their heir is, as well, in fact for getting your parents killed."

"What?"

"I apologize," he bowed his head. "I do not mean to upset you. I take it you do not know of your godfather, Sirius Black?"

"No. I didn't even know we had a godfather. We weren't told much about our family at all, actually."

"Well, Sirius was good friends with your father, James, all through school. The tale is actually quite well known by those that knew what was going on at the time. Everyone thought Black had refused the Dark Lord - his cousin Bellatrix even tortured him for it."

Belle remembered the name and specifically that she'd been told it was Bellatrix who had tried to kill her. It took a lot of focus to prevent the shiver that tried to sneak up on her. "What changed?"

"No one knows," Lord Nott admitted. "I personally believe it might have had to do with his brother and sister."

"Why?"

"His brother, Regulus, was a year younger than him-,"

Belle gasped as something sparked in her mind, something that made that anxiety in her strengthen. She itched to get to something, but she didn't know how or what. The magic in her shifted as if anticipating or preparing, and she winced at the uncomfortable feeling.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm sorry," she shook herself, lying. "I must be cold. Please continue."

"His brother was a Death Eater," Lord Nott said bluntly. "He fell out of favor with the Dark Lord and, ultimately, died. After that, the Dark Lord made it clear he wanted their sister, Cassiopeia, in return for the loss of Regulus. I believe Sirius may have traded himself instead. It was no secret how deeply they both loved her. She was a baby when Regulus died, though she died just a few days after him."

"And you think, in between their deaths, Sirius offered himself?" she asked, feeling for some reason like it wasn't right.

"I do. Sirius kept the secret of your parents' hideout, a difficult bit of magic that Albus Dumbledore confirmed that they'd cast. Sirius gave the location to the Dark Lord, which got them killed."

"And got him killed, too," Belle reminded him softly. She didn't miss the way his jaw tightened.

"Yes, it did."

"So Sirius went to prison for that," she said, getting him back to the point. "And their Head of House died. What happened to everyone else?"

"Narcissa married Lucius Malfoy," he told her slowly. "Sirius's parents died as well. Bellatrix Lestrange is in Azkaban as I said, and one of her sisters was disowned for marrying a muggleborn and having a child. The House will only return when Draco Malfoy becomes of age and can claim Lordship."

"Because… his mother was a Black," Belle summarized with a slight frown. "Draco is all that's left?"

"Sirius had no children of his own, nor did Bellatrix. Unless something changes, Draco will be Lord Black one day."

"Fascinating."

OoOoOoOoOoOo