This is a challenge/contest I picked up on The Third Floor Corridor.

(Fanfiction Option #4)

For the purposes of this story, Bellatrix will be the younger sister… Bellatrix is born in 1959, as opposed to 1954. So, for this story, Bellatrix is in Severus' year, and younger than Narcissa. (Originally, Bellatrix was born in 54, and in Lucius' year. Narcissa was born in 55 or 56… Not sure with her…)

This will be Severus/Bellatrix, in case you haven't figured it out. I wanted to do this pair, because I've never seen a Sev/Bella fic before. I've seen everything else on the list. (including Fred and George/Hermione.)

Rules:
Write a Drama/Tragedy/Romance (you may do any of these, they are all similar. However, if you only do Romance, you don't have to make it dramatic. Whatever works for you.)

Use the following ships if you do romance:
Bellatrix/Snape
Hermione/Malfoy
Snape/Tonks
Harry/Ginny
Harry/Luna
Ron/Hermione
Fred or George/Hermione
Dumbledore/McGonagall
Snape/Hermione
Lucius/Narcissa
Narcissa/Snape

If you do a drama or tragedy, you may not write a story centered on the following groups:
Snape/Malfoy
Harry/Ron/Hermione (A story about the golden trio is too easy.)

Must be over 5000 words, and between 2 and 10 chapters….

May, 1977 – Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry, Graduation

Severus Snape didn't know whether to smile or frown. The conundrum seemed simple. He was graduating. Seven years of hard work, and dealing with those pain-in-the-arse idiots that called themselves the marauders, was finally over. On the other hand, he was leaving Hogwarts. Hogwarts was the only thing between he and his mother. Namely, between he and his mother forcing him to take the Dark Mark, and pledging his life to a mad man who was no more pure blooded than he was. Severus didn't care about the purity of a wizard's blood.

Honestly, he agreed with his fiancé when she ranted and raved about how mudbloods should be taken from their muggle relations at birth, and given to a Wizarding family to be raised. Muggles were a detriment, yes – but they didn't need to be eradicated. And a witch or wizard born with blood less than pure was no less a magic user than any other. It wasn't the blood that caused conflict; it was the culture the wizard was raised with.

That was another reason he wasn't so pleased about leaving Hogwarts. His fiancé, Bellatrix Black, no more wanted to serve Voldemort than he did. They just wanted to get married, and start their lives. Severus had an offer from a Potion's Master for a three-year apprenticeship. Bellatrix wanted to be a curse breaker for Gringotts. They had careers in mind, a life planned. But it wouldn't happen. Bellatrix was of "The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black." Severus may have been ½ Prince, a family as old as the Blacks, and as pure – but he was ½ muggle.

Cygnus and Druella Black, Bellatrix's parents, wanted her to marry a family just as pure as her older sister had. Narcissa had married Lucius Malfoy. Not to mention the fact that Lucius was a faithful and dedicated servant of Voldemort. Cygnus and Druella were quite proud of their oldest daughter. Well, there had been one more Black sister, older than Narcissa. Andromeda had been disowned because she had married a muggle-born.

Bellatrix had mentioned that her father had a few men in mind, but apparently the man was going to leave it up to Voldemort. Cygnus was not, himself, a Death Eater, but he certainly encouraged his children to follow Voldemort. The older generation considered themselves to old to take up a new cause. Severus figured that Voldemort didn't force the older generation because their parents were already well established in society.

Severus gave his love a smile as she walked across the front of the room, receiving her Wizarding Certificate from Headmaster Dumbledore. He had completely ignored the Headmaster's speech. The Head Boy and Girl would give their speeches after everyone received their certificates. His own walk was fast approaching, and he still had no idea. They would have one week before they were expected to report to the Dark Lord, as he was calling himself. During that week, he and his Bella would have to come up with something…

Two weeks later – Headmaster Dumbledore's office.

Severus and Bellatrix were supporting each other's weight as they knocked on Headmaster's door. Their arms stung from the fresh mark on their arms, but it was just a slight sting compared to the pain still wracking their bodies from the repeated Crucios that seemed required for new initiates. Well, new initiates and anyone who upset Voldemort. The lovers were more upset about the announcement Voldemort had made, prior to their torture.

The Dark Lord had announced to the gathered force that Rodolphus Lestrange and Bellatrix Black were to be married. Voldemort had gone on to mention how much he hoped the union would bring their cause powerful and pure children. Then came the agony of the mark, and the blinding torture of the crucio curse. After the marking of the initiates, which included several others beside themselves, there was a celebration. A formal dinner party, held at Malfoy manor, to congratulate the newest Death Eaters.

Once the dinner party had died down, Voldemort had called the initiates into the Malfoy library, before they had been allowed to leave. Only Voldemort and Avery Senior were waiting for them. Avery Junior glanced at his father for only a second before dropping to his knees with the rest of him. It seemed like an eternity as Voldemort spoke to each initiate about what they wished to do. Depending on what they said, Voldemort would instruct them to carry out their plans or change them entirely. As Bellatrix was to his left, she was asked before he.

"My Lord, I was hoping to become a curse-breaker for Gringotts before I married. Does it please you, My Lord?" Severus held his breath for his love, hoping she was given the reprieve from the Dark Lord's immediate service. But it was decided that Bellatrix would be wed at the end of the month, and she would stay with her husband. As Rodolphus was part of the inner circle, Severus didn't see her going very far. When it came to him, Voldemort decided he would take the offered apprenticeship, as they seemed to be in need of Potions Masters. Of course, they were not dismissed until after another round of crucios.

They two had apparated directly to Hogsmeade, and walked to Hogwarts, still suffereing the after effects of the Unforgivable. Wrapped around one another, leaning against his doorframe, is how Albus Dumbledore found them. His immediate surprise had quickly turned to a sad disappointment that dimmed the twinkle in his eyes as the Headmaster recognized their symptoms.

"Tell me." Dumbledore asked, as he opened his office and allowed them to sit in the chair in front of his desk. Severus explained what happened that night. How their parents forced them to attend, how they were tortured, Voldemort's orders for their future. Bellatrix allowed it all to sink in before she spoke.

"Headmaster, we don't want to serve Him. He wants to kill muggles and muggle-borns. He wants to control our lives. He preaches against something that he himself is. Please Headmaster, help us." Bellatrix turned pleading eyes to the old wizard. She was cuddled against Severus' chest, and he held her tight. Dumbledore sat back in his seat, and steepled his hands together, a thoughtful expression on his face. They sat in silence as the leader of the light side (for they already knew this was a war) contemplated their fate. As Dumbledore thought, their trembling muscles calmed, and their breathing slowed.

Dumbledore sighed and closed his eyes for just a moment. When he opened them, the twinkle was back. Severus held his breath, afraid the man would condemn them, as much as their parents had. Bellatrix was as stiff, tense in his arms. They had reason to be afraid.

"Well, I see two choices. I can hide you, and you both may live in isolation until he is beaten. But I do not know how long that will take. Or…" Dumbledore paused here, looking deeply into their eyes. He leaned forward, and his voice lowered to just above a whisper. "Or…you both become spies. Help us take down Tom. I have started an order to fight against him. We need spies. Do you want to hide, or do you want to help stop him?" Dumbledore leaned back and waited. Waited for them to make their decision, for them to throw their lives away by hiding, or by contributing to the effort. Dumbledore knew that either way they would be in danger of death until the day Voldemort was killed. And the prophecy was vague enough, he didn't know when that could be.

June 17 1977 – Somewhere in Greece

Severus' breath caught as he watched is love walk towards him. Today, they would be married. Only Dumbledore would know. The Grecian wizard performing the ceremony would be obliviated, and the leader of the light would keep their marriage certificate with him until the day they could announce their union to the world. His Bella was truly the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen. Severus Snape would keep the love they shared close to his heart – for what could be years.

Bella's own breath caught as she reached the man that she loved. The only way she could be happier at that moment, would be if Voldemort were not hovering over their shoulders. She knew she'd only have one week with her new husband before he would leave for his apprenticeship, and she would leave to the Dark Lord's side. She would try to convince Voldemort to delay her "marriage" to Lestrang, hopefully she could put if off for just a little while. But now, she was just going to focus on Severus.

Dumbledore watched the children in front of him come together. The Grecian wizard was doing a lovely job with the ceremony. Dumbledore ardently prayed that the love the two before him so obviously shared would sustain his two spies. The Leader of the Light wanted nothing more for these two than for them to be able to live their lives together.

Severus and Bellatrix smiled at each other as their magic was bound together, the light from their wands shinning strong and bright. The lore surrounding the ancient hand-fasting ritual they'd decided to use mentioned that the couple's magic would bind them together, and the brighter and strong the light, the more success the newly married couple would enjoy. Unknowingly, their own thoughts mirrored their former headmaster's. They hoped that the light that had yet to ebb would keep them strong through the life they'd chosen.