This chapter was written by myself...

I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I've felt so long
(Erase all the pain till it's gone)
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm close to something real
I wanna find something I've wanted all along
Somewhere I belong

"Somewhere I belong", Linkin Park

It was freakingly cold for a September morning, and Bella angrily stared up at the dark clouds hovering in the sky. Was a glorious, sunny day for her arrival to school really too much to ask? Sulking, she hurried around her room, hastily opening and closing her trunk, fussing over her clothes. There was no way in hell she would dress like a Muggle.

At some point her mother stormed into the room telling her to hurry up, and then throwing some plain, old-fashioned grey dress into her hands. Something she would never ever have picked... Great. She put it on anyway – the elf was already there to take her luggage down. She kicked it swiftly in the shin, just for luck, or to let off a bit of steam...

Side-along had always been a sensation she loathed, and arriving to a crowd of Muggles was no better. Don't be sick, she thought, act dignified okay? She walked with her head high.

On the platform, people went around hugging, laughing, shouting. It felt wrong, unproper and loud, yet strangely exciting at the same time – like another world, half-forbidden and somehow dangerous. Bella was so edgy her mother had to slap the back of her head to remind her to stand straight. Goodbyes were quickly done in themselves, and yet somehow the family managed to make it last ages. Recommendations...more recommendations...a few threats. Stiff expression of the family pride. And off she was.

In the crowded, noisy train, she remembered that she had no way to know who was pure-blooded and worthy enough of her time, and who wasn't. Clutching her heavy trunk – where were the school elves when you needed them? – she padded along the train, looking for quietness. She could only interact with Slytherins in complete confidence, and they had to act more dignified than most of the filth, didn't they?

At least Bella got lucky; she caught a glimpse of the young Malfoy, talking with two other boys right before the door of a compartment. Lucius Malfoy was a safe person to be with; wealthy, haughty – there was no way he would talk to a half-blood, let alone a Mudblood. She reached for the door, but one of the boys stopped her.

"And who the hell are you?" he growled.

"I could ask you the same," she fired back at him, "Are there Slytherins in there?"

"Let her go in," Malfoy intervened, "I know her, she's a Black."

The boys got out of her way. In the compartment she found a bunch of boys and girls from their fourth year to their first, all of them Slytherins or from pure-blooded families for the young. In her year, she counted four boys and two girls, all of good families: a Lestrange, a Rookwood and others she had only briefly heard of. The girls seemed rather nice, proper yet carefree. She rather hit it off with Rodolphus Lestrange though, and his friend Dolohov seemed interesting as well, although he kept to himself more. Bellatrix had a good time all along the drive, but as she went out of the train with her new friends, she was welcomed by rain, and an awful-looking...what was that creature? It was huge, and so...bushy. Ugh. She shuddered.

"What is this?" she hissed.

"Some half-breed," Rodolphus replied, "My brother told me about him. He's just the keeper of keys though."

Bella could hardly believe that that thing could have a role in the school – yet it was the one to lead them across the lake and into the castle, where a very strict-looking woman ranted to them about the houses. Bella suppressed a yawn. As if every worthy person in the room didn't already know everything there was to know about that. Oh well, it was the Gryffindor head after all, one couldn't ask her to be clever.

At last they entered the Great Hall. Bella kept her head high and her eyes focused straight ahead; she had to put on a good façade, it wouldn't do for anyone to see the anguish starting to creep its way in the pit of her stomach. She had nothing to fear, she chanted in her own head. Slytherin... Slytherin... Slytherin...

After the hat's stupid song, Bella waited for her turn, feeling her legs getting weaker and weaker. After a Ravenclaw and a Hufflepuff, her name was called at last. She trotted towards the hat.

"Ooooh," it whispered in her ear, "Another little Black, another one who'll ask for Slytherin, for sure? But, how interesting... You are brave, loyal and clever, my girl... Every road could open for you..."

"Are you out of your mind?" she hissed mentally, trying her hardest not to let the horror take over her. "Slytherin, NOW!"

"Ah," the Hat sighed, "Poor world of ours, where such gifted children find their way traced by obnoxious traditions, and so early... Are you sure? Then I suppose... It shall be SLYTHERIN!"

Relief made her feel dizzy as she walked to the table.

"Took you long enough," Lucius Malfoy murmured as she passed him by, finding a place next to Rodolphus's brother.

She paid him no mind. She cheered with the others as Antonin Dolohov, Rodolphus Lestrange, Alizee McBeal, Drusus Rookwood, Danae Selwyn and Patricius Wordslake were sent to join her, but she was distracted. She looked up at the stormy sky overhead, and grinned. She was where she belonged.