AN: First of all, I don't own Harry Potter. Second, I respect the original story immensely- don't we all?- but I have altered a few key details. I have made Bellatrix the youngest in the Black family. So, Narcissa and Andromeda are both older than her. Sirius is also now three years older than her. I have only done that to enhance my story; I do know that it is no fictionally accurate. Without further interruption, enjoy the story.

Chapter One

Bellatrix Black approached the three legged stool with her fingers crossed tightly. She had to get into Slytherin or her father would beat her bloody. Everyone in their family, other than Sirius, had been Slytherin. She could not be another flaw in the bloodline. There was no way she could let that happen, she had to be Slytherin.

Professor McGonagall regarded her with cold eyes. Bellatrix wondered if her gaze was due to her distaste for the Black family or just her in particular. Earlier, in the hall, Bellatrix had noticed the professor had given her a wide berth.

Sitting on the stool, Bellatrix kept her fingers woven together and waited for the hat to be lowered onto her head. Professor McGonagall lightly placed the hat on Bellatrix's head and stepped back to her previous post. As she waited for the hat to speak, Bellatrix shut her eyes and prayed silently.

Please be Slytherin, please be Slytherin, she thought.

"You have an open mind Bellatrix, not to mention a hunger for knowledge," The hat spoke to her in her head. "Slytherin suits your family, but perhaps not you."

But I have to be Slytherin. Daddy will be so displeased if I'm not, she continued to think as hard as she could.

"Young one, I cannot decided based off what your father would like. You cannot choose your house. It is not who you want to be that matters, only who you are truly."

I can't go home and tell Daddy that I'm not Slytherin. Sirius was disowned, the same will happen to me. Only worse, because Daddy is much worse than Uncle Orion, Bellatrix thought to the hat.

"Bellatrix Black, you are no Slytherin. You may be cunning and come from a long line of pure-blood supremacists, but you are not a Slytherin," the hat's sing song voice was becoming somewhat annoying. "Also, while you are highly intelligent and quick witted, you are no Ravenclaw."

Oh god, if I'm a Hufflepuff, Daddy will actually kill me.

"Don't worry, sweet child, I have no intention of placing you in Hufflepuff today. You do however, have the strongest heart I have ever seen. You have endured much and you will endure more before your life reaches its end."

There was a pregnant pause in which Bellatrix waited with baited breath. The hat remained silent for another minute, it seemed to be continuing its internal debate.

"Gryffindor," the hat roared.

Bellatrix's heart fell, it dropped to the depths of her stomach and still continued to sink. It was better than Hufflepuff but she knew she was going to get thrashing when Daddy found out. His own daughter in Gryffindor house. She may as well plan on never going home.

The room was silent as Bellatrix walked to join the Gryffindor house table. She shyly sat down away from the others at the table. The people around her were looking at her with a sense of curiosity. She was sure that at least half the people in the Great Hall knew of her heritage and knew that this was not where she had been expected to be sorted.

As she had been sitting down, Bellatrix had made eye contact with Sirius. There had been something in his eyes that hadn't been in anyone else's. In his eyes was understanding, he knew what she was thinking. He was the only one that knew.

-MotH-

The rest of the feast passed quickly to Bellatrix. The rest of her fellow first years were sorted into their rightful houses. She sat alone at the Gryffindor table despite the multitude of people who sat around her. Though the people around her were loud and social, she did not say a single word to any of them for the duration of the feast.

As they were moving to leave the hall, Bellatrix followed the other first year Gryffindors. They walked behind one of the prefects. Bellatrix believed her name was something Bones. Amelia Bones, perhaps. She was just about out of the Great Hall when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning, Bellatrix saw that Narcissa stood behind her. Narcissa's face bore a look of pure shock, she seemed to still not have realized what had happened.

"Bella," she breathed and pulled her sister into a hug.

"Cissy." Bellatrix returned the hug.

"Daddy is not going to be happy," Narcissa said, pointing out what Bellatrix had realized an hour ago. "Bella, he's going to be so mad."

"I know, Cissy," Bellatrix choked out.

With that, Bellatrix turned and walked away from her sister. She wasn't sure how long she would be able to maintain her composure if she continued talking with her sister. Although she had already lost her dignity she would not lose her composure. As mother always said, poison may be wonderful, but composure and a fake smile were a woman's only true weapons.

-MotH-

Cygnus Black the third was shocked. His youngest daughter had been sorted into Gryffindor. Bellatrix was supposed to be his redemption. He had trained her from birth to be a Slytherin. He had been formatting this plan for years. The Dark Lord was upset with him and there seemed to be only one way to appease him.

So, Cygnus had raised Bellatrix to believe that Muggles were scum and the people who supported them were scum as well. He had told her that compassion was wrong and that the only way to get ahead was to care nothing about the people around her. When she stepped out of line he gave her a thrashing. Those thrashings alone should have been enough to turn her into some kind of monster.

But here he was, receiving an owl from Dumbledore- as was customary- informing him that his youngest and most prized daughter had been sorted into a house of scum and muggle lovers.

"Druella, I have simply awful news," Cygnus called to his wife. She apparated into the room, having been down the hall when he called.

"Please tell me it's something to do with Andromeda, that girl has been a nuisance lately and I simply can't tolerate it," Druella laughed slightly as she stagger over to her husband's side.

"No, far worse than any of her shenanigans. Bellatrix has shamed the family," Cygnus informed her, sighing heavily. "She has been sorted into Gryffindor house. After everything I have taught that girl, she goes and does something stupid like that."

"You obviously didn't put enough work in on that one. But, if I were you, I would be more worried about what the Dark Lord is going to do about it. He's the none who was so avid about her future," Druella called as she walked from the room to find that retched house elf.

Cygnus walked over to the liquor cabinet and grabbed one of the bottles. Druella was right, the Dark Lord was going to be far from pleased about this unfortunate development.

AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you have any questions or comments, of course comment. I will try to get back any questions there are. Any compliments are highly appreciated. Thank you for reading.